a E

defeat the Falcon. You'll love adventuring as Stuart Little through 7 big levels and 12 mini-games, including

driving his roadster, flying his biplane and, of course, enjoying some awesome skateboard action. It's the. H " CN . A "e liu,

Big Apple. You're the size of a small apple. This isn't going to be easy. ; AN

EVERYONE

E! s Y i t; E COLUMBIA[ t i BeTuRES |

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. www.playstation.com

pov?

RATING PENDING = Visit www.esrb.org

or call 1-800-771-3772 M S/N for more info. i wa

002 THQ Inc. Toxic Grind, THO and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox ss are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.

4 io

[ |

ONAIR ;

— € — Há

Mhe BLAS

www- Thq-com/ Toxtegrtnd www.thq.com

()

BEST PS2 ADVENTURE GAME E3 2002 - IGN

The evil Nobunaga's demon warriors wreak

havoc across feudal Japan. A noble young warrior, Jubei, returns home to find his once- vibrant village laid to waste by Nobunaga's monstrous minions. Fueled by vengeance, Jubei embarks on an epic quest; one which

will reveal his ultimate destiny.

On this magical journey, you must earn the

respect of confidants to help the valiant Jubei battle demons, hideous bosses, and overcome ingenious puzzles. Only then

will you defeat the pillaging hordes.

Violence Blood and Gore

PlayStation.e

CAPCOM CO.. LTD. 2002 CCAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2002. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM logo are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. ONIMUSHA P-- is a trademark of CAPCOM CO.. LTD. Character Yagyu Jubei by C Yusaku Matsuda Office Saku. Characters: CCROWD/OCAPCOM CO. LTD. 2002. "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 —

WHAT’S FOOTBALL WITHOUT THE BLITZ?

EVERYONE

€ Violence X Conten RATED BY XeOO»x ESRB

NFL BLITZ v. 20-03 + 2002 Midway Am the National Football Le

PlayStation.2

GAME BOY ADVANCE

nes, LUC. Used by permission. © 2002 NFLP. Team names and logos are trademarks of the teams indicated. All other (HFL-related marks) are trademarks uf m © 2002 Players luc. Used by permission. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

20g. * NEW Create-a-Player. Name, number ; height, weight, pads and abilities — your alter ego never had it so good

* NEW Updated rosters, uniforms and stadiums — including the Houston Texans e NEW Fantasy stadiums in amazing locales and incredible fantasy players

Es ano

PLAYERS E

MIDWAYSPORTS.NET

Control of the Earth > is Still Undecided...

Violence

Exclusively

PlayStation.e

L ? FROM SOFTWARE "

COVER STORY 38 GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY

You know you want it — fast, shiny cars, skinny ties, pastel Suites, "catchy" tunes, drug money, and seriously questionable hairstyling. It's all there in our groundbreaking first look at the massive addition to Grand Theft Auto. Vice City, baby!

NUNU]

EINFORMER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURE ONLINE GAMING

The first battle of the console wars was launching the systems, the next will be over our Internet connections. Microsoft is showing dial-up the back door, while Sony is laying out the welcome mat to any connection. Nintendo looks to be eyeing up the competition and letting the powerhouses play guinea pig to the masses before it commits. Which of the

holy trinity should rule the roost?

ONCE UPON A TIME..

MIDWAY STEEL FAR OUTWEIGHED THE VALUE OF GOLD. www.midway.com

| | PlayStation.e

Lec ION

| [EXCAL LIBUR. :

EPIC ACTION LETS YOU SLASH YOUR WAY CAST MIGHTY SPELLS AS MERLIN, INTENSE STRATEGY IS THE KEY TO VICTORY TO VICTORY AS KING ARTHUR, WHO WIELDS THWARTING EVIL WITH MAGIC AS THE AS YOUR TROOPS LAY SIEGE TO ENEMY EXCALIBUR IN A RUTHLESS CRUSADE LEGEND UNFOLDS WITH LEGION’S FORTRESSES AND HELP RESTORE GLORY TO THROUGH HEROIC BATTLES. ROLE-PLAYING EXPERIENCE.

THE KINGDOM OF CAMELOT. LIVE THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR.

Sneak Preview@www.legion.midway.com

PlayStation.

EDITOR'S FORUM Leading Edge. Game Informer is offi- cially the man-on-top, but what prover- bial carrots are dangling ahead to keep it this way?

GI SPY The Game Informer paparazzi stalks the video game industry, bringing you candid photos of all the action.

DEAR GI Sex, Lies, and Video Games: smut or an example of journalistic integrity? Discuss. Also, the GI staff doesn't smile because of Sony's butt (or, how one reader answers another's ques- tion).

NEWS Sega's in the black and getting ready to blow some extra cash, if rumors hold true. The Rock and Rockstar get movie deals. Xbox II? Yep. Find out what else Microsoft wants to monopo- lize in your living room.

PREVIEWS The big boys are starting to show up for the madcap pre-holiday fun with appearances by B.C., thieving Sly Cooper, the origins of Umbrella

12 GAMEINFORMER

(Resident Evil 0), Tomb Raider, and everyone's favorite finishing move, Mortal Kombat.

REVIEWS Check out our feelings on the latest batch of anti-social-behavior-inducers with painfully in-depth reviews of SOCOM: US Navy SEALs, Onimusha 2,

Super Mario

Sunshine, Dead to Rights, and more football games than should rightfully be in the same place at the same

time.

trading your goods, and sucking every last bit of strategy from the fighting engine.

SECRET ACCCESS Gl's legendary codebreakers unleash a fierce torrent of codes and tips, peek- ing under Spider-Man's pajamas and showing you his underwear.

CLASSIC Gi GTA2 is no Vice City, but it does have Kill Frenzy missions

tion in each level. We show you

how to raise the violence exponen- tially and even throw in a few

à codes for fun. Mighty Final Fight,

Plok, and a couple others get the review treatment from the

gaming encyclopedia called

, Classic Gl.

ETC

CHARTS What's hot? What's not? What's up? What's down? It's not NASDAQ, it's the Retail Sales Data and the GI editors' Top 10

Games. Whip your sorry equipment into PLAY TO a frenzy of individualism by PERFECTION Ba, slapping on a sticker or ship-

An epic game like Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny deserves an epic strategy guide. GI gives

you the sweet and lowdown on making friends, dealing with enemies,

ping the prized possession off to a total stranger. Either that 4 or play with some monkey

balls.

GAME INDEX

Game

Aero the Acrobat Aggressive Inline (GC) . . . Aggressive Inline (Xbox) . Armored Core 3 Austerlitz:

Napoleon's Greatest Victory . . Bu deuote o MEAE Beach Spikers f Big Mutha Truckers . BloodRayne Bruce Lee:

Quest of the Dragon Cy Girls Dead to Rights ..

Earthworm Jim 2

Emperor:

Rise of the Middle Kingdom . . .93 Freekstyle ............2...4 85 Gravity Games Bik

Street, Vert, Ditt...........4 81 Growlanser Il:

The Sense of Justice ........ T2 Growlanser III:

The Dual Darkness ......... 72 GTC Africa ....... 58] Gungrave ............ .. 61

Haven: Call of the King ....... 70 Kingdom Under Fire:

The Crusaders ............ 71 Legaia 2: Duel Saga .69 Lego Soccer Mania ..... ...81

Madden NFL 2003 (GC) ...... 85 Madden NFL 2003 (PS2) . ..... 78 Madden NFL 2003 (Xbox) ..... 89 Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 ..... 80 Medieval: Total War .......... 73 Men in Black Il: Alien Escape . . .81 Monster Jam:

Maximum Destruction ....... 81 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance .65 MX Superfly ........ssssusui d 85 Mystical Ninja Goemon .......72 NFL 2K8 (GO) ......... ...85 NFL 2K3 (PS2) .. Faas) NFL 2K3 (Xbox) . . ..89 NFL Fever 2003. 88 NFL GameDay 2003 .........79 Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny .77

Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire ..... | 69 Rally Fusion:

Race of Champions......... 66 Reign of Fire ........ Resident Evil . . ROR edes RTX Red Rock . . tee Silent Scope 3 ......... sese Sly Cooper and the

Thievius Raccoonus ....... 4 60 Smuggler's Run: Warzones .. . .84 SoccerSlam, ces 88 SOCOM: US Navy SEALs ..... 76 Street Fighter Alpha 3 ........ Street Hoops (PS2) .. . Street Hoops (Xbox) . . Super Mario Sunshine . Super Monkey Ball 2 . .

(Tennis 2K2 A poser Tomb Raider:

The Angel of Darkness ...... 64 Twisted Metal Black: Online . . . .81 Unlimited Saga ............4 63 WarCraft Ill: Reign of Chaos . . .92 WTA Tour Tennis ............ 94 X-Men: Next Dimension ...... . 68

Want to know how realistic NFL Fever '03 is? Take a number.

1 - Dramatic camera angles take you all over the field 2 - Go from clipboard holder to MVP in Career Mode 3 - Customize your plays to throw off the D

4 - 60+ teams mean over 1800 possible match-ups

5 - Player physiques from L to XXXXXL

6 - Tougher Al anticipates your moves

7 - Where you sweat — they sweat

8 - Updated player rosters

9 - Helmets that reflect the playing environment

10 - Unique player faces

11 - NFL newbies, the Houston Texans

12 - Total control over the weather — no, not in domes 13 - Use Hot Routes to exploit the defense

14 - Someone should've used the bump-n'-run

15 - Updated home and away uniforms

16 - One very frustrated defensive coach

FEVER

Feel it.

EVERYONE

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

www.nflfever2003.com

RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW!

Without a monthly fix of Game Informer, you start to get cold sweats, your hands start shaking, and you hallucinate that bugs are crawling under your skin. So why suffer? Be safe and check the address label on your current issue. It tells you how many issues you have left.

B48 P24 aa DT EE 60156 MEAL AALL L Hodh LLLA LAILI

1001 JOHN Q GAMER ISSUE 10 OF 12

123 MAIN STREET ANYTOWN US 12345-1234

Don’t delay! Send in the subscription card inside or, for faster service, order with credit card by calling (612) 486-6100.

14 GAMEINFORMER

EINFORM

SEPTEMBER 2002 Volume XII ° Number 9 * Issue 113

PUBLISHER

Cathy Preston

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrew McNamara

EDITORS

Executive Editor Andrew Reiner Senior Associate Editor Matt Helgeson Associate Editors Kristian Brogger * Justin Leeper « Matthew Kato ¢ Chet Barber Copy Editor/Contributing Writer Lisa Mason Mascot Arthur

PRODUCTION

Art Director Thomas Blustin Production Director Curtis Fung Production Assistant Rachel Gilles

ADVERTISING SALES

Rob Borm Doug Faust (612) 486-6155 e Fax (612) 486-6101 (650) 728-5647 * Fax (650) 728-5648 rob@gameinformer.com doug@gameinformer.com

Advertising Account Executive Amy Arnold ¢ (612) 486-6154 amy@gameinformer.com

CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT For change of address or subscription inquiry only: phone: (612) 486-6100 Fax: (612) 486-6101 email: customerservice@gameinformer.com or send correspondence to: 724 North First St., 4th Floor « Minneapolis, MN 55401 Attn: CIS Dept

Circulation Manager Paul Anderson (612) 486-6104

SUNRISE PUBLICATIONS, INC

President John Woodson

Manufactured and printed in the United States of America The Editor welcomes company product information for all video games. Such materials should be addressed to: Editor, Game Informer® Magazine 724 North First St., 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned or acknowledged.

Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies.

PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is limited to republication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement.

INDEMNIFICATION The advertiser and/or Advertising Agency agrees to defend and indemnify the publisher against any and all liability, loss, or expense arising from claims of libel, unfair competition, unfair trade practices, infringement of trademarks, copyrights, trade names, patents, or proprietary rights or Violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's statement.

4

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

PlayStation. X

(AMEBOYADVANEE XS0X

EVERYONE www.midwaysports.net

Comic Mischief Violence

WE CALL IT SLUGFEST FOR A REASON

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

QUE Sutest© 20-8 © 2002 Midway Amusement Games, LLC. AN righs reserved, SLUGFEST, MIDWAY and e Midway lagos are trademarks ol Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission, Major League Baseball trademarks an copyrights ane used wilh permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit the oficial web site at MLB.com. OMLBPA ici Licensee, Majo League Baseball Players Association. Vit he Players Choice on the web at vavi bigleaguens: com. Distributed under license by Midway Hone Entertainment Ic. TM, ©, Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nitendo, "PlayStation" and be "P Family logo are registered trademarks ot Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Micraslt Xho, and the Jüo logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks o Microsol Corporation in the U.S. anor other counties and are used under license Irom Microsot Screen image captures shown taken trom PlayStation®? computer entertainment system.

THE LEADING EDGE

| can't begin to tell you how long | have waited to be able to write a letter from the editor proclaiming Game Informer the largest circulated video game magazine in the nation, but now that the moment has arrived, | really don't think it's appropriate.

There are too many people to thank for our success, and there are too many things still left to be done before my staff or myself can say that we have created the perfect magazine. However, with our climb in circulation the opportunity has opened for us to snag bigger and better stories for our readers, including this month's cover story on the most anticipated game of 2002 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Over the coming months, Game Informer has secured some amazing exclusives for our readers. | wish | could tell you what we have coming, but that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it? | can tell you, however, that from the glimpses we have had of these products, they are definitely going to knock your socks off.

Unfortunately, these scoops have come with a small price. | have been a long time fan of putting out big stories on games as they hit the market. Or as | like to call them...review covers. These stories generally include a strategy guide and have all the details on what makes the featured game the absolute must-have of the month. Over the coming issues, Game Informer will be doing less review covers and more exclusives on never-before-seen titles. Don't let these new covers fool you, though; we will still have the hottest product as our Game of the Month and we will still have timely and useful strategy guides launching at the same time as the biggest games. We are just going to change the cover stories so that they blow the doors off games you have been dying to learn about.

I'd love to hear your feedback on these new covers, what you think of the magazine currently, and what we could do better, so feel free to drop me an email with your thoughts. It's nice to be on the leading edge, but it doesn't do us any good to get here if we can't stay on top.

Andy McNamara Editor andy@gameinformer.com

Andy's prolonged diet of eating soft junk foods which require minimal chewing has resulted : in a lack of maximal jaw growth, subacute pericoronitis, pain in the temporomandibular joint, and a mesioangular impaction of the wisdom teeth. To fix this, Gl's comprehen- sive dental plan will cover the miniaturizing of the editorial staff to go on an...

THE STENCH IS. OVERWHELMING! 9

1. Reiner, Matt, and Lisa prepare Andy for the insertion of the team with ti

with caution. 3. Map of the team's route 4. They're impacted deep. We almost lost Kato! 5. Kristian and Kato try to decide if what they see is a stalagmite

or a stalactite.

16 GAMEINFORMER

REINER, THE RAGING GAMER reiner@gameinformer.com

1 don't even know why we bother writing these asinine blurbs. If | know you as well as | think | do, you've already flipped to the Vice City cover story and are drooling over the pictures. From there, you'll work your way through the rest of the magazine, never once thinking that | should go check out what Reiner or Matt have to say. You know what? God bless you! Roughly 99.9% of the time we have nothing interesting to say, so why bother. Take Kristian's blurb, for example. | can't. believe how stupid it is! What does Chet have to say? Who cares! Do me a favor: Quit reading this and get the hell out of Dodge! You'll probably die of a brain aneurysm if you don't!

MATT, THE ORIGINAL GAMER matt@gameinformer.com

Here comes the part where | get down and kiss some Nintendo butt after I've spent months dissing them in print. So, here it is: Eternal Darkness was probably my favorite game of the year so far, and Super Mario Sunshine is just as amazing as everyone hoped. Zelda and Star Fox will no doubt follow suit, and — judging by recent events — it's very possible that the GI staff might be eating a big ol' slice of humble pie when Metroid Prime (a game that we've been pretty lukewarm on so far) is released. Of course, l'Il smooch Miyamoto's rear all day long if | can keep getting a steady stream of awesome. titles for the GameCube. In closing: Yay, yay, Nintendo-wahoo! Hip hip hooray! Pika pika!

KRISTIAN, THE GAME DAWG kristian@gameinformer.com

Have you people tried Vanilla Coke yet? I've tried it and | like it, but it's a tough thing to drink straight for a long period of time. It's kind of like drinking grape soda — a sip every once in a while is nice, but too much is going to turn you off, know what | mean? Hawaiian Punch, on the other hand, is a beverage | can get onboard with. It's tangy, sweet, and it mixes well with other soft drinks. In fact, | would say it mixes well with any drink that isn't dairy-based, cola-elated, or a root beer. Plus, it's good both carbonated or flat. Basically, Hawaiian Punch is the workhorse of the liquid refreshment industry. | expect my endorsement check to come in the mail any day now...

JUSTIN, THE DIGITAL DEVIANT justin@gameinformer.com

Lots of artists like to brag about going platinum. But hell, we hit platinum every month! Are we bling-bling or what? To celebrate, | usually like to hit the Old Country Buffet. Because I'm The Deviant, | get senior discount prices, and they even let me skip to the front of the line. Screw waiting for seconds on lukewarm mac & cheese. | even spring for Aquafina — no tap water for me! People come up and ask for my autograph, and I'm all, "Step off, kid! Can't you see I'm eating my third piece of cheesecake?" Then I cruise back to my Cribs- worthy one-bedroom apartment and cry myself to sleep. Booyah!

KATO, THE GAME KATANA kato@gameinformer.com

I'm not one to fight the future, but I've got problems with the cult of thinking that champions the Internet, cell phones, etc. just because they're new technology. I'll live with them, but not by them. People thought that TV was going to be the greatest educational tool when it debuted, and look what it's become. | imagine the same for the "wild frontier" of the Internet. Worse yet, those without it are going to be £hetto-ized. The Internet doesn't care about you or your webpage — it's all about money, and companies like Microsoft will happily squeeze you out when it comes time to take back what's theirs.

CHET, THE CHRONIC GAMER chet@gameinformer.com

Our words are a glimpse into our soul, into our essence, so you shouldn't be contemplating whether to read these blurbs (hopefully you are), but which of us you most identify with. Knowing our personalities and gaming tastes (as a whole and individually) will help you decide what upcoming titles will be cool, and which new ones you should purchase. Unfortunately, | cannot write every review. So for every gamer who feels a particular affinity with me, I welcome your emails for my opinion. Oh yeah, sincerest props to Reiner for introducing me to the greatest comic book ever written, Preacher by Garth Ennis. And | personally want to thank our retail division for a job well done. Peace out!

LISA, LA GAME NIKITA

lisa@gameinformer.com

| am of the generation that brought cartoons to new levels (cartoons, video games, sugary cereal with toys in the bottom...these are our real contributions to society thus far). What happened to Saturday mornings in front of the TV eating Lucky Charms? Today, you've got crappy teen comedyies with crappy teen "issues" and not a single, freaking, robot in disguise to be found on network television! Ugghhh. Speaking of robots in disguise — even in disguise, they still look like robots — curious, no? Anyway, | want to watch animated animals living with human parents and causing mischief on my days off — not Saved by the Bell, the 800th Class.

PlayStation.

PLAYSTATION®? GREATEST HITS NOW ONLY:

Digital tradem. P Seo i

ocialion. Angel udios. © 2002 Rockstar Games, Inc. Rockstar Gam and the Rockstar Games logo are registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Rockstar Games is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

©

counterbalance

CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE SEAMY UNDERBELLY OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

1 Matt and Acclaim's Alan Lewis are just good — 3 E friends. 2 When Activision sends people out n A a j on a press junket, they go all out. We don't ! 1 ^

have space to list everyone by name, but they i

are all very nice and bought us treats at Dairy ]. 5 Queen. Yum! 3 Microsoft's Chad Ellman, Jen | “R Martin, and Charlie Scibetta think that last X month's cover is a-okay! The bad news: They're our last three subscribers. & Moonlighting as a Sports agent, Justin tries to convince NBA superstar Jason Kidd to jump ship and save his favorite team — the decrepit Utah Jazz. Kidd didn't take the deal, even when Justin told him that all Jazz players get free senior citizen dis- count cards at Denny's. 5 Humans are gener- ally a nasty species, so we're giving it up for canines! Here's the Neversoft dog, Logan.

6 Dave Mirra BMX XXX producer Shawn Rosen $ and Acclaim PR coordinator Matthew [ Schlosberg are ready to eat! 7 Eidos' Denny

Chiu holds court in the tomb-ike confines of 45 f the Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis. Hey,

E that place is right downstairs from where we work! We never knew.

Violence

== NINTENDO

GAMECUBE.

WHAT'S HOCKEY WITHOUT HITZ? Coming Fall 2002

ped trademarks ol the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and Association, NHLPA and NHLPA Logo are trademarks e the NHLPA and a intendo. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trade

wm

Vd

| just finished reading your article "Sex, Lies, and Video Games", and needless to say | was shocked at the "high school boy" charm that these games are apparently going to contain. | appre- ciate your insight on them, and will make sure that neither of these games is ever accessible by my two sons (ages 13 and 10).

Most of the games my chil- dren play are RPGs and racing games, although we do have Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. We adhere to the rating system for the most part, but allow games with a Teen rating if we find the game does not contain overly offensive graphics or audio.

If these games are intended for a more "mature" audience, then the definition of mature might need to be defined as "boys and men of all ages that can't get a real date." Using Sex and the sexual exploita- tion' of women (girls, actually) to sell video games is beyond the grasp of my "middle- aged mom of two" mind. If the gaming industry wishes to delve into this abyss then they should be forced to do so in the same fashion that the magazine and movie industry has done - by selling the games in stores that are purely for adults over 21.

If this industry wishes to go forward in catering to a more "adult" audience, | would dare to say that their sales will drop. | cannot debate your facts that the gam- ing industry is more tuned to males 18 to 34, but will argue to you that in middle class suburbia, it is quite the opposite. [The people | see playing games] are chil- dren ages seven to 15, and demographically speaking, we (the parents of this age group) are far more finan- cially equipped to make or break the industry.

My husband and | both enjoy playing the games with our children, but if this is the wave of the future, then rainy days might better be filled with a trip to the movies or a game of Payday.

Please continue to help keep us parents (and chil- dren) informed. Your magazine is read by all four of us in our family, and though we do not always agree with you, we do respect your opinion, and hope you respect ours.

Mrs. Sunny Williams Orlando, Florida

| am a subscriber to your magazine and | have really enjoyed the past few issues. They have a huge amount of great game reviews that help me determine whether or not to purchase a game. However, all is not well in gaming land.

The issue entitled Sex, Lies, and Video Games was

over the line of decency. As soon as | picked your maga- zine up from my mailbox and saw the front cover, | gri- maced. With one glance inside at the cover article, and the pictures surrounding it, | knew what I had to do. | threw your magazine in the trash.

| mean, do |, a 19-year-old male, need to be subjected to that? In addition, my three younger brothers also enjoy reading your past magazines as well. They look up to me to be their leader, and | will not allow their minds to be polluted by trashy pictures placed for lustful sin.

Obviously, if things do not change then | will, most certainly, not renew my subscription to your magazine. There are other places | can go for insightful video game reviews that do not degrade women.

| missed the magazine, but | do not miss the temptation, which means that | am glad | threw the magazine away, but sorry that it ever appeared in the first place. | implore you to change. An apology from the staff and head editor is definitely in order. | would bet that my subscription is not the only one that you will lose.

Tyler Fogarty

Manchester, Maryland

We've received a lot of mail, both negative and posi- tive, about last month's cover, and even a few can- celled subscriptions. Although the subject matter was admittedly controversial, we at Game Informer feel that it is our job to cover the most important events in the video game industry. As gaming continues to push the boundaries of explicit content, we will con- tinue to attempt to educate our readers on what games may or may not be appro- priate for them or their children. While we respect Mr. Fogarty's (or any other reader's) right to decide what is or is not acceptable read- ing material for his or her family, we hope that a majority of our subscribers actually took the time to read and think about the arti- cle, as it is obvious Mrs. Williams did. We felt our cover story was written in a responsible and factu- al manner, and did not attempt to glorify or unduly hype Dave Mirra XXX or DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball.

In today's world, it's important that every parent is educated on

the entertainment that their child is experiencing, and hopefully our magazine can be an aid to our read- ers and their parents in making decisions on what games they should be playing.

How come you people at GI always kiss Sony's butt. | mean, you talk about Sony more than any other video game company. In issue #111 you guys gave Sony an A but gave Microsoft a B for that E3 thing. | don't get it. Microsoft can beat Sony any day - especially since Microsoft has the Xbox. Also, every time | read your top 10 list Sony is always number one when you peo- ple know good and well Microsoft had better titles, and one of its greatest games should've been up there. Anyway, you guys are cool and | love your magazine. Keep up the good work!

L. Bryant

Via email

Have you ever seen Sony's butt? It's not something you'd want to kiss, trust us. Especially when Sony wears a thong - yuck! Really, we keep dropping hints to Sony that it might want to lay off the Doritos, but so far it just seems content to sit on the couch, watching reruns of Frasier and drinking chocolate milk...but we digress. Believe it or not (and God knows many of you never will), we don't have any par- ticular loyalty to a system or console manufacturer. The fact is that - right now - Sony is winning the con- sole war. PlayStation 2 has the biggest market share. It has the largest and best library of games. It has most of the top game franchises. We're not making that up; it's the truth. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of good times to be had on Xbox or GameCube, but at the present time it appears that it's going to be tough for either one of them to catch up with Sony. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear.

Hello. | am a 13-year-old gamer who loves your maga- zine. Really, | do. | can't even imagine subscribing to anything else. But there is one thing that concerns me. Since I've subscribed to Gl, I've noticed that most of you never smile in your pictures. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because | know that you're good people. But, | believe that smiling is a healthy thing, so why don't you smile in your pic- tures? Xeppo Via email

Well, some of us could sure use more fiber in our diet, but that's not the only reason that the GI staff looks like a bunch of gloomy Gusses in our Reviews

Send your comments to Game Informer. Snail Mail: Game Informer Magazine « Attn: Dear Gl + 724 North First St., 4th Floor * Minneapolis, MN 55401 Email: deargi@gameinformer.com

20 GAMEINFORMER

ETETE]

iLASNNS LY J2WOH 3WO2 LS53H JHL ATNO

OO.

————

2m sino7 anos

P; — Nf9 "TER —

page portraits. You see, those photos were once as bright and cheery as a spring morning, until the Game Informer Art Director got the urge to use his new Photoshop "heroin addict" filter. A few clicks and - viola! - new, moodier version of the GI staff was born. If you don't like it, don't worry yourself. We generally get new staff photos taken every time Reiner gets a new baseball hat or Justin trims his goatee, which shouldn't be long now. Anyway, we're touched by your concern, Xeppo.

If the Xbox and GameCube do present a serious threat to the existence of the PS2, then Sony will greenlight the production of the PS3 early. That would put pres- sure on the Xbox and GameCube, which are still in their infancy. This, in turn, would force Nintendo and Microsoft to accelerate plans on their next consoles, perhaps releasing them before the current systems really get anywhere. That would cause the life to be Sucked out of the companies like Intel, and IBM, because they work so closely with the major console manufacturers. All video games would die forever! Chris Laux Via lycos.com

1 KNEW Ke WERE GONG TO SAY THAT, you DID

NO

| KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT TOO,

Well, it's obvious that you are a big player in the video game industry (We can tell by the way you use the word "greenlight" as a verb). Your dire predic- tions struck a note of terror in our souls. Filled with morbid fascination, we probed the nether regions of the video game realm for the truth. Sadly, it appears that the fallout from the success of GameCube and Xbox will not stop at the mere bankruptcy of Intel and IBM. Faced with a massive surplus of worthless GameCube and Xbox CPUs, both companies will resort to dumping them in the sea off the coast of New Zealand. These discarded chips cause the tem- perature of the oceans to rise even higher, complete- ly melting the polar ice caps and flooding most of the planet, save for parts of Russia and eastern lowa. This new aquatic world spawns a race of giant super squid, which feast on the few humans that remain on Earth. Every last remnant of human existence will be gone, extinguished by mankind's rash desire to buy GameCubes and Xboxes. Of course, we're just reporting the facts, and this is in no way an endorse- ment of Sony or the PlayStation 2.

22 GAMEINFORMER

ENVELOPE A

Enter the Game Informer Envelope Art Contest. All you need to do is draw, paint, scratch, spit, or carve the best darn envelope art you can think of and send it to us. Please include your name, phone number, and return address on the back of the envelope. If you're the monthly winner, we'll feature your work in GI and you'll receive a video game prize from the Game Informer vault.

Send to:

Game Informer

Envelope Art Contest

724 North First St., 4th Floor Mpls, MN 55401

SEPTEMBER WINNER! Chijuyo Spider-Man’s cheating on Mary Jane with Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Primrose Cuaycong The art is as confusing as the artist's name.

Carrie Correa “Hey Ratchet, guess where this goes!”

^s

36 15^] YBN ATL

453409) py sdepau; J2ujoju| WZ

2 C un Un = [

Louie R. Hidalgo This is the artist's caption for the piece: “Tecmo used my money and support to put the Dead or Alive series on another console. Guess l'Il just use Ninja Gaiden's head as a toilet brush." Um...okay, dude!

LeVar Williams

Now available in two Miles Kominski :

sizes! Tight denim jeans...pointy 12-inch object...it must be Captain N!

[ THEY CAN TASTE IT ] =

x a PUE £4

[ THEY CAN HERR |

A

[ THE

Py &

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A Savage World So Real.. Vnull smell the smoke of war-torn cities and burning jungles. See the flaming battlefields below from the

PRODUCTS RANGE FROM

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 in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.

— m TM, @ and the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nintendo. Game Boy and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2001 Nintendo. Screens shown were taken from the Xbox version of the video game. D E

SR BH

saddle of a fully armed, high flying Pternsaur. And smell the white-hot stench of a detonated Baby Nuke. Turok is back for the kill WWW TUROK. COM

D| playstation? GAMEBOY ADVANCE Pos suse — ZAKlaim

SNEAK PEEK AT MIDWAY'S 2003 LINEUP

We're all anxiously awaiting the next-generation editions of classic Midway franchises like Mortal Kombat and Defender, but the company has plenty of new titles coming down the pipe in 2003 that may be worth checking out.

Whether it's a grizzly mano a mano contest that brings out your primal instincts for survival or a Roger Rabbitlooking action/platformer, Midway's got a well-rounded bag of tricks. The games below are primari- ikely appear on all of the consoles.

ly slated for the PlayStation 2, but will

Nitrocity

(Developed by Midway/Milpitas) Nitrocity takes its inspiration from The Fast and the Furious, but has the potential to do good by expanding the racing genre. The action will take place in real cities across America, which creates the potential for some large maps and plenty of free-roaming gameplay.

Nitrocity won't, however, feature licensed cars. This may sound like a drawback, but this will allow you to bust the hell out of these rides. Not only are tremendous crashes in order, but so is customizing these cars to replicate their flashy, real-life counterparts that you see on the

street every day.

Gladiator: Crimson Reign

(Developed by Midway/Milpitas)

Say Joey, do you like films about gladiators? Well, Crimson Reign will

feature a selection of deadly and desperate warriors to choose from,

each with their own background and specialized set of skills. Plenty of

weapons will also be yours to select, as well as different arenas. Information on this title is limited at the moment, but we can only

hope that Midway has some impressive fighting dynamics in mind for

this title.

26

GAME INFORMER

Crank the Weasel (Developed by Midway)

By the title alone, we're very curious what this

game has to offer. Its

genre is of the action/platform ilk, but

we know that there's

much more in store for — you than that. With '5Os- ` esque graphics and f curvy dames to match, Crank is already making a name for itself amongst an ever- crowding genre.

Freestyle: MetalX

(Developed by Deivus Entertainment)

Maybe you'd rather choke yourself with a bike chain than play another freestyle title, but this game intrigues us. What could MetalX possibly mean? We envision a BMX war featuring Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bruce Dickinson, but because details on this game are so limited at the moment, we could be TOTALLY wrong!

EA BIG'S NEWEST RIDE

At the recent Camp EA event, publisher Electronic Arts unveiled the newest title from EA Big - the publishing brand for SSX Tricky and NBA Street - a car racing title named Shox. Due to come out for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube this fall, Shox isn't your tradi- tional rally rigma- is role. What else did : ; you expect from EA Big? Twenty-four licensed vehicles (including rides from Mitsubishi, Subaru, Lancia, and Ford) slide and jockey for position through snow, desert, and jungle locations. The difference is that each circuit contains Shox Zones, where you can pick up a bronze, silver, or gold medal depending on how you fare in them. Doing well in a track's Zones means you will unlock new areas.

Shox also has a Wagering mode where you can put up the points you've won to obtain new cars — or lose them all trying. Other features include four-person multiplayer and a capture the flag option.

SEGA HUNGRY; WANTS TO EAT

When storied publisher and developer Sega decided to pull out of the hard- largest third-party publisher, is not under consideration at this point accord- ware business last year, it was a moment filled with mixed emotions. While ing to Bellfield. The potential targets being looked at by the company are many were saddened that the company that had given us the Genesis, those who would be able to provide Sega with valuable, established game

franchises, as well as internal development teams. Other characteris- tics of those listed above include ties to Sega's distribu- tion chain (THQ, Infogrames) and/or stocks that have taken a tumble (Interplay, 3DO, Midway). Bellfield said that prior to this year's E3, there was a deal in place that was almost ready to be announced, but it had fallen through at the last minute.

At this point, nobody involved will comment on the possibility of any sale. In fact, Sega of Japan's director Hiroyuki Soga has said that the company has no definite plans to acquire anyone at this point, and has directly denied that talks have taken place between Sega and Infogrames or Midway. Still, if his- tory and common business practices are any guide, such statements are often said merely to mask the deal right before it goes down. With Sega already fiscally in the black, we bet gobbling up another company would be the right move to get it back in with the big boys.

Saturn, Dreamcast, and others would no longer be adding to that con- Sole legacy, most knew that it made financial sense. Creating and supporting hardware in and of itself is not a profitable business. Selling software is where the money's at, and relying on Sega's rich heritage of games was clearly the ticket to success. Today, this strategy is already paying off for the company. In this fis- cal year since the death of the Dreamcast, it has returned to profitability after several years on the other side of the ledger. Now that the ship has been righted, Sega is looking to expand by purchasing another, as yet unknown company.

The list of suspects contains some of the usual names that have already been bandied about in other pos- sible acquisitions: Interplay, 3D0, Midway, etc. Also on the list are Infogrames, THQ, and Acclaim. However, Sega vice president Charles Bellfield has made his large ambitions known. Only Electronic Arts, the

GAMEINFORMER 27

TOP 10 FAILED GI CONTESTS

10 A lifetime supply of Army Men sequels

9 Win a copy of N64's Aidyn Chronicles (with free sword to. impale yourself on)

8 An endless subscription to. a

7 Enter for your chance to appear in Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII

6 An all-you-can-eat buffet of refrigerator baking soda

5 A signed copy of Chet's autobiography: My Life as a Street Fighter Dork Vol.1

4 Win your own personalized insult from Reiner, the Raging Gamer

3 Win a pink SOCOM: US Navy SEALs tshirt that says "In the Navy’ 2 An all-expenses paid trip to | Nevada to visit the Atari

2600 landfill

1 Meet GI's Kato

Game Informer's research and devel- opment operatives search the globe, seeking out the untapped licenses that will become tomorrow's killer games. If you have any great ideas for games of the future, be sure to drop us a line. Maybe we'll use our godlike power over the video game industry to turn you into a millionaire — or just steal your idea.

RESERVOIR DOGS

Upon entering the game, you'll be faced with a diffi- cult decision: Who do you want to play as? Mr. White, Orange, Blonde, Pink, Blue, and Mr. Brown are all at your disposal. You might think playing a game you already know the ending to is a

DEVELOPER TOP 5

little boring, but the developer has oi aadik been able to 989 DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT

DEVELOPMENT 1 NFL GameDay 2003 - PS2

2 NFL GameDay 1998 - PS-X

3 NHL FaceOff 1997 - PSX

4 Tecmo Bowl 5 NHL Hockey 1992-1994 — Genesis

allow players to build their own ending. If you're smart enough to pull off that botched diamond rob- bery, you'll be able to retire and enjoy the good life. Maybe you're a sadistic bastard who likes cutting people's ears off — feel free to take Mr. Blonde to his gasoline filled, Stealers Wheel blaring destiny. Or you could play Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and decide that being a cop is boring, and crime really does pay.

Through the use of a cutting-edge artificial intelli- gence system, the game will actually fill in the plot of your adventure according to which character you're playing, and how you're making him behave. Through this, gamers will have scores of different ways to play and finish Res Dogs - a person who plays Mr. Pink like a bully will have a much different experience than one who plays him like a conniving mastermind. If all goes according to plan, an online version will be released where players will plan and execute their own cooperative high-stakes heists. It's all up to you this holiday season — get your trig- ger finger ready.

READER TOP 5 JAMES O'BRIEN MUSTANG, OK

Link to the Past - SNES

2 Chrono

Trigger —

SNES

3 Castlvania: Symphony of the Night — PS-X

4 Super Metroid - SNES

5 Mega Man 3 - NES

NAME THAT CAME

Capcom can lay claim to many famous series: Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Mega Man...the list goes on and on. However, the publisher/developer never really was the jock of the walk. This month's SNES game was a part of the company's ill-fated, self-named sports series. With a look similar to the early Maddens on Genesis, this title was an incomplete pass - and the only pigskin vid ever made by the company. Maybe it never took off because it didn't have some famous football player in its title.

Game Informer is looking for your Top Five favorite games. Please send your Top Fives and a photo of yourself to:

Game Informer Magazine.

Attn: Top Five.

724 North First St., 4th Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401

Everyone that enters each month will be entered in a drawing to win a

(Ar West sais ES) GI T-Shirt! So get writing!

28 GAMEINFORMER

ROCK'S GOT SPY HUNTER MOVIE COOKIN"

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will get another chance to practice that thing he calls "acting" in a film adapta- tion of Midway's arcade classic/PlayStation 2 title Spy Hunter. Universal Pictures and Daybreak Productions have signed up the license, and expect the movie to be ready for Christmas of 2003. At the moment, neither a writer nor a director has been assigned to the project, but the budget is expected to be over $100 million.

The Rock will play a former F-15 pilot named Alec Sects who has been employed by the International Espionage Services to take down the evil, wannabe-world-dominators known as Nostra (yawn!). No doubt a big part of the budget will be used in getting the fabled G-6155 Interceptor to transform itself from a car into its other forms, which include a boat, airplane, and a motorcy- cle. Stops off in the weapons van can equip the vehicle with oil slicks and other spy gadgets. Says Adrian Askarieh, one of the film's producers, "We played the old arcade game and also the next-generation version last year and liked what Midway's done with the franchise."

As for Midway, a movie tie-in video game (and sequel to the original next gen game) is already in its sights. Spy Hunter 2's release should coincide with the film's at the end of next year.

In other video game movie news, Rockstar's State of Emergency title has been picked up by New Line Cinema. No actors, writers, or directors have been assigned to the project yet.

WRESTLING GAMES MAKE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

An unlikely partnership between EA Big, Aki, and Def Jam has pooled their resources together for an upcoming next-gen wrestling title. Too new to even have a name yet, the game's engine is provided by Japan-based Aki — makers of grappling classics like WWF No Mercy and WCW Revenge. The producers have titles such as NBA Street and EA's WCW games under their belts.

As one of five spandex-clad gladiators, you will witness the drama and tension of the squared circle in gritty, dimly lit venues. Def Jam not only pro- vides the soundtrack, but artists like Method Man, Ludacris, and Redman will appear as in-game characters. WWE will have some definite competition, and it's about time.

BROSNAN BECOMES EA’S BOND

Finally! No more messed-up accents. No more phoney, two-bit actors crowding in on THE REAL Bond's territory. Actor Pierce Brosnan has agreed to supply his voice to Electronic Arts' upcoming James Bond 007: NightFire. The game is set to appear simultaneously on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and the PC to coincide with the late November release of the 20th James Bond flick Die Another Day. As it stands, Brosnan's deal with EA is specificially for this game only, so it remains to be seen if this will be the standard for the publisher.

In other voice acting news, youngin' Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, Forrest Gump) has agreed to lend his talents to Square's Kingdom Hearts. Other "famous" names are attached to the game, but we hear that Haley's contractual demands have ensured he gets top billing and everyone else shares a cup for a bathroom.

A

jä putem un sued e n enl a

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YOU'VE NEVER HAD A PET LIKE THIS.

Let's just say he's not your normal pound puppy. Then again, she's not exactly your normal owner. She's Lilo, a feisty little surf betty with ‘tude to spare, and he’s Stitch, a two-foot genetic alien experiment on the run. She was just looking for a pet. She ended up with an alien with a knack for destruction. Making mischief on the beautiful island of Hawaii is what it’s all about. Lilo likes to use her voodoo wand, whereas Stitch, well, he just likes to smash everything in his path. Good luck enforcing leash laws with this pair.

‘Dieneys

> — al 7 dili. ET Ke

EVERYONE

Mild Violence

A>

E -— LilO-SricH — PlayStation

CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

GI NEWS

THE LAST STRIKE: ONIMUSHA 3

Capcom has included a snealcpeek trailer for Onimusha 3 at the end of Onimusha 2: Samurai Destiny for the PlayStation 2. Although brief, we see that the gauntlet of power has returned. Who will control its mysterious forces this time? Will we see a third and all-new bearer of this orb-sucker? And to borrow a quote from another Capcom title: "Where's Samanosuke?"

All questions should be answered by the time of Onimusha 3's conclusion, as producer Keiji Inafune has always planned the series as a trilogy - mak- ing this iteration the end of the franchise. Don't worry, however, as he has saved the best for last. This third installment will feature fully 3D environ- ment, much like last year’s Devil May Cry. This represents another break from the pre-rendered backgrounds that developer/publisher Capcom has made famous with its Resident Evil series. Inafune said that this dramatic move was made because of pressure from American audiences for 3D. Who said that being a pushy American was a bad thing? Onimusha 3 for the PS2 is being planned for 2004.

JEDI KNIGHT II'S FORCE FLOWS TO XBOX, GC

The return of outlaw Jedi Kyle Katarn was a presence fully felt by any PC gamer worth their salt, and a pleasure for all who played it. Now, LucasArts is letting the console crowd in on this good time. Both the Xbox and GameCube will see editions of Star Wars: Jedi Outcast $ come November. Vicarious Visions is taking over the extraordinary job that developer Raven has already done for the PC, with some optimized graphics for the consoles being the result. Still, the insane fun of running along walls and participating in fantastic lightsaber duels shall remain the same.

30 GAME INFORMER

UGLY - Video game and music nerds collide at next year's ES. Orchestrated renditions of famous video game scores are being planned for an event at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. We expect to see plenty of people embarrassingly jamming out while playing "air controller."

GOOD - Congratulations to Blizzard, as its WarCraft IIl game sold well over a million units by the end of July. This made it the fastest-selling PC or Mac game ever - elbowing fellow Blizzard title Diablo II off the top spot.

BAD - EverQuest Invasion is coming to a town near you. This convention will enable EQ players to actually leave their homes and meet other people (albeit other socially retarded Morlocks like themselves).

BAD - Nintendo has outfitted several people with mobile GameCube and Game Boy Advance packs in an effort to get passersby at malls to play the units. Pick-up lines like, "Do you want to play with my joystick?" will be heard for the first time since 1983.

GOOD - A neurologist in Japan conducted a study which found that video game sessions suppress the brain's beta waves and could create "game brain" — Attention Deficit Disorder and unstable emotions. Finally there's a reason for our stupidity!

Whenever there's a juicy rumor in the industry, Game Informer experts are on it like a fly on stink. If loose lips are spraying hot gossip, we're sucking up the secret saliva and drooling it all over this section. These leads may turn out to be 100% untrue, but then again, they could also be dead honest, and you've just learned about them months before anyone else! In the industry and need to get back at the boss who fired you by spilling some secrets? Email us at loosetalk@gameinformer.com and we'll be your shoulder to cry on.

Besides Kingdom Hearts, Square has been laying low as of late. Its ener- gies are being directed at bringing Final Fantasy XI online. This isn't all, how- ever. As many as 10 games are being discussed at the present.

This will make the Hobbit hair on your feet stand on end: Loose Talk has heard that Sierra is planning a Lord of the Rings online game. Helm's Deep will rock, but who wants to be a midget Hobbit battling the Lord of the Nazgul?!

Eidos has apparently been heartened (or hardened, rather) by Acclaim and Tecmo's forays into digital nudity. If anybody can put the sin back into skin it's Fear Effect: Inferno's lesbian combo of Hana and Rain.

Here's a taste of what almost was: Rockstar Games and developer Ratbag Studios were working on a first-person shooter/Smuggler's Run hybrid called Icon. Word is that the project has now been cancelled.

Speaking of Rockstar, its Italian Job PlayStation title seems to have put the property back in the limelight. A remake of the movie is rumored, with a next-gen video game perhaps to follow.

We all love the Game Boy Advance, but the same might not be true for some of the smaller publishers out there. Loose Talk has heard that software for the system may be pared down in the future.

‘Dineys

1t

EXPERIMENT 626

STITCH IS ON THE LOOSE.

Bad dog! Dog? It’s going to take a lot more than a couple of inches of reinforced steel to hold back Stitch, a pint-sized fighting machine who lives and breathes mayhem. There’s nothing he enjoys more than exploring new paths and destroying everything in them. He doesn’t hide behind boulders. He throws them. Help him solve puzzles and blast enemies with a weapon in each of his four hands. (Did we mention he’s a genetic alien experiment out of control?) With power like this, it’s easy to go through walls. And a heck of a lot of chew toys.

EVERYONE

Comic Mischief INTER

Violence

PlayStation.e

GI NEWS VIDEO GAME

TRIVIA

Unfortunately, it's nearly time for school again. But never fear! To help you cope with the video &ame withdrawal symptoms caused by summer addiction, we've devised six ways to play your GBA at school. Take the Trivia test to see which method you're worthy of.

QUESTION 1: Reflections Interactive (famous for the Driver series) has a long history of making games. Which title did it develop first?

A. Race Drivin' (SNES)

B. Destruction Derby (PS-X)

C. Shadow of the Beast (Amiga) D. Raven Skull (Acorn Electron)

QUESTION 2: What was the name of the full motion video first-per- son fighter that appeared on 3DO and DID Sega CD? d - First-person fighting? Cool A. Prize Fighter in concept, but that's it! B. Corpse Killer C. Supreme Warrior D. Shadow: War of Succession

QUESTION 3: When the Neo Geo debuted, SNK claimed that its machine was 24-bit. Actually, it contained both a 16- and an 8-bit processor, both of which were also used in two other systems. What are these sys- tems?

A. Sega Genesis and Master System

B. Super Nintendo and Nintendo Entertainment System

C. NEC TurboGrafx and Sega CD

D. NEC SuperGrafx and TurboGrafx

QUESTION 4: When Sega released its 32X Genesis peripheral, it was initially incom- patible with the Genesis CDX.

A. True

B. False

C. Maybe

D. None of the above

QUESTION 5: What were the first games on console to have 8 and 16 megabits worth of memory, respectively?

A. Super Mario World and Final Fantasy II

B. Sonic the Hedgehog and Bubsy the Bobcat C. Super Castlevania IV and Final Fantasy III D. Strider and Street Fighter II

12 Attempt the Jedi Mind Trick on your teacher

0 Cram your GBA in a deflated balloon, and insert it where the sun doesn't shine

Take many bathroom breaks

Video Game Trivia Answers:

32 GAMEINFORMER

QUESTION 6: What was the first home video game system to support portable memory card units?

A. SNK Neo Geo

B. Sony PlayStation C. PC Engine

D. Amiga CD32

QUESTION 7: How many games featuring Nintendo's Link and Mario appeared on Philips CD-i game machine?

A.2 B.4 Cc.8 D. 10

QUESTION 8: From 1983 to 1995, what was the rate at which Nintendo had been sell- ing games?

A. Six per day

B. Five per hour

C. Four per minute D. Three per second

QUESTION 9: What is the name of the second mono- chrome system that Tiger Electronics released in 1998?

It was cheap, but already dated before it released

A. PDA

B. Pocketpro C. Game.com D. Pocket Tiger

QUESTION 10: What did Nintendo of Japan originally plan to call the Nintendo 64, but couldn't because the name was already trademarked?

A. Ultra 64

B. Ultra Famicom C. Famicom 64 D. NES 64

56 Blame your Hollow out a Claim your GBA baseball coach hiding spot in a is the latest TI text book calculator

8'OT 8'6 Q'8 8L V'9 Q'S Vv VE OZ OT

SONY'S FIRST-PARTY PRICE CUT

Gamers were happy to hear of price cuts for all three next- gen consoles earlier this year, as competitors Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo fought to keep up with each other. Despite these drops in the cost of hardware, one thing has remained constant even since the days of the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64 - software has almost always debuted at about 50 bucks. Sony is hoping to change this slightly. In a quiet move, the company has lowered the cost of most first-party games for the PlayStation 2 to a suggested retail price of $39.99.

This new price point is a guideline for retailers — one that they don't absolutely have to abide by. Therefore, Game Informer has found out that some stores may or may not be selling Sony first-party PS2 titles at this new amount. For example, we checked a few online sites of major retailers, and it was listing new and future releases such as The Mark of Kri, Ratchet & Clank, and Sly Cooper and the Thievious Racoonous all at $39.99. On the other hand, some locations may still be at $49.99, so we advise you to check around before you head out with money in hand.

Is this the new price war? Will other publishers follow suit? We found out that this is not likely. The reason Sony is able to do this for its own games is that, unlike third- party publishers like Electronic Arts, Sony obviously does- n't have to pay royalties on its own products. A spokesper- son for EA looked at this new price another way, however. "If you have a good game, people will buy it. We don't need a price cut to get people to buy [EA's games]." We contact- ed the other console giants, Nintendo and Microsoft, but it looks like neither is planning to reduce the retail cost of their first-party titles. The latter company told us: "While selected games experienced a price reduction earlier this summer, there are no plans to reduce the price of Microsoft Game Studio titles in the near future."

Sony already has an advantage with the tremendous installed base of PlayStation 2, but with low-priced, quality first-party games on the horizon like those above, it is firm- ly on the right road to keep itself on top.

71% of GI editors have had some sort of dental situation, busted joints, or rotator cuff problem. Let the funny gas flow!

4% of you play games solo — according to Sony. Does it know what else goes on in the privacy of your own home?

31% of Kristian's speech this month was voice commands to his SOCOM: US Naw SEALs buddies. "Bravo, follow", "Bravo Assault to Delta", and (we think) "What's your Vector, Victor?"

«19% That's the number of Xbox's Mad Dash Racing games sold in Japan compared to Nintendo's Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube

65% of those who complained about last month's cover didn't bother to read the (insightful) article within

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DATA FILE

> Zombie life is cheap, but not as cheap as this winter's Resident Evil 2 and 3. Slated by Capcom to appear on the GameCube for the nice price of only $20 apiece, these RE titles are ports NOT remakes.

> Infogrames has secured the rights to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines for all platforms, as well as the first option on games for Terminator 4. Terminator 3 will come out to coincide with the film's summer 2003 release. According to an Infogrames press release, will be "one of the most popular movies of all time." Hello?! Ever heard of Short Circuit?!

» Using art and design from comic book artists Simon Bisley (Judge Dredd, Heavy Metal) and David DeVries (X-men covers), 3D0 has unveiled a multi-platform title called The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse.

» While it's been good that Microsoft has put out a steady stream of first-party software after launch, there's been a small hic- cup in the road. Midtown Madness 3 and Kung Fu Chaos have been delayed until early 2003, while Crimson Ski igh Road to Revenge is being slated for the second quarter of next year.

> More high kicking! Tecmo has announced that Dead or Alive 4 will appear next year. Interestingly, the game's platform hasn't been declared. Creator Tomonobu Itagaki once swore that the Xbox was the only system that could handle the fighting series.

> THQ continues to do right by the Game Boy Advance. The company has agreed to bring over Xbox and PC titles to the handheld, starting with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Monster Truck Madness 2.0 early next year. More announce- ments are expected.

> More EverQuest is on the way. Sony Online has enlisted Rapid Eye and Snowblind to make new titles for the series for the PC PS2, respectively. The PC's wi

a realtime strategy offerin,

the latter will be of an undeter- mined genre.

» Someday there may actually be more Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games than you've had hot meals. Tony has just signed a contract for video games with Activision until 2015. G/ has heard that w all supposed to have hover boards and hover cars by then.

> What goes up must come crashing down says Midway. Gravity Games Bike: Street. Vert. Dirt has been cancelled for the GameCube. The title is currently

able for the Xbox and PlayStation 2.

Name That Game Answer: lleqjoo4 JAW S,woodeg

Gui NEWS | CONT EST

XBOX Il LAUNCH DATE SET?

Microsoft's Xbox is starting to build some momentum. New numbers from the NPD Group say that sales of the platform have increased 131% since its price drop a few months ago. This is coupled with the news that the company has met its lowered estimate of shifting four million units worldwide by the end of June. Naturally, however, Gates and company are already looking towards the future at Xbox II.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer openly told the Japanese press recently that he expects the second version of the Xbox to appear some- time in 2006. This would likely mean a 2005 release in America. Also, in an exclusive conversation with Game Informer, Xbox's general manager J Allard talked about the timing of Microsoft's next system, as well as the effect that August's launch of the broadband service Xbox Live will have on the platform's welfare. "If we get 10 or 2096 of them [cus- tomers], and if we really build a lot of experience base, and we build some key franchises and stuff, | bet that those guys we got on Live, this generation, are going to buy an Xbox II instead of a PlayStation 3. No matter what!"

As far as the launch date of the upcoming console, Allard was adamant that the key to success was not letting a competitor like Sony be able to exist all by itself on retail shelves — like the PlayStation 2 was able to do for a year and half. "If we can ship the hardware the same day that those guys [Sony] do. An 18-month head start is a tough gap to Close. So next time, they don't get any. Mr. Kutaragi [Sony's President] does not get a day ahead of us! It's gonna be an even fight next time."

What will Xbox II be like? That is literally the billion-dollar question. Rumors have been furiously circulating that there will actually be a souped-up edition of the current Xbox that will hit the shelves first which features UltimateTV, which has digital video recording. In fact, Microsoft's Bill Gates has long been a proponent of making the Xbox do more than just play video games. Whether this metamorphosis occurs with the current console or in its next iteration remains to be seen. Insiders see some sort of expansion of the system a good move, as it will make the Xbox more accessible to non-gamers and help the compa- ny £ain ground on the estimated $750 million it lost on the system as of the end of June.

THE STUN "TIVA AN CASTING CALL

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FINAL FANTASIES I & Il REDUX

Square of Japan is giving the people what they want...sort of. While many thought that the company would take advantage of its renewed relationship with Nintendo, Square is instead bringing Final Fantasy I & II to the original PlayStation instead of the Game Boy Advance. This pair started out on the Famicom in Japan, and will receive a consider- able (and obvious) upgrade on Sony's old console.

New CG intros will be the first thing you notice, followed by overall enhancements to the graphics and sound. Also new to these two are quick saves, added scenes, a 3D field map for airships, an Easy mode, and a dash feature. Final Fantasy | & II will be available in Japan this fall.

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Just Can; Ger E

: Eighteen months ago, It’s amazing how quickly things change. about Rockstar's mission Game Informer brought America its first A year later, the only journalistic error we with the fervor of a tent look at Grand Theft Auto III. At the time, could be accused of is gross understate- revival preacher, admitted we observed that “Grand Theft Auto III ment. The phrase “blockbuster PS2 title” surprise at just how succes:

has all the makings of a blockbuster PS2 doesn't come close to describing the kind ful GTA IIl has become. "D

. title." In all honesty, we really didn't know of success that Grand Theft Auto III has expect it? No way, how GTA III would fare with consumers. experienced over the last few months. commented. “No ol

The game looked promising, if a little Since its release in November, the game . rough around the edges. The development has remained at or near the top of the ©

team, DMA Design (since renamed sales charts, tallied over seven million

Rockstar North), was still overcoming the units sold worldwide, inspired a rabid cult

technical hurdles of the PlayStation 2, and on Internet discussion b:

there were questions surrounding how D

retailers in the United States would

receive the game's violent, gritty content.

Still, there was something alluring about

Rockstar's promise that GTA Ill would has a EE shot a

open up a whole new era of gameplay Sims as the best- vam game

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W PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 2 I STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RACING li PUBLISHER ROCI W RELEASE OCTOBER 22 e

38 GAME INFORMER

\ COVER STORY

Entering the 1980s, as the crushing economic depression and oil crisis of the seventies TIAS subsided, America was a country on the rebound. A 1 - revolution in computer technology and a surging Stock market brought a new prosperity to our nation, breeding a class of young, upwardly mobile profes- sionals who found themselves in the enviable

You'll notice that the cars have more reflective surfaces

i his status-driven class of young people sponded the only way they knew how — by partak- xplosive mixture of disposable pop music, bad dancing, recreational drug use, tacky clothes, expensive cars, and some of the worst haircuts in ie history of mankind. There was little room for the fty ideals of 1960s in the neon-and-glass world of ighties club kids, and by the time comedian Billy Crystal (as Latin lothario Fernando on Saturday Night Live) coined the phrase, “It is better to look good

ESSENTIAL 805

If you were in diapers in the early eighties, you might be surprised to learn that

those dorky adults you roll your eyes at engaged in some pretty freaky behavior back in the day. Here's a slice of the eighties culture that helped inspire Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

40 GAMEINFORMER

Bad Hair — From Cyndi Lauper to Kid n' Play, the eighties offered a cavalcade of hairstyle "don'ts." There were a lot of bad coifs to choose from, but the most dominant was the mullet, renowned for its “business up front, party in the back” attitude.

Vice City is a far cry from Liberty City’s urban wasteland

than to feel good,” it was hard to tell if he was joking.

Taking a good deal of inspiration from the lush visuals of the glossy television drug drama Miami Vice, GTA: Vice City plumbs the depths of the eighties for all they’re worth. “Why did we set it in the eighties?” Donovan asks. “Because the eighties have a huge under-explored wealth of culture... There were things that were great about it and there were things that were disgusting about it. [In Miami] there is this sense of glamour and wealth, and these fantastic colors and warmth. Then, it has this seedy underbelly. Just in terms of the basic scene-setting, that’s an interesting thing to play with.”

Every era is defined by its popular songs, and Vice City’s soundtrack will attempt the daunting task of encompassing the whole of eighties music. To do so, the developers have increased the size of the soundtrack to an unbelievable nine hours. In comparison, the soundtrack of GTA Ill — which we awarded the Best of 2001 — clocked in at three-and-a-half hours long. The process of licensing vintage tracks has been long and arduous, but the end result will be a score that features close to 90 songs. Due to the pitfalls of the legal process, this number could shrink or grow, and Rockstar would not release a full listing of the tracks. Whatever the final number, Donovan promises that Vice City's score will "annihi- late any other entertainment soundtrack imaginable." He also hinted that the company had big plans relating to the Vice City soundtrack. When we asked whether these plans might include a commercially released CD, he responded, "Much bigger than that." Could this mean a box set? Who knows, but many of

Miami Vice — Director Michael Mann created a pioneering blend of art house cinematography and MTV editing with Miami Vice, a hit drama that chronicled the decadent drug trade of the mid- eighties. The show starred D: Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas as undercover narcs Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs.

Less Than Zero — Starring in Less Than Zero, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ acclaimed account of tragically pretty early-eighties party people, Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of doomed drug addict. Julian Wells made him the face of yuppie ennui. Downey went on to reprise this role in real life for the next 15 years.

~<

Rockstar's executives have a background in the music industry (Donovan was once a club DJ and an A&R agent at BMG), and would certainly have the experience necessary for such an ambitious under- taking.

As before, the songs will be delivered to the player through 10 or so fictional radio stations. Of course, the DJs, commercials, and callers will all be speaking in period slang, which should add to the already considerable humor of the experience. We have also heard reports that cynical GTA III radio personality Lazlow will be back, but Rockstar would not confirm his participation in the project.

It's not often that sequels to blockbuster games offer fans such a dramatic shift in setting and tone, but we can't help but think that this is a brilliant move on Rockstar's part. Nostalgia for recent. history, from Happy Days to That '70s Show, has been a staple of popular culture for decades, so it's only appropriate that video games should follow suit. For Donovan, it's another phase in the company's plan to cater to the needs of adult gamers, and playing to their memories of the eighties is just another selling point. “At the beginning of a system, the demographic is, by definition, older. Every time a new platform starts, that age [will be older still], because video games are the one toy that people of our generation didn’t put down,” posits Donovan. “If it were 1982, they'd be 10. If it were 1992, they'd be 20. In 2002, they'd be 30. So, your starting demographic is older, more discerning, more experi- enced, and they've got a lot of entertainment options. If your favorite movie is Goodfellas, do you really want to be playing with a hedgehog? | played Sonic; | love Sonic. But would | rush out and buy it now? | don’t know. Entertainment changes, that’s the way it works.”

New Wave - Robert Moog invented the synthesizer in 1964; 20 years later, America was under invasion by an army of pale, mascara-loving Brits that dressed like gay pirates and sang melancholy melodies over percolating sequencer rhythms. Strangely, the little girls loved it, and no band defines new wave better than Depeche Mode (see also: Bad Hair, Bad Clothes).

Scarface - Starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Miami drug kingpin, 1983's Scarface is hands-down one of the most violent, hard-boiled gangster films ever made. Affecting a ludicrous Cuban accent and laying waste to the scenery with a performance so over-the-top it's nearly comedic, Pacino has never been more memorably insane than he

was in Scarface. All together now:

“Say ‘ello to my leeetle fren!”

Unlike GTA play

Jimmy Swaggart — Another symbol of the corrupt eighties, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart (the real-life cousin of rock n’ roll rebel Jerry Lee Lewis) was the epitome of the decade’s do- as4-say-not-as--do morality. He denounced everything from rock music to Catholicism as sinful,

before being caught on tape leaving a New Orleans motel with a woman of ill repute. He then apologized to his flock in famously tearful fashion, and disappeared from the public eye.

ll of Vice City is open to from the start

Bad Clothes — From bolo ties (see above) to Spuds McKenzie t-shirts to (good God!) grown men wearing biking shorts in public, the eighties was a laundry list of fashion horrors. Does a friend or coworker claim to have *misplaced" his high school pictures? He just might be desperately attempting to cover up his Adam Ant period — investigate. In keeping with the theme, all of Vice City's characters display authentic bad taste.

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GAMEINFORMER 41

/ |i IE. "Vice City is not a sequel, is nota prequel: d It's the next slice of Grand Theft Auto," claims Terry Donovan, and this statement seems to reflect Rockstar's thinking about the fran- chise. Instead of one continuing story arc, Grand Theft Auto is conceived as a "universe," where multiple storylines can take place in various periods of time, similar to the worlds created by the comic book masterminds at DC and Marvel. As such, Vice City's plot shares little in common with that of GTA III. Set 20 years before its predecessor, Vice City introduces us to a new hero, Tommy Vercetti, a former street soldier for the Forelli brothers who has recently been released from an extended prison stay. As a reward for his silence, a young Sonny Forelli sends Tommy to Vice City to expand their criminal empire. Of course, Tommy's first big deal goes terribly wrong, and he soon discovers that he has lost all the cash the Forellis had earmarked for their VC operations. Sonny Forelli, not a man to be jerked around by a washed-up ex-con, demands his money back in no uncertain terms. — Tommy happens upon a small bit of luck through his relationship with Ken Rosenberg, a shady lawyer with heavy connections in the VC underworld. Rosenberg befriends Tony, outfitting him up with a sweet pastel suit and an invitation to a boat party that will be attended by many of the leading lights of the criminal community. What happens after this is anyone’s guess, as Rockstar would not comment. Still, we expect that Tommy's road to the riches will not be without its share of double-crosses and violent betrayals.

One more thing, did we mention the fact that the main character — who was laconic to the point of being mute in GTA IIl — now speaks? This might come as a shock to fans, but surely they won't fault

Hollywood personalities || Rockstar’s choice in voice talent: Ray Liotta, the star slated to do voice-overs for | Of the legendary Goodfellas. As with the music, Vice City considerable effort has gone into improving the 1 D" voice-overs (which now number at 8,000, versus 2,000 from GTA III), and Terry Donovan promised that they have enlisted around 20 other top

Hollywood figures to round out the cast.

Regardless, it's great to see Tommy trading verbal

taunts with fellow mobsters during cutscenes, or

mouthing off to pushy pedestrians on the street.

| Goodfellas star Ray Liotta is among the many

In most video games, the environment is there largely to facilitate the action at hand, direct the player towards the level goals, and show off the developer's graphical prowess. Vice City is more than just a setting, it's a virtual place — one that players will spend countless hours exploring. As impressive as Liberty City was for gamers used to track and corridor-based level design, GTA: Vice City raises the bar impos- sibly high.

For one, it encompasses an area double the size of the previous game. Even better, the entire city is open to players from the start. This is great news for fans, as the divided nature of Liberty City was one of the only things about GTA III that felt like an artificial construct, somewhat diminishing the player's sense that it was a real place. Of course, saying that Vice City is twice as large as Liberty City doesn't quite do justice to Rockstar North's accomplishments, as the game has also expanded its scope to include interior action. Yes, you heard correctly. During our demonstration of the game, we saw Tommy running through hotel lobbies, discos, and other points of interest. These aren’t just simple storefronts like Ammu-Nation, either; they are multi-tiered environments with scores of hallways to explore. A Rockstar representa- tive confirmed that many missions will feature both indoor and outdoor objectives. We can't wait.

A quick drive down one of Vice City's picturesque boulevards will also demonstrate the strides that the development team has made towards making Vice City seem more alive and vibrant than we could have imagined. For starters, there are flocks of pedestrians on the streets,

partaking in a wider variety of activities. You'll see retirees holding court on park benches,; joggers, roller-skaters, and all manner of beach people enjoying the sun. What's more, the Al and routing system of the pedestrians has been revamped, meaning that people will jump out of the way of cars, cross streets, and walk in tandem.

Gangs will also engage in more complex behavior, beating down random passersby, stealing cars, and getting into chases with police. This will result in a few scares, as the next time you see a cop flash his lights behind you, he might speed right past in pursuit of another criminal.

Beyond the technical improvements, you'll find that — mostly due to

its tropical setting — Vice City is a much more pleasant place to spend your afternoon than Liberty City. Its bright, pastel color palette is pleasing to the eye — a huge improvement over GTA Ill's drab grays and browns. You won't realize just how rundown Liberty City was until you get a taste of VC, but trust us when we say that you'll never want to go back. And why would you? Vice City is the land of sun, fun, fast cars, and beautiful women — not a bad way to kill an hour or several dozen.

lurral apii

Considering the scale of the project, Grand Theft Auto III was reasonably good looking, but pretty is not a word we would use to describe its blocky characters and muddy textures. Utilizing the new Renderware engine in congress with modifications to its texture-streaming technology has allowed Rockstar North to implement some significant improvements to the graphical presentation of Vice City. Textures are now running at a much higher resolution, and the framerate appears to have been increased as well. Those familiar with Miami know that the city is a showcase for neon, and the developer has been hard at work on new radiosity lighting system that lets it capture the incandescent glow of the beachfront clubs that have become the city's hallmark.

The game's character models have also benefited from a complete overhaul, and gone are the boxy figures we came to know and tolerate last time around. The effect is impressive, especially in Tommy's model, which is taller and much more proportionate. Also, all characters are now fully skinned, which should alleviate past tendencies towards seam tearing at joints. Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with the level of improvement on the graphical side of GTA: Vice City, and things will only get better as Rockstar North begins its final.fine-tuning process.

GAMEINFORMER 43

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With seven millions units sold,

making changes to basic gameplay mechanics might not be the first thing on the minds of most develop- ers. Thankfully, Rockstar North is not most developers, and set right towards changing Grand Theft Auto III's single biggest flaw: the suspect targeting system. If you were ever frustrated that you were targeting the granny in front of you, while the gangster down the block kept plugging you from a distance, rest assured that this will not be a problem in the future. A new auto-targeting system has been created — one that highlights victims based on priority, rather than proximity. Also, a new dual-crosshairs has been added, which displays both the exact target and bullet spray radius. Although it wasn't working on the build we saw, the targeting icon will also change colors to show the degree of threat a pedestrian presents. In total, there are 40 weapons - up from 15 in GTA Ill —

44 GANEINFORMER

The new targeti

system makes

breeze

many of which (like the machete) use completely new character animations. In shootouts, Tommy can make better use of cover with a new crouch maneuver.

Camera issues also plagued out-of-the-car combat in GTA IIl, and the VC team has found the solution by locking the camera in an over-the-shoulder view when in targeting mode. As you toggle between enemies, your view changes instantaneously, avoiding the seasickness caused by the wildly swinging camera of last year's model. This will also facilitate the interior corridor action, as will a new HUD map display that shows your elevation relative to your goal.

These enhanced controls will be put to good use, as Rockstar is setting forth considerable effort into forging missions that are more engrossing, challeng- ing, and complex than the oftentimes simple grab-and-go objectives in GTA Ill. In post-production

meetings, the mission that the team picked as its — : favorite was “Bomb da Base" (in which players : provided sniper cover for partner-in-crime Eightball i as he walked aboard a ship in the dockyards). This has been the model for their current efforts, and we can expect that many will be made up of multiple sections that meld driving, street fighting, and interior sequences.

If your missions don't pay out as much as you're. used to, don't complain that you're getting cheated. This is the eighties, and all completed objectives are paid out it in real period-value dollars. Of course, you can supplement your income with the infamous side missions. All your favorites from last year will be present in modified form, and there will be a host of new trades to try your hand at. For now, Rocks will only reveal one: pizza delivery — a sly jab critics who complained that GTA Ill’s mission: unimaginative.

COVER STORY

les than completing missions will find a lot to search for in Vice City.

ig GTA Ill’s then-impressive selection of 50 vehicles, Vice City ups the

to 120 - many of which are inspired by eighties-era sports cars like

borghinis and Ferraris. Also, given the temperate climate, we expect that

ertibles will be more plentiful than they were in the past.

thermore, we can confirm what many had guessed, based on the Vice City

art that has been circulating the Internet since E3: Motorcycles have been

added to the roster of vehicles. It's exciting stuff, and the moment we saw

X ommy get on a huge chopper with an attractive young lady riding on back, we

sre hooked. The bikes look great, and Tommy pilots them like a pro, stretching his leg for balance around corners and using his feet to back up out of

king spaces. Cruising down the expressway, you'll even see your clothes

pling in the wind — a nice touch that adds to Vice City's sense of realism.

Ithough the cars might seem like old hat, we can say that they are breath- Here's a glimpse

taking, exhibiting more reflective surfaces, and real-time shadowing from the modeled

ing scenery. Also, you can now use a sniper rifle to shoot out tires, which will

ically alter each vehicle’s handling physics. It’s a great way to stop enemies

dead in their tracks; but beware, as the cops can give as good as they get — » a£ ich might make your job a great deal more difficult. 7 ; .. Given the game's seaside topography, boats will also play a bigger role during Jj | 272 | S

gameplay. Numerous waterways and canals crosscut real-ife Miami, and Vice

City is no different. Fortunately, the game engine’s water physics and boat handling have been completely revamped, and rumors have even suggested that Over the past few months, many readers have asked

that cigarette boats and jet skis might be a reality as well. us, “Why didn’t you score GTA II! a perfect 10?” Grand Theft Auto: Vice $ X City answers that question in the best possible fashion: by surpassing its predecessor in every way. For this, Rockstar deserves every bit of the commercial and critical accolades it will likely receive following the game’s release on October 22nd. This effort is even more commendable when you consider that nearly everyone who played Grand Theft Auto III would have been more than happy with an expansion pack, or a quick- and-easy sequel that stuck close to the existing blueprint.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is more than we could have hoped for, and it looks like Rockstar will again set the tone for the next year in video games. GTA is now more than a fluke hit, it's shaping up to be a long- term franchise that will be with us for years to come — one that is pointing the way towards the future of genre-melding, open-ended gameplay. Its durability will be aided by the fact that it's defined not by a mascot or character, but rather a sensibility and a love for pop culture that will give it the ability to constantly reinvent itself. As society changes, so will Grand Theft Auto. Right now, Vice City doesn't feel like the culmination of Rockstar's efforts, but the beginning of a new era. An era in which games will take their place as the dominant form of enter- tainment, by combining the strengths of film, television, and music with interactivity and exploration that only gaming can offer.

GAMEINFORMER 45

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Piaya ation 2 Online = Console or an walks on the moon,

PlayStation 2 invades i 1 A MENA & al | Computer?

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Frontier

In just a matter of months, the landscape of gaming will be forever changed. All three of the consoles on the market are expanding their reaches to the online realm. As expected, each manufacturer is using different strategies and methods to win the affections of gamers across the world. Of course, many questions abound. Is Sony's philosophy of targeting the casual gamer with dial-up the way to go, or is the net- work rooted in prehistoric times? Conversely, is Microsoft going too far and leapfrog- ging generations with its broadband-only approach? What about Nintendo? Should gamers invest their money now in GameCube's online capabilities, or wait it out? Journey with us as we break down the strategies, components, benefits, and prob- lems involved with video games' evolution to the Net.

Playstation 2 Online >

s a multinational entertainment empire, the cutting edge of technology, Sony's approach to majority of American households still utilize dial-up

Sony is used to doing things in a big way. Internet gaming mirrors its mass-market philosophy. connections, the strategy makes a good deal more

Whether it's a compact disc, television, Supporting both conventional 56k dial-up and business sense than Microsoft's Xbox Live initiative.

computer, or Walkman, chances are that cable/DSL broadband connections, PlayStation 2's For now, let's leave these questions to the ana-

every one of our readers has at least one online functions will likely serve as the medium for lysts. Real gamers want to know the facts about

Sony product in their house. In recent introducing millions of newbies to the joys of online PlayStation 2 online — how, and how well it works. years, its PlayStation dynasty has been one of the fragging and leveling-up. While Xbox Live (a broad- From the initial experiences we've had, Sony's linchpins of Sony's success, and one of the compa- _ band-only service) will probably be the most satisfy- Internet empire appears to be off to a good start. ny's most profitable divisions. Now, its long-delayed ing and comprehensive experience for the hardcore On August 27, when the Sony Network Adaptor hits plans for bringing the PlayStation 2 online are finally ^ audience, Sony's open-arms approach will ensure retail shelves across the country, gamers are going coming to fruition and gamers around the world are that nearly all of the over 30 million PlayStation 2 to have a lot to be excited about. Now, let's exam- nearly drooling in anticipation. owners will have the option of a good number of ine the nuts and bolts of what you'll need to get up

Unlike Microsoft, which prides itself on skating amazing online titles. Given that an overwhelming and running.

Gelling Started

The first thing you're going to need is the Sony Network Adaptor. Retailing at $39.99, the Adaptor is basically a combination Ethernet/Modem that fea- tures ports for both dial-up and broadband connections. At this point, it's probably going to be a good idea to pick up another PS2 memory card as well, as you will need at least 137k of free space to save your network and ISP settings. Even better, the unit comes with a coupon redeemable for a free copy of Twisted Metal: Black Online, a multiplayer update of the early PS2 car combat classic. Also included with your Network Adaptor will be your network Start-Up disc, which provides you with everything you're going to need to get your PS2 up and running online. The first thing you're going to want to check out is the Help video which, via some slick CG, shows you exactly how to install the Network Adaptor in to the back of your PlayStation 2. Don't worry if : you're not a tech-head, the process is relatively painless, and the only tool The instructional video you'll need is a nickel coin (for the oversized screws that fasten the unit to n8 bs ene Stat? the back of your console). though the Installation Next, you'll need to go through the ISP Setup, which we're happy to of your Network Adaptor report is also a fairly intuitive process. Keep in mind that you're going to need to have Internet service already in your home. However, Sony's open-ended policy The ISP Setup menu provides a means that virtually every major ISP is compatible with PS2 Online, including AOL, AT&T, Baader Prodigy, Earthlink, and Simpatico. Having run some online tests here in the office, we can assure you that you should have little problem getting through this process, as the helpful menus generally prompt you to enter all applicable information. From here on out, you'll be able to start your Internet gaming with a simple press of a button, usually found within the Online options screen of whatever game you're playing.

u FEATURE

Hammer The Start-Up disc will include a playable

demo of Frequency, as well as videos of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Tribes Aerial Assault, and ATV Offroad Fury 2

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GAMEINFORMER 47

- most experience in this depart-

Console or Computer?

Historically, the differences between a computer and a console were as different as night and day. As technology has improved on both fronts, this line has begun to blur. Now that console gaming has evolved to the online medium, computer-like functionality is needed to a certain degree. Are consoles transforming into computers? instinctively, you want to say no. However, you may change your mind after reading what manufactur- ers and consumers are doing with your plug and play video game systems.

Playstation a

Sony's online

brigade is loaded to the hilt with versatili- ty. Not only does it offer a wealth of options to gamers, it's also a play-

ground for program- mers. Sony is offer- ing a bundle that taps into the Linux operating sys- tem. Enthusiasts of this software can transform their PlayStation 2 into a desktop computer with Sony's Linux Kit. You'll be able to download sever- al Linux programs including multimedia players, programming environments, HTML editors, and office solutions. The Linux Kit has a retail price of $199.99 and is currently only available online at www.playstation.com. The Kit consists of Linux Version 1.0 software, an Internal Hard Disc Drive (40 GB), an Ethernet Network Adaptor, a Monitor Cable Adaptor, and a USB Keyboard and Mouse. To use this bundle, a PlayStation 2 8MB Memory Card (dedicated solely to the Linux Kit) and a VGA Monitor (with Sync-on-green capability) are required. The Linux Kit will not enhance games in any way, shape, or form. Furthermore, the hard disc drive is formatted for Linux specifically and will not work with HDD compatible games.

Microsoft is the most knowl- edgeable and skilled in online and computer operations. Assuredly,

the thought of Windows. running on an Xbox has crossed your mind at least once. Even though it has the. 974

ment, Microsoft has no plans of transforming the Xbox into a computer. Consumers have different thoughts altogether. If you take a few minutes out of your day to surf the web, you may stumble upon dis- cussion boards of hackers trying to figure out ways to use Linux on the Xbox. An anonymous user is so intent on using Linux on Xbox that he's willing to award hackers up to $200,000 for making this dream possible. He'll dish out $100,000 to programmers who successfully port Linux to a modified Xbox, and an additional $100,000 to people who run unsigned code on an Xbox without hardware modification. Strange indeed, but amusing nonetheless.

48 GAMEINFORMER

Playstation a Online > 00 Far, 90 GOOd

We came away from our recent sessions of PS2 online very impressed, to say the least. Hands down, the best thing going right now is SOCOM: US Navy SEALs, which avoids the pitfalls of inconsistent 56k connections with its broadband-only policy. It runs fast and furious, and nearly matches the best of the tactical military PC titles. Sony has put a hefty investment into its servers, which are located primarily in San Diego and the San Francisco area, enhanced by several sites in the mid- west and east coast. As to be expected, 56k is more prone to lag problems, but fortunately, Sony is segregat- ing their broadband and 56k customers onto separate servers, thereby evening the playing field. Of course, where you are in relation to the server you're playing on and your baud rate and ping will also factor in to how steady your online experience is, but it does appear that Sony is doing all it can to alleviate any headaches. On the downside, we already know that 56k users will only be able to run 2-player games of Tribes Aerial Assault (instead of the 16-player max for broadband connec- tions), which is just plain lame.

Here's a picture of the SOCOM lobby, where broadban enabled gamers will be able to seek out fragfests

Star Wars Galaxies will likely charge a monthly fee for play Even more encouraging is

the fact that, for now, you'll be able to get your Internet jollies for free. Unlike Microsoft, Sony isn't charging for the ser- vice, and is letting third-party developers make the call as to how much, if any, they are going to bill gamers for their online titles. As massively-mul- tiplayer online RPGs like Final Fantasy XI (which charges a monthly rate in Japan), EverQuest Adventures, and Star Wars Galaxies come to the fore, these free policies will likely change. However, we still expect that a vast majority of PS2 titles will offer at least some degree of no-cost Internet functionality. Another question that remains is whether SOCOM's headset microphone (which works almost as well as Microsoft's Voice Communicator) will be used for any future Sony or third-party titles. Nothing is announced at the moment, but let's hope so. After Xbox Live launches, typing trash talk will seem about as up-to-date as communicating through telegraph. Down the road, a Sony spokesman confirmed that the company's partnership with America Online will come to fruition in the form of AOL web browsing, email, and Instant Messenger functions. We can't wait. For now, let's get ready for August 27th, and start limbering up our trigger fingers for a game of SOCOM.

Connection Fo

Sony isn't charging a monthly fee for its services, but you will need a dial-up or broadband connection. We did our research and checked out exactly how much it will cost to get the PlayStation 2 up and running. You'll of course have to purchase the Network Adaptor for $39.99. On top of this, if you're going with the simplistic dial-up approach, you're looking at spending $10 to $25 a month for online services. Broadband is a tad more expensive with a range between $30 and $50 a month. A game will run you $39.99 to $49.99 ($59.99 for SOCOM). You're basically looking at spending between $90 to $150.

This time, there's a neu net crime organization in

town and its computer hacking ‘has created a computer virus that's quickly gaining momentum. Join Mega Man.€XE, Lan and their Net-battling friends to win this cyberbattle of

MEGABRORORTONS!

The next installment of the amazing cyber adventure.

188

= —

* NEW Battle Chips! * More advanced battle system. * Mega Man's appearance & abilities evolve based on your playing style * Trade Chips and cyber battle with the Game Link” Cable

GAME BOY ADVANCE CAPCOM www.capcom.com

© CAPCOM CO., LTD. 2002 © CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2002 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM LOGO are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. MEGA MAN BATTLE NETWORK is a trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LICENSED BY NINTENDO. NINTENDO, GAME BOY, GAME BOY ADVANCE AND THE OFFICIAL SEAL ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO, © 2001 NINTENDO. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.

Playstation 2 / Online Games >>

Tribes Aerial Assault

Although 16 players won't be 8 nearly as intoxicating or as ZN insane as the 64 player limit for Riad the PC version, Tribes Aerial 15/ 4 ) Assault is still a riproaring riot 9 MAGS

on the PlayStation 2. All of the * Publisher SCEA * Developer Zipper Interactive + Release August 27 character types, mountable SOCOM: US Navy SEALs

~ vehicles, and game modes are :

, Still intact and running just as Thanks to the broadband connection (which is required), up to 16 players can smoothly. Of course, to compete, communicate, and team up with the SEALs or terrorists in three maximize this experience fully, different online modes. Single-player gaming is also available for those of you the Broadband modem is ut online capabilities. recommended. It does work with 3 dial-up connections as well, but Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 with no more than two players. eornm

» You'll also be able to play the game single-player through 11 missions and any of the online modes with CPU bots.

* Publisher Sierra + oper Inevitable + R

Final Fantasy XI Final Fantasy XI is the first game am that requires the Hard Disc Drive. Much like a PC game, Square Soft can use this peripheral continually to incorporate new to content and fix glitches through downloadable patches. If you are a fan of this long-running series, you'll be familiar with the character classes, monster cxtra types, and magical elements. On * Publi ctivision * Dev Pe Release November 5 the other hand, the gameplay is a complete departure from the tried-and-true formula. Communication with human-

Neversoft is taking Mr. Hawk online for a second time. Tony 4 features a slew of new online modes, and a host of innovations and improvements that were not present in Tony 3. Rumor has it that you'll even be able to host competitions on controlled characters, forming levels created within the Park Editor. f you thought Tony Hawk was incredibly parties, and strategizing for addictive as a single-player game, wait until you play it online.

day's work. Spending countless EverQuest Online Adventures

hours to level up and obtain rare

" I items are what this game is all » Publisher Square Soft * Developer Square Soft * Release 2003 about.

Twisted Metal: Black Online

It's free! Well...almost. When

you purchase your PlayStation 2. & Network Adaptor, don't toss out

the extraneous paperwork! If you

» 38. take the time to look through the documents enclosed, you'll eo see that you received a mail-

away coupon that can be sent in

and exchanged for a

complimentary copy of Twisted

Metal: Black Online. New types

of levels have been added. For

E 3 the first time ever, up to eight i E: players can beat the living tar © Publisher SCOA * Developer SCOA * Release March 2003 out of each other's vehicles.

Sony claims that it will take the average gamer approximately 600 to 800 hours to raise their character to level 50. You'll be able to trek across 323 miles of terrain, choose between nine races and 13 classes, chat with friends on a USB keyboard, and play up to three different characters. Up to 5,000 players can (E interact with one another in the same world, and yes, a monthly fee will be er SCEA * Developer Incog Inc * Release August 27 necessary. The Hard Disc Drive isn't required, but Sony is considering implementing additional features for players that do have one.

50 GAMEINFORMER

Ist:

(CON COMO

Y

Yl a " loper Harmonix Music Systems * Release August 27 4 Frequency S) 1 = y / : i A / Y : The rumor early on was that Sony's network would launch with Frequency 2.

Unfortunately, this isn't the case. It's not Frequency 2 - just an online version of

* Publisher Eidos * Developer Free Radical Design * Release Septemb ded the original.

TimeSplitters 2 When it comes to multiplayer, TimeSplitters is in a league of its own. In the first a Auto Modellista game, players had the freedom to design their own levels. In the sequel, online warfare is the guilty pleasure. Up to 16 players will be able to compete at once; and you can even throw in a handful of bots for good measure. Right now, Free Radical

has designed 17 different multiplayer modes — many of which will be available for online play. The variety this game offers is truly outstanding.

ATV Offroad Fury 2

> Publisher Capcom * Developer Capcom * Release October 15 —

Peel out and compete against four players online (network or LAN). Capcom is

* Developer Rainbow Studios * Re November 12 also looking into using the HDD for downloadable content and player-customized This sequel makes its precursor look like a 10-second demo in comparison. The logos. Sweet! amount of new material in this game is overwhelming. Not only has the Career mode been completely overhauled with depth and variety, you'll also be able to customize every inch of fabric on your rider, take a break in five different minigames including ATV Soccer and race for the gold online against three other human-controlled riders. Along with head-to-head competitions, a new mode called Relay allows two players to compete as a team against other players in Supercross, Nationals, Enduro, and Freestyle Stunt events.

Resident Evil Online

* Publisher Capcom * Developer Capcom * Release 2003 * Publisher SCEA * Developer Idol Minds * November 12

Details on this highly anticipated venture are scarce, but we were fortunate enough If you connected your PS2 to the Net for personal pleasure, but have a younger

to catch a glimpse of this online-only title in action. As crazy as it may sound, the sibling or child that wants a piece of the action, My Street is your solution. This gameplay appears to be modeled after the previous incarnations, with human- non-violent title is actually eight games in one. Look on as the tyke in the house controlled characters backed into a corner firing blindly as a herd of slow-witted destroys the competition in heated games like Marbles, Volleyball, Pigs and zombies approach. Of course, all players online will be able to interact and Chickens, Chemistry Set, Dodge Ball, RC Racing, Lawn Mowers, and the communicate. More interesting yet, word on the streets is that you may be able to perplexing Corn Field Maze. Up to four players can compete online or via the Multi- play as the undead as well. Tap Peripheral.

GAME INFORMER 51

HOH Live Online >

tiboa Live

The console war is exploding on all fronts, but Microsoft doesn't seem too worried about the battle that will be waged across the Internet. Assuredly, knocking the GameCube out of the way is as simple a gesture as breathing, but the PlayStation 2 may bite back when provoked. Of much interest indeed, Sony's online stance is very different from Microsoft's. Sony is opening its doors to everyone, whereas Microsoft's admittance is primarily VIP. Choosing to create a broadband-only network is a gutsy move on Microsoft's part, especially since Sony has opted to support both dial-up and broadband connections. If you have a phone in your house, you can get dial-up. Broadband, on the other hand, is a luxury. As of now, only about 35 percent of Xbox owners have it, and it's not even available in some parts of the country.

However, Microsoft should be commended for pushing the envelope. Dial-up connections can only go so far nowadays, and could potentially become a nagging headache. Will developers sacrifice the quality of a game to incorporate the lowest common denominator? With Microsoft's network, Xbox Live, developers never have to worry about the low-end users, but rather, push the multiplayer experience as far as the network will allow. Microsoft's strategy may be a little ahead of its time, but it's where gaming needs to go, and should be a shining example as to how exquisite online console gaming truly can be.

What is It?

Xbox Live is not a web browser. As you may recall, Microsoft already attempted bringing the Internet to TV viewers through a little device called Web TV. A little device that Microsoft invested $425 million into, but nobody bought. Xbox Live is an online gaming network and nothing more. If you want to surf the web, get a computer! If you want to send mail, get a pen and paper! If you want to hang out in chat rooms, get a life! The only thing you'll be able to do is play games against people across the globe at the fastest connection speed possible.

Prepping for Launch

"We're going to launch when we're ready," exclaims J Allard, Microsoft's Xbox general manager. "As for turning on the Internet service? The Hs E service is already on today. ot aas ant Noida" It's just a which we've jokingly matter of dubbed the "man bag" turning up the volume. It's really straightforward and simple. The expectation is that we'll have everything up and running and ready for retail before Thanksgiving." If you do plan on taking your Xbox into cyberspace, there are a number of things that you can do in preparation. For

52 GAMEINFORMER

starters, we strongly recommend sizing up the services and prices of the Internet providers within your area. What kind of deals can you get? What are the installation fees? If you have friends who already subscribe to such services, ask them how their connections have been treating them. You're probably asking yourself why you need to go to these lengths, and we don't blame you. Think of it this way: If you don't have a good connection, it's like playing a game that's missing half of the frames of animation. This is especially crucial since Xbox Live allows players to view opponent baud rates and determine whether they want to enter a game with them or not. If you have a high ping, you'll basically become the nerdy kid that always gets picked last for recess basketball games. Once you get connected, the Xbox When you do secure a DSL or cable broadband Live option will appear on your Xbox \ connection, which will have a fairly expensive monthly rate, dashboard you'll need to run out and pick up the Xbox Live Starter Kit. In this package, which will retail for $49.95, you'll find the Xbox Communicator Headset, which allows you to verbally chat with anyone online within any given game; an Xbox Live Startup Disc for setup; and a full year of Xbox Live service. As of press time, Microsoft confirmed that a number of minigames and demos would be included on the startup disc, and, tentatively, an online version of Acclaim's Revolt. As of now, a connector cable is not included.

If you already have your broadband connection, getting online should be an effortless task.

Profiling

Instead of allowing users to run amok on the Xbox servers, your monthly fee delivers a number of interesting governing From here, you'll be able to set up services. When you log onto the network, think long and accounts.. hard about your user profile. The name you select is as permanent as your social security number...or so Microsoft says. This aspect seems a little silly to us, but it does allow Microsoft to police the customer base, and also generates the sensation that you've entered a community where nobody hides behind thousands of different names. You can freely view the profiles of people online, and if a relationship is established, you can add them to your Friends list. If you feel the need, you can even access a menu of prescripted eBay-like comments. If you enjoyed your gaming session with said individual, make a note on their profile for others to see. If a user named Darth Buttocks is causing trouble, and a number of people have flagged him in the past, you'll have the chance to avoid him and block him out permanently if you choose. If Darth Buttocks racks up enough complaints, the big brother at Xbox Live may take action.

" „and create your user profile Optimatch

The Optimatch function will allow players to be very specific with every little aspect of a game. In addition to being able to find specific players, you'll be able to locate and enter games that are tailored to your favor. For example, in a game like NFL Fever 2003, Optimatch will search the list of players online for just about anything you want, even the Top 100 players in the nation. If you want to play 10 minute quarters, Optimatch will find out if anyone else has the same game plan and will bring up a list of the available participants. You can even sort by teams, weather conditions, penalties, Friends...you name it. Also, if you happen to have given a specific player five negative comments, they won't show up on your Optimatch listing. The developers have complete freedom as to what functionality Optimatch will have for each game.

xBOX LIVE

NFL FEVER LOBBY

ave WPL reven ono

Find an opponent immediately, without specifying game criteria. € Select © Back @ Help

It's entirely up to the developer whether or not the game will make use of Optimatch

FEATURE

Innovative Ghat

If you were one of the fortunate people who had the chance to play NFK 2K1 on the Dreamcast net- work, you probably experienced the painstaking motion of dropping the controller as quickly as you could so that you could type in a humorous quip on the keyboard. Those days are long gone. With the Xbox

clarity on the headset is surprisingly good. If someone is talking your ear off, and you're sick and tired of ing to their babble, simply press the mute button on the controller

Change your voice and online status options, Change option

every game. If you choose to, you'll be able to That's right, all mask your voice at any given time ^ 4 Xbox Live

Communicator headset (which comes bundled with the Xbox Live Starter Kit), you'll be able to use your vocal cords to com-

municate within © Back @ Help

games support this peripheral. Don't worry, there aren't any long distance fees. Furthermore, if you find yourself stuck in a match against a handful of people of the opposite gender and don't want to be hit on, you can mask your voice and blend with the crowd. Much like Optimatch, the developer is required to implement the voice masking options for each game. This may sound completely asinine, but it's actually quite cool.

As J Allard recalls from the first Communicator headset test ses- sion, voice masking is a must. "In 1999, we decided to do voice. We had eight hardcore gamers come [to Microsoft] to test out the prototype. | was like, 'You guys are going to be the first gamers to see voice on a console game.’ Are you ready for it? They were like, 'Hell, yeah! Bring it on!' They were all pumped up and everything, so we sent them off to eight different rooms. | sat in the

lobby watching. | had my little headphones on and they don't talk to each other. So | bring them all out and said, 'What the hell is wrong with you guys?! Is the system broken!? Why aren't you talking to each other? You're lips aren't moving! | know it's not bro- ken!' They responded with, 'We don't know each other.' | said that | knew that they spent all of their time in EverQuest and ICQ and are constantly mes- saging people they don't know, but they said, 'Well yeah. But I'm anonymous there. That's just letters on a screen with a bull— name. Here, it's my real voice.' | never thought about that. With the excep- tion of telemarketers, you really don't talk to strangers that you can't see or have some reason to meet."

The intent was to make the network feel like you were playing a game on a couch next to a buddy - only you don't know who this buddy is. With voice masking it takes the edge off and allows you to be completely anonymous. If you want to sound like a girl, you can do it. If you want to be a robot, go right ahead. Let's say you're playing Halo 2 and you get shot up to bits and your health is fairly low, the developers can actually change your voice so that it sounds scratchy or faint of breath. We spent a fair amount of time with the Communicator, and we can't live without it now. Whether it's random chat with strangers, or flat out trash taking, it'll forever alter the way you play online games. Hopefully, developers will actually implement this feature into team-based games (like an FPS clan or RPG guild).

Th Not-S0-Flat Rate?

The question on everyone's mind is, "If | purchase the Xbox Live Starter Kit for $49.95, will | have to pay anything extra per month?" The answer is a tad ambigu- ous. No, you won't have to pay anything unless you plan on playing certain types of games. J Allard described it as such: "Gamers understand the notion of a flat fee. They say, 'The thing that we really understand is cable. We don't understand early cell phone billing. We like the new $49 plans.' So basic cable comes with ESPN and MTV. The basic fee contains most of the stuff that you'd want. If there are premium stations like HBO, you'll

If a game like Dark Age of Camelot were released for Xbox would probably charge an extra monthly fee

'e, Mythic Entertainment

-m wss Each locker is crammed

have to pay extra for that. There's going to be a community of games where the developer continual- ly invests in the world. That's 20, 30, 40 people that come to work every day to make that game improve. That's the premium cost. We don't expect Activision to nickel and dime you for new levels and clothing [in Tony Hawk]."

Downloads

The Xbox hard drive (which is built into your unit) will play a vital role in the online gaming experi- ence. As you may have guessed, developers will have the freedom to create downloadable items such as new levels and characters. There's also a chance that you'll be able to download game demos, music, and video clips in the future.

Connection Fa

Getting the Xbox online may break a few bank accounts. Here's a rough ballpark figure of how much you'll need to spend on launch day: You'll need to fork out $49.95 for the Xbox Starter Kit, $49.99 for a game, and between $30 and $50 (plus possible installation fees) for DSL or cable service. So you're basically looking at spending $130-$150 on launch day. You'll also have to con- tinue paying your DSL or cable fee on a monthly basis.

SGG POLUGI

Xbox Live is powered by five data centers located in London, Seattle, Tokyo, Redmond, and Tukwila. By the end of next year, Microsoft predicts that each of these centers will house roughly 200 game servers each. To put this into per- Spective, the Redmond cen- ter, which is just the test network, is larger than all of microsoft.com, which just happens to be one of the

. top five websites on the

to capacity with Dell Internet.

Little does Microsoft know that. we switched around two cables. Which ones? We'll never tell!

53

GAME INFORMER

Hox Live Online Games >>

A version of perhaps the best online FPS series to grace the PC will finally make its way to Xbox very shortly. Unreal Championship basically brings a whole new set of maps, and introduces vehicles. Through Xbox Live's Optimatch function, players will be ranked based on their performances in the game. The only apprehensions we have so far revolve around

Al the lack of mouse and keyboard |

support. Whether or not the controller is adequate, you can count on Unreal Championship being the FPS king to topple when Live launches.

er Infogrames * Developer Digital Streams +

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon

e

Lay down a fiery assault cooperatively with five teammates, or compete against one another in a handful of exciting layer adversarial modes. Ubi Soft has pulled out all of the stops for this port. You'll be able to find and join games through your Friends list, or use Optimatch to find the best game to enter by mode, map, or number of players. Much like Sony's SOCOM: US Naw SEALs, you'll be able to bark out verbal orders to your team through the Xbox Communicator.

er Red Storm © e October 29

By the look of XIII, you'd never suspect that it was running on the Unreal engine. Why is it called XIII? Well, it turns out that the lead character can only be identified by the "XIII" tattooed on his clavicle. Interesting, no? It also turns out that this mysterious XIII character has a sixth sense that acts like radar. Along with a slew of weapons like an M16 and a sniper rifle, you'll be able to pick up and use inanimate objects such as broken bottles. Up to 16 players will be able to play XIII online in a number of familiar

: Ubi Soft * and innovative modes.

54 GMEINFORMER

m. Whacked:

r Microsol lope

Midtown Madness

Microsoft recently pushed Midtown Madness 3 into the first quarter of next year, but we can only imagine what kind of online connectivity it will have.

MechAssault sak

e November 12

Day 1. is working feverishly to finish off the online component of MechAssault. The exact player count hasn't been finalized just yet, but Day 1 is shooting for eight or 12. MechAssault will also be one of the first games to incorporate downloadable content. In the future, you can expect to see new mechs and levels incorporated. We've even heard that one of the downloads may reveal a new mode that allows players to build bases.

er Microsoft * Developer Presto Studios * Release October 9

This crazy action game reminds us of Cel Damage, only without the really cool vehicles and mass amounts of destruction. The gameplay is very reminiscent of games like Twisted Metal and Vigilante 8, but the havok you wreak is on foot and the weapons you bear are goofy as opposed to deadly. Up to four players can compete online in this maddening festival of craziness!

Uy, [4

v

A a Microsoft « Microsoft Game Studi Second Quarter 2003

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge

4 Microsoft hasn't announced this game for Xbox Live yet, but we have + Publisher Metro 3D loper Gameness Art Studios * Release December 2 a sneaking suspicion that it's on its way. The game was recently Stake " x delayed until 2003, and J Allard spoke of playing Crimson Skies with the user profile named "Red Baron." Hmmm. Crimson Skies looked We haven't seen a decent arena fighting game since Power Stone 2, but we're definitely great to begin with and we can only dream of how exciting it'll be to intrigued by Stake's prospects. From what we've seen thus far, Stake leans a little closer dogfight against other human-controlled aviators. to the mindless brawler type of gameplay than Power Stone, but there's definitely strategy involved, especially for the eight-player online brawls. Shortly after the December 2 Armada 2: Star Command +1 release, Metro 3D is planning downloads of new maps, characters, and a level editor. E L3 p X341

« —

Shining Lore

s

ase September 15 It may not look like much, but if you were fortunate enough to play the original on the Dreamcast, you know just how addictive this strategic space shooter can be. The fact that it now supports up to eight players online (four otherwise) makes it all the more enticing.

Lamborghini

er Phantagram Interactive

For the time being, the Xbox is RPG starved. Of course, come next year, this will change Racing is definitely one of the most promising online genres, and with the release of Star Wars Galaxies. Phantagram is also planning on throwing its hatin ^ we have a feeling that Lamborghini will be one of Xbox Live's pre- the ring with Shining Lore, a MMORPG that veers closer to the console RPG formula than miere franchises. Rage Software is well versed in games like this, today's time-intensive online games. In addition to the standard RPG ingredients, Shining and you can't go wrong with the Lamborghini license. The game will Lore promises to keep gamers occupied through a number of minigames, ranging from feature nine different tracks and 25 types of Lamborghini cars battle chess to card games. The PC version will release in December, while the Xbox and including the Murcielago, Countach, 350 GT, Miura, and the ever- PS2 versions are expected to make an appearance late in 2003. popular Diablo.

GAMEINFORMER 55

Have you ever watched two bullies play keep-away catch

from a child that is roughly a third of their size? If so, then

you have a good picture as to how the GameCube's online prospects shape up in comparison to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The GameCube, of course, is the little child that will never wrap his hands around that ball. Beginning in late September, the GameCube will in fact join the online gaming revolution. Players will have the

option to purchase the v.90 Modem Adaptor, which work:

s with most ISP connections, or the wickedly fast

Broadband Adaptor. Both items will retail for $34.95 apiece. On the game side, the options aren't nearly as luxuri- ous. That's right, there's only one title that currently taps into the GameCube's online capabilities. Hopefully, you have a taste for role-playing games — primarily role-playing games that debuted roughly two years ago on a system

that crashed and burned. From Internet launch day until the only online compatible title on the market.

Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing, George Harrison, pretty much summed up Nintendo's philosophy on the matter by saying, "We think it's a very interesting market. We also view it as avery small market for the foreseeable future...and one where it's yet to be demonstrated how to make a profit. We're taking an approach that allows publishers to have an environment where we can experiment. They can decide how to approach it based on their own business model, not a model we're imposing on them."

With Microsoft and Sony leaping forward, we don't necessarily see online gaming staying "very small" for long. As disappointing as Nintendo's stance may be, there's definitely a chance that it could be the right decision. What if gamers don't embrace online gaming? Where does that leave Sony and Microsoft? To say the very least, it'll be interesting to see how things shape up in 2003.

For now, however, if you want to play Phantasy Star day in and day out for God knows how long, hopping online is a sound investment. On the other hand, if you're approaching the GameCube's online activities with hopes that Nintendo will release a web browser and a plethora of games, the future (as of now) appears to be very bleak.

The Difference

Sony is providing its service to everyone, and this option won't be nearly as taxing on your bank account as Xbox Live. As you can clearly see, the online war is just as competitive and interesting to watch as the con- soles themselves. Who will come out on top? Did Sony do right with dial-up? Most definitely. Getting the casual gamer involved is priority one. Did Microsoft go too far by making Xbox Live broadband only? In our opinion, yes and no. When Sony offers both options, you have to match or you will be left in the dust.

On the other hand, Xbox Live will most definitely be the place where hardcore gamers compete. If the Xbox sticks around for another four years, Xbox Live will defi- nitely evolve into a serious force, but we really don't see everyone forking out the cash on day one to play Whacked or NFL Fever 2003. As for Nintendo, there is a chance, albeit a slim one, that the company may avoid online gaming altogether, but don't be surprised if you see Nintendo playing catch-up next year.

Come 2003, the biggest online game will actually land on both the PS2 and Xbox, which is surprising when you take into account who the developer is. Late next year, Sony Online Entertainment and LucasArts will

56

GAME INFORMER

who knows when, Phantasy Star Online Episode | & Il is

Phantasy Star Online Episode | & Il

]

This is the only officially announced GameCube online title that is currently slated to release. Technically, how- ever, it is two games in one — if that means anything. You may have played these games years ago on the Dreamcast, but you will soon have the chance to do so again. New material is planned, and both versions will work with the dial-up or broadband modems.

Star Wars Galaxies

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bring the highly touted PC game, Star Wars Galaxies to said consoles. According to our contacts at SOE, the console versions of Galaxies will be quite different from the PC game. Exactly what this statement entails, we haven't a clue, but we can't wait to see how these adap- tations fare. The rumor mill has also produced an inter- esting story that Gran Turismo will be making an appear- ance online in 2003. Couple this with a handful of must- have RPGs, and people could stay online forever.

What does Microsoft have to counter? How do Halo 2, Project Gotham Racing 2, and Half-Life: Counter- Strike sound? Both systems have quality product in the pipeline, but again, the war boils down to convenience and pricing, and Sony caters to both.

Online Sports

All four of the simulation-based pigskin games will be online this year. As such, players will be treated to some unique experiences, not only from game to game, but from console to console.

For the PlayStation 2, EA's Madden NFL 2003 comes to mind when you think of the system, but it may not turn out to be the most feature-rich game on the plat- form. Sony's own GameDay NFL 2003 is (so far) the only football title on the PS2 that has drivers for USB keyboard support to enable real-time trash typing. Furthermore, Sony has a special offers section in its online lobby that the compa- ny has earmarked for tournaments and other user promotions. Sega, meanwhile, will be the only publisher with online play appearing on more than one console. NFL 2K3 for the PS2 will host tournaments as well as an online ranking system called the Sega Sports Challenge. Beware, how- ever, as you can't even type to opponents on the PS2.

NFL Fever 2003

On the Xbox, the Communicator (which comes with your subscription to Xbox Live) is surely its go-to guy. However, Microsoft's own NFL Fever 2003 won't be the only game to utilize this revolutionary real-time chat feature. Sega's NFL 2K3 has added it to its roster of online fea- tures, as well as those already listed above. Xbox's broadband-only approach should also keep Fever and 2K3 running at a fairly healthy clip.

Shortly after the online football frenzy is underway, basketball will light up the networks. By next year, we predict that all sports will be online in some fashion.

punishing: 26,875

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more are added to the arsenal.

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DEAOLIEST STRATEGIES MOST COMPETITION

Get the game free: (Mtgonlme.com

SIMULATED SEMI-SIMIANS

If there’s one thing we want out of games nowadays, it’s realism and intrigue. We don’t want to play a game that looks like polygonal garbage with characters that are as predictable as a Steven Spielberg film. Gamers are a fickle sort; and if something doesn't look good, play well, and capture the imagination, we'll find something else that does. In the highly anticipated game B.C., Xbox owners will see the thin, red line between artificial intelligence and simu- lated life shrink even more. B.C. promises to be a game which (in the words of creator Peter Molyneux himself) will be “completely simulated.” What does that mean? It means that every scrap of life you see when you play this game will "live" independently — every bug will crawl around on the ground according to its own needs, and every Raptor will hunt when it's hungry — not just when a scripting sequence tells it to.

Let's back up for a second, though. There has to be more to a game than bugs crawling around in a semi-intelligent manner, B.C. is just as much about an epic storyline as it is about what makes that storyline interesting to play. You've been thrown millions of years into the past to raise and support a tribe of cave-people. As you may or may not know, cave-people are not very bright (just look at Encino Man, dude!), and need a lot of direction. You'll take control of a few ragtag early humans, teach them how to support them- selves and how to interact with their environment. For example, to help your tribe begin to produce its own food, you may bring three people over to a couple of rocks that resemble a mortar and pestle. Telling them to examine these items will initiate a phase where they'll experiment with what you've given them until they figure out how to grind up corn to make cornmeal. Likewise, you can select a few people to

One of these herbivores

for danger while the other munches on gr

Sit around a campfire together, and they'll begin pounding out the basis for a rudimentary language.

It won't be all fun and games for these people, though. Remember, there are very large, very hungry reptiles and other assorted nasties that want to tear you limb from suc- culent limb. Teaching your people how to defend themselves is of paramount importance if you want to survive, as is passing on the knowledge of arrowhead making and various other skills. Each member of your clan will grow and develop their own unique likes and dislikes, as well as fears, prejudices, wants, needs, and interests. Just make sure those inter- ests don't include luring predators near your camp.

Aside from the realism, you'll need to worry about keeping things on the up-and-up so human- ity doesn't die out. Didn't we mention that? Yep, you're in control of the destiny of mankind, so don't screw it up! Use the land to your advantage — explore new areas and move your clan when you think it's right, or hunker down for the winter when the time arrives. Don't be bashful, or slow for that matter. There's a lot riding on this, so you'd better keep your eye on the ball, and make sure humans l| don't go the way of the Little River Band.

W STYLE |-PLAYER STRATEGY I PUBLISHER MICROSOFT lii DEVELOPER INTREPID GAMES/LIONHEAD STUDIOS W RELEASE TBA 58 GAMEINFORMER

The character models are polygon-rrific

Dinosaur mohawks. Dig it ~ Prehistoric people were very into fitness and muscle tone

; M i “Dude! Look to your right!” Every location you see in this picture is available for your exploration

; d v uu. GAME INFORMER 59

PREVIEWS |

PLAYSTATION 2

SLY COOPER AND THE THIEVIUS RACCOONUS

YEAR OF THE PLATFORMER

Stop! Do not hastily dismiss Sly Cooper as "just another platformer featuring some generic critter.” Sly already possesses that addictive sense of platforming magic found in games like Jak & Daxter, Ape Escape, and Mario 64; yet, this title presents an atmosphere and feel all its own.

The gameplay is an eloquent blend of collection, puzzles, obstacles, and intense platforming. Players snag three types of items throughout each level: coins, horseshoes, and message bottles. The first two basically provide Sly with extra life, while the last more directly enhances the experience. If you manage to get every bottle, you're awarded with a special move.

Sucker Punch boasts that Sly can learn around 20 unique moves, the most interesting of which are Slow Motion and a covert hat bomb. Players can access Slow Motion during a jump to aid in platforming. The inconspicuous hat bomb resembles a land mine: Place it in the path of an unsuspecting enemy to blow it to pieces. The game design does not require players to obtain every special move, but those who do will find certain sections easier, and have access to more secrets and hidden areas. The most enjoyable of these surprises will perhaps be the numerous minigames, which range from revisions of classics like Robotron to more original shooting and racing games.

The puzzles, obstacles, and platforming components compose the heart of Sly's gameplay. During a recent gameplay demo, Sly encountered a number of precarious moments that required exact platforming precision, and of course, since you're a professional thief, covert tactics. In one instance, the camera moves to present a 2D perspective (a la Klonoa). Sly must then bounce off numerous awnings, slash enemies, and hide behind various

pillars all while trying to avoid a spotlight quickly moving over

the screen.

Fortunately, the only problem we've encountered thus far involves the lack of health: One hit and you're dead. Although Sucker Punch seems to have designed each level

well enough to prevent constant frustration, there are already

a few spots that require trial and error, meaning death is

necessary. However, we don't suspect this problem will hinder the our overall enjoyment of the game. Besides, with beautiful cel-shaded graphics, slick dynamic music, and around 30 levels of gameplay, Sly Cooper has the stuff to be one of the best platformers around. Even with the eminent release of heavy hitters such as Super Mario Sunshine and Ratchet & Clank, we still can't help but feel the excitement for the master of the Thievius Raccoonus.

A The hookstaff is a versatile weapon

Hit those awnings without getting spotted

W STYLE ACTION/PLATFORM Iii PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA ill DEVELOPER SUCKER PUNCH

E RELEASE SEPTEMBER 17

60 — GAMEINFORMER

One hit and you're toast, but enemies can usually be killed in a single swipe, too

n i Many sections are best dealt with using covert tactics

(. PLAY 2 )

BE YOUR OWN PALLBEARER

He's dead, he's pissed, and he's wearing a black and red suit. No, it's not Spawn; it's Grave, the star of Sega's new shoot 'em up, Gungrave. Grave's not only got a chip on his shoulder, but also a coffin on his back. He's packing more heat than the sun, and will mow down bad guys like blades of grass.

With cel shading (Sega is forgiven for using this technique, since it originated it) and a decidedly anime art style, Gungrave has its own look. Grave's after the Syndicate, a criminal organization he was affiliated with in his more “lively” moments. Helping him is an old man and a naive little girl. Against him are countless, armed adversaries. But he's dead, so what's the worst that could happen?

Grave is packing a pair of pistols with limitless ammo, so feel free to fire to your heart's content. The coffin he carries can be swung around as a melee weapon, and there are also a few special moves to dispatch a whole screen of enemies with ease. Unfortunately, all that heavy metal Grave carries has him moving a little slow. Holding circle puts some spring in his step, but his normal walking speed would have senior citizens passing him up like Rosie O'Donnell in a marathon.

The mission of Gungrave, as it tells you at the beginning of each level, is to "kick their ass." While the game achieves this, it remains to be seen if that's enough to make for a compelling release.

~ We don't know where that missile comes from,

Cutscenes let you see Grave's front for once. and frankly we don't want to

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Swing your coffin ‘round and ‘round. Make

rae " the bad guys hit the ground UILLAM

W STYLE !-PLAYER ACTION I PUBLISHER SEGA @ DEVELOPER RED lI RELEASE SEPTEMBER 17

GAMEINFORMER 61

Justin's annoying love for scorpions will make killing this boss all the more fun

62

Monsters, zombies, and guns - oh my!

a Small rooms with zombies require quick reactions

GAME INFORMER

Mette

Before the notorious mansion incident, the first recorded account of the T-Virus’ destruction actually occurred in the suburbs of Raccoon City. According to wit- nesses, a small group of horribly mutilated people randomly began attacking and consuming the flesh of innocents. Police sent out a small elite task force dubbed Team Bravo to investigate the situation, but the team's helicopter myste- riously crashed, leaving only two members alive: Officer Rebecca Chambers and reformed convict Billy Cohen. Now it's up to you to take command of these heroes, and play through the events that lead up to the first Resident Evil.

Of course, since Capcom created Resident Evil O as a prequel, we already know that Rebecca survives, and some- thing (probably bad) happens to Billy. Maybe we'll discover that he's the one transformed into our favorite boss, Tyrant! We also are aware of the evil corporation, Umbrella, and its responsibility for this event. So then, what twisted new sur- prises, horrific scares, and difficult challenges does Capcom have in store?

Based on the latest demo, the atmosphere feels even creepier than the remake of the original, with the graphics making their obvious contribution. Capcom has tweaked the character models, as well as animated the prerendered backgrounds. This latter element definitely intensifies the

experience, and makes the overall presentation seem even less cut-and-paste.

Furthermore, the game's initial setting (the train) features only narrow hallways and particularly tiny rooms, which heighten the sense of claustrophobia. In many cases, players will enter a room only to discover two zombies waiting impatiently for their supper.

Although we already encountered some frightening situa- tions, the game's overall feel is slightly different. With more zombie encounters, more ammo, fewer puzzles, and two simultaneous characters, the action and events move along at a much faster pace. Don't get us wrong; wasting zombies left and right with Rebecca and Billy is exciting and invigorat- ing, but it prevents the buildup of anxiety. Fortunately, we know that some areas require the team to split, which will slow events; plus, Capcom could've intentionally designed just the train section in this manner.

Our only other gripe thus far is the lack of defensive weapons, like the daggers and grenades featured in the recent remake of Resident Evil. However, this element only makes a minor contribution to gameplay. Besides, Capcom has plenty of time to include them in other levels (if it hasn't already), as well as surprise us with even more noteworthy improvements and additions.

WI STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION @ PUBLISHER CAPCOM lil DEVELOPER CAPCOM @ RELEASE OCTOBER 29

The puzzles will certainly offer a challenge, but seem easy in the demo

The character models and textures are amazing

[ PLAYSTATION 2. ]

UNLIMITED SAGA

A NEW TYPE OF GRAPHICS

SaGa Frontier wowed many of us with its beautiful 2D graphics and unusual plot, which consequently helped it stand out among the crowd. The story followed an interesting histori- cal chronology of events that revolved around a kingdom and its land and people, rather than follow the exploits of one particular hero. If, in Unlimited Saga -the latest addition to the series — its appearance and battle system are in any way indicative of the entire package, then we'll likely be treated to yet another unique RPG.

Most gamers will probably mistake the graphics for either 2D pixel-based sprites or cel-shaded polygons. However,

NA

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4 double, triple, or quadruple slash! And, if you prefer, - V

The end result could be a

your character can save these attacks for a later turn and combine them with the attacks from other characters to create one huge offensive!

To balance this combat system, and prevent particular party members from getting too strong too quickly, Hit Points (HP) will regulate commands. Each time one is issued, the character will lose HP; once you deplete the HP, the character's Life Points (LP) will start to decrease.

Unfortunately, we know significantly less about Unlimited Saga's story, but we did

A Our ex-pirate is pretty cute; check out the leg

the Gods, and once again bring peace to the land. Of course, we suspect that as things unfold, you will gain at least a few more members. Although we would actually like to see the historical story approach continued and refined, we're sure it will at least be adequate. As long as that's the case, the

Unlimited Saga uses neither of these techniques. The lead artist, Yusuke Naora (famous for his art in Final Fantasy X), explains that they create each character from a series of frames and parts. Once these are finished, the artists connect each piece together to form a final set of anima- tions. The final result: superbly fluid animation with detailed characters in a 3D environment.

Headed up by Akitoshi Kawazu (who worked on both the FF and SaGa series), Square will provide a new,

discover that the plot will focus on a few characters this time: an ex-pirate named Laura and a young boy called Henri. Apparently, these two are somehow caught up in a search for the seven Mystical Wonders. Once your party procures all of the Wonders, they can release the power of

other elements (mainly the battle system) should make Unlimited Saga a memorable experience.

Y

E STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME II PUBLISHER SQUARE Nam E DEVELOPER SQUARE lil RELEASE SPRING 2003

open-ended battle system that should make combat interesting throughout. Players will have regular attacks,

fgtti&D— 26^. mecosxcyoc IEDZACFo

spells, and monster summons at their disposal. At each turn, you'll be able to execute five commands; but instead « of assigning one command to each character, you can order one character to attack three times, and have another heal the party and then cast a spell on an enemy. After the orders are in, issued, a slot machine-esque wheel appears to determine what type of maneuver your character will perform.

This is a pretty bare-bones map screen

GAMEINFORMER 63

PREVIEWS

It would be nice to pistol whip those sword-bearing freaks!

ad

It appears that Kurtis also has a few stealth moves of his own

Platforming will remain an integral element

64 GAMEINFORMER

PLAYSTATION 2

THE ANGEL

LESS BOOBS AND MORE 'TUDE

The cynicism around the announcement of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness has just cause. After all, releasing five games in five years that play similarly (faults and all), and then actually killing Lara only to resurrect her again, is bound to produce more than a few disgruntled gamers. Nevertheless, this series' massive success has inspired a sixth adventure. Fortunately, this time around, Core under- stands that in order to maintain its fan base, and recapture the cynics, it must make drastic improvements, changes, and enhancements.

Unlike previous installments, Core will break AOD into three gameplay-conspicuous sections, which are held together by an overall plot. The first features Lara in various European cities such as Paris and Prague. She's summoned to Paris to aid her old mentor, Von Croy, only to find that he's been murdered — and she's being framed for it. As the story unfolds, players dis- cover that an evil group called the Cabal are somehow involved. These five villains (probably bosses) possess preter- natural powers that distort reality.

In terms of gameplay, the city environments and plot call for play mechanics that deviate from their predecessors. Players not only receive various stealth moves (think Metal Gear), but they'll also be required to interact with many NPCs. Depending on who Lara speaks with and what actions she takes, the outcome will change. Furthermore, Core plans to reward

Flipping from the tapestry, she crashes into the statue to break the wall and reveal a hidden area

players who actually take the initiative to talk to everyone and explore hidden areas. For example, if you discover and com- plete a bonus section, the game might reward you with increased power or speed, which would thereby make game- play easier and allow access to other secrets.

The second part of her adventure will feature traditional Tomb Raider action, along with an atmosphere that you'd expect — but with new moves to spruce things up. In one inci- dent, Lara swings from a tapestry into a statue — causing it to fall into and destroy a wall — and then flips safely back to the ground.

The third part marks the series’ most significant alteration: Players must use a different character, Kurtis Trent. He wants to avenge his father by killing his murderer. We presume this is the same person that Lara pursues, since they eventually team up. Lara and Kurtis mainly differ in their play styles; he's more action oriented, so you'll have access to new moves and dis- tinct weapons. Kurtis possesses a gun, as well as a Glaive (shown above) - his main method of attack, which he can hurl at enemies, and control using his limited, yet useful, teleki- netic powers.

The supernatural powers, a dark story, covert tactics, and new character certainly suggest that Core has those creative juices flowing. But it remains to be seen whether all of its effort can culminate into something truly inspired and exciting.

E STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE lii PUBLISHER EIDOS INTERACTIVE I DEVELOPER CORE ll RELEASE NOVEMBER 12

» SN

Kurtis seems to be using his telekinetic abilities.

PLAYS N 2 OX/GAMECUBE

FATALITY!

Originally slated to street in september, Midway has pushed the release of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance back until late December. Yes, it is disappointing that we're going to have to wait another four months to get our greedy little hands on the game, but as always, the extension in the development cycle should produce a better product at the end of the day. Good things will come to those who wait.

In the meantime, Midway has supplied us with a wealth of new information and visual material. If you read the Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance cover story from the April edition of Game Informer, you heard rumblings from Ed Boon and his team that they were tinkering around with the idea of creating a female version of SubZero. If you look closely at the screen- shot above, you'll see Kano fighting a female adversary named Frost. This is, in fact, the character that Boon spoke of. And yes, she is a part of the Lin Kuei clan. We'd also like to note that she does wear a mask much like SubZero's — Kano just happened to knock it off moments before this picture was taken.

Boon also talked a lot about how the combat would be more physical this time around, with projectiles and special attacks playing second fiddle to combos. A lot of readers

MORTAL KOMBAT: DEADLY ALLIANCE

dropped us emails, venting how Mortal Kombat is unique because of its frantic, projectile-based play. We regret to inform you that this aspect has been toned down signifi- cantly, but it is still in the game. The projectiles in Deadly Alliance are primarily used as long range attacks, but still harness traits from the long running series. Scorpion will pierce opponents with his spear, and SubZero holds true to his name with magical ice blasts.

The aspect that we've actually wondered the most about is how Fatalities will work. Don't worry — Boon hasn't defiled this crucial component in the slightest. If anything, the

Fatalities in Deadly Alliance will be more gruesome and realis-

tic. Midway is steering away from the cheese factor this time around. How will the Fatalities be performed? From what we hear, in exactly the same way as they always have. The imagery expressed within SubZero's first Fatality really gets our blood pumping. We can't wait to see what kind of murder- ous moves the other characters can unleash. Like we said, Deadly Alliance won't be available until December. It's going to be a bloody Christmas indeed.

I STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING II PUBLISHER MIDWAY IB DEVELOPER MIDWAY lf RELEASE DECEMBER

PREVIEWS

Scorpion stands dazed...

sconPioN Ka

If characters smash an object in the environments, there's a good chance that they may go right through it, showering particles everywhere

—

What else can we say other than, “Get over here!

...as SubZero digs into his back

..and extracts not just the spine but his entire skeleton!

GAMEINFORMER 65

scorPront@e,

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This is the Chicken Run you've always wanted

GET A WHIFF OF THIS

You probably think that rally racing isn't for you. Peugeot might as well translate into “Le Car” for all you know, and maybe you think it’s best left at that. So why is Activision of all companies doing sniffing around this world of exhaust, and even worse smelling Europeans? Hoping to bring you the rally game of your dreams, that’s what.

If there have been two common problems among most rally games recently, it's that they both are and aren't really rally games. You see, the problem with the sport is that you don't face off against live opponents. Instead, you try to beat someone else's time along a particular stretch of road. That exciting hey--nudged-you-off-a-sheer-cliff-face-so-there kind of racing naturally isn't a part of the rally experience. Rally Fusion remedies this by giving you a slew of arcade-like modes that pit you against Al opponents, who are smart enough to dislike losing as much as you do. Hill Climb takes you and 4 to 6 other cars to perilous heights. Elimination knocks out one opponent after another at different checkpoints until it's just you and the leader sprinting to the finish. Many other modes are to be had, such as Driving Challenges and Follow the Leader. For those more into the sim side of things, however, you can participate in a championship mode that does use the realistic beatthe-

[00:56:33 n

IONS

clock format, as well as the actual Race of Champions. This is a specific tournament held in Gran Canaria.

The second main problem with most rally games is that they don’t rely on the brakes enough. This is where they are unreal. Rally Fusion isn’t just about laying off the accelerator; it's about managing that careful balance between speed and sliding that's so important to the sport. Some of the courses we saw were mad fun, as you'd launch off a jump and have to prepare your brakes to careen around a turn almost as Soon as you landed. If this isn't enough to keep you wide- eyed and caffeinated; avalanches, chickens, and other distractions will occasionally jump out at you. Finally, Fusion comes with both a detailed damage model and soi environments that equal those in Xbox's RalliSport.

By bringing the arcade and sim sides of rally racing together into a hopefully complete package, Activision will have to do a good balancing job to keep both types of gamers happy. The spider-cracked windshields are cool, but can you damage out of a race? Is the game's championship mode as deep as the car physics and arcade extras? If so, Activision and Climax could bring rally racing to the mainstream with an accent that you'll finally understand.

p 1/1

" PAM 08:00:00. 1451 Po ; * 2 nale L mo À esr k iJ h kè i jump: 39.8m If you look closely, you can see the water n B " droplets that form on jain’ bd Rally Fusion's globetrotting gives you all sorts of terrain m jump: 34.3m

Gran Canaria's two laps are along different routes W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING E PUBLISHER ACTIVISION lI DEVELOPER CLIMAX IBI RELEASE WINTER

66 GAMEINFORMER

"I WAS A 99 LB. BARBARIAN "

- Gothar of Gundria

EA

BEFORE UPGRADE AFTER UPGRADE” “ :

"| used to get molten lava kicked in my face. 2 vu dr E—— : | was a little girly man, better suited to playing á "The 4-player mode is wicked. Now if I with sissy baby dolls than with battle axes. But m T rdi à could just find 4 opponents | haven't already then | mastered the UPGRADE FEATURE in 7 pu M es BARBARIAN. Now nobody messes with me... P pt . : » NOBODY!!! i . att

“Here | am getting Medieval on Keela. My n weapon of choice is usually a tree, or a pillar, i or my opponent... but you know me, everytime I can grab onto something and show off..."

BARBARIAN is a revolutionary new game engineered to increase - and maintain — character power and ferociousness, fast! In recent head to head field tests, even mildly upgraded barbarians crushed their friends and foes without mercy. The MASSIVE 1- PLAYER QUEST mode - with 10 characters to choose from and literally hundreds of adventures to play — is the perfect training ground for customizing your barbarian, increasing strength and magic, and winning friends and influencing people with pure brute force. But wait! There's more: BARBARIAN also features an insane MULTIPLAYER MODE for up to 8 playable characters on screen at once, plus totally interactive environments, and best of all an exclusive ass- kicking "save-your-customized-barbarian-and-take- him-anywhere-with-you" formula!

DON'T SETTLE FOR LESSER GAMES.

Roun hy

"| had no social life before, but now, with BARBARIAN's SAVE AND RUN formula, I can take my muscles with me to a friend's... and work that disco magic, if you know what I mean..."

* Your actual results may vary,

DEMAND BARBARIAN TODAY. Mr. Saggy Breasts. Developed By v^ E DN Suggestive Themes X s NINTENDO B UEM "| Violence € GAMECUBE. S N a> Xeox B SAFFIRE

Barbarian; © 2002 Titus. Developed by Saffire Studios, Barbarian, Titus and the Titus logo are trademarks of Titus Software Corporation. All rights reserved, "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment inc. "^ ©, and the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nintendo. 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 computer entertainment system screen shots shown.

PREVIEWS

iC VE FAI E

————

PS2

PLAYSTATION 2/XBOX/GAMECUBE

X-MEN: NEXT DIMENSION

X-VAL HEALING

Whether it was a learning curve, or simply time constraints, Paradox has finally taken significant strides to correct the problems with this series. The control seems to be the most significantly improved element. After only a few minutes of play, we noticed that performing the Street Fighter-style special moves, executing the Marvel VS Capcom influenced air attacks, and chaining together the Tekken-ike tap combos is actually a piece of cake.

Paradox will also go a step beyond with a few minor innovations. Taking advantage of the presence of an analog Stick and d-pad, players can move in complete 3D with the stick, and fight in typical 2D fashion with the pad. Story Mode takes on a different form than what's usual to the genre, too. Instead of proceeding through events with a particular hero, players now get one comprehensible plot, which is broken up by fights. At each of these encounters, players can choose one character from a group of allies. But of course, if your only concern is the fighting component without the story, you can play Arcade Mode to your heart's content.

In total, Activision plans to feature 24 marvel heroes and villains; these include Forge, Juggernaut, Phoenix, Bishop, Sentinel, Lady Deathstrike, Rogue, and Havok. Plus, if you're lucky enough to own an Xbox, you'll get an extra level, and the ability to play as Pyro (a hidden character).

HOENIX ii die WOLVERINE NUT uw Ux y GameCube

The character models look bland, but the effects aren't bad

JUGGEANAUT

B STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING I PUBLISHER ACTIVISION B DEVELOPER PARADOX (PS2, XBOX), EXACT (GC) E RELEASE FALL

68 GAMEINFORMER

THE FUNKY MONKEYS

Aside from Luigi’s Mansion, Nintendo

much to get excited about when the GameCube launched last year. Luckily, Sega stepped to the fore and delivered Super Monkey Ball, a unique arcade title that was both amazingly simple and incredibly difficult. That's a deadly combination, as anyone who lost part of their sanity trying to conquer the game's seemingly endless series of boards knows. Apparently it was successful, as Sega is now bringing out an all-new sequel — one that should eclipse its predecessor in every way imaginable.

For starters, the Story Mode has been expanded to a mind-boggling 150 levels, a full hundred more than the original. These modes are divided into 10 worlds consisting of 10 levels each, and augmented by 50 expert levels that are unlocked by superior performance and scores. Thankfully, this segment of the game now features unlimited lives and continues, but there is also a Challenge Mode, which gives limited lives to players who truly want to test their skills. Even more exciting are the Minigames, which now number at a full 12. All your favorites (including Monkey Golf and Monkey Bowling) from the first are present and accounted for, but revamped with new stages and gameplay tweaks. The six new minigames include Boat Race, Monkey Soccer, Monkey Baseball, Monkey Tennis, Dog Fight (a flight combat contest), and Shot (similar to Virtua Cop, but with Monkeys that shoot fruit at each other).

Going along with the impressive gameplay addition, graphical improvements have been implemented as well. The gameboards are still simplistic, but the lush fantasy backgrounds that surround them are quite breathtaking. Also, there is an absolutely hilarious story that is told between levels via real-time cutscenes, tracing the tale of Dr. Bad-Boon, a mad scientist who has taken all the bananas from the monkey's world.

It's super- ridiculous, and extra-funny, in that weird, Japanese way. For now, we'll end by quoting the monkeys themselves: “Magical spell is Ei-Ei-Poo!” No more needs to be said.

Meet your nemesis, Dr. Bad-Boon

New minigames include Boat Race.

Remember these words - they may save your life

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER ACTION I PUBLISHER SEGA ll DEVELOPER SEGA/AMUSEMENT VISION il RELEASE AUGUST 26

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PREVIEWS

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[ ; Cam p TD T) PLAYSTATION 2 4 oM Gs LEGAIA 2: GAME BOY PETRUS DUEL S AG A POKE MON AN RPG FOR THE FANS

Anyone familiar with the iast Legend of Legaia will immediately feel comfortable with this sequel. Besides

offering a new story, the game and gameplay mechanics are set

ilarly. Most i ly, thi hat the unique battl CARRYING ON THE FAMILY JEWELS Eo e cu

Even if YOU weren't a hypefilled adolescent, the Pokémon games have been some of the best handheld titles dd PU T S ec ne released. The series’ popularity may be waning, but we are sure there's still quite a contingent waiting to throw their Poké- pressed, your character will perform a Master Art, delivering balls around in the next Pokémon games. While 2003 is definitely a long way off, we have new info and screens to keep more damage To keep this element fresh throughout, you trainer hopefuls happy in the meantime. i Si players can learn new Master Arts by experimenting with Following Pokémon Crystal's example, Ruby and Sapphire will allow you to play as a boy or girl. These new characters different sequences, appear to have some wild choices of hair and attire, making former game star Ash look like an even bigger wuss. As they j i journey around the world, you'll see the difference Game Boy Advance's power makes in both big things, like the town b oe u ne epee ae EE Tu E environments; to minute details, such as reflective puddles and footprints in the sand. y SNE NEIS; Baon eiarecter Posses Ses a Pee DPEN The Pokémon themselves are the games' main draw, of course. Ruby and Sapphire will feature over 350 unique : rm e BE oe gan ante on mee Fna f monsters — some only found on Ruby, and some exclusive to Sapphire. You'll catch Pokémon that resemble real-life attie to per 2m de pus and Gltense maneuvers: ANd o animals, while others will be straight-up funky looking. In a startling first, you can have two of your creatures on the course, your Origin will learn new attacks as you proceed battlefield at once! We don't know if double-team moves are in the works, but the possibilities are nearly endless. through the adventure. An : The strange e-Card Reader that has been shown since the GBA first launched will be put to good use here, as it will allow U nfortunately, the story SPES less promising BI OUEN WE TE compatibility with the upcoming Pokémon e-cards, used in the collectible trading card game. Pokémon may not be as still uncertain of many details. Basically, it revolves around a popular as it once was, but it's still got the star power and the gameplay to make waves in the handheld universe. young man named Lang, who is coming of age. When someone — lifts his town's Water Stone, Lang is charged to recover it before

E3 ERE] 9 the ever encroaching desert turns the town to dust.

— It may not sound like the most interesting plot, but as long as X the other elements (music, combat, and characters) stand out, fans of the genre and the first game should be pleased.

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W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME II PUBLISHER NINTENDO W DEVELOPER GAME FREAK/CREATURES/NINTENDO B STYLE 1-PLAYER RPG I PUBLISHER FRESH GAMES W RELEASE 2003 B DEVELOPER PROKION @ RELEASE OCTOBER |

GAMEINFORMER 69

Weapon Mode: Heaviest Guns

PREVIEWS

PLAYSTATION 2/XBOX/GAMECUBE PLAYSTATION 2/XBOX/GAMECUBE/PC

joel! BLOOD RAYNE

THE KING i NOT JUST ANOTHER PLATFORMER SHE'S BEAUTIFUL BUT DEADLY Blood ayne has been garnering a lot of attention, much of which is due to the comely looks of its

Despite the myriad of platformers recently leather-clad heroine. Still, there's more to this game than just a pretty face, and on a recent swing by the Game Informer

announced, Haven's three-year session of TLC has given its offices, Majesco and Terminal Reality representatives showed us a new build of the game that revealed some gruesome

developers the chance to create something unique, and of new details regarding its gameplay and levels.

top-notch quality. So far, based on its story, gameplay fea- For one, it was obvious that this game features foes much more horrific and deadly than the Nazis that have been fea-

tures, and graphics, Haven certainly shows potential. tured in pictures so far. We saw everything from giant bugs to hordes of snake-like creatures that tear the heads off Players assume the role of Haven, who is called to liberate victims and occupy their bodies. In an even more interesting twist, we even saw a level where BloodRayne takes comm:

his fellow Aurians, who have been enslaved by the Vetch - a of a giant mech suit and goes after Nazi scum with an arsenal of missiles. Take THAT, Dieter!

race of cruel invaders. To do so, Haven must ultimately The PlayStation 2 version of BloodRayne has always looked solid, and now the GameCube and Xbox version are on track

obtain a bell called the Golden Voice, which the Vetch have as well — and may even prove to be graphically superior by the time this title ships. The only gripe we had with the build we

hidden. If Haven rings the bell, it will summon King Athellion saw was that the animations tended to be almost too quick. As she went through her arsenal of high-speed, martial arts

to save the planet. maneuvers, sometimes the effect resembled that of a buxom Tasmanian Devil. However, Terminal Reality is still finetuning Interestingly, Haven and his people are enslaved through a the game, and promised us that it would address this issue.

poison administered by the Vetch. So, throughout the numer- So, what do we have here? A red-hot babe equipped with tons of weapons, four special mind powers (one of which can

ous planets you encounter, instead of gathering the all-too- slow down time á la Max Payne), and large knives on her elbows that runs around killing Nazis and various undead ghouls.

typical coin, Haven must collect enough antidote to stay Whaddya want? Us to show up at your house with the game on a silver platter and give a backrub while you play it? C'm alive. Of course, players will also find that areas are littered Times 'a wastin'. Get your skills ready; BloodRayne is coming this Halloween and you better be ready. with power-ups, weapons, and secrets. Based on our initial impressions, Haven's shield and the various mechanized vehicles he pilots during the game are the features that should really excite gamers. Besides just being a defensive maneuver, players can use the shield to dampen sound and sneak past enemies. The vehicles, fortu- nately, are numerous, and include a motorcycle, glider, spacecraft, hovercraft, and boat. Hopefully, Haven's promised gameplay variety will receive a worthy execution. Otherwise, it could be easily overlooked in a field of high-profile platformers like Ratchet & Clank.

i

BloodRayne's special powers let her know which enemies are ripe for feeding

Usually, soldiers don't get this kind of treatment unless they're stationed in Thailand

We can't wait to see what obstacles the glider area has in store ly

acc wc WA. A E W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM Ii PUBLISHER MIDWAY Whoa. This kind of reminds us of a movie we saw NW DEVELOPER TRAVELLER'S TALES I RELEASE FALL

70 GAMEINFORMER

E STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION @ PUBLISHER MAJESCO W DEVELOPER TERMINAL REALITY II RELEASE OCTOBER 31

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KINGDOM UNDER FIRE: THE CRUSADERS

CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE

Many Of US have seen movies like Braveheart or Gladiator, and have wondered what it would be like to be in the middle of those huge, hand-to-hand battles. What would the crunch of steel on bone sound like? How long would you last in that kind of brutal and bloody environment? Phantagram plans to answer these questions for you with their release of Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders next year.

Being billed as a mix of real-time strategy, action, and fantasy, this game is one that will give you intimate control over how your army battles and where. The story revolves around repelling an Orcish horde as it begins to invade the peaceful countryside of the Sacred Land. We don’t need those filthy Orcs ruining the Sacred Land, so suit up and prepare for war, baby!

You will choose one of four heroes who will act as generals in your army. Through sound strategic decisions and a little luck, this person will gain experience and aptitude — along with the soldiers — as he or she accumulates victories. Your hero can also execute special moves and abilities in the thick of battle to turn the tide of a confrontation you might be losing. You'll need to keep sharp, though — up to 450 units will be on the field at once. We'll have more information for you on this great-looking game in the coming months.

5138073800 sh! An Orc thong!"

Hopefully the enemy is somewhere in that inferno "Ready...LOOSE!"

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, PREVIEWS =A

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EAT LIGHTNING & CRAP THUNDER

Let us phe Sly Stallone for his dra-

y movies, rather than SG

for it!); the ‘cop Y jose mom ules his life in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot; or the country-singing cab driver in Rhinestone. Ubi Soft is resurrecting the pugilist protagonist and all his rivals into a nextgen boxing sensation!

‘Along with "The Italian Stallion," gamers will lace up gloves with the furious Ivan Drago, bad seed Clubber Lang, and Rocky protégé Tommy Gun (who was played by boxer Tommy Morrison). Each of the 20 fighters looks phenome- nal, and will no doubt take you to the limit in any of the game's modes — including Movie Mode and Knockout Tournament. Damage is simulated through realistic bruises, swelling, and plenty of the red stuff. You'll even see the shimmer of sweat coat your fighter's body as the bout rages on.

Before you step through the ropes against these heavy hitters though, you'd better get your behind to the gym. Mickey will use his tough love to guide you through a rigor- ous regimen of situps and combo drills. You're not going to KO Mr. T by just sitting on the couch eating Gummi Crunch, you know.

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W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING E PUBLISHER UBI SOFT I DEVELOPER RAGE SOFTWARE W RELEASE NOVEMBER 12

GAMEINFORMER 71

PHOTOPHILE

MYSTICAL NINJA GOEMON

(REIGN OF FIRE

The world's favorite (and only) blue-haired cartoon ninja is back for the ought-two in Mystical Ninja Goemon, a port of the Konami-developed Japanese PS2 hit of last year. Konami wasn't too keen on bringing it to the States, but fortunately Working Designs has inked a deal that will allow it to publish the game on our shores. Expect a ton of high-quality action/RPG fun, all with that loving attention to detail that comes with every Working Designs title. As is typical of this company, there is no firm release date for Mystical Ninja Goemon.

GROWLANSER II & Ill

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Growlanser ‘ir The opem series is beloved among the hardest of the hardcore Japanese RPG fans, which makes it a perfect fit for Working Designs, a company that makes its living selling obscure games to people that know who Satoshi Urushihara (Growlanser's legendary character designer) is. As a result of a recently signed deal, the company will be bringing the revered sequels Growlanser Il: The Sense of Justice and Growlanser Ill: The Dual Darkness to our shores. Both games will be sold separately, but no release dates have been given at this time.

GAME INFORMER

We don't want to declare the Oscar race over already, but if Reign of Fire, which features Matthew “I keep getting older, they stay the same age" McConaughey and Christian “Hip to be Square" Bale battling dragons in post-apocalyptic England, doesn't win Best Picture, we'll be shocked. Really, futuristic dragons are almost as cool as the super-intelligent sharks from Deep Blue Sea! Lucky for us, Bam Entertainment is working on an action title based on the film, which will incorporate third-person gameplay, military vehicles, and even a little aerial dragon combat. Look for RoF on PS2 and Xbox this fall, then on GameCube in early 2003.

( CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH !

Repeat after me: "If it's done with clay, it's A-OK!" Rockstar is most likely going to use this mantra in the video game adaptation of MTV's show, Celebrity Deathmatch. Mills Lane will wear the striped shirt, and Johnny and Nick team up for commentary. The list of crazed celebs is a wild one, including Jerry Springer, Tommy Lee, Carmen Electra, Busta Rhymes, Marilyn Manson, Dennis Rodman, and - making his second appearance in this month's issue - Mr. T! Score the fake gore in early 2003.

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al , RTX RED ROCK

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Although the name makes it sound like a motocross game set in Colorado, we can assure you that RTX Red Rock is a third-person action/adventure through-and-through. The title will introduce a new hero, E.Z. Wheeler (no relation to Eazy-E or I.P. Freely), into the LucasArts universe, and follow his efforts to rescue the Red Rock Mars colony from hostile alien forces. Equipped with a synthetic arm (which can be powered up with a number of different tools and weapons) and a sassy portable computer system named IRIS, it appears that RTX Red Rock could very well overcome its dorky premise with some groundbreaking gameplay.

3 A The Silent Scope series has been one of the only genuinely innovative gun games of the last few years, and now Konami is coming back hard with Silent Scope 3. The game will be a bounty for fans, offering up an all-new story mode and also 14 levels from last year’s arcade sensation,

Silent Scope EX. Like 37 percent of all video games, SS 3's plot revolves around an underground terrorist organization that abducts a prominent scientist as part of its plan for global domination.

PUDOR, PHOTOPHILE BIG MUTHA TRUCKERS _,,

We're still waiting for Empire Interactive's long-promised Starsky & Hutch for the PS2, but for now we'll feast on Big Mutha Truckers; a big-rig mission-based racer that would be one of the most unique driving games in recent memory - if Sega's 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker had never existed. Still, we were glad to hear that Empire has signed Eutechnyx, the able developers behind Test Drive Le Mans and 007 Racing, to create the title. Bonus street-cred points awarded for spelling "mother" as "mutha." Look for Big Mutha Truckers sometime this holiday season, good buddy.

á Is y. Based on a popular line of Japanese dolls...er...action figures (sorry geeks!), Cy Girls proves that the only thing better than an action/adventure game that blends martial arts combat, high-tech weaponry, and stealthy gameplay is an action/adventure game that blends martial arts combat, high-tech weaponry, and stealthy gameplay with hot chicks! It should be interesting to see how Cy Girls pans out, but given Konami’s obvious experience in the genre, we have high hopes.

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No one does massive scale battles better than Creative Assembly, and with Activision at its side, it will have outdone itself when this title ships on August 20. Medieval: Total War will incorporate many of the intricacies of medieval battle techniques, including different types of artillery, unit formations, and updated Al for both sides. Plus, look at that picture! Holy crap! We're very excited to see how this game turns out.

GAME INFORMER 73

Our crack (or crackhead, we can never decide which) review team rates games in a number of categories to help you sort out the great from the stuff you hate. Each game is reviewed by at least two staff members, and you will find both their opinions on each review. To make things a little easier we have put together some definitions of what the numbers mean, what the reviewers are like (so you can find the reviewer most like yourself), what we look for in a game, and also a cheat sheet so the newbies can understand our advanced video game jargon. Read on and soon you will be talking FPS and FMV with the best of them.

74

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together.

hooked.

some time.

weekend.

for playing it.

ANDY

Handle: The Game Hombre Expertise: RPGs, Action/Platform, Driving, FirstPerson Shooters Interests: Exotic Vacations With Free Food And Drink, Roller Coasters (I So Want To Ride X At Six Flags Magic Mountain) Dislikes: Deal Breakers, Hot Weather, Angry Mothers Who Don't Read The Story, Connecting Flights Current Favorite Games: WarCraft Ill, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

MATT

Handle: The Original Gamer Expertise: FirstPerson Shooters, Puzzle, Action/Adventure, Extreme Sports Interests: Buying A Suit, Getting New Glasses, Flaming Lips, The Best Bootlegs In The World Ever Dislikes: Flying, Buckled Concrete, Flat Tires Current Favorite Games: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Monkey Ball 2, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

JUSTIN

Handle: The Digital Deviant Expertise: Action/Sports, Action/Adventure, Fighting, RPG Interests: Boba (Bubble Tea), Mr. Show DVD, Bargains, Uptown Minneapolis, Ripped Fuel, Heeling, Goodie Mob Dislikes: Lethargy, My Car's ABS Light, The Things You Like Current Favorite Games: Dead To Rights, Street Fighter Alpha 3 (GBA), Aggressive Inline, Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates

ha Handle: The Chronic Gamer Expertise:

Fighting, Action, RPG, FPS, Shooter, Platform, Simulation Interests: Wiffle Ball, Spinoza, Buddhist Thought, Japanese Culture And Language, Preacher Dislikes: Real Violence, Dishonesty, Cucumbers On My Sandwich Current Favorite Games: Super Mario Sunshine, Emporer: Rise Of The Middle Kingdom, UT 2K3, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Castlevania: Harmony Of Dissonance

GAME INFORMER

THE SCORING SYSTEM

Game Informer's rating system ranges from 0 to 10, and is similar to school grading. 7 is average, 9 and above is exemplary work, 5 and below is a failure. Aside from concept, entertainment, graphics, playability, sound, and replay value (all explained to the right), other factors that influence a game's final score are how much game you get for your money and how all the game’s elements come

When Andy's not yelling at a game for "rippin' him off," he plays drums in Minneapolis indie rock band, Unbelievable Jolly Machine. A longtime fan of Metroid, Andy has been reviewing video games professionally since the days of the 8-bit NES. While a big sports fan in real life, Andy isn't the first to line up for sports titles, but is always willing. to put in the extra hours to play a good RPG or strategy game.

While record collecting, watching reality television, and playing video games might sound like a state of retarded adolescence, Matt manages to scrap together an almost meaningful existence out of these activities. His encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture is either amazing or annoying, depending on how close your desk is to his. Less esoteric than his colleagues, Matt prefers traditional action and platform games.

Unlike most gaming jabronis, Justin knows there's life outside video vegetation. He's a former GWAR slave and moonlights as wrestler Justin Lee in the Minnesota independent scene, where he violently bonds with other sweaty males - a practice that just gets blank stares when attempted on other GI reviewers. Justin's gaming tastes are highly old-school, and he plays 16bit classics as often as he plugs into the latest titles.

Chet considers gaming to be a lifestyle, which means he spends a ridiculous. amount of time gaming. When he's not in an intense session with of UT, or relaxing with his consoles, he's hopelessly seeking out arcades where fighting games still rule. Although he places all other activities at a distant second, he realizes the importance of society. Unfortunately, mimicking the motions for Dragon Punches and Fireballs only confuses and scares most people.

10 - Perfection. One of the best games of all time, if not THE best game of all time. This game has no flaws, and thus this rating is rarely given out.

9 - Worth owning. Fans of the genre should definitely enjoy this game, but even those who don’t normally like this type of game may find themselves getting

8 - Worth playing. Still a great game, but arguably so. It may not be the best ever, but there's enough to keep your fingers wrapped around the controller for

7 - Worth renting. Unless you're a fledgling gamer, you've probably seen every- thing this game has to offer before. Still, just checking it out won't ruin your

6 - Limited appeal. There are always a few people who will fall in love with a game of this caliber, but for the most part, those playing it will be yearning for something more.

5 & BELOW - Garbage. From this point down, it's just a matter of how much of a failure the game is. The lower the score, the more you're hating life

52 «3 “Gale:

CONCEPT

What new ideas the game brings to the table and how well old ideas are presented.

GRAPHICS

How good a game looks, taking into account any flaws such as bad collision or pop-up.

SOUND

Does the game's music and sound effects get you involved or do they make you resolve to always play with the volume down?

PLAYABILITY

Basically, the controller to human interface. The less you think about the hunk of plastic in your hands, the better the playability.

ENTERTAINMENT

Flat out, just how fun the game is to play. The most important factor in rating a game.

REINER

Handle: The Raging Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Fighting, Action/Platform, Strategy, Sports Interests: My Tireless Devotion To Becoming A God-Like Entity, Sidekicks, Cowls And Capes Dislikes: The Mental Damage That Reading Too Many Comic Books Can Eventually Bring, The Fact That Superman Wears His Underwear On The Outside Of His Costume Current Favorite Games: Super Mario Sunshine, SOCOM: US Navy SEALs, Madden NFL 2003

KRISTIAN

Handle: The Game Dawg Expertise: RPGs, Strategy, Sports Interests: Mowing My Lawn, The Road To Perdition, Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Dislikes: Shots (With The Needle, Not The Glass), Dog Poop In My Yard, Carson Daly Current Favorite Games: Madden NFL 2003 (Xbox), Medieval: Total War, Outlaw Golf

KATO

Handle: The Game Katana Expertise: Sports, Action/Adventure, Racing, Action/Platform Interests: Paul Newman, Grilling, Training Camp, The Hammond B3 Dislikes: Moby, The Smug Subway Guy, Commercials Using Licensed Music (Write Your Own Damn Songs) Current Favorite Games: Madden NFL 2003, NFL 2K3, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Monkey Ball 2

LISA

Handle: La Game Nikita Expertise: Puzzle, RPGs, Action/Platform Interests: New Car, The Onion, Painting And Screenprinting Computers, Concerts, Air Conditioning Dislikes: Feeling Out Of The Loop (See Also: Sold Out Concerts), Growing Out Hair Current Favorite Games: Aero The Acrobat, Super Mario Sunshine, Grand Theft Auto III

REPLAY VALUE The longevity of the title.

* High - You'll still be popping this game in five years from now.

* Moderately High — Good for a long while, but the thrills won't. last forever.

* Moderate — Good for a few months or a few times through.

e Moderately Low — After finishing it, there's not much reason to give it a second go.

* Low — You'll quit playing before you complete the game.

Content suitable for persons ages

17 and older. Content suitable

R only for adults. I] Product is ty awaiting final MEET

Content suitable. for persons ages. 3 and older.

Content suitable for persons ages 6 and older,

Content suitable

for persons ages 13 and older,

FEY EVE)

Reiner considers himself the biggest Star Wars fan in the world. Along with his impressive collection of Star Wars action figures, he has seen the trilogy 589 times. A fan of all game types, role- playing games are his strong suit. In his six years as a professional gamer, Reiner has achieved the impossible. Penetrating the pixel boundary, he not only plays games, he's in one, and can be shot daily in the epic N64 release, Perfect Dark.

Kristian enjoys opening a can of whoop- ass on his buddies at the ping pong table, then running off to the driving range for a lesson in humility and anger management. The original text-driven Zork started Kristian on the gaming road; Ultima 6, NES Baseball, and Zelda made sure he stayed. Still an avid RPG fan, he can always find time to pound out a good sports game.

When not buying copious amounts of records, Kato can be found exercising good taste, feeding the goats, and trying in vain to update his wardrobe into the 21st century. Like other young men of his generation, he quickly found out that the one true real world application of good grades was the free arcade tokens that were given out at as reward. With allegiance to none, he takes on every game with an equal eye.

Barring a brief and ill advised "I want to be popular, so I'll stop playing games" phase in late junior high, Lisa has been subjecting her friends to drawn out boss battles since she was 8. She has been known to wax philosophically about why Jiggly Puff is desperately under- appreciated and wish that some "big" games were more fun, even if that means less pretty.

NEWBIE CHEAT SHEET

For our newer readers, here is a glossary of

terms and acronyms that commonly appear in

the magazine. Video game veterans should

move along (these aren't the droids you are

looking for).

action — A term we use for games like Zone of the Enders and Gauntlet

adventure — A term we use for games like Myst and Escape From Monkey Island

AI — Artificial Intelligence. Usually used to refer to how well the computer reacts to a human opponent.

board — A term we use for games like Jeopardyl and Mario Party

bump-mapping — A technique where varying light effects simulate depth on textures

CG - Computer-Generated graphics

E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo. The world's largest convention for video games

fighting — A term we use for games like Street Fighter and Dead or Alive

FMV - Full Motion Video. Usually refers to an animated CG cutscene

FPS — Frames Per Second, How many animation frames happen in one second. Also used to denote FirstPerson Shooters like Doom, GoldenEye, & Unreal Tournament

framerate — The frames of animation used to Greate the illusion of movement

frontend — A game's menus and options GBA - Game Boy Advance

GBC - Game Boy Color

GC - GameCube

isometric — Three-quarters top down view, like StarCraft or Red Alert 2

ISP — Internet Service Provider. The company that provides you with access to the Internet

Jaggies — Graphical lines that are jagged when they should be straight

LAN ~ Local Area Network. Connecting ‘computers or consoles together within a ‘small space to allow communication between them. Provides fast, simultaneous gameplay

minigame — A small, simple game within a larger one

re — Using human models and infrared cameras to record movement for game animation. Also mocap

motion blur — Phantom frames follow an object to give the impression of realistic speed

N64 - Nintendo 64

NES — Nintendo Entertainment System

NPC — NonPlayer Character. Those people and creatures you see wandering around in games that are not being controlled by actual humans

platform — A term we use for games like Super Mario and Crash Bandicoot

pop-up — When onscreen objects, usually distant, suddenly appear

PS2 — Sony PlayStation 2

PSX - Sony PlayStation

particle effects — Things like smoke or sparks created in realtime

PKer — Player Killer. This is a person who thrives on killing newbie or vulnerable characters in MMORPGs or shooting their teammates in games like Counter-Strike

puzzle — A term we use for games like Tetris and Chu Chu Rocket

racing — A term we use for games like Gran Turismo and Mario Kart

RPG - Role-Playing Game. A game that involves character improvement through collecting and ‘spending points. A term we use for games like Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior

Shooter — A term we use for games like Mars Matrix and Gradius

‘SNES - Super Nintendo Entertainment System

sports — A term we use for games like Madden NR.

strategy — A term we use for games like Command & Conquer and Fallout Tactics.

third-party - Something made for a console by a company other than the console manufacturer

Wal Yal Wahoo!! — Mario's Triple Jump

(GAME OF THE MONTH

W

CY

After six years of golf, tennis, and partying, Mario is finally returning to

his platforming roots. While early speculation pointed at a 64-bit

rehash, Nintendo has actually gone

out of its way and created a sequel

that is overflowing with variety,

unique gameplay spins, and harrowing challenges. We didn't believe it ourselves, but Super Mario Sunshine truly is the most accomplished Mario game yet. Page 82

GAMEINFORMER 75

OES

xFCx Ric

7100

MAG

E

"this is a great game for any self- respecting PS2

owner to buy."

Deactivating bombs is an important part of a SEAL's repertoire

Muzzle flashes give away your position, so make sure your target goes down

Here's a shot even I couldn't miss

76 GNMEINFORMER

ged «FOX Sami Gof AIM

PLAYSTATION 2

SOCOM:

US NAVY SEALS

SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION

reviewing this game. I've played a heaping helping of

tactical shooters in my day, and this is definitely one of the best — but not for the reasons you might think. Everything about SOCOM is solid. The controls don't get in the way of coaxing out the best tactics your trooper can offer, the graphics are sharp enough to be reasonably believable, and the sounds keep you interested. For all intents and purposes, this is a well put together title that | probably would have forgotten about a couple of days after playing it. Except for one thing — one big thing: the headset communicator.

This little device was the difference between a good score and a great score for me. | know that sounds a little ridiculous — after all, I'm reviewing the game not the gizmo, right? Yeah, | get it, but the gizmo is what makes this title come to life. | haven't had an experience quite like this one during a single-player military simulation. Let's all remember that I'm both a console junkie and a PC slave, so I've seen this type of thing, but I've never seen it pulled off on a console before. The commands you can give the men in your fire team are pretty basic, but they get the job done. | tried out a number of different dialects and accents to try to fool the computer; but as long as you're clear, your command will usually go through with surprising speed. So why does this thing make the game so good? Because you actually get the

A ‘Il come right out and say that | had a hard time

“Jensen! We're here to kill bad guys, not rot our brains with mindless entertainment!"

feeling that you're in the field with three other guys, and you're all working together to accomplish complicated objectives. Sitting behind a tree and telling Bravo team to cover the area while you secure a small house is quite awesome.

Aside from the technical innovations that make SOCOM worth owning, there are a couple of things to look out for. One of the massive gaffes this game makes is the hitor- miss Al which both your teammates and the enemy exhibit from time to time. Another is the suspect bullet collision you'll see. During one operation, | had a "tango" (enemy) perfectly in my sights. | pulled the trigger when my scope was in the middle of his neck, and he simply dropped to one knee for a moment, then came up firing. His partner, who was standing a couple of yards away from him, did nothing. These things don't happen very often, but they do happen; which is a bit disappointing.

Then there's the online mode — which | have to say is quite luscious. The voice communicator is sweet if you have a bunch of people who know what they're doing on your team; and the ranking system is perfectly tuned to keep you in the £ame looking for more kills. People who aren't as interested in the military as myself may have a harder time getting into SOCOM, but this is a great game for any self-respecting PS2 owner to buy. — KRISTIAN

The headset activates a number of different commands for your team

E STYLE | TO 16-PLAYER ACTION I PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA lil DEVELOPER ZIPPER INTERACTIVE

E RELEASE AUGUST 27

m Concept: A thinking person's tactical shooter with a bit of new technology thrown in

m Graphics: The character models are gorgeous, and the environments are nice to boot

m Sound: The great battle effects. coupled with the intimacy of your fire team's radio chatter do a lot to immerse you in the action

m Playability: The controls might take you a couple of minutes to get used to, but they're nothing you can't handle

m Entertainment: Even if you can't get online, this game offers a lot of thrills in a variety of ways

m Replay Value:

High | SECOND OPINION | I've invested countless hours Into |

| PC games of this ilk. Believe me | when I say that | was more than |

| haven't had the chance to play a

| game like this online yet, and

| your multiplayer repertoire is limited to games like Halo and.

“the game quickly trans- forms into a

photocopy of

Jubei's likeness is modeled after the late Japanese actor, Yusaku Matsuda

A majority of your time is spent sucking souls to level up your weapons

Game Informer Fart Joke #63: dear Lord, Jubei! Did you fart! It, like, absolutely reeks up here!

{PLAYSTATION 2]

ONIMUSHA 2:

SAMURAI’S

DESTINY

THE TWO FACES OF SURVIVAL HORROR

ith video games in a constant state of evolution, and W developers continually pushing the envelope, time is

of the essence. A title that is considered a blockbuster could in fact become antiquated a day later. Such is the case for Onimusha. Within the same year of its release, Onimusha was upstaged and outclassed by Devil May Cry. Conceptually, the two games are similar in design; but when you break down the gameplay execution, Devil May Cry simply crushes Onimusha — making it look archaic by comparison. It's a dogeat-dog video game world.

During the creation of Onimusha 2, it only seems natural that the developers wouldn't rest until their game was equal to or better than Devil May Cry. Just moments after turning on the game, | believed just this. The opening cinematic is simply breathtaking, baring finely crafted animations, motion picture-ike cinematography, and an artistic style all its own. The opening segments of play bask in this glorious light as well. The pre- rendered backdrops scream with lifelike details; the combat system is as swift as it is vicious; and then, when you'd least expect it, the game tosses a handful of RPG elements into your face. Not only will you find yourself conversing with villagers, purchasing items, and killing monsters for gold; you'll also be trading gifts with a handful of different characters in hopes of encouraging them to join your party. If you can persuade a specific character to unite with you, they'll lend a hand in boss

encounters, and may even be playable for a few segments in the game. The beauty to this element is that you can only entice one character at a time. The person you collaborate with will determine which alternate routes you can navigate. Henceforth, you'll have to play through the title numerous times to see everything.

At this point in the game, | truly believed that Onimusha 2 ran neck and neck with Devil May Cry. The combat system wasn't nearly as engaging, but the RPG angle gave survival horror an addictive hook. | spouted off my praise for the game to everyone in the office, completed my online preorder, and canceled any plans | had for my week. After going to great lengths to extend my time with the game, everything came crashing down. At a certain point in the quest, all of the RPG material mysteriously vanishes and never resurfaces. The enemies cease to drop gold, communication channels are silenced, and the game quickly transforms into a photocopy of the original Onimusha.

Early on, Onimusha 2 showed promise and appeared to be the innovative follow-up that it so desperately needed to be. However, as the game went on, and the entertaining gameplay aspects disappeared, my enthusiasm for the game withered. Of course, even with this unfortunate design, it's still a decent title and a worthy sequel for the series. At the same time, it's nothing new and a generation behind the current trends of gaming. - REINER

W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE ll PUBLISHER CAPCOM lii DEVELOPER CAPCOM lil RELEASE AUGUST 27

- Even though Jubei has never met Onimusha's Samanosuke, - his combat prowess is identical

Early in the game, you'll be asked to trade items with the local your gifts, they'll lend aid and will even fight at your side

THE BOTTOM LINE

I Concept: A high-powered sequel that experiments with new gameplay components, but quickly reverts back to the tried and true survival horror formula

B Graphics: Pre-rendered bliss

m Sound: The voice acting is so bad that it's laughable. Oddly, the unintended humor fits

Wm Playability: The movement, combat, and puzzles perfectly mimic the original Onimusha

m Entertainment: With choice titles like Devil May Cry on the market, the Onimusha style of play is not nearly as engrossing as it once was

W Replay Value: Moderately High

SECOND OPINION.

Onimusha 2 resides. uncomfortably between being a copycat of the first one and an

| alknew experience. | think that | fans of this series (like me) will have their fun, but clearly see where it could have expanded. | Despite some new fighting

| moves, | found myself merely — | jamming on the attack button too much to be impressed. Combine this with the fact that you still can't use the analog

| stick for movement, and

| sometimes you'd swear you

| were playing the original. What

| will grab your attention,

| however, are some of the

| awesome uses of FMV in the

| traditional pre-rendered

| backgrounds, and the gift

| system with the other

| characters - an RPG aspect

| that isn't fully explored. Capcom |

| brought actor Yusaku Matsuda's likeness back from the dead, but I think the series needs freni not resurrection.

Im 8

GAMEINFORMER 77

“< is

REVIEWS” &

PLAYSTATION 2 “You've got

student of

adden NFL 2003 finds itself in an interesting Me — one that is almost impossible to escape.

Football games have gotten to the point where it's harder to make people's jaws drop from year to year. Thus, the sport's games tend to be seen as merely roster updates. This favors a title like Sega's NFL 2K3, because it's easier to notice its changes as it tries to catch up to Madden's veteran standard. So how do you preach to the faithful? As new Vikings coach Mike Tice said to QB Daunte Culpepper:

You've got to become a student of the game."

Madden's major changes have occurred on the defense to raise the learning curve and create more strategy. Before the snap, the new linebacker shifting (which the computer also uses effectively) lets you set them up to combat either inside runs or sweeps — a much-needed addition from last year. For its part, the CPU will juke and spin more. I liked this, but it seemed to peel off too many big plays; busting through as many as six tackles in one instance. As far as the defensive strafe move, its relevance is harder to assess. | could see it being useful for those who like to be ball- hawking free safeties, but if you play the DT like me, it's harder to master and integrate into your game. Overall, the defense comes together nicely due to a refined Al that rewards cornerbacks that sit on routes with INTs.

Offense has gotten both easier and more demanding. The

the game."

Darrell Russell skips jail and holds up some cheerleaders

call this play

Q: s=

MADDEN NFL 2003

ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK EXTRAORDINAIRE

slant hot routes for WRs (who are smarter in breaking off routes and sitting in zones) are awesome and although not perfect, the interior running game is noticeably improved. Perhaps the biggest difference is in the QB's momentum. If you get happy feet easily, you'll miss a lot of your passes as you try to run and gun. Also, there are more errant throws as you get hit — likely due to QBs’ slow release of the ball. These new pieces are also introduced in Minicamp mode, which is not only for fun, but helps you appreciate and study these nuances so you can master and incorporate them into your game. Further depth is provided by the scouting and pre-season development of players in Franchise Mode. Wannabe GMs like myself will delight in participating in the new dynamics of draft day. Don’t even get me started on how fun it is to make your own plays...

Gang tackles (the best among this year's football games) and other cool new animations are there for those who take just a cursory look at the game, but that won't do this title justice. That being said, Madden 2003's leap may not be as dramatic as Sega’s, but this game is no fumble by EA by any stretch of the imagination — even if its online approach is very basic. The rewards for exploring its awesome depth make this Madden another exceptional catch in an already amazing career. - KATO

B STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS lI PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS li DEVELOPER EA TIBURON E RELEASE AUGUST 13

Pre-snap defensive reads help you analyze your weak points

New pregame visuals are just part of

the expanded TV style presentation The interior running game helps Duce get loose

78 GAMEINFORMER

^ To

I Concept: Madden excels in the face of stiff competition by bettering its winning formula

I Graphics: Great work has been done on players' faces and the gang tackles are amazing

W Sound: Al Michaels makes a world of difference, but the in-your- face licensed music is shameless and obnoxious

W Playability: The game loads up on the defensive side of the ball, while minicamp helps you refine your skills

m Entertainment: The onthe-field play is as fierce as ever, but franchise just keeps getting deeper

I Replay Value: High

SECOND OPINION

Madden gets my football game of the year, but that’s not

| to say it's the best game suited for you. All of this year's gridiron releases excel in different ways. When it comes to gameplay mechanics, Madden hasn't made a significant leap forward. | EA spent a lot of time enhancing the defensive model, but neglected to concoct a remedy for the robotic running game. Yes, the gang tackles are beautiful, but after all of these years, you'd think that the backs

| would finally be able to cut on a dime. Madden's gameplay definitely shows its age when lined up against 2K3, but it simply crushes the competition with its fantasy options and multiplayer modes. Unlike 2K3, multiple users can create and/or manage teams within Franchise mode. In such, if you want to start a multiplayer league,

| Madden has you covered. It's a tough call. You just have to size up the type of game you need.

REINER - 9.5

THE BOTTOM LINE

PLAYSTATION 2

NFL 2K3

THE QB CONTROVERSY

E S NFL 2K3 better than Madden? There are arguments that would or wouldn't make it

m Concept: Sega signs free agent ESPN and makes a big push for the top

m Graphics: New player models and a slew of additional animations make the game a sight to behold. There are even cloud shadows on the field

m Sound: You can hear the phone ring in franchise mode. How cool!

m Playability: The new set-up for the defensive special moves offers additional choices but is more complex

number one, but the score says it all. Developer Visual Concepts has bulked up the game in the off-season and is ready to compete.

ESPN's presence helps the game's primetime feeling with everything from nice load screens to weekly score wrap-ups. More tangible is the boatload of new animations that give 2K3 an impressive aura of hard-nosed football. Secondaries are just as unforgiving but are now aided by the fact that their jumps tend to be less floaty. But this new 2K iteration has more than cosmetic changes. The pigskin chess match is increased by the way the new hot routes (called by the vocal incantation of the QB) can be countered by the defense's ability to assign their shutdown cornerback to cover any specific WR. Linebackers and DBs can shift before the snap, but doing so isn't as easy as in Madden. The on-the-field energy of the game carries over into Franchise mode, where | got giddy by scouting rookies, getting into free agent bidding wars, and having to draft while on the clock.

Although there were some o-line Al gaffes, balls over the middle were slow, and | don't like the old super tackles with the game's sim direction, 2K3 is awesome as it flies around the ball and turns the NFL into the Non-stop Fun League. So how does it all shake down? | suggest you do yourself a favor and get both NFL 2K3 and Madden this year, because this contest just went into overtime. - KATO

— . Km wd =

W Entertainment: NFL 2K3 leaves football gamers with two great choices this year, but 2K3's PS2 online is more bare bones than Madden

m Replay Value: High

ECOND OPINION

| I couldn't disagree more with — |

| Kato's suggestion to run out and |

| purchase both games. You really |

| only need one football game, and |

| there's enough of a difference — between Madden and NFL 2K3

| to determine which one to buy. If

| the majority of your football experience is spent within head-

| tohead matches, NFL 2K3 is the

| way to go. The gameplay is more

| dynamic, smoother around the edges, and faster in pace. The

| running and passing games are a |

| stroke of genius and are a

| generation ahead of Madden. At

2K3's Maximum Passing system is simply the best of the bunch

The running game is still powerful, and basks in a multitude of fluid animations

Coach's Desk

Calendar

Front Office the same time, however, NFL

2K3, 2003 Season Week 1 of 17 - (8-0-0) 2532

This Dolphin's request for the ball was met with a neck-cranking stiff arm

Welcome to your home away from home leading up to the Combine and NFL Draft

E RELEASE AUGUST 13

( PLAYSTATION 2

NFL GAMEDAY

2003

TEN YARD FIGHT

o say that GameDay T needs a comeback is like saying the Redskins need

a quarterback — no kidding. There are two questions to ask this year's title: “Is it better than before?” and “Does it compete with the other football games on the console?” The answers to these questions are yes and no, respectively.

Although | commend Red Zone for making the game playable above all else, | soon realized how easy it is to take for granted the years of experience in Madden. GameDay's biggest fault is that it lacks refinement and some of the features I've come to expect. It has hot routes for WRs, but not defensive ones. GameDay has sweet animations like gang tackles and an assortment of bruising hits, even if players sometimes slide around the field (like the olinemen, for example). The title can be fast, but is noticeably slow when the defense comes off the snap or when the QB pitches the ball to the RB. Also, passing has improved greatly — now including tips, drops, and bobbles — even if the secondary's Al isn't all there.

I'm glad GameDay 2003 has pulled itself up off the bottom of the pile. It remains the most playable and enjoyable in its history. However, is there room for an 88 team these days, as Madden and NFL 2K3 keep. getting better, not worse? True fans of the series can take heart at its improvements, but it looks like next year will have to be its Cinderella season. — KATO

THE BOTTOM LINE EVERYONE

m Concept: 989's attempt at a resurrection keeps the series alive — but it's not up to full strength just yet

B Graphics: GameDay has improved things like its player faces, although it lacks the smoothness of the other next-gen football titles

E Sound: Madden has the name, but color man/ex-QB Dan Fouts has the voice and is more enjoyable to listen to

m Playability: You pay for GameDay's lack of speed in certain areas

m Entertainment: While this is the series' best version, it lacks some of the polish and amenities of the other titles

W Replay Value: Moderately High

SECOND OPINION

| At long last, Red Zone | Interactive is finally getting its

act together. No longer will you

| feel robbed if you were to

purchase this game. The play

| mechanics are not just tolerable | — they're impressive at times.

| The CPU AI is still a little funky, | and the collision is a tad off at

| times, but altogether it is much | better. The sad thing is, even

| though this year's GameDay is

| better, it's still light-years away

| from competing with Madden

and NFL 2K3. REINER - 7

WI STYLE | TO 8-PLAYER SPORTS I PUBLISHER 989 SPORTS W DEVELOPER RED ZONE INTERACTIVE Il RELEASE AUGUST 13

GAMEINFORMER 79

core

2,241 .

REVIEWS

R OMBO X2.8 :

MAT HOFFMAN'S

PRO BMX 2

THE TRAINING WHEEL YEARS

he first Hoffman was a

generation off the pace,

having more in common with Tony Hawk than Tony 2, which came out six months before it. Rainbow came in to handle the sequel, but its inexperience with the genre shows, and keeps the series from elevating.

Z-Axis’ and Neversoft's series have made leaps and bounds, making Hoffman lag even further behind the action/sports standard. Since the level design isn’t all that special (unlike Tony 3), having to repeat timed runs (unlike Aggressive Inline) to hit five alarms or grab five hot dogs is a bore. The goals are unoriginal and unappealing — the equivalent of collecting coins in a platformer. | also hate the pause as the camera resets after each crash. Rainbow does interesting things like a gap checklist, a neat scrapbook option, and hidden goodies, but they're not compelling enough to compensate.

PSX Hoffman had some control flaws, and this sequel is no different. The buttons can be unresponsive, and the pace is slower than it should be. On the upside, flatland tricks live up to the hype; you can string great combos together. I like the foot plants and wallrides, too.

There's definitely enough here to make me look forward to what Rainbow Studios — our Developer of the Year for 2001 — can do with the lessons it leamed. However, | view Hoffman 2 as a rebuilding year, and can't recommend a purchase. — JUSTIN

THE BOTTOM LINE

TEEN J

m Concept: A great developer, unproven in action/sports, tries to take. Hoffman to the promised land. Too bad it fails

B Graphics: I can't find anything to complain about in the visual department

W Sound: An eclectic mix of songs that don't really fit the game. | like tracks by Bad Brains and LL Cool J, but few others

m Playability: Typical control, though a little slow on response

W Entertainment: The genre has kept advancing, and new titles like Aggressive Inline leave this archaic game in the dust

W Replay Value: Moderate

SECOND OPINION |

| Honestly, | am getting a little

| tired of completing the same

| objectives over and over in these | | various Tony Hawk rip-offs.

| Seriously, the whole point of

trick strings. Why not base most of the tasks around this feature, | | orat least devise some more | interesting objectives besides “Collect the Gas Cans.” Other than that, the control and camera are decent, if not a bit | sloppy; the graphics and music are mediocre; the level design is | okay; and the extras are more. | than adequate. It's not a bad addition — just nothing special.

CHET - 7.75.

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS W PUBLISHER ACTIVISION I DEVELOPER RAINBOW STUDIOS

W RELEASE AUGUST 13

80 GAMEINFORMER

PLAYSTATION 2

ARMORE CORE 3

AN AWESOME EXPANSION PACK

apprehensive about making any significant changes

to the Armored Core series. Outside of a few peripheral additions, AC3 plays exactly like its predecessors.

As in Armored Core 2, players are charged to complete various types of missions and (as a diversion to earn secrets and cash) battle bots in Arena mode - a tournament consisting of one-on-one matches. Of course, you'll also have free reign to customize your mech with an even larger, more interesting selection of parts.

Unfortunately, this conservative attitude means that the two biggest problems with the series remain: nonsense story and control. The plot moves along slowly and contains a dry and jumbled mess of political BS. Despite analog implementation, the control scheme still feels counter-intuitive.

However, the new features at least make AC3 feel like a rock-solid expansion pack. Players can now house three mechs in their garage. Second, mechs can toss and discard weapons to improve mobility or aid a team member in multiplayer. Finally, in tight situations, it's possible to access a super attack called Exceed Orbit.

Although these additions are indeed welcome, and slightly improve the overall experience, | still wanted to see more drastic enhancements. — CHET

l am starting to get the feeling that From Software is

4 f Dodging is easy, but getting used to the control is key

The customization aspect is as detailed as ever

y-

The Arena mode pits you against extremely challenging foes

DEUS NI + > ILE / The city levels feature destructible backgrounds With visibility low, covert tactics in this level are possible

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER ACTION Ii PUBLISHER AGETEC li DEVELOPER FROM SOFTWARE W RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10

eae

THE BOTTOM LINE TEEN

m Concept: A good mission-based mech game with customization up the wazoo!

I Graphics: The graphics are crisp and clean with everything running at a consistent 60 FPS

m Sound: Mostly technotype tunes, which suits the game very well

I Playability: The ability to use analog control helps, but the controller set-up still feels a bit clunky

m Entertainment: Once you get used to the control, the game's challenge and endless number of parts will hook you to the end

m Replay Value: Moderate

SECOND OPINION

The amount of new materialin | the previous incamation was

| more than enough, but believe it | or not, From Software found a way to overhaul the game once | again. Along with a bevy of new parts, upgrades, and weapons, | players can now use analog l controls, spend cash to hire AI |

| controlled wingmen, jettison weapons mid-mission, and

| perform devastating Exceed Orbit attacks. The implementations are fantastic,

| but it seems that From Software spent most of its time beefing

| the game up and not enough on balancing the new content and ensuring that the missions were diverse. In such, the difficulty is much more forgiving and the objectives repeat way too often.

| Thankfully, though, the missions are only half of the experience. From reinstalled the highly

| competitive Arena mode, and

| it’s stacked to the rafters with

| impressive Al adversaries. As

| always, AC is hit or miss, but it

| always finds a way to stay

| entertaining.

PLAYSTATION 2 QUICKIES

LEGO SOCCER MANIA

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS. W PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS W RELEASE JUNE 18

A While Lego Cup fever threatened to sweep the IS office as fiercely as the World Cup one had, this game didn't quite take hold. | can't believe that you can't

build your own custom

stadium and/or pitches — what else are Legos for? Regardless, kids should dig the power-ups and Story mode, and they'll get used to the gameplay pretty quickly as well. Although | can't recommend it for its simplified style of soccer, youngsters should have fun kicking this one around for awhile. — KATO E] 7

GTC AFRICA

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING E PUBLISHER MAJESCO W RELEASE JUNE 15

IB When Gran Turismo 3's

“= short rally experience beats ® out your entire PS2 game, then you know you've got problems. Part of GTC's woes is that the textures smell as bad as hot camel breath — even if the tracks themselves à are cool: The game is a part of an unfortunate trend in rally titles, where the e-brake is more of a luxury than a necessity. Playing GTC wasn't a joyless experience, but one that The Flying Scotsman (Colin McRae) should have no trouble obliterating when his new E 6 5

le

title comes out. — KATO MEN IN BLACK II: ALIEN ESCAPE

I STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION E PUBLISHER INFOGRAMES E RELEASE JUNE 29

Jl Just like its movie cohort, Men in Black II: Alien Escape delivers in mindless fluff. Supplying little by the way of plot and sticking to what is known to work well, MIB II has decent graphics,

Mil lots of guns, and straightforward shooter controls (although the default config is a little counter-intuitive, other schemes worked better for me). | want more for my money, but MIB II begins to break the curse of movie games. - LISA

MONSTER JAM: MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION

7.5

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/RACING m PUBLISHER UBI SOFT W RELEASE JUNE 12

| may have lived in a few trailer parks in my day, but I've still never embraced monster trucks as a sport/hobby. | think Ubi Soft made a wise choice to limit the racing element to mere minigames, and focus on destroying stuff. In essence, Monster Jam is a mediocre car combat title. The main modes don't stay fun for too long and vehicle upgrading is an afterthought, but driving big trucks with guns on them sounds like every kid's dream. — JUSTIN ad 6.5

STREET HOOPS

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS W PUBLISHER ACTIVISION W RELEASE AUGUST 13

It's painfully apparent that W Street Hoops was thought

up by some guys in suits to

capture an urban audience f with urban music, gear, and slang. They even did a semi decent job at capturing those facets.

What they forgot, though, is that urban gamers - like the

rest of us — look for gameplay first. With choppy play, no strategy, and an asinine betting system (bet on the most dunks and you'll win every time), Street Hoops is a tall guy paper doll simulator at best. NBA

Street wins in a rout. — JUSTIN el 5.5

Bere 017,036

GRAVITY GAMES BIKE: STREET, VERT, DIRT

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS W PUBLISHER MIDWAY W RELEASE JUNE 27

If | didn't open up the shrink-wrapped box copy of Gravity Games myself, | wouldn't believe this game was actually "finished." A blatant Mat Hoffman rip-off, SVD makes early PlayStation extreme clones like Grind Session look like works of genius. Poor control, absolutely horrific collision problems, and weird camera angles pop up like zits on this gigantic swollen ass of a game. I'd say the physics were bad, but I’m afraid that Albert Einstein would rise from his grave and stab me with a protractor for using the word "physics" in the same sentence as Gravity Games. Buy Aggressive Inline; buy Tony Hawk 4; buy a Little House on the Prairie commemorative plate — anything but Gravity Games Bike. - MATT ad 2

TWISTED METAL: BLACK ONLINE

W STYLE | TO 8-PLAYER ACTION

W PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA W RELEASE AUGUST 27

For at least a limited time, Twisted Metal: Black Online is free for those that purchase Sony's Network Adaptor and send in the coupon. As far as

pretty good deal. There are a number of new arenas for online play and various games and mods that you can use to alter the game to your tastes. Overall, there is nothing new here, but for the price you really can't beat the fun. - ANDY

TP" CHAKA KHAN ames CI].

PLAYSTATION 2

REVIEWS

TENNIS 2K2

THE BEST IS BACK

ennis has never been a T major-league video

game sport, and that's due to the fact that most publishers view it as a “bist” pursuit, and therefore have not put the proper development muscle behind their efforts. Obviously, Sega isn't most publishers, and last year it released what was universally hailed as the greatest tennis game ever, Tennis 2K2. Too bad it was for Dreamcast, a system that few people cared about at that point. Now, it's been ported to PS2, and looks no worse for the year spent on the sidelines.

Tennis is a deceptively complex sport; one that requires you to make split- second decisions about body positioning, shot placement, and spin that can be the difference between success and failure. Tennis 2K2's brilliant gameplay engine is really the first time that the nuances of the sport have been truly captured by a video game. Even better, the career mode (a feature that is usually ignored in niche sports genres) is brilliantly conceive: allowing you to develop the skills of both a male and female player simultaneously by way of some inventive minigames. Later in your career, you'll even be able to hire on a Williams sister as a doubles partner to tackle the tournament circuit. If you're a tennis fan, | don't know what

else you could ask for. - MATT |

THE BOTTOM LINE

it's much the same greatlooking DC version

W Sound: Gi y favorite CDs you haven't listened to in a wi Go find them

m Playabilit Nothing closer to replicating the feel of the sport

m Replay Valu High

ECOND OPINION | I had a hard time trying to

| figure out what was different

about Tennis 2K2 compared to the previous year’s edition on

| Dreamcast. Many times I | thought the action was more

heated with what seemed like

| more intense matches and more |

acrobatics by the players. Then

| | played the old one, and just

wasn't sure anymore. Tennis. 2K2 is the best tennis game out }

| there, and a great sports title

for PS2 owners that missed it

| on Dreamcast, but if you own | this there really is no reason to |

buy the PS2 incamation. | ANDY - 8.75

B STYLE | TO 4- PLAYER SPORTS BI PUBLISHER SEGA NW DEVELOPER SEGA E RELEASE JULY 30

GAMEINFORMER 81

To tackle this mini-boss.

... Mario must do the unspeakable

82 GAMEINFORMER

SUPER MA SUNSHINE

BACK TO THE BASICS

his is aged-in-oak proof that a game doesn't need to T be original to win over the hearts of gamers. When a

new Mario game hits the market, there's an underlying expectation that it'll revolutionize gaming as we know it. Assuredly, this statement may seem like a stretch, but if you gauge the impact that each Mario release has made, it's not so crazy after all. Think of this: If Nintendo never released Super Mario 64, what would the shape of 3D gaming be like? It’s a scary thought, especially when you take into account that almost every platformer on the market is in some way influenced by this legendary release. Of course, this was six years ago, and given the lengthy absence, everyone anticipated that Mario’s reemergence would bring about another mind-boggling gaming revolution.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, Nintendo developed the long awaited GameCube follow-up under the philosophy “if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Super Mario Sunshine truly is 64-bit at heart. Just the look of the game should evoke a flashback of memories. Ironically, age is on Mario's side. Rather than experimenting with jet set technologies, Nintendo took the knowledge and experience from the previous game and used it to fashion the perfect sequel.

Super Mario Sunshine doesn’t spur a game revolution, but it can be argued that it is the best Mario game to date. The gameplay mechanics are stripped from the 64-bit adventure, and the visual dynamics haven't evolved too terribly much, but the variety that has been included far exceeds anything that | ever expected to see, or wanted from a Mario game. | know this may be hard to believe, but there really is never a dull moment of play. Even if you're just messing around, it's always exciting and fast-paced.

The biggest difference between Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64 is the water cannon that Mario wears on his back. In addition to his arsenal of acrobatic moves, Mario can now shoot out streams of water, or transform the cannon nozzle into a hover device for brief segments of flying. As a whole, the gameplay really couldn't be much more complex. As is the case with every Mario game, the control schematic fits like a glove. It's perfect. If you see a ledge several stories up, there's a good chance that you'll

be able to create a jumping combo to reach it. For instance, you can doublejump between walls, spin high into the air, and hit the hover boost at the peak of your jump to elevate enough to grab the ledge and pull yourself up. The diversity that the water cannon brings — whether it's topping off a jump combo or hosing down a prairie covered in gunk — gives the game a fresh look and a style all its own. | don’t want to spoil the surprises that Sunshine continually throws out, but | will say that you will find yourself hosing off plaque from the teeth of a gigantic fish; extinguishing blazing Chomp Chomps; spraying water into the mouth of a dehydrated Piranha Plant; and watering eggs buried beneath the soil. These actions may sound asinine, but you'll have the time of your life completing them.

In the previous game, Yoshi made an appearance; but other than handing over a bundle of free lives, you couldn't interact with him. This time around, you'll actually have a chance to ride on Yoshi's back within several of the stages. The fact that he controls and sounds just like he does in Yoshi's Story is a stroke of brilliance on Nintendo's part. The overall structure of the game is a little more open-ended as well, which in turn brings about the need for greater exploration and experimentation.

The only problem that | have with Super Mario Sunshine is purely of the mechanic nature. The quest itself has no flaws. It's that good. The camera system, on the other hand, hasn't evolved, and considering Mario 64 was one of the first 3D platformers, this speaks volumes. Manhandling the angles will eventually become second nature to most, but it's still a nuisance to continually to adjust the camera with every move that you make. Rather than working on this aspect, Nintendo tried to hide the fact that it didn't work as well as it should by making the objects that are hidden from view silhouette images. You can kind of see what's going on, but it's a poor solution — especially considering where games are today.

In the grand scheme of things, however, the camera truly is a small complaint. | had my doubts at first, but Super Mario Sunshine is the most addictive and beguiling entry thus far. Once you start playing, putting it down may be the hardest thing that you ever do. - REINER

B STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM lii PUBLISHER NINTENDO lili DEVELOPER NINTENDO lii RELEASE AUGUST 26

“Super Mario Sunshine doesn’t spur a game revolution, but it can be argued that it is the 4 best Mario

game to date."

You'll compete in a handful of minigames, including a time trial race on the top of a baby squid

GAME OF THE MONTH

In the incredibly challenging bonus world, it's back to the basics as Mario no longer possesses the water cannon

Most of Mario's moves hark back to Super Mario 64

THE BOTTOM LINE

m Concept:

A new spin on the 64-bit

formula that may appear to

be old fashioned, but couldn't be more innovative m Graphics:

Nothing really jumps off of

the screen, but the visuals

are dynamic in composition, the animation is silky smooth, and the effects look fantastic

E Sound:

The classic Mario theme

with a newage mix m Playability:

The camera is too demand-

ing of user control, but the

gameplay itself is incredibly intuitive and insanely complex. You won't believe what you'll find yourself doing

m Entertainment:

Out of all of the Mario

games, this one has the

most variety and longevity m Replay Value:

made unnecessarily difficult

due to awkward perspectives. |

Nintendo should've developed a

camera that doesn't constantly | require players to manage itfor | | optimal view. If you haven't felt

compelled to buy a GameCube

yet, Mario Sunshine is certainly | | reason enough. | | CHET - 9.75

GAMEINFORMER 83

REVIEWS

AGGRESSIVE

INLINE

IN LINE WITH THE BEST

PlayStation 2 version of Aggressive Inline he

claimed that it was “as much a platformer as it is an action/sports title." He couldn't have been more right (I know it's hard to believe that Justin could get something right, but work with me here). Aggressive Inline, even for all its “xtreme” elements, is indeed more about completing the challenges and finding all the hidden areas than putting together a mean run of tricks.

Not to say that tricks aren't a big part of Aggressive Inline, but the game is designed with no time limit and the modifiers and multipliers don't lessen in value as you link together more moves. What this creates is a trick system that is almost too easy. With a bit of time spent, you can pull off 70x multiplier tricks with little to no effort. | enjoy pulling them off, but they really don't give me any satisfaction.

Aggressive Inline features some great levels and is definitely fun to play, but with a slightly more difficult trick system, | would have given it a nine easy since the game is innovative in a lot of areas. Overall, | do highly recommend Aggressive Inline for fans of Tony Hawk or Dave Mirra that are looking for another game to pass the time. | just would have liked it better with more Tony and less Mario. - ANDY

| n Justin's review of the

SMUGGLER'S RUN: WARZONES

SMUGGLIN' GRAPES

| the PS2, when its huge, open environments were an awe-inspiring feat of technology. Of course, now we all take stuff like that for granted. Fortunately, SR's basic off-road

racing action remains some of the fastest and most fun on the market. If you're a

Nintendo stalwart that hasn't had a chance to play this series yet — you're in luck. For a

console that has perhaps the most piss-poor selection of driving games of any in history,

Warzones should do the trick nicely.

Warzones is essentially an enhanced edition of Smuggler's Run 2, and most of the single-player missions are slightly tweaked versions of the ones from that PS2 title. Fortunately, the framerate has been bumped up to a full 60 fps, and some of the new countermeasures (like Acid Drop and Vertical Boost) add a new dimension to some of the vehicles. Also, the new Fox and Hounds minigame is the best of the multiplayer mode (which can now be experienced in four-player split-screen mode). There's only one thing that prevents Smuggler's Run from joining the ranks of the elite - the lack of mission variety. A great majority of the stages revolve around getting packages and dropping them off somewhere. Compared to the intense and demanding levels in Stuntman, it's a bit

m Concept: Similar to Crazy Taxi 3, this title combines the best of the first two Smuggler’s Runs with

THE BOTTOM LINE some new bonus goodies

TEEN! g

m Graphics: Now running at 60 frames per second, this looks better and faster than Smuggler's Run 2 on PS2

m Sound: | would have liked this, but Eminem told me that nobody listens to techno

m Playability: The difficulty has been smoothed out a bit, and there are some cool new countermeasures

m Entertainment: Fun for GameCube newbies, but the new features aren't enough to warrant another purchase for SR vets

was a big proponent of the original Smuggler's Run released back in the early days of

m Concept: Create an “xtreme” platformer with inline skaters

m Graphics: The levels are absolutely gorgeous but | am not a fan of the character art style

W Sound: If P.O.D wasn't on here | would have really been annoyed by this soundtrack. More killer, less filler

m Playability:

Great controls, but the trick - Mio Sas E Replay Value: system is too easy (love the thin. However, accept Warzones for what it is and you'll have a fine time. - MATT Moderately? High wall ride command) 4 W Entertainment: SECOND OPINION Exploring the levels is | No matter how you cut it, addicting, but the tricks are Warzones is a director's cut of Secondary Smuggler's Run 2. Given the fact | that the series is new to the. 1 LI Replay Value: | GameCube, this isn't necessarily High | a bad thing. The main bulk of the |

coaren

~ The environmental effects like snow look

much better on the GameCube * MMEEEEY -Ai

The CIA's on your case. Shouldn't they be looking for Osama bin Laden or something? "—

| As | write this, Aggressive

| Inline is still the most-played

| game for me away from work. Add to that the fact that I still

| haven't seen everything there

| is to see, and you've got my 1 highest recommendation. Some | stages have 130+ items to

| grab. Keys unlock sections of

| levels that sometimes double.

| the stage's size. Don't pass this up! i

JUSTIN - 9.25

90:2943

| enhancements in place, the

| gameplay still suffers from

| monotony. The missions are

| filled with variety, and each

| stage proves to be more hair-

| raising than the last, but the fact

| that you're racing across the

| same terrain formations through

| the entire game is a major buzz- | kill. It's a decent title, but a little |

Hey, doesn't this guy know that 4x4 all-terrain

The ney multipiayer modes are a blast vehicles are for driving your kids to the mall?

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS i PUBLISHER. ACCLAIM II DEVELOPER Z-AXIS Ii RELEASE JULY 30

84 GNMEINFORMER

too repetitive for my blood.

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER RACING I PUBLISHER ROCKSTAR GAMES | REINER - 7.5 |

E DEVELOPER ANGEL STUDIOS II RELEASE JUNE 23 |

THE BOTTOM LINE EVERYONE

SECOND OPINION | | I don't absolutely loathe Beach | Spikers, but there are some fundamental flaws. First, Sega doesn't use official volleyball unfortunately Beach Spikers leaves one feeling like AM2 | aie nc een it d a | bit of time and losing to build premier video game sport. Aside from a few interesting | your team member up so that

| m Concept: features, like the player-create and a team-building mechanic | She isn't a complete dunce. But |

|

Girls, sand, sun, and fun. What went wrong?

m Graphics: The character models are pretty, but everything else is pretty...mediocre

E Sound: | love Sega to death, but they have some of the most

& ega has worked magic in the arena of tennis, but

missed an opportunity to reestablish volleyball as a

that is revolves around how you communicate with your | pectus ila teammate between points, there really isn't much here to | more obvious, like certain recommend. The reason? As usual, suspect gameplay and | camera angles. Finally, the poor camerawork are the culprits. The most apparent is the gameplay has been simplified to fact that the game doesn't automatically switch your control to vem that very little | the player nearest the ball, so you are frequently at the mercy parce red of your computercontrolled partner. Also, many of your moves | up and play, but it won't hold are assigned to clumsy A and B combos, while the X and Y | your attention for very long. | buttons go unused. There's four buttons for a reason, people. | CHET - 5.75 Even worse is the *dynamic" camera system, which rotates — ——— wildly during a match, which means that getting into position for a return shot is often blind m Entertainment: guesswork. Hopefully, Tecmo's DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball can get it right. Next! - MATT Not a lot M —— — ——- s Replay Value: Moderately Low

in the business

m Playability: Mechanical and frustrating. Also, your computer partner is a knucklehead

BI STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS M PUBLISHER SEGA lil DEVELOPER SEGA/AM2 W RELEASE AUGUST 13

00:1 7.90

THE BOTTOM LINE EVERYONE

FREEKSTYLE

FREEKY STYLEY D amn! Freekstyle should come packed with a nut cup,

m Concept: A gasoline-chugging, mud-flinging mutation of SSX Tricky

m Graphics:

because it gave me one of the hardest kicks to the

nuggets I've had in a long time. If you like your racing | Tossing reaHife physics to the fast, furious, and over-the-top, this is your game. Essentially | wayside appears to be what Looks a little sharper, and an update of SSX Tricky with motorcycles, Freekstyle delivers | Freekstyle is all about. That, less blurry than the PS2 an even more raucous experience than its snowbound Bots ee A piso ] on buddy, and |, for one, think that's a good thing. Motocross | gamers left in its wake. So | Ww Sound: £ purists will sniff at the cartoonish action, but let them go frustrating, but so gratifying Is it me, or is nūmetal huff on Jeremy McGrath's tailpipe for all | care. Freekstyle | when you finally get somewhere. | &etting a little Olde? isn't about the subtle nuances of off-road biking; it's about LISA = 8. W Playability: busting crazy air, crazy tricks, and going crazy fast with the It's damn hard, but the help of your trusty power boost. It's about jumping through hoops of fire as you strike poses i like one of those Chinese acrobats from the Cirque du Soleil. At times, it's also about getting whipped by the stiff Al competition, which can be a little annoying. Other than that, I can't ™ Entertainment: think of too many bad things to say about Freekstyle. Throw in the fact that it looks a little Step Unit youre downitora

fun - and difficult — better on GameCube, | don't know what you're waiting for. — MATT [cs SORS ^

W Replay Value:

B STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING lil PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS lil DEVELOPER EA BIG Moderately High

BI RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10

tedious, generic game music

REVIEWS

( GAMECUBE NFL 2K3

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS m PUBLISHER SEGA W RELEASE AUGUST 13

We all know about the high visual mark set by the GameCube. That's why | was surprised to see that this edition is actually the least impressive out of the bunch. Not only was there an overall lack of crispness, but | also led that the field was largely comprised of muddied textures. Of course, this game keeps all its alluring features and great gameplay, but | consider it the Py weakest of all three NFL 2K3s. — KATO

00:05:48

Oo 120

Recond Hon Jum 1grr Suan Suar Onan

e/g me 7/3:

Ah j 4i

| ae E!

(GAMECUBE

MX SUPERFLY

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING

B PUBLISHER THQ

W RELEASE JUNE 28

Dirt textures have taken a noticeable leap for this MX Superfly, but the trick system has unfortunately taken a step back, as it's more finicky than usual. Even if you change the controls from the default setting (highly recommended), you'll often go up a jump wanting to do a Rodeo Air and come down with a Heel Clicker. | noticed other such fickle happenings like the fact that | never knew if | was going to make it or break it on landings. This series has lots of potential, but has yet to live up ps

to it. -KATO E|

(C GAMECUBE - MADDEN NFL 2003

B STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS B PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS W RELEASE AUGUST 13

There's no denying that this is

`» a great pigskin title, no matter what system it's on. The

- GameCube version seems to hamper players a little bit just because of the odd configuration of the controller, 1 but everything else is smooth

and silky. The ahi might not look as crisp as they do

on the Xbox version, but who cares? This is

the best football game of the year — go get zs

it. - KRISTIAN E.

GAMEINFORMER 85

REVIEWS

“Never before have I seen an action title with such

deadly depth."

"Sic, Shadow. Sic. Good dog." “Woof!”

“I hope these girls don't blow my cover."

Do unto others what has been done to me

86 GAMEINFORMER

y

MPS SDG 30x0

OL: "

DEAD TO RIGH

SLATE'S POTPOURRI - OF DEATH!

over two years now, since Namco first announced it. After

finally putting this testosterone-filled, violent, and varied adventure through its paces, | have just one thing to say: Can | pick a winner, or what?

Never before have | seen an action title with so much deadly depth. While most games have a lone gimmick they exploit throughout, Dead To Rights throws so many different scenarios and attack options at you, you'll feel like Ted Nugent in a wildlife reserve. Yes, we already did the slow- motion dive in Max Payne, but main character Jack Slate will also perform countless disarms, slink against walls, sic his dog on enemies, take human shields (then execute them), engage in hand-to-hand combat, snipe, and compete in minigames at every turn. How's that for a repertoire?

The regular gunplay scenes alone would've made a high quality title. You can target easily — even see how vulnerable baddies are to your shots — and switch victims on the fly. Much time was put into developing a good, unarmed combat system as well; with multiple throws and kick/punch combinations. It's not as deep as Tekken, but it stands well on its own, even when it's all you do in some levels.

Disarms flat-out rock. They're on par on the kick-ass scale with the stealth kills of Tenchu or The Mark of Kri, and there are a ton of them. Simply snap a neck, or get acrobatic with a flying leg-scissors. No matter what, it ends the same way:

Į- been closely tracking Dead to Rights’ progress for

W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE il PUBLISHER NAMCO lil DEVELOPER NAMCO HOMETEK Iii RELEASE AUGUST 20

Envy the pole

dead villains and more guns for you. Your faithful husky Shadow is truly Jack's best friend. Not only can he maul enemies and fetch their firearms — some missions even have you play from his perspective.

Being a dog is just a small portion of the gameplay variations you'll partake in. These also include gatting foes from a helicopter, disarming bombs, protecting civilians, arm wrestling, shooting up limos, extinguishing fires, and controlling a distracting stripper. Some of these take a maximum of a couple minutes to accomplish, but each one is a hearty experience.

If Dead to Rights didn't play as amazingly as it does, the graphics may have bothered me. The models are very basic and segmented, and don’t even move their mouths when speaking. Many areas are void of ambient objects, and the textures aren't impressive. This just means the developers concentrated on gameplay first, and | guess | can’t fault them for it. My only other gripe has to do with a few drawn- out, unexciting levels.

If Xbox had more games like Dead to Rights, the console wars would be a lot closer than they are. DTR offers everything a gamer could want in this type of title, even if the look won't knock your socks off. If there is at least one violent bone in your body, Dead to Rights belongs at the top of your list. — JUSTIN

Unlocked rifle disarm “Twist And -*59

pu

Bow down to the disarm!

THE BOTTOM LINE

m Concept: Give one game a wealth of blasting, beating, and so much more

m Graphics: Particles and realtime shadows can't hide the fact that visuals obviously took a back seat to gameplay

E Sound: Nothing special in terms of voiceovers or sound effects, but they won't annoy, either

m Playability: Targeting works like a dream, as does every other move. You'll cramp when using the R-trigger a lot, but what else is new

m Entertainment: There is no possible way you could get bored with DTR. There are just too many cool things going on

Ii Replay Value: Moderately High

SECOND OPINION

This is one hell of an action game. | guarantee some of the firefights in DTR will have your blood pressure pushing

| dangerously high levels. It's wicked hard, and the developer's use of some innovative

| gameplay techniques (disarms,

| human shields) is just plain

| awesome. Dead to Right places

| an emphasis on diversity (even

| some timed-button-press

| minigames!) — almost to a fault.

| L appreciate the fact that Namco

| tried to incorporate hand-to-hand

| combat into the mix, but I felt

| the beatemrup portions of the game got a bit tedious at times

| (especially in the prison level).

| These sequences aren't helped

| by the sometimes-suspect

| camera system. Fortunately, the run n' gun levels are some of the

| most challenging and inspired

| I've seen since Syphon Filter. Dead to Rights might be a bit

| frustrating for some, but

| hardcore gamers will eat this up.

MATT - 8.75

Skate the edge of sanity.

developed by

MARS

Blood Strong Language Suggestive Themes GAMECUBE.

Skate as one of the 10 top pros: Unleash an arsenal of tricks: big air Punish your friends with split-screen Attack 9 mammoth levels with environ-

Jaren Grob, Taig Khris, Shane Yost, maneuvers, grinds, vaults, wall rides, multiplayer; build the ultimate skate- ment-altering cinematics at every corner Matt Salerno and Chris Edwards fast plants, cess slides and skitches park with the in-game park editor

Family logo are marke of Sony Ce vue En I AKlaim i ndo

(box Logos are either reg ier countries and are us e ube logo are trademarks of Nintendo. Game e © n e PlaySt acclaim.com

SOCCER SLAM

SUCK ON THESE ORANGES

et's face it: Publishers

and developers are rarely

going to make versions of the same game different for each console. We'd all like that, but it just isn't practical. For this reason, platform exclusivity is seldom even a big deal these days. Personally, think that developer Visual Concepts (with help from Black Box) had enough time to correct a few problems from the original GameCube version of Soccer Slam. The fact remains that these problems exist, and we're going to have to deal with it.

The main change I'm referring to is that the button to hit the ball and to strike other players is always the same. This means that often times if you try to perform a one-time shot, you'll instead end up flailing at the guy next to you — something that happens frequently in the close quarters. of the arenas. Combine this stupid sight with the abysmal Al for the goalies, and you know where the fine tuning for this game needs to be.

These imperfections are a blotch on an otherwise good time. It gives you some nice moves to manage - so much So that | suggest using the tutorial so that you can become acquainted with them all. If you don't utilize every trick, you'll be at a severe disadvantage. High passes and give-and-gos make it soccer, even if the enclosed fields sometimes have you thinking it's hockey.

As I'm sure you've heard a million times from your little

league soccer coach: "We'll get |

'em next time kids." — KATO

THE BOTTOM LINE EVERYONE

E Concept: Sega definitely needed to get off the GameCube and bring this one to the masses

m Graphics: All the onthe-field commotion is perfectly captured without hiccup

W Sound: It didn't take long to tire of the over-the-top, clichéd announcers

W Playability: The button mapping and AI could still use some work

W Entertainment: A few frustrations keep this from being the best game Midway never made

m Replay Value: Moderate

| SECOND OPINION

| I'm sure that more than a few

| soccer fanatics will cluck their | tongue at this "Blitzification" of | their beloved sport, but I

| actually enjoyed my time with

| Soccer Slam. It's true that the

MATT - 7.75

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS M PUBLISHER SEGA M DEVELOPER VISUAL CONCEPTS I RELEASE AUGUST 20

88 GAMEINFORMER

NFL FEVER 2003

THE NON-REBUILDING YEAR

very team — even the Rams - need to make changes from year to year to at least E keep pace with their competitors, if not to excel past them. NFL Fever has more or less stayed the same, which means that it has actually lost ground.

I'm glad to say that the Al for secondaries has improved some, but not enough. In fact, it may have caused more problems. Without the bunching of the players, there's more man- to-man downfield, thus big passing plays are still the norm. Defenses are aggressive, but unrealistic interceptions from defensive linemen remain. Also, since you can't control your receiver when the ball is in the air, you often see cornerbacks budge in front of you to pick off the ball while you stand there helpless. This situation isn't helped by the ball's velocity, which is still a tad slow. These problems and others make Fever mainly an arcade-esque experience that can have its thrills, such as its penchant for big hits and quick players. Unfortunately, these ultimately keep it out of the sim neighborhood where the big kids live.

Microsoft is counting on Xbox Live (and the game's built-in devotees) to make this a hit, but this game just doesn't compare with the others. Modes featuring classic teams and online voice-masking with high-pitch “punter” voices are cool, but there are too many other areas to fix before you can sell this to me as anything more than a rehash. — KATO

NFL Fever reinforces its big hits with a clothesline That's the long ball folks. Get used to it

Ss

—

4, L

^ . - à Unlikely INTs are still in the game Fever prides itself on its classic and custom uniforms

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS II PUBLISHER MICROSOFT lii DEVELOPER MICROSOFT E RELEASE SEPTEMBER 5

os

THE BOTTOM LINE EVERYONE

m Concept: Online's cool, but it's going to take more on-the-field changes to be a competitor

W Graphics: There's no doubt that there are a lot of polys flying around, but not one player looks like he does in real life

m Sound: | apologize for misleading you all. Ron Pitts is back, and | couldn’t be angrier

wW Playability: This does well as an arcade- type game, but its holes still leave me wanting

@ Entertainment: Fever wasn't bad last year, but it can't survive without changing

m Replay Value: High

SECOND OPINION

| You could liken playing a game

| of Fever to watching a girls

| junior high basketball game: humorous, yet strangely

| embarrassing to watch. It’s too | bad, since | know the

| developers have been hard at

| work pounding out the

| mistakes they made last year,

| but so many of them make a

| reappearance (floaty passing,

| bad Al, constant long-ball

| scoring) it makes it hard for me

| to give Fever the benefit of the

| doubt. | recommend that any of

f you out there thinking the

| online side of this game will

| make up for other

| shortcomings, quickly disabuse

| yourselves of that notion. Fever

| needs to spend some time in

| the CFL before playing with the

| big boys.

KRISTIAN - 6

EZD MADDEN NFL 2003

FOOTBALL FOR THE FOLKS

his year's Madden release is nothing if not excellent. There are so many ways to play this game (franchise, create-ateam, etc.), you'll have no problem getting your

| o cp eere | series — even if the outdoor

money's worth within the first couple of weeks you play it. The | | fields have an unsightly seam

crowds have received a much-needed facelift, the player models have been tweaked a bit, and the play animations have been revamped to show off this game's capabilities. Aside from the updated rosters, there are a number of reasons to reinvest in Madden.

The running game has gotten better, and there are more interceptions — which is nice because | can't tell you how man;

f ene SOn the mudo of

| them. Players' faces have extra

| depth and jersey wear is more

jjneipeaive: Koomimend

| developer Tiburon for switching to WR button assignments that

|

| make more sense, but I think

| that whatever Xbox controller

times I’ve seen errant passes bounce off my d-back's hands in | you have, you're less likely to

the past. The linebacker movement is nice, but | would have liked to have seen something similar for my safeties. Additionally, you may have to get used to the implementation and execution of all the new commands on your controller

| use the special moves, which | are more accessible for the PS2.

| KATO - 9.25 |

before plowing into a season. Playing the minicamp drills is a good way to get acquainted with them, I’ve found. All in all, this is an excellent football game. | would recommend buying Madden over all other franchises 100 times out of 100 to any Xbox owner. - KRISTIAN

STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS I PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS I DEVELOPER EA TIBERON

W RELEASE AUGUST 13

NFL 2K3 BEST OF THE BOX

FL 2K3 is the second must-have football game for N this console. What's the other? It's not Fever, | can

tell you that much. Interestingly enough, the PlayStation 2 version of this game is on par with the Xbox's. What distinguishes the two is that developer Visual Concepts has made this version of 2K3 the premier attraction for the franchise's online plans.

NFL 2K3 doesn't just benefit from the fact that Madden doesn't have online with Microsoft's Xbox Live. No, the Xbox Communicator is what this title's online experience is all about. Also, | trust Visual Concepts’ experience with the online through the Dreamcast - something EA doesn't have. Beyond Net play, 2K3 simply can't be ignored for the new depth within its Franchise mode and the series'

SECOND OPINION | Kato likes 2K3, I don't. I think

the running resembles people attempting to sprint in five feet of water, the passing is lazy, | can't stand the long-distance | dives, and the play calling interface is a piece of crap in my opinion. Aside from these | nasties, the ESPN presentation and front office menus are beautiful. 2K3 Is definitely | better than Fever, but it is by

evolving commitment to football that smacks you upside the head. This fact, along with the game's obvious attempts to become more well rounded, make it someti

Shouldn't pass up. - KATO

STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS Ii PUBLISHER SEGA E DEVELOPER VISUAL CONCEPTS

W RELEASE AUGUST 13

THE BOTTOM LINE

W Concept: The best football title available just got a little better

m Graphics: Things are a little sharper than last year

Madden and Michaels make a nice combination. The rest is pretty much the same as last year

@ Playability: Some of the controls you've gotten used to have been Switched for the better

m Entertainment: This is the best football game available. Accept no substitutes

W Replay Value: High

W Concept:

Sega puts its best online foot forward for the console. Not to mention a great game

m Graphics: Crisp and clean, but little differentiates it from the PS2

m Sound: | loved the white noise in Franchise mode

m Playability: Plenty of newbies, including blitz audibles

W Entertainment: The Xbox Communicator is just one of the additions not to be missed

W Replay Value: High

REVIEWS

XBOX STREET HOOPS

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS I PUBLISHER ACTIVISION B RELEASE AUGUST 13

| There's a reason NBA Street was so successful: It was a damn fine game. Street Hoops, , on the other hand, is not. It E seems as though Activision and developer Black Ops were so enamored with the idea of gambling, customizing outfits, and an admittedly power- packed hip-hop soundtrack (Ludacris!), that they figured gameplay was secondary. This is a worse dunk-fest than Hoopz; steals and blocking are awful; and doing Street-esque fancy moves serve little purpose. Street Hoops is so bush league Se it's not even funny. Call it Barkley Shut Up & | 5.5 | Jam 3. — JUSTIN

ran anc)

XBOX

AGGRESSIVE INLINE

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS

E PUBLISHER ACCLAIM

W RELEASE JULY 30

| know this complaint has become a cliché on the order of a stand-up comedian discussing bad airplane food or the differences between men and women, but | still hate the Xbox controller. Combo-intensive games like Aggressive Inline amplify its shortcomings, and you'll curse having to perform a cess slide with those little black and white buttons. However, after | decided to tough it out, | became just as enthralled by this version of Aggressive Inline as | was of the PS2 version. If you're a Tony Hawk fan that hasn't played this game yet, do yourself a favor. | guarantee

the expansive and intricate levels will blow 9.25 | XBOX

you away. — MATT BRUCE LEE: QUEST OF THE DRAGON W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION

W PUBLISHER UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE W RELEASE JULY 2

As a fan of Bruce Lee, | am insulted that this game ever saw the light of day. We have a whole host of problems: poor animations, shallow gameplay, clunky control, a glitchy camera, crashing, lame ——À Sounds, stupid dialogue, primitive enemy Al, boring boss fights, ugly textures, etc. In fact, | hate this clear exploitation of Bruce Lee's name so

much that | am considering going out to buy this game just to bust it into a hundred little [31 GAMEINFORMER 89

pieces. - CHET

GAME INFORMER CONGRATULATES AND HONORS THEIR RETAIL PARTNERS FOR SUBSCRIPTION SALES

Subscription Sales from January to May 2002 TOP TEN STORES

THANKS FOR MAKING GAME INFORMER THE BEST SELLING VIDEO GAME MAGAZINE IN AMERICA!

FUNCOLAND — WAYNE, NJ

Left to right: Chris, Pete, Victor, Don, and John (Not pictured: Kurt and Derrek)

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GAMESTOP — CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA

Left to right: Anthony Tillo, Matt Hall, Mike Thompson, Robert Lim, and Michael Cortez

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Cora, Christina Cruz, Tovey Wall, and Kimberly Bellfield

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Left to right: Saul Zambrano, Daniel Doty, Kareem Gregg, Rick Vo, Mark Santina, Geno Garcia, and Jenifer Sanchez

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GAMESTOP — DEARBORN, MI Left to right: Gabrielle Johnson and Marlon Johnson

Yes, boredom and the beating sun have put us all on edge. But we must push on! All will be made clear once we meet the Oracle.

- WARCRAFT III: REIGN OF CHAOS

sets a new standard for what an RTS should be."

cM The Undead summon their

t fe

` y The rendered cutscenes are incredibly detailed

92 GAME INFORMER

THE WRATH OF CRAFT

ew PC titles enjoy the legacy of welltuned, masterfully iz wrought predecessors the way WarCraft does. It stands

to reason that Blizzard knew it had a mountain to scale to improve upon that which was already quite good. That's fine, because we've all heard that knowing is half the battle, but how to do it? One word: depth. Sure, the past games were a lot of fun, and we all enjoyed playing them (right?), but | was always left with a feeling that | was on the outside looking in — not really a part of what was going on down there on the field. WarCraft Ill ingeniously institutes role-playing elements to the story, and as a result, has struck a near-perfect cord in the harmony of action elements versus role-playing investment.

The story opens with the usual threat-to-the-world's-existence-

because-undead-are-coming bullroar we've all seen in games, but there are a bunch of great plot twists that keep things interesting, and a story that was mature enough for me to stay interested in even when my appendages were falling asleep. The real meat of the game comes from persistent heroes you're introduced to at the beginning of a race's campaign who stay with you throughout your crusade. As you move from mission to mission, your character will gain experience through battle, and will also accumulate assorted items that can be equipped to enhance his or her skills. Leveling up not only means raised stats, but it also means you get to pick one of four different spells to learn or improve upon. These can range

from healing to area-effect spells, and will mean the difference between completing an objective and starting a mission over on many occasions.

Okay, so persistent heroes are definitely good, and this game looks fantastic, but some of the old ghosts of WarCraft's past raise their heads during gameplay. One of the biggest complaints I've always had about WarCraft (and StarCraft, for that matter) is that you constantly have to research the same things on every level to upgrade your unit's capabilities. Once something is "discovered," why can't it be rolled over into the next scenario? Oh well. On another note, the ability to cast spells on individual units by clicking on their picture in the grouping window is awesome, but the amount of units you're able to gather together is so small it's almost impossible to find allies that need individual attention that are not in the same group as your caster. Basically this causes a bunch of frantic clicking during battle situations in the vein hope you'll find the guy who needs your help the most.

Enough complaining. Aside from a few sticking points, WarCraft Ill sets a new standard for what an RTS should be. The multiplayer is amazing (of course), and the world editor is impressive, but the single-player experience is a masterstroke. From the well-balanced unit abilities to the gorgeously rendered cutscenes which bookend each campaign, this title is one for the ages. - KRISTIAN

W STYLE | TO 8-PLAYER STRATEGY Bi PUBLISHER BLIZZARD I DEVELOPER BLIZZARD lil RELEASE JULY 3

mE

Multiplayer carnage!

Damn you, devil guy! Damn you to hell! Wait a second, that didn't make sense."

m Concept: It's WarCraft with some inspired role-playing elements thrown in

m Graphics: That same cartoony style you remember is alive and well

m Sound: No real breakthroughs here, but the dialogue Easter eggs are still quite hilarious

m Playability: Even if you've never played WarCraft (yeah, right!), you'd have no problem picking this game up

m Entertainment: It's probably a good idea to start this game on a Friday, because your next few days are going to be occupied

W Replay Value: High SECOND OPINION |

| [haven't seen a big innovation or |

| evolution in realtime strategy

| games since thelr inception, but |

| WarCraft Ill marks the first move

| forward for the genre in quite

| some time. Unlike most, WarCraft

| IM has a story. In fact, it's a

| fantastic tale that weaves around

| the various races that are { available for play and gives youa | chance to try them all before the | quest reaches its conclusion. The | use of upkeep penalties to stop players from zerging is an

| Interesting addition to the serles, H

| and one that I both embrace and

| of the pathing and targeting could |

| be improved (trying to heal

| someone not in group is a real

| bear). Overall, | loved the story

| and the pace of the game is

| fantastic, offering lots of variety in

| the missions. It's not perfect, but

| it's the best thing to happen to

| RTS for quite some time.

ANDY - 9.25

INFORM

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AMEINFORMER

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EMPEROR: RISE OF THE M

KINGDOM

DIGITAL FENG SHUI

to much critical accord. After a successful expansion pack (Poseidon, 2001), |

A ouple of years ago, a great little game called Zeus: Master of Olympus released

thought we might have seen the last of the series. Well, | was right and | was wrong. Impressions has released another city-builder in the same vein as the Zeus series,

These houses need neighborhood improvements to evolve into bigger and better dwellings

*X

If you look closely, you can see the New Year's celebration going through town

but the content couldn't be more

different.

Instead of leading the ancient

- Greeks through mythological

Situations with the cast of Grecian characters you might expect, Emperor takes you back to the beginning of Chinese civilization (roughly 2000 B.C.) and gives you the task of building healthy, successful, and economically diverse cities. What does that mean? It means you design everything from planning out residential areas to where the best place is for growing crops or training troops.

As your scheme for the city you've been asked to coddle into existence begins to take shape, you'll need to deal with trade to other cities, internal unrest, unemployment, and even war. Things take a while to develop, but once you've got 500 people nagging you for this or that, you'll have plenty to do. Emperor is another great city- builder from a developer that has come to define a niche genre all its own. — KRISTIAN

B STYLE | TO 8-PLAYER STRATEGY II PUBLISHER SIERRA II DEVELOPER IMPRESSIONS

GAMES Ii RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10

m Concept: A city builder using Chinese history to move the plot along

m Graphics: It would have been nifty to be able to get in closer to the city, but everything is nice and tight the way it is

m Sound: Great music and interesting effects. Some of the tunes reminded me of American Beauty - strange, no?

I Playability: The long tutorial process is a must if you want to succeed in the campaign portion of the game

m Entertainment: Emperor is an awesome game for any city-builder fans out there

m Replay Value: High

| SECOND OPINION

Emperor most impressed me |

f f f

AUSTERLITZ:

REVIEWS

NAPOLEON'S GREATEST

VICTORY

LITTLE MAN SYNDROME

clue on whether or not this

game is for you, here it is: If you could give a crap about Napoleon, early 19th century warfare, or moving battalion A to location B in formation C, then | would suggest you move on to the next review right now because this is not the game for you. Okay, now that I've got three of you with me, | must say Austerlitz tickled the historical nerd fancy inside of me. This title gives you an in- depth and (in my opinion) extremely interesting account of the events and troop movements surrounding the battle you're about to begin, gives you some strategic pointers based on what worked and what didn’t in the actual battle, and then puts you in the field.

So that’s cool, but the

gameplay and unit Al is so

f f you're looking for a quick

suspect that, from time to time, [^ EER [ SECOND OPINION

you just have to wonder what the hell is going on. Case in point - | was fortunate enough to route an enemy battalion by flanking it with one of my own while charging at them with another. They turned tail and ran, but suddenly my men Stopped shooting. Every good general knows the best time to press the attack is when the enemy is in disarray, but | wasn't able to do that. Bugger. Play hiccups notwithstanding, this is a game for hardcore strategy fans — others need not apply. - KRISTIAN

THE BOTTOM LINE N

r

ESRB

m Concept: Maneuver a bunch of little guys around a field and hope they win

W Graphics: Things are seriously lacking in this department, and the zoom levels are painful when you start getting in close

W Sound: Very few effects and very little music make Austerlitz a sonic snore-fest

W Playability: A bit of a learning curve is to be expected unless you're familiar with this series

B Entertainment: If you're a history buff, this game can be a lot of fun, but otherwise it drags

W Replay Value: Moderately High

One day I was riding in the car with Kristian, and he revealed to | me that - if he could - he would | be a war reenactment geek (WRG for short). For those of — | you that don't know, WRGS are | “people” that like to get together with friends and play “war” by eating, dressing, and not showering like the | participants in the historic wars. | they are recreating. Scared? You | should be. Austerlitz is for those | people. People that like history. ] People like Kristian. God have mercy on their souls.

ANDY -

W STYLE | TO 8-PLAYER STRATEGY I PUBLISHER SHRAPNEL GAMES lii DEVELOPER BREAKAWAY LTD. I RELEASE JULY 14

GAMEINFORMER 93

REVIEWS

GAME BOY ADVANCE

WTA TOUR TENNIS

W STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS B PUBLISHER KONAMI W RELEASE JULY |

One of the better games

in the legendary (for sucking) Konami sports ine-up. WTA Tour Tennis iy for GBA eclipses its PS2 i Sister title by sticking to | Í the basics of classic 8- Es UREA AL and 16bit tennis gaming. It's a little bit pokey at times, and | still don't like that odd overhead smash indicator, but overall | enjoyed my time on the pint-sized court. The gameplay is surprisingly deep, allowing you to use the shoulder buttons to make slice, topspin, and drop shots. As a bonus, the hilarious player- select screen shows you what Martina Hingis and Serena Williams would look like as anime characters. - MATT

GAME BOY ADVANCE

AERO THE ACROBAT

W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM W PUBLISHER METRO3D, INC

M RELEASE JUNE 30

Aero the Acrobat is more than just fodder to fuel the running joke of creepy, rabid clowns. Although a crazed legion of circus folk has aligned forces to destroy the big top forever, the look of Aero is decidedly perky. Having good graphics, excellent controls, creative gameplay with lots of circus Staples (think water tanks and cannons), and genius character animation puts Aero into his own class of goodness. - LISA

GAME BOY ADVANCE -.

EARTHWORM JIM 2

W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION W PUBLISHER MAJESCO M RELEASE MAY 31 e t | remember enjoying Jim's x second adventure a whole lot more many years ago. Almost T e * everything present seems to replicate the original eres version quite well (except 1 for some annoying glitches), so | can only attribute my slight dissatisfaction to the fact that EWJ2 has aged poorly. Still, there's a decent amount of variety, an above-average challenge, and cool music. But with better action games out there for GBA, | suggest leaving this earthworm to the fishermen. — CHET

94 GAMEINFORMER

KR

zs ei E mw Mo

GAME BOY ADVANCE

STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING STREET FIGHTER

he first time | saw a Shoryuken and Hadouken at my local arcade over a decade T ago, | nearly snotted myself in excitement. To this day, I've managed to control my

nose whenever exposed to something creatively exhilarating in games. However, after experiencing Alpha 3 for GBA, the snot pipes could not be contained. Capcom has reproduced nearly every component that made Alpha 3 the best Street Fighter, despite the GBA's obvious deficiencies.

Most will readily point out the conspicuous lack of six buttons on GBA. However, Capcom managed to work around this issue quite well. Even with only four buttons and a tiny d- pad, performing medium attacks, executing special moves and supers, and putting together elaborate combos is easy enough.

Furthermore, the GBA's memory limitations have only meant the loss of a few minor elements and, unfortunately, World Tour mode. Although World Tour did indeed add flair to the single player experience, the memory requirements and need for serious battery back- up make it impossible to include. This is immediately understandable if you consider what a superb job Capcom did in every other aspect.

Players will be treated to decent animation, fluid gameplay, large and clean sprites, over 30 characters, and six modes of play — Single, Versus, Survival, Dramatic Battle, Final Battle, and Training. With so much to offer, there's little reason to pass this one up. — CHET

Many of the stages are here too

X Dramatic Battle is as fun as ever! although some appear absent

Super moves have been simplified for the tiny d-pad

W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING I PUBLISHER CAPCOM lii DEVELOPER CRAWFISH INTERACTIVE/CAPCOM Iii RELEASE OCTOBER 15

THE BOTTOM LINE

TEEN

m Concept: The best Street Fighter game ever brought to handheld with minimal sacrifice

B Graphics: The sprites move quite fluidly, and are surprisingly large

E Sound: The quality isn't horrible, but the variety is lacking a little

m Playability: Despite the two buttons missing, | found executing combos easy

@ Entertainment: Again, this is perhaps the best Street Fighter made. Although it's missing the World Tour mode, it's still a blast to play

W Replay Value: High

| SECOND OPINION

| Street Fighter Alpha 3 rocks, no matter the platform. It just so happens the GBA version is

| as amazing as its console

| counterparts. The characters,

moves, and graphics are all here, forming what is still my favorite 2D fighter of all time. I can understand why World Tour

| = the role-playing, character-

building mode - was left out. That doesn't mean that | can't be slightly bummed over it, though. Hitting two buttons for

| medium attacks works

I

i

surprisingly well, and dumbing down supers were a clever idea. Unfortunately, my hands got cramped after about an hour. Still, that’s a small price to pay to take this all-time great with you on the road.

į Capcom has done it again.

Long live E. Honda! JUSTIN - 9.25

1

CONTENT RATED BY ES

PEN

hi

A

Somehow I's get insid " can" het Set away!

Experience the action, the intrigue and the fight of your life in this brand new chapter of Resident Evil. Hosts of deadly zombies, countless traps and Lurking horrors: will

their discovery take you closer to the source of the Resident Evil or lessen your chances of survival?

Blood Violence

| capcom. com J

©2002 CAPCOM CO., LTD. ©2002 CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM, the CAPCOM LOGO and RESIDENT EVIL are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. RESIDENT EVIL GAIDEN developed by M4 and Virgin Interactive under license from CAPCOM CO., LTD. Licensed by Nintendo. Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and the official seal are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc.

In association with the NPD TRSTS Video Games Service, Charts presents an in-depth listing of the best- selling software on a month-to-month basis. Are the games you spend your hard-earned dollars on top sellers? Take a look below to find out. We've also compiled a listing of the top-selling Japanese software, and, of course, we included a Top 10 list of the games the GI staff is currently enjoying.

NPD TOP 20

GAME

Listings Based Upon NPD Data For June 2 Based On Units Sold

L Mo SYSTEM SCORE RELEASE PRICE

DATE POINT

4 Medal of Honor: Frontline PS2 9 May-02 $50

Honor. On top of that, you have to distinguish yourself as gallant and heroic, risking your life above and beyond the call of duty. Forget that. You should just go to your local game store and buy it like everyone else. Take that, Congress!

3 Grand Theft Auto III PS2 9:5 Oct-01 $50

We have one word for you: Catharsis. What is that, you ask? We're glad you asked! Ca-thar-ses n. pl. — A technique used to relieve tension and anxiety by bringing repressed 72 feelings and fears to consciousness. 5 Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec PS2 9

Jul-01 $21

JAPAN TOP 10 Based n

POS. L. MO GAME SYSTEM N/A Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Monsters 7 GBA N/A Way of the Samurai PS2

N/A Digimon World 3: The Door to New Adventures PS-X N/A Golden Sun 2: The Lost Age GBA

World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 PS2 N/A One Piece Phantom Grand Battle GBC N/A .hack Vol. 1 PS2

Victorious Boxers Championship Edition PS2

«€ |c|-|o|«m|z|c|m|Àm w

Gun Survivor 3: Dino Crisis PS2

Arc The Lad: WonderSwan Edition WS EET (6 255 i max

This racing classic features well over 150 shiny, new vehicles, and gives you the keys. POS. LMO GAME SYSTEM So what are you going to do with them, Speedy? You're going to collide them with other 1 N/A Super Mario Sunshine GC cars. You're going to scrape them against guardrails. You're going to wear down every 2 N/A SOCOM: US Navy SEALs PS2 gi brake pad and tire tread you get your grubby little mitts on. Ungrateful sods! 3 N/A Dead to Rights Xbox 4 2 Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku GBA T5 May-02 $31 4 N/A Madden NFL 2003 PS2 Did you know we had some art from Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama on our cover once? 5 N/A Street Fighter Alpha 3 GBA E It's true! It was for the Square RPG, Chrono Trigger. Toriyama objected, however, saying 6 N/A Warcraft Ill PC say the artwork would make our magazine worth hundreds on the black market. We'll say it Tm i Eternal Darkness GC | was an amicable breakup, though, since both of us have done well since. 8 N/A NFL 2K3 PS2 5 1 Spider-Man PS2 7.75 Apr-02 $48 9 3 Aggressive Inline PS2

So this guy is bitten by some mutant bug, inherits all these trippy powers, and gets to make out with Kirsten Dunst to boot? That convinced us to let every insect in sight feast on our flesh. First, we tried fire ants, moved to centipedes, and lastly mosquitoes. What did we get? A lot of red welts, and a restraining order from Dunst. Rip-off!

5

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny

6 N/A Elder Scrolls Ill: Morrowind Xbox 75 Jun-02 51 7 N/A WWE Wrestlemania X8 GC 6.5 Jun-02 50 POS. L.MO GAME MONTH PRICE 8 N/A Test Drive PS2 85 MayO02 $50 EOS N/A Warcra Jun 02 REO 9 10 Super Mario Advance 2 GBA 95 Feb02 $30 203. N/A INGYSrwIm SU NITE EU e 40 A ui Ga 95 NovOl 50 3 1 TheSims: Vacation Mar02 $28 4 2 Grand Theft Auto III May02 $44 N/A Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem GC 95 Jun-02 50 5 4 TheSims Feb-00 $42 12 12 Yu-Gi-Oh!: Forbidden Memories PSX 5.5 Mar-02 31 6 8 Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault Jan02 $45 13 15 Midnight Club. PS2 7.5 Oct-00 20 7 N/A Warcraft Ill: Collector's Edition Jun-02 $76 14 N/A Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones GBA 1 May-02 — $30 ; e RE mm m E d lar- 2 N/A. SSUIRETMI PSR 9 JUNO 50 10 6 UR AERE Helix May02 $47 16 13 ATV Offroad Fury PS2 8.5 Feb-01 21 : 17 20 Super Smash Bros. Melee GC 9.25 Dec-01 50 18 18 Sonic Advance GBA 8.5 Feb-02 $39 19 N/A YuGi-Oh!: Dark Duel Stories GBC 5.5; Mar-02 30 20 TÉ Spider-Man Xbox 8.25 Apr-02 48

Source: NPD Interactive Entertainment Service e Kristin Barnett Von-Korff (516) 6252481

96 GAME INFORMER

enr.

ZERO IN ON THE MOS \MV-YOUR-FACE EGA-IMAN GAME EVER!

EVERYONE o

Violence

CONTENT RATED BY 9 CAP LOM CO; LTD, 2002 © CAPCO’.' U S.A. «c; 2002. ALU RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM LOGO are registere; "(ademas of GAPGOM CO., LTD. MEGA MAN is a ESRB rac ufark of CAPCOM CO., LTD: The angs icon = a registered t:4demark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Nintendo, Game Boy, and Game Boy. Advance are trademarks of Nintendo

REVIEWS ARCHIVE SEPTEMBER 2002 FOREVER KINGDOM | [eb e Blue Earth rd bos jer oe 9 Apr-02 ve casi pou sd 75 Dec-01

Mega Man X6 65 Feb-02 Snowboarding 7 Decot The Wizard's Throne. 85 Aug-02 The Legacy Of Goku May-02 m FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2 B STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ROLE- Monsters, Inc. 5 Novot Arctic Thunder 5 — DecO! Aliens Versus Predator2 9.25 Jan02 Eoks Vs. Sever Dec-01 PLAYING GAME lI PUBLISHER AGETEC I REVIEWED HOES NBA ShootOut 2002 475 Nov-01 Azurik: Rise of Perathia 45 Feb-02 Black & White: Creature Isle 8.25 Mar-02 —— F-14 Tomcat Jan-02 - " Powerpuff Girls: Batman: Vengeance 7 Feb02 Car Tycoon 675 Mar02 Fortress Nov-01 The realtime battle system Chemical X-Traction 18 Novo Blood Omen 2 825 May02 — Ciiizaton ll 85 Decot Frogger: The Great Quest Jun 02 f $ Saltwater Sportfishing 65 Jan02 Blood Wake 5 Feb02 Comanche 4 65 Maroz Froggers Adventure: features a unique Palmira Sheep Raider 725 Novi Burnout 775 Jun02 Command & Conquer: Temple of the Frog 5. Novi syst 4 | Spec Ops: Covert Assault 4 — Dec-01 Cel Damage 5 Decot Renegade 825 Apr02 Golden Sun 85 Jan-02 E d ee Arela Syphon Fiter 3 9 Dood! Circus Maximus 6 —Apr02 Command & Conquer: Gradius Galaxies 725 Decot z X moves ‘Twisted Metal: Small Brawl 3 Jan-02 Crash Bandicoot: Yuri's Revenge 9.25 Dec-01 Guilty Gear X: Advance Edition 8 -02 enemies. Plus, all the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater3 85 Deco The Wrath of Cortex 725 May-02 Commandos 2: Men of Courage 75 — Novo! fig Heat Major e Ae PEE VIP 1. dan-o2 Crazy Taxi 3: High Roler — 85 Aug02 Dark Age of Camelot 85 Jan-02 League Baseball2002 75 Deci equipment you find in the game virtual Kasparov 7.75 Jan-02 Dark Summit 7 Dec! Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis 75 May-02 High Heat Major | actual shows up on your Weakest Link, The 7 Jan02 Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX2 — 9 — Deco! Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza 8 May02 League Baseball 2003 725 Apr-02 y DIO NONI e David Beckham Soccer 55 Augd2 Dungeon Siege 925 Jun-02 — keAge 6 May.02 character, so you can choose GAMECUBE Dead Or Alive 3 925 Dec-01 Elder Scrolis II: Jurassic Park Ill: Island Attack 3 — Nov-01 i ioni i 18 Wheeler Eider Scrolls I: Morowind, The 75 — Jul02 Morrowind, The 9 Junto — MatHoffmansProBMX 75 Dec Ot fashion over function if you wish. If you are the type who can Aoa Pio Tcr E A2 — Ende 75 Ago Empe Earth 625 Jano2 Mech Platoon 825 Jan-02 overlook Forever Kingdom's many shortcomings and enjoy it ^ Al-Star Baseball 2002 575 Feb02 ESPN International EverQuest: Shadows Of Lucin 9.25 Feb02 Mega Man Battle Newok2 8.75 Jun-02 All-Star Baseball 2003 9 — Apr02 Winter Sports 2002 3 — Mar02 Freedom Force 875 May02 Mega Man Zero 825 Aug-02 as p uid , quirky title it is, you will only think Batman: Vengeance 675 Feb02 ESPNNFLPrimeTime 2002 6 © Mar-02 Ghost Recon 9 Feb02 Mike Tyson Boxing 5 May-02 it’s ok. For everyone else, this game is just too Bloody Roar: Primal Fuy 8 Apro2 ESPN Winter X Games Global Operations 8 May-02 Monster Jam oifbeatend mn t b use punt Bomberman Generations — 8 Mot Snowboarding 2002 675 Apr02 Grand Theft Auto IIl 95 Aug-o2 Maximum Destruction 6 Apeoa lated to be fun. — Burnout 775 dun-02 B am. 775 Feb02 — MenesuiMghaniMage 875 Junt? Monster Rancher Advance — 85 red Cel Dama 5 Maroz Fuzion Frenzy c. Independence War 2: lonsters, Inc. PLAYSTATION 2 MX Superfly 74 a ‘Aug-02 Crazy pra 75 Jano? Genma Onimusha 85 Maro? The Edge of Chaos 9 — Nov-01 Mortal Kombat Advance. 575 Mar-02 18 Wheeler. MXRider DecO! Dark Summit 7 Mayoz Gun Valkyrie 525 Maro2 Medal Of Honor: Alied Assault 9.75 Feb-02 Motocross Maniacs Advance 825 Apr-02 American Pro Trucker 725 Dec! Namco Museum a Fi Dave Mira Freestyle BMX2 875 Feboz Halo 95 Nov0t Monopoly Tycoon 85 Dec0t MotoGP 5 Jun02 Aggressive Inline 925 Ju02 NASCAR Thunder2002 85 DecO! Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers 7 dun-o2 Hunter: The Reckoning 8 Ju02 Myth I: The Wolf Age 675 Jan02 NASCAR Heat 2002 75 J02 AirBlade 8 Maro? NBA2K2 875 Mar02 ESPN MLS Extraime 2002 7.25 Juno2 James Bond 007 In. Neverwinter Nights 875 Aug02 NBA Jam 2002 125 May-02 All-Star Baseball 2003 9 — Ap-02 NBA Live 2002 85 Dec-01 Eternal Darkness: Agent Under Fire 925 May-02 Operation Flashpoint NFL Blitz 2002 5 Deco Army Men: RTS 6 MayO2 NCAA Final Four 2002 5 DecO! Sanity's Requiem 95 Aug? Jet Set Radio Future 7 Mar02 Cold War Crisis 95 Nov0t Peter Pan ATV Otftoad Fury 85 Maro! NOAAMarhMadness2002 475 Mar-02 Extreme G3 825 Febo2 Kabuki Warriors 05 Dec0! Pool of Radiance: Return To Never Land 3 we Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 8.75 Dec-01 NFL2K2 95 Jan02 FIFA Soccer 2002 B Feb-02 Knockout Kings 2002 875 Apr02 Ruins of Myth Drannor 775 Novot Phalanx Jan-02 Batara 6 Aug02 NFL Bitz 2002 5 Apr02 Gauntlet Dark Legacy 725 May-02 Legends of Wresting 7 io men 2 8 May02 NFL GameDay 2002 5 Feb02 Home Run King 5^ May02 Mad Dash Racing 6 Jan? Briney's Dance Beat 775 du02 NFLOB Club 2002 75 Novoli James Bond 007 In... Madden NFL 2002 95 Nov.0t NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2002 Burnout 775 Jan02 NHL 2002 95 Nov-O1 Agent Under Fire 925 May02 Max Payne 9 Feb-02 FORMAT XBOX E STYLE SPORTS Capcom Vs. SNK 2 775 Decd! NHL Hitz 2002 85 Decot Legends of Wresting 7 Aug-02 MotoGP 8 — Jp E PUBLISHER MCROSOIT 1 AER "APR-O2 Crash Banoo n No One Lives Forever 7 Decot Lost Kingdoms 8 Ju? MX2002 E je Wrath of Cortex 675 Jan02 Onimusha: Warlords 875 Marot Luig’s Mansion 9 Novo! Featuring Ricky Carmichael 7.5 Jan-02 Dak Si 5 65 imm ‘Okage: Shadow King 8 Novo Madden NEL 2002 9 Feb-o2 Misc oat A 5 825 Det - n ' Inside Drive's graphics are a eus Ex; The Conspiracy ay. Pac-Man Fever 75 Aug-02 NBA2K2 9 May-02 under 9 Decot mixed bag. It does have some Downtorce 7 JMO Pac-Man World 2 55 Mar02 NBA Courtside 2002 825 Margg NBA2K2 9 Ma02 3 " Bilan The Ancients’ Gates E toe Parappa The Rapper 2 75 Feb02 NBAStreet 925 May-02 NBA2Night 2002 625 Jun-02 of the best looking uniforms, riven 5 Feb-02 Pirates: The Legend NHL Hitz 2002 8 Feb-02 NBA Inside Drive 2002 825 Apr-02 com} with Dropship: United Peace Force 7.5 Aug02 of Black Kat 725 Mar02 Pac-Man World 2 55 Apr0? NBA Live 2002 85 Jan-02 piete aeuo and Dynasty Warriors 3 7 Jan-02 Project Eden 55 Jam02 Pikmin 925 Jan02 New Legends 7 — Ap? wrinkles. The player models Ecco The Dolphin: RedCard 2003 8 May-02 Resident Evil 925 Jun02 NFL2K2 925 Mar-02 Defender of the Future — 55 May02 Rez 6 Feb02 Simpsons Road Rage 8 — Maro? NFL Blitz 2002 5 May-02 i themselves, though, just look rae ie Es ge Romance of the Smashing Drive 7 Apr02 NFL Fever 2002 825 Dec01 kind of awkward. | was more : Eve of Extincion 5 Apr-02 hree Kingdoms VII 7 Aug-02 Soccer Slam 75 Apo2 NHL2002 925 Decdt pkr 4 Savage Skies 55 Jun02 Sonic Adventure 2 Batte 75 Maroa NHL Hitz 2002 85 Jano2 impressed with the audio, which ni ces aa A wn Sr Dos EM "EE Man 8 — Jun02 Nightcaster 55 Feb02 Imm Sir MixALot dropping rhymes in the theme song. The i ight of 100 Frights T I , Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee 7 Dec Ot ESPN NFL PrimeTime 2002 6 — Jan02 Shadow Hearts 175 Jano sem TE Mao aa Odee T io (Tonle got choppy at times, but Marques Johnson kicked DE m" em uem Mn 2econd Coming 7 May-02 Star Wars: Rogue Leader 95 Decot Pini: okka 75 ano Owe keyster on color; including a very well-placed reference to g aun Palmer's ve Legend of at 75 Jum NT F re Erwin: peri Cones 6 darà — "Po Sronboarier 825 Deco! ee e eee on ee project Gotham Racing ^ às Deo; the cult classic flick, The Warriors. Franchise mode and many ug: Shitters 675 Ju? Tony Hawk's Pro Sk 7 RaliSport Challenge 8 Ap? te 7 OR — She dra De a den Tay Ps ater3 975 dao Ralls ng $? ne other options (create-a-player, street ball, etc.) are absent, and Peed ob, De Sky Gumer 65 Jul02 Theme Park Adventure — 4 Maroz SlentHi2ReslessDreams 825 Feboz Season mode has problems; most specifically with trading (no Ru riter S dno Sed Siom . 7 — Apr02 Virtua Striker 2002 675 Jun-02 Simpsons Road Rage 8 De! two-for-one trades, and many teams just won't deal). If these e 5 du Smash Court Tennis: Wave Race: Blue Storm 8.5 NovOi Smashing Drive 65 Majo aa ` a 7 Raw powell is Sod Pro Toumament 7J5 Apr-02 — WWE Wrestlemania X8 65 Augü2 Spider-Man 825 sunog things had been in place, | might be heralding 'ormula One lov- Smuggler's Run 2: Zoocube f Splashdown 925 Aug02 is | il is i: Freekstyle 85 Juk02 Hostile Territory 75 Dec-01 WIS. age pe Toner eed Mae this game as among the best. Still, this is a Frequency 85 Dec-01 Soldier of Fortune Gold 4 JaM? DREAMCAST SSX Tricky 5 reo TOOkie with solid fundamentals. — JUSTIN ARMAR LUE ee 4 875 Dec-01 Alone in the Dark: Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter — 85 Jun-02 s Eres e ? ME Famil 775 du The New Nighmare a Meot Siar Wars On 625 Feb02 Red Faction 8.75 Nov01 Pinball of the Dead, The 9 Jubog P ar ler: f Grand Theft Aut i 35 Deed Soy Hunter as noro Bienen Olio 35 Noi — Sir Was Suri & oeo E CasteWolensain 875 Fb Panot Monsters 775 Mar? Grandia Il 65 Maro2 SSX Tricky $ ot Qu $ M un 85 Ju02 The Second Encounter 925 Margo Planet oi the Apes Se. quie leavy Metal: Geomatrix H ; Guily Gear X 6 — Dec02 Star Trek Voyager: Elle Force 45 — Feb02 at Nofman's Pro BMX 7 Decot Test Drive Off Road: Shattered Galaxy 8. Nooi Pom oro 6 Jao? Half-Life Decay 8 Dect Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter — 85 — AprO2 NBA 2K2 925 Deco! Vide Open 65 Dec0! Sid Meier's SimGoll 925 Marü2 Prehistorik Man 75 Jan-02 eae 8 — Jun02 E Me Racer Revenge a ie we NFL2K2 9 Nov-01 Tony licor d M e é » pen Sims: Hot Date, The 8 — Jan0? Punch King 3 Aug-02 i Moon: le of Emergency. Y P is Var : fony Hawk's Pro Skater3 — 975 Apr Sims: Vacation, The 8 Jun-02 à inven * yer Sft Eire 628 fe nse? Oe A KUAIS 4 J02 Soldier of Fortune Ik: fd PudeMek Mara ] M nt 4 Jano ransword 55 Dec! Double Helix 7 so x d pori RAE 925 Wio XBOX Triple Play 2002 4 Ap02 Star Trek: Bridge Commander 7 — Apr-02 pee a M aus ben Fase pee: TS APO ‘Supercar Steet Challenge 6 DecO! 2002 FIFA Word Cup a dungo UFC Tapout 825 Mar-02 StarWars: San Lah 2002 S MG be Ar Tarzan Untamed 775 Jan02 — 4x Evolution 2 25 Novo Word Series Baseball 8 X02 Galactic Batlegrounds 45 Dec0! Scorpion King ue. gea z 825 Feb02 Test Drive 85 JWO2 Airforce Delta Storm 65 Decot Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions 7 — Apr-02 Star Wars: Jedi Outcast 95 May02 ‘Sword of Osiris, The 5 Jun-02 EOM pel Tm 325 Jano? TES Drive Of Road: WWF Raw 65 Mar02 Stronghold 9 Jan02 Shaun Palmers Jamas Bond 007 In. M 825 Novo1 Sum of All Fears, The 75 uM Pro Snowboarder 675 Feb02 seed $2 T" SWINE. 85 Mar02 Sonic Advance 85 Apr-02 Es Munt > sae Operation Phoenix 4 Deco OUTLAW GOLF A Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror 5 Ju02 Spider-Man 85 Jun02 ‘Supercross World e dmi Tiger Woods PGATow2002 7.75 Api s ; ^ j Throne of Darkness 65 DecO! Star Wars: Episode I Jonny Moccloy Mad Tix — 728 Arop TY Hawk's PioSkater3 975 Deco} NIFORMAT XBOX I STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS à Tropico: Paradise Island — 75 — Apr02 Attack of the Clones 1 AM? pras 7 8 MT Lp oM i yo e LI POENGER SNOL AND SCHUSTER il REVIEWED JUL-02 Warlords: Battlecry Il 775 May-02 Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles 6.25 — Mar-02 j T rk s Y Zoo Tycoon 75 Oecd! Starx 675 Ju02 eee ey tn perd Tsugunai: Atonement 725 Jan02 x 3 I have to take issue with the - T Super Bust-A-Move 675 Feb-02 LegerdotAon Dar, me — 5. Mad? Varpio Non A VR small amount of courses for GAME BOY ADVANCE Spy Hunter 75 suno Legends of Wresting 625 Feb-02 Alienalors:Evolulion Continues 7 Febü2 Spyro: Season of Ice 6 Jan02 Victorious Boxers: play. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled All-Star Baseball 2003 8 Joz Super Mario World: Legion: Tha Ippo's Road To Glory 775 Feb02 Nn Super Maro Advance 2 ^ 95 Apr02 aoe ^ om Mite tra ne Maye by other titles, but only having frente tee fs no ttc One , jes E 4 und " Looney Tunes Space Race — 7 — Augü2 DE b. pu three for the entire game is a Maimwesaydane 7 Je The Knight ot Lods & p Mad Maestro 75 Apr02 Wi " e little di: intii h Blender Brothers 75 Jun-02 Tekken Advance E ar- lipeout Fusion 65 Jun02 isappointing. In any " Mark ol Kri, The 9 — Aug-02 ti i oa Bomberman Max 2: Tetris Worlds. Ed Maximo: Ghoststo Goy — 9 Margo Wari: event, if you own an Xbox, and Red & Blue Advance 8 Augüo Tony Hawk's Pro Skater3 — 9 — Apr02 Max Pe Tus pego pooo B5 Fi ebeen DIR Boxing Fever 7 dan-02 Wario Land 4 85 Jan-02 Medal cr Honor Foniine 8 dung oe dd o REIER you've been pining for Breath of Fire 8 Novot Wolfenstein 3D 7 AM? Metal Gear Solid 2: A ? something similar to Sony's Hot Shots series, this is as close Breath of Fire 1 875 Apr-02 Zone of the Enders: Sons of Liberty 10 Deco! M i ia ane Sous going to veto end tain’ helped Th charade! Britney's Dance Beat 8 Jug The Fist of Mars 65. Mar-02 Mike Tyson Just Bring It 8 — Dec-01 VELA a6 tt and it ain't half ba 2 MS OESE Columns Crom 6 Decot Zoocube 85 Jud Heavyweight Boxing — 675 AP PLAYSTATION are suitably raunchy (this game earns every inch of the T Crash Bandicoot: MLB Slugfest 2003 775 Aug-02 3 # s TO SOME ; T T GAME BOY COLOR e cian ii Nemea 5 Janae rating, believe me) and the graphics are right in line with what cure, Ste DapnVanbrMeehn2 È NOI Zeoric Front JI ie, (CRIME NNUS wae” you'd expect from your beloved black console. The physics are Dark rena 7 Apop Mega Man Xtreme 2 7 Marae Monster Rancher 3 825 Novo Dame Domoa — e UC b Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX2 825 Maroz Mummy Returns, The 3 Decot Monsters, Inc. $02 Dragon Warior VI vos fonti a uncy for my taste, but as you. Progress pm Desert Strike Advance 75 Juk02 Resident Evil Gaiden 75 Aug2 racc M 7o Toa Way Poter and in the game they become more tolerable. A Dinotopia: The Tmestone Prats 6 — x2 — Shanlae Sas ister Mosquito rH h " Disnoy's Lilo & Stitch 8 Aug02 Top Gun: Firestorm lar-02 Mummy Returns, The 25) dence Me SENA ESO 55 302 solid buy through and through. — - KRISTIAN Dokapon: Monster Hunter — 7 — Fe&2 YuGiOh: Dark Duel Stories 65 Jun-02

98 GAME INFORMER

NEW RELEASES at DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CALL YOUR LOCAL RETAILER FOR MORE DETAILS

Release — Title Publisher/ Release — Title Publisher/ Release Title Publisher/

Date Distributor Date Distributor Date Distributor Vivendi Universal 10/1/02 . . Duke Nukem Forever. Take 2

Electronic Arts. Vivendi Universal Ubi Soft

PLAYSTATION 2 9/17/02 . . Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex... . .

: : 8/12/02 . . Disney's Magical Mirror Starting Mickey Mouse 8/27/02 . . Antz Extreme Racing . -Vivendi Universal M 9/10/02 .. Armored Core 3 . . “Agetec 9/10/02 . Tees Mat Eee ue Menon.

Ms 9/10/02 . . FreekStyle......... . . Barbie: Tr Time .

Ds pores ae 9/17/02 . . Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer .

8/27/02 . . Comman: 8/13/02 . . Madden NFL 2003 . . . E 9/24/02 . . Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2

9/30/02 . . Conflict: Desert Storm.

9/17/02 . . Dino Stalker. . Capcom. 8/26/02 . . MLB Slugfest 2003. .

9/10/02 . . Disney Golf - 1 9/16/02 . . Monsters, Inc: Scream Arena.

9/2/02 . . . Dual Hearts . 9/30/02

9/17/02 . . Dynasty Tactics. 10/1/02 ..

3/3/02 . . . NCAA College Football 2K3 ED RAM t Mania: Egéstremo Madness- 9/23/02 . . Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

Nintendo of America 9/17/02 ..Earth & Beyond Online. Kemco 9/10/02 . . Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom « Electronic Arts 9/2/02 ... Evil Twin . Activision. 9/11/02 . . Freelancer. Electronic Arts 9/17/02 . . Hitman 2 Activision 8/27/02 . . Icewind Dale ll. ...... Midway 9/3/02 .. . Industry Giant 2... .. THQ 9/24/02 Koei 9/3/02 . Electronic Arts 10/1/02 . . Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter . Sega 8/21/02 .. Mafia ... . Electronic Arts 9/24/02 . . Master of Orion I

» Vivendi Universal JoWood

Beverly

Vivendi Universal Electronic Arts Take 2

Beverly

STO oaan tole 8/13/02 . -NFL 2K3 . . Sega 8/20/02 . . Medieval: Total War. Activision. 9AT/O2 .. 8/12/02 . . NFL Blitz 2003 Midway 9/24/02 . . Monopoly 3... . Beverly 9/2/02... D H 10/1/02 ..NHL 2003 . Electronic Arts. 9/24/02 . . Most Wanted . Activision. SG OU iran 2... p 1 9/16/02 . NHL Hitz 2003 Midway 10/1/02 . . MS Combat Fight Simulator 3 . Microsoft j 3/3/02 . . . PacMan Fever Namco 9/24/02 . . Rayman Arena UBI Soft 9/4/02 . . . Rocket Power: Beach Bandits - THQ 9/4/02 . . . Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights THO E FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2, XBOX ll STYLE 1 -PLAYER ACTION 9/10/02 . . Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Vivendi Universal E FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2, XBOX, GAMECUBE IIl STYLE 1 TO W PUBLISHER ACTIVISION m RELEASE SEPTEMBER 3 9/23/02 . . Star Fox Adventures . . Nintendo of America. 4-PLAYER ACTION M PUBLISHER ACCLAIM IB RELEASE SEPTEMBER 1

8/26/02 . . Super Mario Sunshine. Activision's intent is to make — 927/02 `. this game as gory and bloody 8/13/02 .. as possible. At any given time, 9/1/02 . . . Turok: Evolution .

9/17/02 . . Worms Blast . up to 30 characters can crowd

the screen, and yes, Blade

can slice and dice them to S1 ass ven Universo bits. Afterwards, the ceiling, ^ 9/24/02 . . Blinx: The Time Sweeper . t 10/1/02 ..Brute Force ...... floors, and walls should be 3/19/02 . . Buffy the Vampire Slayer . caked | in chunky goo. The combat is incredibly inventive, 8/27/02 . . Commandos 2: Men of Courage . 9/30/02 . . Conflict: Desert Storm. making use of the right analog stick for directional attacks. — g/o9, /02 . . Dead to Rights All of Blade's signature moves from the movie are 9/30/02 . . Dynasty Warriors represented in some fashion as well. Best of all, though, if a aie E o vampire truly gets under your skin, you can perform one of 9/24/02 . . Hollywood Stunts: Starring Chase

Nintendo of America. Super Monkey Ball 2

Scientists believe that a meteor wiped out the dinosaurs. The truth of the matter is, however, that one man is responsible for this genocide. His name is Turok, and you'll have the privilege of assuming his

identity. His actions may not Eidos seem just, but it's a kill or be killed prehistoric world. Of

Take 2 course, all of the dinosaurs are armed with weapons of mass Koei destruction so this won't be as easy as you'd think. Die,

maemo: dinosaurs! Die!

Bam! Entertainment

ishi 17/02 . Kelly Slater's : i 9/18/02 . . MS Links 2003 Microsoft. many finishing maneuvers that showcase a brutal death BA C EI ipu 9/19/02 (4 MS Links 2003: Mega Course Pack MERE much like Mortal Kombat's Fatalities. 9/24/02 . . Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of the Ring, The . . . . . Vivendi Universal 9/23/02 . . NASCAR Thunder 2003 Electronic Arts 9/24/02 . . Lotus Challenge . Titus Software 9/11/02 .. NHL 2003........ Electronic Arts. 9/11/02. . . Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius. THQ 8/13/02 . . Madden NFL 2003 . Electronic Arts 10/1/02 . . No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in Harm

Activision 8/27/02 ..ORB.. Midway 9/24/02 . . Prisoner of War. UBI Soft 9/10/02 . . Project IGI2: Covert Strike Electronic Arts - Rayman Arena

Scrabble 3.

«Activision 8/13/02 . . Mat Hoffman's Pro BI . Bam! Entertainment 8/26/02 . . MLB Slugfest 2003.. 9/17/02 . . Myst IIl: Exile... 9/23/02 . . NASCAR Thunder 2003

9/17/02 . . Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer 9/19/02 . . King Of Coliseum

9/11/02 . . Kingdom Hearts . ..... 10/1/02 . . Legaia 2: Duel Saga . . . . -

10/1/02 .. 8/13/02 . . NCAA College Football 2K3 . Sega 8/13/02 .. 9/23/02 . . Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Electronic Arts Shadowbane ps 8/13/02 . . Mat Hoffman's Pro 8/13/02 Sega Sims: Deluxe Edition, Electronic Arts | i 9/17/02 . . Myst Il: Exile $ 8/12/02 .. Midway -- Sims: Unleashed, The . Electronic Arts _

9/23/02 . . NASCAR Thunder 2003 . Electronic Arts 9/5/02 ... Microsoft =- Snowboard Park Tycoon.

9/24/02 . . NBA Shootout 2003 . Sony 9/23/02 .. Electronic Arts Space Ace .

8/13/02 . . NCAA GameBreaker 2003 . . . «Sony 9/16/02 . Midway Street Legal

9/17/02 .. Electronic Arts. 9/10/02 . < Microsoft «Stronghold: Crusader . 3

8/13/02 .. Sega. 9/24/02 .. UBI Soft «SWAT: Urban Justice Vivendi Universal 8/12/02 .. . Midway 9/23/02 . . Robotech: Battlecry. TDK Mediactive +» Thing, The ` senar Universal 8/13/02 .. Sony 9/3/02 . . . Sega GT 2002 Sega Unreal Tournament 2003. Infogrames

9/23/02 .. Electronic Arts 8/20/02 . . Soccer Slam. Sega irtual Resort: Spring Break. Eidos -

9/16/02 .. 8/13/02 . . Street Hoops . Activision Wheel of Fortune 3. Beverly

9/17/02 .. 9/24/02 . . Taz Wanted Infogrames Worms Blast . Ubi Soft

8/27/02 . . Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny . Zapper

9/3/02 ... PacMan Fever .... 9/23/02 . . Pro Race Driver. . 9/24/02. . . Rayman Arena . 3/20/02 . . Riding Spirit.

ATV Quad Power Racing 2

Barbie Groovy Games . J Vivendi Universal

< Bam! Entertainment E FORMAT GAMECUBE lil STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS 9/3/02 .

9/23/02 . . Robotech: Battlecry. . TDK Mediactive E PUBLISHER EIDOS INTERACTIVE II RELEASE OCTOBER 8 GEO ozeer Boulder Dash EX- Kemeo A

9/3/02 . . . Rocket Power: Beach Bandits -THQ 9/24/02 . . Butt Ugly Martians Vivendi Universal vs

9/10/02 . . Scorpion King: Rise of the ‘Akkadian .. . Vivendi Universal is ti igi 10/1/02 . . Car Battler Joe ` SVG / A

9/24/02 . . Sega Bass Fishing Duel. -Sega In Japan, this title was originally 9/10/02 .. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance . Konami S UBI Soft.

dubbed Waka Waka Golf. 9/3/02. . . . Chessmaster . Unless Pac-Man was the star, — 9/11/02 . . Colin McRae.

" " rit 10/1/02 . . Crazy Chase. Eidos made the logical decision 9/40/02 . . Davis Cup . to change it for localization. 8/28/02.. Defender of te cron: Don't be confused by the new — 8/19/02 . . Dual pes name, however. It's actually a

8/13/02 . . Duke Nukem Advance . po : is clever play on words and Sasho.

9/23/02 .. Shox....... 10/1/02 . . Simpsons Skateboarding 9/17/02 ... Sly Cooper and the Thievic 9/17/02 . . Soccer Slam......... 8/27/02 . . SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs . 8/13/02 . . Street Hoops 9/17/02 . . Summoner 2 9/24/02 .. Superman: Shadow of Apokolips- 9/24/02 ... Taz Wanted 9/24/02 .. Tekken 4 . .

Electronic Arts. Electronic Arts.

Metro 3D. Nintendo of America Metro 3D y Take 2 / / - Kemco. /

Bam! Entertainment

ing Mickey & Minnie.

9/11/02 . . Egg Mania... Namco. + FirePro Wrestling 2 . .

Meu disp d fogrames not...well...you know. If you "re a fan of Hot Shots or Outlaw PEA Grand Ter Auto p An Bw software =. Thing, The . Vivendi Universal "| immy Neutron vs. Jimmy Negatron . 9/24/02 .. TimeSpltters 2. "Eidos Golf, you ll be happy to hear that this upstart franchise is very 9/47/02 . Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer . Activision. 10/1/02 . . Total Immursion Racing . - Vivendi Universal similar in composition. It combines the goofy look of Hot Shots A desi ue : Electronic Arts 9/1/02 . . . Turok: Evolution Acclaim: " A n latchBox: Cross Town Heroes 9/24/02 .. poc with the analog controls of Outlaw Golf. So basically, you're 8/20/02 . . Medal of Honor: Underground. Destination Software 9/17/02 .. «Sony getting the best of both worlds all in one tightly-bound pu Mega Pen Zan . CON 8/1: itz fay PLAYSTATION, I Coe Cube package. 10/1/02 oy & Rocky -> Ed 8/19/02 . . Power Rangers Wild ore . X reis cba Aa pu 9/24/02 . . Terminator: Dawn of Fate. Infogrames 9/19/02 . . Reign of Fire. Bami Entertainment 8/21/02. Grand Theft Auto Compilation, ` Take 2 9/10/02 . . Thing, The . Vivendi Universal 9/3/02 . . . Ripping Friends, THO i, 8/13/02... Madden NFL 2003 Gaston Arts 9/24/02 . . TimeSplitters 2. Eidos 9/23/02 . . Robotech: The Macross Saga ‘TDK Mediactive 9/24/02... Mobile Armor . pans 10/1/02 . . Total Immersion Racing Vivendi Universal 8/27/02 . . Sabrina the Teenage Witch. . UBI Soft 9/23/02 . . NASCAR Thunder $ post 9/9/02 .. . Toxic Grind... THQ 9/24/02... Smash Pack. ...... TQ 9/17/02... NBA ShootOut 2003 Gn 9/1/02 .. . Turok: Evolution . Acclaim 8/27/02 . . Smuggler's Run ..... Destination Software a : 9/23/02 . . SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the ing Dragon. THQ

8/13/02 . . NFL Game Day 2003. 8/20/02 . . Planet of the Apes . 9/25/02 . . Spec Ops: Airborne Commando .

tl ARBRE E 0/24/02 Vivendi Universal „Take 2 8/27/02 . . Antz Racing Vivendi Universal 9/24/02

9/2/02 .. . Arx Fatalis . Fishtank Interactive. 9/1/02 . GAMECUBE 9/3/02 .. . Battlefield: 1942 Electronic Arts Hou

9/2/02 . . . Beam Breakers. Fishtank Interactive = Animal

3/20/02 fre zs 9/16/02 . . Call of Cthulu . ishtank Interactive. 9/2/02. 40/1/02... Barbie; Treasures in Time . 8/20/02 . . Celtic King: Rage of War . Strategy First 10/1/02 8/13/02 . . Beach Spikers . 9/3/02 . . . Chessmaster 9000. Ubi Soft 9/17/02 . . Worms World Party .

AT 9/30/02 . . Conflict: Desert Storm. Take 2 9/23/02 . . Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 cigs Hie Ar [eese Ta za 10/1/02 . . Yu-GiOh!: Immortal Duelist Soul...

Spyro: Season of Flame. . Super Ghouls N' Ghosts . urok: Evolution

Ultimate Brain Games . Virtua Tennis . Wings . . Wizardry: The Summoning .

UBI Soft Nintendo of America

+ Infogrames Konami

GAMEINFORMER 99

Trading Items Masterful Techniques If you truly want to succeed in the this While the gameplay may seem to be developed game, you'll need to trade with your allies in the hack n’ slash vein, there's actually a frequently. Always talk to the characters to gauge great amount of strategy that comes into play. B their interest and see if you have an item that Most of the enemies in the game react diversely matches. For instance, Magoichi has an to the different weapons. Formulating strategies and changing up weapons will keep. you out of harm's way. Also, make use of the secondary moves. The kick (Down + )can stun enemies temporarily. The side step (R1 + direction) will help greatly as well.

interest in reading. The logical move would be to give him books or scrolls. If you truly impress the characters, they'll hand over amazing items, such as a Secret maneuver for a weapon, healing items, or artwork. Just keep experimenting to see what you can get. Also, we recommend saving before any exchanges take place. This will allow you to start fresh if you mess up.

Friendship If you come through and deliver the items that your allies want most, they'll become your close friends. If you hand them an item that they don't want, their degree of friendship will lower. Also, if you cater to a specific person, another character may become jealous. For instance, if you become friends with Oyu, Kotaro will feel alienated. If you seek companionship with Ekei, Magoichi will freak out.

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100 GAME INFORMER Ej

Chapter 1: Voices

After the flashy introductory movie comes to a close, you'll take control of Jubei. If you choose to, you can save your game at the shrine (look for the flashing blue light atop the staircase). Once you head down the stairs, the war will begin. Dispose of the attack- ers and work your way along the path. You'll find a chest holding Yagyu Village Map on the left-hand side of the bridge.

Continue along the path to the pond. At this point, a brief cutscene will take place. Before venturing fur- ther, turn to your left and hack down the trees to reveal a box holding an Herb. As odd as this may sound, grab the Frog that's bouncing through the grass. Now, hop across the rocks on the pond and enter the cave. Navigate the dwelling to the sacred temple. At long last, you'll run into the mysterious woman who has been toying with your emotions. She will give you a special gift — the power to absorb souls — and will also illustrate what is required of you. Her last gift is the Charity Orb. As if we need to point it out, grab the Herb from the chest to the left before departing. Also, once inside of the cave, don't forget to suck the souls out of the statue.

Before examining the altar near the lip of the pond, backtrack into town. Save your game (avoid enchanting for the moment), and pass through the house at the beginning of the stage. It just so hap- pens to be your house! Spend a few minutes to investigate your surroundings and you'l| uncover chests holding an Abacus, a Kaleidoscope, a Fork, Oolong Tea, and Four Guardians: Left. Solving the block puzzle can only open the chest at the end of the hall. Inside you'll be rewarded with the first Power Jewel. If you search the shelves, you'll. also find Artwork #10. Be sure to look for a white scroll hanging on the wall. If you cut it in two, you'll obtain the Four Guardians: Right. Lastly, when you reach the backyard, search the fence on the far side for a well-hidden Wasabi. If you're wondering about the large chest that is missing an orb, there's nothing you can do with it at this point.

The only option available now is to head back to the pond and place your hand into the Dragon Shrine.

Chapter 2: New Acquaintances

Explore the town and talk with all of the locals (one of which will hand over the Ancient Documents). If your vision serves you correctly, you'll spot well-hidden chests holding a Globe, a Tengu Mask, Folding Fan, Cloth, Pipe, and the Imasho Town Map. If you talk to the lady wearing yellow garbs three times in a row, she'll hand over History Book Vol. 2. At this point, you can also head into the blacksmith shop and pull the lever to the left. Now, run as quickly as you can around

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the fire pit to the platform that just lowered. Ride it to the top to find a box holding the Bow.

Other than searching for goods, there's nothing for you to do here, so head up the mountain path at the far end of town. Along with an assortment of enemies, you'll stumble upon a Telescope. When you reach the mine, you'll be sent back to town. Head into the restaurant and a cutscene will ensue. You'll be intro- duced to Magoichi and Ekei and will also receive the Gift Exchange. From here, talk to the man at the far end of the restaurant. He'll sell you the Mine Permit for 100 gold. Before heading to the mine, talk to the two bozos in front of the blacksmith. Their tip will lead you back to the restaurant. Head up the stairs and you'll run into Kotaro.

At this point, you may want to trade items with the three sub-characters to build your allegiance with them. Otherwise, it's time to return to the mine.

Helpful Tip!

Check the store frequently for newly stocked items like Artwork files and garments for the secondary characters.

Chapter 3: Into the Mine

Talk to the security guard, grab the History Book Vol. 4 from the chest, then head inside. Veer down the left path and grab the Demon Wall Scroll from the chest. You'll also run into another trick chest. Solve the puz- zle to get the Buraitou Secret. At this point, head back to the previous room and pass through the entrance to the right. The Gold Mine Map can be found on this path. Continue through the mine and trouble will

PLAY TO PERFECTION

emerge from the shadows. Fight your way to the fork in the road. Run to the right (toward the screen), and battle alongside your allies.

When the coast is clear, continue forward deeper into the mine. To the right awaits a chest holding the Five Oni Orbs file. If you approach the Dragon Shrine in this room, you'll receive the Hyoujin-Yari Ice Spear. Now, head back to the fork in the road and enter the unexplored area. After an event takes place, use the ice power to remove the force field from the door. Pass through, grab the Medicine, and place the Charity Orb into the hole next to the door. At long last, it’s boss time!

= Who do you think you are talking to?

Boss: Ginghamphatts

This half-breed demon will suck your life away; but as luck would have it, at a specific point during the fight, your buddies will come to the rescue. If you haven't traded any items yet, Ekei will enter by default, but the guy you want for this encounter is Magoichi. If he's with you, the option of running and hiding is available. If not, you'll need to strike fast and retreat even quicker. Just stay away from the boss' swipes and lure him into destroying the &enerators in the room. It may seem like an eternity, but he'll eventually fall.

After the fight, continue your quest through the mine. Pass by the injured man for now and grab the loot within the next room. You'll find a Mirror in a chest, tons of Gold on the floor, and the Hyoujin-Yari Secret in a trick box (solution: bottom right, right top, bottom left, right bottom). Now, talk to the man you passed up just moments ago. After conversing with the man, he'll hand over the Red Ring.

Optional Event: Chalk of Life

After defeating the boss in the mine, head into the shop and talk to the man wearing brown attire. He will tell you of his ill-fated father and will give a handful of Chalk. Hand this item to Ekei to get the Tale of the Heike. Trade this item with Magoichi for the Emblem. Following the chain of command, bring this item to Kotaro to receive the Melon that the man needs to heal his father. Take it to him.

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GAMEINFORMER 101

PLAY TO PERFECTION

Optional Event: Pickpocket

If you talk to Ekei, he'll tell you that a female pickpocket robbed him. As luck would have it, she's in the town and can be found near the stable. After you converse with her, she'll run off and hide on the second floor of the restaurant. Confront her, and she'll flee the scene again. Again, she's hid- ing in broad daylight in front of the blacksmith. Bug her one last time and she'll return to her original hid- ing place. If you talk to her again, she'll hand over Ekei’s Broken Bell. Return the item and you'll receive the Buratiou Tech. 1 in return.

Chapter 4: Familiar Dwellings

With the Red Ring in hand, return to the mine and place it on the golden lid in the same room that the injured man once occupied. Grab all of the gold from the nearby area, then insert the Red Ring into the lid. Drop into the hole and prepare for a difficult fight against the statue demons. Use your combo moves to take them out. Proceed into the next chamber and grab the chest on the left holding a Crystal Ball before ascending the stairwell. When you resurface, run around the stairs toward the door. An ally event will occur. Pass through the door and eliminate the archer as quickly as you can. Snag the Gifu Keep Tower Map and Incense from the chests, then pass

through the top left door. The only thing to do here is solve a puzzle...a perplexing one at that. The trick here is to arrange the numbers so that the sums all equate to 15 when added vertically, diagonally, and horizontally. Arrange the numbers as such: six (top left), eight (top right), two (bottom left), four (bottom right). For this tedious task, you'll receive the Bronze Mask (Right).

Backtrack into the hall and enter the double door to the right. After disposing of the beast, pass through the door it was guarding, and solve the

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102 = GAMEINFORMER

puzzle box to get a Power Jewel. Save in the next room, then continue along the path. Under the stair- case you'll find a chest holding History Book Vol. 1. Before heading upstairs, enter the door leading to the well room. Grab the Demons' History book from the shelf, then head out and ascend the stairs. Another ally event will take place, followed by a lengthy, emotional story break. Continue through the door, across the balcony, and into another room. Grab the Purify Charm from the shelf. Return to the well and use the Charm to get the Bronze Mask (Left). Backtrack even further to the save room and use the Bronze Mask pieces on the door. You'll bump into an old acquaintance and will be forced to battle. Slay the enemies, then continue forward into the cavern. If you're low on health, heal before tak- ing another step. A difficult battle is right around the corner.

Boss: Gogandantess

This guy is a serious dork, and we're certain that you'd like nothing better than to slice and dice him into little bits. Unfortunately, you won't be able to hit him. He's too good. The only thing you can do is block and duck out of the way. If you can keep this up for a few min- utes, someone will come to your rescue.

Work your way through the tunnel to the ladder. Ascend it and talk to your rescuer. You'll receive the Faith Orb. Insert the Orb into the boulder, and the events that unfold should take your breath away. As every good hero should do, ride into the sunset with your girl. After a lengthy cutscene, you'll turn up in. town. After taking a few steps, an event with Kotaro's curiosity will peak.

Optional Event: Clearance Sale

T T—M ie. If you completed the Chalk of Life optional event, return to the store and talk to the man in green. For saving his life, he'll give you the Orange Necklace. This next

feat will take some time. Since the storekeeper is closing shop, you'll need to purchase every item in his inventory. Thankfully, the enemies on the moun- tain path drop between 50 and 80 gold each. This is also a great point to level up your weapons. Talk to the shop owner after you clean him out and he'll give you a White Necklace.

Helpful Tip! This will be the last time that you'll have the ability to freely walk around and trade with all

of the characters. Unload all of the items you can to receive power-ups and health. Also, make sure that you appease the person you want to be at your side with the best gifts.

Chapter 5: All in the Family

After talking with Oyu, enter the market and locate the lady with the umbrella. Ahhh!!! She's hideous! In a flash of light, you'll be teleported to your house. Strange, no? Since you really don't have a say in what happens at this point, work your way back to the pond. Enter the cave and a startling cutscene will take place. Grab the Ring of Takajo off of the ground. You know what to do with this. Before heading back to your house, however, if Magoichi appears outside the cave, he'll give you explosives that can be used to blow through the flimsy rocks next to the Dragon Shrine. The Green Necklace awaits inside! From here on in, we recommend wearing the Green Necklace as it reveals. the location of hidden magic chests that hold health power-ups and ammo. For the sanity of those of you that decided to make friends with characters other than Magoichi (meaning you couldn't get the Green Necklace), none of the magical box locations are list- ed in the continuity of the guide. Again, the items you'll unearth with this Necklace are power-ups.

After this, work your way back to your house and insert the Ring into the locked dresser that you tin- kered with early on in the game. The solution to the Spinning dial puzzle that appears is: black turtle (top), red sparrow (bottom), white tiger (left), blue dragon (right).

Climb down the ladder that appears. As you quick- ly find out, this tunnel is full of perils. Jump over the spike pit that appears, then slice the rope to make the spinning boulder appear. Of course, you'll need to run away from it. Hop back over the spiked pit, then quickly jump over it again and hang. The boul- der will pass over you, allowing safe passage to fog valley. You won't be able to open the magically sealed box just yet, so continue forward and ascend the series of ladders to the bridge. Once you pass it, and the challenges that it brings, keep your eyes

peeled for a chest holding an Herb under a tree. A lit- tle further down awaits another Dragon Shrine. Insert your cursed hand to get the Sunpumaru. With this new weapon in hand, return to the green force field you passed up seconds ago. Hack the force field to unearth Nobunaga's Knowledge.

From here, head past the save point (near the Dragon Shrine) into the forest. The goal here is to destroy three fireflies within the repeating environ- ments. Just battle your way through the enemies and kill the dragonflies when they appear. If Kotaro is your friend, you'll experience an alternate route alto- gether that leads to a handful of interesting items. Once either of these feats is accomplished, you'll run into a beloved adversary again.

Boss: Ginghamphatts

The first boss in the game makes another appear- ance. He may talk a big game this time around, but he's no match for your skills. Just hack away at him and watch for the falling leaves when he vaults into the brush. Stay back a few feet and slash at him when he runs by. His pace will increase, so you may need to slow down your assault and evade until he lets up. When he perishes, you'll receive Nobunaga’s Reign.

Chapter 6: Into the Heart of Hell

Now, work your way around the swamp, up the stairs, and to the seal. Smash it with the Buraitou and Nobunaga's Dignity is yours. Return to the swamp and pass through the door. Before heading forward, veer to the left and open the trick box to obtain the Senpumaru Secret. Continue forward to the monitor puzzle. The image f the Nobunaga Statues that is projected of the Nobunaga statues is random. Just remember which one goes where and place the stat- ues accordingly to open the door. Battle the enemies in the chamber, then pass through the door atop the slope. Fight the assortment of bizarre creatures, then grab Jujudormah's Diary off of the desk and save your game.

Pass through the door on the left. A cutscene with the lovely hag will commence. At long last, you'll have the chance to take her down.

Boss: Oni Witch

After you hit this hag, she'll disappear and reappear at a distance — granting her the freedom to unload with magic. Block or dodge the shots and find an opening in which you can run up and take a few whacks. When

her health begins to deplete, her aggression will increase, and she will begin swinging at you wildly. Just dodge, block, and counter to take her out without breaking a sweat. After an amusing death, your adver- sary will drop the Honest Orb.

From here, locate the wall with a red light on it and activate the switch to reveal a hidden passage. Grab the Herb from the chest, then run when the gas begins to fill the room. At the end of your jaunt, you'll be treated to an exciting cutscene that ends with Jubei in an underwater cave.

Chapter 7: Switching Hands

Grab Oni's Sacred Place from the chest, then save your game. Place the Honesty Orb into the boat and an incredibly detailed CG cutscene will grace the screen. Wow! When it concludes, you'll run into Gogandantess again.

Boss: Gogandantess This time around, you'll actually need to land sever- al hits on Gogandantess. The Secret attacks for each of the three weapons work well, but the most damage can be dealt with Hyoujin-Yari’s ice blast. After a few minutes, the fight will end.

PLAY TO PERFECTION (Chapter 7: Switching Hands 1)

Interestingly, control will switch over to Oyu. A famil- iar visitor will hand her the Red Bracelet. Save your game, go down the ramp to the basement, then reemerge in the statue room. Grab the Key Plate from the chest, then return to the previous room. Place the Plate on the lock in front of the Dragon Shrine. From here, pass through the door on the right (not near the save). Work your way down the hall through another door. Dispose of the enemies, grab the Oni's Super Weapon document from the shelf, and Oni's Place Map #1 from the chest. Before heading deeper into this dungeon, run around the yellow pool and grab the Medicine near the fence. Now, move on. Pass through the hall into the glass room.

Battle the fish to remove the force field. Descend the ladder and fight your way across the room. Grab the Adarga from the chest and lop the heads off of. the snake beast to illuminate a new path. Follow the white light down to a save point and a chest with a Gradius sword in it. Equip this armament and get ready for a war.

Boss: Twin Bulls

Just when you'd least expect it, a bull drops out of the sky. Naturally, this side of beef is holding a huge axe and is desperate for your blood. Basically, do what you can. Exact combos, use magic — just don't let him hit you with the axe. After the bull is defeat- ed, another one will fall onto the battlefield. This one is a tad quicker, but again, it doesn't have a lot of health, and any strategy will work. After the fight, you'll be rewarded with the Sacred Flute.

em 8: Back in the Saddle Again

Return to the temple's entrance to initiate a cutscene and gain control of Jubei again. Enter and activate the Dragon Shrine to obtain the enormous Dokoutsui Hammer. Double over the path the Oyu took. Once you

GAMEINFORMER 103

in£ yellow force fi eld. Destroy it with the SuSE NE Look closely for the glowing Circle Key on the floor in the next room. Before moving on, be sure to talk to Oyu for a free Herb.

Now, return to the Dragon Shrine room. Pass through the door on the left (near the save point) and grab the Lift Instructions and Magic Liquid off of the floor. Equip the Senpumaru and perform the magical tornado attack under the fan to activate the lift. Take it down to the lower level. Before moving on, grab Oni's Place Map # 2 from the chest.

In the next room, if Ekei is your friend, a cutscene will take place. This sequence will reveal a secret chest holding the Yellow Necklace. Examine this room to find a trick box. The solution is: top right, top cen- ter, right bottom. Inside you'll find a Tanegashima. Now, ascend the ladder and run around the walkway to another door...and another puzzle. Once again, you must arrange the numbers so that they equate to the sum of 34 vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. Here’s the solution:

Completing this mathe- matical headache will bring about the Golden Key. Before leaving this room, grab the Guildenstern Letter from the bench. Now, backtrack to the first room on this floor. Ascend the ladder and insert the Golden Key into the lock. Hop across the boxes to the new door. Use the Circular Key to open it. On the floor you'll find Tokichiro's Memo #1. Another puzzle awaits. This one is simple; just line up the symbols in the same way they are displayed in the picture above. Once this is completed, the Light path will appear. Teleport onto the roof, then use the ladder to reach another trick box. The solution is: top right, right bot-

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tom, bottom left, left top, top left, left bottom. For this feat, you'll receive the Talisman. Use the stairs to reach the ground floor, which holds a Green Wedge in a chest and a save point.

Approach the door to trigger a cutscene. At this point, control will switch over to Ekei. Head into the building to the left and grab the Gifu East Area Map from the chest on the counter and the Yellow Bracelet from the chest on the floor. Pass through the door and cross the bridge. Grab the Cherry Key from the chest, then unlock the door. Descend the stairs in the center of the courtyard. Run down the spiral ramp and grab the Medicine from the chest. Return to the courtyard and maneuver to the door behind the stairs you just accessed. Do you remember this area? We certainly hope so. Pass through the central door, then use the Cherry Key on the next door to the right. Grab the Nioh Protector, Crescent Key, and Artwork #12, then solve the trick box. The solution is: left center, top left, right top. The prize is a Magic Jewel.

Now that you have a key, return to the bridge and

veer off onto the dock on the left. Use the Crescent Key on the door. Run past the spitting fish and con- tinue along the path all the way up to the cabin. Along the way, search behind the waterfall for a box con- taining a Halberd. Enter the cabin and save your game. Snag the Hunting Schedule from the shelf, then when you're ready, mosey on downstairs. Ride the boat across the lake. A familiar bull boss will appear. Unlike other bosses, this one isn't worth elab- orating on as he's just as easy to defeat as a stan- dard enemy. When he falls, he'll drop the Snake Key. Make sure you grab the books and Artwork #13 from the far side of the room before heading back to Jubei. Free him from his cell and Ekei's work will be done.

Optional Event: Skill Tower -———

g Exit the tower and | break the force field

before using the | Green Wedge on the green light. This optional quest is actually an endurance and skill test. Your objective is to destroy different sets of enemies on 10 different floors. When the last level is cleared out, you'll receive the Purple Necklace and a Perfect Medicine.

Retracing Steps

The next step, even if you've completed the optional event, is to head to the right and enter the temple for the third time. Once inside, head upstairs and enter the room on the far side of the balcony. Use the Dokoutsui to remove the force field from the door. Inside you'll find Medicine and a trick box holding the. Dokoutsui Secret. The solution is: right bottom, bottom right, bottom left, right center, bottom center, right top.

From here, return to the room that Ekei opened with the Crescent Key. On the bridge to the right you'll see a force field blocking a door. Use the Hyoujin-Yari to smash through. Snag the Gourd from the box, then step into the light. Follow the path past the stone bod-

ies to the drawbridge. Pull the lever, then continue for- ward. In the save room, grab Tokichiro's Memo #2 from the ground beside the body, and the Demon Cave Map from the chest. Trek deeper into the catacombs and you'll run into a chest holding a Great Powder Tube. From here on in, use the Tube on the petrified people you see. Many of the victims will give you items. With this noted, continue on. A little further down awaits a force field. Use the Senpumaru to destroy it. Of course, on the other side awaits a trick box holding a Power Jewel. The solution is: bottom left, left bottom, bottom right, right bottom, top left. From here, there's nothing else to do. Teleport back to the temple and backtrack to where Ekei fought the bull boss. When you reach the lake, you'll confront a downed Magoichi. Save him and his intentions will be revealed.

After taking the boat, enter the temple and you'll find two frozen villagers. Use the Tube on them to gain access to a new room. Solve the puzzle at the shrine (another easy one), and a purple stream of energy will appear. Pass into it to teleport to the Blood Pond. Navigate the path and enter the door. The one with the bone hands can only be opened if

you collected three Petrified Bones through trading

with your friends. If you have these items, you'll find

the Black Necklace inside a trick box. The solution is: top right, right bottom, bottom left, left center. From here, locate the save room and grab Oni's Place Map #3 from the chest. Continue on into the circular room. Veer off through the door to the left and then make a right at the fork in the road. Hop into the gap to the left to find a trick box with a Magic Jewel inside. The solution is: right top, right bottom, top left, left bottom. Navigate the rest of maze and you'll find a room with a ceiling fan. Use the Senpumaru magic to activate it. Take the lift up and grab the Scarlet Key and Artwork #14 off of the ground.

Head into the hallway and enter the door to Jubei's right. Work your way through the familiar area and pass through the door near the save. Use the lift and run across the room through the door. Use the catwalk to reach the magic replenishing room. Use the Scarlet Key on the door. You may want to save your progress after the cutscene as your good friend Gogandantess is just around the corner. Snag the items in the chests, then get ready for the fight of your life.

Boss: Gogandantess

The first thing you'll need to do is play the Sacred Flute to lower his shield. We knew he was cheating before! This time around, he's fairly easy to beat. Just hack away. The Senpumaru magic works very well, as do most of the Secret attacks. After a disturbing death, Gogandantess will give you the Respect Orb.

After the fight, exit through the opposite end and work your way along the catwalks and piping. Snag all of the chests and open the trick box to find a Power Jewel. The solution is: right bottom, bottom right, top left, left top, top center. Hop across the metal structures to the door. Talk with Oyu and then place the Respect Orb into the statue.

Chapter 10: The Beginning of the End

Search the object in the center of the room and an alarm will sound. Rotate both analog sticks (in differ- ent directions) to open the door before time expires. After the gorgeous CG sequence ends, work your way past the save point, beyond the door, and over to the trick box holding a Magic Jewel. The solution is: right center, top center, right bottom, bottom center, left center, top right. Before heading through the door, run to the far end of the room and grab the glowing Magic Liquid from the corner. Proceed into the next chamber. Destroy the barrels to find a chest holding Medicine. Now, move on to the next room. Navigate the convey- er belts and enter the control room. After the cutscene, push the red button to see an amusing lit- tle sequence.

When you arrive at your next destination, run past the save point and grab Tokichiro's Memo #3. Enter the door and clean out the room before moving on. In the next room, a chest holding Medicine is hidden behind the stairs. Ascend to the balcony, then enter the first door that you come across. Inside you'll find Artwork #15 and the Purple Wedge. Head to the rear of the room and pass into the narrow hallway. Climb the ladder to the roof, where a difficult adversary awaits. The Senpumaru magic will dispose of this. beast in a blink of the eye, but you'll need to hit it with at least five magical blasts. If you're out of magic, you'll have to wait for him to swoop down and attack. This adversary will drop the Gold Scale. Luckily, you'll use this item right away. Just place it into the goldfish to remove the black force field from the balcony below.

Return to the balcony. You'll now have two options in front of you. Will you continue the quest, or veer off of the beaten path in pursuit of the ultimate weapon? The choice is yours.

Optional Event: Rekka-Ken

From the balcony, find the closet (near M the bridge) and place the Purple Wedge into the pur- ple light. You'll find yourself in a famil- iar tower. This time around, however, you'll need to battle through 20 floors instead of 10. On the last one, you'll win the Rekka-Ken flame sword. Before leaving, plunge the sword into the ground to open a secret path leading to a 21st floor. Open the chest to find Fashionable Goods. You won't be able to equip this item just yet, so leave it for now.

From the balcony, cross the bridge and save your £ame. Ascend the ladder and Ginghamphatts will make his final curtain call. Will this freak ever die?!

Boss: Ginghamphatts

PLAY TO PERFECTION

Even if you have the Rekka-Ken, use the Senpumaru to stun Ginghamphatts, removing his ability to coun- terattack. Use combo attacks repeatedly, and before long, Ginghamphatts will split in two. At this point, the Rekka-Ken fire magic will make quick work of this adversary. If you don’t have this weapon, the ice and earth magic will come in handy. Continually attack the legs, and avoid the hammer strikes at all costs. Just keep pounding away and he’ll drop before you know it. In his wake, you'll find the Strength Orb. Retreat down the ladder you used to reach this platform and save your game. Run around to the back- side of the flame tower and place the Strength Orb into the hole to open the door. Before you can enter, you'll view a hilarious cutscene. Where did the stars come from? Anyway, when you reach the lower level, a displeased and highly irritated Nobunaga will attack.

Boss: Nobunaga

This guy is loaded to the hilt with devastating attacks. He’s also airborne for roughly 70% of the fight. Of all the weapons that will aid you the most, the Tanegashima keeps this battle in perspective. Just shoot Nobunaga when he takes to the air. With each shot, he will sink a few feet. When he comes close to the ground, unleash a magical attack. Repeat this process and dodge his assaults to move on to the final boss. You won't be able to save after this fight, so make sure you have plenty of health left over for the final conflict.

Boss: Ghost in the Machine

What a strange ending. All of the gameplay mechan- ics you spent hours mastering don’t come into play here. This boss is basically formatted like a shooter. Hold down R1 to strafe and blast away. Your shots will automatically hit the machine's hit zones. After the legs are taken out, your aim will raise to the head. Just keep plugging away and strafe out of the way of the lasers and head attacks. In a sense, this is one of the easiest fights in the game. After the machine explodes, sit back and enjoy the ending. And yes, there's a sequence after the credits.

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AQ} BATTING 0-7 POWER 17 S608 7 Sss] oforo

MLB Stucresr 2003

Enter all of these cheats at the Game Match-Up screen. The digits below represent the number of times each but- ton must be pressed. As always, |_| changes the first number, XX the second, and O the third. After the sequence is entered correctly, press the designated direction to activate the code.

Horse Team - 2, 1, 1, Right

Log Bat - 0, 0, 4, Up

Mace Bat - 0, 0, 4, Left

Maximum Batting - 3, 0, O, Left

Maximum Power - 0, 3, 0, Left

No Fatigue - 3, 4, 3, Up

Rubber Ball - 2, 4, 2, Up

Terry Fitzgerald Team — 3, 3, 3, Right

Todd McFarlane Team - 2, 2,2, Right

Tournament Mode - 1, 1, 1, Down

Wiffle Ball Bat - 0, 0, 4, Right “The Rhino” Toledo, OH

THe MARK or KRI Enter these codes at the Press Start screen. You'll hear Rau's combo sound when the cheats are entered correctly.

Arena Al Off - X, O (x3), X, L1 (x3), X, O, O, X Tougher Enemies - X, ©, LJ (x2), X, C, O (x2), X, (x2), X Unlimited Arrows - X, O, O (x2), X, O, O (x2), X, (2), X Wimpy Enemies - X, © (x2), D, X, O (x2), “Air Akira” Boris, NM

106 GAME INFORMER

ia0oon4990. |

im

Men In Brack ll: ALIEN ESCAPE

Enter this cheat at the Press Start screen. When the code is entered correctly, the screen will flash.

All Weapons - Up, Down, X, LI, R1, A^ (x2), Left, Q, L1

(x2), Right “GI Droid” (location unknown — last seen defiling Matt's Beach Boys collection) Mike Tyson

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING Enter all of these cheats at the Press Start screen.

All Created Boxer Items - L1, R1, XX (x2), A, X

Big Heads - |_|, Q, Up, Down Credits - X, A, [ Flat Mode - Down, Up, O, Master Code - L, Q, L2, R2 Small Heads - | |, Q, Down, Up Super Mutant Mode - L], Left, Up, A “Daddy Fat Sacks”

Memphis, TN

Scoosy Doo: Nicut or 100 Fricuts

Holiday Goodies - Simply change the PlayStation 2 sys-

tem date to January 1, July 4, October 31, or December

25 to alter the front lawn landscape of the Mystic Playground.

Jenny Griffalo

Orange City, GA

ROUMP 1

BARBARIAN

Hidden Arenas - Almost every stage in Barbarian features hidden nooks or rooms. Below is a listing of the whereabouts and techniques needed to locate these areas.

21's Arena (Prisons of Akrowla) - Run through the door and around the corner, then break the doorway to drop in the lower sectors of Akrowla. Smash the fallen cages to reach the lava area.

Dagan's Arena (Lost Fortress of Skurlock) - Smash through the wall to the east and jump down to the sec- ond level. Continue moving to the east and use a jump attack to break through the bridge to another hidden zone.

Eyara's Arena (Venomous Swamp) - Run behind the waterfall to reach a mysterious new zone.

Jinn’s Arena (Lower Darklands) — Break through the ledge to the southeast to reach the entrance to the sec- ond level. Next, run through the doorway to the north to gain access to the third floor.

Keela's Arena (Shorestone Castle) - To the south, break the tower wall and fall to the shore.

Malik's Arena (Land of Desolation) — Break the scaf- folding to the right, then plummet to the second level. To reach the next area, you'll need to knock the opposition through the temple archway.

Mongo's Arena (The Forgotten Ruins) - Smash through the rock blocking the door in the far corner of the arena. Next, run through the planks to another hidden area.

Phade's Arena (Spider's Lair) - Go through the webbing on the east side of the cave by falling through it.

Stitch's Arena (Underground Sewer) - Break through the wall in front of the pit, then jump in.

"The Contemplating Vegetable"

Rockville, MD

-~I = PLAYSTATION 2

FREEKSTYLE

Input all of these cheats at the Enter Codes menu within the Options screen.

All Bikes - WHEELS All Characters - POPULATE All Costumes - YARDSALE All Tracks - TRAKMEET Brian Deegan's Commander Costume - SOLDIER Brian Deegan's Dominator Bike - WHOZASKN Brian Deegan's Heavy Metal Bike - HEDBANGR Brian Deegan's Muscle Bound Costume - RIPPED Burbs FreeStyle Track - TUCKELLE Burn It Up Track - CARVEROK Cheat Mode - LOKSMITH Clifford Adoptante - COOLDUDE Clifford Adoptante's Gone Tiki Bike - SUPDUDE Clifford Adoptante's Hang Loose Bike - STOKED Clifford Adoptante's Island Spirit Bike - GOFLOBRO Clifford Adoptante's Tankin' It Costume - NOSLEEVE Clifford Adoptante's Tiki Costume - WINGS Crash Pad FreeStyle Track - WIDEOPEN Gnome Sweet Gnome Track - CLIPPERS Greg Albertyn - GIMEGREG Greg Albertyn's Champion Bike - NUMBER1 Greg Albertyn's National Pride Bike — PATRIOT Greg Albertyn's The King Bike - ALLSHOOK Infinite Freekout - ALLFREEK Jessica Patterson - BLONDIE Jessica Patterson's Charged Up Bike — LIGHTNIN Jessica Patterson's Hoodie Style Costume - NOT2GRLY Jessica Patterson's Racer Girl Bike - TONBOY Jessica Patterson's Speedy Bike - HEKACOOL Jessica Patterson's Warming Up Costume - LAYERS Leeann Tweeden's Fun Lovin’ Costume - THNKPINK Leeann Tweeden's Hot Stuff Bike - OVENMITT Leeann Tweeden's Red Hot Costume - SPICY Leeann Tweeden's Seducer Bike - GOODLOOK Leeann Tweeden's Trendsetter Bike - STYLIN Let It Ride Track - BLACKJAK Mike Jones - TOUGHGUY Mike Jones’ Beater Bike — KICKBUTT Mike Jones’ Blue Collar Costume - BABYBLUE Mike Jones’ Lil’ Demon Bike - HORNS Mike Jones’ Flushed Bike - PLUNGER Mike Jones’ High Roller Costume - BOXCARS Mike Metzger's All Tatted Up Costume - BODYART Mike Metzger’s Bloodshot Bike - EYEDROPS Mike Metzger's Ecko MX Costume - HELLOOOO Mike Metzger's Rhino Rage Bike - SEVENTWO Mike Metzger's Rock of Ages Bike - BRRRRRAP Mulisha Man Bike - WHATEVER Rocket Garden Track - TODAMOON Stefy Bau's 211 Bike - TWONEONE Stefy Bau's Amore Bike - HEREIAM Stefy Bau's Disco Tech Bike - SPARKLES Stefy Bau's Playing Jax Costume - KIDSGAME Stefy Bau's UFO Racer Costume - INVASION Mr. Smellmebum Poopstain City, FL

ROMANCE OF THE THREE Kincpoms VII

Hidden Officers - To enter these codes, select the New Officer option at the Main Menu. Create a new officer using one of the names listed below. For example, if you choose Ben Franklin, enter Ben as the last name and Franklin, so that the name appears as Ben Franklin on the screen. Once the name is entered, you'll hear a musical note signifying that the code is in effect.

Abe Lincoln Albert Einstein Augustus Caesar Ben Franklin Benedict Arnold Betsy Ross Charles Darwin Crazy Horse Daniel Boone Dynasty Warrior Genghis Khan Gitaroo Man Harry Houdini Jeanne Darc Julius Caesar Lady Diana Mahatma Gandhi Mark Antony Nikola Tesla Norma Jean Robert Lee Robin Hood Sitting Bull

Sun Tzu Thomas Paine Ulysses Grant Wyatt Earp

Marcus Henderson

CODE OF THE MONTH

Dallas, TX

STUNTMAN

Enter all of these codes as driver names at the New Game screen. Note: All of the cheats are case sensitive.

All Cars - spiDER All Driving Games - Bindl All Toys - MeFf All Trailers — fellA Simon Garrett Washington, DC

SECRET ACCESS

Z. XBOX

SPLASHDOWN

Cheat Mode - Enter the Options menu and highlight Game Options. Hold the R Button and press Up (x2), Down (x2), Left, Right, Left, Right, X, B, X, B to bring up the Code Entry screen. Now, input any of the codes below. Note: All of the codes are case sensitive.

All Characters - AllChar

All Courses - Passport

All FMVs - Festival

All Wetsuits - LaPinata

Expert Al - AllOutAl

F-18 Time Trials - F18

Ghost Time Trials - SEADOO

Hard Track With Normal Al - Hobble

Invincibility — TopBird Charlie Sheen New York, NY

PI'ATINUM: UNLOCK TYSON

1t AV Y WE BOXIN«

PRESS START BUTTON

Mike Tyson HEAVYWEIGHT BoxiNG

Enter this code at the Press Start screen.

Cheat Mode - X, B, L Button, R Button Benicio Del Toro Los Angeles, CA

Hunter: THE RECKONING Enter this code at any point during gameplay. All Weapons - B, Up, Left, Down, Right, B (x2)

David Willis Rockford, IL

GAMEINFORMER 107

Tue ELDER Scrous I MonROWIND

Restore Fatigue - During gameplay, press B to bring up the menu screen. Use the L and R Buttons to switch to the Statistics menu. Now, use the directional pad to high- light the Fatigue entry. From here, tap Black (x2), White (x2), Black. Press and hold A until the desired Fatigue level is achieved.

Restore Health - During gameplay, press B to bring up the menu screen. Use the L and R Buttons to switch to the Statistics menu. Now, use the directional pad to high- light the Health entry. From here, tap Black, White, Black (x3). Press and hold A until the desired Health level is achieved.

Restore Magicka - During gameplay, press B to bring up the menu screen. Use the L and R Buttons to switch to the Statistics menu. Now, use the directional pad to high- light the Magicka entry. From here, tap Black, White (x2), Black, White. Press and hold A until the desired Magicka level is achieved. Michael Yonkers Cleveland, OH

Paveni " 3 / MISTRESS SUKI ^

Mel

OvurLAw GoLr

New Costumes - Head to the Character Selection screen. Hold the L Button, then press Y (x2), White, Y, Black, Y. Unlock Everything - At the beginning of a game, enter Golf Gone Wild as your player name to unlock all of the &olfers, courses, and clubs. “Telly The Terrible" Great Basin, WA

108 GAMEINFORMER

ETERNAL DARKNESS: Sanity’s REQUIEM

Three Endings — In total, there are three different end- ings to unlock in Eternal Darkness. Completing the game once will bring up the standard conclusion and you'll also unlock the Credits option. Beating the game twice with the same save file and different colored rune path will bring about another ending and Jump to Stage option. If you can complete the game again using the same save file with the last rune artifact path, you'll see another ending that reveals everything. You'll also unlock Eternal Mode at this point. Darren Williams Huntsville, TN

RepCarp 2003

Enter this code as a Create/Load Profile.

Cheat Mode - BIGTANK David Birch III Green Valley, ID

MX SuptnrLY

Enter this code at the Title Screen.

Unlock Everything - X, Y, L Button + X, X, L Button, Z, R Button + Y

Lauren Hill

San Antonio, TX

BOMBERMAN GENERATION

Max in Battle Mode - To unlock this mystery character for multiplayer matches, collect all of the Lightning Cards within the Quest mode. Once this feat is accomplished, head to the Battle mode Player Selection screen and press Z to bring up Max. “The Rhino” Toledo, OH

WWE WRESTLEMANIA X8

If you feel that Wrestlemania X8 comes up short in the number of characters you can play as, there's actually a handful of hidden wrestlers embedded within the Create- A-Superstar mode. Here's a listing of what you'll need to

do to recreate each one's likeness.

Billy

Body Type: 03 Face: 10

Hair: 07 (Yellow) Wrist: 01 (White) Lower Body: 04 (Red) Knee: 06 (Black) Foot: 03 (White)

Bret Hart

Body Type: 06

Face: 08

Hair: 05 (Black) Upper Body: 03 (Black) Logo: 01 (Click R) Elbow: 06 (Black) Wrist: 01 (Pink) Lower Body: 02 (Pink) Logo: 08 (Click R) Knee: 03 (Pink)

Foot: 05 (White)

Diamond Dallas Page

Body Type: 0

Skin Color: 04

Face: 02

Hair: 03 (Color 3rd from Left)

Facial Hair: 03 (Brown)

Elbow: 03

Wrist: 01

Hand: 01

Lower Body: 08 (Black)

Goldberg Body Type: 03 Skin Color: 03 Face: 14

Facial Hair: 04 (Brown)

Upper Body Tattoo: 03 Elbow: 03

Hand: 04

Lower Body: O (Black) Knee: 03 (Black)

Mankind

Body Type: 00 Skin Color: 01 Modify Figure: Chest: +11 Waist: +14 Abdomen: +14 Thigh: +7 Face: 4 Hair: 4 (Brown) Upper Body: 09 ( \White) Lower Body: 12 (Black)

Perry Saturn

Body Type: 06

Skin Color: Middle

Face: 09

Facial Hair: 07 (Second Lightest Color)

Tattoo: 07

Wrist: O1 (White)

Lower Body Logo: 03 (Black)

Foot: 08 (Black)

&

P uw; 4

Shawn Michaels

Body Type: 01

Face: 07

Hair: 12 (Brown) Upper Body: 04 (Black) Logo: 03

Wrist: 01

Lower Body: 02 (White) Logo: 06

“Joystick Juggalo” Detroit, MI

SECRET ACCESS PC PERSONAL COMPUTER <H GAME SHARK

ara PLAYSTATION 2

SKY GUNNER Master Code (Must Be On) - OE3C7DF21853E59E EESEFDEEBCBB114A All Modes/Planes — CE8897C2BCA99A82 All Scene 1 Photos - CE8896AABCA99A82 All Scene 2 Photos — CE8896B6BCA99A82 All Scene 3 Photos - CE8896B2BCA99A82 WarCrart lli: REIGN or CHAOS Aeneas 3 7 cen - During gameplay, press [Enter] to display the two player messaging box. From here, type in any of the codes STUNTMAN CEBBOGBEBCA99AB2 below and press [Enter] to activate the cheat function. Master Code (Must Be On) — All Scene 5 Photos — When a code is entered correctly, a message will pop up OE3C7DF21853E59E CE8896BABCA99A82 on screen, FE98F9PEBCODDSAR All Ventre's Photos - H d : Bundle of Cars — CE8896AEBCA99A82 Continue Playing After Defeat (Campaign) - DE94EB2EFB899B83 strengthandhonor DE94EB2AFB899B83 Cool Down - thedudeabides DE94EB36FB899B83 Full Map - iseedeadpeople " Gold Modifier - keysersoze [number] eset Infinite Mana - thereisnospoon Instant Defeat - somebodysetusupthebomb Infinite Time — Instant Victory - allyourbasearebelongtous D1EEO9DABCA95603 Invincibility & One Hit Kills - whosyourdaddy Monster Driver — Lumber Modifier - leafittome [number] DE94F4EEF9EDD4DB Speedy Construction - warpten DE94F4EAF9EDD4DB Speedy Research - whoisjohngalt DEQ4F4F6F9EDD4DB Tech Tree Unlocked - synergy Time Day - daylightsavings [hour] No Walls Mode — Time Evening - lightsout DE989282BCA99B84 Time Morning - riseandshine DE98928EBCA99B84 Upgrades -sharpandshiny eee eee eee eee eee eee eee “The VidMan" Gravity Games Bike: Street, Vert, Dirt BARBARIAN Uptown, MN Master Code (Must Be On) - Master Code (Must Be On) - OE3C7DF21853E59E OE3C7DF21853E59E EE850786BCC2F182 Grand Tuert Auro Ill EEBEFE7ABCCE22EA Wem eror - At any point during play, simply enter the desired code. Infinite AP — O ONET CEB55902BCA99B89

100% Armor (Unpatched Version) - turtoise 100% Armor (Patched Version) - tortoise

All Weapons - gunsgunsguns Men IN Brack: ALEN Escape

Change Costume - ilikedressingup Master Code (Must Be On) - PINBALL OF THE DEAD Clear Weather - skincancerforme OE3C7DF21853E59E Master Code (Must Be On) - Cloudy Weather - ilikescotland EEBEFE7ABCBCDDBA FC45706F01B02CA

Crazy Pedestrians — itsallgoingmaaad Infinite Health FA389DFO1D26DA34 Destroy All Cars - bangbangban; = "

Extra Cash - iid debi £ CE70D90CBCA9DD4B High Score —

Faster Gameplay - boooooring Infinite Lives — 5CC83B3EFADAF536 Faster Time - timeflieswhenyou CE70D97ABCA99C8C Tons Of Kills —

Flying Car - chittychittybb 11F9E471A299C5BF

Foggy Weather - peasoup

Full Health - gesundheit

Gore Mode - nastylimbscheat

Higher Wanted Level - morepoliceplease Improved Handling — cornerslikemad

ENTER TO WIN

Invisible Cars — anicesetofwheels - F Send To: Lower Wanted Level = nopoliceplease Send in your codes and passwords, and if We Secret "AcCoBE Pedestrian War - weaponsforall choose your entry as Code of the Month you'll Game Informer Magazine Rainy Weather - ilovescotland win a wonderful prize from the Game Informer =

s A HR 724 North First Street, 4th Floor Sun Up...Sun Down - madweather Vault! All other entries printed within these hal- Minneapolis, MN 55401.

Tank (Rhino) - giveusatank

lowed pages will receive a Secret Access t-shirt. secretaccess@gameinformer.com

Assmuch Dundee Perth, Australia

GAMEINFORMER 109

TURMELL:

THE FATHER OF FANTASY SPORTS

What is your background in the gaming industry?

It goes way back, but in 1979 | bought an Apple Il comput- er, and had my first game published in '79/'80. | did a few Apple Il games. The first game was called Sneakers; and then | did Beer Run. After, | went on to do Atari VCS games with 20th Century Fox. Do you remember Sewer Shark and Night Trap? | worked on those games. Then | went to work with Hasbro. At Hasbro we were working on this interactive tape system - a VHS based system where we could encode each field of video with a header, which allowed us just to display that frame in multiple tracks. But the technology ended up never making it to the market; the chairman of Hasbro got AIDS, and he wanted to cancel the project to keep his legacy intact because he was spending a lot of money on it. There was about a two or three-year period of working on these interactive movie type of things. Then, around '89, | came to Midway and did Smash T.V. and Total Carnage. | went on to do NBA Jam, and a few more versions of Jam such as Tournament Edition. My next few projects were WrestleMania, NBA Hang Time, and NFL Blitz. Blitz was our first 3D game, and our first game developed in C [a popular programming language of its day - Ed.]. Previously, we did everything in assembly language. After Blitz, we went on to NBA Showtime. Now, we just finished Slugfest. Throughout all of this | worked mostly as a pro- grammer and designer.

How has your role as a developer changed; has it expanded and grown?

Well, in the early days, of course, you did everything. You did the sounds, art, and programming all by yourself. Up until Smash T.V., that was still the way it worked. Right when | started Smash T.V., | hired John Tobias. He was a great cartoon artist, but had never done any computer-relat- ed art. Fortunately, he quickly picked it up. So Smash T.V. turned out really looking great. We had land mines and body chunks flying. When Smash T.V. was done, [Tobias] split off to do MK [Mortal Kombat], and | split off to do NBA Jam. We both found success with different products. Going down the whole digitized approach, we got the studio to video tape athletes or martial artists, so it was a time of signifi- cant change. Now it is a huge team effort. We have 40 peo- ple focused on Blitz, and a game like MK has 30.

How has the demise of the arcade industry affected your work creatively?

It's devastating. Everybody in Chicago was bummed about it. We finally shut down [the arcade division] a year and a half ago. It was a real sad day, but we saw it coming for a long time. Pinball died first, as you know. But we still had &rand plans of connecting arcades online, and we had plen-

110 GAMEINFORMER

Midway and its extreme fantasy sports have lost a little flair recently with the plague that has struck the arcade industry. This month we talk with the lead

designer of Midway's fantasy sports division, who is also the man that

found in the ‘90s with its arcade division, and its

ultimate fall.

ty of other good ideas. We even had [online arcades] testing in Chicago, such as MK machines connected from one arcade to the next. But the bottom line is that the play- ers and kids stopped showing up. I think this is a weird fact, but every week we looked at earnings around the country, and the day that the Clinton report from the testimony of Monica Lewinsky got published on the Internet, the earn- ings in the arcades dropped 2096. Unfortunately, [those earnings] never returned! At that moment, | think the Internet became a source of entertainment. From then, | think that there were a lot of kids, high schoolers, and 20 yearolds that suddenly spent more time digging through those kinds of stories. The bottom line is this: There are many, many different ways to entertain yourself as a kid. Obviously consoles are much stronger; PC games are a lot better; the Internet is entertainment in and of itself.

Do you ever see arcades returning?

Even if the hardware manufacturers could make a game and sell it for $1,500 to an operator, it's still not a slam-dunk good decision to go and buy it. Arcades are going to contin- ue to £o away. It's sad since we used to live in them; it was a great social experience. It's a real shame for a company like Midway since it was the ideal testbed for a product. We had to make a game that collected money; something that hooked you and kept it going. We didn't have to make a game that even lasted an hour; we didn't have to make a game that had franchise mode or lasted a month - we wanted 50 cents. And we knew that a number one-earning arcade game would do well on the home front. Without having that testbed, you lose a connection with the user. It would've been cool if we could've had high score pages, and added competitive fea- tures. You could've walked into an arcade anywhere in the country and see the high scores and pictures of the top play- ers. We also had plans of uploading new games [to arcades] so that you could see a game for the first time, like a feature film release. You know, advertise that Mortal Kombat V is coming March 1, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.

The NBA Jam design team, Mark Turmell back row, second from left

worked on the game that started it all: NBA Jam. He

provides some insight into his past, the popularity Midway

This is the most recog- nizable boss from Total Carnage, the sequel to Smash T.V.

Did you attempt to use the memory card as a kind of bridge between the home and arcade?

Actually we tried that with NFL Blitz '99. We added a N64 memory card reader. So we worked with Nintendo; we had a play editor on the home side with the first consumer release of Blitz. So you could design plays at home, plug your card in, and download them into the coin-op. It was a little-used feature because you could only design offensive plays. We also didn't allow players to design plays that would totally ruin the game and allow them to score every time. There were reasons why [this feature] wasn't that suc- cessful, but we did it, and there was that tie-in with Nintendo. We kept audits on its success, and not that many people went back and forth between the two. Still, it was kind of cool to see the little door open up, and put memory card in.

Arcades were definitely a good source of inspiration for you guys. Didn't Midway pretty much popularize some of the types of codes, secrets, and hidden char- acters in games today?

Really kind of the whole Big Head mode, the hidden char- acters, we stumbled on. In NBA Jam, we put our heads in the game, and we made our stats better than say Pippen's or whoever. Then we would go into the arcades and put our codes in, and people would freak out, and look at you weird while you're dunking on them. So then the secret codes spread instantly. This was back in '92; that was when we realized that secret players and secret codes made an impact. | would go into arcades and people would recognize me saying, [laughs] 'Oh, | play as you. You're MJT322!' So the big head feature is something we triggered back in '92. The whole CPU assistance, and catch-up code in these games, which is debatable whether that's a smart thing or not, is something that we created.

Has anyone, like parents' associations, approached you about violence in your sports games?

One thing that immediately comes to mind is the P `

original T.V. spot for Blitz. We had Kordell // Stewart throwing a football; it was him and a d |o coach, and you heard these sounds off-screen. C : And then the coach says, 'Arm's looking good!"

Then it cuts to down the field, and it shows [Kordell] picking off band members; they were ` flying and getting nailed all over. We had a big uproar with different band associations, and we eventually pulled the ad. ESPN just did a piece on sports video games and athletes. It had about 15 minutes focused on Blitz and Hitz. ESPN went to the leagues and asked, 'Why did you license these products?' Their answer reflected their belief that these products are in a kind of fantasy cat- / egory — an answer we agree with. Still we e and [the leagues] try to walk a fine line in entertainment versus something that would be dangerous.

We heard in Slugfest that the MLB actually put a few restrictions on what you could and could not show, like knocking out the pitcher.

That's actually not the case. The MLB wanted more vio- lence. They were looking for it. However, we don't develop these games to try to put in violence just for the sake of violence. That's where [Sony's] NFL Xtreme went wrong. They simply thought, 'We just have to add violence.' We make a fun game, and if there's a move that looks a little violent, then we extenuate that. So Slugfest literally had no violence; it was just crisp gameplay and good animations. We talked with the MLB about adding bench-clearing brawls and things like that, but we didn't have time to add fighting — to do justice to it, | mean. Our idea was to cut to the sec- ond basemen and shortstop, and have them reacting to the violence on the mound, while listening to the sound effects. It was our quick and dirty way of solving the prob- lem. It certainly wasn't the MLB saying that we couldn't show it. There's —

another story you may or may not (ff 4 have heard. We got the license for Blitz and developed the game without the [NFL] ever seeing it. We told them it was doing great on location. Mostly, we appealed more to the fighting game fans initially; there were a lot of Tekken guys at the arcades at the time. Then we had the typical sports B guy come, too. The NFL finally showed up two or three days | before it was about to ship. They | looked at it and said, 'You know § what: We wash our hands of this f product. We'll give you your money back. We can't be involved. Or, you have to take some of the violence out.' We thought about it, and |

sition to 16-bit,

THIS MONTH

This character is one of the two main heroes from Smash T.V.

took all of the violence out and put it in the arcade. It . actually still made similar money. So the version of Blitz that you see today is the non-violent version.

A We removed about 60 percent of the tackles and z% q moves. You could grab guys from the face

mask, pick them up, punch them on the ground, kick them, pile driver them, and do a lot of other wrestling-type of moves.

How has EA's Big brand affected your busi- ness? How will you combat them?

I'll tell you, but | don't know if | should go there; it's a sore subject with me for a couple of reasons. One of them has to do with NBA Showtime. It was a three-on-three basketball game, but at the tenth or eleventh hour, we shifted to two-on-two, which is

what we had done in the past with

A Hangtime and Jam because we knew we

could make that fun. We had [three-on-

three] working, but we just had some other

problems like slowdown issues — and l'm

the type of guy who will never ship a game that's not 60 FPS. The lead programmer on the game went to EA, and actually went to NuFX (the developer for Street) to do the Street product. What they've been able to do with that product in particular, you got to take your hat off to.

They've sold hundreds of thousands of units. They made a clean product, but it's certainly not the best product. We knew EA Big was certainly going in that direction for a few

years now - it makes sense. | think you'll see Visual

Concepts come out with a different line — extreme takes on

their sports games. In fact, Greg Thomas [head of VC] is

on record as saying that as soon as they get their act together on all these major sports (from a sim standpoint), they're going to try to tackle [fantasy sports] too.

Outside of fantasy sports, what else do you plan to do?

Smash T.V.! Smash T.V. in particular would be ideal for 3D games now. If you were to keep the players in a smaller Scale, you could do it. Just imagine Smash T.V. in 3D, but maybe the camera is pulled back a little bit, and rotating a little bit. Your body chunks are flying, and you're still a. marching through hordes of enemies. You could team have a better experience in 3D than 2D. It would (5 é translate perfectly. Developers have run into a few problems when translating 7" . the old games. They're just so com- pelled to do something new and dif- ferent in 3D, that it ruins the origi- nal experience. In the end, it just doesn't play well.

So we can expect to see Smash TV?

| [Laughs] It's one of my pet projects. It's | not being developed now, but it will hap-

pen someday. There is growing senti- w ment to do it.

On September 9, 1991, Nintendo finally made the tran- releasing the Super Nintendo 4 Entertainment System. Although the SNES packed IN GAMING Super Mario World at a reasonable $199, Nintendo was behind NEC, and especially Sega, PATE Em Nintendo's "quality over

in sales. However, HISTOR ¥ quantity" policy, its unopposed dominance in

Japan, and its pretty graphics and sound allowed

the SNES to catch up to the Genesis in the US, and all but kill the TurboGrafx. The SNES must be remembered for giving our industry some of the greatest 2D games ever made: Super Metroid, Street Fighter Il, Zelda: A Link

to the Past, Final Fantasy IIl, Donkey Kong Country, Super Castlevania, Axelay, R-Type

Ill, Contra IIl, Mario Kart, and the list goes on...

Who could ever forget that lovely thing called Mode-7?

By Brett Weiss

Every month one of Game Informer's readers picks his or her personal choice for Greatest Game Of All Time.

E FORMAT SNES E PUBLISHER BLACK PEARL SOFTWARE

Despite a mere two megs of power and a distinct lack of graphical sophistication, Mr. Do! for the Super NES is sheer game- play excellence, offering up a killer rendi-

: E coin-op classic. Players control a goofy-

tion of the vastly underrated Universal

looking clown as he digs tunnels, gobbles cherries, and throws a magical ball at “creeps” that prow! the ever-changing mazes in hot pursuit. Near the center of each maze lies a food item, which when eaten brings forth an Alphamonster and his henchmen. Killing enough Alphamonsters can spell out EXTRA, granting players an extra life. Occasionally, a sparkling diamond will appear. Gobbling up this goodie is worth 10,000 points and advances the game to the next screen. Level progression otherwise requires eating all the cherries, spelling out EXTRA, or killing all the monsters.

Mr. Do! is often dismissed as a poor man's Dig Dug by the philistines of the gaming world. While it was indeed inspired by that great game, it’s an excellent title in its own right. Throwing a ball at enemies may not be as satisfying as blowing them up with a pump, but watching helplessly as the ball bounces around the tunnels, missing the ene- mies when you desperately need the ball back, is excruci- ating — but in an exhilarating kind of way. More important- ly, Spelling out EXTRA adds an additional dimension to the action, and the "pushable" apples in Mr. Do! are far more versatile than the “unpushable” rocks in Dig Dug.

Mr. Do! is strategically diverse and endlessly entertain- ing, and it has smooth difficulty progression, meaning any- one can play. In later levels, it takes tremendous skill to survive, but the game never gets frustrating. Upping one’s high score to the nth degree can be a years-long objective.

So, what makes this version superior to the arcade original? Nothing less than a 2- player Battle Mode that pits one clown against another! Thus, Mr. Do! for the Super NES gets my vote as the Greatest Game of All Time.

GAME INFORMER

CLASSIC REVIEWS

MIGHTY FINAL FIGHT

RETRO RATING

6.75

PEPE: EXP 0007/033

LEVEL

apcom's "mini-me" version of Final Fight had the unfortunate luck of appearing on an [e already obsolete system, and releasing at roughly the same time as its significantly

more handsome brothers — Final Fight and Final Fight 2. So if you missed out, we understand. In terms of gameplay, however, this midget Final Fight holds its own. Allowing players the ability to perform an additional special move, as well as build up each character's stats, Mighty Final Fight offers a deep experience, but only for a brawler. Everything else is very status quo, which means we get a relatively short and repetitive adventure. Furthermore, although the sprites look impressive by NES standards, the amount of flicker present is inexcusable, especially since it came towards the end of NES' life cycle. Mighty Final Fight certainly offered gamers a better experience a decade ago, but if you always liked the series, this certainly makes a decent addition — if for nothing other than as a novelty.

GAME BOY

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it's got to be addictive, because you're going to be playing for a while. Another one is to

not be overly difficult, while still presenting a challenge. All four games on this compilation cart possess these qualities. 4 In 1 Funpak Volume Il has a quintet of tabletop games on it: Solitaire, Dominoes, Cribbage, and Yacht (Yahtzee to us). Each one can help you while away the hours waiting in line at the clinic, sitting in your cell for committing a 311 (indecent exposure), or when you just have nothing better to do, ya big loser! Solitaire is the same game installed on Windows everywhere, but still packs a punch. Dominoes is a great way to play without ruining your momma's table. Cribbage is a Midwest family favorite, complete with things like Nobs and a Crib, which make no sense to people who haven't played it. Yacht has slightly different rules from the Parker Brothers game, but still combines luck and strategy. What a team!

m arely does a game meet the very strict parameters for being perfect on the go. For one,

W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION @ PUBLISHER CAPCOM lll DEVELOPER CAPCOM B YEAR RELEASED 1993

(Sl Sof

round the mid-90s, every company wanted a mascot. Sonic and Mario had proven to be A big bucks for their companies (Sega and Nintendo, respectively), and all others wanted to

follow suit. For better or for worse (usually worse), gamers were bombarded with platformers like Accolade's Bubsy, Tengen's Awesome Possum, and JVC's Wonder Dog. Plok was the disjointed coverboy for Tradewest. A wizard's hat with arms and legs that could be tossed at will, Plok's noble quest started because someone hocked his favorite flag. Plok scoured the overworld (which looked like Mario World's, but was actually linear) to find it. This led to some difficult but typical jumping and bopping. Plok collected coindike items, battled mildly interesting bosses, and whipped his limbs left and right. The graphics and sound were both above average,

but nothing really made Plok stand out from the crowd. We never heard from the hat guy after this;

presumably he was de-animated and returned to the wizard's head from which he came.

B STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER PUZZLE I PUBLISHER INTERPLAY Ii DEVELOPER INTERPLAY W YEAR RELEASED 1993

ETERNAL CHAMPIONS

utting out a decent fighter isn't as easy as Capcom or Namco make it seem. Sega put forth a good effort with the original Eternal Champions, appearing on Genesis. It wasn't until this Sega CD update, though, that the series really came into its own. With Street Fighter-style

characters, Mortal Kombat gore, and some very impressive CG for its time, EC was quite the fun fight. The two dozen large-sprited characters (including unlockable ones like a chicken and a

senator) had a wealth of moves — including those that didn't necessarily damage the opponent, but rather altered a fighter's state. Unfortunately, its two speed settings were either too slow or too fast. Once you wore down your opponent, there were several means to finishing them off, including level and character-specific death scenes. One other type, called the Cinekill, showed a CG movie of the character getting obliterated. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but Eternal Champions is a title that offered loads of entertainment, and is deserving of a sequel.

W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM i PUBLISHER TRADEWEST lii DEVELOPER SOFTWARE CREATIONS I YEAR RELEASED 1993

112 GAMEINFORMER

II STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING W PUBLISHER SEGA E DEVELOPER DEEP WATER E YEAR RELEASED 1994

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GRAND THEFT AUTO 2

1. Tank Kill Frenzy (226, 238) Kill 10 2. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (203,197)

people in 60 seconds

[IC

Sunnysi

Blow up five vehicles in 60 seconds

3. Taxi Kill Frenzy (8, 139) Run over 50 people in 180 seconds

4. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (125, 82) Torch 30 people in 120 seconds

5. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (247, 220) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds

CLASSIC STRATECY

The Grand Theft Auto series set the standard for controversial game- play. While it is highly primitive in comparison to GTA III, GTA2 still has plenty of violence, cuss words, and lewd conduct. Since your mission objectives are highly obvious, we thought we'd enlighten you on all the über-violent Kill Frenzy missions each level holds for the ambitious felon. We'll even throw in a mess of codes at no extra cost! The coordi- nates after the mission names correspond to the Wuggles code, which

will aid in navigation.

6. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (194,

121) Kill 30 people in 180 seconds

7. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (181,

145) Destroy five taxis in 180 seconds

8. Molotov Cocktail Kill Frenzy (166,

183) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds

9. Molotov Cocktail Kill Frenzy (168,

207) Kill 30 people in 120 seconds

MAP 1: DOWNTOWN SECTOR

10. Molotov Cocktail Kill Frenzy (130, 109) Kill five people in 60 seconds

11. Silenced Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (152, 104) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

12. Silenced Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (147, 91) Kill 20 people in 120 minutes

13. Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (153, 58) Destroy eight vehicles in 120 seconds

14. Silenced Uzi Kill Frenzy (198, 245) Kill 20 people in 120 seconds

15. Silenced Uzi Kill Frenzy (112, 241) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds

16. Tank Kill Frenzy (3, 164) Destroy 10 vehicles in 60 seconds

17. Silenced Machine Gun Frenzy (9, 53) Destroy four vehicles in 60 seconds

18. Fire Truck Kill Frenzy (5, 26) Run over 20 people in 60 seconds

19. Silenced Uzi Kill Frenzy (88, 27) Kill 15 people in 120 seconds

20. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (214, 50) Destroy 10 vehicles in 60 seconds

CODES

Enter these at the Player Name screen before starting the game. To enter multi- ple codes, simply re-enter the screen, delete the old code, and insert a new one

WUGGLES

Shows location coordinates onscreen. Also, hit O on the second controller to eliminate police level, and use the shoul- der buttons to adjust gang opinion

LIVELONG Don't take damage, unless you're in a car or you fall in the water

LOSEFEDS Police go bye-bye

MUCHCASH Start the game with $500,000

NAVARONE Start with all weapons

GAMEINFORMER 113

CLASSIC STRATEGY

1. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (112, 164) Destroy 15 vehicles in 60 seconds

15. Molotav Cocktail Kill Frenzy (164, 77) Destroy 20 vehicles in 60 seconds

2. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (146, 211) Destroy five cars in 120 seconds

16. Shotgun Kill Frenzy (208, 93) Kill 10 people in 90 seconds

17. S-Uzi Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (252, 102) Kill 10 people in 90 seconds

3. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (176, 143) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds

4. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (151, 122) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

18. Furore GT Kill Frenzy (242, 185) Use mines to destroy 15 cars in 120 seconds

20. Shotgun Kill Frenzy (172, 192) Kill 15 people in 60 seconds

a D ui owes am Hi

19. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (212, 201) Kill 10 people in 120 seconds

MAP 2: RESIDENTIAL SECTOR

LET UO T.

Q. le RV Park [^ bi m—

5. Molotav Cocktail Kill Frenzy (113,

144) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds

6. Silenced Uzi Kill Frenzy (132, 171) Kill 20 people in 90 seconds

7. Tank Kill Frenzy (29, 177) Shoot 20 vehicles in 120 seconds

Redemption

8. Furore GT Kill Frenzy (6, 173) Run over 30 people in 90 seconds

9. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (43, 146) Kill 10 people in 90 seconds

10. Tank Kill Frenzy (26, 102) Shoot 20 people in 120 seconds

Morton

i TT

11. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (9, 27) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

12. Rocket Launcher Frenzy (84, 57) Destroy 10 cars in 120 seconds

13. Furore GT Kill Frenzy (67, 17) Shoot 30 people in 120 seconds

14. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (147, 43) Kill 20 people in 120 seconds

114 GAMEINFORMER

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Dominatr

c —

1. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (31, 107) Kill 10 people in 120 seconds

2. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy (2, 82) Kill 10 people in 90 seconds.

3. S-Uzi Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (48, 42) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

4. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (175, 56) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

5. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (233, 123) Destroy 20 vehicles in 60 seconds

Jump required* (156, 163) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

9. Tank Kill Frenzy *Insane Jump required* (72, 219) Shoot 20 vehicles in 120 seconds

10. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (13, 164) Destroy five cars in 90 seconds

CLASSIC GI

11. Molotov Cocktail Kill Frenzy (100, 126) Destroy 15 vehicles in 90 seconds

12. Tank Kill Frenzy *Insane Jumps required* (141, 10) Shoot 20 people in 120 seconds

13. S-Uzi Machine Gun Kill Frenzy *Insane Jumps required* (170, 219) Kill 10 people in 90 seconds

6. ElectroGun Kill Frenzy (234, 180) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

7. Molotov Cocktail Kill Frenzy (215, 80) Kill 10 people in 60 seconds 8. Flamethrower Kill Frenzy *Insane i

14. Shotgun Kill Frenzy (63, 190) Kill 10

MAP 3: INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

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people in 90 seconds

15. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (54, 72) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

16. Shotgun Kill Frenzy (97, 32) Kill 20 people in 60 seconds

17. Rocket Launcher Kill Frenzy (125, 123) Destroy 10 cars in 120 sec- onds

18. Jefferson Kill Frenzy (154, 148) Use the car off the trailer to run over 30 people in 90 seconds

19. Vehicle Machine Gun Kill Frenzy (70, 241) Get the jeep off the trailer. Use the jeep's machine guns to kill 30 people in 120 seconds

20. Vehicle Mine Kill Frenzy (245, 26) Use mines from the Jugular off the trailer to destroy 15 cars in 120 seconds

TRUCK (11, 213)

Pick up truck cab for the last three Kill Frenzies here. Bring the loaded trailers back here to start those missions

GAMEINFORMER 115

COLOR CONSOLES

Manufacturer: Color Consoles

Website: www.colorconsoles.com

List Price: $24.99 (GBA Color), $25 (GBA Backlight), $34.99 (GC Color), $52.99 (PS2 Color) We know deep down inside you've wanted to bellow, "Why can't | buy a metallic pink PlayStation 2 with a glossy or matte finish?!" Well, guess what, Buttercup — you can! That's right, by boxing up your video game system and sending it to a complete stranger who will tear your system apart and paint it for as low as $24.99 (plus shipping charges), it is pos- sible to alter the look of your gaming system. Color consoles can even install a backlight into your Game Boy Advance for just $25. Log onto www.colorconsoles.com and check out all of the pretty colors!

MARVEL ULTIMATE X-MEN GAME FACES

Manufacturer: Naki e Website: www.nakiusa.com List Price: $6.99

If you don’t feel confident sending your Game Boy Advance to Color Consoles, Naki has a safe and cheap solution. It has created six different designs to plaster onto your GBA. Using a new adhesive technology, each face can be used over 1,000 times without leaving behind a sticky residue on your GBA. We got a kick out of these skins, and no, it’s not because the buttons just happen to represent several of the characters’ breasts.

MARVEL SPIDER-PADS

Manufacturer: Joyride Studios

Website: www.joyridestudios.com

List Price: $19.99 (GC), $29.99 (PS2, Xbox) Can these controllers do whatever a spider | can? Not quite, but they do come equipped with turbo and slow motion functions. Best of all, though, you'll look like a complete tard while using one. What? You think they look cool? Well, think about this. You're holding a controller that is dressed up to look like Spider-Man. It's a mechanical Barbie doll! Would you use a controller that was wearing a Mr. T costume? What if it was dressed up in cute little Papa Smurf garments? Or worse yet, wearing Fred Durst's hat? Wait a minute! These ideas are brilliant! If you'll excuse us, we have a job to quit and a controller company to form! Out of the way, people!

Rt GRAND THEFT AUTO

25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Manufacturer: New Concorde * Website: www.newconcorde.com ° List Price: $14.99 Ron Howard is a video game visionary. That's right. Opie done good! He came up with the concept for Grand Theft Auto over 25 years ago. If you missed the theatrical release, don't fret; you can now own this landmark film on DVD. Rumor has it that Don Knotts actually came up with the concept for The Legend of Zelda while rehearsing lines for The Apple Dumpling Gang. We've also heard that Tom Bosley wrote a screenplay called Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball while taking a bathroom break on the set of The World of Henry Orient in 1964. All the good game ideas are gone!

arm

RCA VPORT TVS

Manufacturer: RCA * Website: www.rca.com

List Price: $349-$1,499

TV manufacturers are finally recognizing video games. Well...the Xbox at least. RCA's latest line of TVs are designed to enhance the visual presentation of Xbox games. Through a VPORT component video cable connection, the Xbox will light up the HDTV screen with the utmost of clarity. This jack also doubles as a second component video input which you can use to simultaneously connect two devices. If you want to play in style, check out the 36-inch monitor. It'll completely alter the way you look at games. Of course, it will also break your bank account with its $1,499 price point. Smaller versions (20, 27, and 32-inch) are also available with the same breakthrough technologies.

SUPER MONKEY BALL TOYS

Manufacturer: Joyride Studios

Website: www.joyridestudios.com ° List Price: N/A Why would you let your kids play with action figures and dollies when they could be knocking around a pair of mon- key balls! Roll ‘em! Slap ‘em! Do whatever you want with them! Just don’t get caught with a monkey ball in your mouth, otherwise you may find yourself in a world of hurt! Go find your mom and dad, and tell ‘em, "I want to play with monkey balls!” You'll be able to wrap your hands around your very own balls this summer! Go get ‘em, ball lovers!

Game Informer Magazine" (ISSN 1067-6392) is published monthly at a subscription price of $19.98 per year, or twenty four issues for $24.98 by Sunrise Publications", 724 North First Street, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 486-6100 or FAX (612) 486-6101. For subscriptions, back issues, or customer service

inquiries (612) 486-6100. Periodicals postage paid at Minneapolis, MN, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIBERS /POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Game Informer Magazine’, 724 North First Street, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Foreign or Canadian orders must be prepaid in U.S, dollars and must include $20/year additional postage per year. Game Informer" does not claim any copyright in the screenshots herein. Copyright in all screenshots contained within this publication are owned by their respective companies. Entire contents copyright 2002, Game Informer Magazine’. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole vor in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer” is a trademark of GameStop, Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies.

116 GAMEINFORMER

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General Scales has torn apart Dinosaur Planet, and now it faces total annihilation. It’s Fox McCloud to the rescue.

Join him as he exits his Arwing

and enters as hero to save the

dinosaurs in his biggest adventure | ever. Only for Nintendo GameCube

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First-person shooting action

Battle enemy giants from land. sea & air

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