In this article I’ll take a look at some games that are coming out on the current-gen consoles. I’ll also revisit the Xbox 360, as I forgot a title or two in the last article. From PS2 to Nintendo DS, I’ll give a little more info (plus more 2o2p exclusive photos). Put your bib on, ‘cause you’ll be drooling.
Multi-platform Titles
While the 360 and the PS3 are getting all the press, getting rid of your current system might not be the right move. EA showed a preview of the title Black, which should be on everyone’s watch list. The live demonstration I saw put the player in a room that reminded me of the popular Matrix scene where Neo and Trinity storm the office tower lobby mixed with some of the scenes from the movie ‘The Rock’. This is quite possibly the best looking PS2 title I’ve ever seen. Xbox quality graphics that made me drool. There were cement pillars that were being decimated by gun fire. Intelligent AI and the ability to use your environment as a weapon made this FPS title stand out. It seemed like everything took damage, a promise that was made when Black was first previewed by the press months ago. It looks good, and they still have time to work on it, as it isn’t out until sometime in 2006.
Another EA title that I got to see was The Godfather. I’m not sure when this title is set to release, but the demo that I saw was rough, to say the least. I like the premise of the game (work your way up from low-raking tough guy to family mob boss), but I sure hope EA puts the time and effort into putting a real polish on the game. Graphics were on par with the PS1, and it didn’t look anywhere near being ready to show off. If this one gets rushed out the door, you might just want to pass on it. If they give it the time and attention to detail the property deserves, it could still end up being a strong title.
Rockstar showed game-play of the upcoming The Warriors. The game was broken down into missions that you select from a map. The map shows gang territories, so you could see whose territory you were getting in to. The game is definitely unlike anything you’ve played before, and Rockstar is hoping to define the brawler genre with this release. When the level started, the Warriors were completely out numbered by one of their rival gangs, so they did what any smart gang member would do: ran away. The running sequence is done in a fun fashion, though I’m not sure how the camera angles will work out in the final product. You would run down the street, with the camera in front of you (so you could see the mob behind you), or at times, it would be beside you. You would have to hop fences, and run up stairs to evade the rival gang, but in the end, the game is a brawler. Hearing someone get cracked with a baseball bat was probably the most rewarding part of the demonstration. Everyone watching gasped, as the sound made you cringe. Looking forward to how the final game shapes up.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 was demonstrated by Lucas Arts. I enjoyed the initial experience of the first game, but quickly tired of it due to lack of game modes. Control points was entertaining only the first hundred times or so… Lucas Arts realized that folks like a little variety, and also made some additional changes. For starters, you can now play as a Jedi (or Sith, as Vader), but only for a limited time. The more damage you do, and the more you benefit your team, the longer you can play as the Jedi. You can also switch classes at any time, instead of having to wait until you’ve died. The level sizes have been increased, as to give the player a sense of being in a more epic battle. The big addition is space battle. Hop in an X-Wing and fly out of the space station to take part in large-scale space battles. You can also land your craft in an enemy space station to complete objectives or try to destroy the station. The Xbox demo for this game is actually available in this month’s Official Xbox Magazine, if you’re looking to get your hands on it a little early to try out the new changes.
PS2
SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs is headed to the PS2, and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo is headed to the PSP. Both titles feature the third-person shooting goodness that has made Sony’s SOCOM one of the most popular PS2 titles. The PS2 title features vehicles, as well as a graphics upgrade. The PSP title features a two-man team (instead of the four-man team featured in the PS2 game), aiming to provide the gamer with a more stealthy experience. Online gaming is available in both titles, with SOCOM 3 supporting 32 players online, and Fireteam Bravo will feature Wi-Fi multi-player. The two games can actually be played together to unlock new levels, so gamers that have both the PS2 and PSP will likely want to check out both titles.
Socom 3 In action
Shadow of the Colossus is another title from Sony. The game features giant mythical beasts that you must defeat. While the fighting looks interesting, getting there seems like it couldn’t be less boring. To find out which direction you need to go to find the next Colossus, you raise your sword above your head and a beam of light points the way. Then, by way of horseback, you travel for miles until you reach your destination. Some of the fighting elements seem like jump-puzzles and button-mashing, though I didn’t get a chance to play the game. Fighting something as huge as a Colossus just looks so darn cool that I’d probably have to give it a shot regardless of how many miles I’d have to force my poor pony to carry me. I just hope the game play has more depth than fighting a dozen or so giants.
Capcom is bringing the Nintendo Game Cube juggernaut Resident Evil 4 to the PS2, and it’s not just a port. The game is sporting new outfits (?) as well as refined controls for the new console. If you haven’t had a chance to play this one, this is your chance to experience one of the best games around.
Square Enix showed previews of Dragon Quest VIII and Kingdom Hearts II (both of which look fantastic, though we’ve come to expect that), and talked a little bit about Final Fantasy XII, though nothing noteworthy was said (on the topic of Square Enix, a late spring or summer release was mentioned for Final Fantasy XI for the Xbox 360, though that wasn't a promise). Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children keeps getting bumped back (currently set to release in January ’06), and fans are eagerly awaiting any releases in the series.
Nintendo News
With the biggest Nintendo title set to release 6 months from now (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess out in April), Nintendo talked about hardware and bundles. The DS will see new colors and software bundles in the next couple months. The first color will be teal, and it will be packaged with the DS hit title Nintendogs. The second DS bundle will feature a bright red system and the upcoming Mario Kart DS. Another hardware update regarding the DS is that Nintendo is really turning it’s focus to the unit’s Wi-Fi ability. Online and network gaming are both in the works, and they’re working on partnerships so that you’ll be able to go Wi-Fi in some hotspots. Pretty exciting news for DS fans, as that’s going to open up another level of multi-player gaming.
Nintendo also said that Game Cube bundles will likely be announced, including a game, the console and one or two controllers. One of the bundles was said to include Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, which hit store shelves September 29th. This new Pokemon title may increase the property’s fan base, as it’s a new spin on the series. This game has RPG elements, so fans of the genre may be tempted to try the new title, even if they have no idea what a Pokemon is.
Revisiting the Xbox and the Xbox 360
While the bulk of the available titles were covered in my first article, I was asked about Project Gotham 3 for the 360, which I had completely forgotten to comment on. While I didn’t get to play PGR3, I did see a live demo. Following the PGR series in true fashion, the graphics are improved yet again, making this a perfect title for the next-gen console. The car reflects the environment on its paint. Watching the game in motion is drool-inducing. The demo also showed how the spectator mode works. You have multiple camera angles to choose from, so watching a race is possible from almost any vantage point. Speaking of camera angles, there’s a new interior view, which shows the steering wheel, dash, rear-view and driver-side mirrors, with the interior representing the actual interior of the real life car you’re driving. If you liked the last two games, this is a must-have and a no-brainer.
StarCraft: Ghost playable multi-player was featured by Blizzard and Vivendi Universal. It looks good, but I was honestly hoping for more. It looks like Halo 1 multi-player, which isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t a good thing for a game that has been in development for as long as it has. The (unseen) upside to the multi-player is that all three StarCraft races will be available to play. In the version I saw, only the Terrans (humans) were available. It is class based, and the classes stay true to the StarCraft world. There were Marines, Fire Bats, and Ghosts. Before the final release, I’d like to see a graphical update (an overhaul isn’t necessary, but a touch up would be nice), and the vehicle physics could be tweaked a bit. I’d love to see the campaign, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Zerg and Protoss in the final multi-player.
That ends my expo coverage. Now I just have to prioritize my spending. Hopefully you enjoyed the few screenshots that turned out and the tidbits of info that I provided. Again, if you have questions, feel free to PM me in the forums, or post a comment here.
While the 360 and the PS3 are getting all the press, getting rid of your current system might not be the right move. EA showed a preview of the title Black, which should be on everyone’s watch list. The live demonstration I saw put the player in a room that reminded me of the popular Matrix scene where Neo and Trinity storm the office tower lobby mixed with some of the scenes from the movie ‘The Rock’. This is quite possibly the best looking PS2 title I’ve ever seen. Xbox quality graphics that made me drool. There were cement pillars that were being decimated by gun fire. Intelligent AI and the ability to use your environment as a weapon made this FPS title stand out. It seemed like everything took damage, a promise that was made when Black was first previewed by the press months ago. It looks good, and they still have time to work on it, as it isn’t out until sometime in 2006.
Another EA title that I got to see was The Godfather. I’m not sure when this title is set to release, but the demo that I saw was rough, to say the least. I like the premise of the game (work your way up from low-raking tough guy to family mob boss), but I sure hope EA puts the time and effort into putting a real polish on the game. Graphics were on par with the PS1, and it didn’t look anywhere near being ready to show off. If this one gets rushed out the door, you might just want to pass on it. If they give it the time and attention to detail the property deserves, it could still end up being a strong title.
Rockstar showed game-play of the upcoming The Warriors. The game was broken down into missions that you select from a map. The map shows gang territories, so you could see whose territory you were getting in to. The game is definitely unlike anything you’ve played before, and Rockstar is hoping to define the brawler genre with this release. When the level started, the Warriors were completely out numbered by one of their rival gangs, so they did what any smart gang member would do: ran away. The running sequence is done in a fun fashion, though I’m not sure how the camera angles will work out in the final product. You would run down the street, with the camera in front of you (so you could see the mob behind you), or at times, it would be beside you. You would have to hop fences, and run up stairs to evade the rival gang, but in the end, the game is a brawler. Hearing someone get cracked with a baseball bat was probably the most rewarding part of the demonstration. Everyone watching gasped, as the sound made you cringe. Looking forward to how the final game shapes up.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 was demonstrated by Lucas Arts. I enjoyed the initial experience of the first game, but quickly tired of it due to lack of game modes. Control points was entertaining only the first hundred times or so… Lucas Arts realized that folks like a little variety, and also made some additional changes. For starters, you can now play as a Jedi (or Sith, as Vader), but only for a limited time. The more damage you do, and the more you benefit your team, the longer you can play as the Jedi. You can also switch classes at any time, instead of having to wait until you’ve died. The level sizes have been increased, as to give the player a sense of being in a more epic battle. The big addition is space battle. Hop in an X-Wing and fly out of the space station to take part in large-scale space battles. You can also land your craft in an enemy space station to complete objectives or try to destroy the station. The Xbox demo for this game is actually available in this month’s Official Xbox Magazine, if you’re looking to get your hands on it a little early to try out the new changes.
PS2
SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs is headed to the PS2, and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo is headed to the PSP. Both titles feature the third-person shooting goodness that has made Sony’s SOCOM one of the most popular PS2 titles. The PS2 title features vehicles, as well as a graphics upgrade. The PSP title features a two-man team (instead of the four-man team featured in the PS2 game), aiming to provide the gamer with a more stealthy experience. Online gaming is available in both titles, with SOCOM 3 supporting 32 players online, and Fireteam Bravo will feature Wi-Fi multi-player. The two games can actually be played together to unlock new levels, so gamers that have both the PS2 and PSP will likely want to check out both titles.
Socom 3 In action
Shadow of the Colossus is another title from Sony. The game features giant mythical beasts that you must defeat. While the fighting looks interesting, getting there seems like it couldn’t be less boring. To find out which direction you need to go to find the next Colossus, you raise your sword above your head and a beam of light points the way. Then, by way of horseback, you travel for miles until you reach your destination. Some of the fighting elements seem like jump-puzzles and button-mashing, though I didn’t get a chance to play the game. Fighting something as huge as a Colossus just looks so darn cool that I’d probably have to give it a shot regardless of how many miles I’d have to force my poor pony to carry me. I just hope the game play has more depth than fighting a dozen or so giants.
Capcom is bringing the Nintendo Game Cube juggernaut Resident Evil 4 to the PS2, and it’s not just a port. The game is sporting new outfits (?) as well as refined controls for the new console. If you haven’t had a chance to play this one, this is your chance to experience one of the best games around.
Square Enix showed previews of Dragon Quest VIII and Kingdom Hearts II (both of which look fantastic, though we’ve come to expect that), and talked a little bit about Final Fantasy XII, though nothing noteworthy was said (on the topic of Square Enix, a late spring or summer release was mentioned for Final Fantasy XI for the Xbox 360, though that wasn't a promise). Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children keeps getting bumped back (currently set to release in January ’06), and fans are eagerly awaiting any releases in the series.
Nintendo News
With the biggest Nintendo title set to release 6 months from now (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess out in April), Nintendo talked about hardware and bundles. The DS will see new colors and software bundles in the next couple months. The first color will be teal, and it will be packaged with the DS hit title Nintendogs. The second DS bundle will feature a bright red system and the upcoming Mario Kart DS. Another hardware update regarding the DS is that Nintendo is really turning it’s focus to the unit’s Wi-Fi ability. Online and network gaming are both in the works, and they’re working on partnerships so that you’ll be able to go Wi-Fi in some hotspots. Pretty exciting news for DS fans, as that’s going to open up another level of multi-player gaming.
Nintendo also said that Game Cube bundles will likely be announced, including a game, the console and one or two controllers. One of the bundles was said to include Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, which hit store shelves September 29th. This new Pokemon title may increase the property’s fan base, as it’s a new spin on the series. This game has RPG elements, so fans of the genre may be tempted to try the new title, even if they have no idea what a Pokemon is.
Revisiting the Xbox and the Xbox 360
While the bulk of the available titles were covered in my first article, I was asked about Project Gotham 3 for the 360, which I had completely forgotten to comment on. While I didn’t get to play PGR3, I did see a live demo. Following the PGR series in true fashion, the graphics are improved yet again, making this a perfect title for the next-gen console. The car reflects the environment on its paint. Watching the game in motion is drool-inducing. The demo also showed how the spectator mode works. You have multiple camera angles to choose from, so watching a race is possible from almost any vantage point. Speaking of camera angles, there’s a new interior view, which shows the steering wheel, dash, rear-view and driver-side mirrors, with the interior representing the actual interior of the real life car you’re driving. If you liked the last two games, this is a must-have and a no-brainer.
That ends my expo coverage. Now I just have to prioritize my spending. Hopefully you enjoyed the few screenshots that turned out and the tidbits of info that I provided. Again, if you have questions, feel free to PM me in the forums, or post a comment here.
