TONS OF TRICKS, TIPS & CODES INDE

| ч 4 D ZIFF DAVIS PS2-GameCube Xbox *Dreamc ast: PSone*Game Boy /Advar

ELECTRONIC.

GAMING MONTHLY;

Final Fantasy X, Buffy, XenoSaga... Check out next year's hottest titles.

Harry Potter, Pikmin, Grand Theft Auto Ill...

Still Holiday Shopping? Find out what you should SPECIAL ШЫ The best gifts for, girlfriends; be playing now. 150 Ш РЧ n"

plus-size" gamers and more. ISSUE

THE 100 BEST GAMES EVER (and 20 of the Worst) 0771402406960 ^s

DISPLAY UNTIL JANUARY 8

пме 0:23:76

The forecast calls for whatever your sick little mind can imagine. From falling Snow to insanely realistic motion captures, we put you on the mountain. Break off gravity-defying tricks and grabs in over 20 massive arcade style courses. Shred deep powder with 10 world class pros, including Todd Richards, Kevin Jones, Barrett Christy and Tara Dakides. Nine killer events, including a wicked Challenge Mode and a shreddin’ soundtrack. The weather gods have spoken. Get out and worship.

PlayStation.e

EVERYONE

эй fL EE

2

PlayStation.

®

Hey, anything's possible.

Snow 34/29 Snow 35/30 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 39/30 40/22 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 38/12 44/31

Snow 35/25 Tuesday: Snow 42/32 Wednesday: Snow 44/31

Snow 34/29 Snow 21/5 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 27118 30/18 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 25/11 34/22

Snow 33/15 Snow 31/15 Snow 22/12 Snow 34/20 Snow 33/15 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 33/15 42/31 20/8 20/12 20/18 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 33/15 41/35 22/10 20/8 22/5

SQI: Icy SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Icy SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Hard Pack SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Fresh Powder

Snow 30/12 Snow 30/22 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 20/2 33/15 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 24/6 29/2

Snow 32/10 Snow 20/2 Snow 30/18 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 27/18 18/4 28/16 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 24/14 12/2 24/12

Snow 32/29 Snow 31/22 Snow 34/25 Snow 20/18 Snow 30/8 Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow Tuesday: Snow 28/17 35/25 30/25 32/15 25/12 Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow Wednesday: Snow 24/18 34/20 33/25 32/14 26/12

SQI: Hard Pack SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Hard Pack SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Hard Pack SQI: Fresh Powder SQI: Hard Pack SQI: Fresh Powder

Weekend sports weather

Blizzards in the Pacific Northwest could hamper snow- boarders Kevin Jones and Tara Dakides as they defend their titles at the Mt. sone Hood Pro Invitational...For the third straight week, football ч stadium attendance will be significantly lower due to heavy snow... Record crowds should con- А 3 3 - tinue at mountain Today through Sunday outlook: Mostly awesome amounts of up-to-your-ears fresh powder. resorts nationwide. East, west, north, south and everywhere in between. No end in sight. Is your board waxed?

Powder: A perfect time to use a | Hard Pack: A prime opportunity to | Icy: A bad day riding still beats a Sick day. work on your half-pipe prowess. great day working.

HIGHEST SNOWFALL AMOUNTS LAST 24 HOURS

1. ASPEN, CO

2. SIERRA AT TAHOE, CA 3. STRATTON, VT

4. MT. HOOD, OR

5. PALM BEACH, FL

Dakides

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2001 * TRIBUNE

"Fahrenheit Below10 GE 20: 305 405 50s. 605

Weather

Today's temperatures and forecasts across the nation.

"Fahrenheit 10

с cloudy sf snow flurries sn snow 5 pc partly cloudy sh showers t thunderstorms = r rain S sun hw high winds

What are we going to do with all this snow?

A better question is, what aren't you going to do? Grab your snowboard and fly down the slopes. Get ozone-high air out of the half-pipe. Tweak the laws of gravity. The possibilities North America.

are wide open. As is every available

Ask the Weatherman

Send your questions to: Weather Editor Doug Mukai, doug@weather-trib.com. Or write to: Ask the Weatherman/ TRIBUNE, 1200 White Ave., Kirkston, VA 22229

SeatileammeSpokane 22/1 1 sn 27/20 sn Duluth Fargo Helena ® z КУЫ QUUD as 4Ў Augusta 20/5 på P Burlington 12175 sn * Portland sm - Аа Toronto og/ø sn » 30/8 sn Å Pierre 20/12 sn 22/2 sn sn Sun Valley Rapid City 20/8 sn ° P Medford 33/3 sn 32/8sn 180 Detroit Boston Boc . * Jackson е i 21/5 en 9122/12 sn licago 32/15 sn Omaha ^ Des Moines 33/15 sn. Philadelphia.» €*^- New York Salt Lake Gity 20/15 sn e 20/15 sn е е © Cleveland 34/25 on e 31/22 sn Lake Tahoe Seno Fo Ways 34/29 sn . 32/4 sn E ме à 29/15 sn ee * Atlantic City ә ark iY 552sn ө P Kansas City Louisville Washington D.C. “S1 20/15 sn * Sacramento 299881 е Торека SUN v 34/12 sn . 30/22 sn & € 32/5 sn 32/20 sn ES б Charleston ө * Baltimore San Francisco Las Vegas Wichita € y Nashville 29/15 sn Richmond 31/15 sn 20/298 30/18 sn as! NR Santa Fe CREDE 32/29 sn 32/30 sn Los Angeles 20/12 sn Tulsa ® о Charlotte oom . 34/15 sn Little Rock 34/20 sn Phoenix е 25/15 sn Birmingham е 20/18 sn Мише Dallas ° 2012sn , Columbia 2 Roswell RON 2295 E. x Alanta A * Tucson 24/15 sn а 5 33/15 sn 20/12 sn Houston е Hermosillo 35/25 sn Baton Rouge 34/25 sn - 33/21-sn Palm Beach e Татра | 32/25 sn 30/12 sn ® e Miami 30/25 sn e Havana

30/25 sn е

4 d ү £4 N x : m 4 = dee. 4 EC : ^ g b " & å

Eur

aor 3H1 404 МУМ INO ATNO SI 3H3HI ПМ онан V $033N 0T80M HL

DAIO2'S3AIV2U321AMM mWodvIL00mMMM

"panne sey qw gg jo wonereuaf xau ayy "onze NIFYIS-LITGS u3AV 1d- HO “1 spuany nok бе ‘aqo| ay ssosse SNOILY201 SLLOXa ® eurer "тыа NOG ININNNLS PAN "ANOAVAM H3L-IH ИШ "SESS V9 ve-u-io-onrs lotus 87 SANE pue OGL o IG ‘SHO oNLLHVIN NOLSY 9€ Bupmrur'seosuods onore и s 3/37 DIANE meg "NOLLIV NOSIBd-LSHLH ose "SNOISSIN SNICNOd-3S Te 21 "tesi азашщ 2 „шода бад ай 104 Ajeoyoeds рибар 38 АЛП CIO d-NOLLV Mut wr

„ЗНН YIONN 1N39V "4200 puog sauer weso 3ALLIVHRLNI WEIN P SV Y3 | 2"uoneis/eld TF | т е

"ÅkBojouya33 oBpo-Buryyno Bunysiuossy

The first chapter in a saga of epic scale and beauty descends on Game Boy” Advance. Bend elements of nature to your will as you battle dark forces for the fate of

the world in the tale of Golden Sun. | LIFE ADVANCED

F FREESTYLE AREA

EVERYONE ШЕШ

MILD LYRICS

©2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Amped, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

is th LÅ MAS pot ust ni BTHE RODEO FLIP a p (xor 1 EEN å Also known as the "Don't Try This THE MEDIA INTERVIEW

"At Home." The nice part of this trick is that once

x ua u x о шщ X > E =

| you're insane enough to try it, you're probably Dos апа Don! ts i ("ready for a magazine cover. uH a me VEN pasta sr Å : be |

DON'T: Forget the shout-out Act like you care

DO: Act sullen Speak incoherently p

"THAT WAS А МІСЕ’! TRICK.* D FREESTYLE:

“DAG!”

ENGLISH: “I LIKE YOUR PANTS.”

“I THINK I'VE

» rto nc i еен df FRACTURED MY ji. 4 The nice thing about freestyle is that you can Hr PELVIS." ; y huck in the park (fig. A) or boost in the pipe FREESTYLE: “DAG.” 1

(fig. B) and crack your pelvis either way.

b æ æ mæ о | е ао ао ав ео о l l со ао аю l l l өз тэ жэ ше тю єз =» =» |

r å : ў ampedfreestyle.com , и i 1 пе

А Å ine

1

vtl Г " di ү ig Tm E ШЫ т

PLEASE WASH HANDS BEFORE RETURNING TO REALITY

\ : Y Animated Blood 1 - Animated Violence e ID O S

GAMES WITH CHARACTER

PlayStation.e

Deus. Ex and lon Storm are trademarks of lon Storm. Eidos, Eidos Interactive, and the Eidos logo are all registered trademarks of Eidos In е, Inc. 2001 teractive Digital Software Association.

Deus Ex" lon Storm LLP 2001. Published by Eidos Interactive, Inc. Eidos Interactive, Inc. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the

UsE STEALTH, STRATEGY, OR SHEER FIREPOWER. THE CHOICES ARE YOURS AND SO ARE THE CONSEQUENCES.

WILL YOU BE THE CHARISMATIC MASTER MANIPULATOR, THE SHREWD AND STEALTHY TACTICIAN, OR THE DEADLY AVENGING ANGEL?

Deus EX HAS BEEN VOTED GAME OF THE YEAR BY OVER 20 MAGAZINES, WEBSITES, AND READER SURVEYS.

OF INTERACTIVITY IS HERE.

January 2002 Issue 150

CONTENTS

Game Directory

231 Airforce Delta Storm 96 Akira Psychoball 108 All-Star Baseball 2002 228 Amped 202 Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 414 Brute Force 112 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 202 Burnout 228 Dark Summit 223 Dead or Alive 3 233 Doom 208 Dynasty Warriors 3 232 Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves 86 Final Fantasy X 208 Frequency 228 Fuzion Frenzy 233 Golden Sun 204 Grand Theft Auto III 192 бип Valkyrie 224 Halo 233 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 222 Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland 418 Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth 210 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy 208 James Bond in Agent Under Fire 120 Jedi Power Battles 190 Jet Set Radio Future 231 Kabuki Warriors 108 Legends of Wrestling 229 Mad Dash Racing 112 Maximum Chase 110 Max Payne 94 Medal of Honor: Frontline 212 Metal Gear Solid 2 120 MotoGP 231 NBA2K2 216 NBA Live 2002 216 NCAA Final Four 2002 101 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 216 NFL2K2

Departments

Editorial 16 @ Letters 24 & Press Start 36

Our worldly editors journeyed to Japan to eat fresh fish, drink saki, and bring you the skinny on the games of tomorrow. Also, find out why it’s hip to be Square when it comes to the PS2’s first big online RPG.

Q5 Gossip 65

cre XO as Previews 83

Fight an old war in Medal of Honor: Frontline (PS2) or in a galaxy far, far away with Star-Wars: Obi-Wan (Xbox). Or maybe Soul Calibur 2's mano-a-mano is more your style.

Review Grew 198

We became insomniacs to deliver

We fought, we cried, and we nearly came to blows. But after hours of sweaty deliberation and banter, EGM's editors were able to decide on the 100 Best Games of all time. This isn't about prestige or innovation. It's about sheer, raw fun. Find out where your favorite games landed on page 124 and see if you agree.

БШ Color

You've seen the best, now smell the worst. We've Scoured our endless game vault to find the cream of the crap. Thank your lucky stars that you didn't waste your money on the 20 Worst

å What in the heck do you get for your buddy who can't get away from the

ol’ ball-and-chain? We answer that tricky question and more with our

229 NFL Fever 2002 3 " k А 5 > E Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Games of all time (you didn’t, handy Holiday Buyer's Guide on this record-breaking 27-page 196 Phantasy Star Online right?). Page 154. page 168. section. Find out why Grand Theft zoog Pikmin Auto Ill is crimin ictin: 196 Pinball of the Dead, The ШОП PEN ш ч cting, ana 114 Project Ego 3 whether Solid Snake's return is 229 Project Gotham Racing everything we hoped it would be. 196 Hee i And just wait until you see our 9 een Game of the Month. You might 194 Sega GT 2002 say it runs rings around the

Shaun Palmer's Р iti game Skaun Palmer's Pro competition. 196 Shining Soul 230 Shrek À 230 Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams 4 © Tricks 234 239 Fun Rage, The ew Let the battle of the titans 400 Sled Storm 2 ud begin. Sony hopes to woo Q The Final Word 241 220 Smuggler's Run 2 Our jam-packed Y2K2 Previews you to PlayStation 2 with 22: Sedler or roune ла section couldn't be kicked off by a Metal Gear Solid 2, and With all of the GameCube and Xbox doe Soul Calibur 2 more deserving game. Flip over to Microsoft is placing their hub-bub, let's not forget the current 218 Soul Reaver 2 our three-page Final Fantasy X Xbox bets on Halo. Can the front-runner, the PS2. Come 194 Space Channel 5 Part 2 blowout on page 86. We promise mullet truly triumph over the eavesdrop on what we think of this 220 Splashdown that the game is better than the marines? Find the answer on amazing three-way war. 222 SSX Tricky “ ight: 198. j BE Si Ware obiwan E should have been straight page 198. 231 Star Wars: Starfighter Special Ed. 'Q:VIOED: MOVIE. 120 Tekken

Reseryé Your Copy Now! www.capcom.maximo.com

TEEN

Violence

INC. 2001. ALL А inch Inc. "Play Stat

CAPCOM and the CAPCOM amily 1000 аге registered trade

ELECTRONIC Number 15.1

GAMING January 2002

By Dan "Shoe" Hsu

shoe@ziffdavis.com www.egmmag.com |

Editor in Chief Dan

EDITORIAL acDonald G GE macdonaldGziffdavis.com | we SRI Boyer * crispin_boyer@ziffdavis.com 150 Down, 1 Million to Go = | Gls Johns « chris Johnston@zitfdavis.com س‎ - | OG Eronat EB eg Sewartziffdavis. com reat. We're on our monumental 150th your game systems. Then for our anniversary, we kujawa@ziffdavis.com issue, and does anyone care besides us? put together a list of the top 100 games of all Assjonatt then Pu) ак sjonathan_dudlak@ziffdavis.com Not really. When you're reading this in time. Why 100? Because 150 would've taken us Tcl d Kim e jeanne_kim@ziffdavis.com " December, you're probably busy either too long, and we have lots of Halo-playing to do. west MIRI playing with your new GameCube and/or Xbox, or Just like our last top 100 feature (EGM #100), this James MIELE eames me Ke тезда сот you're tackling the new wave of PlayStation 2 updated list was a blast to put together and will боро Nutt, Scott Steinberg, Shane titles, or you're busy searching around the house surely cause a lot of controversy. Per pan Leahy Joe e Rybicki, Ethan to see if you'll be getting any of these as a sur- While I’m being all sentimental, I'd like to thank апап) Seanpaby, Shawn Smith, Gary Mollohan, prise Christmas present. the great editors-in-chief from Christmases past Japanese Correspondents So how do we celebrate #150 AND give you that helped EGM get to where it's at today: Ed Fur ON PRI Axel Strohm

what you want? We start by slapping the shackles Semrad, Joe Funk and my mentor and friend, John on the entire staff. We worked them over-overtime Davison (now on Official U.S. PlayStation

Senior Art Director $ ril Wochok • cyril. wochokGziffdavis.com Art Director

to squeeze an unhealthy amount of reviews and Magazine). But more important than those has- Mike Reisel « mike_reisel@ziffdavis.com previews into this issue, to help you figure out beens (just kidding, guys) is you, the reader. FEIER е Copy Editor

k n Tue А itesides what you should (and shouldn't) be playing on Thanks for sticking with us all these years. Shoe Manu RE DIC

= = = Sene] Р 8 оп Manager Anne arie Miguel Gontributing Writers E Pre EIN

Shane Bettenhausen Christian Nutt Asst Production Manager Shane tackled Final Fantasy X to offer the Christian's time at Gamers.com with Che Teresa Newson ultimate preview this month. Even after and Shoe has sharpened his reviewing 8 beating both the Japanese and English skills to lethal levels. Read his take on

1 FFX, he still can't get enough. Shrek, Golden Sun and others. Mier pre Дет Game (899 BERE irector

Ethan Einhorn crc Г

Project Leader Mark LeFebvre * mark lefebvreGziffdavis.com

м. D

When he's not collecting stag beetles Ethan's glad to get back to his EGM roots сМ cinere as with the local 5-year-olds, EGM's man in with some freelance work, since it's been seni) К ШЧ Sales Manager Japan enjoys micromanaging his multi- nothing but frat-boy hazing since he start- Don Galen colored hordes of Pikmin warriors. Freak. ed as GameNOW's Previews Editor. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE NUMBER:

Joe Rybicki И PLEASE SEND ALL SUBSCRIPTION [QUESTIONS TO: Joe dashed in from the offices of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine to help us out with our DO NOT CONDI THE EDITORS RE: SUB. PROBLEMS

Top Gun review. He's also been helping out Advertising Inquiries Contact:

with our extensive Halo, ah, “playtesting.” Game Play s реа Beale, VAN floor, rn Francisco, CA 94105

BE 415-547-8783

Gary Steinman SITES

Gary Mollohan

Now that Gary's got a new job at the Sears Corporate Center, EGM and GameNOW both plan on milking him not only for his gaming expertise, but also for some powertools.

Seanbaby

The writer of our crap-games article, Seanbaby runs OPM's Managing Editor has a thing for live- втофр бее} bulis? linlacke@zitidavis.com humor site seanbaby.com, which we list alongside stock, so EGM asked him to review Harvest ИА ВН ziffdavis, the bikini carwash and candy-flavored breast Moon (PS2) this month. Boy, was he crushed певт, tig? Mena east Coss Seton implants as one of science's greatest inventions. to find out there are no sheep in the game! DET al ШО * marc. cal ziffdavis.com visit Ped Rep biesentanve Eas ast Coast Bin Б = ыг» — val lie Fishi . fis hul @ziffd ww m na Eat My Shorts! ES M па mily Lool ImanGziffd: [Сой around this sue for quotes fom The | op TESE Re DRE Eben

pn inclair e-mail it and your mailing address to us inclair@ziffdavis.com

at EGMGziffdavis.com (subject: Eat Mj ү ТОО fad nc Northwest & Bay Area Peninsula Shorts —EGM #150), and you May be one of | М ay AG å ps уы five lucky winners (chosen at random) who кй 7 16780 атату таур ziffdavis.com

AND | will win а copy of this month's Game of the hwest Territory Month (as determined by the Review Crew). Karen Den * karen landonGziffdavis.com Some quotes from the issue #149: | Senor heen ед southwest Tertory

ion 2, PLUS a bunc of games for all three!

see page XXX to enter.

" (Simpsons, pg. 26) Linda in „” (Fight Club, pg. 156) us 1 * linda_philapil@ziffdavis.com “two [consoles] enter, one [console] leaves..." peal brat Sae Manager тека, Qus ington, (Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome starring ERU cisco EY Mini-Me and Corky as Master Blaster, pg. 176) arci BO M SUCHE chew bubble gum and kick ass." (They Live, Account Excite TOS, ci Pk en 72) just when I thought I was out, [he] pulls me elgen O Teman back in..." (Godfather Ill, pg. 260) 19838 et es a meghan OOO com Issue #148's winners of Ico for PS2: Sene HE el ad Manager & Creative Director = Chris Shuler - Monmouth, IL

/ We use EarthLink for our online gaming needs.

* Mike Honeck - Uniontown, OH ln Ж СЕ рце FA ledda@ziffdavis.com * Scott Elder - Bay City, MI Marketing Coordi * Julian Holm - Seattle, WA Б Lipscomb

EarthLink * Michael Golden - Houston, TX nad aes A КЫЗЫ annie _lipscomb@ziffdavis.com fist гаї and addtional maling offices. Single issue rates: $499. The one year (12 issue) subscription rate 5 357- 0 брег. ubbelohde@ziffdavis.com

Sales AS а Kristeen Laut

agazine. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Electronic Gaming Monthly, P.O. Bax 55; tact us at: Web: http://service.egmmag.com (for customer service) or http://subscribe.egmmag.com (to ord

label with any corresponde псе as it contains information that

Faun ad б) dd tae D seme бер p mr ae D Wc sien А n үш ln db amd nae sac ARAKI tenuta com

out the the prior witter 430-1663. Copyrigh

© trente. any Kom, oF Бу алу este (Ае, mera одстои, recedit oes ‘obtain a permission request form atvawwicopyright com zfiavis/ or have a form faxed or mailed to you by calling (425) 2 tut person probed, For persion to reuse material in hs publication (oton this Web ske) oro use our go contact ZF Davie Media's Rights and Permissions Manager. For reprints, contact Reprint Services at 7874. Olga Gonopolsky, Ziff Davis Media Inc, 28 E. 28th St, New York, NY 10016. Tel 212-503-5438. Fax: 212503 olga. gonopolskyGzilidavis.com. Electronic Gaming Monthly and EGM are trademarks of Ziff Davis Media Inc. TM and © for all other products and the characters contained therein are owned by the respective trademark and copyright owners, All materials listed in this magazine are subject to manufacturers change and the publisher assumes no responsibility for such changes, The Canadian GST Registration number is 140496720 RT. In my dreams I can hear the sound of thunder I can see the causeway by the big hotels. That happy day we'll find each other on that Florida shore, you'll open your umbrella, and well walk between the raindrops back to your door

Printed in the USA.

415- "s 8783 * cheryl_farrell@ziffdavis.com

Founder Steve Harris

Anat Buren Croutons

COCKY

The New Album

PARENTAL www.kidrock.com AVAILABLE AT:

www.atlantic-records.com .BEST| Шш LL. eun

Tony like you've never seen him before

| RATING PENDING

for more info. 2

p Visit www.esrb.org E : SM e | 8 or call 1-800-771-3772 BP ә. NM " 0 NINTENDO | ОО О GAMECUBE. |

ang ZTONY/HA WKS’ =>-[PRO)

Enter the ultimate skater's world. Weave through traffic, avoit [ se natural disasters as you shred through 8 massive living levels in the ultimate skating chall . Skate as the legendary Tony - Hawk... or create your own legend with the improved Create-a-Skater feature where you can choose from hundreds of looks. Master new tricks using the same tight THPS2 controls and check your skills by taking it online against your friends across town or around the globe. Welcome to my world.

Featuring songs by Alien Ant Farm, Motorhead, and Ozomatli. GREE. Sountrack available on Maverick Records. å ACTIVISIONO2.COM

ae a8 я 28 E 25 = 23 Sa а B= ae E E

OUR LOVE AND INDELIBL NKS GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE LOST IN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK ON AMERICA AND TO ALL THE NYC DOCTORS, NURSES, & HOSPITALS . AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AT GROUND ZERO, ACROSS AMERICA, AND ALL OVER THE WORLI

* CE xcelsjor x

EN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT ON TO MAKE THE FREE WORLD SAFE FOR EVERYONE . FDNY . NYPD . EMS. RED CROSS NATIONAL GUARD . FEMA - R MOST SINCERE THANKS . YOUR COURAGE AND ACTIONS STAND TALL AS A TRUE MONUMENT TO ALL THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN UNIVERSAL FREEDOM.

E FOR THE BEST REEDOM RING . WWW.ZOOYORK.COM

H SHALL RISE Til

EAG

Born of different worlds, woven together by fate,

each shall rise to face their destiny. Ryudo has been hired

to protect a young priestess who must participate in a ceremony to -

halt the encroaching rebirth of Valmar, the God of Darkness.

Embroiled between the forces of good and evil, Ryudo must follow

- his destiny фе the people he detests so much.

i | {A

i Soft Entertainment. All ri reserved. Original ar (c)2000 Game Arts. English Translation (c)2000 Ubi Soft Entertainment. Grandia is a trademark designs by Youshi Kanoe. "Carro" character design by Atsuko Nishida. Ubi Soft Entertainment and the Ubi Soft logo are registered trademarks of Ubi Soft, Inc. mily logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

Ў aff

Å "The Dreamcast version of the game 1 V already rocks, so get ready for this one."

Official PlayStation Magazine

Over 1,000 characters to Groundbreaking Battle. System — Customize skills, spells ånd interact with in beautiful,» requiring tactics, skill, timing «= special attacks with an varied environments. , ` and teĉhhique.- %- amazingly flexible level advancement system. %

-- PlayStation.e

Letters to the Editors

Congratulations Will Herring. You win an InterAct GameShark for PlayStation 2, PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 or Game Boy Color.

Ме”

Quakes

Techno Files

Гат planning on buying a PS2 in the near future and wanted to know if there would be any difficulty running it on a hi-definition TV. Can the PS2 put

out a resolution high enough for my TV? Since the HDTV is widescreen, will that have any adverse effects on the PS2? Will the PS2 image fill the entire screen despite the aspect ratio?

We asked Ryan Bowling, public- relations manager at Sony Computer Entertainment America, about your concerns. Here's what he said: “The PS2 shouldn't have any trouble holding its resolution on a wide- screen or HDTV monitor. | would

* Number of self-proclaimed experts on the relative merits of GameCube and Xbox launch games, even though the systems weren't out yet: 126

* Number of e-mail invitations from porn sites: 14

* Number of accepted e-mail invitations from porn sites: 14

I keep my mouth shut most of the time. I don't complain about the names of Star Wars movies, or that Solid Snake has a mullet. But some things you just can't overlook. I have to dish out several hundred dollars every time a new system comes out just because of this natural urge that I have. Am I biased

LII

Е |

bat? You might end up buying them someday. By the time launch day hits for Xbox and GameCube, it won't be about tech specs or loyalty to a particular brand. It'll be about lots of killer hardware and software becoming available for gamers everywhere. Will Herring j_koei@hotmail.com

“Everyone knows that if they had the money, they'd get all three of the big systems on the market.”

toward any next-gen system in parti- cular? Nope. Can | afford any of them? HELL, no. But | know I’m going to end up sleeping outside of Electronics Boutique to get them on their launch days.

Some people spout opinions on message boards or to one another: “GameCube’s gonna roxor!!!” or “Xbox isn’t getting enough recognition!”

It doesn't matter how biased they act. Everyone knows that if they had the money, they'd get all three of the big systems on the market. Folks spend all of their time putting down one new system in favor of another, but I think most gamers would be happy with whatever they can get their grubby gaming hands on. So why bash the ones you can't afford to get right off the

Right on, brother. Solidarity! We need to ban together as gamers if we're going to make it through this console war. OK, so it's not quite that dramatic. But it's good to hear that at least one guy isn't trying to disem- bowel all who dissent with his console preference. We should all feel fortunate to be a part of this pivotal point in gaming history.

Ain't nothing wrong with loving Nintendo's first-party software or getting wowed by Microsoft's techni- cal prowess, but we find it hard to believe anyone would refuse either console if they had a shot at one for free. We wouldn't advise waiting for that to happen, though. Santa's making cutbacks this year.

са osig a component ч “И | could

-video signal for maximum clarity,

though.” We also called the product- have seen support number listed in the PS2 Steve Perry manual about potential projection- s TV issues. The rep told us, “as long shooting i you mias d к paused heams of or an extended period of time, з you'll be fine. If you have to pause light out of the game for a while, just turn the his micro- TV off until you come back to it."

Mark Pawlak We have used a PS2 with a hi- phone at

Mentor, OH definition TV and had no issues, but rotating

don't expect the PS2's image to be

hi-def. Games like GT3 are starting to incorporate the 16:9 aspect ratio that you're talking about, but for now, you'll have to play most games with bars on the sides. It's a little annoying, but you can always pop in a wide-screen DVD afterward.

Sticks, I would have spent at least $20 in quarters..."

24 - www.egmmag.com

Pause For Alarm

| just bought a third-party controller for my PS2 that has a “slow” button on it. I was playing a game from a demo disc to try it out, and the screen started going crazy on me. It kept flashing back and forth between the pause screen and the regular game. | pressed Start and it went back to normal. Will the "slow" button work with any game, or should I go to Wal-Mart and get my money back? Lindsay Jordan Simpsonville, SC

Holy cow, sounds like you found

a gateway into some parallel, potentially seizure-inducing dimension. Leave that junk on pause and we'll be right over. No, actually, you've just discovered the secret behind the magic “slow-motion” button. Since the days of the NES Advantage joystick, all slow-mo buttons ever did was rapidly pause and unpause the game. It worked well for games with clear pause screens in simpler times, but nowadays some games build different features into the Start button besides just freezing the action, so results definitely vary. If you want to return the pad, maybe invest in a few pounds of coffee to speed up your reaction time.

Don't Stop Believing

I'm sure some of you remember Michael Jackson's Moonwalker game (in arcades and on the Genesis), which was almost the craziest game ever, but what about Journey? Yeah, Journey, the crap band of the '8os! They apparently had an arcade game, as well. So | got an emulator and tried the game out. Let me tell you, if I could have seen Steve Perry shooting beams of light out of his microphone at rotating sticks, | would have spent at least $20 in quarters when it was out. This is the most whacked thing to ever be considered a video game.

austin abramsGhotmail.com

I think we speak for the population of Earth when we say that's one game we'd all like to see stricken from the record. You gotta give Midway credit for trying, though. It was 1983,

So Manning's like, “Сет in the freakin' end zone!" So very calmly, I said, “Peyton, if you want me to listen, you'll speak to me like a human being." Am I wrong here?

trade rumórs; you go: home. This isn’t olayina the NFL — this is playing іп the NFL. The graphics, the camera angles, the: intensity, the trophy case. Have a good night, Mr. Manning. See you tomorrow.

nflfevér2002. com

EVERYONE

ТОН ON|

XBOX | PLAYERSE

LETTERS

and the kids liked their Journey, so it seemed like a good idea at the time. After some nasty backlash from our Axl Rose, um, "analysis," we've decided not to comment on the musical merits or widespread societal impact of Steve and the gang. We're just going to put

this totally unbiased and uneditorialized picture of the band here for your perusal.

Desperately Seeking Hentai

1 was looking through my EGM during history class and came across a letter someone sent you about a movie called Evolver. There was a picture that went along with it of my favorite hentai, the La Blue Girl issue. It's very hard to find, except on eBay, and I don't have an account with them. Do you know I would be able to get a copy and how much does it cost? It would really help me out because the videos are so hard to find around here. Thanks! Nick Hall Culleoka, TN

Oh, THAT picture...well, it was actually taken in the master bedroom of Greg Sewart's private estate, which houses North America's largest library of "stimulating literature." The mag was on loan from Crispin Boyer's personal collection, which is currently out with the Raunchy Mag European Tour, so you'll have to check it out when it comes through the States in the spring. Both editors were most impressed with your knowledge of the subject, though, and tip their hats in your general direction.

Control Yourself.

Is it me or has the whole gaming world gone insane? I am so sick of all this Xbox controller bashing. l've held it in my hands and I think it's pretty close to perfect. | almost fell over when I saw that picture of Mark holding the GC controller in his hands; it looked like Godzilla taking over Tokyo! You see, | am a 28-year-old female and I have ADULT hands. Does your whole staff have tiny little freak hands? 1 found your Xbox vs. GameCube article to be very good and informative, but the design and features section was a joke! Come on, GameCube the winner? Your only real reason for picking the GC there seemed to be the controller. | just feel that in terms of design and features, we have to be realistic and give the Xbox its due. Jennifer Preston darktowerg79Gaol.com

As you can see by our final verdict, Jen, we have nothing against the Xbox. That controller has way too much plastic on it, though, and the layout is atrocious. Nintendo's pad is so much easier to hang on to, and we're not going to move on that issue. Do us a favor and really put that Xbox pad through its paces like we did. You'll find out how hard it is to find the melee and grenade-swap buttons in Halo without looking down at the Xbox controller. That's bad news, mi amiga; we don't mess around when it comes to Halo. We're going to hold out for the Japanese version of the Xbox controller, which is smaller and rumored to come out in the good old US of A in the next few months.

Worth 1,000 Words

Box art on video games has changed dramatically throughout the years. I first started thinking about this when my dad, a huge Atari fan, and I were at Babbage's looking at video games. I was looking in the PS2 section while my dad checked out the old Atari and NES games in cheap plastic wrapping. Eventually, my dad came looking for me and decided to look at some of the PS2 games himself, but said none of

26

May the Shorts be with you.

I found that | do not recognize anybody who writes for EGM anymore except for Crispin, the Q and Shoe. Why the turnover? Also, can you track down Sushi-X when a new Capcom or SNK 2D fighting game comes out and have him review it? pioneers11@ home.com

Truth is, we just can't find anyone who wants to work for a video game magazine. You know anybody? Actually, most of the staff has been here for at least a year or two, some a lot longer. If games like MGS2 and Halo keep coming out, we all may never leave!

Ryo Hazuki of Shenmue walks, talks and fights, but how come he doesn't ever bathe or change clothes!? Devin Norris, Aurora, IN

‘Tis a question for the ages, to be sure. Shenmue is supposed to be ultra-realistic, but we're not sure if watching Ryo take a steamy shower would be all that appealing. Maybe if it were its own quick-time event...

If you put in Osama bin Laden as a name at the MGS2 codename Web site, (www.buzzsite.com/ goodies/MGSname gen/) it comes up as Lone Donkey. Doesn't sound very threatening, does. it? EatGreenCrayons@ aol.com

Heh, good old MGSz. It can reduce even the most ominous worldwide threat to a solitary jackass.

What is your one must- have game for Xbox or GameCube this year?

Xbox: Halo. GameCube: definitely Super Smash Bros. Melee. BigDawg50295Gaol.com

Super Smash Bros. Melee, of course. What's

better than taking the pointy star rod to

Pikachu's candy ass? thomasbuipk@hotmail.com

Pssh....I'm going to have Metal Gear Solid 2. Why do | need Xbox or GameCube??? easyed_69@yahoo.com

HALO! HALO! HALO! HALO! HALO! HALO! ryohazuki128Ghotmail.com

Star Wars: Rogue Leader...it's only reason I'm buying a GameCube. I'll stick with my PS2 otherwise.

Mr-GT3Gwebtv.net

I must have Pikmin for the GameCube. It is just too weird for me to pass up. GeneStarwind4487@aol.com

Both Microsoft and Nintendo have ignored

my requests for a Shaq-Fu sequel, so I'm not

looking forward to much of anything. lAmAMittenGaol.com

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. The movies and Screens I have seen of it are amazing, the gameplay still looks intact, and it's got more flatulent aliens! What more can you ask for? tennisdude2005Gyahoo.com

Definitely Rogue Leader for GameCube. I remember the Hoth battle in Shadows of the Empire for the N64. If this game is anywhere near that much fun, it's the GC's best. mranger22Gexcite.com

I'm a Resident Evil junkie, so I want all the new GameCube RE games. NMEchmpinGaol.com

Next Month's Question of the Moment:

Were you ahle to buy your console of choice, and are you satisfied with it so far?

Send your short but sweet responses to: EGMGziffdavis.com with the subject heading:

Sold

1728D1 9981

Ly OUR NEW SPLBDDIUITIUE NJ € neo Games diii ACCESSORIES,

sam

Wvw.Samgoody.com

Fof the’ locatién neat You, call 1.888.606.3342 or visit us online. : | We чын аа ану and Selection varies by stage айй ШШЕ

LETTERS

You can write EGM at:

EGM Letters 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

BO;

Ke | art printed, tell us so (but please include your phone number, mailing address

н ak Broo i and system preference for Letter of the Month prize consideration). 0522-333 Also note: Although we can't respond to every letter, as far as you know, we do

e-mail: EGMGziffdavis.com read them all. Also, everything you send us is ours to keep!

them really interested him, because the box art wasn't very enticing. When we got home, my dad showed me what older game box art looked like. Now those artists used some creative thinking! | guess gamers back then wanted to know what the little dots on the TV screen were supposed to represent. Maybe games are too involved today for the box art to do them any justice.

M2XLGaol.com

Dude, you obviously haven't seen the sweet box art on Super Bust-a-Move and Ico. Nothing like baby spittle and a horned, timber-wielding Jake Lloyd to paint a picture of the game within. Yeah, box art has definitely gone from making a game look deceptively good to being just plain weird at times. But some older boxes are still good for a laugh. Feast

your eyes on this box art from the original Mega Man on the NES. If the awkward-looking, middle-aged man in the homemade yellow armor doesn’t make you want to play that game, box art may as well not exist at all.

Box art from Ico and Super Bust-a-Move continues to leave gamers wondering: “What the %#$@?”

Judge Not Lest Ye Judge For Nintendo

| was reading through your monstrous 34-page Xbox vs. GameCube article, enamored by the attention to detail and the fact that you left absolutely NOTHING out. It actually taught this old Nintendo fanboy a thing or two about Xbox. What | hate is the last page.

Thirty-four well thought-out pages and you still felt the need to declare a “winner.” We both know lots of kids will skim through your magazine, see the big “And the Winner is: Xbox!”, and follow your lead with open wallets. I've

MORE SHORTS

Is there a place | can find good video. game music? I'd

еш worked at Wal-Mart during Christmas the Sonic The А f 5 Hedgehog BGM and have seen happy kids with their

clips; they were the best. (Ice Cap zone from Sonic 3 is my fave!) Do you know where I would be able to find or get myself a copy of these songs? Is there an Internet site or an import shop somewhere? angel_dust674@

parents picking out systems on the fly, so don't think you won't have that kind of impact. You should be challenging your readers to make a decision based on your information, not giving them a definite answer. It's not that simple. Adam Tierney salstadtx@hotmail.com

hotmail.com ie We can appreciate your view, Adam, We usually visit but we have received tons of кеси inquiries over the past few months com for our game asking us which system we music needs, but recommend. Rather than sit on the

older and more obscure stuff might take some more digging online. Your best bet is to hit the streets of Tokyo, but that may get a tad expensive...

fence for the sake of playing it safe, we felt obligated to give our readers an educated opinion— it's nothing more than that. We wouldn't expect anyone to just take our verdict at face value, especially not “old Nintendo fanboys." (Would you even

Letter Art of the Month WINNER

Jesse Martinez * Austin, TX

$7. Men PO Box 3338 S

Put your creative skills to the test by decking out a #10 envelope (the long, business type) with your own unique touch. Send your letter art to:

EGM Letter Art, P.0. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338 (or e-mail EGMGiffdavis.com) Be sure to include a mailing address, and tell us what system you'd like your prize for, in case you win. All entries become the property of Ziff Davis Media Inc. and will not be returned!

LETTER ART

Jose Lebron, Jr. Buffalo, NY

be writing us had Nintendo *won"?) If more of the staff prefers Xbox, why should we lie to you and call it a draw? We know both systems will kick ass this holiday. Hopefully our feature will help parents, kids, and hardcore and mainstream gamers make an educated purchase at the end of the day.

In issue 149, as a result of our mass preoccupation with MGS2, we slipped Kojima's name into the Resident Evil article on page 31.

It should have said *Mikami," in reference to Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series.

The build of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex we received was released by Universal as a review- able version, but at the last minute, the publisher removed the loading- Screen minigame that we referenced in our reviews. We believe this change to be negligible, and our scores remain unaffected.

Not quite Sharkworthy...

Close, but no cigar. Better luck next time.

(OAK Brook 605243 A å N я Ryan Genovese Congratulations, Jesse Martinez! Your ==: Ventura, CA prize is on the way-an InterAct på a s GameShark for PlayStation 2, J PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 | FEET TERRE IA FN EVER or Game Boy Color. G S . | (EES elu, yoy To BE asns

di nm —€

©

te Oak Brook Ik

ssa aM

P.o. бох 3338 60522 «5331

For Letter of the Month and Letter Art of the Month contests, no purchase I necessary. f youre really bored and want to read the complete contest legal rules, please visit www.egrnman com or write us at: EGM Contest Legal Rules Request, Р.О. Box

3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338. After reading the rules, please get a life. Don't forget to ellus what system you'd like your prize for, and don't forget to give us your physical mailing adress as wel.or else, no prize for you!

com

WIN A RACING SCHOOL GIFT

Loi

CERTIFICATE AT ACCLAI

M.COM scam

3 EVERYONE

‘CONTENT RATED BY E

Е MILD VIOLENCE SRB

"The best crashes ever in a video game" - IGN

The most spectacular real-time crashes. Ever.

The more reckless you drive, the more power you score.

Drive like a madman through

YOU GOTTA RISK IT ALL TO WIN IT ALL. everyday traffic. | |

J [

I | |

N

www.acclaim.com

Î paysans BA, AKlaim

nterion Software Limited, Acclaim

NI Rights Reserved. Developed by Criteri

mes, NI Rights Reserved. “PlayStation” and the PS" Family logo are registered trademarks

"FINAL SCORE 10/10.” PSM

"THIS GAME IS THE REASON YOU BOUGHT

Å PLAYSTATION 2." Pol

/ "I KNOW EVERYONE IS

4 EXPECTING THIS GAME TO BE

^ GOOD, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU

I WAS SHOGKED AT JUST HOW GREAT IT IS.”

OFFICIAL U.S. PLAYSTATION MAGAZINE"

"MG52 HAS ONCE AGAIN STUNNED US, AND WE ARE ONGE AGAIN ON OUR KNEES TO KOJIMA-SAN AND HIS HEROIG TEAM." MN CDM

"AS OF NOW, WE'VE SEEN NOTHING 25 -ABSOLUTELY NOTHING- TO SUGGEST THERE | | WILL BE A BETTER GAME ON ANY SYSTEM THIS YEAR.

PERIOD.” NENTGENERATION

икин trom И! А Å АР v Magarin’, December 2000, wilh permission. quoe 2001 LUE Davis Media tne. MI rights reserved.

A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME

METAL GEAR SOLID >

SONS OF LIBERTY

MATURE Animated Violence А PlayStation.e ESRB

WETAL ВЕДЕ е, METAL GEAR SOLIO®@ and SONS OF LIBERTY are tilber registered trademarks or trademarks of KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN, INC. © 1487 1111 KONAMI :COMPOTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN. PlayStation” and the "PS" Family laga are registered trademarks af Sony Compoler foterbainment Int. The ratings ican is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

Мм

RUI

TIK SE TON DA OT. Lt ГА 7 /

E

e E 2

HALF-LIFE IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING, INTENSE ACTION EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE AND ALSO

INCLUDES HALF-LIFE: DECAY

AN EXCLUSIVE NEW SPLIT-SCHREEN COOPERATIVE GAME.

“The ‘best action game ever made' gets even better on the PS2*” — Electronic Gaming Monthly

INCREDIBLE ACTION.

> Available Now!

=,

PlayStation 2

IA LF = LI FEE

Н! Playstation.g fA

KE ra

0 på [VALVE] gearbox AIERRA

T RATED BY RB

Confined fire and earth efenertg fo P$ eet Aton casing sisters,

= It’s a journey to save a world, and all you have is your trusty axion. Combine the DX onan | ER

p XBOX elements of fire, water, earth, and air to fight and explore your way through the 6 vast realms

INTENT RATED BY xXeo»x

ESRB of Perathia. Prevent the apocalypse and, well, survive. A 6 ) [© )

Vert for a fim, Flecfpented a golem. Mixin 7 5 WS fiyin 7 2 Must sleep. A

€0 FLIFWEN AL

www.azurik.com

By Chris Johnston chris johnstonG7iffdavis.com & Jonathan Dudlak jonathan dudlakeziffdavis.com

Press The News on the Planet

Sega's lineup and Khox's Japanese dehut make the loudest splashes at Tokyo Game Show

ake a walk through Tokyo Game Show,

Japan's über gaming festival, and you'll

wonder why we don't have anything like it in America. What a concept—a gaming convention where the public's invited and the trinkets are free and plentiful.

Between exhibit halls, diehard gaming otaku (that's Japanese for super-geek) gather, dressed up as their favorite game characters. Other fans, who we suspect may have left their costumes at home, line up like paparazzi to take their pictures for posterity. And as you stroll the aisles, ultra-cute booth babes hand you the same flier you've been given at least 10 times already for yet another ultra-cute dating simulator. That's when you enter stage two— playing the games.

Two things made the Fall 2001 Tokyo Game Show, held Oct. 12-14, exciting: First, it marked Sega's return to the hallowed halls of the Makuhari Messe convention center after sitting out the last two shows. And second, it was the first chance the Japanese public had overpowered this unlucky Sega for hands-on play with the Xbox. employee and dragged her back to their lair. Below, Sega COO Tetsu Kayama outlines Sega's plans for 2002 and beyond.

36

Our TGS coverage just wouldn't be complete without showing you a few pictures of the booth babes. From left to right: Atlus, Genki, Square and Microsoft.

Sega's airport-themed TGS booth

Evidence of the GameCube launch a few weeks before was nonexistent, its presence more or less limited to two games in Sega's booth (Phantasy Star Online and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle). And while PlayStation 2 was clearly the dominant platform of the show, Sony's small lineup of niche games left a lot to be desired. But more on that later.

Everyone Gets A Piece of Sega

The biggest shocker of TGS was just how many games Sega's bringing to every conceivable system in 2002. That includes ports of Dreamcast hits like Skies of Arcadia and Space Channel 5, sequels to Dreamcast games like Jet Set Radio Future, and originals like Gun Valkyrie (see complete list to the right). Sega COO Tetsu Kayama explained at a special conference held during the show that this is just the beginning. In the near future, Sega'll dust off even more of its catalog of older games for next-generation updates. Too bad the one sequel everyone wanted to hear about, Panzer Dragoon (announced last spring for Xbox), was barely acknowledged. The only mention of it was a 20-second teaser that had no game footage— just ancient writing on weathered stone that crumbled away to reveal a plain, typewritten logo. It left those who witnessed it wondering why Sega bothered if they weren't going to show anything of substance.

The news wasn't all focused on home consoles though. On the coin-op side of

things, Sega's got an arcade board based on Xbox hardware in the works for a 2002 debut. And the company plans to bring even more content to cell phones and PDAs in Japan.

Sega also pushed more of its support behind Xbox. Sonic Team's Phantasy Star Online will be one of the first network titles for Xbox when it goes online in 2002. And Shenmue II, well, that's another story entirely. The U.S. Dreamcast version, originally scheduled for this holiday season, has been cancelled. Instead, Microsoft is bringing it exclusively to Xbox, but only in the U.S. *Microsoft loves the original, and they want to make sure that it lives on through the next generation of platforms, so that was the deal that we made,” Peter Moore, Sega of America CEO told EGM. “It’s a short-term bitter pill for some Shenmue fans to swallow, and I’ve had my share of death threats and angry consumers, but I think that in the long term everyone will understand that it was the best decision for Sega and it was the best solution for AM2, [creator] Yu Suzuki and Shenmue." If you're still craving Shenmue II on Dreamcast in English, there's Still some good news. It's still being released in Europe, and it'll work on a U.S. system as long as you have a converter that lets you play import games.

One thing is clear: Sega fans have a lot to look forward to in 2002, assuming they own a

PS2, GameCube or Xbox. cont. on page 38

Now That's Å Controller

If you thought the six-button version of the Atari Jaguar controller was big, check

this out. It's Ascii's GameCube keyboard controller, specially designed for Sega's Phantasy Star Online. It's big, but the keyboard portion itself is only slightly wider than the front of the GC itself.

31

Sega Games Coming in 2002

Here's a list of the new games announced at the show. For more on these and other Sega games (including Jet Set Radio Future and Gun Valkyrie), check out our Sega Reborn feature, starting on page 184.

Aero Dancing 4, PS2 - Perform aerial acrobatics in this latest installment of Sega's stunt-flying simulator.

The House of the Dead 3, Xbox - Rid the world of an onslaught of the angry undead in the latest version of this gun game. Hundred Swords, PS2 - A medieval online real-time strategy game for 1-4 players. Phantasy Star Online, Xbox and GameCube - Conversions of Sonic Team's addictive online RPG.

The Pinball of the Dead, GBA - Classic pinball gameplay with a horror theme from Sega's House of the Dead series.

Sakura Taisen 4, DC (March) - Fourth installment in this RPG starring a motley crew of female mech pilots and you.

New Sakura Taisen game, PS2 - Sega's popular series makes the jump to PS2. Sega GT 2002 Append Disc and Sega GT Online, Xbox - Update discs with new cars/tracks for Sega GT 2002.

Shakatto Tamborine, PS - Music game similar to Samba de Amigo, where you shake a tamborine to the on-screen commands. Shenmue II (USA only), Xbox - The sequel to Yu Suzuki's epic Dreamcast adventure game, coming exclusively to Microsoft's console in the U.S. in 2002.

Shining Soul, GBA - An action-oriented portable take on the famous Shining Force RPG series. Skies of Arcadia, GameCube and Ps2 - Port of the critically acclaimed Dreamcast RPG. Where's the sequel?

Space Channel 5 Part 2, DC and PS2 - Ulala returns to save the universe through music once again.

Switch, PS2 - Remake of an obscure, slapstick-filled Sega CD game (called Panic in the U.S.) where you activate humorous events by pulling switches.

Virtua Fighter 4, PS2 - The latest installment of AM2's awesome arcade fighting series comes home.

Tokyo Game Show continued

Khox Struts Its Stuff

If the booth babes didn't already guarantee that you'd spend a lot of time wandering the Microsoft booth, the amount of Xbox games inside did. With Nintendo absent as always and Sony showing a rather dismal lineup of games, Xbox was sittin' pretty in Tokyo.

Because their booth was located in a prime spot next to the show's entrance, it was many gamers' first stop. On show for the first time were Microsoft's first-party Japan titles, awaiting finishing touches before the system's Feb. 22 launch there. These included the rodent turf-war game Nezumix (with its cheezy sub- title, *Have a Mice Day") and a looping video of Dream Factory's first fighting game since The Bouncer for PS2, Kakuto Chojin (which tran- slates to the so-bad-it's-good title of "Fighting Superman" in English). Some previously announced titles, like Sega's House of the Dead 3 and Panzer Dragoon were absent, but nobody seemed to miss them. Well, nobody except for us, of course. We want a new Panzer Dragoon!

Microsoft confirmed that a few of their Japanese first-party-developed games will come to the U.S., but which ones hasn't been decided yet. We're guessing the horse-racing game and dating sims won't be among them. dt

Nezifmix: Hayes Mice Day:

Sony, The Quiet Giant

Sony's slogan for its booth was simple: “You Need New Game,” but most of the PS2 excitement was generated elsewhere— Capcom's Maximo, Square's Final Fantasy XI and a new demo of Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2. With the exception of Japanese versions of Ico and Jak and Daxter, Sony's lineup of niche games was less than impressive, like the do-it- yourself voice-acting/karaoke game Yaoke no Mariko (with character designs by Rem 'n Stimpy's Spumco) and the mediocre classical music game Bravo Music. Maybe they could interest you in a colored PS2 unit instead?

They're available for the low, low price of $500.

Here's just a sampling of the titles debuting in 2002 for the *box in the land of the rising sun:

Nobunaga's Ambition: Chronicles of Chaos (Koei) - A real-time strategy sim featuring feuding warlords against the backdrop of feudal China.

Murakumo (From Software) - An impressive prerendered movie was all that was shown of this mech-combat game from the makers of Armored Core.

Gaia Blade (From Software) - This medieval real-time strategy title lets you monitor each battle up-close in up to 16 separate split-screens. Sixteen?!

Myst III: Exile (Mipic) - One of the best- selling series of all time (on the PC) that none of us ever gave two craps about. Can a new sequel change that?

Phantom Crush (Genki) - Genki throws their hat into the Xbox ring with this city- based mech action/battle title.

Campingsqut Wit

г)

Only 666 of each color Limited Edition PS2 will be made available for the U.S. market.

38

ERVED

A DARKER JUSTICE MUST Ba s

Inc.Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox Logos are ei

iz

ee Per. Å &

WBIE LOGO, TM & © Warner Bros! * * "= *

Gon * "m mmm a

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment red trademarks-or.trademarks

of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. ™, ©

Game Boy Adance and the Nintendo GameCube logo аге trademarks of Nintendo.

я. язу, "aor

Violence

Next Gen Combat with intense martial arts combos

Next Gen Gear including 10 devices like remote charges

Next Gen Action with over 500 animated Batman moves

For more info visit www.ubisoft.com/batmanvengeance

www.ubisoft.com

vam s PROFILE

Eg 0

DA

Rayne, star of Terminal Reality’s PS2 actioner Bloodrayne, strikes a pose.

Terminal Reality

Year Founded: 1994

Location: Lewisville, TX

Web Site: www.terminalreality.com

# of People: 50

Previous work: On console: 4x4 Evo 1 (PS2 and DC) and 2 (Xbox). On PC: Monster Truck Madness 1 & 2, Nocturne, Blair Witch Volume One: Rustin Parr, Fly!, Fly!2K, Fly! Il, CART Precision Racing, Terminal Velocity, Hellbender, Fury 3 and Fl-Zone.

Current Projects: Bloodrayne, a monster- hunting action game on PS2 that will be released by Majesco, and co-development with Khameleon Entertainment Inc. on Guardian City: The Forgotten.

Will you ever do another Monster Truck Madness?: We had a blast doing the series and would love to attack it again with newer ideas and technology, but Microsoft owns the rights to Monster Truck Madness.

You’ve created games for the PS2, DC and Xbox; which one did you enjoy developing for the most?: The PS2 is

the most enjoyable right now because

it is a very low-level system and that forces us to be more creative with our programming ideas.

Which system in this generation do you think will be the most successful?: All of the systems are great and offer something for everyone, but in our honest opinion the PS2 has the biggest installed base and will probably do very well with the mainstream market.

What kind of music do you listen to at the office? Right now the office favorite is from Tenacious D, but we can’t repeat the name of the song here.

а | Here's iia you can, while enjoying a cool puzzle game | at the same time: Download a copy of the new PC title | Puzzle Patriot at http://www.puzzlepatriot.com. For

| the meager price of $10 (all proceeds go to the Red

| Cross of America), you get single-player Campaign and | Mission modes, plus Bomb Bliss, Marathon Battle and | [Меш Leisure RICHIE contests. Give it a try.

3 | | | MN

Sony Gets Square Deal

In early October, Sony CEI invested $124 million into Square, making them the second-biggest shareholder and making the RPG maker's multiple-platform future hazy. What does this mean to you and me? Let's answer a few of the more pressing questions you might have:

Does this mean that if I want to play Square's new games, | need a PlayStation 2?

Square President Hisashi Suzuki said, "We are not necessarily obligated to Sony because of this deal. But we can gauge the situation in the future and offer software to the best-selling hardware maker, and at this time there is no doubt that Sony is the best."

Is it too much to hope that Square will ever develop for Xbox?

Ed Fries, vice president of Microsoft's Games division told us, post-Sony/Square announce- ment, that *They've been very interested in developing for the *box, and they're still interest- ed. The deal with Sony did not include online properties they're creating." Does that mean that bringing an original game to Xbox is out of the question? “I’d hate to say out of the ques- tion. Online is what we're exploring," says Fries.

Will they ever get back with Nintendo or develop for Game Boy Advance?

"Portable systems have different demographics from consoles," Suzuki points out. "Unless Sony is going to release a portable system, we are willing to provide games for WonderSwan Color and Game Boy Advance." GBA announce- ments have yet to be made, but that last statement sure sounds like a confirmation, doesn't it?

Square Goes Online in 2002 with Final Fantasy XI.

Network News —

Updates from Sony, Sega and Microsoft on their plans for online gaming

Era of Free SegaNet Gaming Over Free Internet gaming on SegaNet, Sega's Internet gaming service, is officially over. Since Nov. 1, if you want to play Sega's new games online, you have to cough up $9.95 a month. This affects both new and old releases on Dreamcast, with the exception of some older Visual Concepts-developed games and the original Phantasy Star Online. PSO Ver. 2 players will still have to pay the Hunter's License fee on top of the $9.95 a month. Future online titles on Р52 and GC are expected to follow the same model. To entice players to sign up, Sega has added some goodies. For full details, drop by sega.com.

Microsoft Makes Intangible Plans J Allard, platform general manager for Microsoft's Xbox, spoke briefly with EGM about the company's plans to take their console online. *We want to create an Xbox world where you sign up once and it works

le іс Ga hly - 40

across all games,” Allard said, “and we're going to buy a lot of servers and online acreage to create this world.” Allard also assured us that people will be able to use their existing broadband connections with Xbox servers and store personal information on them to create an online persona. Microsoft plans to have five or six games up and running by the summer of 2002, and 20 online titles (including a new Halo if we're lucky) by year’s end.

Sony Plans Off To Shaky Start Originally slated for a November release, Sony’s network adapter has hit some delays. “We haven’t announced a new date for it yet,” Sony PR Manager Charlotte Panther said of the adapter’s release. Until then, Tony Hawk 3 players can use a USB modem, but games like the forthcoming Twisted Metal Black Online and SOCOM: US Navy SEALs may need the adapter to get online.

Facing; you're only | jood as your | equipment

"Just when I thought NASCAR» Heat" — couldn't get any better, the Xbox" comes out and takes it to a whole new level!" — Rusty Wallace p»

1989 NASCAR» Winston Cup Champion: P vw а

Bet the most ш of your Ah K

Key Features: e 1st NASCARe racing game for Xbox with a 43-car field!

* DVD quality photo-realistic graphics!

* Supports Xbox system up to 32 players! (4 p game system)

* Booming Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound!

* Intense 4-player split-screen racing!

Designed by MER & NASCAR: Drivers, EXCLUSIVE! Raced by their Fans!

Challenges and track descriptions given by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin

Harvick and other top drivers!

Visit ww.esrb.org

York, NY. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. NASCAR(? is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are either registered

or call 1-800-771-3772.

trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and are used under | xe0x шщ — for more info. license from Microsoft. ©1999-2001 Dolby Labs. All rights reserved. Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories, ESRB

па

Pes. ag the FUTURE of ch

DESTINY

"Part Final Fight, part Jedi Knight, and part

Unreal, New Legends is all Chinese stick-wielding, ass-kicking loveliness."

Official Xbox Magazine Pre E 13 » » - Р „м ЫЧ X < X f Ld i ” эй А x EN $ < " —À 9 ме å: = ^a Å — ws N 2$ ^ 3 гем $ | + e e Бе 4 » о ж MR >

„Сап Change a Nation.

vs p = dt

1 | ^ IM N 4 Ww thq.com

trademarks and/or registered. from Microsoft.

Nintendo Throws Cube Pa

n Oct. 3, Nintendo threw a massive Hollywood О party in L.A. to celebrate the opening of Cube

Clubs nationwide. Celebrities turned out in droves, making it difficult to turn around without rubbing elbows with tinseltown's new generation of actors. In addition to those pictured on this page, other guests included Spider-Man's Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire; Resident Evil's Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez; Leonardo DiCaprio, Vin Diesel and The Wonder Years' Fred Savage. Do these celebrities game? Heck yeah. Over the course of the evening we spied DiCaprio fightin’ the Empire in Rogue Leader and Mandy Moore bustin' through wakes in Wave Race.

Two of Playboy's Dahn triplets with Backstreet Boy or *N Syncer (does it really matter?) Joey Fat One. Er, Fatone. Let

WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR Å GAMEGUBE?

Nintendo ran a month-long contest to find out, offering whoever came up with the most interesting answer (read: humiliated themselves the worst) a Game Boy Advance, a handful of games, $5000 cash, and of course, a U.S. GameCube system before its official launch here Nov. 18. Texan Corey Olcsvary (19, left) earned the top prize and no one's respect by shaving his head, stripping down to soccer shorts and painting himself blue, all while munching on *Pikmin food" consisting of live worms and crickets. Congratulations Corey, you're king of the freaks!

Jason Biggs, star of American Tara Reid, from The Big Lebowski and a bunch Pie and...uh...American Pie 2. of crappy teen movies not worth mentioning.

That 7os Show's idiot Ashton Kutcher. Dude, where's my (insert object here)?

Singer Mandy Moore.

As the first center established outside of Japan, the “Pokémon-hattan” store (note: Nintendo's pun, not ours), located at Rockefeller Center, allows gamers the chance to play new Pokégames, buy exclusive Pokégoods, and do other assorted crap that involves a “Poké” prefix. Also promised are life-sized, robotic Pokémon characters, sure to fuel the nightmares of children for years to come.

| Still alive: Jason Biggs?! | Charles in Again?! Can't a guy | Charge's $ throw а video game | Nicole Eggert. party without him

5 | showing up?

Hmm, Roswell's Majandra Delfino, eh? Seems nice enough, plays video games.... Tell us, is that cell phone

set to lg

Dude, where's Tara Reid my Sean William dressed up 4

as that gal... from SSX. :

n.e

Yo, McFly, we thought we told you never to come in here! Crispin Glover can still get the ladies, apparently.

*We were given permission to record a parked F-15 with one afterburner on. We asked them to hit the second engine, but they told us they couldn't or the plane would start moving, even though all the wheels were locked in place!”

-Hiroyuki Ichiyanagi, Producer, Ace Combat 04

ce Combat 04

that gamers have had a chance to warm

r afterburners on Ace Combat o4, EGM ooked to Namco Producer Hiroyuki Ichiyanagi

or some thoughts on fights, flights and the fine of piloting a Mir2000.

: Tell us about your trip to the Defense (Japan's equivalent of the Air Force)

agi: In order to apply realistic game, we recorded actual

MEM came to respect g kers engine power. EGM: What other kinds of things did you do to give the game a realistic feel? Have you had any feedback from Defense Force pilots?

HI: We had a lot of cooperation from the Defense Force. To collect data for the game, we observed the Fuji Synthesis fire-power exercise for explosion sounds, U.S. forces at Atsugi Base for performance and aesthetic properties of the fighters, and visited several other Self Defense forces at bases throughout Japan. Also, the radio chatter heard during the game was created with the advice of actual United States Air Force pilots. ACo4 is not a simulator, but more of a 3D flight/ shooting game,so our top priority was to make it easy to play.

EGM: What are some of your personal favorite aircraft and weapons to use in the

game? Do you have a favorite mission?

HI: My favorite fighter is the R-Mo1. The bodylines seem organic and its appearance is sleek and speedy. The way the canard wings [Ed. note: Canard wings are stabilizers mounted directly behind the cockpit] move is awesome. For weapons, I like the rocket launcher, which you can only use on the F-5, Mig-29 and the F-2. Though it is a little more difficult to use than

t allows skilled pilots to perform e plosive attack that is very effective. As far as missions, I like Mission 9: Operation Bunker Shot. You can actually hear the intensity of the ground troops through your radio. We were able to illustrate atmospheric conditions very accurately in that scenario.

EGM: The game has a ton of planes and missions, but are there any more unlockable aircraft or secrets you can share with us?

HI: 1 don't want to give away too much at this time. What | can say is that after you finish the game, you can open up missions that we've included to help you hone your skills as a pilot.

EGM: Is there anything you wanted to put in the game but didn't have the time or resources for? HI: We pretty much included everything we wanted to at this time. However, we intentionally did not include any "crazy" controls or outland- ish functions since that would detract from the realism and 3D-shooting-game concept.

‘the R-Mo1 for its sleek bodylines and

EGM: You can definitely feel the arcade roots in Ace Combat o4. Are you going to make any more Ace Combat coin-op games?

HI: We made this game so that the player can take his time and enjoy playing it at home. Since we just finished developing the Japanese and U.S. versions, we haven't thought about our future plans. However, I feel that it would be quite fun to play this game in a cockpit-style arcade machine.

EGM: Do you see the Xbox or GameCube as potential platforms for a port of ACo4

or future Ace Combat titles?

HI: We have not made any plans for taking Ace ол to other platforms right now. Personally, if we do develop Ace Combat on other consoles, I would like to create an entirely new title which would utilize the performance specs of the new hardware. I’m not sure there's a controller out there with enough buttons for my liking, though th

airc aft don't have this option, s so the Mir2000 is particularly potent for a small section of the game.

The niche Mir20oo fighter

can a single ray of light really save the galaxy?

_ STAR. WARS,

"= : 4

obiwan.lucasarts.com

Be Obi-Wan Kenobi. Experience full control of the force and your lightsaber as you uncover dark plots and new enemies, hone your skills in two-player combat, and take on the worst scum and villainy the galaxy has to offer.

official Star Wars website: starwars.com

X Violence. © 2001 LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC. ©2001 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM or ® as indicated. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. xeox LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.

ox Interactive, The Simpsons, The Simpsons Road ademarks of Microsoft Corporation cive Digital Software Association.

EP OH. MARGE. Ё] ROADS ARE JUST ^ SUGGESTION.

LIKE PANTS!

Mr. Burns' nuclear-powered fleet of critical mass transit is making Springfieldians catch "ride-share fever"! Help buy the bus system back by driving fares through rush- hour traffic, suicide shortcuts and unsuspecting buildings. Take the fastest possible route. Or just use the roads.

Mild Language Suggestive Themes Violence

—

\\

One of the GameCube’s most impressive and sought- after titles is also one of the trickiest games on the little purple giant this year. LucasArts Producer Brett Tosti takes us inside Rogue Leader for some development insights and tips on winning those elusive gold medals.

EGM: We hear a lot of lines from the movie in the game. Han Solo and Ackbar's lines sound like the real deal, but Lando comes across as a sound-alike. Which voices are the real deal and which ones did you rerecord?

We used the original voices from the movie whenever appropriate, but the majority of the characters had hundreds of new lines not featured in the movies. We had to be careful which old lines we used because mixing new lines with old would have caused an unacceptable inconsistency. We did use a number of lines from the movies for Han Solo, Darth Vader, Biggs, the Echo Base commander and a variety of other incidental characters. We also used Denis Lawson for the voice of Wedge.

EGM: Enemy TIEs can get pretty tenacious in this game. How did you make them so smart? It certainly helps to be developing ona more powerful machine. In the past there was always a trade-off between good Al and

fterthoughts:

"We wanted to stay as close as possible to the official storyline. Our inspiration was derived from the three classic Star Wars movies and from the radio dramas."

-Brett Tosti, producer, Star Wars Rogue Squadron Il: Rogue Leader

trying to maintain decent performance. An enemy's intelligence is directly related to how much CPU power you dedicate to the Al. We made a huge commitment to А! by assigning a single programmer to work exclusively on the enemy and friendly behavior.

EGM: What ships and missions are your

personal favorites? The X-wing & Y-wing are probably my

50

2 Ап example of Rogue Leader's т; of guns left on this crashed Star Destroy many you take out battling it in the previous miss

г subtl is: The RUNÊ redd N

favorite ships. I just love bombing those Imperial bases! My favorite mission, without a doubt, is the Endor Battle. Make no mistake, it's a tough level. Once you actually complete the mission, however, you feel like you're an elite member of Rogue Squadron. The level contains two Star Destroyers, five capital ships, about 50 Tie Fighters, dozens of Tie Bombers, and over 16 Rebel ships. It's an incredibly epic space battle.

Cont. on page 54

er's back!

*also available in convenient travel size.

ogge

Frogger’s hopping into stores this fall in я two gin ошо te те ; ull 3D platform action on the Fol3-D gagapley on PlayStation® 2, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment m [ds % system and classic Frogger gameplay on ү, " x Game Boye Advance. Everybody's iN =: favorite amphibian is back and better than ever!

EVERYONE n

GAME BOY ADVANCE PlayStation.

Frogger®, Frogger's Adventures", The Great Quest™, Temple of the Frog!" and Konami are either registered trademarks or trademarks of KONAMI CORPORATION. © 1981 2001 KONAMI CORPORATION. Game Boy® Advance is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2001 Nintendo. "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. All rights reserved.

ШШ 2

KONAM| © 1 3201549.3 i 2а f '

II

der Sif FROGGER: THE | GREAT QUEST Å ШАН 2

к EAR ^em i $ T кү = PM М $0 å M Å PLAYSTATION 2 d ME SONS OFSLIBERTY N

„SILENT HILL 2: RESTIESS DREAMS йз

— ras j її ГУ Е үг zi

KONAN КИ

ROGERS intr. TEMPLE OF TH Y ADVANCE E

i 3205382-5

due mm пороха олаг оцЕ Canada. Prices and availability ore ue туйса del sponsi ] Бейш п

FINAL FANTASY X DR jun GUIDE

#212943-5

n

FINAL FANTASY X PLAYSTATION 2 SQUARESOFT/ ELECTRONIC ARTS 21823368

EGM: What's the best way to take down a Star Destroyer (should we attack from above, below, the rear)? Which is the best ship for the job?

My personal preference is to use an X-wing for the job because it is quick and maneuverable. Additionally, it's great to have that R2 unit repairing your ship. I prefer to approach the star destroyer from the rear and then take out the shield generators with my proton torpedoes.

EGM: Any hidden Episode I ships in this game? If so, can you give us a hint on how to get to them?

BT: Absolutely. Doing well on the various missions and earning medals is the key to unlocking most of the bonus ships and all of the secret missions.

EGM: How about some advice on surviving the final Death Star mission with the Millennium Falcon? That thing doesn't

fit in the new Death Star's tunnel/vent/shaft very well...

It takes a great pilot to navigate that thing, especially in the Millennium Falcon. Try using the Z button (roll) to rotate your ship; that should help some.

EGM: What does George Lucas think of the game?

Apparently he is quite pleased with the final product. That isn't surprising since our core premise was to stay true to the movies. All the gameplay and missions are based around the events seen in the original movies (Episodes 4-6).

EGM: So where's the mission that lets you blast apart the Ewok village, or haven't we found that one yet?

The Ewoks are allies with the Rebel Alliance. Why would you want to blast apart an Ewok village? Don't answer that. df

It's always fun to see movie characters you respect and revere exploited for a buck. Terås Kåsi forced awkward punch-and-kick fighting moves onto everyone from Chewy to Boba Fett for some epically uninspired and demeaning gameplay. It gets slapped with our

54

LucasArts is churning out another space-combat humdinger in the form of Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter on the PS2. The spring 2002 release is the follow-up to 2000's Starfighter on the PS2. Fifteen missions based on the upcoming Episode II movie will accommodate one or two players cooperatively, and for the first time introduce Force powers to aerial combat.

It was basic, but ESB was pretty damn fun at the time. All you had to do was shoot down the AT-ATs that advanced on your base. You could repair your speeder and use The Force for a power boost if you got on an Imperial-bashing roll, which is strikingly advanced for an Atari game. This pixely ancient wins

No drop-kicking Wookies or cheesy acting here. Its killer visuals and classic gameplay make RL the most stylish, most addictive Star Wars title by about 10 parsecs. Let's hope things only continue to get better from here. The decided cream of the crop, Rogue Leader gets the coveted

. Aw yeah.

TF Patrol Boat р

STAR ARS"

F| ee i ТАВ В УУ

SPECIAL EDITION

Some questions are better left

unanswered —that's what we tell people when they ask about the funky stain on

our office couch. But when it comes to game-related mysteries, we're all about digging deep and seeking the answers

you crave. Here's a hot batch of solved mysteries to get you all excited this holiday. But not too excited — don't you go ruining your couch, too.

Damn Skippy

Q: Why do games played on my old PlayStation get all skippy and choppy, and why does the problem go away when I turn my system upside down? A: Gamers hoping for a long and happy life with their original PlayStations were stymied by several hardware hardships that led to ch-ch- choppy gameplay. For starters, some batches of the very first PlayStation unit that debuted in '95 (model 1001) suffered from overheating problems, and the CD-ROM drives inside all PSs are really low-cost items not built for the rigors ofa four-hour-a-day gaming habit. These factors eventually lead to the CD drive— particularly the plastic track on which the CD lens glides back and forth —just plain ol’ wearing out, a glitch that manifests itself in the form of skipping game audio and movie clips or extra- long load times. “The more wear the CD mech gets, the more instances you get of the signal data degrading," says Dan Kramer, an independent contractor for NYKO peripherals who repairs PlayStations in his spare time. One short-term solution is to turn your PlayStation upside down. “That makes it so the CD mechanism is riding

5 SNK 1978-2001 On Oct. 29, after 23 years of kickin' out memorable games for both the arcades and consoles, SNK of Japan finally closed their doors and called it quits. Best known for their long-running NeoeGeo arcade and home

| titles, SNK was the darling of the hardcore gaming crowd with trademark series like Metal Slug, Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown. The King of Fighters 2001, their last Neo*Geo game, will be completed with help from Korean developer Eolith. So long SNK, and thanks for the memories!

|

TIDBITS

Panasonic has announced that the “Q,” a special GameCube capable of playing DVD movies, will not be coming to America, much to the chagrin of collectors and others with way too much money on their hands. The Q will go on sale in Japan on Dec. 14 as planned, for about $330.

Gable Confusion

Q: What the heck’s the difference between all the console video cables?

A: Game-to-TV connections have come a long way since the A/V stone age of the TV/game switchbox (you know, that little thingie that hooked to your Atari 2600 or Intellivision and let you switch between “game” or “TV”). Nowadays, fancier TVs and video inputs require fancier cabling. Tune into our rundown to find out what’s what...

* Composite cables—These standard connectors come tucked in the boxes of all new systems, and they pump the color and brightness signals separately from the sound signal (hence the video, left-channel and right- channel “RCA” jacks). The composite signal is far from perfect, however: colored objects on the screen suffer from dull edges, making for an overall lack of sharpness in a game’s graphics.

* S-video cables— The next step up in visual pizazz, S-video carries the color and luminance sources separately, reducing signal degradation and saving game graphics from nasty artifacts and soft edges. Most TVs larger than 27 inches offer an S-video input.

* Component cables — By far the most preferred means of connecting a console to your TV, component cables break the video signal down to its basic bits, which gives you a better image than S-video. The difference here is not as great as going from composite to S-video, though—unless both your game console and TV support progressive scan. In a nutshell, this stunningly clear video mode is twice as sharp as a normal non- interlaced TV signal. The Xbox

Look familiar? Sony's shoddy craftsmanship created the need for this home remedy for the PS1's skipping problems.

on the opposite side of the track that's not worn out yet," Kramer says. Of course, this side of the track will

supports progressive scan, while only certain GameCube games are compatible with the feature. A component cable is also the only way you can hook your console to

eventually wear out, too, leaving you with a system that skips no matter which way it sits. Getting the thing fixed will run you at least $50, so if you're stuck with a bum system you're best off just buying a new PS one or just springing for the backward-compatible PS2.

dazzling HDTV, a digital television format that's becoming more affordable everyday.

— Crispin Boyer Got a gaming mystery? E-mail it to EGM@ziffdavis.com with the subject header "Ever wondered?" and we'll solve it for you.

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 56 - www.egmmag.com

THE MANIA IS ABOUT TO BEGIN ALL OVER AGAIN.

42 of wrestling's greatest including: Hulk Dominate your foes with the First-ever interactive Never-hefore, in-depth career guid-

. Hogan, Bret "Hitman" Hart, Jerry “The King" all-new ISP system for lethal wrestler entrances ance by Captain Lou Albano and. Lawler, Rob Van Dam and many more! one-button combos! with announcer introductions! “Mouth Of The South" Jimmy Hart!

Hulk Hogan, Bret тап" Hart, Jerry "The King” Lawler, Rob Van Dam, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Road Warrior Hawk, Road Warrior Animal, Terry Funk, George “The Animal” Steele, Iron Sheik, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, King Kong Bundy, Ricky “The Dragon" Steamboat, Ted DiBiase, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Mr. Fuji, Captain Lou Albano, Tito Santana, The Sheik, Ivan Koloff

pm PlayStation. ES Alain

www.acclaim.com

Legends of Wrestling” and Acclaim® & © 2001 Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City. All Rights Reserved. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

<>

PlayStation

2 s H t Ed Å В

Зал АЛКА ic.

КА А А 6

egent.

TEEN COMIC MISCHIEF VIOLENCE — ESRB à

МПЗ SI SIHL

ER

Tetris (s back.

If you loved it then, you'll love it even more now.

EVERYONE Visit www.esrb.org

or call 1-800-771-3772 GAME BOY ADVANCE PlaySta tion.e

for more info.

Tetris; © Elorg 1987. Tetris Worlds”: © Elorg 2001. Cover Painting and Tetris Worlds Loga by Roger Dean; Cover Painting © Roger Dean 2001. Tetris Worlds Logo © The Tetris Company 2001. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Blue Planet Software and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. All rights reserved. TM, © and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

* Exciting challenges await you with б variations of Tetris in Story Mode and Arcade Mode, including the all new Hot-Line Tetris, Cascade Tetris and Fusion Tetris.

e Lush 3D worlds evolve and animate as a reward for clearing lines and reaching goals. See what each world is meant to look like.

* Enjoy Tetris Worlds ا‎

when up to four people play to see who is the best. (Two players only on Game Boy'Advance)

Deceptively simple, ^ completely addictive.

| TETRIS GAME

www.tetris.com www.tetrisworlds.com

of Blue Planet Software, Inc. Sublicensed to THQ Inc. THQ and the THQ log

www.thq.com

POD isn't the only car that has feelings. Enter the genuine article, Herbie the Love Bug, star of 1967's live-action Disney feature, The Love Bug. The plot follows the growing relationship between Jim Douglas, a hapless race-car driver (played by Dean Jones) and Herbie, the rust-bucket Volkswagen with a mind of its own. It spawned three sequels, a TV series and a 1997 TV movie.

Honda Civic Type R NSX-R Dual Note

Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R M-spec GT-R Concept Fairlady Z Skyline 3-GT Premera 20V

Toyota Altezza Gita А5200 Soarer 430SCV WiLL VS POD RSC

hanks to Polphony Digital's new

installment of Gran Turismo, now you

can get behind the wheel of all those cool, futuristic concept cars you see at auto shows. GT Concept Tokyo 2001 is a scaled- down version of GT3, featuring only the Arcade mode (sorry sim fans) and a collection of 20 concept cars from Japanese manufacturers. Because of the lack of Simulation mode and the smaller number of tracks (five) and cars, Sony will offer it for a lower price: 3200 yen (about $26) when it's released in Japan on Jan. 1, 2002. A U.S. release has not been announced as of press time. This may not be the last mini-GT we see— designer Kazunori Yamauchi commented at the game's unveiling that he'd like to make more manufacturer- specific or historical installments in the future.

Out here,

amongst the clouds

and the sea,

a chain gun.

a course

for

destruction

törpedo-laden gunboat

and while away your

days destroying Devil boats, forts and shore

bloodwake.com Batteries. Paradise

awaits in the Dragon Sea.

»XG0X

Got a problem with the Dark Side? Get ready to lead Rogue Squadron in epic dogfighting so real, they'll have to peel you out of the cockpit. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader only for Nintendo GameCube."

Quartermann -

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings, Q- fans. It's your jolly host, the one-quarter man, diving down your chimney with a sack fully loaded with juicy gossip. Here we go!

...SNK has closed up/shop, but The О hears whispers that all their franchises may soon find a new home at another publisher. Double and triple cross your fingers, Q-buds...

...Good news оп the Treasure front, game fans. The Q can confirm that the highly regarded developer is working on a top-secret title for GameCube. No, it's not a port of their new arcade shooter Ikaruga. I'm afraid a home version of that beauty may not be in the cards after all. Because it was tailor-made for Sega's Naomi arcade hardware, bringing it to any system other than Dreamcast might prove too costly. One other bright spot of Treasure news: Seems that publishers all over the world have been beating down their door trying to secure the publishing rights to.a Game Boy

Advance rendition of their classic shoot-‘em- up Gunstar Heroes (see this month's Top 100 feature for more on that gem). At the moment, it's not happening, but if it does become a reality, expect more than just a straight port. Joy!

:.. While we're on the subject of reviving old franchises, one of The Q's favorite PC games from the days of old is getting a console revival in the near future. Sam & Max, LucasArts’ sneaky team of detectives, will hit the road for their first console-based adventure in 2002. Yours truly can't wait...oh how that dynamic duo makes me laugh!... Lemme squeeze one last bit in—those old- schoolers clamoring for a new Kid Icarus just might get their wish in the new year...and just to Кеер ир with this month's theme of sequels — Miyamoto and his team are already brainstorming ieas for Pikmin 2. You heard it here first, kiddies...

Time for me to skedaddle! If you're so inclined, drop me an e-mail at

quartermann@ziffdavis. com. Bye! —TheQ

Again! Just as modified versions of Doom and the arcade tank game Battlezone have previously been used by the military for training purposes, a new video game funded by the Army will help train new recruits. Called C-Force, the game is under development for an unnamed next-generation console (damn those Army secrets!) by PC developer Pandemic Studios (Dark Reign) and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Set in a third-person, over-the- shoulder viewpoint, C- Force puts you in command of a light infantry squad in urban environments like those seen in war-torn areas of Somalia and the Middle East. But it's not just training for modern situations the army is

game that not only represented the soldier of 2001," says Matt Norton, Pandemic's producer on C-Force, “but also the soldier of 2020."

Nope, it's not Unreal Tournament. This after. “The Army wanted а concept art is what the Army imagines their soldiers might look like come 2020.

Thus the game will feature logical evolutions of existing technology, like new weaponry and remote-piloted surveillance vehicles. Whether or not that would include plasma rifles, BFG- 90005 and railguns, Norton wouldn't say.

He did tell us weather conditions, time of day, plus troop fatigue and experience will all be taken into account in each of the game's scenarios. The idea is to provide new recruits with decision-making training for real-life situations. "It's not all about fighting," Norton told us. "Sometimes the best way to win in the scenarios we're developing is to use non-lethal means or withdrawing."

A slightly retooled consumer version of C- Force for us armchair warriors (hopefully without the emphasis on withdrawing from combat) will be released sometime after the Army's game is finished in early 2002.

STAR. WARS

separately. www.

tendogamecube.com

PRESS START

The Top 20 Best-Selling Games of September 2001

For the second straight month, the PS2 version of Madden 2002 is at the top n of the charts. In fact, five football titles grace the top 20, including two of the 11 Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2

final Dreamcast releases. Speaking of final releases, the lone Nintendo 64 Activision game that made the cut this month, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, is also the ч last game for the dead system. The big surprise, though, is how quickly and 12 Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 completely Gran Turismo 3 fell out of the top 10 this month. With all the major Acclaim releases in November and beyond, who knows what kind of staying power it'll have going into 2002? 13 NHL 2002 er ZEEE Ai Electronic Arts 1 Madden NFL 2002 Electronic Arts 14 ° я n Hunter 1dway

DU

a 2 Ф 809085 co [ш 3 Pokémon Crystal

15 NCAA Football 2K2

Sega

16 NCAA Football 2002

Electronic Arts

17 Gran Turismo 3 A-spec

Sony CEA Nintendo М W

vance Wars $ 101535 uL

4 Silent Hill 2 . 19 Gran Turismo 2 Konami Sony CEA

N H Spyro: Year of the Dragon 3.0 8.5 20 Rel CEA 3

Source: NPD TRSTS Video Games Service. Call Kristin Barnett-von Korff at

(516) 625-2481 for questions regarding this list. Chart description written by EGM staff. You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!

JAPAN TOP 10

1.0

Kraig

Activision itti Sangoku Musou 2 e Sitting pretty at 9.0 eal FILE number one this week Crispi ЖЕБЕСЕ is Koei's Sangoku SA Time Crisis 2 FI [E29 Musou, known in the

Namco

U.S. as Dynasty Bravo Music = Warriors 3. According Sony CEI == to the sales charts, in the month since its Gyakuten Saiban (Reversed Trial) [CAVE BOYA releaser its sold over COR 500,000 copies. Formula Üne 2001 r- Further down the Sony CEI FE chart at number nine a д -. Sits the bare bones, Ши Marsion ÉA cheap (1500 yen, or $10) version of the

9 6 1 Everyone’ Golf 3 classic puzzle game 8 9

сә М =

Shoe

1 2002

Hectronic Arts

Ф 1 +

9 Resident Evil Gode: Veronica X

Capcom

Sony CEI Elorg 4 Ever!

Ace Combat 4 res

< 909090 == @ e Уа iin Ba Superlite 1500 Series: The Tetris p 10 Driver 2 SER Infogrames 1 Touge 3 == ; Atlus Sangoku Musou 2

4 8.0 15

NZ JohnD |Milkman 1.5

Ryan Source: Weekly Famitsu, week ending 10/21/2001

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 86 - www.egmmag.com

$900 997226 BES FSS 216998

] WWW.JAKANDDAXTER.COM ®

3 E ©!

LJ " 5 LI * © à б E . s s; = d * д = e . x "opuejulN 1002 "opuejuiN JO sxreuepeu ee 030| aqngawey ориәуш! 34} pue © ‘w, `рәллә$ән Suiv гощ 'Butsuaarq soipnis jesuanlup Aq pesuer] мег ‘anua julof anug-f pue SOIPNIS |ESJAALUN JO зао pue уџешәред e si anny ayy

* 'soipnis jesiantu@ JO 4846402 pue энешәред e SI [дәш -едхэ SUL 173 “Spm Jesjentum 304432000 pue энешәред e SIS 0] yoeg ощ 'suononpoug “тиет 1әуеу JO SIYBLAOI рие ѕулешәред әле Sua} eIeYpaye|ad pue spuatij pue гәудәйроом\ poo әш Juawulejaju3 ицдшү pue SOIPNIS |еѕләліцд JO 34812000 рие лешәред e SI JE IISSLINF

е > . "рәлгәѕәл SJYSL [|y "sorpnis Jes43AtUN 1007 © "09/3007 © 7 e

е

€ xeox

ЕЕ t4

28.07.45 SEVERE HERD -

INJURY

COMIC MISCHIEF MILD LANGUAGE MILD LYRICS

eios I

GAMES WITH CHARACTER

4199 BETTE y.

H ur

w92:Sur2rubsegpeu-nnm 7 BY

Whatever it takes|t

Crystal Dynamics

. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logos

are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. All rights reserved.

Haul ass in ruthless, multi- player combat racing.

Race a motley crew of characters through treacherous, obstacle- filled terrains.

Thwart opponents with traps, trickery and explosive attacks.

An original game design created exclusively for the Xbox" video game system.

Voted "Best Xbox Racing Game" at E3 2001. =ign.com

Mad Dash Racing, the Mad Dash Racing logo and related characters are

www.MadDashRacing.com

PR ST

ESS ART

Compiled By Jonathan Dudlak jonathan dudlakGziftdavis.com and Kraig Kujawa kraig kujawaGziffdavis.com

December

PlayStation 2

ESPN NFL PrimeTime 2002—Konami Sports Giants: Citizen Kabuto— Interplay Action GoDai: Elemental Force—3DO Action Grandia II— Ubi Soft RPG Hidden Invasion — Conspiracy Action Jade Cocoon 2— Ubi Soft RPG Jak and Daxter—Sony CEA Adventure Jonny Moseley Mad Trix —3DO Sports

Legend of Alon D'ar—Ubi Soft RPG

Namco Museum — Namco Misc. NFL Blitz 20-02 — Midway Sports NFL GameDay 2002—Sony CEA Sports NHL FaceOff 2002—Sony CEA Sports Rayman Arena—Ubi Soft Action Tetris Worlds—THQ Puzzle Wizardry: Forsaken Land—Atlus RPG GameCube All-Star Baseball 2002—Acclaim Sports Crazy Taxi—Acclaim Racing Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2—Acclaim Sports Extreme G-3—Acclaim Racing NFL Blitz 20-02— Midway Sports NFL Quarterback Club 2002 —Acclaim Sports NHL Hitz 20-02 — Midway Sports Pikmin — Nintendo Strategy SSX Tricky — Electronic Arts Sports Super Smash Bros. Melee — Nintendo Fighting Tetris Worlds — THQ Puzzle The Simpsons: Road Rage— Electronic Arts Racing

ae Hawk’s Pro Skater poesi inni

Azurik: Rise of Perathia— Microsoft Adventure Batman Vengeance — Ubi Soft Action Bloodwake— Microsoft Action Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2—Acclaim Sports NBA Live 2002—Electronic Arts Sports NFL Blitz 20-02—Midway Sports NFL 2K2—Sega Sports NHL 2002—Electronic Arts Sports Nightcaster— Microsoft Action Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams—Konami Adventure SSX Tricky — Electronic Arts Sports Star Wars: Obi-Wan — LucasArts Action UFC Tapout— Crave Fighting WWF Raw Is War—THQ Action Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth—Atlus RPG Mega Man X6— Capcom Action

Game Boy Advance American Bass Challenge — Ubi Soft Sports Breath of Fire — Capcom RPG

Columns—Sega Puzzle Crazy Chase—Kemco Action Kao the Kangaroo—Titus Action

Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder—Activision Sports Sonic Advance —Sega Action Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles — LucasArts Action

January

Deus Ex—Eidos Action

Flag Elec

Downforce—Titus Racing Drakan Il — Sony CEA Adventure Final Fantasy X—Square EA RPG Eve of Extinction — Eidos Action Gitaroo Man— Koei Misc. Hot Shots Golf 3—Sony CEA Sports Mat Hoffman's Pro ВМХ 2— Activision Sports Maximo: Ghosts to Glory — Capcom Action Monsters Inc.—Sony CEA Action NBA 2K2—Sega Sports NBA ShootOut 2002—Sony CEA Sports Rez—Sega Action Salt Lake 2002—Eidos Sports Star Wars Racer II: Revenge — LucasArts Racing The Lost— Crave Adventure

World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars—Infogrames Racing GameCube 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker—Acclaim Racing

Dark Summit —THQ Sports Legends of Wrestling— Acclaim Action NBA Courtside 2002 — Nintendo Sports

Genma Onimusha — Capcom Action

Thunderstrike— Eidos Action Game Boy Advance

Street Fighter Alpha 3—Capcom Fighting

Tekken — Namco Fighting

February

Aliens: Colonial Marines— Electronic Arts Action Caesar's Palace— Take 2 Gambling Commandos 2— Eidos Strategy Conflict Zone — Ubi Soft Strategy Dune— Dreamcatcher Strategy Herdy Gerdy — Eidos Interactive Puzzle Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2—Eidos ^ Adventure Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front —Bandai Action No One Lives Forever—Sierra Action Pac-Man World 2— Namco Action Pirates of Skull Cove— Electronic Arts Adventure RLH: Run Like Hell — Interplay Action Shifters—3D0 Action SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals—Sony CEA Action Star Trek: Shattered Universe—Interplay Action GameCube Eternal Darkness—Nintendo Adventure Phantasy Star Online—Sega RPG WWF Wrestlemania 2002—THQ Action ESPN NBA Tonight 2002—Konami Sports Gun Valkyrie—Sega Action Jet Set Radio Future—Sega Action Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2—Eidos Adventure New Legends—THQ Action Transworld Snowboarding — Infogrames Sports

Dreamcast

NHL 2K2—Sega Sports Game Boy Advance

Duke Nukem — Take 2 Action

Pocky and Rocky — Crave Action

RoboCop —Titus Action

Super Mario Advance 2— Nintendo Action

Top Gun — Titus Action

onic Gaming Monthly - 12 - www.

Bomberman 6

JA yd pe

Import Pick of the Month: It's old-school 2D Bomberman and the last Nintendo 64 release in Japan. How could we not pick it? Importers/collectors, get on this one.

PlayStation

12/20 Goemon: A New Generation, Konami (Action)

PlayStation 2

12/6 Yoake no Mariko, Sony CEI (Karaoke Voice Acting)

12/20 Bomberman Kart, Hudson (Kart Racing)

12/20 Tokimeki Memorial 3, Konami (Dating Sim)

1/1 Gran Turismo Concept Tokyo 2001, Sony CEI (Driving)

1/31 Grandia II, Enix (RPG)

1/31 Grandia Extreme, Enix (RPG)

1/31 Virtua Fighter 4, Sega (Fighting)

Dreamcast

12/20 Sakura Taisen Online, Sega (Action/Dating RPG)

12/20 Shiren's Mysterious Dungeon: Asuka's Quest, Sega (RPG)

Game Boy Advance

12/7 Magical Vacation, Nintendo (RPG)

Dec. Super Mario Advance 2, Nintendo (Action)

Dec. Battle Network Rockman EXE 2, Capcom (Action)

Dec. The King of Fighters Advance, Marvelous Entertainment (Fighting)

12/20 Sonic Advance, Sega (Action)

12/21 Breath of Fire Il, Capcom (RPG)

GameCube

12/14 Animal Forest Plus, Nintendo (RPG)

12/20 Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, Sega (Action)

Nintendo 64

12/20 Bomberman 64, Hudson (Action)

*Schedule subject to change without notice. Consult your local import game store for the latest release info.

[ж Fremst а

NT

| Danser

<>

PlayStation

Syphon Fiter is о todemark of Sony Computer Ener

foment Amei

2 ©7001 Sony Computer

Classified Information: Security clearance required

The ultimate, espionage super agent Gabe Logan is back.

mission: clear

eradicate the Syphon Filter virus.

shadows. through 19 intense, action=packed levels exotic, international locales:

Costa Rica, Tokyo, South Africa : Ireland, > иы tann

Proceed with extreme caution, Maintain cover at all ФШ times. Contact key intelligence

personnel. Move through multi= ple obstacles. Maximum strategy advised.

Utilize lethal

WE taser, tear gas gun, sniper- xifle,

crossbow, grenade launcher, concealed sub- machine

not an option. |

ET RET UNS Å

Ju piu mel P

Entertainment Inc.

arsenal: X-ray gun, M-16, proximity _ ; nines ian nightvision rifle, E

19 HINT- b eri mtm CULT? a SPLENDID AND HIGHLY UNSCRIPTED QUESTION, MY BROTHER г

I AM GLAD Чоо ASKED!

CERTAINLY, To THE UNTRAINED, MINT-DROPPING Poses MANG

ALLOW ME To FETCH THE CHARTS !

AND THAT'S JUST THE ТР oF THE ICEBERG!

THERE'S THE SIDELONG HINT!

THE SUBLIMINAL HINT!

THE HINT OF ONE- THOUSAND Роѕт-1т NOTES PLASTERED To THE INTERIOR

OF ONE'S CAR!

TELL ME, CHAN- WHICH Two GAME SYSTEMS ARE ALL THE RAGE RIGHT Now?

ATARI

XBOX AND GAMECUBE, Чоо SAY?

You'Re quite CORRECT!

O» CHAN

GAME DESIGNERS ARE...

LAST NIGHT TRANG To GET мч OLD

HOOKED ve...

HELLO, VIDEO GAMERS!

THE PURPOSE OF DROPPING HINTS 15, OF COURSE, To STEER YOUR LISTENER'S THINKING TOWARD DESIRED OUTCOMES WITHOUT ACTUALLY COMING RIGHT OUT AND STATING WHAT IT 1S SOU DESIRE

WE DONT KNOW WHY Tus 15 CONSIDERED Tago, EXACTLY. МАЧВЕ \Т ANGERS THE Goos, I DUNNO,

AT ANY RATE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TECHNIQUES

ONE CAN EMPLOY

IN THE HiNT- RØPPING

ы FIELD...

VM HSU TANAKA, THATS MY BROTHER CHAN, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN OUTSIDE RECENTLY -- WHICH, ADMITTEDLY, GIVEN YOUR GAMER STATUS, STANDS ONLY AT A HO% LIKELIHOOD-- You KNOW THAT WERE CURRENTLY IN THE BUSIEST PART OF THE HOLIDAY BUYING SEASON: THAT STRETCH OF LAST- MINUTE PANIC WHERE ЧОО HANE To DO Au. THE SHOPPING YOUNE BEEN PUTTING OFF, AND THUS END UP GETTING OUR LOVED ONES ALL MANNER OF RIDICULOUS AND USELESS JUNK JUST N To HAVE THE HASSLE OLN DONE WITH! Views w's BLESSED, I TRADITION!

HAND-WOvEN GERBIL SWEATERS! PERFECT FOR GRAMMA!

FOR A START, THERE 15 WHAT 15 KNOWN AS THE STRAIGHTFORWARD MINT -- THIS CONSISTS OF BASICALLY TELLING SOME- Вор WHAT YoU WANT IN AS wwip DETAIL AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT MAKING A DIRECTED STATEMENT OF IT.

SOME. EXAMPLES:

GOLLY, THE

BUT WAIT, HSU’ WHAT GOOD Does PPING HINT! Were Чоо, YOUR’

SELF, DONT REALLY KNOW WHAT IT 16 Чоо WANT ?

COOKWARE, ETC

HOWEVER, FOR

THAT REALLY MATTER, LIKE, OH,

YOU MAY WANT TO CONSULT THE ADVICE OF SOME- ONE MORE SAGACIOUS THAN YOUR OWN PITIFUL SELF...

ANOTHER Good QUESTION, BROTHER CHAN:

‘You'Re ON A ROLL!

FOR MANY ITEMS, ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT ONE DESIRES THROUGH SOME SIMPLE RESEARCH AND INFORMED

DECISION-MAKING, THIS WORKS FOR AUTOMOBILES, REAL ESTATE AGENTS,

THE THINGS IN LIFE

SAY, VIDEO GAMES,

REMOTE “CONTROL MODEL ZERO-S

SORE, THERE ARE OTHER SHOPPING GUIDES OUT THERE, AND IF Gou'RE A TREASONOUS RAT You MAY EVEN PICK ONE OP, BUT WE ASSURE You, VIDEO GAMERS, OURS \S BETTER!

THE GIFT-GIVING SEASON IS ESPECIALLY STRESSFUL О

THE GAMING POPULATION

IN ADDITION TO THE. STANDARD SHOPPING WOES, THERE'S ALSO THE ENER PRESENT DANGER OF RECEIVING HORDES OF OTTER CRAP ON THE BIG DAW JUST BECAUSE WELL- MEANING RELATIVES FOUND THEM To BE VAGUELS

PRICE "Y TO SAR THAT THE |

COMPANIES. PRO CIRO TAS STUFF

To ANY EXTRA- ORDINARY LENGTHS, To HALT THE FLOW

OWN HANDS-- You MUST LEARN THE ANGIENT ART OF HINT-DROPPING +

WHATEVER “TOMB

RAIDER" IT 15 THAT

THEY'RE ОР To RIGHT NOW...

You KNOW, THe

WORLD WOULD BE

А BETTER PLACE

1Е More PEOPLE

SETTLED OUT OF COURT.

Nice PLACE YoU GOT HERE!

SURE Wourd BE

A SHAME IF SOME” THIN WAS ТО HAPPEN To IT BEFORE SOME- BODY WAS ALL PAID UP ON THEIR |. "INSURANCE !

WINK WINK!

КД V DON'T want AN SHoULD GET

Pin DE KR SANE дн Me GUESS- WORK BY TELLING YOU IN PLAIN ENGLISH WHICH PRODUCTS You HANE TO BUY, AND DOESN'T TAKE ANY GOFF FOR IT!

ALL Чоо HAVE ТО Vd K NER THE CAS м re «оо To, AND FOUR WORRIES ARE OVER!

CONSIDER I Tus COMPENTOR'S SHOPPING GUIDE RATINGS FOR QUALITY, VALUE, LONGEVITY -. ALL FINE AND DANDY, BUT IN THE END THE SHOPPING DECISIONS ARE. LY STILL LEFT UP

THESE TWO CONSOLES ARE GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD ON A LOT OF WISH LISTS THIS YEAR —

COUNTLESS ARTICLES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

COMPARING AND

CONTRASTING

THE TWO, BUT

IN THE VIDEO

GAME RACE, NEITHER 15 ЧЕТ EMERGING AS

THE CLEAR-CUT

WINNER !

SoME WOULD ASK, “IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE. 115 EARLY IN THE GAME, To DETERMINE WHICH WILL BE THE BETTER OVERALL „„ CONSOLE?

www.ape-law.com/evilmonkey

THAT ANSWER, VIDEO GAMERS, 19 А RESOUNDING "No, OF COURSE

Nor.” IF ANYONE KNEW A SYSTEM WAS GOING TO COMPLETELY BOMB, THEY'D HAVE NEVER RELEASED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Thus, we DECIDED TO BASE OUR DECISIONS ON HOW THE xBox AND GAMECUBE STACKED UP AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN VENUES OUTSIDE OF GAMING!

CHAN?

[Thanx You, HSU.

THE XBOX WAS мот SOON To BE DEFEATED, HOWEVER, AND PULLED FAR AHEAD AFTER THE THIRD TRIAL, THE CONVERSION INTO TINY-VET-EXPENSNE ,, CHARCOAL GRILLS.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, LEMME

GO CHECK ON THE FRANKS...

WE STARTED WITH THE PAPERWEIGHT AND DOOR- STOP TRIALS, WHERE THE GAMECUBE. EMERGED THE

UNLIKELY VICTOR, DESPITE S WEIGHT HANDICAP, BY PROVING MORE MANEUVER: ABLE THAN THE UNWIELDLY XBOX.

Cont. on page 76

Cont. from page 75

JUST ADDING A LITTLE PEPPER, HSU. CALM ром!

| DIDNT SAG THAT!

WHO'S THERE?

WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE CONSOLES YOU'RE COMPARING!

WE HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED To ENSURE THAT THE COMPETITION REMAINS FAIR AND UNBIASED!

OH, PLEASE. 1 WORK

FOR MICROSOFT!

WELL, ! ASSURE

You, WE HAVE

NOTHING TO HIDE, MA... UM...

VINNY, DISTANT

VM A PLACEHOLDER MASCOT, UNTIL THEY CAN COME UP WITH Å REAL ONE.

BEAR WITH ME.

WHY DIDNT THEY Just USE ABE

OR MUNCH?

WAX Too POLITICAL

BESIDES, IN REAL LIFE, MUNCH 15 A CHRONIC LITER BUG Honest TRUTH,

WELL, ALL RIGHT, NOW THAT INTRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, MAY WE RETURN To OUR DEMON- STRATON?

WERE RUNNING OUT OF PANELS.

GUESSED.

So, YOURE A PLUMBER?

LAWYER, SAME DEAL.

OK, GETTING BACK To WHERE WE WERE, чоо MAY Eu VI feed PROVIDES А FAR BETTER GRILLING ENVIRON

You PeofLE. ARE Sick!

SICK!

the! оз Br EAS 'OUBLE, BROTHER: ме NEED 4 THER SOMETHING то RID OURSELNES OF THEM,

AND FAST!

1 SAR THERE,

SHORT CONSOLE | REPRESENTATINES!

RHAPS, YoU COULD Fieve Us м OUR DEMONSTRATION

WE NEED oR

do JING Masco’ ABILITIES!

WHAT WE NEED You To Do, BASICALLY 15 JUST STAND HERE AND REPRESENT Чооң RESPECTIVE COMPANIES WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY...

www.ape-law.com/evilmonkey

WHILE BEATING THE TAR OUT OF ONE ANOTHER WITH WHIFFLE BATS.

GREAT SCOTT, HOW плн тр BROUGHT THE CAMCORDER!

WELL, VIDEO GAMERS,

IN THE MATTER OF XBox VERSUS GAMECUBE, THE CLEAR- СОТ WINNER 15 QUITE OBVIOUSLY -- НЕЧ, WHADDYA KNOW, WE'RE OUT OF TIME!

GUESS YOULL JUST HAVE TO BUY OUR SHOPPING GUIDE, AVAILABLE NOW AT FINER BOOK STORES AND FILLING STATIONS!

‘TiL NEXT TIME, NIDEO GAMÉRS, SEASON'S GREETINGS AND BUY OUR CRAP; `

THE END! 4

z ooh & GREAT p IDEA?

READY To SPEND CASH ON WHATEVER, JUST TO HAVE IT DONE. WITH?

Visit The ficial 90 = «ШҮ

ONLINE SHOP!

44

SHIRTS! чоо CANT ) n HATS! REFUSE! UNMENTIONABLE 5/4 MORE! M

\Нр:// cafepress.com/ hsuandchan DC

‘PROUD!

G-STRING MEETS G-FORCE

OS, Wu а

RACING HAS EVOLVED™

It's what they're wearing in the fast lane. Slip into a Kinetic Suit and feel the intense competition. Scale walls. Cling to ceilings. Pull off ground and aerial stunts on 12 futuristic tracks. Man and machine are united. Pure speed never looked so good. www.scea.com

FP g ES ADMINISTERS PAIN WITH HIS SIGNATURE PEDIGREE MOVE.

aJ NE Sd S {CANAN ANNAN JA AX JA дА

w RING NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR SUPERSTARS:

D t ki | beaters) ås the fighting. flies-into the seats. |

World Wrestling Federation, its logos and all character likenesses are trademarks: E NE i woan Bestes ntertalnmont, Inc. © 2001 World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Game and THOWAKKS Pacific, LLC. Used under exclusive license by THQAJAKKS Pacific, LLG. JAKKS Pacific and the JAKKS Pi ‘ate Pun Å PR rks ot JAKKS Pacific, Inc. THO m the THO logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks ot THO Inc. All AE Reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo ar

шш trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Ду:

The Rock settles the

score with Stone Cold.

o OX ooo eoe oe eoe eoe oe oe oe eoe XX

Vi ye |. I И смо ,

y CAGE MATCH ANE / HELL IN THE CELL.

PlayStation. › ARAS * 2: SE

/ ртт Куш Fans brought to AM Pr ЕШ ' £A n x their feet as E == А, V 1 Titantron” 3 entrance video rumbles through the arena.

PlayStation.2

‘Limited \ Availability |

“See soles associate for details

X xac ENE ap Dita x „/^ ET M2 4.

| — ODDWORLD: ^ | mars ovis bs 4 MICROSO! AE PT ы

PROJECT GOTH |^ d

A

HALD E x d * COMBAT EVOLVED

WWW.

э A WI 3 ] ч 3GAMES.COM !

SUPER itn: алаш нке. Cm : "m

Nintendo"

GAME BOY ADVANCE CONSOLE NINTENDO FUSCHIA — #204856-9 INDIGO — -#201794-5

GLACIER — 7201798-6 ARCTIC #201796-0

| Р j | | = | | A jo ROLAND Al Я (24 Nintendo*

GAME BOY evan:

SUPER SMASH BROS. MELEE pee ШҮ A! LUIGIS MANSION GAMECUBE

NINTENDO = s 4 GOLDEN SUN 42124816 a GAMEBOY ADVANCE

#210375-2

я

WARIOLAND 4 GAME BOY ADVANCE NINTENDO 52103794

2 ed ADVANCE WARS

GAME BOY ШКО NINTENI Dres 4

WAVERACE BLUESTORM GAMECUBE NINTENDO #2124840

PIKMIN GAMECUBE Cc 2

NINTENDO #212486-5

#2034759 TRANSPORTER PAK GAME BOY ADVANCE ACCESSORY BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH #201436-3 “Contents not Ж ш included.

GAMECUBE Y INDIGO Å CONSOLE SYSTEM GAMECUBE NINTENDO 31047]

ALSO AVAILABLE: GAMECUBE p i CONS! ы

AMENDO #212451-9

| ANE NT JEREMY

IYkGRA UH

supercross. World

f | |

4. MEGPATH // eorn пле. 44 PrO SINCE 1989 Hi H | RØEOPD HOLDEr. MOST SURPBPCPOSS WINGS BUEP Jtj1O-TImB AMA SUPBPCPOSS KOPLD CHAMPION

LBU 22 тгасн LBUBL inopor + ouTooor + Baud + FPBBSTULE * STUNT

he only дете featuring 10xariddhompion 25 super-sized pes сасар goja racing, Freestyle mode featuring 24 tricks: паст. innovative "stunt pic system ond Jeremy mcorath and freestyle phenom travis indoor supercross, freestyle ond outdoor посе, supermans, fender grabs, 3605 and head-to-head split-screen mode Pastrana motocross venues borrel rolls

THERE ARE MANY RIDERS. BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE KING.

1 and Acclaim 001 im Entertainment ind the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nintendo. S:

amily logo ar ji the video gama

те PlayStation.2

Apra (2 X B сия

хеох

Previews This Month in Previews

86-90 Final Fantasy X

e need to clarify something

94 Medal of Honor: Frontline right off the bat. We're pre- 96 Akira Psychoball 100 XenoSaga

viewing two GameCube

games this month—All-Star Baseball 2002 and Universal Studios— that we should actually be reviewing instead. The reason for this is that Nintendo refuses to help us out by

providing us with any way to play said lave WARNING: reviewable games. That would explain i Previews the severe lack of GameCube coverage The long wait for Final Fantasy X is d de marked with in our Reviews section as well. Hope- almost at an end. Use the preview, i AT Å UA fully the problem will be resolved soon, starting on page 86, to get familiar with -— © x жо but until then please bear with us. the brand-new cast of characters. Sled Storm 2 ed m s Anyway, enough of that. Now that UFC Throwdown US. They are the holiday season is upon us, most of that it's looking absolutely gorgeous. 101 TimeSplitters 2 designed to you should be just about finishing up Or if FFX is a little too tame for you, Sky Gunner run on your Xbox or GameCube launch games, check out Max Payne on the Xbox (also Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Japanese or or Metal Gear Solid 2 and other hot for PS2). It continues Rockstar’s legacy European PAL titles on the PlayStation 2. So what of love-and-cuddles gameplay that 106 Soul Calibur 2 Systems. now? Well, start saving your pennies we've come to feel so good about. i il Import at your (We're sure you have so many left) for The system wars are about to heat 107 Resident Evil own risk. y y y:

108 Legends of Wrestling Some major games to come. up. Will the PS2 stay strong? Will the —— First and foremost: Final Fantasy X. GameCube bring Nintendo back to — A Square’s finally taking this venerable glory? Will people throw their backs series to the next generation of out lifting Xboxes? We can’t wait to see

consoles, and we think you'll agree what happens. fi}

1. Final Fantasy X PlayStation 2, January : ; | 2. Soul Calibur 2 Various, TBD ttem te PR ГЫТ _ 4. Max Payne Various, November 5. Hoshigami PlayStation, December

110 Мах Payne 111 Star Wars: Obi-Wan 112 Wreckless: The Yakuza Mission

ie e ы Which System Are You Buying this Christmas?

114 Brute Force Project Ego

PlayStation

118 — Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth

Both Xbox and

= BYy

GameCube @ t) Uf 1)

120 Tekken Jedi Power Battles MotoGP

I'm sticking with a PlayStation 2 36%

ў Source: Gamers.com poll, 10/26/01

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 88 - www.egmmag.com

THE DEVIL DOESNT KNOW IT VET, BUT THERES A BULLET „ WITH HIS NAME ON IT. _.

MATURE Blood Violence

©CAPCOM CO., LTD. 2001 ©CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2001. ALL RIGHTS RES ER n IM logo are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. DEVIL

CAPCOM CO. LI

TON Rr AGO, IN THE DARKEST REACHES OF HELL, A DEMON SWORDSMAN nima SPARDA

ke y pre A OnE- MAN WAR TO SAVE THE HUMAN WORLD FROM DAMNATION. 2000 YEARS LATER,

pes, “ae A SHADOWY FIGURE NAMED DANTE FINDS.CLUES THAT THE DEVIL WILL RISE UP AGAIN. | t SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A MAN AND ‘f DEMON LIES OUR ONLY HOPE FOR SALUATION.

Tr , ae / г 4 ÆR ү a på 4 А {

E EA

a 0 n CREATORS OF “RESIDENT EVIL" ar DEVILMÄYCAY. com

y

Computer Entertainment In. The ratings (con s a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association,

T. Ma EA ig К, FAP DE T

pue UI

PREVIEW

Final Fantasy X

СИ Square Electronic Arts e: Square

f January 2002 Grandia II www.squaresoft.com

Sr Gripping storyline,

stellar visuals and a 40-hour quest.

No overworld equals

one incredibly linear game.

The Ugly

Square just couldn't

hustle and have this done by Xmas?

МЕО DOO E i nw

Instead of having a con- fusing, dorky card game as its main diversion, Final Fantasy X offers something a bit sportier. Blitzball is an aquatic mix of soccer, foot- ball and, well, other stuff that doesn't resemble any sport we're aware of, but it is really easy to get into. All of the action is controlled via turn-based, menu-driven commands, so non-sporting novices will do just fine. Once you've competed in (and probably lost) the first big Blitz tournament, you'll be able to play at nearly every save point. It's not mandatory, but by succeed- ing at the game, you will unlock special attacks and hidden items that you cannot get any other way. Jocks and nerds unite! It's like the Breakfast Club, only without Molly Ringwald's whining.

1125 aus

PG aficionados must contend with a bitter-

sweet holiday season this year. Even though

there are a few quality quests emerging late

in 2001, the holy grail of console RPG-dom simply will not make the last sled from the North Pole. That’s right—Final Fantasy X arrives in America in (gasp!) January. Not all gamers received this

The graphics will immerse your soul in joy, but be warned-not all of the impressive backgrounds are fully 3D. In fact, several of the backdrops are rendered scenes with full-motion video touches (above), much like those seen in last year's FFIX. Still pretty, though.

with a smattering of untested gameplay elements. The game's director, Yoshinori Kitase, compares the venerable yet ever-changing FF series to a strand of DNA, interconnected and infinitely twisting. Don't be scared. Change is good.

The massive renovations begin in the plot department. Kazushige Nojima, the scenario writer

"FF is a game that continues to evolve within the helix. Bold! moves make it interesting..."

symbolic coal in the gaming stocking. Nearly 2.5 million Japanese PS2 fans have enjoyed Square's latest blockbuster since its July release in the Land ofthe Rising Sun, effortlessly making it the best- selling title on the console. Will domestic dwellers meet this series-redefining game with an equally warm reception? American gamers have definitely been warming up to the RPG genre in recent years, but FFX purposefully rocks the Final Fantasy formula

Name: Yuna Voted: Most Likely to Defeat Sin Friends say: "She's so nice, but too serious. Let loose, girl!”

Name: Tidus

Voted: Biggest Flirt

Friends say: "He's the best blitzball player we've ever had.”

-Yoshinori Kitase, director

of both FFVII and VIII, returns to the series with a startlingly different storyline. No moping, disen- chanted heroes like Cloud and Squall here—Tidus bursts with enthusiasm, energy and emotion. He's the star Blitzball player of his home team, spirited away to Spira, a mysterious realm suffering under the eternal curse of a monster called Sin. You view this magical world through his innocent eyes, as he struggles to understand the connections between

Name: Kimahri

Voted: Scariest

Friends say: "He growls a lot, but he's a loyal friend, too."

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 86

gmmag.com

PLAYING FINAL FANTASY DRESS-UP

In Japan, Square offers realistic renditions of the jewelry worn by

Tidus and Yuna in FFX. This swanky silver necklace will only set you back about $140. Blitzball sold separately. (Seriously. It's $20.)

this world and his own. His cheery outlook lends the game a positive vibe that helps soften the weighty themes of love, death and religion central to the narrative. The plot unfolds through a complex series of twists and revelations, and an older, wiser Tidus frequently chimes in with nostalgic commentary about what's going on during his massive adventure.

A fresh storyline may provide the heart of the adventure, but the battles flesh out the game, making it a true role-playing experience. Once again, shocking changes await seasoned Fantasy fans. Toshiro Tsuchida brings years of strategic experience

Name: Lulu Voted: Best Dressed

E (ont Name: Wakka Voted: Most Athletic Friends say: “He can be a bit dense, but he’s really a softie.”

Friends say: “Some call her prissy, but they're just jealous.”

Tidus 88 mani 82. iluron 2

БШШ.

from Square's Front Mission series to shake up the stagnant battle system. Don't worry though—this robot-loving mathlete hasn't turned Final Fantasy into a confusing strategy title. The new fights ditch the Active Time Battle system that graced every FF since IV, meaning that now enemies will not strike until after you have taken your turn. A nifty meter in the upper-right corner (see screenshot to the left) Shows the exact order of actions, and you can substitute party members on the fly with no penalty. Each of your fighters has a special type of enemy he or she is best suited for, and the game does an excellent job of holding your hand for the first few hours as it explains these nuances.

As in the previous few titles, summoned monsters (aka Aeons) strut their stuff on the battlefield with obscenely beautiful magical attacks. Instead of mere- ly doing an eye-candy flyby, however, these beasts now fight like regular warriors after being called from the heavens. You can even raise their attributes and teach them new spells and skills. Thankfully, a quick visit to the option menu can also curtail their elaborate animations once and for all after you've seen the pyrotechnics a few too many times.

Perhaps the most radically altered aspect of FFX is its presentation. The mixture of 3D characters and flat backdrops shared by the last three games has been discarded in favor of a fully 3D world. Exploring

Cont. on page 9o

Name: Auron

Voted: Most Mysterious

Friends say: "Anyone who has a flask of liquor is instantly cool."

The winds of change just keep blowin' with FFX. Remember experience points? Well, this game doesn't have any. In place ofthe traditional experience/level-up structure of most RPGs,

FFX has the Sphere Grid. Characters who contribute to the battle get Ability Points that can be spent on a gargantuan table that links spells, skills and attribute enhancements. Each of your characters moves across this symbolic grid, gathering new abilities and becoming stronger as the game progresses. Everyone starts in different sections of the grid, but you can customize their skills in whatever way you see fit if you spend enough time and AP. You want Wakka to be your main healer? Go for it. Want Rikku to be a two- fisted fighting powerhouse? Sure thing. It's all up to you in Final Fantasy X.

Name: Rikku

Voted: Best Eyes

Friends say: "She's the wackiest foreign-exchange student ever.”

Explore thé

A full featured RPG set in 4 beautiful and Battle with up to 8 monsters at a time Capture and cross breed over 200 deep elemental forests. using the innovative combat system. species of monsters and create over a billion combinations.

© 2001 Genki Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Published and distributed by Ubi Soft Entertainment under license from Genki Co., Ltd. Jade Cocoon is a trademark of Genki Co., Ltd. and is used under license. Ubi Soft and the Ubi Soft Entertainment logo are registered trademarks of Ubi Soft, Inc. “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. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

He EOE Wie Master,

Guide Kahu through the ancient and

ate al forests of the four elements, ji d himself fram the Karma parasite

ave humanity from extinction.

d exterminate

A New Breed of Role-Playing

PlayStation2 2 Å må

www.ubisoft.com

pee pes

PREVIEW

Cont. from page 87

BATTLE OF THE FINAL FANTASY STARS

ISN'T IT 60012

Just as FFVII and IX had vocal themes, FFX takes aim at the

Japanese Top 40 with “Suteki da ne,” a folky ballad sung by Rikki, an Okinawan songstress chosen by FFX composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Which Final Fantasy Hero is Right For You?

How do recent Final Fantasy heroes stack up against one another? Will your dream hero be Tidus from FFX, Cloud from FFVII, or Aki from the box-office flop, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within?

Fashion Sense Would you want to be seen with them in public?

Attitude life of the party or a total downer?

Square Street Cred How important are they to the franchise?

massive plains, creepy forests and crumbling ruins that look convincingly real draws you into the game in ways that walking atop static backgrounds never could. Although most of the game is presented with the PS2's 3D muscle, the occasional CG movie cutscene pops up during exceptionally cinematic moments. Speaking of the game's cinematic tone, diehard series fans have been waiting with fear and anticipation to hear FFX, the first game in the series to feature voice acting. Square's previous forays into the realm of English dialog

4

Asymmetrical pants and a beach-bum hairstyle give Tidus a stunning look that chicks notice.

Nice clothes, massive sword and spiky hair make a statement. Sadly, so does cross-dressing.

Used to wear form-fitting bodysuits and barely there bikinis. Recently seen at Goodwill.

Feisty, fun-loving and loud, he’s the guy who dares to drink the whole keg at the party.

He's the new kid on the block, but he's Square's current star. Look for his Kingdom Hearts cameo.

(Xenogears, Brave Fencer Musashi) were enough to make you smash the volume button on your TV, but we can happily report that FFX does not suffer Such a fate. Both the casting and the acting are topnotch. Gamers may initially be off-put by Tidus' slightly whiny tone or Wakka's wacky Caribbean drawl, but overall, it's great stuff. Prepare to ring in the New Year with the latest evolution of Final

Fantasy. E

—Shane Bettenhausen

Dark, moody and bipolar, Cloud is the creepy guy in the corner whom everyone avoids.

Once cool, he now looks kinda squatty and simplistic. His career peaked in 1998.

ламе шї.

She's really sweet, but her terminal illness and recent money troubles are a major downer.

Aki who? Oh yeah, didn't she have a movie last year? No, that was Lara Croft, wasn't it?

things, did you 0017

Ф ы. oi

Kimahri H^ 2244 MP 178, Lulu HR 2980 MP 352 Rikku HE 2980 MP 225

ntar [ity

The Anytime Online Racing Lommunity

The Ultimate Internet Racing and

I BUILD AND RACE V |

YOUR OWN COLLECTION OF CUSTOM CARS WITH THOUSANDS ONLINE :

Anytime Online

ae mg

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE WEB

Persistent State [ar Community Enter a place dedicated to online racing and classic American car culture. Earn your rep by forming clubs, fighting for turf, customizing your ride and hanging with your buddies. Buy, sell, trade and auction cars, parts or your services. Whether you're a racer, mechanic, seller or tycoon, there are many ways to make it big in Motor City.

OvER 60 LICENSED AMERICAN CLASSICS: The '57 Chevrolet^ Bel-Air;' “63 Corvette" Stingray; ‘66 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C; “70 Plymouth" 440 Cuda; ^70 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and many more.

CUSTOMIZE THE DETAILS:

More than 2,000 authentic styling and performance parts.

From blowers to wheelie bars, slanted sixes to big-block terrorizors, or nitrous to chop tops —MCO delivers performance in style.

24 TRACKS IN 4 RACING MODES. (DRAG, STREET, TIME TRIAL AND CiRCUIT)

Wager your salary, reputation, or pink slips on the streets. Or race for fun and see your name light up the leader board.

DRIVING REALISM

True-to-life four-point physies deliver behind-the-wheel realism. - Trick these cars out and feel the difference on the blacktop!

P / Е:

ENTER THE CITY Limits АТ / оог ityllnline.com HORG

LD LANGUAGE of this gam:

fagames.com America Online Keyword: Motor City Online

PREVIEW

И Electronic Arts DreamWorks

E!

Ш action

Ш 50%

ШШ Spring 2002

I Xbox (diff. version)

www.mohak.ea.com Genuine Nazi-killin" by the dozens.

[Th { Throwing a grenade, only to have it thrown back at you.

gi Yelling "Dance, bitch!" while shooting at soldiers" feet to make them hop around.

Band-Aided Brothers

When you sign up for war

| lessons from Capt. Dale Dye, bring your first-aid box. The long-time Hollywood military advisor has been known for his rough and realistic training camps since

| he worked on Platoon. Most

| recently, he put the cast of

Band of Brothers through the

ringer, with Friends star

| David Schwimmer badly

| banging up his knee during

| urban-combat training. After

| being treated, he was sent to

| climb a 60-foot tower. “I’m 57

| and am still that white-

| haired old fart who outruns

| them,” says Dye of the cast that he is a part of. (He plays

| Colonel Sink.) And that holds true for the MOH team who

| learned (painfully) during

| Dye's paintball field practice that you should stand Sideways to present less of a

| target. That'll leave a mark.

Interestingly enough, the Xbox version of Medal of Honor: announced earlier than the PS2 game, but the latter was the first to arrive on |

| our desks. Our sources say that EA would rather focus on sure-fire sellers for | | the PS2 and PC, and play the wait-and-see game with Microsoft's console. |

If you've seen the classic movie A Bridge Too Far, then you might recognize Nijmegen Bridge (above).

World War II wasn't won in the halls of hotel rooms, but you'll get up close and personal with a few Nazis who will give

you a rude wake-up call (right).

hen you're at allied HQ, the last thing you

expect to hear is that your mission is to

steal a ho. That's nothing new to many

soldiers, but the woman you're after is no ordinary gal. It's the HO-IX, a flying wing that could change the course of the war.

To grab the bird, you slip into the combat boots of Lt. Jimmy Patterson, who is charged with the task of finding this experimental beauty. On your quest for the fabled aircraft, you'll fight 15 missions that require you to disarm explosives on the Nijmegen Bridge, storm Omaha Beach Private Ryan-style, and wreak havoc on a U-Boat.

A great deal of work is being put into making the missions immersive. One such example is an ambitious bar scene that Scott Langteau, producer at DreamWorks, seemed particularly proud of. "You have to secretly meet with a contact in a bar, so when you walk inside, some guys are at a bar, some

94

at tables, some standing. To distract them, you can cue a piano player to play a German folk song so they all gather and sing. Or, in another area of the pub, you can incite a bar fight." While these covert missions offer a change of pace, the bulk of gameplay will involve shooting Nazis whose tactics have been honed by Capt. Dale Dye. This professional war guru recently supervised combat in Band of Brothers, including a fiery Operation Market Garden episode that is also a setting for one of the game's levels. Langteau promises that the result will create "the smartest enemies you've encountered." After all, if Dye's planning is smart enough for HBO, then hopefully it's smart enough for your PlayStation 2. a —Kraig Kujawa

| Made by the Horton | brothers, a German

| aircraft design

| team, the HO-IX was | comprised of wood

| (metal was too

| heavy and scarce) Ё | and coated with | | radar-absorbing paint. This precursor to the Stealth Bomber flew faster and farther than similar aircraft and was nearly completed when | it was captured during WWII. It is currently | | being restored in the Air and Space Museum at | the Smithsonian and is not yet on display.

Of course, no WWII game would be complete without а beach invasion. Here, you take on bloody Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Dangerous. Defiant. Illegal. RATING PENDING g Visit www.esrb.org or Test Drive®€2001 Infogrames, Inc. All rights reserved. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive al 1800:771:3772 Digital Software Association. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective for Rating Information. onmes Manufactured and marketed by Infogrames, Inc., New York, NY.

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

[Hem

PREVIEW

[puse — NTN

Developer: Kaze

[ауе ШИ

ET Pinball

80%

Release: _ 01 2002 www.aiagotgames.com Pinball rocks and so

does Akira, so combining the two can't be bad...

Isn't pinball dead? The strung-out, 10-

foot bunny rabbit that pops up in the video sequences.

Pinwhat Now? GAGN

If you're not very familiar with pinball, it's

probably

because the

games

haven't U

been an

integral part Q

of arcades

for overa

decade now. So what happened to this distinctly American treasure? According to pinball guru Roger Sharpe, "The biggest problem is a new breed of location owners and managers who don't know how to take care of a mechanical pinball game. Pinball machines require basic maintenance, just like a car, which takes a certain amount of time, skill and effort that arcades aren't willing to put forth anymore." So where does one go for a good game of pinball? Try the University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana, where Sharpe's son runs a league of 40 members who play and maintain a battery of pinball games at the student union.

BEFORE PINBALL WAS PSYCHO

Devil’s Crush for the TurboGrafx-16 was and still is one of the

best video pinball games around. It even made EGM's Top 100. Want to know where it ranks? See the feature on page 124.

If you're wizard enough, you'll launch the ball in all the right ramps and alleys to open up paths to other tables. Akira Psychoball controls and operates just like a real pinball game, only on crack.

xactly two years ago, Chicago-based Williams

Amusement Co. closed down their pinball

assembly line for good, ending several decades

of production on some of the most innovative games ever made. Pinball has since given way to the Top Skaters and other buck-a-game novelties that now define American arcades. But Williams’ spirit pushed AIA and Japanese developer Kaze to produce a PS2 version of what would have made one hell of a mechanical pinball title.

Akira Psychoball is the brainchild of pinball

godfather Roger Sharpe, who lent his design and production talents to roughly 150 Williams and Midway games during his 12-year stay with the company. “What we tried to do [with Psychoball] were the same things we did with mechanical pinball,” Sharpe explains. “You take a set playing field and try to convey a compelling storyline with audio and video cues. Akira [the animated movie upon which the game is based] lends itself to that model really well; it’s a great story.” Watching film footage run on twin plasma displays or tracking a giant teddy bear as it lumbers slowly across the playing field may not be your top priority during a frenzied multiball session, but visual goodies like these give Psychoball its

ira Psychoball —

signature style.

Akira aficionados will recognize table scenarios like Neo Tokyo and Olympic Stadium from the anime, but pinball junkies will also appreciate the continuously à evolving playing field, which features complex event triggers and side rooms made possible by the video medium. "We're changing the playing field the same way you would in any action/adventure game," Sharpe continues. "Your environment, tools and skills evolve as you progress through the game. We've also put in a lot of Easter eggs to reward more accomplished players for advancing."

The untimely demise of pinball left a great many gamers unexposed to one of gaming's finest arts. And while Psychoball can't match the awesome feeling of a 300-lb. cabinet in its sheer mechanical rawness, its spot-on physics, geometry and realistic table design are as close as you can get. nm

—Jonathan Dudlak

www.koeigames.com

"Simply put, Gitaroo Mani is one of the most enter aining titles yet in the rhytm action genre." Мент беп

Play as the legend: and save the planet from the clutches % of the evil Grabaren family! 00071109 9%

The Gitaroo is the weapon! Heep with the rhythm as you shoot, duck,

and dodge your way to victory! 10 colorfully unique stages, each Mu: thmatches and EVERYONE with its own music including reggae, Harmonizing Co-op play for up

rock, hip-hop, techno, and more! to 4-players! p | ау S t da ti [8] n e О

Gitaroo Man is a trademark of KOEI Corporation апа KOEI Co., Ltd. € 2001 KOEI Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. "PlayStation" апа the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

Mild Language

CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

re

PREVIEW GALLERY

EBAY FODDER

Japanese gamers can blow their cash on a swanky

limited-edition version of XenoSaga. The massive white box houses a special keychain, a figurine of robotic hottie KOS-MOS, and the two game discs with special labels.

Newcomer Monolith Soft is hard at work on what is shaping up to become one of the major RPG events of 2002: Namco's XenoSaga. Subtitled "Der Wille zur Macht" (The Will to Power), XenoSaga is a space-based fantasy RPG featuring massive mechs, anime-styled character designs and lots of cinematics. If it looks and sounds familiar, it should— it's actually directly related to Square's PS1 classic, Xenogears. But despite sharing characters and storylines (XenoSaga takes place many years before the events in Xenogears), the game is not an official prequel. Instead, the developers

at Monolith, who left Square shortly after completing Xenogears, are starting the six- chapter story over from the very beginning. XenoSaga is due out in Japan in February, with a U.S. release to likely follow.

Sled Storm 2

You might wanna slip on the ol' nut cup when you play SS2. The guys at EA Sports Big claim driving these sleds is like taking a ride on a mechanical bull (hang on tight). We haven't hit Gilley's lately, but we get the idea. It's all about racing souped-up snowmobiles across rough-and-tumble, snowpacked terrain. Smash stuff, smack the guy next to you, and win races—that's the gist of it. Don't expect a clone of SSX, however; SS2 is a completely different animal. Look for it this spring.

If the thought of watching grown men kick the bullstuff out of each other appeals to you, then Crave's newest no-holds-barred, tooth- loosening grapple-fest, UFC Throwdown, should sort you out. Throwdown puts over 25 hammy slabs of man-meat (with names like *Tino") onto the roster to see who can bareknuckle their way to the world's most brutal title belt. Customize your character with special moves and techniques (learned at a variety of gyms), and jiu-jitsu that ass this spring.

100 - www.egmmag.c

> 3 1 2 : 3

> 1 Е

JUMP START YOUR DVD COLLECTION!

HANNIBAL BLOW UNBREAKABLE CROUCHING TIGER GLADIATOR (2000) SPECIAL EDITION INFINIFILM VISTA SERIES HIDDEN DRAGON SIGNATURE SELECTIO! 2622801 2637502 2617207 2610905 2520807 2618007

OSE

ss рур 79 ( ЗГАС e : D

MISS CONGENIALITY 2596500

2566602 2622405

SPACE COWBOYS PLUS 1 MORE AT SUPER SAVINGS! Details on the other side. f | THE MATRIX

GONE IN SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) COLLECTOR'S EDITION 60 SECONDS SPECIAL LTD. EDITION 1959600 2539807 2411601

THE EXORCIST- “GONEWITHTHEWIND 2258309 ^ DEUCEBIGALOW: — — 10THINGSIHATE -YOU'VEGOTMAIL — 2331205

25TH ANNIVERSARY VERTICAL LIMIT- MALE GIGOLO 2490704 ABOUT YOU 2413706 THE WEDDING SINGER 2234300

SPECIAL EDITION 2230001 SPECIAL EDITION 2605806 — DISNEY'S THE KID 2557700 AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL © ASGOODASITGETS _ 2208605

THE PERFECT STORM _ 2522407 ROAD TRIP (UNRATED) 2544807 ТНЕВЕЅТ MAN (1999) 2438208 — MAN OF MYSTERY 2144509 STEEL MAGNOLIAS

TOMBSTONE 1254200 THE ROCK 2018406 HOLLOW MAN - AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SPECIAL EDITION 2499606 THE USUAL SUSPECTS 1479401 SPECIAL EDITION 2541001 SHAGGED ME -

CASINO 1922707 LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL - SEEATINUM SERIES AG Б NEW ON DVD LOVE & BASKETBALL- UNCUT INTERNATIONAL JERRY MAGUIRE zwe Å COLLECTOR S EDITIONS HE PLATINUM SERIES. 2518009 VERSION 2497303 GLORY SPECIAL EDITION 2448900 8

SPECIAL EDITION 2641002 THEFIFTHELEMENT 2145506. THE 6TH DAY 2566701. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE - vert ecToR's EDITION 2501908 RES CLOSE ENCO UNTERS PRETTY WOMAN - FINAL DESTINATION 2503407 — SPECIAL EDITION 2469906 TWISTER - =

| К 40TH ANNIVERSARY F : BAD BOYS (1995) - =

COLLECTOR S EDITION: ~ 2200806) EDITION 2496608 DRUNKEN MASTER 2587509 SPECIAL EDITION o RSD THE MEDDING 2617305 BLADE 2294809 THEBONECOLLECTOR 2449700 BOUNCE(200) 2587608 | COLLECTOR'S SERIES 2515104 IS THIRTEEN DAYS - THE SHAWSHANK THE ROAD TO EL DORADO - BEN-HUR 1510205 @ DIRTY DANCING - =

INFINIFILM 2617801 REDEMPTION 1945503 SPECIAL EDITION 2563204 BIGDADDY 2409803 || COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2420206 Щ = 0 BROTHER, ROMEO MUST DIE 2495406 — ANY GIVEN SUNDAY - HIGH FIDELITY 2512507 | THE LOST WORLD: &

WHERE ART THOU? 2617405 HAPPY GILMORE 1937507 SPECIAL EDITION WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - JURASSIC FARK- © 15 MINUTES- ENEMY OF THE STATE 2345304 DIRECTOR'S CUT 2508109 SPECIAL EDITION 2551406 COLLECTOR SENMON, 42518307

INFINIFILM 2622900 ME “Pink FLOYD - THE WALL- THE REPLACEMENTS 2540300. GETTYSBURG ste få NATIONAL LAMPOON'S PROOF OF LIFE 2611200 DELUXE EDITION 2425205 — BLADE RUNNER - 12 MONKEYS - COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2253904 THE BROTHERS 2622702 AMERICAN HISTORYX 2320604 DIRECTOR'S CUT 1097906 SIGNATURE COLLECTION 2035509 NUTTY PROFESSOR II:

DOGMA - MONTY PYTHON AND DUMB AND DUMBER 1374107 BILLY MADISON 1389402 THE KLUMPS -

SPECIAL EDITION 2519908 THE HOLY GRAIL 0192005 FREQUENCY - MEN IN BLACK - COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2550705 АЛЕН ^ Жї THE WATERBOY 2321404 PLATINUM SERIES _ 2521201 COLLECTOR'S SERIES — 2509107 J CLERKS ес 2551609 WHEGUUNES 0605100 “ALMOST FAMOUS ^ 2562304 ^ CADDYSHACK-20TH REAR WINDOW - COLLECTOR'S OL NS NEXT FRIDAY- ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2469708 — EDITION (1954) 2561702 å OTe eimai: 4837000

THE PUSSYCATS 2628501 PLATINUM SERIES — 2469203 — A FEW GOOD MEN - THE PRINCE OF EGYPT 2381705 NortinG uni.

THE PLEDGE 2611408 CHICKEN RUN - SPECIAL EDITION 2520005 RED PLANET 2585305 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2412104 POKEMON 3: SPECIAL EDITION 2520708 PAY IT FORWARD 2596708 LETHAL WEAPON - THE HURRICANE (1999)-

THE MOVIE 2634707 SHANGHAI NOON 2537306 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 2637106 DIRECTOR'S CUT 2473601 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2480408 SAVING SILVERMAN CON AIR (WIDESCREEN) 2167302 FULL METAL JACKET ^ 2637205 LETHAL WEAPON 4 - MALLRATS-

(R-RATED) 2617603 RESERVOIR DOGS 1106905 THE PRINCESS BRIDE — 0125005 PREMIERE COLLECTION 2273803 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2355006 SEE SPOT RUN 2624401 3 BOOGIE NIGHTS - DAZED AND CONFUSED 1188606 JAWS- ANNIVERSARY SUGAR & SPICE 2617900 PLATINUM SERIES 2583102 PLATINUM SERIES 2469302 “LEGENDS OF THE FALL - An EDITION 2489706 SWEET NOVEMBER PITCH BLACK UNRATED- SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE - SPECIAL EDITION 2519403

(2001) 2622306 DIRECTOR'S CUT 2521805 COLLECTOR'S SERIES 2434801 THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE ОЗАН, НА aii VALENTINE 2618403 HEAT 2005809 THE LEGEND OF SPECIAL COLLECTION — 2399400 THE BLUES BROTHERS- : be АНЕ РЕР THE CELL- BAGGER VANCE 2582906 CRUELINTENTIONS 2363703 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2233203

PLATINUM SERIES 2545002 THE 13TH WARRIOR 2435907 FINDING FORRESTER 2594703 102 DALMATIANS 2587400 SWINGERS 2081107 THE WATCHER 2556405

MORE TO CHOOSE FROM ON OTHER SIDE. =>

THE MUMMY COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2388007

REMEMBER THE TITANS 2591402

PULP FICTION 1430008

2448801

ARMAGEDDON 2284602

THE SILENCE OF

THE SIXTH SENSE

CHARLIES ANGELS SPECIAL EDITION 2582609

GOODFELLAS 0969808

PLUS 1 MORE AT SUPER SAVINGS! Details below.

å JURASSIC PARK COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2513208

SCARY MOVIE 2539708

BRING IT ON COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2545101

m

SE7EN AMERICAN BEAUTY THE LAMBS THE WIZARD OF 07 RUSH HOUR FRIDAY WHAT LIES BENEATH ERIN BROCKOVICH PLATINUM SERIES. SPECIAL EDITION THE'AWARDS EDITION 2383602 2301505 1434406 2546307 2495307 2436707 2524700 2660306 HALF BAKED 2223007 THE SKULLS - MAGNOLIA - ANTZ SIGNATURE - TAXI DRIVER - STARGATE - COLLECTOR’S EDITION 2516904 PLATINUM SERIES 2469401 COLLECTION 2324507 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2338903 SPECIAL EDITION 2410702 THEARTOFWAR 2545200 FIELD OF DREAMS - A BRONX TALE 1221506 THEDEER HUNTER 0212407 PLATOON 2497808 LIAR LIAR ~ SIGNATURE COLLECTION 1932300 101 DALMATIANS. 2057503 LIFE 2399202 ROUNDERS (1998) 2318707 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2411908 FROM DUSK TILL DAWN - GROSSE POINTE BLANK 2137909 PRINCESS MONONOKE — 2531705 BLAZING SADDLES 0001206 ENTER THE DRAGON - COLLECTOR'S SERIES — 2539609 FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE DEEP BLUE SEA 2421006 CASABLANCA 2274702 25TH ANNIVERSARY DON'T BE A MENACE TO (2000) 553501 PATCH ADAMS - THE WHOLE NINE YARDS 2480507 SPECIAL EDITION 2208205 SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE END OF DAYS - COLLECTOR'S EDITION — 2346401 THIS IS SPINAL TAP - KEEPING THE FAITH 2537900 DRINKING YOUR JUICE 1992106 COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2452407 “THE CONTENDER (2000) 2556306 SPEGIAL EDITION 2340404 THREE KINGS 2430403. BOILER ROOM 2481208 ВАТМАМ (1989) 0642504 BACKDRAFT 0559005 STARSHIP TROOPERS ^ 2207306 LOCK, STOCK AND TWO FOR LOVEOFTHEGAME 2438109 CONTACT - AMERICAN GRAFFITI - CONAN THE BARBARIAN - SMOKING BARRELS 2383503 BILLY ELLIOT 2573103 _SPECIAL EDITION 2177400 COLLECTOR'SEDITION — 2223808 COLLECTOR'S EDITION — 2462406 МҮ BEST FRIEND'S NATIONAL LAMPOON'S - JFK - SPECIAL EDITION THE GAME 2176709 CARLITO'S WAY 7229301 WEDDING 2146207 CHRISTMAS VACATION 0952507 DIRECTOR'S CUT 2540102 THECROW 1374206 THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE 2179802 MENACEIISOCIETY 120009 AIR FORCE ONE 2160000 EYES WIDE SHUT 2429603 THEMASKOFZORRO 2281508

UU TTL ыны 0

Columbia House DVD Club, Dept. 9QC #

P.O. Box 1173, Terre Haute, IN 47811-1173

Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this #

advertisement. As a member, | need to buy only 4 more

selections at regular Club prices in the next 2 years.

Send me these 4 DVDs for 49¢ each, plus $1.99

each shipping/handling (total: $9.92).

BUY YOUR FIRST SELECTION NOW—AND HAVE LESS TO BUY LATER!

Ч Also send me my first selection for $14.95, plus $1.99 shipping/handling, which I'm adding to

my $9.92 payment (total: $26.86). | then need to buy only

3 more (instead of 4) in the next 2 years.

Please check how paying: J My check is enclosed FV6/8VD EAX/TIC

a Charge my introductory DVDs and future Club purchases to:

Build a collection of your favorite movies on DVD! Just write in the numbers ofthe 4 DVDs you want for just 49€ each, plus shipping and handling. In exchange, you simply agree to buy four more DVDs in the

next two years at regular Club prices (which currently start as low as $19.95, plus shipping and handling)—and you may cancel member- ship at any time after doing so. What's more, you can get still one more movie for the low price of $14.95 and have less to buy later

(see complete details in coupon).

THE BEST DIGITAL AUDIO

sent automatically. If you prefer an alternate selection, or none at all, just mail the response card always provided by the date specified. And you'll always have 10 days to decide; if not, you may return the selection at our expense.

Money-Saving Bonus Plan. If you continue your membership after fulfilling your obligation, you'll be eligible for our generous bonus plan. It enables you to enjoy more great savings on the movies you want—for as long as you decide to remain a member!

10-Day Trial. We'll send details of the Club's

о MasterCard J Diners Club О АМЕХ (I VISA Discover ines MS EET OU. weeks (0р operation with your introductory package. If Selection різ scores of alemate choices, 1t Satisfied, reum everything within 10 days, Acct. No Exp. Date. including many lower-priced DVDs. And you obligation 5 may also receive Special Selection mailings E up to four times a year. (That's up to 17 Over 1,700 titles! If you want „- Signature buying opportunities a year.) a movie on DVD that you don't. er don Buy only what you want! If you want the see here, just call us and ask le Name Director's Selection, do nothing—it will be or visit our website. DVD CLUB Address Apt. No. Use your credit card and order 24 hours a day: т су State zh wi Columbiahouse.com «i 1-888-CHC-DVDS Phone No. ( ) Email

NOTE: Columbia House reserves the right to request additional information, reject any application or cancel any membership. Offer limited to residents of the contiguous United States. Applicable tax added to all orders. P-JANO2-EGM

PRI г. ensure you get this great offer- å use this Savings Code when ordering.

HEIR APPARENT = The guys behind TimeSplitters aren't a bunch of nobodies— these m ==

guys helped make GoldenEye 007 for the N64, one of the best- selling games of the last decade. Free Radical Design formed when PREVIEW

GALLERY

a group of Rare's best and brightest jumped ship a few years back.

TimeSplitters 2

The first TimeSplitters sported some nifty multiplayer action, but its sorely lacking single-player mode left all of us disappointed. With TimeSplitters 2, Free Radical Design aims to bring both style and substance to this promising fast-paced title. That means more mission goals tied together with a story, and characters we'll actually give a damn about this time. Eidos is planning a spring 2002 release for TS2.

Sky Gunner Several U.S. publishers are interested in Sony's flashy, eye-catching Shooter, and it's easy to see why. Sky Gunner offers high-flying action, aerial dogfights, massive boss battles, and some truly amazing airship designs. If it does make the trip stateside, let's hope they take out the massive slowdown that's so bad it's almost comical. If the wait is just too much for you to handle, Sky Gunner is available as an import now.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

All's fair in love and evasive pursuit. So says Electronic Arts, who'll happily revisit the world of high-speed chases in spring 2002. Over 20 licensed exotic cars such as the Corvette C5R and Lamborghini Diablo are up for grabs. Hi-res, open-ended outdoor environments provide realistic playgrounds while PlayStation 2-powered code brings the simulated velocity. Enhanced audio-visual quality isn’t the biggest change, though; bank on a branching mission structure that offers a more discernable path to victory. Meanwhile, the boys in blue, commuter traffic and Sunday drivers aren't exactly keen on seeing grease monkeys realize their oil-soaked dreams (at least, we hope those are oil stains...ahern). You'll just have to deal with them, or forego hidden cars, tracks, vehicle upgrades and a spotless criminal record. Seriously, have fun winging it in Express, Challenge, Ultimate Driver or Hot Pursuit modes...short of a drunken visit to finer, um, gentleman's clubs, you won't find more playful hardbodies around.

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 104 - w

GBA PSONE DREGMCAST PC Games 1 \ | \ \ тоол a i To

Over 600 stores nationwide

MT. GARR MOLINTAIN К! MYSTERIOUS: THE IRON-FI:

NAYA AND Hi KING COUNTERPAK: | RESISTANCE, LOOKING TO I CONSPIRACY.

COMING SOON, ON Comic Mischief Mild Language

NINTENDO GAMECUBE.

YOU CAN'T SHOOT WHAT YOU CAN'T CATCH! THE CHIEFS GONNA BE SORRY WHEN I GET UP TO THE SUMMIT!

"you roots!

I GAVE STRICT ORVERS TO KEEP ALL SNOWBOARDERS OFF OF THE SUMMIT!

TID

A~ еј

PREVIEW GALLERY

Soul Calibur 2

Namco's highly anticipated fighting game continues to whet our collective appetites with the release of these new screens. SC2 takes place four years after the last game...and guess what? Nightmare (the armored freak you see in the screenshot below) is up to his evil shenanigans once again, and the only way to set things right is to beat him down. We now know the name of three new characters: Tarim, a youngster from southeast Asia who uses dual blades; Phan Yung Tsung, the likely replacement for Hwang from SCi (right down to the same weapon and style); and Cassandra Alexandra, the perky blonde from Athens who wields a short sword and shield. We've still not seen how the fighters will interact with walls and barriers, but we'll certainly find out between now and May 2002.

106

wy

я.

A

PREVIEW GALLERY

Resident Evil

If the phrases “you, the master of unlocking” or *hope it's not Chris' blood" still bring a smile to your face, you already know why we're so damn excited about Capcom's GameCube remake of Resident Evil. (The PlayStation original made our 100 Best Games Ever list this month, after all.) But for those of you who don't know your Barry. Burtons from your Plant 42s, a quick intro: You play as Chris Redfield (he's the guy sporting the nifty green vest below) or Jill Valentine. Both are members of a special-forces team, sent in to investigate a series of bizarre murders and the disappearance of their comrades in a forest

outside the midwestern town of Raccoon City. When they wind up in an old mansion chock-full о” rotting zombies, gun ammo and locked doors, the stuff, so to speak, hits the fan. So how will the controls work on the GC's unique pad? Actually, not even Capcom has an answer for that one just yet. Apparently the team doesn't like the feel of using a single analog stick to move around (a la Devil May Cry), but the placement of the D-pad makes it awkward as well. They did mention the second analog may be used somehow. Better decide quick—it's due March 22 in Japan, with a U.S. release date pending.

Producer Shinji Mikami promises many more unique zombie types this time around, and now even their eyes and mouths move...creepy.

...has been canned! No, not the big-screen film starring Milla Jovovich due next year— we're talking about the hilarious, B- actor-filled full-motion video clip that started off the original PlayStation RE. It's being replaced with a fully computer- generated sequence for the remake. Hopefully this time around it won't have to be censored for U.S. audiences.

е Arts Со, Ltd. All ot

served. Sony Computer Entertainment America takes no

5 È © 5

"PS" Family logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The rat /e owners.

igital Softwar

PlayStation.

P

PREVIEW GALLERY

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

The Universal Studios theme park in Japan has been so popular since it opened earlier this year that the park officials had to restrict admission during May and June due to overcrowding.

Legends of Wrestling

Since we last showed you this game (now a spring 2002 release) in issue #148, Acclaim has signed Hulk Hogan—the definition of a wrestling legend—as the spokesperson for the game. While it might not sport the massive recognition of the SmackDown! series, LoW is sure to find a place in the game collections of many an old-timer weaned on the exploits of guys like Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and the Million Dollar Man.

All-Star Basehall 2002

A smokin'-fast slider comes shooting down the pike, only to dive hard as it passes over the plate. You swing...and you miss. ASB 2002 (PS2) has the nastiest pitching interface we've seen. Acclaim brings that same interface, along with two new stadiums, broken bats (hey, that's kinda cool), and enhanced user control to the GameCube version, which should be out by the time you're reading this.

Universal Studios Theme Park

Woody Woodpecker pops up in the darndest places, and his latest appearance is in Kemco's Universal Studios as your virtual tour guide. You have one day to make the most of your visit and play through all the attractions at US. If you do well enough, you'll get access to hidden areas, find secret items, and earn the respect of Woody Woodpecker, which in itself makes it all worthwhile. Universal should be out now.

108

eve se.

erore d е

RZONE is the ultimate gaming

experience.

* Fill the latest systems

* The hottest accessories

° The newest games

* Even test drive select titles before you buy em

Enter RZONE at TOYS TR US mand play it right.

GAMECUBE. *

Ae NINTENDO 43

GameCube Accessories

eass AA prove L г Я Luigis D PIKMIN

SOO LEN å

" Gamecube i m Controllers

& d l v z M Hot Gamecube Titles 7 хоу USCOM

teamed win amazon con

PN

PREVIEW

СИИ e

Don. — 90% NTE November 2001 PS2, PC [ETT rockstargames.com

CCT cinematic gun battles

in stylish slow motion.

CCT complete lack of

multiplayer modes.

TN Max Payne looks like

he could use some laxatives.

GRAPHIG NOVEL

| World of Payne

Rather than render a bunch of fancy computer-generated movies for the in-between story bits of Max Payne, Remedy (developer of the PC version) chose to go with a comic-book approach to storytelling. The graphics for these cutscenes are a combination of digitized photographs and hand- drawn backgrounds for a dark, “noir” aesthetic.

Add to that the Raymond Chandler-esque writing and dry wit of Max Payne, and you’ve got a game hailing from the school of Quentin Tarantino. As for the baby- faced actor behind the Max Payne persona—that's Sam Lake, the game's writer and designer over at Remedy. Hmm, not a bad way to immortalize yourself, eh?

Max welcomes Vinny to the major leagues.

Max Payne rewards the gamer who likes to shoot the crap out of everything in the room with lots of nice explosive debris.

hen it comes down to the all-time, most

bad-ass shoot-outs ever put to film,

scenes from John Woo's The Killer or the

Wachowski brothers' The Matrix are probably on many an action buff's top 10 list. These movies featured intense firefights shot in exquisite slow motion, so that the combatants seem locked in some dramatic dance of death. Now take that visual technique and apply it to an action-shooter and you've got Max Payne, a third-person romp through a gritty hardboiled wonderland.

It's present day in the Big Apple. You play as the game's namesake, Max Payne, an undercover cop framed for a series of crimes he didn't commit. But they've sold the wrong guy down the Hudson this

time. You see, Mr. Payne isn't just another scapegoat for the mafia or the crooked DEA. After his wife and child were brutally slain by homicidal junkies, Max has been hellbent on getting payback from the drug underworld. He's got his own agenda and a cache of firearms, and he's about to go vigilante on the city of New York. OK, so as a screenplay, this is a straight-to-video flick starring Lorenzo Lamas minus the kinky locks; but hey, as the backdrop for a 3D shooter, we're not going to get too picky about the particulars.

After a few encounters, you quickly realize that the true focus of the game isn't Max, or his desperate plight for absolution. The real star here is the *bullet-time,” a feature that slows the action to a crawl while Max is free to target his enemies in real time. If you trigger bullet-time together with a movement direction, Max goes into a graceful *shootdodge,” an acrobatic leap where he twists and fires his guns through the air, while dodging the visible trajectories of enemy bullets. The slow- motion tactics are as much a stylish gimmick as they are an intrinsic part of Max Payne's gameplay.

If you've already played the PC version, you'll find nothing new here. The Xbox version runs just as fast, and looks just as good. But if you're a console gamer who just can't get enough Chow Yun-Fat, Max Payne will give your Xbox plenty of ammo to tide you over during winter break. Hm

5 —Che Chou

PREVIEW

| Enough people named "Jedi Knight" as their religion in a recent U.K. census for it to be added to |

| | census processors' official list of faiths, alongside Church of England, Roman Catholic, Muslim, | |

Buddhist and Hindu. Also on the list: Church of Free Love, Wiccan and Divine Lightmission.

ECC LucasArts |Beveloner. LucasArts aves. — Ж

COME Action пое: 60% [TNI December 2001 ГИЛЕ Starfighter ТҮПҮТ www.lucasarts.com СЗ Having awesome

Force powers at your disposal.

LIT No two-player co-op

mode like Jedi Power Battles.

ГЕЛЕ Obi-Wan sounds like a

young John Lennon with a cold.

The Dark Side

Who says Obi-Wan has to be a good guy? This game gives you free reign over the character, so go ahead — take out innocent civilians, Grand Theft Auto III-style. Here, we learn that wookie kicks are no match for a lightsaber.

win || ШИШ

ШЕМ! ЖШ

"Original gameplay, a good story, new characters...gamers crave not these things."

Must be a wardrobe problem on Curuscant. Everyone dresses the same.

verybody's favorite Jedi-in-training will soon be starring in his first solo adventure. Star Wars: Obi-Wan, an Xbox exclusive, takes place shortly before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In the game, the young Padawan is tasked with investigating a criminal organization operating deep within the bowels of the planet Coruscant. As Kenobi journeys to such far-flung locations as Tatooine and the city of Theed, he will uncover an assassin droid project and meet a brand-new enemy, the Jin'ha. He might even run into a familiar foe with lots of horns and tattoos. The game is a mix of traditional platform action peppered with lots of lightsaber swingin.' The left

ШШ

m nna |) y R

iW

Td JR

analog stick is used to move Obi-Wan, while the right is used to swing his lightsaber. When timed properly, pulling back on the right stick lets you parry blows or deflect laser blasts back at enemies. Pressing down on the right stick lets you hurl your saber like a lethal boomerang.

Obi-Wan can also fight scum and villainy with his burgeoning Force powers. For instance, you can use Force Pull to snatch a blaster from an enemy's hands or Push to shove him off a high ledge. Force Throw can be used to hurl environmental objects at enemies, while Jump can be used to soar across wide gaps.

As if Obi-Wan didn't have enough to contend with, he must also face a series of challenges from members of the Jedi Council, including Mace Windu and Qui-Gon Jinn. These challenges act as in-game tutorials and are designed to help you sharpen your Force skills.

Finally, Obi-Wan includes a two-player battle mode that lets you and a friend face off as your favorite Jedi or Sith Lord. The arenas, which include a Theed palace and the interior of a Trade Federation ship, are large and multi-tiered, allowing for plenty of strategy. Force powers are also active during this mode, so you've got to stay on your toes.

So, what's it gonna be, Star Wars fans? GameCube and Rogue Squadron II or Xbox and Star Wars: Obi- Wan? Choose wisely, Padawan.

—Gary Mollohan

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 111 - www.egmmag.com

A

we doubt it will be her last. A multi-platform assault is likely in | the works for games based on next summer's Scooby-Doo | movie, in which Gellar plays Daphne. Consider yourself warned.

PREVIEW GALLERY

Wreckless: The Yakuza Mission Developer Bunkasha is responsible for one of the Xbox's prettiest and most flavorful titles yet. Through two unique storylines that deal with battling the mafia in Hong Kong, Wreckless' gameplay lies somewhere between Grand Theft Auto IIl and Crazy Taxi. You and your car together

serve as transport, rescuer and instrument of mass destruction through 20 unconventional missions. Activision sets it loose in February 2002.

Maximum Chase

Whatever happened to the good ‘ol chase movie? You know, early ’80s classics like Smokey and the Bandit 1-3 and Cannonball Run 1 and 2? Well, at least this winter we get Maximum Chase from Genki. Race to avoid the bad guys trying to ram you off the road, then turn around, aim

the crosshairs at them, and shoot to get ‘em off your tail. Add Burt Reynolds and a chimpanzee in a diaper, and you got yourself a movie! қа

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Like the TV show, EA's Buffy The Vampire Slayer is packed with loads of fighting, humor and teen angst, in addition to hefty doses of exploration and puzzle solving. Buffy will have to rely on her slayer powers as she explores her favorite haunts, including Sunnyvale High, the cemetery and The Bronze nightclub. She's sure to bump into plenty of characters from the show, voiced by the real actors. Look for it in early 2002.

112 egmmag.com

Strap yourself into the cockpit, grab the controls, and let the g-forces warp your world! AirForce Delta Storm, the first and only flight combat game engineered for Xbox, is about to launch you into the action! Choose from over 70 battle-ready, high-tech aircraft and

50+ furious, high-speed missions — then get ready to unleash extreme attitude at every altitude!

VIOLENCE X

EET www.konami.com ®

AirForce Delta Storm™ is a trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. ©1999 2001 KONAMI. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. КОМАМ!® is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. All rights reserved. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Xbox and Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries.

X

PREVIEW GALLERY

While using the words Brute Force alongside Bill Gates sounds less kosher than billionaire virgin, they fit. Xbox owners will soon enjoy a third-person, tactical squad-based shooter (from developer Digital Anvil and due out late next year) that challenges you to eliminate foes with enough prejudice to do Alabama lawmakers proud. Traveling the cosmos on clandestine gigs, your team (which includes assault troops, snipers, and scouts) visits four worlds. From volcanic Shadoon to swampy Ferix, you rock-’n’-sock nasty critters minigun-, sonic canon-, flamethrower-, or psychic blast- style. Commanding allies remotely or switching troops on the fly, do- gooders actually grow in power as the game progresses. Expect a gorgeous, detailed adventure that brings the pain like Method Man, only with fewer catchy puns.

Project I Screw the name—this isn't some sort of supermodel (or game journalist) simulation. Instead, think more intellectually stimulating, if less ambitious. Imagine an RPG where your alter- ego lives, grows, ages and occasionally bashes monsters before your very eyes. Such would be the brainchild of Peter Molyneux's (best known for PC god-games Populous and Black & White) protégé BigBlueBox Studios, who've created a virtual world like no other. Choices have permanent, marked effects, so avoid siding with good or evil unless absolutely necessary (like when one of those uppity trolls gets all up in your face or something). As for gameplay, nothing has been written in stone, though you can safely bet the title will push frontiers. Look for this innovative game in late 2002.

This is no place for subtlety. This is no place for pity. This is a place where aliens want to turn humans into a bad memory. This is a place where strategy matters indoors and out, where your weapons and vehicles are both human and alien. This is а place for carnage. This is HALO!"

VIOLENCE

BLOOD AND GORE ! | combatevolved.com

WWW XBOX COM

хох

Real motocross racing with 21 pro riders on 15 MX and SX race tracks

Set the record in the Bus Jump and Step Up Challenges

Pull insane tricks in arenas and wide open freestyle environments

Mimic "Mad" Mike Jones and his Kiss of Death

Backflips, frontflips, 360s Need we say more?

Mild Lyrics

d P —áS (—— а‏ و EVOLUTION OF MOTOCROSS‏

x L| PlayStation.e pec

Atlus

MaxFive

1

Strategy-RPG

85%

December 2001 Final Fantasy Tactics www.hoshigami.net

Great character designs, complex and rewarding gameplay, and good translation.

Haven't we seen this game before? No, wait, that was Final Fantasy Tactics.

Hoshigami: Ruining

Blue Earth? Say that five times fast.

FINAL FANTASY роту

ah MG

SOUAMESOFT

In July, Sony reprinted Square’s classic Final Fantasy Tactics, a game that was Clearly an inspiration for Hoshigami. FFT first came out in 1998, and a small print run ensured that it was a premium game available only for high prices on eBay until this summer. Fans of the game will remember its "classic" translation. (*Master of all Swords, cut energy! Night Sword!")

FFT's director, Yasumi Matsuno, went on to create Vagrant Story (PS1) and is now working on FFXII. Fans of Hoshigami should definitely check out Tactics and vice-versa. Either game will give you your fix of strategy, although only FFT provides total incoherence.

oshigami is a strategy-RPG in the tradition of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. It's so much in this tradition that persistent rumors on the Internet arose, suggesting that disgruntled staff from FFT had left Square to create this game. While these rumors turned out to be false, they're not hard to believe. The game takes many of its visual and gameplay cues from Square's giant of the genre. These references are balanced out with a number of new, innovative systems and a much more cohesive, coherent presentation. This allows for a much less murky story. As in FFT, you'll move a force of soldiers across a battlefield and participate in turn-based battles against a myriad of enemy characters. Strategy and tactical planning are key to succeeding in these battles. The gameplay innovations set this one apart from other games in the genre. The first is the Ready for Action Points (or *RAP") system. RAP governs everything your character does during battle; walking across the battlefield, casting spells (*Coinfeigm"—spells enchanted in special

Buddies | Main Dude

Gameplay

The blond-haired star of the game is Ramza, a young knight who's swept up into a burgeoning war.

Ramza's best friend is Delita, a short-haired fellow knight who mysteriously disappears.

The gameplay experience most accurately simulates | most accurately simulates

calculus.

ily - 118 - www.egmma

What RPG would be complete without the smoldering wreckage of

the hero's hometown? (left)

Like Final Fantasy Tactics, the battlefields in Hoshigami are kinda small. (left)

coins in the Hoshigami world) or physically attacking foes expends RAP. If you have extra RAP left over after an attack, you can even choose to attack again. Hoshigami offers a new level of strategy using the "Session" system. If you correctly position your forces throughout the battlefield, an attacking character can "shoot" an enemy backward with a blow of his sword. The enemy will ricochet into another member of your group, who can also strike the foe and send him toward yet another of your characters. Properly executed Session attacks net you bonuses in gold and items at the end of a battle.

Strategy fans who've dispatched the rest of the slim pickings on PlayStation should pay attention to this one. With a familiar look and feel that emulate the top names in the genre and enough innovation to set itself apart, Hoshigami is at the top of its game. The fact that the presentation is good, the translation is solid, and the character designs absolutely rock don't hurt either. Atlus' probable final PlayStation 1 title appears to be a worthy final chapter to their history of providing some of the most compelling RPGs on the system.

— Christian Nutt

Clash of the Tacticians

FF TACTICS LES HOSHIGAMI

The blond-haired star of the game is Fazz, a young

| mercenary who's swept up into a burgeoning war.

Fazz's best friend is Leimrey, a long-haired fellow mercenary who mysteriously disappears.

The gameplay experience

an anime club.

Exclusively at

SEARS

Receive

$5 OFF

any of these NEW and . EXCITI du

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy" | | ; ICO” + OKAGE: Shadow Kin: Kinetica"* Gran Turismo"3 A-spec! fe;

ШЇЇ

R5772783L725500

Receive $5 OFF one of these PlayStation*2 games!

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy!" ICO™ • NFL™GameDay™ 2002 • Kinetica™ SEAIRS

T OKAGE: The Shadow King™ « Gran Turismo™3 A-spec

Good for $5 off the purchase of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, ICO, NFL GameDay 2002, Kinetica, OKGE: Shadow King, and Gran TUrismo 3 A-spec.at Sears electronics department. Off regular purchase price. Valid 11/12/01 - 2/15/02 only. Offer not good on layaway balances, gift certificates or credit card payments. Not valid with other coupons or offers. Not valid with any other coupons or offers. Limit one coupon per transaction. One per cus- tomer. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited by law. Cash value 1/20c. 2001 Sears Roebuck and company. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

JEDI POWER BATTLES

Jar Jar Binks fans will be delighted to see the bumbling Gungan's debut on the Game Boy Advance as a helpful guide on level 2. Of course, most other people will be unhappy to discover that

Å : H 1 : а i. your lightsaber is totally ineffective at cleaving him in two.

Namco's portable fighter landed in our office this month, and it looks damn good on the GBA hardware. It's pretty much what we've seen in Tekken 3 with no frills or bonus modes 97 beyond Time Attack and Set, Survival. But the mock- 3D perspective is surprisingly easy to see STAGE Ч and play with, and the == two-player link mode will certainly make Tekken GBA earn its keep. It even features little cutscenes to call out especially potent attacks (lower-left screen) and make you feel extra stupid for falling into them. Tekken is out this November.

— Ф Moto

THQ continues their aggressive GBA support with a two-wheeled speed demon of a game based on Namco's cool PS2 title of the same name. MotoGP features all three professional 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes. Twenty real-world tracks, varying weather conditions, and a dozen bikes "supplied" by Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha flesh out the options. But the best part is the four-player support, which will stoke your competitive fires via link-cable action. While the game looks unnervingly simple, it may provide gamers with a high-speed fix when it ships this November.

Jedi Power Battles

This December, we suggest you pack extra batteries for your lightsaber...er, Game Boy Advance, while fighting the Dark Side as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn or Mace Windu. Other Star Wars characters from Episode I make an appearance, along with 10 levels of droid-bashing, Sith Lord-ass kicking, and Trade Federation-busting fun.

THQ's handheld Star Wars adventure, which is a remake of an older Dreamcast title, will arrive just in time to coincide with the theatrical debut of Episode II's trailer. Now at least you'll have something to play while you wait in a cold, cold line to see it.

120 - www.egmmag.co

ID'S #1 SHOOTER

OF ALL TIME

YOUR IS NOW IN WAY TO THE PALM FREEDOM

OF YOUR HAND!

ie),

eg

4 ; ! Å M Shred your way through DOOM" 5 „А "pP. i maze-like levels filled with a DOOM in Cooperative mode or link 2 to 4 р ud: hell-spauned demons! and rocket imita ne 5 together for the ultimate Deathmatch!

å Å 4 Multiplayer games require а Dari Ore Blood $ “Game Boy" Advance Game PRODUCTIONS — У Viol Link" Cable and separate. lolence LINK DOOM" Game Pak for each “player (sold separately). 1993-2001 1d Software, Inc: A Rights Reserved. Published and distributes by Activision Pun Inc. m" е. Developed by avd A. Palmer protien DOOM, the DOOM logo, the id Software | idsoftware.com activision.com name and the Id logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ld Software, Inc, in the United States and/or other countries. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision, Inc. and its affiliates.

Licensed by Nintendo, Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and the Official Seal are trademarks of Nintendo, og 2001 Ninten

ings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. tA oft trademarks on trade names ar properties of their respective owner ї

Waiting for your teeth to fall out isn't the quickest way to get rich. If you really want to make mega moola, the tooth fairy is gonna have to work overtime. In Wario Land 4, Wario will do AN YTHING for money; even if it means getting scorched, flattened or frozen.

It's just the price you have to pay to

be this greedy. | LIFE A NC

COIN COLLECTING, ADVANCED.

NN З " >

=e ~~

S : mag | META

— As y :

A

Bu the BGM staff

hen someone told us this 150th issue Ш was our sesquicentennial anniversary

(and after we looked in the dictionary to make sure we weren't being dissed), we fig- ured, "Hey, let's celebrate!" And we focused our fiesta on the games that got us here.

So, after weeks of bitter feuding, ego bruis- ing and even some fisticuffing, the EGM staff unabashedly presents its picks for the 100 best console games of all time. What do we mean by “best”? Simple: These are the games that we still wanna play today. In other words, if we were forced to pack only 100 console titles for a lifelong exile on some deserted island— preferably an island with cable TV and the Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Team to multiplay with —these are the games we'd crate out to sea. Oh, we had a few rules, too: We could only pick titles released in the U.S., and we couldn't count game compilations (although we could consider individual games within compilations if they were the best version).

Now, we know you're going to have issues with our picks, so we figure we'd head off your angry feedback at the pass with this FAQ...

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 124 - www.egmmag.com

Hey, why aren't Halo, Tony Hawk 3, Metal Gear Solid 2 and all the other games you guys have been yakking about lately on this list?

Confucius say, “Fool who rank game with fresh shrink-wrap smell make smelly fool of himself." Er, or some- thing like that. Anyway, the point here is we're so hyped up on this holiday's roster of brilliant new games that we're itching to put a few in the top 100 list. But we need some perspec- tive—some time to sit back and con- sider the merits of fresh-outta-the-box hits like Halo and MGS2 long after we beat them — before we go declaring this or that one of the best games ever. Consequently, we only consid- ered games that hit store shelves before Oct. 31, 2001.

Where the heck are Pong, Space Invaders, Doom, and all the other classic and revolutionary stuff? Sorry, but this list ain't about the 100

most influential games of all time (although you'll find those titles in a sidebar within the feature). You want nostalgia? Go play Pong. You want a kick-ass game? Go play Virtua Tennis.

I remember some of the games on this list getting ho-hum scores back when you reviewed *em. What's the big idea?

No conspiracy here. Remember, games are reviewed by only three (and in the old days, four) members of the staff, who are picked to provide a well-rounded trio of opinions of each title. But we have a lot more than three reviewers on staff, and they all have lots of opinions. In the democra- tic process of putting together this list, every good game got its due.

Are you ever going to get on with it? All right, all right. We get the mes- sage. Just turn the page, you sesqui- centennial party pooper.

onthly - 128

DECATHLOTE

Sabunn Sega, 1995

Gamers often dis- miss them as *button mashers,” but track-and-field- style titles still hold a place in our hearts for their simplicity and multiplayer show- downs. DecAthlete represents the best of this breed. The wide variety of events here demand real skill and timing in addi- tion to quick-fingered endurance.

MARIO GOLF

Take Mario

Golf to the

can and you're

in danger of putting your ass to sleep permanently— it's that good. While most GBC titles only mimic the big boys, Mario Golf is even better than its N64 brother. Highly addictive gameplay and challeng- ing RPG elements come together nicely in this ultra-fun on-the-go golf sim.

BASEBALL STARS

Next-gener-

ation base-

ball games

have been so lackluster that it makes us appreciate this old-but-addicting title which emphasizes the basics of the sport rather than the fluff. But it also has fea- tures that rival current games. The most notable: Creating and developing players into...well, baseball stars over time.

WIPROUT HL

Throbb techno

future-

suals and corkscrewing, suspended

re commonplace in

today, but no imitators top this crown jewel of the WipeOut series. The courses are extremely challenging to navigate. But factor in the well-balanced arsenal and you have one addicting racer.

PHANTASY STAR

This mile-

stone RPGS ҸЕ; 3D dungeon effects—which dropped jaws back in '88— may look positively prehistoric today, but there’s no denying that the planet-span- ning quest has withstood the test of time. Just when you think you're at the end, it throws you a new twist. The cart cost $70, but you got your money’s worth.

SUPA SMASH BROS.

Classic

Nintendo

characters

kicking the crap out of each other? Hell yeah! We like the fact that the Big N can let their hair down and allow their most treasured franchises to punch, kick, shoot and throw their asses out of the ring in the ultimate multiplayer melee. The GameCube sequel will be even better.

QUAKE 111 ARENA

Dreamcast

Sega, 2000

Maybe it

doesn’t

have the

involving single-player experience or deep multiplayer options of Perfect Dark (#65), but Quake lil has its own ace in the hole: online play. The thrill of killing strangers all over the world, plus great weapons and level design, make up for the four-player limit.

ZBLOA 11: THE ADVENTURE OF LINK

Eu cc mic

Although

quite a

departure

from the original Zelda, this sequel holds its own as an action-RPG, with great side- scrolling combat, awesome dungeons and a long, hard quest. Despite being the oddball of the series (but not nearly as odd as the awful CD-i Zeldas —see page 166), Zelda Il is a must-play for fans.

їор HOCKEY

Nintendo, 1988

Who needs real teams or players when you get to run the skinny guy into the boards with the fat guy? Topnotch simulation it ain't, but this is the most timeless hockey video game out there. Grab an NES, a friend and two controllers to see what we mean. Just remember, the fat guy hits hardest.

Any big battle is going to have its casualties, and in the case of our weeks-long skirmish to put this feature together, those casu- alties are the editors' personal faves that nearly made the list but got shot down in the final vote. So in memorial of those classic games gone MIA, we've listed along the bottom of our top 100 each EGM editor's picks that didn't quite make the final cut...

126

FINAL FANTASY VII

PlayStation Sony COA, 1997

Revolution-

ary for its

previously

unmatched CG cinematics that seamless- ly blended with amazing prerendered backgrounds, FFVII marked a new gener- ation of RPGs (and spikey-haired dudes) that not only put Square at the top of its game but also upped the bar on what gamers expect from an RPG these days.

VIRTUA TENNIS

Dreamcast Sega, 2000

If you think a forehand and a back- hand stroke are types of spankings, then this is the tennis game for you. It plays more like Pong than anything else, but has enough smashes and lobs to keep fans of the sport happy. And if not, the zany yet ingenious minigames will win them over. Tennis Bowling, anyone?

ACTRAISER

Super NOS 7 score 2400 Brix, 1991

Take side-

scrolling,

sword-swinging

action and mix it with some light strategy and you’ve got ActRaiser, which creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere thanks to its lush graphics and beautiful soundtrack. Besides, how many games let you fly around as a naked cherub, bossing around mortals and blowing stuff up?

RESIDENT BViL

PlayStation Capcom, 1996

They’ve

improved on

the graphics

and certainly the dialogue (see Worst Game Lines Ever sidebar) in later editions of the series, but for pure story and gen- uinely creepy atmosphere, nothing can touch the original RE. Never played it? Just wait for the GameCube remake for an even creepier experience.

SEGA RALLY 2

Dreamcast Sega, 1999

The original

Saturn Sega

Rally is still

awesome in our book, but this visually stunning sequel edges it out by retaining the arcade flash while tuning the power- slide-rich physics. The four-fold increase in cars and tracks doesn’t hurt, either. And if you're up to the challenge, SR2's 10-year championship will keep you busy for days.

BEHIND THE MUSIC

If anyone pushed the Super NES's powerful sound chip to the max, it was Yuzo Koshiro, the maestro behind ActRaiser's orchestral score, as well as the music in Revenge of Shinobi (#73), Shenmue and Streets of Rage. "When I was in grade school, I was hooked on Space Invaders,” says Koshiro, the son of a pianist. "And while in high school, I played games from Namco, Sega and Konami. They inspired me to compose music for video games.” Koshiro remains an avid gamer who prefers 2D visuals to polygonal graphics —although he has a soft spot for first-person shooters. “1 most- ly play Team Fortress these days,” he says. “Before that, though, | played through every game in the Street Fighter II series.”

DRAGON WARRIOR IV

NoS Onin, 1992

This 8-bit epic, with its multi-chapter setup and heavy emphasis on story and character development, was years ahead of its time. Finding out what all the fuss was about is tricky—DWIV is one of the rarest games around, and its two 16-bit follow-ups were never released here. But don't go blowing $100 on eBay just yet. Enix is readying a PlayStation remake of DWIV for early 2002. And this version will be more than a straight port. Enix has reworked the game from the ground up and given it a 3D facelift, using the game engine of the recently released DWVII. Designer and scenario writer Yuji Horii says Enix originally planned to redo part IV for the Super NES. But by the time they got around to it, the 16-bit era was already over. Can you say, “D’oh!”

LINDI INA

Nintendo ВЧ Nintendo, 1998

F-Zero X

nixes the

flat-as-a-

sheet-of-paper courses of the Super NES original and adds stomach-lurching hills, loops апа —most importantly—loads of opponents to race against. Plus, you can turn your racer into a weapon by spinning it while in a crowd of other cars. It's fast. It's furious. It's a helluva lot of fun.

BUPGEPTIME (multiplatform), MINE SGOPM Vectrex), MEGAL MAriNC$S (Super №5), THE DreaDNDUGHG Расо" (inbellivision) and ADSD: TPEASUPE OF Tar MAN (intellivision)

121

И The fastest ang

Violence Mature Sexual Themes

CONTENT RATED BY

100% GAMES

EA,

Dead ог Alive 3™, DOA2: Hardcore!" and Dead or Alive® Tecmo, LTD. 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 200 Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsaft Corpo

EOS a registered trademark HRS: and/or in other countries

1213-8 Hawthorne Blvd., Torr

$ 3344. n is a trademark

the Interactive. Association.

as

< The most technological

r@ www.d 3 з

SarmSho's spin on 2D fighting was

Gi eryone weapons and ran- domly toss out bom d health. But it did this with style, damnit, peaking with part 2. You get char: 1 ty to spare, atmosphe

rsonali-

and music, and fantastic gameplay (even if Ukyo is a cheap bastard).

More than

just a great

3D platform

game, Ape Escape uses the Dual Shock controller in clever ways that'll drive you bananas. Twiddle those little sticks to paddle a rowboat, drive an RC car, cruise around in a tank—the control scheme changes all the time. And its chimps out- monkey Monkey Ball ín pure personality.

STAR FOX Mec ы;

Star Fox introduced 3D polygonal graphi 1 å time when 2D Today, these visuals look ade from half-melted Lego blocks, but the game itself is still fun, with å grand, Star Wars-like feet and cre that remind you that not all spå ers have to be serious to be enjo

DAYTONA USA

“Try to go

easy on the

car!" If that

line doesn't ring a bell, you don't know what you're missing. Daytona USA takes the best of the coin-op's finely tuned rac- ing and pumps it up with several cool new tracks, cars and four-player online play. And it's the hard-driving competition here that makes Daytona a must-have.

SKVS OF ARCADIA

Who would have expect- ed a barely hyped RPG called Skies of Arcac come out and kick Grandia Il's ass with its massive quest, high-flying air battles, beautiful ship designs and awesome of exploration? Now that th me ding to the PS

As a side-

story to the

Metal Gear

mythos, MGS on the GBC is a surprisingly faithful rendition of tactical espionage action —even hardier than old NES installments. What's more amazing is all the extras Konami's thrown into the pack- age: tons (150 plus) of VR Missions and two-player link mode action!

TaPGeG Е ГЕН (Genesis) and ESSHEPTIHEI* (Super №05)

Мог 130 - www.eg

KIRBY'S AVALANCHØ/ MEAN BEAN M

Gamers love

these two

puzzle titles

for their simplicity (just match up blobs of the same color). Sadists love them because they allow you to set up massive combos that can choke out an opponent in one fell swoop. The formula works well and is still fun today — watch for a Game Boy Advance edition (Puyo Pop) in March.

MARIO KART ВЧ

Despite bet-

ter graphics,

four-player

splitscreen play and a reworked power-up system, the N64 version of Mario Kart just doesn’t duplicate the ingenious level design of the original, but it’s still great. It added more technique to the power- slide (do it right and you can get a mini turbo boost), not to mention rolling hills.

5. Tony Hawk's

Pro Skaber Ч. Street Fighter Il 3. Dragon Warrior

2. Super Mario ВЧ

1. Super Mario Bros.

AGDMiC ROBOHKID (TurbcGraF«-8), MAGICIAN LOPD (NeoGeo), EiNHÄNDEP (PlayStation),

4

Logitech"'s Cordless Controller for PlayStation, PS one; and PS2:

Play up to 20 feet away. With 50 hours of battery life.

2.4 GHz technology for instant response from any angle.

Play fast and loose. Play where you want.

WIN THE BATTLE. LOSE THE CORD.

Ld €:

N Logitech

itech and may be ٤ p ent Inc. å www.logitech.com/controller

mark of Sony Cc

Games ever

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG e

Genesis Sega, 1992

Gamers

weary of

Mario’s plod-

ding pace flocked to Sonic’s speedy ways in a flash. This sequel adds sidekick Tails, nicer graphics, a two-player mode, speedier gameplay and even a faux-3D halfpipe. And to think, it eventually became a Genesis pack-in. Still, the level design doesn’t top the original’s.

THO REVENGE DP SHINOBI

Genesis Sega, 1989

While

the word

“classic” rarely

pops into your head when you think of early Genesis games, Revenge of Shinobi definitely falls into that category. This is top- notch side-scrolling ninja action, complete with magic attacks, showers of shurikens and even a little swordplay. Joe Musashi's second adventure remains the best one in the series.

BATMAN ROBBIN One of the bosses in Revenge of Shinobi is none other than your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. What's even more surprising, though, is that upon defeating ol' Webs, he morphs into Batman and continues the fight—but only if you own the very first U.S. version of the game. Since Sega refused to pay DC Comics for the rights to the caped crusader, later versions of Shinobi have Spidey trans-

Й forming into a more nonde- script bat- creature for the remainder ofthe battle. Of course, you can pretend it's Batman.

LEGENDAPY AHE (ПулбобпаРя-18], GAPS (PlayStation), DEW:

LUNAR: SILVER STAR STORY COMPLETE

PlayStation Working Designs, 1999

Classic, hand-drawn animation and wonderful voice acting combine with a great story to make Lunar one of the best RPGs without the words “Final” or “Fantasy” in the title. Guide young Alex as he fulfills his dream of becoming a Dragonmaster and learns how important his girlfriend is to Lunar's future.

ADVANCE WARS

Game Boy Adv. Nintendo, 2001

Topping

even the

TurboGrafx-

16's seminal Military Madness, Advance Wars takes classic turn-based strategy and soups it up with a killer four-player mode that can make two hours whiz by in a heartbeat. Even the single-player game

got us weepy, though it was probably just

from staring at the tiny GBA screen.

NINJA GAIDON Il: THO DARK SWORD OF CHADS

Nes Tecmo, 1990

This ninja- riffic side- scroller out- dices the other two games in the Ninja Gaiden series—and that’s saying a lot. Gaiden II features blazing-fast sword- slashing action and some totally cool bosses, not to mention a great story told through nifty cutscenes, which were still a novelty back when this game hit.

Б make bh

il. DEB (PlayStation), contra: наго COPPS (Genesis) and BIS ADVENGUPE (TurboGrafx-1B)

132

SHINING FORCE 111

Saturn Sega, 1998

Strategy-

RPG fanatics

were in tacti-

cal heaven when Sega released the first part of SFIII (which actually hit Japan in three parts). Fans subsequently cried bloody murder when Sega failed to bring parts 2 and 3 here, but that doesn't detract from its fast-paced plot, classic Shining Force gameplay and slick visuals.

PHANTASY STAR 11

Genesis Sega, 1989

PSII is the

crown jewel

of this sci-fi-

meets-sword-and-sorcery series (unless you count PSO). It has a huge quest, one of the best final bosses ever, and a main character who dies halfway through the game. What more could you want from an RPG? And the neatest part: That awe- some final boss isn't really the final boss.

METROID

Snatching

the presti-

gious 69 slot

from its occupant (Snatcher for Sega CD) on the top-100 list we ran four years ago, the 15-year-old Metroid still rocks our VW van. The spooky space score hooks up seamlessly with the dark alien setting to spawn an adventure game way ahead of its acid-washed time.

No really, they're revolting, uprising

against the conniving, corporate clods of Oddworld an entire species to extinction. And you can join the s flatulent friend Abe in cooperative game play. Hit some

twisted power-ups along the way, and lead the yevolution against the misguided power mongers. C'mon. The fate of Oddworld is in your hands.

that are eating fight. Be both Munch and hi:

COMIC MISCHIEF

VIOLENCE MunchOnthis.com

©2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Xbox. and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. ©2001 ‘Oddworld Inhabitants, Inc. А! Rights Reserved. “The Oddworld logo, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee are either registered trademarks or trademarks ‘of Oddworld Inhabitants in the United States and/or other countries.

SUPOR GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS

Super №5 452258 Capcom, 189) >”

Go back and

play Super

Ghouls ‘N

Ghosts today and you'll probably agree that it’s still one of the toughest run-and- jump platform games ever made. But Capcom has sugarcoated this bitter pill with sweet graphics and special effects. Some would argue the Genesis G’NG is better. To that we say: No, it’s just easier.

PORFOCT DARK

Nintendo ВЧ Rane, 2000

Rare’s

GoldenEye

was good.

This follow-up first-person shooter is bet- ter. It comes locked and loaded with more multiplayer options than any game in his- tory, “simulant” ‘bots, co-op play—every- thing but the Jimmy Bond license. If it weren’t for its chopperiffic framerate, you can bet PD would’ve placed higher.

5. Reaching the castle roof in Mario ВЧ with- out collecting all 120 stars—wall-jump your heart out and it can be done.

Ч. See Samus without armor in Super Metroid— Beat the game in under three hours and our favorite interstellar heroin shows some skin.

3. Street Fighter II's same-chanecben Fights— Tapping a few buttons in the original Super NES SFII let you pit the same characters against each other. It's almost like Champion Edition!

9. The Super Mario Bros. Minus Worlds-

Bust through a special wall in world 1-2 and you can access this super secret Mario world.

1. The Konami Code—up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and Start always led to the good life — and loads of extra lives—in old Konami games.

STROOT FIGHTER ALPHA 3

PS/OC Capcom, 1999

Topping SF

Alpha 2 was

tough, but the

complexity and style added by SFA3's *isms" make it the preferred game of many casual fans and tournament players alike. Frequent players here at EGM and gamers around the world continue to dis- cover new combos and tactics for this fighter. We're ready to take you on.

ПОСА MAN ЇЇ

Capcom, 1989

Jumping

from box art

disaster to

Capcom poster boy, Mega Man can thank this top-seller for making him a house- hold name. Never mind its endearing bosses and crafty power-ups; the genius musical score alone could get Mega Man Il ranked. Even today, platform junkies swoon at the mere mention of this guy.

ROSIDONT BViL 2

PlayStation Capeom, 1998

This return

to Raccoon

City doesn’t

pack the scare tactics of the original, but what it lacks in frights it more than makes up for in raw action and its nifty two-character dynamic. You need to beat RE2 at least twice—once as rookie cop Leon, once as Chris’ sis Claire Redfield— to squeeze out every last drop of horror.

DONKEY KONG

Nintendo, 1994

Here’s the good news: This handheld hit faithfully reproduces all three levels of the 1981 coin-op. Now here’s the really good news: From level four on, Donkey Kong becomes a clever action-puzzle game that’ll keep you hooked right up to the last level. It’s the perfect ape escape from a long car trip or lame-o class.

RTYPD (RTIPOS VERSION)

PlayStation ш Ascii, 1998

It's the side-

scrolling

shooter,

whose awesome bosses (one so huge it spans several screens), methodical pace and unique power-up system changed the genre forever. Most of us have fond mem- ories of the impressive TurboGrafx-16 ver- sion, but there's no denying the PS rere- lease comes closer to the arcade.

NIGHTS...INTO ORBAMS

Saturn Sega, 1996

Sonic grabs

all the head-

lines, but

many folks figure that Nights is the true zenith of Sonic Team’s gameography. More of a flying time attack than a tradi- tional platformer, the game’s rave-y world packs so much solid gameplay that find- ing the best path to the highest score takes tons of practice. Awesome.

ПГаБПП warrior I Gone Boy Color), HID IGAPUS (NOS), Final Fantasy " (Super №5), WAVE RACE ЕЧ (Nintendo 6Y) and LUFiA I: RISE DF GHE SiMSGPALS (Super №5)

134

EVERYONE

TWEEN YOUR LEGS L THAT COUNTS.

oe oe mom

sonna one on - 2 mm ud

ws on wens: LI D E

partit a =т= o

p. wn

(= me a en c

12 different super-charged bikes packing

9 incredible racing circuits with serious firepower

Futuristic, interactive racing environments: gut-wrenching loops, twists, spirals & drops

city. desert, arctic, ocean & canyon

(€

J

Mild Violence nin noo PlayStation.e GAMECUBE.

In-game music by

С). ZAKlaim

www.acclaim.com

erved. Developed by Acclaim Studios Cheltenham. All Rights ved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony «s of Nintendo. Screens shown were taken from the PlayStation®2 version of the video game.

INTER

p

fiie pie

f ———— S-VIDEO, RFU ADAPTER FLASH MEMORY ies [LOBO ACCESSORY үү 8 MB å INTERACT А SER KBOKACCESSOR m POTD г aren #210466-9

POWERPAD CONTROLLER POWERPAD XBOX ACCESSORY \ COLOR CONTROLLER INTERACT XBOX ACCESSORY #2104628 INTERACT #210464-4

N

qm

== qus M SUPERPAD — €f s == S-VIDEO /AV CABI INTERACT GAMECUBE NES \ RFU ADAPTER ИШ ACCESSORY #212506-0 | GAMECUBE ACCESSORY ALSO AVAILABLE: Mun Дт 212980 JFT BLACK 721258055

К. WW W *GAMECUBE NOT INCLUDED A Prices valid in U.S. only. Ty | the f Electronics B Not all flet I S | 15, only. [ not йү of Electronics Boutique. Not all iter appear af our outlet locations. OM Pim n by б ү mi VAT al Dd to be em qn КОЙ UM E offers may differ in e i Canada. Prices and availability are subject to onm Manufacturers" delays are not the responsibility: of Electronics Boutique.

ону for / recommandé pour 2| “Game Boy* Advance

тг тия WARRANTY (галите ии

ADVANCED FUN PACK GAME BOY ADVANCE ACCESSORY SIS GROUP LID. 42045870

FLIGHT STICK GAMECUBE ACCESSORY SIS GROUP LTD.

#213046-6 f

GAMEPAD SS GAME BOY ADVANCE ACCESSORY SIS GROUP LID. #204589-6

SPYLIGHT PROTECTOR GAME BOY ADVANCE ACCESSORY S GROUP UD.

GAMECUBE ACCESSOI S GROUP ID. #7130409

s .800.5166 n nearest you! or oy

Call 1. 800. 800. 0032 pe.

{ my to place your order now! SS,

UN

SUPER MARIO RPG

Super NOS Nintendo, 1996

The result of

a dream col-

laboration

between Nintendo and Square, Super Mario RPG is one of the finest RPGs to grace the Super NES. Its clever story and hilarious in-jokes will have you giggling like a schoolgirl, while the involving gameplay and excellent battle system

will keep you entertained to the very end.

FINAL FANTASY IH

PlayStation Square QA, 2000 Å

With its more light- hearted story and cuter characters — including super- loveable Black Mage Vivi— part IX feels like the throwback to the pre-PlayStation era of Final Fantasy most of us were wait- ing for. We like our Square RPGs chock- full of things like airships, black mages and moogles, and FFIX's got ‘em.

THO LEGEND OF 20128: LINKS RURMBNING ПН

Link's

Awakening

took the best

elements of two classic Zeldas (the first one and A Link to the Past, both of which

are in this top 100) and combined them to

make one of the most incredible portable adventures of all time. DX brings the game into the 20th century by adding some color to the pale GB original.

VIRTUR FIGHTER 2

Saturn Sega, 1985

VF2 packs

such deep

and complex

fighting mechanics that, at the height of its popularity, kids were signing up for VF2 classes in Tokyo, getting the straight dope from certified VF masters. The Saturn version looks sharp, plays time- lessly well, and features computer oppo- nents that learn from your techniques.

LANOSTALKBA

Landstalker

is about as

close to Zelda

as Sega ever got. It features loads of hack-’n’-slash action along with some complex puzzles. In fact, they're a little too complex sometimes thanks to the iso- metric perspective that makes jumping a true nightmare in some scenes. Nevertheless, Landstalker's a classic.

DØVILS CRUSH

TurboGrafx-16 NOC, 1990

Satan-ized

with march-

ing demons

and spinning pentagrams, Devil's Crush crunches pinball and shooter gameplay into a hell-spawned hybrid any God-fear- ing gamer will love. It ain't your typical silver-ball sim—your goal is to bean demonic baddies and open tons of bonus tables— but that's exactly why we like it.

SONIC TH? HEDGEHOG

Genesis Sega, 1981

This classic

is known for

its bitchin’

graphics, imaginative levels and nauseat- ing sense of speed. (Remember Sega’s “Blast Processing” marketing campaign?) It’s also the title that propelled Sega into the mainstream, and gave the Genesis a fighting chance against the Super NES. We still have dreams about that fancy Star Light Zone level.

STRAINED MOMENTS iN SONIC HISTORY * Sonic’s Three Dads: In 1990, Sega gave character designer Haoto Oshima, level designer Hirokazu Yashuhara and pro- grammer Yuji Naka 11 months to craft a game and character to rival Nintendo’s Mario. Sonic debuted 14 months later.

* Seniority Rules: Sonic designer Yuji Naka then quit Sega because he didn’t like their seniority-based pay scale.

* Need For Speed: Naka was persuaded to come back. Word has it that a Porsche was involved in the negotiations.

* Made in the U.S.A.: Sonic 2 was devel- oped by the U.S.-based Sega Technical Institute. Naka became discontent and left before it was completed.

* Family Ties: It wasn't long before Naka rejoined Sega and went on to head up top-listers Nights (#61) and PSO (#45).

SUPØR PUNCH-DUT!!

Super №5 Nintendo, 1994

Nintendo's

follow-up to

Punch-Out!!

(#34), this brawler has nearly identical gameplay but adds a super-attack meter for added “punch.” And old faces return with some new tricks alongside new box- ers. Unless you're looking for realism, the only boxing game with more heavyweight fun than this sequel is the original.

SNAGCHEP (Sega ПП), SHENMUE (Dreamcast), RANGEP-H (Genesis, SbIPEEES OF RAGE Z

(Genesis) and На ШИШИ (Genesis)

138

© 1999-2000 Activision, Inc. and its affiliates. Published and Distributed by Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark and Activision O2, Tony Hawk's Pro Rights Reserved. Developed by Treyarch LLC. Licensed by Microsoft Corporation for the use of the Xbox js icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. All other trademarks and trade names

e trademarks of Activision, Inc. All

is Reserved. Tony Hawk is a trademark of Tony Hawk. fi, Xbox and the Xbox logos аге

tered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp

Visit www.esrb.org

or call 1-800:

-3772

-771

for more info.

CONTENT RATED BY

REN)

TRENG

j

Marvel character names and distinctive like- in the U.S.A. and/or other countries and are

ACTIVISIONO2.COM

Genesis Sega, 1990

This first-of-

its-breed

real-time-strat

classic puts you behind the stick of a transformable robot that must take over bases by building drones and ordering them to attack. Don't toss out your battle plan if things go awry. Just grab a gun, fly in, and take matters into your own hands.

HERZOG LIVES

It may have slipped under gamers’ radars back in ‘90, but HZ has a hardcore follow- ing online today. Amidst the FAQs and fan sites, the most touching show of affection comes from Arizona gamer Martin Actor, who's resurrecting HZ on PC using the Unreal Tournament engine. *Later games in the genre ignored what made HZ so great—the arcade style, simplicity of unit selection and focus on actual strategy rather than micro-management," Actor tells us. *So 1 always wanted to see a sequel, and I figured I could do the original game justice via the UT engine.”

See Herzog in 3D at http:// mep.beyondunreal.com/hz

Saturn Sega, 1996

If the first

Panzer

Dragoon

intrigued the minds of gamers every- where, Zwei captured them lock, stock and barrel. Featuring branching paths, the ability to affect the growth of your dragon, one of the most beautifully designed game worlds ever, and a box full of secrets, PDZ is a landmark shooter.

"ae ~ M

magician LOPD (NeoGeo), MAM 1975 (NeoGeo) E (You know it's brue), BUSHIDO BLADE (PlayStation) end EiNHANDEP (PlayStation)

Released in

NES’ twi-

light days,

Castlevania 111 dishes out some of the best visuals on the system, but it's the gameplay that put the game on this list. True to the original (without the RPG bits of part 2), this classic packs solid plat- form fun, with alternate routes and multi- ple characters — including SotN's Alucard.

CONTRA

NØS Konami, 1988

Kids who pet

wantedto ОЯ be astronauts

suddenly wanted to be commandos in *88. Blame it on this side-scroller's never- ending intensity and wicked power-ups (our fave: the spreadgun). More teens knew the cheat code than knew the capi- tal of lowa, but it's the elite few who can conquer the aliens with three lives.

POKÉMON GOLD/SILVOR/CRYSTAL

Game Boy Colon KOFF ING, Nintendo, 2000 (=a

CHRIS used the the Poké- FOKE BALL. hype and you're left with a fun and engrossing adventure game that taps a direct line to your inner child. Capturing and battling those cute lil" bastards is just the begin- ning. The internal clock, wide array of

gadgets and a hundred new monsters make this newest Poké-quest the best.

Look past

140

Saburn Sega, 1996

Throw Final

Fight, a big

golden zom-

bie, Street Fighter and all the insane 2D effects you can find into a blender and hit puree. Whip until creamy smooth and you'll get Guardian Heroes. And if the multiple characters and branching story- lines aren't enough, the six-player Versus mode puts this game over the top.

PAPER MARIO

Nintendo ВЧ Nintendo, 2001

It may look

like Mario

Babies and

lack the pedigree of Square-developed Super NES prequel Mario RPG (see #60), but Paper Mario offers more depth, side quests and charm before 10 a.m. than most RPGs dish out all day. And unlike most battle systems, the game’s combo- crazy combat is actually fun.

PHANTASY STAR ONLINE VOR. 2

Dreamcast Sega, 2001

PSO does for consoles what PCs have been doing for years: bring people together, online. The unwashed gaming masses gather in PSO's lobbies, creating a console watering hole devoid of linguis- tic barriers. Sure, dungeon exploration gets old after a while, but the quest for rare items keeps you going.

, SECPEG OF MANA (Super №5), SONIC 15 DUEPPAGED

200 Miles Per Hour. 1000 Decisions Per Second. >>

33 Catching air in SF. Looks good, earns style points and offers tasty view. But you lose lap time and possibly your bet. LUhat do you do, pally?

33 Powersliding. It earns points, but increases risks. A.K.A. crashing. And crashing equals dents. Equals less kudos. Equals loser. Better think fast, chief.

33 Welcome to NYC, circuit #178. Virgin run and you're off pace. You can learn the line. Or just go for style points. Again, your call, tough guy.

With over 25 cars, 4 cities and 200+ circuits, what will you da? It all depends:

What's driving you? PROJECT GOTHAM

RAC TN ИЕ

microsoft.com/games/projectgotham

D LYRICS 7 m X Y ONI m 2 z ONLY ON! KEN XBOX“ | XBOXJ >»

XOOx

SUPER MARIO KART

Super NOS Nintendo, 1992

If you think

we're krazy

for listing this

old-timer higher than Mario Kart 64 or Kart: Super Circuit, then we figure you never spent enough quality time with this originator of the kart-game species. The shortcut-crammed course design here is the best in the series, and we really miss the Feather-hop power-up in later games.

MS. PAC-MAN

Multiplatform Midway, 1981

Ms. Pac-

Man is a

timeless clas-

sic we EGM editors still find ourselves playing today. And did you know two MIT students/hackers in the early ‘80s reverse-engineered (Mr.) Pac-Man to cre- ate the girly version, which Midway bought and distributed? We always knew higher education had a point.

A-TYPE DALTA

PlayStation Asci, 1999

If any game

can be for-

given for

slowdown during play, it's R-Type Delta. Wave after wave of enemies and bullets pack the screen so tight that when things bog down, it's actually a relief. Three playable ships, a great power-up system and epic boss fights— a shooter that taxes your brains as well as your thumbs.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS

PlayStation pezi Sony CBA, 1998 ш

It has one of

the most

convoluted,

poorly written/translated storylines in the history of video games— we still don’t know what the plot is about. But FF Tactics took FFV's incredible Job system and turned it into a full-fledged strategy game, with amazing depth of play that can steal hours and hours from your life.

THe LØGØND OF ZOLDA: ORACLE OF SPASONS

Game Boy Color Nintendo, 2001

More action-

oriented

than Oracle of

Ages, Seasons is a phenomenal adven- ture made even better by its ability to link up with Ages. You take control of the four seasons (no, not them) to solve Zelda- style puzzles and save the land of Holodrum, not to mention the Oracle of Seasons herself.

RBSIDENT BViL 2008: VERONICA Н

PlayStation 2 Capcom, 2001

Code:

Veronica

proved that a

demented, cross-dressing villain, assort- ed twisted bosses and enemies, and dis- turbing locales on two separate conti- nents make for a damn tasty survival-hor- ror stew. Thanks to its assorted extras, this PS2 port beats out the equally gor- geous Dreamcast version.

CONTRA 111: THO ALIEN

Back when

the Contra

series was

still good, Contra III was the series’ great- est installment. It overloads our senses with big bosses, incredible backgrounds and scaling and rotation effects, back when “scaling” and “rotation” were a big deal. And the two-player mode lets you share all the intensity with a bud.

THO LEGEND OF 20109: ORACLE OF AGBS _

With more

puzzles than

GBC sibling

Oracle of Seasons, Ages is a thinking-dude’s action-RPG. The game has you fiddling with the flow of time, jumping back and forth between the past and the present, which totally factors into most of the head-scratch- ing puzzles. Can't figure out what to do in the present? Zip back to the past and look for the answer. And true to the series, the dungeon design and bosses here are cun- ningly designed.

THE THIRD ONE'S NO CHARM

Nintendo and developer Capcom original- ly slated the Oracle games to be a three- part series, so where’s the missing Link? “The third Zelda game is unfinished, but it exists,” says Yoshiki Okamoto, execu- tive producer (and president of Capcom- offshoot Flagship). “It probably won’t be released because it’s extremely difficult to link between three games. The debug- ging process takes forever, and it’s hard to figure out which game the problems originated from.” But don’t blame Okamoto—it wasn't his idea to can the third title. “[Mario creator Shigeru] Miyamoto-san told us, ‘Let’s make the games two instead of three.’ We were helped by his suggestion.”

Ea@PGHBOUND (Super NCS), раварра GHE парве" (PlayStation), SUPEP BASEBALL 2020 (NeoGeo), MOLE MANIA (Game Boy Color) and SEPCEES OF RAGE (Genesis)

142

1

CHRONO CROSS

Chrono

Cross blew

RPG fans and

Chrono Trigger devotees away by nailing all the elements that make an RPG great. You get a memorable story, endearing cast, traditional turn-based gameplay with some innovative twists, and top- notch soundtrack and visuals. It’s enough to give this sucker instant-classic status.

SATURN BOMBEAMAN

Saturn Sega, 1997

We've seen

several

episodes in

this popular and always-fun series, but none (not even Dreamcast’s Bomberman Online) can out-blast this one, an old- fashioned 2D party game that supports up to 10 players (yes, 10!). Once you’ve tried this, you'll never look at four-player (yawn) Bomberman the same way again.

STRBUT FIGHTER Ill:

Dreamcast Capcom, 2000

While most people con- sider Street Fighter II Turbo as their favorite Capcom fighter, SFIII: зга Strike is where many pros go to brawl. This amazingly animat- ed, super-technical fighter rewards skilled players with the deepest 2D fight- ing action around. Forget about the 3D SF EX series. This is where it's at.

minda SPAPIGS (Тогһобпар+-1В), FiGHGING ViPEPS Saturn), VECGOPMAN Z (Genesis),

CASTLEVANIA: CIRC OF THE MOON

Game Boy Adv. 08 Konami, 2001

Just ‘cause

it's stuck on

a handheld

doesn't keep Circle of the Moon from being one of the best Castlevania games ever made. It combines classic zombie-spank action with a clever “card” system that lets you mix elements for different power-ups and weapons it's everything you need for a great action-adventure.

NCAA FOOTBALL 2002

PlayStation 2 @A, 2001

We never

realized how Ҹ

addicting it

could be to try to make your favorite col- lege team climb through the rankings to a bowl game until we picked up this fast- paced baller. Whatever it lacks in realism, it makes up for in fun—a fact well demonstrated by the number of work deadlines it caused EGM staffers to miss.

SUPOR MARIO BROS. 2 (ALL-STARS EDITION)

NØS/Supen NØS, Nintendo "88 (originall/'93 (All-Stars Bd.)

Based on å

non-Mario

Japanese

game, SMB2 is the freak of the series: You pick up enemies instead of bashing them, and this is the first and last time many of these enemies—including boss Wart—were seen. The version in GBA Super Mario Advance may be flashier, but we'd rather play SMB2 on the big screen.

MIKO TYSONS PUNCH-OUTIL_

Nintendo, 1987

Body blow, body blow... knockout! Ah, the sweet sounds of victory. With only a few punches in its arsenal and limited defensive moves, Punch-Out!! still tops modern boxing games in heavyweight fun. It took real skill to topple final boss Tyson. We're just glad he didn't come at us with his ear-nibbling finishing move.

MADDEN NFL 2002

Football

series have

come and

gone, but the latest in this bellweather franchise continues to impress. A decade of refined computer intelligence makes this the most realistic game on the field. Its graphics are stunning enough to make you overlook Madden and Summerall's zombie-like commentary.

5. “Why aren't i drinking today? Why don’t you shut up before i geb so angry i need a drink?”

Ч. "Run, coward!” 3. “ШР needs Food badly!” 2. "i am going deeper into your mind...into your soul. You like Castlevania, don't you?” 1. “Thank you, Mario. Bub our princess is in another castle.”

SiLENG BOMBEP (PlayStation ard BEEGLE ADVENGUPE RACING (Nintendo ВЧ)

144

Violence Blood and Gore

XOX

PlayStation.e

SILENT HILL@ IS å (eg stored trademark of KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT TOYO ANG (84 099 2001 KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT TOKYO, Inc. KONAMIQ is а registered trademark of KONAMIGORPORATON All Rights Reserved. "PlayStation and te "PS" Family logo ate registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertairirrient Inc: Xbox and Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft; Corporationin the US and/or in other Countries, The гапо соп I54 trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

BESG GAMES ever

HOT SHOTS GOLF 2

PlayStation Sony DER, 2000

The perfect game to bust out on å laid-back Sunday afternoon (along with a six-pack), Hot Shots 2 takes all the fun parts of golf—the skill, the gear, the crusty dudes with bad toupees— and leaves out the country clubs, real-life courses and golf celebs that most gamers don't give a gopher's ass about.

№5 Nintendo, 1987

A classic in

every sense

of the word,

the original Zelda is a masterpiece of game design, not to mention the very first game of its kind. Even today, Zelda's perfect mix of action and exploration— complete with two huge quests and loads of secrets — will keep armchair adventur- ers glued to their TV sets for weeks.

GUNSTAR HORDES

Benesis Sega, 1993

No game

shows off the

Genesis” power

like Treasure's rookie effort. It's frantic,

with combinable power-ups, unique levels

and more things to shoot at than you can, well, shoot at. It's a blast as a two-player game-— you can actually use your partner as a weapon by throwing him at enemies. Talk about teamwork!

SONIC CD

Sega CO Sega, 1993

Those new-

fangled 3D

Sonic games

with all their polygons and extra charac- ters still don't beat out Sonic CD as the best game in the series. SCD boasts good level design, a great soundtrack and a super-cool time-travel aspect that directly affects the game's ending. Sonic Team should mine this old gal for some ideas.

SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV

Super №5 Konami, 199)

Back before

the Super

NES was con-

sidered super-duper, this sucker put the new system through its paces with big sprites, rotating backgrounds and other nifty effects. Of course, the classic Drac gameplay that’s made this series a hard- core fave was as solid as ever. And who can forget Simon’s limp whip?

HØY, HOW ‘BOUT A SEQUEL?

Sorry gang, but a Gunstar update ain’t in the gameplan for Treasure, a company with a rep for not making follow-ups. “I want to do it,” says Treasure Prez Masato Maegawa. “It’s just that if we make a sequel, | think it should be done by the guys who made the [first game]. They're all separated and working on different titles now. We’re not going to make a sequel just because it would sell. That would be a dis- aster.” So why not a consolation prize, such as a Gunstar port for Game Boy Advance? “Every time | meet overseas pub- lishers, they say, ‘Please develop Gunstar Heroes GBA for us,” he says. “I think mak- ing a new one would be better than just porting the title over to GBA.”

CHRONO TRIGGER

Super NOG Square, 1995

Time-trip-

ping quest?

Check. Unique

battle system? Check. Soaring musical score? Check. Sounds like an RPG trifecta to us. And Chrono Trigger—which combos the best aspects of Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana—does deliver nearly everything we want in an RPG (except FF- caliber character development).

5. Spy Hunter 4. Tron

3. ikani Warriors 2. Daytona USA

1. Robotron 2084

SUPOR MARIO BROS. ALL-STARS BDITIDN)

NOS/Super №5, Nintendo “85 [original)/"93 (All-Stars Bd.)

It's 16 years

old and

nearly all of

its sequels are better games, but the fact that the original Mario is so high on our list should show you how great this series truly is. If you've never experienced it, track down Mario All-Stars for the Super NES or SMB Deluxe for Game Boy Color. Then thank us by sending cash.

BLASGEP MASGEP (NIS), SiLENG Hill (PlayStation, RAYMAN 2 (Dreamcast), ELEMENGAL GEAPBOLG (PlayStation) end BLAZING LAZEPS (TurboGrafk-lB)

1 146

STORES MONL!

‘CONTENT RATED ESR

ids Interactive Eidos, Eidos Into fed trademark of the Interactive Digital

DR E p he

the Eidos Interactive logo are registered

Saturn, Working Designs, 1996

Dragon Force defined epic strategy gaming with Braveheart-caliber wars (with hundred-man armies!), battle- field-clearing magical attacks and nine different playable generals, each with his or her own storyline. Not even the almighty FF Tactics (#43) can top this one as our favorite strategy-RPG of all time.

POKÅMON PUZZLE LEAGUE

Nintendo 64 Nintendo, 2000

Some poo-

pooed the

Big N's deci-

sion to add Pukémons to this souped-up version of Super NES Tetris Attack, but we appreciate the removal of the slowdown that plagued the 16-bit game. This amaz- ingly addictive puzzle title won over casu- al and hardcore gamers alike with its simple yet deep combo-crazy gameplay.

GRAN TURISMO 3 A-SPRC

PlauStation2 = Sony COA, 2001 Y

Gran Turismo has shifted gears from a mere racing game series to more of an interactive car museum. But that doesn't keep this latest installment from being loads of fun for gearheads and mainstream gamers alike. And in this third game we even get to drive F1 cars! Now if they'd just add the AMC Gremlin....

Multiplatform Namco, 1981

Galaga rais-

es the big

question:

Should you blow away the blue bugs for big points or let “ет capture your craft and then double your firepower? No mat- ter your decision, this ultimate twitch shooter is a prime example of ‘80s game design at its purest. How many bonus Challenging Stages can you reach?

TONY HAWKS PRO SKATER 2

PlayStation С Activision, 2000 Ёт

Store shelves TOHECLFLIF WARTAL LIEN creak under LTE å

the weight of

wannabes (Tony Hawk-style snowboard- ing, Tony Hawk-style surfing, Tony Hawk- style lumberjack log tossing, etc.), but don't hold that against this master of the Mountain Dew-sponsored genre. Its easy- to-learn free-form gameplay drops you into a Zen zone the second you pick it up.

NO PAIN, ND GAME... You think something like THPS2 happens by accident? Well, it does —lots of acci- dents. “I dislocated my shoulder,” says Neversoft Prez Joel Jewett, listing the injuries his team suffered while boning up to make the world’s sickest skate series. “But that doesn’t really stand up to asso- ciate producer Jeremy Anderson’s broken humerus he got trying to air out of a vert ramp. And designer Junki Saita blew out his posterior cruciate liga- ment from skating too agro at our Christmas party.” Let's hope they all

Jewett takes one for the survive to team on his backyard ramp. make THPS4.

PANZER DRAGOON SAGA

Saturn Sega, 1998

Whether or

not you

agree that

PDS is the greatest Saturn game ever, anyone who's played it knows it's one of the most engaging and unique RPGs to hit any console. Saga brings the Panzer Dragoon series to a surprising, climactic end, which always left us wanting more. Now how about that Xbox version...

SUPRA MARIO WORLD 2:

Super NBS Nintendo, 1995

Never mind

the crappy

N64 sequel;

the original Yoshi's Island is where it's at, man. Beneath the trippy, pastel visuals lies one of the deepest, most enjoyable platform games we've ever played. It's a shame it came out so late in the system's life cycle, but if you missed it the first time, a GBA remake is on the way.

METAL GEAR SOLID

PlayStabion Konami, 1998

You're pack-

ing heat, but

the slightest

noise will give you away. So what's a Solid Snake to do? Why, cling to the shadows, ferret through ventilation ducts, toss chaff grenades, liberate key- cards, beat the snot out of bad-ass boss- es, avoid getting Metal Gear's footprint stamped on your face and save the world!

ICO (PlayStation 2), раварра GHE RAPPEP (PlayStation), GASGLEVANA (NES), NBA ZH (Dreamcast) end BUSG-A-MOVE Z (PlayStation)

бг Monthly - 148 - www.egmt

Wrestle for no reason at all

Refer to strangers as “Slappy”

Run naked

Draw on friends while they sleep

Light poo on fire, then run

Shave monkeys

Play sports

Dump salt in friends milk

Tie fishing line to door knockers Road trip

Call the ex and hang up

We | asked men ages 16 to 25 what they like to do for fun. Here's what they said:

we're all over this one.

$5 OFFany BERT

PlayStation’2 EA Sports titles | TurnOntheFun’ |

Good only at Best Buy stores. Not good in combination with other coupons or offers. Limit one per coupon per title per customer. Not valid on prior purchases. Valid on in-stock items only; no rainchecks. No dealers. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. No copies. Coupon value

is 1/100 of one cent. Good through 2/28/02.

Cashier Instructions: Verify product qualifies. Scan coupon bar code. Scan product bar code. Highlight qualified | | | | | | | | | 00043 59465 ' 6

Ө 2001 Best Buy

item. Press “Item Modify.” Press "Item Discount." Press “Tab.” Enter "500" and press “Enter.” Write "VOID"

оп coupon and place in register media file, 4

6

BestBuy.com

BESE

GAMES ever

STABET FIGHTER II TURBO: HYPER FIGHTING

"AT

Super NOS а Capcom, 1993 sull

This is tradi-

tional old-

school Street

Fighter at its best. Sure, you'll find tech- nically superior sequels on the market, but SF2 Turbo's simplistic charm makes it very playable, even by today's standards. No super meters, no 13-hit Super Arts, no parrying — just one-on-one competition. Ultimately, that's what counts.

THE ART OF FIGHTING We cornered Street Fighter II design Akira Nishitani to wax nostalgic а * Blanka's design: “He had x ** more natural-colored skin at ۴ * Wx, first. Then someone said, - *Let's make him more butt-kicking! and he ended up becoming green.” * When he knew he had a hit: “Even during development stages, SFIl was so fun that we could play it all night long." * The invention of special moves: "Some people can't do [button combos] right, so I came up with the idea of charging and tapping.”

THO LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF Time

Like Mario

64 before it,

Ocarina is liv-

ing proof that even the finest 2D games can be as captivating in 3D. Its remark- able gameplay is complemented by a massive overworld, exquisitely designed dungeons and some of the best boss bat- tles ever. And the “Z-targeting” feature made it way easier to fight in 3D space,

REGUPN File (PlayStation, BUPGEPTIME (nultiplatform), CYBEPNAGD!

PINAL FANTASY V (FF ANTHOLOGY EDITION)

PlayStation 4 Square BA, 1999

Although the FF series now dresses in fancy 3D graphics and beautifully ren- dered cutscenes, serious RPG fans still consider the older, simpler-looking games to be the best. FFV may be old- school and ugly, but it introduced the wonderfully addicting Job system that is still innovative by today's standards.

SUPER MARIO WORLD

Super NØS Nitendo, 1991

The biggest

and best 2D

Mario of them

all, this sequel kicked off.the Super NES era with a bang. It features more than 70 inventive stages and that legendary Mario gameplay, as well the debut of dino-mighty sidekick Yoshi. Be sure to nab it when it's rereleased as Super Mario Advance 2 for the GBA in February.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK

Nintendo ВЧ Nintendo, 2000 ==

Choosing between this and Ocarina of Time wasn't easy, but in the end it was Majora's masks that put the second N64 Zelda on top. The awesome abilities they give our hero Link, plus the completely reworked concept of time, and devious, puzzle-packed dungeons kept this cart in our N64s for weeks.

EiNHÄNDET (PlayStation and ASGPOSMASH (incellivision)

150

SUPOR MARIO BROS. 3 (ALL-STARS EDITION)

NØS/Super NOS, Nintendo “10 (originall/"93 (All-Stars Bd.)

The first

time you

saw Mario

nab that leaf and sprout a raccoon tail, you knew his series just got a lot more interesting. And the visually dated Mushroom Kingdom got a facelift thanks to the cart's MMC3 chip. Thank God Princess Toadstool can't stop getting kid- napped, 'cuz saving her is so much fun.

FINAL FANTASY III

Super №5 Square, 1994

The last

2D Final

Fantasy is

also the series’ best. Our personal favorite moments: Celes’ tear-inducing opera-house performance, Kefka poison- ing Doma Castle’s water, Gau’s backstory and the amazing 20-minute ending. This is Final Fantasy at its most cinematic without relying on actual video cinemas.

SOUL CALIBUR

To this day,

no other 3D

fighting game

marries graphics and gameplay the way Soul Calibur does. By adding tech-rolls, 8-way run, air control and guard impact, SC rewrote how 3D fighting games are played. The mission mode, plus all the awesome extras, make it worth owning a Dreamcast for this game alone.

I" (Super NOS),

emus. > NICE CURVES. KILLER GRIP

OFFICIALLY LICENSED FOR Xbox."

THE NEW VORTEX” CONTROLLER PUTS IN YOUR GRASP. IT'S ONE : ERGO SHAPE, AGGRO RESPONSE, MICRO PRECISION. b VORTEX” IS READY TO REAL GOOD FOR Xbox’:

THE UNFAIR SJVSPDTSGE

Nintendo ВЧ Nintendo, 1998

It may be five years old, but Mario 64 is guru Shigeru Miyamoto's most recent "real" Mario title (until Mario Sunshine hits GameCube next year) — and it's still the best 3D game around, despite many imitators. The levels pack clever puzzles and give you so much to do, you'll be stuck playing for quite some time.

TETRIS

Multiplatform 1988

| Developed in :

Moscow and

then dumped

onto every machine with a display screen, this puzzle-game grandpapa nabbed the numero-uno spot the last time we picked our 100 favorite games 50 issues ago. And if a few more EGM staffers had their way this time around, we'd be raising the Ruskie flag at the top of our list once again. The seven falling blocks here deliver a pure gaming experience that will last forever.

IN THE BEGINNING...

The blocks from prototype Tetris, created

by Alexey Pajitnov in 1986 on his Russian Electronika-60 computer, were made from simple text brackets and looked like this:

11 DU 000 un nu 0 He og 00001

*| remember very well when the falling Shapes appeared for the first time on my screen," Pajitnov, who now works at Microsoft, tells us. “1 had no score...no [block] accelerations, but

I couldn't go and finish

these parts of the [game]

because 1 just sat and

played with my half-

working program. That

was great!“

CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIBHT

PlayStation Konami, 1997

The Belmont

family takes

a backseat in

this decidedly un-Castlevania-like Castlevania game. You explore Dracula’s castle Super Metroid-style as Alucard, the evil one’s estranged son, armed with a sword instead of a whip. It still draws us in like few other games can. Please, Konami, release another one like this.

THO LEGEND OF ZBLDOR: A LINA TD THO PAST

Super NBS " Nintendo, 1992 T

Link's finest

hour? We

think so. It's

tough to pick a best Zelda when they're all so darn good, but on the whole, A Link to the Past offers the best overall pack- age. Two overworlds, fantastic dungeons, incredible gameplay—this baby has it all. Heck, even the music is wonderful. This one's got “GBA port” written all over it.

SUPER METROID

Super NES

FET Nintendo, 1994 H

We knew the

game that

grabbed our

top slot would have to be...well, more than just a video game. To edge out all the other masterpieces on our list, it would have to be something that left an indelible mark on our memories and transcended the medi- um to deliver a timeless, totally immersive experience. That something is, without a doubt, Super Metroid. It's such a

satisfying game that only gets better with age—a trick that few others can pull off.

Its expanding map inspired Castlevania: Symphony of the Night's elegant layout, but Super Metroid has its own brilliant fla- vor that no one could duplicate. Cleverly hidden false floors drop rookies into planet

mmm, BET

UV USN ЭЛЛА МК GN Lay

[We dø PG f. rep OVN APP ТТА Те)

Nasty Norfair miniboss pre-Samus...

Zebes's baddest neighborhoods. Ominous yet beatable bosses are almost too pretty to pummel. Persistent aliens reward a well- earned kill with just what you're lacking, be it missiles, energy or a power bomb that'll break down a nearby door. A grap- pling hook and an ice beam that turns ene- mies into

stepping "mm stones give

you access to

formerly off-

limits areas.

Factor a

haunting

score into this

flawless design equation, and you've got the greatest game ever. But it's numero uno in our book not just ‘cause it reminds us of getting lost in Zebes, playing through dinner, and falling asleep at the controls eight years ago. It's that we'd gladly wake up face-down on the A button again today.

«mand post-Samus. Don't mess with this chick.

TESL DUE LE MANS (Dreamcast), EKGIGBBiKE EH (Nintendo GU, ROAD RASH (300) NEED FOr SPEED: HOG PUPSUW:G (PlayStation), and iH (Game Boy)

152

WHAT HAVE ШЕ LEARNED TODAY? LET'S CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT...

THE TOP FIVE GAMES FOR EREH SYSTEM

1. Castlevania: Symphony of 1. Super Mario 64

the Night 2. The Legend of Zelda: 2. Final Fantasy V (Final Fantasy Majora's Mask Anthology edition) 3. The Legend of Zelda: 3. Metal Gear Solid Ocarina of Time 4. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 4. Pokémon Puzzle League 5. Hot Shots Golf 2 5. Paper Mario

. Gunstar Heroes

1. Gran Turismo 3 A-spec 1

2. Madden NFL 2002 2. Herzog Zwei

3. NCAA Football 2002 3. Landstalker

4. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X 4. Sonic The Hedgehog 0 à 5. Phantasy Star 1!

. Panzer Dragoon Saga . Dragon Force

. Saturn Bomberman

. Panzer Dragoon II Zwei . Guardian Heroes

. Super Mario Bros. 3 . Super Mario Bros.

. The Legend of Zelda

. Super Mario Bros. 2

. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

юр‏ ي جي م م س ې ي

1. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle 1. Soul Calibur of Ages . Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike 2. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle . Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2

of Seasons . Street Fighter Alpha 3 3. Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal . Skies of Arcadia

4. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

5. Donkey Kong

دم гш‏ ي

1. Super Metroid 40 GAMES? 2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 35 з. Final Fantasy 111 4. Super Mario World PEE 5. Street Fighter Il Turbo: a Hyper Fighting 5 257 і 3 20 *r 20 US. 30: ы АБ WHICH SGYLE å x DOMiINAGEDO? ir 60 5r

©

Number of Games on List M" А

CAPbPiDGE us. CD GAMES

10

153

THE тор 5 PUBLISHEPS

——— — Mincennt

square EA

1 1 1 1 1 1 ]

о 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Number of Games on List

TOP-100 Breakoown BY SYSGEM

When 13 об {орлоо hit, more than any other year

THE GOP 5 FFANCHISES

=o MAMA

Final. Fantasy

а-шач ые: PHANGASY Star, RESIDENG EVIL апо х ү SGPEBG FiGHGEr

o 2 4 6 8 10 12 Number of Games on List

SHAPE EHE LOVE...

You can do one of two things if you don't like the lay of our 100 best-games-ever list: Buy yourself some poster board, snip out the write-up for each game, and paste the list back together in the order you prefer. Or, if

you're not an arts-and-crafts-kinda guy, just e-mail us

at egm@ziffdavis.com with the subject header “Best game ever!” and tell us what you think is the best darn game that ever was, along with a really brief descrip- tion of why it was so darn special. We'll run a select

few of your responses in next month's letters section. &&

Buer

By Seanbaby

f you've read this issue the “proper” way—i.e., front to back, lin your sitting parlor, snug in your smoking jacket and sipping cognac—then you've just gone through our picks for the 100 best games of, like, ever. The nostalgia's got you real warm and fuzzy, huh? Welcome to the flipside, Clyde: 20 titles so bad they're good. And by *good" | f we mean “so bad that playing them more ' than once'll make your face explode."

To pick this cream of the crap, we played every stinkeroo title we could think of, got violently ill, then submitted significant workman's comp claims that'll choke our HR

department for years. In the end, we got lazy and decided to share the dirty work with freelance writer Seanbaby, a fully licensed and accredited humorist who pokes fun at everything from games to testicular injuries at his Web site, www.seanbaby.com. You're holding the result of our collaboration in your hands. (And we pray all you're holding is this magazine.) Before you begin, a warning: This article runneth over with lowbrow humor. If you're insulted by the fart jokes, the dirty sex talk or anything else you read here, blame Seanbaby. If you're insulted that we picked so many Atari Jaguar games, blame Atari —we didn't make that piece- o’-turd system. And.if you're so insulted that you can't bring yourself to ever touch a joypad again, contact your employer's HR department. Hey, it worked for us.

e BORN.IN A MARKETING MEETING

Want to enjoy our article а LICENSED SCHLOCK

but don't know how to

read? Watch for these

icons to get an at-a-

nce gander at what

Кез each game so егу not special.

> h VAGUELY WHOLESOME

NINJAS KIDNAP THE PRESIDENT ÅMYTHICALLY BAD GRAPHICS

HAIR-METAL ALERT ONLY ON JAGUAR

Неда Gaming Monthly - 154 - ww

E Game Boy Color d party: Ed Magnin and T ociates

" “This sucker packs four events— sledding, kayaking, biking and

) fe "Skateboarding —and all of them iiu contain the same level of what the

"+ “developers labeled “extreme,” but

what we call “a teddy bear slowly -. moving past rocks in a race to - . — humiliate whoever gets caught

ne playing it.” And the only thing that

. changes between the four events is te background and the terrible - visual of what your bear is riding. herwise, all four are the same terrible We reckon the

es things happen? Or more to å Æ why did He let these d ots involve Him in this video ime? You get three adventures - Combine the fun of learning about e Bible with the excitement of jonotonous wandering. In Noah's rk, for instance, you hunt down and subdue unwilling animals, - usually by smashing vegetables - over their heads. We bet that after an hour of trying to chase down — that second pony, you'll kick your

If nothing else, this game delivers the warm satisfaction of ramming the little girl bear's head into trees and screaming, “I’m an extreme teddy beAAARRRGGGHHH!"

game was designed for blind children—they're the only ones who won't notice that someone

NES off the TV and shout at the sky, "You're just going to have to make some more ponies after the flood, God!"

In Baby Moses, your job is to haul Baby Moses through a desert filled with spiders who want to eat Baby Moses. And it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes for the game to degenerate into you just throwing Baby Moses into a river and watching him sink, then pretending it was an accident. If you make it to the end of a level without Baby Moses, your only reprimand is, “Good Work! But you forgot Baby Moses!" So even if you kill Baby Moses, you still

.20 Extreme Sports wih ше Borenstein Bears & gh

just painted the ground blue and called it kayaking.

Before you race, you can choose to be either Brother or Sister Bear, although there’s no difference between them. It’s just an option 50 you can go back and beat the game again in a dress. Of course, if you're the kind of person who would play Extreme Sports with the Berenstein Bears twice, you'd probably have just as much fun playing in an abandoned refrigerator.

GRAPHICS: 1 (OUT OF 10) Since the developers thought we were dumb, the artist only made

es you toss 222 in 22 river, epum to look innocent by patting down your pockets and saying, *Now where did 1 put Baby Moses?" Otherwise, you will be struck by lightning.

feel good about yourself. And isn't that exactly what would be important to Baby Moses while he's sitting on the bottom of the river being eaten by spiders?

graphics for one fourth of a game. The box should include a note from the artist's doctor giving a medical excuse for that kind of failure. FUN: 0 (OUT OF 10)

Controlling your bear is almost impossible, the game gets tedious into the third second, and the basic concept behind it would get you shot in most countries. EXTREMENESS: 0 (OUT OF 10)

An ugly teddy bear sliding into rocks on an uncontrollable something that looks like a toaster is actually less extreme than most real-life non-extreme sports, such as shuffleboard or lawn darts.

GRAPHICS: 6

Since all your time's spent tossing Baby Moses into the water and laughing, it doesn't matter what the rest of the game looks like. FUN: 1

Bible Adventures'll come in handy if you can't juggle the hard life of praying and playing games at separate times, and you can use it to swear someone into the witness stand. "Place your left hand on Bible Adventures, Mr. Tommy Lee." JESUS POWER: 8

This cart can do miracles, such as multiplying fish, parting the sea, and giving us an excuse to write "Baby Moses" 12 times. However, it should not be subjected to extreme temperatures and should be stored in a clean, dry place.

18 Kris Kross: Make My Video E S å

| system: Sega бй [ Guilty party: Digital Pictures When we first saw these two kids with their pants on backward rapping about missing their School bus, we knew they were five minutes away from never working again. It seems the guys who made Kris Kross: Make My Video knew that too, and they had to make a game about them fast, even if they didn't know how.

Your.job is to listen to radio. callers and construct a Kris Kross video according to their exacting specifications. They want things like “Мо shots of cars, lots of horizontal wipes, a goat, and please put me out of my misery

because I clearly shouldn't be allowed to live." When you're making your video, you can switch between three sets of streaming footage. One is the original Kris Kross video; the other two are whatever non-copyrighted crap Digital Pictures could get their hands on. Some of it is old cartoons, some of it is tourism videos, but most of it is of such bad quality you can't figure out what it's supposed to be. We're glad they included it because, as great as the original MTV Kris Kross videos were, vintage footage of can-can dancers and old women in front of laundry machines really makes us want to jump, jump.

ee

GRAPHICS: 1

If you normally watch MTV through а sandstorm on a TV with no vertical hold while huffing nitrous retard, this grainy game will only be a slight step down in quality. FUN: 0

We didn't think you could ruin something that was already just two kids with backward clothes. We figure these developers could've made a game about ass cancer worse than the real disease. EVIL INCANTATIONS: 8 Something like Kriss Kross doesn't happen without the help of evil wizards. So we reckon the [miggidymiggidymiggidy] Mack Daddy and the [diggidydiggidy-

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 155 - www.egmmag.com

Ever wish you could replace footage of Kris Kross with a shot of someone's knee and then make the whole thing green? Then do we have the game for you, Mr. Stupidest Person Ever!

diggidy] Daddy Mack must be time- travelling magicians from the future who used their advanced knowledge of how to wear things backward to infiltrate the music biz. Which means by the time you read this, we'll probably be toads.

17 воьѕу зр Fy @ A

System: PlayStation

Guilty party: Accolade

Bubsy 3D handles like a runaway train. Once you get the furball star going, he can't stop until well after you've hit the creature you were trying to avoid or are 20 feet deep into the pool of lava you wanted to stop in front of. You'll constantly be sliding out of control past hallways you wanted, and since all of the walls are the same flat, unchanging color, you may never be able to find your way back. You should also know that the whole time this torture is going on, your bobcat is screaming obnoxious catchphrases at you. If that sounds like something you'd like, then you might also like chewing on a piece of tin foil that a fat person was using as underwear, fella.

The game is fully 3D, but Bubsy can't really move in any direction other than straight. Getting to an item across the room can take up to 10 minutes of walking in a line, slowly rotating, then walking in a line and slowly rotating. So unless it's an item that makes 1 million cheerleaders appear in your living room and start washing their cars, it's probably not worth the pain and suffering it takes to get to it. GRAPHICS: 2 Bubsy's world looks like it was built out of old milk cartons by a group of first graders from a

15 Total Recall System: NES d»

Guilty party: Acclaim It's true, some movies don't translate into Nintendo. For instance, you'd have to venture far from the plot of, say, The English Patient to turn it into a video game. Total Recall is not one of those movies. In the flick, Arnold went from gunfight to gunfight surrounded by horrible mutants and explosives. That's more than enough stuff to make a cool game. But instead, it looks like this game's developers decided to come up with their own "better" Total Recall plot. Funny, but we

country that has never seen milk cartons before. And did we mention that they didn't have scissors, glue or hands, and had to put them together while they were covered in bees? We should have. FUN: 0

Any mean bastard can make a boring and unplayable game, but it takes a special kind of sadist to have Bubsy come on and scream obnoxious things at you every two seconds. You can almost taste how much the Bubsy 3D makers hated the children of America.

“TUDE: OFF THE CHARTS!

Bubsy was a mascot manufactured by a team of marketeers and outrageousness specialists to be as zany and full of ‘tude as scientifically possible. And boy, is he ever! Sometimes he's so sassy, we're like, "You go raise the roof, Bubsy!” And then мете all "Woomp! There he is!” because it's so true.

Revolutionary graphics? We've seen hobos clean better-looking things out of their belly buttons.

don't remember the part of the movie where kids in purple top hats pop out of garbage cans with water-balloon launchers, and we definitely don't remember the part where midgets in pink jumpsuits pulled Arnold into an alley to play leapfrog. But to be honest, all we really do remember in Total Recall is that alien chick with the three knockers.

GRAPHICS: 1

Remember those melty-faced mutants from the movie? Those guy's stool was prettier than this icky-looking game.

FUN: 1

Your character here, like the real Arnold, has an incredible arsenal of moves at his disposal: both a jump

Galaxy on Jaguar)

System: NES Guilty party: Beam Software

{ i Ў Y 1 |

Life on the Bad Street: A half-naked midget swings a purse. And, yes, that's our player cowering with his head in his own diaper. (Inset: We see an alternate reality where we somehow overcome our fear and kick the midget in his shins.)

Bad Street Brawler was designed to be played with the Nintendo Power Glove, and the two go well together since neither is worth a crap. In the game, you control— or if you use the Glove, try to control— “Duke Davis, former punk rocker and the world's coolest martial-arts vigilante!" It's up to you to fight your way through the streets, killing whatever puppies and circus

and a sad thing he does with his wrist that sort of resembles a punch. You should be fine, though, since most of your enemies are midgets, and most of their attacks consist of harmlessly leaping over your head again and again. PUBLIC SWINDLING: 10 Whatever sadistic child torturers released Total Recall had to have known they were selling garbage, and were hoping you liked the movie enough to buy the game without ever checking with your own brain to see if you were in fact buying digital dog dookie. They might as well have made a bad game about fresh breath (for example, Fresh Breath: The Game) and prayed the public's

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 156 - www.egmmag.com

The 5 Worst Game Characters Ever 1. Boogerman (from Boogerman on the Genesis 2. General Plastro (from the Army Men series) 3. Trevor McFur (from Trevor McFur i 4. That 7 UP Spot thing (from the Cool Spot games

5. Bubsy (star of the Bubsy series) ч

16 Bad Street Brawler E

strongmen you run into. And right down to the banana-throwing gorillas, it's a perfect re-creation of real-life bad streets.

Now that we look at it, it kinda seems that the woefully un-bad, un-street and un-brawling Duke Davis didn't receive proper karate-action training during his days as a punk rocker. There are Girl Scouts born with flippers who can punch better than Duke Davis. He has other attacks, including falling over in a move that looks like it was trying to be a kick, and a final ultimate move we call “cowering in fear." GRAPHICS: 0 This game will actually make you less attractive for having played it. FUN: 1 BSB still wouldn’t be fun if you controlled it with the Nintendo Power Codpiece and it vibrated every time the game sucked. USEFUL ADVICE: 2 The game opens with the proverb “Never Trouble Trouble Til Trouble

Troubles You.” Of course, that’s pretty hypocritical, since dressing in a diaper and kicking puppies is just blatantly Troubling Trouble.

If we were a midget in a pink jumpsuit, we would never ever kick someone who looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the penis.

unconditional love of fresh breath would make it a hit. And we can guarantee you, there is no way a game based on fresh breath could be worse than this game based on Total Recall.

In the mystical land of Mardias, the Valaimian Empire threatens to upset the balance of power of the continent... Our hero, Fazz and his band of mercenaries are hired to protect one of the Ruins of Ixia from the Valaimian forces. Little do they know, that a more sinister power is rising... Will you be able to stop it before the world of HOSHIGAMI

is engulfed in eternal darkness?

PlayStation

".. its place in the strategy hall of fame is assured." - Silicon Magazine

"...one of the most promising PlayStation? game console titles of the year." - EGM

Over 40 missions to test Create your own combination Unleash magical fury by your tactical prowess! attacks using the innovative — channeling energy through Session System! customizable Coinfeigms!

© 2001 ATLUS USA. © 2001 MAXFIVE Ай rights reserved. ® Playstation and the Playstation logos are registered min | trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “ "d udin» The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Або Мә ү

Yo

Software Association. Illustrated by Takamichi. WWW.ATLUS.COM

System: Jaguar Guilty Party: Midnite Entertainment

Smoke trail, boulder or enemy turd bomb? You make the call.

To keep an evil organization from taking over the world, your spies have stolen the secret plans for an AIR CAR, a high-tech tank that packs a nuclear punch. We hate to break it to you, spies, but we think that instead of stealing the plans from a top-secret file cabinet, it looks like you accidentally stole them from a top-secret Dumpster behind Chuck E. Cheese.

Your AIR CAR turns slower than a group of Amish people steering a barn, so you usually don't even get a chance to see an enemy tank before its laser guns have

@ WORST GAMES EVER

14 Gir Cars ^ X,

had their way with your ass. And AIR CARS don't have brakes, so a typical game has you careening out of control through trees until you randomly catch up with an evil AIR CAR. And once you find one, your only chance of survival is putting in a different game. GRAPHICS: 0

Amazingly enough for a game this finely tuned and complex, the graphics are quite bad. It's possible the developers spent most of the seven or eight hours it took to make AIR CARS thinking up that plot about stealing the tank plans.

FUN: 1

Not only is AIR CARS not fun, it also gives you the option to not have fun with seven other pals if you have a network adapter such as the ill-fated Cat Box peripheral. STATE-OF-THE-ART 3D REALISM: 0

A lot of 3D games have been called “breathtaking” or “a virtual wonderland.” If you went back in time and kept every single one of those games from ever existing, AIR CARS would still look like crap.

12 Night Trap AX HE

System: Sega

Guilty Party: Digital Pictures This title was a criminal attempt at making an interactive movie featuring Dana Plato (star of Diff'rent Strokes and several Los Angeles correctional facilities). The gameplay tests your blind luck— you randomly switch between eight cameras in a house, hoping there's something to watch. Rooms have either teenage girls reciting bad dialogue or shuffling vampires wearing pantyhose on their heads. But if you're lucky, you'll see a pile of luggage or some other

inanimate object not trying to act. The girls live in a house full of traps, and your only job—as part of the Special Control Attack Team, or S.C.A.T. (go ahead and giggle) — is to watch pillow fights and push a button when a vampire gets near a trap in the next room. Most traps are a smoke machine and a hole opening in a wall. For them to work, the victim has to actually decide to walk into them. That means the traps are only effective on people looking to get caught in traps, which is probably the case since the girls have started lip

For years, gamers demanded that games offer more bad actresses lip synching lyrics such as “You can't escape the Night Trap! Your love is like a Night Trap!" into broomsticks (left). And whoever those gamers were, we hate you. But we do appreciate whoever told the makers of Night Trap that games needed more sluts in

nighties (right).

| 13 Rap Jam:

System: Super NES Guilty party: Mandingo

SERT TIERS EON RSS RATE

Finally, the dream team of two Coolios and one Queen Latifah.

Here’s a game starring real-life rap stars not doing the things that made them famous. There’s no rapping, no dancing, and not even any murder. It’s a basketball game. That's right, in some sort of game joke that went too far, you get to fantasize about being a rapper who is fantasizing about being a basketball player. To put it in simpler terms, it's like when you pretend to be your neighbor having sex with a cantaloupe that he pretends is Lynda Carter while she's pretending to be Scuba Wonder Woman.

Rap Jam plays as bad as the idea behind it. In fact, we think Kris Kross: Make Your Own Video feels more like basketball. But here's the most tragic thing: They

synching the Night Trap theme in the next room. This tune is the musical equivalent of raking a car. alarm down a chalkboard, then jamming the entire thing into the butt of a screaming cat. We don't know who was supposed to enjoy this *movie," but we guarantee that the best part is when you Switch to the driveway cam and watch the parked cars. GRAPHICS: 2

The graphics are grainy videos of overacted scenes. No one starring in this game could get a job as an extra on a Haitian soap opera. Maybe late into her monologues, Plato would've won our hearts with a moving performance. But if it

A

Topol i

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 158 - www.egmmag.com

Volume 1 dh B

put "Volume 1" in the title, as if anyone wants an entire series of sports games starring people who don't play sports. Needless to say, Rap Jam: Volume 2: Laker Girls Frisbee-Golf Explosion was never released, and the spinoff series, Fat-Free Cooking with History's Greatest Submarine Commanders: Volume 1 is a distant dream.

GRAPHICS: 2

How hard is it to make a graphic look like Coolio? You draw a guy, then draw an octopus on his head. FUN: 1

If Bob Hope released a rap video from the device that keeps him from becoming a mummy, rappers would consider it an insult. That's the same sense of outrage anyone who's ever played basketball, a video game or music Should feel about Rap Jam: Volume 1.

OUR INADEQUACY: 8

We already live in a world where Coolio has a bigger pool, a faster car and knows 22 more words that rhyme with “dead policeman” than we do. Now we have to imagine he can do a front 360-flip dunk over Queen Latifah? How inadequate does Coolio want us to feel?

didn't look like one of her ta-tas was gonna pop out of her nightie, we'd have already gone back to check on the parked cars again. FUN: 0

This game captures the excitement of switching between eight TV channels— only seven of them are shots of empty rooms and one is the worst show you've ever seen. CONTROVERSY: 9

When media watchdogs listed video games that corrupted our youth in the mid-'9os, they always named Night Trap as exhibit A.

It was even taken off the shelf because of its graphic violence. Listen, parents need to look at the bigger problem: If your kids were dumb enough to buy Night Trap, you have way more to worry about than this game showing them what panties look like. Don't get us wrong, there are many reasons this piece of trash should be against the law, but four or five blood- soaked sorority girl T-shirts ain't one of them.

Play as Ippo or any one of 45 other boxers. Fight your way to the top of the rank- ings. With 10 locations and 7 matches in 4 weight classes, you'll create your own awesome 1-2 combination.

iolence | Published by Empire Interactive Inc. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc www.empireinteractive.com

n Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance

System: NES Fu Guilty party: FCI

You guide eight renaissance-fair rejects on a quest they'll never finish— mainly because you'll outgrow your D&D phase before their slow asses get across the screen. And also because they're so clumsy they'll likely kill themselves with their own swords before they meet a monster.

The main reason you need all eight of these guys is 'cause they don't listen when you tell them to do stuff. While you're busy getting beaten to death by creatures half your size, you can only hammer

We just missed our saving throw to totally not suck ass.

the buttons and speculate on why your guy isn't doing anything. If you actually play past the first few rooms, you'll come to a point where you must cross a pit. Most, if not all, of your party will run directly into it while ignoring the button that's supposed to make them jump. You won't miss them. GRAPHICS: 0

All of history's greatest morons working with history's greatest untreated sewage couldn't come up with uglier graphics.

FUN: 0

Remember when you were playing D&D during lunch in middle school and those eighth-grade jocks dumped you head-first into a trash can? This game is less fun. TEAMWORK: 0

While you control your chosen character, the other seven vanish, leaving you to get savagely kicked in the shins. We're not sure where they go, but judging by how hard it is for you to move, we figure they're strapped to your body.

System: Atari 2600

Guilty party: Mystique

Atari 2600 owners had games about blowing up tanks, brushing their teeth, and Kool-Aid, but where were all the games about General Custer rising from the dead to sexually assault Native Americans? The company Mystique heeded the call and developed Custer's Revenge, in which you lead Custer through a hail of arrows to hump an Indian girl tied to a cactus on the other side ofthe screen. That's it. That's the whole game.

And although we'd like to meet the pervert lunatics who made the game so we could run away from them and call the police, we figure we'd rather have been on the planning committee the day General Custer came up with this brilliant plan...

Custer: "Gentlemen, today's operation will be a unique one. We will go deep into Indian territory

with a full entourage of cavalry, establish a tight perimeter, have the infantry remove my pants and underpants, and then I will attempt to have sex with an Indian girl under heavy enemy fire. Are there any objections?"

Custer's military advisor: "Yes, general. Several." GRAPHICS: 3 With the stone-age graphics of the 2600, there was really no point in trying to make erotic games. The "action" in Custer's Revenge looks less like sex and more like an old couple slow dancing at a fundraiser for birth-defected sea horses. FUN: 1 Since the graphics are so bad, you can't even tell you're playing a porno. Those two humping blobs could be anything. For all we know, our kid brother changed the cartridge labels and we spent our childhood being aroused by Chuck Norris Superkicks.

Electronic Gaming Monthly -

ТО Revolution x > & ^

System: PlayStation Guilty party: Rage Software

We don't need them to break down crying or nothin’, but is it too much to ask that enemies at least notice when we blast a pumpkin-size hole in their ‘nads?

You're overthrowing an oppressive world order. With the help of Aerosmith. And music is your weapon. That scream of terror you just heard was probably you.

You fight a massive army of soldiers sent by the government to keep you from rockin', but this army is made up entirely of a man in a yellow jacket and his several thousand identical twins who are only animated to fire their guns and die. That means they don't flinch when you hit 'em. We've never taken three explosive

We've seen sexier Legos.

HISTORICAL ACCURACY: 9 Although General Custer didn't sexually assault any of them — and in fact was instead killed by Native Americans —the rest of this game's premise is factually correct. Besides adding true-to-history details like Custer's magnificent pink scarf and blue cowboy hat, the creators did exhaustive research on cowboys having sex. Hence, the game uses the time- honored historical Old West-style of scoring, which is one point for each successful pelvic thrust, 100 points for lasting more than five minutes, and you're immediately declared sheriff if you perform a full backflip.

160 - www.egmmag.com

rounds to the crotch, but we don't think we're being unmanly when we say we'd at least fall down and scream like a bitch.

Revolution X has unlimited continues and it's still the most challenging game in the world. Continuing is like electing to keep your hand on the stove. Maybe you're numb to the pain after a while, but you're still pretty sure you're doing permanent damage. GRAPHICS: 2 There are only three visuals: yellow guy, yellow guy not caring when you destroy his genitals, and yellow guy finally falling down. FUN: 0 You'll be in some rooms shooting unflinching identical men for 10 minutes while the same four seconds of an Aerosmith tune loop indefinitely. That's not a game—that's a Nazi experiment to see how much it takes for a human head to pop. Good luck topping Revolution X, Satan. BASIC CONCEPT: 0 If you're going to send a commando to kill the government with a CD- launching machine gun, make sure he's got qualifications other than "big Aerosmith fan.”

The 5 Worst Game Concepts Ever

1. Shaq Fu (Super NES) A basketball player in a fighting game? Sounds like a third-degree blackbelt in crap.

2. Taboo: The Sixth Sense (NES) — It's a Tarot-card game that predicts your future, but who wants to learn the exact time of their death from their NES?

3. Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Genesis) — Before surgically disfiguring his face to the point where he could stunt-double Skeletor, Jack-o *rescued" children by forcing gangsters and zombies to dance. The scariest part: It actually wasn't that bad a game.

4. Shelley Duvall's It's A Bird's Life (300) — The name says it all. 5. Portal Runner (PlayStation 2) — So you're a toy-soldier girl with regular human skin and you date a green toy soldier and battle aliens in a normal-size world. And your sidekick's a lion named Leo.

ayo SZ WV Y OOF 9103 pue poojg

IWO) SV

LININDAN[ ноу

"INIT ян

SL шә å OPUS - fo pp4002 31 4210] —— Kup әдип ddl ир dual. sadxa

01 anda. 4d 404400 рир 218014 ‘Su t215u01 fo рл02 р TEU за рир s20. 194 fo pitoa V AIUT Sunva puv S1121002 *sa п0рраѕ 241

Ul SAAN] [109 AAIGQL IULI р ie 141 Kau. 2 E 3

uoo Ae Apr MMM

AVMGIW

8 White Men Can't Jump Ж, &

System: Jaguar Guilty party: High Voltage For the game version of White Men Can't Jump, we were expecting to fight our way through the kingdom of the swamp people with a fire- basketball-throwing atomic Wesley Snipes. It's amazing that they actually made the game about basketball. It's even more amazing that the game is so bad, some electricity might refuse to power it. The camera zooms in and out constantly to keep all four players on the screen, but the game looks best when you zoom all the way out to somebody else's house far

7 Superman Pi

System: Nintendo 64 ^

Guilty party: Titus The game starts with Superman trapped in Lex Luthor's virtual world. And you can tell Lex Luthor made it because only a genius super villain could design a world so expertly horrible and boring. And this game might as well be called “Superman Obedience School," because Superman doesn't get to do anything heroic. You spend almost the entire game performing whatever tricks Lex Luthor demands. It's the classic villain plot: “Make Superman fly through 75 hoops in one minute or die!" Followed by *Make Superman fly through 75 more hoops in one minute

6 Gilligan's Island

System: NES (ч Guilty party: Bandai 55 «Mb We're not making this up: Somebody made a game based on Gilligan's Island. It amazes us enough that the idea of seven idiots stranded on an island sounded good enough to become the plot of a TV show, but then the fact that someone made a game based on that show makes us downright angry.

You control the Skipper while Gilligan follows him around. As anyone who has wasted 30

away from the Atari Jaguar you got suckered into buying. Thanks to sloppy graphics and insane camera work, the hoop looks like a distant chunk of Grape Nuts, and you can never tell when you make a basket. Thankfully, basketball phrases appear on screen when anything happens. You'd think this would help you figure out if you made the shot, but the game's developers must have hired 50-year-old golfers at a French country club to write their street slang. Sink a shot and it screams nonsense like *BANGIN" UP HIGH THE HANDLE, HOMEY BEEF!" Maybe that means you

or...er, die again!" We don't want to spoil the game for you, but Level 3 is "Retrieving Your Slippers" and Level 4 is "Learning to Crap on the Paper." GRAPHICS: 1

Superman looks like a flying log in panties, and the entire world is covered in green fog. The game calls this "Kryptonite fog," but it looks suspiciously like something they put there so they didn't have to worry about crazy technical stuff like "draw distance" or "the Z Buffer" or "making a game that doesn't look like a fart."

FUN: 0

Superman has 300 super powers and can lift Mount Everest, but the only trick the developers thought to include was his ability to fly through hoops. It would

minutes of his or her life watching the show knows, Gilligan is legally stupid. He's the same way in this game. Birds and baboons hate him and are constantly attacking him. And if you leave Gilligan behind while he's busy getting his ass kicked, you lose him. Then you must go back to the start of the level and find him again— and sit through his gameplay hints to prevent future Gilligan-losing mishaps. Needless to say, it's embarrassing getting hints from a mentally handicapped man in a droopy sailor hat.

The skipper can punch, but he’ loses the ability when he's moving

scored, or maybe it means, "There is a tornado approaching the court, my friends. We should escape and your mother is a whore." We'll never know; the manual doesn't have a translation guide. So if you're not from whatever hip- hoppin' planet speaks this alien tongue, you'll just have to decode *DOWN STREET ON THE FLIPFLOP, TIMEPANTS!” on your own. GRAPHICS: 2

The players in this game look like four cardboard cutouts glued to the top of remote-control cars. And then someone peed on them. FUN: 0

This game is so not fun it would make you bored if you were somehow playing it while bungee jumping into an alligator's mouth in a room full of nude ninja girls fighting the Predator.

9 4 å å

You might be able to fly through rings, Supes, but we can just as easily do a somersault and land on the N64 power switch.

have been more fun if they made a game about Superman eating breakfast, or talking on the phone with Aquaman. RERLISM: 9

This game exactly re-creates the pain you'd feel if you really were Superman being tortured in a virtual world filled with radioactive poisonous gas.

or jumping —or in the middle of any other situation where the punch might be helpful. So the game consists mostly of him tripping over rocks, waiting for Gilligan, and you shaking your head in disbelief at how amazingly dumb you are for playing it.

Lat GILL IOAN

tr GOTTA REALLY пар FELLING!

We know how you feel, Gilligan.

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 162 - www.egmmag.com

Don't taunt us, White Men Can't Jump. We were close enough to smashing your cartridge casing when you were being polite.

LEAST-LUCRATIVE-MOVIE- LICENSE RATING: 9

We're surprised we didn't see other equally non-lucrative movie- licensed games from publisher Trimark Interactive, the folks behind this title. Where's the game based on What's Eating Gilbert Grape or Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead? You really missed the boat there, Trimark.

The 5 Worst Game Lines Ever

1. "Here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of un- locking, take it with you.”

— Barry in Resident Evil

2. "People won't like you, Steve, if you're too sting-ee [supposed to be pronounced 'stingy']." — Guy Kazama to Chairman Steve in Last Alert for the TurboDuo

3. "What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets! But enough talk, have at you!" — Dracula in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

4.“His coconut gun can fire in spurts. If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!”

—DK rap from Donkey Kong 64

5. “A Winner Is You.” —Pro Wrestling for the NES

GRAPHICS: 1

Gilligan looks like Waldo, but we think that’s because they go shopping together after their Magic: The Gathering tournaments. FUN: 0

Even if an entire level was devoted to Gilligan simultaneously nailing both Ginger and Mary Ann, you still wouldn’t want to play this crap. CRAFTSMANSHIP: 1

It's amazing how durable this cartridge is considering the professor made it out of coconuts, the Skipper's Speedo, and Mrs. Howell's denture cream. It took three solid whacks from a shovel to shatter our copy.

*actual in-game player model

"We GAVE THE ALUNEW NFL BLITZ 20-02 WHAT WOODSON GIVES -OFFE!

HUGE DOSE OF REALITY.

cj bMIDWAY

www.midway.com

NFL Blitz 20-02 has evolved. Real teams, real players, real attitude, but totally re-invented for maximum impact. With an all-new engine powering 8-on-8 action, a new running game dimension. and the revolutionary Impact Player customization feature, NFL Blitz 20-O2 delivers "No Refs. No Rules. No Mercy." football for the next millennium.

sl

i Fo PlayStation.e — 2X ои РЕ pu Euri s y Xeox niin

GAMECUBE. Hormon.

NEL BLITZ“ 20 2 #1 2001 Midway Amusem es, LLC. Alt rights reserved. BLITZ, MIDWAY and the Midway у are AIL other (NEL reat marks) are trademarks of the National Football League. Officially Licensed Product of PLAYERS INC. I cense һу Midway Home Entertainment Inc. ТМ, 0, Game Boy Advance and the

and are used under license from Microsoft, "PlayStation" and the "P

trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LEC. Used by per PLAYERS INC logo i: of Nintendo. Microsoft, Xbox, and the marks of Sony Computer Entertamment Inc. Sere

ido GameCube logos Family logo ate regi

olt Corporation in the US. and/or other Ion? computer

image captures

taken from the

iment system.

5 Virtuoso system: 300 yak

Hahaha...look, it’s the future's greatest rocker! How was the Everquest convention, rock star?

Virtuoso is the story of the 21st century’s greatest rock-‘n’-roll megastar, who decides he can’t take the lifestyle so he escapes into the virtual world of Virtuoso. But we have to say that, unless his rock-’n’-roll lifestyle involved getting his face slammed in a car door all day, his life had to have been better than Virtuoso.

The game itself is a 3D shooter with the camera located behind your guy. That means anything you could possibly want to shoot is hidden from sight by the rocker's mop-top. Meanwhile, all enemies are the same one creature repeated throughout the virtual world. The game does sometimes try to trick you by slightly changing the spiders to look like crabs, or the bats to look like half- bat/half-seagull things, but unless you're having your government-

3 Fight for Life System: Jaguar 7k

Guilty party: Atari Amidst mega hype, Fight For Life spent forever in development and was supposed to debut as a killer app for the Jaguar. Instead, it turned out to be the tired story of eight dead people fighting in hell, where the winner gets to face the devil’s son for a chance to come back to life. And judging by how well they fight, these guys are trying to rise from the dead to get back to their old jobs as Special Olympics equipment managers. Most of your time in Fight for Life is spent waiting for your dead karate man to hobble

appointed handler read this to you, you'll notice the difference. You might even be able to put up with the game for a few minutes, although you'll draw the line after you battle through 300 spiders just to get to the level boss, who ends up being the same spider as all the others, just enlarged eight times in size. And when you kill it, the spider explodes into smaller spiders, forcing us to ask, “Is the 3D0 trying to get us to burn it?" GRAPHICS: 0

Much of the screen is taken up by the doughy main character, and you can tell he ain't no real rock star. There's a subtle difference between I'm-a-rocker long hair and |-play-too-much-Everquest long hair. This rocker looks more like one of the game's programmers at a costume party. A costume party where he got his ass kicked. FUN: 0

It's a bad game about a bad imaginary rock star playing a really bad video game. You'd be better off playing Donkey Kong and hoping David Lee Roth might also be playing it at the same time. REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF A MEGASTAR LIFESTYLE: Unless the star’s roadies give his comatose body “massages” and heroin while he’s in virtual reality, we find it hard to believe this guy would ever leave panty-throwing groupies to play bad VR games. We also find it hard to believe that a janitor would leave an exploded toilet to play Virtuoso.

re

4 Captain Novolin

System: Super NES B Guilty party: Sculptured == software

This game is just a dirty trick to teach children about diabetes: It’s the story of aliens coming to Earth and taking the form of sugary diabetes-promoting snacks who can only be stopped by Captain Novolin, a diabetic crusader. But since diabetic scientists haven’t developed a raygun capable of defeating snacks, Captain Novalin only has one ability: hopping. Er, well, we guess he has three skills if you also count how he can 1) hop in a speedboat and 2) suck. Keep in mind, though, that since the control is so bad, he can’t do any of these things very easily. You have the same chance of getting Captain Novolin to jump if you try to control your Super Nintendo with a banana.

Your main enemy is a bouncing donut, which will randomly jump up and hit you with its deadly donut flesh while you're trying to hop over it. So even on the rare occasion when Captain Novolin jumps when you tell him to, it’s completely up to fate whether you actually make it safely over the donut. If you can’t find Captain Novolin at your local game store, you can re-create this exciting experience exactly by flipping a coin while you’re having a seizure.

In between levels is a bonus game where you must inject yourself with the right amount of insulin. To do so, you have to

EERSTE)

You can tell the game's set in hell ‘cause you can't buy outfits like these anywhere else...

across the screen to throw a clumsy punch at the other dead karate man. And you better hope your enemy doesn't jump over you when you finally make it to him, because it takes 27 minutes for the camera to reposition

.and you can tell it's Fight For Life ‘cause the game doesn't register when you kick enemies in the chest.

itself. You can also tap the numbers on the Jaguar controller's keypad to sidestep. We had more fun typing our ATM PINs and luggage combinations, just to see if they unleash some kind of super suck-ass combo.

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 164 - www.egmmag.com

This game is so bad, you'll start to root for diabetes.

match the color on your needle with the color of your blood sugar. Don't worry, however— getting it wrong doesn't do anything except make a funny noise and, of course, leave you with the crushing realization that you can't even match two colors in a game about diabetes. GRAPHICS: 1

It looks like all the game's graphics are scanned directly from some kid's notebook doodles after someone he knew thought his notebook doodles were toilet paper.

FUN: 0

We want to know where the artist drawing superheroes fighting donuts met the programmer who wanted to make a game about diabetes. Was it at some kind of Dumbest- Ass-Ideas-Ever convention? ABILITY TO ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES: 0

We figure the total number of lives saved by Captain Novolin comes out to be zero—or even less if you count young Timmy Cracker, a boy who received Captain Novolin as a Christmas present and died of sadness.

GRAPHICS: 1

If the Jaguar’s supposed to have 64 bits, then this game’s makers used 60 of them for crap and four for someone to step in that crap and spread it around with their shoe. FUN: 0

Stepping on a nail during a seminar about hydraulic-pump insurance is more fun than this electronic wasteland. CONTRIBUTION TO FAILURE: 9

Consoles fail for subtle reasons, like bad marketing or sunspots. But it was bad games that killed the Jaguar, which really didn't fail hard enough. If any of the people responsible for the Jaguar still have their homes, there is no justice in the world.

In a Generation of Chaos, Only the Strongest Survive.

An АБК

Four/ e Cun PN

E" language Suggestive Themes xj Violence

PEJE

PlayStation

Bot Inc. “ARC THE LAD" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Enter 8 Л ШИЙ О Т ОВ СЕ is a registered trademark of Working Designs, Inc. All rights Я careo gota TOTIS call (530) 243-3417

WORST GAMES EVER

2 Å three-way tie Link: The Faces of

System: Philips CD-i

Guilty parties: Animation Magic Inc. and Viridis Corporation

We hate these three equally bad CD-i games and not just 'cause they're crap. We hate them because they're an insult to Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda series. Heck, they're not just an insult—they give the series a wedgie, pour sugar in its gas tank, and push it into the pool with all its clothes on. And we're not sure who to blame more for this travesty: the games’ makers or Nintendo, who whored out the Zelda license to these morons. It’s a safe bet these games were part of the reason Nintendo veered away from the (CD format when it came time to

экону казуга EE SLIPS

|

NZD REST

„зэ:

м

€

between Evil,

ex

ah

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon S and Zelda's Adventure

ah

design the N64. After all, if CD- based titles turn out this bad.... Both Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon are side-scrolling crud featuring badly animated cartoon clips of your favorite characters from the series, such as...er, King Harkinian. In Wand of Gamelon, this dude's gone missing on a quest to save Gamelon (apparently one of Hyrule's really bad neighborhoods). Now Link must battle classic enemies such as Dodongos, Stalfos and more— all of which look like hogs and dinosaurs. Eventually, he gets captured and it's Zelda's turn to fight the hogs and dinosaurs. The control is so bad you'll spend half the game being eaten by the first hog on the first level. Ultimately, both Faces of Evil and Wand of

xomana

Gamelon are just dismal experiences for everyone involved. Except the hog.

Zelda's Adventure also has you controlling Zelda, this time in the Hyrule suburb of Tolemac, where she'll journey into the Seven Shrines of the Underworld. It's played from a top-down perspective, with gameplay similar to the Nintendo games" action-RPG style. In fact, the only big departure here is the liberal use of low-budget video clips featuring actors in cheesy costumes, horrendously unresponsive control and dull landscapes. But aside from those minor gripes, Zelda's Adventure is really just a great heap of turd. GRAPHICS: 0 Here's a picture of Link from the Zelda: Wand of Gamelon. That's all we have to say about that.

1 E.T. The Extra Terrestrial @ Py © È

System: Atari 2600 Guilty party: Atari

You've done it—you've nearly made it out of the pit! Now just 2000 more to go. Here's the bad news, though: If you're still playing by this point, the government's on its way to your house to put you in a special camp for dangerous stupids.

This game, which was programmed in five weeks and released in 1983, was so bad it actually marked the beginning of the end of Atari's dominance over the early-'80s game scene. Remember: The Atari 2600 had a game where General Custer sexually assaulted Indians tied to cactuses, and that couldn't kill the system.

Most of the actual gameplay here has you trying to escape

from scientists and jumping into pits to find parts of your telephone. If there's no chunk of telephone in the pit—and that's the case 97 percent of the time— you can only leave by stretching out E.T.'s neck until he slowly, s-l- o-w-l-y floats up. This is the most satisfying part of the game, since it looks like an invisible monster is trying to tear E.T.'s head off. When you make it to the top of the pit, which if you started in 1983 should be about now, you have a fraction of a second to immediately stop making E.T.'s head stretch. This is important. If you miss it, he'll fall right back in and you have to start the floating process all over. Don't worry: Practice and timing can make you a master of exiting pits, and then you'll only fall back into the same one seven or eight times. Of course, that just means seven or eight more times the fun! GRAPHICS: 0 E.T. has never looked worse, which is a pretty amazing accomplishment since he started

Electronic Gaming Monthly -

out looking like a slimy little Space penis.

FUN: 0

This is a true story: Atari paid more than $20 million for the film's license and manufactured 5 million E.T. cartridges, and according to one Atari CEO, "Nearly all of them came back." It got to a point where the world's children refused to take them for free. To put that into perspective, we've seen kids buy dead spiders from each other for a nickel. And calling this game a piece of trash is actually scientifically accurate because Atari eventually took their massive backstock of useless E.T. cartridges and buried them in a New Mexico landfill. So if you ever lose your mind and want a copy of E.T., or maybe 5 million, grab a shovel and drive out to the desert. They're free. & LITTLE BOY'S LOVE: 10 E.T. can show you the power button to his game, but the power button to his heart...you have to find that for yourself.

166 - www.egmmag.com

This wizard from Zelda's Adventure might look sweet painted on our van, but there's no way we wanna see crap like this in a Zelda game.

FUN: 0

The gameplay here is as engaging as flipping between options on a DVD menu. Say for instance one guy was playing Wand of Gamelon, and another guy was telling Terminator 2 to be played in French, then English, then French again. They'd both be having the same amount of fun. However, once the second person started watching Terminator 2 in French, he'd be having 927,087 times more fun.

PRINCESS' RIGHTS: 1

Two of the three games have you playing Princess Zelda, who— let's be honest—really has no right being the hero here. She should just stick to rubbing Link's feet after a hard day's adventurin'.

Share the hate... There's no accounting for bad taste —you might think bottom- of-the-barrel stuff like Shaq Fu, Atari 2600 Pac-Man, Friday the 13th or anything with the words “Army” and “Меп” in the title are way worse than the 20 games featured here. But bear in mind our goal was to dig up the cream of the crap: games so bad they rise above the rest of the worst for more than just generic reasons like lame graphics or bad movie licenses.

But we don't want our list to be the final word here. That's where you come in. E-mail us at egm@ziffdavis.com with the subject header “Worst game ever!” and tell us what you think is the absolute most God- awful game ever made, along with a very brief description of why you love to hate it. We'll print a selection of your responses in next issue's letters section. So get playing your own worst games ever and get picking. Just don't blame us for the emotional scars. th

"A MAFIOSO MASTERPIEGE" - MAXIM

"GRAND THEFT AUTO 3 EXPANDS THE VERY IDEA OF WHAT A GAME HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN" — IGN.COM

OUT NOW!

WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM/GRANDTHEFTAUTO3

PlayStation.e

váy logo are registered trademarks ot Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of v Association: OMA design and the OMA Design logo are trademarks of Take-Two inioractive Software Inc: Blood star Games logo are trade

Violence Note: Rockstar will be following IDSA guidelines for M rated games in the marketing of this дате.

for persons under the age of 17. Itis a comic interpretation Strong Language Hi å is porta jelous. No identification or similarity to actual persons, dod ors f resemblance is Gommedemia The makers dnd publishers ois

ctronic Gaming Monthly - 188 - www.egrr

ILLUSTRATIONS BY RICK SEALOCK

169

Ah, the holidays—that sacred time of year when friends and family come together to

celebrate the one thing which unites us all: capitalism. So in the spirit of the jolly,

bearded, pipe-smoking fattie from the

North Pole—and your patriotic desire to

blow wads of cash on those around you —

EGM has put together a definitive list of

must-buy games to make your late holiday

buying spree a snap. We flex our finely

honed stereotyping talents and tap into

the common psyche of gamers to help you

find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-

for sibling, husband, girlfriend, colleague

or frat buddy on your holiday-shopping list.

So sit back, spike another cup of egg nog,

take notes, and get ready to play Santa.

EGM'S HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDE

System: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Natsume

Score: 8.0 (out of 10) A favorite among the girlfriends and wives of EGM editors, Harvest Moon fets you sow your seeds, reap your crops, milk your cows, and generally live out those pas- toral farm-hand fantasies you had as a child. Forget about all this talk of a recession in the economy; you gotta raise mad cash to save the family farm!

System: Nintendo 64

Publisher: Nintendo

Scores: 9.0, 9.5, 9.0 One of the most addicting two- player puzzle games ever made, PPL is the perfect equalizer for those pesky lovers' quarrels. It's also an easy-to-pick-up, lifetime-to- master sort of game. Definitely gives plenty of bang for the buck.

System: Dreamcast

Publisher: Sega

Scores: 8.0, 9.0, 7.5 Not only is Tennis 2K2 fun, its lack of Anna Kournikova bending over to pick up balls means it's also a game all couples can enjoy.

System: GameCube Publisher: Sega Scores: 9.0, 7.0, 8.5 : Everybody knows that when you have monkeys, the romantic possibilities When your little brother asks Santa for games like i are limitless. In SMB, you stick that cuddly beast in a ball and roll him Teletubbies and Miss Spider's Storybook, do the tyke a i through a sky-high funka-delic obstacle course. Strange? Sure, but it's all favor and get him these topnotch, kid-friendly titles instead. i very simple: Scoot your monkey ball across the finish line and step right i up to the next mind-bending M.C. Escher-inspired level. And SMB's catalog i of multiplayer goods'll let you cozy up with that special someone to tackle i minigames like bowling, billiards or miniature golf (all with the theme of i monkeys and balls, of course). She'll love it for the cute little monkeys, and : he'll love it for all the naughty innuendos.

For G-Rated Gamers:

Luigi's Mansion

, | System: GameCube | Scores: 8.0, 9.0, 5.5 I Publisher: Nintendo Mario's skinnier brother ditches platform action for some ghostbusting, Hoover style. It won't give the young'uns any nightmares, but the game's so fun, it's downright scary.

Jak and Daxter | |. System: PS2 | Scores: 85,75 | Publisher: Sony CEA This massive scavenger hunt melds the { bitchin’ ‘tude of Crash Bandicoot with the . gameplay of Super Mario 64. Its huge quest'll keep your kid brother off your back for weeks.

Super Mario Advance | System: GBA |. Scores: 9.0, 8.0, 8.0

Uncle Mario's back and his worlds are more psy- chedelic than ever before. But the kids won't care about that. They'll dig the colorful graphics and classic gameplay of this NES remake.

110

Affordable. Recordable. And Very, | Very Portable.

Introducing the Memorex Pocket CD-R” With 185 MB, it holds hours of MP3 music, 140

JOTEX”.

high-res photos or tons of data. At about three inches, it fits any pocket. At pennies a meg, i OCKET |

it fits any wallet. With both writeable and rewriteable formats, it's big enough to do almost

any job, yet small enough to go almost anywhere. For a closer look, go to memorex.com.

Because this little CD will be one of the biggest things in recordable media.

(Memorex:

Is it live or is it Memorex?"

EGM'S HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDE

System: DC, GC, PS2, Xbox

Publisher: Sega

DC Scores: 9.0, 9.0, 8.5 Palmin' balls is great fun, especial- ly when you have to shoot them through a hole. That's why we like Sega's b-ball game. It looks and plays great, and if you own a Dreamcast, it's "nothing but net!" The Internet, that is.

System: PlayStation 2

Publisher: THQ

Scores: 8.0, 8.0, 7.0 Nothing brings a pile of grown men together quite like spandex tights and the WWF. So when it comes to the best game for both male bond- ing and folding-chair bashing, we look to the SmackDown! series. You get sweet graphics, all the showboating and absolutely none of the real-man stench.

System: GC, PS2, Xbox

Publisher: Midway

Scores: Not yet reviewed We can't make ball jokes with a hockey game, but stick jokes abound. If you like over-the-top, puck-slapping hockey action with an arcade twist, NHL Hitz is the

game you've been wait- ing for.

System: GC, PS2, Xbox Publisher: Electronic Arts 3 PS2 Scores: 9.5, 9.5, 9.0 i What red-blooded all- i American male does- n't like to take his mz. mu Dead « or Alive 3 i snaps? Well, maybe

i the kind who plays i Ico all day, but that’s besides the d point. With over a i decade of refinement i to its credit, modern- i day Madden blitzes

NK i every other football Capcom vs. S 2 game around. In the

D ~ System: PS2 Scores: 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 i 2002 edition, the = Publisher: Capcom i gameplay is still classic i Madden-style simulation i ballin', but the thing that i puts this pigskin platter 1 over the top is its ency- pa clopedic list of options. за Fatal F : i Salary caps, custom teams, super- Mark of the Wolves i deep create-a-player, and even a i great tutorial by Madden himself i are just a part of the package. i Then there's the roar of the crowd, the Super Bowl and the Dallas i Cowboy cheerleaders! It's Miller. i time, baby.

For The Virtual Tuff Guy:

He couldn't fight his way out of a Tupperware party in real life, but in the game world he's a regular Sonny Chiba. Put your foot where his mouth is with these kick-ass fisticuff simulators.

172

HUMILIATION

LEARN How ro Do SOMETHING WELL AND THEN Ust IT AGAINST AN OPPONENT. REPEATEDLY!

FUZION GEREN ZZ"

Only Losers Don't Win. EVERYONE

www.fuzionfrenzy.com

VIOLENCE

©2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Fuzion Frenzy, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

System: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Konami

Scores: 9.5, 9.5, 9.5 MGS2's labyrinthine story makes other so-called "interactive- movies" look like interactive stu- dent-driving films. The plot sprouts new twists and burning questions by the bushel, and you can't wait to reach the finale to see how the whole thing fits together. Even if a few of its loose ends never get resolved, MGS2 lures compulsive gamers back for a replay with bonus items, or to track down dog tags, or to just do their own thing. (You get a lot of freedom here to see what kind of trouble you can get into.) And you thought the demo was hard to put down...

et | For the Old-Schooler:

System: Xbox Scores: 10,10,10 — — : Some people remember when Contra was good, think 3D This Aliens-meets-Half-Life-meets- — graphics are a fad, and keep their Dracula X import in a can-

Band of Brothers masterpiece Hi аен shrine. Behold: Stuff that'll make old-schoolers go ga-ga. drags you headlong into sci-fi i

adventure so atmospheric that you have no choice but to sit back and ignore all bodily functions.

gr Castlevania Chronicles

35 System: PlayStation Scores: 7.5, 7.0, 7.0 — Publisher: Konami The Castlevania series is the equivalent of fine

System: PlayStation 2 p 3s 1^ aged wine among the hardcore crowd, and Publisher: Capcom this blood ust as thrilling as the old Scores: 9.0, 8.5, 9.0 Nintendo games. Better still, it's only $20! DMC's story won't win a Pulitzer Э; н (we doubt it'd even win the Willy ld x T Final Fight One Shakespeare Award from our fifth- i 1 = System: GBA Scores: 8.5, 6. grade English teacher), but its ў ` = Publisher: Capcom over-the-top action will keep you į Å : Old-school gamers know better than anyone glued ‘til you have to double jump + Е that sometimes punk г get the itch to to the bathroom. i У kidnap mayors' daughters, and sometimes you 5 have to kick those punk rockers' i ! Spy Hunter System: GameCube i = System: PS2 7 Scores: 8.5, 8.0, 8.0 Publisher: LucasArts å е Y Publisher: Midway Scores: 9.0, 9.0, 9.0 1 this is a 3D update of the arcade This game screams "15-hour-play i ssic and not a bona-fide oldie- oodie. marathon." The urge to reach that , Look past the slick graphics, and you'll find next level is more powerful than i gameplay that's faithful to the original.

the dark side of the...well, you know.

174

FAILURE

SECOND PLACE IS REALLY JUST THE FIRST LOSER!

Only Losers Don't Win. EVERYONE

www.fuzionfrenzy.com

VIOLENCE

©2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Fuzion Frenzy, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners

WWW OX. COM

EGM'S HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDE

For the Gamer on a Quest for Fun:

Know a gamer who can recite the ending to every Final Fantasy title? Don't tell him to get a life-get him these RPGs instead...

Dragon Warrior VII

8 System: PlayStation — Scores: 9.0, 7.5, 9.0 — Publisher: Enix

Enix kicks it old school with this engrossing RPG. Giving somebody this game is kinda like throwing them into a dungeon for 100 hours- 'cause that's how long it takes to finish DWVII.

: Jade Cocoon 2 | System: PS2 — Scores: Not yet reviewed 4 = Publisher: Ubi Soft Pokémon fans will love it for its cuddly, collec- table monsters. Anime fans will gush over the ” cool character designs. And you'll just be happy because you listened to our advice.

Golden Sun I System: GBA _ Score: 9.0

S Pu ег: Nintendo

? Who needs photorealistic backgrounds and fancy-schmancy 3D graphics in an RPG any- ways? Not Golden Sun, with its classic good looks and long (think 40 hours) epic quest.

i Remember the guy who always i hosted those killer GoldenEye 007 i sessions with his Nintendo

i Xbox. He will Бе іп your Å i eternal debt. After i all, nothing brings i friends together

i (or blows them

i apart) like a good

i deathmatch.

i Boasting an array

: erative, competitive i and team-based

i matches, Halo provides } nearly endless party-

i gaming potential. If

i you're real anal, Halo

i even lets you customize i your own multiplayer modes. One i Xbox can support four players at i once, but go balls out and round { up four TVs and Xboxes, 15 of your i best friends (and worst enemies)

i and watch the party take on a life

i of its own. Make your next soiree а i BYOX (Bring Your Own Xbox) party.

System: Game Boy Advance

Publisher: Nintendo

Scores: 8.0, 9.0. 8.5 Мо, this ain't Mario Andretti on your GBA; it's Nintendo's fat plumber of love powersliding his way into your heart. With just one cartridge, up to four players can go head-to-head on four linked GBAs. Perfect for those family road trips.

System: Dreamcast

Publisher: Sega

Scores: 8.5, 8.5, 8.0 The classic multiplayer series gets a fresh makeover, but it's the new Hyper Bomberman mode that's got party gamers blasting the nights away. Perfect for two-on-twos!

System: GameCube

Publisher: Nintendo

Scores: Not yet reviewed What's better than beating up a friend in a fighting game? Getting to beat up three friends in a fight- ing game. And what's even better than that? Doing so with the other- wise wholesome cast from the Nintendo universe. Yoshi kicking the snot out of Pikachu? Right on.

System: Xbox Publisher: Microsoft Scores: 10, 10, 10

64? Get him Halo for

of 26 various coop-

176

Eri |

the games.

www.espnthegames.com

AT ESPN, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR FOOTBALL.

IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ANYTIME AND ANYPLACE.

With Chris Berman and Tom Jackson calling every down, you're right in the middle of a live ESPN telecast. With the ability to make trades, draft rookies and sign free agents, you control the action on and off the field. And with the power to create entirely new players, you're a veritable pro football Frankenstein. So check out ESPN NFL PrimeTime in its convenient new time slot: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

i3 E PlayStation. NE >

PLAYERS = KONAMI Å

©2001 NFL. The NFL Shield logo and all other (NFL-related marks) are trademarks of the National Football League. Team names and logos are trademarks of the teams indicated. Officially licensed product of PLAYERS INC. The PLAYERS INC logo is a registered trademark of the NFL players. www.nilplayers.com 62001 PLAYERS INC. ©2001 Disney. ESPN and ESPN the games are trademarks of ESPN, Inc. KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. ©2001 KONAMI. All rights reserved. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox and Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries.

EGM'S HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDE

System: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Crave

Scores: 8.0, 8.0. 8.5 Of the four titles suggested here, TXRZ comes closest to delivering the rice-burnin' antics of Vin Diesel's hit film. Beef up your Japanese sports cars, slap some Stickers on that thing, and drag 'em against rival Tokyo punk asses.

System: Xbox

Publisher: Microsoft

Scores: 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 Can't afford to buy your buddy a new roadster? Project Gotham Racing isn't a bad alternative. Take your sexy convertible onto dozens of tracks based on real-world city locations, and smell the rubber as you burn up the asphalt. Delicious.

System: GameCube

Publisher: Nintendo

Scores: 8.0, 6.0, 5.5 If the racing fan on your list wants some high-speed thrills for his spankin’ new GameCube this year, WR is really his best option. But if watersports ain't his thing, there's always Extreme-G3.

For Gamers Piening ouea good System: PlayStation 2 Publisher: Sony CEA Scores: 10, 10, 10

extreme-sports game is a

Who "Do lot like sifting through the ruins For half a million gamers out there, Gran Turismo 3 was the reason to

of nu-metal for decent music. shell out the greenbacks for Sony's black monolith of entertainment. The

1 Give that extreme gamer only game gives the player access to 181 autos, each faithful in design and han- The Dew ш the best in action sports. dling to the real four-wheeled deal. For the gearheads out there, GT3 is a limitless garage of tweaking possibilities. But if adjusting every aspect of Е Топу Hawk's Pro Skater 3 your car sounds as fun as changing a spare tire, novice drivers can jump

right into the Arcade mode for some fast-lane thrills. If you're feeling real- ly generous, pack in the Logitech Driving Force steering wheel/pedals for the ultimate Christmas-morning combo.

= Systems: GameCube, PlayStation 2 = PS2 Scores: 9.5, 9.5, 9.0 — Publisher: Activision The Birdman I to end all

quels. Don't even bother with any other Skateboarding game. This is the one t want. We guarantee it.

SSX Tricky

= Systems: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox = PS2 Scores: 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 — Publisher: Electronic Arts The only thing tricky about this game is the you'll have to come up with if you buy thing

? Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX2

= System: GameCube, PlayStation 2 = PS2 Scores: 8.5, 8.5, 8.0 Publisher: Acclaim his bike and t| th his This BMX fi а fas nearl

of our own vomit. Yep, it's tru

1/8

WHERE THE STARS PLAY

Tru ife TV Style Presentati Н h

And Play-By-Play From red Greats Like John

Kevin Harlan And Bill Maas

Exclusive Challenge Mode, Feat

4 Head To Head Events Elway, Dan Marino And Steve Yo

rhs) are trademarks of Ihe National Football League and NFL Properties, n® & © 2001 Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. A Rights Reserved. Developed by Acclaim. ВЕ AND THE NINTENDO GAMECUBE LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO. © 2001

soba League

The NFL Quarter 001 МАР Team nam

System: PlayStation 2, Xbox Publisher: Rockstar

Scores: Not yet reviewed Got a disciple of Quentin. Tarantino's school of violence on your list, but don't wanna buy 'em yet another DVD they may already own? Check out Max Payne, a cine- matic festival of guns and the men who use them. They'll play as Max, an undercover wiseguy who shoots off his mouth about as much as he does his firearms. Players'll take to the dirty streets, pop many caps in many asses, and do it all in John Woo-tastic slow motion. Give that special someone a chance to live out their hardboiled fantasies, because inside every mature gamer is a tiny Chow Yun-Fat, yearning to bust out.

System: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Rockstar

Scores: 10, 9.0, 9.0 The GTA series has always encour- aged a little of that breakin'-the- law stuff, but never as much as epísode three. This open-ended adventure has you shootin’, lootin’ and stealin’ your way to superstar- dom. It's like doing errands for Tony Soprano, only you don't gotta hang out at the pork shop.

System: PS2, Xbox

Publisher: Konami

PS2 Scores: 7.5, 9.0, 8.5 Filled with some of the most dis- turbing moments in gaming, this twisted, flashlight-driven psy- chodrama is best played alone. In the dark. Sober.

System: PS2

Publisher: Capcom

Scores: 8.5, 9.0, 9.0 DMC is a lot like Mario 64. That's if you consider Mario the son of the devil, and the environments ín which he roams "Hell."

For the Plus-Size Gamer:

There's nothing quite as gratifying as seeing a husky gamer drenched in full sweat. Oh, but with what to inspire such

perspiration? We recommend...

180

Dance Dance Revolution = System: PlayStation = Scores: 8.0, 8.0, 7.0 J Publisher: Konami

mebody who could use a real workout? Are you concerned about that person who spends so much time sitting оп a couch that you can no longer tell where their back ends and their ass begins? No worrie: 'em Dance Dance Revolution, a Simon-sez game that's as phy: lly intense as any sion with our ol' buddy Rich Simmons. EG: Previews Editor Greg Sewart (left) actually lost 30 Ibs. by playing DDR four times ek in 20-minute stints. It ain't rocket science. st step on the arrows (on the mat controller) that correspond with what's scrolling up the screen. It's easy, it's fun and best of all, it's a subtle way of dropping that chubster a much-needed hint.

п. А WHERE THE STARS PLAY

j Ap ы ci » 7 40279

140 NBA Superstars turing their signature and special moves!

E Unlock secret teams like IBA Rookie Team { the All-NBA-Team!

pek the rim with all-new IONSTER JAMS!

С Sg 2-0n-2 arcade action with / 6 modes of gameplay including the classic game of H-0-R-$-E! THE NBA CAME AVAILABLE FoR THE GAME Boy? ADVANCE

EGM'S HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDE

For the Gadget Gamer:

Sometimes, a nice piece of hardware says a whole lot more than just another game. We assemble only the cream-of-the-crop gam- ing accessories for your stocking-stuffing needs this Christmas. øl

AUDIO SHUFFLE ANGLE PROGRAM.

SUBTITLE REPEAT 7

SLOW CLEAR TIME a = > 0

SCAN PREV NEXT AeB Ha- >ы

PAUSE: STOP.

" Li

DISPLAY. TITLE DVO MENU RETURN:

+

A

€ (enter 3 +

SONY

DVD/ PLAYSTATION

PS2 DVD Remote

Wi System: PlayStation 2

E Made by: Sony

E Costs around: $20

One could participate for hours in a purist debate about whether game consoles should be able to play DVDs. But screw that; why not just kick back, open a cold one and enjoy Jar-Jar Binks on DVD-using a shiny, new, Sony-branded PS2 DVD remote. The package comes with a controller, an IR receiver, and the all-important DVD upgrade bios disc. This disc copies the newest DVD drivers onto a PS2 memory card so they can watch them movies without worrying about incompatibility issues reported with stock PS2s. About damned time, we say.

GameCube Link Cable Wi System: GBA, GameCube

Wi Made by: Nintendo

W Costs around: $15

Hooking up your GBA to a GameCube sounds good in theory, but how many games will support this linkability in the near future? According to the Big N, a lot. Like the Transfer Pak for the N64, the link will allow you to move data to and from your GameCube and GBA. In addition, certain sports games will allow. you to pick plays via your handheld (sort of like a giant Visual Memory Unit on the Dreamcast). This is a perfect gift for that acquaintance you don't wanna blow too much money on.

Vortex Controller E System: Xbox

lli Made by: Gamester

Wi Costs around: $30

Let's face it. The standard Xbox controller is large. Massive. Grotesquely huge. Hell, it's so big you could exhibit the thing in a traveling carnival show and charge two bits a gander. But then you'd need a new controller for home, and a couple extra for those four- player Halo matches. But which to buy? Dozens of "officially licensed" versions are out there, but we like the sleek Vortex above, or the MadCatz pad for its spread-out, full-circle buttons.

182

Wikre x Oo GAMECUBE

GlowGuard

lll System: Game Boy Advance

Wl Made by: InterAct

Wi Costs around: $10

The most common complaint from GBA owners: "The friggin screen is too dark." If you've heard the gamer on your list mutter some- thing along those lines, buy them one of these nifty InterAct GlowGuards. With this add-on, they'll not only have a great light source for their usually dim GBA, but also a nice protective cover for when they're not feeding their Advance Wars addiction.

G3 Arcade Stick E System: GameCube

Wi Made by: Pelican

Bi Costs around: $25

If you know a fighting-game addict, chances are you've heard them

bitch about having to eventually play Soul Calibur 2 on the GameCube's default controller. Lucky for them, Pelican has a very affordable and nicely designed stick available. For a measly $25, you can kick out the jams, arcade- style. Of course, the G3 can also be used with any number of action games on Nintendo's 'Cube too.

DVD Playback Kit

Ш System: Xbox

WI Made by: Microsoft

18 Costs around: $30

Your friend is laying down some serious money for his Xbox and feels another $30 for DVD capabili-

` ties will break his bank. Naturally,

you buy him this controller and win his favor. Simply plug the infrared unit into a controller port and- bam!-it's movie time. No memory cards or cables to mess with here.

Station

Made by: Mad Catz Costs around: $20

Nobody likes to buy more batteries, so a recharger is the perfect solution for pocket-gaming junkies. This docking station turns the GBA into one of those fancy Handspring Visors. Make 'em feel just like a corporate big shot.

. Docking

System: GBA

Mobile Monitor IW System: GameCube

E Made by: InterAct

W Costs around: $150 When it comes to lookin’ sleek, the

GameCube rivals even that of the Р redesigned PS one. And like they did for the PS one, InterAct is bringing a Mobile Monitor to the GC. If you know someone who trav- j els and has a hankering for some У W gaming on the go, this could be the perfect gift. Sure, it's not the cheapest present, but why be a Scrooge when you can get 'em a sweet, mini-LCD monitor to com- plement their brand-new 'Cube?

Driving Force

Wi System: PlayStation 2

1 Made by: Logitech

Wi Costs around: $100

You read right-this bad boy comes in at 100 smackeroos. But remem- ber: Christmas is the season for giving, so splurge a little and get that special someone this incredi- ble force-feedback steering wheel and pedal setup from Logitech. They've long been one of the top manufacturers of PC peripherals and are now trying their hand at console gear. Not bad for a first try. A perfect gift for the driving fanatic who's also getting Gran Turismo 3 from Santa.

183

by the EGM staff

КЕЙПКП

slike a head-spinning trip into some alternate universe the first time you see it happen: that famous Sega logo popping up in a PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube game. But you better get used to the feeling—and quick. Now that Sega's fully reborn as a software publisher, we're finally seeing their first wave of major games for every system. How'd we wind: up here? Sega's hardware history isa bloody one. After the failure of the company's first console, the Master System, and the initial wild success of the Genesis, came the Saturn, whose fate was sealed by a botched early launch, unfriendly hardware, poor developer support and surprisingly strong competition from newcomer Sony. And Sony's success ultimately doomed Sega's swan- song console, the Dreamcast, despite Sega appearing to finally make all the right moves: powerful hardware that was easy to develop for, a low price and a great lineup of games. A year ago, Sega looked finished. Dreamcast had failed. The company was pulling out of the hardware business for good, and many wondered if Sega could survive іп its new role asa

software publisher. Fast forward to today: “It’s Sonic and Sega Sports and Crazy Taxi, Shining Force, Altered Beast and Nights—that's where the real love is. It's the content," says Peter Moore, President of Sega of America. "If we felt that we had to do hardware һе grave, then we'd be Atari. Hardware's great...but not if you're going through years of financial struggle and are unable to pull yourself 1 THE ПЕШ OFFSPRING

out of a cycle to make the company profitable.” You've no doubt peeked at the next few pages to see the titles

and developers driving Sega toward the future—and itis an awesome lineup by any publishers' standards. And although Sega

looks set to become a dominant force in the software community, one question still remains: Will we ever see another Sega system? *Not in my lifetime," states Moore, *but as James Bond said, *Never

186 VIRTUA FIGHTER 4

say never again.”

194— SEGA BT 2002

SPACE CHANNEL S PART Z

196 THE PINBALL ПЕ ТИЕ DEAD

PUJOPOP SHINING SOULE PHHIITHSH STAR ONLINE SENG ADVENTURE 2 BATTLE

Electronic Gaming:Monthly=185=www.egmmag.com

VIRTUA FIGHTER 4

veryone who loved Virtua

Fighter 2, raise your hand. OK,

hands down. Now everyone who loved VF3? No, we didn't say played VF3, or even bought VF3— we said loved VF3. Yeah, that's what we thought. Don't feel bad; you're not alone. While it wasn't a horrible game by any means, most fighting fans spent far fewer hours and quarters on VF3 than they did on the incredible VF2.

But let's not dwell on the past, because the future is looking pretty damn good. If the crowds at Japanese arcades are any indication, AM2 has redeemed themselves with VF4, bringing the original 3D fighting franchise back to prominence. (Sega's machines are consistently busy in Tokyo,

while neighboring Tekken 4 cabinets gather dust.) How'd they do it? By sticking to the foundation they know works well: VF2.

Everything about VF4 feels like that old favorite, including most of the characters, the attacks, and thankfully the three-button layout (punch, kick and guard — VF3's Evade button is gone). But if you're worried about it being the same

The cast from VF3 returns, minus only that fat-ass guy in a diaper (sumo Taka-Arashi) no one played anyway. Filling in the giant, sweaty void he left behind are Shaolin monk Lei-Fei (right), and Vanessa Lewis, a white-haired black lady who looks like Storm from X-Men after a few years in lock-up.

SEGA'S DREAM TEAMS...

It's no longer just “Sega” making the games anymore; each

SYSTEM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: АМ2 RELEASE: MARCH 2002

old game in a prettier package (albeit a much prettier package), don't. Two new fighters and eight- way movement, plus plenty of added or tweaked moves and combos, mean that even ninth- degree VF blackbelts have plenty to learn. And the home version comes with even more extras (check out the sidebars). Get ready to love Virtua Fighter again.

reputation (especially in the arcade) is legendary. Flamboyant leader Yu Suzuki's pocketbook took a hit from Virtua Fighter 3 and the expensive Shenmue, but Shenmue 11

på

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 186 - www.egmmag.com

40 single player missions. The first Star Trek ® дате 4-player head-to-head action. on PlayStation*2.

licensed from Id Software, Inc. Id Technology © 1999-2001 Id Software, Inc. АП Rights Reserved. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision, Inc. and its affiliates © 2001 Activision, Inc. and its affiliates. All other trademarks and trade names are the propertios of thoir respective owners. Licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment America for use on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc . The ratings icon is а trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. © 2001 Мајоѕоо Sales, Inc.

КЕ2

GOTTA HEAR IT TO BELIEVE IT

Let's break down the audio from five typical seconds in Rez: First, three enemies appear. You press and hold the fire button (clap), pass the crosshair over the bad guys (bahn, bahn...bahn) and lock on to all three, let go, and release three shots (dahn-deeng-dong) that all hit (bon bin

SYSTEM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: UNITED GAME ARTISTS RELEASE: JANUARY 2002

T to explain Rez with words and pictures ain't easy, Since even seeing the game in motion doesn't tell the whole story. As you might expect from a game inspired by Tron, African street music and all-night European raves, Rez is something you must experience (rumbling joypad in hand, headphones on ears) to truly understand.

The short explanation: It's five stages of on-rails shooting, complete with bosses. One button fires, another is a super bomb, and... that's it. Simple, eh? But outside the bare-bones controls, trying to put Rez's all-out assault on the senses into words is like

Å DO THE EVOLUTION

trying to tell a blind person what red looks like. Take the epilepsy- inducing psychedelic graphics. “We wanted these fantastically trippy backgrounds going nuts all over the place," says artist Jake Kazdal, who got exactly what he wanted and then some. And despite the criminally insane visuals, it's the music that makes Rez what it is (this is the team behind Space Channel 5, after all—see below for details). But will it catch on, unlike past oddball Sega titles? “If we stay inside the envelope, like other companies, it would be easy for Sega to stay alive," says Sega's Peter Moore. "But it's our job to push the limits."

bong). All these sound samples change depending

on which stage you're playing and how many

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ПП?

It's hard to get across everything that’s going on in Rez from still images, hoth because of the wild “psychedelic vector" graphic style and because the screen is usually going completely gonzo with activity. Maybe a breakdown would help...

These are the bad guys—shoot fem! Wait too long and they fire missiles or lasers you'll also need to blast before you get hit.

Your targeting crosshair displays how many lock-ons (up to eight) you have. Just let off the attack button to fire.

ни this health bar to evolve and withstand more damage (see sidebar).

‘an .

Despite head honcho Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s arcade racing roots (he worked on Sega Rally 2 and Manx TT),

United Game Artists has developed a reputation for innovative music games, a

passion for frequent clubber Mizuguchi.

NOTABLE HITS: Space Channel 5

WHAT'S NEXT? Rez (PS2), Space Channel 5 Part 2 (PS2)

targets you lock on to, plus they're all designed to fit in with the fantastic driving-techno background music (boove doofboo-boo-boo boove do...ah hell, see why you gotta hear it yourself?). Even the controller, your character and the neon backgrounds pulse in time to the music—you just gotta hear it.

: 28175198

Shoot these weird satellite thingies eight times to jump to the next section of the level.

ЕЁ

Some defeated enemies drop power-ups like health (this blue blob) or super-bombs. Lock on with your weapon to pick it up.

Each time you fill the health meter you evolve into a new form. Get hit and you fall back one step on the evolutionary ladder until it’s game over.

DISCO BALL: Just a simple pulsing ball. Be careful—one more hit and you're toast.

BLOCKY JOE: You start here, made completely of delicious Arby's roast-heef slices.

+ |

ROCKETMAN: Ah, new you have the makings of a skeleton and some solid nietes. Keep going...

his guy 100/5 like he's it of smooth Reynold’s

Led by Toshihiro Nagoshi, Amusement Vision is another

Sega team with strong roots in the arcade, though most of their titles eventually made it home. They recently

scored a hit with the surprisingly playable Monkey Ball.

NOTABLE HITS: Daytona USA, Spikeout series, Planet Harriers, Super Monkey Ball — — —

— WHAT'S NEXT? Spikers Battle (Arcade), Virtua Striker 3 (GC)

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 188 - www.egmmag.com

Looking for a missing piece in your gaming world, we might have it. .

Interactive

www.Cosmoacc.com www.Cosmogames.com sales@cosmoacc.com

Distributed by Game Technology Systems Inc.

JET SET RADIO FUTURE

he great thing about video

games is sometimes they let you do stuff that's either illegal, immoral or otherwise physically impossible in the real world. Some of the best games, like Jet Set Radio Future here, let you do all of the above.

Set in the same city of Tokyo-

to, Future expands on many aspects that made the Dreamcast

prequel such a critical success. You play as the same members of the GG gang (plus a few new ones, of course), protecting their turf from rival gangs through the power of graffiti. You still skate your way through wide-open urban environments, now even bigger and teeming with traffic thanks to the power of the Xbox. And once again your magnetized

Street traffic, both people and moving cars, are much more plentiful this time around.

Jet Grind Radio, to Japan-only sports titles, to the long- awaited Panzer Dragoon follow-up.

NOTABLE HITS: Jet Grind Radio, The Typing of the Dead, Hundred Swords

nici WHAT'S NEXT? Gun Valkyrie (Xbox), Jet Set Radio Future Oka; Panzer Dragoon (Xbox)

Spraying graffiti (or "tagging") in the original Jet Grind had two problems: The button to activate it also controlled the camera, and the accompanying Controller motions slowed the game down. Future addresses both of these issues with a dedicated tagging button that does everything all by itself.

SYSTEM: KBOX DEVELOPER: SMILEBIT RELEASE: FEB. 12, 2002

BOOST'N

The last Jet game allowed you a quick burst of speed anytime you liked, but it’s a bit more complicated in Future. Now boosting eats up the same paint cans you use to tag, but can last as long as you have fuel. Plus, your skates ignite and the whole screen blurs with an awesome heat wave effect.

skates can grind over everything in sight, from light posts to roller- coaster pipelines. Only this time there are expanded tricks (like a button for quick 180s) and a two- player racing mode to keep you busy. As for the series’ calling card (its stylish cel-shaded cartoon look), it’s back and better than ever. A new motion blur and other effects for grinding and boosting (see sidebar) make JSRF one of the most gorgeous Xbox games yet. February can’t come soon enough.

THE FACES OF JSRF

DJ Professor K, Beat, Grum and Syung (left to right) grew up a bit for JSRF (it is the future, after all). Our only question is who’s the funky dude on the far right? Some sort of skatin’ man-beast?

@ make: JÎ The Hitmaker team (formerly AM3) has definitely lived up to its name. The Crazy Taxi series alone is one of

Sega’s most popular franchises, and with a new Xbox game and feature film on the way (yeah, it’s a dumb idea for a movie, we know) it looks like it'll only get bigger.

NOTABLE HITS: Crazy Taxi series, Virtua Tennis series, Virtual On series, Confidential Mission, SegaGaGa

WHAT'S NEXT? Virtual On Force (Arcade), Crazy Taxi Next (Xbox)

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 190 - www.egmmag.com

FEEL THE THRILL WITHOUT THE FROSTBITE.

JE | a ENE Winter X Games Snowboarding 2002 keeps you riding with over 20 multi-level courses filled with pipes, jibs, and insane terrain. You select from 13 real pro-riders and compete

against the best. Create your own rider with a specific appearance, physical attributes and 4 equipment. Then take your skills to locations around the world for filming, heli-boarding and PS romboarding

X Games competitions in your own professional pursuit.

Peter Line, Todd Richards, kevin jones, Bjorn Leines, sp walker, pevun walsh, panny Kass, Rio Tahara, Travis Parker, rina Basich, Barrett christy, victoria sealouse, & shannon punn

RATING PENDING Visit ww.esrb.org " е or call 1-800-771-3772 GAME BOY ADVANCE X PlayStation. Pad for more info. ега ESRB * KONAMI "

2001 Disney ESPN, ESPN the Games and X Games are trademarks of ESPN, Inc. KONAMI® is a registered trademark of Konami Corporation. ©2001 KONAMLAI Rights Reserved, "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. Game Boy Advance is a trademark of Nintendo. ©2001 Nintendo. Xbox and Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US. and/or in other countries.

GUN VALKYRIE

SYSTEM: XBOX

DEVELOPER: SMILEBIT RELEASE: SPRING 2002

ake all the cool bits of Nintendo's old Metroid games—moody, labyrinthine

environments, inventive weapons

and power-ups, that chilling,

claustrophobic feeling of being all

alone in an alien world—and

combine them with an expansive,

beautiful 3D landscape and

absolutely stunning graphics, and

what do you get? We figure the result would be something akin to Smilebit's new Xbox action- shooter, Gun Valkyrie.

Originally in development for the ill-fated Dreamcast (as a combination controller/light-gun game, no less), Gun Valkyrie made the switch over to Xbox early last year, ditching the light- gun scheme in the process. (See sidebar for the lowdown on the new controls.) Don't worry, though; there's still plenty of blasting action. In fact, from the looks of the early version we tried, the foundation of Gun Valkyrie's gameplay consists of mowing down the hordes of insect-like aliens that come at you from all sides, picking up the different orbs they leave behind to earn new moves and Special powers.

That's not to say Gun Valkyrie plays like a mindless run-‘n’-gun shooter, though. While most of

the gameplay we've seen so far has been heavily action-oriented, Smilebit is promising a good deal of balance between combat and

exploration for the finished game.

We've already seen a sprawling, Grand Canyon-like outdoor area that included platform-style jumping, as well as a maze-like indoor level with rudimentary

One of Sega's oldest teams (some members worked on the original Phantasy Star for the Master System), Noriyoshi

Oba's

OVERWORKS"

is well-known in Japan for their Sakura

puzzles, locked doors that require special items to open, and lots of long, twisting corridors.

It's too early to peg this one as a clear winner, but so far, Gun Valkyrie seems to be headed in the right direction—and just look at those graphics. Freaking amazing. More soon.

Sega's only U.S.-based studio became a household name (well, in our houses anyway) after VC's excellent sports titles sold a buttload of Dreamcasts. Now

— Electronic Gaming Monthly - 192 - www.egmmag.com

How far will you go to get ur prey?

d T А we Practice -stea maneuvers Ж“ — Pull off ultimate

Sheep heist

Ж Starring Ж

Dinner 1 3 H Ralph Wolf” & Sam Sheep-dog” | =

Seek. Stalk

LOONEY TUNES, characters, names and all related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. WBIE LOGO: TM & © Warner Bros. (s01)

PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

SEGA GT 2002

SYSTEM: XBOX

DEVELOPER: WOW ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE: MARCH 2002

ou don’t ask Michael Jackson to babysit the kids, you don’t

challenge Sally Struthers to a pie-eating contest, and for god’s sake, you do not take on Sony’s million-selling Gran Turismo franchise for the crown of top GT game worldwide. Well, apparently someone forgot to tell Sega about that last one. At a press conference in Tokyo last month they announced their goal for Sega GT is to surpass Sony’s GT racing series in both quality and sales.

So does David have a chance against Goliath? Judging from the early version we played, GT 2002 has potential, but it’s still far from meeting Sega’s ambitious ideal. The graphics are already clean and smooth. But the single track we drove lacked the detail, not to mention the speed, of GT3. It doesn’t help that acceleration and braking are on the front of the pad instead of the shoulder triggers as you'd expect. Plans for add-ons discs (see below), and Sega's racing pedigree are good reasons to be optimistic though. Keep your fingers crossed.

Space Channel 5 reporter's work is never done. Right after Ulala

defeated the Morolian invaders in the Dreamcast game, a new threat rears its ugly head: The Odorians, or “dancing squad." Armed with booty-shakin' power and a phaser pistol, you must help Ulala outdance the Odorians to increase your network’s ratings in this “simon sez" music game. In addition to besting them with fancy footwork, you'll also have the power of various musical instruments to recruit Odorians, which will help you reach number one in the Space Nielsens.

ic developers at Sega, —under the command of Rikiya Nakagawa — specializes in arcade games like The House of the Dead games, but lately has taken a shine to Xbox.

Kenji Sasaki's crew at includes former members of Namco's Ridge Racer team, so it's not surprising that their expertise lies in arcade racing games. Half of the 12

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 194 - www.egmmag.com

A WARRIOR DAMNED PAIN HIS. ONLY. SALVATION

CG movies develop. the engrossing story line!

Tsugunai is the story of Reise, a warrior who has inadvertently angered the Goddess of Light by stealing the mystical Treasure Orb. As punishment, the Goddess of

Light forever separates his soul from his body unless he atones for his sins by helping the people of Walondia. Without a physical body

of his own, the only way to change the fates of the people is

, Spell- binding graph s and Р eye -popping din spells!

enn Summon ponen beasts А омет ГТ? di i Ы with your magical Runes lo possess them. Will he find

redemption in time or will his soul be lost forever?

E ATUS WWW.ATLUS.COM

001 Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. “Tsugunai” is a trademark of Sony | Computer Entertainment. Inc “PlayStation” and the “PS” Famil logo a are > reg-

THE PINBALL LIF THE DEHD

A: GAME BOY ADVANCE

R: WOW RELEASE: MARCH 2002 The famed House of the Dead series is about to get the spin-off treatment again. Hot off the heels of last year’s oddball Dreamcast typing sim, The Typing of the Dead, Sega is back with an all-new kind of zombie-busting weirdness: The Pinball of the Dead.

The name of the game pretty much says it all: It’s a pinball game set in the HotD world, with horror-themed tables (we’ve seen at least three so far) and...well, zombies. And like the other games, you’ll get to save plenty of helpless citizens, too. Despite the corny premise, Wow is promising rock-solid gameplay and realistic pinball physics.

PHANTASY STAR ONLINE

Offline with four players (via split-screen), online (with as-of-yet undetermined Net plans from Nintendo and Microsoft), or all by your lonesome—however you want to nerd out with Sega's action-RPG series, the upcoming GameCube and Xbox versions will allow.

We know the GameCube edition of this hack-and-slash dungeon- crawler features a new swamp stage and two more character classes (a female android Hunter and a male human Force). And although we haven't seen hide or Hildebear of the Xbox version, we hear it could be released first, possibly with Microsoft's gaming network this summer.

SONIC ADVENTURE 2 BATTLE

GAMECUBE A: SONIC TEAM RELEASE: 01 2002

For the first time in history, Sonic makes his way to another company's home console. (He's been on a few different handhelds.) The GC version of Sonic Adventure 2 will be largely the same as the Dreamcast game, but the little blue blur does have a few new tricks up his sleeve. The most notable is the ability to download your Chaos—the little creatures you can raise in Sonic's world—to your Game Boy Advance for on-the- go nurturing. Otherwise you'll find a few new multiplayer modes in SA2 Battle, including even more racing levels for Sonic and Shadow, and even smoother-running gameplay. +

Arguably Sega's most prominent studio, Yuji Naka's needs little introduction. Their recent Dreamcast

PLIHD POP

SHINING SOUL

GAME BOY ADVANGE D : FEBRUARY 2002 (JAPAN)

Shining Soul may not be the Shining Force sequel that fans of the strategy-RPG series were hoping for (this one's an action-RPG), but it does have one gameplay mechanic that sets it apart: four-player co-op play. By linking up to four GBAs, each with its own cart, gamers can team up to fight together. And as anyone who's played Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo) or Phantasy Star Online can tell you, that can be enough to make a good game great. Shining Soul is currently only Scheduled for release in Japan, but we're sure some U.S. publisher will come to their senses and pick this one up soon.

The odd team out of the Sega studios, mainly produces music for other Sega games. They Dreamcast gam

If you need to escape the daily grind, come to Best Buy. You'll find tons of BEST games and you can play all you want. Which beats working through lunch.

TurnOntheFun

~ BestBuy.com

EGM rates games based on how they compare with other titles on the same system. 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

Platinum Awards go to games that get all 10's, the best and rarest

review a game can get.

Crispin Boyer

Features Editor

After watching astronaut Steve Austin pummel Sasquatch in an old

Н episode of Six Million Dollar Man, Cris got the bright idea to have tiny bionic hands implanted on his fin-

4 gertips to improve his Halo skills. Action, Adventure

Grand Theft Auto 111, Halo, MGS2

West Coast Editor This month, Che has the weight of

‚ an Xbox on his shoulders. Microsoft has exercised their strong-arm tac- tics yet again to monopolize all of Che's waking hours with Halo. And sadly, R.I.P. SNK (1978-2001). Action, Driving, Fighting

Halo, MGS2, Burnout, GTA3

#9 ү. Associate Editor

. Jon decided to celebrate with a fine

cigar after winning a bet with CJ

= that Splashdown would be better than Wave Race: Blue Storm. Next

up: Convincing Xbox fanboys that

DOAs is hardly the cat's pajamas.

Fighting, Action, Adventure

Halo, Metal Gear Solid 2

These are the sports nuts on the Crew, but that doesn't mean they're not into all types of games. It just means you

GAME BOY

its time. At the other end of the spectrum sits the lowest score a game can receive: a o.o. This is the kind of game you want to avoid at all costs. It's pure crap. In the middle lies the average grade, 5.0. We repeat: 5.0 IS AVERAGE. Simple, ain't it?

Gold Awards go to games whose average score equals 9.0 or higher.

Games that average at | ash of the freaking tit least an 8.0 (but lower Үт dalo bo Е than 9.0) receive HT

Silver Awards.

Mark MacDonald Executive Editor

After finishing MGS2, Mark realized he no longer had a purpose in life. Why is he here? What is he doing with his life? Is there really a god? And if so, why...wait, something opens up if you get all the dogtags? Action, Adventure, Halo

Editor in Chief

Shoe's been yelling at the staff with his new bullhorn because no one's getting jack done, due to Halo mul- tiplayer matches. On another note, the staff has recently discovered the benefits and joys of earplugs. Not the sports sims!

Halo, Munch's Oddysee, Pikmin

Chris Johnston

News Editor

After deadline, Chris is planning to

lock himself in his apartment and

catch up on anime DVDs. With plenty of El-Hazard, Oh! My Goddess and

W Nadia to watch, maybe he'll emerge

fluent in Nihongo. But probably not.

Action, Adventure, Puzzle

Jak and Daxter, Halo

Halo, MGS2...more Halo

Ё

West Coast Editor/Webmeister Playing GTA3 all month has put Milky in a peculiar state. Here we find our felonious friend moving at the speed of 150 mph...at his desk. Cornering in a cubicle is tough, so the skid marks are something else. Fighting, RPG, Adventure DOA3, Halo, Pikmin, GTA3

Greg Sewart Reviews/Previews Editor

In order to afford four Xboxes, four televisions and four copies of Halo, Sewart sold this space to Mountain Dew: Code Red. The refreshing taste of Mountain Dew with a blast of cherry flavor! Do the Dew!

Racing, RPG, Action

Halo, Grand Theft Auto III

Associate Editor/Art Director The penultimate highlight this month for Jeanne was patenting a Scorpion tank flanking maneuver with Kraig Kujawa in a heated Halo capture-the-flag session. Hey, Red Team, come get some! RPG, Action, Adventure

Halo, Munch's Oddysee

can be sure that sports reviews are being done by the sports enthusiasts and not by some schmucks.

e 1 198

its coming

PlayStation.e

www.playonline.com Published by Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. © 2001, 2002 Square Co., Ltd. Al rights reserved. FINAL FANTASY and the SOUARESOFT logos are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. Character design: Tetsuya Nomura. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo

are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. UAR. e The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. SQ ESOF T

Blood and Violence

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo f ФУ Featured In: EGM #149 Г, Players: 1 E Best Feature: Novel gameplay concept

Worst Feature: Ends too early

Also try: Web Site:

Pushing down on the D-pad www.pikmin.com

s you might expect of the latest game Qi: Shigeru Miyamoto (of Mario and

Zelda fame), the game design in Pikmin is unique and elegant. As the leader of a race of ant-like creatures called Pikmin, you have exactly as much control over your miniature army as you need. You can manipulate them right down to a single man (or plant, or what- ever they are), if you like, without ever getting swamped in the details. Toss the Pikmin at an enemy and they attack. Direct them to a bomb

COWER BEFORE THE POWERS OF THE

and they pick it up. Move the bomb-carrier to a wall or a bad guy, and he knows what to do next. Amass up to 100 troops at once, sepa- rate them into groups of different sizes and colors, and maneuver them all with ease.

And that’s important, because the balanc- ing act that is the heart of this game always requires your attention. How many of each color Pikmin should you create? Should you spend your time growing your ranks, or pow- ering up the troops you already have? How many should you leave in the ground to mature, and how many should you take along with you? Pikmin is all about how you allocate your resources, with no one right way to do it.

The main goal is supposed to be locating the parts of your broken spaceship within 30 days, but ultimately Pikmin becomes a chal-

Find your ship's radar to get a detailed map (below) showing the location of your ship, any lost parts, and all your Pikmin.

QU

lenge to beat yourself (no, not down there). Most people will complete the game the first time through (there are 30 pieces to find for the best ending, and you only need 18 to fin- ish), but you can always try to top your best score by finishing in fewer days, or with more Pikmin. In a nutshell, those who enjoy the game enough to play a second or third time will find plenty to keep them occupied. Challenge mode versions of all five levels, where you try to grow as many Pikmin as you can in one day's time, add to the replay value. The one problem we had with Pikmin con- cerns where and how it ends. Check the indi- vidual reviews on the next page for details.

PIKMIN

T" р E | ЎҚ Єз ооо)

«ge

The studly Red Pikmin are the strongest fighters and can't be hurt by fire.

Other Pikmin drown when they touch the water, except for the blue guys.

Three colors of Pikmin are available in the game: yellow, red and blue. The longer you keep them planted before pulling them out of the ground (you can tell which are more mature by the bud or flower on top), the faster they can move. And speed is crucial, since you're always working under a time limit. Anyway, each color of Pikmin has its own unique abilities; here's what they can do.

Yellow can carry bombs (inset) and fly higher to get to hard-to-reach areas.

ithly - 200

.egmmag.com

TEST YOUR PIKMIN 1.0.

Half the fun of Pikmin is just figuring out how you're going to tackle the puzzle chal- lenges built in to each level. Here's a quick example of one of our favorites:

Æ

Your Pikmin need to get from Start to Goal, and you can't just lead them through the water (it doesn't show up on this screen, but the darker area in the middle is the clear water) because only your blue guys can swim. Sticks for bridges are on the island at points A and B, a solid wall blocks the path at C, and bombs litter area D. How would you do it?

First, swim some blue Pikmin over to _ ...throw your yellow Pikmin across these start building bridges at A and B, then... small islands, one by one, until...

...they can reach those bombs up at point — ...so they can cross the now-fi C. Now toss ‘em back to the mainland... bridge and destroy the wall. Voilá!

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 201 - www.egmmag.com

Whatever color most of the Pikmin carrying a defeated enemy or coin back to base are, you get more Pikmin of that color. Return any colored coin with the same color troops and you get double the amount of Pikmin.

"Charming" is probably the best word to describe Pikmin, and not just because of the doe-eyed title critters. The gameplay, a puzzle-based real-time strategy hybrid of sorts, is as unique as it is capti- vating with great controls (outside of a small prob- lem with bomb-carrying Pikmin) making it all possi- ble. Anyone can pick up Pikmin right away, but with time you realize just how many different ways you could play through it. It's one of those games I often paused and just sat with, considering my next move. You really want to be careful because cute little details like the Pikmin's "heave-ho” chant as they lift items, or the tiny trumpet that sounds as they march, quickly trick you into loving the lil’ bastards. So much so that watching your babies swarm an enemy, viciously tearing it apart from all sides like a pack of crazed hyena, becomes a strangely proud moment. And even combat has some strategy to it—each of the nice variety of bad guys has a weakness to dis- cover and exploit. Really the only disappointment is that, like Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin ends right as it's hitting its stride. It's not too short (about 13 hours to find all 30 pieces, plus there are tons of reasons for replay). But just as the complexity of the puzzles is reaching that sweet spot, where you see all the pos- sibilities andithe true beauty of this game, it's over. A few more areas like the last level could have made this great game much better. Mark It's hard to write about a new Miyamoto title without throwing out tons of overused clichés, so instead l' just say this: You definitely need to play this game. Amidst a load of sequels and rehashes, Pikmin is like.a.breath of fresh air with its charming, unique style and addictive gameplay. It's surprising- ly accessible for a strategy game, and the action and puzzle elements will keep even non-fans of the genre (like me) hooked to the end. Sadly, though, that end comes way too quickly. Just as the challenge starts to kick in (the fifthand final area), that's it, the game's over. It left me wanting more—lots more.

Great, but short. John R.

tle skeptical about how good it was at first, Pikmin started to grow on me by the time I discovered the first blue-colored little buggers. It probably has a lot to do with how well the game is paced. Pikmin eases you into the action so perfectly that this decidedly unorthodox game feels comfortable in no time, The only thing have a bit of a problem with is how pre- cisely you need to do everything. For instance, you can't just run across a bridge; most of your Pikmin will drown. Instead, you-have to march them across in small groups, or throw them across one by one. But other than that, Pikmin's solid. Greg

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Å

EVERYONE

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Neversoft

Featured In: EGM #149 i Players: 1-

Requires: A new controller to enjoy

Best Feature: Excellent gameplay Worst Feature: No online mode Web Site: www.activisiono2.com

The third title in the Tony Hawk series is unquestion- ably the best action sports game I've ever played. THPS3 takes what's great about the last two games—easy, responsive controls and a flexible combo system—and fine tunes the overall experi- ence into an excellent package. So is the GameCube version of THPS3 better than its PS2 counterpart? Well, technically (and I mean that in the strictest sense of the word), the GC version has better graph- ics. But the improvements here are so marginal that you're pretty much splitting hairs just to find differ- ences. The only changes you'll notice from the PS2 to the GC version is the latter's lack of online multiplay- er support and having to use the GC controller. Is it a shame you can't get online with THPS3 on the GC? Sure, but I get the feeling you didn't buy a GameCube for Nintendo's online plans anyway. Otherwise, THPS3 GC still features a very playable two-player split-screen mode that's long been a staple of the series; But I had a horrible time getting used to the controller. The problem with the GC pad is that its D- pad is way too small, making it difficult to pull off even the simplest manual combos. And don't even get me started on those huge analog shoulder but- tons. Ifyou don't mind the lack of online support and think you can deal with the crappy D-pad on the GC controller, THPS3 is definitely one of the very best games you can get for your GC this winter. Ghe Amazing. As good as THPS2 was, 3 outdoes its predecessor in every way. Everything you like about the THPS games is now super-sized to satisfy even the most insatiable skateboarding appetites. Larger, more imaginative levels, faster gameplay, a vastly improved create-a-skater and better level objectives highlight the improvements made to this game. Sadly, the GameCube version of THPS3 suffers from a lack of online play, and most problematically, the GameCube controller itself. A few minutes with the-flaccid analog stick, or the tiny D-pad, show just how made for the Dual Shock 2 Tony Hawk 3 truly is. Milkman

the GameCube with this surprise launch title, porting the spectacular PS2 game with ease. All the mad tricks, zany goals and cavernous customization carry over perfectly. In fact, the only real differences are the omission of the online mode and the slightly dif- ferent feel of playing with the GC controller. The tiny D-pad means you'll have to get used to the analog — or die trying. Visually, it's a dead heat between the GameCube and PS2 versions, but both look fan- tastic, so who cares? if you've been avoiding the Tony Hawk bandwagon for the last few years, this is an excellent chance to hop aboard. Shane

VISUALS SOUN INGENUITY REPLAY

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance

Interplay

Publisher: == ا‎ Developer: Snowblind Studios

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 12

Also Try: Diablo (PS)

Best Feature: Two-player cooperative play Worst Feature: Hard to tell the players apart Web Site: www.interplay.com

Much like Diablo, this is a great alternative for those (like me) who don't like traditional RPGs. Simply swing and slay, and that's all it takes. You don't get bogged down in complex battle systems or replay dungeons endlessly to build up your character. Once enemies are dead, they're permanent floor decora- tions. To earn new weapons and abilities, you have to keep progressing, and that's why you'll never want to put the controller down. In fact, our inability to pull ourselves away from the controller for hours prompted my girlfriend and Ito nickname this "Bladder's Gate." But that isn't the only reason you'll wet yourself. The dark and gloomy dungeons hold plenty of surprises to make you jump. And slic- ing them to bits is a bloody sight to see. Who knew that a zombie can still attack after you slice his body in half? These thrills are best experienced with two players playing cooperatively. Using different classes (fighter, sorceress or archer) to complement each other's weaknesses is fun in an "I've got уошараск” sort of way, and it makes it easier to beat the game too. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish the two char- acters apart, despite the sharp graphics. In the mid- dle of fights you can get lost in the carnage, and blocked sight lines (caused. by dungeon decor) add to the confusion. Those slight problems might mix you up, but be clear on one thing—this action RPG is the one to get. Just don't forget the Pampers. Kraig

Burnout

Publisher:

Acclaim ега е Developer: Criterion Featured In: EGM #148 Players: 1-2 Also Try: Crazy Taxi

Best Feature: Whiplash-inducing crashes Worst Feature: Not enough play modes Web Site: www.acclaim.com

Burnout is every frustrated commuter's dream: а game that lets you haul ass down congested high- ways with absolutely no regard for life or limb. This arcade-like driving game pits you and three other daredevils in a race against the clock. What sets Burnout apart from other racing games is that it actu- ally rewards you for reckless driving; every near-miss and high-speed powerslide fills an "aggressive dri- ving" meter in a corner of the screen. Fill it com- pletely, and you can boost your top speed from “whoa!” to “holy s***!” Aside from this feature, the coolest thing about Burnout is the hyper-realistic crashes. Cut it too close, and you can easily cause a four- or five-car chain-reaction collision, complete with shattering glass and bending steel. Instant replays show all of the glorious destruction in loving detail from a variety of different angles. The game even calculates the dollar amount of the devastation you've caused, giving you a whole new way of keep- ing score. Burnout's biggest shortcoming, however, is its/paltry number of play modes (single race, cham- pionship, time attack and head-to-head). The game would have greatly benefitted from a tag mode, police pursuit or some other option. Still, every PS2 owner needs something they can pop in and play while waiting for friends to arrive or the big game to start, and, in this respect, Burnout fits the

bill rather nicely. Gary M.

With sublime environments harboring hordes of old-

school Dungeons & Dragons monsters, an expertly animated supporting cast brought to life by excellent voice-overs, and nonstop hackin'-and-slashin', BG'lL suck you in faster than an arrow into a gelatinous cube. By taking the guesswork out of D&D role-play- ing, but still requiring you to effectively build your character toysurvive, BG succeeds in striking a bal- ance.between an immersive story-driven quest, and pure action. The only burps include an out-of-place platforming level and a:save system that constantly takes you in and out of the game. But we're talking nitpick pile here. BG's a gem. Seek it out. Jeanne

Whoa, where the heck did this game come from? Burnout has to be one of my favorite surprises this year. As a straightforward arcade racer, Burnout gets alot of things right. Whether you're using the analog stick or the. D-pad, the controls here, are well-tem- pered. It's just one of those incredibly intuitive pick- up-and-start-powersliding types of racing games. Burnout is/also the only racer | know that lets me snake through a river of cars during rush hour. This is as close as I've ever come to feeling like Stellan Skarsgård from the movie-Ronin, in his Audi Ад, dri- ving against traffic in the middle of a crowded free- way. This is harrowing, edge-of-your-seat fun. Ghe

At first glance, this appears to be nothing more than a gussied-up Gauntlet lift, but don't judge the game ‘til you've played it for a few hours. My run with Baldur's Gate left me feeling lukewarm at the start, but near the.end, my interest in beating.it bordered on obsession. With the possible exception of Halo, I have not played a game this year that has been so difficult to put down. As a one-player experience, it's incredibly tight; leveling up has never been more fun. As a two-player co-op adventure, it's absolutely sub- lime. Add to all of this outrageously beautiful visuals and the revered D&D license, and you have one of the very best games of 2001. A must-have. Ethan

REPLAY

INGENUITY

6

onthly - 202

Zooming in from obscurity and straight into my heart, Burnout is a modern take on classic, arcade-style racing. With white-knuckle driving from checkpoint to checkpoint through dense traffic a la Sega's clas- sic Outrun, this game's frantic gameplay is a nice alternative to Gran Turismo 3's encyclopedic com- plexity. The courses and cars look merely.OK, but the sense of speed is exhilarating. Excellent computer Al for your opponents, a whacked-out disco sound- track, and a neat turbo-boost reward for avoiding crashes further round;out the package. The only real drawback is the obscene difficulty curve, which might be too intense for many players. Shane

VISUALS SO! INGENUITY REPLAY

1 1

PlayStation.e

Deliver the goods through mine fields, avalanches and enemy Crossfire!

Fully integrated plot increases the adrenaline and ups the stakes

HOS тп. ЕТ.

The ultimate off-road. driving adventure returns; to the PlayStation@2. fee Tey i

{= Gli END gel deus: TET тта El Ell Gre 73 15058)

Race anywhere across the world's most dangerous territories

All new mission types including helicopter drop-offs!

| 021815

Qutrun and outwit your enemies head-to-head in split screen multiplayer mode!

Violence

Publisher: Rockstar Е Developer: DMA Design roe Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 1

Menace: To society

BestFeature: Millions of things to do Worst Feature: Guns can be hard to aim Web Site: www.grandtheftauto3.com

modest 2D origins, has finally mutated

into a monster so Godzilla-esque that it stomps all over the conventions of what we call the “adventure game.” For a while, as recently as GTA2 on the Dreamcast last year, it looked as if Grand Theft Auto had grown complacent in its comfy niche as a gimmicky 2D, overhead anomaly in a predominantly 3D world. Well, those days are history, baby, because the third time's a charm. Doesn't Mean Anything Design has rallied the troops and finagled a masterpiece out of the PlayStation 2 hardware that most definitely means something.

The Edinburgh-based developers have designed a "go anywhere, any time" game that reaches new heights in immersiveness. Liberty City is packed full of scumbags, gangsters, murderers, pimps, prostitutes,

| t's amazing that this series, born of

junkies, drunks, cops, robbers, firemen, old ladies, drug-smugglin' dirtbags and more.

What other game offers such gritty realism? To say that Liberty City (which is inspired by

ers (not that we'd know what drug dealers talk like...). When traveling in pairs, characters will use additional vocabulary specific to the situation. It's this uncanny attention to detail

"...Imagine...the criminal side of life. A virtual pulp fiction played out in 128 bits.”

New York City and its accompanying bor- oughs) is teeming with life is the understate- ment of the year.

Everywhere you go, not only do people blanket the sidewalks, they react. They react to anything under the sun if it's appro- priate. For example, punch a civilian and he'll punch you back. Shoot that civilian and an ambulance comes to the rescue. Blow up the ambulance and the fire department will come to douse the flames. Mess with the fire- fighters and you'll have so many smokies on your case, that escape will be an extremely unlikely option. Another nifty element in GTA3 is that each citizen speaks with dialogue unique to their character type. Cops sound like cops, and drug dealers talk like drug deal-

that energizes the entire game.

All the little touches in the world, however, don't mean jack if the game is no fun. So, over the course of a hundred-plus missions, how

206

204

а iiu

Blood and Gore Violence

L y №. PlayStation.2

BY GAMERS. FOR GAMERS,”

Giants: Citizen Kabuto: Copyright 2001 by Planet Moon Studios. All Rights Reserved. Planet Moon and the Planet Moon logo are trademarks of Planet Moon Studios. Giants, Giants: Citizen Kabuto, Interplay, the Interplay logo, "By Gamers. For Gamers." Digital Mayhem and the Digital Mayhem logo are trademarks of Interplay Entertainment Corp. All Rights Reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Exclusively licensed and distributed by Interplay Entertainment Corp.

Grand Theft Auto iil (cont.)

Cont. from page 204 does GTA3 manage to keep things interest- ing? By giving you a huge variety of jobs and mission objectives, along with strong story- line elements to back them up. Throughout the game, you'll find yourself in the employ of Liberty City's biggest crime bosses. Other times you might work for a former nemesis, or maybe you'll be hunting down an employer who betrayed you. Whatever the case, you'll never lack motivation for your actions, and this is the game's greatest strength: It's always a compelling experience. A digital playground for criminal masterminds, GTA3 lets you live out your felonious fantasies without a trip to the pokey waiting on the other side. And what would Grand Theft Auto III be without the theft of autos? Almost all of the missions will keep you jimmying the locks on the dozens of cars Liberty City has

-

to offer. Whether you're looking for a simple Blista minivan or a speedy Yakuza Stinger,

a ride is always within reach. And each car handles differently, so don't expect to outrun the fuzz in your garbage truck. It's a little too easy to flip your vehicle, and none of the cars would pass a Consumer Reports crash test, but when the game offers so many wheels to steal, who cares?

Despite the dazzling array of game styles available, GTA3 hasn't lost an ounce of what made this series interesting in the first place: It's still fun being bad. As an outlet for all your criminal ambitions, GTA3 delivers. Just imagine a life lived on the wrong side of the railroad tracks...a virtual Pulp Fiction played out in 128 bits. Whatever your sins and vices, GTA3 gives you a harmless way to express yourself. Consider this the guiltiest of pleasures.

FOUR THINGS ABOUT GRAND THEFT AUTO 111 YOUR MOTHER WILL HATE

(С ng:17 ( 010013 | E3 9100

The ultimate irony: Steal the ambu-

lance that arrives to treat your victims

and run over more helpless innocents.

Various ladies of the night will “restore your health” while siphoning your funds.

If you see a robbery, stick up the stick-up kid and take his stolen loot.

Grab bottles of booze from the bums, and use them as Molotov cocktails.

206

The quality of the rides you can steal gradually improves, from station wagons to sports cars. Become notorious enough (we're talkin’ public enemy numero uno),

|

Of all the incredible things that GTA3 does, what amazes me the most is how much stuff is crammed in there. It's rare when a game limited to one genre man- ages to get everything right. For GTA3 to assume mul- tiple guises and pull it off with such panache and style is practically unheard of. Whether it's a third- person adventure, a first-person shooter or a driving game, you're never in the position of having nothing to do. Not in Liberty City. Shoot bad guys, drive fast cars, pick up hot women, and make big money. You can do it all, baby. Wanna drive a police boat like Crockett and Tubbs? You can do that too. The level of detail in the game is so great, you could spend weeks trying to discover everything. All the familiar GTA staples are back too. The shady payphones, the pagers and the radio stations are all there, but this time in three lovely dimensions. A game like this could have gotten too big and too ambitious for its own good, but no matter how you choose to spend your time (doing.odd jobs,ær just blowing stuff up), getting back to your primary objectives is always an easy process. If only life were that simple. Is СТАЗ flawless? Of course not. The game runs a little slow, lacks some polish, and the targeting system is noth- ing special. But that's nitpicking considering its accomplishments. No matter how you slice it, СТАЗ is an instant classic that deserves a place on every

grown-up gamer's shelf. Milkman

What's so cool about this game is that, even when you're not taking on new missions and advancing the story, you'll discover loads of extra stuff to pass the time. Everything you can do in GTA3 is so compelling that you'll find. yourself puttering around.the city for hoursøn end just to see what kindof trouble you can get into. And if you do tire of that, the actual missions are still a blast to play through on their own. You'll feel like you're in a Scorsese movie when one of your benefactors sends you out on a hit ora job. Plus the story's one of the best; and most adult, I've seen in a video game. If you haven't done it already, buy

this game. Greg

This game is set in a sprawling metropolis called Liberty City, and I can't think of a better name for the place. GTA3 gives you the freedom to do enough stuff to fill 10 games. | wasted hours picking up fares in a.taxi, chasing crooks in а cop.car, hitting ramps for stunt bonuses, and exploring the different parts of town. That's not counting the more than 100 story-based missions and sidestory minigames, which have you doing everything from street racing to zipping around collecting porno mags. Oh, and not once did | run over pedestrians, steal the ambulance that came to rescue them, and then use it to smash cop cars, because that would be wrong. Grispin

SOUND INGENUITY

1 9 9

VISUALS

LAY

Surround Yourself with Pulse Pounding Sound.

Start Your Engines. Call The Plays. Slice Through The Skies. 4 me to take game playing to a "New Dimension." The KINYO 4.1 GAME ZONE brings l € roar of combat and the thunder of formula racers into a unique reality. If you are looking for an incredibly affordable, REAL SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM and demand "LIVE" aming excitement, get this awesome Plug & Play package before the other guys do!

1 1 Т! Hr Å mn БЕ Hn Neues ' ePSone™ & PS2™ ө Xbox!" d : E ° Dreamcast™

Eo 7 у М

Dynasty Warriors 3

bor Ld

Publisher: Koei Developer: Koei

Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1-2 Also Try: Dynasty Warriors 2

Best Feature: Intense battles Worst Feature: Loads of fog and pop-up Web Site: www.koeigames.com

The Japanese have been crazy about this game since its release (it held on to the #1 sales position out east for four weeks, selling over half a million copies), and for good reason; it's the best action-oriented war game on the planet, flaws and all. While just a hack- ‘n’-slash combo-fest at heart, Dynasty Warriors 3 dis- tinguishes itself by providing players with incredibly detailed and totally immersive environments. As you navigate through the game's war-torn fields, you'll really feel as if you're fighting for your life, struggling desperately against never-ending hordes of enemy soldiers. The countless bad guys are as detailed and well-animated as your central character, and they crowd the entire screen during combat, Braveheart- style. The cool battles are all well and good for those who are new to the series, but fans should note that part 3 offers little that wasn't present in last year's offering. The new two-player split-screen mode is almost too foggy to play, and while it's easier to save your progress than before (you don’t need to. hunt down memory card icons any more), load times are still way too-long. Despite these problems, plus a trickycamera and Voice acting that stands as some of the worst in the business, l'Il still be buying this disc when it hits store shelves. And with replay boosted by over 40 playable characters, each entering the fray with a unique fighting style and personalized weapon- ry, I'll be playing DW3 ‘till my fingers bleed. Ethan

DW3 comes closer to capturing the feeling of being on a battlefield than anything else. Forget strategy games; Koei's usual stuff (like Kessen) makes my eyes glaze over. This game is entirely action. In one battle alone,.l felled over 750 soldiers myself. Combat like this gets your juices flowing. Although the satin and gold costuming makes DW3 look like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drag Queen, the battles are anything but fruity, with bodies flying everywhere and legions of soldiers to beat down. Playing cooperatively withyasfriend is really cool, but the Versus mode can't hold a candle to a dedicated fighter like DOA2: Hardcore. Christian

After playing this game, | now understand how Custer must have felt at Little Big Horn. You'll be severely outnumbered the minute you press Start, as hundreds of enemies pour from every direction. My biggest problem with the game is.that battles drag on for what seems like hours, due in part tosketchy mission objectives. The repetitive, hack-'n'-slash gameplay doesn't help matters—aside from direct- ing your bodyguards, there's virtually no strategy to be found here. The action also slows down horribly when there are-too many enemies clogging the screen. Still, if you like long odds and lots of action, you'll probably like this game. Gary M. VISUALS REPLAY

SOUND INGENUITY

1 6 4 1

Frequency

AES MY

Emp

Sony CEA

Publisher:

Developer: Harmonix

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 1-4

Supports: Multi-tap, Expansion Disks

Best Feature: The feeling of performing music Worst Feature: Controls when things get fast Web Site: www.scea.com

If previous music games outta Japan (Beatmania, Guitar Freaks, Samba de Amigo) didn’t use special controllers that looked like musical instruments, they wouldn’t be nearly as fun. Unfortunately, Frequency “only” uses a Dual Shock 2 controller, but even then, the pad isn’t made for the kind of super- fast button-tapping and moving you need in Frequency’s harder difficulties. The gameplay here is a lot deeper and more satisfying than typical games in the genre. Songs are divided into parts (drum, vocal, guitar, etc.), each a separate track in a large tunnel. You move from track to track, clearing each and heading to the next without pausing to keep your combo going and the points multiplying. Because of all this interaction, Frequency has a level of challenge and technique not found in other music games, making it feel like you're really “per- forming” the tunes. But the thing that hampered my enjoyment is the music selection. I'm just not a big fan oflub-style music, nor of most of the featured bands, like Powerman 5000, Crystal Method and Orbital. That.hurts.the whole game even though | like the gameplay. On the other hand, Remix mode lets you construct levels and remix:the-music any way you want. And Frequency's visually more impressive than any of the music games from Japan: It's a strong entry for the musical genre, but unless you really dig the music, it's not going to last very long. Chris

Unlike posers who think wearing a freshjive visor'll magically endow them with turn-table talent, smart girls and boys can get their groove on with Frequency instead. Requiring more motor coordination than musical talent, Frequency goes beyond, just “catch- ing" tracks (as in Dance Dance Revolution with dance steps). Its remix and freestyle options offer creative opportunities for musically inclined players, while an innovative worm-hole track interface makes for easy pick-up and play. Keep in mind, though, that you really have to dig Frequency a lot to keep playing since its repetitive gameplay gets old. But dig it, and dig it a lot, and the DJ sky's the limit. Jeanne

Frequency might be the first step toward making music games a little more mainstream in the U.S. It's got a slick, easy-to-use interface and very pretty graphics. And since it features real tracks from artists Americans have actually heard of=No Doubt and Crystal Method to name a cóuple—Frequency is immediately accessible for almost everyone. It's a refreshing change from the weirdness that you'd find in a PaRappa or Dance Dance Revolution. And the best part for you budding DJs out there is you get to remix,all of these licensed tracks to your heart's content. I just wish the game was longer...but that's what expansion discs are for. Greg

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 8 8 1

208

James Bond In Agent Under Fire

T

Publisher: Electronic Arts >] Developer: Electronic Arts

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 1-4

Supports: Multi-tap

Best Feature: Car chase sequences Worst Feature: Force-fed Bond cheesiness Web Site: WWW.007.ea.com

EA focused on making this feel like a Bond movie, and they tried too hard. The innuendo and cut- Scenes are so force-fed that the action plays second fiddle. Instead of letting enemies ambush you, short cutscenes show you what's around the bend. Can't find the grate you need to get through the level? Don't worry, the "idiot cam" will zoom to show you where it is. And if you need a keycard, a half-naked girl will hand it right over—after you spew a pickup line, of course. The gadgets also get too much face time. You'll often spend more time cycling through an endless menu of gizmos than firing your gun. Many levels feel like they were designed entirely around the gadget-of-the-week. Just wait ‘til you use the Q- claw cell phone that turns you into a British Spider- Man and the Q-Jet that makes you look like a suit- wearing Rocketeer. Inspector Gadget, anyone? To make matters worse, being "Bond-like” causes the first notes of his theme to blare. Shoot a barrel that explodes: Da-da-da-daaaa. Melt a padlock with the Q-laser: Da-da-da-daaa! Imagine this 5o times, and you'll understand why hearing the theme now.gives me the runs. Luckily, the fun multiplayer modes and Spy Hunter-lite driving sequences;aren't as annoy- ing. They make this disappointment rentable, but | shouldn't have expected a lot from something subti- tled "Agent Under Fire." That's like naming a NASCAR game "Racer Drives Fast." Kraig

I'm not sure anyone has really cared much about this series since GoldenEye. But for the remaining followers of the James Bond game legacy, Agent Under Fire is about what you'd expect from a 007 title, just with more driving levels. It's a solid game from a technical standpoint; but extraor- dinarily bland.from a gameplay perspective. Gunning down foes'in high-speed chases, sneaking around heavily sentried buildings...it's been done with greateristyle in lots of other games. The PS2 has so many killer games sthisy fall; wait until you've played the entire A-list of releases before you give Bond the time of day. Jonathan

Hot Bond babes in tight clothes are the only thing going for 007. Escort that booty out, and you're left with a flat arcadey shooter, starring a down-right per- verted James. AUF’s grossly contrived Bond plot cobweb-strings together one insipid, uninspired mission after the other. And considering you haven't got much more than 12 uneventful levels (with little to nil replay value), what else keeps Bond: AUF afloat? Not multiplay, that's for sure. When multiplay feels like it got slapped on at the last minute by taking bits and pieces from the single-player missions, it shows and blows. Looks like Bond's in a lose-lose situation, and this time, he's screwed. Jeanne VISUALS REPLAY

SOUND INGENUITY

1 3 3 4

IADYAISVANCEXaSSaU oO ES USC S

A

. Puzza 4 ATTACK

e Four single- player game modes: CLEAR, PUZZLE, ME and MARATHON mode ЕШ

* Three multiplayer game modes: ATTACK, SCOHE and HESCUE mode

* Up to 200 levels of challenging puzzles

ЛА Селта)

GREATEST > Ki

* Defend the planet from ravenous space aliens in Defender

• Take to the air on your winged bird of prey in Joust "m

• Destroy hordes of marauding mutant robots н іп Hobotron: 2084

e Prevent evil from being unleashed in Sinistar

* Race 10 different speed machines through 14 tracks. * Three gameplay modes - Cruis'n Cup, B SUR UP å ` and Freestyle mode ы " Game Link& Cable support lets 7 you challenge up to four of. Р your friends —

2

GAME BOY ADVANCE (Nintendo) MIDWAY

© 1994 Nintendo Co., Lid. © 1999, 2000, intendo. Allright ied. Used under license, CRUIS'N VELOCITY and the NINTENDO RACETRACK LOGO are trademarks of Nintendo. MIDWAY and the M IN A CIRCLE DESIGN are trademarks of Midway Amusement Games. LLC. Used by permission. Distributed by Mid inment Inc. Compi ) 2001 Midway Home Entertainment Inc. ROBOTRON 2084 © 1982: JOUST © 1982: SINISTAR © 1982; DEFENDER © 1980 Midway Amusement Games, LLC. All rights reserved. MIDWAY, the Midway logos and all game titles are trademarks or s of Midway Amu Games, LLC. Used by permission. Converted by Pocket Studios, Ltd. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc. Rampage Puzzle Attack © 2001 Midway Amusement Games, LLC. All rights reserved. RAMPAGE, MIDWAY. the Midway logos and all character names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc. TM, @ and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo.

EDITORS‘ CHOICE AWARD

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

While Jak and Daxter is a remarkably solid title, it does succumb to just about every clichéd convention of the genre. Here we see our heroes in a chilly ice level. Not pictured: the thrilling minecart sequence.

жай. Publisher: Sony CEA ГЕ Developer: Naughty Dog m Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1 Betterthan: Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex Best Feature: No loading Worst Feature: Low boss count

Web Site: www.scea.com

rash Bandicoot’s well-publicized split

with his creators turned out to be a bad

move for the maniacal marsupial. While his new game is woefully average (see EGM #149), Naughty Dog’s new effort, Jak and Daxter, takes its place as the premiere PS2 plat- former. Rather than just rehashing Crash, Naughty Dog wisely borrowed a few pages from Miyamoto's *How to Make Mario 64" book. (The same pages that Rare swiped for the Banjo-Kazooie games, it would seem.) The result is a true 3D platformer that offers perfect control, beautiful levels and ample challenge.

Just as Mario 64 had stars, J&D places you on

a quest for 100 well-concealed Power Cells. The tasks that must be completed to gain these precious orbs are wonderfully diverse, so the action stays fresh and funky. Bartering with townspeople, piloting a hovercraft across a fiery lake and protecting a precious mushroom

Frequent driving minigames keep the traditional run-and-jump action from get- ting too stale.

patch from invading rodents are examples of the zany goals you'll accomplish to gain Cells.

Do Jak and Daxter have the goods to be real mascots? Well, Jak's a total wallflower, but Daxter really hams it up with wry jokes and witty quips that are both funny and well acted. When Crash is begging for change alongside Bubsy and Gex in a few years, don't be sur- prised to see J&D living the high life as the true mascots of the PlayStation 2.

210

Crash Bandi-who? Seriously, Naughty Dog's Jak and Daxter handily bests the Crash games in every way. With responsive control and quest design blatantly lifted from Super Mario 64, J&D won't win the “Most Original" award, but if you're gonna yoink from someone, take from the best. The game does break some new ground in the realm of disc loading times, specifically, the lack thereof. All of the game's many stages flow smoothly together with no breaks. You can even stand on high vistas and look out to see several areas far in the distance—impressive stuff. Those views sure are pretty, thanks to lush, attractive graphics that rival the system's best. Subtle touches, like a contin- uous, gradual day-to-night cycle and realistic-look- ing snow flurries add to the game's visual charm. Aural pleasures take the backseat to graphics. Music is sparse and forgettable, but the bountiful dialog will keep you away from the mute button. Also, ,uhlike some. modern action games that are over in a flash, J&D is a colossal adventure that you won't beat-in a weekend. As J&D i5450 obviously inspired by Mario 64, | do feel obliged to dock it a few points for creativity. In fact;-one:of its biggest flaws, a serious shortage о! bosses, is a direct holdover from Nintendo's classic. But overall, it's an impressive effort. No other PS2 platformer comes close this holiday season.

One look at Jak's spin attack and the exploding boxes, and you know the Crash Bandicoot people are behind this. If it weren't for the excellent characters, story and animation, J&D would be just another hunt-and-gath- er game like.so.many other 3D platformers. The game- play is still packed with old stand-bys: vehicles to ride or race, sliding down hills peppered with.power-ups and deadly obstacles, hitting switches to reveal time- limited platforms, etc. The difference is that the game is so incredibly polished and wellserafted, it doesn’t matter if you've done this stuff a hundred times before—it's still fun. And any game on the PS2 with zero load time deserves props Chris J&D is one of the best-looking games I've ever seen (sweet graphics, great special effects, etc.) and Jak handles like a bandicoot that's learned some new moves. But therein lies the rub. While the great con- trol and flashy visuals ensure that someone will enjoy this, these tricks are strictly for kids. Only young'uns (or Shane and CJ) will enjoy-Daxter's Jar Jaresque "zaniness," and only kids possess the patience required to complete this nonstop fetch- quest. There must be a manuál'forgame design that says collecting is fun, butin actuality, it’s really, real- ly not. Younger gamers will cotton to this very quick- ly and older gamers will yawn. Milkman

SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

9 8 0 1

VISUALS

WELCOME TO THE HEARTWARMING WORLD OF

HARVEST MOON!

y goal is to successfully save your family's farm and the surrounding village from being turned into a resort.

Do you have what it takes

to SAVE YOUR HOMELAND!

PlayStation.e

® Make friends with over Explore an innovative non- Nine different endings twenty characters, all linear game system with a and plenty of events with changing attitudes bushel of subplots and make every day on the and opinions! entertaining storylines! farm anything but routine!

EVERYONE |

«E ene | NATSUME’ Victor www.natsume.com Å ESRB Serious Fun!" iy

Harvest Moon and Natsume are registered trademarks of Natsume Inc. Serious Fun is a trademark of Natsume Inc. © 2001 Natsume Inc. © 2001 Victor Interactive Software All rights reserved. "PlayStation" and the “PS” Fanifly logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

V pg А ^A

Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami CEJ Featured In: EGM #147 Players: 1

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Best Feature: Sneak-'em-up gameplay Worst Feature: Disappointing overall plot Web Site: www.konami.com

you're worried about it ruining any part of

MGS2's story—it will. We do have some complaints, but you still must play this game, and you should do that knowing as little as pos- sible for maximum enjoyment. Just skip ahead to the spoiler-free reviews on page 214, then go play the game. You can always come back later to read how right-on we were about everything.

All right, now that we got that out of the way,

let's get right to it: How does one of the most hyped, most anticipated video games of all time stack up? The short answer is great. Awesome. Fantastic. But not without some disappointment.

f irst things first: Don't read this review if

"

MATURE

The best part about MGS2 is that it's got more of what makes Metal Gear Metal Gear —sneak- ing around, distracting guards, taking them out one by one...the stuff that has really defined the series from day one. Now, with more rooms you need to cross several times, the added first-per- son mode (more on that later), and other con- siderations like guards who check in at regular intervals and bodies you have to hide, the game has an even more desperate and thrilling “I’m being hunted" edge.

But it's not just more of the same. It's true MGS2 is an improvement on the last game and not an entirely new take, but Konami managed to include enough original touches to make it a proper sequel. The aforementioned first-person mode, for example, has become essential; pre- cise aiming is now important against the boss- es, in the more numerous sniping sections, and even against the regular guards (nail ‘em in the head for your stun darts to work their magic

ÆRET

Meet strange and interesting new people, then kill several of them! Like the last game, much of MGS2's story takes place between two talking heads using your Codec radio. Try pushing in both shoulder buttons while someone's talking for fun.

212 vw.egmmag.cotr

The only way to get a guard's dogtags is to sneak up and scare him with a gun pointed right in his face. Collect all the tags to open up other secrets.

d

BED-TIME

Time urn ETEN

Preserve those special moments by taking plenty of pictures. Later you can | name your photos, adjust the color bal- | ance, and save them to a memory card.

quickly). Other new or expanded game mechan- ics (see sidebar) — some you only see for an hour ог less—likewise make MGS2 feel like a fresh experience.

None of this would be possible without MGS2’s brilliant and pliable control scheme. We say brilliant because, when you look at all the different things you can do, wrestling with the controller could have easily dragged the entire game down. Check it out: You’ve got instant access to all your items and weapons; you can drag dead bodies, and open and close lockers

Hide under a box and jump on this shipping belt to instantly "warp" to a different part of the game. Each of the five boxes you can find will take you to a different location.

to hide them or yourself, hang off ledges to avoid guards, punch, kick, strangle, swim (com- plete with a stunningly real blurry underwater effect), climb smaller objects, peek around cor- ners, plus still duck and crawl. You can even stand on your tippy-toes and do pull-ups to increase your grip strength. Remarkably, with all this you'll still have the hang of everything after about 20 minutes. And the mechanics are deep enough that the warm feeling of finally master- ing the subtleties of the controls comes only after hours of play, the mark of any great-play- ing game.

Finally, MGS2's graphics make good on every promise the original trailer made when we first Saw it over a year ago— crisp, detailed and very smooth. We don't need to waste much time here, just look at these screens. It's arguably the best-looking game on the PS2 yet.

As anyone who has played the demo could tell you, MGS2 looks and plays a lot like the last game. What they couldn't tell you is there are also a whole slew of kick-ass new elements in the final game that the demo doesn't so much as hint at. Some of them only last a few minutes, while others are woven into the entire game. Here are a few:

Sniping was in the last game, but this time it plays a much bigger role, han- dling everything from disarming bombs to providing cover fire.

New swimming sections, alone and escorting another character, have their own controls and cool graphical effects.

THE BAD

You may have noticed we haven't mentioned the plot, which seems to have become the cru- cial aspect of this series above all else. After all, creator Hideo Kojima and Konami have gone to Cold-War Russia lengths to keep the press and public in the dark, going so far as to disappear for months leading up to MGS2's release. We've had fun here at EGM playing along, obsessing over every leaked detail and screenshot, guess- ing what was going to happen, even creating a monthly column for it all. Unfortunately, like the Star Wars: Episode I movie, all the secrecy can't hide the fact that now that we know everything we've been anticipating for so long, the overall plot just isn't that good. It starts off strong with the whole tanker episode, but eventually it's just good, then average, and finally at the very end, plain bad. Ridiculous twists that go

S0 WHAT'S NEW FOR MGS2?

nowhere (Otacon's revelation that he was

shtuping his stepmother while his dad commit-

ted suicide), double, triple and quadruple cross-

es, bizarro plot threads about evolution and the

nature of reality —at some point it just gets

silly. The moment-to-moment dialogue is still Cont. on page 214

How соо! would MGS be multiplayer? This section hints at the possibilities: You and a friendly computer-controlled "new friend" tackle a hallway of bad guys together.

Look familiar, Ico lovers? At one point you need to grab this young lady by the hand and lead her where you want to go.

213

Use this powerful microphone to locate a particular pacemaker-equipped hostage and to overhear conversations.

Metal Gear Solid 2 (cont.)

The two of us can handle it, don't worry.

One of these men is a take-no-prisoners super stud. The other is a whiny little rook- ie farthead. Can you guess which is which?

quite good, as is the voice acting (if not quite up to the high bar set by the last MGS), but the melodrama near the end almost over- whelms it all.

AND THE UGLY

That would be Raiden, MGS2's Jar Jar Binks. (OK, he's not that bad.) If you don't know by now— this is your last chance to look away— Raiden is— this time we're serious, this is your last warning —the real star of MGS2, the only playable character after the first couple hours ofthe game. It's a gutsy gamble from Kojima, surprising everyone with a replacement for beloved series mainstay Solid Snake, but it

SOLID SNAKE'S

We watched "King Kong" in your apartment a bunch of times that night.

ZZZ..huh? Oh, sorry. During this painful little interlude, soft, romantic piano music actually plays in the background. Ugh.

doesn't pay off. Raiden spends most of the game as a clueless bleach-blond wussy boy, who, despite his training, acts like he belongs more in high school than on a mission to save the president and avert nuclear crisis. Thank god Solid Snake is still around to lend the game a little action-hero gusto, but then rub- bing shoulders with Snake, in full bad-ass glory, only makes the new kid look even lamer by comparison.

So that's it —MGS2 lives up to or surpasses the hype in every aspect except for the story, where it falls flat on its face. Luckily, even with its shortcomings, MGS2 is still an incredible game and well worth your time.

FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

Now our studio audience will vote on which of the following scenes, sent to us by people just like you and me, they'd like to see win our $10,000 prize. Will it be:

"Naked man in tunnel" sent in by Scott Dolph of Treeport, Maryland. (clapping)

Or how about "Bird craps on Super Agent's Face" from D. Snake. (awwwww)

"Why is this rain yellow?" sent in by Terrorist #72 from unknown. (hahaha)

10/85 тинин

[This scene only available on MGS2: Too Hot for TV: Snake Gone Wild]. (ewwww)

214

The guards aren't much smarter this time around, but it's tougher to take them out. A search party comes looking if they don't radio to check in regularly (sometimes necessitating scenes like the one below).

19/46, mn

Despite what you might assume, this is not an easy game to review. The overall quality is unquestionably high—some of the best graphics on a home game yet, ridiculously detailed environments packed with secrets, tiny jokes and optional extras, replay bol- stered by collectibles and harder difficulties, and controls that you can truly master...but the story... how can | put this...sucks ass. | kept assuming it would get better, that the end would hold some incredible explanation that would cause everything to make perfect sense in retrospect, but it never hap- pened. In fact, the plot just got worse and worse, pil- ing twist onto twist until, near the end, I was literally laughing at how ridiculous it had all become. For that reason and that reason only, I still feel a tinge of dis- appointment with MGS2. But when I step back from my expectations of what a Metal Gear storyline should be and look at MGS2 on its own merits, this is one of the best games I've ever played. It's infinite- ly more polished; more playable, more replayable, better-looking, and just plain fun to run around and play than most anything else out there. | didn't hesitate for one second when I finished it the first time, starting up another game-immediately, to huntifor the ton of stuff.|.know I missed. Even as | write this I can't wait to play it more, and I'm guess- ing that, despite the gaping hole where the cool plot should be, you'll feel the same way. Mark

Can I give this a 9.8? I had two days with MGS2, and 1 absolutely adored it, so let me start by advising you to go buy this game with all speed. | guarantee no two people will play it the exact same way, and that kind of.gameplay freedom counts for a lot in my booksThe weapon; variety isn't fantastic, but | can live with it; it's the overcooked story that kept MGS2 from а 10. All the double-crosses and heady political talk break up the game's momentum and leave your melon spinning by the end ofthe adventure. The demo had a good balance:of action and plot; it feels like the developers just got lost in the minutia and over-tweaked the final story. Jonathan

You better get used to picking your jaw off the floor because from a gameplay perspective, MGS2 exceeded my wildest demands. The sheer number of things you can do from moment to moment made this not only.an. incredible and memorable adven- ture, but also one that was downright fun. MGS2 does, however, take a couple steps back from the previous game: While the game is better designed, the story isn't nearly as good. Also, the final boss battle in MGS2 has to be one of tlie most anticlimac- tic fights ever. If this is indeed the last in the series, then it ends, as one villain quotes in the game, *not with a bang, but a whimper.” Bring on MGS3! Ghe

VISUALS UND

INGENUITY REPLAY

The classic franchise Gradius

e Eight all new levels comes to Game Boy’ Advance! : e Choose from 14 _

TAn evil force has taken over powerful weapons

e Devastatingly large boss,

la distant star system and enemies

e Variable difficulty levels for

only-you can stop them. 33 novice and expert players

E www.konami.coi

Gradius Galaxies™ is a trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. © 1985 2001 KONAMI & Mobile21 Co., Ltd. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Licensed by Nintendo. Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and the n Seal are trademarks.

NBA Live 2002

Publisher: Electronic Arts rræ= Developer: EA Canada

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 14

Supports: Multi-tap

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

Old-school players Unrealistic play www.easports.com

Many hoops fans seem weary of Michael Jordan's comeback. They say he's too old, too slow, and the Wizards are too bad of a team. Eager to see for myself how Air might fare, I played with the Wizards against the Lakers and won by 40 in my first game. Then I ratcheted up the difficulty and still won by 30. Finally, I turned it all the way up to the "Superstar” level. You know, that's where the computer steals the ball by just looking at you. The margin: Wizards over Lakers by 10, despite one of the ugliest displays of computer cheating I've seen since NFL Blitz made me fumble away a 21-point lead. Now, if I could beat the game when using a bad team on the hardest difficul- ty level, then Jordan can make a glorious come- back...in NBA Live's world, at least, where zone defenses are as sturdy as warm butter, rebounds are handled like wet soap, and a pin-point alley-oop pass from scrub Marcus Fizer is thrown down by dinosaur Charles Oakley. Five times. In one game. It surprised/me that this plays so unrealistically after seeing how great the players look on the court, espe- cially when they show emotion while driving the lane or bitching at a ref. Even Dr J's ‘fro is sweetly 3D-ren- dered on.the classic All-Star teamssit feels like EA focused on beefing up the fancy graphics and fea- tures and hoped we would overlook the rest. That might be enough to drive an arcadey slam-fest, but NBA Street fits that bill so much better. Kraig

Remember that ol’ history book illustration depicting the evolution of man? The first couple ape-men were hairy and hunched over. The next few, more upright and less hairy, and so on. Whelp, in the evolution of next-generation. basketball sims, Live 2002.is walking upright, but it's notthe modern man that NBA 2K2 is. Gameplay-wise, it still retains an uncomfortable likeness to past PS1 versions, but other areas like graphics and animation are improved. Even so, it still feels like you're steering turn-on-a-dime players through a gaggle of flat-footed Al defenders. It may be the best Live yet, but with NBA 2K2 coming to the PS2 this December, you should rent first.

I dare people to enjoy NBA Live. It’s heavy on cutscenes and commercial-friendly highlights, but light on fun. | expect my sports games to let me take control and DO something, but Live seems to prevent that, especially in the areas of rebounding and defense. /Møst rebounds fall to the floor. Most defense is useless. The jump animations take so long that I can't block shots or even contest jumpers effectively. Offense is fun enough, I guess, but the game lacks» major intensity. Players kind of saunter up the court and go through zombie-like motions on offense. PS2 owners should wait for NBA 2K2 to see what real hoops is all about. Dan L.

REPLAY

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY

NCAA Final Four 2002

Publisher:

Sony CEA Developer: Killer Game Featured In: EGM #148 Players: 1-8 Supports: Multi-tap Best Feature: Post-game highlights Worst Feature: Hilarious animations Web Site: www.989sports.com

Life's not fair. I mean, where was I when people were getting hired to make this game? I could have used the year off, with pay, to watch a team of chimps cob- ble together some code and label it NCAA Final Four 2002. Sometimes | feel sorry for the developers behind a poor product, because it seems like they tried. That's obviously not the case here. NCAA 2002 is so imperfect in every sense of the word that it defies, stretches and confounds the imagination. It might be cliché to say for a 989 Sports game, but the only redeeming feature is its ability to make you laugh. | watched passes seemingly headed out of bounds by 20 feet suddenly warp to a guy under the basket (minor chuckle). | saw guys running out of bounds get magically sucked into a dunk animation (hearty laugh). I saw players doing 360-degree spins, standing in place, while waiting to inbound the ball (guffaw). Basically what | saw, and what you'll see if you dare buy or rent this game, is gross gameplay mismanagement of the highest-degree. Two ele- ments saved me from giving this game a score of zero. Touch-control shooting, while not realistic, is like a minigame and can lead to some funny contests against friends. | also enjoyed the highlight reel iso- lationøn the player of the game. Of course, it would help if that highlight reel was the icing on the cake and not a small glimmer among the ruins. Do not try and do not buy.

video introduction, and we're not talking Oscar-win- ning material. This year, 989 Sports' game has gotten faster with all the fluidity of a broken transmis- sion. The players spin and pirouette like ballerinas hopped up on speed, but when it comes time to bust out à special move or sink a jump shot, they slow to a crawl. | practically got whiplash from the frequent speed changes. The new view gives it an NBA 2K2 look, but too bad it didn't get its brains too. Guys stand around on.the court.and don't bother to chase a rebound or motion to get open. It's like they don't care to play the game. So why should you? Kraig

Back in the PS1 days, the problem with Final Four was the flat-footed А! players. You could turbo through the swiss cheese defense and jam almost nonstop. It was loads of fun, but not very realistic. In this edition, however, the.computer defense is almost too good. It's like Fort Knox around the hoop. And unfortunate- ly, your best weapons for driving the lane—the spe- cial moves—don't always work. (It's mighty frustrat- ing.) On a positive note, I like the selection of teams, as well as the new down-court camera angle, but that's about it. With NBA 2K2 coming to the PS2, you better hold onto your cash. College hoops will have to wait another year. Dean

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

Publisher: Sega rræ= Developer: Visual Concepts

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 1-8

Supports: Multi-tap

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

Super-fast and smooth gameplay Weak Franchise mode www.segasports.com

Most action-packed football games are high-scoring because they’re saddled with a computer opponent with the 1.0. of a jock strap. You know, wide-open receivers, stupid defenders, bad play calls...that’s just bull. NFL 2K2 is proof that you don’t need to play dumb to play fun. If you get a huge gain, it’s usually because of a great play, not a glitch. Rarely will you find a player so lost that it makes your head explode. Those moments come when you try to stop running backs. You may have the best run defense on Earth, but power runners unrealistically flatten huge defen- sive linemen in their way. Plodding Mike Alstott lit me up for 150 yards; more than half of them were gained after the first hit. Just think of what nimble backs like Marshall Faulk can do. They can be contained, but you have to sell the farm (and hope the offense doesn’t go up top) to stop them. Of course, it’s fun to do the damage on offense. Overall, the gameplay is lightning-quick and superbly animated —2K2 is daring to be innovative here. The rush ofispinning through a tackler or squeezing sideways through a narrow crease for a big gain can't be beat. Most of the pieces of this Madden-alternative are coming together nicely, but not as well as the pop-up score ticker would sug- gest. If | see "There's a.new sheriff in town, Sega Sports is И” Оп my screen again, Pll vomit. Pd like to see deeper features and more balance on defense before they start that insecure trash talk. Kraig

On the Ps2, 2K2 is a faster, more arcade-like expe- rience than it was on the DC. My first game against the computer was a total blowout: Two interceptions for touchdowns, an 85-yard run, etc. The big plays flowed like.wine, or something. On the Pro and All-Pro levelsiit gets more challenging (more like the DC ver- sion), but never as intense as Madden. Casual fans should be able to hook up and experience the thrills rightaway. Don't get me wrong, it’s not Blitz, but call- ing itthe arcade alternative to Madden isn't off base. Two-player is still the best-way to play, but the awk- ward play menus have got to go. Unless you mask them, your pal knows what you're calling. Dean

Finally somebody is picking up the slack. Where 989 Sports failed to ever seriously push EA Sports, Sega and Visual Concepts might succeed. NFL 2K2 is a great, but not perfect, alternative to Madden. There’s a distinct feel.to.2K2. It has that big-play.feel, like any- thing could happen. Wide-open offense, big-play D, and a quick, responsive feel are the calling cards of NFL 2K2. Running the ball is a delight after being mired in Madden’s, momentum. Simulation freaks won't dig the amount of broken tackles (insane) or blown coverages, but it doesn't ruin a fun overall expe- rience. Franchise mode needs a lot of work, as the interface, menus and options are limited. Dan L.

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 6 å 1

3 3 3 3

216 gmmag.com

1 1 6 9

тм тини т

. / BATTLEFIELD ACTION with over 20 intehse Stages and 40 playable Warriors! x 4 BANS

/ Brand new 2-PLAYER Versus arid Cooperative Modes!

/ Even more bone-crushing moves; aiid improved MUSOU Attacks!

www.koeigames.com

Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for more info.

Publisher: Eidos J Developer: Crystal Dynamics Featured In: EGM #147

Players: 1

Cancelled On: Dreamcast BestFeature: Enticing storyline Worst Feature: BOR-ing battles Web Site: www.eidos.com

ou can get off those pins and needles;

Soul Reaver 2 is finally finished. For bet-

ter or for worse, it's everything we ex- pected and nothing we hoped. Fans longing for a reasonable conclusion to the first game's abrupt ending will certainly get it, compliments of extensive cinema breaks. Every major human and vampire player in Nosgothian his- tory gets drawn in for a socio-political battle royale, and watching it unfold is admittedly intriguing. We were expecting that. What every- one was hoping for was a fine-tooth-comb job on the tiresome combat that weighed down the first game, and it didn't happen.

Instead, Crystal Dynamics gave their “83

Fiero of a combat system a hundred-dollar paint job and rolled it onto the PS2. It's a

Not even the unquestionable appeal of fire- chucking bald chicks could drag SR2's weak combat out of the sewer, unfortunately.

Imbuing the Soul Reaver with four different elements gives Raziel the key to unlocking new areas and solving puzzles.

shame, because the idea of powering-up

the Reaver with elemental effects is great for solving the game's creative new puzzles. But

it doesn't even get factored in during combat, where it could have been especially cool.

It's that lack of innovation that's tough to stom- ach. So sit back and enjoy the story, but

you may want to hire a neighborhood kid to do all the fighting and wandering around for you in between.

It's amazing what'll grow up around the pil- lars of Nosgoth if you leave them untended for a couple hundred years. You'll witness a monsoon of story elements in almost every cinema, so try to stay awake through 'em.

Crystal Dynamics must have read their message boards a little too closely when designing SR2. All the hardcore fans were so pissed about the story and ending of Soul Reaver, CD apparently over-compen- sated and put nothing but plot in the sequel. Tons and tons of elegant cutscenes and story elements are brought out through amazing voice talent, and each one reveals something cool about the series" history. Everything in between, however, just felt like filler made of essentially the same crappy combat as the first game. | thought we weren't going to be able to just jump over bad guys anymore. Seemed to work 80 percent of the time for me.... You've got no incentive to fight unless you're severely wounded and need to regain energy by feeding, so why both- er? Instead, you will spend countless hours just run- ning from place to place trying to spot the one ledge or cavern that will allow you access to the next area. The only thing that will motivate you to send Raziel lopingåcross Nosgoth is seeing this epic tale come to some kind of conclusion. The first game's tedious block puzzleshave been mercifully replaced by more creative mind benders, which helps to offset the uninspired combat. The final battle-is the only one that could even be considered a "boss fight," though, and Raziel is invincible throughout the whole thing, which would be cool if | was a danger- ously uncoordinated 4-year-old. Jonathan To paraphrase a comment from one of the voice actors in the outtakes section of Soul Reaver 2: For a video game, this sure has a lot of talking. After a while my eyes just glazed over every time a cinema began. Watching two characters stand there and talk for two minutes with no action over and over isn't my idea ofa good.time. So much attention was paid to the complex story that the repetitive puzzles feel like an afterthought. And its brooding visuals are both;a blessing and a curse. Theyilook great and the environments are huge;sbut: missing one tiny detail could mean a half hour of aimless wandering. Decent, but Raziel's showin' his age. Chris

| enjoyed the first Soul Reaver's gothic trappings and ambitious level design, but never really liked the vague level objectives and box pushing “puzzles.” Two years have passed and aside from larger, more breathtaking, architecture, plus a mildly.streamlined (but utterly lackluster) battle engine, | fail to see what all the fuss and constant delays were for. The graphics are'very nice, when they're not submerged in darkness, and the voice acting is incredible, which is a good thing because there аге so many damn cut- scenes. As an aesthetic showcase, SR2 triumphs, but the mediocre gameplay will only appeal to fans of the first game. Milkman

REPLAY

NUITY

Key Features

€ Create and customize your party go from 5 races and 8 character classes! ` 2 © Over a hundred items and weapons to discover!

€ Advanced 3D ES le engine allows you to fight

over a doze lies at the same time!

€ Combining the power of certain magic stones ё ~ wo oo paves the way to stronger spells. Are you good

enough to find them all? * д ) € Allied Actions are the key to victory, but will : NS ) А h |

clashing personalities in your party keep you > | b E

from realizing your maximum potential? > N 3 €)

A New Tale for a New Generation

GZS

SRE HS]

PA A PlayStation.e WWW.ATLUS.COM

JATLUS CO., LTD 2001 Sublicensed by Four Winds Inc. All rights reserved. Wizardry is a registered trademark, all rights reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are gistered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. All rights reserved. The PlayStatio computer entertainment svstem version is not based on the nonular PC series T

Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder

NE err

Publisher: Activision rr= Developer: Dear Soft

Featured In: EGM #143

Players: 1-2

Also Try: SSX Tricky

Best Feature: Tony Hawk-style level objectives Worst Feature: Obscene difficulty

Web Site: www.activisiono2.com

Take the downhill courses from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, replace the skateboards with snowboards, and you've got yourself a damn fine snowboarding game, right? Wrong. Although Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder borrows heavily from Tony, it's not nearly as good. Not by a long shot. Maybe it's the way your character occasionally lands tricks that look impossible while falling inexplicably at other times. Maybe it's the way he tries to go uphill when you don't want him to. Maybe it's the developers" strange fascination with grinds, which seldom occur in real snowboarding but have to be performed ad nauseum to advance in the game. Or maybe it's the game's obscene difficulty level—Greg and I had to tag-team the game for hours to reach the third level. Shaun Palmer's does have a few things going for it. The control scheme, level objectives and stat-build- ing process have been lifted straight from THPS, meaning fans of the series will instantly feel at home. You're also free to choose your own path down each run, instead of being restricted to a narrowly defined course, as: you are in many snowboarding games. Shaun Palmer's also has a truckload of cleverly hid- den secret items, sure to keep you busy for hours. Still, there are way too many better snowboarding games available for PS2, most notably SSX Tricky or Cool Boarders 2001, for me to want to spend too much time with this one. Gary M.

Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory

0073519, [ н

Publisher: Rockstar ==г Developer: Angel Studios

Featured In: EGM #147

Players: 12

Wildest ride: The ATV

Best Feature: Bomb Tag mode

Worst Feature: Cheesy video cutscenes

Web Site: www.smugglersrun2.com

I always associate smuggling with the poor sap who gets caught at the airport with a bag of dope lodged up his ass. | assure you, nothing like that happens in this game. Instead, Smuggler's Run offers a fun and frantic racing game that has you moving con- traband across huge and beautiful levels. Pll run down the game's most important improvements: First, it's noticeably faster. What's worse than a dri- ving/racing game that doesn't feel fast? And the higher speeds are especially impressive when you consider how detailed the new environments are. Second, the cops and gangs are tenacious in their pursuit, but not to the point of absurdity. Thank- fully, the developers toned down the mad ram- ming which was a big frustration with the original SR. Third, Bomb Tag! Single-player Bomb Tag is a blast (pardon the pun). It's nothing more than a sim- ple game of Capture the Flag with an explosive thrown in, but boy, is it fun. And finally, let's not for- get a-little something called countermeasures. (That's a fancy word for stuff you can do to the dudes chasing you.) Drop bombs, smoke and oil out the back of your ride, adding a whole new level of inten- sity and strategy to the game.- Overall, SR2 (even with the new features) is still just a simple game of chase. Simplicity, however, is often the hallmark of a great game. Fans of Smuggler's Run, as well as new- bies, will dig this title. Dean

Splashdown

EVERYONE

Publisher: Infogrames rr= Developer: Rainbow Studios

Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 1-2

Also Try: Wave Race: Blue Storm (GC)

Best Feature: Realistic wave effects

Worst Feature: No vehicle upgrades

Web Site: www.infogrames.com

Splashdown is one of those gorgeous, technically superb games that just bores you to tears. OK, that may be overstating things a bit, but the game isn't nearly as adrenaline-soaked as developer Rainbow Studios' previous PS2 offering, ATV Offroad Fury. Maybe it's the lack of double and triple jumps, hills, berms, and other structures commonly found in racing games set on dry land. Instead, you get a bunch of essentially flat tracks chock-full of twists and turns. The game definitely would have benefit- ted from some Jet Moto-style plunges down towering waterfalls, trips through subterranean caverns or other flights of fancy. What Splashdown does have is a really cool soundtrack which includes bands like Blink 182 and Smashmouth. It also has incredibly realistic water effects, complete with course-altering tides, but this isn't the novelty it once was. And you never see the big waves found in other water- based games like Wave Race. The ability to upgrade your vehicle or buy better onesswould have. been nice, but unfortunately, you can’t. (You can add rid- ers with different.attributes to your team, however, by beating them in one-on-one contests.) Sub- marining under certain objects to take shortcuts is cool, but after a few races it starts to wear thin. While Splashdowniis far from bad, it's not the sort of game that'll have you itchin' for more once you've raced all

of the tracks. Gary M M.

If you're thinking Tony Hawk on snow, you're essen- tially right. Unfortunately the combination doesn't work quite as well as I'm sure Activision had hoped for. Don't get me wrong; SPPS isn't a bad game per se. But let's.face it, it has quite a lot to live up to. Once,you take a game that's meant to be free-roam- ing and force players down a hill instead, the THPS magic starts to fade. It's surprising the amount of times I had to restart each level due to one small mis- take which prevented me from accomplishing my goal. It makes the learning curve a little steeper than Activision's previous 02 games, and will like- ly turn some players off. Greg

The original Smugglers Run was famous for its sprawling, go-anywhere environments; however, a second-generation PS2 game needs more than that to earn a thumbs-up. Fortunately, Rockstar added just enough to Smuggler's Run 2 to hold my inter- est. Nitro boosts and offensive weapons (oil slicks, smokescreens and explosive canisters) make it a lit- tle easier to shake the game's pitbull-like enemies. The environments, filled with landmines, rockslides and the like, are more interactive than before and as dangerous as your actual enemies. Lastly, the new head-to-head turf wars and checkpoint races greatly enhance the game's replay value. Gary M.

As a big fan of ATV Offroad Fury, | feeded Splashdown to be equally exciting. What I got was a very fast and competitive jet-ski racing game, but not the same grab-you-by-the-yayas experience of Offroad Fury. Unfortunately, there's only.so.much you can do on a water track. OK, so it's not as dynamic as ATV, but it's still the best jet-ski racing game I’ve played. That includes Wave Race (both versions) and all those silly Jet Moto games as well. The sen- sation of speed is great, and with the exception of the easy beginner levels; the Al riders keep the races tight and exciting. l'd still rather play ATV, but Splashdown is a blast as well. Dean

Pro Snowboarder seems grind-happy at first, but once you start linking tricks, it makes perfect sense. The more crap there is to grind (and believe me, there's a ton) the longer you can chain tricks. Without the copious linking opportunities, the game wouldn't be nearly as fun. It's all about besting your highest totals again and again (just like in Pro Skater). That's the best part of SPPS. On the other hand, hunting for floating icons and other traditional Tony Hawk-like objectives gets boring. Once you slide past some- thing you need, you can't back up— that sucks. The good, however (mainly the mad trickin' and two-play- er fun), outweighs the bad. Dean

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 1 4 1

| was pretty happy with the first Smuggler's Run, but still excited to see what fixes would be made for the sequel. Thankfully, they sped this mofo up to where you actually feel like you're breaking the speed limit once or twice. In addition to. the speed fix, countermeasures give you a new way you keep the fuzz off your tail. You'll need ‘em, because cop cars Still come after you like they're tied to your bumper with a 10-foot rope. One thing I don't dig is the dron- ing techno soundtrack. It just reminds you how many times you've restarted after getting nailed by the per- sistent police. Music aside, SR2 made all the right tweaks to the original formula. Jonathan

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

8 6 9 1

м.ертпттак.сот

Something about racing on water gets my juices flow- ing, and Splashdown does the trick. It strikes a per- fect balance between racing and aerial trickery so one doesn't overshadow the other—they're equally important..l.really dig the track designs..They’re not just ovals, and they have plenty of variety and short-

cuts waiting to be exploited. Although the water effects are realistic, it feels like you're racing over still water a bit too much. Where are the big waves? Once you count the kickin" soundtrack, the number of courses, the different racesmodes "and the intuitive control, you have a racing game that outclasses even Nintendo's GameCube Wave Race. Chris

REPLAY

VISUALS SOU INGENUITY

X KR ANGLE (сом —

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Yuke's Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1-4 Supports: Multi-tap

Best Feature: Good collection of superstars Worst Feature: Story mode is too short Web Site: www.thq.com

an you smell what The Rock is cookin'? Is it true? Damn true? Are you an American Bad Ass or a Canadian Crippler? Do you like pie? If you understood and/or answered yes to any of that, you should probably buy this game right now. This series was great on the PlayStation, and while the first PS2 version doesn't take any great strides forward, it's still a lot of fun to play. With all the different match types to choose from, the create- a-wrestler option and the Story mode, you're bound to find something you like in this game. Unfortunately, none of the WCW/ECW Invasion superstars are included in SmackDown! (outside of guys like Tazz

Triple H feels the business end of the most electrifying move in sports entertainment, The People's Elbow.

and Rhyno, who were already in the WWF before the proverbial poop hit the fan). Still, the stable of brawlers is vast, with a decent amount of characters to unlock.

It could be a little more ambitious, yes, but that doesn't keep Just Bring It from being an excellent party game for wrestling fans every- where. You're welcome.

For those of you not in the know, The Undertaker's entrance music features the song “Rollin’” by the band Limp Bizkit. In a move we can only call bizarre, THQ decided that one of the unlockable char- acters in SmackDown! should be none other than Limp Bizkit frontman, Fred | Durst. The mind wobbles. We can't wait until the next | SmackDown! sequel, where we hope to see Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears | as playable characters!

.egmmag.com

Left: Stone Cold demonstrates to Kurt Angle why gold medals mean nothing. Meanwhile, The Rock and The Undertaker stare lovingly at each other. Below: Some of the women-especially Trish Stratus-look kinda ridiculous.

Let's not dwell on the fact that Just Bring It plays exactly the same as the past two SmackDown! installments. Those games rocked anyway, and still stand as the best wrestling games to hit home con- soles in the history of the industry. What I will bitch about, however, is the way Yuke's totally broke the Story mode in this year's version. SmackDown! 2's Story mode was nigh-endless, which was a problem. But l've yet to have Story mode last longer than four matches in Just Bring It —that's just ridiculous. If you lose a match, win a title, or defend a title, it's game over. That's not nearly enough time to play out any of the convoluted storylines the WWF is famous for. It's extremely annoying if you're playing this as a one- player game, especially since Story mode unlocks all the cool create-a-wrestler bonuses. Once you get past that, though, SmackDown! is awesome. Get a Multi-tap and a few friends together, and the beauty of Just Bring It comes to light pretty quickly. It plays great,lOoks just as good, and features most.of the wrestlers you've come to love or hate from watching Raw and SmackDown! every week. (Come on, we knowyou do.) Plus it's so fulfilling, almost therapeu- tic, to layeth the smacketh down on a few of your buddies. With almost any. match you can think of included in the game everything from Last Man Standing to Hell in a Cell—you won't get bored of this one for a long time to come. Greg

you'll love this hoedown. Smackdown has all the cheesy drama outside the ring you need to get into character. The elaborate intros and quirky Story mode made.me care about what The Rock was cooking. If only the stars were as impressive in the ring. In SmackDown, all wrestlers are created equal- ly. The WWF is all about big guys beating the crap out of thé lame ones, but here the only advantage they have are fancier moves. If the action weren't so fun and easy to learn, this would have annoyed me. But I'll happily take out any frustration I have with anoth- er People's Elbow. Kraig SmackDown! 3 certainly looks like a next-gen wrestling game, but it doesn't play like one. They've managed to cram up to nine wrestlers on screen at the same time, but the collision detection hasn't got- ten any better; you still can't interrupt a move in progress to save a partner. It's also too difficult to target a desired foe; the game really needs a “face the closest opponent” button. The long- overdue commentary sounds canned and lags behind the action. And how does Tazz manage to wrestle and call the-action at the ‘same time?! Hardcore WWF fans will love the game, but 1 was hoping for more. Gary M.

INGENUITY

S SOUND

SSK Tricky

EN

Publisher: rares

Electronic Arts Developer: EA Canada Featured In: EGM #148 Players: 12 #1 cliché: Eddie (the afro man) Best Feature: The tricks Worst Feature: Needs a few more new tracks Web Site: www.easportsbig.com

Just a short month ago I was trying to decide if Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X was a sequel, or just a fancy director's cut. This time it's the same story with SSX Tricky. The game throws up a few new courses, new characters and additional modifications, but fails to deliver a stable of new tracks. It raises the obvious question: Is Tricky worth the cash if you already own SSX? Whelp, consider this, even though Tricky isn't completely fresh, it's substantial enough to squash any challengers out there. For starters, the returning venues sport enough new shortcuts and cool doohick- eys, you'll hardly recognize them. The Tokyo Megaplex, for example, is laden with so many suspended half- pipes, it looks like a freakin' hamster aquarium (you know, the kind with all the tubes). Other tracks are done up with long sections of cable and other items ready made for monster grinds. It's all creative stuff. and really fun to ride on. If that's not enough to con- vince you, the new tricks should win you over. Mastering the huge library of moves is guaranteed to hook you hard. Speaking of that, the crazy über tricks may be completely unrealistic, but when you finally pull one off, it's like riding a bike forthe first time with- out training wheels— very satisfying: When all is said and done, it'd be nice if. Tricky ere completely new, but fora director's cut, complet. vith informative DVD extras on the making of the game, it's darn good. At the very least, rent it for a few nights. It's been too long since I tore up the slopes crazy Canuck-style with my girl Elise. But it was worth the wait. While Tricky isn't a sequel in the true sense of the word, EA has changed enough to make this game more than just a director's cut. The old tracks feel different thanks to a few tweaks here and there, and the new tracks and characters are downright cool. If the gameplay were exactly the same as last year's ver- sion, Tricky would still rock. Nonetheless, EA saw fit to adjust that a little, too. The new über tricks give you a real sense of accomplishment should you pull off a few during a run, and they add a whole new dimen- Sion to the game. n is a sweet package. Greg Call me crazy, but a handful of new characters and two new tracks do not a sequel make. As for the much-bal- lyhooed iiber tricks, they’re not all that spectacular and mainly result in wipeouts. One new feature | do like is the.ability to earn friends and.foes as you play <PO'd riders come after you with a vengeance. The “making-of” footage is a nice bonus | but becomes stale after you've seen it once or twice. Don't get me wrong—SSX remains one of the greatest snowboarding games ever, but there's really no reason to buy Tricky if you already own the original game. GameCube and Xbox owners, however, should jump on it when it hits those systems. Gary M.

VISUALS 5 INGENUITY -REPLAY

4

Electronic

Harvest Moon:

Publisher: = r= Natsume Developer:

Victor

Featured In:

EGM #145 Players: 1

Replay Value? Yep. It's got nine different endings! Web Site: www.natsume.com

EVERYONE

Best Feature: Open-ended, nonlinear, unique gameplay Worst Feature: Having to water your crops every day

Both longtime fans and those less enthusiastic about the Harvest Moon series have always pointed to one key point when justifying their feelings: They're, well, farming sims. Sure, the games are about so much | more, but at its heart the series has always revolved | around the often wearisome tasks of raising livestock | and rotating crops. With this PS2 installment, though, | that focus has changed for the better. Yes, you still | build your daily routine around agricultural toils, but | this time the farming portions have been streamlined, | giving you more free time to pursue the other more satisfying aspects of the game, like building relation- ships, playing. minigames, and fulfilling.a range of tasks, all in an attempt to save your village from being turned into a resort. Indeed, you can think of the farm- ing almost like the random battles in an RPG: It gives you the experience and cash necessary to move ahead in this unique, nonlinear game. As such, Homeland finally succeeds at being more than a farming game — it's truly become a delightful whole-life simulator. This is easily the best Harvest Moon yet. Gary S.

REPLAY

VISUALS

SOUND

INGENUITY

Soldier of Fortune

Publisher: = r= Majesco

Developer:

Pipe Dream Interactive

Featured In:

EGM #146 Supports:

Multi-tap

Web Site: www.majescogames. com

Best Feature: Levels incor- porate stealthy action with bloody bum-rushing

Worst Feature: Lag hell

With levels balancing stealthy sniping with chest- thumping bum-rushing, missions based in an array of modern-day hot zones, and bloody human body-part fireworks, SOF successfully injects that morbid juice first-person shooter gamers crave, but unfor- | tunately packages that rush with some nasty side effects. Although SOF looks brighter, more colorful | and more detailed on PS2, its major gameplay barbi- | turates may prematurely burn gamers out. Framerate lag (stuttering graphics) cuts into some of the more | action-packed bullet storms, potentially ruining key game moments. Also, long load times (as in the DC version), effectively water down-any.adrenal- buzz you may have started the game with. And SOF's new Deathmatch. feature, which initially scintillates the senses, also disappoints. Again due to lag, levels look and play like they're being chopped up by an invisible cleaver tossing chunks of gameplay at you in its real-time wake. In the:end, SOF's gory straight- up shooting's fun, but riddled with problems too big

to blow away. Jeanne VISUALS INGENUITY REPLAY

1 3

SOU

1ag.com

| | | | |

Thunder Strike

Operation Phoenix

Publisher: = r= Eidos Developer: Core

Featured In: EGM #148 Players:

1

Also try:

Ace Combat 04 Web Site: www.eidos.com

Best Feature: The nifty TV- guided missile

Worst Feature: Some mis- Sions are way too frustrating

My gripe with this PS2 update of a series that start- ed on Sega CD isn't with its gameplay. Your chopper handles nimbly with the Dual Shock 2, and I like how you're forced to hunker down low to the ground and fly all *nap-of-the-earth," as the real-life Army ‘copter jocks call it. (High-flying here is plain suicide.) It's the missions that had me screaming, "C'mon, gimme a break!" at my TV screen at least five times an hour. Later sorties throw so much annoying crap at you—too many enemies who pop out of nowhere, too many mission objectives —that | ended up repeating “ет over and over until I essentially had to memorize.the. position of every baddie. Not my idea ofa great time. Fortunately, the game offers four campaigns set in real-world hotspots: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and, er, Alaska. So if one particular mission proves unpassable, you can always start one of the different campaigns and see how far you can go. Yousget a diverse arsenal, too. My favorite weapon: the TV-guided maverick you fly via remote-control right into enemies. Crispin

REPLAY

VISU; SI

INGENUITY

3

Top Gun: Combat Zones

Publisher: = г Titus

Developer:

Digital Integration Featured In:

EGM #146

| Players: 1

| Also Try:

Ace Combat 04

Web Site: www.titusgames.com

EVERYONE

Best Feature: Graphics, especially the ground detail Worst Feature: Sluggish, unresponsive control

There's one thing about Top Gun that really jumps out at you: the ground. No, that's not some weak pun; the ground detail is really quite spectacular. Complex, detailed structures are rendered realisti- cally amidst scenery with a lot of variety and detail. In fact, you can tell they spent a great deal of time on rendering all that eye candy, because the rest of the game seems to suffer from the lack of atten- tion. The controls feel sluggish and unresponsive, the difficulty balance is ridiculous (I must have spent three hours on one of the first training missions. A TRAINING MISSION!) and actual air-to-air combat (which you'd imagine would be pretty key.in.a game with the Тор Gun license) is tedious and frustrating. This is in part because the game gives the.player no indication of the enemy's location except little arrows showing whether he's to the right or left. That leaves a whole lotsof sky in which to miss someone. Sure, it's the closest thing to a:true flight-sim on the PS2, with realistic locations and vehicles, but it's likely only the biggest flight fans will appreciate that. Joe

VI SOUND

1

INGENUITY

REPLAY

: i E $ i Е H

EDITORS CHOICE AWARD ө H

Ст

| | | | Ji

Publisher: Tecmo T Developer: Team Ninja any Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 14

You spin me: Round like a record, baby

Best Feature: Awesome new environments Worst Feature: Cheapest boss in the universe Web Site: www.tecmoinc.com

he DOA series is not as deep as the

Virtua Fighters that inspired it. It's not as

popular as Tekken or as freaking awe- Some as Soul Calibur. And yet, Dead or Alive still manages to capture the attention of the fighting-game cognoscenti. Why? Is it because Kasumi looks like a Real Doll? Or is it because each successive installment makes graphical advancements that outpace the other guys' best efforts? Whatever the case may be, DOA is here to stay, and now, for its third proper incar- nation, the familiar cast of ninjas, wrestlers and assassins are back.

Gorgeous graphics, hi-octane gameplay and

even those geriatric rockers, Aerosmith, com- bine forces to forge a fantastic A/V showcase

Environments are now officially Off The Hook. Here Lei-Fang changes a sign's lightbulbs with her face, with festive results. Yowch!

that both casual and hardcore fighting-game fans will want to investigate.

Still, DOA3 is really just DOA2: Hardcore 2 and not the revolution in fighting games we were hoping for. Too bad, because VF4 and Soul Calibur 2 are on the horizon...

Гуе been defending the DOA series for years. Detractors scoff, calling it a Virtua Fighter ripoff, or moaning that it ain't no Soul Calibur. That's missing the point. Love it or hate it, DOA3 is the fastest, most bru- tal 3D fighter around. To accuse it of being a reversal- fest is to turn a blind eye to the high, medium and low reversal strategy introduced in DOA2. Sure it's a bit rock, paper, scissors, but in DOA3's case, it works. And it works because the novice-friendly controls guaran- tee that even newbies can pick up the game and expe- rience a modicum of success, while dyed-in-the-wool veterans will feast on subtle improvements to the fighting engine. These additions revolve around a more diverse palette of hold and throw moves, includ- ing tag-team attacks by any combination of characters. However, despite proclamations from up high that DOA3 would be the greatest thing since sliced bread, it is not. The Story mode suffers from a ludicrously uneven difficulty level that only masochists will enjoy. If you doubt my words, wait until you meet Omega, the final boss. He made me scream. Well, him and the damn Xbox controller. This is a shame, since a good portion of the game's secrets are unlocked through repeated plays of this mode. Thankfully the multiplay- er action, whether it be single character or tag battle, is extremely fun. Factor in the newly expanded, inter- active environments, and what you end up with is a great-looking game that's a lot of fun to play, but not

particularly groundbreaking. Milkman

What started off as one of the most-anticipated Xbox launch titles has finished as just a prettier version of the last game, DOA2: Hardcore. I’m sure you've heard this countless times by now, but for good rea- son. It's going to take a pretty hardcore (no pun intended) DOA player to find the subtle differences between this game and the previous PlayStation 2 edition. A more suitable title for this would've been DOAz: Slightly More Hardcore This Time. But DOA3 is still a solid game, with the juiciest eye candy of any of the Xbox titles so far. It's clear whom this game is made for: diehard series fans or those who haven't played the PS2 version. Shoe

DOA3 is one of the best-looking games I've ever Seen. Not that you'll have time to admire all the beautiful scenery; grab a fighting buddy and the two of you can spend hours trading blows while learning the subtleties of £ . A's deep fighting system. Still, it's disappointing 1 at ООА latest installment here feels, at best, like what DOA2: Hardcore should've been, and at worst, a ripoff of Virtua Fighter 2. It's still got the same quirks from its previous incarna- tions, like easy reversals that do way too much dam- age, or the pesky, inescapable command throws. For fans of the series, however, this is a definite must- buy on the Xbox. Che

REPLAY

VISUALS

OU INGENUITY

To the untrained eye, DOA3 might seem like DOA2 with bigger...um...environments, but it's really a bit more than that. We put Dead or Alive 3 under the damn microscope to provide five examples of what separates this game from its predecessor.

1) There's a wider variety of throw moves in both single- player and tag-team flavors. Hint: Bayman is the throw masta!

Electronic

2) DOA3’s diverse level designs offer untold strategic possibilities and enable a wealth of special moves. Now even more ways to bust heads!

key pe

3) Lighting effects, whether on

sandy beaches, in a Buddhist

temple, or in the Octagon,

showcase the Xbox's graphic

hutzpah.

Gam

mag.com

4) Super-high environments, over three levels deep, will keep acrophobics at bay. The difference now is that a big fall can result in a K.O.

5) CG endings for each char- acter. Now the flaky storyline is “fleshed out” with fancy cinemas that still make little to no sense!

Й METTET) LLL

VITE 1111111

Wa,

Publisher: Microsoft . Developer: Bungie » Featured In: EGM #149 ` Players: 1-4 (1-16 Network)

Supports: Network play

Best Feature: Excellent enemy Al

Worst Feature: Web Site:

No network support for co-op mode www.xbox.com

is to love Halo. Just ask anyone on EGM

who casually kicked off a session, if only to get a feel for the game, but found them- selves glued to the tube hours later, sweaty palms wrapped around the burly black Xbox controller. If you write this game off simply because you think it’s just a prettied-up GoldenEye on the Xbox, you will miss out on one of the best games in recent times, on any console, bar none. So just how good is Halo, and why should you give a damn about a first- person shooter? Sit back, read on, and let us count the ways.

Halo is as cinematic as it is interactive. If you're familiar with sci-fi movies like Aliens or Starship Troopers, you'll probably notice a lot ofthe same borrowed clichés. Divided into 10 different episodes, with each episode further split into sub-chapters, Halo's narrative struc-

5 elieve us when we say that to play Halo

ER

In this series of screens, we throw and stick a plasma grenade onto a rushing Covenant shock trooper. The explosion rocks him back but also catches one of our poor marines off guard.

ture is reminiscent of other story-heavy action shooters like Half-Life or Red Faction (both on PS2). Where Halo differs, and ultimately kicks the competition to the curb, is its focus on action over puzzles. This is a combat simula- tor. If you want to push some crates or got a hankerin' to hunt for some keys, Halo will dis- appoint. But for the rest of us tired of the same-old-same-old, Halo is like a much-need- ed blast of fresh air for the genre.

How does Halo keep the action lively and unpredictable? Two letters: Al —and we're not talking about that Spielberg movie disaster either. This is true artificial intelligence like you've never seen in a video game. Over and over again, Halo throws you into scenarios

ning Monthly - 224 egmmag.com

where you're laying siege to the enemy along- side fellow marines, each of whom move and fight as if their lives depended on it. They throw grenades, provide covering fire, man the turret in your jeep, and basically work together like a unit to lay down the smack on their enemies, the Covenant. In a single-player game, you'll actually grow attached to your squad of trash-talking leathernecks, and to lose even one of them to a stray grenade is an unacceptable casualty.

But what's even more amazing than the convincing behavior of your friendlies is the devious complexity of the enemies' Al. These guys aren't afraid to play rough. Even on nor- mal difficulty, the Covenant use effective com-

MUL nnt Ж

^

bat techniques like firing from behind cover, splitting up into smaller groups to flank your careless ass, or just plain bum-rushing you as you're reloading your weapon. If you're up for a challenge, take on Halo's Legendary difficul- ty and experience five- to 10-minute cat-and- mouse firefights with a single group of ene- mies. No joke— it's that intense.

The best part of Halo isn't even how amaz- ing the game looks. What makes it truly magi- cal is the combination of a prescripted story with real-time simulation gameplay. It gives you a dynamic world with persistent physics. So even while the story takes you down a lin-

ear path, no two combat encounters ever play out the same. The AI is constantly reacting to your every move, keeping you on your toes, while every creature, object and vehicle plays by a consistent set of rules. Toss a grenade into a crowd of aliens and watch them and just about anything lying nearby hurl into the air, plaster a nearby wall with blood, and skid to a dead stop on the pavement.

Halo gives you the keys to its reality, drops you headlong into the battlefield, and leaves the rest up to you. First-person shooters have finally hit the next major milestone, and it just happens to be the killer app for the Xbox.

ИД

Halo's huge outdoor environments make vehicles a practical necessity to motor around town. Here's a quick rundown.

The Warthog The mainstay assault jeep of the Marines seats three comfort- ably, including a gun- ner in the back.

The Scorpion This armored tank may be slow, but its main canon and machine gun make up for it. Up to four friends can hitch a ride on its sides too.

The Ghost

This single-seater hovercraft is fast and agile. Be careful though, it can't take very much damage.

The Banshee You only fly this ship for short while, but it's quite a ride. Too bad it has the top. speed of a kite.

If you have a marine sitting in the turret of your jeep, try jumping out to lure the enemy from Cover so your gunner can mow them down.

See the marines storming the beach in front of you? That's your squad. They'll give you lots of covering fire and flanking opportunities.

lectronic Gaming Monthly - 225

In Halo's Rally Racing mode, up to 16 players can team up as driver and gunner to cross the finish line first, or blow the competition away.

ES

Cooperation is Mandatory

You haven't truly experienced Halo until you invite one special friend over to take on the

Cooperative mode. That's where the screen

is split in half so you can take on all the sin- gle-player levels with a second player.

The genius behind it is that, unlike the plasma-fodder space marines, you can real- ly strategize with your buddy: One of you could go out into the open and get the ene- mies' attention, drawing them back around the bend; suddenly they're staring down the business end of your partner's giant tank turret. Or each of you sets up on opposite sides of the valley above the enemy camp, throwing it into chaos as they take cover from one sniper only to be shot in the back by another. If it's a plan that would work in the real world, chances are, it'll probably work in Halo too—that's the beauty of it all. It's got all the high-fiving, friends-for-life bonding action of 10 paintball weekends all rolled into one, and it won't stain your clothes. Well, your shirt, anyway. A pal watching your back also makes the incredi- ble (but incredibly tough) Legendary diffi- culty almost possible.

Ny

Multiplayer Smorgasbord If you've got friends, Halo's got a ton of splitscreen and network options for a frag- ging good time. The 26 default modes you start with range from your typical every- body-for-themselves deathmatch and cap- ture-the-flag games, to more exotic goals like jeep racing and a “kill the man with the ball" type contest (it's actually a skull that you carry). Before you drop a load on how many multiplayer modes there are in Halo, know that most of these are variations on the main eight themes.

But if you can't get into what's already there, Halo lets you create and save your own game types. Want to play CTF with vehicles? Go for it. There's a ton of possibili- ties. In four-player splitscreen (the mode the majority of you will be playing the most), the game manages to keep the action reasonably fluid. Of course the ideal way to play is by linking up to four Xboxes together with ethernet cables (and a hub). If you have access to a local area network (say, in your dorm or office), just plug in your Xbox, and it'll automatically find other machines to link up with.

226

“Holy &*#$%!" Executive Editor Mark MacDonald hasn't been able to close his mouth since he tried a 16-player capture- the-flag game between four linked Xboxes.

Halo has staged something of a coup for the first-per- son shooter genre. Wait, scratch that—it's single- handedly raised the bar of graphical and gameplay excellence for all games in the forthcoming system wars. This game has me totally mesmerized. When I'm not awestruck, standing high atop the rolling hills of Halo, overlooking its shimmering vistas, I'm deep in the thick of combat, strategizing against unpre- dictable foes. | had a hard time picking through all the screenshots I took for this review because Halo is like one never-ending Kodak moment after another. This game really sweats the details. Get right up to an object and it'll look just as good 10 inches away as it did at 10 feet. Plus, every bullet, plasma shot, rocket and grenade has some sort of effect on the environ- ment. More importantly, we finally have a game that engages your intellect on a whole different level. Instead of pushing crates or performing those nasty jumping puzzles over and over again, Halo has you thinking on the spot, outsmarting and outgunning your way through every area. Does all this combat get old? No freaking way. The dynamics of the game are constantly changing; literally, no two battles are alike. This mutability is the very heart of Halo: It's a combat simulator, pure and simple. Frankly, | wouldn't have it any other way. And once you finish the game on normal, you must play it on Legendary. It's absolutely brilliant. | love this game. Che Two words: "kick-ass!" Many find themselves enthu- siastically repeating this like a religious mantra when engaged in the experience that is Halo. And Halo is an experience. With the ability to commandeer almost anything (enemy or friendly) that flies, drives or shoots, Marines under your command who act and fight like Marines, and breath-quickening sci-fi thrills, Halo explains what “next-generation” actually means. Two seconds into it, you'll know. And that's just single-player. Multiplayer takes on a whole new meaning when you've hooked up four TVs, four Xboxes, and 16 controllers for a Halo frag-fest. Make it yours, and you'll repeat the mantra too.Jeanne This game's plot rivals the best sci-fi movies, and its dark twist made me crap my pants almost as much as the secret in The Crying Game did. Halo's atmosphere keeps you on edge with a perfect com- bination of wonder and suspense reminiscent of Aliens. And you'll even recognize one-liners by sol- diers whose wit is sharper than their aim. But despite their poor marksmanship, the gun play is topnotch. The massive showers of lasers and explosions make you feel like you're in the s***, But you're not alone. Whether it's 15 of your friends or a CPU comrade, you'll have someone in the foxhole by you. And that alone sets this apart from everything else. Kraig

INGENUITY REPLAY

VISUALS D

Publisher: Microsoft/Infogrames » 4 Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants Ans Featured In: EGM #149 А Players: a

Also Try: Abe's Oddysee & Exoddus (PS1)

Best Feature: Absolutely hilarious voice acting Worst Feature: A couple tedious levels Web Site: www.oddworld.com

ay hello to Munch, the latest addition to

the Oddworld universe. As the last of

the Gabbits, a race of aquatic creatures that have been fished to the point of extinc- tion, Munch has a destiny to fulfill. He's to team up with Abe —Mudokan savior and star of the first two Oddworld games—in an incredibly convoluted plot to steal money from the tyrannical Glukkons and buy back the last can of *Gabbiar" Gabbit eggs, thus restoring his race...got all that?

Together, Abe and Munch can overcome any obstacle, and they do so with spot-on control, excellent level design and one of the funniest scripts ever recorded for a video game. Even the enemies in Oddworld are hilarious, from the cowardly Sligs to the money-grubbing Glukkons.

What's really cool is that the other creatures

“I'm gonna need me an ass the size of a truck to fit this wallet!" Your main goal is relieving Glukkons of their wealth.

Abe and Munch collect can be commanded to do a wider variety of tasks than the enslaved Mudokans Abe could control in earlier games. This expansion of the old Oddworld gameplay is a welcome change; it's nice not to be com- pletely helpless all the time.

Munch's Oddysee fills the action/platform niche on the Xbox with style. This is definitely a keeper.

Swapping between Abe and Munch on each level of Oddworld is a necessity. Munch is slow on land (until he finds a wheelchair), but can swim really fast, com- mand armies of the cute little Fuzzle crea- tures, and zap bad guys with his head- mounted sonar thingy. Abe, on the other hand, can't swim, but can run faster and jump higher than Munch. Plus he can com- mand groups of Mudokans and force Sligs and Glukkons to do his bidding.

Left: The Mudokans have finally learned to stand up for themselves-command armies of them to battle the Sligs. Below: Munch can control various vehicles using his sonar, like this hulking mechanical death machine.

OK, so maybe Munch isn't the high-profile system seller Microsoft wanted it to be. Nor is this little amphibious fellow the mascot the Xbox needs. What. this game is, though, is loads of fun. Abe and Munch, while ugly and awkward, are two of the most charming characters in video gamedom. Giving both of them very specific strengths and weaknesses— Munch is made for water, Abe is fast and nimble on land—and forcing the player to use both of them in every level works extremely well. And now that the Mudokans can actually fight back against their oppressors (unlike the first two titles), the game is that much more fun to play. The gameplay might be a little overwhelming at first for those of us weaned on Abe's first two PlayStation adventures, but after the introductory levels of Munch's, 1 found myself totally comfortable with both protagonists' abilities. The real draw to Oddworld, however, is the genuinely interesting and hilarious story about corporate greed raping the land of its natural resources and causing the extinction of its native inhabitants. I found play- ing as these two unlikely heroes compelling; | always wanted to see where the story would go next. If | have any complaints it's that some of the mid-game levels got a bit tedious. I found myself running back and forth through certain areas over and over again. Nonetheless, it didn't really detract much from the overall enjoyment of the game. Greg I wish this game had more hype surrounding it, because it's easily one of this winter's best. From the intro movie, through each stage and to the end, Munch's is so wholesomely original, so finely pol- ished, so expertly crafted, that you can't help but fall in love with it. Yes, it's that good. The develop- ers did practically everything right, even down to the small details like the camera (no frustrating, messy 3D angles here), although Abe's controls aren't ideal for platform-jumping activities. Munch's gets extra kudos because the game design allows you to try dif- ferent methods and techniques for your romps through the puzzle-filled stages. Brilliant. Shoe

Sure, Halo is killer and everyone craps their pants over it, but did you know another reason exists to justify excremental activity? Here are some hints: 3D environments and creatures moisturized with details you can almost touch, taste and smell; gameplay that lets you control two unique characters who play off each other's personalities and intelligence to solve innovative puzzles; a story wrought with con- temporary social criticism executed with fart-in-your- face humor; and an overall experience dripping with fresh originality juice. Still cloudy? OK, last clue. This is the *other" reason to buy an XBox, pronto. Bah! You're hopeless. Go find out for yourself. Jeanne

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

ess шене Walde 180

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Microsoft x Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 12

Supports: Custom soundtrack

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

Wide-open terrain Lack of play modes www.xbox.com

Snowboarding games seem to come in two distinct flavors: gonzo and over-the-top like SSX, and hyper- realistic like ESPN Winter X-Games. Amped definite- ly falls into the latter category. The game’s primary claim to fame is that, instead of following a narrow, predetermined course down each mountain, you're free to blaze your own trail, looking for trick oppor- tunities as you go. Another novel twist: sports pho- tographers are positioned at various points along each run. Pulling off killer tricks while you’re in their crosshairs earns you notoriety—and the choice sponsorships that inevitably follow. The game is eas- ily one of the nicest-looking snowboarding titles to date; its detailed, wide-open vistas look real enough to give you windburn. Its riders also animate fluidly as they perform dozens of realistic tricks. On the down side, the game’s controls are very unforgiving. Release the jump button a fraction of a second too early or too late, and you'll wind up eating snow. The runs are also too short, taking a mere minute or two to complete. The game's biggest sin, however, is its overall lack of play modes. If you're into boarder- cross, big air, halfpipe or anything else other than freestyle competition, you're out of luck. Hardcore snowboarders will undoubtedly appreciate Amped's realism and wide-open terrain, but, if you're like me, you'll find yourself yearning for a little more adrena-

line and variety. Gary M.

You should know a few things before you write this game off as just another SSX wannabe. At its core, Amped feels like a spiritual successor to more realis- tic snowboarding games like 1080? on the N64 (sans the racing), with a dash of Tony Hawk/Shaun Palmer thrown in for good measure. It's like the dream team of snowboarding gameplay, but too bad Amped doesn't really deliver on its promises. The game has some rough edges, such as a terrible user interface, occasionally janky collision glitches, a sluggish sense of speed and mediocre controls. Despite these missteps, the goal structure and overall feel are unique enough to keep me coming back.

genre, but its purdy levels and addictive incentive system are enough to make it more than "just anoth- er snowboarding game." Trying to peg its personality is tough, though. The lifelike riders, semi-real physics and Coors commercial mountains say simulation, but the crazy tricks and grinds suggest a looser format. Whatever the case, it works. The incentive system, on the other hand, is no mystery. As you trick down the mountain, the press snap shots of your best stuff. If you're good, the sponsors will come. It's simple, but showing off really spurs you on. If you can't wait for Tricky, Amped'll tide you over. Dean

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 1 9

А М. ile yuo 190

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Radical X Featured In: EGM #149

Players: d:2

Also Try: Amped, SSX Tricky

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

It's a new twist on the genre It's a short-lived experience www.darksummit.net

It's not easy liking this game. The premise sounds like the mother of all that's ill-conceived: Use your dope Gen-Y snowboarding skills/attitude to uncover secret government projects run by the anti-cool authorities. If | puked in a fountain pen and mailed it to the monkey house, I'd get a better storyline. But after some snow time with Dark Summit, | decided the game's actually fun to play. It's not that the snow- boarding gameplay is brilliant —you can find better thrills with Amped or SSX Tricky. Dark Summit is enthralling because it actually does something dif- ferent than the same ol', same old. Yes, the story- line holds the power of cheese, but it did keep me wondering what would happen next. The mission objectives, although not terribly innovative, spiced up the gameplay. Also, the level designs are creative and outlandish enough, that they give SSX Tricky a run for its money. Overall, I enjoyed Dark Summit's new approach to a stale genre. | could easily have scored this game higher, but the one-player game lacks depth; once you score enough points to upgrade your equipment, fancy 1,000,000? front-flip mute-grab super killer combos are pointless (except for completing objectives). What a waste, when you have such a well-designed hill on which to trick your way down. The slapped-in afterthought of a two- player game is majorly disappointing as well, with its bare-bones modes and stages. Shoe

Mission-based snowboarding isn't exactly the kind of thing you play everyday, which is what I really appreciated about Dark Summit. OK, forget that the story entails the thwarting of an evil ski hill operator through assorted mischief and a nasty attitude. If you can deal with the outlandish plot and sub-par boarding physics, the assorted tasks you have to perform to clear each run make going downhill a lot more fun than just doing 3605 and tail grabs. It's a great alternative to SSX Tricky for snowboarding fans who are looking for some- thing more than reworked stunts and riders with *70s-throwback afros. Jonathan

Dark Summit mixes snowboarding, cliché characters and a, uh, unique storyline into one surreal stew. On one hand, it's a technically sound, action sports game. The Tony Hawk control scheme makes it easy to jump in and trick out like an old pro. (It's decent fun.) The story, however, is something straight out of а bad sci-fi movie. The hot, battle-hardened girl has to save the once-happy ski resort from evil turncoats, etc., etc. It's pretty wacky, man. To sum it up, if you're looking for a snowboarding game for your Xbox, Dark Summit's tongue-in-cheek dark humor might put a cramp in your backside ollie. But keep an open mind and you might just dig it. Dean

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

6 6 1

) ’ 228

Fuzion Frenzy

EVERYONE

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Blitz Games x Players: 1-4

Supports: Custom soundtrack

Best Feature: Easy to play Worst Feature: If you've played one game, you've played ‘em all

Web Site: www.xbox.com

FF's one big party-pooper. Actually, let's rephrase that. FF’s one big pile of party-poop. First of all, for- get about getting any single or even two-play value, because the parade of minigames, 90 percent of the time, actually ends up annoying rather than energiz- ing you. In fact, even playing with three other peo- ple doesn't increase the fun factor much more than playing by your lonesome. Why? Because almost every minigame's just a different version of the same game. It's like a bunch of suits with their gaggle of marketing pimps got together and said, "Those kids won't know the difference. We'll just make each level look different, and they'll think it's a different game!" But yo, Mr. Suit, it doesn't take a genius to figure out when the use-an-object-of-your- color-and-take-it-to-a-goal formula applies to way too many of the contests, no matter how different the packaging; not to mention the fact that Frenzy is designed so at the end of each tournament section when you bet points, you have to play the same “Fuzion Frenzy" orb-collecting game over and over again. And although arguably taste is taste, factory machinery-designed environments and snotty-hip- ster brats don't really scream, "Let's party!" Gets old, people. Gets old real fast. Why not think about the good use that 50 bucks could go to. Can you say, bot- tle of Corvoisier and shiatsu massage from Natasha?

Uh-huh. Thought so. Jeanne Fuzion Frenzy is one of the least exciting party games I've ever played. It walks that fine line of not bad, but not good, never staying on either side long enough to assign it a clear label. Some of the minigames are fun, but most are too similar to the colored-ball collecting game, called Fuzion Frenzy, that finishes every round. Whenever it comes up, I want to poke my eyes out. In other minigames, the combination of large playfields and a zoomed-out camera angle makes them difficult to play. At the absolute most, this is a weekend rental you and your friends play between rounds of Halo, but don't feel

Chris

game, like Mario Party. Too bad it doesn't have any cohesiveness to it—no master board game or any- thing. It's still fun, though. Not bad for a rip-off of the Nintendo 64 stuff. My score at this point: 7.0." Game 2: “You know, this 3D perspective is beginning to annoy me. I can't see crap at the far ends of the stage. My score: 6.0.” Game 3: “Umm...does anyone else notice that many of these minigames have very similar themes? They're all beginning to look and play alike. This *you-can-hit-other-players-to-steal- their-goods' thing is getting old. 5.0.” Game 4: “Ugh, do we have to play this again?" Shoe

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

3 3 9

Publisher: Eidos کی‎ Developer: Crystal Dynamics AT Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 1-4

Try Instead: Cel Damage

Best Feature: Super-long levels

Worst Feature: Web Site:

Multiplayer action is too confusing. www.eidos.com

I can only imagine the design meeting where they cooked this game up. It must have resembled cook- ing soup. "Add a little kart-like racing here, some platform jumping there. Climbing is good, put it in, then let's top it off with power-ups. Oh yeah, how about that Tony Hawk? The kids like that, let's put in some crap to grind on!" All right, maybe not. The real meeting was probably less organized. Putting so many different things into the gameplay is ambitious, but few of them work well. The weapons are boring, grinding rails often felt like a hassle instead of a help, the joystick thrashing (required to climb) made my fingers throb, and the multiple paths soured the mul- tiplayer game because the small field of view made them difficult to see. If those don't annoy you, the scores of cheap obstacles littered in the impressively long (and often gorgeous) tracks will. Ironically, you must endure these marathons, only to find that the winner is almost always decided at the very end. Once, I stalled in the middle of the race to rest my ail- ing fingers (after climbing) and fell back to fourth place. But when I rounded a corner toward the end of the chase, I still won the contest. Who the hell needs the course shortcuts, then? Kart-racing game veter- ans know that these games often cheat to keep races close, but at least it's done subtly. The cheating in this game is so obvious, it might as well hit you over the head with a sledgehammer. Kraig

Publisher: Microsoft - Developer: Microsoft Ж Featured Іп: ЕСМ #149

Players: 14

Also Try: Madden NFL 2002

Best Feature: Detailed graphics

Worst Feature: Web Site:

Weak computer intelligence www.xbox.com

First and 10, Brett Favre throws to Bubba Franks who catches the ball, then fumbles it. If he can get it, nothing but the end zone is ahead of him. He scoops up the ball and the whistle blows. Uh...what? A play- eris allowed to advance a fumble, except in the wan- ing minutes. Welcome to NFL Fever, the first-year football game that plays, well..like a first-year foot- ball game. Its edges are rougher than a sawed-off two-by-four. Receivers routinely get wide open because of blown pass coverages. A few times, sev- eral defenders stuck to each other in a horrible man- wich at the middle of the field because they got so crossed up. | can’t blame them. The plays are impos- sible to decipher because their diagrams look like a doctor scribbled them down. And even worse, their cutesy names rarely make sense. What in the hell is a "KC Nickel" anyway? If you throw the X's and O's out and wing it, you’ll have more fun. The gameplay is quick and responsive, making running the ball a blast. The smooth jukes and spins by ballcarriers look great and make this feel realistic, even if it isn't. In fact, this is the first footballer whose looks could kick Madden in the ass. These detailed graphics are welcome; but they make me wonder how the flawed gameplay was overlooked. For cripes' sake, I could have cooked a ham in the time it took a bomb to hit my receiver downfield. | suggest that you wait much longer before you think about buying Fever. Kraig

Position

Ath Target ara Bost

Current 57.8

Lapi 1 /а

Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Bizarre Creations Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 14

Supports: Custom soundtrack Best Feature: Solid gameplay Worst Feature: Steep learning curve Web Site: www.xbox.com

Don’t let the terrible name fool you; Gotham’s actu- ally a good racing game. As an unofficial sequel to Metropolis Street Racer, Gotham feels like a retooled, refined and remixed version of that Dreamcast game. Like MSR, Gotham still forces you to drive with lots of flash and finesse. Exceptional driving techniques earn you Kudos points, which you then put toward unlocking cars and tracks. If you’re one of those players who thought MSR took too long to get off the ground, you'll be happy to know that Gotham's a lot more forgiving and generally more open-ended. Still, as | sit here playing this unique, often beautiful game, I have a feeling that most rac- ing fans just won't get the concept. Yeah, you'll get to compete against a pack of cars, but the real race isn't with them, but rather against your own skill limita- tions. And since the best parts of the game require unlocking (with Kudos), those of you looking for a quick fix will find Gotham very bland, very quickly. But don't poo-poo the Kudos system just yet. It's cleverly designed to mentor you through the ways of skillful driving. If you've got the patience to stick with it, you'll discover a game with subtle yet intuitive controls that reward you as you improve. Gotham lacks some of the visual polish we expect to see from a Gran Turismo 3 challenger, but dig deeper to its core and you'll see that it's a whole different breed of racer— for better or for worse. Che

Like going down a *How to Make a Video Game Hit" checklist, MDR's got flashy visuals, a hip soundtrack, an anti-cutesy cartoon cast and a story complete with a vertically challenged evil boss. But unless you're a racing addict or were born after. 1993, MDR loses steam quickly despite what seems like a win- ing formula of platform-style gameplay, racing and a pinch of extreme-sports trickstyling. Granted, having different characters with their own sets of power-ups and secret level shortcuts can lead to dramatic fin- ishes, but when four-play fails to offer much more than single, replay's too much of a toss-up. Keep MDR in mind for your little bro instead. Jeanne

Fact: First-generation console football games suffer their share of problems. Fever is a perfect example. Having said that, I’m excited to see where this fran- chise goes. Graphics-wise, Fever is dressed to kill. You've never seen football look this good. The game's mechanics are passable, if a bit on the basic side. Running the ball requires a nice blend of special moves and quick cuts. The passing game is slick and will present no real problems for first-timers looking to air it out. What don't I like? Shoddy defensive Al and playcalling screens (for the D mostly) that give no clue as to where guys are going. Overall, Fever is à decent first effort. Dan L.

If Gran Turismo's too serious for you, and Rush is too arcadey, Project Gotham's your game. Since it fea- tures licensed cars (including the Porsches and Ferraris that elude GT) and super-realistic city cours- es, simheads will have a blast. But in order to unlock cars and new courses, you need to master the art of the powerslide (in order to earn Kudos points), so arcade junkies are covered. The combination works very well, especially when you throw near-perfect control into the mix. Bizarre Creations has taken the best of MSR on the Dreamcast and left the bad stuff behind (i.e., penalties). Best racing game on the Xbox? You bet. Greg

Every console launch has a few titles that are tough to get excited about, and Mad Dash is to Xbox what Wild Wild Racing was to PS2. It's not a bad game, but the only thing special about it is that it's available at the system's launch. The biggest problem I had was all the clutter in multiplayer; the graphics are crisp and smooth, but it's tough to monitor your busy sur- roundings on a quarter screen. Plus, so much ran- dom crap gets in your way during each two-minute race, it really doesn't matter whether you're first or fourth until the final few hundred feet of the course. Mad Dash is OK for kids, but more sophisticated players will get bored quickly. Jonathan

VISUALS INGENUITY REPLAY x A

Normally, the prospect of playing a new football fran- chise is about as appealing as spending the day at the dentist—both can be miserable experiences. Surprisingly, NFL Fever isn't nearly as bad as a root canal. I’m not saying it's better than Madden or NFL 2K2, but it certainly beats out Quarterback Club and GameDay. To be a serious threat, however, it needs some retooling—mainly better defensive Al. (The computer players tend to blow coverage in the sec- ondary.) Other parts of the game are good, though. The players move and react like they have some weight to them (you know, inertia), and the graphics and animation are nicely done as well. Dean

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

I don't know what's sillier: the stiff trigger buttons on the Xbox controller or the fact that I can't stop playing Gotham even though my cramped fingers are curled up like fish hooks. Seriously, for a car nut like myself, Gotham is up there with GT3 and Le Mans 24 Hours. It's deep as hell (tons of cars, courses and challenges) but still accessible for casual fans. In other words, you don't have to invest a bazillion hours to unlock the sweet rides. And, since Bizarre Creations dumped the stupid penalty system (deductions for sloppy stuff), PGR is even better than its predecessor, Metropolis Street Racer. If you love a good power- slide, Gotham is your game. Dean

UND INGENUITY REPLAY

Publisher: TDK Mediactive Å Developer: Dice Canada X Featured In: EGM #149

Players: 1

Try Instead: Тоу Story 2 (PlayStation)

Best Feature: Lighting your farts

Worst Feature: Web Site:

Controlling the camera www.tdk-mediactive.com

Take away the big green ogre, and Shrek the game has very little to do with Shrek the movie: no witty sound clips (not even from a Mike Myers sounda- like), no cutscenes, no Farquaad, and — worst of all— no Donkey. Why bother to get the Shrek license if you're not going to use it? The result is a bland, for- gettable game that not even fans of the flick will be able to squeeze much enjoyment out of. Completing the requisite mundane tasks in each level barely gives you enough sense of accomplish- ment to encourage you to continue. None of the objectives are fun, and they almost always involve hitting switches or carrying something and dropping it in a specific location, or both. And the simplest tasks turn unbelievably difficult because of tena- cious enemies constantly on your ass. Your only recourse (since you can't kill them) is to fart on or hit them enough times to make ‘em dizzy for a few sec- onds. In most cases, that isn't much help. This rou- tine gets incredibly frustrating by the time you get to the last level. Graphically, Shrek is a very pretty game that suffers from poorly designed levels. And the manually controlled camera only adds headaches, literally. | had to stop playing after getting motion sickness in the Red Dragon's Castle. Race mode tries (and fails) to add replay value by putting ridiculously short time limits on each level's objectives. Shrek fans, avoid this. Chris

Despite a cool license and some nifty use of the Xbox's graphical power, Shrek is ruined by a horrible camera, jerky animation (Shrek moves like he's in a 19205 baseball film) and mindless missions where the gameplay should be. Fans of the movie will be disappointed that the important locations and char- acters you'd expect are MIA. And no, having fart and burp buttons doesn't give the game the same clever humor as the film. Even kids will likely get frustrated or bored with the tedious errands you're forced to perform, unless they are so young that just seeing Shrek run around is enough. And at that age, they probably can't lift the Xbox controller. Mark

This game has beautiful graphics, tight and respon- Sive controls, and some cool levels. So what's wrong? The fact is, just about every task the game asks you to complete is simply no fun. Most of the game is spent carrying things from point A to point B or searching for hidden trinkets. If you're going to take a page out of the book of Mario 64, read it first; try giving us something clever and fun to do. Shrek's designers ignore their source material and make you fetch, fetch, fetch. Although the graphics are beauti- ful, the game lacks personality: Shrek is mute and his sidekicks are missing. Could have been good, but some lousy ideas drag it all down. Сипап

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 3 2 3

Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

Publisher: Konami å Developer: Konami CET X Featured In: EGM #147

Players: 1

What's New: Maria’s subquest

The bonus side-mission is nice... „but it's got some nasty slowdown www.konami.com

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

The Xbox may be over a year younger than the PS2, but we haven't seen any major graphical leaps on the new console just yet. So it's no surprise that Silent Hill 2 doesn't annihilate the PS2 version graphically, but the slightly retooled visuals, real-time audio encoding and bonus side-quest make it a mildly better version if you have the hardware. The main game is identical, save for some cool lighting effects made possible by the hulkier new console. I flinched several times when a black object rose up behind me in dimly lit hallways, but settled after I realized it was just my shadow under the influence of slick spot- lighting techniques. Otherwise, SH2 is the same dis- turbing yet stylish trip through what feels more like an interactive horror film than a video game. Konami did add a second mini-adventure starring the game's female lead, Maria. Although it's a nice touch, the whole darn thing lasts only a couple of hours at most. Plus, everything gets choppy anytime the screen fills with fog, which is quite often in this large- ly outdoor subquest. It's odd, since the main game handles similar scenes flawlessly. And the added material doesn't do much to clear up the disjointed story, either. Between having to use the clunky Xbox controller and enduring the embarrassing framerate drop in the side-story, the pluses barely edge out the minuses in Restless Dreams. You won't miss much if you only play the PS2 version. Jonathan

SH2:RD is a ballsy, psychologically taxing game any adventure gamer should experience. The nightmar- ish ambience of Silent Hill and the cadaver-esque character designs add up to make this, hands down, the most disturbing video game ever. It's an artistic endeavor and lapplaud the developers. But to experience all four different endings, you've got to decipher some really obscure puzzles and battle against a clumsy, infuriating interface. These issues really snap you out of the zone; you worry less about the fog, or the darkness, or those slothy zombies, and pray you don't run into another one of those puz- zles in the next room. Che

Edging out its PlayStation 2 brother with enhanced graphics and a new mini-scenario, SH2:RD is the definitive version of Konami's foggy frightfest. The game itself is basically a success; it pushes the envelope of survival-horror gaming with photo-real- istic visuals and a chilling soundtrack. Sadly, a few missteps keep it from true perfection. Narratively, the game nearly succeeds with its David Lynch-style plot, but uneven writing and a few wretched actors drag it down. Even worse are the contrived puzzles, saddled with a clunky interface and esoteric solu- tions. Still, despite these flaws, it's the scariest inter- active experience out there. Shane

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

9 0 1 6

230

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Radical X Featured In: EGM #148

Players: 12

Plays Like: ^ Crazy Taxi

Voice acting from the cast Not much replay value www.simpsonsroadrage.com

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

Playing Road Rage is like watching a new episode of The Simpsons. All the pieces are there, but in the end, it just doesn't come together. If you're a Simpsons fan, you'll enjoy the huge ensemble of voice actors from the show. But strip away the franchise license and what are you left with? A straight ripoff of Sega's Crazy Taxi, and a pretty bland one at that. And even while Road Rage managed to ape all the major ele- ments of Sega's hit, it completely misses the point. We love Crazy Taxi not because you could pick up and drop off passengers; we love it for all the cool stuff you could do in between. Unfortunately, Road Rage lacks depth in the gameplay department. Everything moves at a fair clip and gives you a good sense of speed, but it doesn't reward you for near-misses, drifts, jumps or stunts. Where's the gameplay, man? Once in a while you get some bonus money for avoid- ing traffic or destroying property, but it all seems so random. What's worse, certain cars (notably, Bart's lame space-shuttle mobile) have a tendency to get stuck, frustrating even the most patient Simpsons fanatic. So the game isn't that hot, but is it at least funny? The humor is hit or miss. But because there isn't a lot of script to begin with, even the best jokes get old, thanks to repetition. Road Rage has so much unfulfilled potential, it breaks my heart. Chalk it up as another casualty in the Simpsons' long- running game curse. Che

Crazy Taxi and The Simpsons both rule, but tl shameless ripoff is a rental at best. The throwaway storyline, endless loading times, small environments and barely Dreamcast-quality graphics are instant turn-offs. Without rewards for Crazy Drifts, Crazy Throughs or any of the other signature CT maneu- vers, the dull gameplay bores. Sure, there are tons of characters and levels to unlock, but just keep playing and eventually you'll get them all, regardless of your skill. Also, the stunningly unfun Mission mode is no Crazy Box. For a better experience, buy a used Dreamcast and Crazy Taxi for the same price and then watch Simpsons reruns on TV. Shane

There's a word beginning with the letter P that describes SRR, and it's not “phat,” it's “plagiarism.” Someone should check their pockets cuz EA has ripped off Sega/Crazy Taxi big time. It's one thing to model a game after a proven formula, it’s another to simply swap the graphics, change the level design, add a few dozen Simpsons characters, then expect people to think it’s a different game. Bart Simpson is riding around Springfield in a space shuttle? | don't think so! SRR lacks Crazy Taxi's speed, energy and most importantly, fun. The sticky control might have something to do with it, but only Simpsons com- pletists will want to buy this game. Milkman

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

3 6 1 9

Publisher:

Konami X Developer:

Konami Studio Featured In:

EGM #149

Players:

1

Also Try:

Ace Combat o4 (PS2) Web Site: www.konami.com

^ EVERYONE

Best Feature: Detailed fighter jets

Worst Feature: Unspectacular gameplay

ADS focuses on all the little details that make aerial combat so visually gripping: moving flaps, airbrakes, puffs of smoke from your Vulcan cannon, contrails on the tips of your wings, and the exhaust of your mis- siles. For all you fighter-jet buffs out there, so far so good. But like most flight sim-type games, what looks great soaring above the clouds doesn't look so hot once you get down near the surface. At close range, everything on ground level looks like one huge Jackson Pollock painting. If ADS were anything more than a graphical showcase, however, none of this would matter. But as it is, the game lacks fun. Most of the dogfights have you flying in. circles against the enemy, getting that missile lock and mov- ing onto the next target. In fact, getting that missile lock, seeing your serpentine trail of smoke, and fly- ing in circles is all you end up doing. Later on, ADS loosens up on the reins a bit and gets wacky with all sorts of sci-fi planes you. can buy. But a little more fantasy throughout the game might have given ADS the personality it desperately needs. ehe

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

1 6 4

Publisher: Crave Developer: Lightweight Featured In: EGM #149 Players:

1-2

Try Instead: Dead or Alive 3 Web Site: cravegames.com

make-up

Worst Feature: Super-long load times. What the hell?

If you were a fan of Square's Bushido Blade series, you'd never realize that the developers responsible for those innovative, experimental, and thoroughly enjoy- able games are the very same people who have creat- ed the mind-boggling travesty that is Kabuki Warriors. Slogging my way through 40-plus monotonous levels, fighting endless waves of faceless kabuki clones, using the ONE available attack button, quickly became a chore. So | indulged myself. Instead of actually trying to do a masterful job of dis- secting my foes using the sluggish, unresponsive con- trols, | instead whaled on the attack button with one finger, while my. other hand (and my eyes) surfed the Web. Forty-five dreary minutes later | looked at the TV and found that | had reached the boss level. There the difficulty spiked enough so that | actually had to grip the controller with both hands. What did | get for my inconsiderable efforts? A staff credits roll, identifying the people responsible for putting me through this ordeal. | have suffered so you don't have to. If you want to fight, buy DOA3 instead. Milkman

VISUALS SOUND REPLAY

4 4

INGENUITY

Star Wars: Starfighter Special Edition а ^ Publisher: LucasArts Developer: Secret Level Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1-2 Also Try: Rogue Leader (GC) Web Site: www.lucasarts.com

Best Feature: The John Williams soundtrack Worst Feature: Special fea- tures aren't special at all

When this game first came out on the PS2, | was wowed by Starfighter's graphics. What a difference a year makes. Now the bar has been raised, and this "Special Edition" can't quite clear it. It's not that it's ugly, but compared to most Xbox games, it looks like the boring girl next door and makes the GameCube's Rogue Leader seem like Pamela Anderson. Starfighter needed a new, gorgeous coat of paint for me to forget | was blowing up slow tanks on Naboo and not flying a gut-wrenching Death Star trench run. Yeah, it has the requisite hordes of space- craft going boom, laser blasts by the millions and a superb soundtrack, but that's not enough to make me overlook missions that were often tedious and repetitive. Special Edition tries vainly to liven things up with a handful of new multiplayer missions. Unfortunately, they aren't, um, "special" enough to make it worth dragging a friend into a dogfight. LucasArts should have spent their time improving a game that was never great to begin with instead of Slapping on shallow upgrades. Kraig

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

8 1 9

Publisher: Infogrames Developer: Angel Studios Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1-4 Supports: Custom soundtrack Web Site: www.transworld- games.com

X

Best Feature: Those mega- realistic waves

Worst Feature: Annoying mission objectives

They roil, tumble and rumble —and no two are alike. Yep, the waves in TransWorld Surf are absolutely realistic and downright beautiful (even if the rest of the game ain't so pretty). And they deliver more wet- and-wild thrills than what you'll find in the few other surfing games floating around. It's clear the devel- opers were trying to make Tony Hawk on a tidal wave. The control layout's nearly the same, and as in Hawk, you build up momentum and your trick meter by performing combos. But all is not totally tubular in TransWorld. Many level objectives—namely, the ones that have you leaping obstacles like boats and sea life—are annoying, because it's hard to get situ- ated on the wave and you don't get enough camera options to see where you're headed. The game's not as pick-up-and-play as Tony Hawk, either. It took me a while to get the hang of crucial combo-building tricks such as the 180-degree turn, and | ended up relying on simpler stuff like barrel riding to build up my score. Still, the lure of later levels, and their larg- er waves, kept me shooting the pipes. Crispin

INGENUITY REPLAY

6 1

231 - www.eg

VISUALS SOUND

b 1 åre Publisher: Sega Developer: Visual Concepts Featured In: EGM #146 Players: 1-4 (1-8 online) Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack

Best Feature: Online play Worst Feature: Single-player mode Web Site: www.segasports.com

What do the Bulls of the mid-'90s, the Lakers of today and the NBA 2K series have in common? D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y. This game has left its competition in the Ice Age of video game basketball. NBA 2K2 is the best-looking (you heard me, Live), best-play- ing game of basketball you'll find. It also has prob- ably been the most consistent of the 2K franchises, incrementally improving each year. There are no major gameplay tweaks here, but the style of ball is decidedly different. In last year's title, espe- cially online, it was dunk or lose. If your opponent let the CPU play tight defense on your man, outside shooting was a serious chore. Now the game allows jump-shooters to join in on the fun while the defense helps shut down those dunkamaniacs. It all adds up to better balance and a much more realistic flow to the game. NBA 2K2 has everything you could ask for in terms of modes, including Street Ball which can be played online or off. Speaking of online play, it's the same as last year, but the lag and control both feel a bit better. Offline, the game rocks for multiplayer fun. Get three buddies over and go two-on-two Lakers vs. Sixers for some big-time fun. Single-player offline games are the only sore spot. Even on the hardest level, the CPU mounts a lukewarm challenge at best. But hey, most players want to succeed anyway, right? Winning is good, and

so is NBA 2K2. Dan L.

Call me crazy, but NBA 2K2 doesn't look or play much different than last year's game. Everyone thought the zone defense would be a big, messy deal, but shoot, it's hardly even noticeable. If anything, it's a testa- ment to Visual Concepts' skills to implement the trick- ier defense when no other basketball sim even tried. Other than that, I like the new automatic alley-oops passes. No more fumbling with button combos; just wait until your high-flyer gets close to the hoop and lob it over. He knows what to do next —ka-BOOM! Slight animation changes, as well as a smarter А! are noticeable but again, not over-powering. It's a no- brainer; 2K2 is still the king of the hill. Dean

I'm sick of basketball games that only focus on flash, style and being able to contort yourself into a pretzel while dunking. Sure, the NBA is a rock-'n'-roll, fast- break league, but thankless things such as aggres- sive rebounding, attacking passing lanes, and nudg- ing for position in the post are just as important. They are also tasks that NBA 2K2 seamlessly inte- grates into its realistic gameplay. I'm not saying that this is all go and no show. To the contrary, it has all of the fancy moves, lavish introductions and facial expressions that a hoops fan could ask for. And the beauty is that it doesn't rely on them to barely pass muster, unlike its braindead rivals. Kraig

SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

VISUALS

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Hitmaker Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 14

Also Try: Mario Tennis (N64)

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

Ladies are in the hizzy Create-A-Player www.segasports.com

Tennis ranks right up there with golf for me. Which is to say it's on my list of "watch only as a last resort" sports, somewhere between drag racing and bowl- ing, if you must know. Rarely are games so good that they can break down negative ideas about the real sport they're based on. Tennis 2K2 is one of those games. It is not boring, stuffy, or for the country-club dullards who typically flock to the sport. Tennis 2K2 is pure gaming bliss, offering precise and simple control over every action on the court. Hitting shots and working the ball around the court is intrinsically fun. You run your ass off to every shot, hit it back, and repeat. It's a simple concept with brilliant execu- tion. Timing and anticipation are keys to success, and you'll gain both as you progress along the learn- ing curve. World Circuit mode is back and offers a slew of fun, sometimes maddening, minigames to help hone your skills. A new Create-A-Player feature exists, but routine choices keep created players looking vanilla. | want my albino with an afro damnit! As for the pros, the range of selectable players has doubled and now includes a healthy list of female players. Top names include Venus and Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis. Mixed doubles, anyone? Tennis 2K2 has it all, except online, which got left in the lurch with the current confusion at SegaNet. Sucky. Still, very few offline games offer this much fun. Dan L.

I played the first Virtua Tennis to death. Its combina- tion of awesome graphics and fast-paced arcade gaming made it one of the best sports games in years. Happily, the sequel maintains the qualities that made the first so good, while adding impor- tant new additions. Now the single-player mode is a stiffer challenge, due to the wider array of volleys, lobs, backhands and cross-court smashes, as well as smarter computer opponents. The new level of depth in the World Tour mode is another great addition. It lets you create a player, improve his skills via 2K2's awesome minigames, and then take him on the cir- cuit. A ШЕЕ for DC owners. Mil Ikman used to play a lot of tennis, and let’s face i boring sport if you're not on the court. Although 2K2 doesn't put you at the Wimbledon finals, it does a damn good job of making you feel like you're burning calories out there on the lawn. I was most disap- pointed with 2K2 featuring the same number of Kournikovas as the first game: zero. Since they've expanded the roster significantly with other male and female players, however, | can let it slide. I'm with Dan on the create-A-Player; all those dudes just come out looking like child molesters. I guess if ten- nis was about bein' pretty, we'd have players doing camera ads and stuff. Oh wait... Jonathan

VISUALS _ _ SOUND REPLAY

INGENUITY

Publisher: Agetec Developer: SNK Featured In: EGM #126 Players:

1-2 Supports: Arcade stick, VGA Web Site: www.agetec.com

Best Feature: Awesome control/animation

Worst Feature: Crazy hilari- ous bad dialogue

With the Dreamcast just about dead and buried, it's a wonder Agetec decided to bring MOTW to the U.S., but fighting fans should be happy they did. Regarded by some as SNK's finest fighter, Fatal Fury is as lav- ishly animated as Street Fighter IIl, plays as well as any title in its class, and boasts some of the slickest super moves ever. Combined with the razor-sharp controls, this is one of the fastest, most respon- sive fi; g games I’ve ever played. It’s easy to pick up and play, but features enough offensive and defensive options for more dedicated gamers to sink their teeth into. While the roster of available charac- ters isn't huge, each combatant is unique (without being overly goofy looking) and well balanced. Beyond that, there isn't much to preoccupy players, as MOTW is basically a no-frills affair. Still, if all you're looking for is a straight-up no-holds-barred hardcore 2D fighting game that plays great in both single-player and versus modes (and at a meager $30 too), then this should cure what ails ya. Don't

pass this one up. Milkman INGENUITY REPLAY

VISUALS

SOUND

Publisher:

Activision

Developer: Traveller's Tales Also Try:

You Don't Know Jack Players:

17

Supports:

Multi-tap

Web Site: www.activision.com

Best Feature: Very true to the show

Worst Feature: Anne repeats herself too much

| normally couldn't care less about game-show games, but I really like The Weakest Link. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with some sick fetish for old English broads with attitude. This game simply represents the show faithfully, and it's fun to play. The people who make the Millionaire games should take notice. TWL can be played single-player, but obviously the multiplayer mode is where this game shines. Get a group of people together, then have fun screaming answers at each other and stabbing your fellow contestants in the back, not to mention listen- ing to Anne Robinson's steady barrage of insults. Even though. all.the questions in the.video game are multiple choice (instead of open-ended like the TV show), on the highest difficulty setting you only get to see the first letter or two of every choice. It's about as close as the developers could get to authenticity, and it works surprisingly well since the game doesn't completely give away the-answers for you. This is the best game-show game to hit a home console since You Don't Know Jack. Greg

VISUALS SO! INGENUITY REPLAY

9 9 2 8

232

Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Sony CEA

Publisher:

Developer: Incog Inc. Featured In: EGM #149 Players: 1-2

Also Try: Twisted Metal 2

Plumber's ass in the kitchen level Slow game speed www.scea.com

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site:

You would think that after five Twisted Metal games, Sony would've decided that they've cashed in enough on this franchise. Evidently not. After reinvigorating the series with Twisted Metal: Black on the PlayStation 2, they've dragged it back into crapdom with this half-assed spinoff only a few months later. To say that this is regurgitated gameplay would be a gross understatement. Nothing here is remotely orig- inal or innovative. Instead of the usual complement of missiles, you have bottle rockets. Pint-sized explo- sions replace big ones. And the vehicles are almost identical to those in Twisted Metal, except get this: They're smaller. Wow! Even the environments have been shrunk. Levels consist of oh-so-exciting places like claustrophobic minigolf courses and kitchens, but those close quarters don't incite intense fire- fights. A lame combination of slow cars and non-exis- tent enemy intelligence saps the intensity away like a sponge because the bad guys seem to be perfectly content with standing pat and getting wailed on. | easily beat the game with powerful, short-range weapons because my prey rarely took cover. It was pretty sad; but the pathetic text-based save-game screen took the cake—it lookswlikesit was literally ripped out of an ancient Commodore 64 game. Thank God for the plumber's ass that sticks out from underneath the sink in the kitchen level. If it weren't for that, this would be a total loss. _ Kraig Sony's 5 sanitized take on the classic TM s series should please tykes looking for some car combat, but series veterans won't be impressed. Cutesy cars, kiddie characters and firework weapons work within the game's playground premise, but most TM fans will likely miss the old kick-ass vehicles and nasty psy- chopaths. The chunky, ugly visuals and. hair-band music don't help much either. Luckily, the gameplay is fairly tight, and some of the levels are creative, such as the miniature golf course'and the kitchen. Others, however, are too: small or too boring to : affect the action. This woefully average retread will only keep youngsters entertained. Shane

Twisted Metal returns to the PS1 after its successful sojourn to the PS2. This TM, though, works to undo my renewed faith in the series. Small Brawl is a slapdash, sloppy and unimaginative retrofit. The idea of. a schoolyard challenge. using. remote-con- trolled cars is cool, but floaty controls and bad graph- ics sour the theme. Your arsenal of weapons i is repet- itive (three.different types of indistinguishable mis- siles, for example) and the arenas are just plain dull. Two-player mode is sluggish and/børing, Si "What's the point? It looks like Sony is once again trying to run this series into the ground. With so many excellent bargains on the PS, look elsewhere. Ghristian

VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY

3 4 1 3

Publisher: Activision

Developer: David A. Palmer ADVANCE | Productions/id Software

Players: 1 (1-2 Co-op, 1-4 Deathmatch)

Supports: Link Cable

Frantic action

Eye-strainingly small enemies Brightness 6, Static Lighting, Autorun on, Music off www.activision.com

Best Feature: Worst Feature: Best Settings:

Web Site:

I've been playing this game for the last eight years on one system or another, and I'm still not bored with it. Granted, on the evolutionary ladder of first-person Shooters, Doom is a caveman. You can't look up or down, can't jump, and progress always involves flip- ping switches or finding keys. But most of the time you're too busy, say, dodging through a field of fire- ball-tossing imps, or backing off a rampaging Cacodemon, to care. Like tossing watermelons off a tall building, Doom is straight, dumb, violent fun, regardless of how many times you've seen it before. The GBA port is faithful, including the great sound effects and horrible music, plus all the levels and enemies we know and love. Multiplayer is in there (everyone needs their own cart), even if it's with some slowdown. Too bad the huge levels suck for deathmatch, but co-op still plays great. They even included the option to adjust the brightness and turn the dynamic lighting on and off (GBA developers, please take note). But the conversion to a handheld did add a few problems. Because ofthe 3D effect and the nature of Doom, you often end up squinting at, and exchanging fire with, enemies that are literally just dots on the horizon. Either play in small doses or keep the eye drops and aspirin close by. Controls are about the best they could be given the GBA's setup, but they still get you killed now and then. Otherwise a great, portable shot of classic action. Mark

Wario land 4

Publisher: Nintendo (GAME BOYA Developer: Nintendo VADVANGE! Featured In: EGM #148

Players: a

Also Try: Wario Land 3 (GBC)

Best Feature: Great graphics, gameplay

Worst Feature: Too short

Web Site: www.nintendo.com

Minigames: ^ Wario's Home Run Derby, The Wario

Hop, Wario Roulette

Ever since Nintendo took Mario into the wide world of 3D a few years back, bad boy Wario has taken center stage as the company's side-scrolling platform star of choice. His games have gotten pro- gressively better with each new sequel, so it should come as no surprise that Wario Land 4 is in many ways the best-playing Wario game yet. The game- play has changed a bit from Wario 3 in that Wario is no longer invincible (he has a life meter), and that he has all of his abilities from the get-go (you had to unlock them in Wario 3), but otherwise, this is pretty much what you'd expect from a Wario sequel on a new platform. The levels are huge and well- designed, the graphics, animation and sounds are among the best the GBA has yet seen, and overall, the game is just plain fun to play. | do have one prob- lem that I've been having with quite a few Nintendo games lately: It's too short. With only 18 stages (not counting boss fights and minigames), you can prob- ably finish Wario Land 4 in the better part of a rainy day, which is just not enough. Sure, it's worth replay- ing to get the extra stuff (each stage has a bonus for scoring over 10,000 points as well as a hidden Music CD), but it's hardly a substitute for more stages. Aside from the length, however, it truly is an excel- lent game that shouldn't be missed. And it'll hold you over nicely ‘til the much larger Super Mario Advance 2 lands early next year. John R.

It seems like I was just playing this bugger on the PC last week. Turns out it's really been almost 10 years since Doom was conceived, but even now I'm impressed that we've got such a faithful handheld translation. From the sounds to the enemies to the level layouts, it's a near-perfect port. You can even switch between dynamic and static lighting, but almost always need to use the latter in order to see what's going on. I also sorely miss the save-any- where feature the PC game had; Doom GBA only saves at the end of each level. Still, playing a four- player deathmatch on the GBA is pretty rad if you can handle the wear on your eyes. Jonathan

Personally, I like a lil" puzzle-solving in my action game, so the Wario series is one of my faves. The fourth installment is fun, but sadly isn't much different from the last one, including some surpris- ingly similar-looking levels. It does have a couple new gameplay elements, like a life meter (a first for the series), a timer you set off to start a race back to the beginning of each level, and three new minigames. And as dark as the GBA screen is, the graphics look bright n' crisp. The audio's not too shabby either— some of the tunes even have lyrics. Great fun, but doesn't stray far from the series' tried- and-true formula. Chris

I'm not sure what's more impressive, that Doom is playable on a portable or that the game is still enjoy- able today (though that may be the nostalgia talk- ing). Everything technically works, from the smooth 3D action to the four-player deathmatching. Too bad the system is too small for this big-time game. The eyestrain I got from just a half hour of playtime was incredible. The screen is just too small for this first- person action, so be warned: Play in small time chunks or risk blindness. Besides that, this is the same game we played years ago. For mindless one- player action, it's fine. Just don't expect anything new or revolutionary at all. Shoe REPLAY

VISUALS SOUND

1

INGENUITY

Electro

Even the instruction manual to Wario Land 4 admits that this is pretty much the same game as its pre- decessors. If you haven't sampled Warios 1-3 on the Game Boy, the idea is basic 2D platform gameplay with a lot of block-breaking and the occasional puz- zle. It's not that far removed from the GBA's Klonoa. The most entertaining part is utilizing the different abilities Wario gains from interacting with certain enemies to get through barriers or find new areas; it's a very cool gameplay element. Despite its patent- ed formula, the main game gets pretty repetitive after a while, so you'll definitely want to break off and try the novel minigames. Jonathan

VISUALS SOUND REPLAY

INGENUITY

aming Monthly -

egmmag.com

Publisher: GAR Nintendo Developer; Camelot Featured In:

EGM #144 Players:

1 (1-2 Link)

Also Try:

Breath of Fire

Web Site; www.nintendo.com

Best Feature: Fun-filled puzzletacular dungeons Worst Feature: Classic-style RPG = classic complexity

There is so much to Golden Sun that I can't help but fall head over heels for it. Every aspect of the game is soaked through with quality. The developer, Camelot, has been at the genre for years and has now, for perhaps the first time, gotten it completely right. From smooth graphics and beautiful music to great character designs and refined battles, they know RPGs up and down. The game's interlocking gameplay systems are what elevate it above so many others. Magic in GS is known as "Psynergy" and you'll not only use it in battle but also to solve puz- zles in the game's dungeons —which are actually fun, if you can believe it. The battle system is speedy and looks great. You also get to collect Djinn, creatures that boost your stats and unlock new Psynergy and attacks. The story's not too shabby either; while Camelot plays it by the book, the characterization is spot-on thanks to great writing and translation. If you have the faintest glimmer of love for a classic- style RPG in your heart, you owe it to yourself to

check out Golden Sun. Christian INGENUITY REPLAY

1 9

VISUALS SOUND

Harry Potter and the VENDERE S Stone

Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Amaze Featured In: EGM #149 Players:

1 (1-2 Link) Supports:

Best Feature: Follows the

book so closely Link Cable, Infrared Worst Feature: Harry's slug- | Web Site: gish walking control www.hpgames.ea.com

1 really have to give EA props for doing justice to the Potter license. It's easy to churn out a quick cash-in platformer for a hot property (just ask THQ), but the guys at Amaze instead created a complex, impressive RPG. Regardless of whether or not you've read the book, you'll easily become engrossed in Harry's world. In fact, playing this game is like being sucked into the novel via LeVar Burton's Reading Rainbow. Characters, locations and plot events all mirror J.K. Rowling's text perfectly. Fun, albeit familiar, game- play complements the well-known story. | say familiar because the dungeons mimic those in the first Lunar for PS1, and. the battles strongly. recall classic Final

GBA sibling, the game RC and d. Sadly, Harry’s slow walking and Slow the action down a bit. ‘Also, the game's surprising «difficulty mig young players. Even with these minor issues, it's one ofthe very best RPGs on GBC. Shane

REPLAY

VISUALS INGENUITY

1

Tricks of the Trade

By Trickman Terry

TRICK OF THE MONTH

NHL 2002 ==

PLAY AS THE BARENAKED LADIES

On the main screen, enter Options. Choose the Create Player/Rosters option, and then choose Create Player. Press START to advance to the next screen. Put in the first name and last name as one of these band mem- bers: Jim Creeggan, Tyler Stewart, Steven Page,

Ed Robertson, Kevin Hearn. Once you do this, the game will ask you to create a player like the one in the database. Choose “Yes” for your answer and the game will make a clone of your BNL member of choice in hockey gear.

PLAYSTATION 2

Grand Theft Auto à AWESOME CHEATS Enter these codes while playing your game. Clear Weather La, La, Ra, R2, R2, Ва, L2, Triangle Foggy Weather La, L2, Rs; R2; R2, Ra, Le, X Cloudy Weather L1, L2, R1, R2, R2, R1, L2, Square Rainy Weather L1, L2, R1, R2, R2, R1, L2, Circle Faster Clock Circle, Circle, Circle, Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, L1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle

E Tank Unlocked Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, R1, L2, L1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle Lower Wanted Level R2, R2, L1, R2, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down Higher Wanted Level R2, R2, L1, R2, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right Great Handling Car R1, La, R2, L1, Left, R1, R1, Triangle Pedestrians Fight Each Other Down, Up, Left, Up, X, R1, R2, L2, Lı Pedestrians All Hate You Down, Up, Left, Up, X, R1, R2, L1, L2

El crazy Pedestrians R2, R1, Triangle, X, L2, L1, Up, Down Wear Different Outfits Right, Down, Left, Up, L1, L2, Up, Left, Down, Right

E

Guilty Gear X HIDDEN CHARACTERS

On the title screen, press Down, Right, Right, Up, START. You will hear a woman talking to confirm correct code entry. Now choose any mode. At the character select screen, the two hidden characters, Dizzy and Testament, will be at the bottom left and right of the screen.

NHL Hitz 20-02 SUPER CODES

On the VS. screen, use the Square, Triangle and Circle but- tons to switch the icons beneath the teams on screen. The list below indicates the number of times each button should be pressed. After the icons have been switched, press the D-Pad in the indicated direction to enable the code. You will see the name of the code and hear a sound. More than one code may be activated per game; just make sure you enter them quick enough. For example, to enter 4, 2, 3, Right, press Square four times, Triangle two times, Circle three times and then press Right on the D-pad.

Show Shot Speed

1,0,1 Up

Rain Mode 1,4,1 Left

E] Tennis Ball

1,3,2 Down

Hitz Time

1,0,4 Right

First to 7 Wins 3,2,3 Left

No Puck Out of Play 1,1,1 Down Pinball Boards 4,2,3 Right Domino Effect 0,1,2 Right

No Fake Shots 4,2,4 Down

Big Head Player 2,0,0 Right

Ei Big Puck

1,2,1 Up

[2] Huge Head Team

3,3,0 Left

Big Head Team 2,2,0 Left Huge Puck 3,2,1 Up

Huge Head Player EXTRA OPTIONS 3,0,0 Right

No Crowd

2,1,0 Right

Input More Codes 3,3,3 Right

Show Team's Hot Spot 2,0,1 Up Set blood color Late Hits 3,2,1 Down

Dre tein Silent Scope 2: ее Last Code Dark Silhouette

0,1,0 Down TIME AND LIFE CODES Bulldozer Puck H Extra Five Seconds

2,1,2 Left In the middle of the game, press Win Fights for Goals START to pause. Then press Up, 2,0,2 Left Up, Down, Down, Left, Right,

No One Times Left, Right, X, Circle. Once you 2,1,3 Left have entered the code, the clock Infinite Turbo will gain five seconds, but one of 4,1,3 Right your lives will go down by half. Snow Mode Extra Half Life

1,2,1 Left In the middle of the game, press Always Big Hits START to pause. Press Circle, X, 2,3,4 Down Right, Left, Right, Left, Down,

Down, Up, Up. Once you enter

: y | ene Silent Hill 2 ej

[1| EXTRA OPTIONS SCREEN will go down by five seconds.

On the title screen, access

Options. On the Options screen,

press L1+R1 simultaneously. [o orenmenst | An Extra Options screen will

appear where you can change

the zoom of your map, weapon 00ga Booga control, blood color, view control

and more. On the main menu screen, access the Options. On the Options screen, highlight and enter the Codes option. Enter the passwords shown to access the characters and spells below. Unlock Pirate Kahuna warezwrong

Unlock Disco Dude Kahuna dothehustle

Unlock Abe Kahuna

ahousedivided

Unlock Superguy Kahuna secretidentity

Unlock Dwarf Kahuna heightchallenged

Unlock Death Kahuna salmonmouse

Unlock Leprechaun Kahuna blarneystone

Get Mine Spell

kaboom

Get Homing Spell dodgethis

Get Lightning Bolt Spell kilowatts

Get Fireball Spell strikematch

Get Tornado Spell blowhard

Get Lightning Cloud Spell stormyweather

ЕЗ PLavstanion |

Castlevania: Chronicles

On the title screen (with Original and Arrange Mode), press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Circle, X. This will bring you to the Extra Option screen where you will be able to choose a Trim or Normal screen. The Trim option will put your life

EXTRA OPTION

The top 5 games of the last month given the full- on Trickman treatment:

1. Matiden NL2002 ==

Create a Maxed-Out Player On the main screen, choose a Normal game. Go to the Options and then choose the Rosters. Create a player for the game and then save him to a memory card.

Then go into the Rosters and choose the Edit Player option. Find your created player and choose him.

Now move over to the Speed category and press X. On

the Edit screen, move down to the attributes category and press X again. You can now boost up your player's attrib- utes to 99 in each category, giving you the ability to create a super player!

2. Gran Turismo 3: A-spec ere

Inexpensive Upgrades

You must have two memory cards to make this trick work. Make sure the memory cards are in the two slots in the PS2. From the Main Menu screen, choose Simulation mode. On the Simulation mode screen, choose Home. Next, pick the Save Game option and save your game onto both memory cards. Go back to the Simulation mode screen and choose the Car Dealer. Buy a car and then go to the Tune Shop and upgrade it as much as you can. Go to the Home option again and save your game onto memory card 2 only. After you've done this, go back to the main menu and choose Load Game. Load the save-game data from memory card 1. This will be the original save before you purchased anything. Go back to Home in Simulation mode and access the Trade option. Load the data from memory card 2. The name of the car you pur- chased will be flashing on the Trade screen. Choose this car and you will be able to buy it for the original purchase price, even after you put upgrades on the car! Do this trick when you have a lot of money and you will save your- self thousands of dollars in upgrades!

3. Super Mario Advance p

Easy 99 Lives On Stage 3-3, choose Toad and go through the door that

TRICKS

TOP 5 TRICKS

leads outside at the beginning

of the level. Travel right

through the stage until you

get to the door that leads you

back underground. Upon

entering the door, you will

notice three plants to the left,

and one to the right. The first

is a bomb, the second is a

|. potion, the third is a red shell, —

| and the fourth is a POW block. — |

|. Move to the left, dig up the |

shell, and throw it at the two

purple enemies. Now run to

the right and dig up the POW

block. While carrying the POW

block, run to the left until you

see two spark enemies circling

around two square blocks. |

When you see them, throw the — |

POW block, hold the B button, — |

and run as fast as you can to

| the left. By doing this, the |

| POW block will hit all the ene- — . mies in your way and give you — -

up to five lives. Do this multi-

ple times to get up to 99 lives!

| AN Football

| Create a Super Player Hes | On the main screen, enter the Options screen. Choose the Rosters option. Create a play- er for the game and then save him to a memory card. Then scroll to the right and choose the Edit Player option. Find your created player and

choose him. Now move over | to the Speed category and | press X. On the Edit screen, move down to the Ratings cat- egory and press X again. You can now boost up your play- er's ratings to 99 in each cate- gory, giving you the ability to create a super player!

Unlock Tracks For each normal cup, there is an Extra Cup that contains the tracks from that cup in the original Mario Kart on SNES. To access the Extra Cups, you must play through the entire GP mode and acquire gold on each cup. Then, replay any cup and get at least 100 coins — | throughout the tracks. Once

you have fulfilled the criteria,

| access the Extra tracks by | | pressing L-Shift or R-Shift on | the Cup screen. To open the

| Extra tracks in Time Trial, just. | open the Extra Cups on the 150cc level.

bar, score, etc. in a black bar on the top of the screen instead of overlaying it into the back- ground.

X-Men: Mutant Academy 2

EJ UNLOCK EVERYTHING

On the title screen, press SELECT, Down, R2, L1, R1, L2. You will hear a sound when the code is entered correctly. This trick will unlock everything in the game. From the main menu, choose the Cerebro option and highlight each character to see what you've unlocked. From here you can watch the outro FMV movies, see movie sketch- es, learn how to unlock the secret costumes and more. In Versus mode, you can choose the Pool Party stage to fight with the X-Men in their bathing suits. To play as Spider-Man, go to the character select screen in Arcade or Versus mode, and highlight Cyclops. Press and hold L1 and you will see Spider-Man appear. Keep holding L1 and press X to choose him. To play as Xavier (Professor X), go to the character select screen in Arcade or Versus mode, and highlight Magneto. Press and hold L1 and you will see Xavier appear. Keep holding L1 and press X to choose him.

Еш Advance Wars INCREASED DIFFICULTY On the select mode screen, choose VS. Mode and pick a New game. Press and hold the SELECT button while choosing a map to play, and you will be faced with a much more difficult game. If you win a mission in

this mode, you will gain extra coins.

Final Fight One UNLOCKING SECRETS

On the Mode Select screen, highlight and access the Options screen. Move down, highlight “Exit,” and press A. You will be on the Battle Point screen, which gives you goals to unlock secrets in the game. You must defeat the number of enemies shown to unlock each secret. Here is a list of the number of opponents to be defeated and what it opens.

50: Alpha Guy

200: 9 Lives

H 500: Alpha Cody

800: Stage Select

1300: Color Change

2000: Rapid Punch

After unlocking these secrets, you must go to the correct screens to initiate them. To find Alpha Guy and Cody, go to the Player Select screen and either highlight Guy and press Left, or highlight Haggar and press Right. To initiate 9 Lives, Stage Select, etc., you must go to the Options screen, highlight "Next," and press A to go to the Extra Option screen. This screen will allow you to change many of the new options you've unlocked in the game.

Men in Black: The Series

LEVEL PASSWORDS

On the title screen, choose the Start Game option. On the Enter Password screen, put in any of these codes to advance further in the game.

Episode 4: Rocket Silo MXNMSNNG

Episode 5: MIB Safe House THXBXSCK

Episode 6: Halloween in Manhattan

NNTNDWNY

236

NFL Blitz 20-02

UNLIMITED TURBO

From the main menu screen, choose Exhibition. Pick your team and choose the opposing team as well. After you do this, press L-Shift, L-Shift, L-Shift, L- Shift, B, B, B, A, A, R-Shift. You will hear a sound to confirm cor- rect code entry. Now your play- ers will have infinite turbo throughout the game.

Pac-Man Collection

APPENDIX PUZZLE MODE First, you must choose the Pac- Attack game. Then highlight Puzzle Mode and hold Right on the D-pad. While holding it, press A. The word, “Appendix” will appear in the upper-left cor- ner of the screen. Start a new game and you will see that the falling pieces will stay the same from level to level, making the game a little easier to play.

Power Rangers: Time Force

BEGIN AT THE

LAST BOSS

On the Password screen, enter the following code to automati- cally be transported to the final stage of the game: 8QSD.

LAST STAGES

On the main menu, access the Password option. Put in JSJRJK- SLXCFJ on the password screen to get to the final stages of the game.

Vazhar by Full Sail Student Brian Germain.

Spider-Man: E

=n W7HZZ Mysterio’s Menace woz: El AMAZING PASSWORDS 0802G On the main menu, choose Z787K the Password option. Enter ZV87K any of these codes as your ZV722 password to start with a ZV3Z0 bunch of items, levels and HV37K upgrades. JV37H JV310

8001e0f00300

Inf. TOs Home Madden Classic

3001d3690003 Monster Rancher 3 NFL 2K2 SEEN Inf. Money Must Be First Code Home Score 5o Madden Classic 1CA24054144F25CC 9C5D88F8 8001e0f70032 Inf. HP P4 Away Team Scores 100 Home Score o Madden Classic 4CA2CCC81456E404 AAEDA6F800000064 8001e0f70000 4CA2CCCE1456E404 Away Team Scores o Away Score 50 Madden Classic No HP P1 AAEDA6F800000000 8001e1070032 4CA2CCC81456E7D7 Away Team Infinite Timeouts Away Score o Madden Classic 4CA2CCCE1456E7A5 D74ADCB100000003 8001e1070000 Inf. HP P2 Away Team No Timeouts L2&R2=More Time Madden 4CA2D1A01456E404 D74ADCB100000000 Classic 4CA2D1A61456E404 Home Team Scores 100 So1ef682fcff No HP P2 B37F8B9B00000064 8001d346012c 4CA2D1A01456E7D7 Home Team Score o 4CA2D1A61456E7A5 B37F8B9B00000000 Max Pow P1 Home Team Infinite Timeouts 4CA2CCC61456E404 E1082FD800000003 Max Int P4 Home Team No Timeouts Advance Wars 4CA2CCCC1456E404 E1082FD800000000 Must Be On Max Spd P1 Do. å er School of: 4CA2CCCA1456E404 5E7259C697C500BE S Max Def P1 AYSTATION Î Always Day 1 Game Design 4CA2CCD01456E404 202FC6FD228BADF8 e e PESA Madden 2002 E Computer Animation 4CA2D19E1456E404 Always 1st Down Madden с DEE Max Int P2 Classic E 4CA2D1A41456E404 ower Up Max Spd P2 TT Madden ава CTERODD7ERS7 4CA2D1A21456E404 Gre 366631895EDF529F E Max Def P2 ure No Enemy Power Show Production 4CA2D1A81456E404 EOD 51E07A1F31A118A3 p justin ee 2 Downs Per Pos Madden EF 2800 742200 ALA2D19E1450E7 i Low Int P2 ne Street Fighter: 800.226.7625 4CA2D1A41456E7A6 800193400300 Turbo Revival www.fullsail.com ЕЯ 3 Downs Per Pos Madden Must Be On Low Def P2 DER NN SE 3300 University Boulevard

3400100 98E186966FE7C82C я 4CA2D1A81456E7A6 Eastern Inf. Time Winter Park, FL 32792 2nd Quarter Madden Classic 82Е1617ЕВСС1770 = d А E

Spy Hunter doo1eofooooo Inf. BUE. Р1 d * Financial aid available to Objective Pts Agent 1 8001e0fo0100 6C9C3138F81D5F55 those who qualify. 4CDE4D041456E766 3rd Quarter Madden Classic No Energy P2 * Job placement assistance. Objective Pts Agent 2 doo1eofooooo 70EF7B094DE958A0 * Accredited by ACCSCT. 4CDE51A41456E766 8001e0f00200 Objective Pts Agent 3 ath Quarter Madden|classic ©2001 Full Sail, Inc. All rights reserved. The 4CDE55441456E766 doo1eofooooo terms “Full Sail” “Full Sail Real World

Education," and the Full Sail logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Full Sail, Inc.

Only on Newsstands!

AS! XBOX + GAMECUBE • PS2 |

ges AUN.

ESSENTIAL GAMES AND

From the same people who bring you EGM, GameNOW and OPM, these special magazines can be found only on the newsstands or through back order. Look for Pocket Games and EGM's Holiday 2002 Game Guide on stands now, and Xbox Nation on December 11. You can find these magazines at Borders, Waldenbooks, Barnes and Noble, B. Dalton, Babbages, GameStop, Funcoland, Walmart, Best Buy, Kmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger and Safeway.

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 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.0. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338. Price and availability subject to change without notice.

Hints, codes, reviews, screen shots, release dates, movies, updated everyday.

Don't hit start until you hit gamespot.com

GAMESPOT (G)COM

Where gamers go to know.

A Nintendo GameCube

LEN DUEB Vin HLL INE

(And a Crapload of Games or all Three Systems)

A Microsoft

what's

shown here)

Six (6) Grand-Prize Winners will win the ULTIMATE CONSOLE PACKAGE:

* Nintendo GameCube console * Microsoft Xbox console * Sony PlayStation 2 console

* Three (3) GameCube games (our choice)

* Three (3) Xbox games (our choice)

* Three (3) PlayStation 2 games (our choice) (that's right...the Ultimate Console Package includes ALL of the above)

Five (5) First-Place Winners will win the GAMECUBE PACKAGE:

* Nintendo GameCube console

* Three (3) GameCube games (our choice) Another five (5) First-Place Winners will win the XBOX PACKAGE:

* Microsoft Xbox console

* Three (3) Xbox games (our choice)

Five (5) more First-Place Winners will win the PLAYSTATION 2 PACKAGE:

* Sony PlayStation 2 console

* Three (3) PlayStation 2 games (our choice)

http://contest.egmmag.com

FINAL ROUND 0”

1. Which game did NOT make it into our Best 100 Games list in this issue?

a. Pokémon Yellow b. Galaga c. Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Which game did NOT make it into our 20 Worst Games feature (but easily could have)? a. Night Trap b. Bubsy 3D с. 007 Racing

3. The main character in Final Fantasy X is: a. Tidus b. Sarge c. Hideo Kojima

4. What activity can you perform in Bible Adventures for the NES?

a. Force Berenstein Bears to mate, and then trade the offspring with your friends.

b. Splice together full-motion video clips of Noah's Ark animals breeding.

c. Throw Baby Moses into the river.

5. Which music band's members are secret characters in NHL 2002? a. Backstreet O' Sync b. Barenaked Ladies c. The Housemartins

6. What's the maximum number of people a game of Halo can support for network- based multiplayer? 8.5 b. 16 C. 128

7. Where are all the extra E.T. Atari 2600 car- tridges buried? a. New Mexico b. Old Mexico c. Gilligan's Island

8. What game is on every Review Crew mem- ber's “favorite” list in this issue? a. Final Fantasy X b. Halo c. Connect Four

A Sony PlayStation 2

titles may iffer from

Advertiser Index

Acclaim Entertainment .......... 29, 57, 82, 135, 179, 181 www.acclaim.com

Activision . 18-19, 121, 139 www.activision.com

Atlantic ue oae ОЛЕ Ер ЕДЫ КАР ЕСЕ 17 www.atlantic-records.com

АШ КАИДА КККК АН Л А Та 157, 195, 219 www.atlus.com :

BOSE BUY ТҮС а) юосооозоосооасоноодооооозоооо о 27 www.samgoody.com

Best BUY е 149, 197 www.bestbuy.com

Сар е 15, 84-85

www.capcom.com

Cosmo ... as ..189 www.cosmoacc.com

Ecko Unlimited sca 20-21 www.eckounlimited.com

Eidos Interactive ............ 12-13, 70-71, 147, 244-245 www.eidos.com

Electronic Агїѕ ................... 6-7, 48-49, 91, 92-93 www.ea.com

Electronics Boutique ..... 52-53, 80-81, 102-103, 136-137 www.ebgames.com

Electronics Boutique/EBWorld .................. 102-103 www.ebgames.com

Full Sail Real World Education ...................... 237 www.fullsail.com

GameSpot... ..239 www.gamespot.com

IMIG rear eeo oe sese e 41, 95, 193 www.infogrames.net

Interplay .

www.interplay.

Kemco USA Inc; ove seres КУЛО koser 68-69 www.top-gear.com

LIND Sasas6o00na00S0000000000485000000008 000850 207 www.kinyo.com

Кое SS кк е 97, 217

www.koeigames.com Konami of America . . 30-31, 51, 113, 143, 145, 177, 191, 215 www.konami.com

Logitech ...............,..... nene en nnt tee 131 www.logitech.com LucasArts Entertainment Company ......... 47, 55, 64, 65

www.lucasarts.com Majesco Sales Inc. www.majescosales.com

Memorex ceases какка жаК АН 171 www.memorex.com

Microsoft Corporation . . . . . . 10-11, 25, 34-35, 63, 115, 133, www.Xbox.com 141, 173, 175 Midway Home Entertainment .................. 161, 209 www.midway.com

Midway: aS aA e REEL IIS 163 www.midway.com

Natsume ............. оон еони ена 21 www.natsume.com

Nintendo of America Inc. .................. 8-9, 122-123 www.nintendo.com

Radica

www.radicagames.com

Sega of America sce ESEE PESEE 246 www.sega.com

Sony Computer Entertainment of America . 10-11, 25, 34-35, www.scea.com 63, 115, 133, 141, 173, 175 GJER Ios900000000000805 08000000 0800080000 199 www.squaresoft.com

Take Two Interactive .... www.rockstargames.com

167, 203

decmo ene eR E UE 128-129 www.tecmoinc.com

ПНО 42-43, 60-61, 78-79, 104-105, 116-117 www.thq.com

Titus Software Corporation .................... 243 www.titusgames.com

Ц 5 E E e A A 109 www.toysrus.com

Ubi Soft Entertainment ........... 22-23, 39, 88-89, 107 www.ubisoft.com

Vivendi Universal - Sierra On-Line ............. 32-33, 159 www.sierra.com

Working Designs ........ eese 165

www.workingdesigns.com

FINAL WORD

GameCube vs. Xbox vs. PS2: Reatly, Fight!

Dan "Shoe" Hsu • shoe@ziffdavis.com

Mark MacDonald • mark_macdonald@ziffdavis.com Jeanne Kim • jeanne_kim@ziffdavis.com

Dean Hager « dean_Hager@ziffdavis.com

Kraig Kujawa * kraig_kujawa@ziffdavis.com

Chris Johnston • chris johnstonGziffdavis.com James Mielke • james mielkeGziffdavis.com Jonathan Dudlak « jonathan. dudlakeziffdavis.com

Dan "Shoe" Hsu Editor In Chief

Mark MacDonald

Executive Editor

Jeanne Kim Associate Editor

Dean Hager Managing Editor

Chris Johnston Pom Activist

1 Shoe: This PS2 vs. GameCube vs. Xbox console war better turn into something as cool as what we had during the Super Nintendo vs. Genesis days. Looking at our Top 100 list reminds me of all the great games that came out because of tight competition. This market will be unbelievable if that happens again. Mark: Honestly, I think it is already paying off. Just look at the release calendar for this Christmas. I don't think there have ever been so many great, must-play games in such a short time. And next Christmas, when the second- and third-generation stuff is hitting all the systems and online is blowin' up? Ho, lordy.

Jeanne: Once the Xbox and GameCube have made their marks after launch, and the PS2 keeps growing in numbers, what do you think these big heads are going to fight over? Games! And who better to collect on the carnage? Gamers.

Dean: As for the early results, I totally underestimated the Xbox. No way did

I think it would come charging out of

the gate with topnotch stuff like Halo, Project Gotham and Munch's Oddysee. Comparably, the Cube's opening lineup is fumbling and stumbling. Wave Race and Pikmin are a bit disappointing. The PS2, however, stands as turgid as ever. Let the

bitch-slappin' begin.

Kraig: The suits at Nintendo must have short-term memory, because they're making some of the same mistakes as before. Not enough games, ignoring the older audience completely, and this time they don't even have a killer-app. It's like they love playing catch-up. A year from now, I’m sure they'll look great, but it's leaving the door wide open for Xbox, and I can't wait to see how they take advantage of the opportunity. Now, back to Halo. Chris: | think you're putting way too much importance on the launch. What really matters is the follow-through. A year ago the PS2 launch was great, but then we suffered a six-month software drought. Jon: The Xbox is so the PS2 of this year. It's got a ton of crap games at launch, so | hope things improve with time like they did for Sony's machine, because it's got a lot of promise as a console. Nintendo's got enough fanboys and diehard followers to keep it afloat until 2010, so I’m not worried about it surviving. | hope to reap the benefits of its staying power in the form of Resident Evils and Soul Calibur 2 on a decent control pad. It'll be interesting to see where the Street Fighter series goes, as I'll probably be following it onto whatever console that is.

Overheard: Actual dialogue from an FGM multiplayer CTF Halo match":

[Game begins]

Shoe (Blue Team): OK, I'm taking the jeep, who's coming?

Greg Sewart: Me. I'm in back.

Crispin Boyer: Wait up!

Shoe: Cool, we can storm them with three guys at once. Cy, hold the fort. Crispin: %$*@...what the *@#@? God #*@Sing...someone’s...damnit someone's #@S$%ing sniping me! [Elapsed game time: 30 seconds] Crispin: Arhghgh! $*@#, I’m dead. @5$%@!!! #5%^ this @#$%!!!

Greg: Get the flag, I'll stay in the jeep. Shoe: ... got the flag—I got their flag! I'm headed out! Meet me out front! [Elapsed game time: 60 seconds] Greg: I’m here, I’m HERE—HURRY UP!

Crispin: All right, | just respawned. Shoe: We're on our way back with their flag, is everything cool?

Crispin: Yeah, there’s...$#%^...#S%ing kakayas sniper...@#@S!!!

[Game begins]

Mark (Red Team): OK, you guys got D? Chris: Yup.

Mark: OK, so let us know if you guys get into any trouble all right?

Art Director Mike Reisel: Yes.

Mark: Cool, Jon let's cruise [Mark and Jon move to the middle of the level] Jon: Hey! We got a...three of them in a jeep on the way into base. I'm sniping... [Elapsed game time: зо seconds]

Jon: I got one. $#%“ing nailed his ass. Mark: Is everything cool at base? Mike/Chris: ...

Mark: ...do they have our flag? Mike/Chris:

[Elapsed game time: 60 seconds] Mark: GUYS?! DO THEY HAVE OUR FLAG? HEL-LO?!?

Chris: ...yeah, they got it.

Mark: What?! %*&! Where the hell were you guys?

Mike: ...we were dead.

Gapture-the-flag match was played 4-on-4, on four networked Xboxes, two players per system, Blood Guich level, 10-second respawn time, Warthog vehicles and radar disabled. And for god's sake, don't curse like Crispin at home. The guy is like a drunken sailor.

241

7. —2) ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA

ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA ING.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer .......... Robert F. Callahan Chief Operating Officer

and Senior Executive Vice President ...............1 Tom McGrade

Executive Vice President and Publishing Director (Business Media)

sad s0d Peter Longo

Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing . . Stephen D. Moylan

Executive Vice President and Editorial Director (Editor-in-Chief, PC Magazine)

+++ Michael J. Miller

Senior Vice President (Circulation) ................. Charles Mast

Vice President (Corporate Sales) ....................| Ken Beach ice Presidentes cepe eq EU John Dodge Wice Presidentes eeo G. Barry Golson (Editor-in-Chief, Yahoo! Internet Life)

Vice President (Chief Information Officer) ............ Kim Hoover Vice Presidenti ЕТ Charles Lee

(Marketing, Integrated Solutions)

Vice President (Internet Business Development) . . . Aimee D. Levine

Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, eWEEK) ............ Eric Lundquist Vice President (Technology) ..................... Bill Machrone Vice President (Controller) ....................... David Mullen Nice presidente O UM Michael Perkowski (Ziff Davis Market Experts)

СЕР ГЕЧЕ ЧК ЖКК UU Tonia E. Ries (Marketing and Brand Development, Business Media)

Vice President (General Counsel) ............ Carolyn Schurr Levin VicelPresden vn NM E EM] Dan Schwartz (Publisher, Ziff Davis SMART BUSINESS)

Vice President UD рз е Sloan Seymour (Publishing Director, Baseline)

Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, Baseline) . . . .Tom Steinert-Threlkeld Vice President (Game Group) ...................... Dale Strang

Vice President (Internet Audience Development) ... .Stephen Sutton

ViceiPresjdenh ren Stephen Veith (Publisher, CIO Insight)

Vice President (Internet Advertising Sales)........... Jason Young Executive Vice President and General Manager, ......... Mark Van Name eTesting Labs

Chief Technical Officer (Internet Operations) ........ Alan Bourassa

Director, Business (Business Media) . . „John Dennehy

Director, Communications ..................... Elizabeth Estroff Director, Manufacturing .......................... Carlos Lugo Director, International ....................... 4 Christin Lawson

February

аш pe

NEXT MONTH

2002 (Issue #150 —-

FINAL FANTASY К! ae

You've read this issue’s FFX preview spectacular. Be sure to come back next month to read our blowout review of the first big game of 2002.

If your console glows green, then you'll also want to check out our big previews of Sega's hip inline skater, Jet Set Radio Future, Capcom's swashbuckling Genma Onimusha and THQ's beat-'em-up, New Legends.

|

content i:

II editori

PlayStation

MAGAZINE

Jan. 2002 Jak and On sale Dec. 11 Daxter

Jan. 2002

On sale Dec. 18

Demo Disc Naughty Dog may • Harry Potter review 5 ave kicked Crash to PS2 Videos the curb, but fear not. (GBC) 1 • Jak and Daxter: The company's Jak • NFL Fever review The Precursor Legacy and Daxter will make (Xbox)

you forget all about the bandicoot.

* Final Fantasy X 4-page preview

Batman Vengeance

Reviewed Next Month:

e Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) e Harry Potter (GBA and PSD

• Max Payne (Xbox)

e Arc the Lad Collection (PS1)

e NHL Hitz 20-02 (Крок)

e Forever Kingdom (PS2)

• Supercross World (PS2)

Previewed Next Month:

• Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox) * Genma Onimusha (Xbox)

* New Legends (Xbox)

e Star Wars Racer Il: Racer Revenge (PS2)

COMPUTER

WORLD

2K1 Holiday Gift Guide CGW has played the year's best games, so don't go shopping without this issue.

At long last, the next entry in one of the

Jan. 2002

On sale Dec. 4

PS one Videos Also Featured: January's issue of re] best PC strategy е с а are Garey PENG fas some af ue the Sorcerer's Stone +r Alliance 4 the most anticipated titles кеп Fas E EE

e Twisted Metal: of 2001. Go behind enemy sati hande SR ookal Small Brawl lines for a massive Metal • Civilization Ш Master Of Orion IIl. • NBA ShootOut 2002 Gear Solid 2: Sons of • Red Alert 2: Yuri's See what all the fuss PS one Playables Liberty review. Plus, a Revenge is Sus great reviews section ey ou know you ? кеа Д includes SSX Tricky, : esent 2 want it. You know Ashley Baldur's Gate: Dark lonopoly Tycoon you can't afford it. * Hot Wheels Extreme Alliance, Smuggler's Run e Independence But you know you Racing 2, Wave Race, Halo and War 2 want to 1800 about e Sesame St. Sports more. Toss in an array Previews Meilen iss * Disney's/Pixar's of codes, news and • Master of Orion Ш — look at the best PC Monsters, Inc. dedicated hand) „ Return To Castle gaming rig that e Sheep Raider coverage, and you're set! Wolfenstein money can buy.

OPGUN

ONE TRIP TO AIR COMBAT SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO FOR ONE FULL DAY OF REAL AIRPLANE DOG FIGHTING.

The Fighter Lead In Program includes 2 flights of approximately one hour each. 1 It is scheduled with a flight in the morning after a one hour brief on tactics and | COMB AT maneuvers and a flight debriefing afterwards. The guest pilot will return to the 7 <] briefing room in the afternoon to prepare for the second mission. At the end of the day, USA _) the guest pilot is awarded a leather flight jacket and nametag with wings and his/her call sign on it. (Trip, training, and accommodations for one night are included.)

THIRD PRIZES

Violence

Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for more info.

"EM v EIDOS | А zuo c Playstatlone

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF DEATH

www.eoegame.com

of Extinction is a trademark of Eidos Interactive. Developed by Yukes Со, Ltd. Yukes and the Yukes Company logo are trademarks of Yukes Co, Ltd. Eidos, Eidos Interactive, and the Eidos Interactive logo are all registered trademarks of Eidos Interactive, 92001 Eidos Interactive, Inc. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. All rights

u

Dominate the court with precise pick-n-roll plays. Blow by all defenders ` with crossovers, spins and jukes. And stun your opponents with all-new

alley-oops and dunks. -

There are worse things than missing the game-winning free throw.

Like having to call your roommate "Daddy" for a week.

Made with love by:

<ELRUMAG-

Our goal iS to preserve classic video дате magazines so that they аге not lost permanently:

People interested in helping Out in any capacity; please visit us at retromags-com:

No profit is made from these scans, nor do we offer anything available from) the publishers themselves:

Ifyou come across anyone Selling releases from this site) please do not support them and do let us know:

Thank you!