Issue 44 (March 2004)

                                                                 Issue 44, March 2004
 

Editor’s letter
       Car crashes. Not nice, clearly. But, equally clearly, fascinating. Seeing a crash is an adrenaline-bolting, heart-thumpingly exciting event, even when it is just a couple of Ford Foci slapping into each other at a t-junction. Which is one of the reasons we and, from the reaction to last month’s exclusive news announcement, you are so looking forward to the chrome-busting return of Burnout.
       The first two Burnouts were everything we wanted from an arcade racer – the first driving games to understand that sometimes all we want to do is drive very fast and when we crash into something, be able to see and, crucially, feel it.  Powerslide your way to page 58 for the world exclusive playtest.
       Talking of car crashes, we must admit to feelings of slight concern over Driver 3, sorry Driv3r, over the past year or so. We loved the PSOne versions – for those who weren’t there, Driver’s film-centric 3D roaming changed everything, paving the way for GTA3 and Vice City – and have been looking forward to PS2’s turn for years. Thankfully, we’ve now played it and can stop worrying because everything is going to be fine. To know how good it is, you’ll have to wait a couple of months for the exclusive OPS2 review.
                                                            Richard Keith, Editor

Features
War is Hell – Shellshock: Nam 67, with fictional letters and postcards from soldiers in the conflict to demonstrate the horrors of the Vietnam War.

Is this the Ultimate Racing Game? – Burnout 3

Think Tank – Designer Genes returns temporarily, as a group of creatives from outside the videogame industry are challenged to come up with fresh new game ideas. My favourite is Shopping Maul, where you play as a disgruntled shop assistant who must fight through crowds of shoppers to get your lunch and get back to your workplace before the lunch hour ends.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, kung-fu movies, to tie in with Rise to Honour.

Could Be a Classic – An original non-sequel gets some focus. This month, Mashed, the spiritual successor to Micro Machines. Not only was it the first game from this feature to actually be released, but it also lived up to this early hype. Not bad!

She’s Got Game – A new column from Kirsten Kearney from the perspective of female gamers. This month, why Kirsten wouldn’t want a non-gamer boyfriend.

Replay – Revisiting Onimusha 2 and Spyhunter, reader reviews for Dog’s Life and The Getaway, cheats for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Simpsons Hit and Run, Max Payne 2, Battlestar Galactica, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Need for Speed Underground, and a walkthrough for Medal of Honor: Rising Sun.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, Child’s Play, the easiest games on PS2. There’s a mix of actually easy (Eyetoy Play, Hulk), and easy if you don’t play as intended (Silent Scope with a mouse, Time Crisis 3 with the lightgun jammed right up to the TV screen.)

Back page list – This month, 12 reasons why playing games alone is the best.
 

                                                                 This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Driv3r – “Forget the GTA comparisons, Driv3r is a law unto itself. We’ve got the exclusive review coming up the month after next and if that hasn’t got you gripping the gear stick a little harder, nothing will.” Meltdown

Risk: Global Domination – “It’s the board game in electronic form. No more, no less.” Warm

Rainbow Six 3 – “Think Splinter Cell quality fused with SOCOM accessibility and Rainbow Six 3 is looking very good. Firmly in our sights for a review next issue, find out if it can put a bullet through SOCOM 2’s heart.” Hot

.Hack: Infection – “A promising RPG that mixes The Matrix with Final Fantasy.” Warm

Cy Girls – “Cy Girls may not be the most imaginative actioner ever conceived but it feels confident and looks stylish. That could well be enough to push the game into sleeper hit territory.” Hot

Bad Boys 2 – “While there is technically still time for Bad Boys 2 to sharpen up its gameplay, we’re not exactly holding our breath for a sleeper game classic. Still, stranger things have happened. Probably…” Tepid

World Championship Rugby – “The studio behind Jonah Lomu Rugby is set to deliver another proficient and enjoyable take on England’s new favourite sport. Smart, attractive and technical but a little short on gameplay options.” Hot

Isle of Man TT – “This racer’s looking good. Happiness is a warm Ducati Monster.” Warm

Fight Night – “Without a shadow of a doubt this will be the best boxing game ever made. Whether that makes it a must buy or not, we’ll have to see when we get hold of a more complete version next month.” Hot

Hitman: Contracts – “We’re still waiting to slip on the strangling gloves ourselves, but from the details we’ve gleaned so far, Contracts remains one of the most exciting prospects on PS2. Exclusive playtest next month!” Meltdown

Singstar – “We’ve been saying it for ages, but we’ll say it again. Karaoke games are set to revolutionise console gaming. And to date, Singstar is the number one diva. Start clearing your throat now.” Boiling

Transformers – “It’s got the looks and the gameplay and big robots that turn into cars – what more could you ask for? A well-paced, immersive adventure, perhaps? Come back next month to find out if that’s there too…” Hot

Samurai Warriors – “Offering new environments, custom characters and more fighting than you can shake a gem-loaded ornamental sword at, we reckon Samurai Warriors could become quite a dynasty.” Warm

Juiced – “Need for Speed Underground has proved the desire for bling cars. Fancy it with great handling and visuals too? That’s what Juiced is offering you. We’re starting to be convinced that it’ll deliver, too.” Boiling

Onimusha 3 – “Go on, admit it. You’re excited about Oni 3 too now aren’t you?” Boiling

Final Fantasy XII – “From the few details we have we expect Final Fantasy XII to continue the epic standards of the series. Whether it will bring anything new to the experience, though, is another matter altogether.” Hot

Killzone – “Any shooter is only as good as its arsenal. Thankfully Killzone comes bristling with widow-makers and they’re all outrageously satisfying to fire. Yet another reason to drool over this beauty.” Meltdown

Reviews
Rise to Honour – “Let down by a few poor set-pieces and a ropey plot but brilliant whenever the fighting kicks off. Like most of Jet’s films, in fact.” 7/10

R-Type Final – “Do the quiz? This game is a difficult one to score. We love it, but then we’re mostly ‘a’. It’s so beautiful it makes us cry.” 7/10

Forbidden Siren – “Unique, ambitious, genuinely scary and brilliantly executed, this is as good as psychological horror gets. It’s very, very hard, though.” 9/10

Mafia – “An entertaining mix of shooting and driving set against a great cinematic backdrop. Not exactly the Don but definitely a made man.” 7/10

Spyhunter 2 – “Spyhunter 2 takes a decent fusion of shootin’ and drivin’ but trips up with lacklustre production values. It’s okay, but we prefer the original.” 6/10

Hyper Street Fighter 2: Anniversary Edition – “Essential if you’re a fanboy and have mates as obsessed as you, but insanely hard for newbies and the 2D styling will confuse some.” 8/10

Nightshade – “Nightshade has some decent ideas but there’s nothing here that improves on Shinobi’s mix of basic gameplay and flowing scarf.” 6/10

Sonic Heroes – “A turbo-charged gem that refuses to go down the fashionable ‘platform adventure’ avenue, in favour of slick old-skool thrills.” 8/10

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy – “A thoughtful if unremarkable adventure with a few decent ideas. We like the setting, we like the puzzles but it’s all very average.” 6/10

Cricket 2004 – “Just about everything a gamer who loves cricket could wish for. It’s highly addictive, vast in scope and superbly executed.” 8/10

Spawn: Armageddon – “While competent enough, Spawn: Armageddon is an uninspired DMC clone. Stick with Dante’s original outing, just £20 on Platinum.” 5/10

The Haunted Mansion – “Very short but brilliant and absorbing while it lasts. The low price makes this a respectable slice of platform goodness.” 6/10

Kya: Dark Lineage – “Not a groundbreaker, but Kya has enough originality and playability to make it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre.” 7/10

Whiplash – “The funniest game since Futurama – but monkey facials and blazing bunnies still can’t bring this up to the level of Jak and Ratchet.” 7/10

Wrath Unleashed – “You have to wonder why LucasArts bothered. This is a dull franchise that has less chance of taking off than Concorde.” 5/10

Dragon’s Lair 3D: Special Edition – “A best-forgotten franchise pointlessly resurrected with little style and some irritating control issues. In a word: poor.” 2/10

Puyo Pop Fever – “Quite possibly the second best puzzle game of all time – after Tetris – and one which cannot fail to put a smile on your face.” 8/10

R: Racing Evolution – “Falls firmly between arcade and sim stools and aces neither category. Sadly, Ridge Racer is no longer the race leader of old.” 6/10

Urban Freestyle Soccer – “A decent stab at four-a-side football with tongue firmly in cheek, but no lasting appeal for serious fans of videogame ‘soccer’.” 6/10

Mega Man X7 – “Fine for an afternoon’s jumpy fun. But compared to the scope and scale of PS2’s best platformers, it looks practically medieval.” 4/10

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde – “A fresh take on an established genre which really makes it work for PS2. There’s a lack of vibrancy but enough fun to warrant a look.” 7/10

Fightbox – “A truly terrible game can be enlightening, making us realise how good we’ve got it most of the time. That said, this is total toss.” 1/10

Rollercoaster World – “Miniscule pleasure for a while but basically everything a theme park shouldn’t be.” 4/10

A Train 6 – “The ultimate anorak’s sandbox and engaging to anyone after a slow-paced experience.” 6/10

The Seed: Warzone – “Competent yet uninspiring effort that’s never been within a mile of fun.” 5/10

Detonator – “Far from terrible puzzler but not close enough to a good one to warrant attention.” 5/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Rainbow Six 3
Crash Nitro Kart
Downhill Domination
Urban Freestyle Soccer
Whiplash
Kill.Switch
Nightshade

Footage
Driv3r
.Hack: Infection
The Hobbit
The Making of Forbidden Siren

Save Files
Timesplitters 2 – Another DLC level, this time based on the OPS2 office.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
SSX 3
Chaos Legion

Trivia
* This is the first issue for Ben Richardson. Meanwhile, Tim Clark is promoted to Deputy Editor.
* New franchises debuting in this issue include Call of Duty, back when it was set in World War 2 the first time round, and cult classic Viewtiful Joe.
* “Please, nobody say Tomb Raider…” in relation to Driv3r being delayed to summer 2004. With the benefit of hindsight, I will. Speaking of that promised exclusive review, two other magazines got it instead. You may already know of Driv3rGate, but I’ll summarise it in a later post if not.
* The R-Type review consists of a series of statements, followed by a multiple choice, with the answers (mostly a’s, b’s or c’s) determining whether or not you would be interested. (The best answer is the C option for “Japan means to you?” “All my Yu-Gi-Oh cards come from there and they’ve all got big swords that I could use to kill Jes Harris from 3B with ‘cos he called me a bummer.” I’m assuming the niche appeal is why this game didn’t score higher despite the relatively glowing review quote.
* I played Fightbox once. A friend had an unopened copy, that I convinced him to open. Let’s just say that 1/10 was well-deserved. I hope it’s not a collector’s item, otherwise I cost my friend a potential fortune.
* This month’s letters page sees the first appearance of OPS2’s most prolific letter writer Daniel Gay. He will go on to make regular appearances for the rest of the magazine’s run. There’s also someone writing in pretending to be Sony and asking for the preview copy of Killzone back, who is marginally more convincing than Homer Simpson when he went to the post office and pretended to be Mr Burns.

Quote of the Month: “He has no strategy, so no strategy can beat him!” Beginner’s luck in a nutshell.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146

And finally, this is being posted on November 24th, 2020. Why does that matter? Because on this day 20 years ago, the Playstation 2 was released in the UK. Not only that, the first issue of the Official Playstation 2 Magazine was published on the same day. I'll take this opportunity to wish both of them a happy 20th birthday!

Issue 43 (February 2004)

                                                            Issue 43, February 2004

Editor’s letter
       We play a lot of games. I think I’ve said that before but it doesn’t matter, because it’s true. We play, we talk, we write and we try and give the best advice we can. But sometimes we miss things, occasionally (very occasionally) we get things wrong but mostly we just don’t realise what playing the same title for months and months does to a game. For example, we liked SOCOM: US Navy SEALs. We liked it a lot. We played the online beta testers for a few weeks, the review got written and we pretty much forgot about it (which is one of the reasons we keep getting our asses kicked online these days.) But you didn’t, or at least, lots of you didn’t. You continued to play it and buy it and talk about it.
       I mention this for two reasons. One because we’ve realised we really do need to carry on covering games well after they’ve been released, which is why we now have a Replay section (page 107 which will grow and grow). The second reason is that it’s an excuse to bring up our cover game, SOCOM 2: US Navy SEALs. We’ve been playing it, a lot, and this time we’re not going to stop. Mainly because it’s brilliant in almost every way but also because this time we’re going to kick your ass all over the Network…
                                                                    Richard Keith, Editor

Features
Learning Curves – Gran Turismo 4 Prologue

Rainbow Warriors – Rainbow Six 3

Are You Evolving? – A feature on music games that use peripherals such as microphones, dance mats and even a set of DJ decks.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, James Bond villains.

Could Be a Classic – An original non-sequel gets some focus. This month, the imaginatively named Zombies.

She’s Got Game – A new column from Kirsten Kearney from the perspective of female gamers. This month, games that are so hard they make you cry.

Replay – Revisiting Secret Weapons Over Normandy and Pro Evolution Soccer 3, reader reviews for True Crime: Streets of LA and Freedom Fighters, cheats for Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, True Crime: Streets of LA, WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain, Ratchet and Clank 2: Locked and Loaded and The Simpsons Hit and Run, and walkthroughs for Need for Speed Underground and The Sims: Bustin’ Out.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, PS2 Widowers, the stories of three guys whose relationships with their girlfriends broke down over videogames. One of them got his girlfriend into games and didn’t like it when she started winning, while the other two were non-gamers who resented their gamer girlfriends’ hobby.

                                  
                                                                 This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow – “The atmosphere’s back and the whole playing experience feels far less linear than before – and the new weapons and gadgets are the icing on the cake. It should make you feel like a creep. In a nice way.” Meltdown

Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII – “It’s probably hugely accurate, but it’s hard to get too enthused.” Warm

Champions of Norrath – “An online action RPG with loads of atmosphere? Could be good.” Warm

Spyhunter 2 – “The first PS2 Spyhunter was a fun, no-brainer drive ‘n’ shoot-em-up. This time around, Spyhunter 2 gives the concept a little retread, but essentially it’s more of the same heading your way…” Warm

Forbidden Siren – “Siren has some interesting ideas, an intriguing plot and it’s certainly a tense and often genuinely scary affair. However, we do have doubts about the gameplay, which could be tiresome after your 500th death.” Hot

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy – “The dusty settings of Egypt may not be able to match the uber-cool gloss of Jak’s world but there’s every indication that Sphinx will be a polished and entertaining platformer when it’s eventually released.” Hot

The Suffering – “While we don’t think The Suffering will be in the same league as Silent Hill or Resi Evil, we’re really looking forward to seeing whether its foul-mouthed approach to ultra-violence works or not.” Hot

Kya: Dark Lineage – “There are plenty of fantasy adventures to choose from, but few can match the sheer depth and variety Kya boasts. This could well be a sleeper hit and, best of all, it’s out in just one month. Review next issue.” Hot

Headhunter: Redemption – “We love the look of Headhunter and our early dabblings with the Leeza character have got us looking forward to getting our hands on Jack Wade – and getting his hands on the ‘Inmates’.” Hot

Whiplash – “Let’s hope there’s more depth to the finished article. No, pray…” Tepid

Hyper Street Fighter 2 Anniversary Edition – “A great idea. We reckon beat-em-up fans are in for a treat.” Warm

This is Football 2004 – “There were a few early version glitches with the game we tried but the re-vamped engine could turn this into a title challenger. PES and FIFA might be in for some tight marking in the box.” Hot

Pool Paradise – “Okay, it’s a pool game but it’s a damn fine one with plenty of worthy additional features, and the quirky setting and characters give the game a personality that lifts it above its po-faced contemporaries.” Hot

R: Racing Evolution – “Without the arcade fun of Ridge Racer or the in-depth realism of Gran Turismo, R: Racing Evolution will have to rely on its character-driven gaming to escape PS2’s racing game gridlock.” Warm

Pacific Theatre of Operations IV – “Some neat ideas but a very niche strategy title all the same.” Warm

Hitman: Contracts – “Our love for Silent Assassin was almost unconditional and our trigger fingers are already twitching at the prospect of playable Contracts code. Expect a massive update next month.” Boiling

Resident Evil: Outbreak – “We’re torn by this one. Much as we adore the series, Resident Evil: Outbreak with network play will probably be one for the fans only. Start praying, people.” Hot

Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy – “Psi-Ops is looking surprisingly solid. The puzzling opportunities opened up by telekinesis and mind control alone make for a mouth-watering proposition. This could be a genuine stormer…” Hot

Killzone – “You know what we think already. It’s a whole year away from completion and we’re already happy with Killzone. Just imagine how good it’s going to be by the time it hits the shops. Simply. Can’t. Wait.” Boiling

Reviews
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing – “It won’t redefine the gaming landscape but EON’s one of the most unapologetic thrillrides on PS2. Popcorn gaming at its best.” 9/10

SOCOM 2: US Navy SEALs – “A big improvement on the original, offering the best argument yet for taking your PS2 Online. SOCOM 2 is an utterly gripping stealth shooter.” 8/10

Max Payne 2 – “For the most part a satisfying blast through film noir NY, but there are too many flaws to give it more than a reserved recommendation.” 7/10

Downhill Domination – “Better than you might think, but still doesn’t transcend its subject matter. For MTB-ers only at full whack, but a winner when cheap.” 7/10

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 – “Improvements across the board with genuinely accessible console RPGing and Rings-a-like hacking. Rather long and devoid of pizzazz.” 7/10

Dynasty Warriors 4 Xtreme Legends – “Gaming MSG. You’ll feel full after a couple of courses, but will soon be tucking in again. How long can DW keep pulling off this trick, though?” 7/10

Maximo VS Army of Zin – “A combat-heavy platformer with a top tale, Maximo never fails to entertain, while not quite reaching the heady heights of Jak 2.” 8/10

Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums – “The lack of graphical spit and polish is more than compensated for with slick gameplay and original features. But only just.” 6/10

NFL Street – “Even those with no interest in American football will find the sport entertaining in this stripped down, action-packed depiction.” 7/10

Arc: Twilight of the Spirits – “Okay, look, we’ll just come right out and say it shall we? It’s something to play while you wait for the arrival of FF X 2…” 6/10

I-Ninja – “It might look childish, but I-Ninja deserves to be played by all. It’s fast, varied, smoothly good-looking and, above all, fun.” 8/10

Robocop – “This is laughably bad fare. But you won’t be laughing if you’ve shelled out 40 quid for this rabid idiocy.” 2/10

Flipnic – “Pinball as you’ve never seen it before. Bags of originality but the game somehow remains incredibly dull to play.” 5/10

Kill.Switch – “Brutal, brainless but brilliant shooter with some tidy innovations. This certainly flicks our switch and will yours.” 8/10

Final Fantasy X 2 – “Some intelligent innovation, but familiarity breeds a little discontent, even with something of this scope and magnitude.” 9/10

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence – “The first successful 3D Castlevania is a great, action-packed adventure. Veterans and newcomers alike should check this out.” 8/10

Midway Arcade Treasures – “Despite containing some solid-gold retro classics and great background info, this won’t hold any current gamer’s interest for long.” 5/10

Looney Tunes: Back in Action – “Gets the Looney Tunes look and feel spot on but the dull platforming fails to capture the charm, humour or mindless violence of the ‘toons.” 5/10 

Disc Content
Playable Demos
SSX 3
Maximo VS Army of Zin
Worms 3D
Arc: Twilight of the Spirits
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
Ford Racing 2
I-Ninja
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Rogue Ops

Footage
Alias
Kill.Switch
NBA Jam
Forbidden Siren
SWAT: Global Strike Team
World Rally Championship 3
Hulk
The Making of Rise to Honour

Save Files
Jak 2: Renegade
Chaos Legion
The Mark of Kri
Ford Racing 2
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Beyond Good and Evil
James Bond 007: Nightfire

Trivia
* SOCOM is a good choice of cover game in a vacuum, although I personally wouldn’t have picked it and the anonymous man with a gun over James Bond. OPS2 came to regret the decision later, as they named this issue’s cover their least favourite in Issue 50’s milestone celebration feature, beating out Issue 18’s infamous Herdy Gerdy cover for the title.
* This is the last issue for deputy editor Mark Wyatt.
* Spy includes an article on the SEGA Simpsons lawsuit, in which SEGA sued EA, Radical and Fox for plagiarising Crazy Taxi with The Simpsons: Road Rage. The case was settled out of court, but had it gone to court and had SEGA won, it could have set a precedent that would make the gaming world very different to how it is today.
* This issue has the first ever PS3 game announced, the online squad-based shooter, Avalon. More accurately, it’s the first PS3 game specifically intended for the console. If we’re talking absolute first ever, Aliens: Colonial Marines has it beat by 3 years due to starting development on PS2 then being delayed to PS3. As for first announced intentional PS3 game that was actually released, we’re still waiting on that.
* The Final Fantasy X 2 review doesn’t really feel like a 9/10, as although there is plenty of praise for the dressphere system and combat, there are also some significant criticisms around how the game isn’t as newcomer friendly as it first seemed, and that the franchise in general is starting to get stale. It feels like it’s on the borderline between 7 and 8/10. Come to think of it, Final Fantasy X scored 8/10 with the only real criticism being linearity, and even that wasn’t presented as a major dealbreaker. Maybe it would be more accurate to swap the scores for the two games around?
* Speaking of Final Fantasy, a reader asks about the possibility of a Final Fantasy fighting game. I’m sure they were very happy when Final Fantasy: Dissidia was released.

Quote of the Month: “We’re looking forward to pitching the ginger tosser into the nearest ravine.” OPS2 are happy to hear that Ron will be a playable character in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146

Issue 42 (January 2004)

                                                                Issue 42, January 2004

Editor’s letter
       Some sequels are little more than expensive add-on packs using characters, ideas and the same engine from the original game and adding new levels. These we don’t like, although they are often solid games. But there is another kind of sequel, where an existing game is used as the basis for a completely reworked one. So Jak 2 reinvents the platforming of Jak and Daxter, THUG rewrites the rules for skating games and Final Fantasy X2 adds action (and girls) to the RPG formula. Which brings us to The Getaway 2. We’d be pretty excited if it was just an update, but it isn’t. It’s a lot more than that. Head over to page 28 to see why.
       And The Getaway 2 isn’t the only sequel this year that uses its original as a starting point rather than the basis of the game. Metal Gear Solid 3, Gran Turismo 4, Hitman: Contracts, Driv3r, and, of course, the next Grand Theft Auto are all heading your way in the next 12 months. Exciting times, and we’ll be here with everything you’ll need on these games – including the first reviews and the chance to play them on our exclusive demo DVD.
       And this month? A cockney geezer on the cover, a fresh new look in the mag and a free tips book. Now that’s how to go into the new year…
                                                                Richard Keith, Editor

Features
Gangster No. 2 – A run down of all the crime games coming in 2004, focusing on The Getaway: Black Monday, Driv3r and Hitman: Contracts. Tim Clark covers the pros and cons of each game, Good Cop / Bad Cop style, and even dresses up for the occasion.

Final Fantasy Gets its Sex on! – A Final Fantasy triple bill, with X2, XI and XII.

29 Great Gaming Moments of 2003 – The team run down their favourite gaming moments of the last 12 months, including playing darts with Sonic Team, a photo op with Pro Evolution Soccer director Seabass, an interview with Henry Rollins, and, of course, the Bacon Monster.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, everyone names their favourite vehicles.

Could Be a Classic – A new monthly feature, in which a game with an original idea that isn’t a sequel gets some focus. This month, Campfire, where you play as a slasher movie villain hunting down your victims. The game was cancelled due to the developer shutting down, but the idea was eventually used by both Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th.

Replay – Revisiting Bomberman Kart and Timesplitters 2, reader reviews for Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution and Pro Evolution Soccer 3, and walkthroughs for Tony Hawk’s Underground and FIFA 2004.

Save Point – Starting this month, there’s a monthly comic strip poking fun at various gaming conventions. Because I like most of these, I’ll be including them here. The comics were done by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, who have since moved on to bigger things, including many comics with both Image Comics and Marvel Comics.

OPS2 Investigates – Yet another new feature, this one changes every month. This month, it’s a look at the Czech and Danish OPS2 magazines to see how the magazine is adapted to the readers of those countries.

Monitor (This is the newly renamed previews section)
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing – “Those extra few months in development are paying off, as Everything or Nothing looks set to become Bond’s best outing on Playstation 2 so far. We even forgot to mention Heidi Klum. Mmm… Heidi Klum.” Boiling

Tak and the Power of Juju – “We’ve been spoilt with superb platformers lately and Tak should be a solid, if not spectacular addition to the roster. It’s amusing, handsome, and largely devoid of frustrating elements. We await more.” Hot

Urban Freestyle Soccer – “Urban cool that plays well but can it last the 90 minutes?” Warm

Arc: Twilight of the Spirits – “A neat spin on turn-based battling. RPG fans can feel excited.” Warm

Dynasty Warriors 4 Xtreme Legends – “A good value package, that’s unlikely to cause too many fluttering hearts in the Dynasty Warriors community. If, on the other hand, you’re new to DW, then this could be the perfect place to start.” Warm

Downhill Domination – “It’s reviewed well in America, but Downhill Domination – despite swapping boards for bikes – is still going head-to-head with SSX, and there are few games out there that would want to do that.” Warm

Spyhunter 2 – “If gadgets make a game, then Spyhunter 2 is gonna be great. True, the vehicles all look like variations on a theme, but if you’re able to switch seamlessly between water and land, this could be one to watch.” Hot

Richard Burns Rally – “Right now RBR is a little twitchy and lacking in sex appeal, but the more-complete PC version showed us where it’s going – and it’s impressive. We’ll check back in a few months. And you should too.” Warm

Firefighter FD18 – “That alarm’s no test – it’s suddenly got very hot in here.” Boiling

America’s 10 Most Wanted – “War on Terror gimmick aside, this is looking distinctly average.” Warm

Mega Man X7 – “We’re not sure that Mega Man X7 is going to bring anything new to the MM party. There are a couple of innovations for the dedicated to enjoy but short of a small miracle, this is likely to disappoint.” Tepid

Champions of Norrath – “Great graphics, plenty of sword action and loads of replay value – with every new game using a different map. We’re looking forward to Champions of Norrath a lot more than we thought we would be…” Boiling

Rise to Honour – “A surprising punch is packed with a combat system that makes head knocking as much fun to do as it is to watch on the big screen. Fast paced and respectful of its inspirations, this promises to be a blast.” Hot

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – “TMNT is very easy on the eye. This could clean up. Could…” Warm

Transformers – “Turning the Decepticons VS Autobots war into a quality battler.” Hot

SOCOM 2 US Navy SEALs – “We can only be impressed by the way SOCOM 2 has exploded in the US. With improved elements all round and an expanded online game, it’ll be interesting to see how it fares on these shores.” Boiling

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde – “Unleash the Horde could be the most accessible strategy game on PS2. But in combining strategy with a niche fantasy style we can’t help but wonder if it could be shooting itself in its big goblin foot.” Warm

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 – “We’ll doff our ‘Cap of Salutation +4’ to another quality PS2 RPG.” Boiling

Singstar – “Singstar may have us warming up our larynxes like nervous Pop Idol contestants but will Sony’s decision to appeal to separate tastes limit, rather than expand, sales? We’ll have the judges’ decision first.” Hot

Onimusha Blade Warriors – “It’s tough to make a call on whether Blade Warriors will be a novelty game or a genuinely solid scrapper. Mind you, it is from a series that oozes class and strong characters, so we’re expecting the latter.” Hot

World Championship Rugby – “Hot, thanks to Wilko’s drop goal and a proven developer.” Hot

Gran Turismo 4 – “Clearly GT4 is going to look incredible. We first played it way back in May and it felt great then and it’s sure as hell ain’t gonna get worse. Our only concern is that it’s going to be rock hard. Roll on June.” Boiling

Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain – “We love it already, particularly the create-an-agent feature and the complex, viral-ridden plot but, like Tomb Raider, it might be a little too close to its PSOne forebear for everyone’s tastes.” Hot

Starcraft: Ghost – “While we’re yet to play any substantial chunks of Starcraft: Ghost, we’re looking forward to seeing how the universe is brought to life as a stealth game. From these screens, its looks are certainly hard to fault.” Boiling

Cold Winter – “Cold Winter has all the hallmarks of a great shooter and doesn’t seem to possess any real flaws, so far. Will the lack of a big franchise behind it limit its appeal? We seriously hope not. Stay tuned for more.” Boiling

100 Bullets – “It’s unlikely to change your life, but 100 Bullets could be fun.” Warm

Reviews
Manhunt – “The most compelling experience of the year bar none. Morally questionable? Yes. But Rockstar is all about gaming on the edge.” 9/10

Rogue Ops – “Unoriginal, frustrating, smart, and challenging. Like hanging around in cupboards dressed in a leather catsuit? This game is for you.” 7/10

Destruction Derby Arenas – “As an online or post-pub multiplayer arcade racer, DDA is ballsy, brainless entertainment. Offline, the game’s far too short lived.” 7/10

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – “Too easy, too simple and too short. This is a poor adaptation of a poor film, and the Terminator series deserves much better than that.” 4/10

Grooverider: Slot Car Racing – “Grooverider is a real trier. It tried our patience as well as our skill but, for the price, it’s still a cheap couple of days of relative fun.” 5/10

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma – “It may be full of inventive gadgetry and gameplay, but it’s far too frustrating and limited for anyone but serious stealth fans. Shame.” 6/10

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – “Milking the license for all it’s worth? Hell yeah. Still, if you’ve not played the PSOne version then this is just about worth a visit.” 6/10

Premier Manager 2003/2004 – “A marginal improvement on the last outing but it still looks and plays like Carlisle United’s reserve team with hangovers.” 4/10

Battlestar Galactica – “A simplistic game rendered ungodly by its staunch hardness. New PS2 owners will smash their tear-damped joypads.” 5/10

Asterix and Obelix XXL – “Familiar stuff but, as a traditional platformer for pint-sized fans of the books, this does the trick. Fun but forgettable.” 6/10

Curse: The Eye of Isis – “A sub Resi adventure that borrows much from the master but doesn’t have the polish to shuffle shoulder-to-shoulder with it.” 6/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
XIII
World Rally Championship 3
Tak and the Power of Juju
FIFA 2004
Pop Idol
Grooverider: Slot Car Racing
R-Type Final
SOCOM US Navy SEALs
Starsky and Hutch
Soul Calibur 2

Footage
SOCOM 2 US Navy SEALs
Arc: Twilight of the Spirits
Ghosthunter
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance
I-Ninja
Time Crisis Legacy – A brief history of the series, showing off each game in turn. Watch it here.
Fun, anyone? – This starts out as Wacky Races by way of Jackass, and only gets sillier from there! In the meantime, it also promotes some of the current games, including Jak 2, Ratchet and Clank 2, SOCOM 2 and more. Watch it here.

Save Files
Timesplitters 2 – A new DLC level created by David Doak, co-founder of Free Radical Design.
WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth – A new DLC wrestler, Miss OPS2.
Primal
Amplitude
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
RTX Red Rock

Trivia
* We’ve got yet another redesign this month, the third time in a little over a year. Don’t worry, this is the last one for a while. It’s the longest running design, lasting until issue 89, which is just under 50 issues. In terms of tone, it feels like a middle ground between the first two. It’s not as hardcore as the first design, which was aimed towards early adopters and serious gamers, but it undoes a lot of the dumbing down that’s been cropping up as of late. (Yes, that does mean the lad content is reined in significantly, with only the occasional flare up over the next year or two before it disappears completely.) When I think of Official Playstation 2 Magazine, this era is the one that first comes to mind. Admittedly, I may be biased because I became a reader during these issues.
* The biggest new addition of the redesign is the Replay section, which is home to the content related to current or older games, while the rest of the magazine covers new and upcoming releases. These include re-reviews (these don’t change the original score, rather they return to cover any new features that have since been discovered or offer a new perspective) and reader reviews, cheats and walkthroughs, challenges, online coverage, charts, Save Point and the Hot 100.
* This issue has the first mention of Uwe Boll, the German film director infamous for his video game adaptation films, which are dreadful even by the low standards of video game adaptation films. I watched Alone in the Dark and it was fun to laugh at for the first 15 minutes or so, but I got desensitised to it after that and it just became dull.
* Poor old Mega Man X7 becomes the first preview to score a Tepid rating. I don’t think that’s why he’s called the Blue Bomber…
* 100 Bullets was to be developed by Acclaim, but ended up being cancelled due to Acclaim’s bankruptcy. It was later picked up for another go, but sadly that one didn’t fare any better.
* The section for DVD and music reviews is finally given a name, Comedown.
* Speak of DVDs, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life is reviewed this month, and is given an absolute savaging. “Utter, utter shit… an atrocious, bore-gasmic travesty.” Based on this, it’s safe to say OPS2 have now reached stage 2 of the Five Stages of Tomb Raider Grief: Anger.

Quote of the Month: “If everyone started playing Trivial Pursuit at the same time, nothing would get done for days and people might die.” Reason 4 of 6 why a Trivial Pursuit PS2 game is a bad idea.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146

Issue 41 (Christmas 2003)

                                                                Issue 41, Christmas 2003

Editor’s letter
       We spent a lot of time wondering whether we were doing the right thing putting The Sims Bustin’ Out on the cover. An OPS2 cover is a valuable thing, with every game maker hoping their title will appear on the front of the UK’s bestselling games mag, so we always try and choose very carefully.
       The thing about The Sims, you see, is that it’s not for you. At least, that’s what the marketing people think. It’s not a gamers’ game, apparently.
       We disagree. Quite a lot. We love it. We loved the original on PC and we love the fact that we can now play it on our PS2. We love that it’s online and we love creating characters and seeing what crazy ass stuff we can do with them. And while we will soon be back to the murderising, the racing, the jumping and the PES 3, we are looking forward to a long, cold winter of getting Johnny Opstwo out of his mum’s home and hooked up with a couple of hot young things. Don’t let yourself be pigeonholed into only liking certain types of games. Break free. Give The Sims a chance… You won’t regret it.
       Oh, and enjoy the free preview magazine. We spent a lot of time arguing about the line-up, so make sure you tell us if we’ve got it right or not.
       Have a great Christmas…
                                                                    Richard Keith, Editor

Features
Central Station – A feature showing off all of PS2’s online capabilities besides games.

Ride the Lightning – The Suffering. As part of the feature, Tim Clark visits the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville – one of the most violent prisons in America, which was closed in 1995 due to the living conditions being so poor that the Supreme Court declared imprisonment there to constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

Ten Reasons Why You Have to Play SOCOM 2 – SOCOM 2: US Navy SEALs

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, everyone names their favourite thing about Christmas.

“But this is good!” – Replacing “Oh good gawd!” is the best promotional item sent to the magazine, which is a remote control car that has wheels on the top and bottom, so it can drive either way up. Between last month’s instalment and this one, we can consider this feature Running Gagged.

Previews
Headhunter: Redemption – “Headhunter: Redemption feels familiar. Whether it’s the game’s cinematic influences or the switch to a more violent style of gunplay, we can’t wait to play more when we preview it next issue.” Hot

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – “Like its movie counterpart, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is unlikely to bring anything new to the franchise but, at the same time, we don’t think it’s likely to embarrass Arnie too much.” Warm

Killzone – “Killzone’s early imagery will be a thing of the past once you get to play it next year. And it looks brilliant already… What will it be like in 12 months? We can only wait in open-mouthed anticipation.” Meltdown

Transfomers – “Transformers isn’t just going to be for the kids. Explosive and explorative action across huge levels means that fans of the original will get a great game and get to be Optimus Prime.” Hot

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence – “Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is a welcome overhaul for Konami’s venerable 16-year-old Vlad-battler, and sets the Castlevania series on course for eternal life.” Hot

Maximo VS Army of Zin – “On first inspection, Maximo VS Army of Zin looks like it’s offering up a much improved sequel. Whether it’ll suffer from the same lack of depth as its forebear is yet to be seen.” Hot

Mission Impossible: Operation Surma – “Although not as pretty as Splinter Cell or as smart as MGS, Operation Surma looks like it could be a thoroughly decent stealth shooter. There’s still work to be done, mind.” Warm

Alias – “So far so good. This is a great licence. Let’s hope the game doesn’t get too bogged down in trying to recreate the show at the expense of making the game work.” Warm

Forbidden Siren – “Forbidden Siren finally gets our undivided attention, and we quite like the idea of sightjacking. If the game keeps up the original ideas and avoids horror clichés it could be well worth a pop.” Hot

Kill.Switch – “While Kill.Switch’s look and premise feel a little generic, the potential of Namco’s arcade nous and Sony’s high production values should not be overlooked. This could be a killer…” Hot

LMA Manager 2004 – “LMA 2004 is looking smoother and smarter than last year’s version with more packed in and a much better match engine to boot. We’ll be lacing up our Predators for the full preview soon.” Warm

I-Ninja – “It isn’t as ambitious as Jak 2 or as polished as Clank, but I-Ninja is sneaking surprisingly close to the top tier of PS2 platformers. It we gave out black belts for lethal cuteness, this’d be first dan.” Hot

Updates for Rise to Honour, Richard Burns Rally, Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, Arc: Twilight of the Spirits, Blowout, Muppets Party Cruise, America’s 10 Most Wanted and Nightshade.

Reviews
The Sims Bustin’ Out – “Bustin’ Out builds on the first Sims with a broader range of options, but the gameplay’s still an acquired taste.” 8/10

Roadkill – “Mind-shatteringly unoriginal it may be, but Roadkill is well worth getting stuck in to nonetheless.” 7/10

True Crime: Streets of LA – “Swings between gleeful brilliance and car-crash awfulness. True Crime is good, but by no means great.” 7/10

Eyetoy Groove – “It’s Eyetoy for God’s sake, and thou shalt not kick it in. But... it’s not the best use of the cam we’ve seen yet.” 6/10

Fame Academy: Dance Edition – “Abysmal, clueless version of a horrible TV series interpreted through the medium of dance. Avoid.” 3/10

Pop Idol – “A missed opportunity has been squandered on an average game that relies entirely on its franchise.” 5/10

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain – “We may have been cynical, but we can’t fault the quality. Brilliant if you’re a fan, but still fun if you’re not.” 8/10

Dynasty Tactics 2 – “War strategy with very complicated rules. Approach with caution (and a degree in ancient Chinese history.)” 6/10

Bloody Roar 4 – “It’s no match for Soul Calibur 2 but for fighting fans and completists, it won’t shame your collection.” 6/10

Need for Speed Underground – “Street racing + huge wodges of cash = fast, furious game that’s executed with filmic sheen. Simply irresistible.” 9/10

Total Club Manager 2004 – “Hugely playable management sim with an innovative link to FIFA 2004 that takes it to another level.” 7/10

Legacy of Kain: Defiance – “Elegantly-honed combat action and the power of telekinesis make Defiance the finest instalment yet.” 8/10

Secret Weapons Over Normandy – “It’s hardly a Blitzkrieg of gaming fun but SWON gets by on accessibility and lively pace.” 7/10

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – “If Woo-Ping Yuen were dead, he’d be spinning in his grave. This is an insult to the good name of the film.” 3/10

Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu – “Holy tedium, Batman! Average graphics and extra modes can’t save us this time. To the bargain bin!” 3/10

ESPN NFL Football – “Brilliant, and the first-person mode means it is different enough from Madden to make that matter.” 8/10

Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance – “Conveys the scale of its cinematic namesake, but some annoying faults ensure a decent meal for the lions.” 5/10

Celebrity Deathmatch – “It’s a promising licence, but wipe away the gore and Deathmatch becomes just another button-basher.” 5/10

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup – “This could’ve been a cynical money-spinner, but it has been produced with real care. Potter fans will love it.” 7/10

Crash Nitro Kart – “A workmanlike karter that presses the right pedals but offers nothing in the way of innovation.” 6/10

Dancing Stage Fever – “Better tunes are needed next time or it’ll be laughed out of the club with its knickers tucked into its skirt.” 6/10

The Hobbit – “Endearing in many ways, and crisply presented. The Hobbit is built to a formula, though, and suffers for it.” 7/10

Jimmy Neutron: Jet Fusion – “A game for the younger end of the kiddie market, Jimmy offers just enough adventure for the young ‘uns.” 5/10

Bombastic – “An addictive puzzler that combines reaction gaming with sneaky strategy. Highly recommended.” 8/10

ESPN NBA Basketball – “Despite a pretty flawless execution, somehow there’s no wow factor here to blow you away.” 8/10

ESPN NHL Hockey – “This is a potentially impressive game that’s sadly ruined by a few easily correctable bugs. Shame.” 6/10

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 – “This is visually impressive but the cel-shaded graphics hide a shortfall of combat complexity.” 6/10

Whiteout – “Bottom-of-the-scale vehicles trying, and failing, to be interesting in a bottom-of-the-scale game.” 4/10

Grand Theft Auto Double Pack – “It couldn’t be screaming “Buy me!” any louder if it pointed a gun at you and screamed “Buy me!” into your ear. Buy it.” 10/10

Hardcore
The final instalment of Hardcore includes walkthroughs for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Ratchet and Clank: Locked and Loaded, plus SSX 3, Pro Evolution Soccer 3, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Dynasty Warriors 2 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003.

Disc Content
Playable Demos
Pro Evolution Soccer 3
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds
The Simpsons Hit and Run
NHL Hitz Pro
Dancing Stage Fever
Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm
Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2
Jimmy Neutron: Jet Fusion
Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem
Super Farm
Hulk

Footage
Dynasty Warriors 4
Jak 2: Renegade
Mission Impossible: Operation Surma
Urban Freestyle Soccer
Destruction Derby Arenas
The Making of Jak 2: Renegade
The Making of Ghosthunter

Save Files
Auto Modellista
Enter the Matrix
Metal Gear Solid 2
Silent Hill 3
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Trivia
* I’ll be honest and admit that I’m not a fan of this issue’s cover, because the two women hugging each other while staring seductively at the reader has a softcore feel to it, appealing to horny teenage boys in a “girl-on-girl is hot” way. Then again, looking at this issue’s contents, it’s slim pickings for a cover-worthy game as most of the big Christmas releases were reviewed last month. Maybe The Suffering, or would that be too intense? Credit where it’s due though, “SOCOM all ye faithful” is a damn good pun.
* This is the final issue for both Paul Fitzpatrick and production assistant Claire Howlett. However, Fitz would continue to appear on a semi-regular freelance basis for the rest of the magazine’s run.
* Another iconic aspect of the PSOne demo disc makes the leap to PS2 this month, with downloadable save files.
* Kao the Kangaroo is on the demo disc well ahead of schedule, as at this time, it was a PC title released only in Poland (CD Projekt Red aren't the only game developers in Poland, you know.) The rest of the world didn’t get it until 2005, which is also when the other versions, including PS2, were released.
* According to this issue, Gran Turismo 4 Prologue was going to be a Japan-only release. Evidently, Sony changed their minds at some point.
* Here Comes the Pain is the only WWE game released during the magazine’s lifetime that didn’t make the cover (aside from Crush Hour, but that’s a spin-off, so I’m not counting it.) Ironic, since it's generally considered to be among the best in the series.
* Jimmy Neutron: Jet Fusion is not a racing game, even if the title makes it sounds like one.
* The Grand Theft Auto Double Pack is an odd one, in that re-reviews are few and far between for OPS2. In fact, this is the first one that’s not due to an updated re-release with additional content. Think of it as a retroactive 10/10 for Grand Theft Auto 3, because they felt embarrassed about underestimating the influence it would have on the videogame industry. That’s the most likely reason why it was reviewed, considering there’s no new content in either included game.

Quote of the Month: “We haven’t witnessed this level of MacGyver-ing since Richard Dean Anderson made a grenade out of an acorn.” Cold Winter being a darker-and-edgier MacGyver reboot is now my headcanon.

Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 162