Issue 38 (October 2003)

                                                                Issue 38, October 2003

Editor’s letter
       It’s a fact universally acknowledged in my head that were I to run the world, things would be better for everyone.
       For a start, the magazine you are now holding would include the promised review of Activision’s True Crime: Streets of LA.
       I am still waiting for the call asking me to be earthly overlord, so it ain’t here. Yet. The reason? Activision decided at the last minute that True Crime isn’t ready, so it won’t be on the streets of anywhere for a couple of months. What this does mean is that what could be the biggest original game this Xmas might actually live up to the hype.
       And while we’re on the subject, this is what’ll happen when I am finally installed on my world-ruler throne: A ban on shorts and socks worn together; Jennifer Garner will start wondering where I’ve been all her life; games will always appear on time; money will grow on trees; football will return to its unfashionable 80s state; PS2 online will be worth the effort; I will have a device through which I can hear your thoughts before you’ve thought them; beer will make the world a better place the morning after as well as the night before; and I will wear a flowing claret and blue cloak and a very, very big crown…
                                                                Richard Keith, Editor

Features
Welcome to FIFA Club – FIFA 2004

Heroes and Zeroes – Medal of Honor: Rising Sun.

Death is Not the End – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This feature is laid out in the form of a clock face, with each paragraph corresponding to one of the twelve hours.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, everyone gets cast as Eastenders characters.

“Oh Good Gawd!” – The worst promotional item and/or screenshot sent to the magazine. This month, a Simpsons comic book, chocolate bar and frisbee, to promote The Simpsons Hit and Run. They really seem to have it out for The Simpsons lately.

Previews
Jak 2: Renegade – “Jak 2: Renegade, as you may well have surmised, has got us quite excited. We’re big fans of Jak’s earlier work and fully expect big things from this follow up. Don’t let us down boy!” Meltdown

Tony Hawk’s Underground – “These new shots show that the early play we had was right on – THUG is going to look money. We’ll have to wait for a more extensive playtest, though, before seeing how good the gameplay is.” Boiling

Roadkill – “It’s a blatant GTA rip-off, sure, but at least it’s been executed with a degree of personality. Midway is advised to get this out while the hunger for a new Grand Theft Auto is still near insatiable.” Warm

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain – “WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain is being made with a love of the, er, ‘sport’ and some well-thought-out additions. Will the blood and bras add to the game? Here’s hoping…” Hot

Pro Evolution Soccer 3 – “Pro Evolution Soccer 3, even at this stage of the game, is clearly an improvement on last year’s PES. We’re hooked and want more. Bring us more Konami. We need more! More! More!” Meltdown

The Suffering – “The Suffering won’t be giving the Japanese masters of survival horror any fervent nightmares yet. This US-made offering is a far cry from Silent Hill. You can’t argue with its shock value though.” Warm

Mafia – “Mafia looks to trade on GTA gameplay and retro good looks, but the game’s success in the PC market is no guarantee of its performance on PS2. Good looking screens, though.” Hot

Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon – “Forget ponderous PC-ported point-and-click puzzling. The Sleeping Dragon looks and plays like a brainy cousin of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You will require a functioning brain, though….” Hot

Finding Nemo – “Finding Nemo is a cutesy game that doesn’t yet inspire excitement. Perhaps it’s the mellow vibe of the game? Or is it simply that fish are better when they’re served with loads of chips and vinegar?” Boiling

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – “Can you play as Liv Tyler? We’re guessing that’s a ‘no’. But let’s not let that (or her, for that matter) distract us from the fact that this is one ring we simply can’t wait to put our fingers in.” Boiling

Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain – “Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain will stand up as a single-player experience as much as an online game. If the visuals can be spruced up, then Sony’ll have another SF hit on its hands.” Hot

Updates for Resident Evil: Outbreak, Kya: Dark Lineage, Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance, World War Zero: Ironstorm, Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup, Whiplash, Dance UK and Gladius.

Reviews
Colin McRae Rally 4 – “One for experts and newbies alike, Colin 4 is a superlative rally sim with a tank full of satisfying options.” 9/10

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 – “The best golf game on PS2, but the lack of online play is reprehensible. Same score as last time then…” 8/10

Judge Dredd: Dredd VS Death – “Glitchy and lightweight but the multiplayer modes and arcade missions keep Dredd out of jail.” 7/10

Amplitude – “You don’t have to take our word for it. Play the demo right now. Get yourself hooked. This is genius.” 8/10

XGRA: Extreme G Racing Association – “High quality and fun but lacks va va voom. Nods to style and innovation but buckles in front of competitors.” 6/10

Alien VS Predator: Extinction – “Good to see another RTS on PS2, but this just isn’t the kind of Alien on Predator action we were expecting.” 5/10

ATV Offroad Fury 2 – “The multiplay doesn’t date and it’s an uncivilised joy to play for extended periods. And £19.99 too!” 8/10

Freestyle Metal X – “A late entry to the Tony Hawk’s genre, but what it lacks in originality it certainly makes up for in scale.” 7/10

Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension – “Dire, derivative, depressing and lots more negative words beginning with D. Hold on for Jak 2: Renegade.” 3/10

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – “A visually stunning title. Great new additions, fun to play, but still suffers from similar problems as the original.” 8/10

The Italian Job: LA Heist – “A solid racing engine with a weak licence bolted on the side does not make a good game – here’s proof.” 6/10

World Racing – “While large in scope and options, World Racing sadly suffers from an inescapable blandness. What a pity.” 5/10

Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure – “Hard to dislike, it’s a decent enough, solid skate for the kiddies, but some will find the ‘cute’ factor nauseating.” 6/10

Madden NFL 2004 – “Not just for those who already love padding-up, Madden 2004 is a great game, whatever your tastes.” 9/10

Conflict Desert Storm 2 – “A meaty shoot-‘em-up with tricky tactical elements, let down by a few bugs and rough edges.” 8/10

NHL 2004 – “PS2’s finest NHL romp. You’ll enjoy this even if you think Wayne Gretzky is some kind of Polish soup recipe.” 8/10

Splashdown 2: Rides Gone Wild – “A pleasing, mildly entertaining sequel that sacrifices credibility in favour of extreme ‘wackiness’.” 6/10

Unlimited Saga – “If you’ve never played a Saga game, this will be unfamiliar, unconventional, unspectacular but very challenging.” 7/10

Warhammer 40K: Fire Warrior – “In spite of the potentially nerd-heavy backdrop there’s plenty to like about this simple yet immersive FPS.” 7/10

Beach King Stunt Racer – “Extreme sports performed by a man in a seat – how’s that for a basic flaw?” 4/10

London Racer World Challenge – “It’s a really poor version of Burnout for the same price. You do the math.” 3/10

Scrabble 2003 Edition – “There’s no incentive to favour this over real Scrabble. It’s accurate, but little joy.” 5/10

Hardcore
Walkthroughs for The Great Escape, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, Dark Chronicle and Chaos Legion, plus Def Jam Vendetta, The Sims, Enter the Matrix, Hulk and X-Men 2: Wolverine’s Revenge.

Disc Content
Playable Demos
Colin McRae Rally 4
True Crime: Streets of LA
Amplitude
Summer Heat Beach Volleyball
Chaos Legion
Perfect Ace Pro Tennis Tournament
Rugby 2004
Finding Nemo
Formula One 2003
Soul Calibur 2
Freedom Fighters
Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Footage
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
Time Crisis 3
The Making of Amplitude

Trivia
* As I said previously, it’s been a lean few months for the demo disc over the summer, but this month it’s back with a vengeance, with 14 playable demos, all of which are new. This is the magazine’s biggest demo disc, with no future issues beating this total.
* To get into the spirit of things, the Judge Dredd review gives an Official Judgement instead of the usual Official Verdict.
* This issue has another game cancelled at the last minute. Galidor went unreleased due to the developer shutting down, after review copies had been sent out. The Game Boy Advance version had been released a year prior, and the PC version eventually resurfaced on a value label and in compilation re-releases, but the PS2 and Gamecube versions weren’t so lucky. Having said that, it doesn't sound as if we missed much.
* How is it an Italian Job if it’s in LA? And how is it a world challenge if it’s in London?
* There are two very stylish adverts for Chaos Legion in this issue. Each one is formed from hundreds of tiny screenshots of the game, forming an image of the game’s hero and villain respectively.
* Starting in this issue, the page where readers write in asking for help with games they’re stuck on adopts a surgery gimmick, with the writers being doctors and the readers being their patients.

Quote of the Month: “Buy me, I’m better, and you’ll have an extra 20 notes to spend on cider.” The pre-owned shelf issues its tempting siren song.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146

ABC sales figures: The newest figures are in, and there’s a drop in readership for the first time. Right now, it’s not too concerning, as video game magazines do tend sell less in the first half of the year due to there being fewer major releases, and PS2 isn’t new anymore at this point, so the number of new adopters is slowing down. The next numbers will be interesting, as we will get the see the impact of the recent redesign.

Jul-Dec 2002 – 197,348
Jan-Jun 2003 – 188,079 (Down 9269)