oh KILLZONE 2 OVER 40 PAGES OF PREVIEWS аз, BIOSHOCK REVIEWED Exclusive Hands On Coverage Halo 3, GTA 4, Skate & Super Mario Galaxy, ` 4 Could lt Be A Perfect 107.44”. Diablo Mad Max | Groundbreaking m == _ SEPTEMBER 2007 пәшеб'ммм 4 www.warhawk.com ` NS. M Warhawk is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc, 02006 Sony Tuto ment America Inc. “PlayStation; “PLAYSTATION” and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Ing, ву B3yond" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. “SIXAXIS” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Асцаћ game play limited to 32 players. Violence Mild Language One war. Infinite battles. Engage in a mind-bending battle that will fill the skies with carnage and leave the ground strewn with destruction. And with a total of 32 players armed to the teeth and on the hunt, you'll find death waiting for you everywhere you turn. SIXAXIS" PLAYSTATION" WIRELESS NETWORK CONTROLLER Motion-sensor input Enlist in the global network translates directly to the of gamers waging a never- flaps and rudders of your ending war-supporting Warhawk; enabling in- vast communities, com- sane maneuverability and petitive clans and in-depth unrivaled control. player rankings. PLAY ESIYCrL општ on PLAYSTATION. Ə 919710 IGN OUT OF GAMESPY ges 10 "TEAM XBOX DOMINATE THE BATTLEFIELD OF 2014 WITH FUTURISTIC FIREPOWER. EXPANDED AND ENHANCED MULTIPLAYER -YOU'LL NEVER FIGHT THE SAME WAY TWICE. 8 OUTSMART AND OUTMANEUVER YOUR ENEMY WITH THE FULL-SCREEN CROSS-COM 2.0. ALL-NEW ADVANCED EXPERIENCE: NEW WEAPONS, MULTIPLAYER MAPS AND CO-OP MODES, AND INTEGRATION OF THE SIXAXIS™ WIRELESS CONTROLLER. Language Violence and/or other countries. PC version developed B GRIN. . PSP versit are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStati ‚ “PS” Familys puter. duree ‘Ine. PSP® system- Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separa Software a ‘Gameloft and the Gameloft 1000 are registered trademarks of Gameloft. E "OWN IT. AUGUST 2007)" + e PLAVÉTATION S. : COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM: - "X | ñ E РА L4 | Honor is his code. Vengeance is his mission. Bloodshed is his only option. i, JOHN WOO PRESENTS STRANGLEHOLD strangleholdgame.com P uve [JF Games ul, 2| @ xBox 360: Өс Windows мили Км PLATS TATIONS Blood Available at 2 Intense Violence GameStop Drug Reference CONTENT RATED BY power to the players PESH MEDALoF HONOR — Blood Mild Language Ж XBox 36 КЕМЕ PLAYSTATIONS Violenc Я t j 4 Our war starts here. _ The hell below will scatter us our separate ways. — . In that chaos, each one of us has a choice to make. | The church bell tower?” p ЖА е rooftop of the gatehouse? Or the middle of an enemy encampment? i We decide o -own fate. Thedfirst step is everything. we Landing on 9.4 m moh.ea.com . gsm 122007 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, the EA logo, and Medal of Honor Airborne are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Medal of Honor is a trademark or registered trademark of Electronic Arts Ine. in the U.S. and/or other countries for computer and video game products, All Rights Reserved, Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live. the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. PlayStation, PLAYSTATION, and the PS Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners, INTERNET CONNECTION required tor online play. Online play may not be available on all platforms. See product packs for details. 0 N | E N [ S The “E3 Lives! Well, Sort Of" Issue GAME Army of Two. Battlestar Galactica . BioShock .... Blue Dragon. s Bourne Conspiracy, Тһе . Brain Age 2: More Training in Brave Story: New Traveler. Brothers in Arms DS... ... Burnout Paradise. . . Cars Mater-National .... E3 HOT 50 Contra 4 [working title] . . Who cares about boring industry stuff - what about Dead Head Fred the games? We bring you the definitive list ofthe 50 Ё EA Playground. most exciting titles at this year's E3. From Halo 3 to 1 Elefunk . . de Blob, we've got everyone's taste covered. ‚ Eternal Sonata . . . Fable2.. Final Fantasy XII Folkore. ..... Gears of War Grand Theft Auto Heroes of Mana Hour of Victory Infamous Jeanne d'Arc. cover story 64 BORDERLANDS The trailer two years ago wasn't real-time, but what we recently played sure is. Do you want to come in and see big gorgeous screens of Sony's flagship. PlayStation 3 title for 2008? Of course you do. Luminous Arc. . . Madden NFL 08 STAFF Read the team’s latest favorites GI SPY Silly pictures of our life and times DEAR GI Your chance to fire back at us! CONNECT Where news, talk, and technology collide INTERVIEW MIT professor Henry Jenkins explains why he believes that science has good things to say about gaming GEAR Geeky gadget stuff for the masses 8 GAME INFORMER * The company behind the massively successful Brothers in Arms series has this new project in the works, and we have the world-exclusive first look at it. By applying a lot of the driving concepts behind Diablo to the first-person shooter genre, Borderlands will be entirely unique. Randomized levels, four-player co-op support, and half a mil- lion weapons await in this action/RPG hybrid. OPINION David Hutchinson, Ph.D., lays out some examples of successful teach- ing methods involving games CALENDAR Get hip to this month's happenings PREVIEWS New screens and details on Grand Theft Auto IV! Halo 3 and Halo Wars both! Metal Gear Solid 4! What are you waiting for - flip on over to previews! REVIEWS Game of the Month: BioShock for Xbox 360 CHARTS Retail Sales Data and the GI editors' Top 10 Games SECRET ACCESS Codes, strategies, and passwords CLASSIC б! Reliving gaming's greatest moments ONLINE ? See what's happening at Game Informer Online GAME OVER The end...or is it? Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Mario Strikers Charged Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Monster Hunter Freedom 2 . MX Vs ATV Naruto: Rise of a Ninja NASCAR 08 . Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations. . . Picross DS .. PixelJunk Racers. . . . Pokémon Battle Revolution Project Sylpheed . Ratatouille (560)... Ratatouille (multi) . Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 Scene If? Lights, Camera, Action ........ Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Soulcalibur Legends . . . Spider-Man: Friend or Foe à 3 Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron . Super Mario Galaxy. Super Smash Bros. Brawl . Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 ....... Transformers .. .. Uncharted: Vampire Rain...... 1 Viva Piñata: Party Animals. . . . Warhammer: Battle March . Wartech: Senko no Ronde Wipeout HD. ...... WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2008. РТИ n, | J Fantastic Pour. Want to look super? Some studies suggest that teens who choose milk instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner and the protein in milk helps build muscle. Staying active, eating right and drinking 3 glasses a day of lowfat or fat free milk helps you look your best. That’s no stretch. bodys milk. www.bodybymilk.com “ S | Al A People Who Actually Get Paid To Play Video Games MY SLICE OF E3 ANDY McNAMARA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The new E3 was the minor mess that | thought it would be, but it certainly could have been worse. | could bore you with plenty of pluses and minuses about the whole event, but instead | will focus on what really matters, and that's the games. 1 was really surprised to see how many casual games were at the show, and quite frankly, how many of them | thought would actually be a good time. Now, I'll warn you: I'm a hardcore gamer. If it doesn't have 60 different button combinations or offer intense, non-stop gameplay, I'm generally not interested. That said, | found a lot of stuff that caught my atten- tion, including THQ's DeBlob, ЕА5 Smarty Pants, and especially Sony's LittleBigPlanet (developed by Media Molecule). These games are the very definition of casual, but at the same time they really showed how casual doesn't necessarily have to mean shallow or short. Of course, games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero III — the pinnacle of games that anyone can pick up and play but can challenge a hardcore gamer for months — had fantastic showings. The music genre isn't going anywhere soon, and I'm excited to see all the new ways gaming is expanding not only the market, but the way people look at entertainment. | love music; | live with music in every room of the house and on my iPod, but there is noth- ing quite like experiencing music the way you can with these two games. It has truly changed the face of music forever. | can't listen to an album without wishing | could play along. 1 also have to give credit to all the original download- able content finding its way to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network these days. Sony especially impressed me with games like Pixel Junk Racers, Echochrome, and Everyday Shooter. Sure they can't really compare with epics like BioShock that cost tens of millions of dollars to make, but in their own way they are fun at its most basic level, and once you catch the bug you just can’t stop playing. Finally, there are tons and tons of the games that are closest to my heart. The giant, super-budget games that squeeze every ounce of power out of their respective sys- tems. These games are easy to find throughout the pages of this issue so I'll let you explore those on your own, but 1 will say Call of Duty 4 simply blew me away once again, and was easily my game of the show. Cheers, Andy >>_andy@gameinformer.com Handle: The Game Hombre Expertise: RPGs, Action/Platform, Driving, First-Person Shooters Interests: Silversun Pickups, Transformers, iPhone (I Want One So Bad, But I'm Waiting For V2.0), My New Electra Cruiser Dislikes: Waiting For The New Seasons Of Weeds And Dexter (I Wish It Was David Carradine, Not Keith Carradine, Joining The Cast), AFK People In Alterac Valley (If You Want To Be Lame, Join The Alliance) Current Favorite Games: World Of Warcraft, Guitar Hero II & Ill, BioShock, Rock Band, Everyday Shooter, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, Picross DS 10 САМЕ INFORMER Reiner >> reiner&gameinformer.com Handle: The Raging Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Action, First-Person Shooters, Strategy, Sports, Fighting Interests: The Dinobots Being Considered For The Second Transformers Film, World War Hulk (Every Hero Gets Smashed By This Green Goliath), Battling For Achievement Point Supremacy Against Randy Pitchford (Does This Guy Even Sleep?), Extras Dislikes: Saying Goodbye To Harry Potter (It Was A Good Run, Kids. Sniff), Obnoxious Brewers Fans (Here Come My Cubbies! Eat It!) Current Favorite Games: BioShock, Grand Theft Auto IV, Rock Band, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Matt >> matt@gameinformer.com Handle: The Original Gamer Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Action/Platform, Action/ Adventure, Action/Sports Interests: Tim Buckley - Goodbye And Hello, Ratatouille, Totally Getting Ripped Delts, How Much Nicer Santa Monica Is Than Downtown L.A., Bruno's Italian Restaurant Dislikes: Ann Coulter (Manorexic Psychol), Stifling Humidity, Not Eating For 12+ Hours At A Time, Not Being Rich Enough To Afford All The Awesome Games Coming Out This Fall Current Favorite Games: BioShock, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, Picross DS, Rock Band, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Kato >> kato@gameinformer.com Handle: The Game Katana Expertise: Sports, Racing, Action/Adventure, Action/Platform Interests: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, AMC's Mad Men, Orange Pop, Selected Things About The New Ез, The White Stripes’ Icky Thump Dislikes: Michael Vick - Pure Scum, Irish Pub Music, Miller's Assumption That Being А Super-Taster Makes Him Better Than The Rest Of Us Current Favorite Games: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, All-Pro Foot- ball 2K8, Jeanne D'Arc, Rock Band, BioShock, Picross DS Adam >> adam@gameintormer.com Handle: The Alpha Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Strategy, First-Person Shooters, Fighting Interests: Learning 2 Heal (Lifebloom Is Total Hax), Not Being Exhausted After A Bike Ride, Chicago's Awesome Aquarium, They Might Be Giants — The Else, His Dark Materials Dislikes: Heal Aggro, Defective Cables (I Swear Guitar Hero Isn't This Green), Biking Through Soup Current Favorite Games: World Of Warcraft, Call Of Duty 4, Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword, Majesty, The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario World е >> joe@gameinformer.com Handle: The Real American Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Adventure, Action, Strategy, Puzzle Interests: Harry Potter Reading Binges (Take That, Social Life), The New E3 (For The Most Part), Robo-Raiden, "Returning" Matt's CD, Ransacking Dislikes: Grudgingly Admitting That Bumblebee Is Kind Of Cool Now, Getting The Red Ring Of Death, Matt “Forgetting” His Inspirational CD On My Desk, That Chewbacca Isn't At Every Press Conference Current Favorite Games: BioShock, Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, LittleBigPlanet, Assassin's Creed Miller >> mitler@gameinformer.com Handle: The Once And Future Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Action/Adventure, Platform, First- Person Shooters, Music, Puzzle Interests: Creating New Star Wars Fans, Ham Of All Glazes, Harry Potter And The Unhealthy Reading Obsession, A World Of Super-Taster/Philosopher Kings Dislikes: Mayflies, The Fact That | Am Currently 40 Percent Infections, The Interminable Wait For Another Transformers Movie, Wrestling Current Favorite Games: Mass Effect, Lair, Killzone 2, Assassin's Creed, Need For Speed: Carbon, Rock Band, Fallout 3, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Pac-Man Championship Edition Bertz >> mattbertz@gameinformer.com Handle: Lord Gamington Ill Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Sports, Action, RPGs, Strategy Interests: Bryan's Sweet Porn ‘Stache, Pending Football Season, Getting Peter Moore To Do A Shot Of Bushmills (What A Trooper), Creative Harry Potter Spoilers Dislikes: Barker Hanger (Talk About A Ghost Town), Lack Of New Game Announcements ALES, CNN's Slow Descent Into Becoming E! Entertainment Television Current Favorite Games: NCAA Football 08, Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword, BioShock, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Combat, Assassin's Creed Ben >> ben@gameinformer.com Handle: Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamer Expertise: Action/Adventure, Action/RPGs, Platform, Survival Horror, First-Person Shooters Interests: King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters, The Abyss (Turns Out It's Still A Good Movie), LIL Hawaiian BBQ (Why Aren't You In Minnesota?), E3 Parties Dislikes: Waking Up An Hour Early The Morning After E3 Parties, Joe Cutting In Line In Front Of Me And The Wendy's Lady Who Did Nothing, Billy's Invitations To The Petting Zoo Since "The Incident" Current Favorite Games: Fallout 3, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Resident Evil 5, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Guitar Hero III Bryan >> bryan@gameinformer.com Handle: The Gamer's Advocate Expertise: Action/Adventure, RPGs, Survival Horror, First- Person Shooters, Rhythm Interests: Alex Robinson's Tricked, When Bands Tour Before Their New Album Is Released (You Get A Nice Mix Of Old Stuff Since They Don't Want New Tracks To Show Up On The Internet), Two Harbors, MN Dislikes: My Stupid RAZR Phone (1 Need A Working Screen To Call People, Dammit!), Joe's Stockade Of Bouncy Balls Current Favorite Games: Borderlands, Rock Band, Guitar Hero ІІ: Legends Of Rock, Contra 4, BioShock, Call Of Duty 4 GAMEINFOR: SEPTEMBER 2007 Volume XVII * Number 9 * Issue 173 PUBLISHER Cathy Preston EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrew McNamara EDITORS Executive Editor Andrew Reiner Senior Editor Matt Helgeson Senior Associate Editor Matthew Kato Associate Editors ‘Adam Biessener * Joe Juba * Matt Miller Ben Reeves • Bryan Vore Content Manager Matt Bertz Mascot Arthur PRODUCTION Art Director Thomas Blustin Production Director Curtis Fung Production Assistant Rachel Nimerfroh CONTRIBUTORS Photographer Jonathan Kannair GAME INFORMER ONLINE Managing Online Editor Billy Berghammer Online Production Assistant Nick Ahrens Associate Online Editor Jeff Cork ADVERTISING SALES MINNEAPOLIS Rob Borm. Associate Publisher (612) 486-6155 * Fax: (612) 4866101. rob@gameinformer.com WEST COAST Damon Watson West Coast Advertising Director (310) 450-3260 • Fax: (310) 450-3571 damon@gameinformer.com EAST COAST Suzanne Lang East Coast Advertising Sales Director (718) 832.5575 * Fax (718) 8325569 suzanne@gameinformer.com MINNEAPOLIS Ату Amold Advertising Coordinator and Online Sales (612) 486.6154 * Fax: (612) 4866101 ‘amy@gameinformer.com Matt Edgar Advertising Assistant (612) 486-6152 « Fax: (612) 4866101 mattedgar@gameinformer.com CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT For renewal, address change and Edge card details: Visit: www.gameinformer.com Email: customerservice@gameinformer.com Or send correspondence to: 724 North First St., 3rd Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 • Attn: CIS Dept For subscription inquiry ONLY: 1 (866) 844-GAME (4263) Circulation Manager Paul Anderson * (612) 4866100 Circulation Services. Ted Katzung * (612) 486-6107 ted@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 bo addressed to: Editor, Game Inlormer® Magazine, 724 North First SL, áth Flor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be retumed or acknowledged. Еліне contents copyright 2004. Game Inlormer? Magazine. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited, Game Informer is а trademark of GameStop, Inc. Products named in hese pages are trade names, or trademarks, of heir respective. companies. PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be able for sight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's abit or thor. отуз or omissions in connection with an advertisement is ite to repubicaon of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement, INDEMNIFICATION The advertiser andlor Advertising Agency agrees to defend and indemnity the publisher against any and al labi, loss, or expense arising trom daims of bel, unfair competion, іі trade practices, infringement of trademarks, copyrighs, trade names, patents, or proprietary rights or violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication ol the Advertiser's statement. 4 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations CROSS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN DREAMS AND REALITY. Journey into a dream world where the wheels of destiny reverse in the final hours of life. Late on the night of October 16, 1849, гае Francois Chopin, known as the Poet of the Piano, drifts between this life and the next. In his final hours, he experiences a fantastical dream where he encounters a young girl facing a terrible destiny and a boy who will fight to save her. On the border between dreams and reality, Chopin discovers the light that shines in all of us in this tale of good and evil, love and betrayal. Fantasy Violence т Mild Language AEA Use of Alcohol NAMCO ESRB Games //ETERNALSONATA.NAMCOBANDAIGAMES.COM Малый a Xbox 260, Xbox ШЕ and the bor logos ae ademas al Ве Ме! gon af companies. Association. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Candid Photos From The Seedy Underbelly Of The Video Game Industry 1 The gals from Sega - Tali Fischer, Jennie Sue, and Thu Nguyen - give Nick their best Bond girl impression 2 The GI Online Crew - Jeff, Nick, and Billy — bro- down with Infinity Ward's Mark Rubin and Grant Collier 3 Sandbox Strat's Bobz “Pickle King" Fleischer, Jay Fitzloff (who you might remember as the Gonzo Gamer), Usman Baporia, and Fanali receive life advice and wisdom from Ron Jeremy, one of the world’s most respect- ed actors 4 The Namco gang - Rob Ely, Arne Cual-Pedroso, Robert Cogburn, Melody Pfeiffer — rehearse their new stage production of “The Music Man” 5 Some Gl staffers debut their new rock band - 2 Drink Minimum - at ЕЗ! 6 Queens of the Stone Age rock EA/ MTV Games's Rock Band party at the Troubador in L.A. Fun Fact: Josh Homme of QOTSA is like seven feet tall, seriously 7 Bethesda's Erin Losi tames the big steel stud at The Saddle Ranch Chop House on the Sunset Strip. Later she would ride the bull 8 Andy gets crazy with Ubisoft's Jade Raymond and Epic's heartthrob, CliffyB. He's so dreamy...sigh \ NS S E ЖЖ? 12 GAME INFORMER He's the Secret. ° She’s the Agent. B Saving the world at $11 an hour. SEPT 24 MON 8/79 | nbc.com/chuck The Readers Strike Back Game Informer has a thriving online community, and this is where they can sound off about issues facing the gaming industry today THE QUESTION: What games have you gone back to play (or replay) during the dry summer gaming season? With programs that allow me to run dassic id games like Heretic ‘and Doom on my new rig, lve been playing those a lot for nostalgia’s sake. I've also taken а liking to playing System Shock 2 in multiplayer mode. mitch_the_switch 1 always play San Andreas in the summer, normally in June. | have absolutely no idea why. This year was my third year, DollMeat_TestSteak ooo ыл. B GTA: San Andreas I finally picked up Metroid Prime 2 again. The fact that there has been a Metroid game out for almost three years that / haven't completed multiple times, let alone ance, is one of the scarier skeletons in my closet. TrueNerd lie been playing Star Fox on the SNES (thank God that thing stil works). Its odd how I've had the game for 10 years and | still have a ball every time | play it Rabid Chipmunk ® Star Fox literally dusted off my SNES to play NHLPA 93. One minute into playing and | already was missing the goalie deke feature, The player ratings were brutal. Gretzky was only a 77 overall, ‘and there was this one guy with a 15 rating. How can you make it into the NHL with a 15? The Quagmire l've been going through the Ratchet and Clank series, collecting the platinum bolts and leveling up all the weapons, It never gets old blowing through armies of baddies. FFzelda005 ve been playing a lot of Chrono Trigger for the frst time, some GTA: Vice City, and a litle Vectorman here and there. Anything to make the days pass quicker fallenangel20 Do you want to make your voice heard? Weigh in with your opinion at www gameinformer.com/forums 14 GAME INFORMER WE WANT REVAN | was just wondering if you had any news as to whether or not there will be a Knights of the Old Republic 3. | know LucasArts is making The Force Unleashed, but couldn't they at least give a developer permission to start making a new KotOR? Grant Rogers Via yahoo.com Alas, another E3 has come and gone, and still there was no announcement of Knights of the Old Republic 3. We're just as anxious as you are to know the fate of this series, but a represen- tative from LucasArts could only say, "Knights of the Old Republic is a very important franchise to LucasArts, but we have no announcements regarding it at this time” Fans shouldn't lose hope yet. No one is saying the franchise is dead, and the best things in the Star Wars universe usually come in trilogies, like the original trilogy and the Timothy Zahn trilogy. VANISHING ACT | just finished reading issue 171, and | noticed something slightly amiss. The Connect Ten fea- ture, a staple of all the issues l've gotten, was gone! Instead, there was the Connect Debate and Connect Gamer. Are these new features going to replace Connect Ten? Or was there not enough room for it? D. Sheehan Via yahoo.com There are several parts of the Connect section that are used on a rotating basis. You might not see Debate, Gamer, Ten, or Culture in every issue, but we always try to fit a couple in alongside the staples like Interview and Opinion. Don't worry - there will be another Connect Ten list for you to disagree with in the coming months. RISING TOLL | am a 30-year-old gamer — that's a long career, and it shows no sign of ending. l've played a lot of World War II shooters in that time, and | recent- ly got to thinking: Exactly how many virtual Nazis have | wiped out? Wolfenstein, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty — these are all games I've spent countless hours playing. What does that leave me for a body count? If | average two kills for every minute of gameplay, and assume I've played a total of 1,000 hours between all WWII games, that's 120,000 Nazis! ! actually may be underestimating my total, but | was wondering if you had ever done the math. Jeremiah Smith Via hotmail.com Whoa. No, we hadn't ever done the math, but that is a disturbing figure. Quantifying your gaming experience can really put things into perspective. If only real life were m Knights of the Old Republic 2 equipped with advanced, video game-style stat tracking, we could have answers to all of the burning questions: How many boxes have we smashed? How many health packs have we used? How many levels have we gained? Finally, for the Packer fans, how many interceptions have we thrown? The world may never know. HEROIC RETORT ping with both hands, and one missed note screws you up. Don't give us crap about how you have seven buttons and a turntable — Guitar Hero necessitates coordination between the strum bar and the fret buttons, not just button pressing. Try strumming 17.3 notes per second on "Trogdor," then come cry to us about your precious Beatmania. Anonymous Via yahoo.com It's no surprise that, as the most popular music game ever, Guitar Hero has its share of staunch sup- porters. Once Rock Band releases, it will be interesting to see if a rivalry develops between the two series and their fans. They could go at each other's throats, like David Lee Roth versus Van Halen. On the other hand, they could work together to bring better music to the world, like Spinal Tap and the Folksmen. PURE COMEDY GOLD 1 was reading your July issue and | noticed a mistake on your Calendar. On July 13 you have a small remark about the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. You mention that Daniel Radcliffe is 30 years of age. What? | went 1 had to respond to Мг. Der's letter in the last issue talking about how much better Konami's music games are than Guitar Hero. There are, in fact, sections in Guitar Hero Il and Guitar Hero "806 that clock in at over 1,200 notes per minute, particularly Buckethead's "Jordan" There is no possible way to 100% the song other than tap- STUDY GUIDE During the school year, my English class was taking a test on Fahrenheit 451. What can I say? | didn't read the book. 1 came to the question, “What character in Greek Mythology was tortured for giv- ing fire to the humans?” Lucky for me, 1 was playing God of War Il, so | wrote down Prometheus, and got the question right! This taught me that video games are more important than reading. I'm so smart. John Carroll Westland, MI Way to fail that test by one less point, John! You can learn all kinds of crazy stuff from video games...but not everyone is fortunate enough to be tested on it. Therefore, we have compiled a short essay quiz (no cop- out multiple guess questions) for you to display your knowledge. Just write out your responses on a separate sheet of paper, then repeatedly show your answers to all of your friends. They will be impressed. online and did some research on him, and found that he is in fact 18 years old. Andrew Cauble Via msn.com See, it's funny because the kids in those movies are getting old! Sure, they aren't 50 | | | | | | f i ү Send your comments to Game Informer. Snail Mail: Game Informer Magazine Attn: Dear GI е 724 North First St., 4th Floor е Minneapolis, MN 55401 Email: deargi@gameintormer.com SEPT 26 WED 9/8 nbc.com/bionic yet, but by using hyperbole to draw atten- tion to fact that they are aging faster than their characters, pure comedy gold is cre- ated. Of course, it probably seems less funny now, but explaining the joke will suck the humor out of any punchline, right? Sigh. We E know, we know - it wasn't a great joke to NNI begin with. Reiner wrote it. j DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH What games would you recommend for a person who just bought a PSP? Addison Allen Via gmail.com п Even though some people will complain that the PSP's software lineup is less than amazing, that doesn't mean the system ее Come omen Reader Art Contest. All you need to do is hasn't built up a stable of quality titles since draw, paint, scratch, spit, or carve its release. If you've recently purchased the best darn art you can think of a PSP and want some recommendations, pope read е — here's a short list of our favorites that you and return address, If you're the MEGAN BECK should consider checking out: monthly winner, we'll feature 5 5 x your work in GI and you'll receive Hold it! Who could object * Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops a video game prize from the to a chibi-style Phoenix * Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Game Informer vault. All entries З d become the property of Game Wright? * Daxter Informer and can't be returned. * Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Sendis: * Lumines П Game Informer Ө “tar: " Reader Art Contest Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror 724 1st St N, * Tekken: Dark Resurrection 4th Floor - . : Si Mpls, MN 55401 Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters JUSTIN HAMMOND ° Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth “Boi-oi-oing!” That's the sound the diving board is making. We repeat, the diving board ! AAAARG! FREDDY J. Your article in Issue BRUCE 171 about Alternate Gwa! Take Reality Game whatever you renewed my confi- dence in my most trusted gaming maga- zine. | have followed the genre for quite some time, constantly intrigued, not only by the games and their prizes, but also the mystery enshroud- ing the motivations of those perpetuating the contests. But as | read the article, a very substantial ARG stood out in my mind, yet | found no mention of it in the article: the Publius Enigma. Similar to the Nine Inch Nails ARG cited in your article, the Publius Enigma began with Pink Floyd and their 1995 album The Division Bell. | consider this to be the forerun- ner of ARGs, using the Internet to spread. | just thought this would be an interesting addendum to your article. want! Just don’t make Dirge of | JOSE Cerberus 2! | GADDIEL | DIAZ | Just equip the Boots of _ Springheel Jack, hop on the roof, | and peg it with arrows. Problem | solved Clay Adams Whitehouse, TX Thanks for the contribution, Clay. While the experts we spoke with agreed that The Beast is probably the first full-fledged ARG, you are correct to point out that the genre didn't just suddenly spring into being. It evolved, drawing influence from precursors like the Publius Enigma. We didn't mean to diminish the contributions of the efforts that MOUA YANG came before The Beast, but that project is Little Red Riding where many of the concepts coalesced and Hood sure grew BROOKE BURDICK began to define ARGs as we understand 3 DA up fast It is a rare pleasure to beat up Pifiatas! them today. 16 GAME INFORMER ы He’s received the highest commendations for Jericho VII. The Battle of Reach. High Charity. bravery. Countless decorations for honor and Master Chief's greatest that grow, fiou , and inspire. selflessness. But achievement reaches far beyond what any medal And while he shapes his own history, he jfi turn С ave 10 > commem a S. n could ever hope to commemorate shapes the history of all who follow. — T Tales rife with sacrifice and courage. Tales > For the men and women of the 26th century, he is a human embodiment of possibility, the last emboldened with ! spirit, an army of Master -5. BELIEVE Spartan standing against an angry tide. This Chie strength of spirit is forged through his legend. s unto them For no matter what horrors are released upon A ; £ A А 9 the day, they cannot match the reply of soldiers U halod-com A hero need not speak. When he is gone, the world will speak for him. Blood and Gore Mild Language Violence BUNGIE E3 has changed, but it’s still the beacon that sets the tone for the rest of the year and beyond. This year, the messages from the big three console companies - Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony - couldn't be more different from one another. Their press conferences were reflec- tive of each company's particular place at this moment in time, and yet the battle amongst them for the attention of gamers is as fierce as ever. Read on as Game Informer analyzes what they said, and what they had to say for themselves. 18 GAME INFORMER ни G 0 N N Е G | Breaking News, Views, And Technology From : The Cutting Edge Of Gaming ——— t "oU p connect IEPES е р GAME INFORMER 19 icrosoft held its traditional E3 press conference in a less-than-traditional sur- rounding, choosing to address the assembled media at Santa Monica High School. The venue's open-air amphi- theater was a lovely setting, and at times ironically apt given that some of Microsoft's announcements were met with only the sound of the summer crickets. In terms of getting its message across, Microsoft did a great job of reminding everyone just how many sweet games it's got coming out for the Xbox 360 by the end of the year. Unfortunately, the company did not unveil any exciting announcements or much that the public hasn't seen. Former corporate vice president Peter Moore (see page 44 for more on this situation) kicked off the proceedings on a shaky note by failing out of Rock Band while playing guitar to the Hives’ “Main Offender" Moore's less than impressive turn on the axe was punctuated by accidentally pausing the game a couple times and getting lost in Rock Band's pause menu. Regardless, the console itself is rocking hard. Citing NPD numbers, Moore stated that 5.6 million 360 units have been sold in North America, with 18.1 million copies of software sold since the release of the PS3 and Wii — whose combined software sales doesn't compete with the numbers for the 360. 20 GAME INFORMER Ш Microsoft's Jeff Bell After highlighting one of the system's excit- ing exclusives, Mass Effect, and showing a montage filled with titles such as Splinter Cell: Conviction, Beautiful Katamari, Stranglehold, and others, Moore took the presentation in a different direction. He announced Viva Pifiata: Party Animals (which is naturally a party game) and gave way to Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing. Bell further spoke to Microsoft's move toward a more casual audi- ence, as the company has an exclusive 360 version of DVD movie trivia game Scene It Lights, Camera, Action, which comes with four special controllers. Speaking of movies, the system's HD media download service now features movies such as The Waterboy, Tarzan, and Armageddon thanks to a deal with Disney. Had this been the extent of Bell's presence, the night would have gone < @ Peter Moore tries to rock out with Harmonix team members on Rock Band HALOS better for Microsoft. Instead, what transpired was a cringe- inducing attempt to be hip by Bell that had the audience laughing out loud in derision. After erroneously promising that EA Sports titles on the 360 will be “that's right, twice as fast" because of its promise to run at 60 frames per sec- ond, Bell brought out New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush for a demo of Madden NFL 08. The two proceeded to “get it on,” in the parlance of the radio-voiced Bell, with Bush running for a touch- down amidst stiff banter typed up on the teleprompters around the amphitheater that the crowd could see. Game Informer found out from sources that the pair weren't even playing an actual game, but were mim- ing to pre-recorded footage. After ЕЗ, we even heard talk that Microsoft has internally decided to never let Bell in front of a crown again. Thankfully, both Moore and Shane Kim, head of Microsoft Game Studios, brought the press conference back to one of the Xbox 360 strengths — a great lineup of games. Impressive trail- ers for RPG Lost Odyssey, Grand Theft w— p— — jj V Viva Pinata: Party Animals Auto IV, and Resident Evil 5 were shown, Devil May Cry 4 was shown on the system, and developer Infinity Ward stole the evening with its demo of Call of Duty 4 — which looked awesome. That's saying something, considering that the demo didn't consist of much more than a soldier crawling in the grass and stealthily moving around abandoned farm houses. Of course, hearing Infinity Ward studio head Grant Collier say, "we are going deep, and we're going hard" was a bit of accidental comedy that Collier pulled off with aplomb. The crowd also chuckled during the demo of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed because of producer Jade Raymond's nervous laughter after an in-game bug in the presentation caused a dead guard to conspicuously float in mid-air. Of course, the crown jewel of all Xbox 360 software is Halo 3, and it ended the proceedings with a bang. Thankfully so too, because the two-minute montage of gameplay footage and in-game cinematics was a crowd pleaser after Moore's announcement of the Halo 3-branded Xbox 360 was met with apathetic silence. For more on the Xbox 360 games at E3, please check out our continuing coverage on page 34. E Bomberman Live This limited-edition console comes out in September, and comes with a matching control- ler, 20GB hard drive, headset, Play & Charge kit, Ethernet cable, component AV cable, one month Live Gold membership, HDMI port, and offers exclusive Halo 3 gamer pictures and a theme available via download. Halo 3 itself is not included REPORT CARD A year after delivering its best E3 press conference, 2007 finds the company coming back down to Earth. Although there's no arguing that the 360 is stocked with great games, it was disappointing that Microsoft spent 90 minutes telling us stuff we already knew instead of extending its mindshare with more software exclusives, announce- ments beyond this year, or even a price drop. The presence of marketing fluff like Jeff Bell didn’t help the perception that perhaps Microsoft is pausing while it holds the knife above its competitors in the next-gen fight. GRADE = C+ GAME INFORMER 21 55^ connect Some people are disappointed that at its E3 press conference, Microsoft didn't show much that was new. What are your thoughts on this? That was our strategy. | think we executed our plan very, very well. We made our announcements and our promises before, and now we're really delivering that. This is a very important holiday, our third holiday, and our competitors should be in free supply. Customers are going to be in a position where they are deciding which next-generation con- sole they want to purchase, and we got great momentum getting in. | did mention future titles like Halo Wars, Fable 2, Too Human, and so forth, but as far as everything we showed, we really wanted to focus on 2007. | know there are people who wanted to see a big splash, big announce- ments, and so forth, and | understand that there are some people disappointed about that, but our agenda was to communicate: “Everything we talked about, you're going to get this holiday” Any thoughts on your competitors’ press conferences? | did not see Nintendo's, but | did watch a fair amount of Sony's. We have a lot of respect for Kojima-san and Metal Gear Solid, of course, and it's nice that Kitaue-san [ed.- Konami North American and European head] himself said, hey maybe PS3's not the right platform for them. That's Konami saying that, not us saying that. Other than that, we had already shown most of the third-party content the night before, so | don't think there's anything new there. We've always said Microsoft Game Studios has to be a competitive advantage when it comes to delivering exclusive content. That's what the job of the first parties is, and | will put our first-party lineup against theirs any day. Microsoft announced some more moves into the casual gaming department, but with the popularity of the Wii, do you think that third parties will gravitate towards it instead of Microsoft? 22 GAME INFORMER First of all, it's unclear historically how many third parties have made a lot of money on Nintendo platforms. Historically it's been dominated by first-party, and the same thing is happening on Wii. So | know that the third parties are excited about the momentum behind Wii and they are trying to bring more content for Wii. And because of the controller scheme it has to be relatively unique — and that's a tough proposition for most third-party publishers, because their business model is built on scale and leverage. It's difficult to leverage what they are doing on Wii across Р55 and Xbox 360. It's a problem for third parties, because the Wii is not a great platform for taking their big, epic, high-defi- nition titles they are creating for Xbox 560 over to the Wii, so they have that issue in reverse. | think most third parties’ model is built on leveraging the IP as much as possible. We'll get a lot of that Wii content, I'm convinced, in the future on Xbox 360. Things like the Simpsons — you can't make that single-platform — the license costs too much. What are your thoughts on Adults- Only rated titles in the light of Rockstar’s Manhunt 2? Microsoft has a policy that's very clear that we do not accept AO-rated games on our platform, full stop. As a platform owner, we absolutely respect the right and defend the right for publishers and developers to create the content that they want. But we hold the line on AO-rated titles. Is it easy for you to say you respect the right of developers to make what they want when you've already decided that you won't put it on your system? Or to claim there's not a market for AO-rated titles when you're in a position to feed or starve that market? | see your point. It's convenient for us to talk about it that way, but our principles are our principles. We will not allow AO content to be published on our platform. There are plenty of ways for someone who wants to create AO. content to get that in the hands of consumers. It doesn't have to be on a console platform. The Internet is an open platform of significant mag- nitude. So, if someone really wants to make AO content, they don't have to be stymied because the publishers took a principled line. Can you tell us about the decision to not include Halo 3 in the Halo 3 Xbox 360 bundle? That would add significantly more cost to the bundle, because we're not going to give away Halo 3. This is a limited-edition console, and I'm not sure we emphasized that enough. We're not adding a fourth permanent SKU. There are going to be those maniacal Halo fans — and we love those fans — and this is something we wanted to make available to those people. | got another question earlier, “Why isn't it an Elite?” Well, we don't want to make people pay that much money for a Halo- themed console if that's not what they want. It's the same thing for bundling Halo 3. Was there any anticipation of the level to which Xbox 360 consoles are being reported defective? 1 don't think you anticipate a situation like this I think the.big- gest issue we have is making sure we restore and drive the con- sumer con- fidence in the hard- ware. that requires you to take a billion dollar charge (ed. — see page 42 for more). It obviously got to the point where we said it was unacceptable for us, unacceptable for our cus- tomers, so we took an unprecedented step in announcing the warranty. That's real money. But, that said, once we knew there were issues, we determined pretty quickly this was a step we wanted to take. We want to take this question out of people's minds. Do you know what percentage of unsold Xbox 360 units still on store shelves might be defective? It's really hard to say, because like every hardware manufac- turer, we're constantly improving, adding new components, taking components out, trying to drive down costs, trying to drive more quality into the system on an ongoing basis. We have a general idea, but that can vary by country, by retailer, so anyone who says they really know doesn't really know. Can we expect the frequency of Xbox Live Arcade titles to improve? | believe so. We've already improved the flow of Xbox Live titles. They are getting much, much better at managing that whole process, managing the process with publishers. It's a lot easier to produce an Arcade-level title than a retail title, where you typically know two years in advance that some- things coming. So they will get better, I'm convinced of that. Blockbuster has just announced it is only carrying Blu-ray movies, and the format is outselling HD-DVD. Is HD-DVD on the way out? It's way too early to anoint any winner or loser in that race. 1 don't think there's any critical mass in terms of consumer enthusiasm for either format. We see a lot more enthusiasm in Xbox Live Video Marketplace, for example, where you can get high-definition movie content without having to make a decision to spend extra — whether it's for our own HD-DVD drive or Blu-ray in every PS3. Unlike when DVD came out, you don't see this mad rush for people to go, "Hey, | really want to spend an awful lot of money to pick a physical for- mat today" And that's the difference between us and Sony. Sony bet on Blu-ray because that benefits Sony. They've said [with] every PS3, "You're going to pay us a little extra because we have a Blu-ray drive in there” think you see that in PS3 sales. Customers haven't said that's what they want. But you still have to pay money for the HD-DVD add on, there are rental fees for the movies, and you may even have to buy another hard drive if you're serious about high-definition content since the 20GB isn't enough. Yes. But do you really believe that Blu-ray is taking off like that? | don't believe it. Look, Disney is one of Blu-ray's biggest supporters, and now the Walt Disney Studio is supporting us on Xbox Live Video Marketplace. They real- ize they aren't ready yet to make just one bet. At the end of the day they need their content to be distributed as broadly as possible. We still believe in HD-DVD, but the good news for us is that we've come up with this way to dis- tribute high-definition movie content without having to make a physical media choice. What do you think Microsoft needs to improve upon for the next year? | think the biggest issue we have is mak- ing sure we restore and drive the consumer confidence in the hardware. That's why we took the unprecedented step with the war- ranty enhancement, because the rest of the program is really, really strong. If anything, we want to make sure people don't have any concerns about making the choice today to buy an Xbox 360, because Microsoft is going to stand behind the product. INTRODUCING THE BOWF Cutting Edge Design Delivers Incredible Results You've never experienced a home strength machine like this! How is the Bowflex Revolution® Home Gym different? Our smooth SpiraFlex® resistance feels just like traditional strength equipment, but packs it into revolutionary lightweight plates! 2 you can quickly change the angle of resistance, increasing exercise effectiveness. Ç And, by using the adjustable Freedom Arms™ p Lightweight SpiraFlex resistance plate Plus, with over 100 exercises available, the Bowflex Revolution® provides exceptional workout versatility. The result? An easier AND more efficient workout that's GUARANTEED' to give you a better body in just 6 weeks. is based on a promotional minimum payment of 1.5% of purchase nal purchases and ices, See Cardholder Agree- w your cardholder agreement for information, Estimated monthly EFINED. EX REVOLUTION” HOME GYM Exceptional Standard Features Transform Your Body in Just 20 Minutes a Day, 3 Times a Week: ° Up to 220 Ibs. of resistance (upgrades available!) * Space-efficient fold-up design e Leg extension/leg curl station * Built-in rowing machine • Preacher curl attachment e Leg press plate e 10-year limited warranty * 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! AS LOW AS $42) MONTH* Experience the Revolution! CALL (800) 856-7837 TO REQUEST A FREE DVD OR TO PLACE YOUR ORDER TODA www.bowflexrevoinfo.com € BOWFLEX REVOLUTION °, connect | NINTENDO GOES CASUAL ARE YOU READY TO GET FIT? y name is Reggie. And l...am...happy” Given the breakout success of the Wii and the continuing dominance of the Nintendo DS, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has good reason to be happy. As expected, much of Nintendo's presentation was spent crowing about its recent marketplace triumphs. And why not? With the Wii fast approaching the 10 million mark worldwide and on pace to eclipse the Xbox 360 as the world's number one next-gen system and the DS at a staggering 45 million units sold, Nintendo deserved a victory lap. Fils-Aime went on to describe the press conference as “a celebration, and by that | don’t mean just a celebra- tion for Nintendo, but for all of us. Because we think this E3 marks a conclusive turning point for the video game market" Elaborating, he touted the Wii's success as a sign that video games are finally becoming a true mainstream pastime — suggesting that E3 2007 would be remembered as “the moment it became finally clear that video games would take their place alongside TV, movies, and music as a staple of leisure entertainment” Although some might argue that video games have been mainstream for nearly a decade now, and the system that made them so was called PlayStation 2, it is clear that Nintendo's "blue ocean" strat- egy is drawing in older, inexperienced, and female gamers into the hobby at a historic rate. To illustrate his point, Fils-Aime displayed some impres- sive demographic data that seems to bear out the suc- cess of Nintendo's new “games for everyone" philosophy. Despite Nintendo's traditionally young installed base, Nintendo buyers between 18 and 24 have risen from 15 percent to 24 percent, with players over 25 now accounting for a full third of all sales. Interestingly, the company is also breaking the game industry's usual “80/20” split along gen- der lines, with a full 33 percent of Nintendo hardware sales going to women in 2007. 24 GAME INFORMER You WILL LEARN TO WALK WITH HONOR. You WILL GAIN THE WISDOM TO COMMAND WITH DECISIVE RESOLVE. You WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONG THE MOST ELITE WARRIORS ON EARTH. lr vou HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT. MARINES THE FEW. THE PROUD. MARINES.COM | 1800: MARINES connect E3 2007 The Wii Wheel will come with Mario Kart Wii More importantly, it appears that the third-party publishing and devel- opment community are embracing the Wii to a greater degree than it did the somewhat disappointing GameCube. To date, there are 60 games in the Wii cata- log and 300 for the DS available. Fils-Aime also told the audience to expect 60 new Wii and 140 new DS titles on the market by the end of the year. After some more “wacky” clips of Nintendo fans, news reports, and general hijinks (note to Nintendo: We have access to YouTube too!), Reggie dropped the first bit of real news unveiled at the conference: the Wii Zapper, a plastic gun-shaped casing that houses both the Wii remote and nunchuk analog stick. To be sold at $19.99 sometime in 2007, the unit will function much like light guns of the past, although with the added movement the analog stick provides. Shown with the Zapper was a new Capcom title designed to go along with the peripheral, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, a rail shooter that distinguishes itself from Sega's popular House of the Dead series by having “Resident Evil" in the title instead of “House of the Dead” While Nintendo plans to sel party pack-in game, fans wil with Zapper titles like Meda I the unit with an original, first- I also be able to test their aim of Honor Heroes 2 from EA and the arcade game Ghost Squad from Sega. Although most of the show was spent reaching out to new audiences, the next segment attempted to speak to Nintendo's core audience, to mixed results. Titles shown included Soulcalibur Legends, Dragon Quest: Swords, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Wii, as well as Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for DS. Although Reggie prom- ised that the lineup “[will] have core gamers fighting each other to get their hands on the controller,” we're not quite putting on the boxing gloves just yet. Thankfully, as always, Nintendo is bringing out some of its reliably good first-party franchises for this year, including the much-anticipated Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS, and Super Mario Galaxy. All four — particularly Galaxy — are looking quite impressive. We could have done without the live demos of the game from Nintendo fansite bloggers (and the overlong biographical video that went with it), but let's not quibble. For those of us who have been wanting a Wii game besides Super Paper Mario and Zelda to keep us busy for more than an hour at a time, this is good news. Next Fils-Aime addressed the press's concerns about Nintendo's online service. “We still hear questions about Nintendo ‘getting serious’ about online. Well, | guess I'd 26 GAME INFORMER answer ‘What if we already did and you just didn't notice?” To help illustrate his point, Fils-Aime cited the 5 million DS owners that have connected online for 230 million gameplay sessions. In addition, 5.6 million Virtual Console titles have been sold thus far on the Wii, with 112 titles available so far. In hopes of expanding useage, Fils-Aime announced a new program called WiiWare, which will provide smaller developers with development tools to make games to be available for sale - Miyamoto stated that the Wii Balance Board will be used in other titles in the future Satoru Iwata, who discussed the need to “level the playing field” so novice gamers and experienced gamers can play together in order to bring in new customers. It seemed a bit unnecessary, but Iwata, among the most charming executives in the industry, still won over the crowd with his sincere delivery. After giving Mario Galaxy the short shrift the second year running by jamming its footage into a video about a family who was given a Wii for a week and the tout- ing of some third-party casual games, it was time for the most predictable “surprise” at any Nintendo conference: on the Wii Shop channel, and a new Check Mii Out Channel, which allows you to upload and vote on Miis with other users (think amihotornot.com `x for Miis). Responding to criticism of the lack of real multiplayer for Wii, Fils-Aime pointed to Pokémon Battle Revolution and the recently released Mario Strikers an appearance by the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto. This time though, there was no rapturous new Zelda to behold, rather Wii Fit — an exercise game that utilizes a new balance board controller that senses your weight and center of gravity. The game will track your weight loss and training over time, as well as offer a Charged, both of which feature online play. In addition, he confirmed that the popular EA Sports titles FIFA 08 and Madden NFL 08 will feature full online play. Even more encouraging, Activision's Guitar Hero Ill: Legends of Rock will also support con- nected jam sessions with a special Les Paul controller. Most notable was the revelation that a Wii Mario Kart title to be released in the first quarter of 2008 will support online multiplayer and a Nintendo wheel attachment for the Wii remote. Although Fils-Aime observed, “All of this should at least suggest that we're serious about letting you show your stuff online,” in light of Microsoft's stellar Xbox Live service and Sony's ambitious plans for Home, it seemed significantly less than adequate. After attempting to satiate hardcore gamers, it was back to another segment aimed at the broader, non-gaming audience. After (yet) another video montage touting the broad appeal of the DS and Wii, followed by a somewhat puzzling speech by fan- favorite Nintendo president Bi The Wii Zapper Grade: C number of minigames, including yoga moves, a DDR-style dance game, and ski jumping. Is it interesting? Sure, but it did seem like an odd end to a conference that seemed much more focused on the casual market than the usual E3 audience. For more on the games on Nintendo platforms at E3, please check out our continuing coverage starting on page 34. REPORT CARD Nintendo is enjoying its greatest success since the SNES era, so why did this year's E3 feel like a bit of a letdown? Well, the answer is simple: For all the suc- cess the Wii has had, it just doesn’t have the breadth and quality of software across the board that it needs to become the world’s number one system. While a lot of developers are getting on board with more Wii and DS-focused casual games, we were a little disheartened to see that a vast majority of the (very few) deep hardcore-oriented titles are still the same old Nintendo franchises we've known for years. As a business move, Wii Fit seems like a genius idea — we can see the Good Morning America reports on it already — but it's not exactly the type of thing that excites the fans who have kept Nintendo in the game even during the darkest days of the GameCube. INTERV Was Nintendo caught off guard by how successful the Wii has been, and did that play into the prob- lems of hardware shortages? We went into this planning for success. We knew we had something with Wii Sports and the strategic decision to pack it in. The fact that we've been out of stock, effectively, for 33 weeks says that demand has exceeded our expecta- tions from that standpoint. And, in many ways, exceeded all expectations anyone could have had.... But we're very pleased with how we've done with Wii out of the gate. Are there adjustments being made with regards to manufacturing, getting new productions lines up and running and things like that? We are. What you can see is that, on a worldwide basis, production has been ramping up and continues to ramp up. The issue is thinking through what your total capacity should be on a year in, year out basis. You need to be careful not to overshoot that...the fact is that you can't bring these new factories up to speed overnight. Our goal is to get to the point where any consumer can walk into any retailer, find a Wii, and buy it. That's the end objective. It’s obviously selling well, and at the press confer- ence you brought up the possibility of it being the number one overall console in the world. Microsoft has a very strong holiday lineup this year with GTA, Halo 3, and a lot of big franchises. Do you think being number one is a realistic goal, and when do you project Wii will be number one? It's going to happen and it's going to happen on a world- wide basis. Unfortunately for Microsoft, while they have a healthy U.S. business, they don't have much business beyond that. They announced a shortage in their annual projection that was based on shortages in Europe in terms of meet- ing their sell-in projections. So we sit here with very healthy sales in North America, very healthy sales in Europe and Japan. | think that any reasonable analyst gets to the point that sometime in early fall, Wii will overtake Microsoft on a worldwide basis. What happens through the holiday is all going to be based on software line- ups and available inventory. You talked a lot about the changing demographics of gamers at the press conference, especially more older gamers, female gamers, and non- traditional gamers being attracted to the Wii. Are you going to make efforts to keep that going throughout the life of the Wii? We certainly have internal goals. You look at something like Wii Fit in terms of an older demographic and a female demographic, it will certainly drive those consumers to be even more excited about the Wii console. As important as it is to use to expand the demographic, we want to make sure we satisfy the core gamer as well. That's why we have Super Smash Brothers confirmed for this year. That's why Super Mario Galaxy is coming out this year. That's why we announced the Zapper. All of these are important to make sure the core gamer finds satisfac- tion as well. You brought up the Zapper. You alluded to a Zapper game in pro- duction. Could you tell us about that game? 1 cannot tell you; | want it to be a sur- prise. There are multiple Zapper projects within Nintendo being worked on. Our objective with the first-party pack-in is to drive a large installed base of the Zapper. That's why we're doing a pack-in and that's why we're launching at $19.99. It Will come packed in with a game. Later, after the holidays it will be available as a stand- alone accessory. In looking back towards Nintendo's will past, would something like Duck Hunt be packed in as a throwback to the NES light gun? We've gotten a lot of requests for Duck Hunt on the Virtual Console. | can't confirm or deny that Duck Hunt is the title we're working on. What | can tell you is that when we announce the actual title people are going to be pleas- antly surprised. So it's something that resonates with your fan base? Yes. Wii Fit was a big push at the press conference. How long has it been in development and is it a project that Mr. Miyamoto spearheaded? It is a project that Mr. Miyamoto spearheaded. He alluded to this onstage. He's become more concerned about his health. He's been working out, bicycling, and exercising for quite some time. overtake Microsoft You made a comment at the press conference that you are serious about online. You did show Mario Kart, FIFA, Strikers, and Madden, which are good titles, but Sony and Microsoft are putting out some serious resources into developing some very ambi- tious services online. By any fair estimation, the Wii online service is not nearly as ambitious or big as what Live can offer now or what Sony has planned with Home. We see online very differently from our competitors. We see online as something a broad range of consumer types should and could enjoy. Which is why we have Virtual Console. It's why we have things like the Mii Channel that's coming out. It's why we have news and forecasts. It's a much wider view of what online could be compared to simply a multiplayer, co-op mode type of experience. Now, we'll do that too. But, for us, the end game is getting con- sumers to pick up a remote and have a great experience. That, to us, is the goal. That could be in creating their Mii or a wide range of different activities. Our competitors, despite what they want to try and say, they're not going for a main- Stream audience — not at those price points and. not with very heavy first-person shooter types of games. But what about something like Home? That would seem to be more tailored to a casual audience. | think it's been done before, right? It’s called Second Life. One thing that is confusing is that, while you've done a great job in making Wii approachable to non- and casual gamers, the decision to make the unit Wi-Fi only has never really made sense from that perspective. If you wanted to drive older people and non-core gamers online, people that aren't as tech savvy, isn't it asking a lot of them to set up their own wireless router? It certainly wasn't a mistake. | think the statistic is that some- thing like 50 percent of broadband-enabled homes have a Wi-Fi system up in their home.... For consumers vvho want to run a wire through their home, that capability is there. We sell those adaptors through our consumer service. Well, if 50 percent have Wi-Fi, then 50 percent don't. And historically, aftermarket add-on penetration rates aren't great. Are you worried that it limits your online audience? As we sit here today, 40 percent of Wiis are connected. The last statistic | saw for Microsoft was in the thirties. So as we sit here today we have a better connection rate than they do. | certainly think we made the right decision. WiiWare is a program to reach out to very small and garage developers. Can you talk about that in more specifics? WiiWare works like this. These companies buy our development tools, which are already very affordably priced. They create content. It's their responsibility to have that content rated by the ESRB. What we do is essentially check it to make sure it plays correctly on our system, and that's it. The games will be available through the Wii Shop channel; you purchase it with Wii Points, just like the old games on Virtual Console. Our view is that the cream will rise to the top. We'll create ranking and voting mechanisms. The best games will rise to the top. Do you have your own games that fit into that niche - original downloadable games - in development? We have our own games in development that fit into that pipeline. GAME INFORMER 27 THE NEW THUMB IN TCWN. BANNY WAY'S THUMB T, TC SKATE AUS skate: Danny's thumb, what's up? Danny's thumb: Not much. 5: So, what's it like to be two and a quar- ter inches tall and pull 14-foot airs? dts It's scary, but it's rad, too. s: Does fear motivate you? dts: Not really fear; it's more the fear of succumbing to fear, letting fear win. That's what freaks me out most. s: That's heavy. Do you like philosophy? dts Just Nietzsche. The rest were posers. 5: You've been cre- ating a ton of new tricks lately. Where's the sud- den inspiration coming from? at: I've found sweet places to skate all over San Vanelona and I've been skating a bunch. It's all been clicking lately. s: Describe the "Big Stub." & dt: It's like a big flip, but switch, starting with an ollie and a heelflip. < s: The 45 different game-play tricks weren't enough for you? dt: You gotta always push it. That's what skating is. 5: Were you a big gamer before this? dts A little. I like shooters. Never skating games, though. Too much button-mashing. s: Do you own any guns? dt: No, that's more pointer finger's thing. I'm more into vinyl figures, you know, like tokidoki's Mozzarella. в: Do you ever make out with those figures? They're about your size. dt: No, that's gross. Plus, they don't feel right. в Speaking of feeling right, tell me about the flickit controls in the game. dt: That was & smooth transi- tion. You're quite the journalist. 5 I went to a pretty fancy school. dt: Obviously. Yeah, the game feels, you know; just like skat- ing. Or at least how Rest-of- Danny describes it. When I grind, I feel it. When I bomb a hill, it feels good. 5: Do you and Rest-of-Danny get along? dt: Most of the time. Sometimes he goes a little nuts and tries to pull crazy [crap] and ends up smashing me into stuff in the s: That's kinda mean. 5: How? s: I'll have to remember that. 8: You mean sleep apnea? Blood and Gore Crude Humor Language Mild Violence Tobacco Reference £ connect E3 2007 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots { Uncharted: Drake's Fórtühe | 30 GAME INFORMER | ony had its work cut out for it this year, not only in light of its competitors’ performance, but due to the fact that the company notice- ably stumbled at last year’s E3. In some ways, this year's press conference was unre- markable in that Sony was talking about titles that we've already heard about and which have yet to come out for the system. But the company showed that it is trying to not only rectify some problems, but improve its situation as well. The price of the PlayStation 3 has been a contentious topic ever since Sony debuted its two-SKU, higher- priced approach, but it was happy to announce a price cut for the platform. Well, sort of. Currently, the 60GB PS3 is selling for $499, offering a discount of $100, and replacing the 20GB model. Meanwhile, a new 80GB version bundled with MotorStorm will debut in August. While it's great the price of the 60GB PS3 was dropped, after the press conference, Sony clarified that this is being done only to clear out stock of that version. Once that sells out, there will only be one kind of PS3 available — the 80GB one at $599. While it's hard to see Sony's strategy as a true price cut since once the 60GB sells out it's more accurate to say you're simply getting more for your money, this is certainly good news if you don’t have the system and are interested in MotorStorm. “We found very early on,” said Sony Computer Entertainment president and group CEO Kaz Hirai, “that consumers react mostly to hav- ing one SKU as opposed to two” The PS3 arguably needs more games in its catalog than a change in price, however, and at the press conference Sony promised 120 new first and third-party titles in North America through the end of March 2008, including 15 first- party exclusives by this Christmas. Known quantities such Gran Turismo 5 Prologue If you want longer life out of your new PSP, you can use your old battery if you buy a special kit with a new cover as Ratchet & Clank Future, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Midway's Unreal Tournament ІІ, and Ubisoft's Haze were highlighted, and everyone was impressed when Konami's Hideo Kojima took the stage and showed off a new trailer for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It's customary for MGS trailers to wow audiences, but Kojima keeps out- doing himself. Apart from these, new faces such as Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (out in Japan this October) and Infamous were also shown. GT 5 Prologue is clearly a holdover until we get a full-on GT 5, but it will have integrated online features including 16-player races. Although details were scarce, Sony did have a partnership to tout, announcing that MMO veteran NCsoft (Tabula Rasa) is granting the PS3 exclusive console rights to some future titles based on NCsoft existing franchises as well as new properties. Sony is slowly offering downloadable titles for PlayStation Network, and one in particular — Echochrome from Sony Japan — made a big splash at the press conference and NEW PSP PACKS the show. This title and others on the Network such as LittleBigPlanet and Pain are thankfully more than just classic re-releases or slight diversions, but given the effort and money put into them, it will be interesting to see if Sony runs into the same supply problems that Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade has had. The PSP was not neglected, and the system received its long-talked about makeover. While not a striking rede- sign, the handheld (which comes out in September) is now 33 percent lighter, 19 percent slimmer, and comes in two additional colors (silver and white). The new unit (which is still $169.99) outputs content to your TV (provided it has inputs for component cables), allowing you to play PSP titles on your TV, watch UMD movies, and look at photos. If you buy a sold-separately battery cover, you can put your old PSP battery into the new PSP and get more playing time for your new handheld. Sony says that it plans to release 140 PSP games through the end of March, including God of War: Chains of Olympus, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, Silent Hill Origins, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, and more. There are also two new PSP packs available (see sidebar for more details), one of which was introduced by Chewbacca — who is sus- piciously the same height as Sony's president of worldwide studios Phil Harrison... Just as Microsoft had ended its press conference the night before with its big FPS, Halo 5, Sony closed the pro- ceedings with in-game footage of Killzone 2 (see page 74 for more). Although the footage didn't look exactly the same as the debut trailer from two years ago, Sony and developer Guerilla Games put to rest any doubts that they could utilize the PS3 to produce some impressive-looking games. For more on the games on Sony's platforms at ЕЗ, please check out our continuing coverage starting on page 54. REPORT CARD Apart from the redesign of the PSP, there will be two PSP packs available this fall. DAXTER PSP ENTERTAINMENT PACK (September 10) * ce Silver PSP * Daxter PSP game + Family Guy — The Freakin’ Sweet Collection UMD * 1 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo * Limited Edition/$199 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT PSP ENTERTAINMENT PACK (October 9) * Ceramic White PSP featuring silk- screened Darth Vadar image (shown on previous page) * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron PSP game * Limited Edition/$ 199 Sony achieved what it failed to do last E3. Instead of leaving con- sumers with questions and nagging doubts, the company reassured and excited its fanbase. Certainly, it's good to see its platforms gain- ing momentum despite past snafus. The PlayStation 3 is coming to life with software, the PSP is soldiering on against the goliath that is the Nintendo DS, and the Home community service and the PlayStation Network games show that Microsoft isn't the only com- pany with an online plan. The company has always said that it has a long-term strategy for its products, and now we're starting to see it build a strong foundation for that execution. Grade: B HOME IMPROVEMENTS Since it unveiled its Home community hub this spring, Sony has made some additions. An open-air square featuring a movie theater, bowling alley, and other locations replaces the indoor lounge of old; and Sony's president of worldwide studios, Phil Harrison walked around with his Home avatar. He showed off the ability to take pictures from a mobile phone and import them into your Home, as well as how elements of the free service (coming this fall) can be accessed via a social network web page. Harrison also showed how you can access your PS3 and PSN games directly from Home by jumping into an online multiplayer session of MotorStorm. Sony presenters Jack Tretton (SCEA president and CEO) nd Kaz Hirai were also hown as Home avatars, ind provided a little comedy. Tretton came across Hirai playing his PSP on Tretton's Home deck. “Hey Kaz, what the heck are you doing here?” asked Tretton. “Are you playing Riiiidge Raacerrr?!" 9 The picture next to Harrison's Home avatar GAME INFORMER 31 connect E3 2007 There's the perception that the Xbox 360, because it had a head start over Sony and Nintendo, is consid- ered the first-priority console for third-party software, even if those games might appear on the PS3 as well. How do you combat that perception? : | think that's a false perception, if it is even a perception that's out there. If it's a perception with the media, | can tell you that | don't believe it's a perception with third parties. I think third parties understand full well the momentum that PlayStation has. They believe in our platform histori- cally and they're on board going forward. | think if you look at the rate of sale for 360 right now, they've been having some problems. You're seeing a decrease month-on-month for some of their sell-through for 360 versus a ramp-up in PS3. So, having said that, the software that's coming out this year has been in development for some time and people aren't changing their plans yet. | think, if anything, people will be shifting even more support behind PS3 based on that momentum. Some people are disappointed that the price drop wasn't really technically a price drop, since once the 60GB SKU is gone from retail there will only be the one price point. What's your reaction to those complaints? Well, let's try to boil this down in a simple way: If something used to cost $600 and now it costs $500, | think that's a price drop. In fact, | think it's a price drop of $100. But once the 60GB is out of stock, you're back to having to pay $600. What we've said is that there's ample supply of the 60GB. There's been some stuff coming out about our manufactur- ing plans, but the people that are making these comments aren't necessarily privy to what we have already manufac- tured. What | can tell you is that we have ample supply of the 60GB model. If people want to buy one for $499, we're ready to sell them one. Then, what we've said is that — once 32 GAME INFORMER the 60GB are sold out — we'll deal with it at that point. But we've not made any further announcements on hardware strategies going beyond that point. [ed. — Sony's president Kaz Hirai has confirmed a phase out of the 60GB model] Given your current rate of sale, do you have any projections as to how long you will have 60GB models in stock? Vo. I think what we're seeing right now is a very elastic response. We dropped the price by $100 and we've seen an increase of 35 percent across the board. So, that bodes well. But let's take a step back. We're still in July. We're not in the peak selling season and we don't have games like Warhawk and Lair and Heavenly Sword and Uncharted hitting the market. think we'll see a higher rate of sale, which stands to reason, as it's a seasonal busi- ness. But even with that we're confident that we've got ample supply of the 60GB for this fall season. Given the resources that you're put- ting into triple-A PlayStation Network games like LittleBigPlanet, are you going to be better about scheduling and promoting these games than Xbox Live Arcade? Some people complain that XBLA games come out erratically and there are often dead periods without much new content. Well, | don't want to comment on what Live has delivered and what their sched- ule is. But we've said that we have over 80 games coming and have many teams dedicated to delivering content that's optimized for PlayStation 3 and available for download. When you look at that breadth of content just from our first-party studios alone, | think gamers are in for a real treat with a lot of great content. And disparate types of content. We're talking about add-on packs to things like Resistance, which is a great first-person shooter, to games like Echochrome, which couldn't be more different, to casual games like bowling using the Sixaxis controller to play a very different type of game altogether. The difference in our strategy and our competitor's is that these games are developed specifi- cally for download to PlayStation 3. Number one, all PlayStation 3's have a hard drive so we don't have to worry about that. Someone can makes something as big or small as they want. There's no constraint at the design stage for them. Secondly, these guys are focused on Cell and Blu-ray and, in many cases, these games are in 1080p. That's something that our competition can't do. My understanding is that a lot of the Xbox Arcade games are cata- log games and classic games that have been dusted off. There's a place for that, but gamers aren't getting the new experiences they're see- ing on PlayStation 3. On PlayStation Network, when third- party developers make a game for down- load, can they make it free? Who dictates the pricing? The third party does. If they came to us and said they wanted it to be free, that's their call. We don't dictate any prices, it's their call completely. has. | think third arties understand full well the momen- tum that PlayStation Some people were expecting an announcement on rumble technology for the Sixaxis at E3, especially in light of the new deal with Immersion. Can you talk about where that's at right now? We did get a lot of questions about that at ЕЗ, and what we've said is that, with the Immersion settlement behind us, the companies are talking again. But, there are no announce- ments at this time. Most people have speculated that you'd have to buy another controller to get rumble, because the technology wouldn't be transferable to the current Sixaxis. Is that correct? As | said, there really no announcements that we're making with regards to rumble or future controller announcements. You'd have to characterize all that discussion as speculation and rumor, and as a policy we don't comment on those types of things. At the press conference you talked about exclusive NCsoft and Epic deals. In a previous interview, Jack Tretton told us that you don't buy exclusives like Microsoft has done with BioWare. With these deals, had that thinking changed? Jacks comment was that we don't have to buy them; we're offering a platform that allows developers to create the types of content that they can imagine, with great technology driv- ing it, with Blu-ray and Cell — there's games that can't be done on competitive platforms. So, if you want to benefit from the hardware install base that PlayStation has already delivered, this is a great place for you. But, beyond that, | think what the NCsoft deal points out is that there were concerns that they have about how they wanted to approach the market, how they wanted to host the content and deliver the experience, and manage that process. I'd be a little reluctant to speak on their behalf, but I think if you asked them | think they'd go on record as saying that they weren't able to figure out a way to work with Microsoft. They were very excited about working with us, and that resulted in them working on our platform. That's a very different approach than driving up a Brink's truck and buying an exclusive title. | think that's what Jack meant. There's different ways to partner with people and approach them openly in a mutually beneficial way. On one particular exclusive deal, Microsoft has the episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV. Was there an oppor- tunity for you to do a similar deal and, if so, do you regret not having signed it? Our approach to Grand Theft Auto was that it was a great franchise, it has been a great franchise, and it will continue to be a great franchise. We're excited about it coming out on PlayStation 3. Having said that, each platform generation has new IP that comes out and dominates. You go back to Crash Bandicoot and Lara Croft on PSone, and then GTA on PS2. Our approach is that there might be a new way to launch new IP. What we've talked to Take 2 about is the possibility of a new fran- chise that would be exclusive to PlayStation 3. That's something we haven't talked a lot about but it's something that you'll starting hearing a lot about soon. So, again, we don't feel like we're walking away from anything — we've still got Grand Theft Auto on our platform. The many, many millions of Grand Theft Auto fans are largely PlayStation enthusiasts because they played the game on PlayStation first. We believe that those folks will migrate to PlayStation 3, many of them. While all that's going on we'll be working with Take 2 and Rockstar on a new IP. We think that's a great solution for us going forward as well. GET INTO THE DRIFT WITH JUICED 2: HOT IMPORT NIGHTS the only place where superstar DJs, smokin’ hot models and totally tuned cars come into close contact. EXPRESS YOURSELF USING COMPETE WITH ANYONE IN CHALLENGE ALL TAKERS IN THE MOST POWERFUL THE WORLD THROUGH A FULL ADRENALINE-FUELED DRIFT MODDING SYSTEM EVER SEEN. ONLINE CAREER MODE. AND RACE EVENTS. PLAYSTATION 3 WWW.JUICED2HIN.COM ж XBOX 360 LIVE ==... . HIN Game experience may IMPORT change during online pl You can take it with you. NINTENDOS, tor copyrighted materials of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Hot Import Nights and its logo are trademarks of Action Media Operating LLC. Developed by Juice Game perty of their respective owners. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "P n and Memory Card (BMB) (for PlayStation 2) (each sold separately], PLAYSTATION 3 online access requires broadband Internet service and a wireless access point or LAN. Certain limita (PlayStation Portable) system. imagery featured in this game are trader trademarks, logos and copyrights ely). Online play requires Internet c 2004 Nintendo, es, Juiced, THO and their respective logos are yo and "PSP" are registered trademarks of Sony "T to Wi-Fi connectivity. User is responsible for connect | E3 TOP 50 Even though this year’s E3 saw some drastic changes in format, it didn’t shift its focus from the games. There may have been fewer mind- blowing announcements, but it is impossible to deny that the titles on display still gave gamers a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Even with so many high-quality games on the horizon, sifting through every first-person shooter and quirky side-scroller is a daunting task. That's why we've compiled our picks for the top 50 hottest things at the show, answering the burning questions about the big games. Read on if you want to know what got people talking and why. FARE NETWORK, UP TO 32-PLAVER VIA PC INTERNET OR LAN) > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, PC > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR PLAYS > PUBLISHER ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER INFINITY WARD > RELEASE 4TH pud 2007 What It Is > Infinity Ward, the developer behind Call of Duty 1 and 2, is back at it bringing us a chilling vision of Modern Warfare. With locations all over the globe and intense firefights that will leave your jaw on the floor, there is little doubt that this game will offer a powerful, if slightly linear, first-person experience. 34 GAME INFORMER Why It's Hot > Each and every level of this game is fri ingly explosive, from the array of armaments to the heart- pumping soundtrack. This game puts you in the fight unlike any before. Not only is this it graphically astounding, its play is frantic with masterfully designed levels. How It Stacks Up > In a year with Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 4, it's hard to believe that Call of Duty 4 is the talk of the town coming out of this year's ES, but playing and seeing is believing. If Infinity Ward can deliver a dominant multiplayer experience, this game may have no match. HALO 3 > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT > DEVELOPER BUNGIE > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 25 What It 15 » The final installment of Bungie's masterful FPS promises to resolve all the big questions left behind from the second part's cliffhanger ending. Huge-scale conflicts are the order of the day, and the visuals have come a long way from the recent multiplayer beta. Why It's Hot > Having the Master Chief and the Arbiter fight side by side ought to be reason enough to sign back up for another tour of duty, but the amazing flexibility of the game film-saving function will let you relive the action again and again. How It Stacks Up » After seeing an extended demo of the single-player campaign, Bungie's baby still has it where it counts. In the FPS category it will be hard to beat, but this year MC must pull out some big surprises to stand up to the competition's modern weapons of warfare. ES ROCK BAND > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER MUSIC (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION 424,081 NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER HARMONIX - > RELEASE HOLIDAY What It Is > Guitar Hero was only the beginning. Rock Band brings Harmonix full circle with vocals, drums, guitar, and bass. This might be the closest you ever get to living out your Bon Jovi fantasies — groupies not included. Why It's Hot > It's all about the online this time, whether it's you playing four-player with buddies all across the country or piling up the hundreds of songs that will show up as downloadable content in the first year, including full album collections from the likes of Metallica and The Who. How It Stacks Up > If this isn't the definitive party game of 2008, we'll eat our plastic toy guitars. The full band experience is amazing, but it's possible that the guitar lines took a hit in the process. Our early demos had Guitar Hero 3 emerging as the choice for the solo shredder. Meanwhile, the Rock Band drums, like Obi-Wan, are more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Knows not ED MASS EFFECT > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER BIOWARE > RELEASE NOVEMBER What It Is > Imagine what would happen if one of the most highly acclaimed RPG houses implemented Gears of War-like combat into a game that spanned the entire universe. That's exactly what BioWare has done with Mass Effect. Why it's Hot > Battles usually unfold with the player using the | fade tun to reach cover, then blindly firing over the top at a group of robotic adversaries. If that fails, a powerful Force-like push is in order. How It Stacks Up > The good people at BioWare know exactly what nerds want. Who in their right mind can tum down science fiction, big guns, gorgeous graphics, and loads of customization? LITTLEBIGPLANET > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER MEDIA MOLECULE > RELEASE Q1 2008 What It fs » LittleBigPlanet is basically a do-it-yourself platformer. Gamers can use in-game tools to create objects, and the onscreen character interacts with them to get around obstacles. Realistic physics allow objects to behave believably according to their size and composition. Why it's Hat > On first glance, the visuals and humor are what will catch your eye, but the game backs up the charm with clever gameplay. It provides a high level of freedom through the vast array of creation options, and will focus on sharing and ranking the users’ custom content. How It Stacks Up > If this is the kind of original, imaginative offerings gamers can look forward to on the PlayStation Network, it makes Xbox Live Arcade titles look pretty primitive by comparison. Even in the face of Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4, this was the Ps3 exclusive everyone was talking about at ЕЗ. GAME INFORMER 35 > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER GUERRILLA GAMES > RELEASE 2008 The long-promised shooter for the PS3 is finally revealed, this time with real, honest-to-goodness gameplay. A gritty sci-fi universe now has the good guys on the offensive, fighting back against the hellish Helghast. » While the team didn't come out and shout "I told you so! they may as well have, since their live gameplay demo at Sony's press conference was almost as exciting as that original not-so-real trailer from a few years ago. » Incredible action and intricately detailed visuals are no problem for this huge PS3 exclusive, and the FPS controls are some of the best we've felt with a Sony controller. There were other shooters that outshone Killzone 2 at the show, but then again, Killzone 2 is a lot further away from release than some. Give it a few months and it could give the other big guys an even fight. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, РС > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG > PUBLISHER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS > DEVELOPER BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS > RELEASE FALL 2008 L It Is > This total re-imagining of the classic Fallout franchise couldn't be in better hands than the folks at Bethesda, who seem committed to walking the fine line between maintain- ing the themes and tone of the original games while pushing gameplay forward in new directions. > Huge branching story paths will mean numerous replays, but the idea of the ‘makers of Oblivion diving into the Fallout universe is a dream come true for most pra players. 1 Bethesda won't be releasing Fallout 3 until fall of 2008, and already the game Е most titles on display at this year's Ез. While some other big story-driven games might have stolen our attention for this year, our money is on this game as the RPG to beat in 2008. 36 GAME INFORMER > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER ROCKSTAR > DEVELOPER ROCKSTAR NORTH > RELEASE OCTOBER 16 As one of the the most anticipated games of all time, there's a lot of pressure on Rockstar North to deliver a next-gen experience that backs up the hype. Having seen a lengthy demo of the game in action, we can safely say that this next installment is packing a lot of firepower in its gameplay, and its ceo is taking players to places and thrills that they never could have seen coming. Hol > This series’ amazing sense of freedom is now backed by realism. You can't simply hop into a car and drive off. You'll now have to break its window and spend a few seconds hotwiring it. Adding this Ды! to the mix only expands this game's ability to create never-before-seen scenarios. Sta Rockstar North hasn't gone back and completely reinvented the wheel. This developer fas just added new layers and textures that will make the experience feel much different. > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NINTENDO > RELEASE NOVEMBER 12 Is > Nintendo's mascot is back, and he's ready to explore the galaxy, Bourg from planet to planet, and perform space acrobatics like never before. Why It's f We only get one of these Mari titles every five years or so, so you know Nintendo is making sure it's flagship series is the best it canbe. ow It Stacks Up > Considering Mario is usually know for defining how platform games control, it will be interesting to see what he has to teach us about the Wii's motion controls. Tour the ancient holy lands of the Third Crusade as a sword-and-dagger-toting killer who is far more than he appears. Climb walls, leap between rooftops, and meld into the crowd in a refreshing take on the open world concept. The makers of Prince of Persia have incorporated so many new ideas into this game it's hard to know where to start, from a marionette-style control scheme to the remarkable animations apparent in move- ment and combat. There's also a pretty huge surprise about what is really happening in the story, but we wouldn't dare spoil it for you. Up > It's hard to argue that any other game this year will innovate іп as many ways as Assassin's Creed, With that said, the team has some work ahead to smooth out some rough edges before the planned holiday release. > PLATFORM NINTENDO DS > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS OR NINTENDO WI-FI CONNECTION) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NINTENDO > RELEASE OCTOBER at if Ís > Though technically а age to Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass is a classic top-down Zelda for the DS in the tradition of A Link to the Past. / People get excited for Zelda no matter what, but this one will use the DS to its fullest; move- ment is handled exclusively by the touch screen, and you blow in the micto сапан fires. Sta > Our concerns about the E scheme melted away after some hands-on time, but it is strange that there are no options allowing use of the d-pad controls. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, WII, PLAYSTATION 2 > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER MUSIC (2-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER RED OCTANE/ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER NEVERSOFT (XBOX 360, PS3), VICARIOUS VISIONS (WII), BUDCAT (PS2) > RELEASE FALL This follow-up i in the wildly popular Guitar Hero series delivers ‘one amazing list of tracks, with most being master tracks from the original artists. Red Octane even so far as to sign on Slash (of Guns N' Roses fame, duh!) for a head-to-head boss battle against the guitar legend. He will also be contributing an original track. w We played this one for hours at E3 and we couldn't help but be impressed with all the work Neversoft has done to make sure Guitar Hero 3 more than delivers this fall. When asked about a Metallica appearance the team couldn't talk, but they did mention it sure would be great if they could get "one" really good track. You know, ONE. p > Sure, Rock Band announced tons of tracks and a full band, but for the Guitar Hero fanatic this new edition delivered the best tracks at the show, and more importantly, tracks that were fun and challenging to play. Guitar Hero masters and amateurs alike will find plenty to love here. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER KONAMI > DEVELOPER KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS > RELEASE Q1 2008 Guns of the Patriots is the final installment in the Metal Gear Solid series, and promises to answer all of the big questions. It is also supposedly the last Metal Gear project from Hideo Kojima, but we've heard that before. hy It's Stunning graphics and exciting cinematics make MGS 4 the feather in Sony's PS3 exclusive cap. Oh, and Snake might die. > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER FIGHTING (ONLINE TBA) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER HAL LABORATORY INC > RELEASE DECEMBER 3 5 > The definitive video game combination of Nintendo's best characters in a four; -player throwdown. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER Why! Smash Bros. is like the ultimate collection of awesome. If it were a ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER movie, it'd be a Godfather remake set in the Star Wars universe starring Spider-Man ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER INSOMNIAC GAMES apd the Terminator. TRADERS Up > The only disappointment about this game is that there was very > Insomniacs' brand of wacky ше new information alae АСЫ o US TOR inally have a release date, but gun: toting platforming, with a splash of RPG December 3rd feels like such a long way away, flair, is in full swing for this fifth entry in the Ratchet series. Why i > From being able to turn enemies into top hat-wearing penguins to forcing robots to dance to a funky beat, Ratchet's weapon list has always been the series' highlight and Future doesn't look to disappoint. How It Up » There was some talk at the show about how Future didn’t look very innovative compared to previous entries, but when you are talking about a no-miss series from one of the industry's top developers, can you really complain? Up » The trailer at E3 was awesome, and the NN we've seen looks like a great evolution for the franchise. 2 connect E3 TOP 50 D > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER АСПОМ/ ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE 2008 Former S.TA.RS. member Chris Redfield retums 10 years after the events of Raccoon City to combat a group of speedy (think 28 Days Later) zombie-like creatures in some kind of Haitian or African village. It's impressive when the only thing shown for a game is a 60-second clip featuring no story details, a mysterious setting, and undisclosed game mechanics, and it's still talked about as one of the best things at the show. Hot? RE 5 will melt glaciers. Producer Jun Takeuchi has stated that adjust- ing your eyes to see in any environment will be an important element in the game. > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER ENSEMBLE STUDIOS > RELEASE 2008 A graphically impressive Halo real-time strategy offering from the studio that created Age of Empires. s Did you read the above bullet? This is a perfect storm, provided Ensemble can nail the control scheme — and early Indications are that it's on the right track. h tai What we saw implied that Halo Wars hews very dosely to traditional RTS design, but it's absolutely gorgeous and it's got the Halo fiction behind it. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, PC (XBOX 360 IN 2008) > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER MIDWAY > DEVELOPER EPIC GAMES > RELEASE LATE 2007 » Before there was Gears of War, there was Unreal Tournament — one of the greatest multiplayer games to ever grace the PC. 's Hot = There isn't a faster multiplayer game out there, a with all the technical know-how at Epic, thís game is turn- ing Gears of War level-graphics in massive multiplayer arenas. Featuring a single-player campaign and an all-new multiplayer mode in Warfare, gamers are guaranteed endless hours of non- 20 action. » Nobody does weapons and vehicles quite like Epic Games, and the arsenal for Unreal Tournament III is second to none. For the first time ever, the PlayStation 3 edition will be compatible with the user-developed mods created by the PC community using the award-winning Unreal Engine Toolset. > PLATFORM PC > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE TBA The successor to the most famous real-time strategy game of all time. StarCraft II looks to maintain the flavor and playstyle of the original, but also add a bunch of fancy new tech and excit- ng new units, S It's Blizzard. It's StarCraft. Unless an earthquake sends the developer, along with half of California, into the hungry ocean, this is going to be huge. 38 САМЕ INFORMER %% B Unreal Tournament Ш n Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER RETRO STUDIOS INC. > RELEASE AUGUST 27 » Corruption isn't just a first-person shooter; it's also an action, e and platform game. Developer Retro Studios has honed its craft with two previous Prime games, and it doesn't look like itll drop the ball the third time. { With graphics that belong on one of the other next- gen consoles and controls perfectly tweaked for the Wii, we can't think of a better way to finish the summer off. » Nintendo claims that this could be the first person experience of the year. In a year with COD 4 and Halo 3 that's a pretty bold claim, but after what we've seen we're not discounting it yet. > PLATFORM PSP > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER READY AT DAWN > RELEASE NOVEMBER s > This PSP prequel leads players on an adventure with Kratos in a period prior to the first God of War titles. t's Hot > It's got flailing blades, mythological beasts, and more chilling backstory about the Ghost of Sparta. Stacks Up » Chains of Olympus could pass for a PS2 title. In terms of visuals and gameplay, it seems like very little is being lost in transition to handheld. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/STRATEGY (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER GEARBOX SOFTWARE > RELEASE TBA What It Is > The first next-gen entry in the WWII tactical shooter series, which takes great advantage of the power of the newer machines. Extensive environmental destruction lets you shape the battlefield, and the series’ hallmark strategic gameplay is in full cise With more story than Ghost Recon and more ae than Crysis, this is a hugely promising title. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER LUCASARTS > DEVELOPER LUCASARTS > RELEASE 2008 This game looks to deliver the Jedi-tastic experience Star Wars fans have been waiting for. In the trailer, Vader's apprentice Force pulls a Star Destroyer out of the sky and crashes it into a city. As the gargan- tuan vessel slides toward him, he pulls out his red saber. If the trailer sizes up the gameplay, not even the combined might of Kratos and Dante would be able to take down this fleshy machine of destruction. ЁЗ BURNOUT PARADISE > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 8- PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER CRITERION GAMES > RELEASE JANUARY 2008 What It Is > If the Bumout series is about anything other than racing, it's about wrecking, and with Paradise — the first Burnout developed exclusively for next-gen — the crashes look better than ever. Why It's Hot > Welcome to Paradise City, Burnout's hub world. You won't be picking challenges from a list; driving to your next race is half the game's fun. How It Stacks Up » The lack of a Crash Mode has us a little worried, but Criterion is convinced that Showtime Mode wil fill that gap. а pave Paradise ж ЕСНОСНАОМЕ > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, PSP > STYLE 1-PLAYER PUZZLE (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER SCE) > RELEASE TBA What It Is > If M.C. Escher had bom in the video game generation, this might have been the culmination of his life's work. Echochrome's simplistic graphics hide the incredibly unique gameplay, which has you navigating seemingly impossible puzzles by rotating the camera to hide the obstacles in your path. Why It’s Hot » When a white screen with some black lines is able to garner more buzz than most triple-A console retail announce- ments, you know it's something special. How It Stacks Up » It's completely different from anything else you've seen from a game, but exactly how it works remains a mys- tery — there was little more than a short video at this years show. LOST ODYSSEY > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER MISTWALKER/FEEL PLUS > RELEASE WINTER What It Is > Lost Odyssey is a traditional RPG featuring tum-based battles and an immortal 1,000-year-old protagonist named Kaim Why It's Hot > It will be the second title to come from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's Mistwalker studio. How It Stacks Up » It lacks the visual flair of Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata, but makes up for it with a more thematically sophisticated plot. E crysis > PLATFORM PC > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER CRYTEK > RELEASE 4TH. QUARTER 2007 What It Is > One of the best-looking FPSs we've ever seen. Crysis tasks players with fending off an alien invasion through lush jungles, frozen landscapes, and into the invading ships themselves. Why It’s Hot > Aside from the graphics, the powers — armor, super-speed, super-strength — that your super-suit grants you are a blast to use. How it Stacks Up > The visuals outclass pretty much everything, and the gameplay looks promising. We have some worries about the null-G sections, though. 9 Echochrome Enemy тепйолез=ОцаКе. Wars: MARIO KART Wii [WORKING TITLE] > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER RACING (ONLINE TBA) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NINTENDO > RELEASE TBA What It Is » More Mario Kart — this time on Wii, with the motion- sensing control that implies. Based on the trailer, a mixture of both old and new tracks will be present again in this version. Why It's Hot > Because Mario Kart rules. It may look like a GameCube game, but Nintendo has never disappointed with this series. Haw It Stacks Up » We haven't played it yet, but the franchise's outstanding track record buys it a free pass for now. HEAVENLY SWORD > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER NINJA THEORY > RELEASE SEPTEMBER What It Is > By cutting through bad guys with blade that is slowly draining her life, the fiery-haired Nariko avenges in style. Why It's Hot > The swirling blades and animations look great, and characters’ nuanced facial expressions add life to the dialogue. How It Stacks Up » The combat feels more deliberate than your average action title, falling somewhere between God of War and Devil May Cry. Heavenly Sword Ё CONTRA 4 > PLATFORM NINTENDO DS > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER KONAMI > DEVELOPER WAYFORWARD TECHNOLOGIES > RELEASE WINTER 2007 What It Is » Contra retums to its roots for its 20th anniversary with a 2D side-scrolling shooter on the Nintendo DS. Why It's Hot > Offer large-scale platforming via the two screens, mix in a little co-op, and combine it with new weapon combos - and a Bionic Commando-like grapple ability. What do you get? Probably a retro gaming rush. How It Stacks Up > Contra 4 may not use any touch-screen tech- nology, but like its 8-bit compatriots Super Mario and Castlevania, a retum to its side-scrolling past could yield big sales and happy gamers. ENEMY TERRITORIES: QUAKE WARS > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, РС > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER SPLASH DAMAGE/ID SOFTWARE, ACTIVISION FOSTER CITY (PLAYSTATION 3), NERVE SOFTWARE (XBOX 360) > RELEASE TBA What It Ís > A Battlefield 1942-esque strategic multiplayer FPS set during the Stroge’s first invasion of Earth. Why It's Hot > Past the tight FPS gameplay, the ability to build and utilize a variety of vehicles and structures adds a new layer to this shooter. How It Stacks Up > It's pretty, and it's already fun, but the strategic considerations are going to have to rock large to make this stand out in a crowded field. GAME INFORMER 39 ** connect | ЕЗ ТОР 50 40 GAME INFORMER E Hellgate: London Bede Blob he W Fable 2 Bi Infamous > PLATFORM РС > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER VIA INTERNET) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI/ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER FLAGSHIP STUDIOS > RELEASE 4TH QUARTER 2007 What it Is > The next game from the creative minds behind Diablo — grind your way to the fattest loot in the land. Why It's Hot » Awesome online support and an incredible random map/mon- ster/loot generator will keep this dungeon crawler fresh for a very long time. s Up > This streamlined experience offers an alternate path for How players uninterested in the complex worlds of World of Warcraft or Tabula Rasa. > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1 ТО 4-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER UBISOFT PARIS > RELEASE NOVEMBER 15 s > One of the few genuinely successful third-party games on the Wii retums with more insane Rabbid antics as the hapless hares try to take over Earth. ot > Take the quirky fun of the first game and multiply it with a fo -player party mode, customizable Rabbids, and 60 new minigames that poke fun at popular culture and gaming. Jp » Rayman Raving Rabbids proved its mettle last go around, and ШЕЕ from our brief hands-on time with minigames that mimicked Tecmo Bowl and Guitar Hero, this game should pick up where the last one left off. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, NINTENDO DS > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER 2K GAMES > DEVELOPER FIRAXIS GAMES > RELEASE SPRING What It Is » Instead of porting the latest PC version of Civilization to the consoles, series creator Sid Meier is reinventing this hallowed game for the console crowd. The result is a game that is still deep in strategy, but in a much different, and more beautiful way. > This newly designed Civilization has more of an intimate feel to it, but still retains the series’ amazingly complex strategies. Be assured, most battles will still end with a nuke. How It Stacks Up » Strategy games are a dime a dozen on PC, but really don't have a strong foothold on console. Maybe a great new Civ title can open the floodgates. ALN | A WARHAWK > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 32-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER INCOGNITO ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE FALL 2007 What It Is > The PS3’s only exclusively multiplayer title features fast-paced air, armored, and infantry combat across huge maps. Picture a futuristic Battlefield hopped up on steroids and stimulants. Why It's Hot > Waging war on an epic scale is never dull, and Warhawk has all the tools necessary to wage a successful online campaign, including clan support and a ranking system featuring unlockable customization. How it Stacks Up » Given the lack of solid multiplayer games on the PS3, Warhawk should hit the ground running when it debuts this fall. Download it online or purchase it at a retail store (which will net you a Bluetooth headset as well). > PLATFORM Wii» STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER BLUE TONGUE > RELEASE 2008 When an evil corporation takes over and outlaws all color from the Word it's up to the adorable de Blob to bring life back to his city. » Players will be able to mix different colors and then bounce across buildings and create music in the process. iow It Si p » We're happy to see people putting some effort into. developing unique Wii titles that have good controls, With its unique art style and puzzle-oriented gameplay, de Blob could appeal to fans of Katamari Damacy. з rı > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT > DEVELOPER LIONHEAD STUDIOS > RELEASE 2008 What It Is » If you thought that the original Fable was wildly inventive, just wait until you see what Peter Molyneux has planned for the sequel. With a canine companion at your side, your sword doubles as a conductor's baton, and no matter how thoroughly you get beaten, you'll likely never die. at » Molyneux is always looking for ways to innovate, and from the Title we've seen thus far, Fable 2 is already showing a new approach to combat with its rhythm-based mechanics, and also death in video games, which is being replaced with cosmetic scaring on the character. » Of all of the games shown at this year’s show, Fable 2 Ey can't be connected to any other game, simply because it is moving in directions that no other game has gone before. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING (ONLINE TBA) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER NAMCO BANDAI > RELEASE 2008 It Is > A continuation of the long-running fighting franchise, with a beefed up character creator and luscious visuals. Why It’ The addition of online play and a few balance tweaks are more than enough to have us anxious to get our hands on this. How It » This is the fighting game to watch for everyone besides the “Virtua Fighter is so much better than anything else” crowd. l dO > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER SUCKER PUNCH > RELEASE 2008 What It Is » Following the same path as Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, the developer of Sly Cooper, is taking a stab at a more realistic, action- focused game. Why It's Hot > You may look like an average Joe, but you actually have super powers, and it sounds like you can use them for either evil (throw- ing cars and electrocuting people), or good (activities that bring about the response: meh). How It Si p > This may seem like a unique game, but it actually sounds just like Prototype (see last month's cover story). It'll be interesting to see how both of these open-world super hero games differ in the end. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER SHOOTER > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER QUEASY GAMES > RELEASE 2008 What It Is > A collection of shooter games in the vein of Robotron or Genet Wars, but with some added music game elements. at > The PC version received some critical acclaim, and now console players will be able to check out the game for themselves when it comes to the PlayStation Network. Jp » Unlike other shooters, Everyday is entrancing and relax- ing. Every shot fired creates a musical effect, and each level will require a different approach. > PLATFORM XBOX 360, PC> STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (ONLINE TBA VIA XBOX LIVE, UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA PC INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER SIERRA ENTERTAINMENT: > DEVELOPER MASSIVE ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE TBA (XBOX 360), SEPTEMBER 18 (PC) A beautiful tactical real-time strategy predicated on a modem Cold War breaking out into open conflict. à 3 is Why It's Hot » The visuals are unbelievable, and the small-scale RTS Р ihe - lm беру lends itself to intense, intimate battles. aa $ 5” 3: Но) Up > The Ground Control-esque design makes this an odd duck in the RTS space, but we dig its off-beat sensibilities. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360, Wii, PLAYSTATION 2, NINTENDO DS > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER EA REDWOOD SHORES > RELEASE WINTER is » Four playable family members battle their way through familiar characters and locations in a cel-shaded Springfield. at » Its a parody game with no direct ties to the film, and is > PLATFORM PSP > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ТВА > DEVELOPER SCE loaded with obscure references to the show and tongue-in-cheek jokes. STUDIOS JAPAN > RELEASE TBA » The gameplay itself needs some tuning, but the humor > Patapon is an oddball action/platformer that incorporates ДЫ satirical tone are spot on. thythmic button pressing in the action. » Did you like Loco Roco? Then get ready, because Patapon is VIL NAN S being handled by the same development team. I- VIL | VI \ I 4 Up » We love the game's artistic style: simple shapes and | ttes. It's basic, but ited ell. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360> STYLE I-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER sihouetes. Its basic but itis implemented very m CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE WINTER What It Is > The fourth installment in this stylish action series features a new r hero and ig multiplatform for the first time. Whi > The Devil Bringer expands the old gun-and-sword formula by > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER ТВА) adding hie and grabs to your arsenal. Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi was > PUBLISHER LUCASARTS > DEVELOPER DAY 1 STUDIOS > RELEASE 2008 de mind behind Resident Evil 4 and the original DMC. What It Is > Using weapons that modify terrain to suit their needs, soldiers of » Controls are more fluid than ever before, but the visuals the future fight for world supremacy. have t evolved to the same degree. wi The thrill of looking over the scarred, deformed battlefield after a heated deathmatch is a sensation gamers won't find anywhere else. p » We enjoyed the frantic multiplayer matches we played, but have yet to see if the game can maintain the intensity in single-player. > PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 24-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER FREE RADICAL > RELEASE NOVEMBER What It 18 > TimeSplitters developer Free Radical's take on a futuristic war fueled by bombastic weaponry and drug-addled soldiers. Why It's Hot > Haze features four-player co-op throughout the campaign and sees you switching sides in mid-war, giving you the best of both worlds A мерт du EUR drug allows your soldier to go into a killing ба coe Poo WI) PS2, PSP) DC STUDIOS (DS) > RELEASE OCTOBER How I! Stacks Up > The dynamic, non-scripted Al should help Haze stand Wh > Last year's best-selling original children's intellectual property out from the pack, and making it a PS3 exclusive for the holiday gives it returns in a big, big way with the introduction of death-defying Whoa more of a fighting chance than going against Halo 3 on the Xbox 360. Coasters. In this sequel, you have complete customization control over кунг and can compete in 34 minigames. 1 > There's something charming about having the ability to build > PLATFORM XBOX 360 > STYLE 1-PLAYER RACING (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER coasters that so outrageous that guests either fly off them or lose their lunches. The multiplayer minigames are also looking quite fun. MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER BIZARRE CREATIONS > RELEASE SEPTEMBER > PLATFORM XBOX 360, Wil, PLAYSTATION 2, NINTENDO DS, PSP > STYLE 1-PLAYER SIMULATION (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER LUCASARTS > DEVELOPER FRONTIER Up > There's little else out there that grants players such a high level of customization. » If you've driven in a heavy storm before, you know how КОО, it сап be. Changing weather is one of the aspects that really n EON makes this next iteration so enticing. We also like the idea of bikes ‹ < )A \ versus cars. x ГРИМ | Racing fans around E3 could be heard saying, “did you see > PLATFORM Wii > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER BOARD > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS how the rain rolls off of the car?” This game is a visual knockout, and the > DEVELOPER EA LOS ANGELES/PLANET MOON STUDIOS > RELEASE HOLIDAY 2007 variety that the weather and terrain variations add to the gameplay should \ > This quirky trivia game has up to four players wildly swinging their make it one hell of a ride as well. remotes as they raise their hands to answer, spin gameshow-style wheels, Jp » With Forza and Gran Turismo comering the simulation and engage іп dance-offs and tug-of-wars powered by the Wii-remote. market, Project Gotham has all of the elements needed to pave its own hy It’ > EA wants this to be a family affair, matching the questions path and steer clear of the traffic jam. Jeu get to ү age, so kids and grandmas alike can have fun. s Up » There was plenty on display this year to appeal to casual 45 TADIN A DAC players, but Sia Pants stood apart as a game that people who read ADULA Г\/ gaming magazines might actually get a kick out of. Know anyone like that? > PLATFORM PC > STYLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME > PUBLISHER NCSOFT > DEVELOPER DESTINATION GAMES > RELEASE FALL » An action-packed sci-fi MMO from Lord British, the creator of Living battlefields full of enemies on missions give Tabula Rasa's d an organic feel unrivaled by other MMORPGs. Up > It's a vastly different design than traditional MMOs, but this Has the Ec to be something special. B Tabula Rasa рлы A GAME INFORMER 41 THE GOOD, THE BAD C 0] T C C | When You Want Your News: Categorized With A Sarcastic Editorial al Spin H Е | E L E “SOMETHING MAY BE EXCELLENT AS ITSELF, x 0 = | Қ 0 ST rore oA MEE XBOX 360 WARRANTY EXTENDED — Movie critic Roger Ebert responds to horror author fter two years and who knows how many red rings of death, Microsoft is finally addressing Clive Barker on the subject of video games as art the high failure rate of the Xbox 360. The console manufacturer has changed its warranty for those afflicted by the three flashing red lights, which signifies a general hardware failure. The coverage is now effective for three years past the initial date of purchase. This warranty retro- actively applies to all Xbox 360s, with those bought at the launch of the system covered until November of 2008. Microsoft will repair your console for free, and even cover the shipping costs. Also, anyone who has previously paid for repairs related to the red rings error will be reimbursed. Microsoft says that all other existing warranties regarding the system and any other problems — such as overheat- ing, disc scratching, or bricking via updates — not related to the red rings of death are not covered by this new warranty and will stay the same. Microsoft expects to take a hit in excess of a billion dollars in order to cover the issue, although it isn't stating how many consoles are thought to be affected. There are some unconfirmed reports that this number may be as high as 33 percent. Consumer electronics are expected to have a failure rate of three to five percent. Furthermore, it is unknown how many units still on store shelves may be faulty. Microsoft says that it has no idea of knowing what this number may be and how many possibly BAD? Is the industry ratings board ESRB getting too heavy-handed? Fresh off of giving Manhunt 2 an AO rating, the ESRB has warned a few companies about game content on their websites. Some have old ratings icons or lack of content descriptors, while the ESRB thinks others should have age gates because ofthe content of their online trailers. Is this a Congress’ Joint Economic Committee is expected to issue a report soon afflicted 360s are in the retail channel, show of force or a serious issue? plc ae Rhen Morini e but that it is continually improving the area pink-haired Gnome. system. The company is not specifically citing what is causing the failure, say- ing generically in a statement, "...the company conducted extensive investi- gations into potential sources of general hardware failures... [and] identified a Splinter Cell: Conviction's Sam number of factors...” Fisher is guilty all right. Guilty This is not the first time the warranty of being delayed until March of тей year for the system has had to be adjusted to deal with this problem. Complaints regarding the 360 surfaced right after its launch in November of 2005, which Microsoft downplayed until it extended the normal 90-day warranty to a full year for its original batch of consoles. The company also paid for those first-year owners who needed to have their sys- tems repaired. Dean Takahashi from The San Jose Gl OPINION Too Human developer Silicon Knights is suing Unreal Engine 3 Mercury News reported before ЕЗ that Microsoft made the right decision to extend creator and licensor Epic charging ^ Microsoft was working on redesign- — W | Xbox 360 warranties, and doing what's right hcc Deu ing the internal structure of the 360, АЁ | | didn't come cheap for the Redmond company also failed to provide codenamed Falcon. It is believed that juggernaut. That said, Microsoft still has some support for the engine. Silicon. with smaller chips and processors, explaining to do, because money isn't mak- Quei e ы the heat generated by the system ing the problem disappear. The public deserves more would be less — perhaps addressing forthright information regarding what exactly is causing the one possible issue that causes the red red rings of death and what Microsoft is doing to correct rings of death. and prevent failures. Is it safe to purchase one of the Xbox The console may not be out of the 360s on store shelves today without worry of losing your woods just yet, however. Unrelated to console for a few months due to repair? You deserve to the red rings, Jorge Brouwer is seeking know, and if the answer is no, Microsoft is only halfway more than $5 million in a class-action home on the road to redemption. —BERTZ lawsuit in Florida because he claims that an inherent flaw in the Xbox 360 scratched his games. Earlier this year, a Dutch TV program even investigated the problem and found that the scratches were created by a fundamental design flaw in the 360 due to insufficient cushioning around the laser — although users themselves can cause problems if they move the system while it's running. Microsoft hasn't denied a disc-scratching issue, but instead told Associated Press that it had not gotten "widespread" reports of that particular problem. There were also unconfirmed reports that there a recall was put into place by a major retailer in Australia, but it is unknown if this was simply a temporary measure or what other actions the store Mario Party 8 for the Wii has been recalled in the Rockstar has announced that the formerly exclusive chain took (including those with Microsoft itself) to help consumers and their possibly ailing consoles. U.K. due to a number of copies featuring the U.S. Xbox 360 title Table Tennis will be heading to the Despite the system's legacy of technical issues, it is doubtful that Microsoft will announce a recall, a Mhe ame деа Иені елес. іп M dd кише ien iue especially given that the system currently leads its competitors with an installed base of over 5.6 mil- .K. the term is an offensive word referring to fi version will be as modestly priced as the ыа à ; z ; ici EE BEG RE a EREMO release, which initially sold for $39.99, Both the 360 lion in North America. Perhaps the console's troubles are evidence that Microsoft's decision to put a and Wii will also get a special Scholarship Edition of premium on releasing a year before its rivals hasn't been without a cost. PS2's Bully this winter. 42 GAME INFORMER GAME OF THE VEAR moteriol written oll over it." Officiol Xbox Mogozine Blood and Gore Drug Reference Intense Violence Sexual Themes Strong Language TECHNOLOGY for Windows A genetically enhanced shooter. bioshockgame.com Available Now «91 NVIDIA E ssip ® The original Saints Row for Xbox 360 SAINTS ROW 2 SOARS? Maybe it's just a little bit of open-world action game humor, but at ТНО E3 press conference, executive vice president of THQ's worldwide publishing Kelly Flock, was wearing a Saints Row 2 t-shirt with an airplane on it. Is this just a dig at competitor Grand Theft Auto's use of airplanes or is Saints Row 2 taking to the skies? ANALYSTS EXPECT A “REAL” PS3 PRICE DROP Last month - before ЕЗ — we heard some erroneous informa- tion regarding a change in pricing for the PS3. At the show, Sony announced a quasi-price drop whereby the 60GB version would sell for $100 less until stock runs out. Industry analyst Michael Pachter, however, believes that the new 80GB PS3 will get a real price drop to $499 once the 60GB sells ош. “In our view, the Sony entry level price of $499 is here to stay,” said Pachter. 5 LA. Noire is not th only Rockstar title hitting the PS3 SONY’S TAKE 2 EXCLUSIVE? Microsoft has been beating the pavement trumpeting their exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content to anyone with ears, while Sony has done nothing to wipe off the egg on its face. But maybe it wil. In our interview with Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing (check it out on page 32), he says that Sony is "working with Take 2 and Rockstar on a new IP” Is this LA. Noire? No. Sony isn't saying much about the upcoming exclusive, but it did take the time to clarify that it will not be LA. Noire. aks Test Your Sight Japanese publisher/developer Koei is well-known for constantly knocking out the Dynasty Warriors games, but it did take a break long enough in 2002 to release this title on the PlayStation 2 and GameCube (which was the primary version). The game featured four selectable characters, boss battles, some first-person spells, and, of course, hack n’ slash combat that could only be inspired by... you guessed it.. Dynasty Warriors. (Answer on page 50) 44 GAME INFORMER MOORE MOVES ON FROM MICROSOFT RETURNS TO HIS SPORTS ROOTS here once he brandished his muscles with tattoos of release dates for Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360, Peter Moore, Microsoft's former vice president of interactive entertainment business will now be flexing his guns for a different industry giant. After host- ing Microsoft's E3 press conference, Moore announced that he was leaving the company "for personal reasons” Later it was revealed that he was heading over to EA Sports, where he'll serve as the president of the division. During his time with Microsoft, Moore offered a likeable face for the company — particularly at ES, where the tone is set for the rest of the year and other executives such as Robbie Bach and J. Allard gave way to Moore's natural charm. His past stint with Sega as president and COO during the launch of the Dreamcast helped his credibility. Apart from his personality, Moore's marketing savvy was instrumental in guiding the Xbox brand to where it is today in the hearts and minds of gamers. Moore emphasized consumers’ need to emotionally connect with the product. “The big problem at Microsoft,” he told CNNMoney.com back in 2005, “is that they always tell you why you need something. For the Xbox 360, you need to feel like you want it. To be cool, in other words, you have to be part of the Xbox gang" It was Moore's decision to ban any technol- ogy or game references from the 560/5 first major TV ad push that featured girls skipping rope and other urban activities that had nothing to do with playing a video game. Moore's past experience with Reebok (before Sega) should aid him at EA Sports, a workhorse division for publisher Electronic Arts that has performed unevenly so far in the next-gen era. He will also have to combat the prevailing attitude that sports games are predictable in their content given their yearly clockwork releases. One ally now in his comer is former rival Jack Tretton — president and CEO of Sony America. “We wish Peter the best of luck in his new role at Electronic Arts and look forward to working with him," said Tretton in a statement. “I am sure [EA's success] will continue with Peter now at the helm” Interestingly, Don Mattrick, former EA president, will be replacing Moore at Microsoft as a senior vice president. Earlier this year, Mattrick joined the company as an advisor to its PC and Xbox games divi- sions. Mattrick was with EA for a combined 23 years after founding Distinctive Software, which became EA Canada. While he brought up series like The Sims and Need for Speed, he also oversaw EA when it received its reputation for churning out sequels. . NEVER UPLATE TOAFRAGFEST PRE-ORDERHALO3 «C power to the players = connect gamers More News You Can Use 360'S HD-DVD PRICE DROP Perhaps in an attempt to blunt Blu-ray's momentum, Microsoft has dropped the price of its HD-DVD peripheral to $179. If you buy the add-on before September 1, you can also get five free HD-DVD movies. NFL STREET GOES LEGIT EA Big's NFL Street franchise has petered out, but the company is hoping a re-branding on next-gen systems sets it straight. NFL Tour kicks off in January, and tasks gamers with playing alongside NFL players as you battle NFL teams towards getting a pro contract. PS3 MEDAL OF AIRBORNE GETS DEFERMENT Usually getting a military deferment would be happy news, but in this case, it’s unfortunate, The PS3 version of Medal of Honor: Airborne comes out in November - months after the Xbox 360 version ships out on August 28th. WARREN SPECTOR GOES GOOFY Deus Ex creator Warren Spector and his Junction Point Studios have landed a permanent gig - the developer has been acquired by Disney, and will make both original and classic Disney next-gen franchises. This is not quite what Deus Ex fans had hoped. UBISOFT HANDLES HEROES/ CAMERON'S AVATAR Ubisoft has partnered with Aliens director James Cameron for a video game based on his film Avatar about an ex-Marine whose mind resides inside an alien body. The company is also handling the action game for NBC's Heroes. 46 GAME INFORMER Accomplishments: Number one on 11 out of 25 time trial races on the Forza Motorsport 2 Xbox Live leaderboards. The next closest competitor has six first place slots. Life Outside of Forza 2: Bodle likes to play soccer and race go-karts in his free time. In the UK, high schoolers graduate at age 16 instead of 18, so he'll be attending Havering College this fall. Origin of Skills: "I've always been a racing fan ever since | started playing games," Bodle says. "My first racing game was Mario Kart on Super Nintendo, but my first proper racing game was Formula 1 on PlayStation. | was pretty much hooked from then on” Not Necessarily a Mechanic: ^| can't tweak my cars,” Bodle admits. ‘When | try, they just end up being worse” Favorite Car: Ferrari #62 Risi Competizione F430GT Favorite Track: Sebring Long Team VVV: Bodle is part of a video game racing team named after Caesar's famous “Veni, Vidi, Vici" quote. The team is based out of the U.K., and has groups based all over the world, including North America. VVV's website (www.teamVVV.com) boasts over 1,200 forum members. B At the time of this printing, Bodle has the fastest times in the world on the following courses: * Suzuka East * Road Atlanta Short * Sebring Short * Silverstone International * Mazda Laguna Seca * Sunset Infield * Mugello * Silverstone Grand Prix * Sebring * Suzuka * TT — King Cobra Dean Bodle: Game Informer is scour- ing the leaderboards in search of top gamers to find the best of the best, uncovering the person behind the handle, and learning his or her strate- gies. So if you get a pesky message over Xbox Live or PlayStation Network from GamelnformerMag, please don’t delete it. You could be the next featured gamer. Practice Time: Taking true advantage of summer vacation, Bodle plays almost 12 hours of Forza 2 each day. He plans to cut back when school starts up...to just six hours. No Driver’s License? ^| haven't driven a proper road car in real life yet, but | used to own a go-kart,” Bodle says. "Hopefully, my racing game experience will make me a better driver in real life” Opinions on TrueSkill: “TrueSkill ranking is pretty cool, but | wish they separated ranked match- es from unranked matches more,” Bodle says. “I like to mess about in some races, which occasionally causes my rank to go down” Favorite (Non-Forza) Game Franchises: Project Gotham Racing, Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda What Should be in the Next Forza? ^| hope there will be a lot fewer glitches and that players won't be able to lock the setups, as | like to have an even playing field since | can't «а ча tune cars” [laughs] Forza 2 Lead Foot Handle: VVV Deano Age: 16 Hometown: London, England Rivals: Dac Picaso, TTR ShuttleJ, D2C XcamX Dean Bodle's custom car. We're guessing an Xbox 360 isn't the only console he owns. SANE KNEW-EXISTED! authentié "T T Š types in some of the wWOHd's most * Laat xo locations. jl 50 Fiore in 15. те missions where m bridges, steal secret weapons and, more PLAG TATION. 23. peat Mild Language | ЕЗ 2% Violence | puni >x SRB T т) 360: Jbisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other cout iter Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft огош companies. ` GO Dp шага giant German zeppelin Over the pyramids of tation”, "PLAYSTATION", Cairo. UBISOFT $ /” connect debate жей ў МА йш SHOULD GAMES HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE A0? The video game industry is faced with a number of difficult questions and many ways to look at them. In Game Informer's debate section, we attempt to analyze these scenarios from different angles. Like a typical debate club, our editors have been assigned to defend a position whether or not it agrees with their personal views. In this edition, we take a closer look at the ESRB’s AO rating and the viability of restrictions that come along with it. AO GAMES HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A RIGHT to exist as unrated DVDs, parental advisory CDs, and mature comics. Unfortunately, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft all have pol cies in place to prevent any game that receives an AO rating from reaching their consoles. On top of that hurdle, major retailers like Target and Wal-Mart refuse to carry any AO games. Talk about your double standards. Sony and Microsoft consoles both offer DVD playback that anyone could use to watch everything from extreme violence to hardcore pornography, but this is wisely tempered by parental controls for both films and games. So why do these companies give adults the choice to allow or block NC-17 films, while at the same time barring adults from playing AO games? The Wii's web browser allows unbridled access to the seedy side of the Internet, so Nintendo isn't getting off on this point either. Retailers want to look responsible by denying AO games. So why do they carry unrated versions of movies like American Pie or parental advisory CDs from Nine Inch Nails? With all of these restrictions in place, the ESRB isn't using the AO rating to inform parents — it's simply banning games. The MPAA may be able to hurt a movie's chance of appearing in theaters with an NC-17, but at least these filmmakers can connect with their audience in the DVD market with its healthy 81.2 percent penetration rate! and full retail support. Sure, game companies are free to release an AO game via digital download on PC, but that's a limited market with only 55 percent of Americans having access to broadband internet? and vastly fewer actively downloading games. After all, how many times have you downloaded a full-blown PC game versus buy- ing it on a disc? Video game makers and adult consumers deserve the right to distribute and play games the way the original artists intended with the same ease of access to the appropriate audience that all other games enjoy. The ESRB, hardware manufacturers, and retailers have no right to decide for a grown gamer what kind of content he or she is mature enough to handle.— BRYAN THE KISS OF DEATH that is the AO rating exists for a reason. Retailers didn't decide not to carry AO games by CON flipping a coin, and hardware manufacturers haven't with- А held licensing for AO titles out of whimsy. As much as the "games are art" types don't want to hear it, there are sound financial reasons for these behaviors. Nintendo doesn't want its family-friendly brand Inames tarnished by association with ultra-violent, edgy content. Big-box stores like Best Buy have a vested interest in retaining their Middle American appeal. There are massive lamounts of money invested in brand names, brick-and-mortar storefronts, and hardware platforms, and those corporations have every right to maximize the value of their assets as best they can. The government has no business stepping in and forcing decisions on any of these companies without clear evidence that the public good is at stake. In this case, forcing the distribution of adult content like Manhunt 2 serves no such purpose. ESRB ratings aren't legally binding — publishers have every right to release whatever they like for open platforms like Windows, Linux, or Flash Player over their own website or a download service like GamersGate. There are free, open channels available for the release of artistic works. If this debate is honestly about the art of video games and not garnering mainstream consumer exposure, let the publishers use alternate distribution methods rather than try to coerce Wal-Mart and Microsoft to help them sell their product. | suspect that we'll find that this is not the case, and that Take-Two and every other pub- lisher kowtows to the bottom line as much as Target Corp. Economically, the marketplace has evolved a set of rules about what it will bear because of clear real-world factors; arbitrarily forcing changes to those rules is a fool's game. Politically, the right to express yourself is guaranteed by the Constitution. The right to express yourself on technology developed by other people at great cost is not. —ADAM 1) 812 percent of Americans own a DVD player as of Q3 2006 according to Nielsen reports 2) 55 percent of American adults have broadband Internet access. according to Pew Internet research 48 GAME INFORMER TOTAL WAR: | /KiNGDONS "Y. 27 NEW MAPS. 110 NEW UNITS. 13 NEW FACTIONS. TAKE CONTROL OF LEGENDARY HISTORICAL EXERT ABSOLUTE MILITARY CONTROL AS YOU FOUR NEW CAMPAIGNS TO CONQUER. HEROES TO BOOST TROOP MORALE AND POWER. COMMAND MULTIPLE ARMIES AND REINFORCEMENTS. new word. new enemies. NEw CONQUESTS. [[ VAL > H Alcohol and Tobacco Reference ў 3 “90%” GAGAMER IGN.COM Blond гет EDITORS 2d Mild Language | я | = РС GAMER a Sexual Themes DVD-ROM Violence ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.esrb.org Game Experience May CHOICE Ё e During Onl Wii GOES SMALL TIME | NINTENDO OPENS Wii TO INDIE DEVELOPERS crafting online strategies, but now the company is rolling out the fea- L ast console generation, Nintendo all but laughed at its competitors for tures like it means business. Nintendo has just announced WiiWare, a service similar to Xbox Live Arcade that allows developers to create and sell their creations as downloads through the Wii Shop channel for Wii Points. Nintendo says there will be a "variety of pricing options," and that the first fruits of this endeavor are expected early next year. No partners have been officially announced, and it will be interesting to see how smaller developers handle creating games for a Nintendo system — especially seeing as how the company doesn't have the best track record when it comes to third parties. NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime, however, doesn't think it'll be a problem. "Independent developers armed with small budgets and big ideas will be able to get their original games into the marketplace to see if we can find the next smash hit" GOD OF WAR'S JAFFE LEAVES SONY NEW COMPANY IN WORKS avid Jaffe rose to prominence D as the creator of smash PS2 hit God of War, but now the developer is moving on to create his own company, Eat Sleep Play. Jaffe is enlisting the help of long- time colleague Scott Campbell for the studio. The pair worked together for years at Incognito/Singletrac bringing up the vaunted Twisted Metal series of games. Jaffe says that his new company has a three- game, console/handheld deal with Sony, and that we'll see the first new IP títle from this in 2008. “It's what we wanted: To go inde- pendent and see where we could steer our very own ship," said Jaffe on his infamous blog. "And the cool thing is, as small as our ship is, it's not the least bit scary. It's exciting as hell” Jaffe is similarly pumped about his upcoming project, which he says has already started. "The concept art is f----- amazing, and | am crazy in love with game #1 already. Hope y'all like it when you see it in a bit" 50 САМЕ INFORMER [ Wii Favorites From Industry Pros And GI Readers DEVELOPER READER MARTIN WALFISZ MARK DEAN Founder and president of Raleigh, North Carolina Massive Entertainment (World in Conflict) 1 GoldenEye 007 - Nintendo 64 2 Counter-Strike | Source - PC 3 Final Fantasy rus, ‚| VIl- PSone 1 Diablo - PC 4 StarCraft: Brood 2 Half-Life 2 - PC кыл 3 Warcraft Il - PC 5 The Elder Scrolls III: 4 Doom - PC Morrowind - Xbox 5 Tekken Tag Tournament - PS2 Send Top Fives and a photo of yourself to: Game Informer Magazine/Top Five 724 N Ist St 4th Fl Minneapolis, MN 55401-9022 email: topfive@gameinformer.com (attach digital picture) Lists...Everybody Loves Top 10 Reasons for the Red Rings of Death on Xbox 360 10 “You know, things break.” 9 Conserving its energy for Halo 3 8 it's sick of people on your friends list with names based on Dragon Ball Z characters 7 It's ready to mate 6 You "accidentally" TKed Bill Gates in an online match of Rainbow Six Vegas 5 The gerbil that powered the fan died. The blinking lights are telling you to replace it 4 Fear of playing Fuzion Frenzy 2 3 The blue screen of death was on vacation 2 Every time Jeff Bell speaks, a 360 dies 1 Since it can’t wave a white flag, it blinks red to surrender to the Wii Name That Game Answer: Mystic Heroes VENGEANCE HAS NEVER BEEN SO BEAUTIFUL Heavenly Sword ©2007 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Blood Developed by Ninja Theory Ltd. Heavenly Swordis a trademark of Sony Language Computer Entertainment Europe. All rights reserved. "PlayStation; ^ "PLAYSTATION" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of БАША АЙ Sony Computer EntertainmentInc. "Play B3yond" isa trademark of Sony Violence mputer Entertainment America Inc. "Cell Broadband Engine" and u-ray Disc" are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. =a M ORD Enter a mystical world where a heroine is caught between survival and vengeance. With the Heavenly Sword, Nariko mercilessly eviscerates her enemies using three different sword stances. Soon youll discover why no hero has been more deadly. And why vengeance has never been so beautiful. CELL BROADBAND ENGINE” The PlayStation. 3’s Cell Broadband Engine allows you to encounter legions of enemies with their own individual, group and squad-based Al, ensuring that you'll never have the same experience twice. BLU-RAY" DISC From high-resolution model data to count- less physics, Al and animation programs, the massive amount of data in Heavenly Sword is only deliver- able on Blu-ray. =>; ут ЕЗ тэгс ORS Erf; PLAYSTATION.» 2 1980 v 1985 v 1992% 7 1991'v 1998 v 2001 Y 1999 v 2006 Y ss: connect | interview | CAREER HIGHLIGHTS On Campus Jenkins completes his under- grad degree in political science and journalism at Georgia State University Furtheri Education Jenkins completes his masters in communication studies at the University of lowa Completing his education, Jenkins gets his PhD at the University of Wisconsin- Madison with his doctoral. thesis "What Made Pistachio Nuts?: Anarchistic Comedy and the Vaudeville Aesthetic” Professorship Jenkins accepts a teaching position at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology Author! Author! Jenkins publishes his first major book, Textual Poachers: Television, Fans & Participatory Culture Gaming Studies MAPI Jenkins (with Justine Cassell) co-edits From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games, a collection of essays centered on gaming In Congress Jenkins is called to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee on video game violence in the wake of the Columbine tragedy. Jenkins urges the senators to take a deeper look at the meaning and context of games in the lives of teenagers The Game of Learning Jenkins helps start the Games- to-Teach Project, a Microsoft funded initiative at MIT that seeks to incorporate games into education. The project eventu- ally evolves into the Education Arcade (educationarcade.org) Publishing Flurry Jenkins releases three books in quick succession = Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide; Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers: Exploring Participatory Culture; and the recently released The Wow Climax: Tracing the Emotional ‘Impact of Popular Culture 52 GAME INFORMER ss: connect | interview | HENRYJENKINS DIRECTOR, COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES, MIT >> Henry Jenkins, a frequent defender of games in the media, is one of the leading thinkers about video games in the world. Recently, we spoke with Henry on his view of the industry and art form. << For our readers that aren’t familiar with your work, what do you teach and research at MIT and how does it relate to games? The core of what we teach is comparative media studies, which looks systematically at the history of human communication — how humans tell stories, how humans entertain each other, how we pass information from one generation to the next. As | look at those questions, I've thought about every- thing from science fiction to games to horror to comics to all forms of digital media.... Games have certainly been a central part of it for the last 16 years, but only one part of it. Have you always been a fan of games? Well, I'm old enough to have played Pong when it first came out. While | was engaged by it, it wasn't something that absolutely captured my imagina- tion. | played Atari games and then went off to grad school and did nothing with games.... Sometime after about 10 years, my son wanted a Nintendo for Christmas. So, we bought it and plugged it in on Christmas morning and | remember seeing Super a result of a generation that was raised on video games? When | first plugged in Pong, the idea that you could interact with your television set was a radi- cally new concept. My son has grown up in a world where interactions with your television set are taken for granted. He's part of the generation that's grown up online and has engaged with computers from early elementary forward. [This] generation thinks about media in fundamentally different ways. They increasingly expect that a story that really matters to them will extend across every available media plat- form. The interesting thing is that this has occurred as we are downsizing the expectation on education. For example, something like Pokémon requires a kid to master 250 species. Whereas, our schools are deciding that kids really couldn't understand the pantheon of Greek gods. [Laughs] That juxtaposi- tion is a really ironic one. Gaming is expecting our kids to master more knowledge just to be able to play than our schools are demanding of our kids to grow as citizens and workers. smaller number of games would reach that level, but | certainly think there are accomplishments in the medium to date that would qualify as art by almost any definition we'd want to apply. Luckily, the Constitution doesn't require that every game be a masterpiece to be protected by the First Amendment. It merely requests that games be an expressive medium that explores ideas, that shapes human experiences, and is a meaningful activity. | think, by those criteria, games are undeniably art. So, if we accept that all games are art, how successful as an industry are games in terms of encouraging quality art and the pushing of boundaries? [The] industry has moved out of a period of rapid innovation and into a period of standardization... there's a studio mode of production that domi- nates games. If we use Hollywood as an analogy, we know that, under a studio [system], two things happen. One is that the floor raises and the other is that the ceiling lowers. If you watch any film that came out in 1939, you're going to have an enjoy- Gaming is expecting our kids to master more knowledge than our schools are demanding of our kids to grow as citizens and workers. Mario Bros. for the first time. | was so blown away. It woke me up to the fact that here was as phenom- enally important medium that we should be paying attention to from here on out. It was a transforma- tive moment for me. Is there a lot of research and writing being done on games in the academic community? Academically, | think game studies have really start- ed to come of age in the last 5 to 10 years. | could probably speak at a conference every week on some aspect of games.... There are two journals in the field that are regularly publishing about games. There's probably a book a month, at least, coming out of research on games as a medium. It's a much bigger field than most gamers realize or most of the game press realize. [The] problem is that, like most academic fields, the work tends to stay within the university setting. ... The media in general gives much more attention in general to the small hand- ful of media effects researchers that are working on game violence than it does to the hundreds of researchers who are studying games from every other possible angle. Right now, we are experiencing a sea change in media, going from traditional media to a new paradigm where the user takes an active role in shaping, choosing, and recon- figuring the information. How much of this is You've often been in the media defending video games. Have you seen any research that has demonstrated a link between violent games and violent behavior? Nothing so far has convinced me that there's any direct link between violent video games and real- world violence. That's not to say that games cannot have social influence as any other medium can have social influence. It's that the media's construc- tion of "You play a violent video game and you go out and shoot someone" is too simplistic to account for the research. | don't think, in fact, that any responsible researchers are making a connec- tion that direct. If you read on their own terms the research that's out there, really what they're say- ing is that games could be one risk factor among many. Part of the problem is that the media and politicians want to grossly oversimplify the research that's out there — they want a simple answer. The research isn't giving a simple answer. One thing that comes up in violence debates is the idea of whether or not games are pro- tected speech, and whether or not games are art. Do you think all games are inherently art? Games are an expressive medium. An enormous amount of art goes into games. If we define art as a category of activity, there's no question that games constitute art. Do games achieve “capi- tal A’ art? Are they masterpieces? | would say a able evening of entertainment. Some of them are masterpieces, some of them are not, but the stan- ага was high. The problem is that a studio system crushes individual innovation and experimentation. It is very difficult for real change to take place within the art form. Yes, it is possible for Orson Welles to direct Citizen Kane in 1941. Yes, it is possible for Will Wright to make Spore for EA. But, in general, the creative talents of large numbers of people are not being hamessed for innovation; they're being put behind the plough to crank out an ever-growing number of expansion packs for existing franchises. [But] I'm feeling more optimistic the last year or so that we're seeing a number of things click into place that would support an independent games sector. We're seeing IndieCade, the first major independent games festival in the United States. We're see- ing universities develop internal game labs, which allows for the healthy experimentation that student films have long done in relation to cinema. And we're moving toward digital distribution of content, which will break the stranglehold of the major game retailers on what content reaches the public. All those are step forward for regaining a healthy inde- pendent game sector that will push, in several ways, the EAs of the world to begin to innovate again. WWW \ AYWIWW ZZ УУ, / 2 лй Henry Jenkins оп the МІТ campus, where he has taught and researched the impact of new media and video games on human communication for the past 16 years Half-Life’ 2: Episode Two Team Fortress 2 9 d T ‚м ай alle «9 The Orange Box -Five Games. One Box. PLAY STATIONS PC (DVD-ROM) > The complete Half-Life 2 experience to date: Half-Life 2 + Episode One & Two. Team Fortress 2: One of 2007's most anticipated multiplayer games. ші iS The Orange Box ^ m. LIA Ка P H e 4 Р + /. % tar — Available October 2007 www.whatistheorangebox.com connect gear pc MACHINE ELITE LC 56 GAME INFORMER соор ee Apparently skulls never go out of style. After all, The Punisher has been rocking the look since the “705. We hope this young PC maker, War Machine, is able to stick around just as long, because they make some quality hardware. We especially like how quiet the liquid cooling is in this powerful rig. The Elite’s chassis has some nice features and is easy to customize - we only wish it wasn't so ridiculously huge. It scored just under some of the other PCs we have recently tested: 3DMark05 benchmarked at 11783 and PCMark05 scored а 7735. With its Dual XFX Nvidia 8800 Ultra video cards, this War Machine ran the F.E.A.R. framerate benchmark flawlessly, never dipping under 40 frames per second even at maximum settings. War Machine is not a bad option for those look- ing for a high-end PC. LOGITECH CORDLESS PRECISION CONTROLLER CED Logitech's new PS3 controller feels sturdy and comfortable, and produces a strong, non-Bluetooth wireless signal. Oddly, the Precision's most tout- ed feature — rumble — seems almost worthless since no games support it yet, and it comes at the cost of lost tilt functionality. The Precision also does not have a built in rechargeable batte gh two AA batteries should last up to 50 hours. Most baffling, , is that the Precision does not support full backward compatibility, and only works with a few PSone and PS2 games. This isn't a bad controller, but it probably caters to too specific a crowd. Only concern yourself with this if you must be the first to experience rumble on the PS3. $39.99 • www.logitech.com CIOIM ING FALL 200) Ltegame.com ay Games ® for Windows Visit www.esrb.org for updated rating š a Si М s i E Кәмеш E Еспе S PLAS STATION. = Blacksite Area 51 © 2007 Midway Games West Inc. All rights reserved, BLACKSITE AREA 51, and AREA 51 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Midway Games West Inc. Used by permission, MIDWAY and the Midway logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission, Midway Home Entertainment Inc. and its affiliates do not monitor, endorse or accept responsibility for the content of any non-Midway website. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc, "PlayStation", “1 LAYSTATION", and "PS" Family logo are registered domare. ar Sony Computer веат ік. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and ‘Games for Windows’ and the Windows Vista Start bution logo are used under license from licrosoft. Software platform logo (™ an . connect gear tech | NOVINT At first glace the Falcon might look like a NASA space tool instead of a unique PC peripheral. The Falcon’s internal motors simulate the feel of different textures, such as ice or sandpaper, as well as the kickback from gunfire. While this makes a cool toy for PC enthusiasts, it probably isn't the smart choice for financially conscious gamers. The system works with Half-Life 2 via a mod, and comes with several poorly designed minigames, but it really needs more support. Maybe if Novint can get some big publishers on board to utilize its tech it will have something. As it stands, all the Novint Falcon offers is a few cool tech demos, a terrible menu system, and a whole lot of promise. $189.00 • home.novint.com HALO: CONTACT HARVEST Penned by one of Bungie's head writers, Joseph Staten, Contact Harvest tells how humanity first came in contact with the Covenant. Told from the perspective of Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson, the book details the events that led to war, and eventually the first Halo game. Check your local bookstore for this one starting October 2. $14.95 * www.tor-forge.com Grimm sentences: the tfe of MF | 1 un 58 GAME INFORMER LIFE OF M.F. GRIMM The more cultured among us understand that graphic literature (yeah, we're talking comic books) are a valid and influential form of art. For those of you who disagree, don't be surprised if someone walks up to you with a copy of Sentences and rubs your nose in it. Sentences is the autobiographical account of Percy Carey, oth- erwise known as M.F. Grimm, who rises into the hip-hop scene just before falling into a wheelchair, and eventually lands in jail. This is truly an inspir- ing tale worthy of anyone's time. Comic haters, you have been warned. $19.99 * www.dccomics.com/graphi | SENTENCES: THE novels иш CINEMAQUETTES All right, you're an adult now. Maybe it's time you put away the toys and get some real movie memorabilia. Cinemaquettes are the most highly detailed figures we've ever seen. They come at 1:3 scale, and are constructed using a polyurethane composite and real human hair. The only way for these things to get more life-like would be if you captured a small magical creature and made it dress up and pose for your pleasure, but we all know how expensive those are to feed. $1,000.00 - $1,750.00 www.cinemaquette.com Wi Predator, The Godfather, and Bruce Lee fans take note, because Cinemaquette is working on sculpts for those properties as well. | tech HELIO OCEAN оо 0000090000 If you're sick of the man sticking it to you when it comes to data rates on your cell phone, ditch your high-priced carrier for the fair-priced con- venience of the Helio Ocean. The Helio service offers several affordable plans that each includes unlimited text messaging, picture messaging, email, IM, GPS, and web surfing. The high-speed 3G network makes surfing on the go a breeze, and the intuitive phone interface is one of the best we've seen. This sleek phone won't be confused with your dad's boring Verizon phone, either. The device slides two ways to reveal a full keyboard for writing emails and a numeric keypad for quick dial- ing or gaming. On the con side, the bulky phone feels heavy in your pocket and the slider hinge seems weak enough to wear out after pro- longed use. We also wish there was support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSnyc. But overall the Helio Ocean is a well-featured phone that nearly achieves greatness. .00 ° www.helio.com GAME INFORMER 58 ADVERTISEMENT FEADER REVIEW Ted Krinshaw 15 Tallahassee, Florida InverteBOJ rocks! | recommend bein al mayflies, and one bad r sucker, the Mosquito e ex r f, ly into your K i china. ex outs see A otic 5corNon Ç [ока | wi nd all QN ao say Sw saa е“ Т5, t cre 360. А! wf of RR ati okt Me is simMle. If you ca ! i ith- bie M E Суға Nu = so too And with 2. | { ` | «WS mo A EN independent controlling options ihal.alougvougio move each i the ganismgon Earth: bugs. mm ни arm and leg individually, it's not Тесһпоехо ол ee wilh the, ай аа. either mechanical mandibles make тобе торс. And you're behind the wheel. А7 М 7% 2 ed 3230-030 от connect opinion VIDEO GAMES | SCHOOLS?- SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE — FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS | BY DAVID HUTCHISON, Ph.D AUTHOR, PLAYING TO L VIDEO GAMES IN THE Сі n early 2006, | set about writing a hands- on book for teachers that included plenty of ideas for integrating the study of video games into the elementary and high school classroom. | had previously spoken with many young teachers-by-day who were also gamers at night. Most had never considered the idea of bringing their passion for gaming into the classroom. Given the proliferation of video game maga- zines, websites, blogs, and user forums, | was convinced that there must be a least a few lan- guage arts connections teachers could make with video games. The most obvious ideas were to invite interested students to write review and pre- view articles for the games they were playing or anticipating. More focused grammar and sentence structure lessons could focus on proofreading and copyediting online video game user reviews which helpfully tend to be on the short side (and some- times in dire need of editing). But what about other school subjects, such as math? I thought about the proliferation of statis- tics in video games — the wide variety of ways in which numbers are used to track a player's progress through a game, the leaderboard rankings of physics and did the impossible. The resulting classroom discussion could serve as a natural lead in to introducing the laws of gravity and other sci- entific principles. | also wanted to cast students in the role of social scientists studying the video game phenom- ena from a researcher's perspective. | developed a social studies activity in which students design a “Video Game Playing Habits” survey which they then administer (anonymously and with permis- sion) to their peers. Another activity challenges students to brainstorm a set of interview questions for a one-on-one research study with male and female gamers of various ages. Some of the most rewarding activity ideas focus on history. | considered the many ways in which so-called “period games,” such as the Call of Duty series, could be used to augment the study of World War Il, for example, by having students research the historical weaponry of the period (as featured in the game) or compare screenshots of the game with actual photos taken during the war. Of course, not all video games aim for historical authenticity. Many are the stuff of pure fantasy, but that too has educational value. In writing the “Alternate History" activity, | considered the his- [When hoh- gamers-ask me where I traveled during my sabbatical, І get quiz- zical looks from them risks associated with repetitive stress injury. Some of the contributors to the book (journalists, schol- ars, and bloggers) focus on health topics ranging from video game addiction to the controversy over the effects of violent gameplay on gamers. A physical education activity that challenges students to design their own brand-new sport proved to be one of the most popular activities with students, according to some of the teachers who tested and provided feedback on the activities. As | continued writing Playing to Learn, | was determined to find some way of addressing the most infamous video game of all. The activity "Kid-friendly Grand Theft Auto" asks students to brainstorm possible gameplay scenarios for a youth-oriented GTA-inspired open-world game that challenges young gamers to safely navigate a city on foot, bike, or skateboard, run a marathon, trade baseballs cards and comic books, build a treehouse or fort, and return a library book in record time etc. | wrote Playing to Learn while on sabbati- cal leave from teaching. When nongamers ask me where | traveled during my sabbatical, | get quizzical looks from them when | reply Azeroth, Stalingrad, and planet Earth in 2142. If you are when I reply in multiplayer games, and the opportunities for torical implications of the 2003 game Freedom a teacher of language arts, math, science, social performing driving calcu x time) in racing games. ations (distance = speed Students could even be Fighters which imagines a fictional world in which the Soviet Union has won the Cold War (similar to Azeroth, invited to look up the fuel efficiency ratings for some of the real-world cars in their favorite racing games in order to calculate just how much “virtual gas” they had used in their travels so far. When it comes to science, one of the cool things about video games is the way they often break the laws of the physical universe that we have no choice but to honor in the real world. Several years ago, | came up with an activity idea that invited children to watch a half-hour Scooby- Doo Mysteries episode and count the number of times the cartoon characters broke the laws the World in Conflict game due out this year). This activity asks students to create alternate timelines for major events in U.S. and world history. How would the world today be different if the outcome of these events had been strikingly different? The recent interest in video games on the part of the American Medical Association reinforces the connections that can be made between gaming and health studies. | designed activities that ask students to track the amount of time they spend playing video games each week. Other lesson ideas focus on the science of ergonomics and the Stalingrad, and planet Earth 142: studies, business studies, physical education, com- puters, or the arts, | encourage you to think about the myriad ways video games can be integrated into the school curriculum. Millions of students and teachers are playing video games in their out-of-school lives, so it makes plenty of sense to forge sound pedagogical connections between gaming and education, especially if, like me, you believe video games are in many ways vanguards of the future. ШЕН David Hutchison, Ph.D. is an Associate Profesor in the Faculty of Education, Brock Univesity and the author of Playing (0 Learn: Video Games in the Classroom (Teacher Ideas Press, 2007). More information about the book can be found at wwwplayingtolearn.org The views and opinions expressed on this page are striclly those ofthe author and not neces- sarily those of Game Informer Magazine or its sta. If you work in the industry and would like to share your opinion, contact senior editor Matt Helgeson at matt@gameinformer.com. 60 GAME INFORMER FRAG AND CONQUER. “9.1 OUT OF 10” -IGN.COM FOR PLAYSTATION 3 x FragFX (PS3) . motion level calibration . full SIXAXIS motion control . adjustable motion-sensitivity . universal PS3/PS2 game support .firmware upgradable (computer) . reconfigurable buttons (computer) . frag button (for pinpoint targeting) . dynamic mouse sensitivity adjustments . console mouse (supports PS Home and web navigation) . programmable motion override (custom motion commands) ELEVATE YOUR GAIVIE PLAY EXPERIENCE SOME HOT THREESOME ACTION. Your favorite FPS, Sony PLAYSTATION 3 and the SPLITFISH FragFX. WWW.SPLITFISH.COM connect Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron - 09/18 pis NEW RELEASES. * BlackSite: Area 51 = 955, 360, PC. + Dewy's Adventure ~ Wii * Drawn to Life - DS + Experiment 112 = РС * Heavenly Sword - PS3 + Heroes of the Pacific — PSP. + Hooked - Wil * My Word oath Wii, DS NancyDrew-DS ` 04-05 “+ NHL 2K8 - PS3, 360, PS2 + Project Gotham Racing 4 ~ 360 | “Тһе Office - PC = Race Driver — DS - * Resident. Evil Bundle. г Pack = PS2 *Skate-360 — * Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror ~ PS2 dum ~ Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow ~ PSP 06 AUSTIN GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE Bal This show is many things in one. Is the АСОС, the Women's Game Conference, and also Bryan Vore's Amazing Pancake Show! If you are in. town, this is the only place where you can hear insightful developers talk and see a half- naked man with a magic syrup ‘wand at the same time. AMAZIN iii PIDER-MAN comic series to the movie, Marvel is getting the Spider- Man books back on track | starting with this issue, Dubbed "One More Day,” this issue starts off what Marvel is calling Spider Man's darkest hour. "Word on the streets is that ei- ther Mary Jane or Aunt May , wil key die in this issue. 7% | > NBA 08 - PS3, PS2, PSP. NEW RELEASES * Brothers in Arms: ile Time - Wii * Crysis = PC * Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber - DS ~ Dot.Hack G.U. Vol 3. Redemption = P52 * Fatal Inertia - PS3, 360. ей Ops = РС. * Jam Sessions ~ DS * NHL 08 — PS3, 360, Р52, PC + Prism - DS Crysis - 09/11 14 FINAL FANTASY MASTER | CREATURES 2 Your shelves may be lined with Final Fantasy toys, but your collection won't be complete until you add a Knights of the Round piece to it. The second series of Master Creatures also boasts Odin, Yojimbo, and Mateus, the Corrupt. NEW RELEASES * Cabela's Trophy Bucks ~ 360, PS2 * Coded Arms; Contagion ~ PSP. ~ CSI: Dark Motives - DS. * CSI 3: Dimension of Murder - PS2 : + CSI 4: Hard Evidence - PC * Digimon World: Daw | Dusk - DS * Ftemal Sonata ~ 360 * Hot PXL ~ PSP * Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights- | PS3, 360, PS2, PSP, DS 18-19 * Looney Tunes: ACME ‘Arsenal = 360, Wii, PS2 * My Sims ~ Wi, DS * Namco Museum = DS “+ Skate - PS5 i 27 боліс Rush Adventure ~ DS. * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron - PSP ге Turok = PS3, 360 г ° Warriors Orochi - 360, PS2 + World in Conflit -PC * Worms: Open ШТІ 2- | PSP TOKYO GAME SHOW 07 With a number of Japanese developers shifting support from 360 and PS3 to Wii, this show should prove mighty interesting for Nintendo fans. The Wil is expected to be the talk of the show, but never count Sony and Microsoft out. ‘As history has shown, they love stirring things up. RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION 2 Resident Evil: Extinction opens in theaters today, and despite what your gut tells you, this movie looks badass, It looks like the bastard child of Mad Max and Resident Evil. Let's hope there's a little Fifth Element in the DNA as well. NEW RELEASES * America's Army: True Soldiers - 360 * Battalion Wars 2 Wi - + Chessmaster - DS * Chibi-Rol * Gods & Heroes: Rome . Rising = PC. + Halo 3-360 - * Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tibes-PC - * Jackass: The Game = PS2, PSP. Park Patrol = DS _ * Pursuit Force 2 — PSP * Sega Rally Revo - P5 360, с PSP РС * World: Series of Poker 2008 — PS3, 360, PS2, PSP, PC E + Luxor 2- DS 21, THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE With 52 different realities. crossing over, the Justice League of America has more than enough trouble to deal with. Well, things go from bad to worse with the formation - of the Injustice League, whi would appear to have Joker . and Lex Luthor in its ranks, To say the least, this issue should be interesting. TO Wm ) ЛЛ ЖШ] (guo FET — Қо — EHARD 4.0 L a 08] m. THE MO! па БАМЕ < IL) SR Moca Раши” ҸИ И. s t [ theme3647 theme3648 theme3649 theme3650 - : d game3043 Century Fox Film Corporation. ALL sft. Al Rights Reserve. y T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless & Virgin Mobile customers А ad iT. a $ я 5 i la st L er т ermm | theme3651 theme3652 theme3653 theme3654 theme3655 = TARTA : Т 2 OS the 10 freshest Themes! ч —— — + WALLPAPERS Н 1 taught 1 taught that erat fec кыйды, aei — your | ov ug thing : қ 7 — = С W ыны you life :) 1 Е ao 4 move6707 қ 1 pee ci * | : ^ Wall3309 wall3310 — wall3311 CUM. CHCKHERE — (CHOKHERE ж | — ж + j* š "a N Sos hs u AKED — |"eNAKÉD me NAKED — == me N, es move6708 P R- ЖА Án wall3305 wall3306 EL 50 CLOSE IT SCARES ME! wall3317 wall3318 wall3319 wall3320 wall3307 wall3308 Text more2348 to 75555 to see the 10 freshest Wallpapers! A REALTONES wall3314 wall3315 == Ж zm EXPLICIT CONTENT or email: info@jamster.com SUPPORTED CARRIERS: Cingular Verizon Wireless A Bay Bay - Hurricane Chris true sui Pop, Lock & Drop It - Huey true 7990 ша: үзер: Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston true 7982 Can't Leave Em Alone - Ciara true 7991 i x) ceed uou] 3 нинин и { -T- Im - l ea Bartender - T-Pain true 7983 ried [So Hard) - Bone Thugs N Harmony tri Party Like A Rock Star - Shop Boyz true 7984 Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West tr | Маке Me Better - Fabolous true 7985 Do You - Ne-Yo true 7994 move6711 White Girl - USDA true 7986 Sexy Lady - Yung Berg true 7995 Text more2350 to 75555 to see Umbrella - Rihanna true 7987 Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’) - T-Pain true 7996 the 10 freshest Screensavers! x Like A Cholo - Down AKA Kilo true 7988 The Way | Are - Timbaland true 7997 Same Girl (Duet With Usher] - R. Kelly true 7989 Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie true 7998 с 18 game3048 ҒА? t more2349 to 75555 to see the 10 freshest Realtones! © 2005 Microsoft. Al rights reserved 2 Text more2351 to 75555 to J To access our services you need a cellphone with correct WAP or [Lio wATOKOR DER GPRS configuration enabled. If you have problems downloading, see the 10 freshest Games! 1 2 ) Select f 3 4 please contact our Customer Care hotline (see below): NE | | Need help? e Create Message 75555 БЕ; Messages _ 0 sage Inbox 2 E a: CALL 866-856-JAMS 5 HOWATOIDOWN FOAD) D EYTTNEB( sorecttink QED КЕШЕДІ E e ыр Check out Jamster's voice order line TOLÎ. FREE for all the 1) Jamster! WALLPAPER Alltel? : ARR, hottest Ringers, Graphics, Games and Mobile Applications! * Alltel customers: please download Jamster World Application from your Altel Access deck Browser Msgs 1/1 a call 2 -£- JAMS from your cell now! o All content items are part of the Jamster! Monthly XXL Plan, which is subject to Terms of Service available at jamster.com. Each month you will get download credits for 6 ringtones, 10 graphics and 4 games/software [unavailable for T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Verizon Wireless customers), all for just $9.99/month. Redeem your credits at jamster.com. The XXL Plan automatically renews if not cancelled. Must be 18+ or have parent's permission to sign up on their behalf. If handset does not support content, next best supported content is delivered. Normal messaging & data charges apply. Carrier data plan required. To cancel your plan text “stopxxl” to 75555. Need help? E-mail to infofüjamster.com or call 866-856-JAMS. UNLIMITED ENABLED PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | PC > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (UP TO AEPLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK, XBOX LIVE, OR PC INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER 2K GAMES > DEVELOPER GEARBOX SOFTWARE > RELEASE 2008 N THE DISTANT FUTURE, SEVEN COLONIZATION SHIPS DEPART FOR THE ` EDGE OF THE GALAXY. THEIR PASSENGERS SEEK А BETTER LIFE AND. THE UNTOLD MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REMOTE PLANET PANDOR After years of travel, the caravan finally reaches its destination. The mix of settlers, prospectors, scientists, and corporate lack about dismantling the ships and converting them into makeshift settlements. It eventually becomes clear that there is little: the desolate planet outside of decrepit alien ruins. Those who have the money leave, and the remaining stranded population devolves into lawlessness. Some seek to get rich by hunting down remnants of alien technology. Most are just trying to survive. After seven Earth years, Pandora’s slow orbit finally enters spring and countless horrifying creatures emerge from hibernation. Just when the colony is set to implode on itself, a beacon of hope emerges. One key discovery has the potential to change not just Pandora itself, but the entire galaxy. Welcome to Borderlands — a game unlike any other, yet still innately familiar. While working on projects in the Halo and Half-Life franchises and its own Brothers In Arms games, developer Gearbox Software has been kicking around another idea. As huge fans of the Diablo series, team members wanted to blend that level of addictive loot grinding and leveling up with the fast-paced action of first-person shooters. Gearbox had proven itself in the FPS realm, but how would it satisfy that insatiable RPG desire for a constant flow of new weapons and.items? Borderlands utilizes a revolutionary weapons system that features-over half a million guns. Combine that withrich frontier lore, violent vehicle combat, and:gameplay built for co-op from the beginning, and that Diablo-caliber level of addiction doesn't seem so.far.out of reach. UAE 764 GAME INFORMER САМЕ INFORMER 65 ing designed around a gritty high tech philosophy 66 GAME INFORMER l| E At one point, bandits will hijack a massive mining | | rs will jump “love [Diablo] because | always want a bigger sword or more armor,” says Gearbox president Randy Pitchford. “The thing is, it's really almost a stupidly simple game. You just point the cursor over the icon and click, and that’s what it takes to play Diablo. But it didn’t matter because you were so addicted to all of the stuff” With Borderlands, Pitchford hopes to.combine the obsession that lead him to max out side the focus is on. "This is, first and foremost, a first-person shooter,” clarifies Borderlands producer Simon Hurley. Gearbox is careful to distance its game from gun-based RPGs like Mass Effect and points or worrying about hit percentages. Anyone who's several characters in the RPG classic with the twitch skills and immersion of a first-person shooter. It's clear, however, which Fallout 3. Players won't be pausing the action to select attack | m New Haven leader Helena. Pierce (right) is jokingly referred to as “Dealbreaker” around thi Gearbox offices m Shopping will play a major role in ше Early concept art for ever wielded a shotgun in Doom or an assault rifle in Halo will be able to jump right into Borderlands’ interesting mix of gameplay. But instead of raiding dungeons, Gearbox has created a world filled with Deadwood's frontier grit, Mad Max's deadly vehicles, and some Indiana Jones-style fortune hunting. The story follows three characters, Roland, Mordecai, and Lilith, as they pursue their own motives on the volatile planet of Pandora. After years of struggle on the recently populated | izens are rallying around the discovery of a ferious metal vault carved into the side of a mountain. ive structure is thought to be from the same ancient ose technology has been discovered elsewhere | he galaxy. This tech has not only pushed science forward y leaps and bounds, it's also made those who discovered it _ extremely rich. The vault is thought to contain all of the aliens’ Se cover story MORDECAI Mordecai came to Pandora in search of someone from his past. When New Haven leader Helena Pierce informs him that this man, Quinn, died a year ago, Mordecai sets off to uncover how he died and what he was carrying. More of a lone ranger, this character specializes in sniping enemies from afar. One skill called “Angel on your Shoulder” gives a critical hit boost to allies whenever he headshots an enemy attacking said allies. Mordecai can also simply give a boost to his party's accuracy stats. Partway through the game, he will befriend an alien creature that will assist in combat. ROLAND This former soldier of the Crimson Lance is content to stick around on Pandora as a hired gun. A decade-old vendetta is rekindled when the leader of the Brigadiers is said to have a suspiciously similar name to a man Roland swore to kill. All three characters have three focus skills with multiple functions that they can cycle through in-game without having to go to a menu screen. Roland's Leadership skill, for example, raises experience gained for everyone in the party while Medical can increase health regeneration. If he switches over to Support, it will do things like increase weapons damage or ammo regeneration. LILITH Lilith is one of only six Sirens in the galaxy, a group of people with ridiculous powers but no way to control them. Gearbox describers her as a mix between Firefly's River and The Matrix's Trinity, with some kind of untapped power combined with speedy moves and quick learning skills. Lilith hears that there is another Siren on Pandora and seeks whoever it is out in hopes that she can discover more about herself. The image on the left shows her in regular form while the right design means she's ready to kick ass. She serves essentially as the mage of the group, with powers like increasing the group's rate of fire and creating temporal bubbles that slow down enemies and projectiles or speed up allies. Not much more is known on how she will incorporate magic into Borderlands' FPS gameplay style. secrets, drawing those in search of wealth, power, and bandits) and indigenous creatures. Unofficial mayor he can get his stuff out of it. On the way out of town, ` scientific advancement. The trouble is, the people who ^ Helena Pierce makes the rules in this dusty settle- _ Helena offers you an extra reward for assassinating discovered it were completely wiped out bysome kind ment that consists mostly of ramshackle metal huts a bandit leader, since you'll be swiping the cesium. of protective force. Only a scattered radio transmission cobbled together from the good ship "Haven" She's , anyway. Gearbox is specifically structuring the game so remains — hinting at the vault's majesty, but not its been having trouble recently with attacks from a flying | that players will always be juggling several quests of location. The main characters aren't necessarily species called rakk and tasks Roland to destroy ШІ rying length and complexity. “We're encouraging the after the vault's contents at the outset, a hive with explosive cesium charges —— player to just play five more minutes to get something but their personal quests will < that only bandits have. In the . new," says Hurley. "Sometimes it's just a new gun, most assuredly lead them to it distance, you can see Mordecai sometimes you finish a quest, and sometimes it's (see sidebar). E sniping a stray rakk with a another piece of the story that clicks into place" This Our demo begins in a z ET] tracking device. simultaneously allows players to make meaningful. settlement called New ME, Ё: While stopping to load progress even in brief bursts while also encouraging Haven, an appropriately ез 7 ze up on guns and equip- the “just one more" kind of gameplay that can uninten- named town that's ES 1 ment, the shopkeeper tionally lead to marathon sessions. managed to secure i р \ asks if you can activate As you head out to the ominous canyons, the game itself from roaming Mamy | a transporter holed up generates a unique instance for the road ahead. While Brigadiers (known т in a bandit infested the general path remains consistent, things like bar- more commonly as 3 military bunker so that riers, caves, bunkers, towers, enemies, and explosive 68 GAME INFORMER cacti will be different every time you return. Sometimes there will be a cave to explore. Other times it'll simply be a blank wall. All of this occurs with absolutely no loading whatsoever. in fact, players will never see a single load screen once they've entered the game. А bandit camp appears up ahead, but there's already . a scuffle in place. A four-legged beast with a natural metallic plating over its head and back is attacking the bandit group. Again, this is not scripted. This "skag" happened to be generated next to hostile forces so it decided to get aggressive. Roland mows down some distracted troops while the rest of them aim for the tender spots on the skag's side and unload clips into its mouth as it jumps at them. Once the beast falls, the bandits turn to face us. Though the Al is still unfinished, we're still able to get an idea about how these untrained rebels ay m Scythid sprinters enjoy tipping people out of their buggies and tearing them apart with their retractable tusks т While this screen: Ф анапа, another faction called the Crimson La nce is also vying for territory on Pandora. This ined private military shoots more accurately by aiming down the sights and actively seeking cover and flanking positions fight. Since they're just a bunch of common thugs with no military experience, the bandits shoot from the hip _ and aren't all that concerned with cover. They clamber over walls and hop gaps to get a better shot at you. After the smoke clears, a bounty of weapons, gear, | and items lies scattered across the ground. АП of the resulting loot was actually equipped on the troops ` during battle, so if you see an enemy with a particularly flashy gun, it can be yours the instant you take him out. As you pass the aiming reticle over foot, its name and stats appear in a color-coded box similar to what you'd see in an MMO (dark gray indicates weak, green means better, etc.). The variety of handguns, shotguns, rifles, and machine guns is stag- gering. Throughout our time with Borderlands we never saw the. same gun twice, and Gearbox claims same will be true | = Skags have a natural armor plating that renders traditional headshots, ineffective эъ. 9 when players go through the final game. "Back when 1 first started making shooters at 3D Realms on Duke Nukem, the rule was the PC keyboard | had one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and zero. That's how many guns you could have in your game,” says Pitchford, “It's going to be all different now” He boasts that “you can take every shooter in this entire generation on the Xbox 360, all of the weapons that every one of them has, add them all together and this game has more - two orders of magnitude more.” Thousands upon thousands of barrels, grips, knife attachments, ammo, and clips are mixed and matched resulting in over 500,000 unique weapons. “There are a lot of strong checks and balances,” says director Matthew Armstrong. “It's very procedural as opposed to completely random. These guns are being built ` "intelligently" Every gun will have a unique name that Suits what it does and its own mix of sounds, including ` “reload and fire noises. We saw a ridiculous amount of guns, but perhaps ` _ the strangest was a revolver that fired shotgun shell Gearbox is constantly surprised with what the system _ comes up with. They've seen rifles shoot everything from homing darts to rockets. "One of the guns tracks onto something and locks, and after three seconds [the target] suddenly explodes,” Armstrong says. Even though guns are the focus of Borderlands, items and armor tally up to a half million as well. Every piece [9] Е XBOX 360, ALL of armor alters your appearai се in a different way, | including a custom accessory type that's specifi N TAKE EVERY SHOOTER IN THIS €NTIRE GENERATION €M HAS, ADD THEM ALL TOGETHER AND THIS ORE - TWO ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE MORE. ANATOMY OF A GUN JAKOBS SVR 9710-X "THUNDER" COMBAT SHOTGUN Every single one of over 500,000 weapons in Borderlands has a unique name, a unique look, and unique personal- ity. These weapons are not randomly generated, but procedurally crafted. One such weapon is the Jakobs SVR 9710-X “Thunder” Combat Shotgun, a rare and high quality weapon that is more effective than most shotguns at longer ranges. Slow to fire and reload, it more than compensates by doing massive damage, having a tight spread, and featuring a minor temporal effect that slows enemies. THE SIGHT With a tight spread and good range, this shotgun benefits from a quality sight THE BODY A heavy body provides good recoil reduction but a fairly slow fire rate ~ THE BARREL (RARE PART) Broad and heavy, but long as well, this barrel brings good damage and a tight spread THE STOCK (JAKOBS SIGNATURE) Solid, high quality wood grain is the signature of Jakobs weapons. The stock is extremely stable, but the weight makes the gun harder to use while moving. A person who wants to fight on the run should seek out a shotgun with a pistol grip or lighter stock . THE CYLINDER This shotgun has a five shot smooth cylinder. Not bad, but not the best either JAKOBS A low tech but high quality family owned manufacturer, Jakobs weapons are pow- erful, doing more damage than almost any other manufacturer, but the weight tends to result in a lower fire rate. Jakobs weapons are especially well suited for sniper rifles and shotguns “THUNDER" A longer effective range than most shotguns coupled with extreme damage has earned this weapon the nickname “Thunder” Many of the better quality weapons you will find in the Borderlands will have such nicknames COMBAT SHOTGUNS The Combat Shotgun is a pump-action short range weapon. Ammo is fired from a cylinder allowing for a fairly quick breach reloading action says. “Except if | talk to Simon and say Ym playing this new game and it's great, and he says ‘Oh 5-- | I'm playing that game, too: ‘Great, I'm playing as the soldier: ‘Oh, then we can't play together’ That's awful. The fact is, fundamentally, we want a fun game and a lot of things we'll bend down for fun.” Even though it's possible to have. four Liliths running around in a party, it may not be the most effec- tive way to play. All three characters have unique focus skills that are meant to compliment each other. Armstrong points out that you could. have a bunch of Rolands with health regeneration skills maxed, but you're going to wish someone had ammo generating skills once you run out of bullets. Even if there are some repeated characters in your party, however, everyone will be wearing different armor and helmets anyway, so it's not like you'll have to worry much about the clone trooper effect. health, and rain down fiery death from above. Of course, players can choose to take all of the loot. for themselves or they can share with up to three friends in full on and offline co-op. Basically, one player will start up a game and the remaining players will visit that world with their persistent characters. All loot and OF THE WEAPONS THAT EVERY ONE TRAN CH »g will be reflected when the visiting characters _ return to their own game. But with only three different à е support a four-player ry strong discussion [on Even if you don't have any friends, you don't necessarily have to go it alone. Al allies will crop up from time to time to give you a hand if you'd like. Depending on the mission ahead, players can select from among a medic, sniper, or gunner for support, in addition to the other two main characters. Squad commands are simple: "stay close,” "stay far,” and "stay here" Allies will wait for you to shoot first before they attack or they will return fire if shot at, so you. shouldn't have to worry about them broadcasting your position. You can also equip them with weapons and gear and decide how they'll level up. “We're building this game from the start as a co-op game that you can play by yourself,” Armstrong says. 70 GAME INFORMER BUILDING THIS GAME FROM THE START GAME THAT YOU CAN PLAY BY YOURSEL After several of the choicest goods are raided from treasure chests and fallen bandits, it's time to spend the skill points received from leveling up. Players can choose to increase any number of stats like health and ammo capacity, dash speed, jump distance, accuracy, or critical hit damage (a.k.a. headshots). Outside of —MATTHEW these general boosts, each character also has three unique focus skill trees to develop. With cesium charges in hand, Roland activates the transporter found in one of the bunkers to get his reward from the shopkeeper. A vast network of trans- porters will be scattered all throughout Pandora to make traversing areas you've already visited that much simpler. When venturing out to new territory, however, the best way to travel is by snagging a vehicle. Roland and Mordecai hop in a desert buggy and take off in the direction of the tracking signal. Upon entering a vehicle, the view pulls out to third-person and you can decide whether to man the wheel or turret while leaving the other role to the Al or a human player. Unlike most FPSs, you're not shoehorned into being the driver all of the біте. Gearbox is putting a special focus on properly functioning driving Al. "The Al actually understands the terrain that it's driving on as well as what type of things equal cool,” says Hurley. We witnessed this Al in action in a wide open desert area with plenty of bumps and hills. Mordecai provided a steady tide for aiming purposes, found some nice jumps, and managed to steer clear of any walls or head-on colli- sions with other vehicles. But if you'd like to take the Wheel at any time you can swap roles at the press of a button. This goes for co-op as well. “In co-op mode if you both hit the melee button at the same time you сап swap seats, which is nice and convenient if you -ГНЕ-ДІ ACTUALLY UNDERSTANE THE TERRAIN THAT IT'S DRIVIM | ON AS WELL AS WHAT TYPE CJ THINGS EQUAL СОО ( —SIMON HURL. EID: INTELLIGENT DESIGN Gearbox has enlisted famous concept artist Ron Cobb to work with the company's internal art te ex mm to craft some of Borderlands’ futuristic vehicles. A small sample of Cobb's resume includes designs For aliens in the cantina scene of Star Wars, the Nostromo ship in Alien, the Nazi Flying Wing in Raiders Of the Lost Ark, and production design on Conan the Barbarian. The vehicle shown here is called a Salt Racer. Its front wheels are spread apart for maneuvering at slow speeds, but once you reach a high enough speed on the open salt flats they will retract in to form more of a drag racer shape. anyon. The hi from the canyo GAME IN FOR MER 71 Rakk fly in and out of the hive's back in a suitably disgusting manner Life or a game where you're haracter, and you identity's fixed by your capabilities and your weapons and the world’s very confined by that, we'd have to argue about that and one- this game, because | can be my guy and balance my skills to be 2 the way | want to play, and he can be his guy. We can both exist in this game and that was the goal. However | want to play my FPS, | can do that” But perhaps the most intriguing element of Borderlands i is the uncertainty inherent in having half a million guns. After all, Gearbox is mostly working on real world guns right now. Once they throw in alien guns and all of the strange powers that go along with them, all bets are off. “It's going to freak us out,” Pitchford says. “We have no idea. There's no possible way we could know all of the weapons and equipment that are capable of being generated. The only people who hate what we're doing is our test department" "Someone's going to find the alien gun that does something ridiculous and amazing," says Armstrong. "My first reaction isn't going to be 'Oh, well that breaks the game! My first reac- NA tion is going to be ‘That is the game’ Looking for that gun is UND GA E š your goal” m m m THe E3 oF 2005 was A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE ONE THAT TIRED JOURNALISTS FLEW BACK FROM EARLIER THIS «Ішіү. For MOST, THIS YEAR BROUGHT FEW SURPRISES. GAMES THAT HAD BEEN SEEN BEFORE WERE THE NORM, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE RARE, EVEN IF THE PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS OF NEXT GENERATION GAMING ARE STAGGERINGLY EXCITING. Мот 50 IN 2005, WHEN NEXT-GE AMING WAS STILL SOMETHING TO PROVE ON THE HORIZON. CONSOLE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE ALMOST MORE PLENTIFUL THAN ANYONE COULD KEEP TRACK OF, AND THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE GAME Tee s THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM WERE HARD TO йал Bho THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS STRING OF IMPOSSIBILITIES, ONE EMERGED AS THE TALK OF THE SHOW — A TRAILER THAT HAD TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED. KiLLZONE 2 LOOKED SO OVER-THE-TOP, INTENSE, AND GRAPHICALLY IMPRESSIVE THAT IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE REAL. AMID THE SPECULATION AND HYPE, THE GAME MAKERS REMAINED LARGELY SILENT. TWO YEARS LATER, THE GAME IS UP AND RUNNING IN REAL TIME, AND FULLY PLAYABLE. THE PROMISE OF THAT ORIGINAL FILM MAY HAVE SEEMED A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS AT THE TIME, BUT HAS ITS PROMISE BEEN FULFILLED BY THE REAL THING? IN A WORD, YES — AND MAYBE THEN SOME. 74 GAME INFORMER . PLAYSTATION 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER GUERRILLA GAMES > RELEASE 2008 САМЕ INFORMER 7 > 8 Take enough fire, and the world will begin to fade to black and | white, time will slow, and you'd аде find cover ^| wanted to time it right. There's a moment where you have to say, let people talk. People believe we can't deliver, that's fine," says game director Mathijs De Jonge. "And then there's the moment that we can take the camera away from the action and fly around.’ He emphasizes his point as he pauses the demo he's just begun to zoom out from the action and cruise the camera through the real-time scene that surrounds the characters. Not unlike in that infamous original trailer, a squad of hardened soldiers is on a floating platform assault craft as it careens through the clouds, headed for the ground. As he unpauses the game, we watch as a massive lightning bolt rips through another nearby assault craft and its occupants are scattered and lost in the chaos. On the ground, a firefight is already raging, and the real gameplay begins as the squad pushes its way towards the entrenched Helghast. Killzone 2 continues the story of the original game, but with an almost completely new cast of characters and locations. The original game had the soldiers of the ISA defending the world of Vekta from the expansionistic attackers of the planet Helghan. In Killzone 2, the tables have turned, and you are part of an elite special forces squad called Legion at the van- guard of an assault on Helghan and its people. Along for the ride is your navy liaison, a man named Rico, which should ring some bells if you played through the original. Players will adopt the role of a new character by the name of Sev. In the mission we saw, the third in the game, a major assault has begun against the Helghast capital. A massive arc lightning gun is systematically gathering and then discharging the hos- tile electrical weather patterns of the planet, laying waste to the attacking ISA forces. This massive weapon is the team's 76 САМЕ INFORMER target as you breach the enemy lines. $ To do so, you'll take advantage of the explosive combat d system designed for Killzone 2. On a surface level, very little is profoundly different or innovative about this sequel's combat. Instead, the wow factor lies in how gorgeously and realistically those fights play out, how smooth the action is, and how well the game plays on the PlayStation 3, a console that has yet to see too many big name exclusive shooters. Specifically, Killzone 2 will have players juggling the now-standard two-weapon loadout. In our demo, we saw everything from assault rifles to an SMG and a power- ful grenade launcher. A tap of one of the shoulder buttons. ; will throw Sev against cover, while an adjustable lean allows £ М you to peek out just far enough to paint your targetivean, x out too far and the aggressive Helghast won't wasté time in peppering you with their own fire, at which point.you'll start b À to see the screen slowly fade to black and white while time slows as you near death. Hopefully, you'll be quicker on the trigger and take down your enemy first, which should give you the chance to watch the intricate death animations of the bad guys. "It's a system we call the hit-response system. What that is doing is, we've gota lot of mo-cap animations in, and for every hit where you hit'them they'll display a dif- ferent animation,” senior producer Steven Ter Heide tells и. ; “Those are all blended, so you'll get different responses every time. It will never look the same." The realism that emerges is different from either traditional ragdoll animations or canned j pre-animated slumps. Soldiers have any number of potential reactions to a hit – and every weapon you use against them has different impact physics, hitting with varying force and 9 spread. We saw this system on display most prominently as — A ç — o Ы < feature the team revealed another ition to the Killzone formula: bosses. While hurrying to the source of the lightning gun, Sev and his team encounter the Heavy, a shortened name for the heavy trooper of the Helghast army. This massive armored commando wields a mini- gun until you dive behind cover, at which point his favorite strategy changes to popping an explosive from his grenade launcher. When the beeping grenade lands nearby, Sev's cover is about to be annihi- lated, and so is he unless he runs for a new hiding place. Using the game's hit-response system, a well-aimed shot at the Heavy's head can potentially send him reeling back and to the side, revealing the exposed gas tank on his back. You know the rest of that story. The game engine running Killzone 2 was created by the team specificall | for this game. Its deferred rendering lighting allows for dramatic moods and effects as light sources move around within the world notice later in the demo, destructible cover is also not К: m for the game's technology. At a bridge crossing between buildings, Sev opens fire on a fully barred window, shattering its shutters and opening a new line of sight to the Helghast across the street. Simultaneously, those same soldiers start to fire back, rapidly eroding the walls holding back their fire, leaving Sev and his team exposed. In scenes like these, small graphical flourishes abound. Below the dim overhead light of the deserted building, moths flutter wildly. In the space between the two buildings, long metal cables shake in the wind and swing wildly from stray bullets. Lightning strikes a nearby structure, and electricity courses down its metal parts to the ground below. Strong tech built over the course of more than two years enables a world that is amazingly detailed and smoothly animated at 30 frames per second. As the team tells us, one character in Killzone 2 has as many polygons as an entire level of the first Killzone. "As far as the ambition for the original Killzone for PlayStation 2, we set the bar very high. We wanted to * push the technology. The game was good, but there were certainly some things that could be improved upon,” admits Guerrilla Games тетт CONTINUED ON PAGE 79 ››› п The Heavy is one of the early boss fights you'll have the pleasure of confronting GAME мо 77 Destructible environ- ments are taken to a whole level with Killzone 2's remarkable game engine ` т You'll travel with a squad of 22 characters, including a familiar face from the first game «€ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 77 managing director Hermen Hulst. "And now there's a new platform with new possibilities. And we thought, how do we make the Killzone world come alive on this next-generation platform?" We got the chance to feel just how alive that world already is when we played through this lengthy mis- sion for ourselves. Controls feel remarkably smooth, a happy surprise given how poorly FPS has traditionally fared on Sony hardware. Instead, the traditional look feature on the right analog doesn't feel as jerky as in some first-person offerings. Consequently, aiming is straightforward and allows for targeted shots on enemy body parts, such as one bullet exchange where we fired a single round to knock off an enemy helmet, only to follow through with a lucky headshot. Most noticeable in the fights was the aggressive enemy Al, ж B The real-time demo we played more than did justice to the level of detail exhibited in the original trailer from two years ago which was quick to take advantage of our failings. If we let up on the covering fire, they would quickly flank into a better position. And, as we learned, run- ning out of ammunition during a crucial firefight was tantamount to suicide, as the enemies seemed to notice and charged our location. As the mission came to a head, we found ourselves desperately firing away at some vulnerable ports on the lightning gun, while swarms of Helghast continually attacked from behind. If our experience is any indication, Killzone 2 won't be short on challenge when it releases next year. The same team that's designing the single-player campaign is hard at work on a multiplayer compo- nent, but the team was reticent to reveal details so early on in the process. When we asked about cooper- ative gameplay, they held their ground and remained silent, but their smiles as they refused to answer were Se feature just short of a confirmation. It's hard to declare Killzone 2 an innovative success on a gameplay level, even though all the elements of a solid FPS are firmly in place. Instead, the triumph on display is a technical marvel, with amazingly detailed characters and gritty backgrounds that are easy to pause and marvel at. To our eyes, this early version of the game does justice to a promise that many in the industry thought was an impossible standard only two years ago. It's a testament to how fast the gaming world rolls forward. In the next few months, several other games are likely to set a new high bar for gamers' expectations, and only the release of this sequel will reveal if it's up to the challenge. One way or the other, even our brief hours with the game were enough to conclude that PS3 owners have at least one new triple-A title to call their own next year. # # m GAME INFORMER 79 PLAYSTATION 2 (XBOXN60 0 aoe Grand Theft Auto IV. ' > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER ROCKSTAR > DEVELOPER ROCKSTAR NORTH > RELEASE OCTOBER 16 CELL PHONES) APPOINTMENTS, AND ONE BIG ASS CITY t the rate that Rockstar is releasing new information for Grand Theft Auto IV, you'd think that this game was shipping no earlier than 2009. As secretive as this company has been over this last year, you can only imagine our surprise when they stopped by the Game Informer offices for an impromptu hour-long gameplay session with the Xbox 360 version of the game. Unlike our previous experience in Liberty City, which began in the borough of Broker, this one started with Niko, still dressed somewhat shoddily, standing calmly in the neon-lit and heavily populated streets of Star Junction (GTA IV's version of Times Square). 80 GAME INFORMER As the electronic billboards flickered with color and life, the denizens of the streets could be seen doing various things, such as buying a paper from a dispenser, or gather- ing on a street corner for a cigarette and a chat. No stickler for details, you can actually hear the flick of a lighter when someone lights up. It's elements like these that really make this city feel alive. The demo itself started off fairly slowly, with Niko nonchalantly taking a stroll, but soon showcased a number of new innova- tions for the series, such as the ability to whistle and wave for a cab. In our demo, the first cab that Niko tried to flag didn't stop, which brought about a hilarious flip of the bird from our Eastern-European protagonist. The second cab did pull over, however. Rather than jacking it like you would in other GTA games, players now have the chance to hop into the back seat. From here, the game zooms into Niko's eyes with a first-person view showing the interior of the car, and a cabbie that is ready to get his marching orders. The player must first give the cabbie a location, which is handled on the d-pad. When the car starts moving, players have the option to hit the A button to skip the ride and be warped to the location, X to tell the cabbie to hurry it up (which is shown visu- ally by the cabbie speeding up and punch- ing the horn) and Y to exit the cab. The rigl analog stick is used for camera movement, for which there are dozens of views. After a nice ride through Liberty City, Niko hopped out of the car and made tracks into an alley where a contact, Little Jacob, who he contacted earlier on the phone, was wait- ing. The two parties exchanged pleasantries, then Jacob popped open his trunk to reveal a stockade of weapons. It was at this point that Rockstar pointed out that you have to build a relationship with Jacob throughout the course of the game before he will go out of his way to deal with you — especially in light of the fact that there will be no ammu- nition stores in the game. What followed was a series of phone calls The cell phone is to arrange meetings with ammo sellers, friends, and people that have missions for you to complete and cab rides. The outcome of all this con- cluded with Niko taking on a mission to take out a lawyer named Goldberg (of Goldberg, Ligner, and Shyster). Since Goldberg is hard to get to, Niko chose a non-lethal approach to get to him. He was going to apply for a job at the law firm. The quickest way to do this was to hit the closest TW@ Internet Café — a place loaded with people huddled around glowing monitors. As Rockstar pointed out, every computer in the game can be interacted with. In this instance, Niko booted up a web browser, surfed a news and link heavy page, then went to the law firm's site where he submitted a resume. This brings up another huge aspect of GTA Niko doesn't take kindly to bûgs on windshields IV. Unlike previous games in the series, this one now has a working calendar, which is broken down into actual days of the week. After Niko's application was reviewed, he received a telephone call from the firm, who in turn, set up an appointment with him for Thursday at noon. In preparation for this event, Niko pur- chased a chocolate brown suit from a top-tier clothing store called Perseus. The clothing changes in this GTA won't be fan- tastical, and are used in realistic ways. At the law firm, Niko was escorted to Goldberg's office. After taking a seat, the interview began. As Goldberg chatted it up, Niko stood up and pulled a gun on him. This Both helicopters and boats can be controlled by the player Nikg [Earns that the American Dream is Presefiption drugs and a manicure action was met with a hilarious response on Goldberg's part. He said that the firm sup- ported the second amendment, and that “Guns don't kill people. Video games do” With one quick shot, Goldberg flipped backward out of his chair and through a window, falling several stories to his death. This, of course, brought about a police firefight and chase. While still making use of a wanted star system (up to six stars), the police now have a search radius, which is represented on the map with a glowing ring — the more severe the crime, the larger the ring. It's up to the player to figure out how to get out of this zone. Do you change vehicles? Hide? Try and outrun them? It's NK Objects in mirror ate always smaller } than they appear, except for guns. | They always look huge! City walkers seem to have a life of their own and will be fun to watch to see what they will do next now more of a game of cat and mouse. Rockstar wouldn't go into the specifics regarding how the controls work, but did show us some tasty firefights, with Niko ducking behind cover (which, depending on the material, could be destructible), and exchanging fire. When the odds leaned in the favor of the police, Niko switched to an uzi to show off a new move: blind firing over objects. The demo ended with Niko going down in a hail of fire. It was an awesome run, and it made us want more answers, such as why would there be a multiplayer option on the phone during the single-player game? Does this imply co-op? Bi B m GAME INFORMER 81 The Master Chief and the Arbiter fight side by side in the new game XBOX 360 Halo 3 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT > DEVELOPER BUNGIE > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 25 BEYOND MULTIPLAYER ntil E3 this year, Bungie was remaining tight-lipped on the single-player options for its sure-to-break-sales-records release, Halo 3. The extensive playable demo we were shown revealed the game to be in fan- tastic shape, which did nothing but heighten our expectations for the September release. We also got to see just how sweet the new film-saving functionality will be, a feature that promises to have gamers watching their own sessions with the same relish that they played them with. The single-player demo we saw revealed a wealth of cool information, not the least of which is that those complaints about the graphics ought to start slowing down. While the game still maintains the artistic style of the first two Halo releases, the single-player component of the third game is flush with detail, from the gor- geous texturing of leaves and tree bark to the armor on Covenant soldiers. We also saw several moments that revealed the Master Chief fight- ing side-by-side with the Arbiter, which begs the question of whether two co-op players will each pick one of the heroes — it seems likely, but is still unconfirmed. The forested area through which this level played out was full of Covenant troops, and the Master Chief seemed to be at the forefront of a marine force taking them out while en route to a meet-up with Sgt. Johnson. With constant chatter pouring in from all sides, it's easy to get drawn into the battle. Your troops are constantly shouting back and forth with each other, while Brutes threaten your life and Grunts scream their high-pitched silliness. The mission soon found MC by a riverside, where the rendezvous with Johnson was put on hiatus thanks to his Pelican crashing into a distant ravine. Instead, a huge Covenant Phantom showed up over the river. 82 GAME INFORMER Grabbing a turret from the shore, the Master Chief opened up with the pow- erful weapon. And yes, you'll finally be able to take those suckers down. The other major focus for Bungie at E3 was on revealing more about their save film feature. It's hard to believe that this might be something you'd spend a lot of time on until you see it in action. Unlike the version that came with the multiplayer beta, this itera- tion of the software had all its advanced features included. Any level or match from either single or multiplayer can be input into the filming tool, at which point you gain total control of the camera, pulling it up and out from your character's perspective, spinning it around him, zooming over the map, or switching between other play- ers' perspectives. You can pause the action at any time, and rotate the camera around for a better look, or watch that Warthog your friend was driving get blown up again and again, in frame-by-frame clicks. You can also record clips, large or small, which will maintain your unique camera view as you record, and those clips can then become shareable on Xbox Live. Imagine the possibilities. One of our favorite parts of Halo, the music, still hadn't been dropped in for the demo we saw. Likewise, the single-player action, insane as it was, was just a gameplay drop in the bucket compared to some large-scale vehicle sec- tions that apparently occur later in the game. Nonetheless, everything we saw of Halo 3 was in tip-top shape. The surprise with this game isn't going to be if it does well — it's going to be how ny sales records it manages to shatter. š 8 ii °° previews The graphics have come a long way since the multi- player beta earlier this year z: ж. і А “ 2a 1 52 ұз 7 ч wa L г \ The new filgffsaving feature will \}, let you pause at awesome moments Ñ like then the camera around the he action, fid even record the clip for М e inclusion on Xbox Live PLAYSTATION 3 Vamp and Raiden display superhuman abilities as they fight. These two aren't the only familiar faces - the character art below depicts a 70-something Eva Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER KONAMI > DEVELOPER KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS > RELEASE Q1 2008 THE SNAKE’S OUT OF THE BAG ans of the Metal Gear franchise have become accustomed to jaw-dropping trailers at E3, and this year was no exception. We were treated to a cin- ematic clash between Raiden and Vamp, yet as usual, no specifics regarding the gameplay. Thankfully, that was rectified a week later when Konami threw a party for Metal Gear's 20th birthday and Hideo Kojima gave a dem- onstration of Guns of the Patriots in action. The concepts we've been hearing about for two years have finally fallen into place. Throughout the course of the demo, Snake uses his Solid Eye as both binoculars and thermal goggles, lobs grenades while lying ‘on his back, and sneaks around in barrel (which is more resilient than, say, a card- board box). Otacon's Metal Gear Mk. Il will also figure prominently into recon, since Snake can control it remotely (with an in- game Sixaxis controller, no less) to scope out an area and shock unsuspecting troops. All of these were actions were illustrated in gameplay, not just as in-game cinematics. ^No place to hide" has been one of the game's driving principles, which Kojima has explained refers to the notion of staying concealed in an open battlefield. The key to stealth in MGS 4 is the octocam, which is built into Snake's sneaking suit. Using an interface like MGS 3's, you can select specific camo patterns to blend in to the environ- 84 САМЕ INFORMER ment. In one case, Snake wore a design that made him to look like a statue, allow- ing him to stand still as a patrol passed by. Even cooler is the fact that, with the touch of a button, players will be able to make the sneaking suit take on the colors and patterns of its surroundings chameleon-style. In addition to the camo, there are other elements that resemble features in previous installments. For instance, Snake still seems able to keep a boundless arsenal with him at all times, which is selected through scrolling Since 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the series, Konami has announced a few additional Metal Gear titles to mark the occasion. A UMD graphic novel of Metal Gear Solid 2 is on the way from the same artist who did the first one and the cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Speaking of MGS: PO, Kojima Productions is releasing an expan- sion pack to the original, entitled Portable Ops+, that will Portable Ops+ menus in the lower corners of the screen. = СОС makes a return as well, and though it 2 will have new functionality (like disarming “% opponents), we have yet to see if the con- trol scheme has been tweaked. These mechanics are undoubtedly just the beginning. Sure, we've gotten a taste of what the game will be like, but Kojima is known for keeping secrets right up until a game's release. We're betting that there are still plenty of details hidden from view. @ 8 feature new stages, missions, and characters - including Roy Campbell, Raiden, and Old Snake. Finally, Metal Gear Online is in the works for PlayStation 3, an online counter- part to Metal Gear Solid 4 that brings the game's mechanics to a versus setting. As of this printing, Hideo Kojima has not confirmed whether this standalone title will be in addition to online play in MGS 4 or a substitute for it. | Metal Gear Online | We think the circle surrounding Snake indicates the environment his suit will use to create camouflage ° : That helmet might be more than °° previews an accessory. If you look closely, it = 5 seems that something is seriously wrong with Raiden's jaw = B Snake's octacam can take on xomplex patterns, allowing him getthejumponfoes ` Which one of these could be Snake? Hint: he's one off the two with a head In the years since Metal Gear Solid 2, Snake's genetic condition has caused him to age unnaturally fast Ж Meryl returns as the ader of a newly formed -FOXHOUND unit Se previews White Lions vs. Black Guards 86 GAME INFORMER 2) W Dark Elves and High Elves 4; hate each other...duh! The new Orc and Goblin army readies a siege New Dark Elf Cold Knights never get off those lizard thingies XBOX 360 The Dark Elf Black Guard sizes up the new volcano stage Warhammer: Battle March > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER BLACK HOLE ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE SPRING 2008 JOINING THE CONSOLE MIGRATION ast years Warhammer: Mark of Chaos is taking up a new moniker and joining The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle- earth Il and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars in the growing RTS march towards Xbox 360. While the aforementioned titles have survived the transition from mouse and keyboard mostly intact, Namco Bandai hopes to raise the bar. “There have been some precedents set by games that have made a great effort in implement- ing effective and intuitive controls in the genre on the Xbox 360," says pro- ducer Jim Ngui. “Warhammer: Battle March will have these standard offer- ings for players who may have become used to those controls, but we offer something more in-depth as well" Players can choose a more advanced control set that the team describes as "faster and slicker’ Instead of simply functioning as mercenaries for hire as in Mark of Chaos, the brutish orcs and gob- lins now have their own full-blown army. Players will command this force in an all-new single-player campaign, titled Orcs and Goblins, that will join the original two from the PC game. “The new cam- paign offers some very interesting maps that aren't what | would call typical of any war game," says Ngui. “This will bring a refreshing variety that is very different from the initial Empire and Chaos campaigns” Fans of the High Elf army have a chance to go a little sinister this time around with the new Dark Elves. Though they won't have their own campaign, Namco assures us that the Dark Elf army is definitely worth getting to know. "Players favoring this army will have a lot of options," Ngui says. "Magic, speed, and range are all available depending on how players would like to build their army" Multiplayer mode will allow the same level of army customization as Mark of Chaos, and will feature standard kill-or-be-killed matches, siege mode, and rein- forcements mode (where players capture strategic points for battlefield advantages). Developer Black Hole is not talking about the new multiplayer modes just yet, but new Xbox 360-only maps have been confirmed. The team assures that it is listening to some of the general criticisms of the original PC title in the creation of Battle March. ^We've definitely been keeping abreast with input from consum- ers and press," Ngui says. "There have been a lot of meetings between all parties to address what we can do to make the experience even stronger on the Xbox 360. In the end, | believe we will have a game that surpasses the original Mark of Chaos experience that people will have a lot of fun with" B Il Bl Visit www.esrb.org for updated rating information, Actual in-game screenshot. GeoDeformation" is here—an earth-pulverizing technology that makes each lap more torn up than the last. Other games have promised it, but Sega Rally Revo delivers. Combine that with a slew of erratic weather conditions and track surfaces, and you'll never know what's around the bend. Check out the groundbreaking off- road racing at www.sega.com/segarally. SEGA PRESE" COMING OCTOBER 2007 q LIVE 4 G EX ® xBox 360: Өте... Available on PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the PSP’ (PlayStation’ Portable) system. SEGA RACING STUDIO www.sega.com Se previews PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 Skate > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/SPORTS (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EA BLACK BOX > DEVELOPER ELECTRONIC ARTS > RELEASE SEPTEMBER THE NEW SEARCH FOR ANIMAL CHIN hen you think about Skate in relation to teal-life skating — instead of in compari- son to its rival Tony Hawk — you get a better appreciation of what the game is trying to accomplish. Skate’s attempt to come up with a control scheme and feel more akin to real skating is a breath of fresh air in the genre, and helps the game stand on its own two feet. Though it's in a totally different genre, Skate's control scheme is similar to Assassin's Creed in that some of the buttons correspond to areas of the body. The right and left triggers initiate grabs, while the X and B buttons are your left and right feet, respectively. The analog sticks, which control direction and how you tweak your board, have a good deal of range to them. So holding a manual, for instance, has a really natural feel; it's not like you just jam the thumbstick forward and back. Because of this subtlety, the game has a flow to it that captures the feeling of skating down the street pulling tricks. Of course, this also means 88 САМЕ INFORMER the game's learning curve can be a little steep as you work out the nuances of the system. However, it's one we're excited to learn and explore. In the hands-on demo we experienced, we cruised through the streets of San Vanelona. Sometimes we bombed hills and skated through speed wobbles (although you can adjust your trucks to your liking), other times we camped on a skate spot like a city park or in front of an office building. The whole demo seemed very much like a normal skate video, right down to the camera work. We even saw the mega-park that Danny Way is building for real in Hawaii. The masonite behemoth takes up a big chunk of real estate and proves that Skate isn't short on death-defying feats. Although Skate doesn't seem to feature as many tricks or the gen- eral craziness of Tony Hawk, it also doesn't have you running around on foot as a link between tricks. That could make all the difference in the world. ШШШ x A Edit Play/ Timeline Ф Pause в Сатега Exit m Rewind Create Marker ш Forward Delete Marker DEEN CAMERA: 1 Rk NORMAL 2 __100% = к an Hide/Show Current length: 26sec Alcohol Reference Crude Humor true Japanese-style RPG, forged from the м Ee collective vision of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Mild Suggestive Themes ' Akira Toriyama, and Nobuo Uematsu, ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.esrb.org exclusively for Xbox 360.“ © 2007 Microsoft Corporation, All rights reserved. Microsoft the Microsoft Games Studios m Um Blue Dragon, Artoon, Xbox 360, the Xbox logos, and Xbox Live are registered trademarks of the Microsoft gfoup of companies, xbox.com/bluedragon ce previews PLAYSTATION 3 Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER NAUGHTY DOG > RELEASE NOVEMBER столы лыо ey BURIED TREASURE ithout a doubt, Sony has high hopes that Uncharted will have the right formula to rise to the top in the busy holiday season ahead, a tough task for even the most hard- ened adventurer. Nathan Drake may have the goods, if the game can be smoothed out and some targeting issues addressed in the next couple of months. For our part, the game looks positively stunning, and if there's anyone that we're willing to trust on the promised sweeping story, it's the folks over at Naughty Dog. In brief, the supposed descendant of Sir Francis Drake, Nathan Drake, is on a treasure hunt to find his ancestor's hidden treasure. Like so many great adventure stories, things 190 GAMEANFORMER get complicated quickly. Between the pres- ence of a long-time mentor with a shady background, an attractive girl who comes along for the ride, and an overwhelming force of baddies out for the same objective, Nathan should have his hands full. On display at E3 were several new areas. One had Drake precariously hanging from a cliff as he swung back and forth on vines, desperately seeking a solid handhold. We also saw him scramble along windowsills in an ascent of a ruined watchtower on the mysterious island that is the setting for much of the game. Combat continues to progress, and we enjoyed checking out the melee component, which wasn't in the game the last time we got to play. Targeting with guns remains a little bit iffy, and enemy reac- tions both in gameplay terms and animations could use a little work. Meanwhile, Drake's own movement anima- tions are amazing, as he vaults between rocks and over fallen pedestals. Though not on display at E3, the team at Naughty Dog is still planning to implement some exciting diversions in the gameplay as well, with a big focus on the excitement of chase scenes, whether in a jeep or on powerful jet skis. Cinematic scenes emulate the style of 4 x While the easy comparison ^ with this game is to Tomb Raider, some E3 showgoers compared, thé action to Gears of War. ! some of the great action/adventure epics, and we noticed some tweaks to Drake's female companion, Elena, not the least of which was a switch to blonde hair that had a lot more life to it than before. Meanwhile, the banter between her and Drake remains entertaining and believable. Overall, a feeling of fun and excitement permeates everything we've seen of Uncharted. We can't wait to see how the final product comes together later this year. ЕНЕ action АЕ The gameplay ii j b en platforming and ath moments into movie-like $ o li See those mountains in the background? Think of this Burnout like you did Oblivion: if you can see it you can probably drive to it Burnout Paradise > STYLE 1-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK AND XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EA > DEVELOPER CRITERION GAMES > RELEASE JANUARY FREEBURN t's always fun to watch a high-speed ride crash and burn, leaving a smol- dering wreck of what was once beautiful. And we're not just talking about Lindsay Lohan's life; we're talking about cars. For some reason there aren't too many things more fun than causing — or even surviving — high-speed disasters, and that is why we love the Burnout series. With Paradise, the first Burnout made from the ground up for next-gen plat- forms, developer Criterion wanted to make a fresh start. They wanted a Burnout that would do away with all the loading screens and menus. To accomplish this goal they've introduced an open world environment called Paradise City. Races and other favorite Burnout events like Takedown are still present, but all you will have to do to access them is drive to the starting line. B If the sides of these screens look blurry to you, you either need | glasses or you need to slow down JÎ 9 Cars now һауе e- brakes, so making quick U-turns is a breeze Se previews IT'S SHOWTIME Considering the open world aspect of the game, Criterion found it a challenge to create congested crash junction areas all over the city. But since Crash Mode is many players’ favor- ite mode, what was a developer to do? How about turn Crash Mode into a crash anytime mode and call it Showtime. In Paradise, players will be able to initiate crashes on their own anywhere in the city, even during race events, and as long as their car retains momentum, they can continue to rack up the points. It might even be possible to keep one wreck going from one side of the city all the way to the other. Sounds like destruction even Godzilla could be proud of. In addition, there will be various shops scattered across the city. Drive throu: a body shop and it will repair any damage to your car. Drive through a gas sta tion and your boost meter fills up. Tired of your car's color? Take a drive through a paint shop. We took the new city for a spin and were having a blast for about 15 minutes when we realized that we hadn't yet entered a single event. Screwing around and exploring the game's open world is pretty fun on its own. This freeform fun continues in the online arena. While playing single player, invite some of your friends to join, and your pervasive world seamlessly merges with theirs. You'll never see a load screen or pause. Online you can tag your friends for takedowns, and if you're successful in making them crash (and you have a camera peripheral) the game will take a picture of your gloating pose and send it to them. But be careful, because players who have been taken down earn a payback — giving them the opportunity to reverse your steeri lock up your brakes, or some other trick to get a revenge crash. With all these changes, it's clear that this is Burnout evolved. All the different cars actually feel and handle differently, and their various weights and balance will alter how they react with the environment, resulting in vastly different crashes for each car every time. We can't wait to try and see how many differ- ent wrecks we can make; we just wish we didn't have to wait until next year to doit EH GAME INFORMER. 91 PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | Wii | PLAYSTATION 2 MX vs. ATV Untamed > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 12-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE, UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA WIICONNECT24, UP TO 6-PLAYER VIA PS2 ONLINE) > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER RAINBOW STUDIOS > RELEASE JANUARY HAULIN' IT X vs. ATV series developer Rainbow Studios is well known for its racing prowess, and at first glance Untamed seems not much different from other titles in this excellent franchise. But MX vs. ATV fans should be able to detect some subtle differences that set Untamed apart. First off, the game embraces an open career format, which we're thankfully seeing more and more these days. The X-Cross career mode lets you play to your strengths and prefer- ences when racing towards the championship, although in the final stretch you will have to participate in a variety of race types. One of the newbies for his year is Endurocross, which takes place outdoors but has some of the char- acteristics of the tighter, more intense indoor supercross tracks. Also added is Untamed's Opencross mode, which lets players race through the series’ open world areas. These won't be like your typical waypoint races, instead letting you manauver and explore the map. Rainbow has refined its physics-based racing model with two kinds of pre-load. More importantly, the Al on the game's tracks will veer away from the best-line racing that has so typified racing Al in the past. Worry not, MX fans, we're pretty sure that the tweaks being made for Untamed will only make you like the series more. 8 THE DREAM /S ALWAYS THE SAME. THEN COMES THE RUSHING. | 22 XBOX 360 І PLAYSTATION 3 The Bourne Conspiracy > STYLE i-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER SIERRA > DEVELOPER HIGH MOON STUDIOS > RELEASE SUMMER 2008 he Bourne series is the latest summer blockbuster franchise to get its due with a video game counterpart. Thankfully, the game is not being created simultaneously with a film, so the development team can take the time necessary to execute the game correctly. The team in question is High Moon Studios, best known for its well-received occult western Darkwatch. Unfortunately, High Moon is tackling Robert Ludlum's espionage series without the help of film star Matt Damon. That's not to say the team is going it alone, however. High Moon is working closely with the Ludlum estate and hired screenwriter Tony Gilroy and stunt coordinator Jeff Imada, both of whom worked on the highly successful films. The Bourne Conspiracy will take place right before the start of The Bourne Identity, giving gamers the chance to explore Jason Bourne's life before he loses his identity and becomes a mal- functioning $30 million killing machine. M Jason Bourne may not remember his past, but he does remember that wool sweaters look great in gunfights Ii Matt Damon has been replaced with Steve from accounting STILL-BOURNE OR RE-BOURNE? The game will explore his past through a series of flashbacks, and some of the more exciting scenes from the first movie will also make appearances, including the famed embassy escape. Unlike espionage games like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, The Bourne Conspiracy relies more upon action sequences than stealth. Given that Jason Bourne can kill everyone in the room six ways from Sunday, the game will seamlessly move between carefully choreographed close-combat action and frantic gunplay. Bourne doesn't have access to any Bond-like super secret spy technology, either. Instead, he relies on his superior training and instinct, which gamers can tap into using “Bourne Awareness.” This feature slows down time and allows you to scan the environment for potential weapons. The Bourne Conspiracy is scheduled to release in Summer 2008. We hope the team can overcome the loss of the series’ star and accurately recreate the excite- ment of the films. Bl I I. FOR WEEKS, THE DREAM HAS FOLLOWED HIM _ EVERYWHERE. 7 / IT DOESN'T IT FEELS... REAL. SEEM LIKE A DREAM ANYMORE. m FEELS... CLOSE! BUT TODAY, SOMETHING /6 DIFFERENT. BUT THE TIME... PERHAPS IT IS NOT YET RIGHT. IUE XBOX 360 Fable 2 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (MULTIPLAYER TBD) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER LIONHEAD STUDIOS > RELEASE 2008 THE SOUND OF WAR eath in computer games is something that hasn't changed since the start,” says Fable's creator, Peter Molyneux. “Death has always been used to give tension to the combat.” In Fable 2, Molyneux and his team at Lionhead Studios are exploring what combat would be like without the lurking fear of death. Rather than meeting the reaper and having to restart a battle, when you sustain enough damage in Fable 2, your character will likely collapse to the ground, where he will be thoroughly beaten by his adversaries. This will lead to your character earning a new scar or wound. This may not sound like such a bad thing, but your appearance and how grotesque it could be will affect your relationships. People will run away scared, your wife may grow distant, and as Molyneux pointed out, your son may even scream, “Daddy! Ah!" This should make the combat more intense, as it will have a perma- nent mark on the progression of the game. Fable 2 is also breaking ground with its combat. “All of the sword fighting takes place on this blue button,” comments Molyneaux. True enough, tapping X and applying directional presses with it will perform different an array of SURE AM GLAD THIS RAIN FINALLY STOPPED, HUH HIRO? attacks, such as standard sword swings, picking up and throwing items, and also contextual strikes, like smashing an opponent's head into a wall. Ranged combat will be handled on the Y button, and magic will be designated to B. It may sound like the combat system is being streamlined and simplified, but it's actually growing in an unexpected way. Rather than just hammering away on X to down foes, Lionhead hopes that the combat will bring music to the ears of the players. Quite literally, in fact — every sword slice in Fable 2 adds to the soundtrack. Battles start out silent, but if you rhythmically time your swings with the tempo, more instru- ments will be added to the score. The better your timing, the more powerful your attacks. To no surprise, Molyneux says that he drew inspiration for this mechanic from the PS2 game Rez. Sadly, Molyneux wasn't open to talking about the faithful dog that will travel at your side, but did say that this pup's Al surpasses anything seen in a game before. Fable 275 release date is still up in the air, and given Lionhead's track record, it isn't even safe assuming it will come out in 2008. Ш Bi m / this village will burn... rf іп “Doe, a deer a female-deer” | 8 “This clock tower will fall and ..1 will do / power to protect this legendary clock tower” DID YOU WATCH THE SPIRITS GAME? WASSA N MATTER, HIRO? YOU'VE GOT THE CAT'S BELIEVE IN DESTINY? HE DOESN'T HAVE YOURS/ EH, WHO'S GOT TIME FOR THAT STUFF? £ SAT You'll have to manage your fighter's д health by working out, and manage their popularity by attending promo- tional events like autograph signings You will be able to change your fighters fighting style, but within reason. Some charac- ters may be too big to become high-flyers, for example PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 1 Wii | PLAY: ION 2 | PSP WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2008 > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER YUKE'S MEDIA CREATIONS > RELEASE NOVEMBER 15 NOT A SLAP FIGHT HQ really wants people to know that in this year's WWE title every brawler fights differently. The game is coming packed with eight differ- ent fighting styles, and every wrestler will be equipped with two of them: a primary and a secondary. A fighter's primary ability dictates what kind of super move they have. These are moves that other wrestlers won't have, and range from abilities like becoming temporarily invulnerable to unleashing attacks that are impossible for the other fighters to avoid. Of course, I “And that, son, is where babies come from” you will also be able to switch between your primary and secondary abilities during a match, effec- tively changing your special move. Also new to this year's entry is 24/7 Mode, which combines GM and Season mode from past titles. In this mode, your goal is to become a legend. There will be sub-goals on this journey, such as winning the World Rumble or Wrestlemania, gaining titles, or getting ranked as one of the Power 25. Becoming a legend might take longer depending on if you are playing as an already éstablish superstar or an unknown newcomer, but it's possible either way. You will also have daily activities in this mode where you manage your fighter's health, popularity, etc. just like in past GM modes. This year's WWE promises to have its fair share of thrills. Crowds will be more interactive this time around. They will offer you weapons and may ем step forward to help hold down your opponent. With faster gameplay, smoother animations, and some improved analog stick moves, this sounds like it might be one of the most promising wrestling titles in a long time. š Bl Bl i lisa. m N E WHERE DOES THE STORY END? FILM ‘THE LEGEND REBORN” AT SUBARU.COM/LEGEND OR TXT WRX1 ТО 742350 WHERE DID IT u BEGIN? = тт The legend is reborn From the east it comes, conceived in thunder, born from lightning. The all-new Subaru Impreza WRX. Breathing fire from its 2.5-liter, 224-horsepower turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine, its mighty talons take hold with road gripping All-Wheel Drive standard. Prepare to meet your destiny. Ready for action. It?s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru. Te MS x m ETE °° previews ш You're probably wondering how we got this picture of your mom, but in fact this is actually a screenshot of Giga.Bowser 2 ы Е ж One day Kirby finally under- * stood why no one ever laughed at his “I just ate you joke Super Smash Bros. Brawl > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER FIGHTING > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER HAL LABORATORIES INC. > RELEASE DECEMBER 3 TURN THIS FIGHT INTO AN ALL OUT BRAWL he sequel to the GameCube's biggest selling title continues to look better. When we saw Bowser kick Mario's tiny frame across the screen at Nintendo press conference, a small tear of joy crawled down our cheek. But details continue to slowly trickle out for what will most likely be Nintendo's biggest game this year, so we're mopping up all the details we can find and squeezing out every last drop of information. Just because what you have seen so far in this Smash Bros. looks similar to past titles, don't go assuming that all the characters will perform just as they did before. Many of the fighters have learned some new moves since the previ- ous games. Zelda, for example, now has less of an emphasis on physical attacks and relies even more strongly on magic, while Bowser will be an even bigger powerhouse, able to transform into the monstrously terrifying Giga Bowser. STRIP TEASE As you can see, certain moves will have a last- ing effect on characters. Here Samus charges up a mega blast, which is incredibly devastating, but comes at a price. The blast destroys her power suit, making her Zero Suit Samus. At least she can use the pieces of her suit as a weapon by throwing them at her opponents. 96 САМЕ INFORMER But the newcomers have plenty of tricks of their own. Kid Icarus hero Pit has a two-handed bladed weapon that can be separated into a blade for each hand. Players will also be able to control the trajectory of light arrows fired from his bow. Zero Suit Samus has a strong emphasis on speed, and the Paralyzer weapon she holds can transform into a whip, giving her deadly range. No matter which character you choose, they will all be able to call in secondary fighters with an Assist Trophy. Assist Trophies are items that summon other cameo characters into the battle for a short time. These assist characters are invincible and random, so you never know who you will end up with. It could be a Hammer Bro, Captain Falcon's rival Samurai Goroh, Dr. Wright from SimCity, or any number of other special guest stars. Still, some of the coolest features are the levels that = Instead of button mashing, players can now hold down the attack button to perform certain combos OY Nintendo picnics usually start out ine, but eventually everyone's fight- ing about why they keep making _ Mario Party games change during play. The Yoshi's Island stage has a revolv- ing seasonal system that goes through spring, summer, fall, and winter even while the battle rages on. We've also seen a Bridge of Eldin level from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Every once in a while, King Bulblin appears to lob bombs onto the bridge, causing the ground to fall out from underfoot. Even the Animal Crossing stage has a day-night cycle set by the Wii's internal clock. It's been hinted that there will be special events on certain levels during specific days and times. With all we've seen so far, the new Smash Bros. is defi- antly shaping up to be one of the biggest games this holiday. And we're pretty sure that there is a lot more information to come, like a full character list, different modes of play, etc. But until December 3rd, we'll just have to happily feast on whatever crumbs Nintendo feeds us. š ii Iñ previews Super Mario Galaxy > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NINTENDO > RELEASE NOVEMBER 12 SPACE JUMP hen some strange creature kid- centers on a gravity well that naps Princess Peach and escapes pulls in space debris, thereby into outer space, Mario's Bowser- creating new ground for Mario sense starts tingling and he to walk on. It's like a level that takes to the skies to rescue her. After all, it's a builds itself while you play. plumber's job to save a Princess. But enough Mario has never been afraid to about the game's story; you're not reading put on an animal costumes, and -ooks like even Bowser has this because you want to know a detailed it looks like nothing has changed lems digesting Taco Bell's cheese 0 plot synopsis for the new Mario game. We've with Galaxy. On one level Mario actually played Galaxy " and you probably want to know what we think. In Galaxy, stages are separated by, uh, well galaxies. Each galaxy has its own theme, and level diversity is as vast as you'd expect from a Mario game. During our brief time with the demo we fought a plant boss, hunted down some rab- bits, and explored a pirate ship floating in space. One of our favorite levels in the Star Dust Galaxy W Mario prepares for his Mexican TV debut | came in contact with a black and in contact with any H2O he will lose all his gold mushroom that transformed Bee powers. him into a honeybee-suited Mario. Co-op is done with an interesting twist in As you can tell from the screen Galaxy. A second player can grab an extra above he looks a little dorky, but he's Wii remote and assist Mario by taking control also granted some highly useful abili- of the floating star pointer that accompanies ties. Bee Mario is able to fly upwards Mario. This accomplice will be able to do a for short periods of time, he can variety of things, such as hold down enemies hover atop of flowers that wouldn't or stun them (making it easier for Mario to normally take his weight, and he finish them off), collect floating star gems, apparently Nintendo gameplay, but we're hoping it gets a little thinks water is bit deeper before the game releases. Bee kryptonite, N Nintendo says this is the closest because if to the classic Mario 64 a Mario title Mario comes has ever been. Sure, the controls are smooth, and Mario still has his famil- iar triple jump set, but by just looking at screens it's hard to believe their claim. The spread out nature of the levels and outer space atmosphere don't evoke many classic Mario feelings. However, when you actually play the game you begin to understand a little bit of Nintendo's genius. The small planetary structure in Galaxy actually frees Nintendo to create fun platforming challenges without worrying how they connect to the rest of the level. Don't worry — Mario's still got it, and the whole galaxy will know it when the game launches this November. Bi 81 lil can climb up things like and even destroy certain obstacles such honeycombs. However, N as boulders. This is a unique twist to the m Incredible! Even in space, Mario manages to find a water level A GAME INFORMER 97 35 previews Attack of the 50-foot eyesores! PLAYSTATION З | XBOX 360 | Wii | PLAYSTATION 2 | DS The Simpsons Game > STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER EA REDWOOD SHORES. > RELEASE WINTER S-M-R-T hen you think about it, it doesn't really make sense to have the Simpsons skateboarding around or spray-painting objects to fend off aliens. The long-running television show has always been about satire and social commentary — something that Simpsons games have failed to capture in the past. That's the area where the newest adaptation hopes to turn things around. Chock full of humor and Springfield's myriad cast of weir- does, The Simpsons Game is finally putting 98 GAMEINFORMER the show's characters in their element. The story finds the Simpson family zapped into a video game. They are aware of their status as characters within a game, and the development team at EA is using this as an opportunity to lampoon the major icons of the industry. Marge uses her megaphone to crusade against the violence in Grand Theft Scratchy, and Kratos' God of Wharf seafood products are a culinary sensation. Whenever you run into a tired gaming convention, like an obvious weak Tif you look past the attacking dolphins, you'll see a “Сой of Wharf" advertisement Bartman? Is it 1990 again? point on a rampaging Lard Lad, a screen appears with Comic Book Guy calling out the cliché. Of course, there needs to be some kind of vehicle to deliver these moments, and that's where the gameplay comes in. Returning to a beat 'em up style, The Simpsons Game has you roving around Springfield in a vari- ety of scenarios, busting up bad guys and solving puzzles. The inclusion of a co-op mode means that you and a buddy will be able to tackle these challenges together, The self-referential streak that has distinguished The Simpsons in its 18 years on television will run through the game as well. The dev team has clearly done its research, drawing upon material since each stage has two participating family embers (you just switch between them if you're playing by yourself). The Simpson Game's release will coincide with that of The Simpsons Movie on home video formats later this year. Until then, it couldn't hurt to watch some old episodes to brush up on your quotes and memorable moments. Screw Flanders. ШІН 81 “OH, ТУЕ WASTED MY LIFE” that seasoned veterans might even find obscure. Some characters that were relegated to single Halloween episodes (like the bloodthirsty dolphins) make prominent appearances, and you can expect to see nods to the Fighting Hellfish, faulty Krusty-branded merchandise, and gummi Venus de Milo. Matt Groening, the series creator, will even appear as a boss. We're still keeping our fingers crossed for a Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge minigame! Se preview i PLAYSTATI ON FIXBOR 360 Resident Evil 4 v > "STYLE 1- PLAYER ACTION/ ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER, CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE 2008 HEATING UP Б As you can see forte his sleeve, Chris now works fer a company called BSAA, but wee don't yet know what it does or &ven what those letters stand for ou weave your way through a darkened alley, on the Colorado mountain town or some farm- е run from someone — something - terrible. Infected ing village, this is the desert. Takeuchi has Қаркен guys аге so aggressive 3 Я у won't even let your spirit go humans. Not zombies, not Los Ganados, not like also talked about how body temperature towards the light any monsters you've faced before. An enemy too will play an important role in the game. numerous to fight. You run out into the light, and your cor- Exposure to extreme heat will affect how neas have to adjust to an over-saturated world. The heat is Chris performs, and may even cause hal- stifling. Not everything is scarier in the dark. Out of fear and lucinations. RE 5's setting, and its extreme heat, your palms begin to sweat. If you stay out here too contrasts between light and dark, are long it will affect you physically; aiming will become difficult meant to evoke a sense that the world has and your movement will grow tired. This place is driving you — gone crazy. insane, and you're not the only one. Welcome to Resident RE 55 gameplay looks like a clear evolu- Evil 5. tion of RE 4's, and you can't blame Capcom Producer Jun Takeuchi has stated that the movie Black for not mixing it up too much when that Hawk Down served as inspiration for the game, and one look at the dilapidated village homes and the onrushing militant crowds is like watching that inspiration š; in action. The world of RE 5 is alive with 4 6 last entry was so critically lauded. The camera violence. Villagers rush a decrepit bus 774 ۱ still hangs over Chris's shoulder and he can still where a few have taken refuge. The TAA ) knock airborne projectiles out of the air with а infected bleed out of their eyes and 7 TS | well-aimed gunshot. But Chris is a little more nose. And one large enemy takes out a G cm physical than former hero Leon, and he “s got building's supporting strut with a single | T А — some impressive close combat maneuvers. We swing of his axe. " 4 4 saw Chris dodge a flurry of quick axe slashes then The environments are gorgeously - ka Б k kick his attacker in the chest, vault from the top haunting. An unsettling chant echoes 3 v of an overturning bus, and fight off a ему assgres- in the distance as main character Chris t sive chokeholds. Most impressively, Chri s shoves Redfield stands alone in the middle a man off him, then winds up with a lunging of a rural village. Trash wafts slowly in ^ Look behind the guy with the megaphone and you punch that sends the guy flying backward into 8 can see that the dudes with burlap sacks over their ч the breeze while two crows circle what heads have returned. These were scary foes in the fast an approaching group of villagers. RE 5 looks to is otherwise a ghost town. This isn't a 7 game, and we wonder what role they will play in RE 5 fuel that thrill of constantly surviving a string of 4 == encounters you are barely prepared to handle. 1 It's impressive how many people Capcom j Unfortunately, RE 5 definitely won't has been able to get onscreen at t once. It's Я quite terrifying to see them running at you be coming out until next yea r, so all at once ` many details are still under wraps, leaving fans with several questions. How will that machete incon spicu- ously placed on Chris's back be used? Who will Chris be talking to @n the other end of that hands-free Headset attached to his ear? Who is thre myste- rious woman who appears at the very end of RE 55 new extended trailer? Check back later for ће апѕумегѕ, because we are just as eager as anyone to learn them. š mi БШ GAME I NFORMER 99 5 Previews ш Flaveor like marines doing goush-ups ads to the atrmosphere m Everyone loves a pre- rendered cinematic intro XBOX 360 Halo Wars > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER ENSEMBLE STUDIOS > RELEASE 2008 BACK TO ITS ROOTS ong ago, before Microsoft purchased Bungie, Halo was conceived as a real-time strategy offering for the Macintosh platform. The rest of the » story is history, but that old kernel of an idea is making a return with Halo Wars. This RTS take on the Halo universe is being developed by Age of Empires creators Ensemble Studios, and takes place 20 years prior to the events of the first Halo title. dosely follow the norms of the RTS genre — resource management, unit creation, and base layout were all very familiar — there are. some elements that impressed. The presen- tation is outstanding, with a score of original musical tracks lending ambience to the fan- tastic visuals. Vehicle physics are modeled to the point of Warthogs displaying their iconic fishtail maneuvers. Perhaps most importantly, the battles we saw played out just Halo Wars tells the story of the HALO PLOT as you'd expect them to based Spirit of Fire, a UNSC ship that TIMELINE presumably plays a key role the war between humanity and the on the Halo FPSs — the Covenant deployed infantry squads of Grunts led by an Elite, and both sides sup- Covenant. Marines make up the John-117 (Master ported their troops with a variety of bulk of Earth's forces, as anyone Chief) forcibly con- vehicles in appropriate roles. who pays attention to the fiction scripted into SPARTAN- Ensemble purportedly spent six knows — Spartans will be in the game, but the super-soldiers’ 2525 Il program at age six months doing nothing but perfect- ing the controls (which look very appearance on the battlefield will | ШАША ШЕ similar to EA's Battle for Middle- Î be an event. mission undertaken earth and Command & Conquer 3 Though the plot follows a 2531 ports on Xbox 360), so Halo Wars starship, there will be no space ИДЕЛ should play well. Really, who's Й combat. As Ensemble has pointed 2532 < out, the Covenant would win any there would be little point in put- ting them in the game. While what we saw of Halo Wars implied that the gameplay will 2552 Approximate beginning naval engagement hands-down, so Я Beginning of Halo: Combat Evolved going to argue if the gameplay turns out to be solid but unspec- tacular, as long we get a visually amazing RTS that tells more of the Halo story? i Bi ñ PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 Soulcalibur IV > STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER FIGHTING (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER PROJECT SOUL > RELEASE 2008 KNIGHTS, SCHOOLGIRLS, AND GIMPS here isn’t much for information yet about Soulcalibur IV but we're not too worried. The series is coming to next-gen consoles with a furious storm of particle effects and smoothly lit, high-polygon character models – what more do you really need to know? It's still one-on-one fighting the weapons share the spotlight with the fighters as always, and the cast of characters is beyond diverse. The one thing we truly wanted — outside of the obvious, like new fighters and moves and a few balance tweaks, all of which are present — is online, and Namco Bandai hap- а тай pily confirme that feature. A couple of other minor changes are going into Soulcalibur IV as well. The stages will be more interesting, with moving pieces that players can interact with. To go along with that, the game's design will be less conducive to ringouts, which is undoubtedly great news to Astaroth-haters everywhere. The character gen- erator will be more powerful, and a new single-player mode will replace Chronicles of the Sword from Soul Calibur III. All in all, nothing too unexpected or earth-shattering — yet. The company has hinted at some bigger changes in store, but since the release date is still a ways off, Namco Bandai has plenty of time to release more specific information. With online definitely in the game, though, we already know everything we need to. The franchise's track record is easily gh to get us on board the Soulcalibur IV train. BI IB 8 € ladies are jubblier than ever 3% š °° previews Soulcalibur Legends > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER NAMCO BANDAI > RELEASE 2008 BROADENING THE STAGE OF HISTORY recedent be damned, Namco Bandai is spinning off this action-oriented adventure from the main Soulcalibur line. Designed exclu- sively for Wii, Soulcalibur Legends follows the story of Siegfried’s quest between the original Soul Blade and Soul Calibur timelines. The screens show many long- standing series favorites in action, so the German won't be going it alone - though Namco Bandai has dodged any questions regard- ing multiplayer so far. Using the Wii remote and its nunchuk attachment to approxi- mate the motions of swinging a weapon, players will grind up legions of foes into mincemeat in Bl Taki, as usual, dresses in the traditional purple spandex of her clan 35 this brawler. Beyond that, we don’t know a whole lot yet, other than the fact that Legends will allegedly flesh out the story behind the fran- chise. How Namco Bandai intends to do that we're not sure; as with most fighting games, the plotline has not historically been much deeper than “Fight!” Despite the obvious concerns surrounding the game's direc- tion, we're willing to suspend our disbelief and give Soulcalibur Legends a shot at convincing us that it's possible to create a decent fighting game spinoff. We won't know one way or the other until closer to the title’s 2008 release date, though. Ш IN m i No, those titles are not typos. For some strange reason, Namco changed the series name from Soul Calibur to Soulcalibur GAME INFORMER... 101 De A e PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | At Ез we got an update on EA's Army of Two, a title from new T studio EA Montreal. The demo showed another extension of the А game's co-op focus, whether you're playing with an Al partner or ag 'eal-life friend. Similar to the concept of aggro in an online r É here enemies attack the most threatening party member, At f Two has an aggro meter that is shared between the two rs; When one is more aggro than the other, the non- š aracter effectively becomes invisible to enemies, allowing || you:tó'use him stealthily. Back-to-back 360 degree shooting with your partner, near-death minigames, and yes - tampons that soak 1064 from wounds - аге also in the game, and who knows what other Surprises will reveal themselves before the title's he end of the year. | yzl leis Pacbsmems dso | | Die fr adeng NINTENDO DS NINTENDO DS Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Contra 4 [working title] Set again in the world of Ivalice — on a floating continent called Lumeres — Revenant After some hands-on time with this game, we're dubbing it the New Super Mario Wings tells the continuing adventures of heroes Vaan and Penelo in this pseudo- Bros. of Contra. Developer WayForward is taking everything classic about the franchise sequel to last years huge RPG. Gameplay is a bit closer to the real-time strategy and cranking it up a notch. Two players can hook up wirelessly to blast through jungle, genre, so players will use the touch screen to activate Gambits, move their armies waterfall, and alien base stations all to the tune of remixed music and sound effects. around, and initiate special attacks. Series fans will be happy to note that Motomu Swap between two weapons at any time, and power them up by grabbing two of the Toriyama is directing the game and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (FF XII, Odin Sphere) same kind. A bionic arm attachment allows players to travel back and forth between is handling the music. Expect to see this launch in the U.S. around November. the dual screens and even helps you sneak into enemy vehicles. Konami wouldn't say 102 GAME INFORMER if the Konami code was in the game, only hinting that “this is a Contra game, after all: 2° photophile PLAYSTATION 3 Elefunk PLAYSTATION 2 | PSP Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Just when you think legal wrangling couldn't get much more ridiculous than it is in Phoenix Wright, Capcom ups the ante with a game based on Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman. The show's writers are handling all dialogue and plotting, and many of the show's voice actors have signed on as well. The game will feature five. independent cases and looks to emulate the look of the cartoon to a tee. Players will investigate crime scenes, question witnesses, and work the courtroom with a zany cast of characters. Be sure to take the time to catch up on the DVDs before this hits in late '07. PLAYSTATION 3 Infamous Sucker Punch earned its chops by creating the excellent Sly Cooper franchise, but now it is leaving their furry friend behind for the excitement of Infamous, a next-gen sandbox title that reminds us a bit of Prototype and Crackdown. Information is scarce on this game, but we do know that you take on the role of a budding superhero. Whether you choose to use your powers for good or evil is entirely up to you. Using your powers to collapse buildings on people who look at you funny is infinitely more entertaining than saving cats from trees, but the choice is yours nonetheless. Wimp. U.K. mobile developer 8bit Games is trying its hand at the PlayStation Network. Players will build various structures like bridges and ramps from a mix of metal, wood, and rope. Once complete, elephants will be sent across to see if your bridge will hold strong or crumble into toothpicks. Elefunk will include puzzle mode, time trial, and a multiplayer deconstruction mode similar to Jenga, where players take turns removing pieces without making the structure collapse. Sony is tentatively planning a fall 2007 telease. Wii EA Playground Wouldn't it be fun to play tetherball, dodgeball, or kickball right about now? No, we're Not trying to encourage you to go outside. Don't be silly. We're trying to tell you about EA's new minigame collection being developed to recapture all the joys and thrills of a children’s playground. Up to four players will be able to compete in everything from skating games to spitballs. If EA really wants to make this the definitive playground simulation then maybe we'll see a digital adaptation of the game we always played after lunch: bloody knuckles. GAME INFORMER 103 PLAYSTATION 3 Pain Sony pitches this game as a concept formulated from a market research report. Sounds sexy, doesn't it? Most of us don't need to pay a marketing firm millions of dollars to find out that flinging helpless people into dangerous situations is hilarious. This downloadable PlayStation Network title allows you to load humans onto a huge slingshot and hurl them toward pending doom, whether that be a skyscraper or a busy intersection. You'll earn points by making your crash test dummy's day as painful as possible. Looks like Steve O finally has some competition. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games It's nice to see Mario, Sonic, Bowser, and Dr. Eggman all lay down their differences to partake in some sportsmanly competition. Based on the actual venues for next year's Olympics in Beijing, this Wii game will cover more than 20 Olympic events and use the Wii controls in a variety of ways. For example, in the triple jump, players will drum the remotes to increase their running speed then flick them up to jump over the hurdles. Mario & Sonic should be ready for competition come this November. XBOX 360 Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action PLAYSTATION 3 Folklore The PlayStation 3 has been lacking Sony's typical library of quirky-yet-lovable fantasy RPGs, but Folklore aims to correct this. This action-RPG title stars two young people with very different agendas who meet in a remote village that borders the dream world and reality. The dashing young reporter Keats is working to solve some mysterious murders, while the more subdued dreamer Ellen is hoping to reconnect with her dead mother. In typical Japanese RPG fashion, the two unlikely companions use their magic powers to fend off the monsters they encounter along their journeys. 104 GAME INFORMER Microsoft is getting into the casual family market with a video game version of the popular Scene It DVD board game. Using a new "Big Button Controller" that's suspiciously similar to Sony's Buzz peripheral, up to four players will race to answer over 1,800 questions focused around HD movie clips. Unlike previous forms of Scene It, this version will keep track of questions asked to cut down on repeats. Additionally, bonus question packs are in the works for download over Xbox Live. Look for Screenlife and WXP's game this holiday packed with four controllers for $59.99. PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 Silent Hill 5 For a town with as much bad history as Silent Hill, it's amazing that people still step within the city limits. Of course, if they didn't, gamers wouldn't have an excuse to explore the depths of this psychologically disturbing setting. Konami is bringing us the next chapter in the Silent Hill series later next year. This entry follows a veteran soldier searching for his brother, and will be developed by The Collective rather than the usual Team Silent. Details are still slim, but it will be a nice change of pace to control a character with some decent weapons training for once. XBOX 360 Naruto: Rise of a Ninja As one of three companies working with the Naruto franchise (along with Namco Bandai and D3), Ubisoft Montreal is hoping to make their title stand out by including plenty of action, platforming, and character development in with the crazy fighting that the anime is known for. Players will embark on quests spanning the entire Naruto television series, gain new powers, and partake in battles that incorporate contextual button pressing for extra damage. Fans will also enjoy some of the best cel-shading out there. Look for Rise of a Ninja this October. ЕТУІ Viva Рійаќа: Party Animals Microsoft is taking Viva Piñata from the animal raising realm to the party game genre in hopes that it might stick this time around. Developer Krome Studios (known for Ty the Tasmanian Tiger and a couple Spyro games) is taking the reins from Rare and incorporating four-player competition, online and off, with over 40 different minigames. You'll have the chance to race in wacky foot races, burp miniature sailboats across a pond, and be the first to eat a bunch of fruit. This button-mashing fest is set to release at the tail end of 2007. $» photophile % / / PLAYSTATION 3 PixelJunk Racers PixelJunk Racers, a high-octane PlayStation Network racer, is being developed by Q- Games, the team that brought us Star Fox Command. The game plays like a high-def version of traditional 2D racing (think Super Sprint) combined with old-school slot car racing (those sparking plastic and metal tracks popular in the ‘80s). The game looks to be very multiplayer focused and features tracks populated by NPC cars that you must navigate at retina-searing speeds. Players will find a great variety of racing modes to choose from, including one named Escape, which makes you watch your rearview mirror to avoid the NPC cars trying to pass you, each of which will detonate upon impact. š err, just want to say it all Гуе got! Aha ha ha ha ha E e рте; Бис I'm afr bg leavin r= ШЕ I hardly think you could forget where you were hit »| on the head! I am Godot, Legendary prosecutor. I've never lost a case, NINTENDO DS Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations While Japanese fans of the Phoenix Wright series are looking forward to the fifth game, we North Americans are patiently waiting for Capcom to release number three this September. The first case is a flashback to one of Mia Fey's early cases, where she must defend Phoenix in a murder trial. Phoenix will return to the driver's seat for case two, and incorporate all of the same actions from previous games, including the Psyche-Lock. New prosecution rival Godot has an impeccable record and some kind of crazy visor. We're hoping lasers come out of that thing. GAME INFORMER 105 XBOX 360 | Wii | PLAYSTATION 2 | PC Spider-Man: Friend or Foe And you thought the most ridiculous thing you'd ever see Spider-Man do was Jazz dance. Targeted at a younger crowd, Friend or Foe will be structured more like a traditional beat-em-up. Spider-Man will fight alongside heroes and villains like Blade, Iron Fist, Venom, Doc Ock, and the Green Goblin, and multiplayer will support immediate drop-in/drop-out play. This is certainly a bizarre departure for the license, but we think if any superhero can pull it off, ІСІ be Spider-Man. XBOX 360 | PC Battlestar Galactica As fans of the series, we were hoping that publisher Sierra would release a Battlestar Galactica game that would allow us to jettison Starbuck through an airlock, but being able to hunt her down with a Cylon Raider is more than a fair substitite. In this top- down shooter, fans can relive many of the epic space battles seen in the show (yes, one of them is 33), and can also hop online for 8-player dogfights. The entire game takes place on a single plane, but the action is quite intense, allowing players to launch missiles, fire lasers, activate shields, kick in the thrusters, and spin 180 degrees for a retaliatory strike. An exact release date has yet to be given, but the game is scheduled to hit Xbox Live Arcade and PC this fall. ur Gears of War It took a while, but Gears is finally making its way to PC. Luckily for Windows gamers, there's a fair amount of new content. There are five new chapters in the campaign (including an encounter with the colossal Brumak), a map editor, three additional multiplayer maps, and a new online game type. The game will support (but not require) DirectX 10, and seeing it in silky-smooth, super-high resolution motion on a top-end machine is truly amazing. Since Microsoft is publishing it, Gears will use Windows Live for online, so you'll have to pony up that five bucks a month for the full experience. There's no interoperability between the PC and 360 versions, though, so you won't be headshotting scrubs with superior mouselook in this title when it shows up in stores later this year. 106 GAME INFORMER PC Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance The cries of “Fix Supreme Commander's crappy UI!” rang loud from the many corners of the Internet after the game launched to commercial and critical success earlier this year. The developers at Gas Powered Games have taken that demand to heart with this standalone expansion. Forged Alliance features a brand new faction (the Seraphim), 10 new units including a super-powered experimental for each race, and the aforementioned new Ul. We can't wait to nuke some more fools when this comes out in November. PLAYSTATION 3 _ Wipeout HD | _ The futuristic racer Wipeout has been a staple of the PlayStation catalog since the beginning, so it comes as no surprise that the series has its first PS3 offering in the speed, as Wipeout HD will be released only; on the PlayStation Network. The racing vehicles and the smooth tracks over which they float look amazing, and the sense of speed in the trailer from ЕЗ was pretty remarkable. It looks as if most of the courses are culled from previous releases, but we'll now be seeing them in high def. No release date yet the U.S., but rumor has it rope may be wiping out before the end of the year. f : 1 works. This time, it sounds like you'll need an internet connection to get in оп бе — Wii Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 The Rabbids are back with a hare-brained Stheme to take over the world. Luckily for us, this devious plot involves 60 new LEM to enjoy. Since our first look a couple issues back, we've had the chance to check out even more of these bite-sized challenges. Our favorites include Nine to Five Rabbid, which tasks you with goofing off in the office as long as you can before the boss pops his head into the room, and Football, which is a cross between the glory days of Tecmo Bowl and the playground game Kill the Carrier. The new four-player party mode will allow you to play these games with your friends simultaneously the Rabbids come back to store shelves on November 15. PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | Wii | PLAYSTATION 2 Cars Mater-National It would have been easy for the hardcore gaming crowd to dismiss last year's Cars video game as just another piece of kid's licensed junk. That would have been а mistake, as the title turned out to be a lot of fun, and well deserving of the huge sales that came its way. Surprising almost no one, THQ has decided to follow up with a sequel this year. Mater-National will detail the continuing adventures of Lightning and the gang as they host their first big race in Radiator Springs. Rainbow Studios should have kids everywhere racing like crazy before the end of the year, and there’s a decent chance more avid gamers may want to check it out for themselves. PSP Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron It may seem odd that LucasArts has chosen to continue the Battlefront series exclusively on PSP at this point, but as long as the company is dedicated to pumping out quality sequels like this ‘one is shaping up to be, we have no complaints. In this iteration, customization is the name of the game. Rather than just picking a troop class, you now have complete control over what weapons your character brings to the battlefield, and also what he or she may look like. As the screenshot above shows, heroes are still a part of the mix. In addition to being able to suit up as IG-88 or Admiral "it's a trap” Ackbar, hero vehicles, such as Vader's TIE Advanced and Boba Fett's Slave I, are available for play. Renegade Squadaron will be released on the same day as a new Star Wars-themed PSP this September. GAME INFORMER 107 es Pee Ratatouille 4 i Mario Strikers Charged BioShock Rapture was supposed to be a testament to the best humanity has to offer. Instead, the underwater utopia descended into civil war, and now the ocean is slowly reclaiming it. BioShock pits you against the terrifying remnants of this forgotten world, artfully blend- ing atmosphere and intense gameplay to create a twisted paradise that you may never want to escape. 2K Boston (formerly Irrational Games) has crafted a title brimming with endless opportunities and art by filling in an on-screen grid. It's a bit hard to describe, but chilling moments that you simply must experience. Turn to page 110 | trust us — as soon as you boot it up, you'll be hooked. Fans of for the review of one of the best games we've ever played. Sudoku and Brain Age, here's your new addiction. ОШ АК s Сеп THE SCORING SYSTEM ee 5 the game brings to the table and how never decide which) review team El š Picross DS Picross DS marks the return of perhaps the ultimate cult clas- sic in Nintendo history. It is a reinvention of Mario's Picross, a beguiling puzzler released for the original Game Boy in 1995. Its simple, logic-based puzzles allow you to create dot-matrix с 10 Outstanding. A truly elite title that is nearly perfect in every way. This score is given > Graphics: How good a game looks, taking into account any flaws rates games in a number of cat- out rarely and indicates a game that cannot be missed. such as bad collision or pop-up. egories to help you sort out the Superb. Just shy of gaming nirvana, this score is a high recommendation because > Sound: Does the game's music and sound effects get you great from the stuff you'll hate. the game reviewed is head-and-shoulders above its competition. involved or do they make you resolve to always play with the vol- ume down? 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 we look for in a game, and also a cheat sheet so the 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. Very Good. Innovative, but perhaps not the right choice for everyone. This score indicates that there are many good things to be had, but arguably so. > Playability: Basically, the controller to human interface. The less you think about the hunk of plastic in your hands, the better the Average, The game's features may work, but are nothing that even casual players m haven't seen before. A decent game from beginning to end. Playability. > Entertainment: Flat out, just how fun the game is to play. The most important factor in rating a game. Limited Appeal. Although there may be fans of games receiving this score, many will be left yearning for a more rewarding game experience. > Replay Value Passable. It may be obvious that the game has lots of potential, but its most рау engaging features could be undeniably flawed or not integrated into the experience. High - You'll still be popping this game in five years from now. Bad. While some things may work as planned, the majority of this title either oh — | F ^ malfunctions to varying degrees or it Ís so dull that the game falls short as a whole Моаи High is Good fora ong wile put he рае Won st Painful. If there is anything that's redeeming in a game of this caliber, it's buried Moderate - Good for a few months or a few times through. beneath agonizing gameplay and uneven execution in its features or theme. Ў 2 ЕТЕ > Я Moderately Low - After finishing it, there's not much reason to give Broken. Basically unplayable. This game is so insufficient in execution that any value ita second go. would be derived in extremely small quantities, if at all. Ё Low – You'll quit playing before you complete the game. Harry Loves Hermione Fan Fiction. Pathetic and hopeless, with no place in any universe, real or imagined. - NJ CO | & сл GS | Со | 108 CAME INFORMER BRAIN AGE? [More ios ia Minsesa Dy! Quick Play © 2005 -2007 пнев ©2007 мкойі со. ич. Dead Head Fred a Day Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Da Brave Story: New Traveler. Brothers in Arms DS Dead Head Fred Eternal Sonata Heroes of Man Luminous Arc... Madden NFL 08. Mario Strikers Charged. Monster Hunter freedom NASCAR 08. Picross DS.. Pokémon Battle ReValutio Project Sylpheed. Ratatouille (360) Ratatouille (multi). Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Never a developer to disappoint its many fans, Firaxis Games has expanded the already-impressive strategy epic Civilization IV to truly amazing proportions. By adding a massive amount of non-war- fare-based ways for players to interact with their rival civilizations, Beyond the Sword opens up gameplay farther than it has ever been before. Whether you choose espionage, corporate imperialism, or Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.. Smash Court Тепйїз 5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour Transformers. Vampire Rain Wartech: Senko no Ronde.. the revamped space race, there are more paths to dominance than the most tyrannical despot could ask for. For our newer readers, here is a glossary of terms and acronyms that commonly appear in the magazine. Video game veterans should move along (these aren't the droids you are pekine for). isometric — Three-quarters top down view, like StarCraft or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance ISP — Intemet Service Provider. The company that provides you with access to the Intemet jaggies — Graphical lines that are jagged when they should be straight — Local Area Network. Connecting computers Or consoles together within a small space to allow communication between them, Provides fast, simultaneous gameplay MMO - Massively Multiplayer Online. Usually 1080i — A resolution specification used for HDTV. 1080 stands for resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The "î" means that the video is being interlaced 480p — Progressive scanning, this option (“p= progressive), creates a picture signal with double the scan lines of a conventional interlaced picture, 480i (i = interlaced), to create a Noticeably sharper image. The 480p image offers higher picture resolution and eliminates virtually all motion artifacts in a 640x480 pixel resolution setting 720p = A resolution specification used for HDTV. 720p stands for resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The "p" means that the video is in progressive format action — A term we use for games like Devil May Су and Viewtiful Joe ad hoc - A type of wireless connection that. connects you with other players in your immediate vicinity adventure — A term we use for games like Myst and Escape From Monkey Island AI — Artifical intelligence, Usually used to refer to how well the computer reacts to a human ‘opponent bloom — An effect that simulates the soft, blurred glow of bright light reflecting off of surfaces. i board — A term we use for games like Jeopardy! and Mario Party 2 cel shading — A technique used to create 3D : rendered objects that resemble hand-drawn animation cels 2 ЕЗ – Electronic Entertainment Expo. The world's : largest convention for video games fighting — A term we use for games like Mortal 1 Kombat and Dead or Alive 2 first-party — A game made by a console manufacturer's intemal development teams exclusively for its own system FMV — Full Motion Video, Usually refers to an animated CG cutscene 2 FPS — Frames Per Second, How many animation 0 Í : frames happen іп one second, Also usedto 2 (о give the impression of realistic speed denote First-Person Shooters like Halo, Doom, : normal mapping — A graphical technique in and Call of Duty i which a hi-res skin containing 3D information, framerate — The frames of animation used to revealed by light reflecting off the surface, is Create the illusion of movement ; wrapped around a low-res model 2 frontend – A game's menus and options. : Мс он аав ese рер ap 2 and creatures you see wandering aroun cee ee in games that are not being controlled by actual = Y 3 ye ; humans 2 HDTV - High Definition Television . i particle effects - Things like smoke or sparks infrastructure – A type of wireless connection : ° created in real-time + that uses the Internet to connect with other players over long distances This is where GI breaks down multi-plat- form games. So whenever you see this logo, there is important multi-system:infor- mation regarding that produet MATURE Content suitable for persons 17. spied ages and older. Content suitable for persons ages games with persistent, multi-user online worlds like EverQuest and World of Warcraft 2 motion blur — Phantom frames follow an object Content suitable Content suitable for persons ages only for adults, Content suitable for persons ages 10 and older. Produd is awaiting final ] rating. Content suitable for persons ages 13 and older. applied to role-playing titles, we use this term for : 2 platform ~ A term we use for games like Super Mario and Crash Bandicoot 2 pop-up — When objects onscreen suddenly appear, typically due to poor draw distance 5 Р52- Sony PlayStation 2 i puzzle — A term we use for games like Tetris and Puyo Pop 2 racing - A term we use for games like Gran Turismo and Mario Kart 2 RPG — Role-Playing Game. A game that involves character improvement through collecting and spending points. A term we use for games like Final Fantasy and Xenosaga shooter - A term we use for games like Ikaruga and Gradius 3 sports — A term we use for games like Madden NFL 1 strategy — A term we use for games like La Pucelle and Front Mission 2 third-party — Something made for a console by a company other than the console manufacturer 1 “You Peter Moored it up!” — What you say to a friend who keeps pausing Rock Band mid-song Also works if said friend quits а job to head up EA Sports GAME INFORMER 109 GAME VU EN 45 MONTH BioShock > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER 2K GAMES | > DEVELOPER 2K BOSTON > RELEASE AUGUST 21 > ESRB М MADNESS FROM BELOW `, eep beneath the surface of the ocean, at a depth where not even the faintest trace of the sun's mighty light can be seen, the cold, obdurate blackness holds the future of mankind. It's here that the underwater metropo- lis known as Rapture was built with the dream of the top brass of science congregating to build a better tomorrow. As the experiments and theories began to take shape, science defeated common sense, and something went wrong. Something went terribly wrong. As your bathysphere descends toward this revered paradise, you are hit with the sinking fear that mankind may have gone too far. It's not until you step foot in the ruins of this city that you realize just how real this fear is. It's this expedition of discovery, laced heavily with the philosophical undertones of Ayn Rand, that makes BioShock such a uniquely compelling game. It makes you feel like a fish out of water, gasp- ing for air as the world around you takes shape in twisted and horrifying ways. Young girls, who could be no older than 12, scour the city's dimly lit hallways for corpses to harvest. Lumbering giants, outfitted in scuba suits, emit moans like blue whales and wield a small army's worth of weaponry. This world is as dangerous as it is wondrous. You want to flee, yet you can't help but be hope- lessly entranced by its strange beauty. As much as you want to stare at its odd machinations and soaring architec- ture, the biggest draw in this underwater society is the power you have over it. With the flick of your fingers, you can send an agitated swarm of bees whiz- zing toward an ill-tempered denizen. Or, with the same motion, lightning could jump off of your fingertips into a pool of water to electrucute a small gathering of mutants. If magical abilities fail, you can always turn to a pistol outfitted with armor-piercing bullets to take out an air- borne robotic sentry, or something more unforeseen, like a chemical thrower with your choice of napalm, electrical gel, or liquid nitrogen. And if you just want to 110 GAME INFORMER mess with the freaks of Rapture, you could always hack into their security systems so that a health station delivers poison, or that a turret targets the people that originally programmed it. This high concept gameplay has variety in spades, and is polished to the point that every battle feels like a small war — you won't believe how much stress and chaos one ordinary thug can create. The game may sound incredibly complicated, but it couldn't be easier to control. Your character's movements are remarkably smooth, the targeting system functions perfectly, and weapon/power switching is effortless. BioShock also may seem like a game driven by its setting and the atmosphere it creates. While delivering a level of intrigue you rarely see in games, its most captivating element is its gameplay — which | can easily say delivers the most rewarding and adrenaline-filled experience | have ever had with an FPS. Everything about this game screams perfec- tion, but there’s one element that might not sit well with you. Rather than dying in battle, players п You haven't felt like you've been punched in a game until you get a fist full of death from a Big Daddy simply respawn at a vita-chamber. The damage dealt to an adversary remains even though the player didn’t succeed. You simply have to go back and clean up your mess to continue on. As intense as the gameplay is, knowing you really can't fail takes some of the bite out of it. Yes, this system will allow gamers of all skill levels to complete the game — which is a developer's dream — but it may alienate gamers who only turn to games for a challenge. Of course, even if you play games strictly for the difficulty that they bring, BioShock is a title that needs to be played, simply because you will never look at an FPS the same way again. Of the 15 to 20 hours of gameplay that it delivers, there isn't a second wasted. Once you finish the game, there's little chance that you'll take it out before playing it again to see the second ending. It's ingenious, enthralling, and a masterpiece of the most epic proportions. So without further delay, would you kindly enter Rapture so that you too can experience the best that video games have to offer? —REINER В In this situation, you could easily | kill both of these bums by force pro- pelling the dynamite that is about to be thrown right back at them BOTTOM 0 1 LINE 1 > Concept: The creators of System Shock 2 have honed their craft to create an FPS that is as adventurous as it is powerful > Graphi almost every room, you'll stop to carefully ana- lyze the amazing detail applied to every surface and object. It's one of the most beautiful games out there > Sound: The classic music, haunting voice recordings, and sound of insanity blend to create an eerie and intimidating array of sound. The surround sound sup- port is also of a higher level than you usually hear > Playability: No matter what ‘weapon or power you have equipped, you always feel like agod > Entertainment: The power to destroy has never been so varied and satisfying > Replay Value: Moderately High WHAT ABOUT PC? Due to circumstances beyond ‘our control, w ге unable the PC version of is month. If there differences, parate review at a later date. You stand over a geneti- cally mutated corpse with a camera in hand, taking a picture of its final, twisted expression to appease a cruel puppet master. A haunting rendition of “Bei mir bist du schön” plays from a radio, ‘over which you hear the low, whale-like cry of a Big Daddy as it ambles into sight. You freeze, but the hulking crea- ture trips one of your proxim- ity mines and fixes a glowing Ted eye on you in fury. Heart- stopping moments like these are what set BioShock apart as one of the most intelligent and daring masterpieces in gaming. The ruined utopia of Rapture is portrayed in vivid detail, and it’s impossible not to get immersed in the story of its collapse as you fight to escape with an ingenious mixture of weapons and powers. A focus on survival takes center stage, as the game gives you just enough resources to improvise, but never enough to feel totally secure, Even so, every battle is a new opportunity to experiment with your abilities and unlock your potential. The respawn system slightly diminishes the stakes, but the intensity never wanes, you've still got to make every bul- let count. In terms of deliv- ering chilling atmosphere, dynamic combat, and star- tling revelations, games just don't come any better than BioShock. —JOE FREEDOM IS POWER. == The all-new 197-hp Civic Si Sedan from Honda. Reverse your thinking. honda.com 1-800-33-Honda Shown with available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System!" ©2006 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. fy SO ictal STL 421 PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 Madden NFL 08 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS (2-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EA SPORTS > DEVELOPER EA TIBURON > RELEASE AUGUST 14 > ESRB E MOVING THE CHAINS o NFL team appears overnight with a playoff-caliber team. It takes good drafting, coaching, and wise free agency acquisitions. It takes time. Madden fans can be assured that the last two years of the franchise weren't all for naught. This year's game sees the franchise finally reaching an acceptable level on and off the field. There is undoubtedly work still left to be done before the series can match the glories of the past, but this is a noticeably better game the moment you pick up the controller. A small benchmark | have for a football game is what happens when | play defense — specifically cornerback. Being out on that island where reaction times and smooth transitions between movement animations make all the difference gives me a good feel for player movement. | can thankfully say that this game is quick and precise enough that I'll no longer just be playing the defensive line. The game feels faster than last year, and the action has no problem leaping off the screen at you. Receivers 112 GAME INFORMER make spectacular grabs, defenders are feared for the ferocious hits they lay out, and offensive tackles desperately shove defensive ends as they get beat around the corner. But for every play that feels like the Madden we remember and love, there are times when the animations take precedence over user control, players morph through each other, and the Al exposes itself. Defensive backs are aggressive, but can rely on ESP, and conversely there are times receivers are unaware of the ball. The QB directional passing is also inconsistent. Fans have lamented the drop in features in past Maddens, but 08 pulls things back up to speed with extensive scouting/draft options and pre-game train- ing for improving players. Overall, there are more draft tools at your disposal — including being able to manually rearrange your entire draft board, although the process itself of scouting and drafting is a little cumbersome. There are also financial info and stadium options, but finances aren't a major part in your franchise, ñ Each weapon designation has another weapon on the other side of the ball or a strategy that cancels it out. Mixing and matching these is your job each and every down When All Games Aren't Created Eq Like EA Sports’ NCAA football title, The Edge goes to the Xbox 360 edition. It seems developer Tiburon has been having alittle trouble recently with the PlayStation 3, particularly with the frame rate. | and you can only build a new stadium if you relo- cate to another city. In general, some of the new features are a mixed bag. The designation of star players as weapons is a useful concept, as it helps you engineer weaknesses — my favorite weapon skill was the one that allowed me to see an opponent's play if they called it too many times in one game. On the other hand, the effect of the receiver catch- ing controls and defensive spotlighting of star receiv- ers was so slight as to be non-existent. If all this years Madden did was restore its feature set, then that alone would hardly be cause for hope. However, by improving the gameplay, it makes it so I'm much more apt to actually play more than one season before putting my controller down. This series isn’t out of the woods just yet, but this year lets it be known that Madden's best days aren't behind it. —KATO = ABILITY 3) READ THE FIELD GJ + GJ werm! SMART SAFETIES READ THE ОЕ ALL THEIR PLAYART. COUNTER SMART ов CALLING A DIVER RANGE OF PL BOTTOM LINE > Concept: EA presents the most full-featured next-gen Madden yet, and the gameplay is improving > Graphics: As always, Madden looks really sharp and the anima- tions can be breathtaking > Sound: This game really needs to bring back booth announcers. I'd even consider Bill Maas — that's how dire the situation is > Playability: The pre-snap options are plentiful and easier to execute than in the past > Entertainment: This is the most playable next-gen Madden yet > Replay Value: Moderately High Second Opinion 8 Madden has been phoning itin the past few seasons, but this year it finally shows up to training camp on time and in shape. The team at Tiburon has refined the on-the-field action, and the results are noticeable as soon as you line up under center. Gone are steroid freak player models and the rigid animation that essen- tially broke the gameplay. In their place is a wealth of great-looking and dynamic animations and a gameplay system that finally has more pros than cons. Madden still suffers from noticeable flaws that shouldn't plague a franchise this storied and refined - like tractor beam passes that de маеп mid air from receivers to defensive backs, poor pass coverage Al, the sorry lack of online leagues, and the bare bones presentation (bring back TV-style commentat- ing please!). But in the war of attrition that has been the next-gen NFL experience, at least Madden 08 finally offers decent gameplay to go along with its deep franchise mode —BERTZ Please note: The Wii version of Madden was not available for review by the time we went to print. Rest assured, ill look at Gk. SAFETY КС AND REVEAL HE BEST PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 NASCAR 08 > STYLE 1-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 15-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EA SPORTS > DEVELOPER EA TIBURON > RELEASE JULY 23 > ESRB E IN RACING TRIM ast year's game was not unlike Junior's limbo status between DEI and Hendrick this season. The title was just biding its time until its sweet new ride could be lined up. Now that the series is on next-gen systems, it can just mash the gas. How is this game on the restart? It's a mix of first-year basics and inter- esting new ideas. NASCAR 08's Chase mode isn't just the Chase for the Cup. Instead, it has you earn licenses (covering things like drafting, etc.) at different track types in order to earn contracts. These let you race real drivers’ cars, asking that you finish in the top 10, for instance. Complete a contract and that driver's race setup will be available for you to take to races on the official season schedule. This slightly different take is a little odd since it lacks a connection to a single theme. You're not really your own team since you're racing other drivers’ cars (although you can re- brand them with your team colors) and yet you can't drive for or take over an existing team. Then again, | applaud the team for taking a different approach to a racing game — something I've been dying for — and giving us more than just another sports title that is a slave to the real life schedule. You will be dis- appointed, however, if you'd rather play a career mode that lets you join Roush Racing, for example. Tweaks are needed in the Al to better replicate competi- tors' actions and racing lines, and I'd like to see some long-overdue additions (like user-controlled pit stops), but this game has got the feel of a stock car down pretty good — especially with about à billion ways to setup your car. It's a mix of the new апа familiar that shakes out to be a pretty fast restart. —KATO M New details such as having interior track lights during night races make this game shine visually > Concept: The game's career mode throws a curveball, but the title's basics are the same > Graphics: Pretty solid, although | wish it had the speed blur from last year > Sound: The sounds of the track have been changed yet again for more realism > Playability: Not challenging until you move off of the default difficulty setting and driving assists > Entertainment: Geatheads will like tweaking their cars, while the career structure presents a more accessible face > Replay Value: Moderately High Second Opinion 8 {don't think anyone can deny that EA Sports always does a decent job with each years edition, but the predictability of its execution also means that | never really feel blown away from year to year. So as you might have guessed, NASCAR 08 is no exception. The driving mechanic has once again been fine tuned. this year, and | must say that like it quite a bit It's a little unpredictable at times, but the feeling of riding on the edge is well conveyed. The Chase challenges are inter- esting, but nothing to write home about. I'd like to see the crashes be a bit more spectacular, and the fact that this game still lacks some kind of interactive pit stop still bewilders me. Pit stops are a huge part of the sport and being unable to affect their success or failure is just plain stupid—ANDY PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EA SPORTS > DEVELOPER EA TIBURON > RELEASE AUGUST 28 > ESRB E AN ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH ike Tiger Woods making a late surge in the final round, this franchise has found its fighting spirit and came out with a stellar performance. Using the ground laid by last year's game, this Tiger adds a few simple pieces to rein- vigorate itself and make the series more fun than it's been in a while. It's hard to say where this game goes so right. Yeah, it's a brilliant idea to let people record their best shots and put them online via Gamernet for others to play and vice versa — a feature that'll explode once players get a hold of it and really show their stuff. But | think it's because of the whole package more than any one feature. You've got the addi- tion of a three-click swing, the inclusion of a shot confidence element that records stats on your strokes, and onscreen shot info that gives you immediate feedback on your hook/slice and power. The only thing I'd change about the gameplay is that | wish there was a way to remap the E You may not need to consult the shot confidence screen to find you really stink analog club swing and/or the power button so they don't interfere with each other so much during your swing. Maybe there needs to be an updated way to generate spin and power on your shots. Thankfully Tiger 08's Tiger Challenge mode hasn't been overhauled — only augmented. The skill rating system with its potential tiers integrates the PGA tour, skill Challenges, and Tiger Challenge, and now the latter offers more variety in its tasks. The honeycomb grid layout of the Tiger Challenge gives you the freedom to tryout some events before taking on the pros. Sometimes when you're golfing you nail a hole because you bail yourself out with a superb putt, chip, or tee shot. But this game is instead like masterfully shot hole, where each stroke feels just right —KATO PUTTING WITH THE Wii Unfortunately, the Wii version of Tiger Woods was not available for review at the time of print, Look for it next month. BOTTOM 9 LINE > Concept: Tiger takes its biggest leap forward since it came into the modern era with Tiger 2004 > Graphics: The Photo Game Face works pretty good. Best if you have an Xbox 360 camera > Sound: It's hard not to like the warm, dulcet burr of the some- times odd announcers > Playability: The new three- lick swing, draw/fade options, and shot info are simple but bril- liant additions > Entertainment: Proof that you can create an awesome yearly sports franchise without having to reinvent your wheel > Replay Value: High Tigers back with some new tricks. As always, there are myriad Skills Challenges and Tiger Challenges to help you build your character (which can now be made to look frighteningly like you with the help of the Xbox camera). Also, the ability to post online challenges and highlights could become a real phe- nomenon if embraced by ` the community - here's to hoping. On the nuts and ` bolts side, the three-lick | swing is back, along with new fade and draw mechan- 151 Тар ео he ity to toggle the three-lick | оп and off, which lent itself to some interesting tactical GAME INFORMER 113 BOTTO LINE 25 > Concept: Choose a side in the never-ending war of two robot groups that beat each other senseless whenever possible > Graphics: A surprising level of detail on characters and some great combat animations make the game look better than most licensed products > Sound: The original cartoon voices of both Optimus Prime and Megatron steal the show > Playability: Well mapped controls, but an overly simplistic combat mechanic is disappointing > Entertainment: As a fulfill ment of childhood robot-smash- ing fantasies — quite satisfying. As a full featured next-gen game - lacking > Replay Value: Moderately PLAYSTATION З І XBOX 360 1 Wii Low Transformers > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER TRAVELLER'S TALES > RELEASE JUNE 27 > ESRB T ONE SHALL STAND, ONE SHALL FALL Both the PS3 and 360 versions look surprisingly sharp and detailed. The Wii Second Opi version is an almost identical game, but with horribly down-rezzed visu- als that create a smeared blurry quality, particularly on high-end TVs. The remote swinging combat works okay for pounding out melee attacks, but the motion-controlled camera is a pain. In most games, you really. have to go out of your way to achieve a high level of destruction. In Transformers, — even when you try to avoid f you're a child of the ‘80s, those words should Generation 1 character not seen in the movie. missions are loose and unwieldy, flight missions destruction, you usually mean something to you. Despite drastic char- The degree of destruction is positively out of con- аге constrained by a fixed altitude, and everything end up leveling a city block. acter redesigns, altered story elements, and the trol throughout the game. Few and far between are screams out a moronic level of simplicity. With Шо absence of a certain VW bug, the Transformers the moments that don't have a burning building, а In the end, Transformers delivers over-the-top See 5 game is stuffed full of fan service to long-time enthu- Биѕ flying through the air, or a power station explod- action with wild abandon, and leaves most of the being just ine pore siasts. It's also an exciting, wild ride of explosions, ing with a titanic crash. Tiny, antlike humans flee more complex elements of good gameplay behind as a Fourth of July fireworks falling buildings, and cars tumbling end-over-end wildly underneath these giant metal warriors, and coughing from the dust kicked up by a giant trans- show. As much as | enjoyed through the air. But, behind all the noise and confu- foolish motorists just don't seem to get the mes- forming war machine. While each campaign will punching the life out of sion, it's a shallow, short, and simplistic game. sage that the intersections in which you're fighting only last a few hours, it’s fun if you can overlook Bumblebee, the gameplay One of the coolest aspects of this video game should really be detoured around. Instead, dozens of how mindlessly you're slamming those buttons. can basically be summa- treatment of the beloved toy line is the ability to vehicles, trees, lampposts, and rubble all act as inter- But, if you're one of those strange unfortunates rized as a glorified ver- choose a side and carry it to victory. Like those active weapons to fling at your foes. It's a profound who have never understood the appeal of gargan- ч ааа as Thassive toy wars you used to fight in your base- level of chaos. tuan robots that turn into tanks and tractor trailers, Sa certainly. ool andhe. ment, you'll have access to several characters from The extent of the carnage is hiding something — this game certainly isn’t going to transform you into brawling mechanic is nicely both sides of the conflict, from a roaring jet like shoddy combat. The amazing ranged weaponry a believer.—MILLER designed. Unfortunately, Starscream to a modernized Bumblebee іп the form these alien robots wield is effectively most of the missions are of a speeding Camaro. Every one of the characters neutered in every situation that mat- i incredibly short, and the you play can transform at will (for some reason, ters, thanks to instantaneous energy have collectibles to find, as well vehicle segments are either labeled "convert" in the onscreen instructions), and shields that pop up on most enemies. vods of subs backed by poor controls or de чаб di em ч 2 (4 that extend the game past its push players to complete this functionality is well utilized as missions move The melee attacks certainly look cool, = relatively short length ОЕ aime zal With between speed-oriented vehicle sections to battles but it's basically a single button get- that Sid Aes more suited to the robot forms. ting mashed with little variety built in. E. ow de z ë 35. enough how much fun The character designs, their transformations, and A horrible camera shake has been Š ma. p 1 itis to throw a haymaker the way they look while attacking are all sights added as you lumber around, appar- with a mechanical monster, to behold. The remarkable amount of detail will ently to accentuate how big and This thrill, which covers the sometimes have you rotating the camera around powerful these guys are. Instead, the majority ofthe game, turns just to get a better look. Even the drones that seve effect is mostly headache inducing, Transformers nto ai ЕЛЕУ as cannon fodder look great; the game designers and makes it hard to see what's going | ae abt А deserve а special nod for including a certain beloved оп іп the more heated battles. Driving | си A SIO E Several levels have you bashing down armies of | repetitive drones Ж А few cool extras like movie trailers, pictures of the toys, and ‘Generation 1 models of the main characters are welcome additions 114 GAME INFORMER TRANSFORMERS © 2007 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. © 2007 Dream Works LLC and Paramount Pictures Corporation. Wii | PLAYSTATION 2 | GAMECUBE Ratatoui > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER HEAVY IRON STUDIOS > RELEASE JUNE 26 > ESRB E STINKY CHEESE he artists at Pixar have done more than anyone in the movie business to make CG animated films a genuine art form. Sadly, as original and inventive as their films are, the games made based on them more resemble cookie-cutter Pixar rip-off flicks like Surf's Up and Ice Age. Mario and Ratchet & Clank aside, the once-proud plat- former is in dismal shape these days, and Ratatouille will do little to lift its sagging fortunes. It's largely a rote recy- cling of the film, and, although it does feature real voiceovers from the cast, it does little to expand the experience. You may not own Ratatouille, but trust me — in a way, you've already played it. Almost noth- ing here is new or unique — it's the same old jumping, dimb- ing, and collecting various wid- gets that we've all been doing over and over for what seems like forever. There's a few slightly more novel gameplay sequences, like some rafting, sliding, and Cooking segments that — while no great shakes — at least suc- ceed in not being as bad as the core gameplay. Ditto for the minigames, even if some of them are essentially repeats of stuff you've already seen in the main character mode. Pretty uninspiring stuff, but I guess if you're a parent look- ing for a (relatively) harmless game to pick up for a small child it might do the trick. I'd like to think your kids deserve better. Either way, no one who measures his or her age in more than one digit is likely to find this entertaining. Note: The Wii version has different (and worse) control. —MATT BOTTOM LINE 5 5 > Concept: A staid platformer based on the hit animated film > Graphics: Remember the Movie? It looks like that, except way uglier > Sound: Real voiceovers are a plus, and the score is nice > Playability: You automatically stick to wires and platforms, giv- ing the already stale gameplay a mechanical feel > Entertainment: | love the film, but this is not worth your time > Replay Value: Low Second 0) Wait a minute — is seeing the movie a prerequisite for playing the game? | don't. understand most of what's going on. Not that this kind of game needs a strong plot, but when your game is based on a Pixar томе, it shouldn't be that hard to give it an entertaining story. Anyway, this game's platforming is pretty banal, but on top of that its way too easy, You hold a button and it shows you where to go. You die and you start right where you left off. | don't even know why they bothered with health, And what's most frustrating is that some of the game's context-sensitive actions. don't always seem to work. | don't think | can recom- mend this to anyone - espe- cially fans of the movie. It will probably taint your good memories.— BEN ion 5.5 reviews XBOX 360 Ratatouille > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER HEAVY IRON STUDIOS > RELEASE JUNE 26 > ESRB E included, but few are good сас (еее) МОТ A FEAST, BUT А NICE SNACK 5 a gamer, | can't Say that Im entirely comfortable with a rat securing the lead role in a game. As any pixel-loving game junkie will tell you, the rat is the sacrificial rodent of gaming. Most journeys begin with the player slicing a rat, or hundreds of rats, thousands if you are truly lucky, to bits. But, since everything that Pixar touches these days turns to gold, | figured | would give this little vermin a chance. Like the film, this game follows the exploits of Remy, a rat who aspires to become one of France's most famous chefs. With a taste for only the finest of foods, Remy's din- ners, which must be properly seasoned, often require a hair- raising chase before they are fully cooked. Most of Ratatouille's gameplay is comprised of fast-moving platform-based challenges. For a property that is so kid-centric, it's surpris- ing how difficult some of this game's feats are. Leaping from a ledge to a wire requires the highest level of precision, 1 A sense of scale is factored into each of the goals and all of the timed missions push for a blend of speed and perfection in your move- ment. Since your character is so small, the daunting size of the environment adds an extra layer of difficulty to most of the challenges. To Remy, an average-sized human looks is a lumbering giant, and a two-story climb up a building is similar to scaling Everest. Whether you are balancing on a wire or are rolling around on a ball, most of the gameplay works well — except for the jump button being a bit sticky, which can lead to some frus- trating moments. Many of the minigames also feel unpol- ished and are more trouble than they need to be. Ratatouille won't do much to change my mind about the role rats should have in video games, but it did provide two afternoon's worth of satisfying platforming. If you go into it knowing that stretches of it can be aggravating, either because they push your skills to the test or make you question the gameplay, it should do the same for you.— REINER > Concept: A moderately enjoy- able platformer based on the feature film > Graphics: Remy's hair is impressive, but for as big as the environments are, the detail isn't there to back them up > Sound: Nice voicework from the cast, but there's little in terms of environment sound > Playability: The larger-than- life challenges are marred by sticky controls, but still deliver some thrills > Entertainment: Roughly 8 to 10 hours of platforming chal- lenges that should appeal to fans. of the Disney games of old and Jak and Daxter > Replay Value: Moderate The Xbox 360 version of ` Ratatouille is markedly | GAME INFORMER 115 „° reviews XBOX 360 Blue Dragon > STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER MISTWALKER/ARTOON > RELEASE AUGUST 28 > ESRB T GET A JOB! s Blue Dragon begins and | leave Talta Village with Shu, Jiro, and Kluke, it's hard to deny that there is a kind of familiarity underlying the adventure. It isn't a "been there, done that" sensation though — it is more like the game is reminding me of all the good times I've had with role-playing titles over the years. Blue Dragon is far more than a mere exercise in nostal- it also expands them, creating an experience that feels like the culmination of classic RPG evolution. Through the course of the tale, each of the five main characters gains a beastly shadow that is capable of learning a variety of skills, which makes up the central gameplay element: the job system. While not drastically different than the one found in titles like Final Fantasy V, the level of customiza- tion this mechanic affords players is incredibly balancing act to switch among jobs to ensure you have an optimal selection of abilities. Be sure to check the manual to see what skills you're work- ing toward, since the game never clearly lays out 116 GAME INFORMER gia, however; it may utilize traditional concepts, but engaging. | never felt like the game was shoehorn- ing my characters into a class, and it is an addictive your advancement. Even so, this system always seems to put you a step ahead of regular enemies while still presenting you with challenging boss encounters. Some of the skills you learn have non-combat applications that meld seamlessly with the game's overworld segments. Instead of just wandering around waiting to fight, these abilities put you right in the driver's seat. Some make you invisible so you can avoid encounters altogether, while others make it possible to gain experience and skill points without even entering combat (make sure at least one of your party members gets Field Barrier ІІ as soon as possible). The core mechanics are presented with a high level of polish, but Blue Dragon lacks the jaw-dropping moments to make it legendary. It is immensely fun to play, but there is a hard-to- define spark missing from the story and events. The plot is by no means a flop; the trials of Shu and company and their conflict against the evil Nene (who simply enjoys witnessing the suffering of others) are relayed with a great deal of intrigue B Jiro's minotaur unleashes its Corporeal attack Everyone likes inter- species romance! a и Nene is a truly p frightening and despicable villain A. й WHAT'S YOUR POSITION? You may have thought that the days of drawing your own maps were done, but it wouldn't hurt to keep a pencil and paper nearby for Blue Dragon. A small on- screen minimap will show your immediate surround- ings in dungeons, but there isn't way to see an entire area. This isn't a problem for most zones, but there are some with similar corridors that branch off and fold in on themselves. Since the camera is left to the player's control, this can make it easy to get turned around. The do-it-yourself cartography isn’t a necessity by апу means, but it.can help you make sure you've explored every corner and gotten all the treasures, and humor. The tone will even shift unexpectedly from lighthearted to macabre, but there just isn't much in terms of surprises. It is difficult to place too much fault on a game for not shattering storytelling conventions, espe- cially since Blue Dragon feels like a well-oiled RPG machine in the way it integrates combat, character growth, and exploration. From its astounding visu- als to the constantly compelling gameplay, this experience will make role-playing veterans recall the good old days, and give newcomers the oppor- tunity to start creating some memories. —JOE ш Eventually you will have five party members fighting simultaneously BOTT LINE > Concept: Assemble a dream team of creative minds to fashion an RPG that incorporates some of the best the genre has to offer > Graphics: Akira Toriyama's art transitions perfectly into 3D; the characters look like sculpted figu- rines wandering around a world built to scale > Sound: The boss theme (performed by Deep Purple's lan Gillan) sounds out of place, but the music is otherwise appropri- ate and beautiful. The voice acting is also exceptionally good > Playability: Unless you're playing in HD, some of the text may be difficult to read. It never hampers the action, though > Entertainment: It's full of clas- sic appeal and fun mechanics for the RPG faithful, but even casual fans should find it accessible > Replay Value: Moderately High Second 0) Blue Dragon reminds me of the adorable Hallmark birth- day cards that my grandma used to send me. As this cartoon-like quest unfolds, you'll see animals singing and dancing, and you'll soak up a lifetime's worth of heart- ‘warming moments. So does this mean that Blue Dragon is geared more toward kids? Absolutely not. For every talking bear that you come across, you'll also encounter an unbelievably challeng- ing boss, or will hear your character yell, "You bastard!" Its not as dark as any of the Final Fantasy titles, but this story is serious, and is easily identifiable as the work of Hironobu Sakaguchi. The. gameplay is also trademark Sakaguchi, offering a straight- forward but addictive combat experience, and a world that you want to scour every inch of. It's not often that you'll come across an experience that makes you feel warm and fuzzy just as much as it makes you fear for your life, but that's exactly what Blue Dragon does.—REINER XBOX 360 Project Sylpheed > STYLE 1-РІАҮЕК ACTION > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT/SQUARE ENIX > DEVELOPER GAME ARTS/SETA > RELEASE JULY 10 > ESRB T HITTING A SMALL TARGET ce Combat, Rogue Squadron, and Wing Commander fans — rejoice! While Project Sylpheed is a unique departure from any of those three, your long dormant piloting skills are about to come in handy in one of the most difficult and eye-catching space combat games in years. That's why it's all the more sad that this development team made the game so unfriendly and inaccessible to the rest of the gaming populace. 1 can't recall another console game with so many control mechanics. 125 not just that every button is mapped — most of the buttons have several functional- ities, depending on how long you hold them or if they're held in conjunction with another input. Likewise, the gorgeous space backdrops, swirling plasma trails, and exploding capital ships of the many battles are virtually obscured at times by the overwhelming and ill-designed heads-up display. The result of all of this is too much chaos and too many things to keep track of. It's easy to end up blindly shooting weapons into the fray. Of course, for a few players (myself included), the conquering of that chaos is the real joy. It takes several hours, numerous mission restarts, and a willingness to accept that in some cases, they're not even going to tell you your time limits or secondary objectives until after the mission is done. It's poor game design to my eye, but among all those complexities and confusions is a great flight game. Once you understand the controls, you're a positive force for destruction, taking out dozens of fighters in a single pass, and strafing giant battleships with impossibly powerful rail guns as you twist and turn past their AA guns. It's thrilling, and it's unfortunate that the game has been put together in such a way that so few will be able to enjoy the excitement. The beautiful CG cutscenes and their well-voiced characters are predictable, but they come as a wel- come reward at the end of a big fight. The cool ship you fly is also customizable with a number of weapons, but I'm not sure that's enough of a draw to keep me coming back again and again. Few remember the old Silpheed games, and few will remember their slightly respelled 360 sequel — but those who do will do so with fondness.—MILLER BOTTOM LINE 7.15 > Concept: Fly through space while unleashing dozens of mis- siles and laser blasts at your foes > Graphics: Impressive onscreen chaos, and the CG cutscenes look pretty darn nice > Sound: Excellent anime-styled voiceover work is plentiful > Playability: One of the most complicated and convoluted con- trol schemes imaginable is made worse by a cluttered HUD > Entertainment: Fans of 3D aerial shooters are in for a chal- lenging and fun adventure - oth- ers will shake their head and start digging through the bag for the exchange receipt > Replay Value: Moderately Low If NASA implemented a space combat training program, there's a good chance that it would be easier to complete than Project Sylpheed. This game holds nothing back, and would love nothing more than to hear that it forever imprinted a Game Over screen into the minds of its players, Just figuring out the complicated control scheme takes hours of training, but ends up being well worth the effort. The battles that unfold are the very defini- tion of harrowing, and are so beautiful that you have to pu ТА irly repetitive, but е rewarding quick-trigger Dau el ofove | coming the worst of odds. _ makes Project Sylpheed a memorable play for gamers who daydream of galaxies far, far away.—REINER | XBOX 360 Wartech: Senko No Ronde > STYLE | OR 2-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER G-REV > RELEASE MAY 22> ESRB T pee: m Ç Ж sili воттом име itsaddens me that somewhere out there 3 ` 75 in this wide world someone might not read this review, and thus might never know what a horrible mistake it would be to spend money on this travesty. In mech-like “rounders,” you'll float around a small game board banging on buttons to fire out attacks at your similarly armed opponent, until one or the other of you triggers “BOSS” mode and transforms into a giant screen-fill- ing machine of destruction. Sounds fun, right? There is little in the way of discernable strategy or skill, the controls are never explained, and they're unre- sponsive once you do figure them out, If this game had a head, it should hang itin shame for claiming to be part of the 360 library— MILLER XBOX 360 Hour of Victory > STYLE 1-PLAYER (UP TO 12-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR SYSTEM LINK). > PUBLISHER MIDWAY > DEVELOPER NFUSION > RELEASE JUNE 25 > ESRB M жамы e ni воттом име | haven't seen a game that is this close to being 2 . 5 totally broken since the console manufacturers created an approval process. When you see things like enemies standing idle with their faces against a wall, you have to wonder how Hour of Victory got a stamp of approval from Microsoft. The Al of your adversaries is so spotty that you'll see them firing point blank at a wall, and they rarely are capable of ducking low enough behind a structure for cover. As | found, most enemies cannot react quickly at all, which leaves them open for a knife to the throat almost every time. If the single-player campaign isn't painful enough, Hour of Victory offers a multiplayer component 50 poorly constructed that just trying to shoot another person makes you feel as stupid and incompetent as the game's Al. At the very most, Hour of Victory is deserving of Worst Game of the Year honors.—REINER XBOX 360 Vampire Rain > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT/AQ INTERACTIVE > DEVELOPER ARTOON > RELEASE JULY 3 > ESRB M TRIAL AND TERROR ou are Fam Sisher — | mean, John Lloyd — a member of a special ops team sent in to take out an army of Nightwalkers. Instead of fighting these vampires, how- ever, players will mostly have to avoid them in search of the one correct path through a level. You know how in most stealth games you can usually escape after you get spotted? These speedy jerks will kill you almost instantly no matter where you run or hide. Due to the liberal use of invisible walls and impassable vampires, Artoon has ensured that you can only survive by climbing that one fire escape, shimmying along the ledge, and sliding down the right drain pipe. It costs many deaths in the name of trial-and-error to Progress at all. Your pistols and machine guns are completely useless, and only really exist to shoot off the occa- sional padlock or scare up some crows as a distraction. It's not until later in the game that you'll get a sniper rifle, shotgun, or UV knife (which evaporates after each use). Even then, you can use them only for brief flashes of time. Speaking of lack of combat, the first boss battle doesn’t even kick in until level nine — and it sucks! You just lead this idiot into some traps, shoot him, and then hide behind a pillar until all of your energy replenishes. Multiplayer is slightly better simply because you can actu- ally attack everybody and take control of a Nightwalker. It's just sad that being allowed to fight is one of the few positive things a game has going for it—BRYAN gis an actual conversation between two Nightwalkers in Vampire Rain. “Ilove the night” "The night air is heavy and sweet." “But | hate the rain." "The rain will eventually stop.” "The night will eventually become day." BOTTOM LINE > Concept: A poor man's Splinter Cell set in a rainy vam- pire town > Graphics: Xbox caliber textures, character models, and rain effects > Sound: You might as well pop in a rainstorm meditation CD, that's all you'll hear anyway (out- side of cheesy voice acting) > Playability: A bad camera, useless weapons, and endless cheap deaths will bring out your gamer rage > Entertainment: One ridicu- lous conversation (see sidebar) is the only enjoyment you'll get out of this game > Replay Value: Low Second Opinion 2. Vampire Rain begins with | a fairly lengthy training | level that asks the player to do nothing more than mimic the movements of a teammate. This stage is uneventful, beyond boring, and a horrible way to begin a game, Whoever created the saying “it can only better from here” is a liar. After the miserable first - stage, you can almost see | Vampire Rain's pain-ind ing gameplay crumble right before your very eyes. Most. of the levels are so blocky the vampires that detected me just ran around GAME INFORMER 117 m Mul > қала а meter that increases the Ж Attack) damage done by special attacks т» ХВОХ 360 Eternal Sonata > STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER TRI- CRESCENDO > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 17 > ESRB T BRAVO! n real life, | wouldn't allow Chopin to join my party. He was frail, consumptive, and couldn't throw down in a brawl. In the world of Eternal Sonata, however, the famed pianist and com- poser Frédéric Chopin is a force to be reckoned with. By embellishing historical events and characters and setting them against a vibrant fantasy world, Eternal Sonata draws players in with a fascinating combina- tion of the familiar and the strange. While Chopin's body lies dying of tuberculosis, his mind travels to a colorful realm where he meets new friends (with lame music-related names like Jazz and Allegretto) and helps save the world. This unique premise carries the game a long way, but the concepts are frequently stifled by dry, overwrit- ten dialogue. It doesn't help that most of the char- acters feel like they were lifted wholesale from You Can Make RPGs Too: A Beginner's Guide. These problems may throw things out of tune from time to time, but Eternal Sonata really hits the = high notes when it comes to gameplay. The battle system is an ingenious hybrid of real-time and turn-based combat, putting emphasis on both reflexes and strategy. The idea at the core is that you are allotted some time to survey the battlefield, followed by a countdown during which you can move and attack. Beyond that, the specifics are some- what difficult to describe since the basic rules change to incorporate more complex possibili- ties as your party levels up. Each attack is a sort of balancing act in which you need to consider placement (see sidebar), timing, and the special attacks you currently have equipped. The system is reminiscent of Tri-Ace titles like Star Ocean and Radiata Stories (not surprising since developer Tri-Crescendo has collaborated with that company in the past), but with a more involving tactical edge. There are plenty of reasons to recommend this title apart from the spectacular combat. The visual presentation in particular is amazing; the col- orful dream world and character models create an experience as enjoyable to watch as it is to play. It may not be pushing the genre forward in terms of plot, but Eternal Sonata's other components come together with such harmony that it will have you calling for an епсоге.--10Е 118 САМЕ INFORMER m Plucky? Check. Rag-tag? Check. These must be your party members! п As he sleeps, Chopin drifts into another reality NIGHT AND DAY The use of light and darkness on the battlefield is one of the key strategic ele- ments in Eternal Sonata. Your characters will have access to different special moves = with varying range and attack power ~ depending on whether they are in the light or shadows, Not only do you need to consider your own position before mounting an attack, but also where the monsters stand. Many of them take on entirely different forms in the dark, or even emanate light to prevent you from using shadow attacks near them. Whenever you enter a new battlefield, the first thing you should do is take note of where the shadows fall. ABCA N $7 1221610 — f 9 redegi: 3478501, $. 9888735 77 AS @ Ж _— 'ombat may seem simple at first, but the rules for encoun- ters change as you progress. BOTTOM LINE 8 25 > Concept: Make gamers say, “Wow, Chopin totally kicked ass! Music history rules!” > Graphics: All of the characters, environments, and spell effects are imbued with a gorgeous and distinctive style > Sound: Some nice use of piano music (no surprise there), but several character voices are incred- ibly grating > Playability: Generally solid with a few shaky spots when it comes to hit detection and the use of secondary special moves > Entertainment: It’s fun to fight and explore, but the story and characters could be more engrossing > Replay Value: Moderate Second Opinion 8 Eternal Sonata makes a case for why it should be consid- ered a role-playing epic, but italso shows that the human brain can only endure so many long-winded “mean- ing of life” sermons before it will melt and drain through the ears. While offering bril- liant moments of intrigue, the game's story is mostly preachy, pretentious, and in some cases, 50 jarring that you'll wonder if someone accidentally replaced part of the plot with a history professors slideshow lec- ture. This story can be irritat- ing, but thankfully, this RPG finds other ways to dazzle you. The inventive battle system strikes the perfect balance between button- mashing fun and do-or-die | strategizing. With enjoyable combat paving the way, field encounters rarely get old, the boss battles leave you gasping and saying “that was incredible,” and you always look forward to a battle's conclusion to see if a new power has been unlocked. Eternal Sonata also delivers a level of visual grandeur that will make you applaud the technological advances that games have made over the years. It may be lacking in one key area, but this is one quest that you won't want to miss —REINER "PVP ADDICTS, BE EXCITED THIS IS A GAME MADE ESPECIALLY FOR YOU." 21— "THIS IS PVP REBORN A GAME NO COMPETITIVE PLAYER CAN AFFORD TO MISS." GANER PRE-ORDER NOW ы UNLEASHTHEFURY.COM : INFORMATION ON BETA ACCESS AND MORE E reviews PLAYSTATION 3 Lair > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER FACTOR 5 > RELEASE AUGUST 14 > ESRB T FLYING WITH CLIPPED WINGS n The Lord of the Rings’ battle of Helm's Deep, what if it wasn’t Gandalf and his cavalry that showed up to save the day, but rather one lone dragon and his rider? Most of the wars in Lair unfold with huge armies banging on castle gates, only to be foiled by a fire-breathing demon from the skies. Now, this may sound like the ultimate adven- ture — a scenario that every nerd across the globe has dreamed at least once. Unfortunately, in Lair's case, the amazing sensation of flying saddleback on a death-dealing dragon is greatly marred by the wobbly motion-based controls. As it turns out, Factor 5 knew that players would have difficulty controlling these dragons, which is evidenced in painfully slow speed (hot air balloons may drift faster), and the skill-stealing lock-on target- ing system. If you hold down the lock-on button, you will not only establish a sure fire hit on your closest adversary, you will swirl and bank with it without having to adjust your aim. At this point, you just have to jam on the fire button to mow down the attacker. Hit auto-target button again, and the next opponent will suffer a quick death — a death that always felt cheap to me. It's borderline god mode. Where Lair lacks any form of grace in its flight or intensity 120 GAME INFORMER in its firefights, it does set the stage for battles that are the very definition of epic. As catapults pound castle walls, and thousands of soldiers collide on the battlefield, the sky is a flurry of dragons spewing fire and ice. What it all boils down to, however, is you feeling foolish to be a part of these epic events — mostly because a dragon that flew this poorly would never be allowed to participate in battle, it would be back in the village pulling a plow in the fields, or doing stupid tricks for scraps at the bar. There's a hint of Rogue Squadron (Factor 5's most famed work) in Lair's blood, but it mostly comes out in the soundtrack and the mission structuring. The Zen of shooting down TIE Fighters is sadly nowhere to be found, which is a shame because you can dearly see that the potential is there. Without a workable control scheme (standard analog move- ment is not an option), | fear most people will find themselves flustered beyond belief with the game like | was.—REINER The dragons look . great, but good luck’ controlling them tne 7.25 > Concept: The creators of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron show us that dragons are not nearly as cool as X-Wings > Graphics: The battles span as far as the eye can see, and the high level of detail (especially when viewed in native 1080p) never ceases to amaze > Sound: The pulse pound- ing score oddly sounds like it belongs in Star Wars, but definitely gets the blood pump- ing. This is also one of the few games out there to support 71 surround sound > Playability: This is where Lair plummets. The motion-based controls just don't work as well as they need to for an intense aerial combat game > Entertainment: Lair's disap- pointing critical path comes to an end at approximately six to eight hours, but getting all the gold medals will take some time > Replay Value: Moderate Second Opinion 8 As a fulfillment of childhood dragon-flying fantasies, Lair triumphs through its phe- nomenally huge conflicts and vicious vertigo-inducing Hens, | idron fans would asaFador5 — ARTISTRY AT THE REDLINE. IT’S HOW RACES ARE WON. POWERSLIDES. DRIFTS. SLINGSHOTS. PUMP UP THE CROWD AND YOUR SCORE WITH EVERY HIGH-SPEED PRECISION MOVE. EACH MANEUVER YOU MAKE LEAVES A MARK. ON THE TRACK, AND ON THE OTHER DRIVERS’ FRAGILE LITTLE EGOS. XBOX.COM/PGR4 PROJECT GOTHAM RACING EVERYONE Microsott Ф) ші ESRB CONTENT RATING www.esrh.org Se reviews Mario Strikers Charged > STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA WIICONNECT24) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NEXT LEVEL GAMES > RELEASE JULY 30 > ESRB Е10+ Hmm, nothing out of the ordinary here SORE SPORT egions scream as Mario storms a scorched, almost war-torn, field. Shells fly in all directions knocking over his opponents before he grows massive and flattens a few more underfoot. Then something truly amazing hap- pens, Mario is absorbed by an aura of white light, which sends him 30 feet into the air where he rains down a volley of fireballs. If | didn't have the pictures to prove it, you might not believe I was talking about a soccer game. Then again, | have trouble thinking of this explosion of Nintendo madness ~ thinly veil by pseudo-sports rules — as a soccer game. Sadly, unlike some of Mario's similar sports ventures (i.e. Mario Kart, Mario Tennis), I had trouble falling in love with the Mario Strikers series, and Charged does nothing to change that. It seems the goal for Strikers has always been to keep things short and intense, and to this end Charged succeeds. Most games last only three minutes, and the small fields keep the action pretty close, All 10 captains have their own super-abilities such as DK's area- clearing ground smash, or Peach's time-stopping freeze frame, but clas- sic Mario powerups like shells and 2:25 бд. ш bananas can be used by anyone. If all that wasn't enough, each field has its own set of obstacles to face. One might have you dodging fall- ing Thwomps while another sees a tornado crossing the field with a tractor or cow in tow. Sometimes you feel like you're not just trying to win a game, you're trying to survive the chaos. The problem is — despite every- thing mentioned above — the game isn't that fun. While Charged is an improvement over the original, it still piles on so much craziness that it buries itself with simplistic gameplay. Your Al teammates are useless, and getting hit by a random object when you are about to score is frustrating. There isn't much to keep you playing unless you like the multiplayer, which you can play online this time around. The online matches | played managed to keep the action pretty smooth, but you will have to exchange friend codes ahead of time if that's really your thing. Like that kid in preschool who kept changing the rules while you played, Mario Strikers Charged is amusing for awhile, but eventu- ally you'll want to play a game you understand.— BEN т ae Bee ih Ош 205 O) Out SA е am » Ts qudd A di *. Remember how your friends yelled at you for throwing hammers at the goalie? The characters in Strikers are much better sports about that kind of thing k) | 122 GAME INFORMER BOTTOM LINE 7 L] 25 > Concept: Insanity, Mario style. Oh yeah, and something kind of a bit like soccer > Graphics: Some games just can't be bothered with fancy things like graphics. Strikers is one of those games. > Sound: Getting the crowd to chant your name is one of the more rewarding aspects of play > Playability: What's up with the lack of multiple save files on Nintendo systems recently? Come on, guys, it’s just annoying > Entertainment: On-field anar- chy creates a thrilling experience, but one that is ultimately lacking the finer details > Replay Value: Moderate Second Opinion 7 Despite the changes made to this series, it remains no more relevant than if you released an N64 title in 2007. The addition of Mega Saves. is a smart feature that utilizes the motion sensor controller, | and giving more power to your side kicks creates team- work. The problem with this title, however, is a fundamen- tal one. When I'm leery to play a “power up” because it might negatively effect me as well as my opponent, that's when a game stops being a competitive game and sants 4 inthe Pee of gameplay — whether it's a goalie save, | catch-up Al, or said power | ups - is simply lame. Like many of Nintendo's so-called sports titles, this franchise. won't be good until it puts in the effort to be more than. just adequate —KATO Pokémon Battle Revolution > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA WiiCONNECT24) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER GENIUS SONORITY > RELEASE JUNE 25 > ESRB E CAN WE GO HOME NOW? elcome to the sun-drenched tropi- cal paradise of Pokétopia. We're so pleased that you could come and join us. Come experience the natural wonderland where trainers gather from around the world to do battle. Of course, it's probably best if you don't explore the island. Please stick to the designated Colosseums for the safety of you and your Pokémon. Pokétopia is a laid back island, so you won't find any exciting stories told here. Besides, you're on vacation; you don't want to be bothered with too much excitement. Pokétopia is about relaxing to the thrill of near- unending Pokémon trainer battle after Pokémon trainer battle. Feel free to make use of our state-of-the-art Wi-Fi connections in every room, as this is the first Nintendo vacation resort where you will be able to play against other people online. And don't forget to bring your Nintendo DS with you on your island getaway. Not only because you will have to use rental Pokémon if you don't import your critters from Diamond or Pearl, but because you will also want a good game to play when you get bored at wonderful Pokétopia. Sure, Pokétopia might sound a lot like the trips you took to Pokémon Stadium 182 or that weekend at Pokémon Colosseum. That's because this is the same trip, we've just repainted the signs and moved to a different system. But just listen to what GI Travel Magazine said about our beautiful resort, "Pokétopia is one of the most boring trips I've ever been forced to take. If | hadn't been paid to go, | would have punched my travel agent" — BEN BOTTOM LINE 5.75 > Concept: Pokémon battle other Pokémon! Yeah, that's it > Graphics: 8leh... > Sound: The announcer may have only two phrases for every action. “The red trainer has only one remaining Pokémon.” > Playability: Don't worry about getting confused. There is actually a mini tutorial that teaches you how to point the freaking Wii remote. Fantastic! > Entertainment: Not a whole lot of value here. Only the hard- est of the hardcore Pokéfreaks will find this entertaining for long...or for short, even > Replay Value: Low Second Opinion 6 The primary reason anyone will be playing PBR is to see their stable of Pokémon that they've been leveling up all summer in Diamond/Pearl battle it out in full 3D. On this very base level, the Шау | their luster (especially since the DS Pokémon games already facilitate these modes). For those who don't have a DS and Diamond/Pearl, PBR is an empty shell of a game full of endless dry colos- work for outside of trainer “accessories. But even — Pokémon diel ds will find ‘once they get past the glossy ation.—BRYAN | TEEN 1% Drug Reference Mild Language ПЫШ ете$ Violence ESRB CONTENT RATING wwwesrb.org Game experience may change during online play. NEVVERS. T ` Bare RIVAL STUNTMEN ON F1 THE FILM SETS ANE БАСЕ от MULTIPLAYER ARENAS. AVAILABLE Aucus7 eB - w ім“: * Y a View ^srumrmaniemrim.cam Ш «ы ® 360.5 /22еа/ www.thq.com PLAYSTATION = Available for the PLAYSTATION?3 and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems. © 2007 THO Inc. Developed by Paradigm Entertainment. THQ, Stuntman: Ignition, Paradigm Entertainment and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THO Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. т Blimps! Woot! Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER 2K GAMES > DEVELOPER FIRAXIS GAMES > RELEASE JULY 23 > ESRB E10+ BOW TO THE MASTERS n my view, there is no argument that Sid Meier's Civilization IV is the pinnacle of the modern strategy genre. I'd go so far as to make a case for it as the best strategy video game of all time, and so it is with great pleasure that | report Beyond the Sword is outstanding in every sense of the word. The espionage system introduced in Beyond the Sword is skillfully integrated into the very core of Civilization IV's complex gameplay. Developing intelligence and counter-intel- ligence networks is an expensive proposition, so espionage takes resources away from your treasury, culture, or research efforts. To justify such heavy investment, the benefits had better be worth it, and they ш Who said you couldn't make an RPG with the f civ IV engine? certainly can be. Trashing enemy production, inciting their population to revolt, and stealing resources — traditional activities for the genre, to be sure — and preventing the same from happening to you couldn't be more important. The intelligence benefits, which range from seeing enemy demographic informa- tion to the current production in their cities, are immeasurably helpful as well. It's not necessary to delve too deeply into espionage, but it's a nice additional non-combat vector to spread your influence. The UI could f be better, though. To support all this Î spy stuff, several new advances have been woven into the tech tree. More importantly, a huge number of addi- tional Wonders, National Bi New units fill in the 2 1 gaps in certain epochs m What are warp lanes but roads in space? 124 GAME INFORMER What Would Caesar Do? It's a small addition, but the introduction of random events that put players between a rock and a hard place adds a personal touch to the often sterile business of government. One such quandary had the offspring of two feuding noble houses from a nearby rival seeking asylum and the freedom to marry in my empire. The twist was that they were having a Buddhist (my state religion) ceremony while their native land fol- lowed Hinduism. My choices ran the gamut from giving the proverbial middle finger to my rival and declaring a national holiday — which would score big points with other Buddhist nations, make my whole population happier, and likely provoke a war — to sending mere well wishes to minimize the diplomatic penalty. Wonders, units, and buildings now supplement the existing tech, giving espionage a broad base of sup- port across all of the game's layers. Corporations have also been added. As a func- tion of the late game (you need to research the Corporations tech to enable them), these constructs allow another vector of interaction with your rivals outside of warfare. Corporations work much like a religion in that they spread from city to city via the Corporate Executive unit, but have more varied effects, like culture or production bonuses. Finally, Beyond the Sword includes several new scenarios if you should tire of the base game. These vary wildly in gameplay style, from a tactical RPG to space colonization. Unfortunately, the quality swings up and down as well; | found myself coming back to vanilla Civ IV after a few hours no matter how novel a scenario seemed at first. That's as much a commentary on the excel- lence of the base game as it is an indictment of the alternate styles, though. Beyond the Sword is unquestionably one of | the best expansion packs _ l've ever played, and not just because the original release is so strong. The amount of content it adds, and the quality of those additions, is top-notch. This kind of massive depth, smooth polish, ÎÎ and unending replayabil- ity is what PC gaming is all about. —ADAM out religious 7 no war at all BOTTOM LINE 9.5 > Concept: Make Civilization IV better than ever by integrating espionage into the core game and adding a ton of new factions and scenarios > Graphics: Looks great for a strategy game, but the true genius is in the way it presents pertinent information > Sound: As always, the music is some of the best in the business > Playability: If | were a profes- sor, I'd teach entire courses on this interface, I'm not joking > Entertainment: A brilliant expansion to the best strategy game in years, Any further ques- tions? > Replay Value: High Second Opinion 9.5 {already considered Civ to be the de facto standard in strategy games. Now that Firaxis found a way to give teeth to those who prefer the diplomatic approach to government in Beyond the Sword, that opinion. has only grown stronger. Instead of sharpening the tip of my spear and crushing my rivals face to face every time, | used the more subtle new tools of espionage and corporate influence to stay ahead of the game. Why create bloodshed with an already struggling neighbor- ing empire when | can just throw a wrench into its weak production and spread word of my country's glory witha few well-entrenched spies? Tactics such as these allowed me to concentrate my armed forces where they were truly needed. The game offers a dozen diverse playable scenarios as well, but the real fun is to be had in using these new tools to become the greatest two-faced civili- zation on earth —BERTZ Dead Head Fred > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER D3PUBLISHER > DEVELOPER VICIOUS CYCLE > RELEASE AUGUST 21 > ESRB M E It’s not what it looks like BRAINDEAD 'm all for game developers push- ing the boundaries of what's acceptable subject matter for the medium. However, dropping a few F-bombs and making sex jokes about zombies in no way justifies the awful combat mechanics and uninspired puzzles that make up Dead Head Fred's gameplay. This third-person action title has players take on the role of Fred, a spunky P.I. who got himself killed and reanimated while investigating a shady nuclear power plant in a sleepy rural town. Mad scientists, nympho zombies, and enterprising mutants round out the cast of characters, with frequent guest appearances by backwoods psychos and nameless undead for Fred to beat up on. It's a unique and compelling setting, but the act of playing the game is drab and repetitive. Brawling your way through this title's Tim Burton-esque dysto- pian landscape is entertaining on a very basic level, but the utterly uninteresting challenges you face fail to engage any of the player's higher brain functions. Killing the same enemy with the same attacks that use the same anima- tions in a slightly different room loses its luster after the fifth or sixth repetition when the act of fighting is as formulaic and boring as it is here. Collecting different heads and utiliz- ing the various powers they grant you could have been a cool mechanic if the level design took advantage of it. Sadly, it doesn't. Rather than open- ing up options by giving the player a diverse toolbox of abilities, the head powers serve primarily as one-shot gimmicks to overcome arbitrary obstacles. Even so, Dead Head Fred is hardly broken. Beating up enemies and stealing their heads works, but is rarely compelling. Navigating bite- sized environments is easy to do, but almost never offers a sense of exploration or accomplishment. The occasionally clever dialogue and intriguing visual style just aren't enough to save this title from its own mediocrity.—ADAM is boss seems to have been made specifically to expose the camera's flaws BOTTOM LINE > Concept: Punch your way to vengeance while making snarky adult-oriented quips > Graphics: Aside from repeti- tive enemy models, this is a great showcase for the PSP's capabilities > Sound: Good voice work for the main character throws the awful supporting cast into sharp relief > Playability: Slow, sluggish, and shoddy barely begin to describe the combat > Entertainment: With decent gameplay this could've been a cult hit. As is, it's more Tromeo and Juliet and less Rocky Horror Picture Show > Replay Value: Low Second Opinion 6 | really wanted to like Dead Head Fred. It's got an inter- esting and unique cast, great voice acting, and a stylish look. But, jeez, it just doesn't feel like developer Vicious Cycle knew how to make itall into fun gameplay. You'll spend most of the game wandering around, disoriented by the awful camera and repeated envi- ronments. The head switch- ing mechanic could have been cool, but it's primarily used for puzzles no more complex than the whole “use five missiles on red doors” tactic from Metroid. Combat's mostly about punching guys until you can behead them even though they want you to use coun- ters and specials. It’s too bad old Freddy didn't live up to expectations. BRYAN ЕН Original NINTENDO DS Picross DS > STYLE 1-PLAYER PUZZLE (UP TO 5-PLAYER VIA NINTENDO WI-FI CONNECTION) » PUBLISHER NINTENDO » DEVELOPER JUPITER > RELEASE JULY 30 > ESRB E UNDERGROUND CLASSIC 'm ashamed to admit that I've never played the original Mario's Picross (released for the old-school monochromatic Game Boy “brick” way back in 1995). However, | always heard great things — Andy and former GI editor Justin Leeper always proselytized for the game to whoever would listen. Boy, were they right. This game is a stone classic of the puzzle genre; one I'd put it right up there with any and all comers, including Tetris. The concept (as with all great puzzlers) is exceedingly simple in con- cept yet end- lessly complex in practice. You have a large grid of squares. Each line and column is marked with numbers, which denote series of blocks that appear in each. For example, a row marked “3 2” has one group of three blocks and one group of two blocks. Each group must be separated by at least one blank square. Now, | realize this description might seem a little convoluted, but trust me — after five minutes in the tutorial the basic principles will be second nature. Like Sudoku or crossword puzzles, this is one of those endlessly replayable games. The solu- tion is always there, right in front of you. It's just a matter of using logic and careful planning to place the block correctly. In addition the brilliant main modes, you can also design your own Picross boards to share with friends, play online against four other competitors, or download grids from the original Game Boy cartridge. That's a lot of gameplay for a great bargain of $20, making this one of the best handheld games of the year, hands down.— MATT BOTTOM LINE 9 5 > Concept: A brilliantly conceived puzzle game where you use num- bers and logic to decode simple dot-matrix pictures > Graphics: Well. .the pictures aren't exactly Dutch Masters, but you know, they are cute enough and the interface is very under- standable > Sound: Extremely unmemo- Table ? Playability: The touch controls. are an interesting option, but as. the puzzles get more complex you'll want to revert to the classic d-pad and button scheme > Entertainment: I'm so happy Nintendo resurrected this title — it's truly one of the greatest puzzle games of all time > Replay Value: High Second 0) 1 was thoroughly addicted to this game — even as it gave. me a brain hemorrhage with its grids. Some of the harder puzzles in this title leave you scratching your head, wondering how you're sup- posed to figure things out without just guessing, but at least there's a hint system. Regardless of difficulty, this is a title for everyone, and it easily shows why old school Game Boy players laud it Its filled with features, including the ability to create your own puzzles. Picross may not have the variety of some current puzzle com- pilations which offer more quantity like Brain Buster Puzzle Pak, but Sudoku et al. fans should not miss this title —KATO GAME INFORMER 125 $ reviews Save &Quit NINTENDO DS In Minutes A Day Brain Age 2: More Training > STYLE 1-PLAYER PUZZLE (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO > DEVELOPER NINTENDO > RELEASE AUGUST 20 > ESRB E THE ORIGINAL IN A FIELD OF IMITATORS he first Brain Age helped the Nintendo DS become what it is today, both in the U.S. and overseas. Its success has not been overlooked by other companies hoping to cash in, and a flood of “me too” brain games have bombarded the market with limited results. Brain Age 2 brings back the mix of simplicity, sophistication, and fun to the game space that others are sorely lacking. Math is still the primary tool of Dr. Ryuta. Players will continuously subtract the same number from a larger number until it reaches Zero, or they'll figure out correct change by tapping bills and coins. These math problems and more are just as tricky as before, but some will remind you a little too much of previous games. For example, the race game (where you keep track of a sprinter's place as competitors fly past) is almost exactly the same as the house challenge from Brain Age 1. Other challenges, like memorizing a grid of 25 numbers or reading an upside down, backwards clock, will really test your mettle. But | preferred more fun activities like playing piano alongside some sheet music or figur- ing out word scrambles (kind of an animated Jumble from the back of a newspaper). Dr. Mario fans will be halfway pleased with the addition of Virus Breaker this time around. The good news is that you can play as long as you want and use the touch Screen to drag and rotate pills. The bad news is that the playing grid has been reduced in order to make everything bigger onscreen, you have to earn a daily stamp before you can play it (at least in the first several weeks), and there is no versus play at all. However, the four other multiplayer games can all be shared from a single cart and are entertain- ing enough. In the end, Brain Age 2 uses the same for- mula from the first game with some different variables thrown in. Your opinion of the origi- nal Brain Age will have to sort out whether that's a good or bad thing. —BRYAN 126 САМЕ INFORMER BOTTOM LINE 8.25 > Concept: A new batch of minigames and sudoku puzzles with a simplified Dr. Mario game thrown in > Graphics: Almost all of the visual assets are reused from the first game > Sound: The train still makes а choo-choo noise when you tap on it > Playability: Handwriting recognition can still be tricky at times, but voice recognition is flawless. > Entertainment: Brain Age's freshness appeal isn't as strong this time around, but fans will have plenty here to keep them busy > Replay Value: Moderate Second Opinion 8.25 Jeanne d'Arc > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER LEVEL 5 > RELEASE AUGUST 21 Na" A TRIUMPHANT CALL TO ARMS part of the title is that it gives you the freedom to envision your best strate- gies. Characters’ affinities and weap- ons can be swapped and moves can be tested out before their execution, so you feel like you're bound less by rules and more your own ideas — and there are some battles where you're going to need some good ones. This title does what all of Level 5 games do — it lets you loose in an inviting environment armed with a variety of tools at your disposal. Whether it's forming bunkered defen- sive formations with your cast of char- acters or using Joan's Armlet powers to lay waste to a board of enemies, this is an alternate history lesson that you should not miss.—KATO 'm an unabashed fan of devel- oper Level 5 (Rogue Galaxy) and Jeanne d'Arc is proof yet again that this studio can suc- ceed at whatever it puts its mind to. Leave it to them to put their own spin on The Hundred Years War that includes monsters (apart from the English) and a fat frog — and that's not a derogatory comment on the French. There literally is a talking frog in the game. Level 5 hardly reinvents the wheel of strategic, turn-based grid combat, but instead offers a well-thought out title stuffed with combat and charac- ter options — and what Level 5 game would be complete without the chance to combine items to create new, more powerful objects? The game presents numerous combat situations with win/lose condi- tions based around Joan of Arc's move to restore the Dauphin to the French throne and kick out the English. My favorite BOTTOM LINE 8 5 > Concept: Level 5 makes a masterful try at turn-based grid combat > Graphics: Classic, vibrant Level 5 graphics and nice cin- ematic cutscenes > Sound: Som of zee charactahs tok wit outrageos Fraunch akzentz > Playability: This game gives you everything you need to suc- ceed in battle > Entertainment: Easily a worthwhile pickup for any strat- egy or Level 5 fan > Replay Value: Moderately Second Opinion 8 ol GN 2) MAB CK rogi | HP MP, fg 33601176 DSA А! 1x42 bp М Facility for summoning missile units. | Missile units are strong against flying nits, but weak against ground units. NINTENDO DS Heroes of Mana > STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX > DEVELOPER BROWNIE BROWN > RELEASE AUGUST 14 > ESRB E10+ HANG ‘EM FROM THE MANA TREE tis too bad that some gamers will play Heroes of Mana under the impression that they will be get- ting a handheld approximation of the real-time strategy experience. | con- cede that many of the concepts in this game are similar to those in an RTS; you harvest resources, build structures, and generate units to fight. Sadly, these ideas flounder so completely in execu- tion that any resemblance to a real rible. It's frustrating and baffling to tell your group of heroes to move straight ahead, and instead they spread out every which way like they're looking for some kind of morons-only shortcut. | want to clarify that very few of my issues with the game stem from the stylus-controlled interface. Selecting units works surprisingly well, and it was а good choice to use a central- ized location for structures (instead of 5 > Concept: Take all of the strat- egy out of the RTS framework. At least it's still real-time > Graphics: The Mana art style translates fairly well, but the sprites all get lost in the action > Sound: The soundtrack isn't exactly classic, but there are some decent battle tunes > Playability: Technically, this game is capable of being played. I wouldn't recommend it > Entertainment: | chuckled on several occasions, but more out of disbelief than enjoyment > Replay Value: Moderately Low Second Opinion 5 | strategy title is lost. The most impor- tant component to hit the chopping block is your control over the units. The Hold fire! We're on your side! We're Peddan scouts! a sprawling base). Issuing the orders isn't the problem, it's what the game decides to do (or not Туе been trying to nail down what | don't like about this game, but what's been clear since | stopped playing was that | just didn't have any fun. The touch screen con- do) with them. trols fel forced and obtuse, only command you Even if you con- and battles are short and can issue is attack- sider yourself a fan too easy. It is almost as if move, so if a specific of the series, don’t the developer knew how enemy changes waste your time frustrating the controls could location while your | here. There was be, then D guys are in transit, a time when the кешеге Ва T area they'll reach their Mana name meant ште У. | hi à and troops in the right place. destination and - іш. something, but this at the right time, since they stand there like gits. y $ is a disappointing just auto-attack anything That's assuming that . < e {90,8 entry that drags the in sight. Unfit for kids or they even arrive, = G Д 4% franchise through adults, | don't know who since the pathfinding m "ws (5 the mud.— JOE this game was meant to is so laughably ter- BEE arises FE appeal to. —MILLER PSP i. NINTENDO DS NINTENDO DS PSP PSP Brave Story: Brothers in Luminous Arc Monster Hunter Smash Court New Traveler Arms DS нанады Freedom 2 Теппі 3 > STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA. > DEVELOPER IMAGEEPOCH/MARVELOUS. > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (UP TO 4-PLAYER > STYLE 1-PLAYER SPORTS (2-PLAYER VIA AD- > PUBLISHER XSEED WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER UBISOFT INTERACTIVE VIA AD HOC) > PUBLISHER CAPCOM HOC) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER GAME REPUBLIC > DEVELOPER GAMELOFT > RELEASE AUGUST 14 > ESRB T > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER NAMCO > RELEASE JULY 31 > ESRB E10+ > RELEASE JUNE 19 > ESRB T > RELEASE AUGUST 28 > ESRB T > RELEASE JULY 10 > ESRB E BOTTOM LINE The PSP has seen its fair share of generic 7.25 RPGs, but you'd be making a mistake to lump Brave Story in with that sub-par crowd. In addition to being one of the best-looking PSP titles out there, the game has a host of small surprises. The turn-based battles are stylish, and even feature team attacks and recharg- : ing magic points. There is also a col- lection sidequest involving goalfinch battles, which are basically cuter and less gruesome cockfights. Brave Story may ultimately be a Dragon Quest pretender, but at least it does some fun stuff within its fairly convention- al framework. —JOE воттом не ls a shame how this game turned out, 6 .75 because when | first saw it | thought BIA looked amazing. Technically, it still does look amazing; the graphics are great for a DS title. It's too bad that the game feels so bad. Literally, this hurts to play. The controls are a mess. My hand cramped shooting with L and aiming with a stylus. That's not the only problem, either. Gameplay is overly simplistic and aiming is too stiff (with no sensitivity setting). | have to give the game a few extra points for its graphics, occasional mindless fun, and bringing WWII multiplayer to the DS, but the controls are such a disaster that this game is far from good.— BEN eum BOTTOM LINE Arc's design and story 6 came out of an experi- ment that was attempt- i ing to create the most cliché-ridden, 12 uninspired title of 2007, | wouldn't be : 2 surprised in the least. We've seen identical : i grid-based combat dozens of times since : : Tactics Ogre, and the political plotline that i interweaves church and state is old hat. ; Minor post-combat interactions with your ; allies via poorly written dialogue do noth- i ing to improve the game. The characters ; never once defy players’ expectations, : the story is poorly paced, and the combat 1 offers no meaningful twists on the 2 formula we've been playing for years. | 1 can't imagine anyone but hard-line genre 1 devotees will get their money's worth out * of Luminous Arc—ADAM If learned that Luminous : For a handheld, the production values in Monster Hunter Freedom 2 seem pretty high. | like the art style in particular, and the game is even laugh-out-loud funny on occasion. Problem is, a couple of hours in you realize that impressive graphics and great atmo- sphere are all this game really has to show. Missions are fairly repetitive and directionless, and the load times are a little too long. MHF is, at times, so slow it might put you to sleep if you're not careful. | just wish this game's world were wrapped around some truly awesome gameplay. As it stands, it's like a promising Christmas present that turns out to be one of grandma's sweaters. —BEN BOTTOM LINE Petty hie it’s traditionally been overlooked in favor of 8.5 Top Spin or Virtua Tennis, Namco's Smash Court Tennis has been a strong franchise over the years. This PSP version excels with solid fundamentals, crisp graphics, a deep character development and career mode, and some inventive minigames that i feature Namco properties like Pac-Man : апа Galaga. The lineup of pros has a few holes (the Williams sisters are MIA), but E they've got the world's greatest player, Roger Federer, plus Nadal and female i standouts Henin and Sharapova. A very solid contender that will give PSP tennis fans more than their fill of racket action. Highly recommended, although online multiplayer would be a welcome addition 1 inthe next sequel. — MATT GAME INFORMER 127 G Н AR j S An In-Depth Listing he Best Selling Games System гадоп Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors un Rank | Title L Mo. [System] score [Release] Price | те Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | 05 janbaru Watashi No Kakei Diary DS Mario Party 8 2 | Wii | 7.25 |05-07| $49 Е Sports Wii DS Eye Training DS Wii Play 5 | Wii | т |02-07 $49 ER wi Pay Ш kasete! Chibi-Robo! ЕШ Kirarin Revolution Sometimes it's a bad idea to play games when you're tired. The combination of sleep deprivation and colorful stimuli can create some very powerful hallucinations. Since nothing wipes us out é i 1 | DS | 825 |04-07| $35 Monster Farm DS okemon Diamon like ЕЗ, and few things are more colorful or stimulating than hanging out with Mario, compiling Charts this month was a lively Rockman ZX Advent experience. We've dubbed it the perfect storm. Mario Party was pte Pennine Pokémon Pearl 4 | DS | 8.25 |04-07| $35 PLAY (Wii) Forza Motorsport 2 6 | 360 | 825 |05-07| $60 Guitar Hero II 10 | PS2 | 9 11-06) $80 Rank Title. System yS ЕП Bioshock w of the scarecrows started chasing us, and Mario rode his cow so Guitar Hero II 7 | 360 | 9.25 |11-06) $90 Sid Meier's Civilization IV: NA DS hard that he killed it. Then it turned into a zombie cow and he Beyond the Sword EG ное é [E низ NA DS { д тосу Pokémon Battle Revolution NA | Wii | 5.75 |06-07| $49 | ТТ Blue Dragon N/A 360 The Darkness 1 360 : 3 ger Woods PGA Tour 2008 NA Mulli N/A | Wii | 9.5 106-07) $30 Resident Evil 4 | i [ [i | Eternal Sonata N/A 360 Jeanne d’Arc NA PSP N/A 75 |06- 59 World of Warcraft: The Darkness VAS ГЕ or The Burning Crusade ie Е n zm | 10 | Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s 5 PS2 Mario thought it would be a good idea to play somethi little bit tamer, so we started up a game of Pokémon. ТІ . H inî Y Was a ereat dal of айс) geting a Paich stated Decous Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 | A) PS2 | NA 0607 #0 Mario spent two and a half hours trying to find a Pokémon that had a mustache. When we finally started up a battle against Mario, we chose Chai with Pokéballs. Transformers: The Game | n/A | PS2 | 7.25 |06-07| $40 4 POKÉMON PEARL (DS) 1 The Sts forle Picks Tenchu Z N/A | 360 | 6.5 |06-07| $60 x Rank Title. L.Mo. Price New Super Mario Bros. 16 | DS | 9.25 05-06 $34 | Шш World Of Warcraft: De The Burning Crusade Mario wanted to try his hand at breeding Pokémon. He com- x z World Of Warcraft 3 $2 bined a Clefairy with a Butterfree and called it a Buttfairy. We Tomb Raider: Anniversary | WA | PS2 | 85 |06-07| 529 Command & Conquer 3: et it, but he thought it was hilarious. The problem was Tiberium Wars 4 $49 that the Pokémon began to propagate like tribbles, which wasn't - _ nearly so bad until Mario decided to feed them after midnight, The Lord of the Rings Online: 1 $51 and they turned into something truly terrifying: Jamie Kennedy. А i Shadows Of Angmar uper Paper Mario 11 | Wii | 9.5 |04-07| $50 Super Pap [E| The Sims 2 Seasons 6 $29 5 FORZA MOTORSPORT Z (360) 3 Starcraft: Battle Chest MA $19 Transformers: The Game | v^ | 360 | 7.25 0-07 $62 | [EZ the sims 2 5 $85 [lll 3333 XP Games 9 $10 : ГТ The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff 7 $8 MLB ‘07: The Show 19 | PS2 | 875 (0207| $39 | Т Warcraft I Battle Chest 19 $30 was pleading Зей, with us to go to bed before our mind broke in half, but Mario Big Brain Academy NA | wii | 7.5 |06-07 $49 threatened to kill us if we didn't pl h him some more. So we chose to play oi It turns out Mario is a pretty crazy E pt g as out his side window, and when off, he threw a turtle at the back of our Nissan Skyline. Dirt N/A | 360 | 8 |06-07| $60 © - WEE *Editor's note: not a real word 128 САМЕ INFORMER Based On Monthly Units Sold Source: The NPD Group/NPD Funworld */TRSTS * + David Riley 516-625-2277 DREAMERS WANTED. PLAYSTATION 3 Ea SET Virtua Tennis 3 7 May-07 Phoenix Wright: PLAYSTATION 2 g 8 Ace Attomey Justice For All hack//G.U. Vol.2: Reminisce 575 07 XB0X 360 Ant Buly, The 65 Feb-o7 Planet Puzzle League 825 ә 2 E: 2 = All-Pro Football 28 8 Aug-07 Ant Bully, The 65 Feb-07 2% Armored Core 4 65 Apr07 Big Brain Academy 75 Aug-07 © Bigs, The 75 Jul-07 Cooking Мата: Cook Off 675 May-07 = Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII 7 — Feb-07 Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 — 6 — Feb-O7 š Call of Duty 3 875 Jan-07 Far Cry Vengeance 45 Мағ0? m Darkness, The 875 Aug-07 Godfather: Blackhand Edition, The 65 Мау-07 x Def Jam: Icon 775 MarO7 Hary Potter and the z Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The 95 Apr-07 Order of the Phoenix 65 Aug-07 z FEAR 825 May-07 Heatseeker 75 Jun-07 > Kororinpa: Marble Mania 8 May-07 5 Madden NFL 07 775 Jan-07 z Mario Party 8 725 Ju-07 v Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 8.25 Jan-07 о Medal of Honor: Vanguard 4 MayO7 Lord of the Rings 2 Mercury Meltdown 65 20-07 The Battle for Middle-earth Il — > Mortal Kombat: Armageddon 75 Jun-07 Rise of the Witch-King, The Feb-07 2 Prince of Persia: Rival Swords 85 May-07 Maelstrom 4 Mar-07 5 Rayman Raving Rabbids 85 Jan-07 Medieval Il: Total War 925 Jan-07 a Resident Evil 4 95 Ш07 STALKER: Shadow of Chemobyl 825 May-07 m Shrek the Third 525 Aug07 Shadowrun 65 Aug-07 o Sonic and the Secret Rings 55 Apr07 Silverfall 6 May-07 2 Spider-Man 3 65 Jul-07 Supreme Commander 9 Apr-07 © SpongeBob SquarePants: Surfs Up 65 Аш? Е. Creature from ће Krusty Krab 675 Feb-O7 тйгп Quest: Immortal Throne 8 May-07 Y Fantastic Four: SSX Blur 85 Apr-O7 Vanguard: Saga of Heroes 75 Apr-07 2 Rise of the Silver Surfer 5 Aug07 SuperPaper Mario 95 — Jun-07 ойд of Warcraft! š Fight Night Round 3 9 “Ма07 Super Swing Golf 8 Feb07 The Buming Crusade 975 Apr-07 z Formula One: Champion Edition 8 Apr-07 Surfs Up 65 Aug-07 > Full Auto 2: Battlelines 75 Jan-07 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 65 May-07 NINTENDO DS 2 Godfather: The Don's Edition, The 75 Мау07 TMNT 75 May-07 Brain Buster Puzzle Pak 8 Аре07 Ei Harry Potter and the. Trauma Center: Second Opinion 85 Jan-07 Cake Mania 65 May-07 z Order of the Phoenix 65 AugO7 WarioWare: Smooth Moves 775 Mar07 Сооҝіе & Cream 7 Ай 07 © Madden NFL 07 775 Јат Wii Play 7 AprO7 Death Jr. and the a Major League Baseball 2K7 85 MarO7 Wing Island 5 May-07 Science Fair of Doom 7 Jun-07 = MLB: The Show 25 Ше? Diddy Kong Racing 7 Mar-07 т MotorStorm 8 Apr-07 Diner Dash 725 Jun-07 a NBA 2K7 8 Jan-07 Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighter's Battle 6.5 Jul-07 v NBA Street Homecourt 875 Mar-07 Etrian Odyssey 6 Jun-07 т NCAA Football 08 8 Aug-07 Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales 6.5 May-07 = NHL 2K7 825 Jan-07 Honeycomb Beat 7 May-07 Ninja Gaiden Sigma 9 Jub07 Hotel Dusk: Room 215 7 Mar-07 x Pirates of the Caribbean: Izuna: Legend of 4 At World's End 6 Juk-07 the Unemployed Ninja 35 = Rainbow Six Vegas 9 Aug-07 Kirby Squeak Squad 715 z Sonic the Hedgehog. 675 Jan-07 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits 775 m Spider-Man 3 8 2407 Konduetra 625 Ы Surfs Up 65 AugO7 Lost In Blue 2 65 s Tony Hawk's Project 8 875 Jan-07 Lunar Knights 8 z Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom — 825 — Jan-07 Meteos: Disney Magic 275 т Virtua Fighter 5 8 Ман? New York Times Crosswords 8.25 m Y = 3 S E] š z 5 > 5 3 a v “a = 5 ЕЗ 2 ЕЗ 8 S е 5 8 e 2 - - г = s z 5 All-Pro Football 2K8 8 Aug-07 Pogo Island 65 Armored Core 4 65 Арг07 ите ae pend Pokémon Diamond/Pearl 825 а 4 Puzzle Quest Le Midway 22 мш ‘Arthur And The Invisibles 675 Mar-07 Galler ЕТТЕ < е M G ШО? Atelier iris 5: Grand Phantasm 65 ШО? Quickspot 25 Call of Juarez zas ОШО а. 8 Aror Smciy DS 825 College Hoops 2K7 8 Feb-07 E ae š pie SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters DS 65 Command & Conquer 3: SU E АБ Spectrobes 65 Tiberium Wars 85 тол Eagon 625 07 — Time Ace 675 Crackdown 85 Мао? GhostRider $75 Ма47 Touch of the Dead 7 Dance Dance Revolution Universe 75 Ару GodofWarll 975. ApFO7 Trioncube 6 Darkness, The 875 AugO7 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 775 — May-07 Wario: Master of Disguise 725 Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 25 ат бте 749: СИВОГ une is Mor Gita Heo Enoe >,” u Dirt 8 AugO7 Но Shots Tennis 825 уол 300: March To Glory 625 Apr-07 Earth Defense Force 2017 8 May-07 Lumines Plus 75 Ар-07 Aedis Eclipse: Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, The 95 — AptO7 Medal of Generation of Chaos 6 Jun-07 =: Medal of Honor: Vanguard 6 May-07 fter B и: Black Falcon 7 May-07 Eragon 625 07 Meet the Robinsons 7 Mai nec Y Fantastic Four: МЛ TESI 875 Ao, Brooktown High 675 Jun-07 Rise of the Silver Surfer 5 AEE NPO? NCAA БАРЫН 4 OT Call of Duty: Roads to Victory 6 May-07 Forza Motorsport 2 825 07 : Capcom Puzzle World 75 Apr-07 Fuzion Frenzy 2 2 Apeoy NFL „ч 3 7 pad Chili Con Camage 7 Арг07 Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 8.75 Мау07 ` Odin Sphere 85 ШО? Coded Arms: Contagion 675 May-07 Guitar Hero Il 925 Apo; Raw Danger 45 maio Ове 55 Jun-07 Harry Potter and the БЕС Э ато Driver 76 5 шо? 'Orlar of the Phoenix 65 Augo7 Sega Genesis Collection 85 Jan-07 Dungeon Maker Lost Planet: Extreme Condition 825 ғеол Shield, The 4 Mar-07 Hunting Ground 6 Aug-07 SCHOOL OF Major League Baseball 2K7 85 Mr Shining Force EXA 75 Apr-07 Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony 8 Jan-07 Monster Madness: Shin Megami Tensei: Dungeons and Dragons: = ee C A re ЦЕ Battle for Suburbia 75 Jun-07 Persona 3 85 Aug-07 Tactics 6 Aug-07 NBA Street Homecourt 875 Shrek the Third 525 Aug-07 пај Fantasy lI 800.226.7625 3300 University Boulevard • Winter Park, FL 32792 NCAA 07 March Madness 775 Singstar Pop 8 May-07 Anniversary Edition 6 Aug-07 wa SG SR ee E NCAA Football 08 p Sona Road to Respect, The 5. fae Бай таныу Ninety Edition = шт Financial aid available to those who qualify + Career development assistance + Accredited School, ACCSCT Pirates of the Caribbean: Tomb Raider Anniversary 85 20-07 Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure ? Apr-07 At World's End 6 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam 4 24507 Innocent Life: Phantasy Star Universe 6 Jan-07 Winning Eleven: A Futuristic Harvest Moon 725 Jul-07 Rainbow Si Vegas 95 Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 8 Mat07 legend of Heroes Ill Rayman Raving Rabbids 725 lun-07 Song of the Ocean, The 6 Миф? Samurai Warriors 2: Empires 475 oo Uu 55 Myo ONE OF THE Shadowrun 65 Aug-07 Ant Bully, The 65 Feb-o7 Мате! Trading Card Game 75 May-07 Shrek the Third 525 Аш 07 Battlestations: Midway 65 Мал Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops 9 Feb-07 Sonic the Hedgehog 675 Jan-07 Command & Conquer 3 Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner 6 — Mar-O7 T P IVE ; I | £ Spider-Man 3 8 juko7 Тейит Wars 85 Мау07 Mortal Kombat: Unchained в Ғе? Ste Up 65 Арол EMerscolsiV:Shierngldes The ^ 95 ^ AprO7 PaRappa the Rapper 80 шо GAME-DEGREE $ Tenchu Z 65 Augo7 Gothic 3 5 Feb-07 Puzzle Quest: : ja ы 4 Challenge of the Warlords 825 Mayo? TMNT 75 Мао? Halo 2 5 AOO 7 9 Apro7 Р ROG RAMS : LL Ji i UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 75 Apr-07 Hes of Annihilated Empires 6 Feb-07 Sd Meere Piel ^ pera Real World Education Mita ario d 7 May-07 Heroes of Might & Magic V: 8 A IN THE WORLD Viva Piñata 8 Jan-07 Hammers of Fate 8 Feb-07 Sonic Rivals 675 Feb-07 5 Winning Eleven: КЕ, ыда ae PEE е — Electronic Gaming Monthly он -07 Lord of the Rings Online: [ales of ТІ Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 ® МП us of Ananas The 85 2007 Valhalla Knights 45 Mar07 Warhammer: Battle for Atluma 75 Feb-O7 Warriors, The 85 Арг07 © 2006 Full Sail Inc. All rights reserved UNLIMITED ENABLED Lair = Dragon Flight School By Julian Eggebrecht, president of Factor 5 There's so much more to Lair than Rohn's journey. To truly experience what the game has to offer, you should try to get a gold medal for each and every mission (This also unlocks the extras!). Here are some tips to help you improve your medal scores. MOVE! OUR MEN NEED US! To get the gold medals, you'll need some strategies that help you complete your objectives faster. Try these techniques to lower your time: Pro Speed - Dash with a downward gesture on the Sixaxis controller. While coming out of the dash, tap X to flap your wings. During your dragon's second wing flap after the dash you can dash again. This will help you cover distances in the fastest way possible. Dragon Ramming Speed - The O button physical strike makes you dash toward an enemy dragon. This can be used to gain speed and dose distances rapidly. Take advantage of this to get around the map and get to where the enemy is as quickly as possible. Note: After initiating a Strike you can cancel by. pressing the brake button before impact. Ram and Burn - They don't call them burners for nothing! Perform a physical strike, and deploy a hearty use of your flame breath by. holding ÛJ before colliding with the enemy. This causes burn damage. Because this burn damage accumulates across all dragon combat modes, you will dispatch your enemies much faster. Flame Breath in Pursuit Mode - While in pursuit mode use the brake button to slow down and get behind the enemy dragon and flame breath the dragon. Light him on fire and drop him faster! Reverse Charge Fireball — The reverse charge fireball (the first fireball you shoot after letting your dragon's fire glands rest for a second) is 200 times more powerful than your smaller fireballs. Become a master of this technique and accuracy to dispatch targets with ease. After about one second you'll have maximum power. Choose Your Fireball – Know which fireball is best against which enemies. Small fireballs are good against Ice & Wind Dragons and large fireballs are good against Bull & Dark Dragons. 130 GAME INFORMER Choosing the right power for the right target can drastically reduce your time. Don't forget to light objects on fire by holding Cl if you get dose to them as well. Master Your Camera - Learn to control your cameras at all times. Think of playing Lair like playing a third person shooter. Where you point the camera you can interact with the target by locking on or by circle striking the enemy. Playing in this way cuts down on the time you spend tracking down your prey, and it looks awesome to boot! Dragon on Your Tail - If you see fireballs on your wing, pull back on the right stick to look behind you and lock on to the enemy dragon to maneuver onto his tail or even hit him with a circle strike. 180 Bomber - You can perform a 180 during bombing mode or when carrying anything in your daws. This allows you to find your target faster. PILE UP THE CARNAGE! By far the most important skill to master if you want to go for the gold is how to maximize your carnage multiplier. Use these strategies and watch your position on the leaderboards rise! Pursuit Mode to Fight Mode - Practice fighting medium and heavy dragons through each combat mode in succession to score extra carnage multipliers. To get into pursuit, you should lock on to your target with either L1 or RT before initiating combat with Chain Combo King - You can really raise the multiplier with this technique! Find a group of Ice or Wind dragons flying close to one another. Target one, and then press O to hit him with a physical strike. After impact, you have a short window of opportunity to find your next target. Tilt the controller to rotate the camera until another dragon gets targeted, and then press again. Kill enemy dragons in quick succession to increase your chain combo multiplier up to 4x. From there end your chain combo with a Pursuit Mode or Fight Mode on any of the other dragon types to increase your carnage multiplier EE] Maximum Multiplier - M You can max out your carnage multiplier by performing chain combos on light dragons to a 4x multiplier, then striking a dark or bull dragon while activating rage mode to perform a takedown. This gives you a staggering 9x multiplier for the takedown carnage. War Beast Pro Take Down - Take down a War Beast by flying underneath it to earn a pro carnage multiplier. Manual Take Down - You will receive a higher carnage multiplier for activating rage manually and performing a take down kill by physically striking the dragon instead in using the Triangle take down prompt. Rage for Medals - Being in rage mode increases your base multiplier by 2x, allows you to perform a takedown on bigger dragons, and slows down the world clock. Rage is one of the main keys to unlocking big medal scores. Master Your Rage - Big carnage targets like catapults, ballistae, and rhinos fill your rage meter faster. Plan your combat strategies with this in mind to maximize your rage! Rip & Tear Rage - Performing a rip and tear on objects like ballistae fill your rage meter faster than dispatching those targets normally due to the increased carnage multiplier. GET DOWN THERE AND HELP OUR TROOPS! Here are some moves to help you maximize damage when you engage armies on the ground: Ground Smash - During ground combat use a downward gesture (same as the Dash when in the air) to perform a ground smash that throws all nearby soldiers into the air. Rage Strafe & Breath - Activating Rage Mode gives you unlimited Flame Breath, which can be used to strafe the battlefield and cook up a gourmet amount of troops! Ring of Fire - In a dense group of troops on the ground, rotate the left analog stick in a 360 degree motion while performing a circular Flame Breath attack to quickly dispatch the army. Inferno Quake - Land in a dense group of troops, perform a 360 flame breath attack followed by a ground smash to clean up the area quickly. Rampage - Land on the ground and then engage your rage mode. When you're in rage, you can perform the ground smash simply by pressing O, and it has an enormous impact. Do this, then quickly run to another group of enemy troops and smash them as well. Repeat as many times as you can before you exit rage mode. Mod World MAJESTY This isn't new content, but it is a way to make Cyberlore's classic real-time strategy title Majesty playable on modern systems. As anyone who has tried to play it recently can attest, the map scroll speed is so fast as to be completely unusable. A simple registry. change can fix this. Open your Start menu, then go to Run. Type “regedit” there, which will open the Registry Editor. Then, browse as follows: HKEY_CURRENT_USER | Software | CyberLore | Majesty. Find the entry titled "ScrollSpeed" and change it from its default value of 20 to 4 or so. The specific value that works best for you might differ, but it should be around there. WOWACEUPDATER http://www.wowace.com We gave an overview of World of Warcraft interface mods a few issues back, but the WoWAce community has completely changed our stance on which mods to recommend. The standardization that the WoWAce guidelines create is a godsend for dealing with a large stable of UI modifications, and you can find an Ace version of nearly any other mod out there. Besides, the WoWAceUpdater takes all of the irritation out of updating your mods - opening the application and pressing literally one key will get all of your Ace-style mods up to date. As a starting point, we recommend Bartender3, FuBar, Cartographer, and Prat. Raiders will appreciate the threat- monitoring capabilities of Omen as well. ЕТІН Grid is a great aid for raiding healers active Renew magic debuff out of mana Priest casting Prayer of Healing Attention All Cheaters! Cheat codes, by their very nature, are in many cases buggier than Virginia in August. So unless you don't mind re-doing those 70 hours you put into the latest game, do yourself a favor and back up your save before using any codes. On a lighter note, you can send your codes to secretaccess@gameinformer.com for a chance to be featured here and win a prize! MULTI-SYSTEM Ratatouille > PLAYSTATION 3, XBOX 360 At the main menu press start and go to the cheats menu to enter these codes. Unlimited Running - SPEEDY Unlock all Mini Games - MATTELME Load your game, then go to the Extras menu and enter Gusteau's shop. In the secrets section go to code 16 and enter this code then turn it on. Unlocks All Other Cheats - Gusteaucombo XBOX 360 Using any phone in the game you can enter these numbers to hear secret messages and receive special rewards and Achievements. Number ~ 555-1037 Number - 555-1847 Number - 555-1206 Number ~ 555-1233 Number - 555-2309 Number - 555-2349 Number - 555-2402 Number - 555-3243 Number ~ 555-3285 Number - 555-3840 Number - 555-3947 Number - 555-4372 Number - 555-4565 Number - 555-4569 Number - 555-5289 Number - 555-5723 Number - 555-6118 Number - 555-6205 Code of the Month Transformers Yeah, that Transformers movie was pretty hot. We found ourselves driving just a little bit faster after we left the theater. Then we went home and tried to relive the action on the small screen. Now sure you could spend hours trying to play through the normally, but have you forgotten what section you are reading? At the very least, check out these sweet G1 repaints for some of the characters. Enter codes at the main menu where you have the option to choose from Campaign/Bonus Features/ Credits. You will see a flash of light if the code is entered correctly, Note: These cheats will prevent you from gaining new Achievements. Infinite Health - Left, Left, Up, Left, Right, Down, Right No Ammo Reload - Up, Down, Left, Right, Up, Up, Down Number - 555-6322 Number - 555-6325 Number - 555-6557 Number - 555-6667 Number - 555-6895 Number - 555-6969 Number - 555-7613 Number - 555-7658 Number - 555-7892 Number - 555-7954 Number - 555-8024 Number - 555-8930 No Military or Police Mode - Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right Unlock All Mission and Extras - Down, Up, Left, Right, Right, Right, Up, Down Unlock Alternate Optimus Prime Repaint - Down, Right, Left, Up, Down, Down, Left Unlock Cybertron missions - Right, Up, Up, Down, Right, Left, Left Unlock Generation 1 Jazz Repaint - Left, Up, Down, Down, Left, Up, Right Unlock Generation 1 Megatron - Down, left, left, Down, Right, Right, Up Unlock Generation 1 Optimus Prime - Down, Down, Up, Up, Right, Right, Right Unlock Generation 1 Starscream Repaint - Right. Down, Left, Left, Down, Up, Up Betho the Firebreather Gaylordsville, Connecticut Number ~ 555-9132 Number - 555-9528 Number - 555-9562 Number ~ 555-9723 Number - 555-9898 Number ~ 555-9985 “Сі Droid” (location unknown - last seen writing the eighth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Pots) COLLINS COLLEGE A School or Digi and Te Collins College 1140 South Priest Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85281 ^ 800-831:8600° pow colmscollege.edu "n culus coo d еее БИНЕН; and-Collegdsusrmeennolegy (ACCSCT). БТС Ө available for ТООСУ, comm „ләк уле EER ossistance. цап oapiA 5 dj -uiisag AMEY - sI ЕПШШ ЧАШ ООО ава | Kı uoy Katia. Where The Past Comes Alive UNLIMITED ENABLED RETURN OF THE KONG WE TALK TO THE REIGNING DONKEY KONG CHAMPION You may not have seen it - you m have even heard of it yet – but this year's biggest video game match up already happened, and it wasn't on consoles. King of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters hits theaters across the U.S. on August 17th. The documentary recounts the story of Steve Wiebe, high school teacher and family man, as he challenges legendary video game champ Billy Mitchell for the top score in the classic coin-op Donkey Kong. The movie is sure to please gamers and non-gamers alike, so we thought we'd sit down with Wiebe and talk to him about his favorite games, playing them competitively, and what You talk a little bit about how you started play- ing Donkey Kong in the movie, but why did you choose Donkey Kong? it first came out, and it was kind of a novel concept with the four different kinds of screens. When | first played it | fell in love with it back in '81. | never mastered it back then, but | always remembered Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. as the the three games | was playing in the mid-'80s. | ran into a friend at his fraternity at the U [University of Washington], and his fraternity brother had a Donkey Kong machine, and | thought that, “Man, | gotta get myself one of those,” because | remember loving the game, and it sounded cool to have one in your room, so I went and got one. | had about five people in my fraternity good. Within a year of the time | got it | got a score of 500,000 or so. How long does it take to play some of these games? It's about two hours and 15 minutes, or two and a half hours for a single game. It could be worse. There are other : 2 talked to Ed. Ed was looking for another idea for a docu- 2 mentary. Then | met Ed through [high school buddy] Mike 1 and they started following a multitude of stories, not just 1 mine. They were going into this open-minded and looking : at different things like Doris Self's Q*bert to Halo to that : Fatallty guy. They didn't know what was going to be the 2 most interesting story. games that are a marathon to play, so Donkey Kong goes by pretty quick. 152 GAME INFORMER it's like being in a documentary. : And how many games will you play if you are 2 practicing or competing? : I've done probably three games if | feel like I'm playing It was one of the games | heard people talking about when : : burned out. Focusing for that long wipes you out, so you 2 can't really go more than two serious games. That's four 1 or five hours, that's what makes it tough when you are : going to these tournaments where you are sitting there all 2 day. You actually get worse the more you keep playing 1 sometimes. It kind of takes away from your energy. That's 1 why it's hard to get a live score. If you are at a tourna- : ment, you don't have the luxury of months, you have to 2 perform in the matter of a few days, so you feel that you : have to sit there for 10 hours straight to get the most : chances to do it. That's what's tough. that loved it, and we were always playing it, and | got pretty : : How did you end up getting involved with having : a documentary made about you? : It was a friend of mine from high school that knew Ed : [the producer] from college. When | went to my high : school buddy's house | would fill him in on my Donkey : Kong record, and after a while of doing this he realized really well. But after two or three games you get really that something a little over-the-top was going on, and he 1 So as far as you knew you were just going to be a : sidebar in this whole thing? 1 Yeah, at the very beginning | thought | was just going to : be a just a little sidebar story from some historic arcade or 1 current gaming documentary. It could have been that, but it : : ended up being the only thing. : What was the hardest part then of playing games : competitively? : : | don't mind people watching or cameras. People think that : : that puts pressure on you or whatever, but | don't really 2 feel that pressure, but there is the time constraint. You : know when you have just a limited time to go for a record, 2 if you are not on your game that one day then that is one : day out the window. When you are at home and you are 1 not feeling it you might go out there and just play one 1 game, or you don't even get through a game. If you аге i not into it you just walk away, and try the next day, but if 1 you are at a tournament you can't afford to do that. That's > really tough. Wi In order to master the timing on the spring stages in Donkey Kong, Steve Wiebe sketched out their patterns 1 The competitive video game arena is filled with 2 some pretty interesting characters and its own : culture. What was it like being around that for the 2 first time? : | didn't really feel any animosity from them. | didn't really 2 feel like there was this gang or club. | knew that some of 1 these gamers had a history; some of these gamers have 2 been playing for 20 some years. | didn't wish to be part : of the club. | was just there being myself, and | was fine t with that. It didn't seem like | was being pushed out, and 1 D wasn't exactly trying to hang out with them outside of when | was going for a record. | was cool with how every- 1 thing was going down. : So they were all pretty friendly to you? 1 On the surface they were, but behind the scenes they were...| don't know if you've read anything about the ; culture, but they have a very tight-knit group that is very : loyal to Billy, and you can understand that if they've been friends with him for so long, they are going to stick together. I'm fine with that. You have this sort of cage fight setup in the film, where both opponents are introduced at the beginning of the film, but then you never really set foot in the ring with Billy. Was that frustrating? He was dodging me the whole time we were down there. It was frustrating because | was hoping to go head-to- head to settle any dispute, but for whatever reasons he has, he didn’t want to compete. It was frustrating, but | thought, “Well, it opens the door for me to go ahead and go for the first one to get one million live” Which still hasn't been done. I'm hoping to do that. But | would have loved to have had him there and go head-to-head. That would have been great. There would have been a lot of people watching us. W Billy Mitchell Billy Mitchell has publicly stated that he doesn't like how he was portrayed in the film. What do you think about that? Well, he won't see the movie, and when people com- ment on movies they haven't seen it's kind of hard to comment back. All these people in his camp say that the movie does a disservice to Billy. They say, “Well, | haven't actually seen the movie, but l've heard..." And then they say statements that aren't even true about the movie. So that is frustrating when they aren't even willing to go see it and then they comment on it. But | do understand that if Billy did see it then | wouldn't expect him to be happy about it, but that is what the cameras caught. There is no tricks. That's what they are claiming: that we manipulated the film. The controversy | think is good for the documentary. You know if we were friendly and shook hands before playing then no one would care, but when you have rivalry in a competition then people start going, "What is this craziness over?" So, | think it only helps the publicity for the film. Which is probably what they don't want. : Do you have you eyes set on any other classic : games? You had the Donkey Kong Jr. high score : as well. TALES а š : They took that away. Donkey Kong Jr. is a little easier, well CG Billy; it's actually him. There are no voiceover dubs. No its dot easier к There ae two boards out of } the four that are strictly patterns. And there is no variability, : : so that makes it easier, so I'd like to get that record back. : It wouldn't take much to get that one; | might even do 1 it this summer depending on what time | have. | stayed 2 pretty much to the run and jump kind of games; Popeye, : Mario Bros., Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. : But pretty much right now | just play Donkey Kong, and ; Donkey Kong Jr. I'm not like some of those gamers who 1 are trying to get the world record on every single game. A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE? King of Kong has sparked a bit of controversy in the competitive video game community. We turned to Walter Day, founder of official video game scorekeepers Twin Galaxies (also featured in documentary), to help give us some perspective on the film's debated issues.» What was it like being in a documentary? At the time that much of the footage was filmed at the 2005 Funspot event, there were three compet- ing documentary film crews present, all working on independent films. It was overwhelming to have so many people demanding your time. All the players felt the same way. Many players were upset by the intrusion of the media, but they graciously accom- modated the media as well as they could. There has been some controversy surround- ing the film: that certain information or facts have been left out of the film, or that it doesn't portray Billy in an accurate light. What do you think of all that? The producers of the movie positioned Billy in an unfavorable light. Steve Wiebe is a very nice man and we stand behind his Donkey Kong high score. However, Billy is a very wonderful person, too, and he should not have been portrayed as the bad boy of the film. The producers showed tons of foot- age that portrayed Steve as the good guy. They could also have obtained just as much footage that shows Billy as the nice guy. However, this was not an objective documentary in my opinion, it was a scripted story and they needed a villain to play opposite Steve's good guy. Members of the TG staff are working on a voluminous list that shows all the factual mistakes They have a little checklist and they get one and they check it off. If you've heard of Donald Haze, He has Frogger, Joust, and a whole host of records. That's all some of these people do their whole life. I'm just a hobbyist who just happened to love Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. That's pretty much my two trick pony. So nothing new has happened since what we saw at the end of the documentary? | haven't heard of any tapes or live events from Billy, so I'm not really going to go after anything until he responds. We'll see what he does though. 1 successful than Sega's previous console: i the Saturn (which sold only 9 million. i official US release, NHL 2K2, came out in { February of 2002. Its failings have been i blamed on a lack of strong third-party | of Panzer Dragoon Saga sequels. gi feature that run rampant ii ОК movie. First, Billy is portrayed as refusingito face Steve in public. This is not true. Billy and Steveragreed to meet at the 2004 Classic Gaming Expo where they played DK head-to-head. This was pointedly left out by the producers because it interfered with the theme that Billy won't face Steve. Second, the film implies that Billy will stop at nothing to keep his DK world record. Also, not true. When Steve came on the scene in 2004, Billy had already lost the record to Tim Sczerby and it was Tim that Steve beat, not Billy. Third, when the score from Billy's so-called glitch tape is put up on the scoreboard by myself, it is only up on the scoreboard for 48 hours before Twin Galaxies takes it down in order to perform a formal verification on Billy's score submission. That means that Steve's score of 986,500 is the world record on the TG scoreboard for the next 240 days. One of your lines is actually a tagline for the film. You say, "One of the great rivalries of all time” Obviously, you are іп a po: n to make this claim. Is Billy vs. Steve really one of the biggest matchups in videogame history? In all truth, the level of skill that the two are playing on is virtually without equal. : But if he does you would jump back in? ; Yeah, | would definitely do what | could to get the : record back. шшш 2 Editor's Note: Since the time of this interview, Billy Mitchell has taken back the top score. Only time will ; tell if Wiebe can beat Mitchell's new record of 1,050,200 and reclaim the title. Interested to find out more about King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters? Make sure you check out our Unlimited section online for our interview with director Seth Gordon, plus extended interviews with Wiebe and Day. This Month In Gaming History On September 9, 1999, Sega launched its last video game console, the Dreamcast, in the United States. The system was short lived, selling a little over 10 million units, making it just slightly more units). Despite a moderately successful launch and a modest but loyal fanbase, the Dreamcast only remained on retail shelves for a few brief yedrs. Its last Support and an over-hyping of the not- then-released PlayStation 2, but probably also had a great deal to do with its lack GAME INFORMER 133 SEGA CD EARTHWORM JIM SPECIAL EDITION > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER VIRGIN INTERACTIVE > DEVELOPER SHINY ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE 1995 ts interesting how a person's sense of humor changes over the years. Where booger jokes were once outrageous, they eventually become just disgusting. And where inappropriate farts were once hilarious they become sadly embarrassing. That's why it's impressive that Earthworm Jim — a game practi- cally birthed from those childish constitutions — can still bring on the chuckles. When it was first released, Earthworm Jim was applauded for its detailed animations and imaginative settings. This still holds up. There is a great variety every level. Where one minute Jim will be piloting a sub through the ocean looking for oxygen, the next minute he could be bungee jumping with a mucus monster. Even Jim's rogues' gallery remains amusing. His fight against Bob the Killer Goldfish is particularly genius. If you can find it, the Sega CD version — which features improved graphics, bigger levels, and a better soundtrack — is the definitive version. PLAYSTATION 2 SILPHEED: THE LOST PLANET > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER GAME ARTS/TREASURE > DEVELOPER WORKING DESIGNS > RELEASE 2001 ith its complicated sequel having snuck onto the 360, we thought we'd look back several years to the last installment of the series, a title that marked perhaps the very first foray into the top-down shooter realm for the PS2. While later games of that generation would blow The Lost Planet away on a graphical level, the simple shooter mechanic remains fun six years later. A few simple features set Silpheed apart from its contem- poraries, namely the option to mount two different weapons simultaneously, out of an eventual choice of almost ten. Your sleek and powerful space fighter also has a life bar, eschewing the traditional one-shot one-kill feature common in the genre. This allows for a little more chaos onscreen without the difficulty rocketing into the stratosphere, and also encourages players to be a little more adventurous in their attacks. Huge parasitic alien enemies make for some great boss fights, and there's even a little primitive FMV work to be viewed between missions. Silpheed certainly didn’t change anybody's world, but it's interesting how the simple gameplay of a title like this holds up, while more “complex” titles of the PS2 launch window are hard to even bear. [ w” Н : 134 GAME INFORMER STARLANCER > STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT > DEVELOPER DIGITAL ANVIL/WARTHOG > RELEASE 2000 toried developers Erin and Chris Roberts did many things to promote the space combat subgenre with the iconic Wing Commander series. StarLancer, another Roberts project that made its way to Dreamcast as well as PC, focuses almost entirely on the nuts and bolts of null-G dogfighting. To some extent that's a good d thing, as the mission objectives are varied enough to keep gameplay fresh throughout the lengthy campaign and the story isn't much deeper than "OMG Space Russians!" Still, this approach sacrifices some of the depth that made Wing Commander such a classic series. Online co-op is great, but the clear strength of StarLancer is solving the cam- paign's various tactical puzzles and executing your ideas in real time. The several craft at your disposal and the many available weapons present enough choice to create a very compelling experience. For a largely no-frills dogfighter, StarLancer delivers enough tightly crafted gameplay to overcome its thin areas and be worth your time. *Score given to the game when it first appeared in Game Informer. Earthworm Jim (GI #24 4/95), Slipheed (Gl #91 11/00) Aes are for dare’ GEEKS RE 4-EVER acKor instead of Slacker floha Geek, Turbo Nerd, Prsto-hacker TM NOT ABOUT ү 5 TEST MY Qi, % Most alive when Ж 2 M, = 7, = 24 | “її КШ МЫ ay ing in the com д 1487 ork Sec Ф 0 М LI N Е Extra Content You Сап Find At е www.gameinformer.com bos Check out our full interview with Gearbox president Randy ¥ ` Pitchford as we inject some more exclusive goodness into | 7i our Borderlands coverage. Yn. pl (27 x CKENG D ROB AMMING BUNNIES The King of Kong: : Borderlands: U Reggie Time A Fistful of Quarters Ask the Editor Read our full E3 interview with Just in time for the film's release, Ben : Want to learn more about Gearbox's : Nintendo of America president sits down with King of Kong director : exciting new title? Send your ques- Reggie Fils-Aime to hear his take on Seth Gordon to discuss his docu- tions in to askbryan@gameinformer. : the new Wii accessories and state of mentary chronicling the showdown сот and our smarmy, mustachioed ; Wi Online, among other things. between arcade legends Billy Mitchell : editor will do his best to answer and Steve Wiebe. your questions. WE SPE AK G3 3K иза ONLINE eS THIS MONTH: Game Informer Online HEARN: is actually off the road DIGITAL ANIMATION GAME PROGRAMMING for about 10 minutes to DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN NETWORK ENGINEERING give you the hands-on DIGITAL VIDEO NETWORK SECURITY E previews, vídeos, and GAME DESIGN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING GI Places: Gearbox : screenshots of this fall's ARTIFICIAL LIFE PROGRAMMING WEB ARCHITECTURE You've seen the E3 Top 50 list, now © Nick tours the esteemed halls ofthe hottest games. COMPUTER RECS ROBOTKS check out each editors personal Top talented developers that brought us s rae pee euch ; Brothers in Arms and Borderlands. U www.uat edu > 877.UAT.GEEK he gets hate mail. 3 : 877.828.4335 Video games offer all sorts of entertaining rewards to keep players interested, but not all of them are as great as they're cracked up to be. Complete this quiz to find out which video game prize you hope you'll never get. i T Castlevania has always been pretty awesome, but they're ertainly not going to perk you up if you're feeling blue. Which { 4 who made Super Turrican? What, too hard? Fine, here’s a int. We reviewed one of their ; games this month. 1 So, 1 hear you're pretty into Zelda, huh? Yeah, so what did the Cane of Byrna do in A Link to the Past? A. Freezes nearby enemies A. Factor 5 ; morose Castlevania subtitle B. Opens a portal to the Dark B. Capcom never existed? World C. Electronic Arts A. Legacy of Darkness C. Creates blocks D. Blizzard B. Simon's Adventure C. Dracula's Curse D. Circle of the Moon D. Creates a protective force field around you :5 People love to debate which : character was the best in Super Mario Bros. 2, but there’s no debating who would win a long jump contest, right? 8 Rosco Mcqueen... A. Firefighter Extreme! B. Vegas Card Counting Scheme! A. Mario C. Loves Franks and Beans! B. Luigi D. Ain't Getting A Sequel! C. Toad z: D. Princess Toadstool (Peach, if you prefer) PLEASE SELECT PLAYER : 9 Make My Video was the sub- itle for several ‘90s Sega CD tles. One of these bands didn't i make the list. Which one? i А. Kris Kross $ f $ 5 6 Need for Speed: Most 3 Super Joe was pretty awe- : Wanted had you driving the some, unlike some Joes we i streets, taking down the infa- B. a Melon T i i C. INX know. We're not naming an : mous racers on your black list. names, mind you. poke Y 1 Of these four, which was the D. Morky Mark and the Funky > т : E Bund which of these arcade games 9ne You raced last? didn't star Super Joe? A. Izzy B A. Speed Rumbler B. Ronnie i 10 Whose house? B. Bionic Commando С. Taz A. Mario's house D. Jewels B. Master Chief's house C. Battlezone D. Commando C. Kratos' house D. Run's house Game Informer Magazine? (ISSN 1067-6392) is published monthly at a subscription price of $19.98 per year, or twenty four issues for $24.98 by Sunrise Publications, 724 North First Street, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. (612) 486-6100 or FAX (612) 486-6101. For subscriptions, back issues, or customer service inquiries Toll Free (866) 844-4263. Periodicals postage paid at Minneapolis, MN, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIBERS/POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Game Informer Magazine, 724 North First Street, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Foreign or Canadian orders must be prepaid in U.S. dollars. Canadian Orders: $25/уг additional postage. Al other Foreign Orders: $35/yr additional postage. CANADIAN SUBSCRIBERS SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 41471515 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: EXPRESS MESSENGER INTERNATIONAL, P.O. BOX 25058 LONDON BRC, ONTARIO, CANADA NEC 6A8 Game Informer® does not claim any сору. right in the screenshots herein. Copyright in all screenshots contained within this publication are owned by their respective companies. Entire contents copyright 2007. Game Informer Magazine®. Al rights reserved: reproduction 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 their respective companies. 136 GAME INFORMER next game — just a guess BREAKDOWN 38 is the new name of Green Monster Games, a studio founded by Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, Spawn mastermind Todd McFarlane, and author К.А. Salvatore. We're thinking twin- scimitar wielding demons playing baseball may figure in their 83% of casual gamers indicated their willingness to watch a 30-second ad in order to play a game for free, according to a recent survey 5 is still more than four, if anybody is counting 3 How many teams Blizzard currently has working on different projects right now. So, that would be World of Warcraft, Starcraft Il, and..? 4 The number of Metal Gear Solid games that will ever exist, according to creator Hideo Kojima Oblivion Gate: The Home Edition 6-7: A Personalized Visit From Kratos 4-5: Sonic's Color Scheme A Chance To Run With The Lemmings 10: Achievement Unlocked: Red Ring of Death Video Game Trivia Answers: 1.0 2. C 5. C4.A5.D 6. B 7. B 8. A and D 9. B 10.0 Dell recommends Windows Vista® Home Premium. IN THE REAL WORLD, GOLIATH WINS. Live it up. We did. We've stocked this behemoth with a proprietary 2-stage cooling system, combining a liquid radiator with a thermoelectric cooling module, so you'll stay cool while overclocked. Now foes, small and large, don't stand a chance. Yours is here. New Dell" XPS" 720 Н.С Starting at $5999 GET YOURS AT WWW.DELL.COM / GAMEMAG | 1-877-949-3355 DELL YOURS IS HERE *PRICING/AVAILABILITY: Prices, specifications, availability and terms of offers may change without notice. Taxes, fees, shipping, handling and any applicable restocking charges are extra, and vary. Offers may be combined with other select offers or discounts. U.S. Dell Home and Home Office new purchases only. Dell cannot be responsible for pricing or other errors, and reserves the right to cancel orders arising from such errors. XPS 720 H2C OVERCLOCKING: Dell warrants the full functionality of your system at factory overclocked settings. Overclocking beyond factory settings may cause system instability and reduce the operating life of your system components. Dell does not provide technical support for any hardware or software issues arising from any third party application, such as NVIDIA nTune 5.0, used to enable overclocking. TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT NOTICES: Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ©2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Newspaper Advertisement Supplement. dini T SOG e rai pre x `a RYE Eae rt ES SOSA apa za ste tee 5™ FLARE™ COBALT™ RAIN"! and STIMULATE YOUR SENSES™ are trademarks of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. ©2007 Wm. Wrigley Jt. Company. St l mu l a te Yo Ur 5 ens es Made with) love’ by, Our goal is to preserve elassie video game magazines So that they аге not lost/permanently: People Interested in helping өшігіп any 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!