FIRST REVIEW AND STRATEGY GUIDE FOR XENOSAGA

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4 И SOPOT'S LAST STAND

Commonwealth soldiers attempt to fend off Red Faction rebels in a last ditch effort to save Dictator Sopot from certain demise. From the beginning, the Red Faction's

heavy artillery was underestimated by the Commonwealtha Army, who are now paying the price.

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COMMONWEALTH COUP

The Red Faction is using their entire arsenal in the latest attempt to

FROM THE AIR

The Red Faction customized Aesir is a maneuverable air assault vehicle equipped with optical zoom which allows for precise hits on enemy targets.

Drop Point 5:37am Troops assemble at the Sopot Harbor.

RED ЕПСТТОЛ qM

CIVILIAN UPRISING

After Sopot's forces withdrew from the main city, several Red Faction rebels raided Harbor Island and desecrated the symbolic statue of the dictator.

Blood and Gore Violence For more up-to-the-minute coverage of

the conflict, go to www.redfaction2.com GAMECUBE: XBOX

BREAKDOWN

D'ETAT

overthrow the Dictator Sopot.

Public Information Building 6:05am Commonwealth Elite Guards attempt to fend off the attacking Faction soldiers.

NGL-8 Nanotech irenade Catincher

The Slums 6:22am Rebel soldiers continue to fight despite rumors of growing animosity between Faction leaders.

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MIDWAY SPORTS ( CHECK JADEK | т C JUDGING CONTEST .

Uim a trip to Spring Training to meet the cover athlete of MLB" SlugFest 20-04 videogame апд Бе a judge in the nationwide

Midway Sports Cheerleader search.

— Midway Sports is conducting a search for the next Midway Sports Cheerleaders, and you have a chance to be a part of the action.

Go to Www.midwaysports.net for more details.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Sweepstakes begins on January 14, 2003 at 12:00 p.m, (E.S;T.), ends on March 10, 2003 at 11:59 p.m. (ЕТ). Enter online only at www.midwaysports.net (full rules available at that site). Sweepstakes open to residents of the 48 contiguous United States, excluding Florida residents, who are not eligible; Must be male, 18 or older, and have Internet access, and be available to travel on or around March 18, 2003. Prize includes three day trip for one to, Miami and tickets to watch Jim Edmonds in spring training, ARV: $2,300.

MIDWAY

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JIM EDMONDS

MLB" SlugFest? 20-04 is the exclusive, aggressive-stule baseball - 2) videogame with key features that please the most hardcore sports fans. B ) RATING PENDING

Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for Rating Information.

CONTENT RATED BY

Available March 2008

of ALL-NEW features like individual MLB ^ Ferocious adrenaline-style play lets you go in More than 1,500 dazzling animations offer flawless r batting stances and pitching deliveries, spikes high; then, relive it from any angle with running, fielding, hitting ad pitching action. the new customizable instant replay.

Visit www.esrb.org ог х Е париду. Il 1-800-771-3772 T - — — а for Rating information: @ ж A PlayS tation.? GAME BOY ADVANCE

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Strong Lyrics Violence

Best Fightir

BREAK FACES

DRAW BLOOD

FOR ALL THE PAIN HE’S IN, QUITTING WOULD FEEL MUCH WORSE.

DREAM STAGE

www.thq.com

© 2002, 2003 Dream Stage Entertainment, Inc. Exclusively licensed to THQ Inc. worldwide, except in Japan. THQ and its logo are registered trademarks of THQ Inc. All Rights Reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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and the "PS" Fori logo ore registered trademarks of Sony Computer Enertainment America nc. The ratings icon is o registered trademark of the

FEATURE 46 BASEWARS: THE BATTLE FOR COOPERSTOWN

The boys of digital summer battle it out once again in GI's annual baseball roundup. Will last year's All-Star Baseball be a contender again? What about Microsoft's foray to the mound with Inside Pitch? Has EA rejuvenated itself

with MVP Baseball? Step into the dugout and find out.

12 GAMEINFORMER

FEATURE 54 CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH

Madcap celebrity antics aren't confined to the Viper Room anymore. Soon, rivalries will be hashed out in living rooms across America, courtesy of Gotham Games' upcoming Celebrity Deathmatch title. GI grilled some of the lucky and famous subjects to see what it's like to go from silicone to clay to polygon.

DESTINIES SO BIG THE UNIVERSE И

^"^ САМ BARELY CONTAIN THEM.

A

РИ w i

Der Wille zur Macht

Blood and Gore 7 WWW.XENOSAGA.COM PlayStation.e +>

Violence

Xenosaga” EPISODE | Der Wille zur Macht & ©2001 NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association

EDITOR'S FORUM This is the place where the editors babble about video games. This month, they do not disappoint.

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

DEAR GI Yes, there were other good games in 2002...we know already! Sort-of famous people for $1,000, Alex. Who doesn't want to race apes? 12-step programs suggested. We finally get a list of great games. Is Justin hot?

NEWS GBA SP - figure that acronym out! Gates and co. shill Platinum. Sequel-happy Nintendo? P.N. 03 gets defensive. Mr. Moore is no longer "platform agnostic." Another new console to jump to?

PREVIEWS Each of the systems are going to play with Soul Caliber 2 and NBA Street Vol. 2. Chaos Legion and Unlimited Saga are hanging out with PS2. Xbox is hosting Dino Crisis 3 and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow graces the Game Boy Advance.

14 GAMEINFORMER

REVIEWS Xenosaga receives Game of the Month honors. Sequels for Devil May Cry and Dark Cloud make their presence known for PS2. Vexx and Black & Blue usher in the teeny GameCube. Indiana Jones head- lines the Xbox offerings that also include Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball and Murakumo. The big questions left to ask about The Sims Online are finally answered.

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 Gl editors’ Top 10 Games.

PLAY TO PERFECTION The much-anticipated follow-up to Xenogears will fall to its knees with GI guiding you, the intrepid gamer, through every strategy to total domi- nation. Fear the power that comes with this great responsibility.

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

CLASSIC GI Classic Gl examines the TurboGrafx 16, one of gaming's most unfairly overlooked consoles. Read on to see the 10 best Turbo titles of all time, plus some interesting historical facts on NEC's little overachiever. Also, watch in horror as our Classic Reviews plumb the depths of the Atari Jaguar and Sega CD, handing out Game Informer's first goose-egg score ever!

ETC

More little figure-things to play with, a chair to sit in while doing it, clas- sic games to throw down, a “keycontroller,” and more kindling with which to burn that copious free time you surely have.

GAME INDEX

GAME Aero Elite Combat Academy........... ATV: Quad Power Racing 2 . . Black & Bruised (GC) Black & Bruised (PS2). Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Brute Force Cabela's Big Game Hunter . . . Casino Manager Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. . . Chaos Legion Daredevil

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 3. . Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. . . 87 Devil May Cry 2. Dino Crisis 3 . . . Disaster Report Disney Sports Football Dot Hack Vol. 1: Infection. Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder ................ 91 Everblue 2 Fire Pro Wrestling 2 Fisherman's Challenge . . Fugitive Hunter . Galerians: Ash. . Gallop Racer 2003; A New Breed Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. Gregory Horror Show . Group $ Challenge GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing. Guilty Gear X2. HyperSonic Extreme . . Impossible Creatures . Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb . . Kung Fu Chaos . Legends of Wrestling II Mega Man & Bass

МВА Street Vol.2 . . Onimusha Tactics .

PK Duck: Out of the Shadows . . Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (GBA) Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (PS2) . Resident Evil: Dead Aim . Sega Rally Championship. . Silent Hill 3 .... Sims Online, The Бошибайвино ОЙ Splashdown 2.... State of Emergency. Street Racing Syndicate . Splinter Сей. . Unreal Il: The Awakening Vexx (GC) ... Vexx (Xbox). . WWE Road to WrestleMania X8. Xenosaga Episode Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelist of the Roses Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner... . 68

The Human Anatomy

as deconstructed by Tao Feng

FiG.1. – Considerable Pain

The process of deconstructing the anatomy begins with bruising at the point of contact, leading to bloody contusions and cerebral hemorrhage.

FIG. 2.— Physical Disability

The deconstruction nears completion as limbs

weaken and break from continuous physical abuse,

finally rendering the enemy useless. FIG. 3. — Environmental Destruction Opponents are often hurled into walls and glass situated nearby, resulting in injuries

of variable depth and size.

The Pain is Real

Violence

Blood Micresoft www.xbox.com/taofeng CONTENT RATED BY game Studios- ESRB Jun et

©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Fist of the Lotus, Tao Feng, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. he ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Entertainment Ratings Board. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW!

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

16 GAMEINFORMER

EINFORM

MARCH 2003 Volume XIII • Number 3 • Issue 119

PUBLISHER

Cathy Preston

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrew McNamara

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

PRODUCTION

Art Director Thomas Blustin Production Director Curtis Fung Production Assistant Rachel Nimerfroh Artist Glenn Fabry (pg.34) Artist Dan Veesenmeyer (pg.46 - 53) Colorist Jess Heitland (pg.46 — 53)

ADVERTISING SALES

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

Advertising Account Executive Amy Arnold е (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 е Minneapolis, MN 55401 е Attn: CIS Dept

Circulation Manager Paul Anderson (612) 486-6104 paul@gameinformer.com

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. Entire contents copyright 2002. Game Informer® Magazine. AI rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer is a trademark of GameStop, Inc. 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

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| a-— BREATH СОЕ FIRE, |

PRIER.

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* NEW REAL-TIME, TURN-BASED _ 'ВАТТЬЕ-ЗУЗТЕМ

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© CAPCOM СО. LTD. 1994, 2003 © CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 1994, 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM LOGO are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. BREATH OF FIRE and DRAGON QUARTER are trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. "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.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Things are getting hot already in 2003 with a ton of great games coming down the pipe and lots of big news. From Nokia entering the video game fray with its N-Gage handheld to Namco announcing exclusive secret characters for each console's version of Soul Calibur 2, the video game industry keeps giving us more reasons to keep gaming.

About the biggest complaint anybody could have right now is that there just isn't enough time to play Xenosaga, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, Dark Cloud 2, and Unreal Il. If you're like me, you still haven't finished with all the big games from last year. | know my stack of must-play games just keeps getting taller and taller. This is especially scary since | know I’m not going to get through them all before Zelda

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comes out next month along with a host of other killer games. Oh, the humanity!

As for the issue, this month we bring you some big news on X2 Wolverine’s Revenge, as well as a world exclusive first look at Raven’s X-Men RPG. Although the X-Men have had their problems conquering the video game realm, these two titles are looking fantastic. As comic book fans, we are very excited, especially about the original Wolverine art we received from legendary Preacher artist Glenn Fabry (see page 34). Enjoy the issue, and make sure you tune in next month when we bring you a А double-barreled cover story unveiling two (that's right — two!) highly anticipated PlayStation 2 blockbusters. You won't want to miss it.

Andy McNamara Editor-In-Chief andy@gameinformer.com

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You may wonder how the editorial staff has the stamina to play all the games to the end AND write reviews. Well, here's how we do it.

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FOR 227 HOURS WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, OR SLEEP!"

"7 M me d

LEVELS AND FINISH OFF THE BOSSES,” - KRISTIAN

+ CHET + REINER

"ОМ FILE WITH GAME INFORMER MAGAZINE

(Top left to right) Scientist: Justin, Diagram: Matt, Lab Tech: Lisa, Pharmacist: Andy.

18 GAMEINFORMER

_ Court (starring ex-Onyx rapper Sticky Fingaz), the Peter а _ Sellers/Ringo Starr oddity The Magic Christian, апа a bunch of

REINER, THE RAGING GAMER

reiner@gameinformer.com

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball has awakened an inner demon of mine that hasn't been seen since that fatal day where, as a young high school freshman, | "accidentally" walked into the girl's locker room just moments after a highly competitive swim meet. Truth be told, whenever the lovely DOA ladies shake their ya-ya sisterhood groove thang, | feel like a voyeuristic sleaze. It's fantastic! Never before has a video game stimulated such an emotional sensation! All games should incorporate the glorious mouth-watering titillation of Dead or Alive! It's girls or bust for 2004!

MATT, THE ORIGINAL GAMER — | matt@gameinformer.com - Де

Working for a magazine, you get a lot of strange free stuff. Sure, anime videos and weird toys are fine and good, but no company's _ mailing list has given me more pleasure than Artisan Home j Video's. Thanks to them, | now own DVD copies of The Playaz —

stuff starring Rob Lowe and Treat Williams! Artisan — you госк! Keep the movie magic coming! - f ;

KRISTIAN, THE VIDEO VIKING kristian@gameinformer.com

First, | must give a shout-out to our production staff. It isn't easy dealing with seven writers who all live in a state of retarded adolescence, but they're always patient and understanding when we come to them with 11th hour changes. Next, I'd like to send out some love to my cousin Zach Mushkatel, who is nearly done with law school at the University of Minnesota, for hooking me up with some legal jargon when | needed it. Lastly, I'd like to welcome the second generation of sea monkeys into the world who were recently born in the little tank that sits on my desk. If you'd like to name one, I'm taking suggestions.

JUSTIN, THE DIGITAL DEVIANT justin@gameinformer.com

We each do more than write a few reviews every month. Many assignments are in the bowels of the magazine, where most never look. We tend to have fun with these ho-hum sections, and you'll find a lot of what we consider "humor" — though you might disagree. For example, in spots like Table of Contents and Charts, we turn the boring into the head-scratchingly random. Newbie Cheat Sheet and Classic Reviews may hold a hidden word or two. Even code credits in Secret Access could elicit a chuckle. You _ bought the whole magazine, 50 it's the least we can do totry making every page worth reading.

KATO, THE GAME KATANA

kato@gameinformer.com

In reviewing three RPGs this month, | think | stumbled onto a cure for ADD and Tourette's Syndrome. By playing Dot Hack, Dark Cloud 2, and Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter, | was actually able to enjoy an RPG without swearing. | used to have to rock myself to and fro in my chair — in what Chet calls "Rain Man fashion" - to stay awake. This cocktail may produce side effects like drowsiness and irritability, but any gamer with taste will only enjoy themselves. Now if you excuse me, | have a presentation to do for the New England Journal of Medicine.

CHET, THE JOYSTICK JOCKEY

chet@gameinformer.com = E Reading is a healthy means of relaxation and discovery, especially for a gamer. It almost acts as a counterbalance to the constant virtual immersion. Furthermore, reading might teach you something about life — cool, по? If you think I'm preaching, consider this: If you dream of working at Game Informer, where you get paid to play games, you need solid writing skills. And how do you best do that? Go to school and read books! Here's а list of ‘some of my favorite authors: Natsume Soseki, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. You're bound to dig one of these talented writers.

LISA, LA GAME NIKITA

lisa@gameinformer.com

Being shamefully consumerist, | felt compelled to hide my excitement at the new Game Boy Super Duper Advance flip-top, backlit, pimp daddy extravaganza that Nintendo's been blabbing about. My initial thoughts were, "Kick ass. Now | can have a truly portable СВА... Май, | already have a GBA that is, by definition, portable. Am | a sucker?" | came to the realization that | don't particularly care if I'm buying (slightly improved) multiples of the same thing. Call me, "Lisa, Consumer, Lacky to Minor Improvements."

Be algophobic. Be very, very algophobic. The new Magic: The Gathering Legions set is so completely packed with crazy-dangerous creatures that either you, or your opponent, will be seriously impaired. HS

à jg X Know your fear. ds Free trj t: mtgonline.com

А „ы ХАУХ > RSS 4

CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE SEAMY UNDERBELLY OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

1 Here's Chet's little brother Jonathan dressed up as Batman. We really have to stop letting Reiner buy that kid's clothes. 2 Playboy Playmate Miriam Gonzalez at the epicenter of the entertainment world: the Touchdown Café in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Miriam was on hand to promote Sony's ATV Offroad Fury 2 and give | dozens of sweaty Midwestern boys the thrill of their lives. 3 Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuya Nomura (center) poses with voice-actors Hayden Panettiere (Kairi) and David Gallagher (Riku) 4 15 Shaq smiling because he's playing Xbox Live, or because he's just happy to get à | break from getting stuffed by Yao Ming? ! 5 Matt gets ready to ride along in a drag race in San Diego. Don't fear for him; fear for his underwear. 6 Feelance journalist Tom Ham cozies up to a "dancer" at a BMX XXX event at Scores in NYC. 7 Activision's Lisa Fields and 4 = i X-Men Legends producer Brian Clarke get down = " i in Madison, Wisconsin. Madison? Ann Arbor?? 4 6 Yo, the Midwest in the house То" геа!!! Holla! 8 Gene Pool's Craig Houston (left) and Dave Anthony (right), show Matt the sights of Manchester, England. Luckily, most of these "sights" were bars.

SO REALISTIC, YOU'LL SWEAR YOU WERE THERE. The Rocky Mountains? Merely a speed bump. The Mojave Desert? A sandbox. The Black Forest? A flower garden. Welcome to an insanely realistic new world of offroad racing. 40 massive environments, more than 20 real-world ATVs, minigames, a hard-core soundtrack, plus intensely competitive online gameplay. So find yourself a comfortable chair, sit back and get ready, because it's gonna get dirty. BLAZE YOUR OWN TRAIL.

EVERYONE

Mild Lyrics

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

LIVE IN YOUR WXRLD. PLAY IN MURS

www.playstation.com ATV Offroad Fury is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Developed by Rainbow Studios. Online play requires Internet connection and Network Adaptor for PlayStation 2 (sold separately). ©2002 Sony Computer

Entertainment America Inc. “PlayStation” and the “РЗ” Family logo 1 Я are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Live офф А PlayS tatio п.о In Your World. Play In Ours.", “Blaze Your Own Trail" and the Online СОРИ. ИЕ rainbow:

“BRGADBAND AND АСЛИ STUDIOS

icon are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Do not let Dr. Mario touch your genitals. He is not a real doctor! Josh Via hotmail.com

Hmm...we wondered why he wanted us to strip naked for an eye exam. Oh well, live and learn.

Why did you guys rate [insert game here] higher than [insert game here] on your Best of 2002 list? | hate you! John Q. Reader Anytown, USA

Why was [insert game here] included on your Best of 2002 list? That game sucks! You all smell like used dental floss and have poor math skills! Irate Ronnie Via messageboard.com

Why was [insert game here] not included on the Best of 2002 list? It's the best game ever and | love it more than my family! | hate you and hope you all die of cancer sometime in fiscal year 2003!!! Р Lord High Executioner Fanboy City, Middle Earth

As per usual, our annual year-end awards issue generated a great deal of controversy and dis- sent among our readers. The letters above reflect the three basic types of letters received, minus copious amounts of harsh language. If anything, the complaints illustrated just how diverse the video game audience has become. No one seems to be able to agree on much about the games of 2002, except maybe for the near-unanimous sentiment that Metroid Prime should have been higher on the list. For every reader that thought Vice City was the greatest game since Super Mario Bros., there was one who deemed Rockstar's masterpiece an over- rated piece of crap. For every fan of Kingdom Hearts that thought the game should have been ranked much higher on the list, there was a detractor who felt that such childish, Disney- oriented pabulum had no place in a serious game magazine. Even more numerous were the titles that many felt were slighted, most notably Eternal Darkness, Virtua Fighter 4, WarCraft Ш, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, and

many more. If anything, the absence of these (admittedly top-notch) titles only serves to illustrate just what an amazing year 2002 was for gaming as a whole. Our 10 were whittled down from a roster of over 30 candidates, a majority of which would / have been shoo-ins for < the list in years past. We tried to pick the games that we felt rep- resented the best of the best in 2002.

For two years | have been waiting for Donkey Kong Racing to release, and yet there are no signs of it showing up. | am really sick and tired of waiting for this game. Do you have any idea when the release date is? Mastersnap Via email

Unfortunately, the outlook for Donkey Kong Racing is a bit cloudy following Nintendo and Rare's much-publicized split. Rare, the creator of Diddy Kong Racing for the N64, was slated to cre- ate DK Racing (an aerial sequel of sorts to Diddy Kong) for the GameCube, but the project has been cancelled due to the fact that Rare is now under the wing of Microsoft. According to the terms of the deal in which Nintendo sold its con- trolling interest in Rare to Bill Gates and compa- ny, Nintendo retains all rights to games starring its long-running characters like Donkey Kong and Banjo-Kazooie. Hopefully, there is a chance that Rare reworks the game with new characters, or Nintendo continues on the Donkey Kong Racing project with some of its in-house talent. As always, Nintendo would not comment on the sta- tus of the project.

| was just wondering why in every picture Justin crosses his arms, flexes, and makes that disgust- ing face. He looks extremely constipated. So Justin, | invite you to chill out with a bottle of Ех- ах and let the good times roll... Jeremy Fisher е » В Ма етай |

Hey don't hate оп the Digital Deviant just because he's a big, greasy, pumped-up slab of beefcake! Seriously, don't mess with him. He knows how to karate kick and stuff. For more flicks of Justin's mean-face flexin', check out www.hotornot.com.

| would like to blame the following problems in my life on your magazine:

1) Insomnia. Whether it's from staying up all night to play a game you recommended, wonder- ing if Project Ego (a.k.a. Fable) is going to come out during my lifetime, or reading Game Informer into the wee hours of the morning.

2) Poverty. This stems mostly from buying any and all games you suggest. However, finding out that to win the console vs. console vs. PC debate | must have them all (see issue 116) did not help my depleted funds.

3) Uncontrollable Rage. This is most often caused by games recommended by you that refuse to bow down to my undeniable gaming prowess.

Thank you for your time, and may God have mercy on your souls.

Jeremy Via yahoo.com

Guess what? We blame our insomnia, poverty, and uncontrollable rage on the magazine, too. We have so much in common, Josh. Let's start a support group.

I've been a subscriber to GI since Dec '95 and I would first like to say congratulations on the suc- cessful direction you have taken the magazine since then. | like all of the new columns you have added and look forward to seeing GI in my mailbox every month. Now that you have an extra editor around, maybe you finally have time to put in a Reader's Opinion column. In this section, GI would give а subject in which readers, in three hundred words or less, could explain his or her view on a hot topic that has been floating around in the video game world. | think it would be ’ a great addition to the

|. magazine as a whole.

0000H... MINTY!

Lars Via aol.com

That's a good sugges- tion, Lars, but we already have a "reader's opinion" column. Here's the amazing part – you're in it right now!

IY

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

22 САМЕІМРОВМЕВ

Although our Dear GI section does often showcase the sillier side of our readership's psyches, we do welcome well-written letters on hot topics in the video game industry. So, to anyone out there with a gripe to air or an axe to grind, get typing and send us your manifesto. If it's fit to print, you'll see it in these hallowed pages in the coming months. Just lay off the swearing...we are a family magazine - for really messed-up, neurotic families.

Мом, | know that each one of you've probably played literally thousands games, so you guys have had thousands of more opportunities to expe- rience great games than | have. So, what I'm really asking is: What are your personal favorite games of all time?

Matt Redman

Via email

You letter sparked a lot of soul searching amongst the Gl staff, but we did manage to pin down every- one's absolute favorite game of all time. Not surprisingly, the old school 8- and 16-bit eras were well represented. So here, without further ado, are the titles that are nearest and dearest to our hearts: * Andy: Metroid (NES) * Reiner: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) * Matt: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) * Kristian: Ultima М: The False Prophet (PC) е Kato: Madden NFL Football (All years) * Justin: King's Bounty (Genesis) + Chet: Street Fighter 1: Hyper Fighting (Arcade) * Lisa: Tetris (All systems)

Who is Tom Clancy? Game Freek Via email

Despite the sheer number of games that have been released under the Tom Clancy banner in recent days, **Old Clancy-pants" (as wve affectionately refer to him) is not a game developer of any sort. In actuality, he is one of the world's most popular authors. Clancy was the pioneer of the literary £enre that has come to be called the "techno- thriller." Starting in the mid-eighties, he combined а knack for crafting complex tales of military and political intrigue with an immense knowledge of cutting-edge military weaponry and tactics. In doing so, he became perhaps the most successful American author since horror master Steven King. This success spawned many Hollywood adapta- tions of his books, including The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger. More recently, Clancy has lent his name to many tactical military games, like Splinter Cell and the Rainbow Six series.

Ф — GNMEINFORMER

ENVELOPE ДЕТ

NY E. W Ем LE

EVI CO

John Bisonette This guy needs therapy

Derick T. Morales Three Ninjas Kick Back...again!!!

(ELL

|

Alfonso E. Ellas "Must...not...fart!!!"

MARCH WINNER!

David Parzych Once again, Spider-Man is caught peeping in Mary Jane's window

Ryan Gaw

We would call this piece "Attack of the Spaghetti Zombies," but we fear that this is what George Lucas is going to name

the next Star Wars movie

Josh Klein This is the first picture of Kato after a sex-change operation

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CIVILIZATION 1$ ONLY SKIN DEEP.

The battle to save the outside world starts within. As Jen Tate, a conflicted and unsuspecting hero, you'll assume a host of savage yet intelligent demon forms in order to save four distant realms — from decaying kingdoms submerged in poisoned waters to bleak netherworlds shrouded in eternal winter. You'll engage legions of enemies. Meet and, at. times, be incarnated as Scree, an ancient and powerful ally. And ultimately face your own shocking secret. Inside and out, there is no sanctuary.

Violence

Blood PlayStation.2 a nay B SE a URS. E

‘CONTENT RATED BY ESRB

www.playstation.com Primal TM/©2003 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. PlayStation” and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.” Live In Your World, Play n Ours. "and "Civilization Is Only Skin Deep." are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

NINTENDO UNVEILS NEW GAME BOY ADVANCE

Nintendo is making the premier handheld console even better with the release of the Game Boy Game Boy Advance SP Specs

Advance SP. This new system will solve the major gripe that players have had with the otherwise solid • CPU: 32-bit CPU with embedded memory

console: the need for a backlit screen. No longer will you have to stretch and strain for the perfect light- • Screen: 2.9" reflective color LCD w/integrated backlight ing conditions. The SP gives you this luxury in a handy flip-top design. * Display Size: 1.61" by 2.41" (same as the GBA)

The Game Boy Advance SP comes in the colors of cobalt and platinum, and will hit stores on March * Resolution: 240x160 pixels (same as the GBA)

23 for a suggested retail price of $99.95 — $30 more than the current GBA. For this price you also get • Colors: More than 32,000 colors possible (same as GBA) a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which will provide approximately 10 hours of gameplay after a three- * Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery w/10 hour charging period. Nintendo says that it could last for up to 18 hours if you turn off the screen's hours continuous play and a three-hour recharging period. backlight function. Although this battery can be charged while you play, you cannot use standard AA bat- 18 hours continuous play with backlight disabled

teries to power the system. Cosmetically, the SP features shorter shoulder buttons and a front-loading * Hardware Color: Cobalt and platinum

cartridge slot. * Release Date: March 23

Nintendo says that all current and future Game * Suggested Retail Price: $99.95 Boy Advance titles will run on the SP, and it will be backwards compatible with almost all Game Boy Color cartridges. This new handheld will also accommodate the e-Reader, Link cable, and other GBA accessories. Nintendo will continue to produce the regular Game Boy Advance as well.

The reason behind this move is due to the fact that Nintendo has showed below-expected sales in the last six months. Game Boy Advance SP is expected to boost sales, as the GBA is already the workhorse behind the company's success. Nintendo anticipates to sell around two million units of the new system worldwide by the end of the spring.

NINTENDO'S NEW GAMES

Nintendo of Japan has announced a roster of future titles that stretches into 2004 and covers Nintendo has also both the GameCube and Game Boy Advance. This lineup includes everything from sequels spilled the beans (Animal Crossing 2 and Pikmin 2) to ports (Mario Golf for GBA) to some intriguing new entries about Advance Wars (Legend of Zelda: The Triforce Gods and the Four Swords). 2 for the Game Boy Other surprises not on the official release list were also revealed. Super Mario Advance 4 for Advance. Developer the Game Boy Advance is expected at the end of the year. It is believed that this will continue the Intelligent Systems tradition of reworking older Mario titles for the handheld. Here's to hoping that this latest re- is back at the helm, release is Super Mario Bros. 3. On the opposite end of the good/evil spectrum is a game titled and it looks like Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgames for the GBA. This should also appear later this year. gamers can expect Nintendo of Japan has announced these games, but they are expected to show up in the States more of the great shortly after their overseas releases. Stay tuned for more coverage on many of these titles in the turn-based strategy upcoming months. that was the hallmark Further out on the hardware front, Nintendo has just announced that it expects the of the first title. GameCube's successor to hit retail in 2005. The Company believes it will beat the next Xbox Expect to see AW 2 and PlayStation 3 to market by a year. on shelves this fall.