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Dave Mirra BMX XXX Preview (PS2, Xbox, GC) |
June 8, 2002 |
 It's an innocuous little screen at
right, but Dave Mirra BMX XXX promises to
open up a whole new hornet's nest of protest and rage from the more conservative videogame
watchdog groups. If you don't want to play a game with full, video, nudity, then stay
away. If that kind of thing interests you, then wait until you hear the rest. Click here for the whole story. |
America's Army Preview (PC) |
 It's bizarre to see the US Army making
such a PR push. First they produced that reality Web series about boot camp. Now they've
created a development house, America's Army and two games: Operations and Soldiers. One is an FPS built on the
new Unreal engine that should give Clancy fans and their ilk a treat. The other is an RPG.
Both are free for the playing. Click for
more. |
.hack Preview (PS2) |
 Bandai will bring us a seriously bizarre RPG specifically
geared towards satisfying us videogame otaku. .hack
("dot hack") is an action RPG where you play a fictional MMORPG called The
World. Featuring original Japanese dialogue and an extra OVA DVD, this is one to keep an
eye out for. Click here. |
Sodiers of Anarchy Preview (PC) |
 Simon and Schuster will bring us a thoroughly modern RTS. Soldiers of Anarchy has you playing through a slew
of levels to eradicate an evil group trying to let the AIDS virus run rampant. What's cool
about it is the serious support for modders that allows you to do everything from creating
maps to scripting cutscenes. Click here. |
Robotech Battlecry Preview (Xbox, PS2, GC) |
 TDK Mediactive looks to have pulled off a feat we never thought
possible -- a good Robotech game! Robotech Battlecry will
come out this fall for all systems, and it looks great. The cel-shaded graphics give it
that comfy anime feel and the gameplay is fast and furious. Check it out here. |
Nyko AirFlo Controllers Preview (Xbox, PS2, GC) |
 Nyko brings us a novel solution to an age-old
problem: Sweaty Palms. The AirFlo controllers,
due out this summer and fall for all console systems, feature fans and special rubber
grips to cool your hands as you play. It's refreshing. Click here. |
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Red Faction 2 Preview (PS2) |
June 6, 2002 |
 THQ's Red Faction brought the
incredible Geo-Mod technology to gamers, and the sequel, Red Faction 2 packs even more of a punch than its
predecessor. Maintaining a focus on the single-player story mode, RF2 also promises much
beefier multiplayer and squad-based combat. This is definitely a title to watch for. Click here. |
Legend of Zelda GC Preview (GC) |
 Link is back, and he
looks better than ever. I know, that opens us up to a lot of criticism, but folks who got
to see Legend of Zelda GC in action
at E3 were pleasantly surprised. Saturday morning cartoons have never looked this good,
and the gameplay is incredible. Check out
the soon-to-be hit right here. |
Sly Cooper and the Thievous Raccoonus Preview (PS2) |
 The
cel-shading technique is bringing a whole lot of games to life in a cartoony and appealing
way. Sly Cooper and the Thievous
Raccoonus is no exception. It looks like a cartoon and plays like a mixture of MGS and
Mario. Sound like fun? Get more right
here. |
P.O.W. Preview (Xbox, PC) |
 It's
World War II, and here you are stuck in a P.O.W. camp. No guns, no killing, none of that
traditional war game crap. Codemaster's latest endeavor, P.O.W., puts you in the role of an American prisoner
trying to escape a German camp. The emphasis is on strategy, stealth, and planning the
great escape. Click here for more. |
Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Review (PC) |
 Welcome our newest GF! member,
Todd Allen, to the fray. He gets things kicked off with a very nice review of Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Slangin' lightsabers and
flingin' force lightening never felt, looked, or played so good. This has been the PC hit
of the spring (pre-GTA3 of course), so check it out. Click
here. |
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Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick Preview (PS2,
Xbox) |
June 4, 2002 |
 We've come along
way. In a brillian move, THQ and their developer, Vis, have decided to use the State of
Emergency engine for Evil Dead: A Fistful
of Boomstick. With Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi on board once again, this could be the
amazing Evil Dead game we've been waiting for. Deadites and gorehounds click here. |
Freelancer Preview (PC) |
 Microsoft will release Freelancer next spring, and thus will
begin your virtual career as an intergalactic mercenary. You can haul stuff, fight stuff,
and generally have a good old time cruising through space pretending you're Han Solo. The
action parts are cool, too. Click. |
Vexx Preview (GC, PS2, Xbox) |
 What kind of game do you make for people who have played all the Mario titles,
Sonic, Rayman, and a load of other platformers? You make a game like Vexx. Combining elements from the history of
platform games with an eye towards adults who have grown up with them, this could be a
real hit. It's not too cutesy, not too dismal, and all fun. Click here. |
Tron 2.0 Preview (PC) |
 Let the eighties
nostalgia well up in you, for Tron is not gone for good. A new movie and videogame will
revive Tron, and for that we are grateful. Tron
2.0 is an FPS (that data disc is way, way cool) that has you sucked back into the
computer. With graphics that look about as good as the original film, this is going to be
fun. Click here. |
Editorial: What Women Want (From Gaming) |
| We saw
the guys from WomenGamers.com at
E3. Just the guys. We had two women with us on GF! staff, Sarah and Monica, and each year
we've noticed more and more women at the show who aren't there to sucker guys who haven't
seen the sun since 1994 to take their photo. But anyone with a sister or mom knows that
women dig videogames. Still, women are not quite fully integrated into the gaming world,
and Monica has some thoughts about that in her editorial, What Women Want (From Gaming). You
really need to read it. Click here. |
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Alter Echo Preview (PS2, Xbox) |
June 3, 2002 |
 THQ is going to have a good year, and this is just the beginning of our
coverage. First up: Alter Echo.
This is a sci-fi action/adventure game set on a planet called Proteus where humans mine
semi-intelligent Multiplast to create amazing biotech devices. That is, until an evil
villain convinces the Multiplast it is being exploited. Hardcore frantic action fans will
love the fast paced "somebody just at the brown acid" feel of this game. Click here. |
WW Smackdown!: Shut Your Mouth Preview (PS2) |
 Nope, that's not the aftermath of the World Wildlife Fund court case
at right -- that's what you get to do to Vince McMahon in Smackdown!: Shut Your Mouth. This
fourth installment of the Smackdown! series plays like butter and looks absolutely
beautiful. Click here. |
World Wrestling Wrestlemania X8 Preview (GC) |
 Gamecube owners don't feel left out. You're getting your very own
World Wrestling franchise with Wrestlemania X8. Sporting
35 playable wrestlers, 35 match types, and several arenas (Raw, Smackdown, Survivor
Series, Wrestlemania, and Summer Slam), this should pack more than a punch. Click here for more. |
World Wrestling Raw 2 Preview (GC) |
 And
rounding out the big console wrestling push is Raw
2. After a disappointing debut on the Xbox, this series has a lot of making up to do.
Fortunately, the folks at THQ and Anchor are up to the task. Lots of improvements await. Click here. |
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World of Warcraft Preview (PC) |
June 1, 2002 |
 Blizzard
will throw their hat into the MMORPG arena with World
of Warcraft. Building on the successes of their previous titles, both Warcraft and
non-Warcraft franchises, this one is already playing pretty sweet. And then there's that
top-secret new character race... Click here. |
Mystic Heroes Preview (GC) |
 Koei, makers of the Dynasty Warriors series, will release Mystic Heroes this fall, a new
take on the old DW style. Set in a legendary China divided by two fantasy civilizations,
you and up to three friends can hack, slash, and spell your way to victory. Click here. |
RTX Red Rock Preview (GC, PC) |
 In a move away from the Star Wars franchise, LucasArts is working on RTX Red Rock, a cool
action-adventure title that offers up loads of combat plus a whole bunch of strategic
problem-solving. A wide array of tools and gadgets is at your disposal. Now go save the
world. Click here for more. |
Star Wars: Clone Wars Preview (PS2, GC) |
 LucasArts brings Episode II to life in Star Wars: Clone Wars. Rather
than playing through the film, this title begins at the end of the film and allows you to
participate in some of the hugest battles this side of Geonosis. Click here for more. |
Editorial: Which Console Should I Buy? |
| Every day
I get a ton of email asking me which console system to purchase. My stock response is
"All of them," but that isn't satisfying for most folks. So in the interest of
public service, here's my answer to you question: Which Console Should I Buy? |
Nintendo WaveBird Preview (GC) |
 Nintendo wowed the crowd at E3 with their wireless WaveBird controller. If you've ever tried
a wireless controller, you know two things: First, it's the wave of the future because
cords just plain suck. Second, it's never been quite up to snuff, and controller cutouts
in the middle of your game suck, too. But count on Nintendo to do it right later this
month. Click here. |
Xbox Controller S Review (Xbox) |
 Microsoft
really does love us. They love us so much that they listened when the gamers said they
hated the Xbox controller. The Xbox
Controller S (the "S" stands for "small") is a more manageable,
perhaps more traditional, controller for those of you who could never learn to love the
beast. Click here. |
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XIII Preview (All) |
May 30, 2002 |
 Based on the French comic series of the same name, XIII brings the unique look of cel-shading to the
next-gen Unreal engine, creating a first person shooter that looks unlike anything else
we've seen. The concerted focus on narrative and interactivity will make it a very popular
game. Get the details here. |
BloodRayne Preview (All) |
 Half-human, half-vampire, all woman. That's the tagline for BloodRayne, but it fails to sum up how
incredibly cool this game is. With a load of weapons at your disposal, buttkicking melee
combat, and several different vision modes, this supernatural action title will have you
killing Nazis and sucking blood. Click
here. |
City of Heroes Preview (PC) |
 Developed under the tutelage of online gaming giant Richard Garriot,
NCSoft's latest endeavour, City of
Heroes, is a MMORPG with a twist. Rather than the typical fantasy setting, you get to
create your own superhero and vanquish evil. Tons of customization options and a cool
gameplay setup should make this a hit. Click here. |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Preview (Xbox) |
 All you cheesball TV fans take heart: Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be coming to an
Xbox near you this summer. Buffy's trademark gymkata style of fighting, all of her cohorts
good and evil, and a load of cheesy dialogue juxtaposed with quick action make this one
for the fans to clamor about. Details are right
over here. |
RE Preview (Xbox) |
 There are a few Xbox exclusive titles that threaten the dominance of
key franchises exclusive to other platforms. RE
(working title) looks to be a serious rival for that other racing hit GT3. Absolutely
stunning graphics and a cool single player sim game should make this a serious hit with
the gearheads. Click here. |
E3 Photo Gallery 2002 |
 All the boothbabes,
mascots, gratuitous game displays, and goofy GamesFirst! correspondents you could ever
hope for are right here in our E3 Photo
Gallery 2002. We've got all the glory of the world's biggest videogame exposition
packed into these pages. Click here to view
the gallery. |
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Splinter Cell Preview (Xbox, all) |
May 29, 2002 |
 Ubi Soft has a Snake-killer on their hands. Picture
this: Millions and millions of gamers arguing for years and years about whether MGS or Splinter Cell is the superior
third person stealth action title. That's what the future looks like. We're all fans of
MGS, but this Splinter Cell could make us devotees. Get the whole story here. |
DX2: Invisible War Preview (PC, Xbox, PS2) |
 Warren
Spector and the gang in Austin made huge waves with Deus Ex, and the sequel, DX2: Invisible War is set to cause the same kind of
hubub. Set 30 years after the original, DX2 offers more freedom, more complexity, and more
muscle for the discriminating gamer. Details are
right here. |
MS Combat Flight Sim 3 Preview (PC) |
 Microsoft
doesn't have to worry about whether or not it will be a big hit, but the effort poured
into MS Combat Flight Sim 3 is well deserved
and will be very appreciated. Infinitely variable missions, enhanced ground graphics, and
tons of bells and whistles are a few reasons this title will be the best in the series so
far. Click here for more. |
Article: The Console Wars Go Online |
| With all
of the different console manufacturers launching their online components this year, it can
be tough to sort it all out. So I put together Back to the Front: The
Console Wars Go Online to outline the facts and offer up some analysis. See what you think. |
Impossible Creatures Preview (PC) |
 Microsoft games are looking strong this
year in general, and although it's a good 9 months off, Impossible
Creatures looks to continue the trend. Mix and match the most dangerous creatures in
the world in this action RTS meets the Island of Dr. Moreau. Click here. |
Spider-Man: The Movie Review (PC) |
 And
we didn't forget about our job as game reviewers. Eric just got done playing Spider-Man: The Movie (the game) and has
his write up. On the plus side, you've never felt so much like a newly irradiated,
web-slinging crime fighter. On the downside, it isn't real. Click here. |
Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat Review (Xbox) |
 Aaron
got his turn on Pirates: The Legend of Black
Kat, this time on the Xbox, and his evaluation is pretty much the same as Jeremy's
opinion of the PS2 version. How can you have a scene like the one at right and not have
more of a sense of humor in your game? Click. |
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