Issue 17 (February 2002)

Issue 17, February 2002

Editor’s letter

There comes a time when all editors have to write one of these fellas. They can be mawkish, they can be nostalgic, they can be a list of stuff that the editor in question has done (or pretended to do) over the past year or so but at the end of the day, they simply have to be written. And quickly. So here it is. I’m off.

Well, kind of. As of next issue, I’m moving upstairs to a new job with the title of Editor in Chief of Official Playstation 2 Magazine. What does that mean? It means that while you’ll be seeing someone else’s face to the left of this typey bit, I’ll still be involved in the magazine. I’ll be making sure we’ve got all the very best games in the mag and on the disc. I’ll also be making sure we give the magazine a good spring clean in a few months’ time. And I’ll definitely be popping my head around the corner too often for a game of Pro Evolution Soccer and being told to clear off by everyone as I’m no longer on the team. Bah, never liked ‘em anyway…

So what can I say? I can say it’s been an absolute blast. From ploughing through a million rejected designs for issue one to signing up the exclusive review and playable demo of Metal Gear Solid 2 that adorns this very issue, it’s been an utter joy. Trying to hunt down that stupid mosquito game while on a trip to Japan with only a smile for help, realising George Lucas’ record collection includes Men at Work while on a trip to Skywalker Ranch to see Star Wars: Starfighter, getting stuck halfway up a mountain on a press trip for Metal Gear (don’t ask), gunfire ricocheting outside our Los Angeles hotel while at E3, actually missing an earthquake while having a ‘small drink’ in an underground bar after Tokyo Game Show… There hasn’t been a dull moment and ALL of it has been made easier by having a certain black box sat in the corner of the office. It’s the games that have been the stars of OPS2’s first year-and-a-bit and you can be sure that’ll be the case for issues to come.

So where from here? To the pub, if I’m honest, as this is the very last page in the magazine to be written before it flies off to the printers. Just to say thanks for all the emails, letters, Christmas cards, best wishes and everything else you’ve sent us over the last year as we’ve striven to bring you the best in PS2 gaming. Be nice to whoever ends up in this bit next issue and, oh, if you see a man standing outside your local EB asking for some spare change to buy a copy of Deus Ex?

You’ll know the new job didn’t go too well…

Mike Goldsmith, Senior Editor

Features

OPS2 Interview: Clemens Wangerin

Search for a Star - This is the competition mentioned on the cover, and the prize is a one-week internship at Codemasters to work on TOCA Race Driver.

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! - Turok Evolution. The audio guy on the game is, to put it politely, dedicated to his work, with antics including kicking a pig at the zoo, throwing weapons on the floor outside a school, and almost starting a fire while trying to record the sound effects for a flare gun.

Conflict of Interest – Conflict: Desert Storm, another PS2 franchise making it’s magazine debut.

Driving McRaesy – Colin McRae Rally 3, also featuring the man himself taking OPS2 for a test drive.

Monthly Articles

Character Assassination – Creating Frankenstein’s Monster as a videogame character. This month, the perfect horror character – a four-armed Army Men soldier. Is this the hero of said horror game, or one of the monsters?

Pocket Heroes – This month’s cards are Polaroid Pete and Ecco the Dolphin.

30 Days in Tokyo – This month, an experiment to demonstrate the effects of teeth gnashing on the lower jaw, and Room Mania, a game where you play pranks on your character. The example given is to make him drink until he needs the toilet, then locking him out of his room while he’s gone. Look, I don’t make these things, I just write about them!

The Burning Question – Asking 5 questions to 3 industry figures. This month’s theme: Will Sony’s online plans for PS2 be a success?

Designer Genes – Readers write in with their game ideas and pitches. This month, Talus, a strategy game which involves protecting the last eggs that ensure the survival of Talus’ race from a fiery demon by forming allegiances with other clans.

What If? – This month, what if PS2 characters released singles? Revolver Ocelot has a lovely singing voice.

Previews

Deus Ex – “FPS? RPG? FPRPGS? Whatever you call it, Ion Storm’s baby has a lot to live up to.”

Max Payne – “He’s been a long time coming but this early look shows Max Payne could be worth the wait.”

Dynasty Warriors 3 – “It may not go down as well as it did in Japan, but it’s shaping up be a worthy sequel to an overlooked launch title.”

Space Channel 5 – “Will you tune in to Space Channel 5, or will the warblings of the lovely Ulala prove a bit of a turn off?”

LMA Manager 2002 – “It might still have quite a way to go to challenge Champ Man, but LMA will easily be the best of its kind on PS2.”

Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates – “Is there enough room in our affections for another buxom adventure babe? Too right, but that dragon can’t watch.”

Worms Blast – “Blending two proven formulas to produce something new and enjoyable is no mean feat, so could Team17 pull it off?”

Grandia II – “Even though it’s perhaps a touch too linear and predictable, Grandia II bears all the hallmarks of a top-quality RPG.”

Reviews

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty – “State-of-the-art gaming with intelligence and soul. A rare conjunction of vision, technical virtuosity and hardware. You must own this game.” 10/10

Ace Combat: Distant Thunder – “This is an exceptionally well-presented game that fans will enjoy. But don’t be beguiled by the visuals, it’s business as usual for the Ace Combat franchise.” 7/10

Parappa the Rapper 2 – “It’s decision time. You take footy, driving, shooting and fighting forever, or you try something that’ll make your PS2 a little bit less of an object, and more of a work of art.” 7/10

Moto GP 2 – “Fixing the problems that afflicted the original game, Moto GP 2 is a classy racer. Although more variety and multiplayer action next time, please.” 7/10

Police 24/7 – “This light gun game belongs in the past. Sometimes it feels like a small step towards the future, but really it’s more of a clumsy, drunken lurch.” 5/10

Salt Lake 2002 – “We just didn’t think it was morally possible to be any stingier than Track and Field with the events, but Salt Lake 2002 is a shallow wintery Scrooge.” 5/10

Centre Court: Hard Hitter – “Cheap but not particularly cheerful tennis action. Has reasonable gameplay but there’s nothing here to keep you playing for more than a day or two.” 4/10

Monsters Inc. – “A crumb of credit for daring to stray from the plot of the film, but this game still falls significantly short of the high-watermark left by the majestic Jak and Daxter.” 4/10

Legends of Wrestling – “While you shouldn’t be put off by the baffling roster, Legends is still let down by its repetitive and uninspiring gameplay, despite obvious ambitions to be something better.” 5/10

Evil Twin: Cyprien’s Chronicles – “If you like weird games, then this one’s for you. But some lacklustre animation and camera work really lets it down.” 5/10

Magix Music Maker – “Doesn’t set its sights high enough, and as a result Magix Music Maker is just average and musically oversimplistic.” 6/10

Space Race – “Uninventive cartoon kart racer that recycles old gameplay ideas and hopes you won’t notice.” 5/10

Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard’s Park – “An insipid platform adventure with neither a strong character or a whiff of originality. Why bother?” 3/10

PSOne Reviews

Army Men: Team Assault – “A few technical issues, but enjoyable overall, and good value-for-money.” 7/10

Goofy’s Fun House – “Overly simple but nicely done, and the mini-games can be cracking fun.” 5/10

Hardcore

The final part of the Jak and Daxter walkthrough and a Resident Evil: Code Veronica X walkthrough, plus James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire, Max Payne, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Batman: Vengeance, Giants: Citizen Kabuto and World Rally Championship.

Disc Content

Playable Demos

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Rez

Wipeout Fusion

Parappa the Rapper 2

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction

Soul Reaver 2

Footage

Onimusha 2

James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire

SSX Tricky

Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing

Kessen II

Ico

TOCA Race Driver

Aibo: Latte and Macaron

Trivia

·         As you will have already seen from the Editor’s Letter, this is the final issue for Mike Goldsmith.

·         Two covers this month. I have the Snake one, and the other cover depicts Raiden.

·         This issue has the first mention of Hitman coming to PS2, starting with the sequel, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. Despite skipping the PC original, PS2 owners weren’t missing out on much, as it wasn’t until the second game that the series started to reach the potential of its concept.

·         Final Fantasy X screenshots in this issue show off the identity of the final boss. At least they don’t say the boss’ name…

·         This month’s cancelled game: Stung!, a third-person shooter with insects. A unique idea, but not one that interested any publishers enough to sign it up.

·         You probably won’t be surprised to see that Metal Gear Solid 2 is the first game to score 10/10. Although one or two others came close, most notably SSX Tricky and Jak and Daxter, a couple of minor issues kept them away from a perfect score. It’s certainly well-deserved, especially with how the game’s themes have only become more relevant over time. Also worth noting, Metal Gear Solid 2 carries this month’s review section hard, as it’s the only game to score above 7/10.

·         The Goofy review is actually very positive for a 5/10. I personally would have bumped it up to a 6 or 7/10.

·         The rare Simpsons stuff mentioned on the cover is an animation cel from one of the episodes. Before you ask, it’s not Scratchy’s arm.

·         Ulala from Space Channel 5 is described as “By far the most attractive videogame character ever created – an attractiveness that doesn’t stem from oversized cleavage, or lame innuendo, but from confidence and subtlety of movement.”

I approve of OPS2’s taste in waifus.

Quote of the Month: “How many times do you see four elderly folk crowded around a television in a retirement home telling each other to “Shoot the bastard!”?” This month’s star letter from a rather irate individual known only as Skullcrusher is full of gems like this. I could have typed out the whole letter, but that would go beyond a mere quote, wouldn’t it?

Cover price: £4.99

Page Count: 146