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cover story
BRÜTAL LEGEND
The lauded creative visionary behind Psychonauts and Grim Fandango is prepping his wildest adventure yet. Tim Schafer and Double Fine Games have pulled back the curtain on Brütal Legend, a surreal ode to the mythology of rock and roll starring the talents of Jack Black and a stable of heavy metal legends. Flip to this month's cover story for the world-exclusive first look at the most exciting offbeat game in development.
Ё TOKYO GAME SHOW 2007
GI traversed the mighty Pacific to make the annual pilgrimage to Japan's capitol for TGS. We've got seven full pages of coverage on everything you need to know about the show, so come on over!
Баща is ad soon to a console near you, and Kojima-san has at long last granted us the opportunity to get our hands on MGS 4. We gladly present every last. detail we could dig up on this PlayStation 3 exclusive.
ASSASSIN'S CREED
What's not to love about our extensive hands-on report on one of the hottest games of this holiday season? We dive into what Assassin's Creed truly is, and why the criticism leveled at the E3 demo doesn't tell the whole story.
departments
STAFF Read the team's latest favorites
GI SPY Silly pictures of our life and times
DEAR б! Your chance to fire back at us!
CONNECT Where news, talk, and technology collide
INTERVIEW Dr. Richard Marks, the man whose passion brought Sony's EyeToy camera to fruition, expounds on where alternative control schemes are taking the industry
10 GAME INFORMER
GEAR Geeky gadget stuff for the masses
OPINION Didier Malenfant of Ready at Dawn argues that the gaming industry needs to put more emphasis on creative new properties - for its own good
CALENDAR Get hip to this month's happenings
PREVIEWS Get the latest on Condemned 2: Bloodshot, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Battlefield: Bad Company and much more in this month's jam- packed previews section
REVIEWS Game of the Month: Halo 3 for Xbox 360
CHARTS Retail Sales Data and the GI editors’ Top 10 Games
SECRET ACCESS Codes, strategies, and passwords
CLASSIC 61 Reliving gaming's greatest moments
ONLINE See what's happening at Game Informer Online
GAME OVER The end...or is it?
GAME Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation . Alone in the Dark S Battlefield: Bad Сотрапу....... Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII . Carnival Games . Codename: Panzers - Cold War Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts Conan. . 29: Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Conflict: Denied Ops. . Cranium Kabookii Crash of the Titans . . Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars . Dirt... Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness. DK: Jungle Climber EndWar. . Enemy Teritory: Quake W Wars. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage ............ Front Mission Ist........ 1 God of War: Chains of Olympus . . Halo 5. М Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights . Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, The. Lost Odyssey Mass Effect... . Medieval Il Total War: Kingdoms Mega Man ZX Advent NBA 08.......... NBA 2K8 . МВА Live 08. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the вата Nintendo Crossword [working title] Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising Orange Box, The . . E Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney тава 8 Tribulations Project Gotham Racing 4 ....................... Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. Rock Band E Sim City Societies ................ Sims 2: Castaway, The . Soldier of Fortune Payback Sonic Rush Adventure. .
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Star Trek Conquest .... Я Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Seaton Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow Two Worlds . . Uncharted: Drake's Fortune . Victorious Boxers: Revolution .
The Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure
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A LEGEND OF MEN, WOMEN AND
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THE CROSSROADS
ANDY McNAMARA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
One of the most difficult things about reviewing video
games is that the products, while most certainly enter- tainment, also have a certain execution level that must be met. It's a piece of software, so to some degree the program must function, then from there wade its way
into the realm of artistic mastery.
The long-time debate as to whether games are art or not exists due to this tight rope that games must navi- gate. Take this issue's Game Of the Month, Halo 3, for example. In production and functionality, it is impres- sive. Sure, there are times when the artificial intel- ligence is more artificial than intelligent, but at its core Halo 3 is great to look at, it has myriad features like the Forge and Theater, and has a multiplayer component that is incredibility well balanced. These pieces all read like software that is well made - be it a new version of Word or Excel or a triple-A video game. However, at its core, there is an art to what the team shaped from nothing. No one would argue that the game wasn't masterfully crafted. However, the story and narra- tive - the very definition of art, and which is the heart and soul of what the Halo 3 experience and world is about — ultimately falls short.
Obviously my disappointment in the Halo 3 cam- paign mode is my own, and ultimately doesn't change the fact that | think Halo 3 is a phenomenal game. So, | find myself sitting at the crossroads. Wanting to argue that games are indeed art, but unable to deny the fact that sometimes just making good, well-produced soft- ware can be fantastic regardless of the "art" factor.
In the end, it's just a question of what the developer wants from its creation, and what it considers to be art. BioShock is a very different experience than Halo 5, as both of them are from any of other game you wish to use as an example. 1 do believe games are art, but sometimes the craft is forgotten for the sake of func- tionality, and sometimes you just have to reward games for doing what they do, instead of what you wish they could be or how they make you feel.
There will always be programs in video games. | just love it when games cross that divide and become something grander: When video games become art.
Cheers,
Andy >> andy@gameinformer.com Handle: The Game Hombre Expertise: RPGs, Action/Platform,
Reiner >> reiner@gameintormercom
Handle: The Raging Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Action, First-Person Shooters, Strategy, Sports, Fighting Interests: Being Compared To Lex Luthor (Turns Out Most People Don't Talk About Endgames & Conquering The World), Halo 3 & Call Of Duty 4's Multiplayer (My Nights For At Least The Next Two Years), Death Proof Dislikes: Master Chief's Soda Not Being Green (Would The Hulk Get Red Soda? Мо!!), People Thinking Babies Are Innocent (They Poop То Disrupt Gaming Sessions) Current Favorite Games: Mass Effect, Halo 3, The Orange Box, Ace Combat 6: Fires Of Liberation, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, Blue Dragon
Matt >> matt&gameinformer.com
Handle: The Original Gamer Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Action/Platform, Action/ Adventure, Action/Sports Interests: | Just Wanted To Use This Space This Month To Say Goodbye To Paul Anderson, Who Was My Friend And Coworker For Many Years. Paul Was А Great Person And Will Be Missed By Many, Myself Included Dislikes: Saying Goodbye, Weirdo Soundguys At The Turf Club Who'd Rather Play Passive Aggressive Mindgames Instead Of Mix A Show, Not Having Enough Money To Buy All The Records | Want Current Favorite Games: Juiced 2, Dirt, BioShock, Scrabble
Kato >> kato@gameintormer.com
Handle: The Game Katana Expertise: Sports, Racing, Action/Adventure, Action/Platform Inter- ests: Paul Anderson, The Video Game Professor - Always The People's Choice, Superbad, Late To The Party — Rescue Me, That Miller Is Trying To Be Minnesotan, The Radical Honesty Movement (Joe, I've Got A Few Things To Tell You) Dislikes: Japanophiles (Just Because It's In Another Language Doesn't Mean It's Good), Smashing Pumpkins, Baseball (I May Have Mentioned This Already, But | Just Want To Be Clear On This Topic) Current Favorite Games: Project Gotham Racing 4, BioShock, Juiced 2, NBA 2K8, Mass Effect
Adam >> adamegameinformer.com
Handle: The Alpha Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Strategy, First-Person Shooters, Fighting Interests: TMBG Taking Control Of The First Avenue Stage, Abusing 3.5 Edition Rules, Farscape, Doctor Who, My Rookie Luck In Fantasy Football, Peanut Butter And Chocolate Croissants Dislikes: My Baseball Teams Going Into The Tank (MLB And Fantasy Both), The Wussy “Normal” Ruleset In NWN 2 (Fireballing Everybody But Friendlies Is Straight Cheese), Sub-par Dining Experiences Current Favorite Games: Neverwinter Nights 2 (And Mask Of The Betrayer), BioShock, World Of Warcraft, Enemy Territories: Quake Wars, Company Of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Joe >> joeQgameinformer.com
Handle: The Real American Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Adventure, Action, Strategy, Puzzle Interests: Restaurants That Serve Meat On Swords, Superbad, The End Of Summer Reruns, Paranoia Agent (| Want To Be Lil' Slugger!) Dislikes: Reiner Changing My Job Title To "Associate Editor/Nerd," Stupid Prestige Classes (Get Bent, Pale Master), Final Fantasy
VII Remake Teases Current Favorite Games: Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations, SimCity Societies, God Of War: Chains Of Olympus, Flower, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask Of The Betrayer
Miller >> mileregameinormer.com
Handle: The Once And Future Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Action/Adventure, Platform, First- Person Shooters, Music, Puzzle Interests: Joe-verheating In Racing Games, Theorizing About The Next Season Of Heroes (Who Is Staring Back At Molly Walker?), D&D 4th Edition (This Better Be Good) Dislikes: Speakers That Refuse To Mount Themselves To My Walls Automatically, The Mutual Enabling Of Bad Lunch Decisions With Kato, Running Out Of Toy Display Space Current Favorite Games: Brütal Legend, Assassin's Creed, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Blue Dragon, Rock Band, BioShock, Ace Combat 6: Fires Of Liberation
Bertz >> mattbertz@gameinformer.com
Handle: Lord Gamington III Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Sports, Action, RPGs, Strategy Interests: Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 6, Adrian Peterson's Viking Debut (Finally, Something to Cheer About), Sumo Wrestling Championships, The U.S. Map Shortage Dislikes: Kevin McHale, Chinese Manufacturing (Enough with the Lead!), Crocs (Vacation Footwear for Gnomes), Urban Bicyclists (You Are Not A Car, So Stay Out Of The Car Lane!) Current Favorite Games: Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mass Effect, Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms, Halo 3, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Ben >> ben@gameinformer:com
Handle: Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamer Expertise: Action/Adventure, Action/RPGs, Platform, Survival Horror, First-Person Shooters Interests: Becoming A Teen Idol In Atlanta, 73" TVs, Seattle, Planet Terror (Why Did | Wait To See It?) Dislikes: Getting Knife Slashed By Seattle Construction Signs, Cars That Take A Month To Fix, Allergies Current Favorite Games: Halo 3, Mass Effect, The Orange Box (Especially Portal), Metroid Prime 3:
GAME!NFORM
NOVEMBER 2007 Volume XVII + Number 14 * Issue 175
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 е 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 Steve Skoll
САМЕ 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 (810) 450.3260 • Fax: (310) 4503571 damon@gameinformer.com
Janey Stringer West Coast Advertising Associate (612) 4866104 • Fax: (612) 486-6101 janey@gameinformer,com
EAST COAST Suzanne Lang East Coast Advertising Sales Director (718) 8325575 * Fax: (718) 832-5569 suzanne@gameinformer.com MINNEAPOLIS Ату Атой Advertising Coordinator and Online Sales (612) 486-6154 * Fax: (612) 4866101 amy@gameinformer.com Matt Edgar Advertising Assistant (612) 48661 mattedgar@gameinformer.com
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Circulation Services Ted Katzung * (612) 4866107 ted@gameinformer.com Information Systems Manager Paul Hedgpeth paulhedgpethégameinformer.com
In memory of Paul Anderson
Manufactured and printad inthe United States of Amarica The Edior.
Game Informer Magazine. Ай rights reserved: repr ‘Fin part without permission is prohibited. бате Incrmer is а trademark ‘of GameStop, Inc. Products named in these pages are rade names, ог trademarks, ol heir respective companies. PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be lable for sight changes or pographical өпов that do not lassen the vale of an advertisement. The pubishe’s ably for other епот or omissions in connection wih an advertisement is imited lo republation of е advertsoment in any
issue or the refund o алу monies paid for the advertisement INDEMNIFICATION The adveriser andlor Advertsing Agency agrees "o delend and indemnity the publisher against any and al fait, loss, or expense arising from claims of Ibe, unfair competion, unfair rade. practices, intingement о trademarks, copyrights, rade names, patents, ог proprietary is or violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication of he Advertiser's statement
4
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Driving, First-Person Shooters Interests: Paul, The Pro Player: | Love You And Will Miss You Terribly - Game Informer Just Isn't The Same Without You Dislikes: Not Getting Call Of Duty 4 Into This Month's Issue (I Want To Play Through This Game So Badly), People Who Don't Understand That 1 Ribbed Sony In Last Month's Letter Because
| Like The PS3, Not Hate It Current Favorite Games: Project Gotham Racing 4, Mass Effect, World Of Warcraft, Halo 3, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Picross DS, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War Of The Lions
Corruption, Bioshock, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Bryan >> bryan@gameinformer.com
Handle: The Gamer's Advocate Expertise: Action/Adventure, RPGs, Survival Horror, First-Person Shooters, Rhythm Interests: New Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Seafood In Bellevue, Kickball, Holiday Games Season Dislikes: This Year's Golden Gopher Football Team, Games That Only Have One Save File, Jerks Putting The Halo 3 Ending On YouTube (Great, Now We're Going To Have To Review Halo 4
At Gunpoint) Current Favorite Games: Halo 3, The Orange Box, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations, BioShock, Rock Band, Picross DS
12 GAME INFORMER
The Dracula X Chronicles Coming October 2007 At long last the Beaumont family’s quest to destroy Dracula is here for the PSP. This time it’s a double curse
featuring Symphony of the Night and the first ever U.S. release of Rondo of Blood. The Dracula X Chronicles
will let you drink up new game modes, items and enemies in gruesome 2D or blood-curdling 3D graphics.
Blood and Gore
Mild Suggestive
Themes لم г Violence
ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.estb.org TEE PlayStation.Portable
К ab ccrte “> The 2rütula X Chronicles
www.konami.com
Candid Photos From The Seedy Underbelly Of The Video Game Industry
1 Teresa Tyndorf of 47 Communica- tions and Adam put their game face on at Lobster on the Santa Monica pier 2 2K Sports' Lily Atkins and Ben Bishop show off NHL 2K8 to GI's checking line: Matthew Kato, Matt Bertz, and Andy Reiner 3 Some gaming celebrities (and us) politic at the GameStop Manager's Convention in Las Vegas. From left to right: Koei's Jarik Sikat, Newsweek's №Са! Croal, Reiner, Chair Entertain- ment's Laura Mustard, and Tribune Media's Jonathan Carter 4 GI's Nick Ahrens and Bryan Vore rock out with Rock Band at Leipzig with the help of Harmonix's Mallika Sundaramurthy on lead vocals and EA's Bryce Baer on the skins 5 Nick Ahrens, GI Online's resi- dent exxxtreme athlete meets Mr. Tony Hawk, who's like the George Washing- ton of skateboarding. He's also the Wil- liam Henry Harrison of frozen orange juice concentrate — don't ask us to explain! 6 Joe and his Mysterious Base- ball Hat of Destiny™ hangs with Ready at Dawn's Garret Foster, Dana Jan, and Marc Turndorf 7 Madame Tussauds at The Venetian in Las Vegas debuts its Master Chief wax figure with the help of Fall Out Boy's bassist and "guyliner" pioneer Pete Wentz
14 GAME INFORMER
Choose from three custom Command all of human history Battle across the globe in your factions with unique units and beyond. quest for world domination.
and technologies. = EMPIREEARTH.COM Coming November 2007 Blood and Gore : Mild Suggestive Themes
LN Language
Ре ke «nVIDIA ames > К pe Violence mmm: ® for Windows у 4195 des
а : 3 © 2007 Sierra Entertainment, Inc. АЙ rights reserved. Empire Earth, Sierra and their respective logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks Of Sierra Епгег телі, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other Gountries. Mad Doc Software, Mad Doc®, the Mad Doc flask, we and the Mad Doc logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Mad Doc Software, LLC. All rights reserved. The NVIDIA logo, GeForce and "The М/ау4/5 Meant To Be Played” logo are registered teademarks or trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Windows and the Windows Vista Start button logo аге registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and ‘Games for Windows’ and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license. Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Certified on the XPS 720 & M1730. XPS is a registered trademark of Dell Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective Owners.
+ “.
CORDERO T Ac ae
The Readers Strike Back
[GI COMMU | 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 is your pick for the sleeper hit of the next six months?
fd have to go with the PS3's Folklore. Imagine Pokémon, Ghostbusters, and Irish spook stores rolled into a Japanese RPG. Briliant
King Süshi
Im going to go with Eternal Sonata. Blue Dragon and Mass Effect seem to be the heavy hitters in the RPG market this fall, but | could very easily see this becoming a cult classic à la Beyond Good 8 Evil
Cheechit
Phoenix Wright: Тілі & Tribulations will easily be forgot- ten about under the hype and release of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. To that say, “Objection!”
God. ої Destruction
Braid Jonathan Blow's genius, gorgeous puzzle platformer - is going to be the best game out in the next six months. Braid's one. of the few indie games getting mainstream attention, and with any luck, will be as big of a hit in the nonxindie gaming scene as it deserves to be.
покер. the switch
Bi Braid Geometry Wars: Galaxies, I think has a lot of potential It looks even more intense than the origi- nal, and a few new things push it forward. Along with the Wii controller, йт sure it will be one of the best arcade-style shooters to date, Awesome? Yeah. Myrtle the Turtle
ін Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Ату of Two will be awesome. Blowing up trucks tanks, and hopefully buildings alongside a partner should be fun. fm also
JUSTIN BAILEY WEEPS | was just playing Metroid Prime 3, and | scanned a control panel on the Pirate Homeworld Research Facility. The text read, “Experiment status report update: Metroid project ‘Dread’ is nearing the final stages of completion? After reading this, | remem- bered you mentioned the game Metroid Dread leading up to E3 2005. It was sup- posed to be a 2D Metroi adventure for Nintendo DS, right? | thought it had been cancelled, but this seems like proof that it's still in the works! Tyler Jason Roberts Grafton, Wisconsin
# Metroid Fusion
z Interesting find! However, Metroid fans shouldn't get their hopes too high; it looks like this reference is more of an inside
joke than insider information. In the wake of people finding (and getting extremely excited about) this little tidbit in Corruption, Nintendo set the record straight by flatly denying that a 2D Metroid title is in produc- tion. If that's the line they want to take, okay, but it doesn't make much sense
to us. Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission were two of the best games on the GBA, admirably carrying on the legacy of Super Metroid. Other series, most notably Castlevania, have managed to stick to a classic 2D formula to great success. With the conclusion of the Prime series, why can't Metroid go back to its roots?
NOT READY TO LAUNCH
| thought it couldn't happen to me; my 360 recently got the red rings of death. Thankful that Microsoft is fixing this problem free of charge,
| shipped off my 360 to the repair center last week. But something horrible just dawned on me: | won't have my console back in time for Halo 3. At this point, even if it takes a little less than the predicted four to six weeks, I'll still miss the launch day excitement. What am | supposed to do? Watch the rest of world bask in the awe- someness of Master Chief?
Jordan Innerarity Via hotmail.com
= We understand your pain, as do all 360 owners who have stared into those three blinking red lights. We can’t fill the void left by Halo 3 (which is awesome, by the way. Check out our review on page 146). All we
Master Chief. Or, if you don't like treating your friends like slaves, you could just be a pal and hand over the controller. Both are good options.
After reading your debate column on AO games, | could not help but wonder why a game developer would limit their market and sales by creating
an AO game. | understand the concept of artistic freedom, but it seems somewhat foolish to know you will miss out on thousands of sales opportuni- ties. If the AO content is so important, why don't developers make multiple versions? It could be like a movie's theatrical release versus its edited- for-TV cut.
Mikey C. Via yahoo.com
not sell millions of copies, but you're right: You
в Thanks for the story, Nina! Games from Atlus may
To blacklist a game because of its rating is absurd. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have no right to deny any media offering. AO gaming is the future; video gaming finally has reached that pinnacle point in society as being accepted as a viable media, following in the footsteps of radio and tele- vision. Let Wal-Mart and Best Buy not carry any AO-rated games. The fledgling AO gaming market will survive much like the adult movie market does, with sales from the Internet and in the back rooms of true gaming retailers.
Landon Williams
El, Paso Texas
| think there was an issue that was ignored in your recent debate about AO games. Many developers can simply remove certain elements, like blood and gore, to receive an ESRB rating suitable for a younger audience. A game rated Teen could have just as much gunplay as one rated Mature, except that people don't bleed. My concern with these "scrubbed clean" games is that they depict the same acts, but without the consequence. Doesn't that teach gamers that violence is clean and fun rather than the bloody mess it truly is?
Koya Oneda
Via email
в It seems like every time Rockstar releases a game, discussions like these spring up among the gaming community. There are varying opinions on what developers have the right to make, what retailers have
the responsibility to sell (or not sell), and whether gamers should be denied certain kinds of content altogether. It is a complex issue that can be seen from multiple angles, and the controversy isn't likely to die down soon. As video games continue to occupy a growing space in home entertainment, the ESRB ratings will remain a hot topic. Thanks for sending in your thoughts.
ready to see all the moves you опа your partner can do in this butt-kicking game.
supersnake
can't accuse its fans of being unsupportive. Even so, this kind of unflinching dedication is almost unheard of. The closest we've seen is that time we duped Miller into believing Sony made hamburger- flavored Blu-ray discs. The poor guy stayed up all night tasting every PS3 game and Blu-ray movie in the vault. Even Stealth!
can do is urge gamers to help each other out: If you have a friends whose 360s are off at the repair center for any of this holi- day season's big releases, invite them over! They will get you drinks, fluff your pillows, and wipe the sweat from your brow as you play, toiling endlessly for the vague prom- ise of little hands-on time with the likes of
Do you want to make your voice heard? Weigh in with your opinion at www gameinformer.comyforums
Send your comments to Game Informer. Snail Mail: Game Informer Magazine е Attn: Dear GI 724 North First St., 4th Floor е Minneapolis, MN 55401 Email: deargi@gameinformer.com 16 GAME INFORMER
HUMAN HISTORY JUST GOT ALITTLE
WE LOVE THE WRENCH
In your most recent issue of Gl, | read your review on Bioshock and must say | disagree
on some points. Don't get me wrong, I love BioShock, but | do not believe it worthy of a 10. It doesn't have any online multiplayer. Heck, it doesn't even have offline multiplayer! In order for a game to be perfect, it has to have some kind of multiplayer aspect.
Adam Cotton Via yahoo.com
| agree wholeheartedly with the dual tens that you gave BioShock. FPS games have become white noise of late, and they were in desperate need of something amazing to keep them from grow- ing stagnant. As such, it really bothers me that so many people have taken it upon themselves to knock this game down from its perch. They split hairs about things that have inconseuntial impact on the experience, like the Vita-Chambers, the enemy spawns, or the lack of multiplayer. I'm sure those people will write to you to tell you the game didn't deserve a 10, so | just wanted to throw my opinion into the mix. TJ. Fisher Ма sbcglobal.net
| love BioShock! Who hasn't wanted to shoot bolts of lightning from their fingertips, Palpatine-style? Then there's the Chemical Thrower! And the Insect Swarm Plasmid! And the Incinerate Plasmid? Every time | turned a corner in BioShock, | was doing something | always wished games would let me do. | commend the team at 2K Boston, and | am grateful to have played their masterpiece.
Louis W.
Via email
ш GI 155 March 2006
Is it just us, or is everyone playing BioShock? There aren't many titles that have brought people together from all sides of gaming like this one has. Since the experi- ence differs from person to person, it seems like everyone has a different tale of electro- cution, wrenching, and general burnination to share. Kind of like the days where you could just assume that anyone with a Super Nintendo had played Super Mario World, BioShock is quickly becoming common ground for 360 owners. If you haven't played it yet, you should...unless you're one of those "tragically late to the party" gamers. If that's the case, how's The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past going?
18 GAME INFORMER
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MIGEUL ANGEL
SANTIAGO ROBERT SANFORD Youd think a bird i Мов ушп could find a safer the Twilight Realm, place to perch Luigi probably trans- than the shoulder
| forms into some kind of feral sidecar
of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
JACK THARP
This BioShock car was customized with the in- game editor. If you see a Big Daddy crossing, just floor it
JONATHAN CONTRERAS
For a good laugh, try saying “Wallace Shawn is Sam Fisher” in your best movie announcer voice
REN WEST “This flashing blue thing must be the ‘everything's fine’ indicator."
JOSE GADDIEL DIAZ It's nice to see Link wearing something cool instead of those sissy pajamas
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Games, gear, and more from Japan's
yearly gaming convention
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and packed crowds of this year's TGS to bring you the news you need to know.
As always, Sony was the centerpiece of the festivities at Makuhari Messe. While Tokyo's hometown hero made headlines, mainly due to the delay of Home and the unveiling of its DualShock 3 controller, we were most enthused about seeing more of White Knight Chronicles, getting hands- on time with Patapon, and cementing the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue release date as December 13. Sony also announced that the
PlayStation store is now accessible via PC. Square Enix once again blew minds and , |
Game Informer braved the sweltering heat 4 4
ramped up excitement with the new trailers of Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, as well as the unveiling of three new Kingdom Hearts games: Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep for PSP, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS, and Kingdom Hearts: Coded for mobile phones. You can read more about the Final Fantasy games further in this section, but details on the three Kingdom Hearts games have yet to be revealed.
Despite speculation to the contrary, | Nintendo once again skipped TGS, but that's not to say the presence of the Wii
and DS were not felt. Following in the foot- N steps of the big N, both Konami and Namco Bandai announced titles aimed to cash іп ,
on the fitness fever. Namco's Wii-based 4 trainer, tentatively titled Family Trainer: Р Athletic World, uses а Wii remote and
mat interface to get families jumping and
moving through more than 10 minigames. Е
Konami, оп the other hand, debuted Wii Fitness and Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party. Konami also plans to bring
` the exercise craze to the DS with its Yoga, /
Pilates, and Skin Basic titles.
On the non-fitness front, the biggest Wii- related announcement of the show was Ubisoft landing the U.S. publishing rights to No More Heroes, a saber-based action game created by Suda51 of Killer 7 fame.
Microsoft once again tried to jumpstart its woeful console sales in Japan by focus- ing on its stable of Japan-friendly games, including Mistwalker's Lost Odyssey, Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden II, and the Square Enix/Tri-Ace project Infinite Undiscovery. Only time will tell if these intriguing titles by familiar names will help the Xbox 560 gain some footing in Asia, but one thing is clear: The Japanese gaming industry is creating some compelling next-generation content. Read on for more info about our favorite games of the show.
GAME INFORMER 21 e
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© 2007 Sierra Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. Designed and developed by Saber Interactive. TimeShift, Sierra and the Sierra logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sierra Entertainment, пс, in the U.S, and/or other countries. GameSpy and the “Powered by GameSpy" design are trademarks of GameSpy Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.
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о vei аз jamespy «93 NVIDIA сад лә < pen. www.timeshiftgame.com
The NVIDIA logo and "The Way It's Me; Xbox 260, Xhox LIVE, and the Xbox logo
NVIDIA Corporation in the United Sta countries. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox,
'ademarks are property of
Dian
Sony brings rumble back with the DualShock 3
The gamers wanted rumble, so Sony responded by announcing the DualShock 3 controller for the PlayStation 3. The new control retains the classic design of the Sixaxis. The only major difference will be a slight increase in the weight. Phil Harrison also claims that the analog Sticks have slightly improved sensitivity as well. The DualShock 3 will debut in Spring 2008 as a standalone accessory. Once the production has ramped up enough, Sony will begin to bundle the DualShock 3 with Р555 and
discontinue the Sixaxis. The controller will be backwards compatible with every game
that supports rumble in the PS2 and PSone back catalog. Many PS3 games will also support the new functionality via a downloadable patch.
Phil Harrison:
Sony's president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios talks about PlayStation's future
Let's talk about downloadable content ver- Changing gears, are there any plans to bring Й Н Н sus retail. Warhawk was available in both the GPS functionality and Lonely Planet Sony S social networking
ways, yet Wipeout HD has been slated for travel guides you offer on the PSP in Europe 1
download only. What reasoning goes into to the US? hub delayed into 2008
choosing which games make it to retail and | think the travel guides are well suited to PSN Looks like we may have to wait until spring to get our hands which ones end ир as download-only titles? digital distribution. We're going to bring those on Sony's ambitious social networking hub. During his TGS key- Each game has its own set of circumstances. titles to the PSP that way. We've announced note, Sony Computer Entertainment president and CEO Kaz Hirai
Sometimes it's a technical issue — the file size, the overall size of the game,
the kind of features you can put on the disc versus what you can put on the network, and also whether the game, like Wipeout for example, which is easily segmented into tracks, where it can be easily extended over time. It makes perfect sense to do it on PSN. GT 5 Prologue will be both, and they will be identical. About 50 percent of PS3s are connected to the network; it's growing fast but it's not 100 percent. By hav- ing both strategies it allows us to reach the largest pos- sible audience.
The video marketplace is doing a fair amount of business for Xbox Live. How far along is Sony with its plans to offer downloadable films and television?
We have no аппоипсет to make on that today, b: we're very aware of the commercial opportunity of distributing digital content
GPS products for Japan and Europe; we are studying the U.S. at the moment. There are some slightly different map licensing issues we have to address.
Looking toward the future, when you look at the game lineups after March 2008, we're not quite sure what the future holds. Could you give us an idea of what
we can expect from Sony in 2008?
| can give you three to chew on. Gran Turismo 5 is a bil- lion dollar IP for us, and it's a system mover. LittleBigPlanet is quite rightly getting everyone's attention, and it's going to be a title that may potentially be a global hit. The third game is Killzone 2. Then follow up with some
of the franchises we have
yet to bring to PS3 that are important to our platform, and think about some of the sequels to the games that have already shipped that will be coming in 2008. There will be another MotorStorm coming along very soon. Also,
announced that Home has been delayed until early 2008. This is another blow to Sony's shaky holiday lineup, which has already lost Grand Theft Auto М to 2008 and may potentially lose Unreal Tournament Ш as well. Sony still plans to start general beta testing this holiday.
Take control of your PS3 game with the PSP while on the road? Why not?
One of the more intriguing new plans discussed during the Sony keynote was the extended PSP Remote Play functionality, which PS3 owners should get via system update some time during 2008. Similar to a place-shifting device like the SlingBox, PSP Remote Play allows users to turn on their sleeping Р55 via the PSP to stream media con- tent from the console to the portable device no matter where you are in the world. This allows users to play PSN and PS3 games from afar in addition to listening to stored music and viewing images and video stored on your hard drive. That's right, you'll be able to play your con- sole games on your PSP! Once you start the game, the PS3 creates a 480 x 272 video stream that plays the in-game action back to the PSP. Sony has yet to clarify how this will work with games that heavily utilize the buttons found on the PS3 and not the PSP, but PSN games should be a natural fit for this type of experience. Expect to see games take advantage of this new technology in the coming year.
on the PS3. It's a matter of White Knight Chronicles is get-
public record that we are looking into this area | ting huge excitement and anticipation. And then
with a lot of detail right now. Home is going to play a role throughout the year. I'm very comfortable with the lineup we have coming.
24 GAME INFORMER
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Nintendo DS Professor Layton and the Devil's Box
Imagine if the immense wonder of a Hayao Miyazaki film could be distilled into a tiny handheld console. That's essentially what Level 5 has done with the storybook-styled Professor Layton series. The game combines the plot and storytelling of an adventure game with a variety of puzzles that you must solve as you travel with Professor Layton and his conspicuous top hat. This
is actually the second entry in the Professor Layton series; American gamers will be playing the first one, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, later this year courtesy of Nintendo.
No More Heroes
In the world of game developers, you won't find anyone closer to a mad sci- entist than Suda51. The Killer 7 developer and his team at Grasshopper have recently been devoting their efforts to this stylish, bloody, and funny action
title for the Wii. As you control violent assassin Travis Touchdown, you may be surprised to find that you aren't constantly waggling your arms around. That's because No More Heroes makes smooth and intuitive use of the buttons on the Wii remote, requiring you to use the motion controls only for satisfying
power moves. It looks like No More Heroes will be another compelling blend 4
of style and substance when Ubisoft brings it to our shores in February.
Xbox 360
One of the first rules of life is to never piss off a ninja, but apparently someone didn't heed that valuable advice. The main plot of Team Ninja's sequel to Ninja Gaiden is still under wraps, but we do know that someone has angered Ryu Hayabusa, and not even an army of bloodthirsty beasts armed with guns and swords can keep him from exacting his revenge.
Ninja Gaiden's lightning fast combat and amazing visuals are back in full force, and to give the action a cinematic flare Tecmo is introducing new finish- ing sequences that zoom in close as Ryu dispatches villains in gruesome fash- ions - including severing their limbs and executing decapitations. The battles get so bloodstained that Ryu often must shake the dripping blood off his instrument of death before sheathing it.
Speaking of Ryu's arsenal, he now has two new weapons: a set of Wolverine-like claws that allow him to get some hands-on time with his foes, and a Grim Reaper- like scythe. Ryu can also stick with his battle-tested sword if you prefer. Players can now switch weapons in mid-battle without leaving the action by using the quick weapon selection system.
Ninja Gaiden was known for its unrelenting difficulty, and the sequel will be no different for sadists looking for some punishment. Luckily for more casual gamers, Tecmo has also taken steps to make the game more accessible, most notably with the regenerative health system that allows Ryu to recover a portion of his lost health after swordfights.
4
Nintendo DS
Tecmo’s hit Ninja series is making the leap to the DS as well, and the results look promising. Dragon Sword allows you to move through the world, engage in swordfights, and use Ninpo by entering different strokes on the DS with the stylus. During our hands-on time, the combat was responsive and easy to pick up; we were dispatching groups of thugs with the speed and grace of a ninja in no time. Tecmo wouldn't specify how, but it revealed that Dragon Sword will also share some connections to Ninja Gaiden 11 as well.
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Game experience may change during online play. ACE Fires of Liberation & © 2007 NAMCO BANDA! Games Inc. A trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft ands and visual Images depicted inthis game are the property of thelr respect owners, and used with such permissions. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of cor
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© 2007 Monolith Productions, Inc. АЛ rights reserved. Published by Vivendi Games, Inc. under license from Monolith Productions, ис. FEA R.: Extraction Point for Xbox 360 developed by Day 1 Studios, LLC. FE A R.: Perseus Mandate for Xbox 360 and FEAR, Extraction Point for the PC developed by TimeGate Studios, nc. FEAR. isa trademark of Vivendi Games, Inc. Зета and the Sierra logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sierra Entertainment, Inc. in the U.S, and/or other countries. MONOLITH and the MONOLITH Logo ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The NVIDIA logo, GeForce and "The Way I's Meant To Be Played logo are registered n in the United States and/or other countries, XPS is a registered trademark of Dll пс. The Creative logo, Sound Blaster logo, X-Fi logo, EAX logo, EAX ADVANCED HD logo are registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd, in the United States and/or other countries, Microsoft Xbox,
trademarks or trademarks of NVIDIA Cor Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. АЙ other copyrights and trademarks are ће property of their respective outs.
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PlayStation 3 »
Final Fantasy ХШ
The next numbered entry in the Final Fantasy series is always а big deal, but it would be nice to know the year in which we can expect its release. Even so, it's hard to stay mad at Square Enix when they release footage that shows off such gorgeous action and sets up such a compelling game world. Dealing with the separation of two areas — the floating city Cocoon and the outer land of Pulse - characters in the game will have to struggle against a system that wants to keep them down. The main protagonist, Lightning, fights back with extraordinary combat skills; one of Square Enix's goals is to create a battle system that, while fully controllable, will also be incredibly cin- ematic. As the centerpiece for the Fabula Nova Crystalis proj- ect, high hopes clearly rest on Final Fantasy ХІІ. Even though the game is only being shown in bits and pieces, nothing we have seen indicates it will provide anything less than what fans have come to expect.
PlayStation 3
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
For a title that has yet to demonstrate any actual gameplay, Final Fantasy Versus XIII sure knows how to keep people interested. The new cinematic sequences showcase the remarkable beauty of this enigmatic world, depicting a futuristic yet fantasy-rich city in amazing detail. The silver-haired character from the previous trailers is the central figure, though he encounters a big-nosed companion and a long-haired woman with whom he clearly has a history. The climax of the action- heavy trailer depicts the man and woman meeting in a street before each mate- rializes an otherworldly sword from thin air. Exactly why these characters must fight is a mystery, but they both look grieved as they confront each other. Director Tetsuya Nomura has said that Versus ХІІ could be one of the darkest Final Fantasy titles, so there are definitely other themes at work under the surface. It may not
have flashy
visuals like
the Fabula Nova
Crystalis titles, but m
Final Fantasy IV makes \
X
Nintendo DS
up for it with a lot of old AS school charm. Following қ”; the example of Final Fantasy
III, Cecil and company are being revitalized with a DS remake. The battle system does away with tacked-on touch screen features (the lower screen is used to display more detailed information on your party members), and the camera
is in a more traditional side-view position. Best
of all, the character mod-
els have been redone to
more closely resemble
the original designs of
original artist Yoshitaka
Amano. Apart from
those changes, other
elements like dungeon
layout and the musical
score seem right in line
with the classic.
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Playstation 3
Valkyrie of the Battlefield: Gallian Chronicles
As one wanders the show floor of TGS, there is no shortage of anime-inspired cutscenes on any monitor. However, Sega's Valkyrie of the Battlefield managed to distinguish itself by combining a striking visual twist on the familiar style. While the art direction is definitely the most attractive part of this title, it also uses an interesting hybrid tactical combat system. Players can maneuver units over the pseudo-historical battlefield in standard strategy RPG fashion, but when it comes time to act, they can take direct control over units to maximize the turn. Unfortunately, no U.S. release date has been announced.
Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3
مخ
: Xbox 360
Infinite Undiscover
In a role-playing game, when someone says that you look just like a legendary hero, there are usually two possibilities: You are the hero (but with amnesia) or your dad was the hero. Infinite Undiscovery, a 360-exclusive action/RPG from Tri-Ace, introduces a new possibility. What if you're just an inconspicuous bard who happens to look like a legendary hero?
Starting with this premise, the game will follow the journey of the hero look-alike (named Capel) as he travels, expected to perform heroic deeds. Using a battle system similar to Star Ocean: Till The End of Time, battles will take place in real time, with seamless integration of combat into the exploration of the world. As you gather compan- ions, their actions in battle will be handled by Al. Eventually Capel crosses paths with the true hero, Sigmunt, and they join forces to confront a villain who plans to destroy the world. Along the way, as the odd title suggests, discovery will play a large role; the kinds of secrets you uncover can have a permanent impact on the world around you.
It's difficult to ignore the fact that Microsoft is hoping to make greater gains in Japan, and Infinite Undiscovery represents another effort — following in the footsteps of Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey - to court that market. However, regard- less of its position in Microsoft's strategic portfolio, Infinite Undiscovery is one of the big RPGs on the horizon, and developer Tri-Ace has proven that it knows how put distinct twists on the genre.
l
The battle between Soul Calibur and Soul Edge will soon come to a climax in Soulcalibur IV, but for now we're content with new info regarding the latest game in Namco's popular series.
While many of the classic characters in the series are once again itch- ing for battle, Soulcalibur IV will feature some new blood in its ranks as well. The dual-wielding warrior Hilde is joining the fray. Unlike many of the other characters, Hilde uses both of her weapons, a spear and a short sword, at the same time. This allows her to fight effectively whether she
32. GAME INFORMER
is in close with her opponent or at a distance. She is also notable for her figure. While every other woman in the game is well endowed and scantily clad, Hilde rocks a full suit of armor. There will be other new contestants in SC IV as well, but Namco is keeping them under wraps for the time being.
Soulcalibur IV will feature online fighting for the first time, as well as a new character creation mode that allows you to sculpt a fighter that suits your style.
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MARVEL, AND ALL MARVEL CHARACTERS INCLUDING THE SPIDER-MAN, SANDMAN AND VENOM CHARACTERS ТМ & © 2007 MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Patapon
In the vein of the quirky PSP game LocoRoco, this clever and striking title had a brief appearance at Sony's ЕЗ press conference this year. While that video was only enough to get a taste of the unique visual style, some hands-on time with Patapon has shed a lot of light on this creative and experimental title. At first glance, Patapon appears to be a rhythm game. By pressing buttons to a beat, you will produce a sequence of sounds. For instance, square makes the "pata" noise, and circle makes a "pon" sound. Upon completion, a cute little character on the screen echoes the sound, and begins to move forward. This call-and-response forms the core of the gameplay, but it looks like players will eventually be control- ling entire armies and fighting off dragons with phrases like "pata pata pata pon!"
PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360
Devil May Cry 4
By now, watching Nero fight Berial and the Frosts is old news. The demo level at TGS was the same as the one at Leipzig and E3, but a stylish new trailer gave action fans more to look forward to in the future. The most shocking revela- tion was a scene in which both Trish and Lady (characters from DMC 1 and 5, respectively) are meeting with Dante at his store. Apparently the three of them are working together to hunt demons, which puts them at odds with newcomer Nero. We also learned that once Dante becomes a playable character, he will have access to all four of his styles from DMC 3. While ай of that is good news for fans, there is one disappointment in store: Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi has confirmed that Vergil will not play a role in the story.
34 GAME INFORMER
Nintendo DS
Time Hollow
Forget anything H.G. Wells might have told you. All you need to travel through time is a glowing green pen. In this hand- held adventure title from Konami, players take up the role of Hokio, a student who is able to draw holes in the space-time continuum with a magical writing implement. Of course, this is accomplished in-game Бу drawing a circle on the DS touch screen with a stylus. Once the rifts appear, you can see through them and interact with the past world — even alter it. This kind of meddling may sound like a bad idea, but there are strange events happening in Hokio's life, and each thread he can unravel brings him closer to figuring out why.
PlayStation 3
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Even though 2007 has been a great year for gaming, most companies' big titles for 2008 and beyond are still nebulous. White Knight Chronicles is an excep- tion; even in its early state, it seems clear that this one is going to be one of the games to keep an eye on.
Developed exclusively for the PS3 by renowned studio Level 5, White Knight Chronicles follows a group of young warriors trying to save the world as they come to grips with an awakening power inside them. By using special gauntlets and knives, they can transform from ordinary humans into towering, armored juggernauts. While in this form normal foes don't stand a chance, but that doesn't mean there won't be any challenge; many bosses will be equally sized, so gamers can look forward to titanic Godzilla-like battles using the game's real-time, combo-based battle engine.
Your party members won't be able to retain this massive form indefinitely, but you still have plenty of options as a puny human. Using three rows of what the team calls Function Slots, each member of your group can be outfitted with a custom string of combo moves earned throughout the quest. This way, as you press the X button to attack in combat, you travel down the combo chain and execute the moves in whatever order you have set them.
Level 5 has been on a roll during the last few years, and with cool premise at its core and a highly modifiable battle system, it doesn't look like White Knight Chronicles will be breaking the streak.
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Total New IPs Since 2002: 25 * Kakuto Chojin (Xbox, 2002) Review Score: 6.25
* Voodoo Vince (Xbox, 2003) Review Score: 8.5 * Gears of War (Xbox 360, 2006) Review Score: 9.5 * Mass Effect (Xbox 360, 2007) Review Score: 9.75
* Microsoft's most famous original IP, Halo, debuted with the Xbox in 2001, while the next two years saw a number of new IP attempts by Microsoft ranging from Brute Force to Blinx to Mech Assault.
“ As Microsoft prepared for the launch of the Xbox 560 in 2004 and 2005, a total of only five original games were released: Fable, Sudeki, Jade Empire, Forza Motorsport,
е! ! Ж: апа Кагпео. та * Microsoft was batting a sweet review average of 9 for its original à 2007-published titles. That is, until Vampire Rain checked in with its A horrible score of 3, dropping that average down to 7.5. f [|
GAME INFORMER DISSECTS NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES
Everyone's clamoring for new, original IP (intellectual proper- ty) - games that aren't sequels, spin-offs, or based on a license. But does being an original IP guarantee success? Are publishers afraid to try new things like we all seem to think? After all, Halo end God of War were once wet behind the ears and unsure
if success would follow. Besides, all sequels aren't bad. Who wouldn't want to play a game as good as Halo 3?
We here at Game Informer have even tried to introduce new IPs on our cover - some good and some that ended up being not so good. Of course, making a hit game — whether it's origi- nal or based on a hit movie — is no easy task, so we decided to take a quick look (this is by no means a definitive list) at how
Total New IPs Since 2002: 28 * Beyond Good 8 Evil (Multi, 2003) • Ubisoft leads all third-party publishers on this
games that aren't sequels, spin-offs оГ резво опа license fared Review Score: 8 list, and the secret seems to be the company's the past five years at a handful of publishers*. < Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 PC catalog - an area that Ubisoft appears to (Multi, 2005) take some more chances in, with games like Review Score: 8.5 Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Final Cut, The
* Red Steel (Wii, 2006) Political Machine, Far Cry, Paradise, and more.
Review Score: 7.5
"Analyses of с was restricted
Total New IPs Since 2002: 56 (including Sony Online)
* The Mark of Kri (PS2, 2002 Review Score: 9 ) ACTIVISION
* The Con (PSP, 2005) Total New IPs Since 2002: 7 Review Score: 8 * Medieval: Total War (PC,
* Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005) 2002) Review Score: 8.75 Review Score: 9.25
* Heavenly Sword (PS3, 2007) * Call of Duty (PC, 2004) Review Score: 8.75 Review Score: 9
* Gun (Multi, 2005)
* In 2002, 2004, and 2005, Sony published Review: Score: 8.75 at least one triple-A series that is still going à xc on strong today: Ratchet & Clank (2002), * Out of the 50 major games ,9 SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs (2002), Killzone released by Activision since (2004), and God of War (2005). 2003 was a 2002, only 14 percent are А down year, apart from the EyeToy. original IP. pe
s vortfolio of 2002 to the
* For the launch of the PlayStation 3 in late * Although our review scores 2006, Sony only had one original IP first- for The Movies, Gun, and True party offering: Resistance: Fall of Man. Crime: Streets of LA averaged
8.5, these franchises are now dead.
ELEGIR С ARIS
Total New IPs Since 2002: 13
* Battlefield 1942 (PC, 2002) Review Score: 8.5
* Sled Storm (Multi, 2002) Review Score: 7
* Black (Multi, 2006) Review Score: 8.5 * Skate (Multi, 2007) Review Score: 8.75
* Some upcoming new IP slated from EA: Army of Two, Spore, Crysis, and SmartyPants
* EA introduced seven new titles in 2002 — a banner year. Among them, including Shox, Earth & Beyond, and
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, only Battlefield 1942 still exists in some franchise form.
Total New IPs
Since 2002: 12
* Haven: Call of the King (Multi, 2002) Review Score: 8.25
* The Suffering (Multi, 2004) Review Score: 8.25
* Dr. Muto (Multi, 2002) Review Score: 8
* Some cancelled new IP offer- ings since 2002: Crank the Weasel, Doomsday Rescue, and Fear and Respect (star- ring Snoop Dogg)
* You can't say Midway hasn't tried. Regardless of boasting a
dozen original IP titles since 2002 - not bad for a third- party — the average score of these games is only 6.5
More News You Can Use
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL UNCOVERED
Nerjyzed Game Studios is bringing the college football action of over 40 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to your PC in November in BCFx. The game utilizes the Unreal Engine 3, and captures the action and culture
of three HBCU conferences and several schools within the MEAC - including an interactive half- time show that puts you right on the drum line.
THE NEW PS2 Sony has not given up on its workhorse console MEIN U the PS2. The company has announced a limited Total New IPs Your Funds edition white PS2 bundled with karaoke title i Е l 5,000 вы SingStar Pop and two USB mics. The bundle Зее X goes on sale this November for $149.99.
A ТЕ J |
* Animal Crossing (GameCube, 2002) Review Score: 9.5
* Electroplankton (DS, 2006)
Review Score: 7
* Excite Truck (Wii, 2006)
Review Score: 7
1 : 7 ў p NCSOFT'S Р55 PLANS
* Franchises debuted just before this study include Pikmin, Advance Mentioned all too briefly at Sony's ЕЗ press
Wars, and Golden Sun. Of course, Nintendo has also given us Cp pM n ‘i i i Е ith lauded PC developer NCsoft (Tabula Rasa,
some of the most successful original IP in all of video game history, Shown) for PSS titles. Recently, NCsoft CEO so its track record's pretty good. Robert Garriott said the first product hopefully will be ready by next holiday season, with new
* Despite publishing some new franchises for the launch of the Wii IP taking “two to three years minimum.
at the end of 2006 and third-party acceptance of its platforms, so far this year, Nintendo has published only one new title that's not a sequel, spin-off, or licensed game: Wii Play — which is a slight pack- in offering when you buy an extra Wii controller.
Total New IPs Since 2002: 20
* Steel Battalion (Xbox, 2002) Review Score: 9.5
+ Viewtiful Joe (Multi, 2003) Review Score: 9.5
* Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS, 2005) Review Score: 7.75
* Okami (PS2, 2006) Review Score: 9.5
MOTORSTORM SEQUEL Sony has bought MotorStorm developer Evolution Studios, adding itto its roster of world- wide teams. Also scooped up in the deal was Evolution’s subsidiary, Pursuit Force developer Bigbig Studios. Both franchises are expecting new sequels for 2008.
* While Capcom has a healthy record of spawn- ing new IP recently, very few of these have garnered sequels yet, including Okami, Killer 7, Dead Rising, and Shadow of Rome. Of course, with dead-end IP such as Crimson Tears, Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance, and God Hand, the odds might not be good.
Wii GAMES EXPLODE Knibble.com is flooding your Wii with over 5,000 casual games via the Wii Internet chan- nel, including casual titles such as Solitaire and Bejeweled.
* In 2005, the majority of Capcom's
prime releases (57 percent) were new IP.
GAME INFORMER 37
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Of the three major publishers, Sony has distinguished itself in offering original content through the PlayStation Store; last month we examined how Everyday Shooter, a game created from the ground up by lone developer Jonathan Mak, found its way onto PSN. This year has also seen the online release of titles like Warhawk, Flow, and David Jaffe's Calling All Cars. Even though Sony will offer its full support to third-party publishers who want to release classic games on PSN, the company has made the decision to focus first-party publishing efforts on original titles that provide something unique.
“Ош goal is to create new experiences, explains director of external production John Hight. "This is part of our charter: Let's take part of Sony's investment and fund some of these new developers - or even larger studios - and let them try out some new ideas. We're going to get a lot more variety in games that will allow people to find the game that is just right for them”
Some games are best used for relax- ation, others for competition. If you only have 10 minutes to spare while you're waiting for a ride, there's probably a game ideal for that as well. If you're the type of gamer who is willing to experiment with different titles and the various spaces they can occupy, check out the list below to see what you have to look forward to on PSN in the months ahead.
Flower
Developer: That Game Company * Release: TBA Now you can stop and smell the roses while playing video games. At first glance, Flower may seem more like a tech demo than That Game Company's next big title. This time the creators of Flow will have you using the motion controls to steer a single flower petal through rippling fields of tall grass, pick- ing up other petals as you glide along. Each new petal in your swarm contrib- utes to the musical theme in the background. Once you grow large enough, you land on a flower and the process begins again. It seems that the goal 15 to deliver a calming experience that simultaneously conveys the thrill of unhin- егей flight through a vast environment.
€chochrome
Developer:
Release:
After only a short trailer, Echochrome had everyone talking at this year's ЕЗ. Inspired by works of M.C. Escher, the development team behind this puzzle game wants to focus on the importance of subjectivity. In other words, everything in the game depends on the angle from which it is viewed. If your character is approaching
a hole, you can align the camera so a platform is beneath. As long as there is ground under your feet, you won't fall - even if it doesn't seem to make sense spacially. This subjectivity applies to five aspects of the visually stark levels: falling, jumping, climbing stairs, existence, and non-existence. If your vision gets blurry trying to navigate these puzzles, you can take a break with the level creator and share your twisted reality with other users. No official release date has been announced for this artistic venture, but we will probably be playing it sometime in 2008.
GAME INFORMER 41
GK ИП
WITH TWO AND A HALF TONS OF HEAVY-METAL MAYHEM
The heavily modified "STEEL WHEELS” Carson GT Concept car was designed specifically for the celebrity with style. Featuring armor-plating and a supercharged 6735cc V8, this car is sure to make a grand entrance at any premiere. And, with O-to-60 acceleration in 4.8 seconds and 195-mph po speed,
you always have plenty of firepower to leave the paparazzi crushed in your wake.
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Developer: Release:
If you were a kid that only built castles out of blocks for
the satisfaction of smashing the precarious structure with
а dumptruck, then Toy Home is for you. Exclusively using motion controls, players steer a wind-up car through seven tracks spanning kitchens and playrooms, crashing into everything along the way. Every block, toy, and doo-dad is powered by the Havok physics engine, so items in your path will scatter and bounce believably, knocking over other junk in the process.
44 GAME INFORMER
РінеіЈипн Monsters
Developer: Release:
The next title from Q-Games is a radical departure from the studio's last release, PixelJunk Racers. Taking a shot at tower defense-style gameplay, PixelJunk Monsters lets you control a tribal leader charged with protecting his followers. By transforming near- by trees into various forms of artillery, you will fight off 20 waves of enemies in each map before progressing. Improve your defenses by spending gems (dropped by defeated foes) in the tech tree, or just use those resources to buy back your followers if enemies breach your defenses. The game holds true to the studio's goal of making titles that fit on one screen; there is no scrolling around to dif- ferent key points on the map, and all of the action is always visible.
60! Sports SHi
Developer: Yukes * Release: October
Go! Sports Ski is exactly what it seems to be:
a rather simplistic downhill skiing game. There
are only two tracks, but since each one contains numerous shortcuts and alternate paths, it will take multiple runs to explore your options and find
an optimal path. You'll find more replay value in multiplayer, which supports two players in split- screen and four online.
Wipeout HD
Developer: SCE Studio Liverpool Release: December
There is a full-fledged next-gen version of Wipeout on the way, but futuristic racing fans can grab this version to hold themselves over. The eight tracks are meant to be a "best of" compilation from previous Wipeout titles, and will integrate new weapons and seven modes of play. Up to eight players can race at once, and the action promises to be smooth since the game will run in 1080p and at 60fps. All of that is just the initial offering; in the future, Wipeout HD will feature new ships and tracks as downloadable content. The team at Studio Liverpool is even hoping to allow you to use MP3 files from your hard drive for the soundtrack.
Once a game goes live on PlayStation Network, it isn't necessarily the end of the story. Amid the all-new content that is hit- ting, here's a sneak-peek at two expansion packs on the way for two of the most suc- cessful PSN games.
Flow Expansion
Developer: Release:
Original Flow developer That Game Company has its hands full with Flower, so Supervillain Studios has taken up the reins. A new playable creature, the Puffer, has been added to the mix
this time around. A
new soundtrack is also
in the works, and the
multiplayer mode will
now allow each player
to control a different
creature.
Warhawk Expansion
Developer: Release:
There aren't any screens available yet, but we saw
an early version of this expansion pack in action. The big news is the addition of a new vehicle: the drop- ship. Armed with six missile turrets and the ability to pick up ground vehicles (like tanks), the dropship will definitely change the face of battle — so much so that previous zones will be modified slightly to integrate the new vehicle.
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Which Console Is Right For You This Holiday Season?
Marquee Titles
loadable Games
Future Proof?
48 GAME INFORMER
XBOX 360
For a huge amount of variety, and a spread of titles that. appeal to all ages and experience levels, the 360 is a great choice. Major exclusive titles include Halo 3, Mass Effect, Halo Wars, Fable 2, Gears of War, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and Crackdown. Non-exclusive titles include BioShock, Madden NFL 08, Grand Theft Auto
ІМ, Guitar Hero ІІ, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Fallout 3, Resident Evil 5, Devil May Cry 4, Burnout Paradise, and the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Dozens of smaller original and classic games are avail- able for download on Xbox Live Arcade. Among the best are Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Pac-Man Champi- onship Edition, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Lumines Live, Bejeweled 2, and Puzzle Quest.
*
A built in DVD player works great, but you'll need to shell out another $180 for the high-def experience of the at- tachable HD-DVD player.
Of the three major consoles, Microsoft has the most fleshed out online strategy. Xbox Live is incredibly flex- ible, easy to use, and offers seamless support for online gaming, in addition to delivering easily accessible game demos, videos, movies, and TV shows.
UNLIMITED ENABLED
The PS3 has an excellent selection of games that are also available on the 360, but few of the exclusive titles for the PS3 have been as strong as they could have been. Major exclusive titles include Resistance: Fall of Man, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Final Fan- tasy XIII, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank Future, and Heavenly Sword. Non-exclusive titles include Madden NFL 08, Grand Theft Auto IV, Guitar Hero Ill, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Fallout 3, Resident Evil 5, Devil May Cry 4, Burnout Paradise, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,
есіме a library as the 360, the Р53 is rapidly building up a nice collection of download- able titles that within a few months could give Xbox Live Arcade a run for its money. Some of the most notewor- thy are Flow, Warhawk, Everyday Shooter, Blast Factor, and Super Stardust HD.
Capable of playing both normal DVDs and Blu-ray, this is the clear choice for home theater enthusiasts for whom games are only a secondary concern.
A free online service delivers smooth online play, and this feature will only get better in the coming months with the introduction of Home, a virtual world where you can gather with friends and interact.
With three powerful and attractive consoles out on the market, it can be a chal- lenge to choose which one is right for you if you’re getting into games for the first time, coming back after a long absence, or purchasing for a child or other family member. Take a look at our quick primer on the subject, and go to Game Informer Unlimited to check out our complete list of game releases planned for each system. It should be noted that all the games we mention here are available now or are planned for release before the end of 2008 (about a year from now).
Most gamers will concede that the many games that are available on all three systems play worst on the Wii, due to the lowered quality of both the graphics and the occasionally incongruous controls. Games made exclusively for the Wii are where the system shines, and Nintendo has some of the biggest exclusive licenses around. Major exclusive titles include The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart, and Wii Sports. Non-exclusive titles include Madden NFL 08, Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, and Rayman: Raving Rabbids.
For classic old-school games, the Wii has you covered with its Virtual Console. Boasting downloadable games from the original NES, the SNES, the Genesis, and
the Turbo-Grafx 16 all the way up to N64 games, it's a treasure trove of old favorites. It doesn't have any new content of much worth, though. For that classic vibe, you can download Super Mario Bros., Punch-Out!!, Me- troid, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, Mario
Hopefully, you have a separate DVD player connected to your TV. The Wii doesn't support disc-based films at this time.
The Wii has online support, but only supports Wi-Fi out. of the box. It also has a clumsy method of connecting with friends, and only a few games that support online in any genuine way.
Moderately High. The availability of numerous simple Live Arcade games, as well as a large libary of kid-tar- geted games like LEGO Star Wars, Cars, and Viva Piñata make it a great system for Kids. Online play can be pretty shady for the youngest players, but some good parental controls help eliminate the ie if you're concerned.
Moderately High. The 360 has some powerful tech in it, but the lack of built in high-definition movie support may make it the wrong choice for some. It has also been plagued by hardware failures. Thankfully, a strong war- ranty offers at least some insurance.
Moderately High. The 360 doesn't come cheap, especially once you factor in the yearly cost of Xbox Live Gold membership, which you really should spring for if possible.
Microsoft's console remains the machine of choice for most hardcore gamers at the moment, even if the machine's failure rates are a major frustration. A great library of games and a fantastic online strategy are the system's strong points.
Moderately High. A few strong downloadable games are good for younger audiences, and the full library of old PSone and PS2 games will play on the PS3. Almost all the familiar sports titles are available for the PS3. The popular Singstar karaoke experience is great for little singers, and the PlayStation Eye camera should deliver some neat ways for children to interact with their games. You'll want to investigate the helpful parental control options before sending your kids online, and be
Moderately High. The Blu-ray player gives a lot of life to this system, and most agree that its technology is the most forward-looking in terms of delivering high-end graphics. However, the system needs to prove itself with a few more killer game titles before it can claim to be you for the next 10 years.
High. The PS3 is the most expensive system available today. With that said, you are getting an excellent built in Blu-ray player and free online service included with the
The PS3 is an impressive piece of technology, It runs quiet, it looks great (both the box and the games it deliv- ers), and it’s an ideal choice for a movie player in any home theater. On the game side, it has yet to prove its superiority over Microsoft's machine, and doesn't have the quirky innovation of the Wii.
High. You don't need us to tell you that kids can't get enough of the crazy motion-controls of the Wii. Great family gettogether games like Wii Play, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Boogie, and Excite Truck are all a lot of fun
in limited doses, while the presence of Mario and Pokémon are perrenial favorites you won't find any- where else. One bright side of the poor online support is that parents won't need to worry too much about bad experiences playing games online, but be aware that
Moderately Low. The Wii has captured the attention of the country with its fun motion controls and simple party games. However, the technology behind the system isn't great, and it's hard to see it having the endurance to last many years.
Moderately Low. Nintendo has wisely priced their sys- tem within the grasp of most families in America. In ad- dition, it's noteworthy that individual games are usually
This is a clear winner for families with young children and gamers who love their old-school characters like Mario and Zelda. Its motion controls are innovative and extremely exciting at first, but the tech behind the games themselves is lacking, and delivers graphics far inferior to either of its competitors. It also has almost no true multimedia capabilities.
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SEGA is registered іп the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA and the SEGA logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. ©SEGA. All Rights Reserved. This product is manufactured, distributed and sold under license from М2 Media. LLC. SHONEN JUMP™, BLEACH™, Shattered Blade and The Blade of Fate are trademarks of Shueisha, Inc. in the United States and other countries. © Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, dentsu, Pierrot. АП Rights reserved. ™, ©, Nintendo DS and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.
Activate Spirit Deck Cards to achieve victory.
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LOOSE TALK
Hot Gaming Gossip
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Square Enix's Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for PSP has us thinking of Final Fantasy VII = and not just because Crisis Core is a prequel to the classic PSone title. If you beat Crisis Core, start it up, and beat the game again, you'll see the Final Fantasy VII PS3 tech demo from ЕЗ 2005 with the words, “To be continued in Final Fantasy VII." While it makes sense to show this trailer and this message because Crisis Core is a prequel, it's a little odd that they'd show you footage from what Square Enix says is not a game, but just a tech demo. Is this game for PS3 actually being made? Well, we can't say we feel any closer to the truth, unfortunately.
LEGENDS TO | Е ызы El IC" $ ENGINE | RETIRE? á Я Did Gears of Football gamers я E War benefit at everywhere cheered when " ; Р * ЫХ ч the expense of developer Visual Concepts % w^ \ ; 1 5 < 5. Тоо Human?
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announced that it was coming back to the sport. with All-Pro Football 2K5. But if game sales are to be believed — and they range from okay to not good - All- Pro and its legends might be put out to pasture. Early speculation from sources e с М 5 2 s 5 5 is that the game's got a Silicon Knights and Epic are waving briefcases at each other after Silicon Knights filed a law- game's ge р Knights pic 8 | on Knights ^ 50-50 chance of returning | У suit against Epic regarding that company's Unreal Engine 3 and how Silicon believes it has for another Жел (el fe 3 1 hampered development of Too Human. Epic has since tried to dismiss the lawsuit, and in
return, Silicon Knights has even attempted to dismiss Epic's own motion to dismiss.
"Silicon Knights Took Epic On Its Word"
WHAT'S NEXT FOR BUNGIE?
By now you've likely finished the single- player for Halo 3, and astute eyes have picked up on what might be an indicator for Bungie’s next project. The company may be going back to the beginning and resurrecting the Marathon series for a full next-gen experience. The original intent was for the Master Chief and Marathon's protagonist to be one in the same, with the first Mac game taking place 250 years after Halo. In Halo 3 there are other hints, such as the game's ending and а Marathon-
related Achievement.
PIKMIN COMING TO Wii?
Nintendo keeps rolling on the pat- ents, this latest batch from Japan includes the following names: Mii Contest Channel, Nintendo Magic, Wii Body Controller, Mii Audition, Wii Handle, and Soma Bringer. Also included in this latest round. of patents is a renewal of Pikmin.
Got some insider info? Email us at loosetalk@gameinformer.com and we'll be all ears.
NAME THAT GAME
Test Your Sight
This month's Name That Game doesn't. sound or look like a business sim, but it is. This Xbox Live Arcade game came out dose to the system's launch, and it tasks you with helping your customers and creating profit via space stations that you build attachments upon. The key is being able to maintain the balance between power, profit, and repair concerns. The original version of this game came out for PC in 1994,
(Answer on page 60)
50 GAME INFORMER
Silicon Knights suit charges that Epic was supposed to deliver the fully functional engine before March 2006, but it did not show up until November 2006. Because it didn't have the full engine on time, the Canadian developer says it hampered Too Human's E3 showing in May of 2006 — which was not well received at the industry event. Instead, the developer says that Epic was too focused on Gears of War's showing at E3 - where media like Game Informer awarded Gears of War Game of the Show accolades - to the detriment of partners like Silicon Knights.
Part of Silicon's complaint involves the fact that it believes Epic didn't provide enough sup- port for the engine, including the belief that Silicon was not made aware that Epic would not be providing engine updates. In court documents found by Gamasutra, Silicon says that had it known that updates wouldn't be coming, it “would never have executed the purported license to the engine in the first place.”
Finally, Silicon denies that it was trying to build a competing engine for sale to others like Epic contends. Silicon says it does not have the resources to undergo its own licensing program. However, because of the problems with Epic's engine, Who is to blame for Silicon Knights was forced to А Too Human's poor ЕЗ start on building its own engine „Г 2006 showing? for Too Human in May of 2006, ғ ; which it says "is completely inde- pendent of Epic's engine and cer- tainly derives no benefit from the unworkable source code provided by Epic"
The Case for the Defense
For its part, Epic denies Silicon
Knight's charges, stating, "We continue to be committed to fully defending against Silicon Knights’ unfounded allegations. Having exploited Epic's intellectual property to its advantage, Silicon Knights now seeks to renege on its payment obligations under the license agree- ment”
Epic refutes Silicon Knights’ understanding of the due date for the engine, saying that it was not required to deliver a “fully operational” engine by March 2006, rather Epic was only obligated to “demonstrate” that the engine would work on the Xbox 360. Epic produced email messages that purported to show how Epic was updating Silicon Knights on the engine's realistic status.
In general, Epic says it simply has no reason to cheat the Too Human developer since under the license agreement between the two, Epic would only stand to monetarily benefit from the game being successful.
It remains to be seen how this legal sparring will be resolved, but in an age where more and more publishers and developers utilize engines such as Epic's, bad relations between licensor and licensee could have wide-ranging impact on the industry.
Blood
Violence Mild Language
Computer Entertainifént Ajnerica Inc. "PlayStation; "PLAYSTATION" andthe "PS" Family
logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Play B3yond" is
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hroughout their history, video games have provided us with a dazzling number of ways to escape the drudgery of our daily lives. Whether it's engaging in epic battles with the Flood exploring the magical realms of Hyrule, or testing our skills in a packed NFL arena, games give us the chance to experience things that would never be pos- sible for us in the real world. But does this have to be the case? For decades, other medi- ums - be it books, film, or music — have dealt head-on with some of their day's most contro- мега! political and social issues, often affecting real changes in public opinion. As video games become today's dominant medium, an increas- ing number of independent game developers are hoping to make video games a powerful force for social and political change.
At the center of this growing movement is Games For Change, a non-profit organization that helps to organize and foster a community of game designers that are attempting to use interactive experiences to help educate and influence on political topics ranging from immi- gration to the environment. Started in 2004 as a sub-group of the Serious Games Initiatives (a larger foundation that focuses more broadly on educational, health, and social uses for gaming), Games for Change holds an annual festival that highlights some of the most notable activist- oriented games of each year, as well as panel discussions that feature many of the political gaming scene's developers, critics, and scholars. Since its first conference in 2004, which hosted
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you want to explore what happens if you turn your light off everyday for a year. What happens when an entire city keeps their lights off when they go to work for a year? At the same time, let's say they stop using their hoses and sprin- klers. You can fiddle with all sorts of outcomes and see what effect that has on the weather or what effect that has on the water level in a мау that a film isn't always able to do^
For lan Bogost, founder of Persuasive Games, one of political gaming's most respected devel- opers, games have an ability to help us see different sides of an issue more powerfully than other media. "[There's the] experiential nature of games; the idea of taking on a role in which your behavior is constrained in the way that we've defined the system around you. That's something that's really powerful. All video games do this. But most of the time, that's a very powerful role or a fantasy role. Instead, we can imagine playing a role of someone who is divested of power or is in a situation that is very different from our own. So we have the potential to create a tremendous amount of empathy in. That's a yet-untapped power of the medium, because we focus so much on escapism.”
The fruits of this philosophy are demon- strated in the wide variety of (largely free) games that embrace political or social agendas currently available on the Internet. Some, like the very popular Darfur is Dying, which raises awareness about the cur- rent genocide occur- ring in the Sudan, are little more
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A NEW GENERATION OF SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS DEVELOPERS ARE BRINGING POLITICS TO GAMING
GAME INFORMER
only 40 people, the organization’s listserv now boasts well over 1,000 members.
Although gamers are often skeptical of attempts to inject politics or social commentary into the medium, Suzanne Seggerman, presi- dent and co-founder of Games for Change, feels that the games can sometimes be the most ideal way to illustrate a complicated issue.
^| think that they're really good for exploring complex systems,” observes Seggerman. "Film is really a single narrative; a game allows users to fiddle with different levers to see how vari- ous issues affect each other. That's incredibly powerful for issues like the environment or pov- erty or global conflicts, where there are many variables that are dependent on each other. Say you are thinking about the environment and
than brief minigames. Others, like Persuasive Games’ Oil God or the United Nations-spon- sored Food Force, poignantly illustrate the inter- national oil market and humanitarian aid efforts through fairly robust, SimCity-style gameplay. Breakthrough's ICED: | Can End Deportation, criticizes U.S. immigration laws by allowing play- ers to live the life of an illegal alien in a proper 3D environment.
Of course, the mere fact that a medium many Americans see as trivial is embrac- ing such touchy subjects has led to contro- versy. Early this year, organizers pulled Super Columbine Massacre RPG, a 16-bit style recreation of the tragic school shootings, from the annual Slamdance festival's Guerilla Gamemaker Competition, causing many other
developers to withdraw their games in protest. More recently, a Fox News piece on ICED raised concerns that the game demonizes the U.S. Immigration Service and helps give "tips" on how to avoid immigration laws.
However, lan Bogost feels these controversies say more about how many in the mainstream media think about video games than they do about the games 3 themselves. "The sad truth is that there is a very low level of video game literacy in the general public and
certainly in the mass media," ddle
comments Bogost. "It's the problem of misunderstanding t of what games are and what it means to play a role in a variou: game.... You're exploring the constraints around them and the experience of someone else — all that good stuff. The whole idea of making a game about Columbine or a game ба! about a [serious] topic that seems that it would be at odds with the very notion of video games. It's really important that we resist that, because if video games are a true form of art then no topic should be off limits; just like no topic is off limits to the written word or to film" However, with this increased media attention also comes the opportunity for political games to take their message to a larger audience. Seggerman notes that Darfur is Dying and Food Force have both been played over a million times. In addition, Games for Change recently announced a partnership with Microsoft for the Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge, which will provide students in more than 100 countries à chance to create a game based on the theme of global warming using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Express software. Winners will receive cash awards to be used for their education, as well as the chance to present their entries to Microsoft for inclusion on Xbox Live Arcade. “What's really exciting is that we're not just going to support a new series of Xbox games about the environment, but we're going to seed a whole bunch of game ideas across the world,” comments Seggerman. “Most of these kids have never heard about serious games or thought about serious games. It's a great opportunity to
BALAN r 4 Both lan Bogost and Suzanne Seggerman note Chris Crawford’s Balance of Power, released in
Here are a few titles worth checking out as you begin to
One of Persuasive Games’ most successful titles,
reach out and empower a new generation of gamemakers.” However, despite the increas- ing attention, lan Bogost remains a bit more skeptical about partnerships like this, fearing that the messages will become tempered as corporate involve- ment increases. “We've had a number of conversations with [Microsoft] over the years, and | think they're afraid of politics in || games," he comments. “I think they don't want to touch it; or, if they are going to do it, they want to be watered down and very safe. I'm not willing to do that. Moreover, I'm not willing to let the licensors dictate the kind of work | do. The whole first- 1 party licensing regime is really a problematic one. It's difficult for a lot of reasons, but | think it's one of the factors that creates tensions between us and the commercial industry" пегта! However the relationship х | between the mainstream U.S. video game industry and politi- cal gaming scene ends up, it's clear that gaming as a whole is quickly rejecting the notion that it shouldn't deal with serious, real-world topics. Although at times critical of the industry, Bogost singles out a number of games like Grand Theft Auto, BioShock, and Will Wright's Sim games as examples of big budget titles that manage to include some degree of social commentary within an entertainment context. Looking forward, he hopes that the work that companies like Persuasive Games are doing will someday help propel the industry towards more innovative and important games. ^| think that's it's actually vital that [gamers] recognize that pushing at the edges of the medium is something that helps everybody," observes Bogost. "It's not just that you stirred the pot by making a game about Columbine or that [it] shouldn't happen because then someone is going to try to legislate my ability to play Grand Theft Auto. That's very small thinking. We need more games and we need them to be more meaningful and socially relevant so the medium іп general grows" I
This title makes a compelling game out of one of the
1985, as the beginning of the serious games move- ment. The early PC title commented on the geopoli- tics of the Cold War, letting players assume the role of the U.S. or Soviet Union. Websites: http://www. erasmatazz.com, http://members.chello.at/theodor. lauppert/games/bop.htm
Disaffected! explores the often-maddening frustrations of the modern day service industry, forcing players to deal with working a particularly aggravating shift at a Kinko's copy center. Website: http://www. persuasivegames.com/games/
world's most tragic political situations: the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The strategy title weaves real pic- tures into the game, making it all the more poignant. Website: http://www.peacemakergame.com/
Many government and charitable organizations are spreading their message through specially created games like the U.N's Food Force 2 Breakthrough's ICED: 1 Can End Deporta- tion explores the tensions and problems surrounding illegal immigration in the 0.5. 3 Super Columbine RPG caused a great deal of | controversy when it was pulled from the Slamdance game festival 4 Darfur is Dying has been one of the most played political games released to date
Created by artist Jay Kristopher Huddy, Los Disneys has recently been re-released for PC. Although Huddy stresses that he doesn't have an explicit politcal agenda, this game's violent sci-fi vision of a Disney-owned Florida is in a rich tradition of gonzo, satirical commentary on American culture. Website: http; /wwwlosdisneys.com/
This Italian title uses cartoonish graphics to portray the often vicious practices of the world's largest res- taurant company. From plowing down rainforests to killing cattle in a slaughterhouse, the hamburger business can be as scary as anything in Manhunt. Website: htp://wwwmcvideogame.com/
GAME INFORMER 53
Alcohol Reference
Animated Blood Www ratchétandclaniilióm
Crude Humor р m Хх 1 Fantasy Violence | Ratchet and Clank is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Develop: Мас бате Ой So үү Complite ооо Inc. Language “PlayStation” "PLAYSTATION" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony ComputerEntertainnentine, “Play BSyond" isa tr: idemarkof Sony Computer Erttértainment. America Inc. “SIXAXIS” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc; "Video output in HD requireggabfós and an HO-compatible'd]splay, both sold’separately " A.
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7 LINK AUTRE
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When an alien tyrant driven by hatred for Lombaxes attacks Ratchet and Clank's home, the duo embarks on a mission to unlock one of the universe's biggest secrets. Their journey hurls them into vast, unexplored worlds, where Ratchet discovers that the mysteries of his past are the key to the galaxy's future.
SIXAXIS" WIRELESS CONTROLLER
Control Ratchet and his arsenal like never before as you guide his weapons to their targets, fly freely through expansive new worlds and outmaneuver ever-growing danger.
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Explore a highly detailed world, where blockbuster graphics and cinematic camera angles combine to create a living, breathing galaxy rivaling today's most sophisticated CGI movies.
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THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
When You Want Your News Categorized With A Sarcastic Editorial Spin
QUOTE
For over 10 years, Colin was part of the Codemasters family and
it was a privilege to have a man recognized as a true legend on the team. He will never be forgot- ten by all at Codemasters. ©
— An excerpt from Codemasters’ statement on the
death of rally driver Colin McRae in a helicopter accident on September 17, 2007
1 & The original Master of Magic, 1994
BAD
Games Media Properties has cancelled The World Series of Video Games after two years, including
the remaining 2007 events in Los Angeles, London, and Sweden due to monetary concerns.
56 САМЕ INFORMER
Stardock CEO and president, Brad Wardell, has assured fans that the company is going forward with a sequel to the cult turn-based strategy title Master of Magic. Wardell expects the game to hit shelves in 2009, and he says that Stardock plans to accept player-created mods which will be vetted and then downloadable to other players.
6000?
For the first half of this year, the Entertainment Software Association reports that it has spent $1.43 million on its lobbying efforts - a 24 percent increase from the latter half of 2006. The ESA has also said tha it i tackling the issue of the taxation of virtual- property, but curiously has not stated which side itis on.
Nintendo isn’t going to bother trying to sell us a sequel to free pack-in title Wii Sports. Recently Nintendo president and СЕО Satoru Iwata said that a follow-up was “definitely not coming out soon," although he wouldn't totally close the door on the
possibility. We don't mind, seeing as how the only game we played with Wii Sports was frisbee.
Shadowrun, Crimson Skies, and MechWarrior developer FASA Studio has closed its doors, with around half of the
being relocated wit
Game Studios. Microsoft acquired FASA in 1999.
games
NINTENDO ZAPPER ACKIN’ HEAT
FREE GAME ANNOUNCED
company's E3 press conference this year, and now Nintendo has stated that the Zapper will go on sale on November 19 for $19.99.
Since the unit's announcement, it was rumored that Nintendo would bring back NES's Duck Hunt - а title that seemed like a natural fit for the Zapper's gun functionality, which houses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. The title does indeed revive an old classic, but it's The Legend of Zelda - not Duck Hunt. The Zapper will come with a pack-in game entitled Link's Crossbow Training, which, according to Nintendo, replicates the style of Wii's Twilight Princess.
Crossbow Training sounds like a fairly stripped- down affair, perhaps in the vein of Wii Sports, that starts with players nailing stationary bull's-eyes before moving onto moving tar- gets and enemies.
Coming out in November around the Zapper's launch are a couple of third- party titles also utilizing the periph- eral. EA's Medal of Honor Heroes 2 features 32-player multiplayer and an exclusive game mode designed for the unit, while Capcom's Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (see page 114 for more) lets up to two players use their Zappers in a first-person perspective.
N intendo's Wii Zapper gun peripheral was one of the few new announcements at the
С Опсе а atonal Drug Control rli Patent tor a Drug-Free Americas |
TALK TO YOUR FRIEND. SOMETHING WILL STICK. Е : ABOVETHEINELUENCE COM
sino yin ani thee omor animal-mascots р with-tuc
In the early 905, something terrible started to happen to our favorite cartoon vau Marketing teams across {һе country were not happy to lose their favorite cereal sellers to a steadily aging audi- ence, so in desperation they made a bad decision that would rattle through society for years to come. They made our cartoons radical, awesome, jazzy, and punky. Video game characters were not immune to this alarming trend. While these characters may have seemed hip during those angsty years when your mom was yelling at you about your hair color, the sad news is that they were never your friends.
the Bobcat
Bubsy was a small cat with big delusions ‘of
í : adequacy. He started off in a side scrolling
platformer called Bubsy in Claws Encounters
of the Furred Kind for the SNES and Genesis.
Two sequels later he made one of the worst 3D
< games for the PlayStation. And а bad 3D game
4 by 1996's standards is impres-
1 sively appalling indeed. While
| the shirt may say "I'm an indi-
| vidual who bucks conventional
| fashion trends," that smile says “I'm secretly a kitten molester.”
5 Aero the Acro-Bat
There was nothing right about Aero that even reincamation could save. He had a sidekick named Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel and a villain who was even more absurd, an ex-clown named Edgar Ektor. Aero's 16-bit gameplay was almost as tired as the spunky-tempered protagonist fad that spawned him. He didn't just suck the lifeblood of happiness and joy out of everyone who played his game; he pretty much just sucked.
6 Punky the Skunk
Punky is a modest creature, with
a lot of reasons to be that way.
This PSone disaster wasn't even
finished when it was released. And
even though Punky was played
off like this extreme-sports-loving
Skunk full of attitude, if you actually
played the game you'd know that
that image is about as real as an
American Idol winner's. What do you think it does to a mas- cot's self-esteem when its own developer has to lie about it to make it more attractive to children?
9 Jazz Jackrabbit
Long before Gears of War came along, designer Cliff Bleszinski used his talents to create the Кее- ware game Jazz Jackrabbit for Epic (then called Epic MegaGames). The game itself was pretty solid, but its 90-pound green alien
star was not. We asked a twelve- year-old if they'd like to play a game where the main character was an odd amalgamation of Rambo and Bugs Bunny, and he slapped us.
8 James Pond
James Bond is a pretty cool guy, so anything based on him is bound to have some factor of cool to it, but with diligence and hard work James Pond was able to overcome this issue. His early ‘90s platform- like game and its two sequels featured levels with names like "A View to a Spill" and "Leak and Let Die" Warning: the groans this game produced were known to induce intestinal disorders in many gamers.
58 GAME INFORMER
2 Blinx the Cat
Blinx was Microsoft's defunct mascot with no eye for fashion. Unfortunately, Віпх5 time-bending gameplay was promising enough that it warranted a sequel, which tumed out to be an even big-
ger disaster than the one before, cementing the nails in Blinx's coffin. There hasn't been a funeral yet (not that we'd attend), but we've been sending Microsoft emails for years telling them we'd approve of one.
some Possum Awesome Possum's ds team of creators encapsulated everything important about the character into his design. The Sick pit you get in the bottom of your stomach when you look at him is the exact same feeling you'd have if you were playing y
his game. It also happened to
have one of the worst titles in history: Awesome Possum Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt! The game had activist undertones encouraging kids to clean up the environment, but opossums are trailer park dumpster rats. We think this opossum is actu- ally the one thing teenagers hate most: a poser.
47у the Tasmanian Tiger During his trilogy of PS2 games, every time Ty opened his mouth and subjected his audience to that terrible accent he diminished the sum total of human intelligence by a small fraction. Ty's dress and demeanor were so ridiculous that it was probably culturally insulting to Australians everywhere, but since Ту also came across as a mindless dufus, most people laughed it off as an amusing antics of someone who didn't know any better.
7 Radical Rex the Tyrannosaurus
We've never killed a videogame franchise, but we've taken great pleasure in many of their failures. Thus, Radical Rex was a source
of great joy for us. Skateboarding can be radical, and breathing fire is defiantly radical (and quite possibly tubular), but a fire-breathing dino- saur that skates through graveyards and underwater caverns is a failed cartoon concept from the "8065. We'd like to know who lost a bet at Activision and had to make this game.
10 Gex the Gecko
In their day Сех5 games weren't really that bad, but they haven't aged well, and neither has Сех5 smarmy, lizard-like sense of humor. Sure, back then he seemed pretty unique with his references to pop culture and movies. Now, he's just like some dude that won't stop. quoting ancient Caddyshack quotes at a party. Sorry Gex, you're a dork and no amount of sun- glasses-wearing will make us feel otherwise. Plus, we partially hold you to blame for those annoying Geico commercials. Oh Gex, so much to answer for.
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GUIDING GAME DEVELOPMENT
HOW EEDAR WANTS TO HELP THE INDUSTRY
fact that he was one of the original EverQuest designers - Electronic Entertainment Design and Research's (EEDAR) president and COO Geoffrey Zatkin wants to help developers and publishers help themselves. Started two years ago, the EEDAR is a company comprised of researchers with an industry background that are using hard, quantifiable data to inform companies about games on the next-generation systems. By showing clients how factors such
W ith over 10 years in development and.in the industry —
including the e 45 percent of all retail games and 65
percent of downloadable games are still not utilizing any online functionality
е Games which allow users to play with each other online earn close to twice that of those which do not
as ESRB rating, genre, online play, multiplayer, and other feature sets affect game sales and success, EEDAR hopes to help developers and publishers understand the „үү 154 titles, the Wii had more than market better so as to create titles that best serve their desired audience, including, ^ twice the total number of game titles
as Zatkin points out, some niche areas that aren't being served.
Some highlights from EEDAR's recent Console Intelligence Briefing 2007, which uses 219 retail games and 187 downloadable games as part of its analysis in delivering 100 “key findings for the video game industry” include at right:
If we can help somebody steer towards their core features, it then gives them more time to innovate because they know they have
the basics taken care of. - Geoffrey Zatkin, president and COO of Electronic Entertainment Design and Research
released (retail and download) than either the PlayStation 5 or Xbox 560 during the first seven months respec- tively of launching each platform, accounting for 38 percent of all games in the period
е Mature-rated retail game titles have both the highest average Metacritic Metascore (76) and the highest average gross sales in the U.S. at $18.5 million. This is despite not being offered for sale at some major retailers
We talked with Geoffrey Zatkin about EEDAR, and how it is helping to improve video games. “I can't tell you the name of who it was, but | was working on a project a while ago. It was a licensed property, and going in we were like, “Оһ great, it's a licensed property. They are going to know who their target demographic is: They had no clue. It's like, how do we make a
game for you if you don't know what your people like?"
How did EEDAR start up and what are its aims?
One of the things that's always really frustrated me is that I've never been able to get hard data at the beginning of a game when we're building it. We get all these people with theories. It's like, "Oh, you're building one of those types of games. You have to have multiplayer or this type of character advance- ment" And it's always just opinion. It's some other designer, or some other publisher or executive coming in with their pet theory of the week. So, a lot of what we're setting out to do here is get quantifiable data, collect large amounts of it, and statistically back it up. We're not looking to tell people how to design a game, we're just looking to tell them how to not go in blind. There are a lot of base assumptions people have that we're going out and statistically saying, "Yes, this correlates; that doesn't" We want to be able to, when you're making a game, say, "Here's some stuff that's going to help you make it. The design is still up to you, but we're at least going to give you a real competitive advantage"
Are there grey areas where the research can't draw straight conclusions?
Its hard to always tell the difference between correlation and causation. For example, Mature-rated games per capita on [next-gen consoles] bring in more money. We're not neces- sarily saying that the Mature rating is what causes the game to make more money, but currently there is a correlation. The fact that they are Mature and make more money go hand in hand.
We know that the NPD retail sales data doesn't include sales numbers from some store chains. If you're using this data as fact, how do you account for the possibil- ity that it might not be totally accurate?
60 GAME INFORMER
What they do is they have mathematical models put together by economists who say, "Based on our sample size of this many chains, here's what we therefore expect the rest to be selling" In a lot of cases, that's good enough for us because we can get a correlation between how well a game does. Say they're off by a couple hundred thousand. In the long run, that really doesn't matter. We're getting fairly accurate volume of sales, and so far they've been pretty good to work with. They're not perfect — nobody's data collection is. That's actu- ally been one of the interesting things when we started. ..was figuring out how often there were discrepancies between rep- utable sources. We want to make sure we're never presenting something that isn't factual.
But if the NPD sales numbers are off, could this discrepancy make the difference between whether
a sequel is green-lit or not, for example?
It could. But we work with them, and they seem to be really good so far. But in some cases, the amount of revenue is just part of it. Say you are talking about a sequel. Part of it comes down to is, "What was your development cost?" Because if you get a game that pulls in $30 million dollars and it cost $40 million to make, obviously that's a no go. But if it was a $10 million game that made a three-to-one profit margin... There are a lot of factors other than just pure, raw money. But that being said, it always comes down to money on the publisher side [laughs]. Which is sad, but true, especially as the cost goes up. Talking about that, that's one of the things we're tracking. In six of seven months from now we really expect to be able to see correlations between sequels and other things for how a game did. What kind of effect did the branding have on it, etc.
TOP FIVES
Favorites From Industry Pros And GI Readers
| DEVELOPER
| STEVE STAMATIADIS | Creative Director, | Krome Studios
1 World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - PC 2 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - Xbox 360
3 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Wii 4 Elite Beat Agents - Nintendo DS
5 Power Stone Collection - PSP
READER JARON KIRKLAND Layton, UT
1 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - PS2 2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - PS2 3 Tenchu Stealth Assassins - PSone
4 Street Fighter Il - SNES
5 Final Fantasy VII - PSone
Send Top Fives and a photo of yourself to:
Game Informer Magazine/Top Five 724 № Ist St 4th Н Minneapolis, MN 55401-9022 email: topfive@gameinformer.com (attach digital picture)
TOP TEN
Lists...Everybody Loves Lists...
6175 Top Ten Failed Get- Rich-Quick Schemes
10 Two Worlds Mountain Dew
3 Smuggled "Dullshack 3s" from China
8 Wii Play: Now Without Remote!
7 Producing Tetris: The Live Action Motion Picture
5 Tickle-Me Kratos Doll
5 "Men of Game Informer" 2008 Swimsuit Calendar 4 Solid Snake Chia Mustache - Watch it Grow!
3 Wii Smoking
2 LEGO Grand Theft Auto — Rated "E" For Everyone 1 N-Gage
Name That Game Answer: Outpost Kaloki X
his August, Paul Anderson, friend
and staff member of Game
Informer magazine, passed away
after a long battle with ALS, or as itis more commonly known, Lou Gehrig's disease.
Paul began his career at Game Informer as a writer with issue number five in 1992, where he kept a watchful eye on the industry until he moved to the circulation department in 2001. As the circulation manager at Game Informer, Paul was instrumental in moving the magazine from its humble beginnings to the 23rd-largest consumer magazine in the country.
His contributions to our company and to our lives are unmatched. He was a dear friend, and will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have known him. From Paul's classic reviews of Resident Evil to his involvement with our forum community, Game Informer would not be what it is today without his passion for games and gamers.
Paul was 38 years old, and leaves behind his wife Sarah, daughter Elsa, and son Beck. Words cannot express how much we love and will miss Paul.
To find out more about ALS or to help find a cure, please visit www.alsa.org. А fund has also been set up for Paul's family, and if you are interested in donating please make checks out to “Anderson Children Trust" and mail them to our offices at:
Game Informer
Attn: Anderson Children Trust 724 N. Ist St, 3rd Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401
Paul with his daughter Elsa at the lake
*
й
ju
in memoriam
Paul at a Twisted Metal 4 event in 1444 where 1 969 = 2007
Ке got to play real-life demolition derby with a Game Informer car
AS BEGUN...
UE s D
Mild Language Violence
ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.esrb.org
@SEGA, SEGA is registered in the и. gf FERE and Trademark ОЙ [SEGA logo ап үет а Walgearth Assault are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Al rights reserved. PETROGLYPH 15 а registered trademark and service mark of Petroglyph Games. Й h logo is a cogight. fidem: d service mark of Petroglyph C Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 260, ХБОХ LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group bf compa 1
SAVE EARTH OR CONSUME IT.
қалана E EAR THBASSAULT
p s А А S, 9 % COMING ТО WINDOWS*XPLAND VISTA® OCTOBER 30; 29007 t 29 Фр
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for Windows VE
connect
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
La Taking Flight
Marks graduates from the Massachusetts institute of Technology, Originally a ‘computer science major, Marks had switched to the more inter- esting field of avionics, working. on airplane and spacecraft electronic control systems
The Doctor
After a move west, Marks
completes his PhD at Stanford, where he focused on the com- plex field underwater robotics
1990
1995 v
Under the Sea
In partnership with Stanford, Marks does important work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where he helped researchers develop better control systems: for underwater robots and automatic cameras to study aquatic life
Video Visions
Marks takes a position at the tech company Teleos. Here he helps develop powerful video processing software for the PC. Unfortunately, the company is purchased by Autodesk, which. soon disbands the division that Marks worked in.
1996 v
[5: connect | interview |
DR.RICHARDMARKS
SENIOR RESEARCHER, SCEA R&D >> А robotics scientist by trade, Richard Marks has become Sony's resident inventor of sorts, and is most known for the innovative and successful EyeToy. We spoke with Marks about his next-gen plans for the PlayStation Eye, and some of the exciting possibilities it will open up for gaming. <<
We've seen the new version of the EyeToy for PS3. Can you talk about some of the technical aspects of the hardware that have been upgraded?
The new one is called the PlayStation Eye. We really wanted to make sure that all the features that were difficult to use with the EyeToy were addressed. The biggest difficulty is the low-light performance. If the lighting isn't good, the EyeToy is a really frustrating experience for people. So the design of the new one was to have as good low-light performance as we could get out of a low-cost camera. The next thing is that, once you start to get higher resolu- tions, compression effects start to become a bigger issue. We wanted to get rid of [that], so the new one puts out an uncompressed format. Those are the two biggest things, but it can also go to 120 frames per second.
But the human eye can't perceive the differ- ence between 60 frames and 120 frames per second, correct?
other parts of Sony; some of the digital still camer- as have face detection built in now for doing auto- focus. We've been bringing that into the PlayStation platform to do it for games.
So you'd be able to analyze facial expressions?
One thing you could do is expressions. But just knowing where the head is [located] is a huge piece of information. Once you know where the head is, you can figure out the rest of the body. Also, [you're] able to distinguish between different people from their faces.
Will this make it able to track body position more accurately?
If you could track the head as it leans to the
left, you could effectively strafe your character in a first-person shooter. The camera is locked to your head, so these subtle movements of your head shift the camera. [It's] a really neat effect and gets rid of a set of buttons. It's very natural to just peek
gies. This stems from when my parents had a video game retail store. Whenever we got a new peripheral for one of the game systems, like the Coleco hand controller, it was always a really excit- ing moment. I still think that these things breathe excitement into the platforms, even if they're
not huge commercial successes. The Wii is great because it has been a commercial success for them. | think that it's very fun to use. It's interest- ing to me, because they put everything on the line and took a risk with a brand new input device. That's extremely risky. It's worked out and I think that's great, but | imagine it was a very difficult decision for them.
Sony has a lot of innovative games like LittleBigPlanet and Echochrome for the download service. Are you working on smaller experiences for EyeToy that might be available as downloads?
Definitely one of the plans for how to distribute content for the PlayStation Eye is the download
A New Horizon Sensing big opportunities on. the new PlayStation 2, Marks joins Sony's internal research group. Неге, with the full support of Phil Harrison, Marks. begins working on the concepts that would become the EyeToy
Eye Opening Success.
1999 v
І think of it as mixing the real and virtual worlds in a very seamless way.
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Finally, Mark's EyeTc Ба
infectious party game EyeToy: Play. The title is one of the. year's surprise hits, and goes. ‘on to sell millions of units worldwide
The Next
Sony unveils Mark's latest. creation, the next-gen version of the EyeToy, dubbed the PlayStation Eye. The new unit, Set to release on October 25, features increased resolution. and tracking quality, and a powerful built-in microphone
64 GAME INFORMER
Yeah, TVs don't even have the ability to display that. But the processor inside can see the individual frames and get an answer twice as often. It can use all of that extra data to create a smoother tracking experience. The biggest side-feature we added is the microphone array, which is the big bar across the top of it. It has four microphones, which gives you the ability to filter out noise and get a really great audio input signal.
Obviously the EyeToy was very successful with the Play series, using it for very brief minigames. Do you hope that developers will use the PlayStation Eye for deeper, more complex gaming experiences?
Some of the things the London group has been trying with it are different from the old games. The beauty of the old style [games] was that you could step in front of it and instantly know what to do. It's hard to make [a] deep game that is also acces- sible.... | do want to see something different with the new camera. There's already some new tech- nology we have here that will hopefully get turned into some interesting products.
Could you give an example?
Well, for example, now that we have a higher reso- lution and no compression artifacts, you can track finer features much better. Now, we can track faces very well. We're actually leveraging technology from
around the corner. Where it used too much power on the PS2 to actually be a used in a game, on the PS3 it could potentially be [viable].
Sony has very ambitious plans for its Home online service. Are there plans to use the PlayStation Eye as a part of that?
Definitely. We currently already support A/V chat. The new camera already works with A/V chat, even though it's not available at retail yet. It provides
a better experience than any other device we've supported so far, mostly because the audio qual- ity is so good. We actually use it in our meetings every week with Japan — we have a video chat with them using a PS3. We use the camera for the audio as well. It's very convenient. Then, when you have a special device that allows you to do more video processing on top of that, we could do things that customize the video chat. There have been different things purposed, like where you could control an avatar instead of seeing live video, things like that. Other companies have done that on the PC, and we could definitely see that hap- pening on the PlayStation 3.
As someone who's interested in alternative input ideas for video games, what's your take on what Nintendo has done with the DS and Wii?
Іт a fan of all these kinds of alternative technolo-
service. It makes a lot of sense for minigames. Maybe you have a really good single minigame, but you don't want to make a full disc for it. Now, it can be available for download. | know that Worldwide Studios has been preparing some of those.
Where do you see your work evolving in the years to come? People have always fantasized about a "virtual reality" gaming experience; is that the ultimate endgame for you?
For me, the ultimate endgame isn't what people think of as virtual reality, where everything is com- pletely artificial and you're completely submerged in an artificial world. | think of it as mixing the real and virtual worlds in a very seamless way. EyeToy is the most basic, simple example. There's a video of you and there are graphics pasted over the top of it as a game. But more interesting examples are what hap- pens in movies now. In a very controlled way, they mix real actors with virtual things all the time and you can't tell the difference. That's a really powerful thing. My son, who is a really big Spider-Man fan, should be able to say, "Spider-Man!" and [suddenly] he's wearing a virtual Spider-Man costume and is able to shoot webs out of his hands. You can have this mixed reality experience. That's one of the things I'm striving to see happen.
Photo: Steve Skoll
п Richard Marks hopes the next-generation PlayStation Eye will open up a world of
new possibilities for gaming both on- and offline
INFORMER 65
AVERS.
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If your 360 controller started getting freaky with your PC keyboard, the offspring of their passion might be the Chatpad. This controller attachment crams a full QWERTY layout into the palm of your hand. The additional bulk does change the feel of the controller somewhat, but thankfully the keys are large enough and feel good. This package also includes a special headset with on-cord volume controls. Unless you don’t mind juggling between a keyboard and controller, this is the best combo we've seen so far.
HN NN MICROSOFT SAITEK CYBORG LOGITECH SIDEWINDER MOUSE RUMBLE PAD G9 LASER MOUSE
m " В А р At first glace, Saitek's new PC controller stands out The G9 comes with two different shells that conform differ- pi 4... in асан due to its solid construction and the unique ability to ently in your hand. They both feel great, but don't change don't dig its style, its long list of features might turn your swap the positions of the d-pad and left analog stick. the mouse's overall small size, which might turn some head. We particularly like the feel of its large metal scroll Unfortunately, the Cyborg suffers from some rather . away. The G9 does feature DPI adjustment buttons, but wheel. Programmable macros, adjustable weight, and on- basic flaws that ruin the overall experience. The pad's they are awkwardly placed. Other features indude a speedy mouse DPI display round out itheiother notable features. cord is so short that many will need an extension MicroGear scroll wheel and adjustable metal weights.
The Sidewinder's large rear end will probably appeal о. cable, and the overall design feels a little too chunky. Overall, this is a decent mouse, if a little pricey. m Even a great innovative feature can't justify this $99.99 « www.logitech.com
controller's price.
$34.99 * www.saitek.com
those with big hands, but it's still a great mouse. $79.95 • www.microsoft.com/hardware
68 GAME INFORMER
THE BAD GUYS LOOK GOOD, BUT THAT'S JUST THE RESOLUTION.
The First, Next-Generation Action Shooter. High-def and hardcore meet to propel the
premier arcade adventure into your living
room. Featuring all new FPS stages, revolutionary graphics and the most advanced light gun available, this
is the game you have been waiting for.
TEEN
1-
ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.esrb.org
TIME тс 4 & © 1988-2007 NAMCO EANDA Gerê пс СОСО МЕЗО 2007 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. All по reserved. "PlayStatio fSonyieomoutedementainmentincmlipemiatings iconjis/altegistereditrademark of the Entertainment Software Agsociation@All other trademari
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an
TATION", and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of copyrights are property of their respective owners.
9009 RoR
7%
connect gear
итш DEATH PROOF AND PLANET TERROR
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's theatrical opus Grindhouse may not have done well in theaters, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth seeing. Humanity will have a second chance to right its wrong and buy the films when they hit DVD. Sadly, the two titles must be purchased separately, but they are still loaded with tons of great features and extended cuts of the original movies.
$29.95 each * www.grindhousemovie.net
il
ж 74
TURTLE BEACH EAR FORCE X3
The X3 produces some great clear sound with deep bass, and
feels comfortable, but the feature we like most is the fact that it has different volume controls for both game and chat audio. And since
the headphones can also be used wirelessly, they have an automatic | shutoff that helps conserve battery power. Of course, the micro-
phone is designed specifically for the 360, but these great cans will work with other devices. If you spend a lot of time online with your Xbox, these are definitely worth checking out. $99.95 * www.turtlebeach.com
е +
Square announced Ше launch on their U.S. online store back a few month ago. The site features some great toys and figures for fans from some of the best Square Enix games, but what makes the site really worth it is the fact that it's the only place to find some of these great items. Here are the highlights.
$29.99 (set of four) - Release: Winter 2007
$24.99 each (Figures), $79.99 (Hardy Daytona set) Release: December
$200.00 * Release: October 70 GAME INFORMER
Ен THE TEETH PGIRLERIEND IN HALF AWAY THE sun,
ONG 7? Lo^lDoN.
22 connect Гори
orthless (аа).):1. Lacking all worth and value. 2. Having no useful purpose.
hat makes something valuable? | remember this subject in philosophy class, questioning whether things with no value (i.e. free beer) are de-facto worthless. Think about it. Of course, there's more to value than just cold hard cash, but I think the way you treat certain things often betrays how much value you perceive them to have.
As you might have recently heard, we're devel- oping a new intellectual property (IP) here at Ready At Dawn with the possibility of maybe one day making a game based on it. What has been interesting in this process is to see, in some cases, how differently IPs can be treated depend- ing on who created them in the first place. Most developers take it for granted, for example, that anything they create when they make a game is going to be owned by the publisher since they're the ones taking the financial risk by lending the money to make the game in the first place (developers end up paying for the game's devel- opment out of their royalties). As we found out, this is far from true and there are a large number of publishers out there who understand that IP ownership does not affect their balance sheet. Game rights do.
But what of the other publishers out there? Interestingly, | don't think any of them think twice about not retaining IP ownership when signing a licensing deal with a big Hollywood movie studio. In those cases the only rights exchanged are, once again, game rights. In both cases, game developer IP and Hollywood IP, the publisher will take the same financial risk lending money for the game's development. In Hollywood's case they might actually even end up paying a huge
guarantee upfront, increasing the risk. So why the double standard? Some argue that, in the case of a big Hollywood or sports IP, what you get with
it is of course awareness and a huge market-
ing campaign associated with the property itself (movie, sport season, TV, etc...). As most people would see it, this makes the external IP way more ‘valuable,’ thus the willingness to take the same risk without owning the IP outright.
So let's look at the numbers. According to NPD, and out of the top 150 biggest-selling games of all time, only 29 are based on movies or cartoon IPs. Only one is in the top 10 (Goldeneye), two in the top 20, and only seven in the top 50. Ouch.
So the big bucks must come from sports licenses, right? Wrong. They do slightly better, but still fail
to impress. In the top 150, only 45 are based on sports/wrestling/extreme sports IPs. Only three are in the top 10 (all Madden games), six in the top 25 (again, all Madden titles) and only 10 in the top 50 (Tony Hawk finally comes to the rescue). Where do all the other IPs come from? Game developers, of course. How many of these IPs are owned by game developers or were valued enough to be sold by the developer instead of given away? Not enough, that's for sure.
So, going back to our definition of value, how valuable are these IPs if they fail to produce the top-selling games? Your mileage may vary, but according to my personal definition, that's not a lot of value. Risk and value are relative things, and the truth is, developer-created IPs are histori- cally more successful, therefore more valuable and less risky. They're also less risky because developers will always do a better job at turning their own ideas into games as opposed to being forced to work on whatever the last boring movie tie-in or next iteration of last year's sports game
ж
| value - relative things and the truth is, developer created IPs are histori- cally more successful, therefore
more valu-
less risky.
BY DIDIER MALENFANT, | REA
Y AT DAWN
is. Game creation requires passion, and you won't get more passionate people than the ones who work on their own concepts. Three birds, one stone.
So why are some developers still under the impression that it's OK to give their creations away for nothing? As we all know, games and movies are merging. And the truth is movies, as a skill set, are a subset of what we do when we make games. It will be much harder for the movie people to learn all the stuff we already know as game makers than for us to finish get- ting to their level in terms of production values for our stories and storytelling techniques. Movie people know that. The freshest ideas, concepts and creations also are coming from us, not them. They know that too but, somehow, a lot of us still don't realize our own potential.
As you will have understood by now, this is not a rant on publishers or developers. In fact, it's not even a rant. It's just an honest reminder of the incredible creative talent we, as an industry, have managed to put together. It's a reminder that we would all, as an industry, benefit from valuing the creations coming from within our industry and grant the same worth that less-successful cre- ations coming from outside are granted. It would be incredibly short-sighted not to, for as the big entertainment merger keeps rolling forward, we would then force ourselves to the bottom of the relevance pile. When all is said and done, we really don't want to end up perceived by anyone as worthless. B I Il
The views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Game Informer Magazine or its staff.
If you work in the industry and would like to share your opinion, contact senior editor Matt Helgeson at matt@gameinformer.com.
72 GAME INFORMER
cott
Lanta otra,
imas
connect calendar
Haze - 11/20
NEW RELEASES
+ BlackSite: Area 51 = Р52, 360, PC i
+ Bladestorm: The Hundred Year War - P53, 360.
* Call of Duty 4: Modem. ‘Warfare - PS3, 360, DS, PC
* College Hoops 2K8 — PS3, 360, Р52
= Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker- DS
+ Empire Earth ill - PC
* FEAR files - 360
+ fire Emblem: Goddess of
< Company of Heroes: Opposing
Fronts - РС = Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel - PS2
“LEGO Star Wars: The Complete. Saga - PS3, 360, Wii, 05
SUPERMAN 670
About a year ago, Superman heard rumblings of a third Kryptonian living on Earth..a female. Who could she possibly be? We're only going to give you ane guess, and if you don't. Say Superwoman, you will have to live the rest of your days with: Krypto humping your leg.
%, 2
NEW RELEASES
* AME Boing Pinbusters - Wii
= Amy of Tno - PS3, 360
* Абасы» Creed - PS3, 360,
+ Beowull - PS3, 360, PSP, РС
+ Brofhers in Anns: Hells Highway ~ PS, 360, PC
+ Cabela's Monster Bass - PS3, 360, PS2
* Contra 4 - DS
* Gunn - Wii
= Crysis - РС
* Dragon Ball 2: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 - Wii, PS2
> Draglade - DS + EverQuest 1E Rise of Konark = РС + Fosters Home for Imaginary
> The Orange Box — PS3
+ Kane & Lynch: Dead Men = PS3, 360, PC
+ Medal of Honor: Airbome - PS3.
* Mercenary Wars - РС
+ Monster Truck Jam = 360, DS.
+ Mortal Kombat - DS
> Nitrobike - Wii
* Orc & Elves - DS
~ Petz Catz 2 - Wi, DS, PS.PC + Petz Dogz 2 - Wii, DS, Р52, PC < Petz Hamster Life 2 - 05
* Petz Horsez 2 - Wit, DS, PS2, PC оа. -Wi
E Umbrella Chronides - Wit
"Тһе Simpsons - PSP, 05
+ Smarty Pants = Wii
* Soldier of Fortune: Payback - PS3,
* Мене: Joumey Ino Dreams -Wi 360, PC
NEW RELEASES
= SE Hard Evidence - Wii
* Final Fantasy XH: Revenant Wings - DS
= Haze — P33
* History Channel: Battle for the Pacific = PS3, 360, Wii, PS2, РС
* Homie Rollerz - DS
* Indoor Sports - Wii
* Mario. & Sonic at the Olympic Games- Wi, DS
= Matio Party = DS
+ Mass Вей - 360
* My French Coach - 05
27 NEW RELEASES
* CSL Dark Motives - DS
+ Futurama: Benders Big Score - DVD
* Nintendo Magic - DS.
20-21
+ My Spanish Coach - DS
* Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of Musminus - Р52, РС + Rock Band = P53, 360
+ Sea Monsters — PS2
= SpongeBob: Atlantis. SquarePantis ~ Wii, Р52
* Suzuki Superbikes ~ DS
* Time Cris 4 - PS3
* Uncharted: Drake's Fortune — P53
= Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command - PSP, DS
м
13-16
* Sonic Rivals 2 - PSP
* Soul Calibur Legends - Wi * Star Trek: Conquest - Wii * Super Mario Galaxy - Wii * Sweshbudders - PS2
* Trauma Center: New Blood - Wii
+ Unreal Tournament Ul - PS, РС + World in Confid - 360
* WWE SmackDown Vs Raw. 2008 - PS3, 560, Wi, PS2, PSP, 05
Beowulf opens in theaters today
MARVEL ATLAS
The first volume of this world- revealing comic takes fans through Europe, Asia, and most of the Pacific. This meares you'll get a dose took at Muir Island, Symkaria, Madripoor, Lemuria, and Dr. Doom's pimp pad in Latveria. Hopefully, DC follows this great idea with an Atlas of its own.
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HELLGATELONDeN, сем 10/31/07
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MATURE 17+ Da Games Blood & Gore PC Re ЕЗ for Windows _ EJ EJ ( Mild Language Г с shi i DVD-ROM
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> DEVELOPER DOUBLE FINE
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| / “There’s something about roadies (
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ui happen. А roadie is а hero that | 2 doesn't fit the modern world. Не ша wants to do big King Arthur-tyPe
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enter this sort of fantasy world, but he
aro and his music with him?
could bring his Cam hat's really what
Making a world for that guy - f this game is all about. It's about a roadie named Eddie Riggs.”
- Tim Schafer
GAMEINFORMER 77
29 %
«тт Schafer i is a man wh fakes the ordinary
the familiar into some- thing wildly unpredictable.
‚ It's not hard to imagine his characters and the worlds they populate bursting forth from the side of his head like something out of a Greek myth, discontent to remain jostling around inside. And whether through happenstance or cleverness, he's also a man who's managed to surround himself with people who have the propensity to do the same. The small team at Double Fine overflows with creativity and eccentricity, and right nowv it's all getting channeled full force in the direction of a heavy metal roadie, his cursed belt buckle, and a world where rock and roll comes to life.
It's only moments after we arrive at Double Fine that Tim Schafer bustles into the room to hold a t-shirt up to see if it's the right size for us. He doesn't mention his name, even though we've never met. Within minutes, he's ushered us into a nearby meeting room, where he whispers to us conspiratorially while the team leads discuss the current game build. "The name was one of the very first things | thought of,
78 САМЕ INFORMER
over fifteen years ago. | was riding a bus, thinking about а game that would be the complete opposite of what we were working on, The Secret of Monkey Island. And Brütal Legend leapt into my head. I've been hanging to that name ever since,” explains Schafer excitedly: "The other thing that happened around that time was that | met a friend of a friend's boyfriend, and he was a roadie from Megadeth. He was the craziest nut I'd ever met. He was super funny. He was telling all these stories about life on the road, rock shows, and girls, and drugs, and all these larger than life stories, and | thought: ‘This would be an awesome guy to make a game about.” It's the first of many times during our visit to Double Fine, the
studio Schafer founded after departing from LucasArts,
that we hear about ideas that sprang from the most mundane scenarios - a homeless man on the street as the inspiration for a game character, or a painting at a friend's house sparking the art style for an entire level. Throughout his career, the results have been lauded as some of the funniest and most original content in the world of gaming. Brütal Legend ups
the ante with the team's biggest game yet, both in its outlandish concept and massive game world.
Eddie Riggs is the definitive roadie. When a band wants to throw the ultimate show, they call him. One night, while tuning a guitar before the big perfor- mance, events conspire to start him on his adventure, but in a way no other video game hero has yet expe- rienced. "He has a cursed belt buckle, but he doesn't know it," Schafer explains matter-of-factly. "He gets injured, and his own blood gets into the mouth of this hideous beast on his belt buckle; it comes to life and pulls him backward in time to this world where humanity is enslaved by demons.” We nod appre- ciatively to Schafer, assuring him that this all makes sense so far. Then he gets to the weird part. Unlike the history recorded in books, the world into which Eddie is flung is actually the mythic land of rock and roll legend. Here, great metal titans once ruled, but their musical power became so profound that they ascended from Earth to rock on in new dimensions, leaving behind the remnants of their might. To the humans and demons left behind, these strange relics are the greatest of mysteries. To Eddie Riggs, these artifacts are the building blocks of the lifestyle he loves. Those aren't half-buried bone carcasses - those
Se cover story”
ш The land of Brütal Legend is a strange and often hilarious mix of Nordic fantasy and heavy metal symbols
\ are exhaust pipes for a kickass motorcycle. Those aren't „М } É ; hieroglyphics on the ground - that's guitar tablature. ~ В Ancient gatages dot the X » Only moments after arriving, Eddie spies a huge battle 2 аре, убы Eddie can pull axe, and discovers to his surprise that he's actually pretty” > нае and abilities "
great at axe combat. Believe it or not, there's actually a good reason for this, but we don't want to spoil anything. His newfound skills come in handy as he fights his way out of the strange temple he has áppeared in, after which he unearths a motley group of oppressed humans. Hearin; of his origin, they beg him to teach them the intricacies of modern warfare. Eddie is completely oblivious on this point, but he does know how to put on a good road show. “Oh, and he also has a photographic memory of every heavy metal album cover ever made,” Tim concludes. With this knowledge as a blueprint, Eddie sets out to put together the most destructive and insane music tour ever, and in the process throw off the yoke of the demonic forces that plague humanity. To hear Tim Schafer describe it, it's all perfectly normal. ! What's remarkable is how quickly this unreal story begins to come alive when you start to look at the game. Grounded in the familiar, the third-person action of Brütal Legend $ pulls the player back from the strange and into the conven- | tions any action gamer is familiar with - at least at first. The battle axe serves as the primary melee weapon of the game. A focused forward attack sends Eddie swinging ahead at targets like the latex-clad demonic battle nuns in the opening level, while a wider slashing attack takes out more plentiful surrounding foes, like a charging horde of
half boar/half motorcycle Razorfires. "He also has a guitar m Many of the units that start р out as enemies will eventually continued on page 81 »» become yet another troop type in
your growing army GAME INFORMER 79
{Eddie teams that his blood hides a dark secret (ean you guess?), and the wings that sprout from his back |
are the proof. A whole new world opens up ill ight ER PA of temen
ers across the world іп recent years, and D Fine has adopted the approach for its projects. The name comes from the concept rugby, where a scrum is the tightly packed knot of players | surrounding the ball as it Moves ир and, down the field. In regards ) game development, Scrum encourages group ownership of | the project and regular periods of re-evaluation to speed up _ development and, prevent lost ime on unnecessary work. Instead of months of, pre-production, involving only a small part of the. / m, Double Fine attempts to involve the entire team from early.
pical NET of a game is that ) long that you have to use that ass
B The game will have a
full day and night cycle, changing the lighting and the look of the landscape ер ss / - 7 m
ге cover story
pulled back,” Schafer details. “But in this crazy heavy
“metal world, it can actually blow things up" It's a powerful tool indeed - a high-caliber weapon of war. This second, very different kind of axe serves as his primary area and ranged assault. Pull it out and Eddie will play a guitar solo in response to your combo-style button presses. "When he plays a face-melting guitar solo, it actually melts faces," Schafer relays. Another solo might call down a pyrotechnics display, and gouts of flame will burst from the ground nearby to engulf your attackers. A third solo might summon your last and largest primary weapon - the Deuce, the remark- able hot rod that Eddie builds right after he arrives. Pulling pieces together that the denizens of the world saw as only disconnected steel, Eddie knows they can be put together into much more, and assembles his Deuce drop-top coupe. This awesome ride will double both as a weapon to run down his foes as well as his primary means of navigating the huge continent that is the game world.
The universe of Brütal Legend is born from a perfect melding of Nordic fantasy landscape with heavy metal mythology - a meeting point that isn't so odd if you've looked at more than a few heavy metal record covers. "This is the land that heavy metal came from. It's the land where heavy metal was all true,” Schafer says. Huge forests crop up throughout the world, but some might be made of giant tires, as if pulled from some impractically large muscle car. Where a cliff should rise up as the face of a mountain, a stack of blaring amplifiers stands instead. Giant spiders roam the countryside, but these eight-legged terrors are made of chrome, and spin silk that can be harvested as magical bass guitar strings. V8 engines and giant Viking swords are buried in the ground in equal measure. Where another game might send down a light from the sky as your objective marker, Eddie will seek out the points highlighted by actual stage spotlights built into the landscape.
With an environment like that as a backdrop, it's only fitting that the world be populated by characters that extend the rock homage even further. Even before
escaping from the imposing and latex-wrapped Temple
of Ormagóden where he appeared in the world, Eddie encounters soon-to-be love interest, Ophelia, a name that has more than its fair share of tragic romantic overtones for anyone who's read a little Shakespeare. After a harried boss fight with a giant three-tongued lamprey, (tongues which Eddie runs over one by one with his Deuce), the two escape the demon's clutches by fleeing across a collapsing bridge to join the falter- ing remnants of humanity on the other side. There they meet brother and sister Lars and Lita Halford.
Lita is characterized by how protective she is of her brother, and a strange fascination she has with the newly arrived roadie. Lars is young and charismatic, but unsure how to guide his people. Eddie knows that Lars has the look and the power to be a rock star, and sets out to make him one - the genesis of the road show they'll put together to take down the demons. Their first stop is the Crushing Pit, where many of the young men of the village have been abducted in order to mine for ancient car parts. Without tools, they're left to endlessly bang their heads against the wall, building up grossly disproportionate neck muscles. Lars wonders aloud what can be done with a bunch of listless kids who only know how to bang their long- haired heads up and down all day. “Start a revolution,” Eddie solemnly intones in response.
Freeing the headbangers and giving them hope with a few rockin’ guitar solos, players will encounter the next major gameplay element of Briital Legend. The headbangers are the first of dozens of minion types which you'll gather together as an ever growing armada with which to do battle. One by one, you'll free these unit types from bondage - each new
3 Ра + { т så п “Eddie and Ophelia have - continued from page 79 % i я И да i rimary rock ПІ of. he's brought with him — he was tuning it when he was id p = ITANE о,
addition carries its own involved back story that is established through gameplay, not
unlike individual characters in an RPG. Simple squad commands, mapped to the d-pad, will send your army charging ahead into combat, defending or following you, or running to a waypoint you designate. Beyond these familiar commands, each of the unit types has a special cooperative move you may trigger at any time. The headbangers will gather around you into a deadly mosh pit, protecting you at its middle and tearing down the enemies that get in your way. The first targets of your ire are the traitorous "headbangers with fluffy hair and accessories" These hair metal sellouts are led by General Lionwhyte, a man whose hair is so long, luscious, and fabulous that he can use it to fly.
|
GAME INFORMER 81
Not long after that, Ophelia is horribly injured, and you'll find yourself climbing to the top of a mystical: mountain to meet the Kill Master, а shamanistic bass player whose grooves are so powerful that they can heal your troops as he circles the battlefield on his motorcycle. Over time, more and more troops will join your cause. The Runaways are dancer slave
girls who escaped Lionwhyte's pleasure ^
tower. Now they ride into battle on your shoulders to take their revenge. The fire barons roar into combat on their hogs as their engines spit out a trail of flame, letting you encase your enemies in a ring of fire. Bouncers with giant fists hammer into your opponents. Roadies join the crew, as they shoulder a pile of amplifiers that spit out killer feedback.
The first act of the story deals with these familiar rock archetypes, before Eddie moves on into a darker part of the continent filled with black-clad humans who've abandoned all hope. "These are people who drink from the sea of black tears. It's made of pure sorrow. It gives them incredible power, but also makes them look dead," Schafer states. It's defi- nitely not just a phase they'll grow out of, so Eddie employs their dark-tinged power as well. The gravediggers form a brooding speartip for the infantry, even while the pale Bride walks slowly into combat, a stormcloud ceaselessly hanging over her head. Fear-inducing reapers will join the fray. “Then there are the demons them- selves - those of the tainted coil. They're also into S&M. They're 5&М demons.
They're more organized. We them more like a church,” Schafer tells us. “Or a record company,” he adds. Secretly wishing to be more like the humans, these malformed beasts zip themselves up into form-fitting latex — self inflicted bondage to appear the way they want the Warld tasee.them.
< «Throughout the game, your be wandering a fully open world = one massive continent to circle. The bridge that collapses early on is the only вазу route
to the demon's home bas w, only by taking your roadshow оп full circuit the opposite way, will you be able to confront their lead viculus, and save human- ity. Primary story missions are peppered throughout the land, along with optional secondary quests to increase your strength, —_
The overflow of music references continues ts in the tasks you'll face. Schafer hints at ' / some of them. At some point you'll ride 7 Г
the lightning. Another mission may have you running to the hills. The game is being designed to be fun and hilarious for the
. Bi Music will dynamically _ respond to the action. In
ence, you want to Бе е to your army because at is quite literally where
the mi
перне focuses on large scale .~ ^ оп with many enemies at once.
5% cover Story
A Hist tory of tly
тт Schafer has a long history of unique titles to his name, each with | their own brand of humor and style.
The: Secret of Oa Island
Schafer worked beside project helmer Ron Gilbert along with fellow designer Dave Grossman on this landmark LucasArts title, The adventure
game, first released on floppy disc in 1990, detailed the humor-soaked adventures of Guybrush Threepwood, a young castaway _ who hopes to become a pirate, must learn to - handle insult swordfights, and inevitably falls _ in love. Along with its 1991 sequel, Monkey
Double Fine has crafted dozens of ) Т 4 | ms “т Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, the game arkable creatures that fill the game 7 t А 4 N А remains a landmark of how well humor сап world - Treeback here is yet another 9 “м; Y be captured in the adventure genre. monstrous creature that joins your ranks 2 2 “ >. Wi ies е
Day of the Tentacle
Released in 1993, Schafer. once again worked beside Grossman to craft this sequel to the earlier LucasArts
(ег Bernard Bernoulli heading back to ion, along with his buddies Laveme у and Са [o a a purple ead
и When you're not in the middle of the action, the camera will automatically _ shift and reveal the best epic angle eats, In ation i 10
“` оп the scene - the goal is for every ~ "screenshot to look like an album cover ds humorous dialogue, the game
№ Eddie's guitar is not unlike a magic system - its wailing solos actually melt faces
ame was the last complete for LucasArts.
irst released in 1998, the game used the Mexican tradition of the Day ofthe
skeleton named Manny Calavera as he journeys through the соса
the game even received a British Academy Award for its screenplay. The story of young -psychic Raz and a summer ‘camp for people is unique skills was charming and fi _ and featured some of the most intriguing level designs in memory, as you jumped and fought . through the twisted minds of various camp | denizens. Unlike many on this list, you shouldn't. have too much trouble tracking this one down at your local game store, and it's definitely. worth the E .
GAME INFORMER 83
№ The entire game is packed full of heavy metal homage
E Through an as yet unexplained game mechanic, you'll acquire fans, many of whom will flock to your side in response to a kicking guitar solo. You'll maintain their interest by building them a merchandise booth
т Brütal Legend certainly has an insane premise, but
_ ideas - albeit with their own С surreal twi
continued from page 82
average gamer - but the well- versed metal fan will see a whole extra layer.
It's a far bigger production than the critically hailed Psychonauts, and the voice talent connected reflects the higher profile. Headlining the game is actor and comedian Jack Black, whose longtime love and evangelizing of rock couched in humor matches seamlessly with the game. A host of heavy metal's finest will also join the fray. Motórhead's founder Lemmy will play your ever-present healer and bassist, the Kill Master, a name that makes a lot more sense when you realize that Lemmy's last name is Kilmister. Rob Halford of Judas Priest brings his wailing tones to the voice of the villainous General Lionwhyte. Black Sabbath's Ronnie James Dio will also bring his voice talents to an as yet unannounced character. In addition, an ever-growing stable of heavy metal bands are contributing songs to the game, including tracks from Black Sabbath, Kiss, Candlemass, and Killenstein. Several artists are so enthused about a game that offers such high tribute to metal that they're planning on writing brand new music just for the game, including Rob Halford, Zakk Wylde, Skold, Wolfmotther, Judas Priest, and Ronnie James Dio, not to mention brand new extended guitar solos from Judas Priest guitarists Glenn Tipton and KK Downing. Add to that a surprising number of as yet unannounced Hollywood stars that are being targeted for the other lead roles, and you begin to see the epic scale of the production.
Like much of that voice talent, one other component of the game isn't yet ready for public consumption - online multiplayer. However, Schafer and the rest of the team are quick to point out that it's a part of the game that has already received just as much
attention as the single-player camp. Details remain under wraps, мита to imagine what might emerge іп а g
with multiple uniq
number of minion unit types, and a game engine that is designed to handle tremen- dous army-size battles.
The hardest thing to communicate about Double Fine's latest project is the depth of its creativity and humor. Even in its early form, trademark Schafer moments are scattered plentifully throughout the script, and the simple yet slightly absurd style of the art catches the eye in a way that the glut of ultra-realistic action games this year fails to do. Everything in Brütal Legend is layered in an almost dreamlike allegory, and Eddie Riggs makes for a strangely appropriate hero in this world in which he finally fits. "This everything he's ever wanted. He loves it here. He was made for this world," Schafer tells us. Before we depart from our visit to Double Fine, Schafer reiterates his formula — he aims for each of his games to be the opposite of the ones before. It's a truth that is evident in this dark rock and roll world when compared against the idyllic psychic summer camp of Psychonauts - - alike Aa
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They blame you for a global threat. They claim your partner is a double agent.
They've destroyed your agency.
Neutralize opponents with a surprising new array of combat techniques.
e] à Play with up to 8 players online and find out who among you is the master spy.
4
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Somewhere within the fears of your enemies lives the world's deadliest Precision Strike Operative - Agent Gabe Logan. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Syphon Filter’: Dark Mirror, Logan finds himself alone in a battle where no one can be trusted. He must fight his way through a world so full of betrayal it could only have come from the mind of best-selling writer, Greg Rucka. So get ready to discover why your enemies are afraid of the shadows.
2 HE LN
amer rara EIN | PlayStation.Portable. ®
Since it was first announced, trailers for Hideo Kojima's final Metal Gear Solid title have been the talk of every major
gaming convention. This year's Tokyo Game Show was no different in that respect; a new Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the
Patriots video drew awed crowds to Konami's booth to see the latest reveals and fake-outs. There was something differ-
ent this time, though. Instead of shuffling away, wondering what the future may hold for this much-anticipated Р53
exclusive, we finally got our hands on the controller. After playing the дате, it's clear that Solid Snake is receiving
much more than a graphical upgrade; the changes to the gameplay, in addition to new ways Snake can interact
with the battlefield, will ensure that the saga of this legendary solider ends with a bang.
ven for combat-hardened
fans of the franchise, the first
few minutes with МС5 4 will
require you to become familiar with the control scheme, since many of Snake's moves are brand new or dra- matically altered. This will come as wel- come news to gamers who criticized the previous entry for using a control setup popularized on the PSone. “I love Snake Eater...but the controls were confusing," admits assistant producer Ryan Payton. ^| think it’s time we bring the controls into the next gen"
The most noticeable result of this
evolution is the way Snake's overall mobility has been simplified. Instead
Pressing the square button toggles between auto-aim firing and the
over-the-shoulder mode, shown here Ё
of just having two forms of movement (walk and crawl), there is now a third: the stealth-run. This mode is entered by tapping X, and which point Snake crouches as usual. However, if you move the stick forward in this position, Snake will no longer start crawlin, just advances in a style similar to Gears of War's roadie run. This mode is perfect for moving quietly behind crates, under windows, and other kinds of waist-high obstacles. You are still able to crawl, but in order to do so, you need to delib- erately hold the X button down, which means you will no longer find yourself on your belly at inopportune moments. That isn't to say that lying prone won't
have its advantages. When you are pressed up against a surface (either the ground or a wall), the octocamo built into Snake's sneak- ing suit will assume the patterns and colors of its surroundings. This feature entirely replaces the camouflage from Snake Eater, allowing you to become one with the environment on the fly. You are still given a camo index percent- age, but it can be improved simply by lying still and blending in - no menu screens required. Plus, while you're down there, you can test out Snake's new ability to play dead.
By holding triangle while prone, Snake will go limp in an attempt to look like a
(MULTIPLAYER ТВА) > PUBLISHER KONAMI DEVELOPER KOJIMA PR 008
Casualty of war. Payton clarifies: "As long as the soldier doesn't see you start to play dead, and you're not in his direct path, you can just go to the side of the street and they'll think you're another dead soldier on the battle- field" As you can imagine, this skill is incred- ibly useful in getting through the occasional alert phase.
Of course, as any Metal Gear fan knows, you would ideally be able to avoid these alert modes. Thankfully, one of the new interface features will be invaluable in keeping you out of trouble. The threat ring, a thin circle of light surrounding Snake, takes the place of the radar system seen in MGS 1 and 2. You will not magically be able to perceive your foes' vision cones; instead, the threat ring acts as a sort of 3D radar for trouble. By changing the shape and color of the line, the ring will indicate the distance and direction of nearby hostiles. This allows you to plan your.
Continued on page 91 >>>
GF б № The new Foxhount Jonathan, and the conspicuously masked Johnny Akiba
T
feature
FNIT.
THE BEASTS
You just can't have a Metal Gear game without a cadre of strange and powerful super-soldiers to chal- lenge Snake and put his skills to the test. In Metal Gear Solid 4, this role is occupied by the intimidat-
ing Beauty and the Beast unit. These once-gorgeous women are not your typical foes; they were innocent bystanders caught up the war in their homeland. Instead of becoming victims, the women adapted to the harsh reality of combat, encasing their bodies
in Metal Gear-like suits of armor and fighting back.
Fans of the series will notices that each of the four
ladies (Laughing Octopus, Screaming Mantis, Crying Wolf, and Raging Raven) has an animal callsign that parallels a Foxhound member frorn the original Metal Gear Solid. Whether this is just a nod to the past or a more significant connection has yet to be seen.
Sleep grenades are one of the many new items Snake can find in the war zone
№ When customizing weapons, top
mounts are used for accessories like i scopes, while grenade launchers and [DAS LIS VR AS SIMMER C EEU shotguns are equipped as secondary ||
fires on bottom mounts
| |
№ One of the members of Beauty and the Beast, Crying Wolf, wreaks havoc on a tank
E Em] —= Snake and Naomi pose with
Little Gray, the pet of the arms dealer Drebin
E Sunny, Olga Gurlukovich's daughter, was kidnapped by the Patriots during the events of Metal Gear Solid 2
i It isn't as quiet as a card- board box, but the barrel has | some offensive capabilities
REE
\ <<< Continued from page 89
approach with more accuracy than the technologically sparse MGS 3, but it still retains the tension of not knowing exactly what to expect.
If you do happen to wander into an enemy's sight, you will also notice some changes to the way they react. In previous iterations, the guards would immediately radio headquarters calling for backup, and the game would enter into a lengthy three-stage alert phase. “I don't know about you, but | would basically check my e-mail while | was waiting for those things to go down,” jokes Payton. “We're getting rid of that. We still have an alert mode, where all the soldiers come looking for you. That's when your threat ring turns red. If it's white, you're in normal mode"
Our experience with MGS 4 shed light on several other previously unknown mechanics. For instance, practically all of Snake's weapons will be customizable, so items like scopes and grenades launchers
сап be attached to almost any gun. This
The threat circle is a visual Е representation of nearby hostiles' positions
se feature
Metal Gear Solid 4 may be the most prominent upcoming title in the series, but it isn't the only chance gamers
will have to spend some time with Snake in the coming months. The PSP
expansion to Portable Ops, simply 8 called Portable Ops--, will be hitting Е shelves later this year, and a new Е
installment of the Metal Gear Solid
„аа
also means that most weapons will fea- ture secondary fire options, another first for the series. COC moves will be available to use with two-handed weapons (like assault rifles), and a new stress meter
can give Snake a temporary combat high when things are at their worst.
Details like these, when considered alongside the larger changes to the gameplay, clearly demonstrate that the coolest Metal Gear info to соте out of the Tokyo Game Show isn't found in the mysteries of the trailer. Yes, the newest footage is awesome, and raises some intriguing questions about the adventure awaiting Snake (like "How is he piloting Metal Gear Rex, and сап | control it?”). Even so, the nuances of how the experi- ence will actually play is where this game has grown the most in recent months. Streamlined controls, a more intuitive interface, and new ways to carve out your niche on the battlefield are positioning Guns of the Patriots to be a fitting conclu- sion to one of the most inventive sagas
Digital Graphic Novel (following the events of MGS 2) is also planned.
us Metal Gear Online - a source of some confusion
Lastly, the myst
since its announcement — has been revealed to be the online multiplayer mode for MGS 4. A starter pack for МСО will be included with that game, but whether it will be expanded in the future, and through what avenues, is still to be determined.
AER i These Metal Gear units 8 ; Still have been seen only in ^ the trailers 5
И |
Қ LEAS Youn INNER ROCKTEGEND
OVER 70 ROCKIN’ TRACKS, INCLUDING: e Welcome То The Jungle ө When You Were Young ө Suck My Kiss e Rock And Roll All Nite e Paint It, Black e Even Flow _ س
BECOME A LEGEND: Challenge guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello
SHRED YOUR ALL NEW WIRELESS LES PAUL GUITAR: Change out your faceplates to customize your stage presence
ROCK OUT ONLINE OR PARTY OFFLINE:
Face off in all-new Battle mode, play co-op, or compete head-to-head [Online play feature available only for PLAYSTATION@3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360®, and Wii™]
CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM: Now available for Xbox 3609, Wii™, PLAYSTATION@3 system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system
|
Lyrics Mild Suggestive Themes
ESRB CONTENT RATING www.esrb.org
Online Interactions Are Not Rated by the ESRB
LE 1-PLAVER ACTION/ADVENTURE ILISHER UBISOFT
ELOPER UBISOFT MONTREAL
EASE NOVEMBER 13
94 GAME INFORMER ү
hat's how long we got to play Assassin's Creed this month. And it could have been five minutes for how much it left us longing for more. Like getting dropped into the middle of a great book for three chapters before having the pages spirited away, Assassin's Creed is a game that's hard to put down. In short, it is every bit as epic in scale and remarkable in its storytelling as we hoped it would be.
The Crusades serve as a dramatic backdrop to the complex story that plays out in Ubisoft Montreal's big holiday release. Altair is a member of a mysteri- ous organization that feels as much like a school for ninjas as a Middle Eastern military force from medieval times. These strange killers, the original assassins, are out to surgically strike down targets throughout the Holy Lands, firm in their belief that the death of these few will bring about peace for all.
Players must seek out view points throughout the world to gaze down on the action below, thereby filling in the map. for that area
The scope of the game is massive. Dozens of minor Templar targets are scattered throughout the world. Hundreds of collectible flags dot the land and cityscape, not unlike hidden packages in other games. Repressed citizenry cry out for help on the Streets as you pass. A vast countryside connects three equally massive cities — ripe for hours of exploration.
One feature we hadn't seen before was one part of that exploration. In the beginning, most of the sprawling map of the Holy Land will be grayed out. When Altair spies an eagle circling a high lookout point, he'll be able to ascend to that point and survey the sweep of land around him. Beyond the exciting vista, this will open that section of the map, revealing mission locations, hiding places, and enemies. In addition, you can always make a death- defying leap from these vantages to some soft point below. Even after trying it several times, the thrill of careening from the highest tower of a cathedral manages to be exciting every time.
(Continued on page 97)
DEPT 3 27! па ; A P feature
Guards and other protection surround primary targets - you'll need to investigate extensively before going in for the kill
The game is as much about restraint „ as it is about action. There's a time for
| and stealthy move-
` | ment, and a time for drawn blades and leaps off rooftops
The story of Assassin's Creed is positively engrossing - the writing and cinematography could set a new bar
96 GAME INFORMER
At times, you'll stand back and watch a scene unfold in front of youto gain пем. information. At particulat;/moments, when the screen flashes, you can press any button for a different camera angle on the action
№
The marionette-style controls are unlike ional third-person games - Altair moves ase through any situation based less on
individual actions you want him to do, and more about how you want him to do them
(Continued from page 94)
he primary gameplay arc is an extended one, eschewing traditional level design and instead encouraging players to tackle a problem their own way. With one of the nine primary targets in mind, you'll inves- tigate extensively before the kill through activities like pickpocketing, eavesdropping, and interrogation. For every target, there are a number of these smaller mini-missions. You can complete all of them or just three or four — enough to get permission from the local assassin's bureau to begin your infiltration. You'll then sneak in and eliminate your target. In the moment between life and death, the dying man will impart to you some part of the greater mystery of the story before you are rudely flung back into reality, and a flight for your life. With this info, you'll return. to the assassin's home fortress of Masyaf and report in, thereby ranking up and acquiring new weapon: skills, or other upgrades. : Technically, the game is coming alon nicely — some incredible strides have b since ЕЗ, even if there are still: n
You'll invade the home of this merchant king of Damascus during a party where the
* host's intentions are not what they appear to be
Platforming in the game is seamless and exciting as you leap between bı off rooftops
If you alert your enemy, a run for it — it won't sui
noticeably, the random chases through the city. seemed 10 -оссиг too often and last too long for our tastes, where even the most minor infractions send dozens of guards out to take you down. It's à neat feature, but we're hoping it gets toned down a little bit so as to not be a distraction in the final version. Assassin's Creed База depth and accuracy to its —
historical drama оп а whole new level while
ing together into one of the mos plots we've seen; And for everything know about its intricate story, there huge secret about the way the. gamers will have to discover
comes out B BB.
PLAYTSTATIONS
Blood and Gore Intense Violence Strong Language
ESRB CONTENT RATING
DVD-ROM NI NTENDD DS.
" ; © 2007 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision and Call of Duty are registered trademarks and Modern Warfare is a trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. This product contains software technology еш «licensed from Id Software ("Id Technology’). 1d Technology © 1999-2007 Id Software, Inc. "PlayStation, "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Microsoft,
ғ "xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Software platform logo (TM 8 ©) EMA 2006. TM, ® and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2004 Nintendo. j The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners:
г E Е gr,
www.esrb.org
“THE MOST INTENSE FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER EVER.” -GAME INFORMER MAGAZINE
A
ба ONE oF THE DEEPEST ONLINE SHOOTERS oF ALL TIME." %
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THE most INTENSE. Амо GINEMATIC::
CTION EXPERIENCE EVER." | | a E 1 \ -ТЕАМХВОХ` ^, 4. |
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PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360
Condemned 2: Bloodshot
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER TBA) > PUBLISHER SEGA > DEVELOPER MONOLITH > RELEASE SPRING 2008.
HELLO SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
“While you're up. Пе there, would you mind replacing that bulb?"
reak out the nightlight, drop to your knees, really going on. Any questions you may have had will ERU на КЕДЕ and pray that you don't dream about likely be resolved very quickly in this chilling follow- your life threatened, E Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Sega swung by up. Sega doesn't want us to reveal much of the plot would appear enemies the Game Informer office for an exclusive just yet, but we can tell you that you'll learn of the also want to give you hands-on demo with this highly anticipated sequel, significance of the birds, and who — or what — is pinkeye and after working our way through the first level, we behind the madness. can tell you that it makes the first game look like a In the year that has followed since Ethan Thomas" picnic on a sunny day. 175 shaping up to be one ofthe — life went to hell, he's become a raging alcoholic. He's most terrifying and cerebral experiences in gaming. an emotional wreck, and the only solace he can find As BioShock has recently illustrated, storytelling is in a bottle. Rather than just having his dependency can be used as a tool to create atmosphere and on alcohol magically disappear when gameplay com- drive the player forward. The original Condemned mences, you'll see Ethan struggle with the shakes struggled to convey a clear picture as to what was when he tries to hold a firearm steady, and he may even start seeing things that aren't really there. Monolith is going to great lengths to Че you re on ще: . . make this character feel real, and it will be Just die already: Е А -— | — interesting to see how his character devel-
ops as this story unfolds. The story is also very much in the player's hands. Through an emotional response
em
“Мо seriously. This thing makes it so much easier"
“So, I think we can safely say that your dog doesn't like те”
100 GAME INFORMER
25 previews
If you thought the original game was scary, Condemned 2 will likely
System, players will have a split second to hit a button that flashes up on screen. If someone insults you, the emotional response would
be to flick him or her off. If someone tries to help you up off of the ground, the emotional response is to grab his or her hand. If you don't hit the button, the dialogue or direction of the scene will change.
This high level of interaction is present throughout the entire game, especially in the combat system. The left and right shoulder but- tons function as your arms. If you click the left shoulder button, you'll throw a punch with your left arm. Click both buttons together, and Ethan will raise both of his hands to block. Attack while sprinting, and Ethan will throw out a fierce forearm, Pull back on the analog stick, and he'll perform an uppercut. Of course, razor-sharp
How cool would it be if you could customize your character for multiplayer?
axes and blunt lead pipes are still a part of the mix, but rather than just swinging them, Ethan can throw them at his assailant. You can really feel the impact and weight behind the throw, and you almost feel sorry for your foe as they stand dazed or holding their shins. If you really want to take down an enemy in style, Monolith has incorporated over 40 finishing moves into the game. If you see a TV set, you can smash your attacker's head through the screen. An exposed pipe doubles as an impaling tool, and a dumbwaiter, well, you'll just have to wait and see what that brings.
Being aggressive and creative in combat is beneficial, as players are rewarded at level's end with points that can be used for upgrades that range from brass knuckles and steel-toed boots to a shoulder-mounted flashlight and a
make you poop your pants twice
If you can time your punches correctly, you can get a chain going
bulletproof vest. The game will be much longer this time, and Monolith expects players to clock roughly 12 to 15 hours in it. The story is only part of the experience, however, as Monolith has huge plans for multiplayer and a new mode tentatively called Fight Club. No details are being revealed at this time for the online component, but Fight Club looks like a place where you can spend hours upon hours just bashing in people's skulls and completing timed arena challenges.
Condemned 2 has already hit its alpha state, and Monolith is now going through the game to make it as scary as can be. It'll street this spring for both PS3 and Xbox 360, and will come packaged with a highlight video that walks play- ers through the events of the first game. INI №8 №
GAME INFORMER 101
EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE DRUG NECTAR AS YOU PLAY AS A HIGH-TECH MANTEL TROOPER.
FURIOUS ONLINE MULTI- PLAYER BATTLES WITH UP TO 16 PLAYERS.
PLAY THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IN 4-PLAYER CO-OP MODE - SPLIT-SCREEN OR ONLINE.
AS A CUNNING REBEL, USE WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED AS A MANTEL TROOPER TO
RATING PENDING
FIGHT BACK.
Visit www.esrb.org
for updated rating ESRB
PLAT STATO а
‘© 2007 Ubisoft Entertainment and Free Radical Design Limites. All Rights Reserved: Haze is а tademark of Ubisor entertainment and Free Radical Design: Free Radical Design and its associated logo-are, trademarks of Free Radical Design Limited. Ubisoft; Чонсоттгапй не Ubisoft-logo-are registeren trademarks ООО Entertainment in te U.S. and/or other countries. ‘Developed by Free Radical Design Limited. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", and “PS” Family- Jogo are registered trasemarks of Sony Computer Bialertalament Io.
UBISOFT
God of War: Chains of Olympus _
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER READY AT DAWN STUDIOS > RELEASE MARCH 4
THE WILL OF THE GODS
ne of the criticisms often leveled at the PSP. is that it is just a smaller version of the PS2. That may make PSP owners reluctant to pick up ports of console games, but when it comes to delivering the thunderous action of God of War, it's a blessing rather than a curse. We got our hands on an all-new level in Ready at Dawn's prequel to God of War, and Kratos' next adventure is getting ready to raise the bar for handheld action games. In the words of Ready at Dawn's director of production Marc Turndorf, "We try not to compare ourselves to other PSP games. We're just trying to make a great God of War вате”
The story takes place before the original God of War, but after Kratos has become the Ghost of Sparta. In this period, he was a servant to Olympus, doing the gods' dirty work on Earth. The plot setup may be different, but the gameplay is strikingly familiar. The layout and feel of the controls are remarkably similar to the PS2 games, and even improved in the case of using magic. Instead of selecting a type of magic with the d-pad, the R button acts as a shift trigger, enabling the use of magic with the face buttons. In other words, if you hold R and press triangle, Kratos will unleash one kind of magic, but if you press circle he will use another. Afterwards, you can just release R and go back to swinging your blades.
It looks like the only hang-up with this revised con- trol scheme could be overworking the two shoulder buttons. Independently, L and R are the block but- tons. However, since the PSP doesn't have a second analog stick, you need to hold both L and R while flicking the nub in order to dive away from attacks. Add to that the fact that L is used to initiate power attacks (which can't be interrupted by blocking) апа К is for casting magic, and sometimes Kratos isn't doing exactly what you want. For the most part, though, the build we played was responsive and fluid.
Most of the basic moves and combos from God of War ІІ have found their way back into Kratos arsenal. In the cases where it wouldn't make sense to have the exact same ability (like magic or the Golden Fleece), a similar mechanic has been substituted. The Sun Shield, found in Helios' Temple, can parry attacks if pressed at the right moment. You'll also encounter а brand new selection of spells. We played a boss fight against the Persian King, and after his grisly defeat (Kratos crushes his skull by repeatedly hitting it with a treasure chest), we earned the fiery Efreet magic. To top it all off, there will also be a weapon option in addition to the Blades of Chaos. Ready at Dawn wouldn't tell us exactly what the new weapon is, but we know that you'll get it about
halfway through the game, and it can be
used to break stones in order to open # Most of the basic combat " moves are the same as in God иреше ааз: of War И, with a few variations
The full version of Chains of Olympus isn't hitting until March, but you can get a taste of the action right now with a demo disc. If you don't believe the God of War experience can be faithfully moved to handheld, you shortly may find yourself reevaluating that stance. “In every aspect of the game - the combat, the puzzles - it's God of War,” states Turndorf. “It just happens to be on the PSP” ШШШ
104 САМЕ INFORMER
E The grab kills are as brutal and satisfying as ever
>
previews
KEEP SWINGING THE CHAINS
After the first two entries їп this series, gamers have come to expect a few rewards upon completing a God of War title. Ready at Dawn is continuing this tradition by implementing numerous incentives
to play the game for a second and even a third time. “After you beat it, you'll be able to take your whole gamut of weapons and upgrades with you for another playthrough,” explains programming director Garret Foster. In fact, there are certain areas you can’t even access in the first playthrough, much like God of War II. You may even encounter other surprises as you replay: “There will be one variation on one of the weapons...but that's beside
E The satyrs in this game are fast and agile, dodging attacks and firing at Kratos from a distance
SN 0 [2 № the point," Foster teases. m$ № Even on the small screen, i the areas you explore are | | | | epic in scale Т
a i ee № The Blades of Chaos are still your greatest allies, but you will get an alternate weapon
| partway through the game
№ Efreet magic summons a fire demon for an area-of-effect burst of flame
№ Kratos obtains the Sun Shield іп Helios' Temple. It is used to parry enemy attacks, which will then allow you to counterattack
GAME INFORMER 105
MATURE
Blood an
17+
Intense Violence
Nudity ESRB CONTENT RATING
www.esrh.org
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ООУММІОАО THE DEMO ON XBOX Live? OR PLAYSTATION’ NETWORK
PLAYSTATION 3 {XBOX 360
Battlefield: Bad Company
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 24-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER DIGITAL ILLUSIONS CE > RELEASE 2008
“BLOW IT ALL UP
108°; GAME INFORMER
Total destruction includes mother nature as well
rom the time we debuted the game
last year (issue #161), Battlefield: Bad
Company has long surpassed its original
"Spring 2007" release date. But all of the extra work seems to be paying off. DICE's propri- etary Frostbite engine looks to be living up to its promises with impressive detail and destruction alike — especially for an open world game.
Previously under wraps story details are finally
starting to emerge. Sure we know the game is inspired by movies like Three Kings and Kelly's Heroes, but we haven't really met the characters until now. Players will take the role of Preston, the greenest member of Bad Company, who basically gets bossed around by the others. Sarge is close to retiring from the military, Haggard is good with explosives, and Sweetwater is the brains of the operation. The squad has been sent to their inevi- table deaths on the frontlines by their commanders in a war with Russia and a Middle East coalition. Rather than accept their fate, the squad goes
AWOL in a search of hidden caches of gold on a sprawling battlefield that spans miles and miles.
Players are given objective locations on the map and can choose any route they want to get there. To cut down on travel time and increase firepower, players can utilize land, air, and sea vehicles. In a recent gameplay demo, we saw Preston and company hop into a Humvee and book it to a military checkpoint. While he could have thinned the enemy ranks with a sniper rifle or ran in with guns blazing, Preston instead pulled out a radio that had been previously stolen from the enemy. With a quick rattling off of coordinates, we soon had the enemy launching a mortar strike against its own forces. As he stormed the panicked base, the main road through the center looked to be the sole dangerous option. But thanks to the destructible environments he was able to tunnel through build- ings, blowing holes through the walls with a trusty grenade launcher.
In another area, Preston dodged a hail of
Se previews
Create your own paths through Battlefield’s open world
helicopter bullets while running through a Clearing. He quickly came across a source of salvation — a concrete turret platform. After feeling the heat of return fire, the chopper Swoops behind some towering pines. No matter, our turret chews the trees to pieces to expose the flying menace. With a few more well-placed shots, the helicopter goes down in a trail of smoke and flames. As it crashes into the remaining forest below, trees snap and topple over.
Despite the fact that you'll always be part of a squad in Bad Company, DICE still won't comment on the possibility of co-op gameplay. Competitive multiplayer remains a mystery as well, with little more information than the inclusion of full destruction and a 24-player cap. All of this will come as we get closer to the release date, however. Let's just hope it
makes an early 2008 timeframe rather than NL SS
Bad Company looks. fantastic in motion
GAMETNFORMER = 109:
MATURE 17+
Blood
Strong Language Violence
A BEAUTIFUL DEATH NOVEMBER 2 8 Ө 7
€ 2007 Ubisoft Entertainment. А! Rights Reserved. Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo аге trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.
ANSSASSINSCREED.COM
UBISOFT
55 previews
PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360
Rock Band
> 5ТҮШ # TO 4-PLAYER MUSIC (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER HARMONIX > RELEASE NOVEMBER 20
THE FULL BAND
“Ж
Before you start your world tour, you'll create your own unique rocker, then dress and accessorize him or her as you see fit
vades
Г 506,440 XX >
Four-player | cooperative play is the highlight of the game mE.
pum +
Maybe it's just because they're new, but the drums are the most challenging way to play so far
-—-
TWA GAME INFORMER
t long last, our final Rock Band instruments showed up at the office this month, along with an almost complete version of the final game, and we got right to work on our big world tour. Between the different instruments, the dozens of performance venues, and the fleshed out character customization, there was a lot to see. In recent months, we got a look at a scaled back version of the character creator. Now, that feature is almost complete, and we took advantage of the chance to make some truly screwed up characters. While there weren't a huge number of individual faces and haircuts to choose from, the clothes and tattoo options help to make up for the lack of variety elsewhere. In particular, we were amazed by the options for inking your rocker. An array of real- life tattoo artists have their work represented in the game. Once you pick among the many options, the tattoo can be scaled and stretched to fit the dimen- sions you desire, and unique colors can be chosen. Once your band is decked out, you'll head out and start performing gigs. For every performance, the number of stars you acquire will go toward unlocking new venues and songs. Sometimes you'll have mystery song sets that come in as requests, and at other times, you'll arrange your own set list or simply choose individual songs. We don't love
THE WHOLE SHEBANG
the fact that you end up having to repeat songs you've already played in order to get enough stars to progress, but it certainly extends the length of the game, for better or worse.
Each instrument plays a little differently. Guitar tracks have special solo lines you have to nail for extra points. Drummers need to nail fills and the crash at the end to trigger the yet again renamed "Overdrive" (still works like "Star Power"). Bassists can drop into a bass groove for huge multipli- ers — as high as 12x. Finally, singers have to nail particularly important vocal lines to build their Overdrive power. If everybody triggers their special power simultaneously, you'll get a huge score boost for unison play.
Drumming seems to be the place where hardcore players are likely to find the biggest chal- lenge this time around — some of the rhythmic lines on Expert are Killer. Guitar parts remain fun, but still not as challenging as we'd like. However, unlike in Activision's recent Guitar Него III, the avail- able time frames for hitting notes hasn't expanded, so you'll need to be as precise as you were wi the early GH games. Overall, Rock Band plays like a dream, a fact that every one of us will be able to experience together when we start playing online in late November. № № №
While the exact details of pricing and packaging for individual instruments remain under wraps as of the time of this writing, we did manage to get a confirmation from the game makers on a price for their most extravagant package. For $200, you'll be able to get the game, a guitar, a set of drums, and a microphone for either the Р5 or the Xbox 360. However, the packages aren't identical. The guitar included with the Р55 will be wireless. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Xbox 360 guitar, which will ship as a wired peripheral. On the bright side, included in this $200 Xbox 360 version will
be a USB hub, so all the instruments can plug in without a problem. Of course, whether you're playing on a Microsoft or a Sony console, you'll still need to go buy one more guitar for the four part experience — presuming you don't already have
a compatible guitar from Guitar Hero II or Ill.
ee eee y = = = = = = = سے
MATURE 17+ B Blood
Strong Language Violence
. (Winner 1): (Winner 3): 42" HDTV with home 7-inch Altair action theater system (1prize) figure (100 prizes) (Winner 2): (Winner 4): Copy of Assassin’s Creed Assassin’s Creed video game (25 prizes) T-shirt (500 prizes)
AT GAMESTOP OR EB GAMES AND RECEIVE A FREE EXCLUSIVE ART BOOK (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)*
"GET THE BOOK WITH RESERVATION. (BUT VOU GET TO PICH IT UP WHEN VOU ACTUALLY BUY THE GAME, ПОТ WHEN VOU MARE VOUR RESERVATION).
EBGAMES Gamestop
power to the players
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Valid at participating GameStop stores. Decoder Game is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit: www.gamestop.com/assassins or participating GameStop stores. Winning game pieces must be mailed to “Winner! Assassin's Creed Decoder Promotion; c/o ePrize, LLC, One ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069 and be postmarked by December 14, 2007 Decoder Game ends: 11/30/07. Sponsor: Ubisoft, Inc., 625Third Street, San Francisco, СА 94107 © 2007 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin's Creed, и в 1 5 с FT Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.
<e previews
PLAYSTATION 3
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER SONY,COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT;
> DEVELOPER NAUGHTY DOG > RELEASE NOVEMBER 20
SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME
ncharted looks like it has the potential to be one
of the coolest games in years — amazing visuals,
a script on par with the best Hollywood pulp
films, a huge variety of gameplay mechanics, and some positively fascinating levels. The big question we have at this point is how in the world Naughty Dog is going to manage to pull the entire thing together in these final months before release.
We recently got some extended hands-on time with
the game, and were struck both by the exciting poten- tial of the title and the huge steps that still need to be taken to bring the game past the finish line. As a whole, the world of the game appears astonishing — lush foliage fills the jungle environments, and interiors are filled with tantalizing rays of light where they sneak in from outside. Meanwhile, some areas appear to have a huge amount of work ahead in order to complete before release, with vast empty zones and incomplete battles. Gameplay reveals the same strange dichotomy of polish and mess. Targeting is loads better than in the E3 build, and enemies react much more realistically. Simultaneously, balancing still needs a huge amount of work, with some situations way too easy and others almost impossibly hard. Of course, as any developer will tell you, the game's not done until it's done. Naughty Dog has a very strong track record in delivering quality products, and even if we saw some rough patches, they were all the more noticeable because the rest of the game is already in such phenomenal shape. We're more than willing to hold off judgment until we see the final game — a lot can happen in just the last few months of development.
You'll have a companion with: you through large sections of the game - one of the most important is Elena here
The gunfights have come a long way in the last few months, and are now a lot of fun to play — just the right
> mix of insane action and challenge
A simple melee system rewards carefully timed
button presses
Among the elements in great shape was the storytelling. We played through a huge chunk of the beginning of the game, and the cinematics and writing have just the right mix of comedy and action to evoke the feel of properties like Indiana Jones or National Treasure. ^ great score by Greg Edmundson, the music writer for the cult sci-fi hit Firefly, only adds to the high production values. Even early on in the game, it's clear that the team has embraced the feeling of those classic pulp adventures in the breadth of environ- ments — half the excitement lies in how quickly things change, and the surprise locations around the next corner. Consequently, we're trying hard not to spoil anything for you. However, it shouldn't ruin too much to tell you that we got to play through a few cool vehicle sections. One crazy chase had us manning the back turret of a Jeep as it sped away from some marauding pirates. We also checked out the jet ski, which will apparently be involved in some high speed
There's nothing to complain about in the amazing detail that goes into every character that walks on screen
NFORMER.
flights up a lost jungle river.
Even with some major gaps waiting to be filled in, some small touches add a lot to the moment-to-moment gameplay. Timed button taps during melee maximize the hurt you put on your foes. When exploring, a tap of L2 swings the camera around to the next location you should be heading for. Even Sir Francis Drake's diary, the opening clue of the mystery, has some remarkable details — the team traveled to Oxford to scan the real historical journal of the explorer for inclusion in the game.
Sony only has a few exclusive heavy hitters coming up to bat this holiday season, and so Uncharted has to be ready for the holidays no matter what. In our conversations with the folks on the team, they appear supremely confident that the game will be polished and ready to go on time. We're rooting for them. В 81 №
Many of the highlights of the game are the gorgeous locations through
which you'll run and leap
SLASHER.
ETH IN THE DARKNESS.
Ваше fierce enemies as you piay through 30 Unieash Carnal Power and fight hand-to- lead your men into fattle and years of Beowulf's life not seen in the movie. hand compat with giant Monsters. hecome a hero king.
Blood
Intense Violence
Partial Nudity Expand SexualThemes
COMING NOVEMBER 2007
WWW.BEOWULFGAME.COM uen AA
TM Paramount Pictures. © 2007 Paramount Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved, Game Software © 2007 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainmentin the Us andlor other counties UBISOFT
2° previews
WANE SEVEN
The leaderboards track how | much cash you've stolen
XBOX 360 | PC
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Шана
Once your team secures | Фе loot, what will you do? | Kane
RETOMOTO i [|
GetThe Money.
Keep your eye on the clock, otherwise you'll be trapped,
o
> STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR PC) > PUBLISHER EIDOS > DEVELOPER IO INTERACTIVE
> RELEASE NOVEMBER
MERCS “В” US
idos finally gave us the green light to speak about
our favorite element of its upcoming crime caper
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men — the multiplayer. Instead
of inundating gamers with another flaccid offering of capture the flag and team deathmatch, IO Interactive created an entirely new experience named Fragile Alliance.
^We wanted to create this dog-eat-dog criminal environ- ment and put this into the context of a multiplayer game," says Eidos' senior marketing manager, David Bamberger. The result is a unique cooperative experience that teams up to eight players together to pull off a big heist. Fragile Alliance features four scenarios that task you with robbing a mall jewelry store, violating the vault of a major bank, highjacking a Yakuza cocaine deal, and intercepting laundered drug money at a diner. Your band of mercenaries must work together to fend off the forces in your way and secure the loot. Once the team has the goods secured, all bets are off. All of the mercs who make it out alive receive a cut of the
action, but if one player hauls in a particularly large score he may decide to off his partners in crime instead of playing nice
HANESEVEN = i ein тошо REONOID - 1201525000.
6 +. А Meet At The Extraction Point.
116 GAME INFORMER
and sharing. Once you kill one of your allies, you become a trai- tor. Traitors do not share any of their winnings, but now they are a target, because anyone who kills a traitor receives an instal reward. Once you die from friendly fire or a cop's bullet, you will respawn once as a guard. Your job then becomes to stop the criminals from escaping with the score. Guards who recover the loot will receive a 10 percent finder's fee.
At the end of a round, the winnings can be spent on new weapons or upgrades to your existing gun. Options include sniper rifles, shotguns, handguns, and machine guns. You can also upgrade the grenades you bring to each heist.
After playing through a few heists, this mode easily earns its place as the Kane & Lynch feature we are most excited about. Feeling out the motivations of your loosely knit band of bandits early seems like the right thing to do, but as any criminal will tell you, the double cross is always a looming
камин tior
капе RETOMOTO.
Get The Money.
سا тоне
1001520000
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№ Knocking over a donut shop...class; сон Капе ВЕТОМОТО
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ill Mercs And Traitors.
possibility. Working to secure the loot and escape with your team intact is a rewarding experience in and of itself, but if someone is hauling the majority of the score back to the getaway vehicle the temptation of greed is often too much to overcome.
Your devious deeds will affect your TrueSkill ranking on the leaderboads, which tallies how much money you have heisted, how many traitors you have killed, and how many times you've made it out alive.
Though Kane & Lynch will only ship with four maps, Eidos confirms that more maps will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace down the road. № 81
‘Kanejoinedthe game ‚ RETOMOTO joined the name
am
„АЕ an easy heist. Senator Simmensisin town, defi ij
n № NDS
Get The Money.
“Damn. No quarters.”
Woney. He always eats in theSamediner,Westofmfneplace and take the
зселей?
The blockbuster movie trivia game comes to Xbox 360" featuring four easy-to-use, Big Button Pads. And with 1,800 all-new questions, including movie clips in HD, you'll rarely see the same one twice. АП of which canturn your next party into an epic premiere.
Microsoft gametudios:
5° previews a
Handgun | M р
In true Resident Evil fashion, some of the boss encounters are pretty epic
You'll see many familiar enemies from the previous games
le thie thing. Human?
Keep an eye out for herbs > and other items that will aid * you along the way
lec
— 2 ү How"the helllwould.| know?
Zombies and Stairs - like slinkies - are a match made in heaven
118 GAMEJNFORMER
Don't scoff, she's prettier than a lot of girls Chad has dated
Bad fashion idea 236: Fire Pants
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE NOVEMBER 2
RE ROUNDUP
ow did Rebecca Chambers get sepa- tated from bravo team and end up at the mansion? What happened to Albert Wesker at the end of the first game? And what's the difference between a tyrant and the Nemesis? Maybe it's time for a Resident Evil refresher, but instead of play- ing through the first four titles in the series, it might be easier to just check out Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, the action/shooter hybrid that covers much of the ground laid by RE's Zero, 1, 2, and 3.
We got a chance to shoot through several zombie-infested levels ourselves. We saw familiar environments like the speeding runaway train, the sprawling Victorian man- sion, and the ruined streets of Raccoon City, but we expect to see a few new locations in the final version of the game. The shooter controls feel pretty good. All the action takes place on rails, but there are some branching paths that offer up a little variety, and the
camera never feels constraining since using the nunchuck's analog allows you to wiggle the view a bit.
But Resident Evil wouldn't be the same if it didn't have a variety of different weapons with which to blow off zombie heads. Your arsenal of shotguns and machineguns can be shuffled through on the fly, but it's also a good idea to conserve ammo when fending off some of the smaller enemies. Holding down the A button and swinging the Wii remote lets you use the combat knife and cut smaller nuisances out of the air.
Capcom's previous attempts to adapt Resident Evil into a shooter give us some reason to be nervous about how this one will turn out, but the game seems to be making good use of the Wii's controls. If Capcom keeps adding plenty of references to the clas- sic entries in the series, this could at least be a fun flashback for many fans. m
Se previews
PC SimCity Societies > STYLE 1-PLAYER SIMULATION > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER TILTED MILL > RELEASE NOVEMBER 15
MAJOR RENOVATIONS
kay, Mayor, you need to clean off your desk. Throw away those
reams of intricate budget calculations, and don't concern yourself
with those reports on power lines or water pipes. It's time to roll
up your sleeves and start governing the people! Whether you choose to stimulate their minds with encouragement or stifle their resis- tance with oppression, you can't escape the fact that you're running a dif- ferent kind of city now.
The new direction in which SimCity Societies takes this classic series will surprise a lot a people, and probably even disappoint a few. Developer Tilted Mill Entertainment (Caesar IV, Children of the Nile) has scrapped things like zoning and the power grid in favor of elements that let you deal with your population on a different level. Instead of the complexities of city planning, the player's role in Societies is more of a social engineer. This is made possible by allowing you to deliberately place every building. The days where you could just say, "I want some commercial businesses in this area” are gone; now you choose which businesses are in your city,
hat kinds of houses your sims inhabit, and what values drive your civiliza- tion forward.
In order to build anything, тт а nel You aren't railroaded into a single design scheme, you will obviously need money. though; you can build anything if you meet the However, there is a second КОШУУ, requirements. important currency in SimCity я ТТ As we played the opening hours of Societies, Societies called social energy. um x ста: we definitely felt that there was even more lurk-
t 2 ^ с br letéor Shower! M "
This is the term given to feelings d cc OS D ing underneath the surface. While many of the and attributes that you can foster Е у à m M EL mechanics have changed, the game seems to in your community, like creativ- Уш / Е 5 | maintain the addictive charm the series has had ity, knowledge, and authority. For ў E ы y By s 1 for years. It may Бе a new kind of city-builder, but instance, building iron fences, art 3 3 * 3 3 " 7 it's still unmistakably SimCity. IM mi m deco sculptures, and outdoor TVs dys 5 Даш (spouting state propaganda) will increase the authority energy. Once Y Buildings in the authori- you have amassed enough, new Э i Р << tarian style have names | buildings like the ominous State г х Uke МУ о гопан
: ; ( s and “Re-education Center Amphitheater become available.
If ruthless totalitarian rule isn't your style, you can focus on other social energies instead. Each one is enhanced by buildings with distinct visual themes — from small-town farms to cyberpunk skyscrapers. e If you stick to one primary social y EA A meteor shower is one energy, your city will maintain a 3 uus Четене
АЗАА Е your city unified visual style as it develops.
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Mary Rose Bautsch
Actual citizens populate your city. You can view them from afar or track them individually
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Introducing Gears af War far
The Locust Horde has emerged оп the Window la ind
bring forward a new enemy to help them ravage Whatever is left of mankind. The Brumak—a relentless, soulless tower of terror.
All is not lost. Three new multiplayer maps have also been unearthed, along with five new single-player chapters—which тад, mare battles, more story, and for Marcus Fenix and his squad, more chaos.
Mare than 30 Game of the Year awards on Xbox 360", ..*
4/4 0/10
Gamespy OXM
MATURE 17%
Blood and Gore Intense Violence Strong Language
ESRB CONTENT RATING | www.esrb.org
for Windows
25 previews
Rather than using base building, EndWar doles out resource points for kills and captures
PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360
EndWar
> STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (UP TO 12-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE)
> PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER UBISOFT SHANGHAI > RELEASE SPRING
GIVE THE ORDER
ntil now, Ubisoft has only shown EndWar through
screenshots and a pre-rendered trailer. But we've
recently seen the Tom Clancy RTS in playable form,
and its streamlined interface looks to be well-suited for consoles.
The game takes place decades in the future when a worldwide missile defense system has quelled the threat of nuclear strikes for some time. Now that peace is threatened, as these defense systems have become the target of mili- tant forces. Players can command U.S. Joint Special Forces (founded by GRAW's Scott Mitchell), a European federation army, or Russian forces, with a fourth (supposedly) unplay- able terrorist faction to serve as the villain. Outside of the main story-based campaign, thousands of players can team up online to compete for control of a persistent global battle- field, though few details on this mode have been revealed.
Every unit has the potential to level up, so it will be worth it to keep your forces safe as you move from battle to battle. As you capture more points and kill enemies your forces will also gain reserves that can be used to call in new units
122 GAME INFQRMER ы” \
or summon air strikes. Once you capture a majority of the points on the field, you can unleash the titu- lar "endwar" mass destruction. We saw a satellite light up the battle- field with space missiles, but you'll also be able to use devastating weapons like microwave energy and giant lasers. The camera is set right in the middle of the action. Players can zoom in and out and pan around units or take in the entire battlefield from a satellite view. But the most interesting camera trick is tied to voice commands through the headset of your particular console of choice. Rather than blindly searching the battlefield for specific units, you can simply call out something like "Unit Two Camera" and the view will swoop instantly to that location. As you speak, com- mand menus flash briefly onscreen to confirm what you've requested and offer a brief glimpse at what other order options you can dish out. Voice commands extend well beyond camera angles, however. You can use them to form groups mixing units like troops,
Troops will automatically seek out cover after being ordered to a location
tanks, jeeps, and helicopters, make them attack or take cover, or instantly command specific unit types to take action (“АІ tanks attack hostile 3^). Your forces will perform these actions whether the camera is directly on them or not, so it really allows players to focus on multiple fronts with ease. We can also verify that the game recognized every com- mand without even the smallest hiccup. This just scratches the surface of what the voice commands can do. These work hand in hand with a traditional control scheme loosely based on GRAW's squad command system to create what could be the smoothest console RTS control scheme yet. But, for now, we'll hold off judgment until we can bark orders ourselves. 8i Bi ii
RATING PENDING рии Visit www.esrb.org
for updated rating information.
B “Dookie spotted up ahead!"
PLAYSTATION З І XBOX 360 | PC
Operation Flashpoint 2:
Dragon Rising
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (MULTIPLAYER ТВА) > PUBLISHER CODEMASTERS > DEVELOPER CODEMASTERS STUDIOS > RELEASE LATE 2008
WAR, CNN-STYLE
hen Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis origi- nally came out in 2001 on PC it was hailed for its realistic sim approach, expansive garne world, and flexible mod tools. Unfortunately, by the time it came out on Xbox four years later, the gameplay and graphics just didn't hold up. This time around, however, con- sole gamers can get in on the ground floor of a whole new level of Operation Flashpoint realism. While original developer Bohemia Interactive Studios will not be returning (having branched off to release ArmA: Combat Operations with Atari in May), Codemasters has
ОВ АП images on this page are target renders
124 САҚ
recruited a few of the key members from the team.
OF 2 boasts Codemasters’ largest internal development team yet, and will run on the Neon engine, which first appeared in Dirt. While we'll be interested to see how Neon performs in combat scenarios, the vehicle handling in OF 2 should be top-notch.
Unlike the first game's "805 Cold War setting, OF 2 takes place in modern times. The location is loosely based on the Pinnacle Islands in the East China Sea and the real-life diplo- matic battle for territory and oil reserves between China and Japan. However, Codemasters has focused the chain into
y one island, named Skira, and shifted the conflict to Russia versus China. A small troop of U.S. Marines protects the American oil interests on the island, but they're no match for a sudden rush of invading forces. Players take on the role of a soldier in the Rapid Reaction Task Force in an attempt to defuse the con- flict between China and Russia before it expands to a global scale.
Despite the fictional scenario, the primary goal of OF 2 is realism. "You're not an action hero," says brand man- ager Andrew Wafer. "It's less like when you watch a Hollywood movie and
more like when you're watching a news report on guys in Afghanistan or Iraq. That's the ultimate goal we're trying to achieve"
A large part of this non-cinematic style is the damage system. Although Codemasters isn't going into specific details just yet, they're already dismissing the possibility of automatic health regeneration. Somehow damage will be represented differently for various bullet calibers, projectiles, and explosions. To prevent bleeding to death, players will have to receive some kind of medical attention. “We want to present a believable model of what weapons can do to show the brutality of it," says Wafer. “Because when these things do happen it's pretty nasty"
Gameplay includes such elements as infantry skirmishes, special ops stealth, tank battles, and helicopter air strikes. All of these facets are key elements of single player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer in the game. Also promised is a deep map editor to hopefully inspire another robust mod community. We're looking forward to getting some hands- on time with OF 2 to see how all of the elements come together, and can only hope that it lives up to Codemasters’ ambitions. В № m
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PLAYSTATION З | XBOX 360 | РС
Alone In The Dark
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ATARI > DEVELOPER EDEN GAMES > RELEASE MARCH 2008
E MACGYVER OF SURVIVAL HORROR
lone in the Dark fans have
been waiting patiently for
this fifth iteration in the series
ever since it was announced back in 2005. That wait appears to be ending this spring. We recently saw a technical demonstration of the game in action that showed off the weapons system, which consists entirely of everyday objects and what could be the most realistic fire to appear in any game to date.
“It takes place in 2008 and you'll be playing Edward Carnby, who's actu- ally the first Edward Carnby from the 1930s," says producer Nour Polloni of the original AITD protagonist. "He finds himself in today's world and he hasn't aged a bit. So what happened during this whole period of time?" Though specific story details are still under wraps, strange things are afoot in New York's Central Park. The entire game takes place within the park's painstakingly recreated 843 acres, and features such well-known landmarks as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Belvedere Castle. AITD will be presented like a 10-episode TV series chock full of mysteries and cliffhangers. In fact, every time you quit or return to the game, a teaser or recap will be displayed. Think "previously on Alone in the Dark"
Perhaps the most ambitious element of the game is the weapons system. Edward will use objects found in the environment and combine them in various ways to fight off monsters. The inventory is entirely in-game, with a view from Edward's perspective look- ing down as he opens up his jacket and peers at its many pockets full of trinkets. The most obvious combo is taping a light to your pistol. But what if you combine a bottle of fuel with your gun? This makes Edward cock back the bottle like he's going to toss it. Once you find a target, he'll chuck
126 GAME INFORMER
the bottle and automatically shoot it
in midair to create a huge explosion. The list of combinations goes on and on (see sidebar).
This doesn't include melee weapons like metal poles and wooden chairs, which are completely controlled by the right analog stick. Players can swing the stick back and forth quickly for melee attacks or manipulate it gently to remove an electrical wire from a pool of water. We saw Edward touch the chair to some fire and watched as it became a massive torch. Then he set this down by a wooden beam and flames crept up it and spread to the scaffolding above. Once the scaffolding burned for a bit, it began to collapse piece by piece and fell onto a table below, which also caught fire. Edward used a fire extinguisher to put it out and the wood was still glowing slightly like charcoal.
Its still too early to tell if all of these elements will come together with an interesting plot to create an overall awesome experience, but the tools for intriguing combat and creative puzzles are there. We're really hoping Eden can make it happen and bring Alone in the Dark back to its former glory. Bl Ili Bl
Observe, the inventory screen. imagine all of the goodies you сап fit in those pockets
Cars are more than a way to get
- Mix tape and glow sticks and throw them at walls or possessed rats to light your way
- Stab a bottle, throw it at an enemy, and
around. Yoirll be able to jump in the back seat to shoot pursuants or even puncture the gas tank and light the trail on fire to create a rolling bomb
light the trail of fuel
- Combine healing spray and a lighter for an impromptu flamethrower
- Puncture a blood packet and throw it at an enemy. Bloodthirsty monsters will tear him apart
- Use empty bottles for extra ammo storage or add some gasoline to the mix to make a shrapnelicious bomb
- Add fuel to an ammo box to create flaming bullets
е;
Effect Engine @ Slates andor
ESRB CONTENT RATING _www.estb.org
Partial Nudity Sexual Themes Violence
“DILEMMA” DOESN'T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT.
Microsoft BIOWARE
MAS f КО Pe SPI EFFECT
Saren's forces are spreading. And their goal is clear: the extermination of all organic life. How do you decide who to save? Who to let perish? Life and death decisions await at every stop as you scour a universe of over 32 stars and planets. Don't forget your map. xbox.com/masseffect
Se previews
№ Immortals learn skills from nermal humans, but increase their
UNLIMITED ENABLED
XBOX 360
Lost Odyssey
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER MISTWALKER/FEEL PLUS. > RELEASE FEBRUARY
TIME MARCHES ON
ow that gamers have gotten their hands on
Blue Dragon, the first title from Hironobu
Sakaguchi's Mistwalker studio, the time has
come to look toward the future. For the company's next project, Lost Odyssey, players will con- trol an immortal named Kaim through an adventure that will leave many of the carefree themes of Blue Dragon behind.
"The goal of Blue Dragon is for users to feel a warm, positive energy from the hero and his friends by the end of the game. It's like the accumulation of courage and optimism, as well as an energy that is not crushed easily in the face of adversity,” explains Sakaguchi. "The aim for Lost Odyssey is to be able to experience the appearance and innermost emotions, as well as the splendor and ugliness of people as the story of a man who lived for 1,000 years unfolds”
The existence of immortals in the world of Lost Odyssey is one of the game's big mysteries; Kaim is one of four such beings in the world, and he will encounter others during his journey. Some of them have even started families over the years, but while they stay young, their family tree contin- ues to age and branch. This gives rise to one scene in which two children sing a mystical song to heal a young-looking immortal woman who is actually their ancestor. Sakaguchi tells us how these kinds of ties will be important to the underlying story: "As a result of living for 1,000 years, various blood relations have been created.
It also results in the skipping and reversal of people's age. The secret of the scene with the
128 GAME INFORMER
two children is concealed within the mystery of that ind of generational intertwinement”
In terms of gameplay, players shouldn't expect any radical renovations to the traditional RPG approach. That isn't to say that everything will be totally familiar; much like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey will attempt to put a new spin on classic concepts. Many combat skills will use a timing-based trigger system that will increase their effectiveness, and your characters' posi- tions (like front or back row) will play a large part in the strategy. The boss battles also appear to have a tactical element, and aren't just about unloading as much damage as possible.
There is a perception among some gamers that RPGs are created with the Japanese audience in mind, and later brought over to North America. Sakaguchi tells us that Lost Odyssey, with its U.S. and Japan release dates only a couple months apart, is simply made for people who love the genre: “It was created for RPG fans, who are, for the most part, the same in Japan or overseas.” 88 Hi №
‘power through superior abilities қ
Ж”. ШЕпету encounters are turn-based and occur randomly
# Mistwalker won't say anything
about downloadable content, but the 1,000 years of Kaim's life prior to ће MI beginning of Lost Odyssey could be Ш fertile ground for episodic releases
14
Over 20 levels % Challenge your friends in four-person Nitrobike™ bowling — of nitro-charged gameplay % "split-screen or six-person online multiplayer wipeouts encouraged!
өө © 2007 left Field Productions Inc. АЙ Rights Reserved. Published and distributed by Ubisoft Entertainment. Nitolike and Left Field Productions ше trademarks of Lefi Field Productions Inc. and are used unde: license Ubisoft, Ubi com, and Не Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other counties. TM and the Wii logo ore trademarks of Nintendo, & 2006 Nintendo.
. UBISOFT
H Ü i 0 | H | L Е Mini Previews With Big Pictures
NU CNN
ў PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | PC % Conflict: Denied Ops
VES Games’ fifth Conflict title in the series is coming іп early ўм 2008 courtesy of Eidos. Previously known as Crossfire, Conflict: В Denied Ops follows two members of a top secret military group called S.A.D. (Special Activities Division) through areas of Russia, Africa, and. South America. Players can swap back and forth between stealthy sniper Graves and heavy weapons-based Lang or play the entire campaign via online co-op or splitscreen. Rather than obtaining several new weapons throughout the game, players will upgrade a handful of guns — attach a grenade launcher, get.a faster rate of fire, buy bigger dips; etc.
PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360 | РС
Soldier of Fortune Payback
It's been a long time coming, but Activision is finally set to release the third entry in the first-person shooter series Soldier of Fortune. Revolving around the mercenary group known as "The Shop," Payback looks to focus on providing a more realistic experience. With its new modeling system, enemies will react to weapon's fire in very realistic ways, so players will need to manage their equipment of 50 military grade weapons effectively. Players looking to overthrow an extremist plot and travel to exotic real world hotspots should suit ир for action on November 14th.
130 GAME INFORMER
NINTENDO DS Nintendo Crossword [working title]
Honestly, we don't know much about this game other than what's revealed in these screens. Even the name - Nintendo Crossword - isn't final, and there's no official release date (although we hear rumors that it will be shipping by the end of the year). Still, based on what we do know, this seems like a no-brainer. Crossword puzzles work great on the DS (as evidenced by the recent New York Times Crosswords title that released for the system) and Nintendo makes a habit of crafting well built, deep, yet simple-to-use puzzlers for the handheld. So it's pretty much a match made in heaven. W__ook f. rw. rd рау ng th s p_omis_ng ttl.
Cranium Kabookii
More than likely you are familiar with the board game Cranium, seeing as it's sold more than 22 million units worldwide. Ubisoft is obviously hoping this means people aren't sick of the game since it's bringing Cranium Kabookii over to the Nintendo Wii. Kabookii will continue the Cranium theme of testing all the corners of your brain with 15 activities that vary from drawing to word problems to geography questions, and much more. The game will also come packaged with a special set of goggles that allow their wearer to see hidden hints on the TV screen. You'll only need one remote to play, but we are guessing you'll want a lot of friends involved when this game comes out this December.
Wii | PLAYSTATION 2
Star Trek Conquest
Trek fans have it a little rough these days. They face a choice between reliving old romances with movies and series where the spark has gone out, or they can go out to find comfort in the arms of other sci-fi series. But don't worry. Bethesda is charging to the rescue of your Star Trek love affair with a new strategy game for the Wii and PlayStation 2 set in the Next Generation era. There's a turn-based element of building and managing your burgeoning galactic federation/empire, and then real-time starship combat when you inevitably clash with some alien culture. Pick between the Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Cardassian, Dominion, and Breen - all playable with their own unique traits, ships, and abilities. Sure, this may not be the next big step forward for Trek, but it's better than those midnight liaisons with Battlestar Galactica in that motel on the edge of town. Have you seen his teeth?
PC Codename: Panzers - Cold War Ss
The Codename: Panzers series has carved out its own niche in the World War Il RTS genre. Now with the new Gepard 3 engine, developer Stormregion hopes to take the presentation and destruction physics to the next level. Set in a fictional 1949 where the Cold War turns hot, players will battle through 18 missions
in the single-player campaign. However, this challenge can also be tackled via online co-op with two players each controlling half of the same army. Cold War features competitive multiplayer as well, with 20 maps to battle it out on. Publisher 10tacle Studios is planning for an early 2008 release.
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Blood Suggestive Themes
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The Orange Box Carnival Games Mass Effect
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
If you own a PSP, you already know that Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror delivered some of the best action known to Sony's handheld. Thankfully, Gabe and company have returned to bless us with another globetrotting adventure. It's the same Syphon Filter you know and love, but with a few new tricks.
ДД Halo 3
With three games receiving 9.75s across the board, deciding this month's standout title was extremely tough. The Orange Box had to be disqualified simply because much of its content has already appeared on PC. Mass Effect is a triumph and will truly go down in gaming history as one of the best. But after some serious thought and discussion we chose Halo 3. It's just about as fun as you could possibly have with a g console FPS. Head to page 150 for the details. Note: Tivo excellent games reviewed this month, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions are essentially ports of previously released titles, and are not eligible for Game of the Month.
Our crack (or crackhead, we can THE SCORING SYSTEM > Concept: What new ideas the game brings to the table and how
never decide which) review team well old ideas are presented.
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 out rarely and indicates a game that cannot be missed. Д such as bad collision or pop-up.
Superb. Just shy of gaming nirvana, this score is а high recommendation because > Sound: Does the game's music and sound effects get you
the game reviewed is head-and-shoulders above its competition. 5 3 Г | 1 ath the vol involved or do they make you resolve to always play with the vol-
Very Good. Innovative, but pethaps not the right choice for everyone. This score ume down?
рококо here аге ron oops o ашан тылар” > Playability: Basically, the controller to human interface. The less
tates games in a number of cat- egories to help you sort out the great from the stuff you'll hate. Most games are reviewed by two staff members, and you will
= е
с Average. The game's features may work, but are nothing that even casual players you think about the hunk of plastic in your hands, the better the review. To make things a little haven't seen before. A decent game from beginning to end. playability.
easier we have put together some Limited Appeal. Although there may be fans of games receiving this score, many will > Entertainment: Flat out, just how fun the game is to play. The definitions of what the numbers be left yearning for a more rewarding game experience. most important factor in rating a game.
mean, what we look for in a Passable. It may be obvious that the game has lots of potential, but its most Replay Value
game, and also a cheat sheet so engaging features could be undeniably flawed or not integrated into the experience.
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.
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 f р x malfunctions to varying degrees or it is so dull that the game falls short as a whole. Moderately High – Good for a long while, but the thrills won't last forever.
Painful. If there is anything that's redeeming in a game of this caliber, its buried А beneath agonizing gameplay and uneven execution in its features or theme. Moderate - Good for a few months or a few times through.
Broken, Basically unplayable. This game is so insufficient in execution that any value Moderately Low - After finishing it, there's not much reason to give would be derived in extremely small quantities, if at all ita second go. Low - You'll quit playing before you complete the game.
Banned. A game with a reputation so bad it gets kicked off Xbox Live.
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134 GAME INFORMER
REVIEWS INDEX
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation. Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII Carnival Games.
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts Conan.
Crash of the Titans.
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars.
Dirt
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness DK: Jungle Climber
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage.
Front Mission 1st.
Halo 3
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights.
Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, The Mass Effect
Medieval 11 Total War: Kingdoms
Mega Man ZX Advent
NBA 08
NBA 2K8.
NBA Live 08.
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer .
Orange Box, The.. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials & Tribulation:
Горд Neverwinter Nights 2: Г U | Mask of the Betrayer Spider-Man: Friend or Foe.
QM icm t lefront: Riding high on a wave of technical improvements to the base game, НОВ ОЕ
this expansion pack takes it a step further by delivering an outstanding Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow. high fantasy tale and a huge amount of additional content. Exploring the Two Worlds.
new base and prestige classes, experimenting with new tactics made { Possible by the added feats and spells, and delving deep into the twist- | oe ing plotline of Mask of the Betrayer all add up to the one of the best PC Zack & Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure... role-playing experiences in recent memory.
Victorious Boxers: Revolution
For our newer readers, here is a glossary of terms and acronyms that commonly appear in the magazine. Video game veterans should move along (these aren't the droids you are looking for). 10801 = A resolution specification used for HDTV. £ bloom – An effect that simulates the soft blurred : infrastructure - A type of wireless connection : particle effects - Things lke smoke or sparks 1080 stands for resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. £ glow of bright light reflecting off of surfaces € that uses the Intemet to connect with other + created in realtime This is where GI breaks down malti plat- The 7 means that the video is being interlaced : board.— A term we use for games Ще Jeopardy! players over long distances +. platform — A term we use for games Ще Super form games. So whenever you see this 480p — Progressive scanning this option (Ре > апа Mario Party isometric - Three-quarters top down view, Же: Mario and Crash Bandicoot logo, there is important multi-system i progressive), creates a picture signal with double : се! shading — A technique used to create 3D. StarCraft or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 pop-up – When objects onscreen suddenly mation regarding that product. the scan lines of a conventional interlaced ; rendered objects that resemble hand-drawn € ISP — Intemet Service Provider. The company that appear, typically due to poor draw distance о picture, ee (i= interlaced), to create а ¢ animation cels provides you with access to the Intemet 2 Р52- Sony PlayStation 2 окен) sharper megs, The А800 image 1 ер. Бестопс Entertainment Bpo. Немо : Jagglés - Graphical ines that are jagged when © puzzle - A term we use for games Ike Tetris and offers higher picture resolution and eliminates n 5 8 : gal virtually all motion artifacts in a 640x480 piel largest convention for video games : they should be straight i Puyo Pop 5 REEN content suitable resolution setting 2 fighting — A term we use for games like Mortal : LAN Local Area Network Connecting computers € racing — A term we use for games like Gran for persons 17 720p - A resolution specification used for HDTV. > Kombat and Dead or Alive i orconsoles together within a small space to + Turismo and Mario Kart id old 720p stands for resolution of 1280x720 pixels. : first-party ~ A game made by a console } alow communication between them. Provides: RPG - Role-Playing Come. A game that involves Кыры 00777 7 | Тер means that the video is in progresse 2 Manufacturers intemal development teams 2 fast, simultaneous gameplay {character improvement through collecting and У жыны format ‘exclusively for its own system : ММО - Massively Multiplayer Online. Usually : spending points. A term we use for games like Content suitable Content suitable | 400000004 - At the rate things are going the ЕМУ – Full Motion Video. Usually refers to an ^ : applied to role-playing iles, we use this term for £ Final Fantasy and Xenosaga PIERE for adul resolution you'll be playing games at next year animated CG cutscene ; games with persistent multiuser online worlds 2 shooter — A term we use for games Ще Ikaruga of 6 and older ү А action - A term we use for games Ще Devil Мау : FPS – Натев Per Second. How many animation : lke EverQuest and World of Warcraft Г and Gradius буаны е frames happen in one second, Also used to: motion blur — Phantom frames follow an objet : sports — A term we use for games like Content suitable Product is E E A denote First-Person Shooters like Halo, Doom, to give the impression of realistic speed: “Madden NFL for persons ages awaiting final connects you with other players їп your eE ong) : 2 normal mapping — A grephicaltechnique in’: strategy — A tem we use for games like La 10 and older. rating. immediate vicinity framerate — The frames of animation usedto — : — which a hi-res skin containing 3D. information, ^ : рисеје and Front Mission 2 adventure – A term we use for games lke Myst; Ce" the ilusion of movement осш OI The EE chink panty шіге inate ыз EDS ЕЎ Content suitable and Escape From Monkey Island frontend — A game's menus and options ук around lantes modi £ company other than the console manufacturer Ше AI - Artifical nligence Usually used to refer : GBA Game Boy Advance eu ш ae 13 and older. to how wel the computer reacts to a human EEN i in games that are not being controled by actual E ‘Opponent HDTV — High Definition Television 2 humans GAME INFORMER 135
Se reviews
XBOX 360 | PC
The Orange Box
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR UP TO 24-PLAYER VIA PC INTERNET) > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS
> DEVELOPER VALVE > RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB M
JUST BUY IT
alf-Life 2 originally came out almost three years ago. With cutting edge graphics, a stunningly realistic physics system, and amazing game design, it's no wonder why it was such a masterpiece on PC. The game was so ahead of its time that it doesn't seem like a three-year-old title, and now that console hardware has caught up, we are able to get the full, undiluted experience onto our TVs. So if you haven't played the original Half-Life 2 and Episode One before, then you need to read my headline again. For those who have played both, don't worry - there is Still $60 worth of new content in this package, so you too should go ahead and re-read that headline, because you shouldn't have to read this whole review to understand why The Orange Box is probably the best videogame deal ever. —BEN
The new Hunters are fierce - and scary - foes
136 САМЕ INFORMER
Dog still has a couple of awesome moments in the game.
Failings first, Episode Two is mostly a retread of all the ideas in Half- Life 2. There's sort of one new weapon, only a few new enemies, and more of the same FPS action and puzzle solving we've come to expect. Then again, when the standard gameplay is this awesome, it's hard to complain that you're getting more of it. Valve's storytell- ing is top-notch. Characters seem to express real emotion, and you really feel like you are a part of a world that's bigger than what you can see, Plus there аге so many great moments in the game - like the last half-hour - that you'll probably want to make sure a friend is playing EP2 in parallel so you can talk about them afterwards.
ЕЙ
Я.
ORTAL – THE ( К
1went into Portal not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be my favorite part of The Orange Box. The concept is simple. You have a gun that creates portals; place two on opposite sides of a room, and use them to bypass deadly obstacles. In practice, Portal turns out to be a mind-bending, wholly rewarding puzzle game. You play as a test subject trying to complete a series of experiments; the story isn't really all that important, but the journey is made hilarious by the constant sound bites of a snarky malevolent computer who watches your every move. | recommend that you play through Portal first, not only because it's the best part of Orange Box, but also because it's referenced a little in Episode Two.
I'm sure there will be plenty of Team Fortress fan boys who hate me for saying this, but TF 2 is sort of the weak link in this golden chain. There is no deathmatch, instead each of the six maps feature some kind of territory or CTF game. The game type is locked to the map, and TF 2 feels a little limited in this way. But what doesn't work for maps works great for the player classes. All nine characters feel. different and balanced against each other, so if you don't feel skilled at aiming with the Sniper or Soldier you can try healing people with the Medic or building turrets with the Mechanic. Or, if you want a more involved experience, try infiltrating the enemy base as a Spy. In short, TF 2 сап be а lot of fun, but I'm glad #5 not packaged by itself.
afs When All Gomes Aren't Created Equal Both version look, sound, and taste very much alike. The controls come down to а matter of preference. Would you rather play with a mouse or a controller? The only edge we can give to the PC version is the added benefit of being able to utilize the mod com- munity. We can't wait to see what people do with Portal. Valve did hint that it might have some things in the works for 360 fans, but guarantee.
"we 9.75
> Concept: Cram five amaz- ing games into one fair-priced package
> Graphics: Crisp and detailed; Half-Life 2 is several years old and still looks better than some of today's games
> Sound: You'll be cracking up during Portal's end credit song, and then it'll be stuck in your head for days
> Playability: The FPS controls couldn't be much better, and they work great for both action and puzzles
> Entertainment: The Half- Life world will suck you in and absorb many of your waking daily moments.
> Replay Value: High
Second Opinion 9.75
Think of Orange Box as
a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Half-Life 2 is the big juicy turkey and Episode. One is the stuffing. Some people will be discovering this masterful combo for the first time while others probably haven't feasted | ‘on this staple since last year (or three). Half-Life 2 finally gets the console port it deserves with graphics and loads identical to the PC version, slick controls, and a host of sweet achieve- ments. Episode Two is like ‘mom trying a tasty new mashed potato recipe. It's
a mix of over-the-top set pieces strung together by bursts of horror and stir- ~ ring drama. And the final battle is probably the most intense yet in the Half-Life universe. Team Fortress 2 is the cranberry sauce - many will love exploring the class variety while others will
get hung up on the lim- ited number of maps and game types. Portal is apple pie that everyone should try with its groundbreaking | gameplay, a hilariously sin- ister robot guide, and sur- prising depth.—BRYAN
T'S REALLY RARE. The limited-edition Civic Mugen Si Sedan. Lowered, with forged aluminum 18-inch wheels, aero body package, Mugenified sports exhaust System and suspension tuning. All of it backed by Honda. It's meaty, but it's not for everyone.
Reverse your thinking
honda.com 1- 33-Honda ©2007 American Honda Mot
m “Whoa, man! You gotta cover that up!”
PLAYSTATION 3 | XBOX 360
NBA Live 08
> STYLE 1 ТО 4-PLAYER SPORTS (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER EA SPORTS > DEVELOPER EA CANADA > RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB E
REDISCOVERING ITS TOUCH
he past few years, NBA
2K has dominated
NBA Live like Hot
Sauce schooling Joe Juba in a Rucker Park pickup game. But with NBA Live 08, EA has got its groove back and fans of the series can put away their online petitions in favor of а game controller.
Everything about NBA Live feels completely revamped. EA ditched the baseline camera in favor of a broadcast-style view. On the court, the new right analog stick controls respond much more fluidly than the former, clunky Total Freestyle Control. The new Hot Spots feature lets you find the places on the court where your play- ers excel offensively at the push of a button, which aids your strategy in key situations.
The Al is also improved. Opposing teams will actively use their subs to rotate in valuable bench players, and if you go on a run they will call timeouts to slow the pace of the game and readjust their strategy. All of this adds up to a much more enjoyable basketball experience than last year's farce.
But not all is perfect on the hardwood. The game still suf-
158 САМЕ INFORMER
fers from clipping —player arms cut through the glass behind the basket and passes go through the defenders’ arms. Players seem hesitant to grab loose balls, the rebounding can be sporadic, and players miss too many easy lay-ups, even if you're using a stud like Gilbert Arenas. The fast-break game also needs tweaking. Breakout passes are often poorly placed and require your running player to stop to receive the ball instead of attacking the rim in stride.
In addition to the great Dynasty mode, EA has expanded the game with the FIBA World Championships, a Quick Pick Play mode that lets you assemble a roster from the entirety of the NBA for a pickup game, and Scenario Play that allows you to test your mettle in tough user-created game situations. You can also set up online leagues with friends, but this mode isn't nearly as full blown as NBA 2K8.
In all, NBA Live O8 is a vastly improved game that is nearly ready for primetime. With another year under its belt, NBA Live may be contending for the championship.— BERTZ
BOTTOM LINE
> Concept: МВА Live delivers. it's first next-gen effort worthy of а МВА roster spot
> Graphics: The great player models finally have the silky- smooth moves of their real-life counterparts
> Sound: Steve Kerr and back- biting Магу Albert serve up a solid dose of commentary
> Playability: The new Quickstrike Ballhandling feature gives you more control over players than freestyle ever did
> Entertainment: With the improved game on the court and the solid offering off it, NBA Live finally finds its sweet spot
> Replay Value: High
Second Opinion 7.75
15 good to see EA crawl back from the dead to deliver a Live title that actually resem- bles real basketball played here on planet Earth, No longer are the players and the ball itself subjugated to floaty or looping Moon phys- ics. You can even pull off a fake step or special move with confidence. Before we get carried away, however, I'd like a few things shored up, including a tighter defen- sive focus. Sometimes your defense feels like it's caught іп an animation you can do nothing to stop, making you a bystander as your oppo- nent goes from perimeter to basket with no resistance, This also affects your ability to snag defensive rebounds, although Live has always been tilted towards offense. But hey, at least this series is pointed in the general direction of quality for a change — КАТО.
PLAYSTATION З І ХВОХ 360
МВА 2K8
» STYLE 1 ТО 4-PLAYER SPORTS (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR 5-PLAYER PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER 2K SPORTS > DEVELOPER VISUAL CONCEPTS > RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB Е
he reigning hoops champ hasn't taken any time off to enjoy its success, and the result is the continuation of a basketball dynasty that rivals the likes of Bird's Celtics and Jordan's Bulls. In many ways, МВА 2K8 is a hardcore hardwood fan's dream. If you're into running and gunning, you're prob- ably better off playing NBA Live; this is a thinking man's game. With its retooled AI, you must mix up defenses, feed your hot shooters, and run effective offensive plays to win. Keep dishing to a cold shooter, spend too much time in isolation offense, or stay in man-to-man defense all game and you're in for a long night. The new Al is so cutthroat that newcomers may find the gameplay too brutal. You will pay for leaving stars open, and role players can also burn you when left unguarded. Holding an opposing team to under 50 per- cent shooting on the pro difficulty setting may be a goal in and of itself for newbies. Thankfully, the game features great court controls to counter the tough opposi- tion. The dribbling mechanic is best in class, the new off-the- ball controls allow you to set up quick plays without the hassle of running complicated set pieces, and the hot zone icon will help you find your К
SCHOOL IS NOW IN SESSION
players’ sweet spots. The only snag in the action is the quirky post play, which isn't as versa- tile or easy to master as NBA Live's system.
NBA 2К8 ditches the 24/7 mode in favor of the new NBA Blacktop mode, which features a slam dunk contest, three- point shootout, and pickup games with hoops stars and celebrities. The Association is back and is still the deepest franchise mode you'll find. This year focuses on manag- ing team personalities. Your coaching and front office deci- sions will affect how players feel about the organization. This turn can affect team chemistry, your ability to resign players, and your attractive- ness to free agents.
While NBA 2K8 may have some kinks to work out in its post game, it's still the best basketball sim on the market. —BERTZ
> Concept: Rework last year's best hoops game to challenge gamers with the toughest basket- ball Al known to man
> Graphics: The new animation system is fantastic, but the player models look jaggy and awkward
when standing still
> Sound: A lively crowd and the great voice of Kevin Harlan immerse you in the basketball experience
> Playability: The dribbling control is unrivaled, but the low- post game gets called for three in the key
> Entertainment: The deep Association mode and online leagues should give ballers hours of hoops enjoyment
> Replay Value: High
They say that all dynasties must fall, but change is just as inevitable — and that's just what 2K8 does in order to. avoid becoming stale and losing its spot atop the NBA heap. Fake steps, 105 — ^ overs, etc. feel smooth and responsive, arenas teem with activity, and the defensive and strategic options simply can't be beat. The introduc- tion of a lock down trigger on defense feels great, and 2K8's momentum/hot spot indicator for players is much more useful than NBA Live's version of the mechanic. 1 was a big fan of last year's revamped 24/7 mode, and I'm disappointed that its replacement, NBA Blacktop, isn't nearly as satisfying. However, given how this franchise is adapting to stay on top, | have no doubt that. it will do whatever it takes to
$] stay there. —KATO
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(1107) P1107GAMEINROTAT
PLAYSTATION 3 1 XBOX 360
Conan
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER NIHILISTIC SOFTWARE > RELEASE OCTOBER 25 > ESRB М
BEATING ON THE BARBARIAN
onan has a better grasp on the art of impal- ing than he does the art of speaking. His veins run red with rage, and his eyes only see destruction. He doesn't serve women. He services them. He doesn't use herbs to mend his wounds. He drinks the pain away gallon by gallon. If you are brave enough to raise a sword against him, your final moments will be spent looking down in disbelieve at your detached arms. This barbarian's violence is untamed, unmatched, and unmerciful, and believe it or not, is instrumental in carrying a troubled game to a moderate level of enjoyment.
ІН could paint a picture that depicted Conan's place in the world of video games, it would show him groveling at Kratos' feet, begging for gameplay wisdom. Developer Nihilistic Software has done nothing to hide the fact that this game draws most of its gameplay inspiration from God of War. The
140 GAME INFORMER
parallels are unmistakable, but like most understud- ies, Conan feels like a second-rate interpretation.
As gratifying as it is to see a soldier's shield explode under your assault or a squid's tentacle spew blood, the gameplay never clicks like it should. Conan's movements are swift and the button presses for combos are timed nicely to his anima- tions, but no matter how magnificent your combat prowess may look, one subtle jab from an enemy can make you look like a dummy used for sword practice. For some reason, enemy attacks always dis- rupt yours. This even goes for wimpy human soldiers who barely look strong enough to lift their swords.
If you are airborne, this enemy's weak counter may knock you off of a ledge, which will prompt a Game Over screen that is followed by a lengthy load time before restarting at a checkpoint. When you have foes approaching from all sides, you often find your-
E Enemies are quick to swarm, and quicker to beat you senseless
Most enemies are heavily for- tified, and will block everything you throw their way until their Shield is broken
self getting throttled in ways that feel unfair, especially since you are usually locked in combat with one of them already, Something can be said of strategizing to find openings, but it really doesn’t work when your combo gets interrupted and you get knocked back into the hornet's nest you so carefully tried to avoid.
In a roundabout way, the pain you endure makes victory taste that much sweeter. When an enemy interferes with a combo, you would like nothing more than be given the opportunity to cut his head clean off. This is where joy in Conan comes from. When you depart a battlefield, it's usually littered with body parts. The moveset you have at your disposal isn't designed to simply hurt an adversary. Every strike has enough force behind it to mutilate a foe. Conan's primary weapon is a sword, but he can also pick up axes, spears, and dual wield blades. 1 grew fond of the baseball swing decapitation, but also had a soft spot in my heart for the dual-sword strike that takes off both of your attacker's arms.
There certainly isn't much of a story to digest, but this tale does take Conan to some amazing places. You'll find yourself traversing the beautiful architecture of forgotten ruins, burning the homes of a primitive culture, and thanks to evil magic, stand- ing beneath the sea, Each level has a fair amount of eye candy, but more impressively, a nice variety of creatures to combat. With the exclusion of the last boss, who may be the biggest pain in the ass in video games, most of the boss battles are interesting in design, and fun to take down.
If your blood pressure can withstand beatings that may seem unfair, there's a lot to like about Conan's combat system and adventure, In an afternoon, you'll turn civilizations into amputees, you'll likely sleep with all of their women, and at the end of it all, you'll learn just how much stress your body can withstand —REINER
BOTTO! LINE
> Concept: As much as this brawler explores the Cimmerian warrior's brutal combat style, it shows us just how brutal video game challenges can be
> Graphics: The cutscenes аге а bit crude, but the world is extravagantly detailed. Monster designs look great, and Conan's animations are as smooth as can be
? Sound: The percussion in the orchestrated score will make you run into battle, but why is Conan throwing out one-lin- ers during battle? He sounds like a mentally challenged
Duke Nukem
> Playability: As frustrating as it is empowering, Сопап5 combat feels great, but the adversaries couldn't be more troublesome
> Entertainment: Roughly eight hours of “Ha ha! I chopped his arm off!" and "No way! How did he hit me?"
> Replay Value: Moderate
Second Opinion
There are a lot of great ideas at work in Conan, particularly in the robust. combat move system that upgrades throughout the game. But even better is how well Nihilistic has cap- tured the Conan universe. From the fierce soundtrack filled with primitive drums and ancient-sounding melo- dies to the exaggerated tone of Conan's testosterone- fueled dialogue and bloody battles, it has captured the vibe of Robert E. Howard's original stories. Sadly, the gameplay doesn't hold up for very long. Repeated waves of enemies stand around, often attacking only in response to your actions, and blocking your. attacks far too frequently to make the combo system as. fun as it could be. Instead, most battles result in a few simple strikes before you. have to pause to block or. run away, and the true fury of Conan's attacks can rarely be brought to bear. Never is this more apparent than in the final level of the game, at which point the fights are way too long and frus- trating, and a slow down effect during particularly noteworthy strikes happens 50 often it actually seems like the game is jamming up. This is a gorgeously realized game world,
but without the action to keep pace.—MILLER
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IN STORES WOVEMBER 13
www.thq.com Alcohol Reference Blood
= XBOX 360.1" Ш 3s
Suggestive Themes Available on PLAYSTATION@S and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Violence
ESRB CONTENT RATING _ www.esrb.org
Game experience may change during online play.
All World Wrestling Entertainment programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. © 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© 2007 THO/JAKKS Pacific, LLC, Used under exclusive license by THQ/JAKKS Pacific, LLC. JAKKS Pacific and the JAKKS Pacific logo are trademarks of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Developed by YUKE'S Co., Ltd. YUKE'S Со. Ltd. and its logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of YUKE'S Со. Ltd. THO and the THO logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THO Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360 , Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PS" Family logo and "PSP" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separately). PLAYSTATION 3 online access requires broadband Internet service and a wireless access point or LAN. Certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi connectivity. User is responsible for Internet service fees. TM, ©, Nintendo DS, and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.
you flying side by side with a huge number of allied aircraft
1.9
> Concept: Remember when those submarines attacked the Golden Gate Bridge with rockets during World War II? Take a flight into historical fantasy as а hotshot fighter pilot
> Graphics: Beautifully detailed backdrops mix famous city land- marks with plumes of smoke and exploding planes - an impressive display
> Sound: Some of these melo- dies are trying a little too hard to be like Star Wars, but that’s okay
> Playability: Smart ideas, like the target camera, mix with bad
ideas, like having yaw or roll and throttle on the same analog stick
> Entertainment: Frustrating almost from beginning to end, but with some fun moments
> Replay Value: Moderately Low
XBOX 360 | PC
Blazin
Angels 2:
Secret Missions of WWII
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER UBISOFT > DEVELOPER UBISOFT ROMANIA > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 18 > ESRB T
If your ears perk up like Spock's whenever you hear someone mention Crimson Skies, then you. may want to take a gander at Blazing Angels 2. This history-bending game
THE WAR YOU DON'T REMEMBER
ust because you don't recall the giant dogfight over the Great Pyramids against a helium-filled German zeppelin doesn't mean it didn't happen. Or so the re-imagined Blazing Angels would have us believe. Boasting fantastic locales from Cairo to the Himalayas and strange experimental fighters never seen in the history books, the titular secret missions in question are pretty unbelievable. The exaggerated weapons and battles are actually the most exciting and engrossing aspect of the title; much of Blazing Angels 2 veers heavily into frustration and obfuscation.
The starting point for feeling в out any game are the controls, and this is a game that teeters back and forth between intuitive ease and controller-smashing irritation almost constantly. Lining up your shot to hit the tail of a passing plane is a thrill — the camera that locks you onto him makes you feel like you're leaning from your plane to get
142 GAME INFORMER
a bead and tuming to match speed and trajectory. Moments later you've crashed into a tree because you tried to speed up and instead steered headlong into the ground.
The action is incredibly intense because so much of it occurs very near to the earth — only rarely will you find yourself floating above the clouds. Instead, expect dogfights that barely skim the building tops over Moscow or Paris. And while the fights themselves are harrowing, the mission design is an absolute chore. Checkpoints placed too far apart and unclear objectives delivered via your com channel will have you tearing out
W You'll fly experimental aircraft never seén in the real historical conflicts of WWII
your hair. #5 a kind of difficulty that often veers from genuine challenge into that frustrating feeling of that even happen?!” While | applaud the attempt to offer variety in the
missions, it irks me if new mechanics
simply aren't explained, like when |
had to use the radar blips of a sinking
submarine to track her down amid a huge ice flow. Cool idea, but it could have used a little more description before you set me on a time limit. Still, there's a lot of creativity at play here, something I'd muc see than another stale WWII rehash. I'm also very pleased to see some
in place, from solo competitive dogfights, to epic team-based objective games, and even a large portion of the campaign
f the frustration, that may be В the door who might otherwise
| user-friendliness and | might join that crowd.—MILLER
"why did
rather
extremely robust multiplayer offerings
for four-player co-op. Even with enough to bring a few players in
skip this altogether. A little more
delivers the feeling of a World War Il game, but the challenges are greatly exaggerated, and some of the enemy's vehicles look like were stripped from
a science fiction movie. Blimps are armed like Star Destroyers, the skies and - seas are often overflowing with vessels, and the safety of the world is always left solely up to you. The mis- sions offer a ton of variety, and each level takes place їп a stunning locale. This game paints a beautiful picture, and offers content you could easily fall in love with, but your apprecia- tion comes at a price. The game's difficulty is taxing, and victory often requires, flawless execution and memorization of enemy locations. It's easy to lead targets this time around, and the yaw works well, but you really have to have nerves of steel to make it through this game. If you are up for the challenge, there's some great fun to ‚Бе had.—REINER
№ This is a game that doesn't mind reaching into elements _ of fantasy from time to time
XBOX 360 I Wii | PS2
Crash of the Titans
> STYLE |-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER SIERRA ENTERTAINMENT. > DEVELOPER RADICAL
> RELEASE OCTOBER 26 > ESRB E10+
воттом име crash has had a few rough years lately, and 25 while he still hasn't achieved the same heights of his early PSone days, he might finally be edging in the right direction. Crash of the Titans certainly doesn't do anything new or exciting, but it is a well-polished platformer. There are fifteen different monsters in the game that Crash can now pos- sess and use to smash through the levels. Their different abilities and special moves add some nice variety: to the gameplay. Still, the action grows tired pretty quickly. With its juvenile: humor and low difficulty this is prob- ably targeted for kids, but it's a decent holdover until Super Mario Galaxy comes along —BEN
Wii | PLAYSTATION 2
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
> DEVELOPER KROME > RELEASE OCTOBER 25 > ESRB E10+
ТОМ LINE Ren time Spyro opens his mouth | can't help 6 25 but picture Frodo. It's not that Elijah Wood
does a bad job — he's fine — his voice is just too distinctive. If only Sierra had spent as much money on game devel- opment as they did on presentation. Spyro's gameplay is as old as Wood's career, so if you've played a platformer since Super Mario 64, then you'll prob- ably get tired of double jumping across empty canyons and button-mash attacking waves of enemies. Nothing in the game feels particularly broken. Spyro's gameplay works just like it's suppose to — just like it has in every other game in the last decade, so it feels like the development team just phoned this one in.—BEN
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XBOX 360 | PC
Two Worlds
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR PC INTERNET OR LAN > PUBLISHER SOUTH PEAK INTERACTIVE > DEVELOPER REALITY PUMP STUDIOS > RELEASE AUGUST 23 > ESRB M
№ Know how horses suck in
Oblivion? Multiply that by a 3 thousand and you have Two Г) Worlds’ horses
here is one and
only one good
thing to say about
Two Worlds: the game truly gives you the freedom to align with апу faction and change the gameworld by your choices. Everything else — and | mean everything else - sucks. The rest of Two Worlds is not merely medio- cre or lacking polish. It flat out sucks.
In an action/RPG in the Elder Scrolls/Gothic vein, one would expect some free-roaming environments, lots of combat, and a bit of character progression. Two Worlds does indeed
A ss Aren't Cre
While sharing all of the design- related problems of the PC version, the Xbox 360 game is almost unplayable due to horrendous con- trols, a headache-inducing menu interface, and even worse techni- cal problems with the framerate and draw-in.
ре
а
те
144 GAME INFORMER
BOTTOM LINE 4
> Concept: Take Oblivion, inject some interesting ideas, and then. break everything
? Graphics: Frame loss, popup, and buggy shadows are inexcus- able in a title this mediocre- looking
> Sound: I you're not laughing
have those, but they're all
broken. Environments are at the horrid gameplay ог visu- bland. The combat is worse т ушп be oe the floor than Gothic III's unplayable femfetemblevoceoves mess, with terrible sword- > Playability; Bad on а mouse
and keyboard, nearly unplayable опа 360 pad. What a choice!
> Entertainment: Why don't you just give yourself a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on î
and spell-play layered on top of a badly imbalanced system. Leveling up through the Diablo-like skill set could have been decent,
at least — if it were in a better game.
If, somehow, you're able to get past the game's many flaws, there is some measure of fun to be had in the later content. It's still not anything special, but at least the world opens up a bit and you can exercise the freedom to explore whichever particular piece of poorly executed content you feel like. I'd still recom- mend picking up Gothic III in the bargain bin if you're into that sort of thing, though - at least that title has some gorgeous vistas and an interesting world to go along with its awful combat. Two Worlds doesn't even have that. —ADAM
? Replay Value: Low
Second Opinion 2
There's an adventure here somewhere, hidden beneath the fog of broken gameplay, performance glitches, and
| characters talking about the evil Taint in unintentionally hilarious ways. The main character is an embarrass- ment to gaming, and isn't even believable enough
to be considered for a Renaissance fair's cast. As
| much as | enjoyed seeing
| him take a sword to the face, most enemies would appear to have extreme cases of glaucoma, as they swing and miss most of the time, and have a difficult time navigat- ing around walls. Sadly, even. with an impressive stock of weapons at your disposal, your combat prowess isn't much better. The choppy ani- mations, inconsistent framer- ate, and inopportune loads make it nearly impossible to navigate the battlefield with effective grace. The game's only redeeming qualities, deep spell and weapon systems, just go to waste in this abysmal quest: f you've spent a lifetime sinning, by all means, trek into this world to get a taste of what awaits you in Hell —REINER
XBOX 360 | Wii | PLAYSTATION 2
Spider-Man
Friend or Foe
> STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER NEXT LEVEL GAMES
> RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB Е10+
Bi "Congratulations, Spider- Man! You've just destroyed your one thousandth robot...in an hour”
AND YOU THOUGHT KIRSTEN DUNST WAS BAD?
his has been a difficult year for Marvel's wall crawler. In the comic book continuity, he foolishly revealed his secret identity to the world. This, of course, led to his loved ones getting slapped around. In the movies, he played jazz piano and bawled his eyes out in a battle of tears against Sandman. Never has a hero looked so stupid. As catastrophic as these missteps are, they pale in comparison to Spidey's egregious video game blunder, Friend or Foe. Next to watching Spider- Man sleep, | don't think there could be a way to see this acrobatic character do such mind-numbingly dull things. This brawler's combat is so limited in its scope and so dependant on jamming on one button that playing a single level feels like a lifetime of tedious work. You simply have to pummel passive aggressive enemies with a couple of different combos until a new path opens. Most paths just lead to another combat area stuffed with the
same baddies you've been tangling with for hours. This is an exercise in monotony that can destroy a soul. Toward the end of the game, | was hoping my 360 would flash its glorious red rings of death.
The only sliver of joy comes from unlocking new sidekick characters. Since their move sets are just as pathetic as Spidey's, 1 didn't necessarily enjoy playing as them, but | did get a chuckle out of their strange appearances. Doc Ock looks a bit like Rosie O'Donnell, and Black Cat's face has a Toxic Avenger qual- ity to it. Two-player coopera- tive play is usually something | look forward to, but most of the editors here wouldn't even stick around for a com- plete level.
Friend or Foe may bear the likeness of one of comics’ most popular characters, but it doesn't feel like a Spider-Man game at all. At the end of the day, this is an unfortunate stain on the tights of a character that has had a fairly respectable video game career. —REINER
E Finally there's a game
with the quality suitable for |
characters like Iron Fist
BOTTOM
LINE 4 5
> Concept: Strip away all of Spider-Man's high-flying maneu- vers and make him punch the same enemies for eight hours
> Graphics: Clearly designed to take advantage of the PlayStation. 2 hardware. The Wii and 360 games look exactly the same
> Sour rible voice work, but Spider-Man seems fully aware that his game sucks when he says, “Do you think it ruins the excite- ment with us always winning?"
> Playability: | completed most boss battles without dodging any attacks. Turns out rockets to the
face really don't harm Spider-Man
> Entertainment: The old live. adion TV series was a more believable Spider-Man property
> Replay Value: Low
Its like they have a recipe for superhero games, but they wanted to make this one with a shortened ingredient list, Once you leave out strong production values and qual- ity gameplay, what do you have left? A sad marketing ploy aimed at those who won't know any better, that's. what. It's not that the game is. broken, but the unimagina- tive levels, button-mashing fights, and repeated waves of enemies certainly don't bring you crawling back for more. Some of the character. animation is solid, but what's. with the lack of textures on the environments? Friend or foe? Well, I'l give you a hint: friend has been taken off the table —MILLER
PLAYSTATION 3 1 XBOX 360
Juiced 2:
Hot Import Nights
> STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 8-PLAYER МА PLAYSTATION NETWORK OR XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER THQ > DEVELOPER JUICE GAMES > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 18 > ESRB T
HOT IMPORT DELIGHT
ike the custom rides that populate
the tuner events that give Hot Import
Nights its name, this title is not your
average factory model. It's packed with special little details that set it apart and give it an edge on the competition. Sure, some of the game's features aren't exactly the equivalent of a whole-new engine, but at least Juiced 2 is doing whatever it can to find that last ounce of speed.
The career structure of Juiced 2 is similar to Dirt in that it's structured in tiers. The crucial difference, however, is that promotion up the ladder isn't predicated on how many events you finish or points you accrue, but rather which goals you've completed. These include getting a certain amount of drift points, earning someone's pink slip, and more. The key here is that multiple races can be used to complete any one goal, and that multiple goals can be completed in any one race. So you can finish а betting, drift, and team challenge all in the same race. You could even race your entire career online against a field of other players if
ET Sse 08: :37.87 =}
you wanted to. These races, by the way, can also have their own conditions, such Last Man Standing, where you have to outlast the rest of the field by not hitting any track barriers.
The game's emphasis on choice continues off the track. You can customize your car, of course, but I like how the title gives you enough cash and tells you exactly how much you can customize each car before it maxes out its stats and becomes obsolete. No longer will you wonder if you're just wasting your time and money on a dead-end car. | also love how you don't just buy upgrades; you have to earn them through finishing a challenge first — like the pink slips and betting, it's one of those details that keep this title from being average.
Juiced 2's progress in numerous areas is blunted only by the short, uninspired tracks, which can affect the quality of the racing itself — something that's no small matter, I know. | find Project Gotham tracks have done better in giving player bite-sized, drift happy courses, but overall this game is the burst of speed that this genre needs.—KATO
В Put the heat on someone's back bumper for ГопЕ enough and they'll get spooked and wipe out
SPOOKED
> Concept: Juiced 2 has the glitz to spice up what would otherwise be some staid racing
> Graphics: The game tries
to throw all manner of visual effects at you to varying degrees of effectiveness
> Sound: Like Dirt, Juiced 2 makes use of a menu narrator that’s cool to hear
> Playability: The feel is a little loose like the first Juiced, but it's not too bad
> Entertainment: Although it doesn't have the best racing out there, the game is still exciting at every turn
> Replay Value: Moderately High
The fist Juiced seemed like a cheap and sleazy street _ ‘racing wannabe, so. color me shocked at йон! ШІ
than the in the last game. The sk i more fun since you're not being penalized for in-race damage (с 3
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| <> reviews |
PLAYSTATION 3
Dirt
> STYLE 1-PLAYER RACING (1-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER CODEMASTERS > DEVELOPER CODEMASTERS > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 11 > ESRB E
DIALED IN
or me, rally racing is about thinking without having to think. The only way to survive at high speeds on a dusty trail that's barely wider than my car is to simply do what my co- pilot tells me to. “Left four over jump 1007 But | have to do it without listening — because the second | think too much about the upcoming tum, | let go of my racing instincts and inevitably screw up my run. This grey zone where instinct and intellect co-exist to pro- duce fluid, breakneck racing is right where Dirt resides. The game's emphasis on pure racing has already helped make it a hit on the Xbox 360, and this version is no less accomplished.
Dirt is about celebrating off- road racing in various forms. Its tiered pyramid career struc- ture is filled with rally races, bouncing and barreling trucks, and other racing delights. | like being able to choose what | get to race to earn a promo- tion to the next pyramid stage, but it's apparent early on that Dirt very quickly lays all its cards down on the
146 GAME INFORMER
table. Because elements of the game such as buying cars and trucks for your garage are underdeveloped, Dirt — as fun as it is — ends up being a very what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience, Unlike Juiced
2, for example, Dirt's failure to make even buying and upgrading hot cars alluring is a mistake that keeps gamers from being tightly connected to the game, and which pre- vents it from being great. This de-emphasis on the cars is also evident in the fact that many of the rides feel alike no matter what racing surface you're on.
Despite its limited focus, Dirt's single-minded pursuit of racing serves the game well and creates a strong founda- tion for the future. | guess | can't blame it for tuning out the rest of the world while it whips around dusty tracks at scary speeds. As we know, getting dialed into the zone is everything —KATO
№ AI racers ahead of you will spin out and cause trouble, so beware
BOTTO! LINE 8
> Concept: The Colin McRae rally series goes more broad - like Codemasters other franchise, TOCA Race Driver
> Graphics: Just as good looking as the Xbox 360 version, including some of the pop up.
> Sound: | love how the car and environment sounds bounce off the canyon walls in rally races
> Playability: The cars feel like they swivel on a pivot more than you'd expect from a Codemasters title
> Entertainment: Not as hardcore as past Colin games, but 1 guess that's why many will like it
> Replay Value: Moderately High
Second Opinion 8.5
Rally racing isn't very popular in America, so don't feel bad if phrases like “Caution...60.... crest and left two" sound like gibberish to you at first. But trust me, Dirt will soon con- vert you to one of the most thrilling forms of video game racing. Rally's twisted courses require your full atten-
tion at all times; one false move can doom you to last place in a split second. Dirt definitely gives you plenty
to love. The single-player career is long and exhaus- tive, throwing you a huge variety of vehicles, events, and courses. The control is excellent, although the car physics make you feel like you are turning on a pivot instead of a four-wheeled vehicle, making sliding a little frustrating at times. | also bemoan the lack of multi-car online races (you can only compete solo, then test your times against others). Still, most of this game is as good as it gets. With a few tweaks, the next edition of Dirt could be a classic —MATT.
PLAYSTATION 3
NBA 08
> STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER SPORTS (2-PLAYER VIA PLAYSTATION NETWORK) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SAN DIEGO > RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB Е
PURE VANILLA
(5 one thing to be a dark horse in the yearly hard court war among the NBA titles, but you don't get to the top by taking the long way around. This series is totally off everyone's radar — and there's a reason. Current-gen's The Life mode aside, this fran- chise's gameplay has always been its weak link, and this year's edition — while contain- ing improvements - is not yet up to snuff. | love this series on paper simply because of its cool feature set, but it's not long before | want to take my ball and go home. The more this series tightens up its gameplay, the more the little things stick out to the eye. The ball's collision field and that of the basket can produce some odd moments, and the game has a hard time blending its animations. Players will pop in and out of various movements in an unnatural way, and this extends to the ball itself. Since it doesn't act independently on its own you'll see it bounce
№ Elson's lack of defense here won't get him into NBA Repla
oddly at times as it vacuums into a player's hands. Although | did notice that on offense the А can do some pretty stupid things (don't dish the ball out- side when | give you a totally open lane), | liked how it was smart enough to steal the ball easily every time I tried to force a pass where it didn't belong.
As strong as the feature set of МВА 08 is, it's not enough to overcome the gameplay. Getting to play real-life МВА scenarios in bite-sized chunks beats slogging through a whole season, and the create- a-player is bested only by Tiger Woods. | particularly appreciate how | can earn points to boost my attributes and buy stuff in every nook and cranny in the title — yet another example of how | played this game almost in spite of itself —KATO
BOTT! LINE
> Concept: This franchise is
still content to not set its bar very high
> Graphics: In 1080p and with better models, but this game still isn't the best-looking basketball game
> Sound: Actually having announcers is a big addition for this series. They're alright
> Playability: Contains some collision problems
> Entertainment: There are some intriguing features here, but the gameplay is what needs the most work
> Replay Value: Moderately High
Second Opinion 6.25
Sony's latest hoops effort isn't as discombobulated as last year's, but it still plays more like Michael Olowokandi than Michael Jordan. To its credit, the defense is tighter and the game now includes color commentary. To its det- riment (and ours), it severely lacks branching animations, good graphics, and sound. gameplay. In comparison to МВА Live and 2K, the strat- “egy is still lacking and the low post game is downright laughable. The highlight
of this series, The Life, is absent again, and there is no dynasty mode to give the game any depth. Instead, you'll have to kill ime creat- inga new player and upgrad- ing him while completing МВА Replay challenges. The game is so lackluster you wonder if Kevin McHale would trade a few draft picks for the rights —BERTZ
WASTE ENEMIES, NOT TIME.
сах ХХ.
| "
"THIS IS PVP REBORN, 4 GAME NO COMPETITIVE PLAYER CAN AFFORD TO MISS." HARDCORE GAMER MAGAZINE
Mild Blood Mild Suggestive Themes Violence.
ESRB CONTENT RATING — www.esrb.org
UNLEASHTHEFURY.COM SEA Ше AURAN
Game Experience May „Риу is ©2007 Auran Games Pty Ltd. АП rights reserved. Fury and the Fury logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Auran Holdings Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The rating icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainme:
Change During Online Pla Association. Unreal is registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the USA and other countries. АП Rights Reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, and The Way it's Meant To Be Played are trademarks and/or registered trademarks ange During Online Play Corporation. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. ОТ ле БАИТ ARIS
Wii
Carnival Games
> STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER GLOBAL STAR > DEVELOPER CAT DADDY GAMES > RELEASE AUGUST 27 > ESRB E
"та little disappointed, because | thought this was going to be a lot more fun. When | first saw Carnival Games, it looked like the kind of game that, if you got enougl to crowd around your TV, it would prove to be a decent party-like dis- traction. Undoubtedly, there will be a small market of people who do just that, but | think they'll find that none of the 25-plus minigames are remotely as compelling as anything in Wii Sports. Popular сату pastimes like Milk Jugs, Dunk Tank, and Ballon Darts are all here, but their challenge ranges from basic kindergarten motor skill tests to challenges the Devil himself has stacked the deck against you. Usually it's the latter due to a physics system that is almost as believable as a Woody Woodpecker cartoon. Just like a real carnival, you'll feel cheated more that once playing these virtual simulations, but the real camy scam might be trying to sell this "discount" title for $40.— BEN
hs ew 7 The Sims 2: Castaway
> STYLE 1-PLAYER SIMULATION > PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS > DEVELOPER THE SIMS DIVISION > RELEASE OCTOBER 22 > ESRB T
astaway brings a touch of adventure and exploring to the Sims formula,
clearly taking inspiration from TV's Lost. Your character winds up ship-
wrecked on a beach and must forage for food, make fire, and build
shelter with the ultimate goal of crafting a ship to leave the island or cre- ating a transistor to call for help. | had fun crafting shorts out of palm fronds and sailing rafts to new islands, but there is just way too much berry picking, monkey hugging, and clumsy fish spearing. Even though the Wii controls work extremely well, you'll spend most of the game mashing the Z button to harvest every stick, stone, and pineapple you see. Plus, the graphics are way nastier than any black smoke monster.—BRYAN
Wii Victorious Boxers: Revolution
> STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER SPORTS > PUBLISHER XSEED GAMES > DEVELOPER GRAND PRIX/ CAVIA > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 25 > ESRB T
ictorious Boxer's difficulty has some crazy mood swings. A particular fighter might have me on the ropes for several rounds before taking rne out of the match altogether, but then in our 3 eS rematch, I'll knock him out halfway и - through the first round. It's not like I've changed up my tactics much. Laying on the jabs then following through with a well-timed right hook or special attack usually does the trick. That said, the Wii motion controls fell pretty good after you warm up to them, and it helps that there are six different control schemes to pick from. Even though the plot has been trimmed down worse than a Harry Potter film, | actually got pulled into the Japanese manga-based story. Sure, the PSone-like crowds look terrible, but Wii Boxing fans finally have a meatier boxer to obsess about than Wii Sports.— BEN
148 GAME INFORMER
|
Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros’ Treasure
> STYLE 1-PLAYER PUZZLE > PUBLISHER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE OCTOBER 25 > ESRB Е
AHOY, PUZZLE NERDS!
he first 15 minutes of Zack
& Wiki are going to send
many 18 to 34-year-old male
gamers running for the hills. This game is extremely cute - anime cute. Our chibi pirate hero, Zack, is ona quest to find untold riches with his flying golden monkey pal, Wiki. After plenty of wacky antics, the duo crash lands on an island and finds the floating head of Captain Barbaros. The head promises Zack a fancy ship and tons of gold if he'll collect the remaining 16 pieces of the old pirate's body. While the intro can be jarring, the characters do eventually become tolerable and maybe even a little bit charming.
Players will traverse jungles, ice caves, volcanoes, and a haunted house to seal the deal and collect loads of treasure along the way. An intuitive mouse-style point and click interface moves Zack around puzzle stages of increasing size and com- plexity. Shaking the remote briefly transforms Wiki into a ringing bell that will change certain enemies into useful tools (centipedes become saws, frogs turn into bombs, etc.). Once you click on interactive objects, the camera switches to first-person mode and allows you
to do things like pull levers, twist keys, and hammer spikes. Most of these actions work without a hitch and really sell the interactivity, but some motions are hit or miss — | had particular trouble with fishing and music motions.
You'll be ranked on every stage based on how quickly you figured out the puzzles, how many hints you used, and how many lives you lost. Good scores will increase your pirate ranking, and cash rewards allow you to purchase the services of a treasure scout (there are hundreds of things to collect) or buy more lives and hints. The difficulty ramps up nicely, with early stages ranging from 10 to. 20 minutes and later puzzles run- ning over an hour. It's extremely satisfying to deconstruct each level piece by piece, and the hint system minimizes hair pulling. Plus, the later ship battles add a welcome dose of action to the generally slower-paced gameplay. In the Wii's expansive gutter of shoddy third-party ports and
minigame garbage, Capcom is show- ing that #5 possible to make some- thing original and fun. | just hope that the presentation doesn't kill Zack & Wiki's chances —BRYAN
> Concept: Hide serious puzzle challenges under a super cute veneer
> Graphics: Crisp cel-shaded characters and imaginative envi- ronments definitely impress
> Sound: You'll want to strangle Wiki to silence his high-pitched baby voice
> Playability: Puzzles utilize a wide variety of motion controls, some of which work way better than others.
> Entertainment: If you can get past the wacky vibe, these innovative puzzles will fry your mind
> Replay Value: Moderate
If you love that slightly odd, / classically Japanese sense | ‘of humor that Capcom. brought to such titles 285 | The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, | have a feeling that Zack & Wiki is going to be right up your alley. It's cer- tainly charming, and its Wii remote controlled action/ puzzle gameplay is nothing if not unique. At its best, it gives you a mix of intriguing puzzles and novel motion- based minigames that's
like nothing else out there. However, this game is frus- trating as often as it's fun, and at times the Wii control | features seem to be doing little more than making
the gameplay sloppier and | less exact than it should be. Its an interesting concept that could have used a bit
AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE
ped ) 2%
=
| “wind 1 при
M Suet юн, Муу, КОУКТЕЕН САМЕ. COM
Mature Humor
Drug Reference
EUNT TM | pa РІауѕгайоп.о f d [adult swim] / MIDWAY
Software © 2007 Midway Home Entertainment Inc. MIDWAY and the MIDWAY LOGO are registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. All rights reserved. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
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ADULT SWIM, AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, WILLIAMS STREET GAMES, WILLIAMS STREET, the Logos, and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and ® © Cartoon Network.
(607)
XBOX 360
Halo 3
> STYLE 1 TO 4-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER BUNGIE > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 25 > ESRB M
COMING FULL CIRCLE
Imost two years after the Xbox 3605 release, Microsoft's marquee franchise finally comes home. With a satisfying cam- paign closure to the series' epic story arc, unprecedented multiplayer options, an innovative video recording feature, and heretofore unseen console mod tools, Halo 3 lives up to every bit of its ever-expanding reputation. However, a few small disappointments chip away at the game's shot at perfection.
Every enemy type from the first two Halo games returns here smarter than ever, especially on Legendary difficulty. Since Elites are now your friends (the Arbiter and two generic Elites fill out a four- player co-op team), you won't be fighting this classic enemy. Brutes do take on some Elite traits, like cloaking and their own answer to the Plasma Sword — a Gravity Hammer. However, an advanced form of a certain enemy group near the end proves to be the most challenging adversary.
Almost all of the old weapons are back (assault rifle ftw!) in addition to more new guns than ever. | especially like the detachable turrets, even if they do slow you down a little. А new power-up slot spices up the traditional melee, guns, and grenades mix. The Mongoose and Chopper complement previous Halo vehicles well, but the best addition is a powerful UNSC answer to the Banshee.
Halo 3's multiplayer has really outdone itself this
150 GAME INFORMER
time. Countless modes and vari- ants always keep the 11 maps fresh. In addi- tion to standard modes like capture the flag, deathmatch, and king of the hill, several new creative modes abound - an especially cool one makes 25 percent of players "zombies" with plasma swords who must "infect" the remain- ing players.
The Forge is basically "modding lite" and makes the already expansive multiplayer even more unlimited. At any time during these unranked matches players can turn into a Monitor and
add, move, or remove any object in the game. This can be a collaborative creation
process, or you can have just one person with editing capabilities serve as a mul- tiplayer DM of sorts. Think of what can happen during a heated battle when the editor decides to drop a Scorpion tank right in the middle of the fray. Four-player co-op is fun as hell.
Playing on Legendary is definitely
a must, but even this extreme
single-player challenge is severely watered down when you intro- duce other players. There's also an unlockable campaign scoring system based on kills, headshots, and difficulty setting that can be enacted in single player and co-op.
Online leaderboards provide a great incentive to come back to the cam-
Duca dE
. B Who knows what ki _ of craziness players will сгай їп The Forge
paign again and again like never before.
| also really dug the new Theater feature. It basi- cally auto saves your last 25 campaign levels or mul- tiplayer matches and allows you to watch them from any player perspective or from a floating camera, edit clips, take screens, and send them through Xbox Live. After playing around with this you'll want it in every game.
However, Halo 3 does have a few small problems that are primarily located in the campaign. First off, full-on boss battles are noticeably absent. Sure, you'll fight a few massive enemies, but none of them really feel like a true boss. And the last major fight is more like a quick interactive cutscene than a knock-down, drag-out fight. This is especially disap- pointing because there is one obvious candidate Bungie could have used and didn't. Also, there is plenty of trudging back and forth through the same environments in addition to the whole “Okay, we deactivated this tower. Now let's take care of the next one with the exact same layout" There are a few other nitpicky issues | have, but these are all relatively minor when you look at the big picture.
Overall, Bungie has crafted another masterpiece that serves as a fitting end to the trilogy (no big cliff- hanger here). Of course, not every mystery of the Halo universe is answered, but it does look like the next game is moving in a very interesting direction. Until next time, Chiefl—BRYAN
BOTTOM LINE
> Concept: Somehow live. up to the hype of Halo in the series’ first next-gen outing
> Graphics: Vehicles, enemies, and most environments look fantastic, but human faces and some textures are just plain embarrassing
> Sound: There's nothing like hearing Halo's signature "da- da-da-duuum" as you rush into a squad of brutes
> Playability: Some of the tightest console FPS controls. in the biz
> Entertainment: Deep fea- ture set will keep multiplayer and campaign fans alike play- ing well into 2008 and beyond
> Replay Value: High
Second Opinion 9.
I'm 1,500 miles from my. own bed, and tired from jetlag and the marathon gaming sessions that have kept me up past 2 a.m. the last couple days. l'm fueled by Mountain Dew, my eyes аге bloodshot, and I'm beginning to get a headache. And | don't care. Because the only thing |
can think about is that | have to wait two whole weeks before | can get my hands on this game again. Halo 3's multiplayer hits a “new benchmark. It's hard | to feel that the game has lived up to the hype with
ments, „and sea of í custom- izable options. Ev ‘Halo. 3 offers up se
it's easy to forget al deathmatch ar you're altering a level in the new Forge or editi ‘your game videos, pu $e only knock I can give - this game is that the single ‘player hasn't evolved much since the series’ inception, and you'll occasionally get. lost running the Wrong way in one of the repeated ‘environments. Bungie's | storytelling hasn't changed much either, so you'll prob- ably find yourself i in one of two camps either devotedly absorbed by Halo 3's plot | ‘or wondering why other . .. people are 50 devotedly | absorbed by Halo 3's plot.
Halo 3 is so good they could probably ch people a $130 and it would still sell —BEN
XBOX 360
Mass Effect.”
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/RPG > PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS. > DEVELOPER BIOWARE > RELEASE NOVEMBER 20 > ESRB M
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME AWAITS
ot since Star Wars made
its theatrical debut in 1977
has there been a universe
so full of wonder and awe. Mass Effect is a science fiction tale so galvanizing it makes you question the very existence of humanity, how moral choices can affect a person, and whether or not there's a holy entity watching over us. Just like that galaxy far, far away, this game's accomplish- ments are as far reaching as they are revolutionary. It's an amazing work of fiction, a visual work of art, and a prop- erty that is so fully realized and so rich in its backstory that its content could fill countless games, books, and movies.
This is the next big franchise for sci-
ence fiction junkies to latch onto, and a huge step forward for video games. It rings in a new age of interactive storytelling, and delivers an experi- ence that you'll want to live again and again just to see how different deci- Sions can alter the path ahead. The exceptional detail in the story makes the relationships feel real — you care about your crew, and you really feel like you have a voice that resonates throughout the galaxy. As the plot progresses, and a war to end all wars looms dangerously close, the
Profile Reconstruction
(Randomize АП
m You can create your own male or female lead. The stories for each offer different content, such as love interests
believability of the content makes the decisions you are forced to make all the more difficult. Never before have | spent so much time thinking deeply about the choices | have to make, and the ramifications they will have on future events. One command, which may seem like the right course of action at the time, can potentially lead to a political disaster, the death of a beloved crewmate, genocide, or perhaps even the destruction of the entire galaxy.
Mass Effect shares a similar design to Bioware's previous work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire. However, by compari- son, both of these remarkable games now seem like test runs. The develop- ers at Bioware have grown mightily as storytellers and have honed this craft to make every second of the content seem important. Even the Side missions, which have players traveling across the stars to different solar systems, planets, and moons, is either relevant to the conflict at hand or used to help the player better understand the universe and how it came to be. You feel like you are on a mission of the greatest importance, and everything you do affects the cause. Part of what makes the story so inviting is how well acted it is, and how cinematic just an ordinary con- versation can be. Characters convey realistic emotions, their lip-syncing is perfect to the point that they don't seem like
Armstrong Nebula
№ You can veer off of the beaten path to explore the universe. You may discover long lost relics, and if you choose, you can study scientific data for each of
the planets
№ The conversations flow better than they did in KOTOR and Jade Empire
M You can issue commands to your teammates, but you won't be able to take control of them
Fai Dan: Looks like a dozen. Maybe more."
CG creations, and they all have little quirks that you attribute to being alive. Now, you've probably noticed | haven't talked much about the gameplay. Mass Effect's run-and-gun warfare is certainly ambitious, and it has the potential to be incredibly powerful. However, most of the skir- mishes, which begin and end in the blink of an eye, run into balancing issues, problematic Al, and a difficulty in comprehending what is transpir- ing. Tapping into the Force-like biotic powers can lead to enemies spinning through the air in slow motion and robots turning on their own kind. But as you look on in joyous disbelief, out of the corner of your eye, you may see one of your teammates blindly firing at a wall two feet in front of him. Or perhaps a foe, who you didn't even know existed, drain your shields from a location off your radar.
The deep character and weapon customization can create some lethal and amusing blends, but after a few hours, you'll have seen it all. The gameplay is certainly fun, and it controls admirably, but it doesn't live up to the large stage the story sets or the standards you've come to expect from action games and RPGs.
You'll want more from it, but by no means does it hold the experience back, nor does it make you wish you were playing something else.
In fact, | think you'll agree that Mass Effect is one of video games’ greatest treasures. It's an adventure that is so captivating that you'll be counting the days for the sequel. It takes interac- tive storytelling to new heights, and brings the player closer to content than ever before. It's easily one of the year's best titles, and one of the most impressive games to date.—REINER
BOTTO! LINE
> Concept: One of the greatest science fiction stories ever told, and a new benchmark for video game storytelling
> Graphics: Every second of gameplay offers the visual quality you have come to expect from Final Fantasy cutscenes
> Sound: One of the most memorable and unique soundtracks in gaming. It's inspired by ‘80s sci-fi, yet sounds like nothing you've heard before. The game also features an amaz- ing ensemble of voice actors
> Playability: Functional and fun, but something always seems to be amiss with the Al and balancing
> Entertainment: An expansive quest (18 to 30 hours) that toys with your emotions, and keeps you engaged
> Replay Value: High
Second Opinion 9
Its a common RPG phe- nomenon to find yourself acting the tough guy, care- free of the consequences. I've experienced it dozens if not hundreds of times before, but Mass Effect stopped me dead in my tracks. I'd just chastised one of my companions for doing something stupid, then she looked back up at me with big round eyes full of shame, and | felt an emotion that a game's never drawn out of me before: guilt. There is something special about the conversations in Mass Effect. They are a little less like cyding through a dialogue tree and a little more like actually talking to a person. Bioware's epic also has the richly detailed environments of Gears of War, the deep exploration of Oblivion, and a fictional universe almost as compelling as Star Wars. It sounds like the perfect game. And it comes damn near dose. The one thing that might turn a few people off is the combat, which has a lot of little nuances that. take a while to get used to. When they all come together the action is breathtaking. Problem is, certain powers/ weapon combos allow you to steamroll through waves of enemies, making the game feel easy until the dice rolls turn against you “апа you find yourself dead within seconds. | want to call this a balancing issue, and | suggest you save offen since the auto save | isn't great. Still, Mass Effect. could very well represent the future of entertainment, and its few flaws shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying that experience —BEN
GAME INFORMER 151
SHOPPING SPREE
New to PGR 4 is the PGR Shop. Instead of buying cars with credits, you buy car packs, different races, and odds and sods with kudos. The car packs are well-timed with where you
should be in terms of skill and your career progression. Here's a quick list of just some ой the items in the store.
- Bulldog Race Mode (30,000 Kudos): Unlock this multiplayer mode р - 3D Glasses Cheat (55,000): Enables 3D photo
XBOX 360
Project Gotham
Racing 4
» STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE OR SYSTEM LINK) » PUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS > DEVELOPER BIZARRE CREATIONS > RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB Е
PROJECT: SUCCESS
think the racing genre's lost sight
of itself a little in the past few
years. While I'm glad that, now
more than ever, we have a wider range of titles available to us from super-sims to саг-оп- ге nitro-burn- ers, those of us looking for something that needs neither a gear ratio cal- culator or a fire suit — and who just want some fun, honest racing — have been ill supplied. Thankfully, Project Gotham Racing 4 solves this by offer- ing the best all-around racing experi- ence in recent memory.
A big part of what makes racing so fun in PGR 4 is the course layouts. Apart from the spectacular cityscapes and well-done situational weather (which even takes course elevation into account), the game throws a
а
Wm You сап apply custom е paint jobs to all your сагѕ 40
give them that team laok
152 САМЕ INFORMER
lot at you: changing track widths, tight city chicanes, and a good amount of variety. The tracks don't race themselves, though, and PGR 4 has enough sim-racing blood in
it to make you change your racing styles on these challenging courses to account for the capabilities of your different cars. Grease monkeys will be disappointed that you can't upgrade or tinker with your car, but the game was balanced enough that | never thought 1 was losing races based on anything other than my skill — or lack thereof.
Although the on-track racing is sim- ilar to the last PGR in feel, developer Bizarre Creations has smartly restruc- tured its previously dull career mode. Not only is your progress broken
pr
АДА Bi Ladies and gentlemen, Geometry Wars: Waves
АААА
into four categories (from Amateur to Master), but you must work your way up the leaderboard based on the points you accrue from events on your race calendar. This leaderboard isn't static, either, as you're constantly competing with others on the track also making their way to the top. It's a small detail, but it helps give the game personality and continually spurs you on, both on the track and off. As much as | was invested in my career, the game's promise of deliv- ering an emotional component to racing via fans and teams is basically non-existent. Augmenting the leader- board system is the events calendar.
filter for Photo Mode
- Street Bikes (100,00): Three bikes from Triumph, Yamaha, and MV Agusta
- Ultimate Ferrari (185,000): Four Ferraris, including the F50 GT
- Gamer Picture Pack (1 million): The gamer with "more Kudos than sense" gets an exclu- sive gamer picture
While it's linear, | like it and the
way it's tied to the PGR shop (see above), and it's way better than PGR 3's staid progression system.
I'd love to see a car damage system of some kind implemented, larger field sizes, and an online com- ponent that is more than adequate (In contrast, Forza 2's car auction system is a glimpse into the future), but Project Gotham Racing 4 has blown its own doors off and finally grown from being a bite-sized, almost niche racer into a full-fledged experience that all racing fanatics should enjoy.—KATO
В Photo mode allows you to apply a number of filters, as well as put them up online for others to see
BOTTOM LINE
> Concept: Combine good racing with a great career mode. Why is this so hard in the racing genre?
> Graphics: The rain effects оп your car show up in replays or photo mode more than while you're racing
> Sound: The soundtrack is a cool smorgasbord of genres and known artists, including Mozart, My Chemical Romance, Lily Allen, Lupe Fiasco, and more
> Playability: The bikes are okay, but certainly not my preferred method of racing
> Entertainment: This semi- simulation based racer does it right in almost all areas
> Replay Value: Moderately High
Second Opinion 9.25
I've always enjoyed the PGR series, but this year's edition is a thing of beauty. It's as if all the stars aligned in the series to bring us this one shin-
ing moment. The revamped Gotham Career mode fol- lows a calendar format, but the thing that makes it work is that it lets you just race. Lose a race? No big deal, you aren't going to win them all; move onto the next track, earn more kudos, and get better at driving as there is. always next year. Which is what | love about this game - it really just lets racing be fun. The cars follow this same mantra; they feel realistic to.
a degree, but they also feel fast and you can throw them into a comer without too much worrying, which is the thing that ultimately wears me down in racing "simula- tors.” This is the best racing game I've played this year, hands down.—ANDY
STOP THE CRUELTY
Microsoft gamexatudios
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lild Cartoon Violence
ischi
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I pledge to buy Viva Piñata and provide hundreds of abused pifiatas with a safe place to live. Name:
Address:
Pan
for Windows
ZIP:
? Concept: Fly through drop- dead gorgeous worlds as a jet pilot in a game where the action makes it feel like a simulation, even though the reality is arcadey to the extreme
> Graphics: Positively phenom- enal detail on everything from the planes to the individual trees you'll be skimming by - this is a visual tour de force
> Sound: A strong, but often repetitive, score is accompanied by strong but often repetitive voicework
> Playability: Given the flex- ibility of the flight and combat options, the controls are remark- ably fluid and friendly. However, beginners will still need an hour or two to ramp up to speed
> Entertainment: Perhaps a tad easier than some of the games in the series, but arguably the best
overall package we've seen from this franchise
> Replay Value: Moderate
It's a hefty price tag, but the $149.99 point of entry (including the game) might be worth it for the definitive 360 flight experience. While some might not love the white and green color scheme, the stick itself works great, delivering smooth rolls and vibrating shakes from
XBOX 360
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 16-PLAYER VIA XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER NAMCO BANDAI > DEVELOPER NAMCO BANDAI > RELEASE OCTOBER 23 > ESRB T
harder this way, but it’s hard to argue with the fun of seeing your afterburners light up onscreen as you slowly edge the throttle forward. Not interested? Don't worry; you can buy the game
BEYOND PHOTOREALISM
ven as we speak, a number of games are
butting up against an interesting graphi-
cal ceiling — one where objects onscreen
appear basically identical to their real-life counterparts. At this point, there arises an interest- ing challenge when adding new, non-realistic ele- ments into the framework. For instance, how do you make a giant flying manta ray-shaped aircraft carrier believable beside an eerily realistic version of the new F-22 jet?
That's exactly the challenge facing the wild flight
antics of Ace Combat. This entry in the series, more than ever before, reveals the skill with which the developers are blending realistic visuals and gameplay tone with fantasy and fun playability. Spinning wildly through the skies above a meticu- lously crafted city or river valley, firing off dozens of missiles that miraculously manage to fit into your jet, turning at speeds and angles that would tear the
154 GAME INFORMER
most powerful war plane in two, your incredu- lity will be completely submerged beneath the fun of it all. It's this game's greatest success.
Missions are a satisfactory mix of air-to-air dogfights, bombing runs, and a few ridiculous assaults on implausibly large war machines. As always, a progression of unlockable rides and weapons delivers new thrills pretty steadily.
In terms of the flow of gameplay, you're a much more powerful force of destruction in the game world than in previous installments. Part of that comes from the wide availability of incredibly powerful multi-target missile sys- tems, which often have you dropping half a dozen foes with one well-placed shot. Even more devas- tating are the new allied support attacks. Complete enough of your objectives and your battlefield allies will free up from their initial tasks and lend aid at your request on some new sequence of targets. That array of sev- eral dozen anti-air guns along the harbor is a lot less imposing when you can call in
a massive strike from your nearby tank division.
The story, told largely through some impres- sively directed CG cutscenes, is enjoyable on its own merits. | was a little
е all the Ace Combat there's a good bit of tech- fantasy floating amid the
backgrounds
sans flight stick at the expected $59.99 price,
Хошсап fault the 27 attention to p
disappointed that the main dramatic arc of the plot revolved around lives of the characters on the ground, while the drama in the air remains pretty scarce. It all ties together in the end, resulting in a well-told story about the horrors of war, even if the conclusions reached seem a little naive.
Undoubtedly, the coolest addition to the formula in Ace Combat 6 is the online multiplayer. Large- scale dogfights are going to be a blast once the game releases, and a number of modes maintain variety, including a few cooperative missions and a cool siege mode where one team defends a bunch of ground targets while the attackers attempt to destroy them. I'm not sure why the game doesn't include a cooperative campaign option — can I voice my request for inclusion of that on console iteration number seven?
I'm still not totally convinced | would recommend this Ace Combat or any of the other excellent series entries to absolutely everyone - a certain fascina- tion with flying and an undisguised lust for military aircraft are prerequisites. But if Fires of Liberation doesn't catch your eye, I'm not sure if any game of this ilk ever will. — MILLER
those nearby missile strikes. Sure, the game might be a little
| with the feeling o ship over the skies, b
the wildly imaginative mi sions that really make this game soar. The skirmishes are much larger i thanin | „ previous offerings, which — leads to simple, yet highly rewarding strategic war- fare. If your focus is on i
troops to attack eek gets for you. Ace Combat е has the entíre package. "sc cinematic narrative is ping as its d inline. сотроп is iss as ри as its
Дум TIME LEFT > “U NEER 3 y», TARGET SCORE .0'58'94 \ N 5 : 23 4 28,000 "POSITION 2 boi SCORE /л2 : - а то 15,230
à a PÜSITIOM(GTH) 3X
CHECKPOINT! 200 SCENERY CRASHES 45
XBOX 360 ШЫ
FlatOut Ultimate Carnage
> STYLE 1 TO 8-PLAYER RACING (UP TO 8-PLAYER МА XBOX LIVE) > PUBLISHER EMPIRE INTERACTIVE > DEVELOPER BUGBEAR ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB T
OUT OF GAS?
> Concept: An almost exact replica and repackage of the Xbox's FlatOut 2
> Graphics: Upgraded. You'll enjoy the full-screen flame effects, for sure
> Sound: Not notable in any
Б T " E ч way, shape, ог form. Where's the. his may be a nearly identical copy and suddenly a huge explosion fills the ышы kidding
of FlatOut 2, which came out on the screen. The only problem | had is that, as > Playability: The fying envi
original Xbox just over а year ago, but а racer, | prefer the sense of speed and car ronmental objects are both a
it's dear that Ultimate Carnage has physics of the Burnout series, and | was blessing and a curse benefited from being put out on the 360. disappointed in the seeming inconsistency > Entertainment: Like your While it's not like you're tearing up Forza 2- regarding which objects in the environment average action flick, the big quality looking rides, the step up to the next you could or couldn't bowl over — | swear it bangs area little less impressive generation makes all the flying debris and changed from lap to lap. Not only that, but the second time around mayhem pretty alluring. even shortcut jumps could be risky because > Replay Value: Moderately
A good synopsis of what this title is all you might unexpectedly biff the landing. High about is the new Carnage mode, which | wouldn't suggest buying this game if unlike the career tier structure of FlatOut you've already got FO 2, but it's a great in- Second 0
mode, is more bite-sized and not as ardu- ous. Carnage mode gives you a selection of all kinds of different races,
tro to the series for everybody else.—KATO
With school buses. plow- “ing through buildings and
stunt games (see photo below), human beings being used as demolition derbies, and other wreck- bowing bal, Най offers : s up a tasty blend of wanton filled challenges. destruction and unimaginable While some races ask you to finish hilarity. Every race is a show- high, others simply want you to mess _ case of glorious environmen- stuff up. The game excels at those ‘al destruction and hostile
Great attention has been paid tothe track designs. If you're not bumping and grinding - down a narrow straightaway, then you're probably soaring ‘through the air Ще Superman toward a building, As excit- ing as the racing portion is, FlatOut also delivers large thrills within its destruction derbies, timed challenges, and of course, its unique
and highly humorous
moments when the two objectives merge and all hell brakes loose, with competitors wrecking in front of you, environmental debris everywhere,
L coming together зо nicely in this in à
100, would throw myself into a fiery death rather than see another candid Britney paparazzi photo
Enter the Jeep./Tony Hawk Go Anywhere Sweepstakes.
If you wanna score a free limited-edition Tony Hawk autographed board, or $350 in GameStop Gift Cards or, even Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, you'd better get online now and enter to win at at www.gameinformer.com/jeepsweepstakes.
Jeep ACTIVISION.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes ends on 10-31-2007. Open only to legal US residents 16 or older. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules available at www.gameinformer.com/jeepsweepsrules. © 2007 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trade- mark of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Tony Hawk is a registered trademark of Tony Hawk, Inc. All rights reserved. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. © 2007 Chrysler LLC. All rights reserved. Jeep is a registered trademark of Chrysler LLC.
You'll get well and truly sick 777 of the announcer reminding
uf you of your objectives
т Using vehicles for cover works wonders to prolong infantry life expectancy
BOTTOM LINE 8 5 > Concept: Enemy Territories, Enemy Territories: Quake Wars ECTS class-based, objective-driven
multiplayer FPS with Strogg
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 24-PLAYER VIA INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER ACTIVISION > DEVELOPER SPLASH DAMAGE/ID SOFTWARE > RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB T > Graphics: This certainly looks
nice, but #5 no revelation іп РС
THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE FUTURE graphics eveloper Splash Damage got its foot full potential requires the support of teammates As in any competitive multiplayer game, balance > Sound: Terribly voice-acted in the door with Wolfenstein: Enemy and their varied skills. While it's tough to learn the — is of prime importance here. Happily, Quake Wars short messages are no replace- Territory, a free spinoff of Return To Castle тапу relationships between the skill sets, using never feels unfair for long. Like a good fighting ment for integrated voicechat Wolfenstein's multiplayer that featured them to your advantage in a well-oiled team is game, layers of strategy are revealed as you learn > Playability: Vehicles control diverse classes and attack/defend gameplay similar опе of the most rewarding and enjoyable online to counter what seem like “cheap” tactics at the fine, Ви нь to Unreal Tournament's Assault mode. Quake Wars experiences available. time. In a strategic game such as this, this means КОШ Sor game B is more or less a direct sequel to that title, with play- Тһе biggest curveball that Quake Wars throws at е or death for the entertainment value — and ES ers choosing classes and duking it out over sets of ће genre is the introduction of deployables. Each |. Splash Damage has definitively nailed this aspect e aT linear objectives. The formula has evolved quite a class can summon one or more emplacements of the game. Weapons, classes, vehicles, and you dig a e strategic online bit here, with deployable devices and a whole mess Ша! can redefine the battlefield, from antiperson- deployables all feel relatively equal in power, and FPS experience of vehicles at the player's disposal. And, like Wolf: nel turrets to artillery pieces. Understanding how the circle of counters (machine guns beat infantry, > Replay Value: High
ET before it, Quake Wars punishes newbies with a these relate to each objective, each other, and the handheld rocket launchers beat vehicles, etc) is steep learning curve as much as it rewards veterans — different classes and vehicles is key. This additional well defined and intuitive.
with deep and nuanced gameplay. layer of strategy works well and helps define Quake The missteps that Quake Wars makes are mostly
Much more so than its competitors in the online Wars within the crowded genre. minor, but worth mentioning. Lack of integrated FPS space, Quake Wars 3 7 voicechat is asinine with the 8.5 emphasizes teamwork. The Р Ы ОУ emphasis on teamwork. No
ПОЕЛИ matchmaking means finding Taggers starving for anew
ameplay is asymmetric; 5 д gameplay азу | multiplayer fix can finally
humans and Strogg have a good server to play on can 2 А slightly different abilities be a bear, and the run-and- take the safeties off their мене deach | Н guns. Enemy Territory is and vehicles, and ead gun gameplay sometimes back and this time its round has one team trying feels too fast and “spammy bringing the Strogg. Quake to achieve its objectives for the strategic metagame. Wars melds together the while the other tries to stop Still, the game executes objective-based strategy them. Standard FPS skills will its ideas well and has no of Wolfenstein: ET with serve you well, but working glaring flaws. Whether you the frantic action of Unreal together effectively with the prefer this, Battlefield, or үш and m ue other classes results in a $ some other title will come К t Ци VN um ) һ hine down more to personal Ment De! patel synergistic deat! 1 mac per 2 to create a fast paced, that utterly dominates unor- | preference regarding well-rounded fragfest. The ganized squads. Each of gameplay style rather than dynamic frontline keeps the the classes is very powerful an issue of quality one way action focused, and the two in its own right when used or the other. —ADAM warring factions weapon well, but achieving their arsenals and class systems aa : are different enough to. 7 2 | make playing on each side тїз not shown here, but tags Protip: i | a rewarding experience. | "ce M ШЙ ewb 1 The only major weaknesses x : 3 А ag in. QWare the maps them-
selves. Many feel eerily sim- ilar to one another in struc- ture and they all place the same emphasis on armor and infantry rather than mixing up the battle styles. ‘| would have also loved
an embedded chat system similar to BF 2 and persis- tent, unlockable weapon upgrades, but these are mi- nor cons to an otherwise solid shooter.—BERTZ
156 GAME INFORMER
EDITORS; CHOICE
PS EEE аа ees | SB BC aioe, | v Б
ааты SAY UTR NPN!
Н
4 i i | | Г 9 c pu ^ i E р РА Я i 4 >, ы 2 lm ы \ Ж 2 \ f x р ) 4
Action-heavy, real-time combat system
Mature fantasy storyline with over with advanced motion-captured swordplay
Over 250 game-changing skills and abilities А i 80 hours of non-linear roleplaying
including advanced alchemy, multiple fighting styles and powerful magics
| б Powered by
DVD-ROM i ү SOFTWARE ) BiOWARE
aurora engine
Blood and Gore Partial Nudity Strong Language Strong Sexual Content Violence
ESRB CONTENT RATING _www.esrh.org
ATARI
<> reviews | C QUICKIES
PC
Medieval ІІ: Total War Kingdoms
> STYLE 1-2 PLAYER STRATEGY (UP ТО 8-PLAYER VIA ONLINE) > PUBLISHER SEGA
> DEVELOPER THE CREATIVE ASSEMBLY
> RELEASE AUGUST 28 > ESRB T
воттом ине The Middle Ages may have been rough for the 9 average serf, but gamers
are reaping the rewards of a historical period fraught with blood- shed. The Kingdoms expansion adds an unprecedented amount of new content to an already deep turn-based strategy game. The four new campaigns — the battle for Britainnia, the Teutonic War, The Crusades, and the New World — focus on regional conflicts that defined the era. Each features a “magnifying glass” map that expands the scope of the skirmishes, adds several new units, and comes with its own distinct produc- tion values and rule sets. And for the first time ever, you can tackle a cam- paign with a friend, About the only thing this amazing expansion is missing is the Knights Who Say Ni! —BERTZ
PC
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
> STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA. INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER THQ
> DEVELOPER RELIC ENTERTAINMENT
> RELEASE SEPTEMBER 24 > ESRB M
воттом име ер, Company of Heroes is still awesome. 8 А 25 If you haven't played it yet, do so unless real- time strategy holds no interest for you. This standalone expansion, on the other hand, doesn't do anything terribly inter- esting outside of adding two new fac- tions (a defensive British division and a highly mobile German counterpart). The added campaigns are very average, but will no doubt be entertaining enough to satisfy the needs of offline-focused play- ers. By all means, grab Opposing Fronts if you simply need more CoH = just don't expect anything particularly tevolutionary here —ADAM
158 САМЕ INFORMER
Neverwinter Nights 2:
Mask of the Betrayer
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ROLE-PLAYING GAME (UP TO 64-PLAYER VIA INTERNET OR LAN) > PUBLISHER ATARI
> DEVELOPER OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT > RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB T
GAME, Se
FLIRTING WITH GREATNESS
pic levels in Dungeons & Dragons are silly. Characters are so vastly powerful at level 20 that pushing it any farther is madness — delicious, overpow- ered madness. And yet, the crew at Obsidian Entertainment has created a campaign full of challenges worthy of a party of these über-heroes. Mask of the Betrayer is much more than merely a vehicle for creative abuse of D&D 3.5 edition rules, though. A deep and engaging story in the rich Forgotten Realms setting, interesting multifaceted NPCs to interact with, and a polished technical execution make this one of the best expansions to grace gaming in a long time. Forget about the problems that the original NWN 2 shipped with. That game's frustrating Al bugs, crappy interface design, and questionable performance have all been fixed in
the year since its release. Mask of the Betrayer (and the latest patch for the base game as well) plays like NWN 2 always ought to have. The difference is massive.
Picking up where the official cam- paign left off, the hero finds him or herself alone in a barrow in distant Rashemen, shorn of companions. Immediately, a Red Wizard with a murky past shows up and kicks off the epic story. Just to put it into per- spective, one of the first things you do is piss off an ancient bear god by beating down his spirit form — and not long after, you'll find yourself raiding the vault of a dead death god. Exploring the high end of D&D lore has never been so entertaining. Equally as nice is the fact that resting and traveling are significantly less trivial in the expansion's campaign.
Piles of new feats, spells, and
classes will give even seasoned D&D vets plenty to explore, either in the official campaign or custom scenarios built by the community. Likewise, builders can benefit from the ever- improving toolset and (supposedly) fixed persistent-world implementa- tion. All of the additions are inte- grated well into the existing content, and offer plenty of new abilities and character builds to explore. There are even decent prestige classes for arcane casters!
Mask of the Betrayer delivers on all fronts: tactical battles, exceptional story, and great characters. It's truly remarkable how far NWN 2 has come. It's not perfect, but as far as Іт concerned the smooth execution and excellent new content in this expansion make this the best elec- tronic D&D experience since Baldur's Gate | —ADAM
Е High-level wizards аге, 7 unfair, but so is fightingigods
BOTTOM 9
LINE
> Concept: Harness the power of epic levels to settle ап argu- ment between gods and mortals in the Forgotten Realms
> Graphics: If your PC has the power to crank it, this is one fine- looking RPG
> Sound: Lots of good voice act- ing enriches the story immensely > Playability: This interface is leagues better than what shipped with the vanilla NWN 2
> Entertainment: The best PC RPG in years? If D&D is your bag, yes
> Replay Value: High
Second Opinion 8.
Its like puberty, but г of turning into a ga “teen, you're asce
| straightforward style pe prn
“with an excellent storyli involving the Red Wizards of Thay, make Mask; the Betrayer a rare. sion that actually surpa: the base game in terms
| “The: imited- edition Star Wars Entertainment Pack With Darth Vader silk- screened тр
Includes the all-new Star Wars Battlefront:: Renegade Squadron:
STAR. WARS Bees =
f. М cro № і LUCASARTS Mc ee «©.
©2007 Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "PlayStation" "PSP" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars Battlefront is a trademark of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. ©2004-2007 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. & ® or ™ as indicated. All rights reserved.
° reviews
PSP.
Syphon Filter: | одап Shadow
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA AD-HOC OR INFRASTRUCTURE) > PUBLISHER SONY COMPUTER EEN > DEVELOPER SONY BEND > RELEASE OCTOBER 2 > ESRB T
THE OLD STANDBY
oor old Gabe Logan. He's
the Rodney Dangerfield
of video games. Syphon
Filter has been a solid and strong-selling series since the original PlayStation, yet you hardly ever see it mentioned in lists of “triple A" franchises. Personally, I've grown attached to Gabe's overly serious, stiff delivery of his lines. In Logan's Shadow the second | heard him portentously declare, "It's an enigma...l've got s— to do,” it was love allover again.
The story, which dangles the pos- sibility that longtime ally Lian Xing is a double agent, is the usual stew of double-crosses, surprise twists, and generic Middle Eastern and Russian terrorists. While the quality of the cutscenes is impressive for a handheld, let's just say this won't
` make you forget BioShock any time soon.
So let's put the focus where it should be, on the fact that Syphon Filter manages to deliver a very enjoyable third-person shooting experience like few other PSP. titles. I'm not a fan of using the face buttons for aiming, but this game's.pace - most scenarios
160 CAME INFORMER
revolve around advancing towards cover, eliminating the targets, then advancing again - is more suited to this configuration than more frantic action titles. | also like the new advanced grappling, stealth kill features, and brief God of War- style button mashing sequences. Even more surprising was the
new emphasis on underwater levels — I usually hate swimming in games, but | have to admit Logan's Shadow pulls it off admirably.
My only real complaint is the enemy AI, which varies radically from good to flat-out brain dead. But perhaps we can chalk that up to the technical constrictions of doing a full-out action title on a handheld. Add to this the fact that you can engage in four-on-four team matches in an impressive number of online modes, and what we have here is another great per- formance by one of video games’ most underappreciated series.
Gabe might not get the respect of the Solid Snakes of the world, but Syphon Filter fans will always know where to go for a less cerebral brand of sneaking and shooting —MATT
Logan's Shadow features ; a surprising number of well- < done underwater scenes
MM 30/50
BOTTOM
LINE 8.75
> Concept: A globetrotting fol- low-up to one of the PSP's best. action titles delivers more of the same, with a few new tricks
> Graphics: It's definitely in the (ор tier of PSP titles in terms of graphics
> Sound: | love the dramatic soundtrack, which is worthy of a major motion picture. Gabe's voiceovers are loveably stiff
as ever
> Playability: Syphon Filter deals with the lack of a second analog about as well as any title ‘on the market
> Entertainment: It's not
groundbreaking by today’s stan- dards, but this is solidly executed
action оп a system that needs more games of this quality
> Replay Value: Moderately High
Second Opinion 9 Exhilarating, adroit, and unstoppably fun, Logan's Shadow fires direct hits with nearly everything it attempts, and gifts the PSP with one of most accomplished espionage thrillers in recent memory. This experience is carried mostly by the inno- vative gameplay, which has players firing rocket rounds from sniper rifles, leaping out of the water like Jaws to stealthily grab a terrorist on a dock, and even pounding out timed button presses for cinematic action sequences, Sony Bend has always had
a keen eye for level designs,
but these are easily the. company's best. Logan's Shadow is what every sequel should be - a giant step for- ward that shows a mastery of its craft —REINER. \
NINTENDO DS
DK: Jungle Climber
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 4-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER NINTENDO
> DEVELOPER PAON > RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10 > ESRB Е
GO BACK TO YOUR BONGOS, PAL
ing K. Rool and his Kremlings аге back
to interrupt Donkey Kong's vacation and
steal enchanted crystal bananas. DK
and friends are tasked with helping an alien banana man (who speaks in banana fanna fo fanna language) recover the magic bananas. Obviously, people don't play Donkey Kong games for the nuanced plots. It seems to be more about wacky control schemes these days i.e. bongos, Wii bongo simulation, and total shoulder button plat- forming (first shown in DK: King of Swing on GBA).
The latter control scheme returns in DK: Jungle Climber, and for those who've never given it a shot, it works like this: players use the L and R but- tons for everything from jumping to grabbing pegs to swinging around a pivot point like a sped up hand on a dock. However, what may have passed for slightly innovative the first time around feels stale and unwieldy now. Stages that would be easy with tight, traditional platforming controls are now a smorgasbord of cheap deaths due to the headache-inducing mechanics and DK's limited attack power.
Ridiculous amount of bananas, DK coins, oil bar- rels, K-O-N-G letters, banana coins, and jewels are sprinkled throughout the stage. You'll try to grab most of this stuff for the first few levels, but after awhile you'll start to skip all of that crap. It's just not worth dying and having to pick it all up again, especially considering that they only unlock cheats and extra annoying levels.
Challenge mode offers a few uninspired minigames like banana catching and log hopping. Multiplayer consists of four-player offline barrel races and speed climbing runs, but | can't see any
group of friends tolerating сова these games Гог more 2 than five minutes. In the be: 2 end, Nintendo would
have been smart to make a new Donkey Kong Country rather than revisit this franchise. DK's latest adventure is neither "fun" nor "easy to play," despite at the back of the box may claim.—-BRYAN
BOTTOM LINE 5 7 5 > Concept: Bring the DK: King of Swing experience to 05
> Graphics: It turns out that pegboards don't make the most compelling backdrop
> Sound: Funky Kong attempts to rip off Lil Jon's trademark "okaaaaaay!"
> Playability: Remember that "like it or hate it" shoulder but- ton swinging mechanic?
> Entertainment: Only for seri- ‘ous DK fans...and people who are sick of using the d-pad
> Replay Value: Moderate
Second Opinion 6.75
5р DK King. of Swing, took a simple concept (и: shoulder buttons to swing _ Mr. Kong around environ- ments filled with pegs) and turned it into some solid fun. DK: Jungle Climber proves that that there's — only so far you can go on a single premise, While it's not bad - "mediocre" is a word that this game brings to mind - there's just no sense of discovery or freshness. to this title. It works; it has levels you can play and have a decent time while you're doing it. That's about it But, respectfully, | can't really see myself rememberin; even played this game in three months. | doubt e the most ardent Donkey. Kong fan will be able to claim otherwise —MATT
GAME DEVELOPERS WITH INSIDE SECRETS. 316G MISTAKE.
GameStop
power to the players
court can be
the Court Record.
NINTENDO DS
Mega Man ZX Advent
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER INTI CREATES > RELEASE OCTOBER 10 > ESRB E
NINTENDO DS
ЧГ? ) В The obligatory time-stopping
: № When you defeat a boss, you IM power in full, useless effect
are able to assume its physical form along with its powers
PSEUDOROID RAGE
f you're one of those
gamers who has fallen out of step with Mega Man over the last few
abilities to consider beyond basic firepower. Some are more maneuverable, some are larger (and therefore
> Concept: In а shocking turn of events, Mega Man fights evil robots and takes their powers
> Graphics: Anime cutscenes
easier targets), and one is even made specifically for underwater mobility. Every time | fought a boss, | thought "| can't wait to control that guy!"
The depth these forms add
years, this would be a good time to start paying attention again. The series may have spread out in some question- able directions (like Star Force and Battle Network), but the spirit of the original classics
add some cool flair, but the gameplay visuals are nothing special
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials & Tribulations
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER CAPCOM > DEVELOPER CAPCOM > RELEASE OCTOBER 25 > ESRB Т
> Sound: There's some sporadic voice acting, for better or worse
> Playability: The maps and stats on the touch screen make
THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS BOTTOM 8 5 still persists in Mega Man to the Mega Man formula is navigation much easier this time LINE ZX Advent. impressive. Some minigames around ne a me ni uu me си. а л SERE ORG DONE Many of the problems that апа multiplayer round out > Entertainment: If you like most endearing quali- of the series; it doesn't contain пов, and unravel mysteries as dragged down last year's the functionality, but Advent jumping, dashing, and shooting,
ties as a lawyer is his ability to transform
a dubious situation into a resounding success, Trials & Tribulations is similar to its title character in that respect; it may be hard to imagine that the third installment of a text-heavy, barely interactive adventure series can maintain its charm and momentum, but this conclusion to Phoenix Wright's story arc is just as sat- isfying and entertaining as the previous titles. In fact, Trials & Tribulations is my favorite Ace Attorney so far.
All of the major gameplay advances from Justice for All are present and refined. The Psyche-locks are back, but you have more clues as to when you are equipped to take them on, giving the investigation seg- ments a much better flow this time around. You also won't find any of the first game's grueling three-day trials, which again aids in the pacing. There is still just as much content, but it is delivered in denser, less seg- mented chunks, so it's easier to get wrapped up in the action.
For a game that is basically a visual novel, these improve- ments to the story experience go a long way. Even so, Trials &
162 GAME INFORMER
any features that really utilize the touch screen, and many old problems persist. There are still infuriating moments in court when you've made the logical connection and are forced to choose between presenting two equally plau- sible pieces of evidence - like the picture of a coffee cup at the crime scene versus the cup itself. The second those moments pass, however, you're back to loving the game - it's impossible to stay mad at Phoenix.
For those familiar with the story of the first two games, you can look forward to all of the loose ends being tied up by two related timelines (past and present), quirky new characters, and tons of entertaining testimony. Knowing that the next game in this series will star a new up- and-coming defense attorney, Trials & Tribulations is a fun and fitting farewell to Phoenix апа company.—JOE
Phoenix Wright comes into his
this is a lot of fun. If you don't, then you probably don't play many games
is most entertaining when it sticks to the basics. Fight some robots, find some secret rooms, and enjoy
Mega Man ZX have been
> Replay Value: Moderate
own as a defense attorney addressed (though not com- > Graphies: Interesting char- pletely eliminated) in this acter design set against static sequel. Navigating the zone- backgrounds, some of which are based world isn’t nearly as Qu frustrating as before thanks to id: f the classic Е
е jeu е SS : the much-improved map on
emes retum, along with equally the touch screen. However, good new ones eh B
ы your diligent exploration will
> Playability: Apart from a few
often be wasted once you see that "Game Over" screen unless you constantly backtrack to save points. The heart of any Mega Man game, absorb- ing enemy abilities, is better than ever in
maddening trial moments, the puzzles are intuitive and clever > Entertainment: Living on the brink of failure is kind of a rush, and the writing is as hilarious,
as ever
> Replay Value: Moderate
Second Opinion 8.
the evolution of one of the
Second 0) most memorable heroes in gaming —JOE // 1 Outside of the tite plotline Д and one-dimensional char- қ | „ acters, there's nothing really \ wrong with ZX Advent - and who faults Mega Man for not
f delivering earth-shattering
narrative? Regardless, there's. iy not much here to get excited
$ over, either. The gameplay
* formula is largely the same as it has been in the Mega Man Zero series for years, the difficulty is still high, and the. bosses are exercises in pat-
It wasn't long ago the Capcom was staging a "contest" to get fans to con- vince them to release the third Phoenix Wright game in the U.S. Boy am | glad that worked out. Trials & Tribulations brings the saga to a fitting close by ratcheting up the humor and drama, tying up all of the loose ends from the earlier games, and bringing back some surpris- ing characters (playable and NPO). Sure there are по new gameplay elements, but Phoenix has always been about crazy mysteries and characters more than anything else and T&T deliv- ers on both of these fronts. Look for insider references to Entourage, Kelis, and even Final Fantasy IV as you play through —BRYAN
tern-recognition as always. This mix of elements has predictable results, and ZX Advent is a solid side-scroller. In the absence of truly cre- ative level design or player abilities, though, | have to. admit being a bit lukewarm on the game despite ту. long-standing affection for the franchise —ADAM
Advent. Instead of just gain- ing a new gun or a new suit, you actually become the defeated Pseudoroid (a fancy-pants word for “robot master”). Along with new Biometals, there are 14 forms to assume, each with
ашы}:
E Model A looks a lot like Zero, but it is different from Model ZX
АЗ
№ You'll choose either a male or female character when you start. (5 The story and gameplay differences | between the two are negligible
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (UP TO 8-PLAYER VIA AD HOC OR 16-PLAYER VIA INFRASTRUCTURE) > PUBLISHER LUCASARTS > DEVELOPER REBELLION > RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB Т
IT'S A TRAP!
hile filming the original Star Wars trilogy, if George Lucas would have panned the camera a few feet to the left or right, there's a good chance we would have caught a glimpse of the Renegade Squadron — à team hand-picked by Han Solo that went on to play a significant role in most of the Rebellion's victories over the Empire. They helped out with the evacuation of Yavin 4; they held back
> Concept: Your inner fanboy will die a little bit from the atrocious storytelling, but some thrills can be garnered from the retooled multiplayer experience
> Graphics: The detail isn’t where you would want it, but the scale of the battles certainly is
? Sound: From the recognizable orchestrated score to the familiar laser blasts, this is music to Star Wars fans’ ears
the Empire on Hoth; and they gave the Rebellion the edge it needed to win the Battle of Endor. Throughout the course of this game, players will
= № What can you expect from Battle- front? Darth Vader with a flag on head and Chewbacca picking experience these lost moments first co
> Playability: The online. battles can be fun, but you'll still find yourself wrestling with the sticky controls
hand, and will likely come to the same conclusion as |: The Renegade Squadron is a laugh-out-loud farce. This team latches onto the glory of Star Wars’ most beloved characters, and usually accomplishes its missions in the most foolish of ways. | don't
want to ruin the story for you, but it
has to be noted that one of their big schemes is to trap the Emperor in
a cave by dropping rocks in front of
the entrance.
The ridiculousness of the story isn't the only thing that cripples Campaign mode. The missions mostly consist of painful errands; the axis never really throws a threat your way; and the space battles are so bad that you'll likely cry more than you did when you watched The Phantom Menace for the first time.
As tiresome as the single-player component can be, LucasArts has made strides forward with the Î multiplayer. It still doesn't deliver | the huge battles you found on con- soles, but the game does function well with 16 players. The standout feature is the customizable charac- ters. You can alter everything, right
down to the weapon load outs, the amount of health or agility you have, whether or not you bring a jet pack, and even what insignia you wear on your shoulder. With millions of combinations at your disposal, you can create some interesting classes, which you can tailor for the different match types like Capture the Flag and Conquest. Second 0 | The controls are still a bit sluggish, RTT but the auto-lock feature does take Rebellion. This series con- some of the stress out of the mix tinues to be a fairly shallow and still allows for some exciting fire- experience (despite the cool fights. If you are looking for a hand- new customizable load out held multiplayer experience, and feature) that lacks a com- are willing to tolerate some control fortable control scheme оп aggravations, you may want to take a the PSP finshed the stat egy-poor Galactic Conquest gander at Renegade Squadron. But if mode in one sitting, making your desire lies anywhere outside of me think that | was facing off this, these are not the droids you are against Admiral Ozzel. This looking for. Move along.—REINER
> Entertainment: A disappoint- ing single-player experience, but its online functionality is impres- sive, and capable of delivering some enjoyable battles
> Replay Value: Moderate
№ When you lock onto an enemy ship, the compiter will take control of your vessel. All you have to do is fire
series has failed me for the last time—KATO
PSP : PSP Crazy Taxi: Disgaea: Afternoon Fare Wars of Darkness
> STYLE 1 OR 2-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER МА AD. > STYLEI-PLAYER STRATEGY/RPG. HOC) > PUBLISHER SEGA > PUBLISHER NIPPON ICHI
> DEVELOPER SNIPER STUDIOS > DEVELOPER NIPPON ICHI
> RELEASE AUGUST 7 > ESRB Е10+ > RELEASE OCTOBER 50 > ESRB T
NINTENDO DS
Front Mission 1st
> STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY/RPG (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS) > PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX
> DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX
> RELEASE OCTOBER 23 > ESRB E10+
NINTENDO DS : PSP
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War Of The Lions
> STYLE 1-PLAYER STRATEGY/RPG (2-PLAYER VIA AD HOC > PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX
> DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX
> RELEASE OCTOBER 9 > ESRB T
Sonic Rush Adventure
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION (2-PLAYER VIA WIRELESS OR NINTENDO WI-FI CONNECTION) > PUBLISHER 5ЕСА > DEVELOPER SEGA
> RELEASE SEPTEMBER 18 > ESRB Е
This cult classic has lost
воттом име Fare Wars packs the
BOTTOM LINE
original Crazy Taxi and 5.75 Crazy Taxi 2 games
onto one nostalgia- filled disc. Add the ability to record your amazing cabbie runs and use à customized soundtrack of songs stored on your PSP and you would think this is a cab to be hailed, right? Unfortunately, these new features don't overcome the horrible driving controls, laughable braking, poor draw distances, and the comple- mentary pop up. Only die hard fans of the Dreamcast series should give
this game a look. The rest of us are better off walking —BERTZ
nothing — and gained quite a bit — in the translation to PSP, The original witty quest is wholly intact, and remains а must-play for all strategy fans. The writing and voice acting are as charming as ever, and the endlessly deep character customization and huge variety of maps and objectives
in this grid-based battler are still top- of-the-line. The addition of Etna Made, which tells an alternate story through new scenarios, is enough to make playing through Disgaea again more than worth your time. Rarely does
a strategy game deliver such pure, unadulterated fun —ADAM
воттом оме ^s a Front Mission fan,
there's not much to 7 | complain about in this
game - it's an absolutely solid, faithful port with decent controls. As a strategy/ RPG enthusiast, however, the archaic design pales in comparison with recent efforts. The various interlocking systems (pilot experience, wanzer customiza- tion, and grid-based combat) work well together, but are extremely simplistic by today's standards. It's entertaining enough to plow through the two cam- paigns, but the fact that there are fairly clear-cut optimal solutions to all three facets of gameplay makes this nothing
more than a mildly enjoyable look at part і
of the genre's history.— ADAM
DS remake of the original :
воттом име Sonic Rush Adventure | begins with Tails and
7.25 our blue hero flying a biplane straight into hur- ricane and waking up on a beach. Yes, there are a lot of silly cutscenes in SRA, à fairly decent sequel to Sonic Rush, but at least you can skip them all and get straight to the mostly 2D stages to collect building materials. Players can use these to create sea faring vessels and play amusing 50 minigames to access new islands. Multiplayer now includes online play, but most people will probably focus on bettering their online time trial rankings —BRYAN
The original Tactics is simply one of my favor- ite games of all time, and this enhanced edi- tion for the PSP is spectacular. From the gorgeous never-before-seen cinematics to new gameplay updates, The War of The Lions is worth a play through from both fans of the original (there are new story details, jobs, and characters) and tactics aficionados. Be warned, it's not an easy game, but there are literally hundreds of hours of play in Tactics. Combine its lengthy single-player expe- rience with the new co-op and head- to-head modes, and you can't help but love this classic reborn.— ANDY
BOTTOM LINE
9.5
GAME INFORMER 163
The world of gaming journalism exploded this month after
the disastrous performance given Бу Madden during the Сату awards. Madden, who had a stage show prepared for the event, clearly didn't know his choreography during the performance and had to lip-sync many of his own plays. “I think he made me look good," said Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Bell.
But the worst criticism may be coming from those who are calling Madden a fat, aging game. It's true that Madden isn't as young and fit as he once was, but is the criticism being piled on him really necessary? “Some games have over-inflated egos from becoming famous at such a young age,” said industry analyst Ida Pissedmaself, “but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be loved.”
3 BIOSHOCK
More shocking is the fact that Madden's performance might only be the sign of a bigger, more alarming trend in our nation's games. Recent starlet BioShock was seen flashing college sophomores early last week before being arrested for DUI. We talked to BioShock's ex-boyfriend, Lee Keypants, who went on record as saying, “Yeah, she's а tramp”
4 MADDEN NFL 08 (PS3)
4
But the Madden debate continues after he allegedly yelled, “Stop following me,” to a reporter when asked to tell his side of the story in the restroom of a 7-Eleven. He refused further comment, so we may never know what he had to say or what exactly he was hiding behind his back as he left. Madden has gone under the radar, taking some time off to deal with a cus- tody battle over his love child with rapper Kevin Federline.
5 Wii PLAY W/REMOTE (Wii)
In other news, Wii Play has become Japan's largest teen idol. The country is slated to award the game with high honors at a ceremony where he will be crowned the "Coolest Thing Ever," succeeding past favorites such as Buddha, sex, and David Hasselhoff. We talked to a random Japanese man on the street, Dum Pinshoe, who said, "Why are people still buying that lame game?”
164 САМЕ INFORMER
n ] S An In-Depth Listing Of The Best Selling Games
Rank Title
! Another Century's Episode 3: The Final Р52
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - DS Title L. Mo. | System | Score |Release Ring of Fates 3 Mario Party 8 _ Wii Madden NFL 08 МА | 360 | 8 [08-07 Sengoku Musou 2: Mushouden Р52_ Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War Р$3_ Gundam Mahjong + 7 DS МА | PS2 | N/A |08-07 Madden NFL 08 1 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories PS2 Ganbaru Watashi No Kakei Diary DS BioShock МА | 360 | 10 |08077 E Wii Play Wii Madden NFL 08 МА | PS3 | 8 [08-07 | | Wii Play w/remote 3 | wii | 7 0207 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | МА | wi | 95 0507 “System - 4 ] Halo 3 360 : 12 | Wii | 7.25 06-07 Mario Strikers: Charged i PU mm a The Orange Box multi А " Iscr Guitar Hero Il w/guitar 9 | ps2} 9 [11% В Project Gotham 4 360 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 1 Ші | BioShock 2 300 Mario Party 8 S | Wil | 725 105-07 Ace Combat 6 N/A 360 ÎÎ The Legend of Zelda: 3 D$ i н | The Phantom Hourglass _ Guitar Hero Encore: 2 | PS2 | 8.25 |07-07| |7 Neverwinter Nights 2: NA PC Rocks the 80s | Mask of the Betrayer Medieval Total War II: Kingdoms NA PC Madden NFL 08 МА }XBOX| мА [08-07 Madden NFL 08 МА | Wii | МА [08-07 Brain Age 2: More ue esed ды Training in Minutes a Day || Two Worlds N/A | 360 | 4 |08-07| Нак Title L.Mo. Price | World Of Warcraft 1 22 | Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword МА $25 Pokémond Diamond 7 | DS | 825 0407 | World Of Warcraft: | 2 $37 The Burning Crusade 1 + The Sims 2 Deluxe 3 37 1 к Е ioa Er cal ма | DS | МА [08-07 The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff 4 $0 akin the Cu The Sims 2 Seasons 5 — $28 Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Guitar Hero II w/guitar 10 | зво |925 807) (6 tcicte creek — À ^ 6. — — 1 5 9 Age of Empires 11 Ж N/A $30 Madden NFL 08 СТ. Warcraft Ill Battle Chest NA $30 adden МА | PSP | N/A |08-07 : Pokémon Pearl и | DS | 825 [04-07 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 N/A | 360 | 9 [08-07 Based On Monthly Units Sold
Source: The NPD Group/NPO Funworld * /TRSIS " + David
ey 5166252277
[Ui — (1 со (00s: immortal Throne All-Pro Football 2К8 8 Aug-07 Alien Syndrome 625 09-07 Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Armored Core 4 65 Арг07 Big Brain Academy 75 Aug-o7 Worldin Conflict Bigs, The 75 24-07 Boogie 775 оао7 Мой of Warcraft: Darkness, Тһе 875 Aug07 Cooking Mama: Cook Off 675 MayO7 е Buming Crusade Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 5 Oc-07 Оемуѕ Adventure 7 06:07 Elder Sols Iv: Омот, The 95 A07 Godfather: Blackhand Editon We — 65 Маул СОЕ FEAR 825 — MayO7 Gully Gear XX Accent Core 775 Octo Вап Age 2: More Fantastic Four. тт 5 Augg; ОМИ Hero ШЕ Legends of Rock 875 Осо? es dud ері Б D ps jd FIFA 08. 775 Oct-07 Brothers in Arms DS 635 Sep-07 Formula One: Champion Edition 8 Apr-07 Cake Mania 65 May-07 Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 8.5 Octo7 Cookie & Cream 7 Aug-07 Godfather: The Don's Edition, The 75 May-07 Death Jr. and the Guitar Hero Ill: Legends of Rock 875 OctO7 Science Fair of Doom 7 pud Harry Potter and ће Diner Dash 725 — Jun-07 Order of the Phoenix 65 Aug-07 Drawn to Life. y Oct-07 Heavenly Sword 875 Oct-07 Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighter's Battle 6.5 20-07 Madden NFL 08 8 Sep-07 Etrian Odyssey 6 Jun-07 MLB: The Show 75 Juk07 Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales 65 May-07 MotorStorm. 8 Apr-07 Heroes of Mana 5 Sep-07 NCAA Football 08 8 Aug-07 Honeycomb Beat 7 May-07 NHL 08. 85 ‘Oct-07 Izuna; Legend of NHL 2K8 775 Oct-07 the Unemployed Ninja 35 Apr-07 Ninja Gaiden Sigma 9 Juk07 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits 775 May-07 Pirates of the Caribbean: Harry Potter and the Legend of Zelda: At World's End 6 шо? Order of the Phoenix 65 Aug07 hantom Hourglass, The. 95 Oct-07 Rainbow Six Vegas 9 Augo7 Heatseeker 75 Jun-07 Lost In Blue 2 65 May-07 Skate 875 Oct-07 Kororinpa: Marble Mania 8 May-07 Luminous Arc 6 5ер-07 Spider-Man 3 8 24-07 Madden МА. 08 5 Oct-07 Stuntman Ignition 85 04-07 Mario Party 8 725 Ju-07 5ші5 Up 65 Aug-07 Mario Strikers Charged 725 бер07 Virtua Tennis 3 » May-07 Medal of Honor: Vanguard 4 May-07 Warhawk Oc-07 Mercury Meltdown 65 Jul-07 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 95 Oct-07 Mortal Kombat: Armag 75 — дог All-Pro Football 2K8 8 Aug-07 MySims 8 Oct-07 Armored Core 4 65 ‘Apr-07 Рокётоп Battle Revolution 575 бер-07 Bigs, The 75 Julo7 Prince of Persia: Rival Swords 85 May-07 BioShock 10 Sep-07 Ratatouille бер-07 Blue Dragon 9 Sep-07 Resident Evil 4 2007 Call of Juarez 725 Juk07 Shrek the Third Аи 07 Command & Conquer 3 Sonic and the Secret Rings Арго? Tiberium Wars 5 Jun-07 Spider-Man 3 20-07 Dance Dance Нео Universe 75 Apro7 SSK Blur m The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Darkness, The 875 Aug-O7 Super Paper Mario Jun-07 Dirt 8 Aug07 Surs Up 65 Aug-07 Lunar Knights 8 Apr-07 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 5 Oct-07 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 65 May-07 — Meteos: Disney Magic 775 Мау07 Earth Defense Force 2017 8 May-07 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008 7 Oct-07 New York Times Crosswords 8.25 Aug-07. Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, The 9,5 Apr-07 TMNT 75 May-07 Picross 05 95 бер-07 Eternal Sonata 835 Ѕер-07 Transformers. 725 Sep-07 Planet Puzzle League 835 Aug-07 Fantastic Four: Wii Play 7 Apr-07 Pogo Island 65 Apr-07 Rise of the Silver Surfer. 5 Aug07 Wing Island 5 May-07 Pokémon Diamond/Pearl 825 — Jun07 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords 825 — Mayo? hack//G.U. Vol.2: Reminisce 575 Jul-07 Quickspot 75 Apr-07 Arena Football: Road to Glory 65 Apr-07 Rune Factory: Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm 65 A Fantasy Harvest Moon 5.75 Oct-07 Burnout Dominator 8 SimCity DS 825 — AugO7 Chulip 3 SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters 05 6.5 Jul-07 Dawn of Mana 7 Spectrobes 65 Apr07 God of War Il 975 Time Ace 675 — Jun07 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 775 Мау07 Touch of the Dead 7 Jun-07 GrimGrimoire 775 Augo; Тіопофе 6 Арго? BioShock Guilty Gear XX Accent Core 775 оао7 Wario: Master of Disguise 725 May-07 Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the “805 825 Аш Оў Мот Open Warfare 2 75 0907 Fatal Inertia 75 08-07 Quitar Hero Ill: Legends of Rock 8.75 Oct-07 FIFA 08 775 OctO7 Hot Shots Tennis 825 шо? ООН Forza Motorsport 2 825 24-07 Lair 725 Sep-07 300: March To Glory 625 Apr-07 Fuzion Frenzy 2 2 Apr-07 Lumines Plus 25 Aproz Ае Eclipse: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 8.75 Мау-07 Madden NFL 08 8 Sep-07 Generation of Chaos 6 Jun-07 Guitar Hero tt 925 Аре07 Medal of Honor: Vanguard 6 May-o7 After Burner: Black Falcon 7 May-07 Guitar Hero Ill: Legends of Rock 85 Oct-07 Meet the Robinsons 7 May-07 Brave Story: New Traveler 725 Sep-07 Harry Potter and the MLB 07: The Show 875 Арго7 Воокома High 675 — Jun07 Order of the Phoenix 65 Aug-07 NASCAR 08 775 Sep-07 Call of Duty: Roads to Victory 6 May-07 Hour of Victory 25 Sep-07 Odin Sphere 85 Jul-07 Capcom Puzzle World 75 Арг-07 Madden NFL 08 8 Sep-07 Ratatouille 55 Sep-o7 Castlevania bee E Airborne 725 Oct-07 Raw Danger 45 Jun-07 The Dracula X Chronicles. 7 Oct-07 lonster Madness: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 85 Aug-07 Chili Con Carnage 7 Apr-07 Ee or Suburbia 25 d Shining SE 13 pe o7 Coded Arms: Contagion 675 ме o a Shrek the Third 525 Аш07 Оше 55 шп-07 қақым атасы E a tod a UE IS d Soul Nomad 8 The World Eaters 775 Oct-07 agoni ш E нении M LE. ТЕРЕ Прег Woods PGA Tour 04 Sep-07 Ж RG e 6 o MW lw dee po в. ат re's a chance to prove it. ois Tomb Raider Anniversary. 85 шо7 Final Fantasy Il: Anniversary Edition 6 Ай 07 Н поа sypheed тв зр оз em 4 Mi) Раа Fanasy: Annies Elion 75 МО Please geek responsibly. Rayman Raving Rabbids 725 Juno; WMansfomers 725 Sep-o7 Full Auto 2 725. М у в ити Wisilors 2: Émolies 475 Ару Матіос Orochi 525 Осу Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure 7 Арго? р! р! м 55 5 Hot PXL 6 Oct-07 Shadowrun 65 А WidAms5 5 10807 M Shrek the Third 525 Aug07 e меди 5 odi 5 E о 725 мо? LEARN: Skate 875 Оао? Jeanne d'Arc. 85 бер07 Spider-Man 5 8 М Сири Conquers MACH. 65 May-07 DIGITAL ANIMATION GAME PROGRAMMING Stranglehold 725 aor „beim мая S Marvel Trading Card Game 75 May-07 Stuntman Ignition 85 06.07 a ы № Shivering iles, The та А907 Monster Hunter Freedom 2 7 бер07 DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN NETWORK ENGINEERING 4 вю ugo : Tag - ШР $5 ator неты E o os dS ФО DIGITAL VIDEO NETWORK SECURITY Rigs Ws RCA Ur 08 шш ДЕСТА as мо Pues a » GAME DESIGN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING y 8 re hallenge of the Warlords 8.25 Aay-07 5 Transformers 725. ро STALKER Seoni Chemo 025 05 касегв ans Sie Mates ә Aro ARTIFICIAL LIFE PROGRAMMING WEB ARCHITECTURE UEFA Champions. е E dd ж э T Pirates! r-( A League 2006-2007 HEN 65 АО? S Meiers Pirates! | г а COMPUTER FORENSICS ROBOTICS e jid Meier's Civilization IV: + tees - т x Beyond the Sword 95 еру Tales of the World 7 Ай 07 Warriors Orochi 575 oao Зімейгі Б Маро? Мато, The T Вари 877 ОН NUR 375 poy Supreme Commander 9 Арел Lendoku 60 шы? www.uat.edu > 877.UAT.GEEK Surf's Up 65 Aug-07 877.828.433
UNLIMITED ENABLED
Heavenly Sword ©
Tip of the Sword
By Nina Krisensen, Co-Founder & Chief Dev Ninja
Heavenly Sword is a combat-based action adventure game. It incorporates thousands
of combat moves, which, with the dynamic cinematic camera, can make each and every fight look like a choreographed action movie. It is designed to be beautiful, elegant, and deadly.
Heavenly Sword features a combat engine that takes you from one-on-one fights against tough enemies who will match you blow-for-blow to scenarios where you have to battle through thousands of enemies at a time. The key to success, and therefore to getting the most out of the game, is to play with as much style as possible. Here are a few of my tips and tricks to boost your style.
STANCES
Nariko is able to instantly switch among her three stances; Speed, Power, and Range 50
you can always get into the best stance for
any situation. Learn to spot how the different enemies react to each stance and choose the right stance on a hit-by-hit basis. You'll earn more Style Points and have more fun this way than
if you choose your favorite stance and wade in mashing buttons.
Speed Stance is the deepest and most rewarding stance, but there are a few things to be aware of. The deeper combos deliver the most damage (and generate the most amount of Style Points), but only if your enemy is still there to be hit, so keep an eye on the bad guy when attempting
a deep combo. This will ensure that you аге
not left vulnerable without a target if they die before the big hit. If the earlier hits kill your opponent, either end the combo at that point or, even better, re-target the end of the combo onto another victim. Speed Stance is also the fastest stance, so use it when you need to land the first blow.
Range Stance looks great and works a treat against large numbers of the weaker bad guys. It does the least amount of damage of all the
166 GAME INFORMER
stances but hits the most numbers of enemies per blow. It is especially useful when a group of bad guys try and hit you simultaneously. Correct timing of your Range Attack will hit them all when they are at their most vulnerable and see the attack thwarted.
Power stance is the daddy.
It has big combos that deal out lots of damage, plus it smashes through many enemies’ attempts to block. But it is slow compared to the other stances. Extensive reliance on Power will see the faster bad guys rolling under your attacks and hitting you with ease.
A mixture of stances will give you the best results, so try using Power Stance to break a shieldman's block and then unleash a long Speed combo
to finish him off. Or stagger a swordsman with speed and then crush them with a massive Power Attack.
COUNTERING
So the stuff I've shared with you so far talks very much about the offensive side of the combat. But you'll need to also employ good defense tactics. Stance selection is vital for effective defense. Get into the habit of watching for the telltale ‘flashes’ that signify which stance the enemy is using to attack. Nariko will instantly switch stance when you press the shoulder buttons, so always be їп the right stance to block the blow. The reason for this is two-fold. First, you won't get damaged so much, and second you'll be given the chance to counter attack,
Practice, practice, practice is the key to getting the timing for counters correct. And when you do you will be able to deal with any encounter without problem. If you counter correctly, the bad guy is killed with one button press. Standing in the middle of a group of enemies and countering them as they attack is the easiest and best way to rack up all the Style Points you need to unlock everything in the game. It also fills your Superstyle Bar the fastest. So choose the right stance for the enemy but don't get complacent as most enemies have additional power or super- power attacks.
BOSS STRATEGIES
Whiptail is a slippery customer. She is evasive and will constantly swim to safety in order
to launch a wave of attacks towards you. Pin. her down with your fastest moves and evade frequently. Watch her carefully as she winds up. for her wave attack as they differ for horizontal and vertical varieties. Try and progress towards. her while fending off the waves with ranged attacks, as she will be vulnerable when she finishes the move. Attack her with your most powerful attacks or start an aerial combo for guaranteed hits. In the air she's like a fish out of water and very susceptible to damage.
Roach is armored like a tank and will not be susceptible to your speed attacks until you stagger him with some power moves. Care must be taken as his attacks pack a big punch and he will often attack you back regardless of whether or not you're already hitting him. His attacks
are heavy and will start breaking Nariko's guard on consecutive hits. Evade is your friend here. Be wary of his rolling attacks as they are quite pacey and must be evaded at the last second
to be most successful. He has a tendency to
гой straight into things — just make sure it's not Nariko. Wear him down and he will smash the ground in frustration. Be sure to target him from behind and tear off his protective armor.
Flying Fox likes to attack from the air where he is safe. Or is he? Counter his speed and power projectiles and return them to him with added interest. Take heed of the projectile trails for a telltale sign of which stance to use іп order 10 counter. Make the most of when he is on the ground and do as much damage as possible. The sly Fox is quite inventive and will mix ир
his speed and power attacks. Be sure to be in the correct stance to block. Against his power attacks beat him to the punch with speed or pummel him with block-breaking power attacks. Flying Fox has a bit of a split personality. He
will eventually swamp you with attacks from all directions. If you can, use a bit of range to make some breathing space and then take him/them out with a move focused combination.
King Bohan is both powerful and quick. You must block then evade consecutive attacks, as
his combination attacks will break Nariko's block. His attacks are mostly power attacks, but he will often poke іп a speed attack to break Nariko's power guard. With his newfound powers, Bohan will fire balls of lightning at Nariko, which can
be countered if timed correctly. Bohan will | eventually take to the air, gaining added safety and maneuverability. Observe his ascent into the sky, as you can tell whethier he is going to swoop or fire lightning attacks. Evade him if he swoops towards Nariko. On his lightning attack, keep an eye on his charge up to determine which stance to be in to counter. Counter all his air lightning balls to knock him out of the sky for additional hits when he hits the deck. In the final stages, Bohan will mix up his attacks by fighting both on. the ground and in the air. Be sure to change your strategy accordingly. He will also introduce a new attack, А Murder of Crows.’ Time your range attacks to annihilate this deadly feathered assault.
Mod World
RED ALERT: A PATH BEYOND http://www.apathbeyond,com
Conquer: Renegade! No, seriously. And
they even liked itenough to come up with
a freeware game based on it- only better. Red Alert: A Path Beyond is a totally free multiplayer FPS that ostensibly fixes up Renegade gameplay to be, well, better. They've even added things like bloom and normal maps to make it look a bit less dated. The recently-released beta is available for download on the above site.
А Path Beyond has all kinds of C&C goodies
in its Battlefield-style multiplayer package. Mammoth Tanks, V2 launchers, flamethrowers; you name it and it's probably here and available for purchase at your base. Depending on the map, you'll have access to different units, from submarines to Tesla tanks.
No, you can't play as Tanya and singlehandedly blow up the entire Soviet army. On the plus side, the community on the official site is very active, and the official servers keep rankings and stats for everyone who logs in to play. The game's legal status is a bit murky, since it's technically running on code that's probably owned by Electronic Arts. The publisher hasn't done anything about it, though, and it's not like A Path Beyond is hiding іп some dim corner
of the ‘Net.
Attention АП Cheaters! Cheat codes, by their very nature, are in many cases buggier than Virginia in August. 50 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!
Reader Tips on Crafting tom Forz;
| tried to do something original by just using generic shapes to create an image. Something that | like to do is to only apply vinyls on one side of the car with a generic gray background, The reason for this is that the camera is much easier to manipulate when the car is at the side view. When you have your desired vinyl complete, just remove the gray background and “highlight all vinyls.” This allows you to manipulate the vinyl's size, orientation, or in my case, cutting it out then pasting it onto another part of the car, as | did here with the hood. By using the "highlight" and "cut/paste" feature you can make an image once and then place it as many times as you'd like. This saves a ton of time.
Jack L Tharp Grand Blanc, МЇ
Think you have an awesome game strategy or a tip that every player should know from one of today's hot games? Send it in to secretaccess@gameinformercom and maybe we'll feature it in a future issue.
XBOX 360
Two Worlds
To open the code menu hold down LB +
RB and hit A. A small text box will appear. Tapping X will open the keyboard menu. Enter “twoworldscheats 1" first. This will disable Achievements, but allow you to enter the codes below.
Armor of Darkness - 9728-1549-2105-2168 Aziraal's Sword of Fire - 9470-4690-1542- 1152
Code of the Month Disgaea: Afternoon of
It’s great that strategy/RPG fans that missed out on the original have another chance
to place this great game. Even better is the fact that this version comes packed with a new Etna Mode, but you don't have time to play through the game and read every diary chapter to unlock it, do you? No,
you want the easy way out and we don't blame you. To unlock it instantly enter the
This is going to come as huge news to a few people while the rest of the gaming public is going to scratch their head and wonder what the big deal is. Rez originally released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 to mixed reviews. A cult following grew up around the game, which mixed 3D shooting with rhythm and music in a way that really hadn't been done before. That cult following may be about to explode, since the game is set to release for Live Arcade in the coming months. Psychedelic visuals (sharpened up for the 360)
Create a Lockpick - Create Lockpick Create a Teleport Stone - Create Personal_Teleport
Extra Experience - AddExperiencePoints
X (where X is the amount of
experience desired)
Extra Gold - AddGold X (where X is the amount of gold desired)
Extra Param Points - AddParamPoints
X (where X is the amount of Param Points desired)
Extra Skill Points — AddSkillPoints X (where X is the amount of skill points desired) Great Shield of Yatolen - 9470-6557-8820- 9565
Level Up - ec.dbg levelup
Makes all skills available - ec.dbg skills Reveal Map - ResetFog
Spear of Destiny - 9144-3879-7593-9224 The Great Bow of Heaven's Fury - 9447- 1204-8639-0832
Walk through doors and walls - PhysX.Door.RemoveAll 1
following code at the title screen while the pointer is on New Game. You'll hear Etna's voice signaling that you entered the code correctly.
Unlock Etna Mode - A, 7, X, A, D, ‚О Jonathan Soweidy Boulder, CO
accompany you on your visit into a massive computer network, where your strange wire- framed character will shoot down targets as the music and lights respond in rhythm with your actions. Amid the craziness, you might also find some surprising allusions to religion and philosophy in the story ofa newly self- aware АІ called Eden and its own search for meaning. Deep stuff - and one reason that the game is well deserving of another shot at the limelight — this time as it downloads onto your 5605 hard drive.
razy Taxi: Fare War: Crazy Taxi Start up the original Crazy Taxi then input these codes while the character screen is loading.
New Start Location With New Fares - R, then hold R
Drive The Taxi Bike - [ and R x3
Expert Mode - Hold L, R and Start
No Arrows - Hold R and Start
No Destination Markers - Hold L and Start
Crazy Taxi 2 Start up Crazy Taxi 2 then input these codes at the character selection screen while you select your character. Expert Mode - Hold s and Start No Arrows - Hold Start No Destination Markers - Hold A “Сі Droid" (location unknown — last seen buying government cheese on ebay)
Financial aid available to those who qualify = Career development assistance =
ONE OF THE TOP FIVE
GAME-DEGREE
PROGRAMS INTHE WORLD
— Electronic Gaming Monthly
© 2006 Full Sail inc. All rights reserved.
Accredited School, ACC
duse:
Real World Education
ем
LODE RUNNER -
A ONE-MAN FRANCHISE
168 GAME INFORMER
-
n the early 1980s, a student at the University of Washington by the name of Douglas E. Smith started work on a pet programming project on the school's mainframe. Having ironically been denied admittance to the university's computer science program, Smith worked on his crude ASCII game — originally titled Kong for its similarities to Donkey Kong — in his free time. Of course, the university wasn't interested in students coding video games on its equipment, so Smith named the program "graph" and required users to input a secret password (which was well-known to students around campus) to access it. According to one account, tracking reports on the system would frequently show 80 percent of its users running "graph" After getting access to an Apple П+ machine, Smith ported the nascent game to that platform and renamed
E The graphics have improved over the years, but the gameplay has remained the same
и Lode Runner (NES)
it Miner. Toward the end of 1982, Brederbund rejected Smith's submission of a black-and-white version of Miner that only accepted keyboard input. Not to be deterred, Smith got hold of a color monitor and joystick, reworked the game to use those then state-of-the-art peripherals, and submitted it again. This time, the publishers were inter- ested: Braderbund offered Smith a contract, he signed it, and work began on Lode Runner.
Smith dropped out of school for the spring semester of 1983 to work on Lode Runner full time, but his promise of 150 levels for the retail release of the game proved too tall an order for one man. Smith invited kids from around the town to come in and use the level editor to create new challenges, paying them for each completed one. By mid- year, the game was ready.
Lode Runner was a massive hit for the Apple Il and
4
# tode Runner (Apple 1)
Commodore 64. All the action took place on a single screen, with the player control- ling a 7x10 pixel figure attempting to collect all of the gold in the level while avoiding several enemies. Rather than just avoid- ing the bad guys Pac-Man style, players could dig holes to trap them temporarily. This central mechanic played into the level design, with some sections of some levels being impervious to digging while others were trap doors that would dump players and enemies to a lower platform.
With no jumping ability but freedom 10 fall an unlimited distance without taking damage, planning out routes in advance is key to success in Lode Runner. The game has the same addictive qualities
и Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
found in the best action/puzzle titles, and its fans will be happy to relate the numer- ous reasons why Lode Runner is a better game than Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, or Pac-Man. We leave that determination to the reader, but regardless of personal pref- erence, Lode Runner deserves a place in video game history right next to those clas- sics. The aforementioned level editor was also packaged into the retail release, and marked one of gaming's earliest forays into user-created content — and further cement- ed the title's claim to historical importance.
Douglas E. Smith saw massive profits from his generous cut of Lode Runner's sales, but never saw his name attached to any other successful games. № № INI
№ Levels range from relatively simple..
Ш.о quite complex >
= Backstory was never much of a concern
Whatever Happened To Brederbund, Anyway?
Ше many others, we remember Braderbund fondly for livening up our primary school days with classics like Karateka, Prince of Persia, and most notably Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? not to mention а litle game called Муз. Despite such а ешр of well-regarded and successful classics, however, gaming became marginalized within the publisher due to the success of its Print. Shop and Living Books software and a lack of hot new games. Eventually, Broderbund was bought out by The Learning Company in 1998 (and saw some 500 of its employees let 80) following the decline of those products. The Learning Company was bought by Mattel in a move that Mattel couldn't really afford, and subsequently had all of its game-related assets purchased by Ubisoft for pennies on the dollar - which is why you see Ubisoft putting out new Prince of Persia and Myst titles. However, the Broderbund
пате went to an Irish software company named Riverdeep, Books series under the venerable label.
which now publishes its Print Shop, Carmen Sandiego, and Living
Further Endeavors
As with any successful title, Lode Runner saw its share of sequels, spinoffs, and ports. The original title made its way onto the NES, Macintosh, Atari home computer, Game Boy, Sinclair Spectrum, and was even licensed to a Japanese company for that country’s MSX system. Championship Lode Runner, Lode Runner 2, Lode Runner's Rescue, Lode Runner: The Legend Returns, and many more made their way onto platforms from PC and Macintosh to. PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Some stayed 2D, while others rotated the view to a quasi-3D isometric perspective. Bombs, goo, snares, and other items were introduced in various versions, but the core gameplay remained largely the same throughout. The original ttle 5s possibly the best of any of these releases on the strength of its streamlined, simplistic sensibilities.
Living In The Present
Hudson Soft has two versions of Lode Runner for modern plat- forms. Nintedo's Wi Virtual Console saw a re-release of Battle Lode Runner, which has the classic 2D gameplay and includes a versus mode for head-to-head play. The company has also announced а Lode Runner DS title for Japan, though по U.S. release has been mentioned for that game.
This Month
In Gaming History
In November of 1998, Nintendo released the Game Boy Color in the U.S. The handheld featured an infrared port for wireless multiplayer, twice the processor and memory of its predecessor, and of course
a color display. Most importantly, though, was its backward compat. ibility ~ the massive Game Boy library was instrumental in keeping the GBC in a distant, overpowering first place in the handheld market.
GAME INFORMER 169
Ik to Use
k UP Turn гі Уват із Тигп тї ап КЕЗ d book hije
RESCUE: THE EMBASSY MISSION
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION > PUBLISHER КЕМСО > DEVELOPER SEIKA > RELEASE 1990
escue may have paved the way for tactical shooters like
Rainbow Six, but it gets tripped up by one major flaw.
The setup is simple: terrorists have taken hostages in
an embassy and it's up to you to stop them. The most D difficult part of the game is actually in the beginning where you must avoid spotlights (and instant death) by rolling, crawling, and 2 hopping behind bushes. If at least one of your three guys survives, he can snipe a few terrorists from-across the street. Once the enemys ranks have been thinned, a chopper drops Ron, Dick, and "Kemco" onto the embassy roof where they can rappel and crash through the windows. This last section of gameplay has players gunning down terrorists from a quasi-FPS view similar to the old Bard's Tale games. Unfortunately, no matter how fun, innovative, and challenging Rescue is, the fact that you can beat it in literally five minutes kills its chance of being a true classic. Sure you can scale up the difficulty, but it's the same damn sequence over and over. What a missed opportunity.
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ADVENTURE > PUBLISHER LUCASFILM GAMES > DEVELOPER LUCASFILM GAMES > RELEASE 1989
veryone knows that Indy can swing a whip and take a punch like a champion, but did you know his puzzle solving and inventory management skills are second to none? This licensed adventure game has players follow- ing the events of the classic film and interacting with the world using Lucasfilm Games’ clever action interface. I tead of simple = ^use" and "look" commands, Indy has more spedific actions at his disposal, like "pull," “push,” and "turn off” It also has the conversation trees that Lucasfilm adventure games are known for, branching off and leading to different outcomes. But Indy can't smooth talk his way out of every sticky situation, and conversations gone awry often turn into fist fights that utilize a simple (yet challenging) combat system. With its intriguing puzzles, excellent writing, and even some branching story paths, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is an adventure gaming classic. It's not as pretty or well-known as The Fate of Atlantis, but it is one of the few games where you can bamboozle the Führer into sign- ing an unrestricted travel permit for you.
EE $us
ЧЕ mu anm
170 GAME INFORMER
PSone Tus
SPIDER E |
> STYLE 1-PLAYER ACTION/PLATFORM > PUBLISHER BMG INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT > DEVELOPER BOSS GAME STUDIOS > RELEASE 1997 1
рег was a nique platformer in that short era that
had a lot of 2D games in partially 3D environments.
You play a Scientist whose conciousness has acciden-
tally been stuck into the body of a spider. Now,.the A : simple task of crossing a room to escape becomes a life-or- h ВЕЩ THEN death struggle. Short levels have you traversing sink counters: - Mi came 55 and piles of cardboard boxes while other tiny spiders, wasps, and ert Atufes are out to * get you. What sets the game apart is described quite adequately ini the;title of the game. You're not limited to horizontal surfaces, but you can also travel along walls ànd ceilings. From above, you can even drop to the ground below or swing back and-forth befare you release to go flying across the room. Unfortunately, like a spider, you quickly learn-how easy it is to get squashed, since threats seem to shew.up out of nowhere, sometimes even from offscreen. Level design is also pretty bland, often forcing'you to walk along as slowly as possible, just to recognize where danger might arise; It's by no means one of the worst PSone platformers, but it certainly doesn't stand the test of time.
85; PlayStation!
*Score given to the game when it first appeared in Game Informer. Spider (Gl #47 03/97)
/
ОМ INE Extra Content You Can Find At >м? я di Ls М ài www.gameinformer.com
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* 3 collectable mini-busts Read more about Brütal Legend and scope out additional assets of Tim Schafer's rockin’
new title. * Autographed graphic novels
А Мап For Тһ6 ges | ` Console-ation Sakaguchi-San
In memory of Paul Anderson, we : Still not sure which next-gen system Final Fantasy creator Hironobu present a recap of one of the biggest © is right for you? Check out our full list : Sakaguchi sits down with Joe Juba-san campaigns іп U.S, history: Paul For — : of all the games out for each of the : to shed more light on his upcoming President. ` major systems. : RPG Lost Odyssey.
PRESENTED BY 127277 Хо
he Oran i " MATURE ПА 1 d Т Box Interview Heavenly Tips d Blood and Gore Rea more a ш Valve's latest masterpiece in our Go deeper into our developer tips for Heavenly Sword DARK Intense Violence "exclusive intel Мел. with this extended addendum. Domos] Nudity ESRB CONTENT RATING Www.estb.org
Keep up to date with the latest
"mo | B | t Г к . | ENTER EXCLUSIVELY AT
blockbuster reviews during the busy holiday season.
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"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", and "PS" Family logo аге registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Some pop stars drop out of the limelight for years, and then attempt to make a stun-
ning comeback, but the public just doesn't care anymore. Believe it or not, video game characters often attempt to do the same thing, with similar results. Take the following quiz to find out which long-lost character revival you wish won't ever happen.
1 Alot of people hail Baldur's Gate as one of the great PC RPGs. Are you one of them? Then you should know which of these was an NPC in that game.
A. Alain
В. Ajantis
C. Cade
D. Zyloth
2 What year saw the release of the first game with both of the words Madden and NFL in the title? (Remember, the game is usually named for the upcom- ing season).
A. 92 (Madden NFL '93)
В. 95 (Madden NFL '94)
C. 94 (Madden NFL '95)
D. '95 (Madden NFL '96)
4 What was the first expansion o the original The Sims game? A. Hot Date
B. Unleashed
C. Makin' Magic
D. Livin' Large
: 5 What family did Mr. Mosquito : torture
і A. Yamada
B. Suzuki
C. Chiba
D. Toyama
: B Shaun Murray was all kinds : of extreme and got his own : extreme game for what sport?
A. Surfing
B. Wakeboarding C. Skateboarding D. Tiddlywinks
27 Which of the following : best characterizes the game і Alundra?
A. Futuristic Shooter
B. Colored-Block Puzzler C. Fantasy Action/RPG D: Text-Based Adventure
1 8 Who was not a character in
the original Dead or Alive? A. Ayane B. Lei Fang C. Tina D. Mitsurugi
: 9 Batman has had so many
і great video games, it's hard to і pick just one. How about you : try picking which one wasn't a : video game?
A. Batman: Dark Tomorrow B. Batman: Revenge of the Joker C. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
D. Batman: The Long Halloween
: 10 Have you ever pretended
+ not to hear when a parent or
+ significant other called you to
Е dinner while you were in the
: middle of that really sweet part : in that one game?
A. Yes B. No
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: $25iyr additional postage. All 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 МӨС 6A8 Game Informer® does not claim any copy- 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®. АП 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.
172. GAME INFORMER
11.8 billion dollars is the estimated size of the game market in 2011, as predicted by Strategy Analytics in
à recent report а
10 games based on Hanna-Barbera characters are Planned in the new deal between Deadline Games and Eidos. They'll be smarter
than the average game = Кылалы C]
2 million individual songs have been downloaded for Guitar Hero Il on 360, according to a September announcement from Activision }
ес. ERE
100 percent of our Halo 3 discs were sfatched when we opened them. We're not kidding.
Infinity + 1 is how high we can count, and we totally bet you can't count any higher
кыйрашын:
| 2 Boogerman: Still Funny After АИ These Years
10:
Mike Tyson's Karaoke Punch-Out
Ecco: Combat Evolved
Video Game Trivia Answers: 1. 82. В 5.С4.05.А6.87.С8.09.0104
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