he Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons/Ages 'GAMEBOVi There’s Magic Everywhere! HUGE E J PREVIEWS SECTION! GAMES INSIDE! Devil May Cry • Dark Cloud Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 Smuggler’s Run 2: Hostile Territory Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons o f Liberty Medal of Honor: Allied mssault Halo • Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee Super Mario Advance Super Street Fighter II F-Zero: Maximum Velocity Shenmuefil • Crazy Taxi 2 « Sonic Adventure 2 141 XAMEBOYl Advance Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 Unreal 2 • Tribes 2 Battle Realms GUIDE E 3 Game Finder 4x4 Evolution . ... Amped: Freestyle Snowboaro*- g ... Azurik: Rise of Perathia . . Battlefield: 1942 . . Blood Wake . Bounty Hunter. . Fuzion Frenzy. Ghost Recon. Halo. Loons Fight for Fame. Mad Dash Racing. Malice. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. New Legends . . Nightcaster. . Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee . . Project Gotham. Shrek . Simpsons Racing. Test Drive. Test Drive Off-Road—Wide Open . Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X. Tyco R/C. Ultimate Fighting Championship: Thnowdown WWF Raw Is War. (\ camEpro H EX.C IXJsi vt Aliens: Colonial Marines . Armada 2: Exodus . Batman (working title) . Commandos 2 . Cool Boarders 2001 . Cops . Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex Dead to Rights. Devil May Cry. Dragon Wars of Might & Magic . Extermination . Frogger: The Great Quest . Giants . Grand Theft Auto 3 . Guitaroo Man . Half-Life . Herdy Gerdy. Kessen 2 . Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil . La Femme Nikita . Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 . Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 . Legion: Legend of Excafibur . The Lost. . Meal of Honor: Fighter Command Medal of Honor: Front Line . Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty . .. Monster Rancher 3 . MTV Music Generator . No One Lives Forever . Portal Runner . Prisoner of War . Project Eden. .. Red Faction. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X . Rune—Viking Warlord . Run Like Hell . Shaun Palmer’s Pro Snowboarder Silent Hill 2. Simpsons Racing. Sled Storm 2. Smuggler’s Run 2: Hostile Territory . . . Soldier of Fortune . Star Trek: Voyager—Elite Force . State of Emergency. Supercar Street Challenge . Test Drive. World Destruction League: Warjetz Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare Batman: Gotham City Racer. Kiss Pinball . Looney Tunes: Sheep Raider . Monster Force . Motocross Mania . One Piece Mansion . Power Rangers: Time Force . The Simpsons Wrestling . SpecOps: Ranger Elite . Spider-Man 2. Time Crisis: Project Titan . X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 . Nintendo GameCube Roundup . Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (N64) Bomberman Story. Breath of Fire I . Castlevania: Circle of the Moon . Chu Chu Rocket . Dark Arena . Earthworm Jim. F-14 Tomcat. Final Fight One . Fortress . F-Zero: Maximum Velocity . Game Boy Wars Advance (working title) Golden Sun. Iridion 3D . Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Kuru Kuru Kurin. Mario Kart Advance. Mega Man Battle Network . Monster Rancher 3. Napoleon . Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure . Rayman . Rocket Power. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles . Super Dodge Ball Advance . SpidenMan: Mysterio’s Menace. Super Mario Advance . Super Street Fighter II . Tetris World . Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 . X-Men: Rain of Apocalypse. Alone in the Dark. Commander Keen . Dragon Warrior III. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages 36 Off To Be a Wizard! Bearonic Arts is hoping Harry Rjpe t will work his magic for the Rqr5tatk>n. Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, and PC platforms this year (and more systems for 2002). If you haven’t bought into Harry yet, here’s your Potter primer. Ride shotgun on this Twisted Metal: Black test drive. Sony turns to the original Twisted Metal design team to take TM’s first PlayStation 2 title to the dark side. 50 E 3 xtravaganza! Sneak previews of the Xbox, PS2, PlayStation, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, and PC game lineups fill this ultra- comprehensive look at 2001’s games. High Heat Maior League Baseball 2002 (PlayStation 2) This coaching clinic shows you how to turn on some big-league heat with High Heat H MLB 2002. GAME BOY ADVANCE Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (PlayStation) Okay, you finished Lunar 2 and you’re bummed that Hiro didn’t get the girl...but wait! Here’s how to play through the Epilogue to really “complete” this game. Star Wars Starfighter, Kengo: Master of Bushido, and Knockout Kings 2001 are among the games that will never be the same once you use these codes. Cover art courtesy of Electronic Arts CONTENTS JUNE 2 0 01 E 3 Game Finder (continued) PlayStation 2 ProReviews Nintendo 64 ProReviews Believe it or not, the arcades are still alive! Check out these First Look previews of to-be-quarter-crunchers, Vampire Night and Smashing Drive. Vampire Night! Page 46. After you examine F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (GBA) and The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Seasons/Ages (both for the GBC) in the E 3 pre¬ views, check out Mickey’s Speedway USA, Toki Tori, and more! The sports year looks huge with NBA Street (PS2), Madden NFL 2002 (PS2), and NFL Fever 2002 (Xbox) leading the way in our E 3 special. For now, take a cut at All-Star Baseball 2002 or High Heat MLB 2002. All-Star Baseball 2002! Page 108. Rqle-Player!s REALm DEPARTMENTS is Editor's letter 24 PROEfee Can Harry Potter cut it as a franchise character? 18 HEAD HEAD Sega bids farewell to a humanitarian. 28 NET PRO Why the arcades may be shutting down. Take a cruise with Motor City Online. 20 Art we*-' 30 Cuttmqa Iqe You call it “art." Find out what we call it. Motorola cell phones dial up Sega games. 22 ® B b™* s re 92 FHaySmart What to do when DVDs stall in your PS2. i-- ---i—.— - GamePros guide to Mature and Teen rated games. The Legend of Zelda; Oracle : f Seasons .75 Lego Island 2.76 Mega Man Xtreme 2 76 Shrek. 76 Spider-Man; The Sinister Six 76 X-Men: Wolverine s Rage.76 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker .80 Alien Front Online. 80 Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare .79 Armada 2: Exodus .79 Black & White.80 Bomberman.80 Commandos 2 .79 Confidential Mission .79 Crazy Taxi 2 .78 Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern .79 Evil Twin: Cyprien’s Chronicles .79 Fighting Vipers 2.79 Floigan Brothers.80 Heavy Metal: Geomatrix.80 Ooga Booga .80 Outtrigger .80 Shenmue II.78 Sonic Adventure 2.77 CART Fury.84 CMX 2002 .82 ESPN National Hockey Night.82 ESPN NFL Primetime.84 ESPN X Games Skateboarding.82 LeMans 24 Hours.82 Madden NFL 2002 .83 MLB 2002 .83 NASCAR Heat.82 NBA Street.81 NCAA Football 2002 .84 NFL Fever 2002 .82 Soccer America.83 Arc the Lad Collection. 86 Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance.85 Dark Cloud.85 Dragon Warrior VII .86 Ephemeral Fantasia.86 Final Fantasy X.86 Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth.86 Legend of Alon D’ar.86 Saiyuki: The Journey West.86 Untitled Atlus RPG .86 Aliens vs. Predator 2 .89 AquaNox.90 Battle Realms.87 Buffy the Vampire Slayer.91 Command and Conquer: Renegade.89 Commandos 2.88 Conflict Zone . 90 The Dark Age of Camelot.91 Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.90 Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza.89 Dungeon Siege.90 Earth and Beyond.89 Emperor: Battle for Dune.90 EverQuest: Shadow of Luclin.88 Freedom Force.87 Gl Combat.90 Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising.88 MechCommander 2.89 Medal of Honor: Allied Assault.87 Neverwinter Nights.91 Operation Flashpoint.91 Pirates of Skull Cove .91 PlanetSide...88 Return to Castle Wolfenstein .89 Sigma . 90 Soldier of Fortune 2.89 Star Trek: Armada 2 .88 Star Trek: Borg Assimilator.87 Steel Soldiers .91 Stronghold .87 Train Simulator .91 Tribes 2.88 Tropico .87 Unreal 2 .88 Warcraft III.87 World War II Online: Blitzkrieg .91 Other Featured Games_ 4x4 Evolution .103 All-Star Baseball 2002 .108 AMF Xtreme Bowling .98 Army Men: Air Attack 2 .105 Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes .121 Black & White .94 Blade of Darkness. .95 Dr. Mario 64 .106 Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul.95 Excitebike 64 .120 Gauntlet Legends.122 Half-Life.107 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.36 High Heat Major League Baseball 2002 .110 Kengo: Master of Bushido .122 Kirby Tilt‘n’Tumble.98 Knockout Kings 2001 .....121 Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete .114 Mario Party 3......... i .106 MDK2 Armageddon. .104 Mickey’s Speedway USA .98 Motor City Online .28 NBA 2KI.123 NBA Hoopz (Dreamcast) .123 NBA Hoopz (PlayStation).122 Oni.124 Quake III Revolution . 102 Razor Freestyle Scooter .99 Return of the Ninja .99 Rumble Racing.101 Serious Sam . 96 Smashing Drive .46 Snoopy Tennis.99 Spec Ops: Stealth Patrol.121 SSX.123 Star Wars Starfighter.120 Star Wars Super Bombad Racing. .105 Toki Tori . 98 Trouballs.99 Twisted Metal: Black .42 Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance .104 Vampire Night .46 Zone of the Enders ...100 COVER I 1 EAT TIRE GAA 4 EPRO EXCUEJ3IVE HaHHY POTTTH HA 5 GHaHAATD HlADERS YOUNG AND OID IN T.H. HOWlINC '5 Enchanting taits oh a wi^ahd-in- 1 "CHAINING, BUT CAN HE nTPTAT THAT / AA-AGlC IN TUT GAMING HTA 1 AA.? I f*\ GAAA-TPHO BHING 3 YOU THT Re ^\TXClU$lVT ITH 3 T iooif AT TUT yly J HaHHY GAAA.T 3 DUT TH 13 OCTOBTH MJ ,’ixl BY AIR HENDRIX GAAA-TPHO JUNE 2001 WWW.GAAlTPHO.GOAA. IETTPHS©GAAA.T JP The following is a crib sheet of notable dates for Harry Potter fanatics (but remember, as Profes¬ sor McGonagall says, predicting the future is an inexact form of magic): OCTOBER: First games for the PlayStation, Game Boy Ad¬ vance, Game Boy Color, and PC November 16: Movie hits theaters. Spring 2002: Fifth book is released. PAP- 2002 : Movie comes out on video; DVD will have “making of” featurette about the video games. 1 L October 2002: Second round of games , , for the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance $ 1 WWW.CAMKPHO.COM ttTTtH3@GAmlPRO.COM ven if you’d been living in a dank, distant 1 -1^ cave for the past few years, word of Harry Potter would’ve reached you by now. His novels, penned by J.K. Rowling, have dominated the bestseller charts in the U.S. and in countries from Australia to Chile to Israel. The first Harry Potter movie will lure hordes to theaters on November 16, and the first wave of video games will lead the charge this October. GamePro takes you inside the pages of the development team’s Harry Potter spellbook for an exclusive glimpse at what could become an exciting new series of action/ adventure games. ^ iHtiirs 3 omEtHinc about Harry If you’re unfamiliar with the Harry Potter books, here’s the basic gist: In a world where wizards move unnoticed among normal folk, or Maggies (words in gneen are defined in the “Potter Primer’’ sidebar), a young boy escapes his tyrannical foster parents to be trained as a wizard. Rowling’s whimsical writing style keeps the captivating stories light but engrossing as Harry heads off to school, encountering all sorts of magical wonders and challenges. Electronic Arts is the wizard behind the curtain for Harry’s games, planning four titles for the PlayStation, Game Boy Ad¬ vance, Game Boy Color, and PC. Although all four games will be _ named “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s 1 © Stone” (after the first book; for more book info, see sidebar, “Spell Books”), they’re not identical: They wNI explore similar themes and environments, but each will offer its own gameplay experience. In fall 2002, Harry will return with four new games for the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance. Obviously, EA bagged a dragon’s hoard of gold when it scored the Potter license, but—considering that licensed games often aren’t worth the CDs they’re printed on—will these titles live up to the expectations of Harry’s fans? More importantly, what’s Harry got that will interest your average gamer? “J.K. Rowling wrote her fiction in a way that game mechanics flow out of it,” says Bruce McMillan, senior vice president and group studio general manager at EA. continued ► GA2VARP If HARRY POTTSR C? AiSA-f $ The first book, he explains, is packed with moments that seem almost designed to appear in a game: the gauntlet of puzzles that Harry faces to rescue the SoRceRe«*s Stone, the character¬ building that takes place as Harry learns to be a wizard, and much more. With such a rich environment to work in, McMillan continues, “we’re developing layered gaming where hardcore gamers will find all sorts of cool things that casual players won’t need to do.’’ If all this talk of Harry Potter is gobbledygook to you, Chris Gray, executive producer at EA, explains that you still have some¬ thing to look forward to: “If you haven’t read the books, you’ll enjoy the games just as much—they’re fun regardless of your knowledge of the Potter world. The games will have lots of twists and turns, and many unexpected surprises. We definitely want to reach Harry’s fans, but everyone will enjoy these games.” ROWUNG THUNDER Of course, the games will feel familiar to Harry’s fans. “We’re tak¬ ing pivotal plot lines and characters,” explains McMillan. “If you ask anyone to pick their 20 favorite things from the books, you’ll find them in the games. We’re not meticu¬ lously following the book or the film— there are elements of both that don’t work in games—but we’ll have the best of both worlds, like positioning a camera in places that the movie couldn’t.” What sort of familiar elements will gamers encounter? “A mysterious, hooded figure is often the cause of trouble in the games. If something goes wrong and Harry’s not sure why, it’s always VoLde- moot,” says Gray. Rowling herself has a strong interest in the games and checks in regularly with the development teams—more to ensure that nothing in the games will contradict her highly detailed seven-book plan for Harry than to actively steer the games’ creation. # To help the games stand on their own, EA has also developed its own look and style for Harry that differs from his appearance in the movie or the books’ illustrations. “It’s the right Harry for video games; other ideas from other medi¬ ums were not so applicable,” says Gray. “Also, you’ll recognize him next year in the video game sequels—his virtual appearance will build up the concept in people’s minds.” QUIDDITCH QUESTIONS One thing that should send Harry’s fans flying after the games is the chance to play Qofddftcb, the wizard’s sport. But a full-bore 3D Quidditch simulation is beyond the capabilities of most of the platforms that this year’s titles are be¬ ing released on—and besides, as Gray says, “with a world so rich, a game that’s just Quidditch would be an injustice.” Instead, in one level of the PlayStation, PC, and GBA games (GBC players get no Quidditch), gamers will play a virtual version of the wizard’s game, taking on the role of Seeken and dodging Biudgeias until they see the Snitch. Then the games will go into a dive mode in full 3D where it’s “up to you to stay on your broomstick and in the game,” Gray says. PIAY3TATION POTION3 Although all four games are intentionally designed to be unique, they began with the common goal of delivering what Gray calls a “be Harry Potter experience.” All four will feature the familiar cast of char¬ acters, from Ron Weasley to H enmione Gnangen to PuojressoR DarobiedoRe, who will provide help and hints as Harry works through his first year at Hogcuants, the school for wizards. Chocolate Froq Wfzaud Cands will play a leading role in all the titles, acting as continued often next page ► CAMIPRO JUNE 2001 H WWW.GAAAEPHO.COAA lETTms@CAMlPRO.COM Poftew Pwfmen A glossary of Harry Potter lingo and locales. By Mfss Spell Chocolate Fnog Wizard Cands: Think baseball cards, but for famous wizards. Included chocolate frog makes them popular with students. Dfagon Alley: A hidden London street where wizards do their shopping Duaco Malfoy: A rich, snotty student at Hogwarts who hates Harry—and whom Harry hates. DcmsLeys: The Muggle relatives with whom Harry lives on Privet Drive after his parents’ death. They despise him and treat him poorly. Forbidden Fowest: The woods near Hogwarts, filled with un¬ known terrors and magical creatures Ghosts: Many ghosts inhabit Hog¬ warts: one for each house, a ghost Professor Binns, and Peeves, a poltergeist. Gnfngotts: The wizard bank, run by goblins—it’s the safest place in the world. Wizards have their own money: gold galleons, silver sickles, and bronze knuts. Hagnfd: Hogwarts’ giant but friendly groundskeeper Henmlone ( Hen-MY-oh-nee) Gnangen: Bossy and book-smart, a good friend to Harry and Ron, and one of the best students at Hogwarts Hogcoattts: English boarding school for witches and wizards. It takes seven years to graduate. Hogtuants Express: Train that takes students to and from Hog¬ warts. You must pass through an in¬ wall to get to its secret stop at in King’s Cross Station. Lightning scan: Voldemort’s curse left a lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s forehead. Maggies: Nonwizarding folk who are often unaware that magic even exists Ocols: Wizards communicate by sending messages with owls. Harry has his own snowy owl, Hedwig. Pnofesson Dambledone: Wise headmaster of Hogwarts who often saves Harry’s butt on the sly Pnofesson Snape: Dour Potions teacher at Hogwarts who dislikes most students but absolutely hates Harry Qulddftch: Wizarding sport played on broomsticks. Teams of seven take to the skies over a court with three towering, circular goals on each end. Three Chasens try to score with the large red Quaffe ball, while the Keepen tends goal. Two other balls, called BludgettS, zoom around the court, trying to knock players off their brooms. Each team has two Beatens who pro¬ tect their team from Bludgers and also re-direct the Bludgers toward the opposition. The final player, the, Seekew, must catch the tiny, golden winged Snitch, thus usually winning the game. Ron Weasley: Harry’s best friend, he has five older brothers and a younger sister School houses: All students are lodged in a dormitory-style houses, named for each of the four founders of Hogwarts. They eat, sleep, and go to classes with the members of their house. Their achievements and of¬ fenses earn and lose points for their house. At the end of the year, the House Cup is awarded to the house with the most points. Guyf f indon: Courageous and brave, this is Harry’s house. Slythenfn: Ambitious and proud, all of the truly evil wizards have been in this house, including Voldemort. Huf flepuf f: Where they are just and loyal Rauenclatu: Where those of wit and learning will always find their kind Soncenett’s Stone: Extremely rare stone that gives its owners immor¬ tality and riches Voldemont (a.k.a. He Who Must Not Be Named, a.k.a. You Know Who): A nasty wiz¬ ard whose reign of evil is put to an end by baby Harry Potter. After killing Harry’s parents, Voldemort is defeated by his own curse, which rebounds off of Harry. Still a source of great fear, most wizards won’t speak his name aloud. WWW.CAA4UPllO.com XETTi;il$©GAmi;PI10.C!0iV4 CAiVS-TPHO 7XJNT 2001 GAA5.IPRO JUNE 2001 WWW.GA hi ARUY POTTKR CAJV5-E3 power-ups, collectible items, the keys to puzzles, and more. OaHs will also help the player by delivering messages and useful items. The PlayStation game will mix platform gameplay with adventuring in six 3D environments in and around Hogwarts—all filled with interactive scenery, like moving stairways and secret passages. One level will involve a 3D broomstick chase over the Fcmbfdden Fcmest as Harry pursues Duaco MaLfoy (who just robbed a fellow student), while another will take you on a bone¬ jarring roller-coaster ride through Gningotts, a goblin-owned bank that’s packed with mazelike tunnels. Harry will also have to rescue Hermione from a rampaging troll and venture to Di'agon Alley to collect items that Hagwfd needs to hatch a baby dragon. Players will acquire new spells and other magic by playing PaRappa-style mini-games that mimic the lessons in the book. Once you’ve earned a spell, you’ll be able to use it whenever you like. “The polish on the spells’ special effects will really impress people,” says McMillan. PC POW3JR5 Over on the PC, Harry’s exploits will fall more in the vein of adventuring, involving much less platform gameplay. Visually, this version will offer the richest world of the four titles, but EA is also being careful not to max out the mini¬ mum system specs, so you won’t have to have a hot-rod PC to play. The con trols will also be much less complex than your average PC game’s, probably requiring just the mouse and a couple keys on the keyboard. Along with traditional puzzles and confrontations, players will also face stealth-based objectives where the player must sneak around Hogwarts, avoiding the meddling ghosts. Some dynamic environments that change over time—classrooms mysteriously relocate, staircases move, that sort of thing—will keep players on their toes. A level unique to the PC game will take the player to Privet Drive, where Harry must get past the DcmsLeys and collect his letter of admission to Hogwarts. www.GAmirno.coM 11T T r n S © G A Ai I r n o . C O A* CAMi; BOY GOBXIN3 The Game Boy Advance title plans to put the emphasis more on action than adventure as the gameplay will unfold in a topdown isometric view. The game’s 29-plus quests will involve tasks like collecting ingredients and mixing potions for Pnofesson Snape, helping Hagrid find a lost pet, battling trolls, and playing Quidditch, of course. The Game Boy Color title will bear more than a slight resemblance to Pokemon, presenting a topdown RPG adventure. Players will tackle turn-based magical encounters and trade Wizard cards (including two- player trades with a link cable). Suc¬ cessful encounters and quests will increase Harry’s powers, allowing him to learn new spells and take on more powerful creatures. RAPIN' WIZARDS With all the hype surrounding the Harry Potter books over the past few years, many gamers may automatically react unfavorably to the upcoming games. Yet the sheer power of Potter means that this series will likely be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years, so let’s hope EA makes games worth play¬ ing. Fortunately, the early sneak peeks seem very promising, while Gray and EA’s development team are ready to meet the challenge: “We’re incredibly excited about capturing Harry’s world. We know expectations are high, and we want to live up to them.” Q Spell Books If you haven't yet read the immensely popular Potter books by J.K. Rowling, these brief summaries will get you up to speed. By Miss SpeLL Harm# Potten and the Soncenen's Stone: This first book in what will eventually be a seven-book series in¬ troduces the world to Harry Potter. Harry’s parents are killed by Voldemort (see sidebar, “Potter Primer”) when Harry is an infant. Voldemort attempts to kill Harry, too, but harms himself instead and goes into hiding. Harry is raised by his magic-hating aunt and uncle, who treat him badly and keep his past a secret. On Harry’s llth birthday, he finds out that he is a wizard and is accepted to Hogwarts School for Wizardry. Harry soon makes friends and enemies, and finds that he’s the only one who can stop the theft of the priceless Sorcerer’s Stone. Hawny PoCCen and Che Chamber of SecneCs: Harry’s sec¬ ond year at school presents new challenges: The unknown Heir of Slytherin has opened the Chamber of Secrets, and the monster that dwells within is attacking students. Hanny PoCCeR and Che pRisoneR of Azkaban: An escaped homicidal wizard is on the loose and wants to kill Harry. HaRRy PoCCeR and Che GobLeC of Fine: Harry finds himself entered in a dangerous competition: the Tri-Wizard Tournament. And he’s having dreams that foretell Voldemort’s return to power.