Issue 74, July 2006
Editor’s letter
This is the hardest one of these columns I’ve had to write since being handed the skipper’s armband. Mainly because I’ve spilled Coke on my keyboard twice this month, and the buttons are now sticking together like childhood friends. There’s also the small matter of Playstation 3, which since we last spoke, now has a firm UK release date (17 November), a brand new pad (Motion-sensing in! Vibration out!) and a confirmed price (£425 for the full-fat, 60GB version). Let’s start with the price. The line from Sony top brass has always been that PS3 would be more expensive than previous console launches – so it’s odd to find people now throwing their hands up in surprise. Here’s what you get for your money: the most advanced games console in the world, complete with whopping hard drive, new ‘network platform’ online service, and built-in Blu-ray movie player. Nervousness over which high-definition movie format will triumph is understandable (HD-DVD being the rival standard) but Blu-ray already has the support of five out of six of the major Hollywood studios. And the fact is, it’s not a matter of if you’re going to go high def, but when. Having seen films running in glorious 1080p, we can’t wait for Blu-ray’s arrival. Now consider that initially, standalone Blu-ray players are likely to cost upwards of £600, and those Sony execs describing PS3 as a bargain don’t sound quite so mental. Of course, ultimately it’s all about the games – and we defy anyone to say that the first wave of software heading for PS3 isn’t much stronger than the equivalent line-ups for PSOne or PS2. This month you can see the lot, starting on page 41 with the incredible Assassin’s Creed and climaxing on page 68 with the second of our massive world exclusives, Need for Speed Carbon. Placed your pre-order yet?
Tim Clark, Editor
Features
You’ve just killed a man. Everyone saw you. What do you do next? – Assassin’s Creed
Playstation 3 Games: Fully Exposed – A look at a number of Playstation 3 games, headlined by Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, and Final Fantasy XIII.
Need for PS3ed – Need for Speed Carbon
The Future of Football – Pro Evolution Soccer 6
Monthly Articles
Funny Nicknames – This month, which game character would you like to assassinate?
Could be a Classic – This month, The Dog: Happy Life. Nintendogs gets a rival, as Sony ask “Why should Nintendo get to have all the fun?”
A Brief History – Retrospectives of some of PS2’s most popular franchises. This month, Bond, James Bond.
Replay – Online reviews for FIFA World Cup 2006, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, World Poker Tour and Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, and what the other mags said about Hitman: Blood Money, FIFA World Cup 2006, Tomb Raider: Legend and Rogue Trooper.
OPS2 Investigates – This month, Worst. Levels. Ever. God of War’s rotating spiked pillar, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’s Death Row, the first boss of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the tutorial of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness and more are named and shamed.
Endgame – Game endings. This month, Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.
Monitor
Kingdom Hearts II – “Kingdom Hearts II is less a game, more a big friendly hug. It’s absolutely packed with adventure and there’s a level for pretty much every great Disney film going. It’s pure sunshine gaming.” Boiling
Gangs of London – “It doesn’t matter how many extras and options Gangs of London throws at us, if the controls aren’t seriously improved it’ll be less fun than a dip in the Thames.” Warm
B-Boy – “Great idea and a fantastic hip-hop and funk soundtrack.” Boiling
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War – “The addition of a two-player mode excites us, but the visuals and gameplay haven’t advanced much since Squadron Leader. This still exudes quality, but new ideas wouldn’t go amiss” Hot
Guitar Hero II – “It isn’t a blow-the-amps reinvention, but Guitar Hero II improves one of the best party games ever. If you aren’t looking forward to this game, then you really need to have a look at your priorities.” Meltdown
God of War II – “For the most part this ticks all the right boxes for a sequel. Everything that made the original great is back, but improved and refined. Really not sure about the flying horse though.” Meltdown
PS2 Reviews
Super Monkey Ball Adventure – “Certainly nothing to go ape for. The adventure slips on a banana peel, but the classic mode and mini-games redeem the package.” 6/10
Forbidden Siren 2 – “So solid it will utterly break the weak, but fight through the frustration and you’ll find an engrossing, terrifying ghost story.” 7/10
Flatout 2 – “Flatout 2 is brilliantly chaotic, relentlessly quick and rammed with gaming modes to keep you at it. Fasten your seat belts.” 7/10
Micro Machines V4 – “Offering a commendably laid-back and tongue-in-cheek driving experience, slick multiplayer races make V4 well worth a spin.” 7/10
X-Men: The Official Game – “Uninspired missions, laughable cinematics and repetitive action make this the summer blockbuster tie-in to avoid.” 3/10
Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires – “We’re tired of the senseless bloodshed, so the core action drags – the tactical elements are definitely improving though.” 6/10
Street Fighter Alpha Anthology – “Despite its pedigree, there’s not enough here to prise open our wallets. We’re sticking with Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max on PSP, thanks.” 6/10
Winback 2: Project Poseidon – “A poor cut-and-shut of other (far better) titles, guaranteed to fall to bits on your first drive. Avoid Winback 2: Project Poseidon as you would a bullet.” 3/10
The Da Vinci Code – “A pain to control and not that rewarding if you persist, this should have been a top puzzle-strewn adventure. It isn’t.” 5/10
PSP Reviews
FIFA World Cup 2006 – “Stacked with licences and serving up a great game of footy, this is PSP’s best football offering yet. Over to you, Konami.” 8/10
Loco Roco – “A beautifully blended oddball collage of colour, sound and playability. Original and inventive – it’s PSP gaming at its best.” 9/10
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed – “Even if you never play half the games on offer (and you won’t), the inclusion of genuine classics means this lives up to its billing.” 7/10
Talkman – “Competent effort at an electro-translator, but not quite as revolutionary as its creators would have you believe.” 6/10
Pac-Man World 3 – “Mildly entertaining for a while, but it’s very hard to recommend Pac-Man World 3 as a platformer when the excellent Daxter is waiting on a shelf near you.” 6/10
Juiced: Eliminator – “A decent effort that, even with its excellent pimping options, struggles to provide lasting appeal in this competitive genre.” 7/10
Disc Content
Playable Demos
Singstar Rocks!
Forbidden Siren 2
Eyetoy Play Sports
Earache Extreme Metal Racing
Sensible Soccer 2006
Tomb Raider: Legend
Micro Machines V4
Driver: Parallel Lines
Fight Night Round 3
Footage
Suikoden V
Tourist Trophy
Trivia
* References to 599 US dollars and the Giant Enemy Crab are both accounted for in this month’s PS3 coverage. Sadly, there's no Ridge Racer reference.
* X-Men: The Official Game is such a silly title. It’s not as if there are any unofficial X-Men games out there to confuse this one with.
* Incoming is expanded to two pages starting with month, with the addition of PS3 games.
* “For every 1,000 people who had to do Death Row 26 times, one smarmy twat did it first go because the AI blew itself up or got wedged in a bush.” Yeah, that was me. Apologies to 1,000 other Vice City players out there.
Quote of the Month: “I found blood in my urine.” Talkman is thorough in the phrases it provides.
Cover price: £5.99
Page Count: 130
No comments:
Post a Comment