x н СТЕ LFANTASYX). ODDWORLD'S NEW GAME REVEALED 2
The Find. Mord on Computer & Video Games, iE i ST]
From Show Floor To Game / Store: Ап Exclusive Look А At The Creation ОҒ GT4 < /
FOOTBALL A A FRENZY Is Madden
Still On Top? Ж IVIAFIA ; OVER The PC Hit
cones To j 5 о 552 PREVIEWS WAR Including GAMES J Fable * Jak Il Making Sense /J Sword Of Mana Of The Video Pikmin 2 * Kameo
Game Industry's 2 " Resident Evil Outbreak Мину Madness "- Unreal Tournament 2004
|| STAR WARS: KNIGHTS ) OF'THE OLD REPUBLIC .. |
EXCLUSIVE FIRST REVIEW pg: 94 124
ERU
Downhill Domination. Are you equipped for the challenge?
Mild Language B Violence
OF Son Compute: Реб 4n: NEE m iartamfireRmerico
"PlayStation" a8d the "PS" FamityioGp are тазе: телле ntértaigmefit America Inc. [ux bis a isa ر ud ot gom.
wnpill |
DOMINA TION!
Sack up, gentlemen. The first downhill mountain bike racing game for PlayStation.2 is here. Introducing Downhill Domination; where to get to the top you have to get to the bottom first. That means bombing down wickedly steep mountains. Busting tricks off 100-foot cliffs, And brawling your way past opponents with а combat system that lets you punch, kick and even hurl water bottles. The mee’ Te latest high-tech bike
LIVE IN YOUR WXRLD PLAY IN DURS
ощ шәшшенәші зәјлашоо uos jo ѕрешәред pejersiba) әле обој Аіше- «Sd, 9U pue .uogelSAeld, 2Ш ӘНІ 01 esueoy jepun pasn "оц Jelprequiog jo х:ешәред pees! e sı QOQ-V3s ® “рәмәвән SHY IH IY әш OHL Jo 5 ешәред рәәјѕ!бәџ jo/pue әиешәрәд. әле soBoj әлдәәдзә/ seu) pue OHL 'soipmis moquiey *uwopusejds “о OHL 60020
wwoo'byy MMM е
22227) nd # gunna =
EDETE
S,n3junqs pue Syed mau sduinl pue spideu ‘sarem руп Ша|545 4unjS auesuT yada a4 ѕабцоца de] yarq Sajeaa] pa.idsu! узе ашаң |
THINK YOU KNOW NFL. BLITZ?
IT'S TIME TO GO PRO WITH THE NEW NFL BLITZ PRO. FOR THE FIRST TIME AUTHENTIC NFL FEATURES DIE-HARD FOOTBALL FANS DEMAND HAVE BEEN COMBINED WITH MIDWAY SPORTS TRADEMARK FAST AND FURIOUS GAMEPLAY, DELIVERING AN ALL-NEW NFL’ BLITZ’ PRO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FROM BLITZ AND DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT YOU'LL GET WITH ANY OTHER FOOTBALL VIDEOGAME.
= NEW 11-ПМ-11 AUTHENTIC NFL ACTION NEW TOURNAMENT-STYLE ONLINE PLAY* NEW BLITZ’ STYLE RUNNING GAME NEW INTERACTIVE SIDELINES
= NEW FRANCHISE MODE
ALL-NEW А.1.
Available September 2003
2 ә S PLAYERS
Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for Rating Information
ra e
THINK AGAIN...
шшш.тійшауѕрогіс.пеї
Span the Globe, Defend Freedom!
e Includes incredible single-player missions
е Introduces the official CS Bot for online and offline play
е Contains everything you need to play the world’s #1 online action game
vr UNIVERSAL haem
serra ritual [VALVE]
©2003 Valve, L.L.C. All rights reserved. Valve, the Valve logo, Counter-Strike, the Counter-Strike logo and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve, L.L.C. Ritual and the Ritual logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Ritual Entertainment. Sierra and the Sierra logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sierra Entertainment Inc., in the U.S and/or other countries. Vivendi Universal Games and the Vivendi Universal Games logo are
trademarks of Vivendi Universal Games Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective Owners. * Based on Gamespy.com server stats on 5/22/03.
GOUNTERÃSTRIKE
Cc O NH DIT AiR co
P < 4 4 \ a^ % A. ~
MATURE
Blood Drug Reference Intense Violence
СОУЕВ 5ТОРҮ iim: GRAN TURISMO 4
The Gran Turismo series has a pedigree unrivaled in racing games.
The three previous titles have each exponentially raised the bar in
regard to variety, options, or graphics. What is this iteration pulling out to dazzle the masses again?
FEATURE 40 WAR GAMES
Video games have always had a hand in war simulation. Nowadays, though, it's much more than that — and much more confusing. Check out our handy roundup of the most
promising military titles coming down the pike.
FEATURE 52 REDZONE OFFENSES
Every year we come at you with a gigantic spread devoted to the pig- skin. This year is no different, as we offer the most comprehensive
breakdown of what to look for in each of the sport's titles.
З GAME INFORMER
E
To ІНЕ YouR PRINZ ON
Explore, dogfight and race with some of the most freaky characters you have ever played with, in the first-and-only, fully-open, interactive, 3-D, racing videogame.
© 13 alluring characters and dozens more hidden © 12 massive and enticing tracks
© Enthralling race and dog fight modes
© Unique and mesmerizing mini games
© Amazing head-to-head multiplayer action
Coming July 2003
Log onto www.freakyflyers.com
; Comic Mischief (2 PlayStation 2 ln Иа
Freaky Fivers ©2002 Midway Home Entertainment Inc. All Ы = reserved. MIDWAY and the Midway Logo are registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission. Freaky Flyers is a trademark of Midway Home Entertainment Inc. TM, © and the Nintendo GameCube logo are trademarks of Nintendo. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, and (рох logos are either registered trademarks or trade- marks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.
EDITOR’S FORUM Chet bids adieu to the game industry, as a shocked world tries in vain to pick up the pieces. We do our best.
GI SPY The Game Informer paparazzi stalk the video game industry, bringing you candid photos of all the action.
DEAR СІ It's surely hard to believe, but we have an entire mailbag of intelligent, insightful, and even well-written letters. While some will surely complain, there are no random cheese queries or dissertations on ninjas to be found.
NEWS What's this you hear? Ashamed that you didn’t have any poignant insight to share? Get the full gist on what's shaking in the industry, who's selling what, and a few tid- bits of gossip to dazzle yer peeps with.
PREVIEWS Gratefully, a constant influx of new games keeps us busy making sure that you get all the best information right on time. We
10 GAME INFORMER
CLASSIC GI An exclusive interview with Sonic game designer and Naughty Dog co-conspirator, Hirokazu Yashuhara. In addition, we have our usual feast of Classic Reviews to wet your nostalgic whistle.
just want to keep you informed - like the nightly news without the pastel suits and helmet hair.
REVIEWS You've heard about divining rods, right? Hold the stick and it will point you to water, you know, if you were trapped in the old west or something. Anyway, we're like a divining stick to guide one through their journey within a local gaming retailer. Maybe not the most rock-solid analogy, but you’re smart and get the point, right?
ETC
| We've got more books and figures
than any edition of ETC in recent
memory. Got some extra shelf space to fill? Make it styling
7 with high-quality figures or intel- ligent reading material.
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.
SECRET ACCCESS It's only cheating if you feel badly about it. Otherwise, it's deemed a "programmed enhancement to your digital counterpart."
GAME INDEX
GAME PAGE # Aliens Versus
Predator: Extinction (Р52)....... 89 Aliens Versus
Predator; Extinction (Хбох). ..... 99 Apocalyptica . 2. 82 Breed ........ EEE 78 Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
Chaos Bleeds .... «74 СІМА: The Enemy . . 82 Day of Defeat ..... 102 Destruction Derby Arenas . 22183 Dogs Life si И Сета Sum 83 Downhill Domination............ 87 Бау Сшмога................ 91 Elder Scrolls 111:
Morrowind — Bloodmoon, Тһе... 102 EVE: The Second Genesis. N EverQuest ll.............. Meer EverQuest Online
Adventures: Frontiers ... .......
F1 Career Championship. .
Final Fantasy X-2 Fanal Fantasy ХІ. Finding Nemo. . . Freaky Flyers (PS2). Freaky Flyers (Xbox) Freekstyle....... Freestyle MetalX (PS2) . Freestyle MetalX (Xbox) . . Ghost Recon: Island Thunder ..... Gradius V
Hobbit, The Homeworld 2 Indiana Jones and
the Emperor's ТотВ........... 92 IndyCar Series. . . . » 99 Italian Job, The (GC) 93 Italian Job, Тһе (Р52). 291 Italian Job, The (Xbox) . 98
Kameo: Elements of Power. Legacy of Kain: Defiance . AS Lupin the Third......... .82 Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter. ..92 Mafia ........ BUE S А ЗНН 16 Mission Impossible:
Operation Surma............. 81
Mortal Kombat:
Tournament Edition .......... Муіліса..... УНАН NASCAR Thunder 2004: Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide . РКом Pirates of the Caribbean. Resident Evil Outbreak . . Road Rash: Jailbreak . Silent Hill 3. ....... SimCity 4: Rush Hour M Simpsons Road Rage.......... таз OSB. si аа T SS Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time. Star Trek: Elite Force |І Summer Heat Beach Volleyball . Sword of Mana SX Superstar (GC) . SX Superstar (Xbox) Terminator 3:
Rise of the Machines.......... 78 Tomb Raider:
The Angel of Darkness... ..
True Crime: Streets of LA. True Fantasy Live Online. . Unreal Tournament 2004 . Virtua Fighter 4; Evolution . . WarCraft Ill: Frozen Throne . . Will ROCK 2, ee ees Wing Commander Prophecy. XMen Legends ...............
YOUDONTHAVETO = WAITFOR DEATH. —
IT WAITS FOR YOU...
Ab I rm | THE RECKONING a WAN
a
COMING SOUN- RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW
hunterthereckoning.com/wayward
5 PlayStation.
THE HANDHELD GAMING GOLD RUSH
ANDY McNAMARA andy@gameinformer.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Portable gaming is happening all around the world on Game Boys, cell phones, and personal data assistants (PDAs) as we speak. This isn’t just an underground movement, either. I’m talk- ing about millions of people playing and paying for the ability to take their games on the go. And it’s not over yet....
This year alone will see the introduction of Nokia's N-Gage and TapWave's Helix, and 2004 will bring the introduction of Sony's own PlayStation Portable (PSP). That won't be the end of it, either. Sprint is still actively pursuing its own vision of portable gaming with phones that connect to controller bases and whatever other kinds of gadgets it can invent to explore the new frontier that's out there.
The big question is: What does this all mean to the hardcore gamer? | know that I have had a hard time answering this question. People already know and love their Game Boy Advances; and in some cases, still love their Atari Lynx, Wonder Color Swan, NeoGeo Pocket Color, TurboGrafx Express or even Game Gear. So why would we want to look to this new batch of handheld entertainment?
On one hand, you can play games on your phone or PDA. Cool. | can dig that. On the other, these games are often pretty lame.
Nine out of 10 cell phone and PDA games are nowhere near as entertaining as the ones we can find on a dedicated unit (and | won't even mention what they are like compared to a high- end PC laptop). So for me, І really can't find an attraction yet. Fortunately, these new entrants into the handheld market still have time to develop titles that bring gamers like us into the fold. We just have to sit back and wait until they give us the compelling content we demand at a price we can afford.
12 GAMEINFORMER
REINER | reiner@gameinformer.com
In Japan, Capcom just issued an eight-disc box set of Resident Evil for GameCube. This Monstrous package includes all of the RE games, two memory cards, and both volumes
of Wesker's Report. It’s an amazing compilation and something gamers would froth at the mouth for. Imagine how great anthologies along these lines would be for Final Fantasy, Zelda, or Mario - especially if you throw DVD extras like interviews, original Japanese versions, and commentary tracks into the mix. | think that | can safely say that we're all sick and tired of buying incomplete collections and GBA ports!
MATT | matt@gameinformer.com
Ah, the summer video game doldrums. It's as inevitable as sunburn and mosquito bites. | know that all the publishers are holding their big guns for a holiday release, but | always get frustrated by the lack of big-name games being released during these months. I'm not saying there's nothing to buy — in fact, l'm highly recommending you check out Downhill Domination - but it Sure would be nice to have a huge blockbuster like Halo 2 or Gran Turismo 4 to help me hide from the light of the sun during the dog days of summer. Joystick Jockey 4 Life!
KRISTIAN | kristian&gameinformer.com
| know that BioWare has moved on, but | stand firm in my assertion that the Infinity Engine is quite possibly the best RPG engine ever conceived. The ease of use, the artistic license it granted the developers, the rock-solid coding — it should never have been abandoned. Maybe I'm becoming a stodgy old RPG gamer clinging to games of the past, but | don't give a crap. Didn't the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate series sell enough to show there's a continued interest? Give us more! On a personal note, I'd like to bid a fond farewell to my friend Chet Barber. He worked his butt off for us here at the magazine, and I wish him health and happiness in his new endeavors.
JUSTIN | justi einformer.com
I'm a cheap bastard. | rarely buy games for full price. Conversely, if a $20 title is any good, I'll definitely pick it up. І don't get why more companies don't release their games cheaper from the getgo. | know the stores and the hardware manufacturer have to get their slice of the profit pie, but | think а lot more people would gamble on games – especially more niche or obscure ones - if it wasn't such a large financial risk. The lower price would inevitably breed more crappy games, but just check out the lame titles we reviewed this issue: | guarantee most of them come out for $50. Best wishes to Chet — he’s good people, and he treads the path he believes is right.
КАТО | kato@gameinformer.com
After doing the football feature, | really believe that each game out there's got its own thing that's going to hook gamers (which unfortunately isn't always true). So, don't just go out and buy the franchise you always do. Be open-minded (and not a marketing slave who thinks that "Madden" is a by word for video game football) and at least check out what the competition has to offer — | don't think you'll be disappointed. Finally, the thing I'm going to miss most about Chet is hearing him complain over the phone to anonymous and powerless customer service people about the injustice of their companies’ miscellaneous fees. Keep up the good fight, buddy.
| chetegameinformer.com This will be the last month you see my mug in the mag. | am leaving the game industry for other endeavors - the most important of which is graduate school, where | plan to study hard to help make our world the most beautiful place it can be. | want to say thanks to everyone on staff, especially Reiner for getting me a position at Gl in the first place. | also want to thank our publisher, Cathy Preston, for her amazing support, which | promise won't be in vain. Finally, 1 would like to thank my girlfriend most of all. Your continued love and direction will help me achieve my potential. Peace out.
LISA | lisa@gameinformer.com
AUGUST 2003 Volume XIII * Number 8 * Issue 124
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 • Lisa Mason Contributing Writer Billy Berghammer Mascot Arthur
PRODUCTION
It feels like there are more movie or TV licensed video games right now. If you really want
to know, I'm not necessarily opposed to the trend. Both industries (film and gaming) seem to finally be understanding a crucial point: Like adapting books to the screen, a movie's Video game counterpart shouldn't be an exact replica of its namesake. Please, add to the experience (like the plot in Enter the Matrix) or just take the most action-packed parts (as in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) — but don't recreate the movie. And to Mr. Chet: Visit, dammit!
NEXT ISSUE
We could tell you what is in the next issue of Game Informer, but unfortunately if we did, we would have to kill you. In fact, next month’s cover story is so secret, we don’t even know what it is.
But you can count on seeing Soul Calibur 2, P.N.03, Rogue Ops, Backyard Wrestling, Black & White 2, and Viewtiful Joe...perhaps. Maybe. We aren't really sure.
Art Director Thomas Blustin Production Director Curtis Fung Production Assistant Rachel Nimerfroh
ADVERTISING SALES MINNEAPOLIS Rob Borm Director of Marketing and Midwest/East Coast Sales Manager (612) 4866155
Fax: (612) 486-6101
rob@gameinformer.com
‘Amy Amold Advertising Coordinator (612) 4866154 Fax: (612) 486.6101 amy@gameinformer.com
SAN FRANCISCO Doug Faust Vice President Advertising Sales (650) 728-5647 Fax: (650) 728-5648 doug@gameinformer.com
LOS ANGELES Marc Міпавіап Southwest Regional Sales Manager (310) 459.3556 Fax: (310) 459-3526 marc@gameinformer.com
CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT
For change of address or subscription inquiry ONLY: Toll Free: 1 (866) 844-GAME (4263)
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 paul@gameinformer.com
Information Systems Manager Paul Hedgpeth paulhedgpeth@gameinformer.com
Manufactured and printed in the United States of America The Editor welcomes company product information for ай 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 2003. Game Informer® Magazine. All 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 ог 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, ог proprietary rights or violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's
statement.
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
= 72
EXHILARATE YOUR SENSES іп this all-new, all-out fast action frenzy created exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube". A Computer Arms Management System has gone haywire on a distant planet. The hopes of an entire civilization rest with Vanessa Schneider, a mercenary robot killer with a personal grudge to settle. With moves that amaze and an attitude to match, only she can demolish the mechanical menace.
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ACTION LIKE THIS.
€————————————S
| demolish robots, machines, mega weapons and
| transforming enemies with your bare hands
master stylish moves and powerful attacks | for enhanced choreographed gameplay |
f». | : |
| af IIBRAD Suggestive Themes NINTENDO Strategy Guide 1 Б. GAMECUBE. сарсот.сот AVAILABLE и
© CAPCOM CO., LTD. 2003 © CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM LOGO are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. Р.М.03 is a trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD 2003. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. LICENSED BY NINTENDO. Nintendo, Nintendo GameCube and the Official Seal are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2001 Nintendo.
CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE SEAMY UNDERBELLY OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY
1 Ubi Soft's Clint Hayashi, pictured here in GI's reception area 2 Sony's Ryan Bowling and Andy have a beer over a steaming pot of octopus in Japan 3 Are Rogue Ops producer _ Mario Aguera and Bender Helper's Natalie Salzman chilling in the VIP section of an exclusive nightclub? No, it's just another day in the ultra-glamorous Game Informer lobby 4 Activision's Ryh-Ming Poon cuddles with Neversoft's official canine mascot, Logan
5 Midway's Devin Shatsky and Jeremy
Airey pose for our camera. Hope they like this shot, or we may have to break out the flowers again next month! 6A/B Midway's Aaron Grant, Marci Ditter, and Tim Cummins x weren't happy with the unflattering GI Spy picture we ran of them a few months ago (see inset), so they marched down to the basement of their local JC Penny and had these family photos taken. Bask in their beauty! Feel the love!! 7 Justin gives а heartfelt eulogy for Kristian’s deceased sea monkey, Mr. McSwimsalot. Ashes to ashes, flush to flush
Са we у та ~GAMEINFORMER
E
soothe best game off аур Е
Fly Assortment
Line Dia 2 Fly lippet 6x Thee + 2 Adams
18 Selling Y ishing
ЖЕ anchise*
Do you remember the very first time you went fishing? The fresh air...the soothing sounds of nature
ificent 3-dimensional gre! Mm i Ae life-like fish and realistic nature acide
eei come and sliding a ore registered tna sth be ‘Serious Fun is a 12003 Marvelous Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved, ine" of Dolby Laboratories. Licensed py an te LN e M/C drana aty Trinti i Ў Pec ey тін Lie іі leg іш is o trademark of A Monofocored and printed in the USA o 2 CONSOLES WITH Duces DESIGNATION. U.S. AND FOREIGN | hanet PENDING. p Based on ttl rds sales through 2002
NATSUME”
Serious Fi www.natsunfe.com
ПП [pois р. SURROUND ЕЛ , PlayStation.?
PRO LOGIC П
, around you...the tranquility of the water. Reel Fishing III is a true-to-life fishing experience with a mag-
PlayStation.e BU
FISHINGHT!
‘el S
ІМ SORRY !!!!
est craz
10,000 didn't c
in an upcoming
A READERSHIP DIVIDED >>>
As à fan of Gl, | must ask you a question about your review of Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided in your issue 122. The game is not complete, and | was wondering how you could rate the game? Its initial release may have been Scheduled for May, but the real release is not until an unannounced time in June. How could you rate a game that was still in beta and still has time to improve even more? Granted, a 9.5 out of 10 is not bad at all, but this game may have received a perfect 10 or maybe a lower 8 out of 10 depending on the finished product. This frustrates me, as | don't like to see a game judged before completion. Matthew Via hotmail.com
just received my June issue of Game Informer in the mail today (May 20th), and | was very surprised to see a review of Star Wars Galaxies in there. | have to say that I think it is a bad business practice to do a review on a game (even if you gave it a high score) when it is not even finished yet. Presently, SWG is in beta 3 and is mostly complete, but there are still things being tested and tweaked. While | do pretty much agree with your review of the game and | can understand the desire to get a jump on your competitors, | think it would have been better to wait until it had actually been released.
Paul Blessing
Via email
* To accurately review a MMORPG like Star Wars Galaxies, one would need to revisit the title each month to account for upgrades, bug fixes, patches, addi-
tional features, and a growing online community. With LucasArts giving us the go-ahead and a launch date less than a month from the time we played it, Game Informer's assertion is that Galaxies was in reviewable form. LucasArts specifically gave us the build we played for review purposes, so any problems with our review should be addressed with them.
16 GAMEINFORMER
WOW >>>
Hello. | just wanted to 5 pleased at the comment in Issue 122, p “If you've walked through a toy store lately, the sensation that you've actually traveled 16 years into the past probably hit you over the head like a ton of bricks. As unbelievable as tl books, and cartoons bas . The Transforme Mutant Ninja Turtl Spawn!!!!) have all make a remarkable resurgence." ind those detestable Care Bears (Die Satan Spawn!!!!)” Гат a little upset at this because | trying to get this property AND others back (I sent petitions with over natures) to numerous companies and if the Care Bea me back we would never have seen TMNT come back or many other fine show
being thrown back in our faces. | know you didn't know about our hard work and you can't be blamed for thi something could be said about this
* Golly. What to say?
JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS >>>
| was playing the PS2 version of Enter the Matrix and heard something interesting. As the game moved further into the post office, | overheard two guards talking. They said something to the effect of, "Did you get the new cover sheets for the TPS reports?" | also heard them talk- ing about the printer not working. Did anyone else notice this or am I just nuts? I tried to find out if the Wachowski brothers had anything to do with Office Space. But, as far as | can tell, Office Space is a Mike Judge film.
how much | lo
ош magazine, but was not which s
may seem; toys, comic
ed off of '90s properties have become the lat awberry Shortcake, G.I. Joe, Teenage 5, and those detestable Care Bears (Die Satan
Chad pent a great deal of my time Via verizon.net = Ahh, young, observant one; you have noticed a great truth in Enter the Matrix. Although the postal employees don't allude to Mr. Judge's film when you infiltrate their place of employment as Ghost, Niobe hears them discuss a memo received earlier requesting a cover sheet on their "TCS" reports and general disdain for the broken printer.
We talked to Dave Perry (president of developer Shiny Entertainment), and he said, "The design team loves the movie [Office Space]. Well spotted." Presumably, TPS teports (from the film) was changed to TCS reports (in the game) to avoid pesky legal issues.
So, | think it would be nice If e, because we worked so h
pology was written d on this and here it is
but | really would appreciate it if зер up the good work! Thank you very much, Jeff Via charter.net
ENTER THE CRAPPER >>> im
You guys were so right! Ent is a fun game with good sound. Sure, it has problems, but I liked the story. Tommy Via email
Your nt reviews of Enter the Matrix amazed me. I've been playing video games and reading for more Enter the Matrix's reviews were: 1) distorted by ongoing PR hype that boldly pushed a video game where no game has been pushed before, and 2) asserting an opin ion that unique and well-executed cutscenes are more important than gameplay.
The contents of the game reviews themselves are inconsistent with the scores given, The four reviews pointed out major flaws and big problems with the title's gameplay, but were sympathetic and lenient when scoring the title. The movie sequences in a game can't justify bringing the re up 50 high. Movie sequences are very important tools for GAMEplay - nothing more and nothing less. If the gameplay fails, the title is bad and should be gra as such. Review grades should reflect this key aspect and shouldn't become evaluations of a movie's expansion pack.
Enter the Matrix is certainly not a revolution when it comes to gameplay, and it isn't a revolution between the game and movie industry (as it was touted). The involvement of professional directors and writers in video games opens exciting new opportunities and is a desirable result of the industries' increased cooperation; but Enter the Matrix isn't progress in this re, t's a step backward.
The title and your ambigui reviews only highlighted the fact that new ideas are needed to incorporate movie sequences into games.
Sincerely, Klaus Hertweck Milwaukee, WI
= While some readers certainly think that the men in pretty, white jackets should be called to take the Enter the Matrix reviewers away to their padded cells, other Matrix fans have let themselves have fun with a title that is a departure from the usual movie-licensed video game fare.
Klaus seems to align himself with the “make these nutcases go away, we're sick of their weirdness” brigade. From the letters we received, the controversy revolves thusly: those who say that games should be fun to play, not just fun to watch; and those who say that the games should be fun, not just technical marvels.
While gamers are ferociously divided on the merits of Enter the Matrix, it can't be denied that the movie indus- try's involvement made the game something different — and in an era of rehashes and mediocre sequels, any title with innovation should get some attention.
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
Play as young knight, Seig Warheit, who must face off against an old friend in this gothic action adventure. To fight, summon and command seven different warrior legions each with their own signature weaponry. Chaos Legion...a graphic masterpiece and savage gothic opera
played out over 13 levels of real time, cut-throat action!
p"
й
pli it
DHAS АЦ жы | 4 ! Ar Blood
| ШЕ l L CAPCOM т Violence | PlayStationoe capcom.com | ЕЕЕ
CO., LTD. 2003 CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2003. ALL RIGHTS ed trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon
D. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM logo | CAPCOM CO., LTD. CHAOS LEGION |5 a traden
| SUNSOFT, © CAPC е a red trademark of the Interactive Digital Software n 9 gistered trademark of the interactive Di
PS" Family logo are reg
READ(ER) ERROR
| have been a Game Informer subscriber for the last two years, and have yet to read any information on the PS2's infamous “Disc Read Error." | have been told that these errors occur because of voltage screws and/or a dust problem. What's the deal? My PS2 is useless right now because you have failed to guide me in how to cheaply cor- rect this problem. Until then, my Xbox is keeping me afloat. Please help me fix my PS2 or show me where to go. Garret Via email
We certainly get our jollies by helping those poor, unfortunate souls with busted equipment. For complete instructions on how to get your PlayStation fixed, check out us.playstation.com/support/howtoobtainservice or, more directly, call 1-800-345-7669 for repair pricing and shipping information. If your PS2 is less than 90 days old, the machine is still under warranty and you will only be responsible for shipping costs.
When we talked to the very courteous and informative representative John, he suggested the following trouble- shooting techniques, "Try different games to see if they all give the same results. Make sure the disks are free of scratches and/or fingerprints. Clean the disks with a cloth wipe - these are available at most electronic and music stores. Try the system without a GameShark or similar device plugged in. Try the games in a different PS2 to determine if it's the games or the system that is having problems. Run the PS2 self test and try again."
If these steps don't resolve the issue, you'll probably have to send the system to Sony for repairs. Give them a call for a shipping address, packaging instructions, and a service identification number. We were quoted 15 to 20 working days for the repairs to be completed and Sony foots the bill for return shipping via UPS Ground.
GTA: ATLANTIS
What's the deal with the next GTA title? | heard a while ago that there was a rumor that the next ОТА title was going
to take place in medieval times. Please tell me that this is not true! What would you do...steal horses and donkeys or something?
Drew Kirkwood Via email
І have heard from a few people online that there аге rumors of a new Grand Theft Auto coming out by the end of the year that is based in Las Vegas. Is this true? Peter Via aol.com
l've heard rumors about the next Grand Theft Auto game will be at San Andreas. Is this true? Cyberdragon Via email
Oy vey. Well, you want to know what we heard? Someone told us that their cousin's friend works at Rockstar, and they wanted everyone to know this little tidbit on the next GTA game: Bobby McFerrin, who will be performing covers of hits by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is supplying the seven-disc special edition soundtrack.
Stop! That was a joke, people. We don't know much more than you do (which is apparently very little), but we'll certainly let everyone in on the scoop when it arrives. The only persistent rumor we've heard is that the game will mine the pop culture treasure trove that is the 1970s. However, we don't expect GTA 4 this year, as Rockstar North's game for this holiday season will be a new franchise called Manhunt.
18 GAMEINFORMER
ENVELOPE ART
Kristina Marroquin Monkey camping? Who says this isn’t the greatest country in the world?
AUGUST WINNER! Luis 6. Cabrera
1 "There's a choice we're making/We're saving our own lives/It's true we make а brighter day/Just you and meeee!”
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO WITH VIDEO GAMES, YO?
ry “Note to self: Don’t go shoplifting in Saudi Arabia again.”
ART CONTEST TIN North Neh St 48 Flue
Mole, MN. 55901
f Charles M. Atkins — EN ' At Van Halen's request, we Nicholas Hinojosa 7 removed the brown M&M | Later, we paid this guy $200 to airbrush from this envelope art _ this on the side of our custom van. Sweet!
. 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 1st St. N., 4th Floor е Mpls, MN 55401
Maurice Johnson Superman's thighs look like butts
RIDE ІТ HARD, FAST, AND WHEREVER THE HELL YOU WANT, WITH ALL THE INTENSITY AND INSANITY OF THE MOST HARDCORE FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS PROS. HUGE OPEN ENVIRONMENTS. UNLIMITED SICK STUNTS. INSTANT GRATIFICATION. WORD.
Blood Suggestive Themes Mild Violence
à À ODDWORLD UNVEILED
Oddworld Inhabitants’ Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee was a marquee game for the Xbox’s launch in 2001, but it failed to connect with consum- ers. However, the developer is coming back with an all-new title in the series that totally breaks away from the ugly duckling of Munch. Tentatively titled Oddworld 4, the developer is getting ready to unveil a new character, Steef, and a whole new direction.
While we personally think it’s the tobacco industry's sly attempt to intro- duce Joe Camel to a new generation of gamers, Oddworld Inhabitants’ own Lorne Lanning describes Steef as a combination of a horse, lion, gorilla, and Clint Eastwood! Whatever the inspiration, Lanning is ditching Abe and Munch in favor of a more action-oriented experience that fluidly combines gameplay and story elements. Not only does the mysterious Steef conceal a deadly crossbow - which can be used in first-person sequences - but he also alters his shape as the game progresses. We'll see him grow horns and maybe even gallop like a horse. Oddworld 4 is over a year away, but Lanning and crew are hard at work blending the amazing graphics we've come to expect from the developer with this new approach.
MAGIC’S NEW BATTLEGROUND
You used to think that Magic: The Gathering was a card game only for total geeks, but if Atari has J its way, it'll soon make a complete nerd out of a perfectly normal (yeah, right) person like yourself. Magic: The Gathering Battlegrounds is a real-time combat strategy game set in an isometric view which brings all the traditional card battling of the series to life on the Xbox and РС this November. The game will feature seven Duelists (Legends) from different Magic card sets. Game Informer talked to Kirby Fong, Atari producer for Battlegrounds, who told us that developer Secret Level con- sulted with the creator of the original card game, Wizards of the Coast, over things like picking the Duelists. “The tug of war was, ‘Yeah, let's use this one,’ but that one maybe looks cool as art on a card, but not in a video game.” Another instance where compromises had to be made was in imple- d , menting Battlegrounds' exclusive swipe and parry melee moves - options not found in the card game. көн Í Е Players will create their custom decks a using two colors out of the бате 5 five schools of cards. Quest mode allows you to participate in 70 battles and earn cards (all of which have been faithfully replicated from the original game) upon their comple- tion, while you endeavor to collect pieces of
à. J 1 d a magical talisman. Online players can face | " ^. Es BET] off, and even take a peek at the cards used | } E "TX by high-ranking participants. Atari is planning | n A 82.942 downloads a few months after the game's z е r i release, although it won't divulge just what = i Д „ they тау be. , р ~ - А a LN ж 4 d - е 2. i E — жт aft mb ol. LN ——M _ DENS па 7 20 ОМИР КЕРТ: чаг: = ат е ; - y “ЭУ
Gi NEWS
JOHN WOO HARDBOILED
Legendary filmmaker John Woo is teaming with Sega for TH E MATRIX a multiyear video game contract that will include at least
three titles to be headed by Woo's Tiger Hill Games studio. MOVES ON М М Е ШЕ ene sil caw on Both new ШЫ preexisting ideas Ubi Soft’s The Matrix Online was behind closed doors at E3, but
Of Wag S, whieh рух рле coa 01 Mage ced ae now we can share with you one of the first sketches of the game. Why поета anme moo just a doodle, you ask? Well, we could go into a long-winded, patronizing
ое qnt Kongstyle brand of action should explanation - but if you've seen The Matrix Reloaded, you've probably make the leap perfectly into the gaming world, where he has 9lready had enough of that. : : already left his influential mark on such titles as Capcom's The game is being developed by Monolith Productions (not Shiny, the Devil May Cry and Namco's Dead to Rights. Tiger Hill creators of Enter the Matrix), and will feature a sprawling cityscape, a fluid Games has already started on a trio of titles, although none mission structure, and even the chance to run around as an agent! Of course, of them have platforms or release dates assign éd your character's martial arts moves will become more fantastic as you become Ў it 3 accustomed to The Matrix. As of now, The Matrix Online is only on the РС, and is 5 shooting for а release in the second half of next year. Until then, let’s dance!
SONY GIVES UP GHOSTS
Sony is cooking up a pair of ghastly concoctions for the PlayStation 2. The first, Hungry Ghosts, Sinner comes from Japanese developer Deep Space, and is slated to appear over there this summer. The Play as an assassin game starts with your character standing before the gates of judgement after his death. Whether you who has been mur- go to heaven or hell depends on your actions throughout the adventure. Naturally, this gives the player dered and sent to much freedom and allows for numerous endings. Hell. Your character For all you Ray Parker Jr. fans out there, here comes SCEE Cambridge Studios (of MediEvil and has to escape its 18 Primal fame) and its newest PS2 title, Ghosthunter. While you won't be dancing your way through levels for a chance the streets as the white-hot eighties singer, you will control Lazarus Jones while you endeavor to tame to return to Earth poltergeists run amok. The game utilizes the studio's 3D engine used in Primal, so it should look like and exact revenge. a million bucks. Indeed, the vaporous ghost effects we've seen are quite spectacular. Says Lazarus on Luigi and his mansion adventures: “Luigi is a wimp.” Ghosthunter should appear before the end of the year.
Stranglehold
This game features dual heroes, where the fates of a police- man and a gang leader become strangely entwined after the cop's son is killed.
Burglar
After your father – a thief - is ironically killed in his house by a burglar, you must take up his trade and avenge his death.
Ghosthunter
Р Га DVR YA DA b ШІСІ y Gr SHS
fi M Hungry Ghosts
| UN ND) У,
GAMEINFORMER 21
СІ NEWS
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.
DONKEY KONG:
TOP 10 GAMES CATS LIKE TO PLAY
10 Licking themselves
9 Brutal: Paws of Fury
8 Watching Seaman for hours on end
addictive as catnip
I 5 Dead or Alive Xtreme BARREL MADNESS! Beach Volleyball Pussy Party Do you remem- 91 Ti GAMECUBE ber all of Turismo 4 = those times Featuring where you Тоопсев: The were playing Cat Who Could
Drive a Car 3 Any game that lets them
Donkey Kong in the arcade
and you said snooze, like Primal
to yourself, 2 Tekken Tag Tournament “Man, control- (all they have to do is mash ling Mario is their paws on the controller) cool and all, x 1 ChuChu Rocket
but wouldn't it
be awesome if
| could play as dores х
а barrel?" Well DEVELOPER TOP 5
guess what, MADS PRAHM
buttercup?! We | ДҰ
have a break- Designer, IO through idea that allows just this! Donkey Kong: pemes 2
Barrel Madness is а four-player game that taps ША: O
into Nintendo's wildly popular connectivity. It's the Fighters)
same as the original 1981 arcade classic, but now 1
it has an extra layer of fun! One player assumes 1 Half-Life - PC
the identity of Mario using a Wavebird control- 2 Hitman: Codename ler (it won't work with the standard controller), 47 - PC
and the three other players control barrels with 3 Grand T Game Boy Advances hooked up to the GameCube. ТАҒ Functionality-wise, you can’t control the bouncing 4 StarCraft - that the barrels make, but you can choose which 5 Halo - Xbox ladders they go down. If your barrel hits Mario, you win! From here, you'll have to switch controllers so you take over the fat plumber. It’s stinking bril- liant! Eat your heart out, Shigeru Miyamoto! We just took your game and made it, like, a thousand times better!
Auto ІІІ - PS2
READER TOP 5
HANK ABBOTT Cleveland, OH 1 Final Fantasy X
In D - PS2
n December ў
1990, John 2 Grand Theft
Auto Ill — PS2
3 ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron - Genesis
4 Final Fantasy VII - PSone 5 Super Spike V'ball - NES
Carmack and John Romaro (soon to form id Software) released their first product together. This PC game was very notable for several reasons. It not only signaled the birth of an innovative new company, but the game itself was the first to bring side-scroll- ing, Super Mario-style action to the PC. This title was offered as shareware via Apogee Software, and was the first in several iterations for the series.
(Answer on page 26)
22 GAMEINFORMER
STUDY SEZ: FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS ARE GOOD FOR YOU
Our lab-coated scientists are better than your lab-coated scientists! Finally, a study that says video games (even violent ones) aren't pure evil. In research published in a recent issue of the scientific journal Nature, Dr. Daphne Bavelier, an associate professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and others found that people who play first-person shooters showed dramatically improved visual attention skills.
Despite using a small sample of participants, the study found that play- ing for as little as 10 hours bestowed a marked increase in visual skills, even amongst novice players of the genre. The benefits include abilities such as identifying objects in one's peripheral vision, switching attention quickly, and tracking many items at once. Dr. Bavelier and her colleagues did not find that games in other genres, such as action or real-time strat- egy, produced the same results. The study did not find a direct correlation between improved visual skills and overall intelligence, although they do comprise an important component in many IQ tests.
In one test, male and female non-gamers were trained for 10 consecutive days on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, while others played Tetris. Only those playing MoH showed better visual skills. While these improvements waned within a couple of months for the newbies, those who were constant gamers showed permanent results.
3D0 FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Despite having dodged numerous bullets in recent years, publisher/developer 300 is filing for Chapter 11 bank- ruptcy. In past times of need, Trip Hawkins, chairman and CEO of 300, had reached into his own pockets and helped save the company, but not this time. “While we hope that this news will generate additional new oppor- tunities,” said Hawkins, “at this point we are focused on pursuing either the sale of the entire company or
its assets.” Up for grabs are well-known franchises like Army Men, High Heat Baseball, and Heroes of Might and Magic, as well as The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse - a promis- ing title still in development (see issue #121 for more).
Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts, was also responsible for bringing the public the 300 console (a 32-bit, disc-based system) in 1993. Given Hawkins’ resilience, we've no doubt that he'll pop up again with another venture sometime soon.
Trip Hawkins
ii: dite your ian 0! greatest escane in histor
PlayStation.
THE GREAT ESCAPE Interactive Game (certain audiovisual components) TM & © 2003 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. THE GREAT ESCAPE Motion Picture © 1963 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc, THE GREAT ESCAPE Interactive Game (software) © 2003 SCi Games Limited, developed by Pivotal Games Limited, Steve McQueen TM Licensed by Chadwick McQueen and The Terry McQueen Testamentary Trust Represented by The Roger Richmond Agency, Inc. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in (ће U.S, and/or other countries. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Gotham Games and the Gotham Games logo are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. 2003 Take-Two Interactive, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
СІ NEWS
confused. Confused - but happy. Despite not knowing a lick about rugby, Scoring our first try (equivalent of a touchdown) was quite a thrilling experi- ence. Now EA is giving us another shot at glory with the return of the sport to
GOOD - Sony's ICO is returning in a sequel titled Nico.
the PlayStation 2 (shown) and the PC this fall in Rugby 2004. Thankfully, you won't be leading around the ex Velvet Although this title will lack online options, it is matching other titles from Underground "singer" to her next score.
the sports publisher in the feature department by giving fans intuitive con- UGLY – After a much-troubled history, Argonaut Games
trols and plenty of career options. Besides participating in the Super 12 and has cancelled development of Malice. Тһе game was
Domestic leagues, you can compete in World _ Cup Rugby. Players' accomplishments will earn them trade and maintenance points that can be used to strengthen their squad.
once the toast of the Xbox, but was then quietly swept under the rug and setting to go to the PS2 - where it obvi- ously didn't fare any better.
SAD - Sega has announced that it has turned off the servers for all Dreamcast online games except for Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2. If you listen closely enough, you can hear “Taps” playing softly in the background.
GOOD - Following up last month's story about the state of Washington's law restricting certain M-rated video games to those under 17, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) is challenging the law in federal court. Also, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has shot down a St. Louis County law prohibiting the sale of graphically violent games to minors.
GOOD - Tecmo of Japan is selling Dead or Alive СА. Xtreme Beach Volleyball swimsuits on its online site in == Japan. We don't know when your girlfriend's birthday is, but we have a feeling this is the first time you'll remem-
| D 77 ber it.
whole lot about the sport of Rugby, but we can bet that grab- bing someone's fuzzy warbles is something that's frowned upon
If loose lips are spraying hot video game gossip, we're sucking up the secret saliva and
Не т.
һауе ЗИ drooling it all over this section. Got а secret to tell? Email us at loosetalk@gameinform swimming er.com and we'll be all ears. 4
рот and Eidos’ Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness saga gets weirder. Despite being hiked a delayed numerous times, the team had to rush to the very end fixing bugs on the little high, game. Regardless, the title had to be out the door by June 30. The reason? That but he can was the last day the game could be counted towards this fiscal year - money that run like the Eidos is banking on.
wind
Nintendo is determined not to get behind the eight ball in releasing its next console after the competition. Work has already begun on the successor to the GameCube, and news of a renewed contract with chipmaker ATI is one of the first signs. Best of all, Nintendo is not only aiming to meet Microsoft and Sony when they release new consoles in 2006, but beat them by releasing its next hardware іп 2005.
This just in from Obvious City: Microsoft Games has already begun work on RalliSport Challenge 2 for the Xbox. The game should appear around the end of the year.
At a recent event in the UK, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Chris In a pre-match Deering may have hinted at a price for games for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). ritual, this He stated that titles on the handheld's Universal Media Disc format (UMD) squad is about could be as high as 60 euros ($70), but will more likely be about 20 or 30 euros. to undergo its According to Deering, movies and music on the UMD should be comparable to cur- bs аана rent DVDs and CDs. For more оп PSP, check out our last issue (#123).
, visit from the We applauded Eidos’ boutique label Fresh Games for publishing Japanese titles proctologist here in the States, but after four releases, things have slowed down. Whether Eidos is having trouble finding good games to put out or the company needs the cash else- where (as may have been the case with the recently cancelled Fear Effect: Inferno. Also, see above), don’t expect much from Fresh Games in the future.
How cool is PlanetSide? So awesome that an expansion pack is already being worked on for this fall. New weapons, maps, and vehicles are on the top of the list, and we hear that you may be given the chance to form platoons.
t= oo 24- “сім ake
PRESENTS THE MAGAZINE
ӘСБИ/ЕЕРФОТАКЕФӨ
Go To gameinformer.com To Enter
> Your choice of a PS2, GameCube, or Xbox system!
» Your choice of a Lazer Wireless Controller by Intec You get to choose a controller to go along with your brand new PS2, GameCube, or Xbox.
» UbiSoft Splinter Cell and Rayman 3 on system of your choice
> Go to gameinformer.com, click on
the Are You Game? icon and
ee لد غا complete a brief Online Survey. We > Acclaim XGRA
want to know what type of gamer on system of your choice
for PS2
you are. By completing the survey,
for Xbox
inteclink com you will automatically be entered
. А into the sweepstakes. > Your choice of a Lazer Wireless Controller by Intec
You get to choose the controller designed for your PS2,
GameCube, or Xbox. ARE YOU 13 OR OLDER?
> DragonBall 2 DVD. Broly The Legendary Super Saiyan | > The Are You Game? Sweepstakes
» UbiSoft Splinter Cell on system of your choice and Online Survey is only open to КІШ > Acclaim XGRA on system of your choice gnus (OF EVERQUEST,
ie II > Game Informer Magazine 1 year free subscription
people 13 years of age or older.
rvey and submit. All Onine Survey entries must be sent in by September 1, 2003.
GAME INFORMER'S ARE YOU GAME? SWEEPSTAKES 1. Sweepstakes begins 12:00 AM Central Time ("СТ") July 8, 2003 and ends 11:53 PM CT September 1, 2003 ("Sweepstakes Period’). To enter the S PS2, Ge Wireless Controller of their choice (approximate retail value $40.00), a game package
Game Informer magazine (the "Sponsor is not responsible for lost, ate, incomplete or misdirected entries. 2. PRIZES: Five (5) grand prize winners wil have their choice of receiving a PS2, consisting of UbiSoft Splinter Cel, Raymand and Acclaim XGRA (approximate combined retail value $150.00). Twenty (20) runner up winners wil receive a one-year Subscription to Game Infor (approximate retail value $40.00) a game package consisting of UbiSoft Spinter Cel, and Acclaim XGRA (approximate combined retail value $100.00). Sponsor reserves the night to substi drawings of al valid entries. Drawing wil be held on or about September 12, 2003. Winners shall be notified by email. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of prizes. 4. ODDS OF WINNI notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to sign an affidavit of elgbiltyirelease of liabilty prize acceptance with to the use of their name andlor likeness for purposes of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Employees of the Sponsor, Game Informer
responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that winners might incur as a result o this sweepstakes or receipt of prize. 6. RESTRICTIONS: Sweepstakes and Survey entres wil олу be a
ELIGIBILITY: Promotion open to residents of United States only. Return of any prizeprze ау be awarded to winner's parent or legal guardian. By acceptance of prize, winners agree е. Neither the Sponsor nor ts affiiates, subsidiaries, division or related companies are
MAGAZINE —
-218 XBOX KING
мере; Only 510 for 10 Issues! т” At Your Local FuncoLand Babbages GameStone software 4D PLANE Rg
Or Call Toll Free 1-866-844-GAME (4263)
Renew now and don’t miss a single issue!
VIDEO GAME
TRIVIA
Gran Turismo 4 is perhaps the most hotly anticipated racer in video game history, with over 500 vehicles signed on for the future PS2 chart-topper. There is still a slew of as-yet-unsigned cars that fans are screaming for. It's time to let your voice be heard! Take this month’s quiz, and match your score with the corresponding car below. Then, write Sony Computer Entertainment America and DEMAND they include it. Better yet, chain yourself to the SCEA offices until they agree to your demands. Good luck.
QUESTION 1: What does Microsoft call its
QUESTION 6: In 1998 a study was conducted to
original controller - the big one? reveal the amount, of pirated software on the Chinese market. What is this estimated percent-
A. Duke age?
B. Controller-B
C. Sidewinder В А. 75%
D. Outlaw B. 85%
C. 95% QUESTION 2: What is the name of the first Belmont D. 98% in the Castlevania history to take on Dracula? QUESTION 7: The NES game, Gl Joe: A Real A. Leon American Hero, lets you command four playable
B. Simon *Joes. Who didn't make it into your platoon? C. Richter D. Sven A. Snake Eyes B. Lady Jaye QUESTION 3: At the end of the system's life, a C. Rock & Roll company released a game for the NES based on D. Blizzard
the movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. What is
the name of this publisher? QUESTION 8: Youree Cleomil Harris (AKA Miss Cleo) appeared in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: A. Interplay Vice City as a character. What is her name in the B. Sony Imagesoft game? C. Jaleco 4 D. THQ A. Auntie Poulet B. Auntie Cleo QUESTION 4: What is the maximum speed C. Miss Poulet
that Peach, Yoshi, and Toad can drive in Mario Kart — D. Miss Cleo 64? QUESTION 9: The name Ikaruga isn’t just the title
A. 40 kph of a video game on Gamecube, but it actually has В. 70 kph a meaning in Japanese. What is it? С. 100 kph D. 150 kph A. Spotted Dove B. Gray
QUESTION 5: This is one of C. Colored Hawk the more obscure Jaguar D. Defender games featuring penguins. Although it is clearly influ- QUESTION 10: How much did the original Game enced by the Lemmings Boy cost when it debuted in July 19897 titles, it isn't exactly a puz- zle game. Can you name A. $99.95 this game? This odd game actually B. $109.95
received decent scores C. $119.95 A. Penguins from critics! D. $149.99 B. Bernard & Rodney C. Penguin Doom
D. Attack of the Mutant Penguins
BOVE Y8872790'68v0€t V7 Y'T
Video Game Trivia Answers:
GI NEWS GBA SP
CELEBRATES SUCCESS
To celebrate selling over one million units of the new Game Boy Advance SP in the United States, Nintendo will be offering two new color models starting Sept. 8 — Flame and Onyx. As you can see, that means red and black to your average Joe/Jane.
20% of Sega of Japan's development staff is being trimmed. The company is also consolidating some of its game studios
100% The safety increase now that Kristian has finally gotten a new car (alignment included)
60% of our Top Ten Games of ЕЗ will appear on Xbox. Only 20% are scheduled to appear this year
37% of the staff is psyched that video game Rugby is coming back. The rest can't wait for Field Hockey
0% The percentage of the staff using corked bats. Who's on 'roids? We don't know
GAMEINFORMER 25
СІ NEWS
KILL "EM ALL WITH METALLICA
Lars Ulrich first set his sights on bootleggers for stealing his cash, now he's going after you! Metallica has signed
a deal with Vivendi Universal Games for a multi-platform car combat game set to debut in 2005. The unnamed title will feature voiceovers and music from the band. Here's a poetic sample of some of the type of lyrics the boys have
in store for us:
"Invisible kid. Never see what he did. Got stuck where he hid. Fallen through the grid." = “Invisible Kid" by James Hetfield
Whew! To think we've been mangling the English
language all this time. At least Jason Newsted was lucky enough to be fired just in time to avoid this debacle!
26 GAME INFORMER
COLIN MCRAE RIDES AGAIN
Codemasters is already talking about the next install- ment in its racing series Colin McRae Rally 4 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game is scheduled to appear on shelves this winter - even though Rally 3 came out just earlier this year.
Besides being able to get behind the wheel again so quickly, we're excited because you'll now be able to play as other drivers besides just Colin (even though feeling the wind blow through our kilts makes us smile). Other new features include two- and four-wheeled competi- tions, multiplayer career options, more realistic physics, and the parts challenges. These are segments where you can earn car upgrades by successfully test-driving parts for companies.
2 WOLFENSTEIN? |Қ WANNA ВЕТ? (ду
ө GAMES Move beyond the mere glory of being a great online FPS player with a lot of frags to your credit. Now, thanks to www.youplaygames.com, you can start getting money off of suckers for the pleasure of killing them. The site has signed on id Software’s PC hit Return to Castle Wolfenstein to deliver an interesting twist to online gaming.
Those signed up for the site’s service can earn money by participating in Wolfenstein games and accumulating cash as you kill opponents — or lose it out of your account if you're a little slow on the draw. The site hosts contests covering all different skill levels, so you can have fun in low loss/gain events, or go for it all in high stakes battles. Although Return to Castle Wolfenstein is the only title available on the site now, youplaygames.com is in talks to offer up others. Watch your back – and your wallet!
DATA FILE
Sims creator Will Wright has signed with Fox to create a TV show based around an all-new property. Those looking for a Sims sitcom, don’t worry, Wright is also in talks with other studios for a show based on the PC game,
Epic Games, Digital Extremes, Nvidia, and Atari have put together a million-dollar contest to reward those who can come up with the best Unreal Tournament 2003 or 2004 mods. Entries can be submitted for 13 different categories. For more, check out www.epicgames.com
> Registration has started for QuakeCon 2003, to be held August 14-17 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Dallas. Apart from holding events for games like Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Quake ІІІ Arena, and Quake Ill; sponsor id Software is looking for workshop speakers. Go to www.idsoftware.com for more.
Greg Fischbach, co-founder and CEO of Acclaim, is stepping down. Fischbach will remain on the company's board of directors and also act as co-chairman.
Namco has a couple buns in the oven, included new Tekken and Ace Combat titles. An MMORPG as well as other proj- ects, are also in the works.
For the second year in a row, Nintendo has cancelled its Space World show in Japan. Looks like you're going to miss out on all the new games. Wait a minute, what new games?!
Japanese Resident Evil fans can spend their hard-earned cash on a GameCube box set that contains REs 0, 1, 2,3 and = Code: Veronica.
Also included are nf 2 memory cards W and Weskers 'W Report File Vol. 1&2.
Punch it, Chewie! THQ is releasing Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon for the Game Boy Advance this summer. The title features 14 flying missions with the Millennium Falcon. She may do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, but can she make it past our review crew?
A few properties are crossing the comic/video game divide. Acclaim has signed on 100 Bullets and The Red Star for nextgen systems. On the other hand, Capcom's Devil May Cry, Maximo, Mega Man, Rival Schools, and more will appear as comics starting this fall.
Name That Game Answer: SU09hJ0A 3U} jo uoiseAu| :uaay Jepueuiuo)
“ ADVENTURE, STRATEGY & ROLEPLAYING ALL ROLLED INTO ONE." - IGN.com
www.summirsorT.ner PAYA “all , itsoft Ri Summitsoft, Empire of Mi AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE звоно er eet ett irem gem now! trademarks of Mayhem Studios s.r.o. All other trademarks are the properties of thelr respective owners.
t's amazing when you really think about
it. The Gran Turismo series is a truly
astonishing feat in the history of video
games. Not only has it sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, it has managed to set a new benchmark for what we have come to expect from a racing game with each series addition. Gran Turismo 4 promises to change your perceptions once again.
Deep in development at Polyphony Digital, many facts regarding this massive project are still murky. What we do know is that the game will feature more than 500 cars and over 50 tracks (for reference, there were just over 150 cars and 19 tracks in Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec). For anyone who attempted to unlock the first PlayStation 2 iteration’s daunting amount of races and vehicles, this number seems nothing short of unbelievable.
Even more incredible is the fact that the original game engine has been thrown out and rebuilt from
the ground up. According to Polyphony Digital’s president Kazunori Yamauchi, who sports an aerodynamic white shirt over his compact frame, there really was no other way to do it. “GT 3 was а demonstration of what the PS2 could do; whereas GT 4, since it is built оп the same [console]
intense racing. This increased accuracy is very obvious in the Grand Canyon level where the control is razor sharp, even when driving a rally car that drifts through most every turn.
Similar to the physics engine, the graphics have also received a bump in quality. Utilizing various
~~ POLYPHONY HD ШТ ТЕГІ ТЕС OCAL
IRL techniques, the team was able to capture and create an almost photo- realistic environment. But, that is not the end of
the innovations planned
want to do as game creators."
All the modes that we loved in the original, like Arcade and Simulation, will still be here; but the team has obviously worked very hard to hone the experience. One of the major innovations of GT 4 is the rebuilt physics engine, which not only makes the cars more stable to drive, but also enables the designers to create tighter courses for even more
Р for Gran Turismo 4. Kazunori is dedicated to adding more of the human element to the title. During a demonstration we saw of the game, there were spectators who clapped and cheered for the drivers on the track, then dodged the oncoming traffic as it approached. While we haven’t seen this new addition actually running in-game, we do have confirmation that it is in the works.
28
GAME INFORMER
GRAN TURISMO
THE REAL DRIVING SIMULATOR * 4
AGO ж
91
Kazunori addresses the issue by saying, “We are working on incorporating this aspect - as we are always experimenting with the power of the PS2 - but we are uncertain at this time if it will make it into the final product.”
There have also been hints that other items (or creatures) will be added to help flesh out the flavor of the different race courses. Ani- mated pit crews have received a definite green light, but how they will affect pit strategies is still uncertain.
Like the previous installments, all the world’s premiere auto manufacturers will have licensed versions of their cars available for play (the exact models are still unknown, as contracts and approvals are still in the works). The races will still consist of six-car fields, but this time around you can take the racing online and compete against five other players from around the world.
Sadly, GT 4 will not utilize Sony’s upcoming hard drive, so don’t expect downloadable
cars or tracks. The game will also not support voice-chat during racing, but it will feature an in-depth menu screen to help build gearhead communities of like-minded racers. It is also likely that voice communication will be pos- sible in the online lobby prior to races.
Other areas of the game have also been retooled. For example, the ability to “bounce” off other cars or walls was a major concern for many players in GT 3, and Polyphony knows this complaint needs to be addressed. “One solution we are looking at,” Kazunori explains, “is to somehow penalize those that use rough driving in some form or another. Most likely time. For example, we could add a speed limiter to that vehicle momentarily to discour- age that practice.”
Curbing rough drivers isn’t the only area of the game that Kazunori believes needs refining. “There were so many races in GT 3 that some of the users noticed that, when they looked at the percentage complete, it >>
2
A -/
E FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2 Ш STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING (UP ТО 6-PLAYER VIA ONLINE) Ш PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT Ш DEVELOPER POLYPHONY DIGITAL I RE
3
CANE INFORMER” 29 |
Of the more than 50 planned tracks; only New York
City, the Grand Canyon, Tsukuba racing circuit, and Laguna Seca Raceway have currently been announced, Polyphony Digital has also stated that this time around it plans to include more “well-known” circuits
P
т a a s т ағ”
never moved. Some found the experience to be more like work than fun. | don’t want to bore my users by doing that; | want the game to be more user-friendly.”
To accomplish this feat, the team is working on adding more depth to every aspect of the game - from license tests to races. Think of it as finessing fun out of the product instead of just adding more horsepower, cars, and graphical tricks.
This philosophy is best seen in the new opponent artificial intelligence. By giving the computer-controlled vehicles a better understanding of the race and their surroundings, the Al drivers should be able to anticipate other's reactions, learn from their own mistakes, and
even have more consideration for the line being used by the other cars on the track. That's not to say they won't have emotional reactions to your driving. Bang into an opponent too often, and he will make sure to let you know he is there next time he gets the chance.
There are also many other areas of the game that are still a mystery. Museums and classic cars have been announced, but it remains unclear if there will be classic races that players will be able to participate in. Also, the Tune Shop and Car Dealership areas in the Simulation mode will get a much-needed expansion, but to what extent we do not know. Kazunori is also looking to capitalize on the recent underground street racing
phenomenon that fueled the success of Rockstar's Midnight Club Il.
"Street racing is very popular in the States, and we are very interested in that trend. ! hope to include more street racer type cars than we did in GT 3," he adds. That's not the end of all the things GT 4 has in store either, as Kazunori promises there will be more surprises.
Let's just hope it's not the release date, which is currently set for the ambiguous "winter" retail season. When we asked Kazunori if he felt the game would come out in 2003, he could only echo our thoughts with this simple phrase: ^| hope."
30 GAMEINFORMER
GT 4 will feature a refined Replay mode
The rebuilt physics engine should help players who had problems spinning out on straightaways with the more powerful vehicles
The Driving Force Pro from Logitech, designed exclusively for Gran Turismo 4, offers a full 900 degrees of movement - just like a standard automobile. Also improved is the intensity of the force feedback, which now gives the player precise vibrations from the road. You can feel every bump, and the sensation is so intense that it will put up
a good fight in the corners. All told, it makes for an intense experience, especially in the Rally courses where you will find yourself testing the limits of the wheel's rotation radius
On the surface, the game plays much like GT 3, but after spending more time with it, we can assure you that all the vehicles have a very different (and more realistic) feel once you master the new physics engine
"RECS
In regards to the new history ч Аг IVAN portions in the gameplay, p > Kazunori states, “One of the nice things about being a game is that GT 4 will give people a chance to actually drive some of these historic cars that people would normally not be able to drive."
GAME INFORMER 31
_ FROM SHOW FLOOR TO GAME STORE:
0 learn more about the how Gran Turismo 4
captures all the magic of racing, Game
Informer traveled to Polyphony Digital in
Tokyo to meet with the people who make it all happen. In an uncharacteristic move for the secretive development house, they not only opened up their doors to us, but let us in on a number of secrets regarding the process of creating this blockbuster series. If you ever wondered how a car goes from your driveway to a virtual highway, this information will be eye-opening to say the least.
From the realism displayed in the tracks and vehicles to the sampled engine sounds, no racing game can compete with Gran Turismo's breadth of licensed vehicles or its dedication to perfectly simulat- ing the racing experience.
The key to Polyphony Digital's success comes from its own "secret blend" of characteristics and statistical models that, in the end, simulates the way cars drive. Taking into account just over 30 different parameters (such as weight, speed, friction, and wind), its highly guarded formula can accurately reproduce a show floor model car in a virtual gaming environment. To give you an idea of how exact this recipe is in Gran Turismo 4, Polyphony Digital gave us some examples of how close the game is coming to duplicating a real-world racing experience. After taking the average lap-time of a Honda S2000 at the Tsukuba racing circuit, the team is able to match that same average - in-game - with only a difference of 0.4 seconds. Just to prove that it's not a fluke, we were also given examples of how Polyphony was able to match a VW Lupo at that same track, and a Mazda RX-8 at Laguna Seca - both with a margin of error under one second. Impressive.
You would think that reaching this level of detail would require an insane amount of data, but that is simply not the case. Gran Turismo guru Kazunori explains, "We had assumed this as well. But at the end of the day, so far, we have found that as long as we get the core right, usually, the rest just falls into place. The other small details just happen."
So, while the formula may be basic in design, getting the data is not so simple. Numerous times throughout the development process, the team descends on various courses and takes cars out on the track to test the consistency of the recipe.
"We try cars in GT 4, then we do it again at the track. For example, if a car in the game can take the А first corner оп a certain track at 80 mph, we take that data and compare it to the actual car on the actual track. We look at what its speed is going into and out of the corner, and various other pieces of data.”
Kazunori couldn't deny that taking the cars out for a spin is a good time, but this testing process is very important for the final game. As a matter of fact, unlike many titles, Polyphony Digital doesn’t use focus groups to see if the game feels right or is entertain- ing to play. Instead, Kazunori relies on matching the in-game vehicles to their real-life counterparts and even brings in real race drivers like Takasi Ohi to get feedback.
It all seems like a lot of effort just to make sure that | the game is realistic, but all of Polyphony's hard work pays off in the gameplay. You can feel the car slide into a corner. You can sense its bulk and the pull of gravity as you travel up and down the tracks.
What's next for the Gran Turismo team? A trip to Motegi racing circuit in mid-July where the team will get to test and analyze over 200 cars
-32 GAME INFORMER
HIROSHI 5
COURSE DESIGNER
Is it real or is it Memorex? Recreating the look and feel of some of the world’s most famous race tracks is no easy task, but it takes a careful eye to tell the difference between the photograph and the in-game model.
THE TRACKS
COVER STORY
t the core of GT 4 is the physics engine, but a car without a road to drive on isn’t worth the oil you feed it. Enter Hiroshi Samatsu, a quiet and reserved course designer who oversees the 15-person team that is charged with creating all 50-plus planned tracks in Gran Turismo 4. He is also personally responsible for the stunning Grand Canyon environment that was shown at E3.
Once Kazunori and the rest of the team come up with the list of locations they wish to feature in the game, as well as famous courses that they want to recreate, a long process of collecting data begins. “The first thing we do, generally, is go out and visit the tracks and take as many pictures as possible,” explains Samatsu. “We take 20,000 pictures at a minimum, with an average closer to 30,000. Every inch of that track is being documented. If you see bleachers or a stand there, it will be [rendered] and inserted into the game.”
Using tape measures, helicopters, and even cranes; the team tries to capture the spirit of each course. When asked how many parameters they look for, Samatsu laughs and gives it to us straight: “The list is endless if you take a real-life
circuit. We start with the width of the track and how it varies along the way. We will also measure the width and length of the red and white bumper strips. How wide the road stripes are, the height of the railing, building measurements...just about anything you can think of.”
In fact, the team often constructs too many pieces. Samatsu says, "Since the team is always in a constant battle with the amount of data, there are times when we go back and rip stuff out to make sure that the game will play at the speed and the quality that we are looking for."
Since each track design team member is responsible for all the art assets and the overall feel of the course, there are times when collecting measurements just isn't enough.
While there is no set benchmark vehicle, the team will conduct "repetitive trial and error with various vehicles on the courses to try and find the ultimate balance between the course and the excitement the player will feel [when playing]."
The licensed courses are obviously replicated down to the last turns, but for the fictional tracks, the team is able to create new experi- ences. The designers certainly look at other courses for inspiration, but overall, >>
photograph
Even the road surface is captured to ensure that the player can't tell the difference between the game and the real thing
m m
Leguna Seca's famous chicane recreated perfectly
/ ing me model
GAME INFORMER
33
p
H 64
the type of гасе it is designed for dictates the layout of the roadways. On Samatsu’s own Grand Canyon course, for example, it is designed specifically for rally cars - a demanding brand of racing that has its own requirements.
“A rally turn is very unique in that the cars drift around the corners, so those were important aspects that I looked at to make sure they felt right.” Of course, the final word on any track comes from Polyphony head Kazunori.
“Sometimes [Kazunori] will come back and say, for
instance, that he doesn’t like the fourth corner. Then I will bring it back to my team and we will sit and brainstorm and try to come up with ideas as to why Kazunori said that. What are the factors that make that turn feel wrong? It could be many different factors. It could be the arc of the curve, the bank, or any number of reasons.”
The track designers will also work very closely with the programming team. The coders can even make the designer's job easier by creating tools that instantly create the guardrail for the entire course
The rendered version has a better greenskeeper
or other such shortcuts. “Sometimes it's very little stuff,” comments Samatsu, “but it helps us get our job done, and saves us a lot of time. And let us worry about the atmosphere.”
All this hard work does seem to be paying off. It’s obvious the team is very happy with the look of the game, and the addition of photo-realistic environ- ments really makes all the difference in the world. “People will see the Grand Canyon course, and know that’s what it is without even asking. It’s nice to see computer graphics get this close to reality.”
34 GAME INFORMER
The Dunlop Wheel looks
photograph
D
»F2XEIAILOF! г. та $ more realistic in the modeled picture
in-game model
THE CARS
ike the tracks, the cars also receive a
lot of care in the development of Gran
Turismo 4. Car designer Mutsumi -
Sakakibara walked us through some | of the techniques he and the rest of the team use 3 to capture the look of the vehicles.
“Тһе first thing we do is study the car," states Sakakibara, “look at it from all the different angles, and take pictures." Like the track designers, this team also uses photography to capture the nuances of each automobile.
In fact, 200 specific photos are taken of each and every car from a uniform set of points.
The team also tries to collect as many
- қ details as possible from the manufacturers. MUTSUMI рес 1 | Some аге better than others. “Very rarely, $ A 4 А КІВ, A В. A TS ves but occasionally, we have manufacturers that . ӘРІПІ ЛЕГІНЕ 2 | / : j i are very, very cooperative and give out CAD CAR DESIGNER | [computer-aided drafting, a common engineer- à Л А ing tool - Ed.] data. Some just deliver catalogs é al
and dimensions.”
Once all the information is collected, the designers still face a number of challenges. The most difficult task is getting the look of the car perfected while working within the data and size constraints of the game engine. On average, a model is anywhere between 4,000 and 5,000 polygons. So, it takes a certain amount of skill to find the right balance of aesthetics, given the limitations of the PS2’s processing capabilities.
Sakakibara adds, “Generally, the manu- facturers are happy with the final models, but sometimes say that this particular model doesn’t come with that bumper or those alloys or those emblems.”
This brings up an excellent question, one that is no doubt already running through your mind: Will the player have the ability to give visual modifications, like bumpers or spoilers, to the cars?
“Right now, we are just hoping that we will be able to do that with some cars, but it will be unlikely that we will be able to do that with all the cars we have,” Sakakibara equivocates.
On the surface, it seems like he might be avoiding the issue, but his reasoning does make sense. For every version of a car with a different bumper or effects package, there is less space left on the disc for more cars - and less time for his team to create them. In the end, the design team believes that a wider assortment of cars is more valuable than a short list of cars that feature modifications. In an ideal world, Sakakibara would like to see modifications and damage for all the cars; but at this
time, he knows the work of creating 500 gm = a Д a Е cars is already a daunting task. <=: =n) = ЖЕ а” However, Sakakibara did let it slip out MÀ ے = є = m that the team plans “to bring most of the ca EE — 2 UM cars from GT 3 to GT4, hopefully, depend- - 3 a ڪچ
ing on the licenses.”
After seeing and speaking with all the teams, it’s evident how dedicated they are to crafting the perfect racer. The attention to detail, from the car models to the track recreations, is nothing short of phenomenal.
GAME INFORMER 35
POLYPHONY DIGITAL _
ame Informer has visited a lot of
developers over the years, and we
must admit that Polyphony Digital
has some of the most impressive digs we've ever seen. From the moment you step off the elevator, you can feel the racing energy. The entire place is designed like a high-tech parking garage. Е It even has columns labeled like a parking ramp, and an elevator that can deliver full-size cars to any floor of its Tokyo office building.
In the front half of the building, you will find a series of racing pods F] designed specifically for showing the game at conventions, lined along the wall just on the other side of a trophy case Е filled with awards for Polyphony Digital's products.
As you enter the game development portion of the office, you are greeted by a huge hydraulic racing simulator E] that was built (with Subaru's help) specifically to play Gran Turismo. Just up from there is the main testing station for GT 4, which features eight televisions E] representing all the various formats Gran Turismo can be played on (including NTSC, PAL, and various high definition sets), so the designers can make sure that the game looks good no matter what type of monitor you play it on.
All around the office, you can see bits and pieces of racing culture: shocks lying on the ground, racing fire suits [3] hung up with the coats. Plus, there are literally dozens of car
models Е in each and every cube. It's like being in a toy store.
But the best place of all is the “hang-out” room. E] Not only does it have a huge collec- tion of PSone and PlayStation 2 games, it has hundreds of magazines from around the world,
a gigantic collection of racing videos, exercise equipment, an electronic drum kit, and even a massage chair.
And just when you think there couldn't be any more, you discover that Polyphony Digital has its own hotel so employees who pull an all-nighter have a place to crash. Or, if they are feeling tired, they can just retire to the a specially built, traditional style Japanese room E] (complete with a low table and tatami mats) to chill.
Of course, Kazunori's office FT] is just the kind of stately place you would expect the creator of Gran Turismo to sit. But even his impressive office is not the biggest highlight of the develop- ment house. Believe it or not, it's the parking lot Е (which, we might add, is on the roof). Featuring American muscle, German know-how, and Japanese style, it looks like a pit stop for race cars from around the world. FF] The highlight of course, is Kazunori's beautiful Porsche GT3. Sadly (for us saps that don't drive Porsches), that's not the fastest of the six cars he owns. He recently had a Honda S2000 juiced up with a carbon fiber body and just about every racing modification you can think of. When we asked if it was fast, Kazunori just laughed.
x 36. CAME INFORMER
37
œ = = о = = - ЕЗ = =
а massive combo and then unleash it over a
RATING PENDING
Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for more info.
in the future, the most powerful substance емег created can control time and physics. Only а chosen few can control it.
But only one can save from it.
` Gun-Mode One of 3 forms you can instantly morph into. With heavy firepower, you can: UNI * Smash through obstacles 0 жж” Launch long-range attacks with guns, grenades and boomerang shots * Juggle and throw enemies for the
g ultimate punishment И Р 4 о ON L] а x I ӛ
A
S an Mered World. | www.thq.com
ат to Adapt.
Sa
{
MAKING SENSE 0r ii VIDEO
ATARY-
айы K ; па ж n rer E 4 7 CX % Д Мысы | i. 9 %» ۰ | jorge % /
iy" g
40 GAMEJNFORMER 722 | OOP Бе OO D T T C OO ee
E 77
px e eo S EN hU лала
>: 7 Walking the show floor at ЕЗ, it's not uncommon to see a host of scantily clad ladies strut- eyeing the strong sales of titles like EA's Medal of Honor: Frontline and Ubi Soft's Tom Clancy ting their stuff for the assembled geeks. However, this most recent convention was odd in games and deciding that they want a piece of the action for themselves.
the fact that you were almost as likely to see a man in military fatigues as you were a bottle Whatever the reason, it’s certainly created a bit of confusion on the part of consumers.
blonde іп a bikini. From the U.S. Army troops that were stationed outside of the LA Convention With so many military titles vying for your dollars, how can you decide which war game is right Center to EA's crowded Medal of Honor theater, camouflage was clearly the most fashionable for you? For this reason, we decided to create a buyer's guide of sorts for this blossoming sec- color of the season. The effect was a bit strange, due to the fact that every time you turned tion of the market; breaking down the differences between the major competitors in the genre, around you saw some new game featuring a buff guy in combat gear running around shooting and even bringing to light a few sleepers that may have eluded the attention of the main- Germans, terrorists, or some other breed of geo-political bogeymen. stream press. Whether you like first-person shooters, third-person action, or strategy; there
Is this increased interest in realistic military action a by-product of increasingly dangerous is a game in these next eight pages for you. So, lace up your boots, private, because Game events unfolding in the Middle East? That's a possibility, as art generally tends to reflect the Informer basic training begins now. Let's move out. world around it. More likely, however, is the fact that game publishers around the world are
GAME INDUSTRY'S <=
MADNESS
Қақ eS b SR AE SS % po 56-54
\ \
T M os wr SS SC UNT ~ Қ.
WAS
Ire mag
“4 sa
а |" м
n , 9 5 Aaa TP ee
Pata apr Pr e کے 2i mta ut اع p ot
+
GAME INFORMER 41
FoU Lu P ی oP اھ ای
System: Xbox/PC * Publisher: TH Developer: Pandemic е Release Date: 2004
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Facts regarding Full Spectrum Warrior's plotline and setting are as closely guarded as Saddam Hussein's whereabouts.
RECON: Full Spectrum Warrior totally caught us by surprise at E3, and went on to become one of the true
| standout games of the show. It's had quite an interesting background as well. The project actually started as a light infantry training simulator for the U.S. Army, which was being created by a joint partnership between developer Pandemic and the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. After see- ing how impressive this title was becoming, THQ scooped it up and is publishing it for Xbox and PC. Basically, it's like a 3D version of Commandos, but with an insane degree of depth and tactical authenticity that adheres to real U.S. military standards.
SITREP: As you can see, this game is graphically mind-blowing, and as a result has been the subject of much talk in the video game world. From what we saw at E3, Pandemic has come up with a control scheme that is fully capable of delivering a ton of flexibility without overwhelming the player with detail. Our only con- cern is that too many gamers might expect this to be a shoot 'em up based on the screenshots. This is far from the case, as you only command your troops and don't actually engage in combat yourself. Still, we'll take this over another generic third-person action game any day.
System; PC * Publisher: Codemasters Developer: 10 Company * Release Date: Spring 2004
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Features many different battles from World War Il.
RECON: As a real-time strategy title, Battlefield Command has done some interesting things to set it apart from the pack. 1C Company took actual aerial photographs from the time period and extrapolated their mission landscapes. This in turn gives players a unique opportunity to Strategize through terrain the way it looked when the likes of Rommel and Patton gazed at its possibilities. On the combat end of the spectrum, a complex Al system reacts uniquely to each formation and unit you throw at it, and the array of units available will be pleasantly plump; around 300 is the figure at present. To make sure players are getting their money's worth, over
_ 100 missions are being drawn up - some of them will be smaller in scope than others, but you Can rest assured that big ones will be in there, too.
SITREP; Battlefield Command has variety going for it. The gargantuan size of the game itself, and the fact that so many different troops can be deployed into battle in such varied locations, is certain to tickle many war buffs’ fancy. We're curious how the frequently arduous resource collection system will work, and what emphasis will be put on politics, if any. Additionally, research trees might become rather boring if players are forced to discover and rediscover the Same technology over and over again. However, the game is a long way from release, so more information on these subjects should be forthcoming soon.
-
System: РС • Publisher: U.S. Army Developer: U.S. Army е Release Date: September 20
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Present-day conflicts in a number of dif- ferent settings from around the world.
RECON: The first, second, and third thing to remember about this highly realistic online FPS is that it is totally and completely free. As the game first rolled out many months ago, the Army was shocked at its immediate and staggering success. Before the first full release day was through, it was already evident that many, many more servers would be needed to accom- modate interest. After playing catch-up with their enormous player base, the U.S. Army design team sat down and began work on what is now called version 1.7.20. However, that's a little misleading — the game's improve- ments will actually be trickled down piecemeal through patches over a period of time. A number of new vehicles and weapons are in the works,
as well as more specific player roles as medics, engineers, etc. where the player is actually required to attend a virtual class on his chosen profession, then pass a test in order to acquire the skill. A bevy of impressive visual effects are also on the way, and from what we've seen, this game will likely rival many others that you have to pluck down $50 to play.
SITREP: Through the Army's sawy implementation of better menus, read- out structure, and improved sound; the early patches for America's Army are sure to greatly heighten an already-excellent play experience. We expect that over the next 10 years (the amount of time planned for the entire project) we'll see some pretty amazing things from the men and women in green.
ж” z f е:
GALL OF DUTY
trie nonem рете penne
System: РС • Publisher: Activision * Developer: Infinity Ward е Release Date: Fall
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Call of Duty will put players behind the eyes of three different soldiers from World War II in this highly realistic FPS. The American soldier will experience the legendary 101st Airborne drop behind enemy lines іп the days preceding D-Day. The British section will focus on the 6th Airborne Troop as they assault Pegasus Bridge, and the Russian portion deals with the battle of Stalingrad.
RECON: In what may amount to a major coup, over 20 of the original Medal of Honor: Allied Assault development team defected from Electronic Arts and began Infinity Ward. It's well known that Allied Assault set a benchmark in a number of areas, so the anticipation surrounding this game is nearly palpable. To that end, Call of Duty will feature a number of different locations, and promises to convey the camaraderie of a squad through intense battle scenes; sabotage, stealth, and sniper missions; and vehicle-based levels. The Al has been thoroughly refined as well. Your squad will emulate a trained unit by using authentic tactics when faced with a firefight. Be it laying down suppressing fire, covering fire, or even pulling wounded comrades to the rear, you're in store for some impressive encounters. Call of Duty is looking like a winner already.
SITREP: There can be little doubt that Activision has a rock-solid hit on its hands here. Not only does the game look and sound fantastic, but its developer's pedigree virtually guarantees a compelling and entertaining product. The implementation of cutting edge Al technology is sure to give players a thrill, and the accurate ballistic models as well as the incredible sound should all combine for an incredible experience.
MEDAL OF HONOR: ALLIED ASSAULT — BREAKTHROUGH
System: PC • Publisher: Electronic Arts • Developer: EA LA * Release Date: Fall
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The focus of this, the second Allied Assault expansion, will be on the struggle to retake Italy beginning from the battle for the Kasserine pass in northern Africa. We shouldn't have to tell you that Breakthrough is set in World War Il, but we will anyway.
RECON: More of the same isn't always a bad thing — especially if you're talking about Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. From a single-player standpoint, Breakthrough looks to be hitting all of the high points with a lot of emphasis being put on blistering action, as well as giving players the feeling that they're part of a war; not just a single soldier taking оп an entire army. The weapons set has also changed for the long journey ahead, as has the online component. Liberation mode will place characters who have been defeated into a holding cell where players who are still kicking can then rescue them. Also included in the multiplayer portion will be the ability to drive tanks, call in artillery strikes, and defuse mines.
_ SITREP: There's a reason why there аге so many Medal of Honor games due to release in the months ahead - it's a ‘ood franchise with a lot of success under its belt. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that Allied Assault’s last expan- ion pack was shorter than its fans would have liked. Hopefully, this won't be the case with Breakthrough, and at this point ms as though the robust single-player experience and the expanded multiplayer role will keep its sales up and its S)
d >
FEATURE
Civilians have a difficult time determining exactly how many people make up the assorted grouping designations used by the military. These figures are based on Army and Marine Corps ground force numbers, and do not include armor, artil- lery, or cavalry formation variations.
5 to 7 Soldiers
Two fire teams make a squad
10 to 13 Soldiers A squad is usually commanded by a staff sergeant
40 to 52 Soldiers
Comprised of four squads, a platoon is commanded by a lieutenant, with a sergeant being second in command
69 to 190 Soldiers
Comprised of two or more platoons and a headquarters section. A company is commanded by a captain
560+ Soldiers
Comprised of four or more companies and a headquarters section. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel
1,120+ Soldiers Comprised of two or more battalions. The term “regiment” was officially dropped by the Army in the 1960s during its division reorganization effort. The Army and the Marine Corps presently use the term “brigade” instead. However, traditional regiments still use their regimental identification in an unofficial capacity
4,000 to 5,000 Soldiers
Comprised of three or more battalions, and smaller units tailored to meet the brigade's individualized and anticipated requirements. A brigade is commanded by a colonel
9,000 to 15,000 a Soldiers ; PN ~ Comprised of around nine battalions м typically. A division is capable of sustaining ongoing combat, and is led v by a major-general “ í ^
20,000 to 40,000
Soldiers
Comprised of two or more divisions. A corps is commanded by a lieutenant-general
50,000+ Soldiers
Comprised of one to eight corps. An army is commanded by a lieutenant- general or higher rank
GAME INFORMER 43
System: PC * Publisher: JoWood Productions Developer: Wings Simulations « Release Date: Fall 2003
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The United States, Russia, China, and Japan...in the year 2010.
RECON: This game flew under the radar, but won praise from many who saw it in action at ЕЗ, and was
even picked as one of wargamer.com's best of show. Developed by Wings Simulations (creators of the tank
. Sim Panzer Elite), Sóldner is a tactical action title that can be played in either a first- or third-person perspec- tive. The game's setting is a near future where world superpowers don't square off against each other with
> full-scale campaigns, but rather send out small groups of special forces to make surgical, covert strikes.
You'll be cast as a commander of one of these cadres, leading your troops as well as light armored vehicles,
- helicopters, and aircraft. Although the futuristic premise might scare off hardcore sim fans, the developers
assure us that the game is grounded in realism, and many of the weapons are based on information secured
from the research laboratories of some the world's mostrespected weapons makers.
capture the flag.
System: PC * Publisher: Gathering of Developers Developer: Illusion Softworks • Release Date: September
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Many of the geographical extremes troops visited during World War Il make their мау into Hidden and Dangerous 2, including North Africa, Czechoslovakia, Norway, and Burma among others.
RECON: Gathering of Developers is hoping to expand on its popular, but somewhat buggy, entry into the first/ third-person squad-based tactical shooter market with improved graphics, control, and a thick plot. Much of the game will find you leading a squad around various environments as you are challenged to solve a number of tacti- cal problems with a limited number of resources. One mission could have you infiltrating a base, while another may demand that you steal sensitive German documents from a heavily fortified compound. How you use your other squad member's strengths and weaknesses will likely decide the outcome of the mission. If you get bored With the 23 single-player levels, a 32-player online mode featuring deathmatch and skirmish modes will be avail- able, as well as two different single-player modes. Lone-wolf will allow you to play the campaign without the benefit of the rest of your squad, and Carnage is simply a way to see how many people you can eliminate before being squashed yourself.
SITREP: When we saw this game at ЕЗ this year, it looked crisp and very interesting. The number of different play settings is sure to satisfy those who partake, and the погніпеаг level design will help elevate the replayability, hot to mention the online modes. The engine Mafia employed is used to fuel the game's graphical appetite, and is likely to bring more fans of this series into the fold.
SITREP: This is a title that may take many by surprise. Graphically it looks ready for the big leagues, and many of its features are well ahead of the accepted curve. Wings Simulations promises that their destructible and deforming terrain engine is second to none, and they have implemented a character creation system that allows for over 60,000 different variations. Other impressive facets of the game include a single-player mission generator and the Customizable Multiplayer Modes - a tool that will make it very easy for players
to create their own unique versions of most types of popular online contests like deathmatch, infiltrate, and
44
GAME INFORMER
System: Xbox/PC • Publisher: Vivendi Universal Developer: 2015 * Release Date: 2004
Perfume River, and a number of others.
of Valor has a lot going for it.
the most jaded of gamers.
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The Vietnam War, featuring locations around Da Nang, the
RECON: Game development tends to go in cycles. World War Il is a very popular setting
for many games presently, but there seems to be a new breed of titles popping up centering around the Vietnam War. 2015, which put together a little title called Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, has since experienced much tumult and change. Seeking steady ground, Vivendi Universal has given the company the backing it needs to continue making amazing first-person shooters. Men of Valor seeks to accurately portray the U.S. involvement in Vietnam from the beginning all the way through the Tet offensive and beyond. Relying on their acute attention to detail and intricate battlefield knowledge, 2015 is setting out to create the definitive warbased shooter of its time. Featuring skilled Al, impressive graphics, and the ability to play through the game in a cooperative mode with friends (not to mention the obvious online component), Men
SITREP: This is one of the first triple-A titles we've seen that tackles the actions of this con- troversial war head-on. That being said, we're excited at the possibilities this location opens up. The cooperative play component is sure to be wildly popular, and if the graphics can keep up with the industry's ever-increasing technology, 2004 could be a very good year. We have а feeling that when it finally releases (no exact date has been divulged yet), it will delight even
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox/GameCube е Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: EA LA * Release Date: Fall
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The Pacific Theater following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Featured locations include Burma, Guadalcanal, and Singapore.
RECON: If there is one series that brought realistic, historically accurate war gaming to the main- stream audience, it's Medal of Honor. The first two PSone titles were classics and Medal of Honor: Allied Assault redefined the term *harrowing" with its awesome recreation of Omaha Beach. This time around, the epic scale will be even grander, allowing you to experience such events as Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Guadalcanal, and even the chance to destroy the Bridge over the River Kwai. At ЕЗ, EA set up a theater to show a playable demo of the Pearl Harbor level, and needless to say our jaws hit the floor when we saw swarms of Japanese planes bearing down on the gun position the demo leader was manning. Also, we duly noted the game's improved visuals, which were definitely at the top of the heap for console shooters.
SITREP: There are few things that are a sure bet in video games, but Medal of Honor is one of them. The jungles of the Pacific islands will definitely provide a richer setting for your adventures, and open up the possibilities for more complex, stealth-based gameplay. Also, EA listened intently to the complaints of those who felt that Medal of Honor: Frontline was a linear cakewalk, and is constructing levels that allow you to take multiple paths and accomplish objectives in a variety of dif- ferent ways. Also, we can expect more of the series’ legendary sound design, which |5 unparalleled in the world of gaming.
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox/PC * Publisher: Gotham Games Developer: Sci/Pivotal е Release Date: Fall
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: As the name suggests, Back to Baghdad takes place around the Iraqi capital during the height of the 1991 Gulf War.
RECON: New for this iteration of Republican Guardshooting action is more combat, and more say in what your troops do and how they do it. The ability to raise your squad members’ skill levels in whatever way you see fit will grant players a good degree of control over how their troops develop, and thereby how you play the game. Also upgraded for the sequel is weapon-specific target- ing; badly needed upgrades to the lighting and environmental effects; and the new vehicles, weapons, and enemies that you'd expect to see in a followup release. The squad-based gameplay dynamic is back in full force, as is the ability to choose between playing as a U.S. Delta Force or British SAS group.
SITREP: Although Conflict: Desert Storm received its fair share of critical jeers, many people picked it up anyway and liked it. With over one million copies sold worldwide, it stands to reason that Gotham would go back to the well. Enter, Back to Baghdad. The efforts being made to address the previous game's low points seem to be progressing at flank speed, but whether or not these changes can truly bring Conflict Desert Storm Il into the ranks of the military game elite has yet to be seen.
System: PC * Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Digital Illusions CE • Release Date: September 9
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Although Battlefield 1942 is a rather self-explanatory title in terms of when and where this game is set, it doesn't follow any dedicated storyline. Players are spawned into historic maps with the goal of eliminating the enemy and accomplishing their mission. The maps are set in and around the European Theater.
RECON: Countless video warriors have been bathed in their own digital blood courtesy of this extremely popular and well-built franchise. Never one to lay about as opportunities to make more money slide by, Electronic Arts is set to release another expansion pack featuring weap- ons, vehicles, and items from World War II that were оп the drawing board as the war came to a close. The first and most exciting addition to your arsenal is a jetpack. There will only be one pack available on most maps, put in a strategic location where both sides have an equal chance to get at it. Also included will be a Flying Wing, a remote-control rocket, a mobile anti-aircraft unit, new tanks, and updated weapons for the various character kits.
SITREP: Battlefield 1942 doesn't have a fanatical following for nothing, and Secret Weapons looks to further solidify its position as one of the premiere multiplayer experiences. It is possible that EA could experience a decline in playership with the increasing popularity of Activision's recently released Day of Defeat — but either way, this is a title that will likely put a smile on any fan's face.
GAMEINFORMER 45
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox/PC • Publisher: Wanadoo Developer: Rebellion • Release Date: 2004
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: During the spring of 1945, the Russians were in Berlin and bent on occupation. Sniper Elite is set in and around Berlin during this time frame.
RECON: This is an interesting concept from a smaller company. As a German sniper who has
been recruited by the OSS (the precursor to the CIA), it'll be your job to bump off an assort-
? ment of Russians as they pillage war-torn Berlin. The levels will exhibit а refreshing non-linearity as players will be challenged to find ways to accomplish their missions without being led by the nose as many other games of this ilk are want to do. Also planned is a fascinating split-screen
cooperative mode and an online multiplayer component. The single-player portion will encom- passes 10 missions and will allow players to switch between first-and third-person perspec-
tives at the touch of a button. An assortment of weapons is planned, and you'll find everything
from machine guns and flamethrowers to panzerfausts and Sticky bombs available to you.
SITREP: This type of stealth/action game has been generally well received in the past (think Hitman 2), and Rebellion is paying careful attention to the nuances that make sniping an interesting and fun occupation. The game is sure to challenge player's reflexes, problem solv- ing skills, and resourcefulness as they look for the perfect perch and the clean getaway. The graphics may hold Sniper Elite back, but it's still early in development, so there's a lot of time for improvement.
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox/PC * Publisher: LucasArts Developer: Totally Games » Release Date: Winter
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Join the fight over Europe, the Pacific, Asia, and North Africa as the Allies battle the feared German Luftwaffe during the four years that preceded the invasion at Normandy during World War Il.
RECON: Some of you may remember a title by the name of X-Wing. No? How about TIE Fighter? Still no? Then you're a moron, and shouldn't be reading this magazine. However, if you've just come out of a coma, and have a hankering for World War I-based combat flight Simulators, you're boat is about to come in this winter. Lawrence Holland, the creator of the aforementioned titles is hard at work on Secret Weapons Over Normandy, the second WWII action flyer masterminded by Holland. This iteration finds players joining a secret squadron of elite pilots who are bent on destroying German plans. You'll be given the opportunity to fly 20 authentic aircraft from the era through a staggering 30 missions. Considering that Mr. Holland 7-1. has such an impressive track record, it stands to reason that SWON will likely be a force to be reckoned with.
_ .SITREP: Just as the X-Wing and TIE Fighter games were able to allow any type of gamer to | have fun (not just flight sim fanatics), so too will Secret Weapons Over Normandy. We're very ~~ interested to see how this one turns out this winter, but we have every confidence that the game will live up to the increasing amount of hype surrounding it. Why LucasArts and Holland parted ways many years ago is no longer important — each is dedicated to making this title ` the best game it can be, and the benefactors of this renewed relationship will be all of us. ; дапа Holland's wallet).
22246 GUIEINFORMER
к 1
1 POOLED
System: Xbox * Publisher: Codemasters Developer: Bohemia Interactive Studios • Release Date: Winter
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: During the confusing and politically charged time when Mikhail Gorbachev's glasnost and perstroika policies were rocking the Soviet Union to its very foundation, a Soviet underground resistance group seized control of an island community. Unable to deal with this surprisingly strong threat, Russia has enlisted the help of NATO to restore order. NATO dubs this mission Operation Flashpoint.
RECON: Although this is essentially a port of the PC version, the Xbox iteration also contains a prequel campaign named Resistance, which is set years before NATO enters the picture. Players will assume the role of Victor Troska, an ex Special Forces soldier who leads a resistance effort against the powerful Soviets on a new 100-square kilometer island created specifically for this game. Of course, the original game is also available for play. As a private, you'll work your way
up the ranks by following your leader's orders, and then eventually issuing your own through an advanced squad. management system. The game's highly realistic models and physics make sure you'll feel like you're on the battlefield, and the plethora of vehicles will make sure you stay there. There will also be an intricate weather system, and even accurate star constellations for night navigation.
SITREP: The PC version of this game was quite successful, and with its additional features, Operation Flashpoint is sure to strike a chord with the predominantly hardcore Xbox audience. At the same time, there is going to be an influx of this type of game on Microsoft's console, so it'll be interesting to see which title weathers the storm the best. OpFlash looks to be in an excellent posi- tion at present, and has its predecessor's notoriety to help it jump out from the pack.
System: PlayStation 2 * Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Developer: Zipper Interactive * Release Date: November
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: A wide range of locales, including Algeria, Albania, Brazil, and Russia.
RECON: As the sequel to the best PlayStation 2 online experience to date, people around the world are eagerly awaiting SOCOM ІІ. Zipper Interactive is using this opportunity to perfect what was already an impres- sive package. Twelve new single-player missions are there, and promise to offer more variety and even the chance to work together with British SAS and Russian Spetznaz agents. But, of course, online play is the heart of the SOCOM experience, and that is where the bulk of the improvements have been made. The live voice chat functionality is slated to get an overhaul, with a new "who's talking" display that helps eliminate confusion, as well as sub-channels for defensive and offensive communications. Also, you'll be able to repre- sent your posse with new online clan rankings.
On the gameplay side, there are two new types of multiplayer missions: Breach and Escort. To tackle these new challenges, a host of new weapons are available, including the latest models of Light Armored Weapons and (yes!) rocket launchers. Of course, you'll need all the help you can get, as your enemy is now equipped with armored jeeps and tanks.
SITREP: We doubted Zipper could make much of an improvement to SOCOM in such a short period of time, We were wrong. With new hires textures, it's looking better than ever, and the play mechanics have been improved by a new “get-down” button that lets you hit the deck quickly and easily. From enemy Al to a single-player experience that promises to be more engrossing than the first, SOCOM II is the rare game that offers the playability of a console game with the depth of a PC title.
System: РС • Publisher: Eidos • Developer: Pyro Studios • Release Date: September 1
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: World War Il, with missions occuring on the Russian Front and during the Allied invasion ” of Normandy. !
RECON: Commandos has a huge following оп РС; and for good reason. Its squad-based strategy formula is a perfect mix of ` RTS depth and the actiongame accessibility, Fans expect a lot from Eidos and developer Pyro Studios, and will not be disap- -
$ pointed by Destination Berlin. Aside from the expected graphical updates (which include impressive new particle and explosive. effects), Pyro is incorporating a ton of improvements into its already impressive game engine. Longtime fans will be interested. to learn that the familiar squad members (Natasha and the Driver, to name two) have been jettisoned in favor of some new, ^
j more versatile commandos. You'll also be pleased to note that characters aren't as specialized as they were before, meaning .- E that thief characters can now do simple tasks like drive a vehicle or lob a grenade. Of course, you'll need to be fast on your feet to avoid the stiff enemy Al, which now features guards that are more aware of sound — so step lightly, soldier!
SITREP: Commandos 3 is almost certain to be a hit, if only for the fact that it still has a relatively unique niche in the market. It's also making steps towards expanding its appeal towards the mass market. This time around, cinematic cutscenes will help give the series a little dramatic heft, and a vastly improved tutorial mission will help ease the fears of those who were put off by Commandos 2's high degree of difficulty. Also, the sometimes slow pace of the past won't be the rule in Destination Berlin, as some stages will force you to strategize under duress, making it necessary for you to complete your moves before all your comrades are wiped out. Even more interesting is the addition of multiplayer, which supports up to eight players for online or LAN matches.
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox/GameCube/PC • Publisher: Ubi Soft Developer: Ubi Soft Montreal • Release Date: Fall
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Like many details about this game, Pandora Tomorrow's setting and plot are being kept under tight wraps.
RECON: Although it's not officially called Splinter Cell 2, Ubi Soft is adamant that this is a full sequel, not a mission pack or expansion. Although it's coming to all systems, the Xbox version will be the only one to get what promises to be a revolution in stealth action: the inclusion of Xbox Live multiplayer support. How Splinter Cell will work online is unknown, but we do know that there will be some new playable charac- ters (including a female agent) to accommodate the action. Also, Microsoft fans are promised a host of future downloadable goodies, including new levels and missions. That's not to say that the game won't rock on other platforms, as the already-stellar gameplay is being fine-tuned to ease some of the frustrations that we had in the first.
SITREP: Man, Ubi Soft is so secretive about this title that we're beginning to think that it would be easier to infiltrate the real-life NSA than it is to get them to spill the beans about Pandora Tomorrow. That said, we don't think they're hiding anything, as we have full confidence that this title will be worth the wait. Multiplayer alone is rea- son enough to be excited, but we have also learned that the already-amazing graphics and lighting systems are getting yet another overhaul, as is the physics engine. Looks like more money in the bank for Clancy and the gang.
GAME INFORMER 47
System: РО • Publisher: Electronic Arts — — Developer: Digital Illusions Canada * Release Date: Early 2004
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Vietnam in the late 1960s, with locations in and around the Ho Chi Minh trail and the streets of Hue, among other areas.
' RECON: If you play PC games, chances are you've already played the mind-blowing Battlefield 1942. Now, in a recently announced shocker, EA has decided to take a more modern slant on the franchise's exquisite multiplayer mayhem. Like 1942, this title will feature both a single-player experience and 64-player online matches, which will allow you to play as either the U.S. Armed Forces or the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong. Given the jungle setting, the trusty helicopter will be the main mode of travel, but we also know that the NVA will have Russian Т-54 tanks and Mig-21 jets in their arsenal.
SITREP: This product was announced literally days before our press deadline, so details are understandably a bit scarce. However, given EA's resources and usual devotion to qual- ity, it’s quite possibly going to be one of next year's standout PC titles. Vietnam is obviously a difficult part of American history to deal with, so let's hope that it will be handled with good taste. But, these concerns aside, the prospect of multiplayer jungle warfare is simply too compelling to be denied.
System: PC • Publisher: Strategy First Developer: The Bitmap Brothers • Release Date: August
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The mountains of southern Germany and the beaches of Normandy.
RECON: Strategy First is a well known force in the world of hardcore real-time strategy, and S with World War Il: Frontline the company has united with another respected developer, the Bitmap Brothers - a company famed in Europe for its Amiga hits Xenon and Speedball. Now,
the bros are coming back with a real-time strategy title based on historical events of the
greatest conflict in history. Unique features of the game include a morale system, which will
affect troop performance, a “fog of war” dynamic that can obscure some areas of the map,
and an emphasis on sound that allows your units to react to some enemy units by hearing
' them, even if they are out of their line of sight.
SITREP: While it's hard to expect this game to compete with the big boys in the genre, World War II: Frontline Command should be a
nice alternative to the Command & Conquer series for those who prefer a more realistic setting for their strat- egy thrills. There are some concerns about the troop Al and pathfinding routines, which have proved a bit suspect so far, but let's hope that can be resolved before the game ships. Despite these concerns, we can't wait to see what the Normandy beach invasion looks like from a God's eye view.
System: PlayStation 2/Xbox * Publisher: Namco Developer: Namco * Release Date: Winter
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Although the game's plot is a bit unclear, we do know that levels will take place in North Korea, the Middle East, and the Caspian Sea.
RECON: Kill Switch is a bit of an odd duck in comparison to the other games in this feature, While most of the titles you'll read about here are being created by veterans and enthusiasts of the military simulation world, this Namco shooter is actually the product of the team that created the Pac-Man World series! Talk about a change of pace. Kill Switch will offer a different flavor for those used to conventional third-person action as well. It's certainly the most arcade- oriented of the upcoming war games, but it is far from mindless. In actuality, taking cover is every bit as important as your trigger skills, and Kill Switch allows you to hide behind almost every object, wall, and doorway in the environments. You'll also be able to do a “blind-fire” maneuver, which let's you put your gun over your head and cap enemies at will (although with decreased accuracy).
SITREP: Trying to evaluate Kill Switch's prospects is difficult, if only because we know so little about the game's plot, setting, characters, and whether or not there are any other play mechanics beyond the “take cover and fire” formula, We have read reports that the lead char- acter is a bio-engineered soldier, so it's possible he has some superpowers that haven't been revealed yet. Let's hope there is some degree of variety added, or Kill Switch may well wear out its welcome after a few levels.
System: PC * Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: EA LA * Release Date: Winter 2004
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: The Medal of Honor franchise is about to jump theaters. The Pacific is а big place, and the Japanese owned а lot of it during World War Il. Pacific Assault will send players to many of the better known locales in that big body of water west of California.
RECON: Pacific Assault is quite a ways away from its eventual release next year, but as expected, the EA LA team is hard at work on the project, and it is already turning heads. The level everyone knows about at present is of course the Pearl Harbor scene where a peaceful December day is shattered by a savage Japanese air assault. As you progress through the game, you'll find a greater emphasis put on individual character progress, and it's likely that for the first time, the player will see the face of 1
his onscreen alter ego, апа watch as he ages and takes on the 1,000-yard stare. Although
the game will run on the same Quake III engine, improvements are being made to everything from the water effects to the textures themselves. The action will still be intense, and the close proximity of jungle fighting will likely heighten the suspense and urgency of each mission.
SITREP: Most everyone familiar with this franchise remembers the much talked about Omaha Beach scene from Allied Assault. Pacific Assault representatives are promising other such memorable moments, but more importantly, they're also promising not to gut the gameplay for- mula that has brought the series such acclaim. Will the loss of the 20-plus members of Allied Assault's development team make a difference in this title’s overall quality? As with all things, time will tell - but every indication we've seen leads us to believe that Pacific Assault will be every inch the game its predecessor was.
DOM FIGHTERS System: PlayStation 2/ Xbox/ GameCube
Publisher: Electronic Arts • Developer: 10 Interactive Release Date: August 29
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: New York City, in an alternate uni- verse where the U.S. lost the Cold War and Russkies rule the globe.
RECON: Wow, this game goes through more name changes than
01" Dirty Bastard (that’s Dirt McGirt to you). First it was Freedom:
The Battle for Liberty Island, then it was Freedom: Soldiers of
Liberty, now it's known as Freedom Fighters. Whatever the title,
this game was playable - and very impressive - on the show floor
at ЕЗ. It's really amazing how IO Interactive has come up with a
control scheme that allows you to both engage in third-person action and command a squad of freedom fighters with a minimum of hassle. Through a system of icons, you'll be able to tell your men to follow, attack, or to take out specific installation or enemies. Even better, EA has just confirmed that the title will be coming to GameCube, a system that often gets left out of the military scene.
SITREP: While console squad-based action has traditionally been a mess of suspect Al, clunky control, and annoying level design, Freedom Fighters actually seems to be hitting all the right notes. So far, it appears to have the elusive quality of being “easy to pick up, difficult to master" down pat. Don't be scared, you're in good hands with IO Interactive.
"ed COUNTER-STRIKE: CONDITION 2 $ COUNTER-STRIKE
System: Xbox/PC • Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Valve • Release Date: August 12 (PC), Late October (Xbox)
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Both versions will focus on theoretical present-day conflicts and areas of interest.
RECON: Let's put an end to all of the confusion surrounding these titles right now. The PC version (Condition Zero) is embracing the single-player side of gaming with ап 18 mis- sion fragfilled extravaganza; and has an updated online component with addtional maps, an official bot for online and offline play, and updated graphics. The Xbox version will also have online and offline play in addition to exclusive maps for both modes, as well as the inclusion of the popular levels from the original PC title. Valve representatives have also told us that the graphics for Counter-Strike X will eclipse its PC companion. We'll believe that when we see it, but each version of this title sounds like it will be building on the enormous success of the original.
SITREP: When Counter-Strike first hit the scene, it reached an elephantine popularity level. Not only was it incredibly fast and challenging, but it was also heralded for exhibiting an astonishing amount of accurate military detail. Drawing on this huge installed base of gamers and the popularity of the subject, Valve has taken the next logical step with the introduction of both the Xbox and PC updates. Will the Xbox version be able to give the popular Ghost Recon franchise a run for its money? Will the PC version be able to fend off the ever-increasing number of competitors? These remain to be seen, but the Counter- Strike family is definitely a good one to belong to if you're looking to make your mark.
:R0/
RAINBOW SIX 5
System: Xbox * Publisher: Ubi Soft Developer: Ubi Soft Montreal
Release Date: November 18 E EY E
7^
THEATER OF OPERATIONS: Several undisclosed locations in ы >
vp /% the Middle East. > RECON: We know what you're thinking: “I've already played this on PC, why bother with the Xbox version?” Well, Ubi Soft has a little surprise in store for you. This is not a port, but rather a standalone title built from the ground up with an engine that utilized portions of the Splinter Cell architecture. An entirely new plot line has been created, and numerous tweaks have been made to the gameplay, putting less of an emphasis on tactical-preplanning and more of
a focus on action. Also, taking a cue from SOCOM, you'll be able to use the Xbox Voice Communicator to order around your troops. This will also come in handy during the game's Xbox Live mode, which will feature both Vs. and co-op play, and online stat tracking.
пръст | + -— D” ма (5.56мм)
[= ==")
лік! Е [ secunnoostace )
SITREP: This looks like something special, at least special enough for the game's lead producer, Chris Lebbos, to boast,
“Rainbow Six З will be the best-looking game released this fall – hands-down.” Them's fighting words, but a look at this screen- ` shot should be enough to convince you that Rainbow Six 3 has enough bite to back up its bark. With some awesome Xbox Live г functionality, this could be the best competition for Counter-Strike X this year. We can't wait.
" 47 0 22
To those of us not іп the military, all of the titles and
FEATURE
uniform insignias are a bit of a puzzle. Seeing this, we've seen fit to enlighten those less informed with this handy
include a full run-down of the Army's rank structure.
PRIVATE
PRIVATE FIRST Сі58.......................21..2.0....
SPECIALIST И (when required, ranks under Corporal)
CORPORAL ccscssssccssesschonscrursvecsadonstaccanaewessanstasun
STAFF SERGEANT ........... eee
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ...................
MASTER SERGEANT ..........................4..24.....
FIRST SERGEANT.............. een
SERGEANT MAJOR...
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR .............
SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY ........................ (unique post)
SECOND ШЕШТЕМАНТ........................»
FIRST LIEUTENANT .......... enn | САРТАН онон aa І | MAIOR ................... “еееенене LIEUTENANT COLONEL... sz COLONEL... BRIGADIER GENERAL... * MAJOR бЕмЕНАІ......................... имен» ++ LIEUTENANT GENERAL... жж бЕМЕЙДІ..................... esonnocos AAAA GENERAL OF THE АЯМҮ....................... : X^ (wartime rank only) ж GAME INFORMER
chart. Due to space constraints, we were only able to
49
THEM TON’ 6 CHOSEN FE
WR ARE SWE Be SILENT, AND INVISTELES * =
WE WITE NEVER еар RENDER.
WE FIGHT, SO THAT'PEACE-MAY REIGN.
WE AN DoT нек "Ән O'S ТТ 2
ae
UE .
SQUAD-BASED BATTLEFIELD COMBAT
With a леу ніс player Camia h. l2 new multiplayer maps. e&nd'dowaloadable'missions. the TOTAL BARBLEFIELD EXPERIBNGE just got а whole lot steamier
death, the Ghosts battle a drug-funded warlord threatening Cuba's first frée elections in decades.
. In the wake of Castro's
It's up to you and y6tt team to take the fight to the enemy in the streets. beaches. and jungles of
Cuba. Take on rebels. irregulars, and mercenary troops to face the Ghosts greatest challenge yet.
Blood and Gore - Violence | Ubi Soft М
and Re
d Storm Enterthinment are trademarks of Red Storm ny. lom € fan s s Ghost Rex
na trad of Ubi Sofi
re registered trademar e ade
- ЖА Tom Clancy's ж із Жы; p5: 24
o
TW
Кт Tom Clancy's
GHOST RECON
ISLAND THUNDER
owen pe[qeug HHG ХОЯХ pe ЧІ. :uo»sg3soqo 9 оеро wop — Ж
In football, being in the redzone means you're inside your opponents’ 20-yard line, which puts you іп a good position to come К ееріп, g Score away with a touchdown. An effective offense is capable of converting these chances into seven points a high percentage of the time. Each of this year's football games Is loaded with offensive weapons, Fans of all stripes will be pleased to find that each т т , publisher's title has unique features to get you excited, which helps them turn their own redzone chances into points on the With This Year $ board. You'll have your pick of suitors and can choose the team that you feel is the best fit for your tastes, Is NFL Blitz's new direction worth checking out? Who's got the deepest franchise mode? What makes GameDay's online func- Fo otb a IT | Cro tionality so great? What's Sega doing that Madden isn't? How has NFL Fever changed for the better? These questions and more р will be answered in the following pages, as Game Informer runs through the ins and outs of your favorite franchises as well as what to keep your eyes open for in this year's batch of football titles.
All facts and figures are subject to change by the developer
Madden NFL 2004 ESPN NFL Football NFL Fever 2004 NFL GameDay 2004 NFL Blitz Pro Platform(s) PS2, Xbox, GC, PC PS2, Xbox Xbox Р52 Р52, Xbox, GC Publisher EA Sports Sega Sports Microsoft Sony/989 Sports Midway Sports Developer EA Tiburon Visual Concepts Microsoft RedZone Interactive Midwa Release Date August 18 September 2 August 13 August 12 September 3 Franchise Mode/# of Years Yes/32 Yes/30. Yes/25 Yes/20 Yes/10
Multiple Franchise Users Yes Yes Yes No Yes Fantasy Draft Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tournament Mode Yes Yes Yes Yes
oo — 8 198 668 о l1 Expansion Mode No No No Yes No Preseason Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Create-a-Team Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Create-a-Player Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Create-a-Play Yes No Yes Yes No Pro Bowl Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ly) Yes Yes
Hall of Fame Yes (PC onl No
User Stat Tracking Yes Yes. Yes Yes Yes No No ooo ND 5___
Middle-of-Game Saves Yes No Yes # of Plays per Team 240 Off. and 140 Def. 500 650 Avg. 375 Off. and 125 Def. 300 # of Off. Play Formations 13 Avg. 30 27 25 Avg. 9 # of Def. Play Formations 9 Avg. 5 21 T. 7 # of Polygons per Player 2,400 5,500 8,000 2,800 3,000 # of Player Animations 2,500 2,600 2,000 1,400 1,500 # of Stat Categories 299 350 69 150 87 Off. Hot Routes/# of Routes Yes/8 Yes/9 Yes/7 Yes/8 Yes/5 Def. Hot Routes/# of Routes Yes/3 Yes/13 Yes/6 Yes/4 Yes/5 Assignable Defensive Backs No (DBs can swap spots) Yes Yes No No Online Play/Band S sd & Yes/Broad & Narrowband Yes/Broadband Yes/Broad & Narrowband Yes (PS2 only)/Broadband Online Chat/Method Yes/Voice and Keyboard Yes/Voice and Keyboard Yes/Voice Yes/ Voice and Keyboard Yes/Voice and Keyboard Bam Nese terrae Yes/Yes Yes/Yes Yes/Yes Yes/Yes Yes/No Roster Downloads/Frequency Yes/Two Weeks Yes/Three to Four Weeks Yes/Two Weeks Yes/Weekly Yes/(TBD) Online Matchmaking Yes Yes Yes No No Fair Play Settings Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Online User Stat Tracking Yes Yes Yes Yes No Web Page Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Real-Time Results Ticker Yes No Yes (via PC Yes No Online Message Board Yes Yes Yes Yes No Non-Default Rosters Online Yes Yes Yes Yes No Online Subscription Price Free Free Free Free Free
John Madden, Al Michaels, ^ Chris Berman, Dan Stevens, т 3 Dick Enberg, Dan Fouts, Peter Grosz and commentary Melissa Stark Peter am Kevin Calabro and Ron Pitts ian age Keegan-Michael Key Cover Star Michael Vick Warren Sapp Peyton Manning LaDainian Tomlinson Terrell Owens
52 GAME INFORMER
5 PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX
а PUBLISHER SEGA SPORTS I DEVELOPER VISUAL CONCEPTS ш RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2
tried to take on the juggernaut that is Madden. The result? While critical opinion was very high on NFL 2K3, sales weren't. Despite dropping the GameCube from its sports plans, don't think for a'second that Sega is backing down an inch. With a new name for its franchise, this year's effort from Visual Concepts is a daring attempt that is not only their best yet, but one which could change the way we play football from now on.
EA Sports' motto may be "It's in the game," but ESPN actually puts you there through optional first-person play. That's right; you'll be able to drop back, scan the field with your right analog stick, and make the correct reads before you toss the ball — all from the eyes of the quarterback.
Ae: accruing experience and accolades, last year Sega
DEPTH CHART
(Preseason Estimates Only)
90 90 90 80
Frontend Gameplay Online Graphics
Once the receiver catches it, you'll be switched to his perspective. Imagine running a route over the middle and getting smacked by a waiting safety, or being blindsided
by cover boy Warren Sapp. Big hits like these can even knock you unconscious momentarily. When you come to, the first thing you'll see is blue sky and the trainer over you. To help players adjust to the speed of this new mode, two aides are given. First, arrows on the side of the screen indicate when someone's charging you from behind or outside your view. These get redder as they approach. Second, by hitting R3, players can momentarily slow down the game in order to help with decisions. This feature is available as a meter that has to be charged up. Although only exhibition play is available
in this mode (the game's Franchise mode uses the standard
A After scoring, the fans still call Pinkston a “no-good bum"
SCOUTING REPORT
-pers football mi not be for everyone, bu ^ > astonishing, Regardless, crt ino her areas also wa
SEGA'S FIRST-PERSON FOOTBALL MAY
REVOLUTIONIZE THE GAME
third-person view), Sega's First Person Football is far from a gimmick. However, getting used to changing players on defense can take some time.
ESPN NFL Football is making strides in other areas as well. New player models have been added, as has a more friendly – non-analog - play-calling system. Off the field, fans will enjoy the increased “primetime” presentation (including Chris Berman's analysis before, during, and after the game), an improved Franchise mode, and the new Crib area where you can chill out between games and admire over 300 unlockables. Elsewhere, challenges remain such as improving passes over the middle and smoothing the animations.
A
GAME INFORMER
-F
ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTERS BRISKET SANDWICH SPINACH PIE
POPCORN
РОР
BEER
E ц 54 GAME INFORMER
Playmaker controls on offense (above) allow Bruener to get open and on defense (below) for the safeties to shift
comes up every year. Who do you please: pick-up-and- play fans of the series or the hardcore sim guys? It’s not an easy decision to make. This year’s Madden asks: Why not try to do both?
EA Sports representatives GOOD DEPTH
told us that the new Playmaker
controls (allowing the QB to
dictate receivers to break MAKES IT HARD out of their routes via the
right analog stick when you TO BEAT
move out of the pocket) were
designed specifically for cover star Michael Vick. Well, for those of you who like to sit down and play a wide-open game of football, you'll appreciate the options this gives you. The new play-calling menus offer other gameplay bonuses, such as additional plays, formations, and personnel packages to tinker with. To counter your plans, defenses have an extra nickel formation, the ability to rotate the coverage of their safeties, and a run-stuffing option. On top of this are a host of momentum-based animations that scream realism.
To the hardcore sim crowd: Prepare to have your mind blown. The Owner's mode brings depth that is unparalleled in any other sports game - period. Not only are you in charge of the team's finances (including determining signing bonuses for contracts), but you control its very look. Redesign your stadium, change the uniforms, rename the franchise, or move the team. Even the hot dogs fear your power. Coaches and trainers have been added to the mix to aid your Super Bow! quest, and the Mini-Camp minigames are back and better than ever. A pass-catching drill is new, as is your ability to add stat points to players that run these drills well. As with any team, Madden brings up concerns heading into the season, including having more over- the-shoulder catches, smarter defensive backs, and the elimination of the dreaded "catch-up АІ.”
Can fans have it both ways? Yes. Pick-up-and-play people will enjoy how open and intuitive, yet complex, the game can be. Madden's greatly expanded online plans (PS2 only) open up a whole new world to the casual player, giving everything from broadband to voicechat to numerous ways to Structure your tournaments and play style — including a way to cut cheaters out. GameCubers can hook up their GBAs to get exclusive Madden cards, as well as see cheerleader animations, stats, and suggested plays on their handheld.
DEPTH CHART
(Preseason Estimates Only)
F- a sports developer like EA Tiburon, the question
95 oo 90 80
Frontend Gameplay Online Graphics
W Coach will say things like, "Watch for the draw play. And someone get me a hot dog - NOW!”
a EEE <=)
[Won the 24
~ > 2 ғ А: а relatively successful first year, Microsoft rested a fly pattern and you need to throw it over the shoulder беен 4 ғ т оп its laurels and released a follow-up title in 2002 opposite the defensive back to avoid the pick. The Read Belsncet mr Qs Ah. that was largely unchanged. Big mistake. Like the and Lead system also brings out Fever's added animations, " YN Redskins' coach Steve Spurrier, the company found that it with behind-the-body catches and more. Gang tackles are couldn't hang with the big boys. Welcome to the video game abundant this year, and the character models and faces 7 M NFL, where there is no offseason. This year, however, lessons һауе been tweaked. Defend Вик Defend Pass
have been learned and changes - even innovations - have Defenses have their own tricks, too. Before the snap, you been implemented. Now that’s more like it. can send linebackers on fake blitzes, shift the line, and your Leading the charge this year is the Read and Lead DBs can be told to cover either on the inside (to jump on passing system. After the snap, the player will have control quick slants) or outside of a receiver (to guard against fly гі 4 h's Help Ô Bluff п of a reticle on the field through the right analog stick. You patterns down the sideline). The question remains, however, position this to wherever you want to throw the ball and as to whether or not defenses will be able to guard against then you fire away. The benefits of this are many. Not only the bomb pass - as well as the running game - which has does it add an extra dimension of skill to your air attack been so effective for offenses in previous editions of Fever. (you can also use icon or trigger passing); it allows you This year's changes should make online, through the all- more precision than before. Maybe you inclusive XSN network, even more have to throw it to the sideline on a quick МЕМ BLOOD BRIGHTENS enjoyable. The ability to create your out pattern so the cornerback doesn't own tournaments through a variety
jump on the ball and intercept it for a quick ГА of filters is cool, as is having your six. Or, perhaps the receiver is running FEVER 5 PROSPECTS entire Microsoft sports bio handy.
Help Pause
DEPTH CHART
(Preseason Estimates Only)
80 80 85 85
'Y Some tackle animations will crash out of bounds
ПЕ:
м. اتا C جت 35 о w cd ad تل“
emeg d
A Here, Collins can use Read and Lead to either hit Shockey Frontend Gameplay Online Graphics in the flat or throw Toomer a fade to the sideline
GAME INFORMER 55
WELCOME p
N Dy USER NAME 4 ғ GAMEDAY RANK: a c p^ ; 989 RANK: ғ АСР АР M ` + LEADERBOARDS AFFILIATION: TS z T TOURNAMENTS E m STATISTICS . — Bc 2, MESSAGE BOARD | RECORD AVG PTS SCORED MAIL / FEEDBACK | AVG prs ALLOWED p POLLS / SURVEY AVG TDS Y AVG RUSH YDS
NEWS / PROMOS AVG PASS YDS ROSTERS í AVG 3RD DWN %
STREAK EDIT PROFILE | DISCONNECTS
Astros 37-29 0 7:05-ET Red Sox 36-28 0
ҒІЛбатерау, 2004!
А: Sony's ЕЗ press conference this changes), tournament options
year, the company celebrated its GAMEDAY I$ STARTING (up to 64 participants), and even new online partnership with EA a real-time sports ticker that
keeps you updated on all the 989
Sports. Wait a minute. Doesn't Sony itself make Madden rival GameDay?! Despite TO ADDRESS ITS online games being played at that
this obvious disrespect, 989 and developer particular moment.
RedZone are working overtime to bring their Last year, GameDay trumpeted product up to speed, and oddly enough, AREAS OF NEED an all-new engine. For 2004, the GameDay is sporting a very robust online overhaul continues. Everything
component — take that, EA Sports! in the looks department has been redone. Totally new While Xbox owners have bragged about having voice models, more dynamic lighting and shadows, detailed fields technology before everyone else for online play, GameDay and stadiums, and a bunch of new animations are just the is taking things one step beyond. Voice recognition has beginning. Beyond simply being neat to look at, the latter been added, allowing you to call plays, check hot routes addition is very important. Whereas before your offensive at the line (the number of which have doubled), and even tackles used to be very stiff in their pass protection, now talk in the huddle with others on your team. Imagine the they'll block more realistically and actually slide out to form DEPTH CHART guy controlling Keyshawn Johnson screaming at you to a true pocket. Likewise, the improved pass-catching Al will (Preseason Estimates Only) give him the damn ball! Apart from this, Sony is putting bring out more animations than ever, such as sideline grabs. together an online package that includes synchronization To round things off, GameDay's playbooks are the result of with a 989 website (including a message board covering RedZone watching hours of official NFL film to make sure both your PS2 and PC), weekly roster updates (with rating that teams’ formations and tendencies are correct. 75 75
90
Frontend Gameplay Online
56 GAME INFORMER
80
Graphics
PLAYSTATION
NFLIBIitz
idway's Blitz once labored under а curse similar
М to the Cincinnati Bengals: different year, same lousy results, Like the Bungles, this franchise
is undergoing significant changes. Unlike them, however,
Midway looks to be set
for a breakout year. The A NEW
series has switched
to 11-on-11 play, and
this has opened huge DIRECTION
doors for the game - but
without taking away from
the bruising hits or fast REVITALIZES
action that it is known for.
The changes this year have made Blitz THE FRANCHISE a legitinate contender among the sim titles. This is because it gives players many of the staples of the realism-based games. Offenses can give their Impact Players hot routes, defenses can blitz on the fly, and there’s even a running game. Best of all, Midway is working really hard to make its players think and react like they would in real life. Sure, you'll still have those leaping one-hand catches by receivers, but you'll also see DBs cover their zones like they should or offensive linemen pull and block accurately. All of this takes place at the fast pace you're used to, not to mention the post-play late hits – which include taking out players and coaches on the sidelines!
Blitz Pro even has a Franchise mode. In proper Midway fashion, it adds a twist to the usual lineup of stats and roster management. Do well and you'll earn points you can apply to your player's attribute ratings. We've been told there are over 30 different ways to earn these points, such as a blowout bonus (beating someone by more than 20), defeating a division rival, or having a player rank among the NFL's elite in stats. In exhibition play, you can spend these points at the Blitz shop, where things like fantasy teams can be unlocked.
Not to be outdone, Midway is also competing in the online (PS2 only) arena. Apart from using voice chat, the game is instituting an awesome tourney system. The Blitz Pro Tournament will consist of five tiers, with everyone starting on the bottom. In order to move up the ladder, you have to play 10 games with different teams, and those with a certain record can move up to the next tier. Fail that, and you'll be bumped down into a lower level - although you Still have a chance to work your way up again. Champions should be crowned about every month, and will be awarded various prizes.
DEPTH CHART
(Preseason Estimates Only)
80 80
Frontend Gameplay Online ^ Graphics
on
A Nothing feels better than bowling over the coach who cut you from your old team
A Goaline bragging can make you cough up the ball if you’re not careful
5 ate 0:00
A Blitz Pro's commentary contains musings on Corky Romano, microwave beef jerky, and the AFL — the Azerbaijani Football League
GAME INFORMER
You'll marvel at Fable's detailed environments - they even have stairs!
Magic can be your character's focus, or help enhance combat
58
GAME INFORMER
жж
FABLE
WHAT A TALE WE HAVE TO TELL
Ever since we broke the story on Peter Molyneux's epic Xbox action/RPG, Fable, back in January, gamers around the world have been waiting with bated breath for the title to arrive on store shelves. Unfortunately, recent reports have confirmed our suspicions that the game is going to slip to a 2004 release date. Let's hope that Big Blue Box and Lionhead are making the most of their time, as this is one of the games that Xbox fans are counting on. From what we saw at а behind-closed-doors demonstration of the title at ЕЗ (hosted by Molyneux himself), Fable certainly looks to be coming along nicely.
“One thing [I've noticed] with role-playing games," com- mented Molyneux, "is quite often the world doesn't seem to notice that I'm doing anything heroic." This observation goes а long way towards illustrating what makes Fable such a unique experience: the constant interaction and cause-effect relation- ship between the player and the world.
Like any good RPG, Fable's basic gameplay structure revolves around accomplishing various quests. However, the way that you complete these quests will depend on just how daring you are. Throughout the world are many Hero Guilds, where you go to get quests and address your adoring fans. On these platforms, you can increase the stakes of every quest though the “boasting” system. For example, we saw one of the developers bet a portion of the 100 gold coins he was to be awarded for saving five maidens by claiming he could do it without health power-ups, without weapons, and finish in under three minutes.
With the money you earn, you'll be able to buy items, weapons, and even houses. For those of you with aris- tocratic ambitions, you can purchase titles like "Slayer of the Longsword" (might we suggest "Farmer Ted,
King of the Dips* *ts?"). Of course, Molyneux revealed that some Lionhead game testers are actually doing a
STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG E RELEASE 2004
little dastardly insider trading by sneaking into towns during the night, killing shop owners, and then buying up the stores the next day at fire-sale prices.
Certainly, we would never endorse that type of behavior. Unfortunately, it seems like the saucy boys at Big Blue Box have a few other rude skills for you to pick up along the way. By far the most impressive aspect of Fable we saw is the advanced learning system that has been put in place. Walking through the world, if you see an NPC engaging in some activity you've never seen before (these could range from combat moves to new vocabulary words), an icon will appear over them. All you have to do is assign that skill to one of your eight d-pad slots (more can be saved to be swapped in and out), and you have now acquired that ability. While most of you will use this to gain new tactics, we have heard that some sickos in Fable have already learned how to belch, fart, and relieve themselves at will. Conker, eat your heart out! As you can tell, in the world of Fable, the possibilities truly are endless.
ғ т X r
Characters will evolve in many ways. Hopefully yours won't have disturbing chest hair
LISHER MICROSOFT Ш DEVELOPER BIG BLUE BOX/LIONHEAD STUDIOS
$ Check out the elaborate outfit on | j this warrior character
Pu :
ter will develop some skills more than others
|
Swordplay is always ey, but sometimes you really just need a giant can of Raid
Fable will give you the chance to fight grotesque, hairy-backed creatures — like your mother! (Zing!)
PLAYSTATION 2
JAK Il
JAK: BACK, AND BETTER THAN EVER
In our Jak Il cover story (Issue 120), Game Informer was allowed to spill the beans on the sweeping changes being implemented by the Naughty Dog team. This time around, you'll be doing everything from piloting flying vehicles and blasting foes with a host of hightech armaments to busting tricks on а hoverboard. As generous as the boys were with us, there were still a few details left undisclosed.
While we did get Naughty Dog's Jason Rubin to confirm that Daxter would indeed be a playable character this time around, he was a little vague as to just what kind of gameplay this would entail. Thankfully, our well-placed mole in Santa Monica has now uncovered the inside scoop on Daxter's antics. Although he will only star in a few sequences, Jak II will see him stretching far beyond the second-banana role he played in the first adventure.
Jak hops in a mysterious rig to do some laser blasting
60 GAME INFORMER
Acouple of the game's numerous minigames will star Daxter, one of which will see the little guy trying to beat down vermin in a variation on the familiar “whackamole” arcade amusement. Another, much more interesting diversion will be styled after Sony's Parappa the Rapper, and may even (oh God, let this be true!) see Daxter flaunt his skills on the microphone. Booyah! Finally, Daxter will partake in a chase sequence that serves as a tribute of sorts to Crash Bandicoot, the franchise that put Naughty Dog on the map. As those beloved PSone titles made so famous, Daxter will be running toward the screen, being pursued from behind by a mysterious nemesis. Could this foe be Dark Jak, our hero’s evil alter ego? Speaking of Dark Jak, we also learned that his abilities will be much greater than we had previously thought. In addition to being nearly invincible, Dark Jak will have four additional combat powers — including a powerful shockwave and an ice uppercut that freezes opponents in midair. Dark Jak must have been hitting the gym as well, because we hear he now has the strength to kick heavy vehicles out of his way like David Beckham on steroids. As if these revelations weren't enough, we've also heard that the game's cutscenes have been overhauled to give them a cinematic punch that Naughty Dog hopes will lend Final Fantasy a run for its money. That's right — there will be more than snippets of an old geezer rambling on about his yakows! This time уои can expect epic action, graphical fireworks, and shocking plot twists. As you can see, Jak Il is an incredibly deep game that sounds better each time we get a new update. This fall, Naughty Dog should take the action/ platform crown once again.
p
Jak II's engine has gone through some massive upgrades, making these cool plasma effects possible
Мал,
PREVIEWS
Frequently, you'll be platforming for your life Check out these cool, Star Wars:inspired enemies
You won't believe Jak 176 lighting and particle effects
та aor 2 f а } You'll have a lot of firepower at your disposal, but sometimes you've just got to be а тап and run for it e you are just not working out" 5 “ Е T - > à 1 ges —_—
4 GAME INFORMER 61
¥ PREVIEWS
rusan E
PLAYSTATION 2/PC
FINAL FA
COMING SOON...REALLY
After a Уеа of uncertainty, Square Enix has at long last confirmed that Final Fantasy ХІ is coming stateside. Beta testing is currently underway for both the PC and PlayStation 2 versions, and from what we hear, localization is coming along smoothly - which should result in a late 2003 release date for the PC version and early 2004 for the PlayStation 2 iteration.
If you plan on purchasing the PlayStation 2 version, make sure that you are wearing jeans with fairly deep pockets when you head to your retailer. Not only will you be required to purchase the game, a Network Adaptor, and your choice of broadband or dial-up service, you'll also have to fork out the cash for the PlayStation 2 Hard Drive and Square Enix's monthly PlayOnline fee. Topping it off, to streamline communication with other players, a USB keyboard (preferably Logitech's Netplay Controller) is an absolute necessity. All told, Final Fantasy ХІ could very well make Steel Battalion look like the bargain of the century. PC users, on the other hand, simply need the game and the service.
That's not to say that you won't get the bang for your buck.
The game itself can be played...well...forever. With gameplay
When the game begins, players will be asked to create a сі from. Each race features a number of customization options (such as
Allegiance: Republic of Bastok
The Humes are the most balanced race in the game and can transition into any job. In the Japanese version of the game, the Humes are the most popular race - mainly because players model their characters after themselves. It's also the easiest race to pick up and play.
Allegiance: Republic of Bastok When it comes to sheer strength, the Galka (a male-only race) excel in hand-to-hand combat. To much surprise, they also make great monks.
cter. In total, there are five different races to choose
¢ Albert
î Min
SY X
architecture stylized much like the PC hit EverQuest, you could very well lose your life trying to level up your character or unearth a rare weapon. Exploring new lands, teaming with allies, accepting missions, and doing what you can to help your nation are the driving forces behind gameplay.
Interestingly, Final Fantasy XI is a cross-platform title. This means that the PlayStation 2 and PC versions link together to the same world allowing users from both platforms to communicate and quest together.
Outside of the game itself, Final Fantasy ХІ comes packaged with the PlayOnline Viewer - a portal to a host of applications such as free email, chat rooms, downloads, and an ever-handy Friend List. The game is also equipped with the wildly addictive card game Tetra Master, which can be played either solo or against other users online.
Since the Japanese version released well over a year ago, Square Enix is throwing U.S. gamers a bone and is including the expansion pack, Rise of the Zilart, in the packaging as well.
Pugil (оғ 82 points
Up to 18 people can join into the same party.
Combat is pre sums а
í
Points of TL «т bbu Bishop hits t of
bbue Farmar for 84
points of дата
buo Е
Bishop hits tho Goobbue Farmer for 74
Familiar MMO chat commands like Say, Tell,
Shout, and Party are included the style of hair, eyes, etc).
Elvaan
Allegiance: Federation of Windurst
These little cuties may not look like a powerful race, but their magical abilities are second to none. As you can probably guess, the Tarutaru make the best Black, White, and Red Mages.
Allegiance: Living with the Tarutaru in Windurst
The Mithra are great hunters and thieves. The race is predominately female (males are not playable but are in the game).
Allegiance: Kingdom of San d’Oria
Confident in their fighting prowess, the Elvaan exhibit exceptional strength and make great warriors. The Elvaans’ high Mind and Vitality can also be tapped to make a respectable Red Mage or Monk.
STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA (PLAYSTATION 2), SQUARE ENIX (PC) I DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX
W RELEASE WINTER (PC), FIRST QUARTER 2004 (PLAYSTATION 2)
62
GAME INFORMER
THE ONLINE KINGDOM
The world of Vana'diel is divided into three warring countries: Windurst, Bastok, and San d'Oria. Players will be able to select which nation they choose to side with. Your country and its townsfolk will present Missions and Quests to the player. Missions give players
a glimpse at the mysteries of Vana'diel, whereas Quests unearth more of the underlying storyline. Once a mission is completed, the player's Mission Rank will rise. When a quest is finished, your nation’s people will reward you with items and information. To go even deeper, at the end of each week, all three of the nation’s Conquest levels will be evaluated and ranked by the game. The empire that comes out on top will be rewarded greatly. To raise your federation's Conquest level, players will need to accept Signet missions from the town's guards.
REPUBLIC OF BASTOK
This powerful industrial and mining city was established by Humes and is surrounded by the rocky wasteland:
KINGDOM OF SAN D’ORIA
Dubbed “A City Within a Fortress,” San d’Oria resides within a mountainous wooden area of Vana'diel. It is the homeland of the Elvaan.
FEDERATION OF WINDURST
Windurst is the most serene region in the world. The Tarutaru and Mithra coexist peacefully within this lush town.
9297 HEE 22Ne
PLAYSTATION 2
FINAL D FANTASY Х-2.
GRRRLS ARE THE BEST! Final Fantasy X's emotionally char,
ambiguous ending left gamers frothing at the mou conclusion. For the first time in Final Fa continuing the story and is forging a strai picks up two years after the cataclysmic e world of Spira. -
Oddly, the story is the only direct link that Final Fantasy Х-2 has to its predecessor. The entire game em: ites an outrageous Spice Girls mentality. For instance, it begins in a blitzball stadium. Rather than watching a fevered match of everyone's favorite underwater sport, Yuna appears on a stage and does her best Britney Spears impersonation After the concert ends, Yuna, Riku, and a new character named Paine are confronted by a mysterious new foe. Before they can fight this enemy, the heroic trio engages in a pageant of over-the-top Charlie's Angels action poses.
On the gameplay front, most of the title is non-linear and sectioned off into missions that can be tackled at any time. Rather than just navigating = the Sphere Grid to determine what Class transformations unfold with cinematics type of class your character is, similar to summons in previous games Square Enix has implemented a versatile job class system. At any step during play (even within combat). players can switch classes on the fly h the new Garment Grid. All within а beat, Yuna can attack as a Berserker, then switch to the Songstress class to perform a spell.
In the end, Tidus may have been a loser, but he was tolerable. This new direction, on the other hand, may be too much for fans to stomach. It feels nothing like the Final Fantasy games that we've grown to love
ев
Ш STYLE) PLAYER ROLE PLAYIN Га САМЕ и PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX Ш DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX Ш RELEASE NOVEMBER 3
GAMEINFORMER 63
PREVIEWS
TRUE Е
LIVE O
BIG ADVENTURE NOW LIVING BEINGS
Level-5 has implemented a number of interesting fea- tures that should ensure that every human-controlled character is unique in appearance. For starters, the game has an incredibly deep character generator that allows players to tweak everything right down to the lip color, hairstyle, and facial shape. As the game unfolds, the appearance of your character will change in accor- dance to how you play. If you run out of food and your character goes hungry, his or her physique will grow frail and thin. If you chose blacksmith as a profession, the character's arms will become brawnier. Not only will the physical appearances change, their abilities will too. For instance, if you do something that adds weight to your character, running will be hindered.
TRAVEL FOR THE WEARY
Running for minutes on end seems to be a recurring theme within most massively multiplayer online RPGs. While running is still an option in True Fantasy, players can also choose to travel in style. Horses, camels, dragons, and broomsticks can be mounted and ridden to your heart's content. If you happen to be with a party, carriages and boats can move groups of players at once.
Check out that camel toe...on the camel
ШЕШЕНЕЕ
Creating characters is an involving process
Groups of people can travel within a carriage
W STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER MICROSOFT Ш DEVELOPER LEVE
64 GAME INFORMER
The masterminds behind ne рак cious series are quickly becoming the go-to developer for triple-A role- playing games. Not only has Level-5 been enlisted to develop the next installment in the Dragon Quest series, it is creating True Fantasy Live Online - a massively multiplayer online RPG for Microsoft.
Within True Fantasy, hundreds of players will be able to inhabit the same land and quest together. Thanks in part to voice com- munication support, forming teams and coordinating attacks will be a breeze. As is the case with most MMORPGs, True Fantasy is entirely open-ended. You'll have the ability to go wherever you like and do whatever you desire. Tired of adventuring? Why not settle down in a village and become a cook or tailor?
From what we've seen thus far, True Fantasy is shaping up to be а serious contender along with Final Fantasy ХІ and the Phantasy Star Online series. The combat system is incredibly smooth and just as complex as it was in Dark Cloud 2 and the cel-shaded graphics are just as beautiful. Unfortunately, a release date - let alone a season or year — has yet to be determined.
AN EVER-EXPANDING WORLD
The world of True Fantasy is as alive as a digital world can be. Cities are bustling with merchants and fellow citizens, time passes (at an exaggerated pace), and thanks in part to the ability to download new content to Xbox's hard drive, new locations and structures will be added on a timely basis after the game ships.
же? =
es through day and night changes
PLAYS
RESIDENT EVIL OUTBREAK ІМТЕК(МЕТ)СОММЕСТІОМ
When we first heard about Resident Evil Outbreak, we were extremely intrigued about how this new chapter in the saga was going to mesh with what we'd come to know and love. Was it going to be a free-for-all full of zombie-capping vigilantes? And how was multiplayer going to affect the puzzles and scare factor? After getting some hands-on time with the title, we can safely say that Outbreak’s slightly different approach keep: all the core elements уо! expect from the franchise.
The game is structured around chapters and the grouping of up to four characters per segment. You start out by choosing from one of eight characters, each with their own specialties. Some may begin with weapons (Kevin); while others’ purpose might be the ability to pick locks (Alyssa). Further adding to the unique nature of each character, cutscenes are experienced only through your player's
viewpoint. Also, several different endings are possible depending оп how you and your crew work together throughout the game. As always in Resident Evil, there are even some instances when you will be left on your own - alone and vulnerable – to join up with a party later. While it may seem harder to keep the suspense when environments are more wide open and you are no longer all alone, fear enters because your sense of desperation is heightened. You might have to fend of zombies with a shoulder charge while another character fumbles trying to get a door open. Trust us, your heart will race.
Capcom has not divulged the fee structure for Outbreak yet — but whether you want to tie your fortunes іп a zombie-infested Raccoon City with the fate of others, or would rather try and go at it in the single-player offline experience, this Resident Evil should be a bold
chapter in the series. After all, you can even become a zombie! W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE (UP TO 4-PLAYERS VIA BROADBAND ONLY) Ш PUBLISHER CAPCOM Ш DEVELOPER CAPCOM Ш RELEASE WINTER
\ > This seat is reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, and insistent people with guns
This player is using Outbreak to meet chicks and feed his leg fetish
PREVIEWS |
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR Because of the unique abilities and items for each character, working together is paramount to staying alive. For instance, in one scene we played, we started out in a bar being overrun with zombies. After we all independently searched the nearby rooms for items, we figured out that one person held the key to an escape door. After regrouping on a landing past a set of stairs, we came across more zombies and – just in time — some herbs. True to Resident Evil's usual scarcity of supplies, we had to hesitate before we grabbed them all, as some had to be left for the other players, and thus the good of the party. Similar cooperative situa- tions will come up time and time again in the game. Sometimes, it'll be helping catch your newfound friends after they jump across a chasm, or you'll be escorting a wounded — but still vital - member of your team to safety. Capcom will have set text messages you can send to those in your party, but whether the game will support voice chat has not yet been announced.
/ Mass confusion adds the fear factor
Providing cover for others will be vital
Zombies with no teeth make for a good time 4
"| Y 2 i GAMEINFORMER 65
D
Vt té ig p ж
m 1. тіз. 15
e SN Jap time 14.607 best lap
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | PC
NASCAR THUNDER 2004
ON THE LEAD LAP
interval 0.198
sraguury 0.000
293 Тһе field of NASCAR games has — 2€ more spectacular, and you can even blow a ti v n 3 20 4! 25 33 narrowed to just one this year (on all systems), Rookies will find more info to help them along (like ti Was 20, 3 NN but that doesn't mean pole sitter EA Sports won't work SpeedZone tutorial/minigames), while veterans can dive into gear 4 tap tne 2200
hard on race day. Graphically, the series seems unchanged 40 new Lightning Challenges, Happy Hour, a deeper Career f қ best lap 16.070 in many ways, but more effects bring the beating and mode, and more. Online includes peer-to-peer racing, and EA banging alive. Smoke and sparks abound, crashes are Sports has just told us Thunder will support voice chat.
W STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 28-PLAYER BROADBAND OR 18 VIA LAN) Ш PUBLISHER EA SPORTS It Rusty spins Gordon...
DEVELOPER ҒА TIBURON Ш RELEASE FALL EAT IT, GORDON!
We all hate Jeff Gordon, but here's your chance to really go out and prove yourself against the SOB. NASCAR 2004 takes the usually stale opponent Al and injects some real life into it, through opponents who really can treat you
like a friend or foe. Crumple a guy's back fender, and he'll do a lot worse to you the next lap around. On the other hand, teammates (or someone you've already treated with respect) might help you draft or pass instead of slamming the door in your face. Pre-existing, reaHife rivalries and friendships have been included, and you'll see them illustrated during races via a handy icon system. This new dynamic really brings out the passion of the sport. During a Season or career, a constant tally of allies and enemies will be kept, included a rating of how much your peers respect you, so you can watch the drama unfold all year long.
OF JOHNSON ROD
ға AND GARAGES (EA) GRUDGES & ALLIANCES Last year's Career mode has.been 4 overhauled for the better”Both the menu ” 2% F
system and the, R&D portion of your shop
һауе beenreplaced to make things easier
and,more interesting, Upgrades.to your де lath car must be bought through’ the garage. 3 5. Buya Flowbench and you'll'get a boost in — қ 37 your ride’s power. By purchasing.this, you 9 0 0.029 can then get an Engine Balanicer, which 30, 40 70 [ > , increases engine efficiency, as well as g , Рр
decreasing your repair or overhaul costs. г 3 — meris ANI E All 99 these additions make the learning ET EA а-дан — кені curve for your career both easier and а » & z 4 whole lot more fun. P
Rival -70 Riva! -60 Jett Gordon Kevin Harvick
97 0.094
45
/ a E. -/ Ж. -— 4
...their rivalry only increases Someone gives Flyin’ Ryan payback
66 GAMEINFORMER
| Face your gravest fears іп an all-new, nightmarish first-person action-shooter
adventure for your PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Encounter а
new level of horror as you battle flesh devouring zombies and murderous mutants
to regain control of a sea-jacked cruise ship lost in the Atlantic.
ы“ 3 E , I Ұ x Intense blend of action, puzzle UPGRADE your weapons as you Supports GUNCON 2 light gun solving and DEAD-ON qraphics progress through the game and DUALSHOCK 2 controllers
4 zl à е ада | 3 CAPCOM — playstation 2 = ау>гайоп сарсот.сот s Blood and Gore Violence ) CAPCOM CO. LTD., 2003. t CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CAPCOM, the CAPCOM logo and RESIDENT EVIL are registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO., LTD. RESIDENT EVIL v is a registered trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. Guncon' 2 & 2000 NAMCO LTD.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. cer "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo and DUALSHOCK ar d trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc E
Wee Р my М 1 1 æ s Y \ i. \ Y ы ай This is a beat-down from the thug's point of view, before he sees stars із Ё.
Message for your sir - aaargh!
хә. “Drop the magazine, or this guy gets it!
68 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE
TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF LA
A CITY WITH EVEN MORE VICES
It’s been a while since we last brought you the lowdown on what's crackalackin’ with the seamy underbelly of Los Angeles in True Crime. We blame it on those dang Map to the Stars’ Homes things they sell on Hollywood Boulevard. Did you know that Alex Winter, better known as Bill S. Preston Esquire in the Bill and Ted trilogy (including the little-known third installment, Bill and Ted: More Than Friends), lives in the back of an In & Out Burger? He must get discounted rent for slicing onions parttime. He signed our napkin and quickly ushered us out the back door. True Crime will evoke comparisons to the Grand Theft Auto series, and for good reason. You can drive a bunch of different vehicles, you shoot people who cross you, and it has nonlinear aspects to the missions. But, the fact that True Crime won't let you rock a van with a lady of the night isn't the only thing separat- ing these two games. Streets of LA's star Nick Kang is on the good side of the law. He doesn't jack cars; he commandeers
them. He only kills guilty people; of course, some are only guilty of
jaywalking, but hey – when you fight the law, the law wins. This batch of screenshots highlights the gun battles and fist- fights of True Crime more so than the cruisin’. The out-of-vehicle
stuff doesn't take a back seat to the driving in the least. Unarmed,
Kang possesses a formidable hand-to-hand offense. Kicks and punches are thrown like one-liners at a comedy club. Things get more advanced when you travel to various dojos in the environ- ment to learn a few new skills. They're a bit like Neo's fight with the Oracle's protector in The Matrix Reloaded. Cool combos, grapples, and stealth attacks will all be at your disposal. Sometimes, you need to fight fire with fire — though our source
at the Minneapolis Fire Department seems to disagree. When the
action gets really heated, Kang can unload ammo with the best of them. The targeting here looks much more honed than Grand Theft Auto, and more obvious than The Getaway's. It even allows for aiming at multiple enemies. Hong Kong action staples like slowmotion dives spice things up, and there's also a heavy dose of wall-slinking.
The city of LA isn't just mentioned in the title; Los Angeles is faithfully reproduced street for street in this game. This encom-
passes hundreds of square miles that include Beverly Hills, Santa
Monica, and Hollywood. From what we've played, the attention
TYLE |-PLAYER ACTION/RACING Ш PUBLISHER ACTIVISION Ш DEVELOPER LUXOFLU
to detail is impeccable. We saw the big Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, and even the hotel we stayed at during E3 (we love you, Red Roof Innl).
The voiceover cast emulates this LA style, with a flurry of famous stars. Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, and Romeo Must Die's Russell Wong highlight the list. All the pieces are in place for True Crime to be a blockbuster game. We'll find out for sure soon.
Р52
I'm not working іп a cube anymore, man. No way. You can't make те
Nobody's touching my vat of delicious pork products!
RELEASE SEPTEMBER 16
2
IT’S FUNNY WHEN THEY SCREAM
Captain Olimar is in some trouble. While attempting to rebuild his ship within 30 days during the first Pikmin game, his company went bankrupt. To save it, Olimar must pay off a whopping debt of 10,000 Pokos. This time around, the premise requires Olimar to return to the planet he just escaped and salvage treasure in order to save his ailing company.
If you missed the first title, the gameplay in Pikmin is a mixture of strategy, puzzle, and action. You preside over a bunch of little flower bucHike creatures called Pikmin, of which there аге various types with different attributes to aid you in solving the numerous kinds of puzzles. Some Pikmin can carry bombs, some can swim, and others can survive in fire. Thus far, we only know of two new Pikmin: the large and stout purple Pikmin, and the small and quick albino Pikmin. Their specific abilities are, unfortunately, still unknown.
In Pikmin 2, Olimar will have the help of his partner Loozy (Olimar = Mario? Loozy = Luigi?), who will try to nab goodies and command faithful troops. By pressing the Y button, you'll be
INTENDO @ DI
"Hey guys, after we ride this slide let's try out the lazy river!"
able to switch characters on the fly and take teams to separate areas. Nintendo has also made selecting different color Pikmin easier by mapping them to the d-pad, which should make acci-
dental deaths less frequent.
The gameplay will still be broken down into days, but there won't be a limit as to how long you can scavenge - encouraging more exploration of the environments. The locales seem to be on par with the original, but now you'll be taking your Pikmin into underground caverns. Each cave that you enter will be randomly generated, so no two will be the same.
Pikmin 2 will also feature two-player split-screen modes, allow- ing you and your buddies to team up for some Pik-dude action. You can either cooperate to accomplish level goals together, or race to collect the most Pokos.
With the addition of multiplayer possibilities, unlimited days, and randomly generated caverns; Pikmin 2 is shaping up to be a meaty sequel. Just remember, albeit fun in a sick and twisted way, killing your Pikmin isn't advantageous.
LEASE OCTOBER 27
Red Snot Guy" was voted Video Games’ Ugliest Enemy in 2001
Rubber Duckies г
y? > / ( / Pikmin love shiny things
ЛЕС 22/42)
worth a whole lot of Pokos
GAMEINFORMER 69
Range SHORT
PLAYSTATION 2
4 о HEAT UP
STAR OCEAN: TILL THE END OF TIM
ITS TIME WILL COME - EVENTUALLY
In last November's issue, we broke the story
on Star Ocean, the highly anticipated PS2 role-playing game.
That's right, we were first. That makes everyone else the
worst — you included, tough guy. Since then, we haven't
heard much of anything about the title. Much of that veil of
silence can most likely be attributed to the merger between
Square and Enix, and the upheaval that accompanied it.
Few major changes have taken place since our feature,
* ь 7 [ 2d but loads of polish and a ton of tweaking have been instituted. At this year's E3 convention, the game sat sandwiched between the upcoming Final Fantasy titles, X-2 and XI, and was in playable form. It's shaping up nicely, though it's still a few agonizing seasons away from release
4 E in the U.S.
2 x» i Games like Suikoden Ill and Xenosaga have taken RPG plot lines to the next level. Star Ocean is definitely up to the challenge. The galaxy is split into three commanding entities. Prime protagonists Fate Linegod and Sophia Esteed are just chilling on a resort planet when it's brutally attacked by the smallest and least threatening of the factions. The two escape the ensuing chaos, but have to face the fact that it may be them specifically that this federation is after. Throughout the journey, many other faces will join their cause. What's So special about these two, anyway? We don't
c know, but we're sure the tale will unfold over a few dozen hours of gameplay.
Speaking of gameplay, Star Ocean tries doing some things to set it apart from the mooing herd. The battles don't occur random
-* =i = Nell has nerves of steel. We dare you to get into а staring match with her тж
A reject from America’s Next Top Model chases Fate through a beautiful environment
онаа Sj—f45VeIPVAE
SPECIAL ATTACK
ІЗ y
13 1 instead, enemies show up in the overworld and 15 "T d skirmishes only happen when you touch them.
12
22
Once the lines have been drawn, уои һауе а
variety of attacks. Up to three heroes can be
in the battle at once — like Final Fantasy X. You
take control over one of the trio, and can either s ў issue commands to the others ог Іеї their Al
ra. CR take care of themselves. However, switching Ld > س which character you're in charge of is extremely Q Guts
easy. Special attacks, magic, and status | This guy looks like an reincarnation of the Great Mighty Poo, changes are all here. but we think he’s actually made of mud, not feces
GAME INFORMER
W STYLE 1-
70
F т m
iin Neo
Other, not so obvious, facets give Star Ocean its originality, too. For instance, stereotypical shops aren't here, per se. Instead, you must collect the raw materials to create your own weapons and items. This is done using a junction system, similar to the one in Final Fantasy VIII. What you come up with depends on the properties of the resources, as well as who you take them to.
Alot has changed in the RPG genre since we got our first look at Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Does it have what it takes to contend with the heavy hitters? With FF X-2 going an alternate route FF XI doing the MMO thing, this is likely Square Enix's flagship “traditional” role- playing game. That is a coveted spot, and not one to be underestimated.
v мет
dd
A L
In the future, law states that every female must show off her navel
YER ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX Ш DEVELOPER TRI-ACE Ш RELEASE SPRING 2004
20
goodbye!
UNREAL
ж “т Er р A = 49 гў „А 2d 43 , pe, е a We are still uncertain, but it looks like multiple players can control vehicles
TOURNAMENT 2004
MILKING IT?
Unlike the additions for the original Unreal Tournament, which players could download for free, Atari will charge gamers for these yearly installments. Yes, to remain in line with the present trend of online titles, Atari (like a dealer) is going to make you pay to support your addiction.
Foremost, land, air, and space-based vehicles will be available. Atari hasn't confirmed whether players will be able to employ them in current 2K3 modes, although it's a reasonable guess that they won't be, as most maps simply aren't conducive to vehicular combat. However, the developers could design maps for present game modes that would suit one or all of these vehicles.
It's more likely that Atari will relegate vehicles only to the two new game types: Assault and Onslaught. Assault makes a welcome return from the original UT, and basically requires one group to invade a base and take control of it. The other team must simply defend. In one scenario, players will engage in space combat and attempt to down or defend a Skaarj mother ship!
Details on Onslaught remain scarce, but it resembles Domination in that teams must vie for command of certain
control points. Onslaught's maps will supposedly be large enough to accommodate each of the three vehicle types; plus players will have access to new Onslaught-exclusive weapons like the Spider Mines.
Atari will add a number of peripheral features so as to streamline 2K4. A new user interface (UI) will make scrolling through menus less tedious and allow for greater filtering options; and for those of you into building Mods, you can actually create your own UI! Next, Atari has decided to integrate UnrealTV completely into the server browser in order to permit hundreds of people to view matches with hardly any impact on server performance. Finally, players with microphones and 3D audio capability can take advantage of the enhanced audio chat system. Although it sounds fancier than its actual functionality, it's still welcome. Enable it and players can specifically detect in what direction а teammate's voice emanates from!
If you're new to the series, you need to purchase both versions to enjoy the full package. However, Atari will at least include the two 2K3 bonus packs so that you don't have to waste time and energy trying to download them.
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 32-PLAYER ONLINE) I PUBLISHER ATARI Ш DEVELOPER EPIC GAMES/DIGITAL EXTREMES
I RELEASE FALL
Spider Mines are a new weapon for the series
Players can now wield two assault rifles at once
In ай, there will be 20 brand-new maps and a few ne
LES ap /
>?
«1/7
Ships battle it out in an aerial confrontation
/
“с
GAME INFORMER
ew characters
71
The detail іп the character models is phenomenal
THE EVERCRACK STRIKES BACK!
SOE’s press release states that EverQuest Il is “based 500 years after EverQuest, and is a new and different game experience in a changed world marred by a fantastic life-changing event.” What that life-changing event is, Sony Online isn't saying; but we do know that players will climb their way into this new massively multiplayer online RPG by creating their own unique character from 16 races and 48 classes.
If the thought of 48 different classes doesn't get your head spinning, the player creation options will. We asked EQ Il art director Stuart Compton how many options there were, and he answered us with an "Eep!
“I'm not good enough at math to do a permutation computation on that scale. A lot? A whole lot?," he adds jokingly. "Let's deal with the categories; hair, beard (for the guys), facial features, facial texture, skin color, eye color, hair color, not to mention some special categories for the severely non-human races."
On the surface, that seems pretty general; but once the player gets a hold of the face-shaping options that enable a wide variety of manipulations, you'll realize that you can create, "tiny-nosed anime characters to Cro-Magnon thugs,” according to Compton.
There is also a new race in this sequel, the rat-men known as Ratonga. Compton describes them as "a top-notch thief, sneaky guy. They are small, maybe about dwarf size, and nimble. They are fairly sophisticated and intelligent."
Of course, all of this character development goes to waste if there aren't some interesting dungeons to take your avatar into, and the development team has also expanded this portion of the game considerably. For example, the dungeons themselves are more interactive with the player. As you walk down corridors, dust settles from the ceiling an large mysterious crashes in the distance cause the entire passage to shake and hunks of rubble to fall. It's all very menacing — and very cool to see in action.
Luckily, this is just the beginning of the list of improvements in the works for EQ Il. There will be player- owned real estate. Motion-captured, highly detailed fighting animations that Compton states will feature, “а lot of variety, as we recorded several variations of each type of attack and up to 10 or more ‘special’ moves for each form or weapol In addition, look for a brand new quest system, a fantastic looking particle system, a new dedicated trade skill class, and player-controlled ships for travel. Prepare for your social life to end this winter.
W STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT W DEVELOPER SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT Ш RELEASE WINTER
Cast a fireball and (if it's possible) the creature will burn (Notice the burning treant's reflection in the water as well)
Flying books! This game is going to rule The addition of skin textures makes for some nasty-looking zombies
72
GAME INFORMER
HOMEWORLD
FORM UP
The first Homeworld tte took PC gamers by the short ones and hasn't let go. Because of this stunning success, and because two is always better than one, Sierra has seen fit to give the world an overhauled look at a game that wrote its own rules. With that in mind, it must be remembered that sequels of successful games have a difficult task ahead of them. We, the gaming public, have expectations. Not only does the offspring need to live up to its parent's achievements, it needs to eclipse them for most people to be satisfied. It must look better and sound better, and it has to play better as well. The Relic team knows this, and from the looks of their charge, they are more than up to the challenge.
SHELTER THE LEADER
In many strategy-oriented games where a player groups large numbers of units together then issues movement or attack orders, the unit types tend to become snarled and confused as the faster subjects surge ahead of the pack and the rest play catch-up. Additionally, when attacking and defending, units are no more aware of each other's
strengths and weaknesses than they are of their enemies'.
This type of mindless dronery has officially ended. Allow us to illustrate: Let's assume that you've built a capital Ship, and have a number of other supporting craft lounging around the vicinity. In comes an opposing force, bent on destruction. By grouping your units into what Relic has dubbed a “strike group,” the Al will catalogue what types
Here's a sight you don't want to see if you're trying to defend your position
of ships you select, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how it will be most beneficial to arrange them in a formation. As your newly formed strike group coalesces, you'll find that your capital ship is in a position where it is most easily defended, and a few of the craft in your group will be tasked (automatically, mind you) with its support and defense. When the battle is about to begin, the Al will then look at your opponent and decide on the best method of attack — it won't sent units blindly to their deaths. If the battle is taking a turn for the worse, attackers will break off from their targets and aid in the defense of your larger, more vulnerable craft. Have you crapped yourself yet?
A 8
You can see a strike group forming up on the left
W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/STRATEGY (UP ТО 6-PLAYERS VIA ONLINE) il PUBLISHER SIERRA STUDIOS Ш DEVELOPER RELIC
W RELEASE AUGUST 26
PREVIEWS
c= ri
WHOA...
The imagery this game has in store for us is stunning.
Look at those fantastic screenshots! Everything from the painstakingly detailed textures to the excellent particle effects of the first Homeworld have been sent into the graphical stratosphere with Homeworld 2. When we saw the game in action, it was hard to believe the amount of care each and every environment and structure received to make it look its absolute best. Let's hope that most people will be able to run it on non über-machines. But you need a new РС anyway, right?
The damage this ship is taking will show up after the explosions have abated
Torpedo-tastic!
GAME INFORMER
The stake will be your vampire-smokin' weapon of choice
4 £ ryone get going!
Chaos Bleeds’ in-game facial renders are very realistic
74 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: CHAOS BLEEDS
THE GANG'S ALL HERE Buffy the Vampire siayer was a standout on
the Xbox last year, so it's odd that Vivendi Universal and Fox Interactive have made some big changes for the development of Chaos Bleeds, a multiplatform sequel slated for September release. We were surprised to learn that the Collective, the team behind the first Buffy and the equally stellar Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, has not been hired on for the follow-up. Instead, workhorse development house Eurocom (which has worked on everything from Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex to James Bond 007: NightFire to HydroThunder)
will be crafting the highly anticipated title. It's odd, since the Collective did such a bang-up job on the original, but one certainly can't argue with Eurocom's track record.
Despite these changes, fans of the first Buffy should not worry that the game is going in a radical new direction. No, this is still very much the occult beat “ет up that you know and love - one with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Envisioned as a "lost episode" that takes place between shows 17 and 19 of season five, Chaos Bleeds is a family affair that lets you play as six of the series' most popular characters: Spike, Willow, Buffy, Faith, Sid, and Xander. Even better, all the actors, except for Ms. Sarah “I'm too cool because | make out with Freddie Prinze Jr. and was in Scooby Doo" Gellar, came on to do voice work for the game.
Each of these characters lends their own twist to the basic, button-mashing brawling. For instance, Willow, being a witch, prefers to use spells like a fireball instead of her fists; while Xander, who's a bit of a wuss, must rely on weapons like crossbows to get his dirty work done. As before, you'll be able to pull off a startling number of unique combos (over 100 in all) with a minimum of button presses. Also, the developers were wise enough to keep the intuitive inventory management system that the Collective had created.
Graphically, Chaos Bleeds is as much of a looker as its titular heroine. Even on the PS2, the character renders are detailed and crisp, which is especially evident in the eerily realistic facial models. Eurocom also promises that the game will feature such visual eye- grabbers as volumetric smoke and lighting effects.
So, what more is there to say, really? Buffy is sassy, spunky, and even - as TLC might say - crazysexycool! She's already a legend in TV-land, and is well on pace to becoming a feminine icon on the video game scene as well.
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER VIVENDI UNIVERSAL/FOX INTERACTIVE Ш DEVELOPER EUROCOM
W RELEASE SEPTEMBER
e? *
Check out the particle effects on that chick! Yow-zah!
Willow relies on her magic powers more than her fists of fury
THIS IS NOT A DRIVING GAME.
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE
X-MEN LEGENDS
EVOLUTION DEFINED
If there's опе thing that Raven Software knows how to do, it's ) driving comic book fans absolutely stark-raving mad. We were recently treated s ЗА. ә?
to а behind-the-scenes sneak-peek at X-Men Legends that left us in complete bh 22-4 p L—- and utter awe. Not only did the team-based gameplay look too good to believe, 8 3 the graphical details (which were enhanced through 720p widescreen support) 6” » қ ue rivaled the likes of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. Up to four players will be able — m m
to quest together in an adventure that should consume at least 30 hours of
your life. You'll be able to suit up as 15 different X-Men who can level up and
join specific teammates for tag-team special attacks. As irresistible as this
£ame is shaping up to be, we're just going to have to sit back, control our
drool, and wait for the game to ship in fall 2004. Excelsior!
Each teammate will be awarded individual experience points g ee Soldier 1 of
=e = Frenzy Қы е) -
"il
The game will support simultaneous four.player action
“ „an immense landscape covering hundreds of miles of LA streets..."
PREVIEWS
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE | PC
THE HOBBIT
REPLETE WITH MORE CRUSTY FEET
Vivendi smartly snagged the rights to develop games based on Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings book series to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's films. Unfortunately, the poor quality of Vivendi's Fellowship of the Ring left fans disappointed and, in many cases, irate.
Recognizing its mistakes, Vivendi has enlisted the help of respected developer Sierra to complete the prequel, The Hobbit. Because Sierra has a responsibility to follow the books to an extent, the video game will feature a bit less action and instead place more emphasis on story, platforming, and puzzies.
Solving puzzles will consist of finding certain objects and placing them in the correct spots. However, some will be of a different ilk. Bilbo Baggins (the hero, of course) possesses the ability to harness the power of the Ring, which endows him with certain techniques such as invisibility. This fact has allowed Sierra to create obstacle-based puzzles that utilize these special abilities.
To keep gameplay exciting, Sierra has been granted some leeway to fudge a few scenes so that the action element doesn't seem too emaciated. Bilbo will have a couple modes of attack, including projectile weapons, a sword, and a staff. These will be necessary to defeat the game's bosses and a sometimes-overwhelming onslaught of orcs.
/
!
Rumor has it that Gandalf will be a playable character
Ш STYLE }-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE W PUBLISHER VIVENDI UNIVERSAL I DEVELOPER SIERRA W RELEASE SEPTEMBER 26
76 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2
MAFIA
THIS LITTLE THING OF OURS COMES TO PS2
Sure, Mafia took a few cues from the Grand Theft Auto series, but Illusion Softworks definitely took Rockstar North's blueprint and turned it into an experience that had its own unique identity. Where GTA is a cartoonish broadside aimed at skewering the ridiculous nature of modern society and pop culture; Mafia displayed a masterful, sincere brand of storytelling detailing the saga of a simple working man who is dragged into a life of crime against his will.
Given that it was a hit on PC, the Xbox port was a no-brainer; but we were surprised to hear that Gathering of Developers is now bringing the game to the PlayStation 2. Can Sony's console handle this ambitious title? Yes, says Gathering of Developers producer Andrew Morley.
“[This] version of Mafia has had to take into account the fixed specifications of the PS2," comments Morley. "And, while this has been a challenge, we're pleased with the results.
The 1530 engine is being used as in the PC version, but [it’s] completely redone to fit PS2 requirements. The missions remain faithful to the PC versi
This PS2 port is looking very impressive
The characters models aren't as detailed as on the PC, but are still very realistic
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION/RACING Ш PUBLISHER ILLUSION SOFTWORK:
W RELEASE NOVEMBER 11
To make sure the game appeals to the console crowd; the control scheme, mission pacing, and especially the driving aspects of the game have been completely retooled. Basically, expect that the sometimes painfully slow car sequences of the PC version to be rewed up a bit to accommodate the tastes of the PS2 audience.
“It's well known that console gamers expect a different experience than hardcore PC gamers,” says Morley. “We believe that the console crowd will love the game. The action and pace of the game has been one of the biggest areas addressed, especially in the transition from the PC mouse and keyboard control method to a controller. We have completely changed the way the car is controlled and also the car param- eters have been improved in order to provide more action play experiences.”
Mafia is certainly an epic title that should not be missed, whatever the platform. Plus, Morley even hinted that there may be some hidden extras put in especially for this console version.
Expect the control scheme to be somewhere along the lines of GTA ІІ
DEVELOPER GATHERING OF DEVELOPERS
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX
DEFIANCE TAG TEAM
Legacy of Kain: Defiance is the latest entry in a franchise known best for all-powerful antiheroes, big swords, blood sucking, and soul capturing. Defiance features (for the first time in the series) two playable characters. Longtime fans will be excited to learn that this iteration finally allows you to take on the role of both the titular demigod Kain and Raziel (an angel of death) from the Soul Reaver games. You'll battle through the world of these two characters as they attempt to understand their place in the universe and save their realm from eternal damnation. Amy Hennig, project director at Crystal Dynamics, boasts that, “[The] new combat system emphasizes intuitive controls, over-the-top attacks and combos, powerful telekinetic assaults, and visceral finishing moves which draw from our heroes’ dark, vampiric natures.” Each character has their legendary sword to deal out
LEGACY OF KAIN:
abs
massive melee blows in addition to a brand-new palette of telekinetic abilities. Combos enhanced with these mental skills can last upwards of eight hits and easily demolish most foes. Your powers can also be used to move distant objects, smash locks, shatter windows, and generally wreak havoc
in environments; a feature Crystal has taken advantage of
for most of the game's puzzle-solving elements. The action plays out through a new camera system that grants the player full control but also dynamically switches the perspective to afford the most cinematic vantage point.
Clearly, the plot of this vampire-demon-underlord epic is being closely guarded, but it certainly looks like the developer has thought long and hard about how to innovate within their series of blood-sucking, soul-stealing "heroes."
THIS IS NOT A FIGHTING GAME.
“Тһе fighting in True Crime looks just as good, if not better, than many of the fighting games out there.”
PREVIEWS
Pc
CDV SIRES SHOOTER
Okay, Timmy, it's time we had a discussion
You see, CDV and Brat Designs like each other very much. Sometimes, when couples feel that way, they make a baby — in other words, Breed. It's just like when Daddy and Mommy had you. Of course, we imagine their union will last longer than your parents' did, since Daddy ran off with a Hard Rock Casino waitress on their honeymoon to Vegas.
Breed is easy to write off as yet another FPS, but there's a lot more to it than just that. First off, there are over 15 vehicles — like dropships, tanks, and jeeps. The action flows seamlessly from being in space, to hitting the planet's atmosphere, to hoofin' it toward an enemy base. It also varies between indoor and outdoor levels in landscapes that span 256 kilometers (for those of us who measure in miles, that's still a lot). The missions can be tackled several ways, so you can tailor your Strategy to your own style.
Breed's engine, called Mercury, is extremely powerful yet beautiful (like the girl in the club who knees you in the solar plexus when you ask her sign). There's talk of a console port to be announced before year's end, so you non-PC playaz won't have to drink Haterade for too long.
@3 750 What is it?” “Who cares, shoot it!”
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION/SHOOTER (UP TO 32-PLAYERS VIA
ONLINE OR LAN) M PUBLISHER CDV Ш DEVELOPER BRAT DESIGNS Ш RELEASE AUGUST 26
78 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES
UWHAOO!
The history of Black Ops is a curious one. The studio has had its hands in developing everything from Street Hoops to Knockout Kings to Bond games to the upcoming X-Files title. Likewise, the motivation of the Т-800 model Terminator has been hard to pin down. In the first Terminator, it tried killing John Conner. In T2: Judgment Day, he helped keep John alive. According to trailers we've seen,
in the upcoming movie, Arnold's robotic character will play both sides — alternating between wanting to help Conner and trying to take him out. Talk about moody!
The game's plot incorporates elements from the film, which released in July, but also goes off on its own. Much like Atari's Enter the Matrix, Rise of the E Machines will feature exclusive footage — starring Schwarzenegger himself — specifically filmed for the game. Incidentally, T3 marks the first time Arnold's voice and likeness will be used in a video game. Score!
Terminator 3 is first-person shooter/third-person brawler hybrid with you filling the heavy shoes ofthe T-800. We can only assume you won't always be shooting people in the knee, á la T2. All manner of weapons will be at your disposal — including grenade launchers, assault rifles, and
lasers - as you fight both human and cyborg enemies from the past and future. Melee tactics take advantage of his advanced strength by letting you toss people into walls and delivering fearsome kicks.
As tough as Schwarzenegger is, the über-badass T-X will grind your butt into paste, then brush her teeth with you. It'll take much more than a few shotgun shells to the C-cups to keep her down. Likewise, Atari and Black Ops know that it'll take more than a few robots with guns to make this game great, and they'll be putting in work to ensure that Rise of the Machines is a killer app.
“I'll ask you one more time: Who is your daddy, and what does he do?
qq. uv
BARE HANDS
CRS PHASE PLASMA RIFLE PUMP-SHOTGUN
HAND GRENADE
RPG ROCKET LAUNCHER MP5 SMG
TARGET IDENTIFICATION LVLOS8 02 SV/ATO TARGET IFF ID
HOSTILE
TARGET SCANPACN VE DETERMINA TION TARGET IDENTIFIED
HUMAN CASUALTIES 0.0
POWER: 100 CURRENT WEAPON 30 CAL MACHINE GUN
PRIMARY AMMO: 64 SECONDARY AMMO: NONE
TANANA 1 A
This is what the T-800 sees. Arnold himself sees in green - for money
W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER ATARI Ш DEVELOPER BLACK OPS Ш RELEASE FALL
KAMEO: ELEMENTS
OF POWER
XBOX’S CREATURE FEATURE
Rare originally debuted Kameo as a GameCube title, but (following Microsoft's acquisition of the company) it is now one of Xbox's most exciting titles of next year. While the jury is still out on Rare's Grabbed by the Ghoulies; this title demonstrates all the gameplay depth, graphical detail, and innovative concepts that were the hall- mark of the legendary development house's best work with Nintendo.
Players assume the role of Kameo, a fairy princess who must rescue the six Elemental Ancestors from an evil troll named Thorn. In her pursuit of Thorn, she'll combat a variety of fantasy-based creatures and solve different sorts of puzzles, which Rare has built around the attributes of 18 allied monsters.
Before Kameo can morph into these allied monsters, she must catch them. Rare – the purveyors of the idea “bigger and more always means better" — has built an additional gameplay mechanic around capturing them. First, Kameo's cohort Meepo detects a potential monster partner in the environ- ment. Next, players must snag it through an elaborateooking gameplay mechanic that actually resembles those found in fishing titles. Once in your possession, you simply need to wait a certain amount of time for your creature to mature.
Rare has only shown a few allies at this point, but they seem interesting and fun, nonetheless. The first resembles a humanoid plant with boxing gloves that is most advantageous in melee encounters with numerous enemies. The second one is made of rocks and has the ability to launch projectiles or execute a super move. The last ally creature looks like a caterpillar. We have yet to witness its abilities, but we presume they will involve digging.
Although Rare remains secretive, it reveals, “Gamers с; also capture other incidental creatures such as worms and butterflies which have a secret purpose." We suspect that "incidental creatures" are those that Kameo cannot morph into, but if apprehended, endow her with special abilities like flying — although this is an assumption we're making based on screenshots featuring Kameo with and without wings.
Couple all this with the fighting and puzzle components, and it seems as if all the bad press surrounding Rare's E3 showing might be a bit premature. Given this game's high concept and the main character's shape-shifting ability, it certainly has the chance to be one of the most rewarding third-person action games in Xbox history.
| v
жы; 22
б. Ре гі %73
Kameo can use the stealth to sneak up on critters
Each ally monster is also of an element type - earth, wind, fire, etc. >
4 Yay El A
*
it
E They start out small, but mature into adequate fighters
Ш STYLE 1 -PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE Ш PUBLISHER MICROSOFT Ш DEVELOPER RARE Ш RELEASE SPRING 2004
"On track to rival the
THIS IS NOT A SHOOTING GAME.
STREETS OF LA
best games in each
particular genre... à Y -PSM
PlayStation.?
RATING PENDING irixo flx,
ACTIVISION
Visit www.esrb.org or
call 1-800-771-3772 for Rating Information.
CONTENT RATED BY ESRB
Coming September 2003
PREVIEWS
PS l
> ү A m. т jM APA ; i f Ee h x ж 2]
PLAYSTATION 2
EVERQUEST ONLINE ADVENTURES: FRONTIERS
GET АТАМ!
WARCRAFT III:
FROZEN THRONE
MIGHT MAKES RIGHT Why do you need more EverQuest? Don't you
know that you look like a pasty blob? Maybe we shouldn't The evolution Of the warcraft series has been a different maps. On some occasions, you'll find yourself
be telling you that Frontiers has enough new stuff in it lengthy and interesting one. With each successive title there's _reentering an area you've already been to, but exploring a
to choke a holstein, but we'll do it anyway. You look like always been a slight altering of the core gameplay. The most section that was previously unavailable to you due to any
you could use an additional 10 levels for that 50th level dramatic of these changes came with the advent of WarCraft number of juicy circumstances that Blizzard is so adept in character you've coddled into existence. Ca-CHANG! We Ill and its persistent heroes. Frozen Throne is looking to take creating. Furthermore, the famed CG department has been waved our plus-four Wand of Nerdiness, and it is so. What's that idea and make it a much bigger part of your experience. hard at work creating new dazzling imagery that we all play for
that? You're still not satisfied? Fine, how about a new race This increasingly individualized play will illicit a number of maps hours to see. Although these updates are nice, one thing is for and a new class to deal with... Ver-PLAUCK!!! There, now where players will spend more time with their heroes than they certain: Gone are the days of leading a faceless horde against you've got orcs and alchemists. Man, are we hooking you up will pumping out offensive and defensive fodder at their bases. another faceless horde. The story progression and character or what? Because orcs haven't gotten stupid yet (the game To this end, a Hero Stash, found at the beginning of assorted ^ building have received an enormous amount of attention, and
is set well before the PC version), they're able to become missions, will allow you to place up to six additional items for уои may find that Frozen Throne plays a bit more like an RPG necromancers in addition to their typical classes. Since your Hero to peruse at his or her heart's content. than it does an RTS.
we're feeling so generous, we'll also give you an eBay-esque Also updated has been how you progress throug!
item auctioning system that allows players to bid on items that other players have put up for sale. Once the bid has won, the money is taken out of the buyer's bank account, and the item appears. Oh, and we'll also give you a bunch of new skills, areas to explore, monsters to kill, and items to
ІКЕЙ
г
New units а е a couple of things Blizzards has in store for you
Dangerous new creatures are just one of the things to look forward to
Y па x x ns tm C R W STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME It wouldn't be Warcraft without a lot of poundin’ In-game cutscenes will further complement their CG brethren M PUBLISHER SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT M DEVELOPER SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT Ш STYLE 1 -PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 8-PLAYER ONLINE AND LAN) II PUBLISHER BLIZZARD Ш DEVELOPER BLIZZARD
Ш RELEASE FALL E RELEASE JULY |
80 GAME INFORMER
PREVIEWS
GAME BOY ADVANCE
SWORD OF MANA
THE ORIGINAL SACRED FORCE
PLAYSTATION 2 | XBOX | GAMECUBE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: OPERATION SURMA
IMPOSSIBLY DELICIOUS! Atari is seeking to take the latest installment of the ended dynamic unique to the series. Originally КЕЛЕСІ Fantasy Adventures
Mission Impossible series in a new direction - one obviously Operation Surma also draws inspiration from its film Boy back in ‘91, Sword of Mana really marked the influenced by a little game called Splinter Cell. However, given counterparts. In one such case, Ethan dangles from a ceiling еї of Mana - that hightech skullduggery is what MI is all about, it's hard to in an attempt to bypass the security alarms of a building, ans adored — was actually the sequel. fault Atari for attempting to put a new twist on one of the high which is obviously reminiscent of Tom Cruise hanging from the от the numerous subsequent titles, watermarks in console stealth. Based on the game's ЕЗ showi ventilation ducts in the CIA building. Between the two movies, amenities and enhancements to take we're very excited and can safely say that this game will have many other scenes stick out too, so let's hope Atari doesn't technology. Foremost, the story will be everything but Tom Cruise dancing around in his underwear. stop here. ugh the basic plot and protagonists remain Like Sam Fisher, Ethan Hunt can perform a variety of stealthy Fortunately, at least one element in Surma will be new: t ficantly more dialogue will heighten the depth moves and employ numerous crazy gadgets to aid him in his the story. A secret underground group has developed a rs and provide more insight into their plight. In exploits. His stealth techniques consist of creeping, disposing revolutionary microchip called ICEWorm that allows the user to already seems more text-heavy than the entire of bodies, choke holds, methods of distraction, and a silencer. disable any security system, rendering powerless the world’s Although he lacks Sam's limber ability to do the splits, Ethan's largest organizations. Your mission (no, we won't say it) is to Similarly, Square Enix will refine Sword's gameplay by Special binoculars more than compensate. With them, he can destroy the chip before the creators can sell it and ruin the free 1 elements that echo Secret of Мапа 5. Players travel photograph foes, send their mugs to headquarters, and have their world's economy. It's not going to be easy, but we think Ethan Yee-quarter, overhead view, have access to an faces converted into one of those nifty lifelike masks! This helps and the posse (which includes Luther, who is modeled after . and receive aid from an Al-controlled partner that Ethan infiltrate areas previously off limits, and creates an open- and voiced by Ving Rhames) are more than up to the task. guided through a limited command set. And, rumor has
P « а RT it, connecting two units will allow a second gamer to join for
cooperative play. One particular difference is the manner in which the charge attacks function. Instead of waiting a certain amount of time for
the meter to fill, you must fight. The more enemies you defeat, the faster the meter fills.
There will be a few stealth-specific attacks 15 that Tom Cruise? Naw
JER, oR os I. :
Graphically, it's a tad better than the SNES Secret of Mana
The lighting thus far is pretty impressive. lay dead...or else!”
W STYLE |-PLAYER ROLE PLAYING GAME
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER ATARI Ш DEVELOPER PARADIGM ENTERTAINMENT Ш RELEASE WINTER E PUBLISHER NINTENDO Ш DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX E RELEASE NOVEMBER 3
GAME INFORMER 81
PHOTOPHILE
LUPIN THE THIRD е
—JÉSIER-—-—— I-didn't«reali this mine was mo
BAN
DAVEM: YOU
T—HEÉLLEY-—
I want,to b ) / fa бәле Guardian Ё Re tod! | -13 > - - -d ud
Although nearly unknown in the States, Lupin the Third and his moral trio of crooks (Goemon, The GBA can always use another original RPG to add to its already-large collection, and CIMA Jigen, and Fujiko) started their antics in the '70s in manga. Since then, they've been featured looks like a winner. Designed by Natsume, the game chronicles the conflict between humans in thousands of comics, hundreds of TV shows, and a few dozen movies. Call Lupin a mixture of and СМА - a race of semi-human creatures. Maybe it's because they unleashed that crappy Robin Hood, James Bond, and Mel Brooks, and you kind of get an idea of what this universe is alcoholic beverage on us. No wait; that's ZIMA. As the guardian between the two worlds, Arc like. Hopefully, this video game incarnation will feature a compelling story that does justice to the has to try to keep the peace. NPCs can be used to solve puzzles and affect the story, and
series and gameplay mechanics that involve more than simply sneaking around, solving puzzles, and this title is touted as being filled with more emotion than an episode of The View. Look for it shooting and slicing a few enemies. Bandai has yet to name this game and only tentatively plans to this winter. release it in November.
PLAYSTATION 2
Original shooters are becoming harder to find
than Zubaz at a yacht club. Luckily, Konami is reinvigorating one of the most well-known horizontal shooters in video games: Gradius. Keeping its side- scrolling roots and old-school gameplay, the title's graphics have received more than just a shot, but a veritable fifth of vodka to the arm. The weapons and levels are brand new. You'll keep warm this winter with plenty of Gradius V's laser fire.
PHOTOPHILE
SIMCITY 4: RUS
Lounge Lane y
5 A : * ; 25 QE Ww ) © Moe Was Неге Bie uu ~ CT d ~N f; ”/: — 4-74 VERD 2 Dues UP You're not the only one who hates traffic - Maxis does, too! The Rush Hour expansion pack is all about making the drive easier for your Sims. You'll be given an abundance of tools to root out the troubled spots in your transport grid, and with features like the new avenue builder, it'll be easier than ever to get the stoppage flowing. Included is the ability to name your streets and
| landmarks, and even take control of individual vehicles themselves. You'll also be able to chase down criminals to earn new structures and vehicles. Look forward to unsnarling gridlock this fall.
PLAYSTATION 2
Oh no, it's Neo-Satan! Only the power of Xbox and third-person online shooting can dethrone him from his reign of darkness, with the pestilence and the hurting and the flavine. Up to
In Dog’s Life, you will take the role of Jake, a dog who needs to put the kibosh on a nefarious eight people can have a blast on Xbox Live engaging in Deathmatch or Mission modes. Teams dognapping scheme. Your success is determined by how well you take care of Jake, marking consist of four-person squads, tons of weapons, and a total disregard for personal safety. your territory, stealing, fighting, helping and hurting humans, and chasing cats. Dog's Life will Konami brings the proposed end of days to us in November.
С
introduce "Smell-o-Vision" - a first-person view where smells stand out as colors - and you'll be looking at the world through Jake's eyes. Developed by Frontier Developments, Dog's Life is currently only slated for release in Europe,
« _ PLAYSTATION 2 17
DESTRUCTION DERBY ARENAS
As we've said before, to be successful in the glutted MMORPG market, you need to have a gimmick and gameplay. Microsoft is trying its hand at development this time (it published
the Asheron's Call titles), and has honed in on what could be a very interesting idea. You'll find yourself as a reincarnated demigod іп a mythical Norse environment. As you level-up
your character, you and a group of friends (you could play alone if you wished) will have the ability to complete missions and quests in private sections of the game called Private Realm Modules. These areas will allow players to have a much more personalized experience in terms of NPC interaction, and objective possibilities can also be expanded. Mythica is set to release sometime next year.
Steel bends; debris flies everywhere; no one is safe. No, it's not your orca fat upstairs neighbor doing Tae Bo again; we're talking demo derbies! This chaotic sub-genre has produced some great titles, most notably Psygonsis and Reflections’ Destruction Derby 1 and 2 on the PSone. Now, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is bringing the carnage to PlayStation 2 in Destruction Derby Arenas. Using next-gen technology, we'll see cars get totaled like never before in unbeliev- able environments. Sony hasn't set a release date - or even stated if it is U.S.-bound - so you'll have to recklessly motor around the Wal-Mart parking lot in your hatchback for a while longer. Watch out for that cart!
GAME INFORMER 83
d
ANDY
Handle: The Game Hombre Expertise: RPGs, Action/Platform, Driving, First-Person Shooters Interests: Classic Video Game Collecting, Chipotle Burritos And The Too-Much-Food Coma That Follows, Giant Ferris Wheels Dislikes: The Fact That | Don't Own A Super- Expensive Sports Car, Forums Peeps Who Freak Out Over Reviews Current Favorite Games: PlanetSide, Advance Wars 2, Gran Turismo 4, Virtua Fighter 4 EVO, Soul Calibur И, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
MATT
Handle: The Original Gamer Expertise: First. Person Shooters, Puzzle, Action/Adventure, Action/Sports Interests: Јау-2'5 S. Carter Collection Mixtape, Recording, The Matrix Reloaded: Why Are Fanboys Acting Like It Killed Their Dog Or Something?, Finding Nemo, Smooth Jazz, Jazz Smoothies Dislikes: Looking Through Want Ads For Bassists, Pro Gear, Pro Attitude, Hunting Down Screenshots, Bouncing Checks Current Favorite Games: Downhill Domination, Jak II, Halo, Pac-Man
JUSTIN
Handle: The Digital Deviant Expertise: Action/ Sports, Action/Adventure, Fighting, RPGs Interests: Finding A Good Charity, Pineapple Juice (Straight), Improving My Posture, Waterslides, Black Flag Dislikes: The Nation's Job/Unemployment Situation, Time Zones, The Lack Of Pineapple Juice In MN, Smooth Jazz Current Favorite Games: Downhill Domination, NBA Street Vol. 2, Enter the Matrix, Super Smash Bros. Melee
CHET
Handle: The Joystick Jockey Expertise: Fighting, Action, RPG, FPS, Shooter, Action/Platform Interests; New Prospects, Minneapolis, Graduate School, Riding Bikes, Dog Park, 28 Days Later Dislikes: Broken Monitors, Lunds' Lack Of Organic Bread, The Haunting Of Hill House, The Mad Ghoul Current Favorite Games: Street Fighter Alpha 3, Mortal Kombat Il, Actraiser 2, Space MegaForce, Samurai Showdown 2, King Of Fighters "98, Super Castlevania IV
Our crack (or crackhead,
À
Now retired from the rock scene, Andy spends endless hours locked in his
home office; enjoying the benefits of high definition television and surround sound far away from those scary things he has often heard referred to as people. A longtime fan of Metroid, Andy has been reviewing video games professionally since the days of the &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 а former GWAR slave and moonlights
as wrestler Justin "Violent" 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 16-bit classics as often as he plugs into the latest titles.
Chet considers gaming to be a lifestyle, which means that he spends а ridiculous amount of time with his games. When he’s not in an intense session of UT, or relaxing with one of 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.
REINER
Handle: The Raging Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Fighting, Action/Platform, Strategy, Sports Interests: Console Online Gaming, Game Boy Player (Advance Wars 2 Looks Sweet On A TV!), Coca-Cola Classic (The Drink Of Video Game Champions), High-Def Sports Dislikes: NASCAR (If | See Another Car Make A Left Turn, I'm Going Postal!), The Downfall Of 300 (No More Army Men??? Ah...Bummer) Current Favorite Games: PlanetSide, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic, Silent Hill 3, Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, Shaq-Fu
KRISTIAN
Handle: The Video Viking Expertise: RPGs, Strategy, Sports, First-Person Shooters Interests: Craps (The Gambling Game, Not “Having Тһе”), The New Led Zeppelin DVD Set, People With First Names For Last Names (John Mark, James Kevin, etc), 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5 SEs Dislikes: Everybody Loves Raymond (Not Me, Jackass!), Bird Poop, Leon Trotski Current Favorite Games: Day Of Defeat, Madden NFL 2003 (Xbox), PlanetSide, Gallop Racer 2003; A New Breed
KATO
Handle: The Game Katana Expertise: Sports, Racing, Action/Adventure, Action/Platform Interests: Jim Or James Brown, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, New Coke (Gone, But Not Forgotten. Of Course, | Like The Notion And Not The Taste) Dislikes: The Cable TV Idea That Talking Louder Makes You
Right, Smoother Jazz Current Favorite Games:
Gitaroo Man, NHL 2K3, NHL 2004, NASCAR Thunder 2004, ESPN NFL Football, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
LISA
Handle: La Game Nikita Expertise: Puzzle, RPGs, Action/Platform, Horror Interests: New Cell Phones, Frisbee Golf, Hummus, Everything 15 Illuminated By Jonathan Safran Foer (The Best Book That I've Read In The Last Five Years) Dislikes: Losing Stuff, Laundry, Dead Cell Phones Current Favorite Games: Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, Resident Evil Outbreak, Magic Pengel: The Quest For Color
CONCEPT
The Italian pg.93
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 669 times. A fan of all game types, role-playing games are his strong suit. In his nine years as a professional gamer, Reiner has achieved the impossible. Penetrating the pixel boundary, he not only plays games, he's in them. Thus far, Reiner has appeared in Dragon Force, Alundra, and Perfect Dark. He will also
be featured as playable characters in two forthcoming releases.
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 а 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 as a 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 l'Il stop playing games" phase in late junior high, Lisa has been subjecting her friends to drawn out boss battles since age 8. She has been known to wax philosophically about why Jigglypuff is desperately underappreciated and wish that some "big" games were more fun, even if that means less pretty
ЕС Content suitable
REPLAY VALUE
we can never decide which) ideas the бат f the
What r
bri tot
for persons ages 3 and older.
THE SCORING SYSTEM
review team rates games in You'll still bi opping this рат e a game's final ӨШІН ars from now. all the game good a game looks, taking 4 account any flaws such as
a number of categories to old ideas are ргезе
help you sort out the great from the stuff you'll hate. Most games are reviewed by 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
Content suitable for persons ages 6 and older.
or pop-up. Perfection. One of the best games of all time, if not THE best game of all time. This game is virtually flawless, and SOUND RSS Moderate - Good for a thus this rating is rarely given out. Does the game's music few months or a few times
through
Content suitable for persons ages 13 and older.
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 hooked.
MATURE
м
Content suitable for persons ages 17 and older.
Moderately Low – Aft
down?
PLAYABILITY
Basically, the controller to 2 amus omy
man u'il q к think about t ik of before you complete t
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 some time.
Content suitable
we look for in a game, and only for adults.
also a cheat sheet so the
Worth renting. Unless you're a fledgling gamer, you've prob- ably seen everything this game has to offer before. Still, just play
newbies can understand our advanced video game jargon. It is important to note that the Game of the Month is determined only by the main review score, not an average of the two opinions.
bd
Product is awaiting final rating.
checking it out won't ruin your weekend.
ENTERTAINMENT
Limited appeal. There are always a few people who will fall in Flat out, just how fun th love with a game of this caliber, but for the most part, those 5 lay. Тһе m
playing it will be yearning for something more.
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 for playing it.
84 GAME INFORMER
ANDERE
Mortal Kombat Tournament pg.104
ЕУЕ Online pg.101
Ghost Recon: Island Thunder pz.96
| — GAME OF THE MONTH л STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC
n alistic sp Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire ruled the galaxy, Knights of the Old Republic takes players bcd Prete to an unexplored sector in the Star Wars universe, where Jedi and Sith number in the thousands.
Р ie i With BioWare at the development helm, this is one of the most comprehensive RPGs to date, allowing players to choose their destiny. Will you follow the light side of the Force and strive for peace? Or, will you follow the dark side and rule the galaxy with an iron first? The choice is yours. pg.94
EO C idm GAME OF THE MONTH V STAR TREK: ELITE ШЕТІ, еее FORCE Il
s Trekkies, you're about to have yet another reason to ignore your “like Final usual day-to-day activities. Elite Forces ІІ has all of the action and sparkle of a high-end first-person shooter coupled with the intricate Star Trek universe. Who says you can't go two days without food? pg. 100
REVIEWS
N "E
a stand-alone
update priced
fairly at 20
dams."
Quest mode is loaded with different locations and match types
Hyper Fighting feels a lot like Tekken
A bonus 10th Anniversary Edition of VF 1 is included
86 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2
ar JACKY.
VIRTUA FIGHTER 4:
EVOLUTION
STILL VIRTUALLY ASS-KICKING
on't mistake Evolution as an entirely new entry in D the series; rather, consider it a stand-alone update
priced fairly at 20 clams. As such, players get the same stellar gameplay with a few improvements and additions, including touched-up graphics, redesigned stages, two original characters, and most significantly, a new gameplay mode dubbed Quest.
Quest thrusts you into an arcade gaming experience that you would encounter if you lived in Japan. Players choose a character and virtually travel to different arcades (referred to as game centers in Japan) to battle against other competitors. Unfortunately, this traveling merely involves moving a cursor to various locations on an overhead map. Although Sega does a fantastic job of creating Al that not only gets progressively harder, but varies in fighting style in an attempt to simulate the human experience; it would be more engaging if you could walk around in a virtual world seeking out competitors and tourna- ments. Perhaps this idea is the basis for VF 5 or an online edition! We can only hope.
Furthermore, Quest supports certain tournaments that are governed by different rules — much like those found in Soul Calibur 2. In one type (Hyper Action Battle), Sega greatly reduced the pause in between moves, thereby enabling you to
create insanely large combo strings. In another event called Seesaw Game, each competitor begins with half an energy bar. As the name implies, you add energy to your life bar according to the amount of damage you inflict, and the same goes for your opponent. This energy tug-of-war, as you'd suspect, often results in some very intense matches.
Winning these battles in Quest mode mainly yields money and prizes. With your dough, you can purchase a whole host of secrets such as new models, body parts, and accessories. The only other reward for victory is respect. Beating certain virtual competitors will earn you their badges, and once you win any game center's tournament, you automatically become its champion. However, if you continue to play at that arcade, those defeated foes will challenge you for their badges and your spot.
Despite all of the wonderful effort put into making Evolution a mustbuy, | do have a few minor gripes. First, the throwing mechanic should require a little more technique. Second, Sega might discontinue manufacturing the original VF 4 in favor of Evolution, which doesn't seem detrimental on its surface. However, Evolution lacks the Al training component from Kumite mode. — CHET
W STYLE | OR 2PLAYER FIGHTING I PUBLISHER SEGA Ш DEVELOPER SEGA Ш RELEASE А!
The graphics are touched up and look a bit crisper
= =5. Throwing your opponent is an easy way to knock off a lot of health
m Concept: УҒА with a new mode, new characters, and improved. graphics
m Graphics: Stellar! The graphics were good before, but Sega did some nice touch-ups
и Sound: The effects get you into the fighting and the music is decent to good, depending on the stage
ш Playability: Flawless
@ Entertainment: Although Kumite mode has disappeared, the new Quest portion proves at least equally addicting
W Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
As far as I'm concemed, there | are three fighting franchises that | [think are truly brilliant: Меша | | Fighter, Street Fighter and Soul
in the past, but these are the pinnacles in my book. So while
price tag, and this game is a | no-brainer. Buy it.
“This game does the equivalent of grabbing you by the groi
and tossing you
off a cliff.”
The local wildlife doesn't like
you imposing LE
ж
Take out your frustrations by beating down opponents post-race
There's a first-person view that pulls out during tricks
PLAYSTATION 2
DOWNHILL
7
DOMINATION
CIVILIZATION’S SPEEDY DECLINE
protecting your fragile melon sounds like a damn good
idea for a video game. Until now, it's been an untapped premise. The obscure PSone game, No Fear Downhill Mountain Bike Racing, comes to mind; but the only accolade it received was Longest Name. Enter Incog, fresh off the disappointing War of the Monsters, but still in the pink from the amazing Twisted Metal: Black.
Downhill Domination is definitely influenced by EA BIG's SSX and Freekstyle. It's a race game where tricks abound. It also alludes to Р5опе 5 Jet Moto. If | were a movie reviewer, I'd say something about a "white-knuckle thrill ride," but thankfully I'm not a movie reviewer. Kidding aside, this game does the equivalent of grabbing you by the groin and tossing you off a cliff — which is much more entertaining than it may sound.
The game's speed is flatout intense and puts many futuristic racers to shame. Much of the velocity can be attributed to the downward slant the races take. Through much of the 24-plus levels, you'll be tilted at an 80-degree angle. Obstacles (llamas, passersby, etc.) and pickups (speed bursts, weapon upgrades, etc.) appear almost out of nowhere; and the decline allows you to get more air than an oxygen bar.
These stages are massive - the largest | think I've ever seen in a racing game. Not only are they long, but there's a lot of room for lateral movement and plenty of alternate paths. They
В: down а steep crag with nothing but a foam egg
also really take advantage of their locations. | could barely see during the Siberian snowstorm, and | had to avoid lava in the Hawaii level. City streets, waterfalls, and dark caverns also show up.
Physics play a big role here. It’s as if Sony told Incog, “We lost Rainbow Studios [makers of ATV Offroad Fury], and it’s your job to pick up the slack.” When you go careening into a tree, your body flops around painfully. Also, you have to lean forward or backward to take optimal advantage of the contours of the levels.
Racing isn't all you do. Tricks are a big part of Downhill Domination's charm. You've most likely seen them all before, but they do add to the fun. Put some distance between your wheels and the ground, then bang on the shoulder buttons and triangle to execute some sweet moves. At the end of the race, you're awarded cash based off your tricking.
You also get money for combat (think Road Rash) and ranking. With this capital, you can upgrade parts or unlock new items and features. The list of upgrades is a little shallow, so you won't be doing it as often as with your baller in NBA Street Vol. 2, for example. This, and the fact that the interface and HUD aren't as user-friendly as I'd like them to be, аге my only complaints in an otherwise entertaining offering. Fans of both racers and extreme games will likely put Downhill Domination at the top of the gaming pile. - JUSTIN
W STYLE | ТО 4PLAYER ACTION/RACING Ш PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA lii DEVELOPER INCOG
W RELEASE JULY 22
E “+ Wile QUICK MOUNT (2 $ 2 B ^
Spend enough money and you can mount a sheep!
I'd tank you not to roll over me,
THE BOTTOM LINE
TEEN
m Concept: Getting down a mountain — the easy way
B Graphics: Decent on all fronts. | think the framerate impresses me most, since it's so fast
W Sound: Some good tunes, but a little more alterna-rock than I want. The voiceovers get a bit repetitive
m Playability: 1 can't fault any of the controls, but there are a few variations if you can
W Entertainment: A great racer in the vein of SSX. If it’s got wheels, apparently Incog can do no wrong
и Replay Value:
SECOND OPINION 1 have to admit that | actually
"gem" Xtreme Sports, | just. | didn't think that pedal-powered vehicles.
mechanics definitely give it a feel all its own. At times the sense of speed is
GAMEINFORMER 87
Silent Hill 3 embodies the true essence of horro and never once gives the player a moment fo relax or
breathe.”
Exploration in Silent Hill is very limited, but you'll run into the famous fog
Can you say Tremors?!
"Bobby really said that? Like, wow! 1 can't believe he thinks I'm cute! I'm, like, so going to die and stuff!”
88 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2
SILEN
HORROR PERSONIFIED
logical horror that is illustrated with some of the most grotesque and sadistic visuals seen in any game,
television show, or motion picture. Just the thought of a woman eating a fetus is disturbing as is, but in the world of Silent Hill 3, it's an ordinary everyday occurrence and something that you'll have to stomach continually during play. Nerves of steel and the ability to accept the most shocking of content are an absolute necessity if you dare venture into this ghastly game.
Through a slow pace, frightening “what just happened?” moments, and the never-ending sensation that something horrible is about to occur; Silent Hill З achieves horror in а truly classical sense reminiscent of such films as The Shining and Rosemary's Baby. Players step into the shoes of Heather Morris, a somber teen who suddenly finds herself alone in а demonic alternate reality. As Heather progresses deeper into this strange new world, the plot and true conflict slowly emerge. As you can probably guess, this is one of those stories where you won't know everything until the credits roll. Much like The Sixth Sense, Silent Hill 3 is riddled with clues, allowing players to formulate their own theories prior to the climax. | can safely say, however, that no matter what you figure out, the last five minutes of gameplay will leave you speechless.
S ilent Hill 3 weaves an unnerving web of psycho-
As Clever as the storytelling dynamic is, the gameplay actu- ally leaves much to be desired. Heather's movements are very robotic, and her combat prowess is limited to standing in place and firing or slashing until she or the adversary perishes. The enemy Al is also suspect and usually has no defense to stop Heather from simply running by and avoiding conflict altogether. On top of this, the puzzle-solving element — something that the series is heralded for — has been toned down considerably, so you won't find yourself racking your brain over a riddle. Most ofthe puzzles revolve around scouring the massive worlds to find an item that can be used to open a door. As a whole, the gameplay is uninspired and hasn't evolved since the first entry in the series.
Konami concentrated all of its development efforts on the storytelling and visual atmosphere. With blood seeping out of cracks on a wall, invisible children whispering as their bloody footsteps appear right in front of you, and sweeping shadows that move accordingly to changing light sources; Silent Hill 3 embodies the true essence of horror and never once gives the player a moment to relax or breathe.
Play wise, there's not much going on, but the graphics will surely suck you in and the story will keep you attached until the very end. - REINER
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE Ш PUBLISHER KONAMI Ш DEVELOPER KONAMI Ш RELEASE А!
a
The haunted mansion in the amusement park is filled with numerous jump-out-of-your-seat moments
What is this...barbecued dog?
“Hmmm....Tastes like chicken!"
THE BOTTOM LINE
MATURE
m Concept: An overly disturbing story about a teenager girl and her coming of age within a demonic world
ш Graphics: The texture mapping is photo-realistic and the lighting (especially the way shadows move) rivals the likes of Splinter Cell on Xbox
W Sound: Decent spoken dialogue and ambient sounds that will send shivers down your spine
W Playability: Sluggish and far from inventive. The puzzles are nowhere near as good as they were in previous games
W Entertainment: Storytelling outweighs gameplay, but it's good enough to keep you hooked
ш Replay Value: Moderate
SECOND OPINION
| I'm always excited for a new
Silent Hill game to come out. There is no other franchise that can successfully gross me out. and scare me half to death
in the same instant. Silent
Hill 3 doesn't disappoint in the twisted, macabre, convoluted,
| bizarro, messed-up storytelling
that (to me) is the hands- down best part of the games.
| Heather — out sweet heroine —
isn’t very good at shooting a
gun, wielding a katana, speak- ing with any semblance of intel- ligence, or executing elaborate hand-to-hand maneuvers. Some
| see this lack of combat finesse
as a desperate downfall of the franchise; І, on the other hand, think that the storytelling, graphics, and genius lighting effects make up the difference. Silent Hill 3 is the best entry in
| the series with a storyline that
makes sense and graphics to LISA-8 |
| die for.
ч
PLAYSTATION 2
ALIENS VERSUS PREDATOR: EXTINCTION
EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM
here is about as much point to doing this game as there is to rolling around in a room T full of tacks (| hate when that happens). Throwing Aliens, Predators, and Marines into a free-for-all has the potential to be bloody good fun, but is this really what you had in mind?
Probably the worst thing about this game is that RTS fans can get their kicks from the genre elsewhere on the PC — and done better, too. You'll miss things like camera control, intelligent А, and set battle formations for your units, Also frustrating is the fact that you don't carry over supplies or accomplishments from mission to mission. You have to start over from square one every time. This is particularly bad because there are some cool upgrades to attain.
Unlike other similar RTS titles, Extinction excels at differentiating its species. Aliens are cool because they build their numbers by infesting hosts; Marine dropships make finding Atmos key; and Predators can use their cloaking ability for stealth. If there's one thing | like that pulls Extinction away from most RTSs, it's that the game largely cuts out your typical resource management, letting you concentrate on searching and destroying. Even this is a burden, however, as you waste lots of time traversing the map looking for action. You can look, but you won't find it here. - KATO
‘Allens’ Infestation ability makes for a mobile force A very welcome sight
Infant
Е Guys standing around in battle? Yeah, that
Specialist infantry units love to BBQ Бока about right
W STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/STRATEGY Ш PUBLISHER FOX INTERACTIVE/ELECTRONIC ARTS E DEVELOPER ZONO, INC. Ш RELEASE JULY 21
“}
EJ E x
“ = 8
E
THE BOTTOM LINE
m Concept: Sounds like the fight of the century. Yes, that's what it sounds like
W Graphics: A fairly bland part of the game that fails to stand out whatsoever
W Sound: A rich experience in both orchestration and sound effects
m Playability: Lacks a number of amenities common in the genre
W Entertainment: Not wholly unredeeming — but not а lot else, either
ш Replay Value: Moderately Low
SECOND OP! N
| Ah HA! EA is able to make | mistakes! | don't get to say this | | too often about something that | | gomes ow the BA рва. - this | is a stinker. A big stinker. Think | of how the bathroom smells | after your fat aunt Edna has — | been in there for 25 minutes, To | | Its credit, Extinction did attempt | | to mold an dea (Allens versus | | Predator and its sequel were fan- | tastic PC titles) that's had some | success into a new genre, but to | | no avail, The gameplay is simply | too stunted and sloppy for one |
Coming Soon. Connect Nintendo GameCube™ and Game Boy Advance for Enhanced ЕРІК
© 2003 Electronic Arts Inc. Ele John Madden Football are tr lnc. in the U.S, and/or other
m Rames/logos are tr
arks are trademarks of licensed product of PLAYERS INC. The Aradem f the NFL players. үлі лі
and (& are traden
EVERYONE
ENDO @ GAMECUBE
ESRB
REVIEWS 4%
À
“It's 2003, yet I'm still stuck
turning six
hidden gears in
order to open one friggin'
door? That's
Hanging out in the nightclub is definitely sweet
Every Tomb Raider fan's dream: four levers to pull!!!
The hand-to-hand combat is decent
90 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2
li 5g
TOMB RAIDER: THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS
A DEVIL WITH D-CUPS
million-selling franchise finally making the jump А: the current console crop should be cause for
celebration. With Tomb Raider, however, the buzz has been more negative than anything. Going into this review, | resolved to transcend all my preconceived notions and just play the damn game. Unfortunately, this resulted in me screaming, “Damn this game!”
Angel of Darkness is a disappointment on all fronts and а crystal-clear example of a stubborn developer unwilling to change with the times. Lara Croft still has her charm and is a dynamic character, but the game she's dropped into isn't fit for a woman who has a pair of such gigantic...er, movies to her credit.
Control has always been a sore spot with Tomb Raider, and Core made some valiant attempts to correct it. Instead of requiring you to line up perfectly to climb a ladder or flick a switch, Lara does it for you. This brings up its own problems, as you'll grab a ladder while passing by it.
Walk and stealth modes are toggled, which is helpful. No doubt attempting to draw praise for having “RPG aspects,” Tomb Raider now makes Lara level-up certain abilities. For example, there are doors that won't budge until she “feels stronger,” and moves like the sprint that aren't immediately available. While refreshing at first, it comes off as a cheap tease in execution.
Tomb Raider uses the tried-and-true method of increasing replay by repeated menial tasks. Tried as in trying my patience, and true as in truly aggravating. With all the hoops you have to jump through just to get to the next section, | was expecting a doggie treat and a tummy scratching for my effort. It's 2003, yet I'm still stuck turning six hidden gears in order to open one friggin’ door? That's just archaic. Games like Deus Ex and Eternal Darkness have proven that puzzles don't have to be ridiculously monotonous.
To me, the series’ most memorable moments are when you're in a massive, five-story area, making daring jumps and taking out enemies from a higher elevation. These events are here (the nightclub scene is especially Cool), but they aren't nearly as numerous as I'd like. Instead, you have to sift through endless conversations with French denizens, or search for ancient symbols at an archeological dig..A satisfying blend of action and adventure is never established.
Only the most devoted Lara Croft followers will get their money's worth with this release. The rest of us will grow increasingly frustrated with the overly anal and buggy gameplay, and pawn it off on our gaming newbie friends. Angel of Darkness just proves the point: You can't go Tomb again. - JUSTIN
STYLE 1 -PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE Ш PUBLISHER EIDOS Ш DEVELOPER CORE Ш RELEASE JUNE 24
Core has always been good at capturing stretchy shirt physics
A good view of Lara ducking under some electronic trip wires.
THE BOTTOM LINE
ш Concept: A PS2 Tomb Raider sequel that's indistinguishable from the PSone versions
ш Graphics: The environments aren't bad, but lack interactivity and detail. Characters" fingers look like breadsticks
и Sound: Done by the London Symphony Orchestra. Coupled with the gameplay, it only serves to put you to sleep faster
m Playability: I'm convinced Tomb Raider will never control smoothly. Executing the simplest of moves is a chore
W Entertainment: Core took all the power of PS2 and did nothing new with it. Coffin, meet nail
W Replay Value: Moderately Low
| SECOND OP N
ly, how the mighty have fallen. | Tomb Raider's PlayStation 2 | | debut may be a little easier | on the eyes; but, at the end | of the day, it's still the same | song and dance for Lara. | Actually, that's not quite | fair, | always found the Tomb Raider games to be enjoyable. Due to the lack of innovation between each installment, it was just a matter of how | much of it | could handle. | Angel of Darkness is by no | stretch of the imagination a | | respectable game. The controls | are incredibly clunky (even more so than before), and the | majority of puzzles are tedious, | | time-consuming, and idiotic. | The biggest kicker, however, is the dreadfully slow pacing. | Within the first 10 hours of play, І encountered maybe | (and І stress the word maybe) 1 10 enemies. Nothing spells. | excitement like one battle an | hour. Simply said, Tomb Raider | | is tragedy plus time, stress,
тыла жамы
PLAYSTATION 2 QUICKIES
F1 CAREER CHAMPIONSHIP
Ш STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING W PUBLISHER EA SPORTS W RELEASE JUNE 23
EA Sports has stretched out the Career mode, but this game as a whole is still incomplete. While F1 driving demands a high skill level, ! don't appreciate how your car's handling lacks that fine touch. Also frustrating i is the poor А, average graphics, and an almost non-existent damage system. While EA Sports is trying to give this sport depth, this game seems to neglect other areas - almost a role reversal from previous efforts. The
result is a title with an odd un-EA Sports Е7
feel to it. - КАТО SUMMER HEAT BEACH VOLLEYBALL
W STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS B PUBLISHER ACCLAIM Ш RELEASE JUNE 17
Sex doesn't always sell (see 0 ВМХ XXX), but | still wish this game was a bit sexier.
The play is serviceable - the
control scheme grows on you – but the character models are quite shoddy.
Ӯ ` It lacks depth, despite minigames and unlockables. | want upgradable characters like NBA Street, or DOA Xtreme's attention to detail (i.e. hotties). Summer Heat is a good volleyball sim, but that's all it is. Thus, it's geared toward hardcore v-ball fans — all 11 of you. - JUSTIN
SMASH CARS
W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING W PUBLISHER METRO 3D W RELEASE JULY 24
ЕЛУ | try to avoid cliches like ШАЙЫ "been there, done that,” but that Mountain Dew slogan is begging to be used in reference to this game. Like RC Revenge and Stunt GP, Smash Cars is a remote-
E controlled racer with little new or unique. To make matters worse, the visuals are a throw- back to the early days of the PS2, if not Dreamcast. There's novelty in human characters that pick up and toss your car if you run into them, and some depth to the upgrade system;
but | can't think of a good reason why you'd д want to play Smash Cars. - MATT FREESTYLE METALX
W STYLE 1 TO 9-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS E PUBLISHER MIDWAY I RELEASE JUNE 23
For a motocross game, | MetalX is pretty hardcore.
with old-school heavy hits (Motörhead, Megadeth,
IB Twisted Sister); the levels are muy grande; and there are a bunch of modes that
encompass all you can do on a bike. Those things don't make it a must-have by any means - especially with buggy collision, generic goals, and unattractive graphics. However, they keep it out of Suck City,
and move it on up to Rentopolis or A) A
Buywhenitscheapsville. — JUSTIN
FREAKY FLYERS
W STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/RACING E PUBLISHER MIDWAY W RELEASE AUGUST 4
With 34 playable characters and expansive theme- driven levels that are overflowing with shortcuts, narrow passes, and interactive objects; Freaky Flyers definitely has what it takes to draw players into the fold. Once you get there, however, you'll be bored to death by the dullness and sheer simplicity of gameplay. The graphical quality is certainly impressive, and it does continually reward players with CG movies at the end of each stage and the occasional hidden character, but the meat of the game really has nothing going for it. The racing is slow as molasses, the weapon selection is pathetic,
and it only supports two-player split-
screen. - REINER
EJAY CLUBWORLD
I STYLE | TO 4-PLAYER SIMULATION PUBLISHER EMPIRE INTERACTIVE/CRAVE Ш RELEASE JUNE 16
While | could live танға out my virtual DJ = fantasies with almost any title like this, | just didn't get my groove on with Ejay Clubworld. This is mostly due to the interface, which doesn't offer the ease-of-use of MTV Music Generator 2 or the on-the-fly sample manipulation of Music Maker. | am annoyed by the fact that you can't place samples between measures (I'm a geek!). It's definitely got a lot of depth, and techno fans will love the fact that it's endorsed by the legendary Carl Cox and features many famous real-world clubs. Still, the devil is in the details, and Ejay Clubworld's
clunky controls will wear on you after a E7
while. - MATT
THE ITALIAN JOB
W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING W PUBLISHER EIDOS Ш RELEASE JUNE 24
Every time you pass a mission = in Story mode,
the game asks
if you are sure
you want to play
the next section.
You want to know
why? Because
it is serious gut- check time and you really have to ask yourself if you want to continue playing this dreadful game. The missions are short, the graphics are average at best, the playcontrol is horrendous, and having to listen to the monotone voice- over relaying the story is like listening to fingernails grading on a chalkboard. The circuit and stunt modes are better, but not by much. Sure, Mini Coopers are neat little cars,
but | think | would rather be run over by one than play this game again. - ANDY ms
ae Seat la aise
IT'S THE WHEELS THAT SLOW THEM DOWN
Coming Soon. Exclusively for Nintendo GameCube!”
€ 2003 Nintendo © AMUSEMENT VISION/SEGA, 2003. * nd 1 are trademarks. of Nintendo. С 2003 Nintendo.
RATING PENDING 9 : Visit www.esrb.org or 1 € call 1-800-771-3772 for Rating Information. 1 GAMECUBE
ESRB
4
REVIEWS
T i
PLAYSTATION 2
p= z __ ios o о;
MACE GRIFFIN
BOUNTY HUNTER
A 32-BIT HALO
f Bungie Studios developed f Halo for the PSone, | һауе
a feeling that the scope of gameplay, cinematic cutscene quality, and graphical details would be identical to Mace Griffin on PlayStation 2. Yes, this is a major slam against Mace, but at the same time and in a very roundabout way, it's a bit of a compliment.
You can clearly see similarities between Mace and Halo throughout this game's coding. The levels feature a plethora of scripted events, which makes your surroundings feel alive, and are used to build the story and deliver the sensation that you're but a pawn in the unfolding conflict. The game also transitions seamlessly between running and gunning to manning a vessel in space. It's an impressive feature, but it basically goes to waste. The space combat portions are incredibly short, which is a godsend since the vehicle controls are abysmal.
The FPS portions of the game are decent. The weapon selection is well rounded, the game makes use of a slick lock-on technology for close- quarters combat, and enemy types are varied between stages. At the same time, the Al is generations behind where the genre is today. All said, it plays fairly well. It's not the best shooter out there, but it's definitely one of the most ambitious and is at least worth а look. – REINER
THE BOTTOM LINE
MATURE
кӛне
I Concept: Ап FPS/space combat hybrid developed in the Halo vein
m Graphics: The texturing and detail within the character models are light years behind the Xbox version, PlayStation 2 benchmarks, and the FPS genre in general
и Sound: The orchestrated score is impressive, but the spoken dialogue borders on the worst in all of gaming
® Playability: FPS segments control well and you gotta love the high-powered arsenal, yet the space combat is simply horrendous
B Entertainment: Another ho-hum FPS that lacks a multiplayer component
B Replay Value: Moderate
SECOND OPINION
Think of Mace as a poor man's Half-Life. There's a story, but it's not as good (although it certainly is engaging); there's а good mix of platforming and FPS action (but with clunkier controls); and there are quite a few more bugs and examples. of bad Al. All told, however, it's not a bad game. Go with the Xbox version if you һауе the option.
ANDY - 7
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER BLACK LABEL GAMES Ш DEVELOPER WARTHOG Ш RELEASE JUNE 19
92 GAME INFORMER
PLAYSTATION 2
INDIANA JONES AND THE EMPEROR’S TOMB
KLING
SUBLIME SWASHBU
best ever created - the tough-as-nails archeologist Indiana Jones (recently picked
Е very action game needs a great character. This game definitely has one of the
as the second-greatest hero in movie history by the American Film Institute). For my money, the Indiana Jones series is second to none, and | am happy to say that the franchise has finally been given a proper video game treatment.
The Collective, who also crafted the surprise hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer, really knows how to make quality games based on high-profile licenses. The company does this in а couple of obvious, but hard-to-achieve, ways. For one, the combat is actually entertaining, encompassing guns, whips, fists, grappling, and even environmental objects like chairs and bottles, This isn't even counting all of Indy's other platforming-oriented maneuvers. What's more impressive is that this huge move set is incorporated into a simple control scheme that keeps frustration to a minimum.
| do love this game, but there are some drawbacks that keep it from joining the ranks of the elite. Most notable is the severe graphical degradation that occurred in porting it to the PS2. If you have the ability, play this on Xbox. My other major gripe is that some levels rely too heavily on tricky platforming, which brought back some bad memories of Tomb Raider. However, this title's epic scope, engrossing story, and addictive combat system easily outweigh these minor concerns. - MATT
Sequences like this help to break up the Tomb Raider-style action
Indy has a huge set of moves
Here's some classic Indiana Jones whip swinging
Swimming is cool, but watch out for giant white alligators!
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER LUCASARTS Ш DEVELOPER THE COLLECTIVE
E RELEASE JULY 15
THE BOTTOM LINE
m Concept: Find precious antiquities, fight Nazis, and explore gorgeous ruins with whip in hand
m Graphics: This game was created for Xbox, and the PS2 version suffers as a result
и Sound: Amazing. In addition to John William's iconic theme, the score is widely varied. Also features a dead-on Harrison Ford imitator
@ Playability: Does a good job of incorporating a large variety of combat and platforming tactics
W Entertainment: This is a great example of how to do a licensed game right
m Replay Value: Moderate
SECOND OPINION
| Indiana Jones and the
| Emperor's Tomb is pretty
| close to realizing the
| potential that Tomb Raider has always had...with the
| stylish addition of a fedora.
| From a technology standpoint,
| the title certainly has areas
| that need improvement. The
| framerate grinds to a halt
| when more than three enemies
| are onscreen. In addition,
| the overall graphics lack the
| prowess of today’s big-name titles. But graphics aren't
great lead character, | spectacular integration of John | | Williams' movie score, and | fun levels that are sufficiently | challenging and varied. While | the platforming aspects can | get frustrating, and getting your darned whip around | gargoyle heads is sometimes | inconsistent, Indy exhibits | everything that Tomb Raider | should: interesting locations, | fun level design, witty one- | liners, and cool headwear.
|
THE ITALIAN JOB
MINI MEDIOCRITY
he Italian Job is a licensed product, but just barely. T: there is no FMV from the film and none of the
stars’ images or voices were used in the cutscenes, it's basically just a run-of-the-mill racing title with Mini Coopers. I’m not saying that a game has to follow the movie it's tied to exactly, but this is really pushing it. So, we've already established that this isn't going to do much for Marky Mark fans. What we're left with is just another driving game - one that fails to distinguish itself.
The story mode is essentially a series of point-to-point
missions like Crazy Taxi, only minus the wild, over-the-
top excitement. Since the city environment is very generic, you don’t really get much of a thrill from exploring it. This weakness is exacerbated by the fact that many of the checkpoints are repeated time and time again. | actually had more fun with the Stunt
SECOND OPINION
m Concept: А pointto-point racer (very) loosely based on the Mark Walhberg caper movie
There certainly have been W Graphics:
worse games made to cash | Crisp, but not very detailed
in on their movie license, and | or inspired
out there; but Тһе Italian Job | W'Sound:
| manages to grasp the lowest Jazzy lounge techno that
| possible rung on the ladder reminds me of the score from
| called “mediocrity.” Осеап 5 Eleven. None of the
film's stars did voiceovers
USA- -5| |
uL wm Playability:
If you can press А and steer, you'll have no problems - except for those pesky (and apparently super-human) cops
Mode, which requires you to negotiate some tricky obstacle courses. Unfortunately, after
finally succeeding in getting an A rating on the first three to unlock the next course, | was dismayed to discover that the fourth stage was just the first three strung together. Rip-off! All told, The Italian Job is a workmanlike, uninspired racer that just doesn't do enough to
sustain my interest. - MATT
W Entertainment: Doesn't really seem tied to the movie in any way, and the basic gameplay isn't enough to make this stand out
Ш STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING I PUBLISHER EIDOS Ш DEVELOPER CLIMAX
W RELEASE JULY 8
W Replay Value: Moderate
GAMECUBE QUICKIES
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE
m PUBLISHER THQ
Ш RELEASE MAY 12
Admittedly, Finding Nemo truly is a kid's game; but unlike alot of titles geared toward the younger set, this one is actually fun and well designed, with great graphics and good sound. Following the storyline and comedic tone of Pixar's movie, you play as four of the main characters. Long load times mar the title, but lots of cutscenes are mixed with the action. The title's only worth it for kids, but
at least they'll enjoy it. - LISA [£6.75
STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING ILISHER ACCLAIM LEASE JUNE 24 Last time | played this game, it was being released by THQ and was called MX Superfly. | didn't really like it then, and | don't cotton to this generic motocross stunt title now. That's not to say that it's absolutely horrible; it's just that you've already played a bunch of games (ATV Offroad Fury, Freekstyle, or this month's Downhill Domination) that do the same thing with different vehicles and better graphics and gameplay. | like the little career storyline SX Superstar gives you, but that's about the
Е 6
only thing that came close to holding my interest. - MATT
EVERYTHING IS A
BATTLE.
JOUL O
BUK
Жазы"
Coming Soon. Exclusive Nintendo GameCube™ Edition Featuring Link.
RATING PENDING
Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 for Rating Information.
CONTENT RATED BY
GAMECUBE
namco"
- i 1% № All of the aliens speak in their authentic languages n't worry, these are simple questions. Nothing too intr st, what kind of background do you have T ж E t ) m sick of answering questions
Here's a good example of how diverse your character's responses are
Ф
Players сап pause the action to script their next moves
94 GAME INFORMER
STAR WARS:
Neverwinter Nights; developer BioWare has racked up an impressive list of hits – many of which are regarded as some of the most compelling and sophisticated PC role-playing games to date. Traditionally, console RPGs favor simplicity and ease of use over the complexity and wealth of options that BioWare chooses to implement into each of its games. Thankfully, the brilliant minds at this famed development house had no intention of bowing down to the industry standards for its first foray into the Star Wars universe.
In Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare's daunting develop- ment philosophy is іп ІШІ effect, and it's used to bring console gamers closer to Star Wars than they've ever been before. Knights’ story takes place 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire came into power, in a time where Jedi and Sith number in thousands and are locked in war. Rather than stepping into the shoes of a prefabricated character, players are invited to create their own personality. You can start out as a scoundrel, scout, or soldier. As the game unfolds, you'll run headlong into two interesting developments. On the one hand, you'll find out that the Force may in fact flow through your veins. Two, the actions that you make are judged, determining whether your character will align with the light or dark side of the Force. Even the most irrelevant confrontation could lead you down one path or the other, as every conversation in the game allows you to interact with responses that are fashioned as good, neutral, or evil. Good is usually something along the lines of, “Yes, | will help you save your daughter.” Neutral is, “I haven't the time to help you.” While evil might be, “I will slit your throat shortly after | gut your daughter.”
Many of the choices will alter the complexity of the quest – giving reason for players to complete the game twice. BioWare has even fashioned two distinctly different endings, one for each allegiance to the Force.
The structure of the game is linear, like most console RPGs. However, through lengthy side quests and minigames that range from competing in swoop races to mounting a turret for space combat to loosing all of your Credits in an addictive card game called Pazaak, Knights feels entirely open-ended and gives players freedom to veer off of the path frequently.
Т hrough such series as Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and
KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC
GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE
In true BioWare form, almost everything in the game can be tinkered with, customized, or upgraded. You can reinforce armor with new alloys; add a hair trigger and sight to your blaster; install neuro implants; hack into computers; repair droids; and even build your very own lightsabers. The options that are at your disposal can be a little daunting at times, but thankfully the user interface is easy to pick up and comprehend.
In a similar vein to BioWare's crop of PC titles, battles are turn based and use a rule set similar to many d20 pencil and paper games. The action that unfolds сап be viewed in realtime or through a slick pause interface that allows players to issue commands to their party members and form complex strategies at a comfortable pace. You can also assign combat scripts to individual party members to streamline the process in advance. How complex the battles are is not necessarily determined by the game, but rather how much the player puts into them. It's a brilliant system and something that will keep you entertained for hours.
From a graphical standpoint, the size of the environments, vibrancy of the lighting effects, and the fact that every item you don is shown cosmetically on your character are definitely impressive. At the same time, however, characters’ facial expressions are a little stiff, and the realtime cinematics are usually quite cheesy. In comparison to other Xbox titles, Knights’ visuals are middle of the road.
| was actually more taken aback by the sound. All of the dialogue in the game (of which there's a ton) is, in fact spoken. Of course, all of the alien species speak in their authentic tongue. BioWare also made the wise decision to not recycle John Williams' scores. Composer Jeremy Soule was brought in to record 90 minutes of amazing new music for the game.
The quest can be completed in around 40 to 60 hours, and the story that unfolds is worthy of film. However, at the end of the day, this game is all about building the ultimate Star Wars badass. Believe me when | say that there's nothing cooler than a wookiee wielding two swords or a droid with a flamethrower that pops out of its head.
Deserving of the highest of accolades, Knights of the Old Republic is a dream come true for Star Wars fans, and the most noteworthy Xbox release since Halo. - REINER
STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER LUCASARTS Ш DEVELOPER BIOWARE Ш RELEASE JULY 15
с v
droid is active. It attack any
now
enemies that come ir
“0 dream come true
for Star Wars fans,
о Optimize droid's targeting systems. (3 repair part(s)) | ;
and the most
Activate droid's shields. (4 repair part(s)
Engage droid in patrol mode. (5 repair
d noteworthy Xbox release 2 Р since Halo. j Hacking into computers and repairing droids can lead to a number of interesting outcomes [. ) " — c = ive Рашо AMD Жытыны TO berwan. DR Case Leva. like releasing, poisonous gas in a room full of adversaries Sou Den 7 VITALITY eve 2 Derenac n “ N è STRENGTH 5 +2 Я Dexrenrry шон N 2 CONBTITUTION 4 +2 UM INTELLIGENCE ı0 о ) < wspom 1а +2 "m p -- | Craninna о о E E A we в \ i C ~s DANK 4 -— EXPERIENCE Netoeo aA" ОСН CHANAC TO 23396 28000 Ҹ ші Ces © Scars "d
The meter on the left shows where your character stands between the
light and dark side of the Force Travel between planets is sometimes interrupted with turret-based battles
STAR WARS: KNIGH THE OLD REPUBLIC
Swoop racing is but one of the distractions
THE BOTTOM LINE
TEEN
Concept: An incredibly deep Star Wars RPG set over 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire m Graphics: Impressive lighting (especially on the sabers), decent battle animations, and beautiful environment details и Sound: Over 90 minutes of newly orchestrated music by composer Jeremy Soule and tons of spoken dialogue a d Combat and character customization couldn't be better. The teammate Al scripting is a tad temperamental at times m Entertainment: Bursting with longevity and reasons to play it over and over again W Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
The braintrust at BioWare
has constructed an absolute diamond in Knights, and Xbox owners should be foaming at the mouth to lay their hands on It. In a fashion typical of this esteemed company, KOTOR
| RPG ever released on Xbox, and is probably in the top five to be
released on any current console. Buy this game immediately.
GAME INFORMER 95
“Тһе most notable addition that Island Thunder offers is the enhanced
online play.”
Sitting in the open for too long is not a good idea
2 % 5 Ж 4 * 5 :
Working together to clear a structure
You're dead, Jeep guy!
96 GAME INFORMER
œ -m 30;
GHOST RECON:
ISLAND THUNDER
GILLIGAN'S WORST NIGHTMARE
goes a little something like this: "If it ain't broke, don't
fix it." Obviously you can see the wisdom behind this statement; feel free to use it when appropriate. To this end, the Red Storm people have taken their popular Ghost Recon franchise and simply added new missions. Yeah, they've implemented some online functionality as well, but it's basically the same game. Not that that's а bad thing - GR was and still is a fantastic game. The question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you're interested enough to plunk down more cash for a few new levels and online play. Let's see if we can figure it out.
The most notable addition that Island Thunder offers is the enhanced online play. With the eight new multiplayer maps and four fan-favorites from the original Xbox version of Ghost Recon making a reappearance, there will be plenty to experience, and link play is available for those who like to tote their Xbox to a friend's place. Also, the downloadable content is sure to keep things interesting for those who get bored easily. A bevy of maps are available, including Desert Seige environments which players will be able to play through in the Mission mode and multiplayer, but they are not
ў n parts of southwestern Minnesota, there's a saying. It
available in the Island Thunder story arc.
For the solo soldier whose parents refuse to allow him Internet access because of an indecent surfing incident at school, the single-player mode contains eight missions set in post-Castro Cuba (Castro will keel over in 2006 according to Red Storm). As with the other Ghost Recon games, you'll have a couple of fire teams at your disposal, but switching between the members can be taxing and confusing. Why the name of your trooper doesn't appear somewhere when you go from one person to another is beyond me. Also, your enemies tend to have incredibly good vision - too good in most cases. Poorly trained paramilitary personnel probably wouldn't be able to pick a fully camoed trooper out of a dense forest, but who knows.
Island Thunder is what you make of it. If you're the methodical type who loves to drown in the details, set up intricate raids, and get your hands dirty (so to speak); | see no reason why you won't enjoy this release. On the other hand, if you need medication in order to concentrate on one thing for longer than three minutes, go elsewhere. - KRISTIAN
W STYLE 1 ТО 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE AND LINK PLAY) Ш PUBLISHER UBI SOFT Ш DEVELOPER RED
STORM ENTERTAINMENT Ш RELEASE JULY 15
= 7
Я 5 + 4
One well-aimed grenade will clear out the party in front of these troopers
The character models look like they're about to jump out of your screen
THE BOTTOM LINE
MATURE 8.25
m Concept:
Coordinate attacks through assorted environments all while trying to stay alert and alive
m Graphics: Comparable to the original PC Ghost Recon, with all of the attention to detail you've come to expect from a Clancy inspired title
m Sound: If you have a nice system, you'll feel like you've jumped into the television
m Playability: For newbies, there's going to be confusion right out of the gate. Nothing substantial has changed that vets need worry about
W Entertainment: As with most things from Red Storm, if you dig this type of thing, you're in for a treat
W Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
Get a
subscription
to Game informer Magazine TODAY and save up to $94.78 off the newsstand
price.
24 ISSUES ONLY
$2 498
SAVE OVER 80% OFF EACH ISSUE!
AMEINFORM
MAGAZINE (v Yes! | want to take advantage of this amazing offer from Game Informer Magazine! 1 Year (12 Issues) for $19.98 2 Years (24 Issues) for $24.98
GameStop Value Card for $2.00 Please Print Clearly in Block Letters
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
Select Payment Method:
ГІ Check or money order enclosed. О Bill my Credit Card
Credit Card # Exp. Date
To order with Credit Card by phone call 1-866.844.GAME (4263) M - F Зат to 4pm Central Time. All International & Canadian orders must add $20/yr. additional postage. Please allow up to 8 weeks for first mailed issue. Value Card good for 10% off Used Merchandise. Card may be used at any GameStop, FuncoLand, Babbage's, Software Etc. & Planet X for 10 months from purchase date. 08/03
AMEINFORM
8 MAGAZINE Ce Yes! | want to take advantage of this amazing offer from Game Informer Magazine! (11 Year (12 Issues) for $19.98 0 2 Years (24 Issues) for $24.98
O GameStop Value Card for $2.00 Please Print Clearly in Block Letters
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
Select Payment Method:
C Check or money order enclosed. О Bill my Credit Card
Credit Card # Exp. Date
To order with Credit Card by phone call toll free 1-866-844.GAME (4263) M - F Sam to 4pm Central Time. All International & Canadian orders must add $20/уг. additional postage. Please allow up to 8 weeks for first mailed issue. Value Card good for 10% off Used Merchandise. Card may be used at any GameStop, FuncoLand, Babbage's, Software Etc. & Planet X for 10 months from purchase date. 08/03
MAGAZINE
Change Of Address Card
Please Print Clearly in Block Letters Old Address Customer/Card #
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
New Address
Name
Address
City/State/Zip 08/0:
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
GANIEINFORMER,
724 N 1ST ST 4TH FL MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401-9022
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
GANEINFORMER
724 N 1ST ST 4TH FL MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401-9022
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT МО. 30041 MINNEAPOLIS, MN POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
GANIEINFORMER
724 N 1ST ST АТН FL MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401-9022
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED
IN THE UNITED STATES
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES
NO Gi NEXT MONTH?
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?
Don’t Delay! Fill out the attached card or call toll free 1-866-844-GAME (4263).
“Тһе world is truly your oyster. Whether or not there’s a pearl in it depends on how much you enjoy the
freedom given
“No, we're not doing anything illegal, offismuggle – uh oh."
Someone's going to have to sew patches in the sails
Your enemies aren't always human...or alive
PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN
ONE LONG PLANK
irates is an open-ended role-playing game in the vein of із Elder Scrolls ІІ: Morrowind. What you do and where you
£o is up to you, and it's filled with more exploration and freedom than story-driven RPGs. This is both good and bad, and is at the very least unique.
Character creation is absent, as Captain Nathaniel Hawk is the protagonist. A pirate's life includes importing and exporting goods, engaging in sea battles, dodging storms, expanding your convoy of ships, and about a million other things. There is no set order or path to these tasks.
On land, you're either in a town or traversing the untamed wilderness. Civilization is bustling with activity. Your main tasks are hiring captains (who posse up with you) and crew, fixing and buying ships, and getting freelance missions. You can move between key locations with a fast walk option. Underhanded tactics range from entering homes and raiding their chests, to flatout killing everybody you meet.
Unfortunately, this option for deviance isn’t as deep as in Morrowind. You can only take certain items, and you can’t even strip corpses of their valuables. For example, | met with some smugglers in a secret location, but | didn't go for their deal. The cops showed up, and were defeated by our group. | turned on the smugglers and killed them, too. Take that! However, | had nothing to show for it, since | couldn't steal the cargo they were trying to sell me. What kind of pirate am | supposed to be?
THE
Your ship is obviously the way to get from island to island — which is very exploration-based, since there is no overworld map. Storms and enemy ships are the two things to watch out for. Hurricanes come from nowhere, and your best bet is to try to outrun them. You gain experience for weathering the storm, but it puts a hurtin' on your ship.
Sea battles are a sight to behold. While they take time to get used to, they're highly dramatic. Since you're on an old- time boat, you're at the mercy of the wind, and can really
only use your rudder for navigation. It's slow, but a time-skip
option moves things along. Lob cannonballs and hope to sink the enemy, or try to get alongside them and board the ship. After boarding, you must dispatch the crew — which is no easy task, but the vessel becomes your reward.
In Pirates of the Caribbean, the world is truly your oyster. Whether there's a pearl in it or not depends on how much you enjoy the freedom given to you. There is a lot of time spent wandering aimlessly, but there are also cool things that you couldn't do in a Final Fantasy or Xenosaga. | think it exceeds the quality of Morrowind, as many things that bothered me in that game aren't here. It's also a beautiful title — especially on the water. If you have the time and the desire to sail the seven seas on your own terms, grab your eye patch and give this a go. - JUSTIN
B STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS Ш DEVELOPER AKELLA Ш RELEASE JUNE 24 “
“Think ya brought enough guys?
“Another beautiful sunset without a wench of me own. Yargh."
m Concept: Bait your hook with a movie license atop an established PC game (Sea Dogs), and hope the console set bites
B Graphics: Stunning while on your ship with
beautiful water effects reflecting the
time of day and realistic damage. Not too shabby on land, either
и Sound: | must have wax in my ears; nothing is memorable
W Playability:
Sword combat is basic but effective. Ship battles are complex at first, but
you'll grow accustomed to them
W Entertainment: The open-ended RPG is a niche genre, but Pirates’ sea battles and vast array of tasks may make you a fan
m Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
Pirates of the Caribbean may draw inspiration from the Disney film; but make no mistake, it is the sequel to Bethesda's incredible PC RPG, Sea Dogs. Thankfully, the Disney license is mostly
wandering aimlessly for hours on end. If you can get into it, Pirates is hard to put down. It's the type of game you can lose yourself in. Hire shipmates, form an armada, pillage villages, do as you please. The handtohand combat is a tad simplistic, and your teammate
Al is questionable at times; but the ship battles, ocean weather effects, and sheer scope of the Бате are praiseworthy. It may be а little rough around the edges, but it is thoroughly enjoyable and a welcome change of pace from the. typical console RPG.
GAMEINFORMER 97
Я
е remaining
REVIEWS
T
0:35.21 , 90070 16 "ии k me - XBOX
THE ITALIAN
JOB
MERELY A PICKPOCKET
limax Group's mission based racing game is a prime example of
how to make something that is just plain vanilla in all the worst ways. The two cities, LA and Hollywood, are both rendered in drab, efficient looking buildings. The paths that cut through those Structures are populated with empty storefronts and there isn't a single pedestrian in sight. Texture maps lack
any depth, and the entire experience feels like cruising through a studio backlot more than barreling down the streets of LA.
It's not to say that The Italian Job is a horrible game. It clearly went through some testing, as | didn't encounter much by way of weird pop-up, suspect Al, poorly executed collision, or framerate difficulties. It's just that what is there is the bare bones. You are only afforded a small handful of cars and not much by way of customization. The story mode features cutscenes whose only animation is the camera moving around a car or van, and alternate modes only encompass two players.
The Italian Job lacks the planned skill of the criminals that the game portrays; and instead, comes off as a mindless licensed product. - LISA
THE BOTTOM LINE
MATURE
EET
m Concept: Make a glorified Mini commercial with a thinly
veiled heist-gone-awry plotline. Wait...that i movie, Make a game on said movie
m Graphics:
not utilizing the er Of The Xbox'™ rk and sound effects are good W Playability: Drivi
to a fai
rols are solid
B Entertainment: A good, solid, of fun. By th you've finished half of the Story, decided you suck at platforming with a car, and have driven a few circuit races
и Replay Value: Moderately Low
SECOND OPINION
Ш STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING I PUBLISHER EIDOS
Ш DEVELOPER CLIMAX GROUP Ш RELEASE JUNE 24
98 GAME INFORMER
FREAKY FLYERS
FREAK NASTY
у gut reaction to Freaky Flyers was that it sits in the same sorry vein as Cel Damage or Blood Wake. My inner optimist tried convincing me that it could be
a next-gen Diddy Kong Racing. | hate it when my instincts are right.
This game has some things going for it, admittedly. There are a bunch of unlockable characters (including five exclusives just for Xbox), and levels that are high in detail and pretty open. Stages even feature extreme game-style goals. That's the good stuff.
The bad stuff is much more plentiful. First off, I'm not a fan of the Al. Opponents get speed bursts and health pickups seemingly at random. Secondly, the aforementioned missions aren't worth taking time out of races to complete, since their effects are lame and only last one race. Multiplayer would most likely be where the fun is, but all this supports is two-player split-screen - no Xbox Live, or even four-player. Lame! Midway tried really hard to inject humor into the characters and cutscenes, but as is often the case in games, it comes up short. If there aren't developers who can be funny, | suggest companies hire someone who can.
It's a shame when a title is in development for this long, and comes out with more cracks in it than а sumo tournament. What could've been simple fun is simply not worth playing. Next! - JUSTIN
EY
These red rings boost speed
The CG cutscenes show a modicum of humor
W STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/RACING Ш PUBLISHER MIDWAY Ш DEVELOPER MIDWAY E RELEASE AUGUST 4
THE BOTTOM LINE N
m Concept: Planes replace karts in this character racer
m Graphics: Big heads in tiny vehicles - what more can | say?
и Sound: Terrible original music and voiceovers that lay the fake accents on so heaw that you can rarely understand them
@ Playability: All the requisite elements are here
m Entertainment: The few things that could've saved this title - story, multiplayer, minigames - all fail to deliver, making this another entry in a failing “kartel”
m Replay Value: Moderately Lt
SECOND OPINION Too much work was put into
1 found 1 didn't care about the side objectives; | just wanted to concentrate on winning the race. The cutscenes | alluded to earlier are definitely good; but the humor is contrived and the characters are boring. | think Midway lost sight of what this game is all about: racing. Had that aspect actually been better, people would be more willing to let smaller problems pass by the wayside. As it Stands, however, Freaky Flyers sucks it. What exactly "it" is, PII leave up to you.
Battle in Progress!
n
ALIENS VERSUS PREDATOR: EXTINCTION
GAME OVER MAN!
reating a compelling real-time strategy game for a console is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do. Not only are you limited by the number of buttons, but the game pad will never be able to give players the precise control that a mouse delivers.
That said, Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction does a nice job for what it has to work with. You can set teams to the d-pad for easy selection of up to four groups. There are quick keys to move the cursor instantly to the nearest event, and the game also features a rather ingenious shortcut that lets you double-tap on any unit to instantly select all the members of that type. You can even set your soldiers’ posture to aggressive, defensive, no attack, or stand ground. So, as you can see, the controls are fairly straightforward and do a good job of giving the player all the tools he or she needs to enjoy the missions.
The game itself is fairly basic. There are seven missions for the three races (Marine, Alien, and Predator) and tutorials for each. Besides the overall goal on each level, there are also target times and optional objectives to give the player more bang for their buck. Sadly, the gameplay doesn't offer much as far as resource management is concerned, and the fights themselves are hard to handle (since you can't pause and issue commands).
Having played a ton of PC RTSs myself, | found this game to be almost archaic in design, but not completely void of entertainment. Since there are a number of cool Alien and Predator units that are fun to see and play, Extinction does have some redeeming value. However, graphically the game falls way short of what | expect from the Xbox, and the lack of online support or multiplayer of any kind is unforgivable. Fans of the license will get a kick out of this one, but that's about i
Battle in Progress!
Each campaign has its own unique feel with specialized units that range from low-end grunts to high-tech warriors
W STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY I PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS/FOX INTERACTIVE Ш DEVELOPER ZONO, INC Ш RELEASE JULY 21
THE BOTTOM LINE м
m Concept: Arealtime strategy console game where you can play as the Marines, Aliens, or Predators
W Graphics: It's not that the game looks bad, it’s that it’s not very impressive considering the size of the models and level maps
и Sound: The one tune is really intense
W Playability: There's a learning curve to the controls, but it's not terribly steep
m Entertainment: Compared to PC games of the same ilk, Extinction falls short
W Replay Value: Moderate
SECOND O ON As pleasant of a surprise as it is to see a realtime strategy game on Xbox, Aliens Versus | Predator is a convincing reason | wy this genro le more or leas
REVIEWS
XBOX INDYCAR SERIES
B STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING NW PUBLISHER CODEMASTERS Ш RELEASE JUNE 24
Visually, there is no getting around it — this game is about as ugly as IndyCar is unpopular (but it's still better than P 2 the PS2 version). = But what it lacks іп y" ^ TQ | looks, it makes up N for in other areas. The Masterclass is cool, not so much for its challenges, but more for what it teaches you about your car. This is extremely important, because winning races is going to be dependant on how well you fiddle around with your tire pressure, camber, and spoilers. This kind of precision is replicated on the track, where brushing with the wall could be a zs brush with death. - КАТО
XBOX | SX SUPERSTAR
W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER RACING B PUBLISHER ACCLAIM W RELEASE JUNE 24 маға, Superstar doesn't === aggravate me for 5553 any particular reason. Everything from the graphics to the control prove to 5 be at least adequate - enough. Even the tracks offer a surprising bit of variety. However, it doesn't excel at anything either. The trick system is boring at best; and Championship — an attempt to mimic Pro Racer Driver's fabulous career mode — merely acts as a laughable excuse to string races together. - CHET
XBOX FREESTYLE METALX
W STYLE 1 TO 9-PLAYER ACTION/RACING B PUBLISHER MIDWAY SPORTS ASYLUM B RELEASE JUNE 23 5675-24 | went into this review ? : te expecting motocross , for headbangers. With Twisted Sister, Motley Crüe, and Megadeth on the : * Ж. ЙЫ soundtrack, it will - ew certainly appeal а @ to the mullet and > six-pack crowd. The gameplay is more related to the Tony Hawk titles than anything else. Each stage features assorted mission-based goals, competitions, and hidden items to find. As you'd expect, tricking out is the name of the game. The gameplay is easy to pick up and surprisingly deep; but more importantly, it's continually fun. The levels are extremely large and the feats you're asked to complete are nicely varied. It's by no means as good as the heavy hitters in extreme games, but it’s xs definitely in the same league. - REINER
رتت
GAME INFORMER 99
|^" s
GAME OF THE MONTH STAR TREK: ELITE FORCE Il
^
^. STAR ТРЕК: ЕШТЕ FORCE Ш
MORE BANG FOR YOUR TREK
delivers with an expert mix of action and suspense, and a robust array of
weaponry.”
This Romulan shows off her femullet
Drama in engineering
100 GAME INFORMER
title’s eventual success or failure relies on its ability to
transcend its subject matter. In this instance, as is the case with an inordinate number of Тгекбаѕеа games, the play is entertaining in its own right, and the license only serves to create a richer and more dynamic universe. If only all television and movie-based games were like this...but that's a tirade for another day. As it stands, both new and old-schoolers should pay attention to Elite Force ІІ.
At the title's outset, you take control of the Hazard (not Hazzard) Team - a group of highly trained close-combat soldiers who serve as the green berets of their assigned vessel. The game opens with a bang as you traverse a Borg sphere deep in the delta quadrant in your mission to release the Voyager from the belly of the structure. Through a number of twists and tums in the story, you'll eventually end up on the Enterprise, with good old captain Picard (voiced by Patrick Stewart) giving you orders and getting you into trouble. Although there are some interesting enemies to deal with, some have a decidedly Simpsonsesque quality to them — namely giant bugs with rockets attached to their backs. | was expecting dogs with bees in their mouths that Shoot bees at you when they bark to make an appearance, but luckily the bug portion passes fairly early in the game.
A: | have said about other licensed games, this type of
Strange insects notwithstanding, the plot is solid, and gives the player ample opportunity to connect with their character.
To this end, Ritual has injected some RPGike elements to the game's more sedate levels which can affect your relationship with your teammates. For example, you may be talking to one of your ensigns and when she asks you a question, you're given a number of responses that will then slightly alter your relationship. It's not like if you choose the wrong answer the person will shoot you in the back during a mission, but it's a nice diversion from the typical FPS formula.
Speaking of formulas, as a straightup run and gunner, Elite Force II delivers with an expert mix of action and suspense, and a robust array of weaponry. You're given a number of different ways to turn your enemies into tribble food, and the interspersed puzzle elements don't bog down the action too terribly much. The level design on the other hand, can be confusing — in fact, | don't think | ever want to see another Jefferies tube ever again. Aside from these, and a few other control foibles, Elite Force II is solid, and will serve to entertain even those who have had little to no exposure to the Star Trek world. For those of you who enjoy testing your skills against humans, a decent multiplayer component is also available. - KRISTIAN
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 32-PLAYER ONLINE OR UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA LAN) Ш PUBLISHER ACTIVISION
Ш DEVELOPER RITUAL ENTERTAINMENT Ш RELEASE JUNE 24
Your squad will help you take out baddies
Yes! Shoot Mr. Trianglehead!"
(уу, f, =
=
ТІ!!!)
m Concept: Run around Star Trekinspired environments shooting Star Trekinspired things
W Graphics: If your machine is capable of running this game at 1600x1200, you won't be disappointed
и Sound: Authentic sounds and involvement from notable actors make Elite Force Il worth hearing
W Playability: Aside from some bizarre control defaults, everything seems to behave the way it Should
m Entertainment: As with most reasonably well done Trek games, fans will absolutely eat this one alive
W Replay Value: Moderately High
SECOND OPINION 1 wouldn't label myself a Trekkie,
“EVE is probably the best look- ing, worst playing space- based MMO I've ever spent
time with."
The amount of customization you're able to put into your character's head is incredible
This container is what you'll find after you destroy a ship or jettison any cargo
The number of different ships available to you is staggering
A VISUAL SIREN
oe to those who buy this game thinking they'll be
able to enjoy it for a few minutes a day, then put it
away. EVE is probably the best looking, worst playing space-based MMO I've ever spent time with. | was hoping to find myself in an Earth and Beyondtype environment, complete with a bustling market economy and a robust pirate population to hunt down and destroy. Instead, | roamed throughout a massive, mostly empty environment with very little NPC activity, and grappled with more movement and maprelated bugs than I'm used to. There are numerous elements borrowed from various other titles, but EVE seems to implement them poorly for the most part.
When say the play area is big, | mean huge. You could literally spend hours and hours travelling from one end of the galaxy to the other, and the sense of speed and distance is expertly implemented. As you go in and out of light speed; the planets, stations, and surrounding environments all react appropriately to your velocity. Not only that, but they look fantastic while doing it. Every texture, effect, and structure exhibits a craftsmanship that few other titles enjoy. Different star-systems have a unique architectural style and a distinct feel that you won't find anywhere else. Although this level of visual accuracy is nice, the gameplay stands as a distant second comparatively speaking.
EVE: THE SECOND GENESIS
The instant you're given control of your ship after the tutorial portion, problems begin to pop up. First and foremost among these is the map system. If you're going to have a play area this gigantic, you have to give players a useful tool to aid in navigation. The map system used in EVE is interesting, but becomes a jumbled mess of lines and text if you attempt to manipulate it in any way. Similarly, the docking portion of the game is badly bugged. Normally this wouldn't be a huge deal, but if you want to change systems М or go into а station, you need to dock. 27%
eventual target, and your sublight engines аге so
i»
a result, a game that is already suffering from a lack of action is nearly eviscerated by poor mapping and buggy mechanics.
Joining a corporation (EVE's version of a guild) is compelling to a point, but much of the activity centers around mining for ore in one of the game's numerous asteroid fields to ensure your organization is making money. I'm sure | don't have to tell you that this is excruciatingly boring. There is potential for a pirate outfit to have a lot of fun, but I'm not convinced that it could be consistently fun. Unless you're really into this type of game, | would suggest something else. — KRISTIAN
Because the speed dynamic is so accurate, you fff. often come out of warp quite a distance from your
slow, it's not unheard of to wait for as long as five minutes to initiate the actual docking sequence. As
E STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME Ш PUBLISHER SIMON & SCHUSTER I DEVELOPER CCP
E RELEASE MAY 15
Asteroids have never looked this good
If you destroy another player's ship, you'll likely find that a bounty will be put on your head
THE BOTTOM LINE
m Concept: Travel around a gargantuan universe looking for something to do
m Graphics: I've rarely seen a space environment look this good
W Sound: Being able to customize the music is an excellent alternative to the radio, which is what | end up listening to after my first hour with most MMOs
m Playability: The tutorial is fairly long, but does a poor job of making you feel acquainted with the game when you're finished
W Entertainment: Only the hardest of hardcore players will be able to enjoy this game on a consistent basis
ш Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
goes off to CCP for wanting to let players wholly determine the ebb and flow of the universe, but the reality of this game is, like space, cold and empty.
KATO - 6.5
GAME INFORMER 101
REVIEWS Wo 7
ғ w^
THE ELDER SCROLLS Ш: MORROWIND -
BLOODMOON I'M A WOLF, MAN!
о nthe newly formed THE BOTTOM LINE (in the development TEEN
sense) island of
Solstheim, there are things that have gone amiss. The rumor on the mainland is that only Nords, snow, and werewolves inhabit the area; and when you arrive, you find out that the rumors are mostly true. It's a
ш Concept: Explore a new island and become a werewolf! What more could you want?
blast exploring the island and, m Graphics: in typical Bethesda fashion, baie edt all the complex web of plot lines to eie d тра and play options is simply too
DV OD ру ш Sound:
sumptuous to be ignored. Although you can aid the ailing Outpost town as it attempts to gain purchase in the region, the most entertaining and enticing bit of play is contracting lycanthropy - the disease that leads to becoming a werewolf. Between your inoculation and eventual transformation, three days pass during which
A virtual library of audio clips has been accumulated to keep your ears pricked
W Playability: If you're just getting started in the RPG world, you're going to be overwhelmed before the opening sequence is over
W Entertainment: Getting immersed in this world just got a lot easier,
M
you can seek out a healer to mo hader
rid you of your illness, or you Ww Replay Value: Moderately Low.
can embrace the dark side and become a werewolf. The sense of danger when your character morphs for the first time is exhilarating, and feasting on flesh to satiate your bloodlust
is a hilarious chore you must complete each night if you wish to Stay alive. Your wolf form also enjoys a number of strength and sightrelated ability jumps, but if anyone ever sees your transformation, you'll be hunted its age, but it's still a blast to andshunnedfortherestofthe play and one of the deepest game. This is an expansion RPG's around.
pack worth having if there ever REINER - 8.25 was one. - KRISTIAN
SECOND OPINION
W STYLE | -PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME W PUBLISHER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS E DEVELOPER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS Ш RELEASE JUNE 6
102 GAME INFORMER
DAY OF DEFEAT
PREPARE TO BE FUBAR-ED
nce in a while, a game is released that has the potential to rule my life.
Day of Defeat is one of these games. Although it is a mod of Counter-Strike, which in turn was a mod of Half-Life, it has kept
a lot of the core gameplay that made its cousin so successful.
Gone is the “if you're dead, А
you wait” phenomenon of CS E м
that put deceased characters ^X — into a spectator buffer until one -—— Side completed its objectives or everyone from one squad was annihilated. Instead, there are still objectives, but players respawn after being dropped — which produces a non-stop cornucopia of action.
Better yet, the game is available for free, but like most things that are free, there's a catch: You have to own Half-Life to run Day of Defeat. However, if you just қыла get off your penny-pinching butt : 252 = and buy the game, you won't : EAS have to worry about that. At the same time, this is a mod of an old game, and it shows. Textures are muddy, structures are blocky, and the animations are decidedly low-end. The particle effects are good, however, and the noise is incredible. The sound of bullets whizzing past your ear or slamming into some nearby surface is
Someone is about to die
disturbingly realistic. As a pure action game, this is a perfect purchase for those who want to kill, kill, kill! — KRISTIAN
Crouching will diminish your weapon's kick and incre: our accuracy
STYLE | ТО 32-PLAYER ACTION Ш PUBLISHER ACTIVISION Ш DEVELOPER VALVE W RELEASE JUNE |
THE BOTTOM LINE
TEEN
W Concept: It's Counter-Strike, but set in the European theater during World War II
m Graphics: Unfortunately, Day of Defeat uses the same modified Half- Life engine as CS does
m Sound: All of the "pops" and "bangs" you'd expect from a WW II title
I Playability: It'll take FPS veterans a couple of minutes to set up the controls to their liking, then it's offto the races
W Entertainment: Day of Defeat is the kind of game you could play for five minutes or five hours — and either would be fun
W Replay Value: High
SECOND OPINION
From a graphical standpoint, Day | of Defeat isn't quite up to code. However, if you can overlook
the bland texturing, archaic lighting, and blocky environment. designs; the remainder of the game proves to an exhilarating experience. Much like Counter- ‘Strike, Day of Defeat is a Half-Life
WILL ROCK
SHOOT CRAP!
ich like the game, we'll get the plot out of the way early and concentrate on why it's fun to blow stuff away. Your character (Will Rock) has figured out how to open
a huge temple in Greece that houses all of the Grecian gods, who by the way are really pissed off at humanity. There's some other crap that happens; but the point is you're facing off against every mythological character you can think of. Oh, P.S., some weird Greek god separatist group has kidnapped your girlfriend and will sacrifice her to Zeus if you don't save her. To that end, you're given the tools of the ass-kicking trade. Everything from pistols and shotguns to machine guns and crossbows are available for meting out punishment, and this game's characters are gluttons for punishment.
Like Serious Sam, you're faced with wave upon wave (upon wave) of adversaries as you solve some fairly boring switch puzzles and look for better weaponry. The puzzle elements almost detract from the experience after the third or fourth one, but there are enough gigantic open areas teeming with hordes of fodder that you forget what it took to get you there. The enemies themselves aren't simply there when you enter an area. Instead, they'll continually spawn in from various locations around your vicinity until you've gone though a certain amount of waves, at which point a door usually opens. | found a few bizarre control and collision hiccups that furrowed my brow, but by and large this is a game that starts with a bang ai doesn't quit. If there were a god of catharsis, Will Rock would be his altar. - KRISTIAN
25 NER + w “Оһ no. You do NOT shoot arrows at me!” Nothing says "I hate you” like hot lead EP a
d
The shotgun - fun to shoot since Doom Will attempts to shoot his reflection in the crotch
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 32-PLAYER ONLINE OR LAN) Ш PUBLISHER UB! SOFT W DEVELOPER SABER INTERACTIVE Ш RELEASE JUNE 9
THE BOTTOM LINE
MATURE
m Concept: Blow up anything that moves, or looks like it could move
m Graphics: I'm pleasantly surprised with the high texture quality
и Sound: Licensing “1 Wanna Rock” for the opening music was a stroke of genius
m Playability: More action! Less plot! More action! Less plot!
W Entertainment: If you loved the Serious Sam games, baby, this one's for you
W Replay Value: Low
SECOND OPINION
When this game opens up with
Twisted Sister's “I Wanna Rock," you can't help but get giddy with | excitement. From there, the
| opening slide show that sets up | what is ultimately an incredibly
weak story about ancient
| Greek gods and the capture of
| a hottie that you must rescue,
| you can't help but be just a little | disappointed and confused.
| Luckily, once the derivative story is out of the way (1 had so hoped
| is this game's true value. Like
| Croteam's Sam, Will Rock is а cathartic assault of baddies that
| will have you twitching from all the
| insane waves of fodder. While the
| enemies aren't quite as inventive
| as Sam's, there were a number
| of beasts that scared me enough
| to make me lean back in my chair and blast away in hopes of
| escaping alive. It's nothing special
| graphically, but it is definitely fun.
REVIEW TNT
NEVERWINTER NIGHTS: SHADOWS OF UNDRENTIDE
FIGHT IT OUT!
ungeons & Dragons gamers tend to be very touchy about the
games based on their beloved rules set, and BioWare knows this. Shadows of Undrentide is aimed at those very people. More attention has been put on accurately portraying our beloved pencil and paper universe digitally — as evidenced by the game's institution of a number of new classes, and a tighter storyline with less hunt-and-peck adventuring. The henchmen have also been fleshed out a bit, as have many of the abilities and 50 new spells that have been added for your casting pleasure. Of course, one сап" talk about this game without mentioning the incredible Aurora Toolset, which is now even cooler as those who like to tinker will have access to all of the new material used in Undrentide While this is all well and good, | simply don't like this series as much as the Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale epics. The three-dimensional graphics are decent, but the isometric Infinity engine lent a whimsical tinge to the aforementioned games, and its control structure was immeasurably better than the clumsy radial menus used in Neverwinter. Although still good, the BioWare folks have definitely done better as far as D&D titles are concerned. - KRISTIAN
THE BOTTOM LINE
TEEN
LET
m Concept: Investigate а Kobold uprising and have the goodness іп your heart to put it down
m Graphics: Not a lot in the way of improvement that | could see, but everything still looks pretty good
Sound: As with many BioWare products, ambient effects and voice-acting abound
m Playability: Again, the original game's control and menu system makes a reappearance with small tweaks here and there
ш Entertainment: While still good, the Neverwinter 5 seems to have less of a soul than the Baldur's and Icewind Dale series did
m Replay Value: High
| SECOND OPINION
For NWN fans, this expansion is basically a no-brainer, since it has a decent variety of new content. This includes a new 20-hour quest that will demand at least two play-throughs
so you can play it once as a | do-gooder and again as an evil bastard. Check that - be evil
the first time. ANDY -8
Ш STYLE -PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME (UP TO 64-PLAYER ONLINE OR LAN) I PUBLISHER ATARI E DEVELOPER BIOWARE/FLOODGATE ENTERTAINMENT
Ш RELEASE JUNE 18
GAMEINFORMER 103
REVIEWS
GAME BOY ADVANCE WING COMMANDER PROPHECY
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA LINK) E PUBLISHER DESTINATION SOFTWARE/ELECTRONIC ARTS W RELEASE MAY 23
«mE soo This handheld P conversion of the 2 : s = 1997 PC title doesn't
have the B-quality acting or amusing FMV sequences that we've come to expect from the series
but the gameplay is fundamentally sound — which is surprising, since it's entirely 3D. While the quality of the polygonal models brings back memories of the 386 processor, the fact that developer Raylight Studios was able to create convincing and enjoyable gameplay around it is an impressive feat. It plays just like the PC series. The dogfighting even includes a targeting assist icon, wingmen commands, and a handy radar. The missions suffer from repetition and the controls are limiting, but the heart of the game - the combat — is done as well as it could be. - REINER
“
O9 g
2359
GAME BOY ADVANCE SIMPSONS ROAD RAGE
W STYLE | -PLAYER ACTION/RACING (2-PLAYER МА LINK) W PUBLISHER THQ Ш RELEASE JUNE 23
The title screen picture is nice.
Now that 1 got the positives out of
24 the way, let me
talk about why
= this game blows. m Springfield looks like a parking lot with chalk drawings of streets on it and a few cardboard box “buildings” scattered haphazardly. It's virtually void
of driving freedom – the map blows. It has no trademark Simpsons charm, either. The gameplay is apocalyptically bad, with impossible navigation and likely the worst Mode-7 in the history of cartridges. Here | thought Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride stunk! | had no idea that the genre 5 could get this foul. - JUSTIN Е
GAME BOY ADVANCE FREEKSTYLE
W STYLE | -PLAYER RACING (2-PLAYER VIA LINK) Ш PUBLISHER DESTINATION SOFTWARE/EA BIG B RELEASE AUGUST |
ago ^ lot of companies try to redo the
„ old RC Pro Am
м isometric offroad
* racing formula
and Destination
Software's version
347) of Freekstyle does Еш f it better than most
Why? It actually contains a good, unique mechanic for turning which let’s you slide around curves and even whip out a muddy 180° if you want. The trick system is similar to those used in most extreme sports GBA titles like Tony Hawk, and it’s pretty easy to land some sweet moves off of the huge, Excitebike-inspired ramps. | don’t know how long you'll want to play this, but you'll have a pretty good time doing it. - MATT
104 GAME INFORMER
епт. CAGE NSU HAOSCORPTON, '
GAME BOY ADVANCE
MORTAL KOMBAT: TOURNAMENT EDITION
RISING ABOVE THE ALLIANCE
he core gameplay mechanics haven't changed in the slightest since last year's phenomenal handheld Gamers get another GBA fighter with clunky controls, grainy |
conversion of Deadly Alliance. Tournament Edition
simply adds depth to the experience. On the multiplayer end, | асаан ten ae: up to four players can compete for a trophy in tournaments you must own a GBA MK title, or team up in an intense Tekken Tag-styled two-on-two team | know that Tournament Edition match. On the character front, Midway has implemented Bo — | plays slightly better than Deadly Rai Cho, Nitra, a new female character named Sareena, plus | Alliance. two additional secret fighters. Overly brutal Weapon Fatalities are also a part of the mix, and for those of you who loveto Ё master combos, a handy Practice mode is here for you to hone your skills.
The movement of characters is still a little choppy, but Midway has ironed out the balance issues between fighters and tightened up the gameplay as a whole. All around, it's the same great handheld fighter with a host of much-needed and superfluous enhancements. What more could you ask for? It even features reverse compatibility to Deadly Alliance. Simply said, fighting on the go just got better. IER
STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER FIGHTING Ш PUBLISHER MIDWAY Ш DEVELOPER MIDWAY E RELEASE AUGUST 25
CHET - 5
2 169 кт все
GAME BOY ADVANCE
ROAD RASH: JAILBREAK
AN ITCH NOT WORTH SCRATCHING
SECOND OPINION |
Jailbreak has all of the attitude | | you would expect from a Road | | Rash game. Unfortunately,
| none of the other trademarks | | of the title — like big air, insane crashes, or incredible sense i | of speed – are here. I like the | addition of power-ups, but | otherwise the racing is pretty
| archaic (even in multiplayer).
ANDY -5
whiff. It still stands as one of my favorite racing series of all time. | am still waiting for a great handheld translation, and rest assured that 200075 GBC port wasn't it. Thus, | had lofty expectations for this game, despite not being a huge fan of any post-16 bit entry into the series. Jailbreak (not to be confused with Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Jailbait) does little to evoke those fond Road Rash memories. While its environments are slicker and slightly more open than those on Genesis; the control, speed, and combat are all lacking. Having various power-ups available to ward off competitors is just a cop-out, attempting to compensate for the game's shortcomings. There аге no rivalries, no bike shop, and only three other racers. Adding insult to injury, every sound effect in Jailbreak makes me grimace. The GBA can easily handle the things that made the Road Rash series great, but this is just another failed attempt at a decent GBA racing game. If it wasn’t for Mario Kart: Super Circuit, I'd be convinced the racing genre has no place on handhelds. — JUSTIN
W STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION/RACING (2-PLAYER VIA LINK) Ш PUBLISHER DESTINATION SOFTWARE Ш DEVELOPER DESTINATION SOFTWARE/ELECTRONIC ARTS Ш RELEASE AUGUST 1
T he Genesis Road Rash games are the poo - take a
р RAIVEN
THE BOTTOM LINE E m Concept: An updated version of last year's game with new characters, four-player
support, and reverse compatibility
B Graphics: The animations are a little jerky, but the character models look fantastic
B Sound: The dialogue and soundtrack are very impressive
E Playability: Not as smooth as it could be, but it still has that MK feel
W Entertainment: The new four-player action adds depth to an already great game
W Replay Value: Moderately High
m Concept: Motorcycles and violence usually go well together, but not here
Ш Graphics: It's easy on the eyes
и Sound: 1 couldn't turn down the volume fast enough
ш Playability: | would've traded the goofy power-ups for being able to punch in different directions using the shoulder buttons
W Entertainment: This doesn't capture the coolness of the old-school Road Rash games in the least
W Replay Value: Moderately Low
Preowned PlayStation 2
GameStop Exclusive Free Art Book with order!
Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb
Free ground shipping w/ Coupon Code: GIGRD
FREE 1 SHIPPING
and controller
Preowned Enter the Matrix and Twisted Metal Black
True Crime: Streets of L.A.
Furious L.A. crime action with exclusive DVD!
FREE SHIPPING
GAMEINFORMER Readers
Exclusive Offers For
PlayStation 2 Network Pack
E Madden NFL 2004
Free ground shipping with | Coupon Code: GIGRD
Code: 280732
Summer Heat Volleyball Free shades when you order the hottest game of the summer!
FREE SHIPPING
with Network Adaptor and Controller
FREE T-Shirt!
CODE: B020213A
MORE BESTSELLERS
Arc the Lad: Twilight of Spirits Dance Dance Revolution Max Dot.Hack: Part 1 Infection Dot.Hack: Part 2 Mutation Everquest Online Adventures Final Fantasy X $39.99 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City $49.99 Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland $19.99 Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness $49.99 Midnight Club Racing 2 $49.99 NBA Street Volume 2 $49.99 NCAA Football 2004
NFL 2K3
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
Unlimited SaGa
Xenosaga Episode |
$19.99
Order by Phone
(8:00am -9:00pm CST) | 7 days a Week |
1-800-865-3310 |
Order Online at:
www.gameinformer.com
Preowned GameCube & GBA
NCAA Football 2004
Free ground shipping w/ coupon code: GIGRD
FREE £ SHIPPING
Animal Crossing Series 4 Card Pack Save 5% on this special bundle pack!
with controller
Preowned Mario Sunshine & Preowned Mario Advance
True Crime: Streets of L.A. Furious L.A. crime action
Freestyle Metal X
Free ground shipping w/ coupon code: GIGRD
Preowned Animal Crossing
Great game at a great price with free Series 4 card pack!
GameStop exclusive Free Art Book with order.
MORE BE: LLERS
Burnout 2: Point of Impact Eternal Darkness
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Ikaruga
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Mario Party 4
Mega Man Network Trans. Metroid Prime
NASCAR Thunder 2003 Resident Evil Zero
Sonic Adventure DX
Star Fox Adventure
Super Smash Bros. Melee Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Ultimate MUSCLE
Wario World
$29.99 $49.99 $49.99 $49.99
May not be combined with any other offers. Offers end August 31st, 2003 or while supplies last. GameStop.com reserves the right to limit quantities or orders. No substitutions Shipping offers good within continental United States only, excluding PO Box or APO/FPO addresses Listed prices do not include shipping and handling. Prices are subject to change at any time. Not responsible for misprints or typos
Exclusive Offers For
GAMEINFORMER Readers
New Xbox & Controller with
Preowned Halo and pe FRE E Preowned Oddworld Games s Bruce Lee Game
CODE: B020212F
= Knights of the Old Republic EE" True Crime: Streets of Ж; Madden NFL 2004 1 Е BESTSELLERS PRICE CODE
Free ground shipping ТІН) Furious L.A. crime action Free ground shipping
d 5 210056 pe aen code: 4 With an exclusive DVD! with coupon code: GIGRD Mei Stom 528, E д
aÑ Evil Dead: Fist Full of Boomstick 519.99 210286
FREE Code: 210172 Code: 8210307А Cor 10373 Fuzion Frenzy $19.99 210009 Halo: Combat Evolved 549.99 210001
Silents a Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance $19.99 210206
Midnight Club Racing 11 $49.99 210324 NCAA Football 2004 Crimson Skies Dino Crisis 3 Esc Md — Free ground shipping Free ground shipping Free ground shipping МВА Street Volume 2 $49.99 210289
With coupon code: Vo with coupon code: GIGRD salis i : Pirates of the Caribbean $49.99 210283 GIGRD R : 2 р -Y with Coupon'code; GIGRD Return to Castle Wolfenstein Exp. $49.99 210262
Y d Shenmue 2 $19.99 210070
¥ FREE FREE Sod , s FREE Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix $49.99 210327 a SHIPPING Р SHIPPING Unreal Championship $29.99 210075
Е Wakeboarding Unleashed $49.99 210166
Order by Phone ionis p Order Online at:
1-800-865-3310 www.gameinformer.com PC Games
Half-Life 2 with
Half-Life Blue Shift Game
Lionheart Harpoon IV i Halo: Combat Evolved
Order now and receive 1 Ў Free ground shipping w/
fl T (Т Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic $39.99 645215
a Free Bonus CDI : coupon code: GIGRD Airline Tycoon Evolution $6.99 645053 Anarchy Online Expansion $29.99 645248
BloodRayne $29.99 645115
Elder Scrolls Ill: Bloomoon $29.99 645237
Europa Universalis II $19.99 644733
Heroes of Might and Magic Plat. $19.99 644987
EverQuest 2 Neverwinter Nights WarCraft Ill w/ Expansion | Tmb Raider: Angeliof Darkness ^ $49.00 влом HE ٣ 1 Rise of Nations $49.99 644920
Free ground shipping w/ Expansion - Save $10 when you buy | PlanetSide Online | $49.99 644566 coupon code: GIGRD Includes a FREE copy f WarCraft IIl and the Quake Ш: Gold Edition $19.99 644735 ihilati = ion! Savage: Battle for Newerth 549.09 645189
a bits: өдісі : Expansion! Star Trek Elite Force 2 $49.99 644901
; FREE tn megs: : Star Wars Galaxies $49.00 644815 аш SHIPPING The Sims Online $29.99 644950 Warlords Battlecry I! $9.99 644002
MORE BE: LLERS PRICE CODE
May not be combined with any other offers. Offers end August 31st, 2003 or while supplies last. amp com reserves the right to limit quantities or orders. No substitutions Shipping offers good within continental United States only, excluding PO Box or APO/FPO addresses. Listed prices do not include shipping and handling. Prices are subject to change at any time. Not responsible for misprints or typos
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 Gl staff is currently enjoying.
RANK L. MO GAME SYSTEM SCORE RELEASE PRICE DATE POINT N/A Splinter Cell PS2 8.5 Apr-03 $49
PlayStation 2 owners finally have а big, burly Sam Fisher of their own to cuddle with on starry summer nights. Even people who already own the Xbox version picked this one up, if only to hear the sound the case makes the first time you open it: “Fffisher!” Sam is so dreamy. With his rugged good looks and salt-and-pepper hair, who wouldn't want him lurk- ing around in the shadows?
2 Pokémon Ruby ОВА 17.25 Mar03 $30 People love rubies. They're beautiful in jewelry, they make great Pokémon titles...in fact, the only thing with rubies that sucks is ruby red grapefruit. Really, who eats that stuff? The name's not fooling anyone. You might as well eat a leaky battery — it probably tastes better. [Editor's note: Do not eat a leaky battery!)
JAPAN TOP 10 2d On Monthy Units
POS. L. MO GAME SYSTEM N/A Virtual On: Marz PS2 N/A Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire GC N/A Hamtaro 4 GBA N/A Winning Post 5: Maximum 2003 PS2 4 Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire GBA 3 Fire Emblem: Flaming Sword GBA N/A The Sims PS2 6 Made in Wario GBA N/A Final Weapons Sweetheart PS2 7 Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart ОВА
6 Def Jam Vendetta PS2 8.5 Mar-03 $49 This is a good start in bringing rappers to the mainstream, and it’s a fun game and every- POS. LMO GAME SYSTEM thing. We just wish the hip-hop record label would've listened to our suggestion: Def Jam 1 PlanetSide PC brand jams - the dopest thing ever to go on toast. Flavors include Bling-Bling Berry, P to 2 Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising GBA
< tha Izeach, and Where's My Damn Money Cherry. Тһе slogan is, “It's gotta be Def Jam, N/A Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Xbox
cuz jelly don't shake like that!" 3 Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GC
3 Pokémon Sapphire GBA 7.25 Mar03 $31 9 МВА Street Vol. 2 PS2 Uh oh – Ruby is pulling away from this identical Pokémon release. It looks like Nintendo 4 Midnight Club 11 Xbox is going to have to have a 'phire sale to try to even the odds. Get it? Huh-HA, HA! Oh, we N/A Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution PS2 got millions of ‘em. Here's another: What's short, green, and used to star оп 21 Jump N/A Xenosaga Volume | PS2 Street? Richard Treecko! BURR-oh, yeah! T Enter the Matrix PS2
N/A МВА Street Vol. 2 PS2 9 Apr-03 $50 10 PS2
We've been playing this game so much, it inspired us to lace up our Roos and head out to the Loring Park playground. Sure enough, the GI posse held court. We blocked every shot and drove the lane uncontested. Matt messed around and got a triple-double. We basically took the other team to school - something they're probably used to, since they were all seven-year-olds.
Gallop Racer 2003: A New Breed
N/A Midnight Club II PS2 9 Ар-03 $49 VE
1 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Go 10 Mar03 $50 N/A The Sims: Superstar Мау03 $29
N/A Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide: Stairway to Destined Duel ОВА 7.5 Apr03 $36 N/A 0 Зиме Сбт May 03 а а
N/A Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 PSone 5 Mar03 $20 ма ааа Mayo 3 The Sims Deluxe бер02 $41
N/A Golden Sun: The Lost Age GBA 8 Apr-03 $31 N/A PlanetSide Мау03 548
N/A Final Fantasy Origins PSone 9.25 Apr-03 $30 N/A Rise of Nations Мау03 $50
7 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City PS2 10 OctO2 $46 2 Command & Conquer Generals Feb03 $46
13 Dynasty Warriors 4 PS2 7 Mar03 549 4 _ The Sims; Unleashed бер02 MENS
10 MVP Baseball 2003 PS2 9.25 Mar03 $49 1 Data Босе: Binck Hawki Down маза 5 Battlefield 1942 Sep02 $47
N/A X2 Wolverine's Revenge PS2 55 Apr-03 $48 и
N/A МВА Street Vol. 2 Хбох 9 Apr-03 $50
9 Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses PS2 8 Feb-03 $46
N/A NFL2K3 PS2 95 Aug02 $10
12 SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs РЅ2 9.5 Aug02 %58
N/A Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak GBA N/A Apr-03 $30
Source: NPD Interactive Entertainment Service « Kristin Bamett-Von-Korff (516) 625-2481
GAME INFORMER
107
REVIEWS ARCHIVE aucust 2003
Ghost Recon Blin: The Time Sweeper 775 Nov-02 Serious бат 9 Dec02 Airforce Delta Storm 675 Dec-02 Godzilla: BloodRayne 775 Dec02 Shenmue ll 8 Jan03 All-Star Baseball 2004 65 Apr-03 Destroy All Monsters Melee 8 Моу02 Bloody Roar Extreme 65 шо ‘Shrek: Super Party 325 Jan-03 Altered Beast: Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 8 808 BMX XXX 775 Јат біп, The 875 Apr03 Guardian of the Reams 75 Ғер03 Hulk, The 575 нз Brute Force 825 Jul-03 Soldier of Fortune Il ATV: Quad Power Racing 6 Пес02 = FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2 STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM капа 9 Маз Bumout 2: Point of Double Helix в ошо Cel е Aria of Sorrow 925 Jun-03 PUBLISHER UBI SOFT I REVIEWED MAR. James Bond 007: NightFire 8 Jan-03 Impact Developer's Cut 85 Jun03 Speed Kings 7 шө ntra Advance: қ id » 49 r Knockout Kings 2003 75 Nov-02 Capcom Vs. SNK 2 EO 85 Jan-03 Splinter Cell 875 Jan-03 The Alien Wars EX 675 Пес02 As usual, the plot is equally Legend of Zelda: Colin McRae Rally 3 875 Dec02 Star Wars: Jedi Outcast 9 есй Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced 75 — Jan-03 on i ‘The Wind Waker, The 10 Apr-03 Commandos 2: Star Wars: The Clone Wars 85 Jun03 Сагу Taxi: Catch a Ride 4 May03 Legends of Wrestling II 675 Feb-03 Меп! Courage 6 — Nov02 State of Emergency 7 Маудз Daredevil 5 — Mar43 Lord of the Rings: Confict Desert Storm 6 №02 еә Battalion 85 Dec0? Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 3 8: 25 Meros ing Rayman games The Two Towers, The 925 Jan-03 Crimson Sea 775 Feb-03 Superman: The Man of Steel 475 Jan-03 Defender Feb-03 playing R А for the Lost Kingdoms |! 85 Jun-03 Dead or Alive Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus 725 Apr-03 Donkey Kong Country. A Jun-03 storytelling. You're playing it Mario Pary 4 3 Dec-02 Xtreme Beach Volleyball 75 Mar-03 Thing, The 825 Nov-02 Doom Il 85 Dec02 to marvel at the gorgeously Medal of Honor: Frontline 875 Dec-02 Deathrow 5 Ja TimeSpitters 2 85 Deco2 Dragon Ball Z: & Mega Мал: Defender 825 Feb03 Toejam& Ear ll Legacy of Goku II 75 3 rendered environments, giggle Network Transmission 625 Jun-03 Dr. Muto 8 Dec02 Mission to Earth Driver 2 Advance 775 Nov-02 Е T = Metroid Prime 95 Jan03 Dragon's Lair 30 775 Jan-03 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Dungeons & Dragons: at Globox's antics, and enjoy Marty Repor: ыз epog Ee Matix 85 008 Total Immersion Racing Сик роо i i jl erybody Runs Evil Dead: Toxic Grind Моб x some good old fashioned platforming done with MLB Slugfest 2004 675 Ap-03 "A Fistful of Boomstick 8 АЗ Transworld Snowboarding Galidor. Defenders of a fresh twist. By that standard, Rayman 3 is a Monsters, Inc. Scream Arena 5 Dec02 Fatal Frame 9 Jan-03 Ty the Tasmanian Tiger the Outer Dimension 775 Dec-02 great success. - MATT Мота Kombat: Deady Aliance 9 Ја Furious Karting 6 J03 UFC: Tapout 2 Game 8 Watch: Galley4 з Feb-03 5 NBA Street Vol. 2 May-03 Слові Recor 85 000 ме Championship Godzilla Domination! 45 May03 NCAA Football 2004 M 5 08 Godzila:Destroy am Golden Sun: The Lost Age Apr03 Ninja Assault 625 Feb03 Need For Speed: All Monsters Melee 75 Jun-03 Aero Elte: Combat Academy 675 May03 Pride FC 8 Feb03 Hot Pursuit 2 75 Мо42 High Heat 2004 725 Арыз Al-Star Baseball 2004 8 Арп Pal 675 May03 NHL Hitz 2003 875 Nov-02 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 85 О0ес-02 77 Я, — аз Men sin ЕМЕН MOM 72 Wen Нолейтебекі.Пе GS NVO? FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2M STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS a : REVIEWED Pared 303 ce of Champions в 0000 Phantasy Star pod LONG W PUBLISHER EA BIG M MAY-03 Twilight of the Spirits 875 3003 Ratchet & Clank 875 Пес42 Online Version | & II 8 — Jan-03 Emperor's Tomb 85 Маг-03 NBA Challenge pits your ATV Offroad Fury 2 9 Jan-03 Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc 85 Ма-09 Rayman Arena 7 Nov02 Јатеѕ Bond 007: NightFire 7.75 Jan-03 Auto Modellista 8 ыз һы e П 8. m Бев Red айю 1 жне рге Park Sc team against all other NBA Batte Engine Aquila 7 ғоз ing Resident ЕУІ 0 02 ration Genesis 03 " Big Mutha Truckers 75 May03 Reign of Fire 625 Dec-02 Resident Evil 2 8 АЗ — KakutoChojn 625 Jan-03 squads. Unlike last year, you Black & Bruised 75 Maroa Resident Evil Dead Aim 6 — Jun-03 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis 775 Apr-03 Kung Fu Chaos 65 Mar03 can't update your roster with tum to We " BMX KA SU mem Fee Cael Wane С раде: Batley a5 Бая Legends of s " 675 Feb-03 ' defeated players — so choose Cabela's Big Game Hunter 7 Мадз PobotcAichemic Drive 775 002 біте, The 875 May-03 Тһе Two Towers, The 925 Feb-03 your crew carefully. This makes ics Laon HEN ag ME — — ilio os ers every game a challenge, but | Chopliter: Crisis Shield 65 mayo Mygr Te 8 теш Sonic Adventure DX 5 May-03 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 85 May-03 Clock Tower 3 85 May-03 — Ó—— в Deca Sonic Mega Collection 875 Dec-02 ا ae ee _ honestly miss this feature from Colin McRae Rally 3 875 May-03 Speed Kings 7 н Medalof Honor: Frontine 5 Пес02 Cubs. Sire S 825 Пе Зее Атос 75 MOS eec 85 Mayo3 Metal Dungeon 6 Feo; last year. Youc can craft a custom squad of your five favorites, Dark Cloud 2 ms. Mem See — 1 De s ShmitnerbeDrony 475 Joa Melel Gear Soki 2 Stance 925 ett but it's not the same. My few complaints are very minor, DDR Max 75 Песб2 Star Fox Adventures 875 Nov-02 cro Machines 6 May x AS Dead to Rights 925 anos Зу Comper and he S25 Novag Star Wars: Bounty Hunter 5 ғаз Midnight Cb I o wo like the shot clock resetting incorrectly and generic players Def Jam Vendetta 85 Аз g a a 65 suog Star Wars: Jedi Outcast 875 Ја Монт Madness 3 525 wo — sometimes looking too similar. | don't feel the same elation Minority Report: 3 3 tae My Oy2 1E SpinerCa 25 Же ae a Cone Mes. 105 ыы 7-5 675 ғама a$ | did playing the first Street, but Vol. 2 advances the series Dot Hack Vol. 1: Infection 825 Mar-03 os - a a € 25 MS Summoner: A Goddess Rebom 9 Apro3 МАВ Inside Pitch 2003 55 Jw and gives fans more than enough reason to Dot Hack Vol. 2: Mutation | 775 Jun-03 Sub Rebellion 75 Jan Super Bubble Pop 8 Feb-03 MLB Slugfest 2004 675 Арг-03 ick it up. — JUSTIN Dr. Muto 775 Dec-02 Suikoden lil 35 Decoz Зиретап: Monopoly Party 4 Пеш pl р. Dragon Вай 2: Budokai 725 Jang etus 9 №0 ‘Shadow of Apokolips 65 May-03 ‘Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance 5 Jan03 Drome Racers 7 30008 Super Bust A-Move 2 75 Decoz SMingerz бой 775 Jan-03 MotoGP 2 Jun-03 Wakeboarding Unleashed GT Advance 3: Dynasty Warriors 3: а Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 В Моу02 Миакито 5% іш» Featuring Shaun Murray 85 Ju03 Pro Concept Racing 725 Mar-03 Xtreme Legends 675 Janos ` fadow ot Apokolips 7 Моо TieSpitters2 85 Dec02 МУР Baseball 2003 925 Apr-03 Whacked 2 Dec? Incredible Hulk, The 4 — 3 Dynasty Warriors 4 7 AWO Tenchu: WrathotHeaven 9 apoa Tony Hawks Pro Skater4 9 — Dec02 | NASCAR Thunder 2003 9 — Nov02 Whiteout 625 Dec02 ridon Il в May03 Erter the Matrix 85 03 Thing The 825 naoz То Gun: Combat Zones 675 Nov-l2 NBA Inside Drive 2003 75 No02 World Racing 5 Jun-03 Justice League Everblue 2 875 Ма8 — TmeSpiiters 2 825 Decoz ‘Transworld Surt: Next Wave 55 May-03 NBA Street Vol. 2 9 May-03 Мон Series Baseball 2K3 7 Ар0% Injustice for All 425 Fes EverQuest Online Adventures 9 Feb03 толу Hawk's Pro Skaler4 925 Decoz Tube Sider 65 Jun03 NCAA Football 2004 85 Jul03 — X2 Wolerine's Revenge 55 Jun-03 Кіру: Nightmare in Dreamland 8.75 Jan-03 Evi Dead: Treasure Planet 775 Jan-03 Turok: Evolution 775 Nov-02 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit2 85 Nov-02 Legend of Zelda:
A Fistful of Boomstick 775 jw таға T Utimate Muscle 75 ша NHL2003 775 № Ла а” Evolution Skateboarding 5 Dec02 тыя: Aas saad noe NHL 2K3 925 Dec-02 Legends of Wrestling I 075 Mar-03 Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 775 Now Vex 825 Mar-03 t 1503A.D.: The New Word 75 Apr-03.
FIFA 2003 в Dec теа SaGa 65 Juno Wario Word 85 әз NHLHitz 2003 875 №00 дес Mythology 85 ma Ls ahaa in uw
Fighter Maker 2 65 Feb03 Мех 675 Apr-03 Whiri Tour 75 Nov-02 Nightcaster Il: Equinox 575 Feb-03 ‘Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings 85 Feb-03 ач rA N qs е е Filed Hao 55 мо — vns 875 Jan-03 Wreckless: Panzer Dragoon Orta 825 Jan03 31042 B Моко FelowshpofheHng Tho 5 08002 е canes 75 Mar03 Wakeboarding Unleashed ‘The вога Missions SE! edPhanlom Crash БЕСТІГІ War 7 No02 Lodo the Rings: G1 Jockey 3 8 Jun-03 "Featuring Shaun Muray 825 м0% WWE Crush Hour 4 May-03 Prisoner of War НД ы The Toe Toe, The ТЗ Galop Racer 2008: War of the Monsters 6 Feb03 Х2Момейпеѕ Revenge 575 Jun03 Pro Race Driver 9 М8 “Conquer Generals 925 Ap-03 Lost Vikings, The | 7 dun-03 фм нән FE ريي 775 Nowgg Х-Меп: Next Dimension 775 Jan03 Pulse Racer 3 Feb-03 Cultures 2: Gates of Asgard 775 Nov02 — Lufa:TheRunsollore 775 Apr-03 Getaway, The 9 РӘ gins з Арз Zapper: One Wicked Cricket 875 Dec-02 Quantum Redshift 6 №2 pups Divinity 775 Doo Lunar Legend 75. Ба Grand Prix Challenge 75 May-03 уона Series Baseball 2K3 675 Apr Rally Fusion: Earth & Beyond 925 Dec-02 Masters of the Universe: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 10 Decd2 у Tau Succes 0S аз roo БОСНИ Race of Champions 8 Ја лора 1400: The Guild 85 Feb-03 He-Man – Power of Grayskull 3. 8 Jan-03 Guilty Gear Х2 875 Mar-03 = Red Faction Il 825 Apr-03 ON 5s Wreckless 775 Dec02 All-Star Baseball 2004 EverQuest Mega Man & Bass Mar-03 ee nt A WWE Crush Hour 525 May-03 Patan t Dei Will The Planes of Power 95 Jan03 Меда Man Вай - а os Janes WWE Smackdown: : Din We VC Se 35 Mayos “Network Blue and While в Jung Haven: Call of the King 825 Janos ратын 78 pew x Robocop 35 May-03 менен ed Ra 10 tants High Heat 2004 To Meus ^ NR M i5 aes ME n Foner Racing 2 Robotech: Battlecry 85 Novog Harbinger disi Romper Eger M ee SE анығын — 12S On| cae 45 Re 7 Тед) ате 25 Қой мысында 55 duds Huk, The 55 мв X r Barbarian 726 Roller Coaster Tycoon з.б IAL Covet Sake MC Por касы Se ead e irse Der Wie Zur Macht $75 Mes Back Sione Mage га HM в. M MIS 825 Nori Нақа Star Colection в Feb03 Island dies Stunts 4 eba УОН The Es Dil ee 2 $ Master of Orion It 4 Apr-03 Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire 7.25 Apr-03 Бк Моне, ер: рени ажа оба 52 E MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries 9.5 Jan-03 Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc В Маг03 жә d peal um ed 200 of he End Medal of Honor: Spearhead 825 Jan03 Revenge of Shinobi, The 6 — Feb-03 v» T азы ылық 55: Mara Ripping Friends: The World pid Шы “nrg veer al 875 шаа) Ма Мапу Men he — 475 Dec-02 Жала an жә LT мева Poora CS АШ рака TMs Saga $5 di K-1 Word Grand Prix 65 ioe засеем 6 MYO MFORMAT PCE STYLE | TO 16-PLAYER ACTION ARBRE eo cee o 75 Janos ie сүле ма) 7 Batman: Dark Tomorrow 075 May-03 E PUBLISHER MICROSOFT I REVIEWED JAN-03 Postal 2 75 Junü8 The Amulet of Time в Feb03 Lord of the Rings: The Big Air Freestyle 6 No02 Successfully completing Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield 7.25 Мау-03 Беда Rally Championship 5 Mar-03 Fellowship of he Ring, The 3 ео Васка Bruised 75 Mar-03 KR ұз Restaurant Empire 675 Juk03 Sega Smash Pack 7 Dec-02 Lord ofthe Rings: Blood Omen 2 75 Jan-03 missions will give you contract siss s Nations 9 Juo Sonic Advance 2 75 May-03 The Two Towers, Тһе 925 Dec-02 BloodRayne 7 Dec-02 money, as well as salvage RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 85 Dec-02 бөліс Pinball Party 6 жз Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 85 Deco ВМХХХХ 775 Feb-03 еу, 4 Shadowbane 675 Jun-03 SpinterCel 85 Jun-03 Bumout 2: Point of | 85 May03 | from the smoldering hulks you ۴ 2: Season of Flame т Б 08с02 Metal Gear Impact y SimCiy 4 8% Feo Spy iM pete Solid 2: Substance 85 Apr03 Capcom Vs. SNK 2 EO 75 №2 1 Sims Online, The 9 Мам ec Midnight Club Il 9 — May-03 Соп: Desert Storm 6 May-03 left on the battlefield. From Sims: Superstar, The в ші Star Wars: The New Droid Amy E Fero Minority Cubivore 75 Моу42 there, you can choose to use Spring Break 75 Novü2 Super Ghouls N' Ghosts 85 Nov-02 Everybody Runs 675 Feb03 Darkened Skye 675 Dec-02 r has Star Tek Super Monkey Ball Jr. в Feb-03 MLB 2004 65 Apr-03 Dead to Rights 875 Jan-03 what yout Salvage team Starfleet Command I 925 Јал03 Super Puzzle Fighter |! 9 Арғ03 MLB Slugfest 2004 6 Ap-03 ` Def Jam Vendetta 875 Apr-03 gathered, or sell it off like the star Wars Galaxies. Tomb Raider: The Prophecy 65 — Jan-03 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance 95 Jan-03 Die Hard: Vendetta 6 іт iti ji An Empire Divided 95 Jun03 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 8 Jan-03 MotoGP 3 7 4 Football 675 Mar-03 crap that it is. This play formula works seamlessly, andthe Stronghold: Crusader 875 Dec-02 Virtua Tennis 775 Jan-03 Disney Sports T Music Maker 8 03 Disney Sports Soccer 8 Род open-ended story line provides for the kind of replay value Syberia 675 Nov02 Маску Stackers 65 Jan-03 MVP Baseball 2003 925 Ар4% Disneys PK: Out ^ in the iplayei i loved i Tropico 2: Pirate Cove 8 Juno Мао Ware, пс: Naval Ops: Warship Gunner 75 — 09 of the Shadows 475 Mar-03 you won't see in multipl r portion. L upgrading Unreal Il: The Awakening 85 Mar-03 Mega Microgames 75 Jun-03 NBA Starting Five 625 Decd2 Dr. Muto 7 Feb03 my mechs and watching my team kick ass in the field, but Unreal Tournament 2003 95 Пес(2 ИНЕ ae Wrestlemania X8 7 — Mar-03 Street Vol 9 н (Oe а б is ls свада SS am LM 75 һә the Al is quite suspect at times and the terrain (SU Coders 85 e NCAA Final Four 125 Jan-03 Enter the Matrix 85 Jw» looks decidedly dated. Who cares?! This Vent Пласт рек 2 Аб NCAA Football 2004 875 3003 Evolution Worlds 7 есі? 3 on ame rules. Get it. Now. - KRISTIAN Black Hole Rising 925 Ju03 Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition NCAA March Madness 2003 8 Јаз FIFA 2003 8 Jan Б Aggressive Inline. 775 Deco? Stairway to the Destined Duel 75 Jun-03
108 GAME INFORMER
NEW RELEASES ди parts SUBJECT TO CHANGE CALL YOUR LOCAL RETAILER FOR MORE DETAILS
Release — Title Publisher/ Release. Publisher/ Publisher Distributor Date Distributor rd Distributor 9/22/03 . Midway 9/1/03. .. Commandos 3: Destination Berlin ... Eidos 9/9/03 . . Capcom Counter-Strike: Condition Zero . .. Vivendi Universal етее ce Ben 8/12/03. . . Bam Entertainment Crusaders Kings 5 .. Strategy First ҚА Coie Sica ne 7/29/03 . Encore Dora The Explorer: Animal Adventures ............. Аай Backyard Wresting 9/22/03. . . Midway Etherlords ll ....... . Strategy First Battlestar Galactica, a Vivendi Universal 8/18/03. . EverQuest: Evolution - Verant Interactive/ Buffy the Vampire Siaye Soul Calibur Il. . Namco 989 Studios Sphinx and the Shadow of Set . THQ 8/5/03... Fire Department .............. i .. Atari Spirits & Spells. . + Dreamcatcher 9/2/03... Firefighter 259 Global Star Software Star Wars Rogue Squadron Ill: Rebel Strike. . LucasArts Flight Simulator 2004 . . .. Microsoft True Crime: Streets of LA + Activision - Freedom Fighters . Electronic Arts. W FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2 I STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION 5 . THQ . Friday Night 3D Darts . . Global Star Software E PUBLISHER UBI SOFT I RELEASE JULY 15 ХРА. «Acclaim Friday Night 3D Pool . . . Global Star Software
1. Global Star Software
N85 . Friday Night Bowling . . . Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle . Galidor: Defenders Outer Dim Electronic Arts has got it all. Let's see...three 7/21/03. . Aliens vs Predator: Extinction. Е d Arts : Ei dense edid Тон абы " 8/26/03. . Alter Echo. . . A of Hollywood's hottest and Sanoa.. 222002722). D 1 Great Empires Collection 3 . Vivendi Universa sexiest leading ladies, check... 9/23/03.. Battlestar Galactica. . Vivendi Universal. +» Great Escape, The. : Take 2 t 8/26/03 . Vivendi Universal 1. Greyhawk The Temple of Elemental EV : Atari comedy genius Bernie Mac, 9/16/03 | Take 2 pn HLife 2. А Миа ее i 9/1/03... Chessmaster + Ubi Soft ps Halo. waht check. ithe most annoyingly us en put 2 UE aor < Heaven and Hell . Hip Interactive. E29! named director (McG) in film 9/23/03. . Hobbit, Th Vivendi Ur ] 9/25/03. . Crypt Hunter. . Metro3D /23/03.. Hobbit, Тһе. ivendi Universal history, check...and a video ae В қылы Д 4 52 MEN toraende - Pilis 4 Ума Universal е 2 E > pum BA Wer piste aul game by Ubi Soft, check and mate! Yep, this looks to be a И 222222 E. RU нее Curd canes и 2. меа era 8/28/03 . Metro3D ... Hoyle's Casino 2004. . .. Vivendi Universal blockbuster summer for the Angels, but we hope that the box Vo RID ee 15503 ее Majestic Chess... ` мога ісімізді office is big enough to carry this lackluster title to the to P 9/16/03. . Hoyle's Puzzle Games 2004 . . Vivendi Universal z disi 8/1/03... ESPN NFL Football, . Sega /16/( of the charts, because it looks like it's going to need a little | 9/2/03... Fila Tennis Champions . =) Xicat P қын” 8/4/03 . Midway help. However, it does have some pretty realistically rendered — 9/22/03... + Electronic Arts versions of the | els (and Bernie, for you ladies out 9/1/03 тае lovely Ang ( " esp y A ” 8/12/03.. Futurama: The бате. . Vivendi Universal 'ORMAT PC 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS there), and even features that crazy “slow-down time" effect ^ 5/5/03... Ghost Recon: Island Thi 1 Ubi Soft B PUBLISHER NINTENDO Ш RELEASE SEPTEMBER 29 that's been so popular since that one movie Keanu Reeves 0 r MM Sword of Vengeance A s 4 1080” Snowboarding was опе : m : . Gladius .... В r EZ was in (we think it was My Own Private Idaho). 1/22/03. . Great Escape «Take 2 ı2 of the most beloved extreme 7/29/03 . . Grooverider: Slot Car Thunder . . Encore 7 P TS Bad қайты ЖҮН em $ 8/26/03... Group S Challenge Î Garcon sports games of the 64-bit ا br at bite RIVALS Mo 9/23/03. . Hobbit, The... . Vivendi Universal era. Heck, we still have good А) 3 8/12/03.. Madden NFL 2004 . Electronic Arts А, " влага DE ien БЕ 7/15/03... NOAA Football 2004 . S Electronic Arts memories of that N64 classic. үле атын a shield j 9/3/03... NFL Blitz Pro... . Midway However, that game came out 1/12/03 . . Choplifter: Crisis Shield . Xicat 8/13/03... NFL Fever 2004 Microsoft > У виот Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drag Ubi Soft 9/22/03, . NHLHitz Pro .. Ў Midway way back in 1998, before titles IU erepti eld 8/26/03... Otogi: Myth of Demons . . Sega like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater dd P ipid о 8/26/03... Pro Cast Fishing . Xicat " " ih Ey Rd Ce pote 9/22/03... Road Kill... Ў Midway and SSX redefined the genre. Can this long-awaited sequel 9/12/03. БИЫЛ edges id OMM 8/18/03... a pos e" 1000 Frights + THQ (aad still compete amidst a much tougher field? We'll have to see, 7/22/03... Downhill Domination ..... Sony А A оте" but 1080" Avalanche does distinguish itself from the crowd ШЕ Denny нег m 8/1/03... . Star Trek: Shattered Universe TOK Mediactive with cool changing environments (the avalanches in the title) И Hy Clubwortd x. 2n 7/15/03. . Star Wars: Knights of Old Republc . LucasArts А i 8/1/03... . ESPN NFL Footbal Sega 9/3/03... Starsky & Hutch. Take 2 and an emphasis not on tricks, but on hardcore snowboarding EU mmm oir: Mns 9/16/03. Top Spin...» Microsoft ndamentals. All this and it looks great, too! 9/22/08 . Freedom Fighters Electronic Arts. 9/16/03... True Crime: Streets of LA . Activision тооба bs gencor: 8/12/03... Futurama: The Game . Mwendi Universal 9/1/03... . Ultimate Beach Soccer . Dreamcatcher . Hoyle's Table Games 2004 . Vivendi Universal 9/29/03 . . Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance. Acclaim 9/23/03. . Voodoo Vince Microsoft Icewind Dale: Ultimate Collection Vivendi Universal 8/19/03. . Gladius. LucasArts 9/29/03.. WWE Raw 2. ۴ Inquisition . Strategy First. 7/22/03 . . Great Escape, The... . Take 2 7/29/03... XGRA . Kawasaki Racing . . Mari 9/1/03... Gunfighter 2: Return of Jesse lames. Ubi Soft Law & Order Il: Double or Nothing . . Mivendi Universal 9/23/03... Hobbit, Те... ИИИ сьщ ks Championship Edition . Microsoft 8/19/03... Hunter: The Reckoning Waard; Vivendi Universal 9/3/03 je of Mythology: The Titans . Microsoft Lion Heart . Vivendi Universal Seen р : E ОИ 7/25/03.. ie of Wonders: Shadow Mage Take 2 Look On Modem A Combet аре ok in ords of the Realm vend Unive 9/1/03... Kengo 2 Ubi Soft 9/30/03. . American Conquest Fight Back Hip Interactive Mace сай Bounty thor V Wired 9/16/03 . . Lethal Skies II . Sammy Madden NFL 2004 . Electronic Arts. 8/12/03 .. Madden NFL 2004 . . Electronic Arts NASCAR Thunder 2004 bo Electronic Arts Т NBA Shootout 2004 Es W FORMAT PLAYSTATION 2/XBOX/GAMECUBE/PC Ш ТОК 2- NHL 2004, . . Electronic Arts 7, a. МАА Fc 4 Arte T CL Qumapredar 2068 re vt, PLAYER FIGHTING Ш PUBLISHER GOTHAM GAMES мам ee 9/2/03... NFL Blitz Pro... Ш RELEASE SEPTEMBER 16 One Must Fall: Battlegrounds Tri- Synergy jor Marr It's been a long time since паа Ahan омо. И 8/5/03... Reel Fishing Il . we blew the doors off this hot Ring I 3 ÎÎ Global Star Software 9/9/03 Risk Global Domini j A 9/22/08 . Road Kil n title, so we thought we'd check jeg : et ees pesi 9/30/03... Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown . in to see just what kind of 9/15/03 . . Secret Weapons Over Normandy ...........--- LucasArts еее Tres Kngsone Vt progress Celebrity Deathmatch 2/22/03. Sm оу ish Hour E Белі Hit and Run is making. From what we 7/21/03. . Space Haste II Strategy First mash Cars i y 9/15/03.. Starsky & Hutch Take 2 Soul Calibur Il saw at ЕЗ, it doesn't appear 9/1/03... Team Fortress Online. Vivendi Universal. Sphinx and the much more polished than it 9/22/03... Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. Electronic Arts Solow: ides Gone Wd . was when we did a feature on the game a few months ago, 8/20/94. шағаны С; Dewy anane Starsky & Hutch ....... which is not a good sign. Still, it is possible that Celebrity 9/2/03... Ultimate Demolition Derby Global Star Software Tie teenth Deathmatch might make up for its homely looks and ЛАВ wt е os > Yer era Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior . clumsiness with a ton of personality and a winning sense 9/9/03... world Championship Pool 2003. .........- 2 Jaleco cl of humor (just like the Game Informer staff does!). Just 8/5/03... . Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection Moroso
[C 2 kidding — we have really bad personalities. Гами ие О
9/29/03 . . 1080°: Avalanche . Nintendo ТҮКТІ і
9/23/08... Billy Hatcher and the Giant Еш. . Sega 7/22/03. . Anarchy Online: Shadowlands. +» Funcom DASS g pes a er fide, agn. б h ree
8/26/03... Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds . . Vivendi Universal 9/9/03... Apocalyptica «s . «ss Konami 9/8/03. . . Final Fantasy Tactics Advance . Nintendo
9/16/03... Celebrity Deathmatch A Take 2 7/22/03... Aquanox 2: Revelation , JoWood 5/29/03.. Hobbit, The Vivendi Universal
9/1/03... Chessmaster . . Ubi Soft 9/2/03 . . . Backyard Football 2004 Май 9/9/03... ісе Nine Bam Entertainment
8/25/03... FZero GX . Nintendo 8/12/03. . Baldur's Gate: Ultimate Collection Vivendi Universal 8/12/08... Lizzie McGuire Disney Interactive
9/2/03... Freaky Flyers Midway 9/1/03... Battlecruiser Generations . . Dreamcatcher 8/12, /03 . Madden NFL 2004 . Electronic Arts
8/19/03. . Gladius У LucasArts 9/9/03... Battlefield 1942: Deluxe Edition, . Electronic Arts 7/28/03... Monster Truck Madness THO
7/29/03 . . Grooverider: Slot Car Thunder . Encore 9/9/03... Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of Electronic Arts 9/2/03... Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee THO
9/23/03. . Hobbit, The......« Vivendi Universal 9/18/03.. Black 9 Majesco 8/26/03... Onimusha Tactics Capcom
9/2/03... . Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter . .. . . ... Vivendi Universal 9/1/03. . . BloodRayne. Vivendi Universal 8/25/03. . Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire. ^` Nintendo.
8/12/03 , . Madden NFL 2004 + Electronic Arts 8/26/03. . Broed . Hip Interactive 9/2/03. . . Rocket Power Gravity Zone . THQ
7/28/03 , . Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Nintendo 8/26/03. . Cabela's Big Game Hunter: 2004 Seasn Activision 9/18/03. . Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem ` THQ
9/23/03.. Medabots: Infinity . . . 296 8/26/03. . Cabela's Grandslam: 2004 Trophies Activision 9/22/03. . Star Wars: Fight of the Falcon - THQ
89/02 +» Motor Trend Lotus Challenge ` рет 9/16/03. . Celebrity Deathmatch . Take 2 9/22/03. . Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo
/15/03. . NCAA Football 2004 . . Electronic Arts 8/19/03. . Chaser JoWood
9/2/03... NFL Blitz Pro... Midway 8/19/03. . Cold Zero . JoWood MEE “о /ко%едес Cray Cache 5 m. GAMEINFORMER 109
SILENT Hi З
It's scary as hell, but it didn't frighten us enough to avoid giving our GI
readers a few codes. 4
Bonus Costumes - To use them, you must finish the game first and À unlock the Extra Costume option. Once you do that, enter the following
case-sensitive passwords. Now you can equip them during gameplay.
Block Head - PutHere2FeelJoy Don't Touch - TOUCH MY HEART Heather Shirt - HappyBirthDay Gamereactor T-shirt - SH3 Wrestlarn God of Thunder - GangsterGirl Golden Rooster – cockadooodledoo Killer Rabbit - BlueRobbieWin Onsen - |_Love_You
Play Shirt - sLmLdGhSmKfBfH Royal Flush - 01 03 08 11 12 The Light - LightToFuture
Transform Costume - PrincessHeart Transience - ShogyouMujou
Zipper - Shut_your_mouth
Douglas in Underwear - Complete the game once, highlight the Extra New Game option at the Main Menu. Press Up (x2), Down (x2), Left, Right, Left, Right, О, X, If done correctly, Heather will sigh after you select a Riddle level. Now, in some scenes, Douglas will wear his underwear.
Extra Options Menu - Press L1 or R1 at the Options screen to display the Extra Options Menu. "Gl Droid" (location unknown - last seen playing as the Viking's center for the sexy Daunte Culpepper)
CODE OF THE MONTH THe Ник РС
ENTER соос атм
S ANF RAN
Unter @ Canoe
Unless otherwise noted, all codes must be entered at the Code Input screen under the Options screen. The codes are unlocked in the Cheats menu.
Desert Battle Movie Art - FIFTEEN as a code during gameplay at a terminal. Double All Enemies HP - BRNGITN Double Hulk's HP - HLTHDSE Full Rage Meter - ANGMNGT Half All Enemies HP - MMMYHLP Hulk Movie F/X Movie Art - NANOMED as a code during gameplay at a terminal. Hulk Transformed Movie Art - SANFRAN as a code during gameplay at a terminal. Hulk Versus Hulk Dogs Movie Art - PITBULL as a code during gameplay at a terminal. Invulnerability - GMMSKIN Play as Gray Hulk — Enter JANITOR as a code during gameplay at a terminal. Puzzle Solved - BRCESTN Regenerator - FLSHWND Reset High Score - NMBTHIH Unlimited Continues - GRNCHTR Unlock All Levels - TRUBLVR Wicked Punch - FSTOFRY B.J. Grant New York, NY
110 GAME INFORMER
TENCHU 3: WRATH OF HEAVEN
A village with a red tight дана bd Hide on rooftops ard watch out for enemies
The stealth assassin strikes back with yet more codes. Lock, load, and enjoy!
All Multiplayer Mode Missions - Press L1, R1, L2, R2, Right, Mission Selection screen in Multiplayer mode.
J, L3, R3 at the
Bonus Rikimaru Stage - At the title screen, press L1, Up, R1, Down, L2, Right, R2, Left.
Control Enemies - In story mode, pause during gameplay. On controller two, press L1, R3, R1, L3, Right, ÛJ, Up, О, L2, Left, C, Down, R2. If the game resumes automati- cally, you'll know that you've entered the code correctly. Now, get close to an enemy or NPC, and you should be able to control their actions with controller two. Note that enabling this code may cause the game to crash. This code will grant you complete access to every enemy simultaneously. When you enable the code near an enemy with а question mark on the radar (which indicates the foe isn't aware of your presence), you can use basic controls with the d-pad. Press Left or Right to rotate every enemy on the map. R1 will cause enemies to duck. Press Х to make them jump; press it again to cause them to double-jump. Press Up to make foes move forward. Note that they cannot attack when they are unaware of you. If they have an exclamation point, their moves will turn offensive. The controls are the same for enemies in the question mark state, except that they can move backwards and attack with CJ. Although you might be inclined to attack enemies using enemies, you cannot inflict any damage.
Display Score and Time - Pause during gameplay and press Right (x2), Left (x2) on controller two.
Increase Score - Pause during gameplay, then hold L1 + R1 and press Right (x2), Left (x2) on controller two to add 100 points to your score.
Toggle Special Abilities - Pause during gameplay, then hold L1 + L2 and press Up (x2), Down (x2). Release L1 + L2 and press O (2x), R1, R2.
Unlimited Item Capacity - At the Item Selection screen, hold L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 and press ÛJ (x3), Up, Left, Down, Right, C], Up, Right, Down, Left. You can still only carry Six types of items, but your capacity for those items is unlimited. Steve "Scrappy" Neale Rockville, MD
WAKEBOARDING UNLEASHED Ф
It's another Tony Hawk rip-off, but ап interesting one that actually doesn’t play poorly at all. Enter the following codes at the Main Menu. A message will indicate a correct code entry. Note that you have to enter these codes quickly in order for them to work.
All Gaps - R1, L1, L2, R2, R1, L1, L2, R2, R1, L1, L2, R2, R1, L1, L2, R2 Level Select - L] (x4), О (x4), Д (x4), J, O, A Second and Third Boards - Up (x2), Left (x2), Right (x2), Down (x2), Up, Left, Right, Down, Up, Left, Right, Down Sophie Wells Redmond, WA
ENTER TO WIN
Send To: Secret Access Game Informer Magazine 724 North First Street, 4th Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 secretaccess@gameinformer.com
Send in your codes and passwords, and if we choose your entry as Code of the Month you'll win a wonderful prize from the Game Informer Vault! All other entries printed within these hallowed pages will receive a Secret Access t-shirt.
Мірміснт Crus 1 @
If you pay attention to Secret Access, you'll notice these codes are exactly the same as the PS2 counterpart. However, the PS2 codes don't work in the Xbox version. Note that these cheats adjust the game’s difficulty. Nine is the most difficult while zero is the easiest.
Cheat Mode - Highlight Options Mode at the Main Menu. Press Down to highlight Options: <name>. Now press left or right on the d-pad until Options: Cheat Codes appears. Press A and enter one of the case-sensitive cheat codes.
Difficulty Settings
howhardcanitbeO howhardcanitbe5 howhardcanitbe1 howhardcanitbe6 howhardcanitbe2 howhardcanitbe 7 howhardcanitbe3 howhardcanitbe8 howhardcanitbe4 howhardcanitbe9
Tru Frii Minneapolis, MN
DIANA Jones AND THE EMPEROR'S TOMB е
We have yet to discover апу real codes for this game, but until we do, these tricks aren't too bad.
Infinite Grenade Capacity - Obtain two grenades, which is the maximum number you can hold in your pack. However, if you jump into water while holding a third grenade, you can place it into your pack. Repeat this procedure as much as you like for unlim- ited grenade capacity.
Missing Hat – Whenever you pause the game, check out Indy's head. You'll notice that his hat disappears.
*The Game Molester"
Washington, D.C.
MotoGP 2 e
These codes are few, but sweet. The first cheat is especially funny looking. Floating Bike Mode - Edit the logo on a custom bike to read “kingpin”.
Minigames - Go into the Options Menu and watch the text (not video) credits. Scroll down until you get to the credits for the minigames. When it appears onscreen, press A. To confirm correct code entry, the screen with the “Mini Games" title will have the *A" in "Games" change to resemble that found on that controller button. John Kimball Los Angeles, CA
BRUTE Force
ewm i подр.
Although these codes аге of the traditional sort, we have compiled some cool glitches and noteworthy hints.
Art Gallery - Collect all of the artifacts іп the game.
Bonus Multiplayer Characters Get the hidden DNA containers to unlock various characters in Multiplayer mode.
Confed Marine - Mission 1 or Mission 6 Feral Colonist - Mission 2
Feral Outcast - Mission 3
Feral Shaman - Mission 9
Fire Hound - Mission 13 Gunthar Ghent - Mission 10 Hunter Lord - Mission 18 McTavish - Mission 14
Militia – Mission 5 or Mission 11 Outcast Shaman - Mission 7 Seer Follower - Mission 4
Seer Priest – Mission 8
Shadoon - Mission 12
Shrike Heavy - Mission 16 Shrike Hound - Mission 17 Shrike Soldier — Mission 15
Dead Characters Speak - іп a few of the missions, you can cause your teammates to speak even though they are dead. For example, if you allow Tex to die in chapter two before he speaks of the dead man on spikes, he will still talk.
Keep Items - If you die in the Story mode, join the game using another controller to bring back that perished character. Now, immediately quit the game. You've revived your dead comrade!
Maximum MK ASLT Ammunition — When you come across a duplicate MK ASLT, keep picking it up. Your maximum ammo will rise to 600.
Regain Special Faster - If you use your entire special meter, run to a safe spot and duck. Your special meter will be replenished significantly faster. Mike Huber Lackawanna, NY
Star Wars: THe CLONE Wars е
Hate yourself for buying this game? Well, our super-secret code cracker discovered these. For his services, please send four stalks of broccoli, six shitake mushrooms, a dozen leaves of mustard greens, and two avocado burritos. Enter all of the following cheats at the Codes screen under Bonuses.
All Bonus Materials - IGIVEUP All FMV Sequences - GOTPOPCORN All Multiplayer Levels - LETSDANCE Team Photos - YOURMASTERS Three Bonus Objectives for Current Mission Complete - ALITTLEHELP Unlimited Ammunition - NOHONOR Chermaine Patterson St. Paul, MN
GAMEINFORMER 1117
WorLD RACING: MERCEDES BENZ
Create Profile
Enter all of the following codes as user names in the single player mode.
Almost All Single Player Cars, Status 10, and 80% Completion - AllUCanGet All Championships - JamSession
All Missions - Miss World
All Tracks (Except Waypoint) - Free Ride Status 1 - Top 10
Status 2 - HUIBUH
Status 3 - N.I.C.E. 2
Status 4 - TaxiDriver
Status 5 - Halbzeit
Status 6 - No Hat!
Status 7 - McRace
Status 8 - Jiu-Jitsu
Status 9 - Goodzpeed John Robbins Fargo, ND
-Ө
ULTIMATE MUSCLE
A silly game that lacks any super cool codes? Lame.
Blocken Jr. (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Jaeger. Bone Cold - Collect 300 Toy Capsules. Buffalo Man (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Dik Dik Van Dik. Eskara - Collect 100 Toy Capsules. Hanzo - Collect 200 Toy Capsules. King Muscle (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Kid Muscle. Panda Man - Complete Story mode as Skullduggery (Kin Kotsu Man). Ramen Man (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Wally Tusket. Robin Mask (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Kevin Mask. Skullduggery - Complete Story mode as Bone Cold. Sunshine (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Checkmate. Terry Man (Story mode) - Complete Story mode as Terry The Kid. The Ninja - Complete Story mode as Hanzo. Wars Man - Complete Story mode as Eskara. Jack Black Sacramento, CA
e
Lots of minigames rolled up into one game sounds like a better idea when all of the minigames are absolutely strange.
Boss Mode - Complete the game to unlock an option to fight just bosses. Dr. Wario Minigame - Obtain 15 mails against Blue Jimmy. Fly Swatter Minigame - Get 20 mails against Yellow Jimmy. Intermission Bonus - If you press A during a break and it shows a character, some- thing cool will happen. Paper Plane Minigame - Beat Red Jimmy. Pyoro 1 Minigame - Complete the Wario stage. Pyoro 2 Minigame — Finish the challenge score on every Microgame. Scroll Faster on Grid - Scroll through the writing faster on the grid by tapping or holding L or R Buttons. Staff Mode - Complete the game to unlock an option to view the game's developers. Wario's Sheriff Minigame - Snag 25 mails against Red Jimmy. Martin King Dallas, TX
112 GAME INFORMER
е
Enter each of the following codes as passwords to achieve their desired effect.
End - 4RC8! Level 8 - N59G6 Jukebox - CH4LL Level 9 - 558GY Level 2 - 9PTBY Level 10 - 54!H4
Level 3 - TYHLY Level 11 - PCGZW Level 4 - 9VDBW Level 12 - NPH74 Level 5 - SLZGW Level 13 - 9GF46 Level 6 - TDZQ4 Level 14 - 50146 Level 7 - 5M!H6 Dalton Jasper, MI
Rise Or NATIONS
Press Enter during gameplay, then type one of the following codes to enable the corre- sponding cheat. The information within «» indicate the possibilities that can be inputted. The «» should not be written. A 1 and O are Boolean expressions meaning on and off.
1000 More of All Resources - cheat resource all+1000 Adjust Damage to Object or All Selected – cheat damage «name or no entry» <+ or -> «number» Change Game Explore Configuration - cheat explore <normal, explored, all> Defeat Nation - cheat defeat <name> Deploys the Currently Selected Unit(s), If They are Deploying Units - cheat deploy Display Achievements - cheat achieve Drop a Nuke at Pointer Location - cheat nuke Drop a Wild Bird at Pointer Location - cheat bird Finishes Selected Building(s) or Next Item in Queue - cheat finish Force Alliance With Nation - cheat ally <name> Force Encounter With Nation - cheat meet <name> Force Encounter-off With Nation - cheat unmeet <name> Force Peace With Sation - cheat peace <name> Force War With Sation - cheat war <name> Kill Object or All Selected - cheat die <name or no entry> Machine Guns Around Every Human Capital - cheat safe Packs the Currently Selected Unit(s), If They are Packing Units - cheat pack Set Al State - cheat ai <on, off, or debug> Set All Players to Human and Full Map - cheat sandbox Set Difficulty - cheat diff <0-5> Show Combat Ranges - cheat ranges <0 or 1> Show or Change Age for Nation - cheat age «number» «name» Show or Change All Library Tech Levels for Nation - cheat library «number» <name> Show or Change Civic Level for Nation - cheat civic «number» «name» Show or Change Commerce Level for Nation - cheat commerce «number» «name» Show or Change Military Level for Nation - cheat military «number» «name» Show or Change Resource - cheat resource «name» <goodtype or all» <+ or > «number» Show or Change Science Level for Nation - cheat science «number» «name» Show or Change Technology - cheat tech «name» «tech or all> «on or off» Toggle Bounding Box Mode - cheat box «0 or 1» Toggle Full Map - cheat reveal «on or off» Toggle Game Pause - cheat pause <0 or 1» Turn Off Computer Control - cheat human «name» Turn On Computer Control - cheat computer «name» Victory for Nation — cheat victory «name» Jake Roberts Baltimore, MD
Yu-Gi-Ou! WORLDWIDE EDITION:
This is the second and hopefully last set of Yu-Gi-Oh codes. To activate them, hit the R Button and go to the Misc icon. Select Password and input the following codes to
unlock the desired card.
Alligator's Sword - 64428736
Alligator's Sword Dragon - 03366982
Alpha The Magnet Warrior - 99785935
Ameba - 95174353
Ancient Brain - 42431843
Ancient Elf - 93221206
Ancient Jar - 81492226
Armed Ninja - 09076207
Armored Glass - 36868108
Armored Rat - 16246527
Armored Starfish - 17535588
Armored Zombie - 20277860
Axe Raider - 48305365
Baby Dragon - 88819587
Backup Soldier - 36280194
Banisher of the Light - 61528025
Barrel Rock - 10476868
Battle Steer - 18246479
Battle Warrior - 55550921
Beautiful Headhuntress - 16899564
Bell of Destruction - 83555666
Beta the Magnet Warrior - 39256679
Big Shield Gardna - 65240384
Binding Chain - 08058240
Bio Plant - 07670542
Black Dragon Jungle King - 89832901
Blast Sphere - 26302522
Block Attack - 25880422
Blue-Winged Crown - 41396436
Boar Soldier - 21340051
Call of the Grave - 16970158
Cannon Soldier - 11384280
Card Destruction - 72892473
Ceasefire - 36468556
Chain Destruction - 01248895
Chain Energy - 79323590
Claw Reacher - 41218256
Clown Zombie - 92667214
Copy Cat - 26376390
Crass Clown - 93889755
Crawling Dragon - 67494157
Crazy Fish - 53713014
Crush Card - 57728570
Cyber Commander - 06400512
Cyber Saurus - 89112729
Cyber-Stein - 69015963
Dark Bat - 67049542
Dark Elf - 21417692
Dark Gray - 09159938
Dark Hole - 53129443
Dark Human - 81057959
Dark Rabbit - 99261403
Dark Sage - 92377303
Dark Witch - 35565537
Dark Zebra - 59784896
Darkfire Dragon - 17881964
Deepsea Shark - 28593363
Delinquent Duo - 44763025
Disk Magician - 76446915
Dokuroyaiba - 30325729
Dragon Piper - 55763552
Eldeen - 06367785
Electric Lizard - 55875323
Electric Snake - 11324436
Electro-Whip - 37820550
Eternal Rest - 95051344
Exile of the Wicked - 26725158
Exodia the Forbidden One - 33396948
Fairy Dragon - 20315854
Fairy’s Hand Mirror - 17653779
Fairywitch - 37160778
Faith Bird - 75582395
Fake Trap - 03027001
Fiend Sword - 22855882
Firegrass - 53293545
Fireyarou - 71407486
Flame Champion -
42599677
Flame Ghost - 58528964
Flame
Manipulator -
34460851
Flash Assailant – 96890582
Flower Wolf - 95952802
Flying Kamakiri #2 - 03134241
Gaia - 06368038
Gaia Power - 56594520
Gale Dogra - 16229315
Garma Sword - 90844184
Garma Sword Oath - 78577570
Garnecia Elefantis - 49888191
Garoozis - 14977074
Garvas - 69780745
Gatekeeper - 19737320
Giant Soldier of Stone - 13039848
Giant Trunade - 42703248
Graceful Dice - 74137509
Grappler - 02906250
Gravedigger Ghoul - 82542267
Greenkappa - 61831093
Griffore - 53829412
Guardian of the Labyrinth - 89272878
Guardian of the Sea - 85448931
Happy Lover - 99030164
Hard Armor - 20060230
Harpie Lady - 76812113
Harpie Lady Sisters - 12206212
Harpie's Brother - 30532390
Harpie's Feather Duster - 18144506
Hero of the East - 89987208
Hinotama Soul - 96851799
Hitodenchak - 46718686
Horn Imp - 69669405
Horn of Heaven - 98069388
Horn of Light - 38552107
Hourglass of Life - 08783685
House of Adhesive Tape - 15083728
Insect Queen - 91512835
Jam Breeding Machine - 21770260
Jam Defender - 21558682
Jinzo #7 - 32809211
Jirai Gumo - 94773007
Kaminari Attack - 09653271
Kanikabuto - 84103702
Karate Man - 23289281
King of Yamimakai - 69455834
STAIRWAY TO THE DESTINED DUEL
Kiseitai - 04266839
Krokodilus - 76512652
Kumootoko - 56283725
Kunai With Chain - 37390589
Kurama - 85705804
Lady of Faith - 17358176
LaLa Li-oon - 09430387
Larvae - 94675535
Laser Cannon Armor - 77007920
Last Day of Witch - 90330453
Last Will - 85602018
Leghul - 12472242
Leogun - 10538007
Lesser Dragon - 55444629
Little Chimera - 68658728
Little D - 42625254
Lord of the Lamp - 99510761
Lunar Queen Elzaim - 62210247
Mabarrel - 98795934
Magic Jammer - 77414722
Magic Thorn - 53119267
Magical Ghost - 46474915
Masked Sorcerer - 10189126
Master & Expert - 75499502
Mechanical Spider – 45688586
Metal Detector - 75646520
Metal Dragon - 09293977
Metal Fish - 55998462
Minomushi Warrior — 46864967
Mirror Force - 44095762
Monstrous Bird - 35712107
Moon Envoy - 45909477
Mooyan Curry - 58074572
Morinphen - 55784832
Morphing Jar - 33508719
M-Warrior - 56342351
Mystic Box - 25774450 5
Needle Worm - 81843628
Negate Attack - 14315573
Nekogal #2 - 43352213
Nemuriko - 90963488
Neo the Magic Swordsman - 50930991
Nobleman of Extermination - 17449108
Ookazi - 19523799
Orion the Battle King - 02971090
Pale Beast - 21263083
Panther Warrior - 42035044
Paralyzing Potion - 50152549
Parasite Paracide - 27911549
Petit Angel - 38142739
Petit Dragon - 75356564
Petit Moth - 58192742
Premature Burial - 70828912
Prevent Rat - 00549481
Princess of Tsurugi - 51371017
Prisman - 80234301
Prohibition - 43711255
Queen of Autumn Leaves - 04179849
Queen's Double - 05901497
Raigeki - 12580477
Red Archery Girl - 65570596
Red Medicine - 38199696
Red-Eyed Black Dragon - 74677422
Relinquished - 64631466
Remove Trap - 51482758
Rock Ogre Grotto #1 — 68846917
Rogue Doll - 91939608
Root Water - 39004808 Rose Spectre of Dunn - 32485271 Royal Decree - 51452091 Sebek’s Blessing - 22537443 Shadow Specter - 40575313 Share the Pain - 56830749 Shield & Sword - 52097679 Shining Fairy - 95956346 Skull Mariner - 05265750 Skull Red Bird - 10202894 Snatch Steal - 45986603 Solemn Wishes - 35346968 Solitude - 84794011 Sonic Bird - 57617178 Soul Hunter - 72869010 Spellbinding Circle - 18807108 Spirit of the Harp - 80770678 Stain Storm - 21323861 Steel Scorpion - 13599884 Sword Arm of Dragon - 13069066 Tenderness - 57935140 Terra the Terrible - 63308047 Tiger Axe - 49791927 or 40907090 Time Machine - 80987696 Time Seal - 35316708 Togex - 33878931 Toll - 82003859 Tomozaurus - 46457856 Toon Alligator - 59383041 Torike - 80813021 Tornado Wall - 18605135 Torrential Tribute - 53582587 Trap Hole - 04206964 Trent - 78780140 Trial of Nightmare - 77827521 Tribute to the Doomed - 79759861 Two-Headed King Rex - 94119974 Two-Mouth Darkruler - 57305373 Type Zero Magic Crusher - 21237481 Ushi Oni - 48649353 Vermillion Sparrow - 35752363 Versago the Destroyer - 50259460 Violet Crystal - 15052462 Vishwar Randi - 78556320 Wall of Illusion - 13945283 Warrior Elimination - 90873992 Warrior of Tradition - 56413937 Water Element - 03732747 Water Girl - 55014050 Water Magician - 93343894 Water Omotics - 02483611 Whiptail Crow - 91996584 Wingweaver - 31447217 Witch of the Black Forest - 78010363 Wood Remains - 17733394 World Suppression - 12253117 Wow Warrior - 69750536 Yado Karu - 29380133 Yamatano Dragon Scroll - 76704943 Yami - 59197169 Zanki - 30090452 Zoa - 24311372 Zone Eater - 86100785 “The Rhino” Toledo, OH
GAMEINFORMER 113
SONIC’S ARCHITECT
GI INTERVIEWS
HIROKAZU YASUHARA
Every month one of Game Informer's readers picks his or her personal choice for Greatest Game Of All Time.
FEAR EFFECT 2:
E FORMAT PSONE W PUBLISHER EIDOS
114 GAMEINFORMER
RETRO HELIX
Most people associate the Sonic series with Sega visionary Yugi Naka. While Mr. Naka is undoubtably a leg- end in the gaming world, few realize that many of the concepts that made Sonic the Hedgehog such an icon were actually conceived by Hirokazu Yasuhara, one of gaming's least known, but most respected game designers. Now working with Naughty Dog оп Jak ІІ, Mr. Yasuhara was kind enough to grant us this interview, which sheds a new light on the
familiar history of Sega and Sonic.
| bought this sequel on the cheap before buying the first Fear Effect, thinking that it was just another follow-up to just another Resident Evil rip-off. The first cutscene alone blew that thought right out of my head. Within the first minute, | had seen more partial nudity, swear words, and great voice-acting than | have seen in any game. | just sat there, with my jaw open, in com- plete shock over what | was playing. My second thought was: With this much sex and cussing,
the gameplay has to be terrible. Within the next five minutes,
| game?” First, | made a tentative map using a green field
Talk about how you got involved in the video game industry. What led you to this career path? Were you a computer enthusiast as a kid?
No, I was not a computer enthusiast when | was young. When | was a kid, there were no personal computers. The Apple II had not yet been created. | was an ordinary kid who played outside or read comics. The first video game | played was Breakout at the local game arcade. | was about 10 years old. The game is still one of my favorites. My first experience with computers was at college when | studied machine engineer- ing. | graduated from the Science University of Tokyo in 1988. | love roller coasters and | wanted to create those machines after college. Nintendo had become popular among young people at that time, but | was not attracted by consumer games. | was first interested in the game industry because of Sega’s Space Harrier. | was impressed by the power of the specialized computer hardware the game used.
How did you come to work at Sega? Was that your first job in the industry?
| wanted to work at Sega because they were making amuse- ment machines for arcades. | called Sega's recruiter when
| was a senior and | got a job. It sounds easy, right? At that point Sega had yet to offer its IPO. It was not a big company, but rather a mid-size company which had just gotten into its growth years and was hiring young talents from other fields.
| Iwas hired as a game designer. It was my first job in the
industry and my first real job in life.
You are probably best known for working on the Sonic games on Sega Genesis. You were credited as the game planner, director, and lead game designer on those games. What was your involvement in those titles? What were your main duties, and how much of a part did you have in coming up with the Sonic's basic gameplay concepts and mechanics?
| started to work for Sega after | graduated from college in 1988. After training, | made several small games in conjunc- tion with Mark Cerny whose company, Cerny Games, now con- tracts with Naughty Dog. Then I got assigned to establish a Sega R&D subsidiary in the U.S. with Mark. Fate determined a different turn of events, however. Two Sega employees, [Yugi] Naka, a programmer, and Ooshima, an artist, started to create a new character game. At the time, | did not have
| a specific project that | was working on, and | was supposed
to go to the United States in a few weeks. Then the Gulf War occurred and my move to the U.S. was postponed for three months. | joined Naka and Ooshima as a game designer, planning to work on the project only until | went to the U.S. But, | ended up staying in Japan for a year until we finished
| the project. Naka showed us code that caused a sprite
to move smoothly on a curve by determining its positions using a dot matrix. He wanted to make a platform game that used this algorithm to move a character quickly. His original sample displayed a ball moving inside of a long, winding tube on a wide map. It did not look fun because you did not feel the speed of the ball. | thought, “How can | make it a good
| was blown away a second time. Granted, the controls take some getting use to, but once you learn all the little button tricks, the game characters are easy to control. The only real problem with the gameplay is the difficulty level. Even on normal (there is no easy), this is one hard game. You walk down an empty hallway one minute, and the next room contains three guards that quickly shoot you to death. The puzzles are also
no walk in the park. You actually have to figure out the puzzle instead of playing a game of trial and error. After playing this, |
which | had planned to use on а new game when | reached the U.S., and then placed the characters Ooshima had designed in it. Then we did a lot of brainstorming, and built the basic concepts of the game. | designed the movement of characters, the game stories, all of the stage maps, all of the enemy mechanics, and designed all of the game mechanics.
Mr. Yugi Naka is well known in the press as the creator of Sonic. How did you collaborate with Mr. Naka on the proj- ect, and what are your memories of that experience?
Naka is an extremely talented programmer. He never gave up or said no to my game mechanic ideas even when they were chal- lenging. My memories of the creation of Sonic is that we all worked very, very hard! The three of us worked together until 5 am and resumed at 10 am. We slept five hours a night, at the office, for almost for six months.
y?
Do you ever wish that your contributions to the Sonic legacy were more well known to the average video game player?
| have not worried much about it, but | have to admit that it doesn't seem fair that few people know about my work on the titles. And it is not just me. Ooshima created the Sonic character, but nobody knows about his huge contribution to the success of the series. The recognition that | have received recently has been nice, but having Miyamoto- san stand next to me playing Sonic at CES, and congratulating me for the success of the game was gratifying as well! | still keep his business card as a motivation generator.
Why do you think that Sonic struck such a chord with gamers in the early 90s? What made those games special? What are you most proud of about them?
Sonic was a cool game. And the graphic style was new com- pared to Nintendo's platformer. Also, Sonic has an attitude. He had these cheeky expressions. It was new to show the emotional side of a character. It was considered a waste of data space to give a character a lot of facial expressions before Sonic.
You might think the most interesting aspect of Sonic is his speed. But, as the game designer, | say the most important aspect of Sonic was his “dazzle.” The original program Naka showed me had speed, but speed alone was not enough to make the player excited. When you make a game you have to give the gamer more. Dazzle is the excitement that goes directly from the eyes to the brain. If you go to an amusement park, you understand immediately. | made stage mechanics so that a player is constantly [amazed] by controlling the char- acter. That is why you get so excited when you play Sonic. Sonic's speed combined with the shape of the level and the gameplay keep the mind involved.
found titles like Resident Evil to be mind-numbingly easy.
All the people who are responsible for the sound should get a medal. Music is nice and creepy. The heartbeat sound when danger is near was twice as creepy. And the voice-acting was the very best ever. The thing about this game's dialogue is that they hired real actors to do it. People with actually professional careers, and who have even been known to star in some of my favorite anime films. Other developers should use games like Fear Effect and Metal Gear Solid as an example when it comes
“Everybody at Naughty Dog is very motivated to make
After the original four Sonic games, you went to work with Traveller's Tales on Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R. How did this come about? Did Sega ask you to work with them?
| Yes, Sega asked me to work with Travellers’ Tales. Sonic R had received awful reviews at E3, and Sega wanted me to improve it. | was asked to help out even though I was not | working on Sonic games any more.
Many fans of Sonic were not as happy with those games. Why do you think that was? Were you trying to move too far ahead of the technology of the consoles with your ideas? Did this make the development process difficult?
| worked with Traveller's Tales in Manchester and | think that, although | only joined the proj- ect in the middle, the final version of Sonic R is actually quite good. | understand that it is difficult to reverse negative impressions on the game after it receives bad reviews at E3. People do not play or buy it, so they cannot change their opinions. However, | do admit that the base concept of Sonic R, in which the player “drives” running characters, is not great.
With regards to Sonic 3D Blast, my partici- pation was only in drawing a handful of level maps. | tried to create maps that were as good as possible. Traveller's Tales is a tal- ented company. There weren't any technology problems, but the games seemed to lack a certain motivation.
Were you personally happy with the project?
No. | was opposed to the company’s decision to create games that use “Sonic-something” so that they can sell it easily. That is one of the reasons why | left the Sonic development group. | wanted to make good games, not any games that used the Sonic character in a haphazard way.
HIROKAZU YASUHARA
Sonic is the one platform star that has struggled to find commercial success in three dimensions, in comparison to Mario, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and others. Do you think that it is difficult to make that character work in 3D?
No, | don't think so. | believe there are a lot of ways of using cameras which might make a 3D Sonic possible that haven't been tried yet.
What prompted you to leave your partnership with Sega?
The biggest reason is that Sega stopped making its own con- soles and started supporting all consoles. | want to make a game that utilizes the maximum power of whichever console it is created on. | think that it is important to work in a company where all games are dedicated to a specific hardware.
to hiring their voice actors.
I'm not the biggest fan of cel shading, but Fear Effect 2 does it well. Most games use cel shading to make things look more cartoomike [cough, Zelda, cough], but Fear Effect 2 should be kept as far away from children as possible. Still, the cel shading brings to life many little details. Raising eyebrows and Hana's wiggling butt come to mind.
Yet, after all of this mature-rated goodness, the best part of the game are the great characters and plot. The story stars
What did you do in the time between working with Naughty Dog and leaving Sega? What were some of the games and projects you were a part of?
1 made Fooigan Bros. at Visual Concepts. | joined the team because | was attracted to Al characters. | always want to develop new character games with new creative tools.
How did you get involved with Naughty Dog?
When | played Jak and Daxter and ICO, | was excited that these were the first of a new generation of character games. You couldn't see graphics that good on a $200,000 work- station 10 years ago. | was looking for a new challenge and | mentioned to Mark Cerny that | was interested in Naughty Dog. He introduced me to them.
How has working with them been different from your experi- ences at other companies?
Everybody at Naughty Dog is very motivated to make good £ames. The most important thing in creating a good title is that everybody has the ability to participate in the creative process. Creating a game is a matter of teamwork and not a job that can be left in someone's sole possession. Everybody should be able to express their own ideas, environmentally and ability-wise. In fact, there are few companies comprised entirely of game fans. I've seen people who work for game companies as а job and not a calling. | don't like seeing that.
Is there a big difference between working on a game in Japan and working on one in the U.S.?
Naughty Dog reminds me of the early Sega days when | made the Sonic games. Everybody works late at night and on weekends – fortunately or unfortunately!
What are your primary duties on Jak 11? What skills do you think that you bring to the table that makes this game dif- ferent or better than the first?
| design game stages and make blueprints for game mechan- ics. Jak Il is not a direct sequel of [Jak and
Daxter]. Rather, it is a totally different game. From the technological side, we developed a superior game engine. This made it possible to create moviedike game mechanics. | really like that ability. | can now create к game mechanics and unique as ideas that have been impos- (277 sible until now. | think that my G contributions to Jak II will add a new twist to Naughty Dog games. | would like to think that people will get more interested in Jak Il because | am on its creative team.
two busty babes battling beasts from beyond perdition (say that three times fast). There are also two guys named Glas and Deke, but they're not on the cover for a reason. If you take а minute to look beyond the cleavage of Hana and Rain, you'll dis- cover they actually have personalities. Hana is a gun-waving bad ass, while Rain is the mature one who is a wiz with computers. With the help of Glas and Deke, they battle their way through a trap set by evil forces and find a cure for a plague while they're at it.
GAMEINFORMER 115
HIROKAZU YASUHARA’S GREATEST HITS
Mr. Yasuhara has amassed an unparalleled track record in the world of character action games. As you can see, the Sega Genesis might not have been the successful system that it was without his contribu- tions. Today, Yasuhara continues to innovate in the genre
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Genesis 1991
The revolutionary platformer propelled Sega's Genesis to the top of the console heirarchy - beating the mighty Nintendo.
as part of the Naughty Dog team, working on the company's
high-profile sequel, Jak II for PlayStation 2.
RINGS. 18
"Y ytd A ey ғ SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 SONIC & KNUCKLES Genesis 1992 Genesis 1993 Genesis 1994 This game coined “blast processing.” It also introduced Sonic's Sonic 3 didn't hold any new innovations, but perfected Knuckles gets co-billing and is a playable character. Also sidekick, Tails, and offered simultaneous two-player platforming. the original trilogy with typical Sega craftsmanship. allowed you to unlock secrets with your old Sonic games.
-— 7
T | » - SONIC 3D BLAST SONIC R FLOIGAN BROS. Saturn, Genesis 1996 Saturn 1997 Dreamcast 2001 The first attempt at a 3D Sonic, and not a very good one. Sonic meets Mario Kart in this decent, but unmemorable Saturn Yasuhara worked with Visual Concepts to create Developed by Traveller's Tales with Yasuhara's help. title. Yasuhara's second collaboration with Traveller's Tales. this oddly lovable Dreamcast curio.
THIS MONTH IN GAMING HISTORY
| On July 5th, 1985, at Johnny Zee's Family Fun Center in Victoria, British two days. It was certainly memorable, as players forewent sleeping, eating, Columbia, one of the most insane events ever held in the world of video and even bathroom duties to attempt to best their opponents. Some passed games took place: The Iron Man Contest. Organized by video game out at their machines; Pac-Man champion Billy Mitchell dragged a Centipede record keeper and referee extraordinaire Walter Day of Twin Galaxies unit into the bathroom so as to not interrupt his game; but finally, 18-year-old (www.twingalaxies.com), the event challenged many of gaming's top arcade James Vollandt racked up a superhuman 67.25 hours of Joust — talking only players to test their will in a marathon gaming session that lasted well over four twenty-minute breaks (one of which was due to a machine malfunction).
116 GAMEINFORMER
RETRO RATING
8.25
ARCADE
RAMPAGE
EXPERIMENTAL VITAMIN HAS ILL errecrs.
rar ars
D lot of cookie-cutter arcade games. It had three joysticks, each letting players control a different mutated behemoth: George the ape, Ralph the wolf, and Lizzie the lizard. Cities crumble at their feet as you scale buildings and bash foundations in Cincinnati, Chicago, and New York. The military steps in - dispatching soldiers, tanks, and helicopters to prevent the onslaught; but they are easily crushed, too. If you feel so inclined, you can snack on foot soldiers or regular citizens. If the powers-that-be get the best of your critter, it transforms back to its original naked-human self and slinks embarrassingly off the screen. While Rampage doesn't have a load of depth, it’s still a vastly entertaining game. The cities are well done and the carnage looks great. Over the years, Midway has tried to recreate the success of the original, but nothing compares to the first Rampage.
CASTLEVANIA
n the spirit of most classic series from the Sit and 16bit days, Castlevania got its own
attempt at 3D. Мо, we don't mean Lament of Innocence - the PS2 title shown at this year's
ЕЗ. We're talking about the N64 game that tried to use the technology of a 64-bit cartridge to make freeroaming skeleton-slashing a reality. It succeeded in this, but little else. The subweapons, power-ups, and gothic monsters are here; but so is a terrible camera, a lack of a map, and some of the foggiest textures this side of San Francisco. Two playable characters can be selected, but neither one is actually named Belmont. Time-ofday-changing items are a cool idea, but there aren't nearly as many things to collect as in the epic and legendary 2D PSone game, Symphony of the Night. In fact, nothing here matches the brilliant Symphony game, which earned fame for Igarashi, its producer. An updated semi-seque! on N64 called Legacy of Darkness released less than a year later, fixing some of the problems but still not doing enough to be very successful.
Ш STYLE 1 ТО 3-PLAYER ACTION I PUBLISHER BALLY MIDWAY Ш DEVELOPER BALLY MIDWAY m YEAR RELEASED 1986
TRACK & FIELD
as they were when first released. Track & Field for NES proves its staying power
with a host of simplistic, yet exciting and invigorating, events such as Skeet Shooting, Archery, 100-Yard Dash, Long Jump, and the Javelin Throw. Although each of the games require timed presses, button mashing, or a combination of both; you never seem to grow tired of trying to top the world record. Ironically, the event that requires the most skill (High Jump) is the most poorly implemented. We didn't understand how to perform the High Jump back in the day, and we don't get it now. Besides the graphics and sound, only Track & Field's lack of a simulation mode seriously hurts its overall quality. Nevertheless, its faults are easily overlooked, especially if you remember playing the first benchmark in Olympic gaming and loving it.
V ery few old-school games are inherently enjoyable enough to remain nearly as fun
W STYLE 1 -РІДҮЕВ ACTION/ADVENTURE Ш PUBLISHER KONAMI Ш DEVELOPER KONAMI W YEAR RELEASED 1999
Га Sarum ғ
400...
i “с,
really hasn't evolved itself beyond Track & Field – despite the nine-year gap. The
High Jump, Discus Throw, and 1500-Meter Race events take a new approach, and thereby add an element of variety, but they still don't compensate for this title’s lack of innovation. Furthermore, Decathlete is missing a couple of notable games such as Skeet Shooting and Archery. Without these timing events, we actually enjoyed our time with Decathlete less than Track & Field! We commend Sega's attempt at adding simulation elements, which you would expect to increase the game's depth. However, Arcade simply breaks events up into two days, and Decathlon mode merely forces you to play through every game in а specific order. The only notable improvements Decathlete makes over Track & Field is the ability to select characters with different attributes and graphics.
A Decathlete offers more events and a few unique controller techniques, it
W STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER SPORTS i PUBLISHER KONAMI Ш DEVELOPER KONAMI Ш YEAR RELEASED 1987
m STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER SPORTS i PUBLISHER SEGA Ш DEVELOPER AM3 Ш YEAR RELEASED 1996
GAMEINFORMER 117
From Geek to Chic
JINVENTOR'S GUIDEBO
Cava Games, ROAM Everything e и
The Insider's Guide to Breaking In
and Succeeding
in the Computer and
Video Game Business
ENTERTRINMENT
Trigger
118 GAMEINFORMER
Manufacturer: McGraw Hill/ Osborne Media
Website: osborne.com
List Price: $24.99 (hardcover)
Dungeons & Dreamers (by Brad King and John Borland) aptly explains how today's landscape of massively multiplayer online gaming really started with paper games like Dungeons & Dragons. Lord British, MIT, and id Software all make their requisite cameos in this study of computer entertainment's evolution.
Manufacturer: Krause Publications Website: krausebooks.com List Price: $14.99 (trade paperback)
We really do get all of your mail asking about how to make a game. Responses would be long enough to justify a book. Luckily, Brian Tinsman has written all of the steps down in The Game Inventor's Guidebook: How to Invent and Sell Board Games, Card Games, Role-Playing Games, and Everything in Between. The title speaks for itself.
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press Website: stmartins.com > List Price: $14.95 (trade paperback)
Alan Gershenfeld (former senior vice president of Activision, Mark Loparco (former senior producer at Disney Interactive), and Cecilia Barajas (senior director for Civilization: Call to. Power) joined forces to write a tome on getting into, understanding, and surviving in the video game industry.
Manufacturer: Arcade Publishing Website: arcadepub.com List Price: $25.95 (hardcover)
Everyone wants to sound smart, right? Stephen Pool's Trigger Happy uses tradition- ally heralded forms of *art" to argue that video games are a valid and inspired example of culture. Study up for your next debate with someone claiming that games are a waste of time.
Manufacturer: XGaming » Website: xgaming.com List Price: $149.95 (X-Arcade), $99.95 (X-Arcade Solo),$19.95-$29.95 (console adapters)
Are you sick of buying a new arcade fighting stick every time a new con- Sole comes out? Fear not, because XGaming has released the X-Arcade and XArcade Solo! Built to withstand even the roughest Bamer's button mashing; you'll be able to use these with your PC/Mac (MAME, here we come!) Dreamcast, PSone, PS2, GameCube, and Xbox with optional adapters. Each unit comes with one console adapter of your choosing. The X-Arcade is built from arcade-quality parts and has a lifetime warranty, so your little brother can jump on it all he wants after you kick his butt in Soul Calibur.
Manufacturer: Play Along Toys » Website: playalongtoys.com List Price: $6.99 (single pack w/beast), $9.99 (3-packs), $16.99 (figures w/accessories), $29.99 Playsets, $49.99 (Helm's Deep)
Rule them all. Collect them all. The sole purpose of this exciting new toy line is to allow Lord of the Rings fans to assemble epic-sized armies of their very own. The bloody battle of Helm's Deep, the terrifying chase of Khazad-düm, and four additional environments are already in the works. Releasing this summer and continuing throughout the remainder of the year, Play Along Toys has created over 60 figures for these familiar scenes. Almost every famous face has been recreated with the high- est level of authenticity and fit into the line's threeinch scale. The list of upcoming products is very impressive, and includes such standouts as Saruman in his chamber, Gandalf on Shadowfax, Shelob in Cirith Ungol Pass, Treebeard invading Isengard, and Mount Doom. To ensure that people assemble large armies, Play Along Toys is issu- ing three packs of orcs, Urukhai, Riders of Rohan, and Gondorian soldiers. The prices are fairly reason- able, but rest assured, it will cost you а pretty penny to build an army of 10,000 strong.
Manufacturer: Toycom > Website: toycom.net > List Price: $12.99
The first series of WarCraft figures are available as of June this year. This initial batch features Prince Arthas, Shandris Feathermoon, a Night Elf Archer, and Dreadlord Tichondrius. The second series (due in the early fall) has Medivh, Grom 4 | Hellscream, and a Dwarven Rifleman. Each figure comes with that character’s accessories. á
| ЈЕ 4 | | > Manufacturer: SOTA Toys Website: sotatoys.com | » List Price: $59.99 (bust), $99.99 (statue)
This August, a lucky 2,000 people can get their hands on Lara Croft - at
least a statue or bust based on scans of actress Angelina Jolie. The bust stands at 8" and the statue is a full 13" tall.
Manufacturer: SOTA Toys Website: sotatoys.com » List Price: $39.99 (set of three figures)
Lara, Lara in wetsuit, and a Shadow Guardian are each included in this set taken from the forthcom- ing summer flick. The dual Laras feature more than 20 points of articulation and an extra set of bare arms, for when it's hot outside and Lara wants to go sleeveless.
Manufacturer: Toycom » Website: toycom.net List Price: $12.99
Diablo Series 1 includes the Necromancer, Corrupt Rogue, ; and Baal's Minion of Destruction. Each figure sports as | many as 17 points of articulation and stands between 6” and 7.25” tall. Look for them in the fall.
( Т Fi Manufacturer: Toycom Early this fall, your favorite specialty toy outlet will receive the first series of StarCraft figures. The collection includes Firebat, Hydralisk, and Tassadar (the Protoss High Priest). Each stands around 7” and has between nine and 14 movable joints.
Website: toycom.net List Price: $12.99
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 | © 724 North First Street, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Foreign or Canadian orders must be prepaid in U.S. dollars and |
| 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 St their respective companies. Entire contents copyright 2003. Game Informer Magazine ®, All rights reserved; reproduction
| inquiries Tol Free (866) 844-4269, Periodicals postage paid at Minneapolis, MN, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIBERS/POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Game Informer Magazine 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 in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer® is a trademark of GameStop. Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of thelr respective companies.
GAMEINFORMER 119
Mild Violence coan Aaen EY ESRB
® & © 2003 Paramount Pictures. All ri are either registered trademarks or tr.
*
| ж A PlayStation.2
| GAMECUBE. | XG OX
ghts reserved. Climax and the Climax logo are trademarks of Climax Group. Eidos Interactive and the Eidos Interactive logo are NM. ademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. TM, ® and Nintendo
the wheel of a souped-up MINI Cooper? Tear through subway stations; rip apart golf courses, and plow through Storm drains‘as you pull off the ultimate gold heist.
“TAUANGO
el
- 22 ; A high-octane arcade racer based Race through L.A. Master 4 modes from death-defying Bonus features including movie on the.2003 blockbuster movie. driving 10 different vehicles. stunt driving to multiplayer madness. footage, concept art, and more!
CLMoax ж“ El DOS ItalianJobGame.com IN STORES NOW!
trademarks of Eidos Interactive, Іпс, PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logos GameCube logo are trademarks геге; ©2001 Nintendo. Тһе ratings icon is a registered trademark о? the Interactive Digital Software Association. All rights reserved ,
VA
Change the spaceship Explore ã dynamically Experience fast actipff? 2-2 Baséd on the popular layout to achieve changing 3-D galattic ship & reflex intense 2/7 ^ Dino Crisis franchise objectives f battles ” >
at 4 1»
TIMBRADYGAMES ) Strategy Guid B ХРА? CAPCOM
LTD. 2003 €CAPCOM U.S.A., INC. 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED f CAPCOM CO., LTD. DINO CRISIS is a trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. Mi ft, Xbox and t! logos are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and; countries and are used under license from Microsoft. The registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association.
Made with) love’ by,
Our goal is to preserve elassie video game magazines So that they are not lost/permanently:
People Interested in helping outiinjany capacity; please visit us at retromags.com:
No profit is made from) these scans nor do we offer anything available from the publishers themselves:
Ifyou come across anyone selling releases from this Site please do not support them апа do let Us know:
Thank you!