Issue 46, May 2004
Editor’s letter
We’re always looking out for the next big gaming thing. The one that’s going to grab you by the balls and not let go until you’ve completed it, or died trying. That’s why we picked Killzone so early, that’s why we splashed out so much space on Star Wars Battlefront, and Mercenaries, and Mashed, and Second Sight and why we won’t stop talking about these games until everyone understands what we’re on about.
That’s also why we’ve gone so heavy on Def Jam Vendetta 2. We loved the first DJV – hip-hop and wrestling should be the perfect, if turbulent, marriage – but there were just too many things wrong with it to make it the must-play classic we were pining for. But from what we’ve seen, the second outing looks to have learned from its predecessor’s mistakes and, if all goes down as it should, it could end up giving WWE Smackdown! a real run for its money when the pushing and shoving and bitch slapping gets to the tills.
And talking of next big things, you should probably have a look at MGS 3, GTA: San Andreas and The Getaway 2. I’m told these boys are going to be fairly large… as will next month’s super secret, enormously exciting cover game. See you then…
Richard Keith, Editor
Features
Game with a Brain – Second Sight. This feature has a hidden message in it. I think it may be an anagram. Here are the letters: can you solve it? ( J A Y N E W I L D E S S T L L A L V E )
Let the Games Begin… – Athens 2004
Now you see him… – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Could you? – The Getaway: Black Monday.
Everything! – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In addition, to the game, there’s a top 50 list of features that were most frequently suggested by readers, ranging from the sensible (swimming, bikes, more customisation) to the more bizarre (stealing wheelchairs, kicking dogs, peeing on people).
Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, everyone’s favourite rappers, to tie in with Def Jam: Fight for New York.
Could Be a Classic – An original non-sequel gets some focus. This month, the WWII flight sim Battlestations Midway. This game ended up moving from PS2 to Xbox 360.
She’s Got Game – A column from Kirsten Kearney from the perspective of female gamers. This month, girls can be violent in games too.
Replay – Revisiting True Crime: Streets of LA and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, reader reviews for Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance and Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, cheats for Forbidden Siren, Sonic Heroes, SOCOM 2: US Navy SEALs, Mafia, I-Ninja and Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2, plus online reviews for every online game on PS2 so far.
OPS2 Investigates – This month, When Games Go Weird. Post-modernism, fourth-wall breaking and crossover cameos abound, from the likes of Grand Theft Auto, Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid and Ratchet and Clank.
Back page list – This month, 11 classic ploys used when returning videogames.
Monitor
Driv3r – “Holy guacamole! Our time out and about on the streets with Tanner has left us thrilled and very hungry for the finished game. Driver? Pah! That’ll soon be a faded and extremely distant memory.” Meltdown
Malice – “Malice needs a quick makeover if it wants to seriously impress.” Warm
Karaoke Stage – “Accessible and addictive, we’re secretly hoping that Karaoke Stage might just be the game to keep the next Rik Waller singing his durge in his shower. Which, let’s face it, has got to be a good thing.” Hot
Mashed – “While not as stunning as the multiplayer game, Mashed possesses an impressive variety of single-player events that’ll easily devour the time until your mates arrive for the main event.” Meltdown
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – “With its free flight option, multiplayer mini-games, sub challenges, much darker feel and the inspired Eyetoy compatibility, this Harry Potter game is looking set to be the best yet by a wand’s length.” Hot
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness – “An RPG/strategy battle that rocks? You never know…” Hot
Red Dead Revolver – “A project clearly subject to loving creative attention. A true original which brings the Western to PS2, while reinvigorating the equally dusty shooting genre rather wonderfully.” Boiling
Ghost Master – “Some nice puzzling ideas and innovations but it needs more.” Warm
Onimusha Blade Warriors – “Limited but fun fighter that’ll thrill some hardcore fans. It’s hard to see it as more than a stop gap measure before Onimusha 3, though. And that’s a good four months away…” Hot
Flatout – “Provided everything that’s being promised comes off, and they get the technical stuff sorted, then this could be a case of Jackass does Burnout. Well, that’s what they’ll put on the box, anyway.” Hot
The X-Files: Resist or Serve – “Strong plot, for sure, but we’re a bit cynical about the gameplay.” Warm
Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 – “You can almost smell the overpriced strawberries and crushing Henman defeat from here. Namco’s stylish Smash Court game series is all set to make a winning return to centre court…” Hot
Shellshock Nam 67 – “Guerrilla Games is busy nurturing a hellish ‘Nam aesthetic that should make for a perfect antidote to the relatively happy clappy Medal of Honor vision of war. Shellshock really will be that dark…” Boiling
Conflict: Vietnam – “The second Desert Storm game was fun (if a little rough around the edges), but Conflict: Vietnam already looks like being a far more polished game – and promises some fun environments. Could be great.” Boiling
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy – “Hot, but will it be better than Second Sight though?” Hot
The Punisher – “Already know the Punisher? Then you’ll be delighted with this faithful and sadistic PS2 rendering. Don’t know Frank Castle from Roy Castle? Then get a copy of the comic and whet your appetite.” Hot
Burnout 3: Takedown – “Every time we see Burnout 3 it’s been cranked up another level. The step up to B2 was huge, but can Criterion really make the same leap for B3? We’re excited to say it looks more possible with every passing day.” Meltdown
Area 51 – “It’ll never be as high-profile as Killzone, but see past the less-than-refined alien geekery and Area 51 does manage to stand alongside Sony’s upcoming monster in terms of technical competence.” Boiling
Cold Winter – “Cold Winter looks like being this year’s killer shooter. We’ll have hands-on impressions next month, with a full look at the excruciating damage system. Bullet in the head, baby.” Hot
Mercenaries – “Mercenaries is the ultimate boy’s toys game, with an enormous world waiting to be reduced to rubble. If this game doesn’t end up being the absolute bomb, you can call us the Queen of Hearts.” Meltdown
Rumble Roses – “Very hot indeed, but possibly for all the wrong reasons.” Hot
Reviews
Hitman: Contracts – “More of the same but bigger. AI is still perplexing at times, but the game remains endearing, despite the odd frustration.” 8/10
UEFA Euro 2004 – “Not essential, but Euro 2004 outplays its predecessor comfortably. And if we win you can stick two points on that score.” 8/10
World War Zero: Ironstorm – “Highly atmospheric alternate-history shooter that hits some of the right spots beautifully, yet still manages to miss others.” 7/10
The Suffering – “Despite being fairly conservative underneath, The Suffering impresses from the start and keeps you hooked throughout.” 8/10
Fight Night – “Polished, professional and in possession of the perfect control system, this is the best boxing sim on PS2 by a considerable way.” 8/10
Singstar – “We’ve played this so much it’s genuinely improved our singing. Buy it, and never risk pub-based humiliation again.” 9/10
Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly – “Survival horror games live or die on plot and atmospherics, and this delivers some of the best you’ll see. Not that challenging, but still…” 8/10
Transformers – “Beautifully made, deep and very satisfying, the only factor denying this a 9/10 is a difficulty level that borders on sadistic.” 8/10
Pool Paradise – “A bit too ‘zany’ for its own good, perhaps, but a great – if initially tricky – analogue stick control system. The best pool on PS2.” 7/10
World Championship Pool 2004 – “A lot like the competent Codies snooker sim, but it’s as pleasant to look at as chopped liver. That’s been left outside. For ages.” 6/10
Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem – “A lack of any challenge and no alone time with Daphne won’t interest experienced gamers. But the absence of Scrappy is welcome.” 4/10
Glass Rose – “It does have the odd spot of charm, but Glass Rose is still an unappealing product from an outdated and uninteresting genre.” 3/10
MTX Mototrax – “If you’ve never ‘done’ two-wheeled racers MTX Mototrax makes a convincing argument for change. Fast, fun and challenging.” 7/10
Outlaw Volleyball – “This is a fairly enjoyable gaming experience while it lasts, but like so many of our British summers, it’s over before it really gets started.” 6/10
Star Trek: Shattered Universe – “Not an utterly repellent Trek experience, but the repetitive and run-of-the-mill gameplay will tire all but the most infatuated Trekkies.” 5/10
Disc Content
Playable Demos
Transformers
Rise to Honour
Arc: Twilight of the Spirits
NFL Street
Cy Girls
Fight Night 2004
MX Unleashed
Sonic Heroes
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Richard Burns Rally
Footage
World Championship Rugby
Champions of Norrath
Save Files
Ace Combat: Distant Thunder
Moto GP 3
Enter the Matrix
XIII
Silent Hill 3
Splinter Cell
Maximo VS Army of Zin
Trivia
* There’s word of a Prince of Persia sequel, that’s aiming to go darker and edgier with increased on the combat, in response to the poor sales of The Sands of Time. OPS2 aren’t sold on the idea, and would rather the Prince be transported to the future somehow, running around skyscrapers and cranes. Was this the inspiration for Mirror’s Edge?
* That Driv3r quote hits different in hindsight. When was the last time you heard anyone talk about Driver?
* For everyone who hates 2020, it could have been worse: “By the year 2020 much of the UK will resemble a Siberian wasteland … [according to] a scientific report buried by understandably nervous US defence chiefs.”
* Gaydar: A new segment to highlight the letters of OPS2’s most prolific letter writer, Daniel Gay. This month, he’s written a poem about The Sims. My favourite part is “Your words, although totally incomprehensible, cause a big shiny red heart to appear above my head.”
Quote of the Month: “Tom Cruise never had to put up with his controls being reversed, did he?” The Last Samurai would have been quite different with the inclusion of the comedy power-ups from Onimusha Blade Warriors.
Cover price: £5.49
Page Count: 146
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