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.
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
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