GamesFirst!
E3 2002 Archives |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 (Xbox) |
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. |
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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. |
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Unreal Tournament 2003 Preview (PC) |
May 28, 2002 |
Infogrames is
prepping one of the most hotly anticipated sequels of this year or the next.
Unreal Tournament 2003 promises to
satisfy the hardcore UT fans as well as bring a whole new generation to the game. Amazing
graphics, gameplay enhancements, and lots of cool additions will make it a must have game.
Click here. |
Unreal Episode II Preview (PC) |
UT is the multiplayer
game, and for the past while it has overshadowed the single player title that spawned it.
This year Unreal Episode II will remind us
all just why this franchise became so popular. Insane graphics, great action, and a cool
single player adventure make this game one to watch for.
Click here. |
O.R.B. Preview (PC) |
Strategy
First will bring us a potentially revolutionary deep space RTS this fall.
O.R.B. puts you in control of huge space
armadas and interstellar action has never been so accurately reproduced. Accurate physics
offer new tactics to exploit and the fully 3D galaxy is just beautiful.
Click here for more. |
Article: WildTangent Offers New Take on Game
Distribution |
What company hires
giant Samoans to hand out E3 swag rather than the standard 38-18-32 booth babe?
WildTangent, a company with a unique take
on more than just the distribution of their promotional materials. These games are worth
checking out, and most of them are free.
Click! |
Roller Coaster Tycoon II Preview (PC) |
It's
back! The phenomenally huge hit now has a sequel, and
Roller Coaster Tycoon II promises to fulfill
the hopes and dreams of aspiring theme park developers. A new editing interface, a Six
Flags license, and improved graphics are just the beginning. Put your existing park on
hold and check out this preview.
Click here.
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Neverwinter Nights Preview (PC) |
May 27, 2002 |
BioWare and
Infogrames will bring us the long-awaited
Neverwinter
Nights sometime this year. After a long time of anticipation, the game is looking
better than we could have hoped, and given that NWN makes major advancements in the genre,
this is probably the most serious contender for RPG of the year.
Click here for a full preview. |
Metroid Prime Preview (GC) |
She's back,
and it's nice to see that the glory of Metroid will be preserved for another generation.
Metroid Prime, the FPS
next-gen installment of one of the most beloved gaming franchises, is all set to go on
Gamecube, and it is going to be a whole lot of fun. Incredible visuals paired with tight
gameplay insure this a spot in any gamer's library.
Click here. |
Age of Mythology Preview (PC) |
Bruce Shelley and the gang have put together a wonderful next installment in
the Age of Empires series.
Age of Mythology
allows you to play several cultures replete with heroes, fantastic creatures, and plenty
of heavenly vengeance. The new 3D engine lets you see the action from any angle and zoom.
It's just beautiful. Click here. |
Grand Theft Auto Vice City (PS2) |
Reportedly
not a sequel to last year's mega-hit, Rockstar announced
Grand Theft Auto Vice City.
Rockstar was very secretive about the game at E3, but we got what info we could out of
them. Click here. |
Myst III: Exile Preview (Xbox, PS2) |
Is this gorgeous enough for you? The series that
brought computer graphics into the mainstream consciousness is coming to a console near
you. Myst III: Exile maintains
the on-rails, point and click, interface of its predecessors, but features a 360 degree
camera and the most photorealistic landscapes we've seen so far, not to mention a meaty
narrative. Click here for more. |
Smuggler's Run: Warzones Preview (GC) |
In what seems like a coup, one of the formative titles from PS2
is jumping to GC exclusivity.
Smuggler's
Run: Warzones will hit Nintendo's system this summer, and it's likely to please fans
and novices alike. New countermeasures, better visuals, and a beefed up multiplayer are
just some reasons to check it out.
Click here. |
PC Gaming by Design |
In
PC Gaming by Design, our man Paul takes a look
at a PC gaming trend that seems to be amping up for the coming year. Certainly mods and
modders have been around for years, but the latest crop of PC titles take great pains to
give players the chance to get in on designing their own content.
Get the skinny on this trend here. |
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Out The Door |
May 20, 2002 |
GamesFirst!
has officially begun the trek from our little hamlet of Moscow, Idaho to the bustling
metropolis of LA, CA. Eight of us are heading down to bring back the biggest, baddest
coverage of E3. Check back with us on May 25 for the beginning of the onslaught -- dozens
of previews, news articles, interviews, and assorted goodies will be posted each day for
the following couple of weeks. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. |
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