Issue 43, February 2004
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
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