EXCLUSIVE MOVIE INFO:

É СТРУ DREAM MACHINES: 5 PCS TO DIE FOR =)

MAX PAYNE 2

THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE

AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT ROCKSTAR'S TRAGIC TALE OF LOVE AND BETRAYAL

PRINCE OF PERSIA d We Explore Б The Sands Of Time

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„DIVIDED BY WAR. & X an epic and tumultuous story, where half your battle will be

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One of 3 forms you can instantly morph into. When enemies are breathing down your neck, use melee to:

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Span the Globe, Defend Freedom!

e Includes incredible single-player missions

e Introduces the official CS Bot for online and offline play

e Contains everything you need to play the world's #1 online action game

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©2003 Valve, L.L.C. All rights reserved. Valve, the Valve logo, Counter-Strike, the Counter-Strike logo

the U.S and/or other countries. Vivendi Games and the Viv 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.

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Look hard enough and you'll see MEMORIES of legends past CHALLENGING you to become a legend of the future.

Fully-loaded, two-fisted, double barrel action.

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Unique hub system allows you to choose just the right Hunter and weapon to finish the job.

Some of your most powerful weapons are not forged with steel.

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COVER STORY 34 MAX PAYNE 2: THE

FALL OF MAX PAYNE FEATURE Rockstar's latest entry into the Max Payne saga has been long awaited THE PRINCE OF PERSIA: by many gamers out there. What does it have up its sleeve for this THE SAN DS OF TIME

installment? How about a love story? Weren't expecting that, were you?

Spending time in Ubi Soft's Montreal studio, we learned a lot about the philosophy of The Sands of Time. Check out what's in store for

the Prince come November.

FEATURE BEHIND THE NET

Nearly everyone (save for one obviously missing regular) is putting out their NHL-inspired titles. We offer some early insights, while waiting breathlessly for their actual release.

FEATURE DREAM MACHINES

Everyone wants a sexy new computer. But what to buy? In our lineup of some of the world's most advanced PCs, there should be

something that tickles your fancy.

FEATURE SPY HUNTER:

THE MOVIE

The Rock? Hunting spies? The producers of an upcoming Spy Hunter flick spill the beans on some of their devious plans.

12 GAME INFORMER

FIERCE LETHAL

Coming UJinter 2003

logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Champions of Norrath and Realms of EverQuest are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE and the SOE logo

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EDITOR'S FORUM We're known for the poignant insights held within this lauded forum. Okay, maybe not so much, but check it out for the hidden gems.

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

DEAR СІ Either we're attracting a different crowd, or the world has grown increasingly more insightful in recent months. Well, the world except for that Care Bears guy. He still has us rolling.

NEWS Hitting all the bases in the opening spread alone: Robotech and snuff films for hire. A big-time game reports not-so-surprising delays. This and more industry scuttlebutt await.

PREVIEWS Is it just us, or do games keep getting better and better? This issue is so packed with titles we're lusting after, that it's amazing that we can get anything done. ‘Tis a good time to be a gamer.

14 GAME INFORMER

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REVIEWS ETC With bad summer movies come some bad Everyone knows that their societal worth summer games. Likewise, we had to choose is based on the stuff that they have. To between sweltering heat and some fill that need, and increase the value of

our readers, we offer a few distinc-

tive home accents

and equipment upgrades.

big stinkers this month. But, on the plus side, there were a couple of games that made us happy, happy campers. See who falls where.

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’ Тор 10 Games.

SECRET ACCCESS Sometimes, people get stuck in a game. Other times, they want to make a favorite player have a bobblehead-like noggin’. Either way, we can help you out.

82

CLASSIC GI Kirby, the beloved pink blob of...something, is having a resurgence with Kirby's Air Ride, which is previewed in this issue. Therefore, it seems fitting to honor Kirby's past with a retrospective. And, as expected, we get our hands on some older titles to reexamine our feelings on them - GI style.

GAME INDEX

GAME

1080°; Avalanche .... "n AirForce Delta Strike 101 Alter Echo (PS2) . . 107 Alter Echo (Xbox) 114 Altered Beast . .99 Axle Rage . .99 Backyard Wrestling:

Don't Try This At Home . .

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. Battlefield 1942:

Secret Weapons of WW II . . Battlefield Vietnam . . Big Mutha Truckers . Black & White 2. Bombastic ,.. Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

Chaos Bleeds (Р52)............... 108 Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

Chaos Bleeds (Xbox) .............. 118 Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

Wrath of the Darkhul King Charlie's Angels Chessmaster . .

Contract JACK Demikids Dark/Light Dino Crisis 3 . Dinosaur Hunting . Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Dot Hack Vol 3: Outbreak . Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna . ESPN NFL Football (PS2) . ESPN NFL Football (Xbox) . FZero бХ.............

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 124 Futurama 109 Giftpia 100

Gladiator: Sword of Vengance . Go! Go! Hypergrind! ... Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde Great Escape, The (PS2) . .. Great Escape, The (Xbox) . Grooverider: Slot Car Thunder . Group S Challenge .. Halo Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Hot Shots Golf Online ......... Hunter the Reckoning - Wayward . Jet Grind Radio .. Kiler? .... Kirby's Air Ride Kya: Dark Lineage Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, The . Madden NFL 2004 (GC) .. Madden NFL 2004 (PS2) . Madden NFL 2004 (Xbox) . . Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color . Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour .. . Monster 4x4: Masters of Metal Need for Speed Underground . NFL Blitz Pro ..., NFL Fever 2004 NFL GameDay 2004 . NFL Street .... Ninja Gaiden Outlaw Volleyball. Outrun2 ... PacMan ... Pirates of the Caribbean . Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (GBA) 126 Pitfall Harry . RN. 03 .:.. Pro Cast Fishing . . Project Gotham Racing 2 .. Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown Rock ‘п Roll Racing . Rogue Орв...... Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII Shining Soul Sims 2, The .. Sims: Bustin’ Out, Тһе . Sims: Makin’ Magic, Тһе .. Space Channel 5: Ulala's Cosmic Attack Splashdown 2: Rides Gone Wild . Star Wars: Jedi Academy ..

Stuntman .. .125 Syphon Filter: 88 Transformers Armada:

Prelude to Energon ina Unreal Tournament 2004 .101 Viewtiful Joe .. 76 Voodoo Vince . . 96

Warcraft: The Frozen Throne Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior

Whiplash ... Xenosaga Episode Il: Jenseits von Gut und Вове........... 68

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MAGAZINE MADNESS

ANDY McNAMARA andy@gameinformer.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Another issue bites the dust, and the world of Game Informer continues to change. Last month we lost Chet; this month we say goodbye to Kristian. Is it me that stinks? | always thought that funny smell was coming from Reiner; but with the way we are turning over editors lately, maybe it’s me.

Either way, we wish them luck in their future endeavors. The good news is that we have a new pup in the office, Jeremy. Make sure you torture him over the coming months, as we will be sure to. But the thing is, he only fills one of the two spots on the team. So, if you can actually write a complete sentence (there’s probably like...maybe...one of you out there?), love PC games (and console games, too), then let me know. And yes, you must be over 18 and move to or live in the Minneapolis area.

You may find this hard to believe, but there are even more changes in store. Did you know that gameinformer.com is get- ting a much-needed face-lift September 1st? How would daily news, a review archive, codes, forums, and a whole host of other Game Informer goodness grab ya? That’s what | thought. So, tell your friends - and even your enemies. Game Informer goes online on September 1st.

Or at least that’s when we think it’s going to happen.

Enjoy the issue.

16 GAMEINFORMER

REINER | reiner@gameinformer.com

As of late, I've been using my Xbox quite a bit more than my PlayStation 2 and GameCube. А number of factors can be attributed to my playing preference. For starters, | recently invested in a high-end HDTV. As you probably know, the Xbox is the only system that truly takes advantage of 16:9 widescreen support and high-definition capabilities. Secondly, | love what Microsoft is doing with Xbox Live. Having downloadable content, like extra maps for Return to Castle Wolfenstein, gives players a reason to come back for more. The Xbox is also home to this summer's blockbuster, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. All told, | can't turn my machine off.

MATT | matt@gameinformer.com

God love the crazy sports fans on this staff, but | can't help but wonder if the hardcore sports sims aren't dangerously close to disappearing up their own butts. | mean, the franchise modes are getting so complex | might have to go back to school for my MBA before | can play the new Madden. Call me crazy, but Tecmo Bowl for NES is still my favorite football game of all time. That's one reason why I'm really excited for NFL Street. In other (sadder) news, it's been tough to see Kristian move on, and | will miss him tremendously. Lucky for us, we managed to pick up Jeremy, who should be an excellent addition to the staff.

KRISTIAN | kristian@gameinformer.com

GAMEINFORMER

SEPTEMBER 2003 Volume XIII * Number 9 * Issue 125

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 Lisa Mason Jeremy 2055 Contributing Writers Billy Berghammer Chet Barber Mascot Arthur

PRODUCTION

Well cowpokes, the time has come for yours truly to ride off into the proverbial sunset. I've had a truly remarkable experience here at Game Informer, and will probably miss the opportunity to write for all of you good folks most of all. Sure, I'll miss the Christmas parties where certain unnamed circulation personnel drop their pants for no apparent reason; but after three years, I'll probably miss the office's fantastic Internet connection the most. | kid. As for what might be next for me, who knows? What matters for now is that it has been a privilege to create for you month in and month out. | hope you've enjoyed reading my stuff as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Smell you later.

JUSTIN | justin@gameinformer.com

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

ADVERTISING SALES

Moms get a bum rap in video games. Look at Metroid. How many times has Samus gone after MOTHER Brain? What about shooters which require you to take out the MOTHER ship? These women carried us for nine months, and this is how we repay them? The only games paying homage to mothers are Pokémon titles and Animal Crossing, There, Mom often sends her love and some handy care packages. Of course, she lets her preteen kid go into the cruel world and play with monsters, but that's beside the point. But seriously, | want to bid farewell to Kristian. He was the man for his time and place. Never before has someone made me laugh so hard. His pop culture knowledge is second to none. |'! miss you, Кто.

КАТО | kato@gameinformer.com

That's two editors down in the last two issues! It seems like there's stuff in the fridge that's got more tenure than some of us here in the office. It's too bad we've got to say goodbye to these friends, but you can be rest assured that the quality of this magazine won't slip an inch. Why just the other day, | was telling our new guy Jeremy that the key to keeping this ship running smooth was making sure | have a constant stock of cold Coke to greet me in the morning. Let's see how 5004 a listener he is — the future of the magazine depends оп it. Please feel free to do your part in welcoming him into the fold with all of your console conspiracy theories, prison-sent letters, and bizarro-best artwork.

LISA | lisa@gameinformer.com

My GBA has been getting a lot more play in the last few months — but I've also been looking at some of the other handhelds coming in the next few months (or next year for the PSP), and it makes me worry for my favorite gaming-onthe-go platform. Tapwave's Zodiac, Sony's PSP, and even the Nokia N-Gage have some advantages over the GBA. | just feel badly that Nintendo hasn't. pushed the hardware for their pocket baby as far as it could have, and now it's in a catch-up position behind Sony with regards to hardware. Rolling the dice against the big S hasn't worked ‘well for Nintendo in the past. And Kristian, that dude cracked me up like few others in this universe and | have great respect for him.

JEREMY | jeremy@gameinformer.com

Since I'm the new guy, | feel like | should stand up at the head of the classroom and introduce myself. I'm Jeremy, I'm from Minneapolis, and I'm a Sagittarius. | like long walks in the park, poetry, unicorns. .. wait, no | don't. | like video games and have since the glory days of Atari. When | was a kid, | wrote my parents a list of 200 reasons that they should buy me and my brothers а Super Nintendo for Christmas. Two hundred! Reason number one was "multiple scrolling." With something so horrifically dorky in my past, | guess it was fate that | grow up to write for a video game magazine. So I'd like to thank Andy, Reiner, Matt, and everyone else here at GI for the chance to do just that. | promise l'Il be. good. So, can | sit down now?

NEXT ISSUE

Okay, there’s this company that makes really, really good RPGs. And like, it made an RPG, for a console that starts with X, that is really, really popular. Next month, Game Informer has the world-exclusive look at its next game that is a totally new and

original title. Which - if you knew who the developer was and what system it was for - you might have a good idea of what we're talking about, but you don't. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along.

MINNEAPOLIS Rob Borm Director of Marketing and Midwest/East Coast Sales Manager (612) 4866155 Fax: (612) 4866101 rob@gameinformer.com

Amy Arnold Advertising Coordinator (612) 4866154 Fax: (612) 4866101 amyGgameinformer.com

SAN FRANCISCO Doug Faust Vice President Advertising Sales (650) 728.5647 Fax: (650) 7285648 doug@gameinformer.com

LOS ANGELES Marc Minasian Southwest Regional Sales Manager (310) 4593556 Fax: (310) 4593626 maro@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) 4866104 paul@gameinformer.com

Information Systems Manager Paul Hedgpeth paulhedgpeth@gameinformer.com

Manufactured and printed in the United States of America The Editor weloomes company product information for all video games. Such materials should be addressed to: Editor, Game Informer Magazine, 724 North First St., 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned or acknowledged. Entire contents copyright 2003. Game Informer& Magazine. АП rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer is a trademark of GameStop, Inc. Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies. PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is limited to republication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. INDEMNIFICATION The advertiser and/or Advertising Agency agrees to defend and indemnify the publisher against any and all liability, loss, or expense arising from claims of libel, unfair competition, unfair trade practices, infringement of trademarks, copyrights, trade names, patents, or proprietary rights or violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's

Statement.

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

THINK YOU KNOW NFL. BLITZ ? THINK AGAIN...

IT'S TIME ТО 60 PRO WITH THE NEW NFL BLITZ PRU. FÜR 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. 1 4 = NEW 11-0М-11 AUTHENTIC NFL ACTION € Æ = NEW TOURNAMENT-STYLE ONLINE PLAY* SY = NEW BLITZ STYLE RUNNING GAME Г Se 24

= NEW INTERACTIVE SIDELINES = NEW FRANCHISE MODE = ALL-NEW A.l.

“ші the’ A Unline t or off, the р аге great. This is ajsweet ‘looking game Competing! with or surpassing a lot/of the titles on the market.” - IGN

1

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

%: ofthe Minnesota Business Journal's 25 Women

18 | GAME INFORMER

CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE SEAMY UNDERBELLY OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

1 At Camp EA in Redwood City, the Ravens’

Ray Lewis shows off for the crowd. Let's hope nobody made him mad! 2 Ubi Soft Montreal's Yannis Mallat casts a steely gaze at the GI Spy camera...how eerie...it's almost as if he's star- ing right into our souls. We hope he doesn't know about how we wet the bed until we were 17 or that time we felt funny when our Aunt Joyce hugged

us! That would totally ruin our cool “rep” in the industry. 3 GI Spy stops by to congratulate our publisher, Cathy Preston, on being selected as one 825

to Watch. Hopefully, we'll watch her give us all

raises - or at least not fire us for incompetence!

4 Nintendo product development lead, Chris "Grit"

Campbell, gives the crowd a demonstration on this

sweet F-Zero arcade cabinet at a recent Nintendo

event. 5 The Sammy Studios gang: a great bunch

of developers, and an even better basketball team! Қ 6 Visual Concept's Asif Chaudhri, Anthony Chau,

and Ben Bishop search for the Game Informer

offices. Pssst...it's right behind you! 7 Gl's new

web slave...er...editor...Chris Cook (seen here

after downing two bottles of Cristal) attacks the À > / / pins at our exclusive bowling party, held at the Bryant Lake Bowl's VIP Champagne Room.

CONTROL. eme \ EITRERYOUGOTIT — | ma E OR YOU DON'T.

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With pressure-sensitive controls, you can do it all. Stop on a dime or turn on the jets. Juke lightly or fake a defender out of his pants. Drop the hammer or hit like a water boy. Play on your own or see what you're made of online. So, what's it going to be? Also available on PlayStation®

4 PlayStation. К Я = МАЕ

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment пс. ©2003 NFL Properties LLC. Team names and. are trademarks of the teams indicated. All other (NFL-related marks) are trademarks of the National Football League.

Officially licensed product of PLAYERS INC. The PLAYERS INC. logo is a registered trademark of the NFL players. www.nflplayers.com. ©2003 PLAYERS INC. Designed and devel by Red Zone Interactive and 989 Sports development team. 989 Sports and the 989

ҚҚА 1000 dela ет Hort gd ‘of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. ©2003 Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Online icon is a trademark of Sony Computer птеп! America Inc. Online play requires Internet connection and Network Adaptor PlayStat separately).

EVERYONE

NicroTek Scanllizard 5 Error Пеззаде [x]

Scanner something error happens.

For all of our Engrish needs, Game Informer goes directly to engrish.com. The site offers this handy and succinct definition, “Engrish can be defined as humor- ous English mistakes that appear in Japanese advertising and product design. While Engrish can be found all over the world, the most frequent and most humorous examples are from Japan.” Further elaboration on the cause of Engrish is also offered. “English is used as a design element in Japanese products and advertising to give them a modern look and feel. There is often no attempt to try to get it neither right, nor does the vast majority of the Japanese population (i.e. consum- ers) ever attempt to read the English design element in question. There is therefore less emphasis on spell-check- ing and grammatical accuracy. (The same can be said for the addition of Japanese or Chinese characters to hats, shirts and tattoos found in the US or Europe).”

Examples? How about the “All your base are belong to us" phenomenon of a few summers back? Also, the suc- cessful completion of the NES title Ghosts ‘п Goblins rewards you with a screen proclaiming, "Congraturation. This story is happy end. Thank you." This, of course, is an example of just plain poor spelling and translation. We're hoping that the GOO.N line of infant diapers is one of those "graphic design" decisions and not a reflection of some parents' intentions for their children.

EXPERIMENT RESULTS: SUCCESS

Let me comment on your fine magazine: When you guys have your act together, you produce one of the best video game mags out there. In your latest issue, | was blown away by the E3 coverage. It was clear that you put a lot of work into that feature, and | appreciate the commitment. Blackjac Via email

SETTLE

Dear Gl,

Why are you guys so hard on games? Can't a game just be fun anymore? You act like every single title that comes out is supposed to be an Academy Award winner. It is pos- Sible for a game to be fun without super in-depth menus, weapons systems, controls, etc. | think we should all try to remember what these things are...games.

John Doughnut Via yahoo.com

Hey Game Informer! | just wanted to let you know that | both loved and hated your E3 coverage. Loving it because it

| just have to say that your magazine totally kicks! But any- way, | am very curious to know why you have been giving out really high scores? It all started when you gave a perfect 10 to Metal Gear Solid 2. Then came a 9.75 for Super Mario Sunshine. After that, there were pairs of perfect 10s (right CASTING COUCH after each other) to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Metroid Am | th 5 Fusion. Then again, you scored two games with 9.755: SimCity 4 and Xenosaga Episode 1. And finally, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker — you gave a perfect 10 to that. | think the staff (no offense) should be harder on the games. None of those titles are perfect or even close! Get your head straight, GI!

>>>

Samus Aran in the have problem

Colin Kennedy Santa Barbara, CA E Yai At Game Informer, we score games based on a number Via yaho of criteria: concept, graphics, sound, playability, entertain- ment, and replay value. The plight of most critics is to balance personal feelings with the responsibility of recom- mending products to the public. No matter how much fun some members of the staff have with Resident Evil games, for example, it can't be left out of the review that the franchise's control scheme leaves many gamers looking for more accuracy. Besides scoring how much fun we had with a game (a highly personal and objective marker), we are responsible for pointing out a title's technical successes and failures.

Oh woe, how bittersweet are Hollywood's adaptations of video game classics. We are still running that online petition to get Meryl Streep in as Princess Toadstool - in our opinion, there's no actress alive today that can capture the complex subtleties of our favorite damsel. Well, maybe Susan Sarandon, but she really peaked with Stepmom and may not be up to the task. In her corset- clad heyday of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, perhaps, but not now.

We're also gunning for Marilyn Manson as Psycho

Games are fun, and the whole point of playing them is to enjoy oneself - so if you're having fun, does it really matter what score we gave the title? On the flip side, we're here in an attempt to guide your $50 to the right place.

Mantis and Bob Hoskins for Mario Mario — oh wait, that last abomination already happened. At least Ben Affleck isn’t massacring the nobility of superheroes...crap! That happened, too!

showed me what the event is truly like and offered more information than any other feature | read on the topic. Hating it because I'm only 15, live in Ohio, and am not in the industry — so | can't go!

With appreciative admiration and simultaneously wish- ing damnation,

Scott Via aol.com

Our coverage of E3 2003 was a bit of an experiment this year and, judging from your letters, it worked per- fectly. The primary goal wasn’t to determine who had the best show, but to make it more clear what the event is truly like.

CUSTOMIZE

What are “mods?” | hear people talking about modding games, but | have no idea what they're talking about. Even in your magazine, you talked about Bungie helping people mod the PC version of Halo. But, what does it all mean? Kyle Herz-Lane Via email

“Моа” is just shorthand for “modification.” In the world of video games, this usually refers to creating new levels, characters, or weapons for an existing game. Counter- Strike, for instance, was a mod of Half-Life that included new objectives, environments, weapons, characters, and sounds - essentially an entirely new game.

Communities surrounding multiplayer-centric games like Tribes, Half-Life, and Doom are generally the most active, and aficionados of those types of titles enjoy the ability to expand on their favorite games. The more it can be mod- ded, the longer shelf life it seems to have, and this is a major distinction between PC and console games.

SEQUELS GONE SOUTH

| want to get a game-related tattoo, but | don’t know if | should. My family and friends are telling me it’s a bad Idea, but what do they know? Do you think | should do it?

Gracie

| JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SCRIPT

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

20 = GAMEINFORMER

{ EXHILARATE YOUR SENSES in 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.

i | YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ACTION LIKE THIS. {==

demolish robots, machines, mega weapons and | transforming enemies with your bare hands

| master stylish moves and powerful attacks for enhanced choreographed gameplay

ge mar

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© 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. РМ.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.

ENVELOPE АКТ

Just ask all of those people who have Dante permanently SEPTEMBER WINNER! inked on their heinies what they think about jumping the ry gun on tattoo selection. Point made? But, we’re out to help those in need. First, here’s are

disclaimer: “Game Informer does not endorse or encourage i J That said, here are a few gaming-related ideas we came up with:

permanently emblazoning any symbol, character, or witty word puzzle on your person. Any sanctioning (implied or stated) is merely intended to be good humor, and not a suggestion to let Vinny down the block repeatedly prick LT d Д you with a pin with the intention of acquiring indelible 1 4 3 - * Zelda's triforce € 2,

* The Konami code 5 * Any Space Invaders character, blown up to show off its pixilated glory * Dr. Mario pills and germs

body art or modification." * Laura Croft's braid or Kid Icarus' wings on your back

Andrew Cole PRECIOUS METALS We don't think Link is there to reserve Brute Force!

| am just wondering, what does it mean when a game has “gone gold?"

Nick Via hotmail.com

p горе Nye! RU wares Pt N D 947: D

(лумым! Эму) СШ.

All games go through a series of code tweaks and bug fixes before they are wrapped in a clamshell case, shrink wrapped, and trucked off to your local gaming emporium. Once a company has decided that the title is ready to ship, it is deemed that it has "gone gold." This means that the version on the "gold disc" sent to the pressing factory and video game review outlets is the final version that will appear in stores.

GUILELESSLY

Hey guys. | owe you a big fat apology! I've been subscrib- ing to and reading your magazine for years — and the whole time, I've been knocking your 2D, old-school reviews. I've called you geeks, dorks, dweebs, and a whole string of unprintable four-letter “nicknames,” but now I'm a convert.

I've always been a geek, but I'm an old-school geek now, too. | always said, “Who would play an old, 2D game in the 3D era?” | laughed at your Castlevania: Circle of the Moon review. | was appalled at you giving Metroid Fusion a higher score than Metroid Prime. The list goes on and on.

Anyway, my wife recently bought me a GBA SP as an anniversary gift. | politely thanked her, but | thought to myself, “Why would | want this kiddie toy? It doesn’t have “Nice chin, buddy!” any games | would play!" (I think that she just wanted to visit Animal Island, but that’s beside the point.) | was in Gamestop the next day, and lo and behold, they had a sale on GBA games. On the shelf were Zelda: A Link to the Past, Metroid Fusion, and Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. | remembered that you had raved about all three, so | tried them.

Well guess what? Between the GameCube/GBA connec- tivity and the GBA games | bought, my little system hasn't been off since! | actually do like Fusion better than Prime, and Castlevania is incredibly addicting with the RPG4ike character building. You guys were dead-on with your reviews.

So, I'm writing to tell you that I'm eating a big slice of humble ре as I'm playing Meroid Fusion, thinking about Castlevania, and wondering how to get the moon pearl in Zelda.

15222 LM BOI.

sts. к). уча Аз, HN 65901.

Раш Lazzeri We love Substance Mgetaarl 2!

Enter the Game Informer Envelope Art Contest. All you need to do is draw, paint, scratch, spit, or сагуе 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. №, 4th Floor е Mpls, MN 55401

Thomas Barnes Via email

We know that more of you will come around due to this wee testimonial. For the rest of you that would actually like to eat a piece of humble pie, it tastes somewhat like

Gabriel Roché butterscotch - especially if you're playing Metroid Fusion They should use those swords to give each other decent haircuts Samus gets ready to race against at the same time. Now, believe us all the time! Seabiscuit!

22 GAMEINFORMER

THINK YOU KNOW NHL HITZ’? THINK AGAIN...

-NICKLAS LIDSTROM IT'S TIME Т0 GO PRO WITH THE NEW МНІ° HITZ® PRO. FOR THE FIRST TIME

AUTHENTIC NHL FEATURES DIE-HARD HOCKEY FANS DEMAND HAVE BEEN COMBINED WITH MIDWAY SPORTS TRADEMARK FAST AND FURIOUS GAMEPLAY, DELIVERING AN ALL-NEW NHL HITZ PRO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FROM HITZ AND DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'LL GET WITH ANY OTHER HOCKEY VIDEOGAME.

= NEW 5-UN-5 AUTHENTIC NHL ACTION

= NEW TOURNAMENT STYLE ONLINE PLAY* = NEW WRAPAROUNDS АМО DEFLECTIONS * REALISTIC 30 REACTIVE CROWDS

= NEW PRO-STYLE ANIMATIONS

stor jthis'game lnaks great...now, five-on-five,

and/committed|to being the'most,entertaining hockey/game

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GTA MAKER'S DARK NEW WORLD

The Grand Theft Auto auteurs at Rockstar North are readying their newest creation: Manhunt for the PlayStation 2. The game (scheduled for a fall release) has a different take on the subject of violence than the studio's previous efforts. Don't worry; from what we hear, Manhunt has its own share of controversy.

A visit to the title's website (rockstargames.com/manhunt) gives us a glimpse at a shocking world (it even freaks us out) where it appears some sickos pay for made-to-order snuff films. In order to prevent ending up on the wrong side of one of Y -D these death flicks, as } you're going to have У to survive Сагсег нА City's roving gangs and other dangers. Primitive weapons like baseball bats will be among your few saviors in this dark world of sur- vival. We are fasci- nated to see how Rockstar North's new game changes the rules once again, and should have more for you on Manhunt in the near future.