Issue 20 (May 2002)

Issue 20, May 2002

Editor’s letter

Last night, I pulled my copy of Rez off the shelf and decided to play through it again. Once I started, I was immediately seduced anew by the experience. Even though it’s a game that I had already ‘completed’, I was thoroughly content to replay the levels with only a vague intent to increase my high score and more of a desire just to relax and lose myself in another world. Rez’s creativity and attention to detail in the fields of music and graphics as well as gameplay means that it isn’t simply a sense of achievement on completing a level that appeals. In fact, that sense of achievement is arguably secondary to the general feeling of satisfaction gained from the whole Rez experience, which is why I didn’t feel as if I was just treading old ground when I replayed the game.

People who haven’t ‘got’ Rez have complained that the game is “too short”. If that means it only takes a few hours to complete the five levels, then they certainly have a point. But Rez isn’t about completion and closure. I’ve found myself using Rez like I would use a favourite CD or film, as something to come back to for a burst of escapism. You don’t discard a good CD or DVD after one play, even though you can experience all it’s got to offer sometimes in less than an hour. Your enjoyment of a film or album can increase with repeated plays, so why not the same for a game? Sure, there’s very little in the same category as Rez when it comes to sensory fulfilment, but it’s something to bear in mind. If developers would like games to become more like movies, why not consider how we approach great movies from the standpoint of replayability?

Judging by our mailbag, there are plenty of you out there who have issues with the length of some PS2 games. Rez is a name that regularly crops up, and Metal Gear Solid 2 also has its share of critics for the amount of time spent working through cinematic cut-scenes as opposed to controlling anything yourself. Then again, there are equal numbers of you willing to defend both of these games as the most amazing things you’ve ever played. On OPS2, we like to applaud developers who can successfully augment the challenges set by gameplay with a degree of emotional attachment you might usually feel for a good movie. Thankfully on PS2 we have the choice between the ‘new Hollywood’ of MGS2 or the near-infinite gameplay variations of two-player Pro Evolution Soccer, as well as much else besides. Keep writing in and let us know what you think on the subject.

Sam Richards, Editor

Features

OPS2 Interview: A double whammy this month, with Hideo Kojima and Mat Hoffman.

The Great Escape – Prisoner of War

Racing Lines – Auto Modellista

Monthly Articles

Character Assassination – Creating Frankenstein’s Monster as a videogame character. This month, the perfect rhythm action hero – Ulala from Space Channel 5 accessorises with Parappa’s woolly hat and Crash Bandicoot’s shoes.

Pocket Heroes – This month’s cards are Gitaroo Man and Tidus from Final Fantasy X.

30 Days in Tokyo – This month, the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Media Arts festival awards ceremony.

The Burning Question – Asking 5 questions to 3 industry figures. This month’s question: Are developers still prepared to seek out new genres?

Designer Genes – Readers write in with their game ideas and pitches. This month, Soopa Poopa Scoopa. Space Invaders gets a dog poo themed makeover.

What If? – This month, what if PS2 games gave off smells? Grand Theft Auto 3, Fantavision and any given tennis game would be excellent in smell-o-vision. Any other suggestions?

Previews

Spider-Man – “Making a clone of the Neversoft Spidey games would have been the easy option, but Treyarch has given this one a personality of its own.”

Medal of Honor: Frontline – “EA’s decision to pile on the atmosphere with Medal of Honor: Frontline makes it the most hardcore of the series yet. We can’t wait.”

Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament – “It’s not out until June and still at an ‘unfinished’ stage. Which means only one thing: it could get even better.”

Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX 2 – “Plenty of promise, but also some cause for concern. Pro BMX 2 needs more polish in order to challenge its benchmark stable mate.”

Commandos 2: Men of Courage – “So far, it looks as good and plays as well as the PC version. It also seems satisfyingly tough.”

Premier Manager – “Less stats, more face-to-face interaction. Is Premier Manager’s approach to football management going to work?”

Rally Championship – “The battle for supremacy in the rally market isn’t going to be pretty. So, what sort of chance does Rally Championship have?”

Britney’s Dance Beat – “It may not wow the State of Emergency demographic but Britney’s Dance Beat is looking to be a fine and funky rhythm action title.”

Red Card – “It’s football, but not as you know it. In reality, violence is frowned upon. In virtual reality, it’s actively encouraged…”

Reviews

Final Fantasy X – “The Final Fantasy you know (and quite possibly love) dressed up finer than you’ve ever seen it before.” 8/10

Deus Ex – “A triumphant multi-genre fusion that will leave you shell-shocked in amazement. Buy it now!” 9/10

LMA Manager 2002 – “Sets the bar high for any football management games to follow. It will be a tough one to beat.” 8/10

Blood Omen 2 – “A powerful story line is let down slightly by gameplay that offers little originality. Blood Omen 2 is definitely enjoyable, but we were hoping to get our teeth into something juicier.” 6/10

ISS 2 – “A solid arcade footy game. But with Pro Evolution Soccer on the block who needs a new kid?” 7/10

Sled Storm – “Playing like a motorised version of SSX Tricky, this is indecently enjoyable to play. It may not be original but its formula is a winning one and you can’t knock quality.” 8/10

Super Trucks – “A full-on simulation of truck racing would have been welcome, but this arcade interpretation lacks sophistication and is just too tiresome.” 4/10

Grandia 2 – “An RPG of trade-offs. A big game, but poorly visualised; interesting combat, but repetitive, rarely captivating gameplay.” 5/10

Conflict Zone – “Solid and functional, Conflict Zone does little you haven’t seen before in an RTS, although media intrusion makes for a novel twist.” 6/10

Lake Masters Ex – “Don’t be tempted by the price tag, this is like being slapped with a wet kipper.” 2/10

Casper: Spirit Dimensions – “Tricky to start with, then fun for about 24 minutes.” 4/10

Eve of Extinction – “Some good ideas, but they just don’t gel. The end result is a tedious, button-bashing trudge through the burnt-out shell of a great game.” 5/10

All-Star Baseball 2003 Featuring Derek Jeter – “Highly detailed, very playable and well worth a look for sport sim fans.” 7/10

Dune – “Just about the worst action/adventure on PS2. An inept take on a decent story.” 3/10

Mad Maestro – “Thanks to innovative use of the Dual Shock 2’s analogue buttons and a unique setting, this builds to a challenging crescendo. A fine addition to the rhythm action genre.” 6/10

Top Angler 2 – “Actually reels in a few good fish amongst the old bikes and wellies.” 5/10

Atlantis 3: The New World – “If you want something illogical and frustrating, get a girlfriend instead.” 2/10

Mr Moskeeto – “Beyond the innovative game concept and neat control method, Mr Moskeeto is a little limited. Would have suited a lower price.” 6/10

G1 Jockey – “Horse racing comes to PS2 at a steady canter rather than a gallop. A veritable Grand National for the grey cells, this is nothing if not intriguing.” 5/10

Panzer Front Bis (PSOne review) – “Even if you completed the original game, don’t be afraid to shell out for this.” 8/10

Hardcore

Part 2 of the Metal Gear Solid 2 walkthrough, and a Herdy Gerdy walkthrough, plus Rez, Capcom VS SNK 2, Paris-Dakar Rally, Fantavision, Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates, Quake 3: Revolution, Parappa the Rapper 2, Maximo and Madden NFL 2002.

Disc Content

Playable Demos

Final Fantasy X

Rally Championship

Space Race

Taz Wanted

Moto GP

Footage

V Rally 3

Blood Omen 2

Shadow Hearts

Barbarian

Downforce

Red Faction

Star Wars: Starfighter

The Making of Jak and Daxter

Trivia

·         Starting with this issue, the magazine’s price increases to £5.49.

·         I’ll be honest and say that this issue has one of my least favourite covers. There have been several ‘close-up of the main character’s face’ covers by now, but the previous ones have done something more interesting with it, like the last issue’s cover having the flaming background for example, or issue 1 having a rougher, more stylised look to it. I feel that this is a generic cover that doesn’t do Final Fantasy X justice, as there is plenty of potential for a more unique, memorable image. The cover art for the demo disc would have been lovely blown up for the magazine cover, and there are plenty of other renders to choose from too. At least Yuna isn’t doing the Dreamworks Face.

·         Acting Editor of the previous two issues, Sam Richards, drops the acting part for this issue and settles in to the position of full-time editor.

·         Another new franchise debut! This month, Ratchet and Clank is introduced in some screenshots prior to the official unveiling at E3 2002.

·         Eve of Extinction has one of the more unique weapons on PS2 – the main character wields a lightsaber powered by the soul of his deceased girlfriend. It turns out the Bionic Commando reboot wasn’t the first game to do that!

·         Some loon texts in, “MGS2 would be better if it had magical killer monkeys.” Hideo Kojima must have seen this, because how else do you explain the Ape Escape / Metal Gear Solid crossovers in Metal Gear Solid 3 and Ape Escape 3?
      Hideo Kojima's interview in this issue makes him the first person to be interviewed for the OPS2 interview twice. The first time was in Issue 1.

Quote of the Month: “There’s no chance of a random bloke trying to stick his tongue in your girlfriend’s ear.” One of the benefits of Mat Hoffman’s photo mode.

Cover price: £5.49

Page Count: 146

Issue 19 (April 2002)

Issue 19, April 2002

Editor’s letter

This month we are proud to bring you a playable demo of one of my favourite games of the year so far, Ico. We tried to get it on the DVD last issue, but it just didn’t come together in time, so I’m hoping that you weren’t too perplexed by our gushing endorsement. Ico is so unusual, it’s the kind of game you really have to play in order to appreciate it. It’s also a difficult game to write about in the language of magazine headlines: it’s not ‘extreme’ or ‘spectacular’, ‘adrenaline-pumping’ or ‘cortex-mashing’. In fact, it strenuously avoids falling into that cliché trap, which is exactly what makes Ico so beguiling. When you switch the game on, you’re not assaulted by a hyperactive intro movie featuring high-octane motorbike duels, volleys of gunfire or tumultuous explosions. Limp Bizkit and Alien Ant Farm do not invade your ear-space. Instead, understated storybook animation shows a young, horned boy being carried by horse and then by boat into the depths of a seemingly abandoned castle before being entombed in a coffin. Why? “For the good of the village.” It’s all a bit Wicker Man.

As you’ll find from playing the demo, you’re left to work out the rest for yourself. Here there is no Training mode. Playing as the boy, Ico, you’re automatically driven by the imperative to find a way out of the foreboding fortress. A little experimentation soon reveals that you can leap between platforms, climb up ledges, swing from chains, push boxes and shimmy up poles. Everything in Ico’s world is consistent, meaning that whenever you’re stumped at how to progress, you’re only annoyed with yourself and not with the game. Then there’s the small business of protecting your new-found companion from the shadowy figures that haunt her…

My point? If anyone you meet down the pub starts banging on about how games these days are all sequels or lazy rehashes, before (inevitably) getting dewy-eyed about the ‘good old days’ of the ZX Spectrum, prod them in the direction of the uniquely captivating Ico. You might also want to mention Herdy Gerdy, Rez, Dynasty Warriors 3, GTA 3 and Deus Ex. Sure, there are plenty of games out there happy to stick to a tried-and-tested formula, but we all want to play football and driving games once in a while – you’ve just got to separate the Pro Evolution Soccers from the UEFA Challenges and the Burnouts from the Tokyo Extreme Racers. Thankfully, there’s always something out there in the world of PS2 to keep us amused. Ico completed, I’m off to pelt werewolves with lead in Vampire Night. Enjoy.

Sam Richards, Acting Editor

Features

OPS2 Interview: Fumito Ueda

Samurai Showdown – Onimusha 2

The V Sign – V Rally 3

Legacy of Violence: The Virtua Fighter Story – The celebrate the release of Virtua Fighter 4, this feature has a recap of each game so far, a timeline covering all revisions, bios for every character, and an interview with series creator Yu Suzuki.

Monthly Articles

Character Assassination – Creating Frankenstein’s Monster as a videogame character. This month, the perfect RPG hero – a hippy with duck feet, an afro/beard combo and a mace bigger than he is.

Pocket Heroes – This month’s cards are Spider-Man and Kain from Legacy of Kain.

30 Days in Tokyo – This month, Soul Calibur 2 debuts at the Tokyo Amusement Expo. See, not all of these are weird!

The Burning Question – Asking 5 questions to 3 industry figures. This month’s question: Does PS2 have too many racing games?

Designer Genes – Readers write in with their game ideas and pitches. This month, Jed Zeppelin and the Magic Flute. A failing musician traverses a world of music to battle rival musicians and evil record producers in a game that’s part Brutal Legend, part JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. This is definitely the one of these I most wish was real!

What If? – This month, what if the PS2 was a Victorian invention? Alexander Graham Bell invented PS2 instead of the telephone. On one hand, nuisance callers weren’t invented, which is excellent. On the other, computers haven’t been invented yet either, so it’s impossible to make games to play on it. Mr Bell might want to get on with rectifying that.

Previews

2002 FIFA World Cup – “With the almighty opposition that is Pro Evolution Soccer, can EA’s new footy star prove itself a World Cup hero this summer?”

Endgame – “Is it more than just another turkey shoot? Is it worth buying a lightgun for?”

Test Drive Overdrive – “There are just too many driving games around at the moment, so how will Test Drive Overdrive set itself apart from the pack?”

Super Trucks – “At this stage, Jester Interactive’s lorry-racer looks practically finished. But are the trucks really that ‘super’?”

Le Tour De France – “A thoroughly respectable-looking attempt at a cycling sim. How well it will appeal to the PS2 majority remains to be seen.”

Downforce – “Does this unlicensed blend of F1 glamour and Indy Car speed have what it takes to challenge the official racing titles?”

Gitaroo Man – “The freshest, most engaging, innovative rhythm-action game since Samba De Amigo. But do enough gamers care?”

Barbarian – “There’s more than enough originality and fine gameplay to make Barbarian one to watch out for.”

Eve of Extinction – “So far, so good. Eve of Extinction adds to its free-roaming beat-‘em-up basics with an intriguing combat system.”

Reviews

Virtua Fighter 4 – “A fine example of its creed and the only choice for gamers who want a long-lasting single-player challenge. Beat-‘em-up haters will not be converted, though.” 8/10

Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter – “An accomplished update of the original’s hugely enjoyable space shooter formula with a few novel and welcome innovations.” 8/10

Dynasty Warriors 3 – “For fans of beat-‘em-ups or admirers of strategy wargames alike, this is a game for all seasons. Big, complex and satisfying.” 8/10

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 – “A top-flight golf game – all credit to EA for implementing the major changes that will leave you thrilled.” 7/10

State of Emergency – “More blood than a night in with the Marquis De Sade, but addictive and fun. Cartoon visuals can’t gloss over the mindlessly violent gameplay.” 7/10

Vampire Night – “A brand new shooter for all you lightgun owners, that sticks to the tried-and-trusted formula.” 6/10

Shadow Hearts – “Memorable, but certainly not a life-changer. There’s little here you haven’t seen before, but Shadow Hearts is a good enough stopgap while we wait for Final Fantasy X.” 7/10

Star Wars: Racer Revenge – “Nothing wrong with the rocket-powered gameplay, but you don’t need Jedi reflexes to finish it.” 7/10

Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat – “Possibly worth renting just for the sea battle sections, but even these stages are lost in a shark-infested sea of turbulent boredom.” 3/10

No-one Lives Forever – “Doesn’t impress at first glance, but this stylish retread of FPS basics soon begins to grow on you.” 7/10

Peter Pan: Return to Neverland – “It’s aimed at youngsters, but that’s no reason to scrimp on quality.” 2/10

Sunny Garcia Surfing – “Surf’s up – but, boy, is this ride a letdown.” 3/10

Dark Summit – “Full marks are awarded to THQ for trying something new. Sadly, Dark Summit doesn’t quite land the trick.” 5/10

Jade Cocoon 2 – “Cute, Square-a-like RPG with a dash of Pokemon that improves and refines the original game.” 7/10

Worms Blast – “Not the shameless cash-in we were expecting, but a well thought-out, expertly realised puzzler. You’ll be hopelessly hooked for months, even years to come. An absolute blast.” 8/10

Knockout Kings 2002 – “The limitations of previous incarnations have been addressed, creating a boxing sim that does a lot right – and not a lot wrong. It’s a clear winner on a unanimous points decision.” 7/10

PSOne Reviews

Atari Anniversary Edition Redux – “Interesting, but it’s only worth parting with your cash if nostalgia means more to you than value for money.” 6/10

Saltwater Sportfishing – “Good fun for a while, but leaves a distinctly fishy whiff behind.” 5/10

Hardcore

The final part of the Max Payne walkthrough, and the first part of a Metal Gear Solid 2 walkthrough, plus Driven, Thunderhawk: Operation Phoenix, State of Emergency, Batman: Vengeance, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, NFL Quarterback Club 2002, MX Rider and Project Eden.

Disc Content

Playable Demos

Ico

Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing

Vampire Night

Dead or Alive 2

Formula 1 2001

Footage

Virtua Fighter 4

Dark Summit

Herdy Gerdy

Star Wars: Racer Revenge

Shadow Man 2: 2econd Coming

Final Fantasy X

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Tekken Tag Tournament

The Making of World Rally Championship

Trivia

·         I can appreciate the irony of Dynasty Warriors 3 being listed as an example of a game that doesn’t stick to a tried-and-tested formula, although in fairness the dozens of sequels and spin-offs hadn’t kicked in yet and the series was still relatively fresh.

·         Speaking of Dynasty Warriors 3, the review doesn’t mention the so-bad-it’s-good voice acting and hilariously quotable dialogue, so I’ll do it instead. “You flaming idiots!" "Feel the power of my… MAAAAAGIIIIIIC!” “Great King, flee!” “A dike? OH NO!” “Fool! You challenge me with trickery? I don’t believe in magic!” “All right then, I accept the position of grand commander!”

·         This month sees the launch of the Platinum range, in which older games were reissued at a lower price. The initial wave included games such as Tekken Tag Tournament, Star Wars: Starfighter, Timesplitters and Gran Turismo 3. To tie in with this, the demo also started a Platinum section, which re-ran some older demos and trailers once those games were re-issued on Platinum – a clever way of theming repeats.

·         The Spy section reports that a man in Banbury legally changed his name to Mr Playstation 2. I wonder if he still has that name, or if he has to go to update it whenever a new Playstation is released. If it’s the latter, he’ll have to get the deed poll ready again in a few months once Playstation 5 is released.

·         Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly is shown for the first time, with a release date of autumn 2003 promised. Given how that game turned out, releasing a year earlier than planned would explain a lot, assuming that wasn’t a typo and they actually meant autumn 2002.

·         New franchise report! This month, it’s the turn of Project Zero, which is described as a cross between Pokemon Snap and Resident Evil. That’s a description I can get behind!

·         Fumito Ueda’s interview turns up some interesting stuff, most notably that Ico began development as a PSOne game, as well as the first hint towards Shadow of the Colossus – “There are no plans for a sequel, but a game that shares the same kind of atmosphere and concept.”

Quote of the Month: “Many of us would like to see Pikachu getting on the wrong end of a flying kick.” That’s what Super Smash Bros. is for.

Cover price: £4.99

Page Count: 146