Issue 40 (December 2003)

                                                            Issue 40, December 2003

Editor’s letter
       There are a hell of a lot of games reviewed and rated in this month’s issue. If you were to buy them all it would empty your pockets of well over £1000. If you were to play them you’d still be finishing some come next Christmas. Even the most dedicated of us can’t make it through more than one game every couple of weeks. Luckily we’re here to make sure you don’t waste any of your money – or time – buying and playing all the cash-grabbing tat that floods the shops during the pre-Xmas November push.
       Not only do we have our incredible and totally exclusive cover DVD giving you the chance to try out games before they’re released, but we have an exclusives-packed review section that’ll give you the official word on every game released this month. Don’t buy a game until you have read the Official Playstation 2 Magazine review.
       If you want to talk about this or anything else regarding games, gags or OPS2 then send us a letter, email, fax or meet us on the uk.playstation.com forums – we’re online every Wednesday between 5-6PM. See you there…
                                                                    Richard Keith, Editor

Features
What is Jean Reno’s Problem? – Onimusha 3, focusing primarily on Jean Reno’s motion capture and voiceover work on the game.

Welcome to the Family… – Mafia. Also includes a set of Top Trumps cards pitting against each other the Sicilian Mafia, the Russian Mafia, the Japanese Mafia and Lisa Maffia.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, a Hobbit name generator, in honour of Lord of the Rings.

“Oh Good Gawd!” – The worst promotional item sent to the magazine. This month, the novelisation of Warhammer 40K: Fire Warrior, and a Warhammer 40K t-shirt. Possibly in acknowledgement that the joke is wearing thin, the team admit these don’t actually suck, they’re just being ungrateful for the lulz.

Previews
WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain – “While it’s unlikely to win any new fans, both the graphical and gameplay enhancements should send the wrestling fraternity into raptures. We’re looking forward to grappling with the final version.” Hot

Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm – “Although thoroughly proficient in all departments, the single-player campaign doesn’t appear to have made a great leap. However, the prospect of online antics could well make us enlist.” Hot

The Sims: Bustin’ Out – “The Sims’ universe expands beyond the home into a town full of fantastic new options. This looks set to be an essential purchase for gamers who like to use the old grey matter.” Boiling

Manhunt – “Manhunt will shock, for that’s exactly what it’s been designed to do. A huge amount will depend on whether or not it’s able to capture your imagination as well as your bloodlust.” Boiling

Sonic Heroes – “Sole-smouldering slipstream fun with Sonic but a bit more sedate with anyone else. Potentially the best game about a spiny insectivore in ages. Let’s hope the pace keeps up in the later levels.” Hot

Updates for Battlestar Galactica, Driv3r, Tak and the Power of Juju, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Transformers, Dynasty Tactics 2, Crash Nitro Kart and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – “Hardly ringing in any great changes, but with slick looks and feverish swordplay, we’re not complaining.” 8/10

Ghosthunter – “A few camera issues aside, this ethereal beauty makes a good case for possession. Mwahaha.” 8/10

The Simpsons Hit and Run – “Fans will be upset at the severe lack of humour. Others will find it an inoffensively bland GTA makeover.” 5/10

Tony Hawk’s Underground – “Underground takes skating games one step further up the evolutionary ladder. Utterly brilliant and addictive.” 9/10

Dog’s Life – “Dog’s Life is good, innovative fun, but it’s also a bit twee and unexciting. Hands up for Monkey Life!” 6/10

SSX 3 – “Expands an already huge game. Not always successful but with massive style and verve. You should own it.” 9/10

World Rally Championship 3 – “WRC 3 captures the thrills and spills without resorting to petrolhead fanaticism or uber-technical detail.” 9/10

FIFA 2004 – “PES keeps its nose ahead, but this is the best FIFA title ever. The hole in the defence is closing, Konami.” 8/10

NBA Jam – “NBA Jam is approachable for such a well-stacked game, delivering instant fun at the expense of longevity.” 6/10

NBA Live 2004 – “A comprehensive sim that grows with you. But those not in love with the real sport may remain stunted.” 8/10

XIII – “An inspired comic-book conversion that’s full of fresh ideas, looks gorgeous and demands to be played.” 8/10

Time Crisis 3 – “Lightgun gaming hasn’t evolved dramatically but who cares when it’s this much fun?” 7/10

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – “Innovative, original and enjoyable. Prince of Persia is only let down by some niggling flaws.” 8/10

SWAT: Global Strike Team – “If you’re after a rumble in the name of Peace, Justice and the American way, this is your best bet. Great stuff.” 8/10

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System – “A PS2 Halo for kids. And robophiles. Slow to start, but turns over nicely when warmed up.” 7/10

Gladius – “Initially perplexing, gradually more and more engrossing, and eventually tremendously tactical.” 7/10

Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon – “An engrossing, quirky adventure that satisfies the Indiana Jones and Miss Marple in us all.” 8/10

Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home – “It gets fighting and wrestling wrong. We’re not sure how it’s possible for a bloodbath to be this uninteresting.” 4/10

Beyond Good and Evil – “Better than Haven, not quite a Jak 2-beater, this is nevertheless a gripping and totally engrossing platformer.” 8/10

Gregory Horror Show – “One of the craziest things you’ll ever play on PS2. Be glad there’s nobody else quite like Gregory.” 8/10

Rolling – “A decent skate-alike that copies Tony Hawk’s but can’t match the big fella’s gnarled greatness.” 6/10

Ford Racing 2 – “An easy going, accessible racer spiced up by challenge variety. File under cheap and cheerful. Result.” 7/10

Super Farm – “For a favourable price the whole family can enjoy being flung like dung from a Friesian’s fart flaps.” 7/10

Naval Ops: Warship Gunner – “Solid presentation, thoughtful controls and an unusual subject matter make for surprisingly enjoyable combat.” 7/10

Worms 3D – “While it’s not Armageddon for the lil’ wrigglers, the lack of anything new means it’s not the leap we were after.” 6/10

Ratchet and Clank 2: Locked and Loaded – “Doesn’t break new ground like the original, but it’s still a clanking corker that ratchets up a good score.” 8/10

NHL Hitz Pro – “Ice, ice baby… Hitz Pro is offensive second to NHL 2004, but not by more than the width of a puck.” 7/10

Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown – “Robin Hood’s adventures make for an enjoyably energetic addition to PS2’s lightweight RTS portfolio.” 6/10

Dance UK – “Like Gareth Gates and slumber parties? You’ll probably love this. Otherwise, it’s a housewarmer only.” 6/10

Hot Wheels: World Race – “A fun game with great pick-up-and-play value if nothing much else. It’s a bit like Wipeout, just not as shiny.” 6/10

Space Invaders: Invasion Day – “We didn’t expect to like it. We were prepared for a rant. We were wrong. It’s a good, fun, cheap little game.” 6/10

Hardcore
Walkthroughs for Jak 2 and Pro Evolution Soccer 3, plus Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Freestyle Metal X, Primal, Gungrave, Eyetoy Play and Alien VS Predator: Extinction.

Disc Content
Playable Demos
007: Everything or Nothing
Ratchet and Clank 2: Locked and Loaded
Ghosthunter
Dog’s Life
Time Crisis 3
Destruction Derby Arenas
Gladius
Wallace and Gromit: Project Zoo
Need for Speed Underground
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Freaky Flyers

Footage
Dog’s Life
Forbidden Siren
Everquest Online Adventures
Kya: Dark Lineage
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2

Trivia
* New franchise alert! We haven’t had one of these in a while, and this time it’s the turn of Sony’s karaoke game Singstar to make its debut. At this early stage, it’s known by the slightly shorter name, Sing.
* Part of the fun of character creation is to make the weirdest, most hideous characters you can, and the Sims preview continues this fine tradition with Dick Valentine, a party animal seen wearing Freddy Mercury’s wardrobe, and a French maid outfit combined with Sam Fisher’s night vision goggles.
* OPS2’s prediction for how Manhunt would end: “What if Manhunt’s grim storyline actually takes place in James Earl Cash’s mind, as he dies from a lethal injection in prison?” That’s actually pretty close to how Manhunt 2 starts.
* Potential hot take: The Simpsons Hit and Run is better than most episodes of the show past around Season 10 or so.
* The full title of WRC 3 is World Rally Championship 3: The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship. Sod typing that out more than once!
* Ratchet and Clank 2 has the subtitle Going Commando in the rest of the English-speaking world. Sadly, it took a while for the UK to start getting the naughty sex pun subtitles.
* Starting with issue 2, there has been a shortlist section giving the scores of all previously reviewed games. It started out on just one page, but as time has gone on, the section has naturally gotten bigger and bigger. This month, it’s finally gotten too big and been replaced by the Hot 100, which only includes what the writers thought were PS2’s 100 best games.
* Remember Rate Your Mate? Of course you do. It was only last month, how could you forget? Karolina writes in this month to say that there were other photos (presumably clothed), but her boyfriend sent in the nudes. She doesn’t seem upset about it, so hopefully consent was given. Speaking of which, there’s another picture this month from Karen, who didn’t know why her picture was being taken (It’s not a nude photo, in case you’re wondering). The accompanying letter says “I had to pretend I was setting up the zoom on my phone!” Judging by OPS2’s response, “The idea was that your lady knew why you were taking her picture”, we now know where they draw the line.

Quote of the Month: “On second thought, a bacon-flavoured uncle is probably as normal as this is going to get.” I’m annoyed that Beyond Good and Evil 2 looks to be a sequel in name only, considering the first one ended on a cliffhanger, but since its release is firmly in “I’ll believe it when I see it” territory, it’s a bit of a moot point.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146