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Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix Review (PC) |
June 28, 2002 |
Activision follows up their cult hit
with a sequel that mostly gives the fans more of the same. Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
features nicer graphics and a more robust GHOUL system (which allows you to take out your
enemies piece by piece), but the gameplay remains oriented around shooting, shooting, and
shooting more. Click. |
Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis Review (PC) |
It's one of the oldest stories we
know: Multiple groups of settlers fight amongst themselves to control a newly discovered
world, empty except for the natives. Nope, this isn't a pre-July 4 history lesson, it's
the plot of Dark Planet: Battle for
Natrolis. This bargain-priced strategy game brings some interesting features to the
table, but overall it ends up falling a bit flat. Click here for more. |
Bomberman Generation Review (GC) |
Bomberman is back, and this time he's
in 3D, cel-shaded graphics that work great. Bomberman Generation shifts
the focus of the previous games toward adventure-puzzle gameplay, and our resident
Bomberman fanatic just loves it. Click here. |
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Final Cut Review
(PC) |
What would Alfred Hitchcock think of Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Final Cut? We're not
sure, but our man Paul takes his best shot at figuring it out. If you loved Myst, if you
pine for another 7th Guest, and if you're a Hitchcock fan, then you might really dig this
game. Otherwise, go rent Rear Window and call it good. Click
here. |
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter Review (Xbox) |
Another installment in the Starfighter
series, Star Wars: Jedi
Starfighter manages to make some good additions to the franchise but doesn't really
make this one feel like an entirely new game. Sure, there are cool Force powers and new
ships to fly, but it all feels very familiar. Thank goodness for the cooperative story
mode. Click. |
Big Bass Fishing Review (PS1) |
How do you make a
bargain priced fishing game for PSone stand out above the rest? If you are Big Bass Fishing you add a
sexy angler into the mix. Her saucy allusions and provocative double entendres are fun for
a bit, but then you're left playing the game, and it just falls short. Click here to read all about it. |
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Devil May Cry 2 Preview (PS2) |
June 23, 2002 |
Capcom's follow-up to its
ultra, mega, superhit, DMC, is due this Fall. Devil
May Cry 2 will feature new environments, new moves, and a brand new, ultra-mysterious
new playable heroine. This time out the game is looking really amazing, so if you thought
the last one was cool, then read this. |
Reign of Fire Preview (PS2) |
Gearing up to be a summer action hit
at the movie theater, Reign of
Fire on the PS2 is looking sweeter than Matthew McConaughey's belt buckle in Dazed
and Confused. So if you're looking to mow down some dragons with a load of military
might, or if you'd just like to play for the other team, blazing humans as they get in
your way, you need to click
here. |
Ballerium Preview (PC) |
Distributed processing
and an infinitely expandable world are just two of the technical feats pulled off by small
Israeli developer, Majorem, and put to use in Ballerium, a truly massive multiplayer
RTS title. Although it's still early in development, our resident MMP expert, Aaron,
checked it out. Click here for more. |
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb Preview (PC,
PS2, Xbox) |
It seems like everyone these days wants to get out the old Indy and dust him
off. Spielberg has Harrison Ford all lined up for another flick, not due until 2005, and
LucasArts returns to the franchise with Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb.
So far it's looking great, and games might be the perfect vehicle to keep Indy alive and
whippin'. Click. |
Shinobi Preview (PS2) |
He kills
silently and bounces off walls like loonies in the nuthouse. Nope, it's not Tiny Twisted
Metal Bumper Cars or Tenchu Stealth Maniacs -- this is even better. Shinobi returns for another slash at the
videogame market, and thank goodness. Anyone who has touched the beauty of the classic
arcade game knows that a new Shinobi adventure is a very, very good thing. Click here. |
Breath of Fire II Review (GBA) |
Capcom brings us
another phenomenal RPG for the GBA, and thank goodness. Breath of Fire II is a worthy successor to the
franchise. While next-gen RPGs are few and far between, this old-school SNES port packs
some classic gameplay in a tidy, pretty, and portable package. Click here. |
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Star Wars Bounty Hunter Preview (PS2, GC) |
June 19, 2002 |
LucasArts
brings us another really cool-looking Star Wars game. Star Wars Bounty Hunter allows
you to assume the role of Jango Fett. Promising to flesh out the backstory of this
mysterious figure (whose cool is trumped only by his son, Boba). Jetpacks, laser pistols,
large environments and plenty of bounties to collect make this game a Star Wars fan's
dream. Click here. |
Earth and Beyond Online Preview (PC) |
Westwood Studios and
Electronic Arts are finishing up a MMORPG that has us interested. Earth and Beyond breaks out of the fantasy
confines to explore the nether regions of the universe. It looks amazing, plays cool, and
we can't wait to get our hands on the release version. Click here for more. |
Hunter: The Reckoning Review (Xbox) |
Interplay has made a major
console push this year -- all they showed were console titles at E3. If Hunter: The Reckoning is any example, they have
a long way to go before they get the console game really figured out. Hunter is a blast in
a lot of ways, but also seriously flawed. Click
here for the review. |
Lethal Skies Elite Pilot: Team SW Review (PS2) |
Sammy
breaks out with a new take on the combat flight sim. Lethal Skies Elite Pilot: Team SW
offers some cool flying with a cool backstory, but ends up pulling short just before the
runway. Some cool graphical effects aren't enough to make this one rise above the rest of
the genre. Click here. |
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Brute Force Preview (Xbox) |
June 15, 2002 |
Microsoft
and Digital Anvil have teamed up on a squad-based combat game that should have HALO fans
wetting their pants. Brute Force
allows you and up to three friends to play a cooperative story mode or just deathmatch the
heck out of each other. Great visuals and lots of cool details make it one to watch for. Click! |
Star Trek Elite Force II Preview (PC) |
Activision brings us the sequel to the popular Elite Force, creatively titled
Start Trek Elite Force II. Expect more
FPS action, with an emphasis on story, as well as much prettier graphics and a possible
foray into Next Gen territory. Go get you a Borg -- click here. |
Ghost Master Preview (PC) |
Empire
Interactive takes a bold step in innovation, and it looks like it's going to pay off for
them. Ghost Master has you in
control of the ghosts haunting a house. Your job is to spook the living bejeebus out of
the not-yet-dead, and to do so you control an army (OK, a few) of the undead. If it sounds
like fun, that's because it is. Click
here. |
Italian Job Review (PS1) |
Rockstar brings us another in
their series of $9.99 "Got Game" titles. The
Italian Job is probably be best of these we've played since Darkstone, which means it's worth a
spin if you're still stuck on the PS1. Following the plot of an old British crime caper
flick, it's got some good story and decent gameplay. Click. |
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LOTR: The Two Towers Preview (PS2, GBA) |
June 11, 2002 |
The Lord of
the Rings franchise has been fractured -- games are coming out from both Sierra and EA. EA
has the movie license, and that will make all the difference. So far The Two Towers looks amazing, what
with the hordes of orcs to cut down and the incredible interplay of film footage and game
graphics. Click here to be amazed. |
Mario Sunshine Preview (GC) |
Mario
is back, and everyone knows it. These screens of Mario Sunshine don't really
do the game justice, but it's the best we have. Finally the fans will have their next
installment of the Mario series, which is as popular as ever and looks to be a lot more
fun. Click. |
Editorial: The Nintendo Difference |
Jason loves his Nintendo Gamecube. And after a year of meager (to say
the least) releases for the system, the Gamecube finally looks to be coming into its own.
The new outlook for the system is all about The Nintendo Difference, and
Jason would like to have a word with you about this difference. Get some hardcore, uncensored
opinion -- click. |
Virtua Fighter 4 Review (PS2) |
Sure,
sure, it's a couple of months old, but what the hell -- you'll like our review better
because it has the benefit of time and space. Eric doesn't just want to review Virtua Fighter 4, but also to situate it in the
broader scheme of fighting games. Also, it took him two months to get anywhere in the game
because it's so damn hard. But that's something other reviewers will hide. Not us. Click here. |
All Star Baseball 2003 Review (GC) |
A
new franchise mode that allows you almost complete freedom and some cool extras make All Star Baseball 2003 the best in the series
so far. Acclaim has really outdone themselves with this one. Gamecube owning baseball fans
need to check out this bad boy. Click here. |
Sled Storm Review (PS2) |
Our
man, Jake, checked out Sled Storm.
Published in EA's Big line, this isn't really a sequel, but more of an upgrade to the
original Sled Storm, released for PSone. The graphics are great, and there are some cool
elements (racing for pink slips anyone?), but overall it needs some work. Click here for the scoop. |
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