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CONTENTS

May 2003, Issue 166

Game Directory |

88 1080? Avalanche

96 Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction 132 All-Star Baseball 2004

113 Amplitude

78 Armored Core: Silent Line

126 Army Men: Sarge's War

78 Big Mutha Truckers

92 Васко

114 Clock Tower 3

76 Color Quest

44 Def Jam: Vendetta

90 Deus Ex 2: The Invisible War 116 Dynasty Warriors 4 = 100 Enter the Matrix № page 100 76 Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick

= жалы шише Down 68 Final Fantasy X-2 | Monsters Melee the Rabbit мене

138 Golden Sun 2: Тһе Lost Age Let’s face facts. Games based on popular movie franchises usually fall 48 Halo2 way short of the standards set by their film counterparts. We were given an exclusive backstage pass to see how Enter the Matrix is

Departments

© Editorial 12 @ Letters 20 (9 Press Start 32

You've been pleading for more Halo 2 information, and now we deliver. Also read our news section to find out why Microsoft’s Xbox fighter, Kakuto Chojin, was pulled from store shelves.

@) Gossip 56

Not only do we start to unravel the mystery of Yuna’s journey in Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)—we also dish out the first details on the PS2 sequel to Jak and Daxter. Plus,

132 Furious Karting 132 Godzilla: Destroy All

or sa Uta trying to change all that. Take your pills and come join us. read about Xbox sci-fi shooter

126 Ikaruga Black 9, X2: Wolverine’s

136 Inuyasha Revenge, Deus Ex 2, and a remake 74 Јак2 № page 32 of the Dreamcast game Sonic

Adventure for GameCube.

Review Crew 112 Check out how Splinter Cell holds

42 Kakuto Chojin

Ж ня - 84 Lost Kingdoms И Definitely

113 MLB SlugFest 20-04 113 MVP Baseball 2003

118

139 126

NBA Street Vol. 2 Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Primal

Ms. Croft is taking her sweet ol’ time transitioning to life on the Ps2.

up оп Р52, and if Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are good enough to make you wanna “Catch 'em all.” We also evaluate ZOE2, NBA Street

Our hands-on preview checks out how Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is shaping up.

Vol. 2, Clock Tower 3, and Dynasty Warriors 4.

Q Tricks 144

Get the lowdown on all the Dark Cloud 2 supporting characters, and find out how to unlock the secret cars in The Getaway.

132 Red Faction И

98 Rent-A-Hero No.1

136 Run Like Hell

128 Sims, The

96 Soldier of Fortune Il: Double Helix 136 Sonic Advance 2

82 Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut

Y Which Def Jam: Vendetta moves were toned down because they were considered too raunchy? Don't you wanna 98 Starsky & Hutch know... Find out on page 44. 134 State of Emergency

136 Super Puzzle Fighter ІІ Turbo

st of the Lotus

120 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

32 Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness 134 UFCTapout2

78 Unlimited Saga

96 Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray

88 Wario World 130 WWE Crush Hour 70 X2:Wolverine's Revenge

> Read everything you need to know about this year's fine crop of baseball games before making

meme Е @ The Final Word 148

[PPTTI PITI 3

134 Tao Feng:

124 Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Printed in the U.S.A.

10

EDITORIAL

Let's all 80 0 the movies...

$50 videogame. A $10 movie ticket. What happens when you combine the two? You get a wallet that’s $60 lighter, that’s what. But nowadays, you also get a totally new experi- ence—a sum-is-greater-than-its-parts sorta thing. Take The Matrix. If you see the next two the- atrical releases without paying any attention to the videogame Enter the Matrix, you're gonna blow right past a big chunk of the cyberthriller mythos. “Big deal,” you say. “I’m gonna miss out on some movie characters shooting up enemies in a game with a half-baked plot line." Well, smartypants, read our cover story to see how the directors of the movies intentionally crafted the Matrix story line to weave through the flicks, the upcoming Animatrix DVD, and the videogame. Later this summer, you'll get to see The Hulk on the big screen. You'll also get to play The Hulk videogame. Why will you want to do both? I don't want to spoil anything here, but those who watch the movie very carefully will get to do things in the game that others won't. Now that videogames are a $10 billion-a-year industry, you'll see a lot of arranged marriages between Hollywood films and their interactive counterparts. And why not? It's fantastic for mar- keting (you don't have to try very hard to sell a Lord of the Rings videogame) and half the cre- ative work is done for you (though that's not really a good thing...).

By Dan "Shoe" Hsu

My only hope is that developers have out- grown the movie-to-game funk of the '8os and "905. Remember the crap that was Home Alone, Dragonheart, and Batman & Robin? (You proba- bly don't, as playing these would've permanently damaged areas of your brain.) Now, movie games aren't all terrific, but they're certainly get- ting better, and the more Hollywood pays atten- tion to them, the more resources developers will get to create a great experience.

Speaking of damaged brains, l’d like to say good-bye to one of the hardest working editors in the biz: Greg Sewart. Sadly, he really did have to go back to Canada. We'll miss you, Greg.

We have a fresh crew in place, though. Please say hello to Joe *ex-GameSpot" Fielder, Demian "ex-Incite" Linn, Bryan “ex-GameWEEK and should be spelling his name “Вгіап” Intihar, Paul “ех Daily Radar" Byrnes, and Shawn "ex-nothing par- ticularly exciting but he was a teacher" Elliott. None of these guys is Canadian, but they're still damned talented.

On another note, if there's ever a time when you need to trust me, it's now. MAKE SURE you check out the next issue (EGM #167). Not only will we have one of the coolest exclusives ever, but this will be our totally new, totally redesigned relaunch issue. What should you expect to see? Come back in 30 days to find out.

—Shoe, Editor-in-Chief

Greg Sewart

Before the INS dragged longtime EGM Previews Editor Greg Sewart back to his Canadian homeland, he reviewed one more 2 game while hiding in our crawl space.

Jon Dudlak

The guy behind our Splinter Cell review and crossword could work anywhere, but he chose to run a factory so your children and children's children will have paper tubes.

Jon Gibson

In no way related to Neuromancer scribe William Gibson, Jon is a very tall, very young freelancer who wrote a very short story on game commercials in Press Start.

Casey Loe

Who better to review Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire for us than the industry vet who wrote its strategy guide? Hey you, Pikachu, you are this man’s little yellow bitch.

Seanhahy

Would it warm your heart to know that this humor writer was born with only one lung? It’s not true. But he does review some very special games in Rest of the Crap (pg. 140).

Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine Todd Zuniga, Chris Baker, Sam Kennedy, and John Davison can review a PS2 game from 300 paces. Funny: That’s exactly how far they sit from our side of the office.

GameNOW

Guest reviewers Carrie Shepherd, Ethan Einhorn, Phil Theobald, and Miguel Lopez J^ put together a magazine with more heart, BE wit, and Yu-Gi-Oh! coverage than anybody.

GMR

Like extra cash? No? Then avoid EB stores, where you can subscribe to GMR for $10 and get 10 percent off used games. It’s the home of reviewer James “Milkman” Mielke.

Xbox Nation

Microsoft says the Xbox is potent enough to create its own mag. Well, they’re right, but reviewers Evan Shamoon and Greg Orlando are there to push the Start button.

Computer Gaming World Ma The Ancients say that inside every console

1 you'll find a “computer.” So we appease the old gods by letting Computer Gaming World's Scooter Nguyen review Golden Sun.

12 - www.egmm

ELECTRONIC GAMING

= MONTHLY

Number 166 May 2003

WWW.egmmag.com

Editor-In-Chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu * shoe@ziffdavis.com Executive Editor Mark MacDonald * mark macdonald&ziffdavis.com Managing Editor Jennifer Tsao * jennifer tsao@ziffdavis.com Features Editor Crispin Boyer * crispin_boyer@ziffdavis.com News Edi Chris" Previews Editor Joe Fielder * joe fielderGziffdavis.com Reviews Editor

Johnston * chris johnstonGziffdavis.com

Shane! * shane beitenhausendfidavis сот Editor-at-Large

Demian Linn « demian_linn@ziffdavis.com Associate Editor Production Designer.

Paul Byrnes * paul_bymes@ziffdavis.com Associate Editor

‘Bryan Intihar * bryan_intihar@ziffdavis.com Associate Editor

Shawn Elliott » shawn_elliott@ziffdavis.com Tricks Editor

David Hodgson • tricks@ziffdavis.com

‘Ant Director. ‘Monique Martinez « monique_martinez@ziffdavis.com Associate Art Director Stefan Belavy « stefan. belavyGziffdavis.com.

Copy Chief Kristen Salvatore * kristen_salvatore@ziffdavis.com Copy Editors. Greg Ford * greg fordGziffdavis.com. Tom "T-bone" Edwards » tom edwardsGriffdavis com.

Contributors. Scott Steinberg, Seanbaby, Jonathan Dudlak, Jon Gibson, Scooter Nguyen, James Mielke, Sam Kennedy, Chris Baker, Todd Zuniga, John Davison, Miguel Lopez, Greg Orlando, Ethan Einhorn, Carrie Shepherd, Casey Loe, Charles Ernst, Norm Scott, Cyril Wochok, Greg Sewart

International Editor John Ricciardi Japanese Correspondent

‘Yutaka Ohbuchi

Manufacturing Director Carlos Lu

‘Senior Production Manager ‘Anne Marie Miguel

Art Production Manager Michele Kellogg-Manousos

Production Manager ‘Monica Brent

Assistant Production Manager Teresa Newson

Vice President/Game Group Dale Strang

Editorial Director John Davison

Creative Director ‘Simon Cox

Business Director Cathy Bendoff

Senior Newsstand Sales Manager Don Galen

Group Circulation Director Tracy Schultz

Single-Copy Sales Director Bob Kerekes

Internet and Partnership Marketing Director Chris Wilkes. Advertising inquiries Contact: Game Group 301 and Street, 8th floor, San Francisco, CA 94205 Telephone: 415-547-8783

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DO NOT CONTACT THE EDITORS RE: SUB. PROBLEMS

Group Publisher Lee Uniacke

415-357-4910 * lee_uniacke@ziffdavis.com Group Associate Publisher

Stan Taigen

425-357-4935 * stan taigen@ziffdavis.com

KEY ACCOUNTS WEST Regional Sales Manager

Marci Yamaguchi

415-357-4944 * marci yamaguchi@ziffdavis.com Account Executive

Amy Mishra

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Mary Gr 415-547 взу sray@zifidavis.com

435-357-4925 * aaron_gallion@zifidavis.com MIDWEST Regional Sales Manager

Marc Callison

630-810-4095 marc_callison@ziffdavis.com Account Executive

Candace Droz

435.357.4920 * candace drorG@ziffdavis.com

т

Regional Sales Manager

lan Sinclair

203-255-5795 * ian sinclair@riffdavis.com ‘Account Executive

Mary Letson

415-357-5226 * mary letsontziffdavis.com. SOUTHWEST District Sales Mi

Julie Knapp.

310-379-4313 * julie. knapp@ziffdavis.com Account Executive.

Emily Olman

415-547-8781 * emily olmandziffdavis.com.

Online Sales

Bill Young * 415-547-8453 Marketing Director

Rey Ledda

415-547-8775 * rey_ledda@ziffdavis.com ‘Marketing Coordinator

‘Wayne Shiu

415-547-8248 * wayne_shiu@ziffdavis.com Senior Advertising Coordinator

Tipler Ubbelohde

435-357-4930 * tipler ubbelohde@ziffdavis.com Senior Sales Assistant

Kristeen Laut

425-547-8778 * kristeen_laut@ziffdavis.com Sales Assistant

‘Amanda Nelson

415-547-8783 * amanda. nelson@ziffdavis.com

Founder Steve Harris

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©2003 Core Design Limited. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider and Core are registered trademarks of Core Design Ltd. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, the Tomb Raider logo and the Core Design logo are trademarks of Core Design Ltd. Eidos Interactive and

PlayStation.e

the anget of darkness `

Jo are trademarks of the Eidos Group of Companies. All rights reserved. "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.

MATURE BLOOD

VIOLENCE

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

"Enclave" interactive game ©2003 Conspiracy Entertainment Corp. ©2003 Starbreeze Studios AB/icensed by Swing! Entertainment Media AG. Al rights reserved, Enclave, Conspiracy Entertainment, and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Conspiracy Entertainment Corporation inthe US and/or other countries. Published and distributed by Black Label Games, Inc. Al rights reserved. Vivendi Universal Games, the Vivendi Universal Games logo, Black Label Games, and the Black Label Games logo are trademarks of Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. in the U.S, and/or other countries.

ЙІНЕ BATTLE LINE BETWEETI

ЕПСІАУЕСА ТЕ. СОТ

Congratulations, Dameon Willich, if that is your real name. You win a copy of either NBA Street Vol. 2 (Р52) or Splinter Cell (PS2), our game of the month co-hon- orees. Or you could probably have the old copy of the D&D Monster Manual that's been lying around the office.

OUTRAGED

HANDBAGS AT DAWN

Regarding the “Knights of the Kitchen Table” box in EGM #163 [pg. 90]—nor- mally Га shrug it off, but since it’s con- ceivable that someone reading the article could be a prospective client, | can't let Chris Baker's statements (calling the Seattle Knights a “band of freaks in armor that attends Renaissance Faires,” and “guys who teach themselves to fight in their par- ents’ basements,” for example) pass without comment. While I’m glad Mr. Baker is of the opinion that we “at least know what they’re doing,” the blurb was at best condescending, and at worst, actively damaging to our pro- essional reputation. Mr. Baker's com-

LETTER OF THE MONTH

ture, and live theater. We spent years learning to safely perform our craft, and we get paid to do it. None of us taught ourselves to do this in our par- ents’ basements. I'd like to see а retraction/apology in your next letters or editorial page.

at your magazine.

Mark MacDonald: НІ Hater

I've had faith in your magazine for a long time! I’ve read each issue front to back! | even created a Dan Hsu shrine out of extra EGM issues I had lying around! But when I saw the horrible, biased, and revolting score for Zelda by that jerk Mark MacDonald, | vomited! A 9.5? How much money did Microsoft and Sony shove into your wallet, you biased, horrible, and revolting score- giver! U r teh making me angrie!!1!

You should be fired...for your name alone! | mean c'mon, *MacDonald"? Ha! And another thing, you only gave the review five pages! Five? It deserves at least ten, or fifteen!

| will now burn every single EGM |

ments are uncalled for, and reflect badly on the level of professionalism

Dameon Willich

Director, Seattle Knights

ironwolfeGseattleknights.com

I'm glad Mr. Baker got a “good augh" out of our website. It is intend- ed to entertain the casual browser as well as inform prospective clients. If e had investigated further, he might have discovered that The Seattle nights is a real theater troupe that trains professional, certified actor- combatants and stunt people, many of whom have performed stunt work in films, television, video, motion cap-

own, and I’ll never look at another one again until you apologize for every good score you gave to Xbox and PS2! You all make me sick! Jon—An ex-EGM fan MetroidHunter89@aol.com

We've received, oh, let’s say one ог two e-mails about Mark’s Zelda score. Mark responds to all the fan- boys, with signature restraint:

Dear а******5, In the interests of space, allow me to point out just three of the countless holes in your “argument”:

1) When we write our reviews, we don’t consider what award a game might ultimately get (or not get)— по one even knows the other

Sounds like someone’s historically accurate banded mail is chafing in all the wrong places. Former Previews Editor Greg Sewart added many of those comments to Chris Baker’s text, which is kind of funny when you think about it, seeing as how Sewart’s now safely out of harm’s way, up in Canada. Have fun storming the castle!

I'm writing to tell you guys some- thing | noticed while | was play- ing Resident Evil Zero. If | am not mistaken, Billy’s tattoo says “MAKE LOVE.” Just thought you should know. Chad Lewis

Good work, Chad, that's Some top-quali- ty sleuthing. Will it be a Trivial Pursuit question in 10 years? No.

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 20 - www.egmmag.com

7. -Ð ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Robert F. Callahan

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer Bart W. Catalane

Senior Executive Vice President (Publishing Operations) Тот McGrade

Executive Vice President Stephen D. Moylan

Executive Vice President and Editorial Director Michael J. Miller

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Gregory Barton

Senior Vice President (Technology and Sales Operations) Jasmine Alexander

Senior Vice President (Finance) Derek Irwin

Senior Vice President (Circulation) Charles Mast

Senior Vice President (Publishing Director, Baseline) Sloan Seymour

Senior Vice President (Game Group) Dale Strang

Senior Vice President (Internet) Jason Young

Vice President (Corporate Sales) Ken Beach

Vice President (Publisher, PC Magazine) Tim Castelli

Vice President (Integrated Media) Charles Lee

Vice President (Corporate Communications) Aimee D. Levine

Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, Internet) Jim Louderback

Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, eWEEK) Eric Lundquist

Vice President (Editorial Development) Bill Machrone

Vice President (Controller) David Mullen

Vice President (Human Resources) Beth Repeta

Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, Baseline) Tom Steinert-Threlkeld.

Vice President (Internet Audience Development) Stephen Sutton

Vice President (Publisher, C/O Insight) Stephen Veith

Senior Director, Manufacturing Carlos Lugo

Director, International Christin Lawson

Bagel Rites Satisties hunger for

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LETTERS

reviewers’ scores until they settle on their own.

2) We received your bitchy letters mid-February. The game comes out mid-March. You haven’t even played it yet. You have no idea if my score is too low, too high, or right on the money. (And by the way, it’s right on the money.)

3) Go to hell.

You can write 101 2nd Street, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 | 3 E-mail: EGM@ziffdavis.com Please note: We reserve the right to edit any correspondence for clarity or space purposes. If you don't want your name, city/state, e-mail address, or boxer/brief preference printed, better mention that somewhere.

about beating him up? | would really appreciate it. Thanks. vdeogamegrl@aol.com

My boyfriend is a voice in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and | want everyone to look for him and run him over, beat him with a nightstick, or whatever method you prefer. He’s one of the blond guys that hang around the hotel. He has no shirt on and his swimming trunks are red. So, how

I think The Bouncer (PS2) was the best game ever! You should give ita higher score. Rouse

Gaming | was just reading a recent issue of EGM, and it strikes me odd that people say “the gaming industry has matured” just because a bunch of games where you hurt things and they squirt blood have come out. How is that mature exactly? GTA

games are as far from maturity as

| they come. Things are so parodied

| that they become unreal and even car- toonish! Zelda: The Wind Waker is “not grown up enough” for many gamers, and yet it’s very mature. The game is so serious that the develop- ers want you to feel the things Link feels. So please, Га prefer if the words "gaming has matured" do not cross my eyes again.

DeathBuu@aol.com pense 0 Disc ensate | dropped by my local Electronics Boutique today to pick up a couple of new games. | specifically asked for new nweit; copies of both (no one seems to under- stand that DVDs are much more sensi- alov tive to dirt and scratches than CDs). However, when | got home | noticed that one of them was in some kind of ghetto shrink-wrap, and was missing the security seal stickers along the sides. The disc was in obviously used shape, with little splotches and dings on the media side of the DVD. | headed back to EB and called them on it, and they exchanged the disc for a | I гсато new опе. | thought the whole thing was a bit odd, so | did some checking online when | got home. Apparently, most е I less major retail chains do this— selling ] 1 e some what they consider *good condition" 1 used games as if they were new. le d Ben Lincoln

EB and other retailers will reshrink- foi X vera wrap returned games and sell them as | new, which isn’t so bad, really. That's probably what happened. Any retailer | selling used games as new, though, is е, Si d Tails | cruisin’ for а bruisin’ from the suit- less IS very Т I | wearing thugs at the Better Business lael Barke | Bureau. They'll mess ya up, spread- | sheet style!

“AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN ЭТНЕ EVOLUTION,DE, OF GAMING...” ВАГ MAGAZINE

№. “WE GUARANTEE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT” ~ -GAME INFORMER MAGAZINE = г) ы

THE PLAYSTATION®2 GREATEST HIT IS NOW COMING TO THE XBOX™ WITH ALL NEW MULTIPLAYER MODES

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Site сіБтеделеу даша. © 2003 VIS Entertainment Plc State of Emergency and the State of Emergency logo arp tradomarks of VIS Entertainment Plc. Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are же (атала ‘of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo tered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment ine. Microsoft, XBox and the XBox logo аге either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and / or other countries.

"MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE FOR BOTH XBOX™ AND PLAYSTATION® GREATEST HITS

же

LETTERS

WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?

MISSING AN ISSUE? SUBSCRIPTION DELAYED? DODGY TICKER? Don't tell us, we've got games to play, words to write, and windows to stare out. Tell our subscription people—they wanna know!

E-mail: subhelp@egmmag.com

Phone toll-free: (800) 779-1174

Website: http://service.egmmag.com

Snail mail: Р.О. Box 55722; Boulder, CO 80322-5722

Getting to Know: Brett Isaacoff

You should designate a little section in each issue for readers to send in pic- tures and a little bio of themselves. I'll start ya off. Аде: 15 Likes: Dir en Grey (а Japanese goth band— Google it] Dislikes: All the hype Kingdom Hearts got. It's not that great of a game! Interesting Fact: | play bagpipes.

Brett Isaacoff

OK, enjoy it now because we proba- bly aren't going to do this again. The picture was just too funny. And the Dir en Grey part. And the bagpipes.

Vin Diesel Dissed

| admire how you sought to support Dan Hsu's editorial in EGM #165 with a real-life example. Despite an inter- view with "celebri- ty gamer" Vin Diesel and his appearance on the front cover,

Got some ideas about how the next-generation PlayStation, GameCube, or Xbox might look? We bet you do. Put pen to paper (or crayon, if you must—or Adobe Illustrator, best-case sce- nario) and send your prototype

Sketches by April 16, 2003 to:

EGM/Next-gen Systems 101 2nd Street, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105

Or e-mail files to egm@ziff- davis.com, subject: Next-gen Systems. The best ones will be published! That's it. That's the prize. Stop reading this already.

later in the issue, you said his movie was "horrible," gave the game version of xXx a Tobie Award for “сгаршепсе,” and likened Vin Diesel's acting skills to those of a chair. There is no doubt left that the reviewers at EGM have com- plete journalistic freedom; | am glad my favorite magazine is not a sellout. I

1 love the cross- word puzzles in the mag, but I would like to point out a glar- ing error in EGM

#1655 puzzle. just won't expect many celebrity gamer The clue for 35- i “i с «E

“ interviews anytime soon, unless it's down says, “Take Е d one to stop the Elijah Wood or Keanu Reeves.

clock in Madden David Binkley

2003" and the

answer is Yeah...could you do us a solid? Don't "knee." What?! tell Vin's people about that one. And Take a knee to turn to page 51 for some Elijah Wood stop the clock? action. By the way, Keanu Reeves Whena quarter kinda has that chair thing happen- back takes a 4

knee it is ing, too.

because һе is trying to run out

Mom's Pissed

the clock, not | couldn’t believe your Final Word in stop it. What EGM #163! You think it will be five years would John or more until 30- to 40-year-old moms Madden say... become interested in gaming? Mark

and would it be even remotely coherent?

Jason Dunfee

says, “The systems are already in their houses for their kids...” Excuse me, but I'm а 32-year-old mother of four, and we have every new console system,

Oops. including GBA. But guess what! None of my kids are old enough to play! | buy the systems and games for myself, and

| SHORTS | play them until people start throwing their hands up in dismay. And yeah, |

Has Japanese like Animal Crossing and The Sims, but

illustrator my favorite games are the ones I’m not

Yoshitaka supposed to like: World Series Baseball

Amano ever and NASCAR Thunder.

TAE A 30-something mom doesn't have to

be a washed-up, boring old loser. A lot of us do have our priorities straight! Don't underestimate us—or our influ- ence on the gaming market.

Heather Deshaies

artwork? I love the stuff he does for the Final Fantasy series, and | was won- dering if | could

somehow get a Snap! Hey, we’re behind you 110%,

hold of all his but honestly, how many of your gal Du ре pals play videogames? That’s not а

2, ces rhetorical question. We asked the Rim Shot Internet and it DOA: Xtreme Beach Volleyball? More said “why, like Asleep or Awake: Xtreme yes.” Go to Narcoleptic Boring Ball. Ha. amanosworld Gillott „сот for all ist ис Ba-dum, tissh! But have you tried

the nude code yet? #%

Electronic Gaming Monthly - 24 - www.egmmag.com

QUESTION

of the Moment

What game franchise should he retired for the good of all humanity?

Mega Man. Is Capcom trying to see how many prequels-to-the-sequel-side-story- spin-off-director's-cut-remixed-editions they can make of Mega Man each month?! evil chocolate penguinG yahoo.com

For the love of God, somebody stop Turok. These worthless pieces of crap can proba- bly be blamed for every major internation- al conflict since the franchise started. Fuzzy

The Dragon Ball Z franchise must end! Not only does the show suck (weird people acting constipated and shooting farts out of their palms), but the only half-decent game they've made is Budokai.

Zak M.

For the love of Pete, the Army Men fran-

chise. Send Sarge and his heroes to the

grave with a tiny firecracker, sandbox-style! Alex Dugan

Someone please "finish" Mortal Kombat. The novelty wore off some time ago. MK is the Police Academy of videogames. Actually, | wouldn't mind playing a Mortal Kombat game with characters from Police Academy. Something about ripping out Steve Guttenberg's spine appeals to me.... Babelfishg@aol.com

Zelda. Nintendo’s decline in quality games from Nintendo 64 to GameCube has become blatantly apparent. | mean, two 105 and a 9.5 just don’t cut it these days. P.S. Just kidding!

Thomas Lynch

No offense to Resident Evil fans, but it’s getting kind of ridiculous. It’s like they add another game to the Resident Evil series every day. Please make it stop! Mark Marchitto

Definitely Tomb Raider. | think everyone has seen enough of her. And having a new black shirt and bigger boobs just isn’t cut- ting it. Sorry Lara, but you have to go. Ryan Chambers

Final Fantasy. Am | the only one that doesn’t like those games? Nice hair. Evan Trask

Next Month’s Question of the Moment:

Well, there isn’t one...at least not yet. Question of the Moment is joining the 21st century and going online! Woo! Each month we'll post a question on our message board (hit www.egmmag.com and you can’t miss it), and then we'll stand back as the magic happens!

GameSpy 2002 PS2 Game of the Year!

“A rare must own title.” -EGM, Editors Choice Gold Award

“Funny, smart, richly entertaining and superbly crafted.” -OPM, 5/5

Bi “Still the Best!" -батеРго, 5/5

2002 Best Alternative Sports Game of the Year PS2, Xbox and GameCube.

“Топу Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is easily the best game in the series..." -IGN.com

| И THE CRITICS HAVE SPOKEN...

Featuring songs by N.W.., Offspring, and System of a Down.

Official Strategy Guide available from Brady Games.

* Online play exclusive to PlayStatior2 computer entertainment system.

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All new tricks - skitch behind 14 of the world's top pros New multiplayer and online modes cars, skate on moving objects, challenge you to prove including Score Challenge and and transfer over spines. your skills. Capture the Flag!" 4 X €; GAME BOY ADVANCE Vicarious ө ЖЕЗ ағышы. ар

‘Compatible with PlayStation® game console and compatible with PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

Comic Mischief Mild Lyrics Suggestive Themes

registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association, All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. дспизонет сом

PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system screenshots shown.

CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

H әс LN з à ë s S Ñ Ú m: he txredrock.comil

в шы”.

4 [| THEATERS] ша Blood

Violence

М CONTENT RATED BY www.wolverinesrevenge.com ESRB

Confront your past at the Weapon Х facility, using your claws, combo attacks and accelerated healing powers in action and stealth scenarios.

Enter the Realm of Senses, using your heightened mutant senses to see scent particles and detect heat when tracking enemies.

Face off with Sabretooth, Wendigo; Juggernaut” and Magneto,” while Professor X" and Beast" help you search for an antidote to save your life.

тм

It’s THE ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE.

MARVEL ACTIVISION.

Screenshots taken from PlayStation'2 computer entertainment system gameplay. activision.com X2 Motion Picture Elements: © 2003 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. MARVEL, X-MEN, Wolverine and all Marvel characters and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc, and are used with permission. Copyright © 2003. АИ rights reserved. wwwmarvel.com. Game code © 2003 Activision, Inc. and its affiliates. Published and distributed by Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision, Inc. and its ` affiliates, АП rights reserved. Licensed for play on the PlayStation" 2 computer entertainment systems with the NTSC U/C designation only. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 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. ТМ, & Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nintendo, © 2001 Nintendo. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Al other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

www.koeigames,com

жө? ғ Д $ P. ў т Mild Language E INTENT RATED BY

Violence

PlayStation.e ЕЗ

Duas 2 WARRIORS ?

Tactical Action Without Equal! | е Play over 50 stages across 17 unique maps | & Giant siege engines: battering rams, catapults, and bridge layers | 87 Fierce new one-on-one duels

8% Create your own officers and bodyguards

87 New character-specific special attacks

82 Brand-new Weapon Upgrade System

Kingdom Play! Select a new general for each stage in Musou Mode 82 3 brand-new officers for over 40 playable characters

MARCH 2003

The Warriors Return, and the Battle Rages On... Arenele eg ends. niunt Now

DW3 Play XTREME LEGENDS Бу itself or with Dynasty Warriors 3 to power up the original with REMIX!!! new XL features. Memory Card data is fully compatible between both games. —— #4 Baan iones $

Will Lara Croft's first PS2 game resurrect Tomb Raider fervor? We dig up what's new...and whether it's really improved

t was an unlikely scene for a murder con- | spiracy, especially since the victim was а celebrity. But deadly deeds were planned at 2 Roundhouse Road, an ordinary brick-and- glass building within an office park nestled in the sparse English countryside. Here, inside a dim but airy room coated with tacked-up story- boards and filled with humming workstations, more than a dozen people plotted the assassi- nation of the woman who paid their salaries. They were going to kill Lara Croft. That was three years ago, when artists, pro- grammers, and designers for Tomb Raider developer Core Design crafted the series’

fourth game, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. _acters...but Core never delivered,” says Luis Adrian Smith. “We didn’t want to have to go

At the time, the team was winding down the Cunha, head of Lara mega-fan site The Croft into much history and what she’d been doing.” PS1 Raider games and prepping Lady Croft for Times (www.cubeit.com/ctimes). Now, on the eve of its mid-May PS2 debut, her next-generation PlayStation 2 adventures, So Core ended The Last Revelation by crush- the Tomb Raider franchise has reached a turn- amidst grumbles that each new installment — ing our heroine under rubble, leaving fans to ing point: Lara’s new game, Tomb Raider: The churned out every year since the series’ 1996 wonder if she was a goner. This wasn’t a heat- Angel of Darkness, will either heat her series debut—was too much of the same ol’ shoot- of-the-moment murder; it was premeditated. “It up again or lack the necessary spark. All long- and-climb formula. “Everybody asked for more gave a clean break, so we could start [her PS2] in-the-tooth franchises face this situation. Just interaction with the environment and its char- game fresh,” says Core Development Director ask Crash Bandicoot. But the folks at Core