Issue 69 (February 2006)

                                                                Issue 69, February 2006

Editor’s letter
       Here’s the good news. You hold in your hands what may just be the greatest edition of Official Playstation 2 Magazine to date. Certainly, it’s the finest one since I clambered into the big chair. And the reason is a double whammy of world exclusives – 24 and Black – both reviewed first here, and both playable on your disc. Now this is just a hunch, but I’m guessing you like blowing stuff up, saving the free world and generally acting the big man. Yes? Good. This is your month. Aside from our sensational review/demo double-header, we’ve also got an embarrassment of other riches to offer. In what’s doubtless being written off as a ‘quiet news month’ (by less rigorous periodicals) our Spy section bristles with insider info. Like the first shots from Killzone: Liberation, Super Monkey Ball Adventure and The Da Vinci Code. Naturally, we’ve also got all the latest PS3 intel. This month, that means blowouts on three massive games heading to Sony’s superconsole – the resurgent Medal of Honor: Airborne, pin-sharp shooter Unreal Tournament 2007 and inspired ‘be-the-zombie’ actioner Possession. Back in the now, it’s all about the smell of showroom leather. Our motoring experts have been caning TOCA 3 for the exclusive review, and we’ve also got the first screens and impressions of Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast. (We thought you’d prefer seeing the real thing as opposed to unrepresentative arcade shots.) And the bad news? Turns out there isn’t any… Just as well, no room anyway.
                                                             Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
Red Ferrari, Blonde Girl, Blue Sky – Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast

Flying Without Wings – Medal of Honor: Airborne, with an interview from the game’s executive producer, Patrick Gilmore.

Space Marines… Cyber Suits… Science Fiction Guns… – Unreal Tournament 2007

Band of the Dead – Possession. This unreleased horror game had you playing as a mutant zombie that built an army of zombies to destroy a city. It sounds a bit like Prototype, but with a team-based approach instead of that game’s one-man army.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what are you concealing?

Could be a Classic – This month, Byte Hell 2000, a PSP party game that seems to be WarioWare with the weirdness turned up to 11. Minigames include chopping wood with an axe attached to Pinocchio’s nose, kicking footballs at UFOs and setting a baby’s head on fire. Yes, that last one’s real.

A Brief History – A new feature introduced in this issue, OPS2 look back at some of PS2’s most popular series, as the PS2 era slowly starts to wind down and focus shifts towards PS3. This month, Pro Evolution Soccer.

Replay – Online reviews for Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, Burnout Revenge and WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006, and what the other mags said about Shadow of the Colossus, WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006, Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2005 Adventures and Championship Manager.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, The Top 35 UMD Movies. The cream of the film crop available to watch on PSP.

Endgame – Game endings. This month, King Kong, both the regular ending, and the unlockable Kong-friendly alternate ending.

                                                                This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Project Zero 3: The Tormented – “It may be more of the same for Project Zero 3, but since that means stylish, bowel-loosening Japan-o-horror, we’re happy. Terrified, but happy.” Hot

Jacked – “Not original but energy and a budget price helps.” Warm

Driver: Parallel Lines – “This is the Driver we used to know – less about wandering around, more speeding down back alleys. It needs some tidying up, but could be the best time-skipper since Back to the Future 2.” Hot

The Godfather – “We enjoy inhabiting The Godfather’s lavish world more than, say, True Crime: NYC, but we can’t shake the feeling that it strays too far from the source. But will anyone under 25 care?” Hot

Monster Hunter: Freedom – “It looks good. We just hope the camera gets sorted.” Hot

FIFA Street 2 – “Everything we liked about the first game is back for FIFA Street 2, with some new odds and sods strapped on for good measure. This round of arcade footy should be even more fulfilling than the last.” Hot

Jaws Unleashed – “We’ve been converted from ‘don’t mess with classics’ cynics to feeding-frenzied enthusiasts. Unleashed is original and funny – which, like the Great White, is a rare thing indeed.” Hot

Daxter – “The loss of Jak 3’s free-roaming shenanigans is a shame, but the classic-though-linear action should suit gaming on the go.” Hot

Rugby 2006 – “The Rugby franchise has always been the black sheep of EA Sports’ lineup, but times are changing. We can’t wait to give the England side a much-needed kick up the jacksie.” Hot

Aeon Flux – “We thought the tide was turning for movie tie-ins. Unfortunately, so far, this is generic, unimaginative combat vaguely inspired by the film. Which we now also assume to be pump.” Tepid

Tokobot – “The teamwork mechanic is promising. If the later challenges provide a decent test and your robots develop a flexible set of skills then this could be a very imaginative and different puzzler.” Hot

PS2 Reviews
24 – “No doubt about it, 24: The Game has flaws. That said, it’s a quality recreation of the show and is lots of fun to play.” 8/10

Black – “Black is what all shooters should be. An all-out assault on the senses. You can’t afford to miss out.” 10/10

TOCA Race Driver 3 – “When it comes to realism, TOCA is now hot on Gran Turismo’s heels. As for variety, accessibility and heart, it’s already way ahead.” 9/10

Ico – “Persevere to the bittersweet conclusion and Sony’s uniquely atmospheric puzzle adventure will hold a place in your heart forever.” 9/10

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life – “Ripe with early frustration, but put in a bit of hard work and Harvest Moon does deliver a bumper crop of fun.” 7/10

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana – “A cookie-cutter RPG lifted by characterisation and sustained exploration vibe, but hurt by sub-PSOne visuals.” 6/10

Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends – “Same old Dynasty Warriors. New modes can’t disguise the almost criminal lack of progress in this hack-‘n’-slash relic.” 4/10

Torino 2006 – “Without any surprise inclusions – where’s the ‘naked luge’ event? – this is just a standard set of okay-ish winter sports.” 5/10

Rugby League 2 – “PS2 is still lacking a perfect rugby sim, but look past the crude graphics and this is a decent piece of egg-shaped action.” 6/10

Guilty Gear Isuka – “An honest stab at genuine change which, unfortunately, dilutes what Guilty Gear does best but should still appeal to die-hards at this bargain price.” 6/10

Suikoden Tactics – “Some nice ideas that could have made this effort stand out from the crowd were it not so chock-full of cliche.” 6/10

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness – “Ambitious gameplay is marred by lazy design, leaving this wallowing in mere decency when it could have been devilishly enjoyable.” 7/10

Flow: Urban Dance Uprising – “Literally minutes of entertainment. There’s nothing really wrong with it but matching symbols feels more like a medical reaction test rather than a must-play game.” 5/10

Gaelic Games: Football – “You’d have more fun trying to play the sport for real while handcuffed and blindfolded than you will here. Avoid it like The Corrs.” 2/10

Metal Slug 5 – “Not big, but quite clever – this is ‘classic’ gaming at its best, but tarnished slightly by the decision to help us all complete it so quickly.” 7/10

Samurai Shodown V – “An apparently faithful port of the arcade version, which says a lot about why arcades are dying on their arse.” 2/10

We Heart Katamari – “A genius piece of eccentric gaming that’s a hair’s breadth from being indispensable. Utterly entertaining from start to finish.” 8/10

Urban Reign – “Apparently, monks chant the same phrase hundreds of times to reach a meditative state. This is like that, but with punching.” 6/10

Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure – “This is a baseball bat in the face of anyone who reckons original games are dead. Buy it and unleash the Rolf Harris in you.” 8/10

PSP Reviews
King Kong – “An ambitious attempt to shoehorn the epic PS2 game into the PSP, ruined by editing, unfriendly controls and gloomy graphics.” 5/10

Prince of Persia: Revelations – “Abundant faults make it impossible to recommend this over the original. Save your money and get Warrior Within second-hand on PS2 instead.” 6/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
Black
24
Shadow of the Colossus
Ico
Fahrenheit

Trivia
* New team member Andy Hartup joins this month.
* This issue has three variant covers. Mine has a group shot of the CTU team, while the other two show Jack Bauer alone.
* On the letters page, someone asks “When, if ever, will there be a game released based on animals in war?” Worms and Hogs of War come to mind. There’s also a pretty sad letter from someone suffering with game addiction, which is having a negative effect on their relationships and employment.
* Two re-reviews this month. First up, Ico, which is due to the game being reissued to tie in with its spiritual successor, Shadow of the Colossus. Second is Guilty Gear Isuka, but I don’t know why this is re-reviewed.
* Considering Rolf Harris is better known nowadays as a disgraced sex offender than as a renaissance man with talents as varied as art, music and TV presenting, that Marc Ecko review quote really hasn’t aged well.
* The Pro Evo retrospective has a section dedicated to commentator quotes. They’re all rubbish, and therefore brilliant. In case you’re wondering why one of these isn’t Quote of the Month, there were so many great choices that it didn’t feel right singling one out, and I knew I would regret not going with another one if I did.

Quote of the Month: “Limonka!” This is what the enemies in Black yell when you throw a grenade at them.

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 146

Issue 68 (January 2006)

                                                                  Issue 68, January 2006

Editor’s letter
       I never take photographs. Not ever. Not of friends, family, bedroom play… nothing. Why? Because I believe you should keep moving, never looking back. Much like a shark, but with a hunger for new gaming experiences rather than surfers with cramp. And so you join us on the most ruthlessly forward-thinking games mag around. A bold claim, but one that’s backed up this month by our 32-page guide detailing the future of Playstation. Lara leads the way with Tomb Raider: Legend, but she’s joined by a brigade of blockbusters-in-waiting like Black, 24 and The Godfather to massive sequels such as Driver Parallel Lines and Splinter Cell: Double Agent. We’ve also scoured the world to find the latest on the quirkiest, most innovative games on all three formats: PSP, PS2 and PS3. Stuff like Dark Sector, Infected, Metronome, Ryu Ga Gotoku and many more. We’re here to bring you these games first. In fact, we breathe newness. And you know that by keeping it Official, you’re guaranteed to be playing these games months before your mates, thanks to our demo disc. This issue we bring you TOCA Race Driver 3 – a game that won’t be out until the end of February. Make sure you sink some time into Battlefield 2: Modern Combat as well, as it’s every bit as good as our 9/10 review suggests. One final word on the future: By coincidence, on the same day that our colleagues took delivery of Xbox 360, Shadow of the Colossus arrived on my desk ready for review. Crowds immediately formed around both areas of the office, but guess which one dispersed with a collective ‘meh’ first. The review on page 94 provides the answer. New gaming experiences? You’re in the right place…
                                                        Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
The Best 20 Games of the Year – A celebration of the best 20 games of 2005… or it would be, but there are only 19 games on the list! I’ve counted over and over just to check I’m not missing something, but I swear there are only 19 games there. Notable snubs include Devil May Cry 3, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Tekken 5, Star Wars Battlefront 2 and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, so just pretend that whichever of those is your favourite is number 20.

The Future of Playstation is Here! – This massive feature goes over 45 upcoming games of 2006 and beyond across PS2, PS3 and PSP, with special focus on the likes of Tomb Raider: Legend, Driver: Parallel Lines (revealing the game’s massive twist in the process), The Godfather, 24 and Splinter Cell: Double Agent.

We Only Crashed Once – Ben Richardson makes a brief return to test drive four racing cars on a real track, before comparing them to how they drive in TOCA Racer Driver 3.

New Year Revolution! – 12 gaming cliches that should have died in 2006, including exploding barrels, stealth, escort missions and urban.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what are you giving up this year?

Could be a Classic – This month, Popolocrois, an old-skool PSP JRPG.

Replay – Online reviews for Star Wars Battlefront 2, Jak X, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and what the other mags said about Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, True Crime: New York City and Need for Speed Most Wanted.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, What have these got in common? An introduction to Blu Rays, the PS3’s disc format of choice.

Endgame – Game endings. This month, both the good and bad endings of The Suffering: Ties That Bind.

                                          This month's Save Point, which is particularly meta.

Monitor
SOCOM 3: US Navy SEALs – “SOCOM’s evolution seems spot on, with a sound single-player game, massive maps and team-friendly vehicles. It’s all very encouraging, but online play is going to be 3’s ultimate proving ground.” Boiling

Asterix and Obelix XXL 2 – “The first XXL was an average platform adventure. XXL 2 looks like more of the same.” Warm

Sonic Riders – “The oversimplified, derivative style of racing doesn’t win us over just yet. In its current state it’s enjoyable but lacks any real edge or challenge. There are still a few months before release for it to gain depth though…” Warm

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King – “The simple but enjoyable combat, Saturday morning cartoon feel and the possibility of exploring a huge location have got us excited. The relentless random battles though, have not.” Hot

Rogue Trooper – “True to the 2000AD story in every way, this could be the best comic-to-game crossover yet. We said ‘could’, mind. It looks the part, has some great ideas but a proper hands-on will be the acid test.” Hot

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness – “Looks like an extremely poor man’s Devil May Cry.” Tepid

Tourist Trophy – “With Polyphony’s trademark obsession with realism and an impressively convincing riding model, Tourist Trophy currently looks on course to become the biking equivalent of Gran Turismo. Time to air your leathers…” Boiling

Phantasy Star Universe – “Even the most RPGphobic among you should consider visiting Sega’s gloriously colourful solar system. Think of it like Star Wars meets Final Fantasy, but without the rubbish bits, and you won’t go far wrong.” Boiling

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War – “This overlooked series deserves to be enjoyed by more than just hardcore flight fans and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War looks like being the best entry yet. Time to earn your wings non-believers…” Hot

And 1 Streetball – “Wait, they’ve taken the massive dunks out? Um…” Warm

Guitar Hero – “Guitar Hero rocks harder than any other rhythm-based game on PS2, dominating the office’s attention like little else this month. Publishers: stop making Big Sequel 4: The Shootifier and release this now!” Meltdown

PS2 Reviews
Shadow of the Colossus – “Huge and beautiful, but hopefully not as doomed as its beasts, Colossus deserves to sell ten times what Ico did.” 9/10

Crime Life: Gang Wars – “As sensitive as a hammer in the face and only slightly more fun. There are plenty of other GTA clones out there better than this.” 4/10

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2005 Adventures – “Shouldn’t be fun, but it is. Playing for too long might turn you into a blood-thirsty hunting cretin though, so probably best avoided.” 4/10

Shrek Super Slam – “Too easy and too short but Shrek Superslam still manages to continue the current happy trend of film conversions – or in this case, ‘inspired bys’ – that are less than terrible.” 6/10

London Racer: Police Madness – “There was never any danger of Police Madness scoring a perfect ten, but it’s nothing like the turkey we expected. There’s plenty worse out there at full price.” 5/10

London Racer: Destruction Madness – “After Police Madness, concrete proof that lightning doesn’t strike twice. The idea is reasonable enough, but the gameplay definitely is not.” 3/10

Smarties: Meltdown – “Nobody loves chocolate enough to see past Meltdown’s shoddy design and bland, forgettable gameplay. Avoid like a hammer to the teeth.” 1/10

Crazy Frog Racer – “Crazy Frog Racer sucks the fun out of your day with rubbish track design, drab visuals and insultingly light content.” 2/10

Spongebob Squarepants: Lights, Camera, Pants! – “Hardly deep, but an entertaining set of party games for your younger brother or sister that you may just get a kick from too.” 6/10

The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer – “Does a pretty decent job of capturing the spirit of the film and provides some mindless laughs. Kids will love it too – trust us, we checked.” 6/10

Ski Racing 2006 – “It’s serious like a shattered collarbone, but Ski Racing captures the Zen-like swoosh of weaving through blue gates admirably. For sheer fun, though, SSX 3 still rules the pistes.” 6/10

Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy: The Mis-Edventure – “Trying to shut an eight-year-old up for ten minutes? Tell him Santa doesn’t exist instead. He’ll still hate you, but there’ll be less long-term psychological damage.” 3/10

Bratz: Rock Angelz – “In a hyphenated word: vomit-inducing. Unpleasant, exploitative drivel aimed at girls who would almost certainly have more fun staring at a blank TV set.” 2/10

Codename Kids Next Door: Operation Videogame – “Buying this for a kid isn’t as bad as calling them Guinevere or making them learn macrame, but it’s close. Get them a copy of Jak 3 instead and they’ll love you.” 3/10

Franklin: A Birthday Surprise – “A lazy stab at raking in the kiddie pound which is neither particularly educational nor entertaining and looks like a refugee from 1992.” 4/10

Kaido Racer – “So random and confusing it’s unnerving. So awkward and unrewarding to play that we suggest you don’t.” 4/10

Friends: The One With All the Trivia – “Inoffensive and surprisingly non-repetitive, this does exactly as the title suggests, but only an ardent fan will get any lasting enjoyment.” 4/10

Shaman King: Power of Spirit – “An interesting fusion of two very different game types – it’s just a shame they’ve been cobbled together so crudely.” 4/10

PSP Reviews
WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006 – “If you don’t already own the PS2 game, this is a must-have. If you do, then it’s not quite so essential, but a quality grappler nonetheless.” 8/10

Championship Manager – “Even with its glitches, Champ Man serves up an absorbing round of footy management on-the-move. Our faith is restored – for now.” 6/10

The Sims 2 – “Rather than port the PS2 game, The Sims 2 on PSP is a tailor-made experience that hooks you early on and doesn’t let go. A superb game.” 8/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
TOCA Race Driver 3
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Urban Reign
Pilot Down: Behind Enemy Lines

Footage
Twisted Metal Head-On
The Making of Genji
Sly Cooper and the Gang in: Goodbye My Sweet (Part 1)
3D Face-Digitisation Technology

Trivia
* The best games of 2005 feature also includes the top 5 most disappointing games. True Crime: New York City is number 1, described with terms such as repetitive, nauseating and embarrassing. With this in mind, last month’s 7/10 review score may have been too generous.
* Not to be outdone by the Resident Evil 4 chainsaw controller, Dragon Quest VIII comes with a Slime controller. It doesn’t look nearly as cool, but that’s made up for by the fact that it isn’t completely impractical to actually use for its intended purpose.
* This month’s intriguing unreleased game: The City of Metronome. This game involved using sound to make your way through an eerie city. The game’s developers, Tarsier, went on to make Little Nightmares, which feels like a spiritual successor in some respects. There are even a few references to Metronome hidden in Little Nightmares.
* Shadow of the Colossus deserves to sell far more than 120 copies! Sorry, I know I’m being facetious, but I just couldn’t resist!
* Speaking of Shadow of the Colossus, it carries this review section even harder than Metal Gear Solid 2 did when that was reviewed. Colossus aside, this may well be the worst month ever in terms of review scores.
* I’m not sure if this was intentional or an error, but the quotes for each score category for the Spongebob review are the same ones as the last issue’s Crash Tag Team Racing review.
* Games that would never be released today #12: Smarties Meltdown. Why not? It's a game about a brand of chocolate. Is that really the best licence you could get? I've played it, and it's just a generic platformer, with the only connection to the source material being that you control a smartie. I hesitate to call it an in-name-only adaptation, if only because there was nothing there to adapt in the first place.
* The PS2 cliches feature has texting as one of the entries: “If somebody has to check their inbox to know you hate them, you’re not trying hard enough.” Funny at the time, but sadly not as much nowadays in the age of social media and cyberbullying.

Quote of the Month: “The secret to working on long-term projects is similar to the secret of surviving a protracted war.” Hideo Kojima seems to be getting tired of working on Metal Gear Solid. You would be too if death threats for leaving the job were your incentive to stay!

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 146

Issue 67 (Christmas 2005)

                                                                   Issue 67, Christmas 2005

Editor’s letter
       So this is Christmas, and what have we done? Well, for starters we’ve made another fat magazine with all the trimmings. Due to the vagaries of paper and ink, this is actually being typed on a warm autumnal morning. But by the time it reaches you, Santa should be peering ominously through the window. Yup, it’s the season to be jolly. Or, more specifically, nervous. How confident are you that mother managed to buy Resident Evil 4 rather than Outbreak File #2? Thought so. This issue finds us braced for impact, as the games industry wisely decides to release its entire output in the same two weeks. Our writers have been working like seaside donkeys to bring you spot-on verdicts for every game out before the end of the year. Head towards the rear-end of the mag and you’ll find a review section that’s packed like Bethlehem. Inevitably, the biggest story is Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. For those of you hoping to find a PSP-shaped present under the tree, our review should be enough to have you ransacking the house while everyone else is out. ‘Just to check’. And if you’re lucky enough to own a machine and a copy of the game, we’ve got a celebratory poster and guide book. Oh, and before you ask, we haven’t ballsed up – it’s supposed to be like that. Flip the book gently onto its back and you’ll find over 60 pages of Pro Evo 5 tips. Despite the fact I sink every spare moment into the game, there’s still tons of stuff in there I didn’t know about. Proof: my free kicks are now one-in-three lethal. (Just over half power and dip the ball with a tap of the X button as it goes over the wall.) Scoring my first 40-yard curler is among my most memorable PS2 moments, but what about yours? In a couple of issues time we’re going to be doing a rundown of your greatest gaming moments. Write, email or text us at the normal address and there’ll be prizes for the best ones. Probably socks.
                                                        Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
Welcome to San Esperito – Just Cause

Let’s Go Giant Killing – Shadow of the Colossus. This feature includes a demonstration of how to reach the weak points of four of the colossi, and an interview with Fumito Ueda and Kenji Kaido.

The Secrets of PSP Revealed! – Some of the PSP’s more obscure features, such as screen-sharing between your PSP and TV, additional hard drives, and maps.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what’s the worst Christmas present you’ve ever received?

Could be a Classic – This month, Every Extend Extra, a hybrid of rhythm action and bullet hell.

Replay – A Pro Evolution Soccer 5 online review, and what the other mags said about The Warriors, Star Wars Battlefront II, Ultimate Spider-Man and SSX On Tour.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, Easy Like Sunday Morning. The most relaxing PS2 games. The best one is easily turning the console on without a disc inside and leaving it on the menu.

Endgame – A returning feature from the early issues which shows off game endings, but there’s no new artwork this time. This month, The Matrix: Path of Neo, which replaces the film’s ending with a more game-appropriate battle with a giant Agent Smith.

                                                                This month's Save Point.

Monitor
WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006 – “As classy as Smackdown! looks, we would be hard-pressed to recommend two near-identical games. Realistically, from 9 December, it’s going to be all about whether or not you prefer your grappling on the move.” Hot

Devil Kings – “The ‘hacking hundreds of people to death’ genre’s sure to explode on PS3, thanks to the likes of Heavenly Sword, but this’ll have to keep us going until then. We really can’t get enough of that minigun.” Warm

Urban Chaos: Riot Response – “Fire-breathing crims, more explosions that a Hollywood blockbuster, and a neat moralistic core built around saving people or leaving them to die. Justice has rarely been rougher.” Hot

Final Fight: Streetwise – “Sorry, but we haven’t seen much that impresses so far.” Tepid

Pro Evolution Soccer Management – “Not actually playing matches is going to be weird, but Pro Evo’s stats are usually spot on and we can’t wait to get involved with hiring and firing. But can Konami capture the feel of the English game?” Hot

Suikoden Tactics – “Suikoden certainly looks the part, and plays well, too.” Warm

Rogue Galaxy – “Beautiful visuals and fetchingly dressed jungle girls aside, Level 5’s pedigree means this one’s certain to play like a cosmo-nautical dream. But will anyone actually buy it over here? That remains to be seen.” Hot

PS2 Reviews
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones – “Witty, exciting and sweaty as all hell. If you love your adventures on the epic side, you’ll have to make time for this one.” 9/10

Need for Speed Most Wanted – “As an urban racer, Most Wanted is at the top of its game. But for speed and thrills, Burnout Revenge still rules the arcade racer roost.” 8/10

Shadow the Hedgehog – “Flaccid gunplay, horrible stop/start pacing and dull bosses mean that Shadow isn’t ready for the limelight just yet.” 4/10

True Crime: New York City – “There’s plenty here, but while it’s good quality, it’s all familiar stuff, and the emphasis on quantity rather than variety gets tiresome.” 7/10

50 Cent: Bulletproof – “Bulletproof is like G-Unit’s music translated direct to PS2. You’ll either completely love it or miss the point entirely.” 8/10

Ratchet: Gladiator – “Combat was always the star of Ratchet games, but with barely a sniff of exploration, Gladiator’s destruction feels a little one-note.” 7/10

Evil Dead: Regeneration – “Short but mostly sweet, this is unashamed B-list fare, offering cheap thrills to those who don’t take killing too seriously.” 6/10

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – “A faithful recreation of the world of Narnia, which frustrates and delights in not quite equal measure, but avoids being whiffy.” 6/10

Crash Tag Team Racing – “While the racing is good rather than great, see it as just part of the game’s charm and CTTR makes for a fun family treasure box.” 7/10

NBA 2K6 – “Solid, but nowhere near spectacular sim that will only satisfy B-ball fans who can appreciate its subtleties. The rest of us can only look on, slightly bemused.” 6/10

NHL 2K6 – “A respectable enough take on frozen hockey, with some off-the-wall but fun multiplayer modes thrown in for good measure, but does anyone actually play these games?” 7/10

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One – “Combining frenzied conflict with Hollywood blockbuster production values, this is one of the most explosive war games around.” 9/10

World Poker Tour 2006 – “Until there’s an online PS2 poker game where you play with real money, games like this are an irrelevance in the face of the internet gambling phenomenon.” 4/10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – “Instantly familiar to fans of the previous games but that’s the real problem here. It’s decent enough, but there’s a lack of gameplay imagination.” 6/10

S.L.A.I. – “A pointless game with hardly anything going for it. It’s hard to believe that this is from the same company that brought us Metal Gear Solid and Pro Evo. A travesty.” 4/10

The X Factor Sing – “Technically, X Factor just about works – but the whole package feels sloppily put together. Singstar is a much better bet for competitive warblers.” 5/10

Gun – “A brilliantly told story in an immersive world. If the plot doesn’t keep you entertained, then the variety of missions certainly will.” 9/10

Metal Slug 4 – “An explosive and fairly enjoyable blaster that lacks creativity. Take a look at its predecessor before parting with your 20 quid.” 6/10

Scooby-Doo Unmasked – “Better than you’d expect, Scooby-Doo Unmasked is an enjoyable slice of cartoon gaming that’s boosted by fresh, creative flair.” 7/10

PSP Reviews
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – “LCS is a brilliant extension of the GTA series, and the new yardstick against which every future PSP title will be measured.” 9/10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – “While not startlingly fresh, Goblet of Fire rattles along enjoyably and demonstrates that PSP is perfectly suited to adventure gaming.” 7/10

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – “Hampered by unsuitable controls and a total lack of design flair, Stand Alone Complex is average through and through.” 5/10

Go! Sudoku – “You get Sudoku in every paper, and books of the stuff cost less than a quid, but this costs 30 pounds, making it non-essential for all but the most hardened number crunchers.” 4/10

Dead to Rights: Reckoning – “Not even a crime-fighting dog can hide the fact that this is generic shooting with a wonky lock-on system. Distinctly average.” 6/10

Gripshift – “Avoid it if you want Ridge Racer-style conventional racing, but this is an enjoyable part-racer, part-puzzler that’s well-tailored to the PSP’s strengths.” 7/10

Frantix – “With no back story and totally interchangeable characters, Frantix is as generic as puzzle games get. Challenging to be sure, but the lack of a killer hook cripples long term appeal.” 6/10

Crash Tag Team Racing – “This is really a funky platformer with okay racing tacked on. Either way, it’s still lots of fun, and arguably better on PSP than PS2.” 7/10

Kao Challengers – “It’s a shame, as obvious care has been put into a rather cynical and totally unoriginal concept. Some nice touches, but we’ve basically seen it all before.” 6/10

Death Jr. – “The fantasy sequences and overall visual style are truly a feast for the eyes, but this is little more than just a standard slash-‘n’-bash game in pretty clothing.” 5/10

SSX On Tour – “It’s fast, it’s fun and it looks amazing – SSX On Tour might not be a revolution in snowboarding games, but we still love it.” 8/10

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 – “Still dry as hell and frustrating on occasions, but immensely playable nonetheless. A smart alternative to Everybody’s Golf.” 7/10

Need for Speed Most Wanted 510 – “This makes illegal street racing a grim, unenjoyable affair. Your money’s better spent on Ridge, TOCA, or Burnout… to name a few.” 6/10

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects – “A good idea lies somewhere in the middle of this wreck, tucked away behind the messy design and unenjoyable fighting system. Avoid like a debilitating disease.” 3/10

Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play – “With wireless play included for every multiplayer title, there’s certainly some fun to be had here. Just maybe not enough to warrant buying it.” 5/10

Star Wars Battlefront II – “Battlefront II marches onto PSP without losing its keen strategic edge or its blaster-happy action.” 8/10

Tales of Eternia – “Tales of Eternia is as old-skool as RPGs get, but in a good way. An enjoyable journey gobbler.” 7/10

Madden NFL 2006 – “Too easy and without replays, the first Madden outing on PSP is a giant fumble. Hopefully next year’s update will be better.” 5/10

NBA Live 2006 – “7/10 for the regular bits and a whole bonus point for the excellent Superstar Challenge. Happy dunking.” 8/10

FIFA 2006 – “FIFA’s class is not in doubt, but for a series already in a clear state of transition, the move to a new platform is a bridge too far.” 6/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
The Matrix: Path of Neo
From Russia With Love
Singstar 80s
Jak X
Without Warning
The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer

Footage
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
LMA Manager 2006

Trivia
* There are actually more PSP reviews in this issue than PS2 ones (20 vs 19), so it’s safe to say that the PSP’s post-launch lull is officially over.
* This is the last issue for Ben Richardson. Since Ben Wilson joined the team last month, was there a one Ben at a time policy in place?
* Comedown adds a number of new PSP sections this month, including a how-to guide, accessory reviews, and downloads for trailers and funny videos.
* OPS2 get their Nostradamus on again… “While we wouldn’t give Tales a second glance if Final Fantasy VII got a rebirth (come on Square, you know you want to)...”
* Surprisingly, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones came very close to scoring 10/10, missing out solely for lacking the ‘shock of the new’ that God of War had.

Quote of the Month: “God bless you, unclampable fat PS2!” The Game Guardian meets its match in the form of the original model PS2.

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 146

Issue 66 (December 2005)

                                                                Issue 66, December 2005

Editor’s letter
       There was a time – about ten days ago, actually – when the words ‘interactive movie’ were enough to make a right-thinking gamer chew through their tongue. The description was a contradiction in terms. Like ‘funny comedienne’ or ‘delicious salad.’ And in most cases, it was shorthand for a gameplay ratio of one button press to every half hour of lavish cut-scene watched. [Insert your own Metal Gear joke here.] But now, brothers and – fingers crossed – sisters, we stand at the dawn of a new age. King Kong is an interactive movie, but in all the right ways. It’s a perfect blend of storytelling and action, delivered with Hollywood production values and a real sense of drama. More than that, it’s a brave game. Check out the lack of on-screen meters and bars. Or the fact that you can actually play as the super-sized ape; and rather than a gimmick, it feels like Prince of Persia meets Walking With Dinosaurs. But don’t take my word for it, stick this month’s massive demo on and find out for yourself – then devour the exclusive review that starts on page 74. Of course, I’ll understand if you get distracted by our majestic PS3 feature on the way. Gaze long at the first shots of Devil May Cry 4 and gaze hard. You won’t find them anywhere else. We’ve also got a brilliant dissection of the MGS4 trailer and loads more new PS3 titles for your perusal. Back in the now it’s all about PS2 and PSP. And as ever we’ve got a barrage of exclusive reviews lined up for you, including From Russia With Love, Soul Calibur III and the handheld version of Pro Evo 5 – head to page 96 for the surprising verdict. With a few hours to spare, we jetted over to Florida for the unveiling of Superman Returns. See how the Man of Steel’s looking on page 38, and if the answer is ‘nervous’, that’s probably because Kong has now set the bar for movie-based games so high.
                                                            Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? – Superman Returns

PS3 for all – The latest PS3 announcements and screenshots. Devil May Cry 4, Metal Gear Solid 4 and the first appearance of Assassin’s Creed lead the charge.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, who’s your favourite monkey?

Could be a Classic – This month, Loco Roco, the other weird Japanese ball-rolling favourite.

Replay – Online reviews for 187 Ride or Die, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, Rainbow Six: Lockdown and Virtua Tennis, and what the other mags said about Resident Evil 4, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Burnout Legends and FIFA 2006.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, The 50 best downloads to stick on your PSP today. The best one is a copy of the cursed video from The Ring. You never know when it might come in useful…

                                                            This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – “The fact that this is shaping up to be a complete GTA experience in your pocket is exciting enough, but the multiplayer is brain-fusingly exciting. Could make all other PSP multiplayer games redundant.” Meltdown

Urban Reign – “It’s a brawler with brawn and brains. With meaty, satisfying fighting and eccentric weapon play this is shaping up to be a nice surprise for early 2006. If you can call a bottle over the head a nice surprise.” Boiling

Driver: Parallel Lines – “The car dynamics, physics engine and retro-cool setting are all there – now all Reflections has to do is craft a game around them. Shouldn’t be too hard, should it? Erm, should it?” Hot

Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers – “With significant changes to the already satisfying tactical combat, this has the making of a great sequel. Assuming the controls maintain their simplicity, this should be worth a second tour.” Hot

Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence – “Even if you own the original it’ll be worth trading it in for this. The online mode is a blast and there are more extras than you can shake your snake at. And that third disc? It’s essentially Metal Gear: The Movie.” Meltdown

Sonic Riders – “Like a flatter, super-fast SSX, Sonic Riders seems to be defying our misgivings offer a game that’s actually amazingly good fun. Still nowhere near as fast as Burnout though, but what is?” Warm

Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus – “Final Fantasy goes all shooter-shaped, and the results are promising. But developer Square-Enix has gotta get the action right, or it’ll be no (20-sided) dice from us.” Hot

Field Commander – “Turn-based strategy that’s looking very promising.” Hot

PS2 Reviews
King Kong – “A brilliant action adventure that could well be the world’s first classic movie tie-in. Innovative and flawlessly paced.” 9/10

Star Wars Battlefront II – “This is a rollicking, if flawed, Star Wars combat game. Not got broadband? You may want to lop off a point.” 8/10

The Warriors – “An enjoyable beat-‘em-up that does the movie justice. But there’s little more than a basic scrolling brawler under all the great ideas.” 7/10

WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006 – “We expected a humble roster update. Instead we got a game so comprehensive it renders every previous wrestling title redundant.” 9/10

The Sims 2 – “Filled with neat innovations and bringing a real focus to its story-mode gameplay, The Sims 2 is the best console God sim yet.” 8/10

Ultimate Spider-Man – “This could’ve been stunning, but after a strong start, the story and missions descend into repetitive, formulaic play.” 7/10

SSX On Tour – “SSX still rules the snowboard scene, but On Tour fails to live up to its predecessors. Hopefully PS3 SSX will redress the balance.” 8/10

The Matrix: Path of Neo – “Fun on a kicking-people-in-the-face level, but below the surface this is as shallow as groping a computer-generated lady.” 7/10

From Russia With Love – “The best Bond film becomes the best Bond game on PS2. Like all the best entertainment, it’s simple, undemanding and enjoyable.” 8/10

Jak X – “This is not Jak 4. It’s just a kart racer, albeit a quality one with bags of online potential.” 7/10

LMA Manager 2006 – “Restrictive in-match options, but LMA is a better bet than Champ Man and succeeds in creating a deep, enjoyable footy experience.” 8/10

Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves – “A brilliant adventure with more ideas in its little digital finger than some games manage in a whole disc. An essential purchase.” 9/10

X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse – “A game that’s forgotten it’s about superheroes. They’re supposed to be spectacular, aren’t they? This isn’t.” 6/10

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects – “With its horrible looks, non-existent gameplay and shallow controls, every possible effort should be made to avoid this.” 2/10

Soul Calibur III – “Calibur makes every other fighting game feel outmoded. Only our reservations over the new strategy element prevent a perfect score.” 9/10

Eyetoy Play 3 – “If you’ve never played an Eyetoy title before then this probably isn’t the best place to start. New ideas needed next time please.” 6/10

Xenosaga Episode II – “More story than game, Xenosaga II just about prevails in spite of itself as a title worth witnessing… for the patient.” 7/10

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland – “Underneath the mixed bag of superfluous trimmings lies a game that’s still highly playable despite feeling very familiar.” 7/10

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood – “It’s a great shooter, especially if you want to use your brains as much as your ammo, but it doesn’t quite add enough as a sequel.” 7/10

American Chopper – “A raggedy-ass pointless cash-in that offers little to anyone and stinks like a fat biker’s leathers on a sunny day.” 4/10

Capcom Classics Collection – “A nice enough – but very brief – trip down memory lane, which would be better value stripped down and bundled as an extra with a more modern game, or on PSP.” 5/10

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi – “Closely in tune with the spirit of the DBZ universe, which must be brilliant for some gamers, but if that means nothing to you then neither will this game.” 5/10

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Melee – “From heroes in half shells to zeroes in bargain bins – this is a tawdry effort and should be justifiably ignored by all but the criminally insane.” 2/10

Ninjabread Man – “A basic and old-fashioned platformer, but Breadman has just a smidge of old-skool charm that makes it mildly likeable and just about passable.” 5/10

Dancing Stage Max – “No reinvention of the wheel, but the wheel remains firmly unbuckled and turning… good stuff for the fleet-footed.” 7/10

Anubis II – “Platform games like this were ten a penny a decade ago and have no place on a PS2 in 2005. Leave well alone.” 4/10

Trixie in Toyland – “This might have appealed to young kids who have 20 bucks to spend were it not for the rough edges and lack of, well, fun.” 4/10

Mini Desktop Racing – “Buy some toy cars and push them around your actual desktop with a pen – faster, and considerably more fun.” 3/10

Rugby Challenge 2006 – “Annoying flaws aside, this is an enjoyable sim with some brilliant touches – decent AI, great controls, smooth action. Certainly worth a try.” 7/10

NBA Live 2006 – “Shoot a hoop, defend, repeat to fade. NBA Live 2006 is an enjoyable update, but one that only the most ardent of fans will appreciate.” 7/10

PSP Reviews
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 – “It’s Pro Evo no doubt about it, and it’s a thrill to have it in portable format – it just ain’t quite right at the moment.” 8/10

The Lord of the Rings Tactics – “Take away the goodwill generated by the movies and the flaws in Tactics begin to show. There’s fun here, but not a lot of it.” 6/10

Namco Museum Battle Collection – “Playing this retro collection will only make you realise how much the present day rocks. It’s safe to say that these are best avoided.” 2/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
King Kong
Ratchet: Gladiator
Spartan: Total Warrior
FIFA 2006
Genji
Evil Dead: Regeneration
Shrek Super Slam
LA Rush
Asterix and Obelix XXL 2
Dancing Stage Max
The Sims 2
Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves
Spytoy

Footage
Colosseum: Road to Freedom
Eyetoy Play 3
Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue
Jak X
Pursuit Force

Trivia
* Sometimes during particularly busy months, the magazine would have a few extra pages, but this issue is the last one to have more pages than usual.
* The full title of King Kong is Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie. Sod typing that out more than once!
* This is the first issue for new games editor Ben ‘Babus’ Wilson.
* PSP coverage is now moved back into the main body of the magazine instead of having its own short section.
* “…From now on, we’re going to use the phrase ‘doing a Bond’ as a way of describing games that are ideal for filling desolate weekends.” I checked the remaining issues, and this phrase never comes up again. God, I’m lonely.
* If there's an Anubis II, is there an Anubis 1? If there is, why is the sequel literally (as in true, not as in exaggerated for emphasis) a re-skin of another game?
* Starting this month, PSP games are added to the Incoming page. Games are now highlighted to indicate whether they’re on PS2 or PSP, instead of the old Buy Me, Try Me, Avoid Me scale.
* On the back page, there’s a Crap Games Quiz, where you must match up games with the correct subtitle and review quote. Klonoa 2 in in there…

                                                            Why do I hear boss music?

Quote of the Month: “It’s either a game or a 1970s sex education cartoon.” This caption accompanies an especially suggestive Loco Roco screenshot. Alternatively, I need to get my mind out of the gutter...

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 162

Issue 65 (November 2005)

                                                             Issue 65, November 2005

Editor’s letter
       Since being given the OPS2 captain’s hat (navy blue with gold trim) my proudest moment is seeing a sack-faced madman swinging a chainsaw around on our cover. Confession time: I’m a total Resident Evil geek. I’ve been in love with it ever since that rotting dog bounced through the window on PSone, I’ve completed every game since and my sleep is ravaged by terrifying dreams of the coming zombie apocalypse. Which actually isn’t so cool. But even the most ardent corpse-fancier had to admit that the series had lost its way. In fact, it was starting to stink like a bag of meat left in the sun. Then this. Resident Evil 4 doesn’t so much reinvent the survival horror genre as stick a grenade in its mouth, mutter something sarcastic and pull the pin. It’s a struggle to think of any other game this generation with such relentlessly inventive big-fisted action. The only problem is, it’s started to ruin us for other games – throwing their flaws into sharper relief with the light of its brilliance. I could tell you the team struggled for ages haggling over the score, but the truth is we’ve rarely been so sure. The review kicks off on page 104, and to celebrate we’ve got five chainsaw controllers to give away. To stand a chance of getting one, email chainsaw@futurenet.co.uk with the most terrifying thing that’s ever happened to you. Rules apply. Otherwise, this month’s been all about the PSP, which as I tap this out has just enjoyed the most successful console launch in British history. This issue we’ve got the very latest on Liberty City Stories, the world first review of Sony’s cracking Pursuit Force and that glossy PSP guidebook you’re doubtless fingering right now. (Hey, don’t smudge it.) Oh, and there’s also the not inconsiderable matter of this month’s kickass demo disc, which lets you play the likes of Pro Evo 5, NFS Most Wanted and Soul Calibur III yonks before they’re out. Enjoy.
                                                                Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
What the Hell Happened Here? – Black

It’ll all be over by Christmas – A war game round-up, including Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, Commandos Strike Force and more.

From Gangster to Game Star – 50 Cent Bulletproof

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what’s the most disgusting thing you’ve eaten?

Could be a Classic – This month, Rogue Galaxy, the JRPG featuring space pirates.

Replay – Online reviews for MX VS ATV Unleashed, Outlaw Golf 2 and Conflict: Global Storm, and what the other mags said about Heroes of the Pacific and 187 Ride or Die.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, What did we do wrong? When great games fail to sell.

                                                                This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Star Wars Battlefront II – “This isn’t just for Star Wars fanatics. The huge battles, different characters, vehicles and settings should please any armchair warrior. But if you are a fan then think about this: you can play as Yoda…” Boiling

Need for Speed Most Wanted – “NFS is as fast as ever, but add the heat from the law and it becomes survival racing. Varied objectives and locations mix things up but is that going to be enough to separate this from the many other street racers out there?” Hot

The Matrix: Path of Neo – “There’s a lack of pace and simplicity in The Matrix: Path of Neo that prevents any of the films’ balletic action really kicking off. But with a slightly finger-friendlier control system, this could be a lot of fun.” Warm

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones – “Rather than radically alter the formula, it looks like Ubisoft has wisely chosen to just add a few new tricks. Some new moves, more open environments and you now get two Princes for the price of one.” Boiling

Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows – “Four-player online action that may be surprisingly good.” Warm

TOCA Race Driver 3 – “The story element that used to progress your race career has taken a back seat, allowing TOCA to become a more accessible experience, and giving you more freedom to choose what you want to race.” Hot

Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence – “Perhaps we’ve been tricked up by Hideo Kojima’s theatrics again, but the potential horseplay that an online Metal Gear offers is too much to resist.” Boiling

S.L.A.I – “Solid, if unremarkable, robot war-porn.” Warm

Hitman: Blood Money – “Hitman has always been about taking your time and executing the perfect ‘hit’. With enhanced skills and the ability to build a custom arsenal, we think baldy’s new game really is ‘the money’.” Hot

Starcraft: Ghost – “It’s hard not to conclude that Starcraft: Ghost’s elephantine gestation period is the result of a muddled game that’s way past its sell by date in terms of relevance. For once we really hope we’re wrong.” Warm

PS2 Reviews
Resident Evil 4 – “All the style of the series so far plus a maelstrom of new shocks, twists and challenges makes this the best survival horror game ever.” 10/10

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat – “Battlefield 2 uses the best of PS2’s capabilities to fashion an unashamedly entertaining, surprisingly strategic shooter.” 9/10

Singstar 80s – “Themed editions are definitely the way forward. Roll on the Bond songs edition and hundreds of tracks on a PS3 hard drive.” 8/10

Sonic Gems Collection – “Sega hasn’t made this for you, it’s made it for people who still have their Mega Drives in the original box. And they’ve probably already got all these games. Ignore.” 4/10

Nascar 2006: Total Team Control – “More niche than ostrich-whispering and not half as exciting – a beautiful rendition of a sport we can’t bring ourselves to care about one little bit.” 4/10

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 – “There are no massive revolutions since last year but this still easily retains its ‘king of the swingers’ crown.” 8/10

Darkwatch – “Darkwatch has a few neat ideas but wins us over by doing solid shooting well. Fast-paced with cool guns, what’s not to like?” 8/10

Buzz! The Music Quiz – “A deceptively simple idea that’s well executed and bags of fun. See mum, not all games are about murdering men with guns.” 7/10

Golden Age of Racing – “Mindless, ugly and all but unplayable. We suffered it so you don’t have to. Do yourself a favour and pick up a decent racer on Platinum instead.” 1/10

International Super Karts – “A hopeful opening ten minutes fades into a frustrating but familiar rollercoaster of tedium. The only real selling point is that it isn’t Golden Age of Racing.” 3/10

Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome – “What could have been an engaging effort is spoiled by bland presentation, a cliched story and tedious gameplay.” 5/10

NHL 2006 – “Near identical gameplay to its 05 counterpart and a more intricate management aspect – if that floats your boat them hop on board.” 7/10

Genji – “It’s a strange and giant leap back to restrictive, basic gaming that becomes joyless rather quickly. Play Onimusha instead.” 4/10

Rainbow Six: Lockdown – “Dull, lifeless, unexciting and other words for ‘boring’, Rainbow Six: Lockdown is uninspired and not worth your cash.” 6/10

Psychonauts – “Hugely inventive, charming and funny. Psychonauts is a surprise hit and this year’s star platformer.” 9/10

Digimon World 4 – “A frustrating slog of an action RPG for solo gamers, Digimon World 4 gains a little pep in four-way multiplayer mode. But only just.” 5/10

Outlaw Volleyball Remixed – “If ‘remix’ actually meant ‘radically re-worked and altered in every possible way’ then this might be okay. But it’s not. A lazy rehash.” 4/10

FIFA 2006 – “FIFA has grown up a bit and learnt that it has to do the dirty work first before it can get fancy. Competent, entertaining but far from faultless.” 7/10

Everybody’s Golf – “It looks like it’s ‘for kids’ but this is, indeed, for everyone. Not as straight-laced as Tiger Woods, but a consistently enjoyable sport sim.” 8/10

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit – “Begs, borrows and steals ideas and blends them perfectly into a highly original environment – one of the best movie tie-ins you’ll play.” 8/10

Sniper Elite – “There’s not quite enough freedom in the levels to find that perfect shot, but this is still a rewarding and enjoyably fresh sniper sim.” 7/10

WRC Rally Evolved – “Challenging but accessible, WRC is a brilliant rally sim, and the random events that spice up every race make it a seriously good ride.” 9/10

LA Rush – “Not an exceptional racer but enjoyable all the same, and certainly the least juvenile of the current crop of G-riders.” 7/10

Spytoy – “A solid attempt at eking some more life out of the Eyetoy, but not as successful as, say, Eyetoy Play or Eyetoy Antigrav.” 5/10

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks – “Reinventing Mortal Kombat was risky, but Shaolin Monks rams home the action with style, guts and excitement to spare.” 8/10

Top Spin – “Aside from the shockingly ropey visuals Top Spin equips itself pretty well. It just can’t match the polish of Sony’s Smash Court.” 6/10

Stuart Little 3: Big Photo Adventure – “As kiddie-friendly games go this is quality stuff. If most ‘grown-up’ titles lavished this much attention on entertainment we’d all be laughing.” 7/10

Taito Legends – “Yes, Rainbow Islands, Bubble Bobble and New Zealand Story are actually still quite good. That’ll be two-thirds of a mark apiece, then.” 2/10

Total Overdose – “Addictive and action-packed, racking up combo kills creates a twist that will keep pulling you back in for just one more go.” 8/10

Without Warning – “You can actually feel your IQ drop as you play. A pretty-looking but otherwise feeble attempt at a political thriller.” 4/10

PSP Reviews
Pursuit Force – “This is extraordinary stuff. Our excitement is only slightly dampened by inconsistent driving and sudden difficulty spikes.” 8/10

World Rally Championship – “Rallying is tight and awkward on the PSP’s small screen, and though WRC has plenty going for it, it’s just not as much fun as other PSP racing games.” 6/10

Twisted Metal: Head-On – “This looks and sounds great. But flaws such as button layout, poor targeting and matches that go on forever make this disappointingly average.” 5/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
Pro Evolution Soccer 5
Soul Calibur III
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Darkwatch
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
WRC Rally Evolved
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
Rainbow Six: Lockdown
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
NHL 2006
Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance

Trivia
* In issue 62, someone managed to get butter on the inside of their envelope. The next issue, someone sent in a tub of the stuff. This month, the deliveries escalate to a loaf of bread to spread all that butter on! “No more food, okay?”
* This issue has the first news on Yakuza. Given that it’s only recently that the series has broken through into mainstream popularity, it can be easy to forget that it started on PS2.
* 2 fun peripheral stories: The first involves custom PSP hardware such as an external battery pack converted from an Atari 2600 joystick, and the second is possibly the worst peripheral ever, the Game Guardian. This thing was a clamp that you put your PS2 inside, and it would automatically turn the console off once a set time limit had passed.
* Remember Issue 63’s feature on how to make great games even better? Specifically, the bit about a Metal Gear Solid multiplayer mode where a team of guards have to catch one player who is using Snake? That’s exactly what Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence did for its multiplayer!
* The Starcraft: Ghost preview is pretty funny for translating the game producer’s answers. For example, a description of the game’s turbulent development history to this point is summarised as “It’s been an utter balls-up from start to finish, whenever that may be. But we’re back on track!”
* The Resident Evil 4 review includes a timeline of the entire series lore up to this point. Very cool!
* Stage 4 of the 5 Stages of Tomb Raider Grief: Depression. When the Without Warning review brings up the Angel of Darkness connection, it’s followed up with “You’re right to be worried.”
* Is it just me, or does Coach Oleander from Psychonauts look like a human version of Mr Krabs?
* With all the family films from the 1990s and 2000s that have become memes in recent years (for example, Space Jam, Shrek, Ice Age, Robots and Kung Fu Panda), I’m surprised Stuart Little hasn’t gone viral yet. Maybe the meme arbiters need a little reminder…

Quote of the Month: “Look at me, I’m a millipede! Look at me!” The reason why I’ve never been scared of Bitores Mendez’s boss form. At least, not the first part. When he splits in half, that’s another thing entirely!

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 178

ABC sales figures: Major oof! This is by far the biggest drop we’ve seen. This was part of a wider drop in sales of videogame magazines in general, which industry insiders blamed on a lack of blockbusters with massive appeal (in other words, no new GTA), as well as the rise of websites for gaming news.

Jul-Dec 2004 – 172,593
Jan-Jun 2005 – 133,242 (down 39,351)

Issue 64 (October 2005)

                                                                Issue 64, October 2005

Editor’s letter
       Enjoy that? Good, because we’re just getting started. Pro Evo 5 is the first shot of a devastating salvo of exclusive reviews that also includes Burnout Revenge, Conflict: Global Storm, Spartan: Total Warrior and The Suffering: Ties That Bind. In each case we’ve argued long, hard and with shamefully high voices over the scores. I won’t spoil the verdicts, but let’s just say it’s an embarrassingly good month to be a PS2 gamer. Normally at this point, I’d bang on about all the other ace stuff we’ve crammed in. Like the first playtest of whiskey-soaked western Gun, a love letter to all things evil and our expose of the San Andreas sex scandal. But I’d rather use this space to make an apology. See, last month we awarded Lumines a commendable 8/10. What we hadn’t counted on, however, was just how deep the obsession would bite. Entire train journeys have evaporated in a blizzard of rotating puzzle blocks and weekends have dissolved in the sweet glow of collapsing two-tone superstructures – all soundtracked by deliciously cool techno you imagine only ever gets played in clubs populated by girls with impossibly pretty eyes and unusual haircuts. So we’re bumping the score up to 9/10, as you can see from this month’s PSP bible, which contains need-to-know info on all the machine’s features, plus expanded reviews for all the launch games. But it’s all about the Lumines. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing a whole screen’s worth of blocks melt in a haze of light and disco. Before we crack on, a word about the chronically-neglected Killer 7. I completed the mind-breaking adventure recently, and it’s got a zinger of a twist. Seriously, it’s amazing and you need to play it.
                                                        Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
Hustling, Whoring & Bar-room Brawling – Gun. This feature has two Lisa Ralphs on the same page!

                                               Because I already used Nute Gunray ages ago.

Eight games that want to weird you out – Including Okami, We Heart Katamari, Psychonauts and more.

We Love Evil – Resident Evil 4. Primarily, this feature goes over some of the PS2 exclusive features, but there’s also a sneak preview of Resident Evil 5.

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what’s in your pocket?

Could be a Classic – This month, Spinout. What if Super Monkey Ball was a racing game?

Replay – Online reviews for Formula One 2005, Mortal Kombat: Deception and Juiced, and what the other mags said about The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Fantastic Four, Gametrak Real World Golf and Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, Hot Coffee. The timeline of the San Andreas sex scandal and its resulting fallout.

                                                                This month's Save Point.

Monitor
Soul Calibur III – “There’s something for everyone in Soul Calibur III, from the simpler one-on-one battles through to character customising and the detailed Chronicle of the Sword mode. We simply cannot wait.” Meltdown

The Warriors – “We dig it. The missions are deeper and more diverse than expected, plus the fighting engine and visual detail are top quality. You might not have heard of the film, but you’ll want to play this.” Boiling

FIFA 2006 – “A much better, but still not quite beautiful game.” Warm

WRC: Rally Evolved – “It’s never been done before, but the game’s random event system is making way for a new kind of rally experience. We can’t wait to get back in the driving seat.” Hot

King Kong – “Finally, a movie-licenced game that doesn’t make us want to choke on our own popcorn. Playing King Kong you’re quickly caught up in the epic story of a giant monkey with a soft spot for blondes.” Meltdown

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland – “Bigger is definitely looking better for the Hawkster.” Hot

From Russia With Love – “It’s got the Bond life blood pumping through its veins, we just hope there’s as much juice in the levels we’ve not seen. A far more promising candidate for 00 status than Goldeneye: Rubbish Agent ever was.” Boiling

True Crime: New York City – “It remains to be seen whether this can step up to compete with GTA, but we like the new star a lot more than the old kung fu fighting Nick Kang. Much hinges on how the good cop/bad cop dynamic will play out.” Hot

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – “New magic system and co-op could make this sparkle.” Warm

PS2 Reviews
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 – “Pro Evo 5 is pure simulation, so may scare off many, but no other game has captured football so beautifully.” 10/10

Burnout Revenge – “Burnout Revenge is better than B3: Takedown, which makes it the best arcade racer available and an absolute must-buy.” 10/10

Heroes of the Pacific – “Never surprising but always competent – in the air, at least – HOTP is happily playable, but in no way essential.” 7/10

Conflict: Global Storm – “Full of gripping action, this is by no means a huge step forward for either the series or the genre, but it’s great baddie-bashing fun.” 8/10

Madden NFL 2006 – “The best American football game: deep, realistic and rewarding, but only true devotees will get the best from it.” 9/10

Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance – “Annoying, boring and just plain embarrassing, Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance needs flushing away rather than playing.” 3/10

Musashi Samurai Legend – “Not too hard and hardly a Final Fantasy or even Kingdom Hearts rival, but a nice slice of RPG-lite for in-between times.” 7/10

Spartan: Total Warrior – “Just shaded by God of War, but still worth a 9/10. Spartan’s combat is so good it makes every massacre the purest of joys.” 9/10

187 Ride or Die – “A just-about-adequate gameplay experience, but the childish, in-your-face presentation is insulting and, frankly, rather horrible.” 5/10

The Suffering: Ties That Bind – “This is not for the faint hearted, but it is a cleverly shocking and enjoyable demon-blasting game for those who can take it.” 8/10

Kuon – “A competent chiller for the already-converted, that could have used an injection of adrenaline and a less bizarre plot.” 6/10

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – “What sweetness Charlie has is spoilt by poor signposting, a spasm-happy camera and irritating glitches. Watch the film, read the book, avoid the game.” 3/10

Pilot Down: Behind Enemy Lines – “A decent enough adventure, although hardly impressive. Pilot Down’s tense survival action is let down by some truly dim enemy AI. Shame.” 5/10

Eyetoy Kinetic – “An interesting use of the Eyetoy technology, but most of it is still the usual hand flapping, only a bit faster and longer.” 6/10

Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 – “Resident Evil is about to evolve into Resi 4, but Outbreak has got left behind. It may finally be online, but it’s nothing too special.” 7/10

ATV Offroad Fury 3 – “The off-road racing is appealing, even if the handling’s unpredictable. ATV is far from perfect, but it certainly has its moments.” 7/10

Echo Night Beyond – “Well presented and with a lovely atmosphere, it’d be worth a punt for 20 dabs were it not for the tragically dull and repetitive gameplay.” 5/10

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge – “Surely not even the goth-liest of Burton-lovers want to be this miserable. Slow, far too simplistic, horribly confusing and terminally dull.” 4/10

Midway Arcade Treasures 3 – “A blight on the name of retro gaming. This collection ranges from ‘meh’ to bloody awful. You’ll get more nostalgic digging your old mobile phone out for a game of Snake.” 3/10

Fahrenheit – “Fahrenheit’s ambition is let down slightly by its brevity, but you know something’s good when you’re left wanting more.” 8/10

PSP Reviews
Burnout Legends – “This is an impressive port of the Burnout back history. It’s (mostly) excellent fun and absolute proof that it works on handheld.” 8/10

Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade – “A decent attempt at cramming an RPG on to PSP but it only fits because all the good stuff has been left out.” 6/10

Coded Arms – “Once the ‘oh, it’s a shooter for PSP!’ gloss wears off, this is fairly unremarkable. The fact that levels are randomly generated makes it – literally – too random to love.” 5/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
Burnout Revenge
Conflict: Global Storm
Crash Tag Team Racing
Everybody’s Golf
Fahrenheit
SLAI: Steel Lancer Arena International
Wild Water Adrenaline

Footage
King Kong
AND1 Streetball
City of the Dead
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
Buzz: The Music Quiz
America’s Army: Rise of a Soldier
Heroes of the Pacific
Okami
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
Stargate SG1: The Alliance
The Making of Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
Goal of the Month

Game Saves
Gran Turismo 3
Jak and Daxter
Final Fantasy X
Kingdom Hearts
Killzone
Spider-Man 2
Need for Speed Underground 2
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Pro Evolution Soccer 4

Trivia
* As you can see from the picture, this issue’s cover is double-sized, folding in on itself when you close the magazine.
* The Lumines score change in the editor’s letter is notable, as while there has been the odd re-review before, this is the first time that a game’s score has been changed.
* Speaking of scores, this is also the first issue to have two 10/10 scores in one month.
* In yet another first, there are no new entries to the Hot 100 this month.
* There’s a news story on the Fragdolls, a group of female gamers organised by Ubi Soft to make appearances at press events and gaming shows. Interestingly, one of the members is former OPS2 contributor Kirsten Kearney, who wrote the She’s Got Game column.
* Kuon and Echo Night Beyond are among the rarest, most expensive games on PS2, so it’s quite a coincidence to see them both reviewed in the same issue. I wonder if anyone who bought them on release suspected how highly sought after they would become.
* To coincide with the even more hardcore approach of Pro Evolution Soccer 5, there's no religious gimmick this year. It's either that or the Cult of PES got done for tax evasion.
* Crash Tag Team Racing has the best loading screen ever if you’re under the age of 12 and/or deeply immature, as mashing the face buttons will make all sorts of burp and fart noises!
* This issue has not one, but two Save Points. The second strip was a reader-submitted one, which I’ll include here as an unofficial bonus strip for you.


Quote of the Month: “Here’s your f***ing food you f***ing f**k!” The world’s most foul-mouthed waiter.

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 146

Issue 63 (September 2005)

                                                                Issue 63, September 2005

Editor’s letter
       Putting together this month’s all-you-can-eat football buffet, there have been times when I’ve felt less like Jose Mourinho and more like Harry Redknapp. It’s been a case of frantic wheeler-dealing – desperately trying to squeeze in a few more big names before the transfer window slams shut. But, debilitating stomach ulcer notwithstanding, it’s been worth it. Ensconced within the soundless confines of this issue you’ll find the full scoop on FIFA’s reinvention. This year EA is absolutely determined to deliver a game that scores as well as it sells. Starting on page 70, you can read exactly what we think of the results. But of course, it would be remiss of us to ignore the competition – and on page 82 you can see how we got on against John Terry at Pro Evo 5. But before that, spin to the start of Spy and check out the first shots of Pro Evo on PSP. You’ll find them next to the first ever images on Eminem in the 50 Cent game. I said, big names and lots of ‘em. We’ve also managed to cram in more King Kong shots than any other PS2 mag, the first screens of Resi 5 on PS3, a private look at Lara’s latest and forced the new Burnout and Need for Speed games into a death-or-glory drag race. So plenty for all the non-football fans, too. (Hi, Dad.) And with the PSP’s 1 September launch now within fondling distance, we’ve also rated the first 25 games as part of our brand new handheld section, which becomes ‘fully operational’ on page 105. The PSP launch line-up is incredibly strong – and with big hitters like GTA: Liberty City Stories and Pursuit Force on the way, the future’s bright for Sony’s new baby. One note of caution, though – if you drop yours in the pool, don’t come crying to us.
                                                            Tim Clark, Associate Editor

Features
Welcome to Skull Island – King Kong. This feature is done in the style of a comic again following the success of the Fantastic Four feature that did this.

Need for Speed Most Wanted VS Burnout Revenge – The two racers get pitted against each other, with Burnout emerging as the victor.

We Can Rebuild Him – FIFA 2006

Swords are the New Guns – A collection of sword-based action games, including Spartan: Total Warrior, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Soul Calibur 3 and more.

Look, We’re Playing John Terry! – Pro Evolution Soccer 5

Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, what would you reinvent?

Could be a Classic – This month, Th3 Plan. Commit heists from three different perspectives (hence the silly title).

Replay – Online reviews for Area 51, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Moto GP 4, what the other mags said about Medal of Honor: European Assault, Brian Lara International Cricket 2005, Batman Begins and Formula 1 2005, and The Boot Room.

OPS2 Investigates – This month, Making the best games better. Ideas include Prince of Persia: Future Edition, playing as the guards hunting Snake in Metal Gear Solid, going to prison in Grand Theft Auto with the option to serve out your sentence or try breaking out, and more.

Did We Really? – OPS2 dig up their old shames to point and laugh at them. This month, did we really cover a man in bacon? There’s photographic evidence from the first time round, if you want to go back to Issue 33 and look at it again.

                                                                This month's Save Point.

Monitor
The Suffering: Ties That Bind – “Darker than a funeral in a mineshaft and bloodier than an exploding abattoir, Ties That Bind successfully ups the ante with tighter gameplay and truly unsettling shlock-horror gore.” Boiling

Fahrenheit – “Fahrenheit is still intriguing, and that’s a good thing.” Hot

Conflict: Global Storm – “This isn’t an earth-shattering advance in the world of squad-based action games, but it is shaping up to be a rewarding, intelligent shooter thanks to its logical controls and sharp troops.” Hot

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 – “Tiger’s only learnt one new trick since we last took a long walk with him, but it’s a decent one. However, we’re concerned a new-fangled spin system isn’t enough to justify another update.” Warm

Michigan: Report from Hell – “A great idea done badly. Unless the voice acting is redone, the story rewritten and the game redesigned this won’t be worth a look even with the supposed erotic content.” Tepid

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks – “First Lara, now this. The old games revival continues. If you thought it was over for Mortal Kombat then think again. Shaolin Monks is everything you could want from the series and more.” Boiling

Total Overdose – “Shooting people for prizes is an oddly addictive experience and the action is relentless. Total Overdose manages to mix guns and an extreme-sports scoring system to create an excitingly twisted action game.” Boiling

Crash Tag Team Racing – “Unoriginal but it does have some multiplayer sparkle.” Warm

SSX on Tour – “We’re massive fans of the SSX series, and that’s why we’re being a bit hard on it. Skiing is a welcome addition, but hopefully On Tour has a few more tricks up its salopettes, or this could feel rushed.” Hot

WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006 – “Big words from a big man, but Shelts clearly knows his Smackdown! We’re even more certain this year’s game is going to cram an obscene amount of wrestletainment into its lurid stockings.” Boiling

Resident Evil 4 – “As the days and weeks go on, we get happier. Happier in the knowledge that soon – very, very soon – the finished game will be in our hands. Resident Evil 4 could well be our next 10/10, it’s that good.” Meltdown

We Heart Katamari – “Cool and unusual, Katamari Damacy is so far from the likes of Medal of Honor that it’s on another planet. Sure, it’s a niche hardcore-pleaser, but there should be fun in here for everyone.” Boiling

PS2 Reviews
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction – “Without the constraints of a film tie-in, Hulk is free to roam far and wide. It’s a festival of destruction; not pretty, but fun.” 7/10

Big Mutha Truckers 2: Truck Me Harder – “The second best trucking game on PS2 (after 18 Wheeler), which is a bit like bragging about being the second tallest man in Lilliput.” 5/10

Armored Core: Silent Line – “You don’t need huge, expensive controllers to enjoy a decent mech game, but it does help if you have a decent mech game. This, sadly, is most definitely not one.” 4/10

Ys: The Ark of Napishtim – “Not groundbreaking or awe-inspiring but an old idea well-executed and, simply, a really nice world to be in. RPG newcomers should start here.” 7/10

Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction – “At every turn Conspiracy either frustrates, bores or flabbergasts with crude graphics and dull-as gameplay. Don’t waste your cash.” 2/10

Fantastic Four – “About as challenging as beating kittens with a stick, and only slightly less shameful. Keep it at a super-stretchy arm’s length.” 3/10

Colosseum: Road to Freedom – “Taking a deeper approach to gladiator combat than Shadow of Rome, this is quite a lot of fun. If only the camera was up to scratch.” 6/10

Black Market Bowling – “Like bowling? Get Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. The bowling mini-game in that is way better than this.” 3/10

Alpine Skiing 2005 – “Not only is this a surprisingly full game for a budget title, but there’s also currently little on PS2 like it. Rough, but worth a look.” 6/10

Gametrak Real World Golf – “Not as pretty or as comprehensive as Tiger Woods, Real World Golf scores highly for its uniquely faithful control system. Impressive.” 7/10

Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac: The Sanctuary – “Not a bad reserve team effort, but there’s nothing here to make you want to buy it over Tekken 5 or Soul Calibur 2. Only obsessive fans need apply.” 6/10

Madagascar – “If you enjoyed the film, then don’t tarnish its memory with this sloppy waste of space. The small child in your life deserves better.” 4/10

Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament – “Even if it weren’t incoherent it would still be a mess. Like a drunk in a doorway it makes no sense, is no fun to deal with and is potentially dangerous.” 3/10

Wild Water Adrenaline – “This at least proves that a canoeing game could work, but overall we’re left feeling damp. Not in a good way, either…” 5/10

PSP Reviews
Ridge Racer – “If you only buy one PSP game, it must be this. Near perfect in its execution, this is one of the most expertly judged racers ever made.” 9/10

Everybody’s Golf – “Sticks it to the golf ‘man’ with some, like, far-out attitude, but crucially backs it all up with truly entertaining play.” 8/10

Metal Gear Acid – “Only the Metal Gear faithful will bother mastering the card system, but this is nevertheless a playable if underwhelming spin-off.” 7/10

Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix – “Few games are better at filling up a few spare minutes. Longer plays do expose bottlenecks but there’s plenty of variety all-round.” 8/10

Medievil: Resurrection – “It might be an old game remixed, but it’s still well presented slapstick action – not quite essential, but close.” 7/10

NFL Street 2 Unleashed – “It would’ve been nice to see more PSP-specific features, but this remains a satisfying, enjoyable and easy to follow American football experience.” 7/10

World Snooker Challenge 2005 – “Whether you play WiFi or solo, this is a comprehensive and sweetly optimised snooker experience for PSP. The analogue cue control is a particularly nice touch.” 7/10

NBA Street Showdown – “The whole thing is slickly produced, but NBA Street Showdown never feels that much fun to play. A definite case of style over substance.” 6/10

Spider-Man 2 – “Fun like fireworks – nice flash but nothing that lasts. It’s a lightweight adventure that has good bits, just not enough of them.” 6/10

Need for Speed Underground Rivals – “Cookie cutter street racing done exactly as you’d expect. Might keep you occupied but certainly won’t blow you away.” 6/10

Colin McRae Rally 2005 Plus – “Nice looking but easy to get lost in, Rally 2005 Plus has its moments, but is generally too frustrating for the PSP format.” 6/10

Smart Bomb – “This should have been addictive. Instead you’ll be hard pushed to squeeze out your money’s worth. An infuriating disappointment.” 3/10

Wipeout Pure – “Gaming genius on a tiny, shiny disc. An amazing racing experience you can take with you wherever you want.” 8/10

Ape Academy – “Over 45 mini-games long, this just tips the balance in favour of fun – we’d have preferred fewer, but longer challenges though.” 7/10

Mercury – “It may be a little short-lived, but Mercury is hugely inventive and visually distinctive with yonks of replay value. Roll on Mercury 2…” 8/10

Formula 1 – “Formula 1 looks good, but the racing feels overly simplistic and fails to generate any real excitement – it’s more David Coulthard than Fernando Alonso.” 6/10

Darkstalkers Chronicles: The Chaos Tower – “A trip down memory lane that conclusively proves 3D fighters are just plain better, and makes us realise how much we want a good one for PSP.” 6/10

Virtua Tennis: World Tour – “Virtua Tennis has always been a great sports series, but on PSP it’s found its spiritual home. Very enjoyable.” 8/10

Lumines – “Totally ingenious and mesmerising. The ingenious mix of music and puzzles make Lumines an unforgettable and addictive dose of fun.” 8/10

World Tour Soccer: Challenge Edition – “A solid if shallow effort. Great fun at first but without a league option World Tour Soccer remains a very competent stop-gap rather than a genuine title-contender.” 7/10

Fired Up – “Reasonable single-player action and a great multiplayer mode (assuming you’ve got enough mates to make up the numbers.)” 7/10

TOCA Race Driver 2 – “TOCA might not be as instantly accessible as Ridge Racer, but it’s almost as ace. Solid, responsive and with tons of replay value.” 8/10

Dynasty Warriors – “Nothing new but plenty to enjoy. Dynasty Warriors seems at home on PSP, providing short bursts of satisfaction. Good stuff.” 7/10

Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition – “Doesn’t feel like a ‘made for PSP’ game, hence it’s all a bit squashed in and uncomfortable. Racing games need more room to breathe.” 7/10

ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails – “Not a patch on the PS2’s own ATV games. The handling’s all over the shop and the game design is knackered by several other serious flaws.” 5/10

Disc Content
Playable Demos
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
187 Ride or Die
Brian Lara International Cricket 2005
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006
Musashi Samurai Legend
Tekken 5
God of War
Juiced

Footage
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Tomb Raider Legend
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Brian Lara International Cricket 2005
Burnout Revenge
Hitman: Blood Money
Goal of the Month

Game Saves
Gran Turismo 3
Jak and Daxter
Final Fantasy X
Kingdom Hearts
Killzone
Spider-Man 2
Need for Speed Underground 2
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Pro Evolution Soccer 4

Trivia
* This is the last issue for Reviews Editor Michael French.
* Between John Terry in the Pro Evolution Soccer 5 feature, Shelton Benjamin in the WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2006 preview, and an interview with Thekla Roth for 187 Ride or Die, this issue has quite a bit of star power.
* The review for Colosseum: Road to Freedom notes that it is an otherwise excellent game ruined by one major flaw, a bad camera in this case, and without that issue, the score would have been higher.
* Unreleased game fans will be interested in this issue’s demo disc due to the inclusion of a trailer for a PS2 version of Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. Lucky Xbox and PC players got, but unfortunately not us PS2 players.
* Wow, the PSP sure had a lot of racing games in the launch line-up, didn't it?

Quote of the Month: “Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction is a first-person shooter, but only in the way that the stripped, burning chassis of a Lada Riva is still a car, or the bloated carcass of a mongrel washed in on the tide is still a dog.” Ouch, that’s even more savage than last month’s quote of the month!

Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 146