Official PS2 Magazine UK issue 12

HE UK'S BESTSELLING PLAYSTATI0N®2 MAGAZINEissue012/october2001/£4.99withdiscl

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE-UI

I N R L F R N ' m s y XN LOCATION WITH SOUMERE'S NO WAY WE' E '*ÔNNA MAKE THAT BRIDGE..."om the makers of Driver comese b o n e - b r e a k i n ' S t u n t m a n

ETTER THAN SSXster, louder, harder, stronger -[elusive shots of SSX "n-icky

REVOLUTIONARY RP(

ÔJECT EDEN/DAVE MIRRA FREESTYLE BMX 2HIS IS FOOTBALL 2002/FREAK OUT/SPY HUNTERVISTED METAL: BLACK/THUNDERHAWK/MORE

ICOMING! ALL THEOTTEST PS2 GAMES!WF SMACKDOWNimiE TERMINATORWND THEFT AUTO 3/SPEEDBALLMB RAIDER/BURNOUT/MAUCEJS WORLD EXCLUSIVE SHOTSSega's PlayStation 2 line-up!

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^ GRAN TURISMO 3:^ THE OFFICIAL GUIDElay the world's best racer like a proKpert help straight from the makers!

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WipEout returns - anit's faster than eve

f u t u Ô C T O B E R 2 0 0 1 E 4 . E

1

MwAawWipawAMi 9

150 cars, all with faithful styling, handling, and sound effects!The most realistic racing game ever! Unbelievable graphics!

No exaggeration.PlayStationT H E T H I R D P L R

September 2001

- H i t » t h e d i r t a n d e x p r e s s y o u r s e l f a s f e a t u r i n gComichael takes you beyond extreme. fH^ethcr racinb agoworld's best on 2S adrenaline fuelled courses or pulling frpestylithat defy gravity, featuring fiicky Comichael will majaw drop, fly you higher than a hawk and be the wildest riqe of y(

www.thq.eom/mx2002 www.p r i tm :

PlayStation<6. "and "PJavStatJon" are n

MX, Pacific Coast Poweitrademarks of Sony ComputerIt Company. THQ and tl^^ir res|

Entertainment Inc. All flights Reserved, m 2002 featuring Ricky Carrlective iogos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc

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0 9 8 P R O J BFind paradise with this groundbreaking!adventure from the original Tomb Raider team ^

102 DAVE MIRRAFREESfYL£ BMX 2Can the sequel to the number one PSone stuntgame steal a march on Mat Hoffman?

1 0 4 T H U N D E R H AW K :OPERATION PHOENIXCore Design gets its chopper out for a campaign ofauthentic anti-terrorist attacks.

S I R A L E X F E R G U S O N ' SP L AY E R M A N A G E R 2 0 0 1S P Y H U N T E RT W I S T E D M E 1 A L - B L A C KT n i S I S F O O T B A L L 2 0 0 2M X 2 0 0 2 F E AT U R I N GR I C K Y C A R M I C H A E LF R E A K O U T

LIFE CONTAINS ENOUGH EMBARRASSMENTS WITHOUT YOUR MOBILE BEING ONE.Get the latest stylish mobiles on BT Cellnet Pay & Go!"

i ssue012/oc tober2001

PlayStations

S O U L

□ N T H E DTHE HUGE SOUL REAVER 2 DEMO IS JUST ONE OF FIVEPLAYABLE DEMOS ON OUR BIGGEST EVER DVD!

PLAYABLE DEMO ONE/SOUL REAVER 2Sink your teeth Into this spooky sequel - two wholemonths before the game hits the shops!

PLAYABLE DEMO TWO/M X R I D E R

Sample motocross andsupetcross !n this stuntb!ke simulation.

PLAYABLE DEMO THREE/T H S I SF O O T B A L L 2 0 0 2How does SCEEs soccertWe fare against FIFA?

PLAYABLE DEMO FOUR/P O R I A L R U N N E RArmy Men's Vikk! gets tostar In her own adventure.Play It here first

PLAYABLE DEMO FIVE/S P Y H U N T E RSee how Midway hasupdated this retro classicfor a new generation.

PLUS/VDEO PREVIEWS OF:AlrBlade, Dark Cloud, Jak AndDaxter, WipEout Fusion and more...» F U a D E 1 A I L S : R A G E 1 2

F E R T U R E E

0 6 6 - m E P S 2 I N T E R V I E W :R I O F E R D I N A N D

England's most expensivedefender chats to 0PS2.

0 5 8 T H E P S 2 I N T E R V I E W :T T T S U Y A M I Z U G U C H I

Inside the mind of the manbehind Sega Rally and Rez

072 ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH?WipEout Fusion: the space raceseries just got a whole lot betterTTie question Is, have you?

0 7 6 D O N T T R Y T H I S AT H O K E . . .

Playing the fall guy with Stuntman,another future classic from themakers of Driver.

082 BETTER THAN SSXPS2's snowboarding sensationreturns in the spectacular guise ofSSX Tricky.

0 8 8 U F H N G T H E V E I L

Your Introduction to the gamethat's been outselling GTS three-to-one In Japan, Welcome toFinal Fantasy X,.

B R H EP R E N I E U U 5

0 1 6 W W F S M A C K D O W N !' J U S T B R I N G n r

Grapple with our exclusivepreview of one of the year'sbiggest games.

020 AIRBLADECriterion Studios' hotly-tippedhover board stunt game finallyz o o m s I n t o v i e w,

0 2 4 G R A N D T H E F T A U T O 3

Dope dealin', cash stealln', tyressquealln' - what more can youask from a game?

026 ESPN X GAMESS K A T E B O A R D I N G

028 SPLASHDOWN

0 3 0 B U R N O U T

0 3 2 D R O P S H I P

0 3 4 S M U G G L E R ' S R U N 2

0 3 7 K L O N O A 2

R E B U L R R E

008 Editor 's Letter010 Con t r i bu to rs041 Spy

All the very latest happeningsIn the world of PS2.

070 Next Month120 PSone Reviews

The Italian Job and the bestP S o n e r e l e a s e s .

122 MediaThe Stanley KubrickCollection reviewed on DVD,plus an exclusive Interviewwith George Lucas.

128 HardcorePart one of our exclusiveGran Turismo 3 official tipsguide, plus more Red Faction.

134 Subscr ibeSave 10% and have yourcopy of 0PS2 delivered toyour door

136 PostalFrom you to us with words.

144 CompetitionsWin tickets to the ChampionsLeague final.

146 What If?What If girls played PS2more than boys.?

□□N T T R y T H B R T H ^ mMAKIN' BUCKS AND BREAKIN' BONES WITH STUNTMAN - FULL GAME DETAILS REVEALED! PAGE 076

PlayStation®?' O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E - U K

E D I TO R ' S L E T T E R

W ey o uAs titles go, 'we love you' could be construed as just a wee bit schmaltzy but this isno cheap ploy (or excuse to get a Stones song as a header). This Is what I can onlydescribe as a bloody great smacl<er to each and evety one of you who've once againmade us the bestselling PlayStation 2 magazine In the land. We were top last yearand, as the latest set of circulation figures prove, we still are thanks to 82,109 of youbeautiful people buying this here mag So thanks. Thanks very, very much,

"But," we hear you cty. "But what do we get apart from a promise of love and athank you? Surely we deserve more for our loyal support?" Indeed you do, andthat's why we've had a bit of tinker this Issue to make 0PS2 even better Our Spysection has been given a makeover with new regulars and an update section thattracks what's happening to the biggest games as they reach the end ofdevelopment. We've also spruced up the back of the magazine, with a new Surgerysection in which FItz will cure your gaming Ills, we've added a textmessage feature to our Postal pages ISPK YR BRNS TO US ON 07764 75886),Increased our HardCore tips arena (check out our official Gran Turismo 3 guide onpage 128) and generally given everything a bit of a spring clean. Oh, and if you're afooty fan, turn to page 144 where you can not only win first-class tickets to theChampions League final, but win the shirt off Rio Ferdinand's back

But beyond all the new house colours and saucy fonts, our real thank you thisissue is in the games we've covered. The first UK reviews of Dave Mirra FreestyleBMX 2 and Twisted Metal: Black The first UK previews of AlrBlade and Grand TheftAuto 3. Exclusive access to the makers of SSX Tricky and WIpEout Fusion. The onlyUK magazine to Interview HIronobu Sakaguchi about our cover game. Final FantasyX. A Spy section that features info and Images on Tomb Raider, Speedball Arena,Malice, Superman, Moto GP 2, Vampire Night and World Rally Championship - Infoand images that you simply won't find In any other magazine. We could go on andon but just take a look at the Issue to see what I mean.

Oh, and one more thing that not only says a big thank you but underlines ourcommitment to the future of this magazine and the PlayStation 2 - our biggestdemo disc yet. Five playable demos, ten preview videos and a promise that thebest Is yet to come, is this a big enough thank you?

Write and let us know,

MIKE GOLDSMITHSenior Editor

l o v e

SAVE10%With an Official PS2 subscription youget six issues at just £4.50 each

Call 0870 444 8656 now, quotingorder code EDP13, or turn to page 126for more details. Offer ends 11/09/01

Overseas readers ca l l +44 870 444 8656Lines open 24 hours, seven days a week

08 Play5tation.E

Rent any Blockbuster game

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A B C ABC 82,109 JAN-JUN 2001A m e m b e r o f t t i e A u d i t e d

Bureau of Circulattons

CONTRIBUTORSWe asked them what they do. Here's what they do.

# 1 2

ZY NICHOLSONZ/s been living in Japan for the best part of ayear where he was once called on to translateKen Loach's thickly Glaswegian My Nome Is Joe- for an Australian audience. Honto nil He also

managed to develop an addiction to shochu,dried squid and Meitykiss choco-cubes, not tomention a healthy fear of Elvis-death by short-circuit on one of those electricaily heated toiletseats. Zy also once worked for Bullfrog as ascriptwriter and game designer This month hehas been hard at work dissecting our glorious,but currently gaijin unfriendly, Import copy ofRnal fantasy X. See his feature on page 88,

Game Of The Moment: 'Yes, 1 know I still have your copy of Final fbntasy X. And youwill never get it back! Never, you hear me?! NEVER!!!i"

I'm holding my breath for 'The PS2 version of Deus Ex. So I have an excuse to play itagain. Not that I've ever really needed a reason to play it PS2 gamers are in for a treat."

ALEX COOKEAlex once had a close encounter with the richand famous when he Interviewed smooth-o-drama-king Nigei Havers for a radio show.Apparently Havers refused to talk about his roleIn Dont Wa/t Up, one of the finest prime timecomedies we've seen in decades. Can't imaginewhy. Actually, yes we can. This month however,long-time PlayStation scribe Alex has turned hisattention to Dove Mlrra Freestyle BMX 2. Readhis review starting on page 102. And as for thedoctor's outfit? "Just something I like to do in n yspare time." Yes. The doctor is in, but for nowthe juiy is out...

Game Of The Moment: "Without a gnat's shadow of a doubt it has to be the awesomeGnan Tur/smo 3: A-spea Vvvwrooooooooom!" Quite.

I'm holding my breath for "Core's herd-'em-up Hardy Gerdy. It'll be Just like the SwindonTown front line - herding up those balls into the opposition's net!" Quite. Again.

ANDY LOWEThis month Andy has been getting into aprofessionai iather for us over WIpEout Fusion,Isee p70|. But before that? Once Editor ofGamesMoster, his jaunts on behalf of Total Filmhave left him with a star-studded anecdotescrapbook Pick of the bunch has to be JohnnyDepp whom he interviewed at Cannes despitenot being on the official list Armed with bails ofbrass Andy bluffed his way past security and satright down with the genial Deppster Class. Andydivides his spare time between hatingmotorcyclists - they should grow out it" - andenjoying the smeii of Play Dough. Right

Game Of The Moment; "Red Faction, it's the first console game that doesn't fee! it h<is todumb down at all because it's not on a PC."

I'm holding my breath for "WIpEout Fusion. Well, it has to be reaiiy, doesn't it?! iove allthe games but i'm reaiiy looking fora/ard to playing this one."

DANIEL GRIFFITHSYou may recognise Dan from the Beeb's popularI ^ 1990 series. He was the one talking about -erki - Mortal Kombot Dan used to work withMike on Official PlayStation Magazine 'back ir.the day" and was Editor of GomesMoster.Although he's never met Dominic Diamond. On,and he asked us not to tell you about the timehe once sent an email to a high profile PS2 execentitled: 'Get your gums around my plums'. D.tn'sjust joined the 0PS2 team to oversee ourcovermounted DVD and spends his days hasslingpeople for playable demos. Look at this issue spacked disc and you'll see he's doing just fine.

Game Of The Moment: "Gran Turismo 3. So much so that I've lost all feeling in my ightthumb. Not that it's going to stop me from playing It, mind"

I'm holding my breath for "Metal Gear Solid 2. That and the chicken vindaloo and fivepints of lager I have every Friday night without fail." Fair play.

010 PlayStation.2

Experience your dead side.w w w . A C C L _ A l N / 1 u k . t z a m

SHADOWMAN^"^ SECOND COMING and Acclaim ® & © 2001 Acclaim Entertainment. All rights reserved.Developed by Accloim Studios, Teesside. All rights reserved. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos

are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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PlayStation®^' O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E - U K

» a N T H E D X I Dplayable demosother magazines let you watch, 0PS2 lets you play...

Get your undead clawson OPSZs mass i veSoul Reaver 2 demo.Mmmm, devilish.

1 ^ ;

I P L R y n S L E D E m D O N E

S O U LREAVER 2Publisher: Eidos/Game type: Adventure/Demo type: Playable/Out Now/Player;: 1

T H E G A M ERazlel Is back on his old stomping ground, the land of Nosgoth to settle the score withvampire Kain once and for all. This time his quest will take him deep into Nosgoth's past.For Soul Reaver's PS2 incarnation. Crystal Dynamics has set about making marychanges to improve the gaming experience and the result is nothing short of st jnningThe world around Raziel is now incredibly detailed with forests and swampsaccompanying the familiar gothic architecture. Raziel is now constructed from over 3000polygons, has a new combat system and can learn new abilities as he progressesthrough the game. There's a whole beastiary of new monsters to do battle with whilethe lighting and texture work has been vastly improved since Raziel's PSone oitingmaking this one of the best looking PS2 titles to date.

T H E D E M OIn this massive demo you guide Raziel through an entire level of the game. Aftdr loading,hit ® to start and get ready for some serious blood-sucking actioni Your aim is to usethe light and dark Reavers to discover the resting-place of the stillbeating heart. OnceyouVe located it, you've got to return it to its rightful place. We're not going to say anymore, we'll just let you enjoy It for yourselves. Suffice to say, Buffy this aint.

Hello again. With PS2 gearing up forthe winter season and a flood of

quality games just atuund the corner,we've got you the best playable androlling demos available. There are noless than five playable demos to getyour Joypad-wielding palms sweatingand ten videos of upcoming titlesthat'll be heading your way soon.

Kicking off the exclusive playableswe've got some vampire-goring,dimension-jumping action with SoulReaver 2. Then get yourselves a bit ofSpy Hunter action or kick up somedirt with MX Rider Next up is SCEE'slatest FIFA challenger, This is Football2002 and if that isn't enough for youthen try out 3D0's new Army Menspin-off, Porto/ Runner

It doesn't stop there thoughbecause we glimpse into the futurewith our packed video preview sectionfeaturing the best of the rest We grabsome big air with AirBiode-, go goblinslaying in Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance;build worlds with Dark Cioud, thenstomp ail over them again in Giants:Citizen Kotiuto. There's an exclusivepeek at Eighties throwback Top Gun;new footage of Jak & Daxter, TimeCrisis 2, WipEout Fusion and TwistediWeto/; Black then we round things offwith a teasing glimpse of the dark anddownright dirty Silent Hill 2. See younext month.

M r i a n L a w t o n

Deputy PlayStation Producer

PS To use this disc, load it up on yourPS2. Then scroll between games and'Oiling demos with the and f keys,ro choose within a section use «-and Press ® to start your choicejp. Please note, you may have to reset/our PS2 after some demos.

I P L n y H B L E D E m D T L U D

MX R IDERPublisher; Infogrames/Game type; Extreme sports/Demo type: Playable/Out; Now/Players 1 (Full game 1-2)

T H E G A M EMore a simulation than its stunt-based rival (THQ'sMX 2002] MX Rider offers a blend of Motocross,Supercross and Freestyle modes to suit everyone'stastes. A full training option is available so you canperfect your technique and the game's 30+ tricksbefore taking on the world's best, while themultiplayer means that you can show off all thoseradical stunts you've learnt to a mate. TheChampionship mode provides much of the game'saction with the ability to create your own rider,upgrade your bikes, gain sponsorship and manageyour own career as you make your way to the top ofthe RM World Championship to become the all-timedaddy of this extreme sport.

T H E D E M OAfter loading, choose single race with ®, then useleft/right to select either MX or SX. Each will give youcontrol of a different rider (Mike Brown If you chooseMotocross or Edgar Calixte if you opt for Supercross)on a 125CC machine.

Each also races a different track, with Mike takingto the dirt at Lucenec in Slovakia and Edgar taking onthe competition at Barcelona in Spain. After loadingyou can either watch the track fly-by or skip it with0 and get straight on with the action. Once thissequence has finished it's time to get down and dirtyand see if you're the Supercross supremo or the dirtb i ke dweeb .

» T O E C O N T R O I S

(g) Accelerate@ Hold down and rotate

left stick for stunts@ Rear brakeC D F r o n t b r a k eI B V i e w c h a n g e

Some of the most fun youcan have on two wheels -

w *

MX Rider gets down anddirty in Spain and Slovakia.

w r » iNow you've played it, butwhat did we think of it?Turn to page 115 now forour exclusive UK review.

I P L R y P B L E D E m n T H R E E

THIS ISFOOTBALJ .2002Publisher: SCEE/Game type; Footy sim/Demo type; Playable/Out: Nov/Players: 1 (Full game 1-8)

T H E G A M ETo compete with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer and EA's FIFA series, SCEEhas got its work cut out if it wants to compete. But SCEE is taking thingsvery seriously with the latest incarnation of the This Is Football series fromTeam SoHo. Offering slick graphics and easily accessible gameplay; over 300 " -teams (both club and national); a licence from RFPro and Instantlyrecognisable players, plus realistic crowd actions depending on what'shappening on the pitch, they certainly mean business. X

T H E D E M OOnce the game's loaded press S to get to the main menu. If you want to,you can go into 'options' and adjust the camera height or position beforeyoo hit 'Quick Game' with ® to get Into the action. The demo offers you thechance to battle the supremacy of France as lowly Australia, or side with thechampions and give the underdogs a right royal thrashing.

: r

» T O E C O N T R O L S -

( g ) G r o u n d p a s s ~@ S h o o t ^@ A i r p a s s " ■ ' '® T h r o u g h b a U ^ 'C D S p r i n tCB Del iberate d ivem Hold for loBipop/tap for spin<B Hold for knock forward/

tap for shimmy with close controljS; Pause

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playable demosother magazines let you watch, 0PS2 lets you play...

ISkki shoots straig gr play^le DV^BHI

" T H E C O t g T R O l S

3 ) Jumpg) Switch to first-person viewg) FireS) Seiect weaponm Sidestep ieftED Sidestep r ight

I P L P y n B L E □E F T I D F O U R

P O R I A LR U N N E RPublisher: 3D0/Ganie type: Adventure/Demo type: Playable/Out: Now/Players: 1 (Full game 1-2)

T H E G A M EThis Army Men spin-off from 3D0 features VIkkl G, ace reporter andgirlfriend of that iittle green hand man, Sarge. Evil super-spy BrtgltteBieu has discovered a series of mysterious portals leading Into newworlds and Is getting up to all sorts of monkey business In thesedomains. So Into the nearest portal VIkki dives, ably assisted by herpet Hon, Leo, to put a stop to Brigitte's evii-doings. Boasting fivedifferent modes of play (Including shooting platform Jumping andpuzzle solving! over five worlds, the ability to play as both VIkki andLeo with 35 different creatures to fight, Portal Runner promises tobe a whole lot more fun than It's bogey-coloured counterparts.

T H E D E M OPress ® and the game begins In a medieval world on a giantchessboard. Your aim here Is to protect the bumbling Wizardfrom the armour-clad Knights who want to make mincemeat outof him. Once this is done, you'll need to figure out a way to openthe gate that's blocking your exit. See how fast you can do it.

P L P y H B L E D E m a F N E

SPY HUNTER'ubllshen Midway/Game type: Racer/Shoot-'em-up/3emo type: Playable/Out: Now/Players: 1 (Full game 1-2)

r H E G A M ESet those tuxedos on, gulp down a vodka martini and say hello to secret agentictlon fest. Spy Hunter. Spread over 14 worldwide locations you control the G-il55 Interceptor, a high-tech vehicle packed to the gills with ail the weaponryind gadgets you'd expect from any self-respecting super-spy Make use of yourlil slicks, homing missiles, tracking devices and smoke screens to stop thehadow NOSTRA Corporation. They're out for world domination, will stop atlothing to finish you off and It's a thrlli-a-second ride ail the way

r H E D E M Ofter watching the slick intra movie, scroll and seiect Mission Two withhe ® button. This level, set In the lealy suburbs of Germany Is called 'DragonWke' and your primary objective [though there are other optional ones) Is toake out NOSTRA's Dragonfly Helicopter then rendezvous with your people athe designated point before the time runs out Beginning In a subterranean carlark, hit the gas, shoot out the door and you're away for a high-octane ridehrough some seriously dangerous territory. You've got threeninutes to complete the objectives and reach thelick-up zone.

V i d e oA rolling glimpse of PS2 future.

I M O E D O N E

Publisher: SCEE/Game type; Extreme sports/Demo type: Video preview/Out: Winter/Players 1-2

CRTT^RION STUDIO'S AIRBLADE should be one Of thewinter's big hits and we've bagged this latest showreeidirect from SCEE After accidentally coming Intopossession of an experimental hover board that ashadowy corporation will do anything to get the r handson, AirBlade requires you undertake some crazy antics tostop them from nicking your new-found toy Featuringhuge environments In which you can interact with prettymuch everything the game lets you swing from poles,smash through billboards, knock snipers from rc:oftops,grind across cars and even go head-to-head with a mate.

Head to our SpyH u n t e r r e v i e won page HO.

I \ J O E D T H R E E

DARK CLOUDPublisher: SCEE/Game type: RPG/Demo type: Video pnevlew/Out: Now/Players: 1

SCErS NEW TUKE on the RPG genre features a novel'Diorama' mode that requires you to rebuild an fntireworid after it has been ripped apart by an evil force. As thelead character; Toan, you must take on the Immtinsepower of a Dark Genie, released from Its prison .ind nowwreaking havoc among the populace. The Indlvlouai partsof the worid as you know It have been sealed Intoprotective spheres and scattered across the globe and it'sup to you to reassemble them by venturing into vastdungeons. This cinematic trailer gives us a taster of thebeautiful visuals, innovative features and addictivegameplay that will undoubtedly make this a huge hit.

H4 PlayStation 2

T s l K b o u s i I»Comments and queries about this cover disc shouldgo to me, Adrian, at PS2®ifuturenet.co.ul(. Sorry, i can'tanswer your questions over the phone.

»lf you have problems with your disc pop it in anenvelope and send It to the following address. We'll te:It and, if faulty, send you a new DVD, We're at OfficialPlayStation 2 Magazine, Disc Returns, CustomerServices, Future Publishing, Carey Court, BancombeRoad Industrial Estate, Somerton, Somerset TAll 6TB*Remember, though, this d/sc will only work on a PS2.

Even more demos for you to savour...

1 \ J O E D T L U D

BALDUR'S GATE:D A R K A L U A N C EPublisher: Interplay/Game type: RPG/Demo type: Video preview/Out: Now/Players: 1-2THE MASSIVELY POPULAR PC tDle-playing series (based on the AdvancedDungeons & Dragons rules! should vi/ln many new friends among the PS2fraternity if this exclusive new footage is anything to go by. Set in the FotgottonRealms game world, the title pits you against a malevolent evil force thatthreatens to overwhelm the town of Baldurs Gate. With a two-playerCooperative mode, a deep, engrossing plot, graphics to make you weep withjoy (including some truly jaw-dropping spell effects) and around 30 hoursgameplay, BG: DA is an unmissable experience for dungeon lovers. Pointy hatsand dodgy cloaks at the ready people...

9I M D E D F O U R

GIAISTTS:C IT IZEN KABUTOPublisher: Interplay

Critically acclaimed on the PC and nowdoing the rounds on PS2, this unusualtitle Is a mixture of all sorts of genres.Including shooter, strategy and racing allmixed into one delightfully surrealexperience. Control three entirelydifferent races of creature (including theGiants of the title) each with an entirelydifferent style of play In this lush,colourful gameworld full of bizarre aliencreatures. In this exclusive preview wego hunting with the Meccatyns, atechnologically advanced race that havecrashed on this strange planet andneed to track down the missingmembers of their squad.

I \ J D E D F I M E

T O P G U NPubl isher : Ti tus

Time to don those Ray-Bans, starthumming dodgy guitar tunes and makelike Tom Cruise as we bring you anexclusive look at Titus's new title basedon the all-action Eighties hit movie. Inthis fly-by we take a high-speed buzzover an Arctic environment In an F16Tomcat. Goose would be proud.

3 ^ 1

I E X T R n O N E

JAK & DAXTER:THE PRECURSORL E G A C YPublisher: SCEE/Game type: Platformer/Demo type: Video Preview/Out: Winter/ Players: 1

WE'VE GOT AN exclusive new preview of Naughty Dog's all-actionplatformer and believe us this game looks fantastic. The storyfollows a young man named Jak and small furry companion Daxter(who was human until he fell into a vat of a substance called DarkEco) on an epic journey across a vast, free-roaming gameworld.Visually stunning with seamless gameplay, this Is going to be one ofthe slickest titles to appear on PS2. Sit back, relax and enjoy..

I E X T R n T L U D

W IPEOUTFUSIONPublisher: SCEE/Game type: Future racer/Demo type: Video preview/Out: Winter/Players: 1-2WIPEOUT WAS ONE of the first titles to really show offwhat PSone could do and now the series Is arriving onPS2. Featuring 32 Individual ships, seven environments(each with three courses] a rocking soundtrack featuringsome big-name artists and split-screen racing at a dizzyingframe rate, this will be another must-have title. In a fast-paced new edit we take in lush Jungles, deep canyons andfuturistic cityscapes as we bask in the glorious visuals andcrazy speed of Studio Liverpool's latest PS2 showcase.

tI E X T R R T H R E E

TIME CRISIS 2Publ isher : SCEE

Following our preview last monthwe've bagged an all-new extendedtrailer of Namco's top-notchlightgun shooter Featuring bothsingle and multiplayer modes, highspeed boat chases and, of course,bullets - lots of them - thisexcellent video shows us exactlywhy we'll all be investing that hard-earned cash in Time Crisis 2 whenit arrives early next year

I E X T R R F O U R

T W I S T E DM E TA L B L A C KPubl isher: SCEE

This new cinema trailer illustrateswhat TM.B is all about Franticvehicular mayhem, with a bonkerscast of characters, spectaculareffects and special weapons,destructible environments, a dark,apocalyptic world and some crazyfour-player action - it's got it all!Oh, and the chance to run overpedestrians as well. Not that we'drecommend that. Obviously.

I E X T R H F ! \ J E

SILENT HILL 2Pub l i she r : Konam i

One of the most controversial titlesin recent times, Silent Hill 2 alms totake us to new heights of terror thisyear So controversial, in fact, thatwe currently cant show you thatmuch of it, but this haunting teasergives a flavour of the spookyatmosphere that the title managesto project so phenomenally well.

k mPlayStation 2

P R E V I E W C O I y m N T S16 WWF SmackDown! 'Just Bring It!' IEight wrestlers knee-dropping each other in Ithe same ring? This Is going to get messy...

20AirBlade|it's Tony Hawk's without wheeis! The 'future of extreme sports *

24 Grand Theft Auto 3 INow you can nick motors and crush |

pedestrians in 3D .

26 ESPN X Games Skateboarding IMore skating shenanigans for those who |prefer a simpier simulation I

28 Splashdown [The makers of AJV Offroad Invite you j

to mount a seabound steed I

3 0 B u r n o u tUnhealthy speedy OutRun tribute from the [

same studio as AirBlade I

32 Dropship,Part flight Sim, part combat strategy, war <game fans should aii be satiated by this S

34 Smuggler's Run 21Sequei to the PS2's original drug-running |

off-road knockabout I

3 7 K l o n o a 2 1Piatforming froiics with Namco's I

cool biue cartoon cat I

S t e v e U n d e i t a k e r• V Steve Blackffun H "Tnpji H '

" J " K i i r r d K r i s 3 ^ ' -^ i I♦ M A T C H R U L E 1 R U L E 2

• z B C L C C T • i C A N C e t .

■cur-way fighting action. This is gonna end in tears-There are 78 match options - some havereally bizarre names...

he throws are well-animated with the camera oftenooming in to get a closer look at the action.

William Regal gently helps his opponent from the ringHe then gently stamps on him while he's down.

16 PlayStation.E

R E M

L i l D R D S : K E I T H S T U R R T

Rip up the rule book and prepare for wrestlingcarnage. THQ's hugely successful SmackDown!IS climbing Into the PS2 ring

PuMishe r -mQDeveloper YUke's

Release: NovemberPlayers: 1-4

or all male American teenagers there Is oione place to be on a Thursday night. In fnof the TV with an enormous bag of - aher- 'potato chips' watching WWF SmockDow

This weekly chunl< of prime wrestling beefan essential part of the WWF broadcasting

empire - an empire than reaches out to over 130 countriesand 26 million viewers in the US aione. it Is not exactlysurprising that the two videogames based on the show havebeen wiidly successful,

it is doubly unsurprising when you consider that theSmackDown! tities are actuaiiy pretty damn good. Developedby wrestling-obsessed Japanese studio Vlike's, the series hasnot oniy accurately simulated the mechanics of the sport, it'salso captured the deranged pantomime atmosphere thatsurtDunds the action. And now the third title, 'Just Bring It!',promises to take the entire crazy show to the next ievel.

Indeed, judging by the demo we grappled Into ourPlayStation 2, it seems that Yuke's is determined to deliver thimost comprehensive WWF package possible. Just check outthe menu options. There are an amazing 78 (count 'emjdHferent wrestling modes available. Okay so veteran players oSmackDown! 2 will recognise 90 percent of the Initialselections as key modes like Single, Tag Hardcore (wrestlingwith weapons). Handicap, King Of The Ring and Royal Rumbleare all back So are fun specials like TLC, Tabie, Ladder andour favourite Cage (where all the fighters have to try and cilmiout of a caged ring while kicking each other's butts). Herethough, any option you pick opens up a new menu ofpossibilities: go for 'Hardcore', for example and you canchoose eight derivatives including Tornado Tag Six-Man TagTriple Threat Tornado Tag or Fatal 4-Way Yuke's has leftnothing out

There are two big additions. For MultiTap owners a majorhighlight will be the ultra messy Six-lvlan Tag This allows four

Those moves arent confined to the ring anymore,go to the cafeteria or even the street outside.

- 0 1 : 11

The Rock'schiropractor getscarried away.

(Left) The round is temporarily halted sothat Raven can change a light bulb.

PlayStatlon.E O:

As regular WWF watchers will know, wrestling Israrely confined to the ring these days. Theentertaining personal rivalries that spill out intobackstage areas are a vital element of theexperience. So it's no surprise that Yuke's haschosen to reflect this off-canvas action with a'Falls Count Anywhere* mode. Here you cangrapple through a series of behind-the-sceneslocations all of which are linked so the fight cancarry on seamlessly throughout the building. Oh,the sweet anarchy of It all.

^ R E X I I E L LW W F S M A C K D O W N ! ' J U S T B R I N G t T Y

/yvbur newlyan imated wres t le r

appears to beperforming a Steps

dance rou t ine / /

E human players to take part in a mass of tagging mayhem, andaithough things can get pretty hectic during these groupencounter sessions the camera is exceiient. it puiis right out ofthe action to give a user-friendiy bind's-eye view of the arena(aithough this can mai e ail the w/restiers iool< lii<e tinycuriously-dressed chlidreni,

WHATS THE STORYThe ultimate experience though is set to be the Story mode.This singie-player option apparently weaves in ali the pre- andpost-match intrigue, the name-cailing the behind-the-scenesscuffles and the soap opera story iines to emulate the whoieSmackDownlTV experience. Uitimateiy it sounds iii^e this modeis going to be along the ilnes of an RPG adventure, but withwrestling - why has Square never thought of that?

Ttiis anarchic soap opera approach also mal<es it into thering VUke's is planning to introduce special events during thefights, which might mean a superstar making a guestappearance, or tag part:ners ignoring the ruies and interfering inthe match (which can lead to disqualification!. You'il aiso beable to cheat by divert:lng the referee's attention and thenperforming some nasty illegal moves on your unwary opponent.The referees are as underhand as the wrestlers though. You wiiiwatch in amused awe as they take fouling wrestlers aside, givethem a stern talking to and then lay Into them with a range ofbody blows. Tekken it aint

As you'd expect the visual overtiaul is impressive The 36currently confirmed wrestlers (Including The RocK Steve 'StoneCold' Austin, Tazz, Triple H, Edge, William Regal, Chris Benoit andKurt Angle) are each made up of over 800 polygons.Consequently, elements such as muscle density are now three-dimensionaliy modelled rather than slapped on as textures.Therefore giving the characters a much more solid roundedlook (making a particularly successful representation of TrishStratus it has to be said).

Attention to detail is spot on. Ail the recognisable featuresare faithfijlly reproduced so that each superstar is easilyrecognisable even when the camera pans out way above thering You get Kane's Dart:h Maul-style face mask you get theUndertaker's extravagantly tattooed amis, you get Tazz'smohican and sleeveless shirt (complete with patch on theback). There are also dozens of facial expressions, thatcommunicate everything from leering mockery to Immensepain - bringing that much needed sense of human drama tothe simulated ring

And responsible for those looks of immense pain are thethousand or so moves that are available to players. Each of tf.ewrestlers has his or her own signature attacks (many of themare brand-new to this game] and are accessible via the classicSmackDown! controls: ® Is a punch or kick attack; ® controlsrun or slide; @ performs a reverse or counter while @grapples and throws. On the triggers you've aiso got tag,weapon and direction-facing controls - although, on thesubject of the latter; we did encounter a bit of trouble gettingthe wrestler to face the right way In the preview version. This isalways a problem that afflicts true 3D combat, but hopefijiiyYuke's will rectify this little niggle before the final release.Elsewhere everything is right on track the smooth animationand fluid transition between moves making for some verydecent strategic grappling

Go back out into the options screen, and you'll discover theIncredibly authoritative and popular Create mode Here you candesign your own wrestler using over a thousand different parts.Start: with a male or female 'blank canvas' then mess with theirfacial features, body build (flab or muscle), clothing and objects.You can even model their personality, fighting styles andweaknesses to give a bit of depth to your Frankenstein'swrestler On top of that there's a Create A Taunt option whereyou can choreograph an elaborate taunt manoeuvre usingvarious walks and gestures. And to add to the fun, when you

it's not the Thunderdome, it's Tlie Cage'

i PlayStation.?

&

The designers of WWF SmackDown! Just Bring Iffare going all out to provide the total televisionwrestling experience. All figtiters have thieir ownunique entrances and intno music, while mid-boutsurprise appearances ate par for the course. Youaiso get excitable ringside voices provided byMichael Cole and Tazz, Yuke's promises a variedand entertaining commentary alttiougti we didfind the same comments coming up again andagain In our demo - hopefully this will beredressed In the finished game Rnally the cameraspins around the action with immense hyperactivezeal, zooming in on elaborate bone-breakingthrows and zooming out when four wrestlers arein or around the ring causing chaos. This Is tmeI n t e r a c t i v e S m a c k D o w n l

Fastiion victim Raven parades liis off-the-shoulder Steve Blaclunan.

scroll through the movement options, the animated wrestierappears to be performing a Steps dance routine. Perhaps notwhat the designers had in mind, but hilarious none-the-less.Obviously, all this can be saved to Memory Card so you cantal<e your twisted creation anywhere.

What this game appears to be then Is a total WWFsimulator There's all the glitz and glam rock glamour of the TVshow, complete with over-active cameras, operatic intros andhuge arenas (newly designed for 'Just Bring it!l Then there's thesheer showmanship, the naughty tag team interventions, thesurprise appearances, the collateral violence with ringsideobjects. And underneath it all there seems to be a very strongwrestling engine with loads of moves and an intuitive interface.Of course SmackDown! fans are already a captive audience -Yuke's' big challenge is to attract those who dont religiouslywatch the show. And with such a comprehensive, well-

presented and humour-fllled package this could well be thegame that takes wrestling out of the ghetto and places it besidemore socially acceptable fare like Jekken and D0A2. This isSmackDown! after all, and anything can happen. □

□N T R R E E T PU J L U F B m H C K D D U U N I•□U 5 T B R I N E I T I -YUke's brings its profound love of wrestling to PlayStation 2, but willthis be an ode to the 'sport' or just a rubbish limerick?

^ 7

A C T I O NOver 1,000 bone-crushing moves, allsuperbly animated.

A N A R C H YA l l t he OTT d ramaand spectacle of thereal thing.

C U C H EW e d i d n ' t o n c em e n t i o n m e n I n

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Criterion's previous future boarding game for the Dreamcastland originaiiy mooted for PS2 before it was made over asAirBladel They'il aiso talk about Jet Set Radio, a Dreamcast titiebased on futuristic tiailerbiaders and in truth, the Story mode Iscloser to this game than any other

Ail the familiar tools and trademarl^s of the extreme genreare present - you can grind and flip, spin and trick, in terms ofunique moves, the grab is taken to a w/hole a new level. Now/you can vvhisk around vertical posts such as telegraph poles, aswell as horizontal bars, which operate rather like a gymnast'sand aiiovi/ you to reach high-up areas.

The tricks themselves aren't Just there for show - if you doa combo and the more spectacular the bigger the effect - youbuy up a booster bar which allows you to achieve huge speedsand extend your Jumps, giving you more air and, in turn, extratime to combine tricks,

SKATING ON AIRAlrBlade's Story mode is different to the Tony Hawk's Careermode which relies largely on trickery to boosts scores. InsteadIt places the emphasis on a continuous series of goals, whichmust be achieved to move the plot forwards and open up thenext level. You might, for example, need to run down fourguards, but you'll be guided between them land the other leveltasks! with arrows. Here lies a bit of a problem, as It couldmake the whole game a little too linear Thankfully, the order ofattack is not compulsory, and you can find a route of your own.

This constant time pressure means you are always keen toblast ahead, especially since you Inherit your remaining time forthe next phase of play This is already giving the game a senseof real Impetus. It makes for a very different feel to Tony Hawk's,as you have to complete the goals one after the other andfailure on a later set of targets means you have to start thelevel over again. This mode not only provides a progressionelement in itself but It unlocks levels for exploration In the

Pull a combo of the roof - just make sure you land properly. The grab move - in this case, on a surveillance camera pule.

PlayStation E 02]

P R E MA I R B L A D E

El various single and muitiplayer games. Most notably, success inStory mode enables you to partake In Stunt Attack mode.

This welcome Inciuslon features a set of level targets suchas grabbing a 50,000 points haul, achieving big air time, pullingoff long combos and collecting groups of icons It's not a newidea by any means but the fonmuia works so well that It's amust for such games The goals are designed to make youexplore even more of each ievel and developer CriterionStudios has even thrown In a secret mission target that will netyou the fltle 'AirBlode master' on completion. The only sadomissions at this stage of development are power-ups, whichwouid make for a more diverse experience

j FLOATING FEELINGfAs an antidote to the stress of target achievement, the Freestylemode is a chance to explore each ievel and push your 'Blade

' to the maximum. Even though there's a slight lack of secret

areas In the preview version we played, there's a lot ofenjoyment to be had as you purposelessly wing around theenvironments, pushing your board to reach that' rail or nickthat' poie to land your best trick ever

Criterion pian to Include a handful of other One-piayermodes to keep you entertained to boot For example, ali thepedestrians and traffic are cleaned out for the Score Attackmode in which your aim Is simply to get the highest score foreach level and top the traditional 'leader board'. This Is your firstchance to have a crack at the half-pipes, which are surprisinglyeffective, catapulting you Into the air and slowing you down soyou can niftliy whip together a series of moves. Your best wori<,however, wiii be done on the fly as you race around the ievelwith more street-styie skating

Okay, it's got the moves, a choice of game modes andfuturistic and moody environments, but do the places youinhabit have to be so drab? Well... yes. The detailed, but muri<yievels - of which we played a cityscape; plenty of handy railings

to practice your grinding and an Industrial area; long straightruns perfect for attaining maximum pace - are juxtaposed withthe enlightening, swooshing, multi-coloured vapour trials of theAirBlade to stunning visual result. Simliariy, a momentarilydisorienting haze Is thrown over the screen when your boost Isactivated and you pick up speed.

The occasional FMV looks to have been Intenwoven with theaction well and as your character enters each new level theyview their situation in a slightly bemused manner heighteningyour sense that you're embarking on a dangerous adventure. Ailof which makes for a good atmosphere As befits a title of thisgenre there Is some strong presentation on show In terms ofjerky, jump-cutting menu screens and the by now obligatorybreakbeat/hip-hop hybrid cut-up soundtrack

if AirBlade Is to prove a genuine contender for the King ofthe FS2 Extreme Sports titles, the difficulty curve which theeariy preview version we piayed displays wiil need to be levelledoff. At present it's such that you all too often find yourselfretracing your steps to try and complete a single element of alevel. Overall though, from what we've seen so far, this beautifullooking and exciting title wiii be fast, suitably different and onlyrarely frustrating Watch your back Mr Hawk.. □

□N T R R E E T P R I R B L R D EIt looks fantastic, feels 'right' plus it offers a refreshing new slant on theextreme sports genre.

o

T K I C K SNot many, but they'reall supremelyspectacular.

G R A P H I C S

Heralding in as e c o n d w a v e o fPS2 graphics.

L E V E L S

Big and multi-layered,but not enough to doa t t h e m o m e n t .

Which is either one helluva impressive trick or someonelool(ing to mal(e a bit of money on the side...

! i i u n a e r n » i J i m i t h e u i t i fl y i n g m a c h i n e

'

Thunderhawk is the most advanced military helicopter in the world. At 0-60 in 0.26 seconds and fullycustomised body armour, this machine can be flown through the most treacherous conditions known tom a n . T h e n e w T h u n d e r h a w k c o m e s w i t h a f r e e c o - p i l o t a n d a l l t h e l a t e s t i n w e a p o n t e c h n o l o g y .Take a fly for £39.99 and be prepared for some serious fun. (Air conditioning is not standard)!F o r m o r e i n f o v i s i t w w w . t h u n d e r h a w k g a m e . c o m

R E NGRAND TTIEFT AUTD 3

NU J Q R D B : R y R N B U I

You talkin' to me?' - Get ready to do a TravisBickle and bring an entire city to its l<nees in a

sickeningly bloody fasliion. Yup, it's Rockstar...

P u b l i s h e rR o c k s t a r G a m e s

DeveloperDMA Design

P laye rs : !R e l e a s e : O c t o b e r

iberty City: you'll never find a more wretchedhive of scum and villainy. Drive-bys are an aii-too frequent occurrence, tarts tout for action oi^dari^ened street corners and rival gangs mai<ewanting ndo after dusk a sure-fire trip tocasualty. Or worse, it Is this sprawling clone of a

certain 'Big Apple' that plays host to the most compelling,anarchic action we've seen on the PS2 as Grand Theft Autocomes of age and shifts stylishly into a world of stark 3D.

You piay the hero (or antl-herDl who was about to enjoy astint in chokey until the paddy wagon transporting him crashes.You flee the carnage with your co-prisoner who Introduces youto some of his 'contacts', and It's now that climbing the sleazeladder to become the city's main mobster begins. The gamewill be packed with missions, sub-missions and many ways tomake a quick buck (including a taxi-driving level In which youcan pinch a cab and ferry tourists around the city).

In Liberty City - which is divided up Into different districtscomplete with their own unique architecture, clientele andmotors - you have an unbridled freedom that holds the key tothis game's appeal. As in previous GTA games you can steal anyvehicle, start fights or cruise the streets with a delicious arsenalof firepower and periderm a few unprovoked drIve-bys.

GTA3 will have a specific timescaie; so In 30 minutes ofplaying time, Uberty City experiences a whole day. in the day,civilians peruse the shops for bargains, by night the hoodlumscrawl out of the shadows to commit all kinds of unscrupulousacts. Certain missions can only be carried out at cert:aln timesof day, so it's wort:hwhile ]ust cruising and observing exactlyhow this city operates. It's estimated that the game will takeroughly 48 hours to complete - if you know exactly what you'redoing - but we suspect you'll spend at least that amount oftime just stealing random cars, taking in the sights andsavouring all the Intricate little touches that this game has tooffer Of course, the same could be said of DMA's previous

3 I E B R D T H E R ' 55 D I N G □□L U N Iieware, break the law and you will be followed.

irlnkers may have noticed that it Is getting increasinglyarder to take a leak on the way home from the publithout some wali-mounted surveillance camera homingI on your particulars and beaming cringeworthy picturesack to the Met HQ. Unfortunately, Uberty City boasts nouch technology, but too much iaw-breaking will result inle 'eye in the sky' taking flight and following your everylOve. Shaking off this iron eagle isn't easy but with theght connections, you just might be able to lay your handsn a weapon that specialises in taking down large objects,you catch our drift.

With an arsenal Amie would balk at, it's off you go to work in Libert/ City..

games, but in full 3D this concept works infinitely better Thistime out, GTA3 expands the franchise's already richenvironments and Inserts the kind of hedonism that gamessuch as Driver 2 merely hint at - especially the hero's ability toroam around on foot. In this PS2-enriched game you'll be ableto explore new avenues, not least taking on the entire LCPDsingle-handed. Cause a commotion and your felony meter willrise, attracting the attention of a lone patrol car Give the officera kicking and within seconds more cars will Intervene

The cars available depend greatly on the city district you'reIn. Where the industrial district has knackered old station

wagons, the financial district has speedy convertibles. Your bestcars can be stored In a garage (which acts as the main savehub! and used for later missions when a bit of extrahorsepower Is required. You'll also be able to commandeerboats and even fly a plane.

So will GTA3 stir up the same wave of controversy with Itsscenes of explicit violence? Probably Even so, from what we'veseen so fan Rockstar may not have to rely on PR guru MaxClifford to get them publicity because we're sure those 'Ban thissick filth' tabloid headlines are already In the post.. □

□N T R R G E T PE R R N D T H E F T R U T D 3GTA3 will be the best way to do your worst We can already smell theblood, fear and burning rubber - and It smells good.

es t imated tfiegame will take over48 hours to complete- if you know whatyou are doing//

V I O L E N C E

Smack a cop's headclean off with abaseball bat...

R A D I O S D V n O N S

They play everythingf r o m P a v a r o t t I t o

Boyz II Giriz,

#M O T O R SLoads to steal, butn o n e o f t h e m a r e

b a s e d o n r e a l o n e s .

dD LLIHDS ULIHUrStars of blaxploltation and gangster flicks have been drafted in to giveGrand Theft Auto 3 that authentic feel...

Not only have certain tracks from the film Scarface been licensed for Inclusionon the Liberty City air waves, some of the finest actors of modern times havebeen approached to provide the voice-overs. See If you can identify who they areby our cunning clues... (Answers at bottom of page - use a mirror!)

1. His most memorable performancesaw him severing the ear off a copperbefore dousing him with petrol. He thenwent on to play some dweeb's dad inFree Willy.

2, He's most famous for playing FBISpecial Agent Dale Cooper In the Tw/nP e a k s T V s e r i a l . B u t i l l - c o n s i d e r e d

roles in Showgirls and The Flintstonesnearly killed his career completely.

3. A long-time Scorsese stalwart, thisactor has made appearances in RagingBull, Goodfellas and Cos/no, usuallygetting 'Whacked' In some suitablygrizzly fashion by Joe Pesci.

4. A distinguished movie career has ,seen this actor play Guido in RiskyBusiness and Cypher in The Matrix. HeIs perhaps most renowned for playingRalph Cifaretti in The Sopronos.

Vehicles get knackered the more you thrash them. You can run but believe us, you cant hide... onoWoInD^ 0OI Inson'iV )lnDfl .£ nolrtDoJoDM nsbeoM leortDiM .1

P R E M

B K n T E B D R R D I N

Can any skateboarding ganne hopeto be a serious challenger

for the Tony Hawk's crown?

P u b l i s h e r K o n a m iDeveloper KCEO

Players: 1-2R e l e a s e ; N o v e m b e r

E S P N X G A M E S S K AT E B O A R D I N G

he Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series onPSone set the agenda - withbriiliantiy accessible skateboarding ina host of imaginative environmentsand inventive features. Now

everyone's trying to catch up. WithTony Hawk's 3 on the extreme sports horizon, oniinecapabiiities in tow, anyone hoping to temptsl<ateboartiing fans away from Activision's l<ing of theboards wiil need to puii a fast trici^.

So how does ESPN X Games Skateboarding expectto compete? in the main because it wiii offer piayersthe chance to tal<e part in the si ateboarding event ofthe extreme sports championship, the ESPN-sponsoredSummer X Games This event consists of sl^ating inpurpose-buiit skate parks complete with huge haif-piperamps against real-ilfe pro skaters such as BobBurnquist (now defected from Tony Howk'sl. Points wliibe awarded for difficult tricks and for the amount ofthese you manage to perform within a set time limit

As weii as this competition-based action, a streetskating element that mirrors the Tony Hawk's Careermode to good effect wlii be included. Tfie aim herebeing to complete sets of tasks whiie performingfreeflowing stylish tricks around the course. Completeaii the tasks required in order to uniock the next ievei. itis here that you are given most licence to develop yourown personal style of skating

Naturally extra boards, boarders and other suchgnariy paraphernalia such as trucks and wheels can becollected as you go as well as a mix of real-life andabsurd skating locations to be unlocked. Courses havebeen Inspired by such obvious skate arenas as SanFrancisco and, um, a housing estate in LA, as well as anoil tanker and a natural history museum.

it is these more ridiculous courses that are themost exciting to play in terms of the possibilities theyoffer for high-scoring tricks and secret areas. In thenatural history museum, for example, you can glideround the marble-floored hails and grind down thebacks of fossilised dinosaurs. Take a ball on the oiltanker and you'll end up swimming in the briny

ESPN X Games Skateboarding already appears tohave the necessary blend of adrenaline-fuelledcompetition plus more freeform objective-basedgamepiay it's this variety that already gives the gamethe necessary depth that wiil encourage repeated plays.Adding to this, there wlii also be a Two-player modeincluded in both the Championship and Street games,where you take turns with a fellow boarder to post thebest trick score.

Although ESPN X Games Skateboarding Is unlikelyto radically change the face of the genre, it doesntreally have to. instead It should appeal to fans of thesport as a decent alternative to Its better-known,celebrity-endorsed rival. Game on. □

□N T R R B E T P E 5 P N XE R m E B E K R T E B D R R D I N BSlightly more challenging than PSone's Tony Hawk's, although at thisstage most of the gamepiay feels very familiar

T R I C K S

Requires a littlem o r e s k i l l t h a n i t s

skating rivals.

C O U R S E SWell designed withl o a d s o f t r i c k

opportunit'es.

O

O R I G I N A L I T Y

None. Been there,done that, got theC a r h a r t t T - s h i r t .

Bmyy, 18(IQ !

Grind along the back of a dno.. Jump over the pterodactyls.. And you've found a secret stash of egg;and a huge points bonus! Jurassic lark - much amusement is to be had in the museum.

rhe Competition modes only ©ve you 60 seconds to show off your fancy moves.Typically you can choose from a Heaven is a halfpipe - pull big tricks and bigger air in front ofwhole host of real skateboarders. a massive, cheering crowd. Virtual judges decide your score.

026 PlayStation.^

www.codem ter*,coni

V

A BRILLIANT RE-CREATION OF SNOOKER." OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION 2 MAGAZINE

ORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SNOQKIB ON PlAYSTftTION 2.Got what it.takes to take on the likes of O.'Sulliyan, Williams and'Hendry? Now's your chanceto go through all the highs (or maybe the lows) of a professional snooker career."With astunning new 3D physics engine and-unbeatable, near TV realism;-you won't"get closer-tothe real thing. Give yourself a jjreak, get yourself World Championship Snooker 2002. -j >

P R E N I E L US P L A S H D O W N

L U D R D B : N I C K □□N E 5

5 NWater sports have never been so... wet.

Pull on a neon vest and get suited-up readyto take control of PS2's first Sea-Doo racer

Sptashdowifs Lead Designer Jordan Itkowitz talks to0PS2 about water, Wave Race 64 and the weather

RAttiat would sayip/osftdown has over a«gular racing game?Veil, I don't know what aregular racing game' entails,)ut I will tell you about whatnakes Splashdown so unique,■he water's gonna be whatleople notice first - It's prettyemarkable, both in its looki n d i t s b e h a v i o u r

When you coupie this withhe robust, realistic physicsnodel for the vehicles, you getin Incredibly fun and novelIrlving experience. Ttierelaven't been many water-lased racing games out there,nd i think everyone shouldgree that Splashdown Just;els different, it's veryatisfying Throw in the stunts,ome arcade-based gamepiaye, building up your vehicle'slerformance during the racelnd a whimsical, snappyense of humour and i thinkeopie are really going tonjoy themselves.

low big an influencea s I V o v e R a c e 6 4 b e e nvr you?fe've all played that gametside and out, and it's(onderfui - really fun, weli-aianced. Wave Race certainlyrovided some greatispiratlon, but from theeglnning, we knew we were

l28TOy5lation2

crafting a different beast And Ithink that's what we got.

The water effects ar«incredible. Can you tell us al i t t l e b i t a b o u t h o w t h i s w a sa c h i e v e d ?Weil... actually, our "waterboy,'Doug McNabb, tried a fewdifferent approaches before hisbig epiphany in fact, 1 think hewas so excited, he wethimselfl From there on. It wasa team effort - manym e m b e r s o f t h e t e a m

contributing to elements suchas the wake physics, therendering, particles and so on.We're definlteiy pleased with itand appreciate the positivereaction it's been getting.

Did you consider puttingweather in the game?We've toyed with it, andprototyped a few effects, withsome promising results. That'sall I can say at this point

How have you managed tokeep the racing different oneach course?Choosing 18+ disparate andexciting locations around theworld was a blast - comingup with the specific elementsthat made each one special,and then it was just a matterof asking ^Wouldn't It be coolif...?" 1 think a great deal ofdesign discussions must startthat way.

Anyway we've tried topresent different challengesand work In different skills thatyou need to master You know,create a natural progressionthat continually tests you andrewards you for mastering agiven skill - any good gameshould have that And thenthere's our Ai, which scale toyour performance during therace - a dynamic system likethat Is always gonna keepthings fresh.

Publisher; InfogramesDeveloper Rainbow Studios

Players: 1-2R e l e a s e : N o v e m b e r

epiDducing life-like water is one of the tioiygrails of videogaming Finally, someone Iseems to have managed it and has used it Jin a game where not only does It look |fantastic, but it also serves as a vital part ofjthe gamepiay. We wouldn't want to dwell on

the work done on the N64's then-impressive Wove Race butthe effects in Splashdown are simply In another league. Ripples,waves, wakes and splashes - almost every imaginable watermovement is in here and carried off with great aplomb by PS2.This is a racing game quite unlike any other

The first thing that strikes you about Splashdown is how thehandling is totally diffeiBnt to any other racing game. Ratherobviously in water you cant brake and so slowing down andmaking tight turns is really down to the position of your Sea-Doo (a brand of water vehicle made by Kawasaki) in the water.In order to tum the craft you have to be accelerating -otherwise you'll Just float, pointing in the same direction. Thesetwo factors alone make Splashdown totally unique In the worldof PS2 racing games.

Rather than manually steering the Sea-Doo, you havecontrol over the rider Moving him or her will change where theweight is - pulling left or right will help you corner; pulling bacKleft or right will help you take tighter turns. Pulling back alsolifts the Sea-Doo slightly and enables it to go a little faster whilepushing fonwards will forte the Sea-Doo under the surface -pretty useful for avoiding any obstacles blocking your way

For all its subtle controls, the actual structure ofSplashdown is prBtty straightforward and designed very muchlike a racing game. You take part in increasingly difficult racesworking your way to a final - this Includes Arcade, which Isbasically a quick race and the now ubiquitous Career modewhere you take part in a Sea-Doo Grand Prix. Along the wayyou get to open up new courses and new racers. Naturallydifferent racers have different skills: you'll find average

No one could accuse Splashdown of playing at home. Courses include Venice, the Med, Loch Ness and the Bermuda D- angle.

Splashdown uses the same game engine as ATVOffroad, enabling some impressively huge landscapes.

characters with good all-tDund skills and characters with lowacceleration and a high top speed, for example.

It wouldn't be an effective extreme sports title without a fewtricks thrown In for good nneasure. Here this Is used to increasethe top speed of your Sea-Doo, If you perform stunts as you'releaping off some enormous ramp your Sea-Doo will be able toeke out a few extra mph. Sadly Splashdown can only support atwo-player game, but with so much maths going on calculatingthe movement of the water, this is hardly a surprise.

Some aspects of the course layout still need attention.Racing is fine if you're keeping down the straight and narrowand know the course well enough, but we found that all toooften when you fall off, you And yourself struggling to make atight turn In an Impossibly narrow channel to continue, puttingthe race well beyond your reach. Hopefully this is somethingthat will be corrected before the final version is released.

At present. Splashdown Is causing a degree of excitementas It looks to be one of those rarest-of-thlngs - an originalracing game. Controlling the Sea-Doo is great fun and there'splenty of scope for racing of the sort never seen before onPlayStation 2. Splashdown should provide a seriously Interestingalternative to Tarmac racing come November □

□N T R R G E T P B P L R E H m U U NBrilliant water effects, subtle, intuitive handling and some intelligentcomputer racers. Could well turn out to be a SSX-style dark horce hit.

W A T E REffects so real, youwon't believe that It'sin a videogame.

o

W E A T H E RR a i n a n d w i n dcould've spicedthings up a lot.

%

H A N D U N GLike nothing else onthe market, a totallyunique experience.

//The first thing that strikesyou is how the handlingis totally different toother racing games//

m n K i N - L u n ^ E SHow water takes racing to a whole new level.

Splashdown's water effects are truly stunning. Ripples, wakes and waves all affecthow your Sea-Doo handles making it quite unlike any other racing game. Andcleverly, Just like in Real Life, the game imitates different types of water dependingo n w h e r e t h e r a c e I s l o c a t e d .

Performing tricks loolts good and can boost your speed.

PlayStation-S 029

^ R E \ I I E L LB U R N O m -

L i l D R D S : T i m U J E R M E R

Belt up, sit tight and prepare for tinefastest Plaii tation 2 driving game

you'll ever play. Ffeally

IJJ l;

Fill your boost meter by taking risks on the courses.

P u M l s h e n A c c l a i mDeveloper: Criterion Studios

Player 1-2Release: rJovember

Q&A

B U R N R U B B E RWe nabbed Chris Roberts, Lead Designer onBumout, and talked cars, cars and, urn, cars..

Bumout feels like being dropped into them i d d l e o f B u fl / tIt's fair to say that we watched a lot of movtes andOVDs when we began making this game. Basicaily,anything that featured good car sequences, carchases or car crashes. In fact. Burnout reallybegan when (first received the US version of theRobert De Nlro film Ronin. This movie featuressome of the best car chases ever, pushingeveryday cars such as BMWs or Peugeot 406s tothe limit on city and mountain courses. We alsoloved the car chase at the beginning of GoidenEyewhere the Aston Martin races the Ferrari - andalso the amazing chase in Sosic /nst/nct with theLotus Esprit and the twisty mountain road.

There's also an amazing Jackie Chan moviecalled Who Am I? that features possibly the besttwo-wheel car stunt I've ever seen. If you're aMitsubishu Evo fan ^en definitely watch this film!If you look carefully at some of our stages, such asRiver City or Harbour Town, you can see where theinspiration came from.

Outfiun also seems to have played a vital partIn Bumotifs development..OutRun is one of my all-time favourite co(n-ops, soIVe always wanted to see an update of thatInitially, we thought about creating long point-to-point racing stages like OutRun, but in the end wewent for a lap-based experience. We felt that theplayer would enjoy learning the courses andlearning their layout and feel.

Any plans to go online with Bumout?Not for this first version of the game as we've onlyjust received the PS2 Hard Drive. But who knows,the future is an interesting place...

iven that Sega has now committed itself toJust about every major piatform under thesun, it's not inconceivabie that a company

n whose foundations lie in ciassic arcadegames might iool^ to sweli the numbers intheir outstanding portfoiio of tities by

rewori<ing some of the classics currently iaying dormant in theirvaults, if such a thing were to happen some - but, more likely,most - of us would call for a jazzed-up, next-gen version ofOutRun, the classic racer that still lives as fondly in the memoryas any Sonic number

Sadly that doesn't looi< iii eiy to happen, for the time beingat least (though, by Sega's own admission, it's not entirely out ofthe question) which is where Criterion's Bumout comes in.Known previously as 'Shiny Red Car' las exclusively featured in0PS2 #04), the Guildford-based studio has now renamed thefirst of its PlayStation 2 titles [AirBlade being the other) and israpidly creating something so true to the spirit of Sega's classicthat it could almost be a bona fide sequel. But, then, this is PS2and while Burnout might be worl<lng from the same blueprintas OutRun, It is quietly evolving Into an altogether moreimpressive beast

Fused against a technical background, creating 'middleware'development tools for other third-party coders such as Ubl Softand KonamI, Criterion's move Into games has been pretty mucheffortless. Burnouts simply a case In point: huge, beautifulcityscapes rise up Into the sky with no hint of glltchlness or'jaggies' (where graphics look pixeilated around the edge).Incredible reflections glint In the car's bodywork - whichi areparticularly Impressive when you're steaming through Eurc)pe'sorange-lit underpasses; other vehicles react with Intelligence asyou perform crazy manoeuvres at high speed; but, most of all,the scenery whips past at such an eye-blistering pace it makeseverything else on PlayStation 2 look like a Sunday afternoondrive in a Fond Resta GL

Split-second decisions are required to plot a safe path through the t

Expect perfect recreations of your more crushing moments...

030 PlayStation,?

Make no mistake, Burnout looks fast - so fast, in fact, thatit's as much a test of reactions as it is of skill. Although thecourses are lap-based, checkpoints need to be adhered to inorder to progress, and there are two additional elements thatwill make Burnout more than just another racing game. First,there's a huge amount of traffic to contend with and avoid(made much easier than it looks by some sublime handling)and, second, there are spectacular crashes if you fail. The latterinclusion especially makes for impressive viewing: hit anothervehicle and, with a screech and a blur your car twists and turnswith its windscreen shattering or Its wheels buckling.

Movement in midair is handled perfectly thanks to someultra-realistic physics - and, in actual fact, making contact withother cars eventually becomes important, as the game awardsyou for spectacular crashes.

The finished game will include 14 courses spread acrossEurope and America and - initially at least - only six cars todrive. So Burnouts a simple enough game, undemanding interms of the objectives it sets you, but fabulous entertainment- a faster, slicker successor to Crazy Taxi while being a useful

precursor to a new OutRun or even Stuntman. We simply cantwait to get our hands on the final version. □

□N T R R G E T P B U R N D U TIt's OutRun, It's Ronin, It's that bit from Basic Instinct... Queston Is:How close is Burnout to the bull's-eye?

S P E E DIt's fast as hell, andat 60fps your eyeswill be vKaterlng.

O

S C E N E R YI t ' s n o t G T 3 b u tBurnoufs lookingn i c e w h e r e i t c o u n t s .

M U L T I P L A Y E R

Two-player whipsaiong with almostno drop in detail.

II I I

■ A-r:

Swww.lotuschaller)ge.comfltu hillen devjjoptd by Kuju Entwt«lnfn«ntLtd.VIr n.lnter»etivei««r«gi8ter«d tr»d«m«fkof Kuju teft«inm«nt Ltd.All Lotusirn»»tMrtciuied within Lotus Ch#ll»nj«-ar»tfsd«mtrlwi»fGrwp 1 8 ItC and areused under liconie by VIrglnlr e r B g i 8 t « r ^ M d e m » r t j t J f S o n y C D m p u t » r E n t » r t » l n i n « M l f " • • • - - - - - j > 1 j / _ i n , . ! . !ic. Ml Rights R«s«rytd.->Ml manufacturer*, ears, n«m««, brands and ■ssociattdimagftryfaatured in this gitnVar* trademarks and/or copyrighted materials ofthei spcctlve owner*. Ml rights reserve<l

FD R O P S H I P

m O R D S : L E E H R L L

It purrs like your PS2, hovers like a hornetand stings like a B-52; introducing theDropship and a new era in flight sims.

Dropship Producer Peter Edwards talks hostages,dogflghting and the coolest of craft.

Is Dropship a directbacklash against old skool,dry, flight combat sims?N o t S O m u c h a b a c k l a s h a s a nalternative. Flight sims arepopular and there's no doubtthey offer a realisticexperience. However. DropshipIs a PS2 game, and muchmore of an action experience.We set out from the beginningto produce a game thatfeatures the Involvement andteaiism of a flight sIm, withoutcomplexity. It's easy and quickto pick up and play with avariety of cool craft to control.

Did you set out to create adogfigiit feel or was tliat aby-product of the veiiicleyou are working with?Any flight combat game has tohave good dogfighting. That's agiven. So obviously this wasour Intention from the verybeginning What we'reparticularly proud of Is that wehave dogfighting that's as funand Involving as any of thecurrent crop of flight combatgames, but on top of that wealso have fantastic groundcombat action featuring Jeeps,tanks, artillery, individuals o l d i e r s a n d m o r e . T h a t ' s

something that none of ourcompetitors can boast.

Describe a passage of in-game play in loving detailt l iat epitomises theDropship exper ience.There's a mission where youfly across to a base where

0 3 2

some of your team-mates arebeing held hostage First youhave to clear the landingzones for other Dropshlps.Then you must protect theairspace above the tanks whilethey clear the area around thebase. Next you need to usethe attack Jeep to get Into thebase and quickly get thehostages out.

You'll have to shrewdlypick your way through thebase, shooting down enemyt a n k s a n d s o l d i e r s t o fi n d t h e

hostages. Once you find themyou have to control the Jeep'sguns to protect them whilethey're breaking cover to get Inthe back of the Jeep Then youhave to find a route back outof the base to the Dropshipwhich your co-pilot Is waitingIn. It's very Involving verydeep gameplay and It'sseriously addictive.

How early did you decide toInclude the APC? Was Itadded later to capitalise onthe stunning and expansiveenvironments you havec r e a t e d ?We always had the idea of aRussian Doll concept to thegame - you pilot a Dropship,which carries ground vehicles,which in turn carry troops. Wealways wanted to be able tocontrol the ground units, andit's this part of the design thatled to the landscape havingsuch credible detail at alllevels. Whether you're flyingabove the clouds at 8km, ordriving on the ground, thelandscape has a believablelevel of detail to it. We alwayswanted to make the driving anenjoyable part of the game. Weweren't sure Initially whetherwe could pull It off, but we'vemanaged it - driving aroundshooting at enemy tanks Isessential gameplay

P u b l i s h e r S C E EDeveloper Studio Camden

Players; 1R e l e a s e ; O c t o b e r

emember when flight sims required a 42-button keyboard overlay and a 13-button

_ sequence to get a F16 In the air? Remennberthe frustration as a Sidewinder fired from aplane you couldn't see, fataiiy punctured yo jr

\ fuselage? Weii, things have changed... iEnter Studio Camden's Dropship, a combination of futuristic

technology and WWi-styie dogfighting The star of the game isyour craft, a military transporter plane with a difference: itdisplays supersonic speed with the ability to slow to a crawl idmidair without dropping like a stone, making It a deadlyweapon. The implications for gameplay are huge: grind to a haltIn the middle of an aii-out battle, watch missiles and enemy !Jets streak by you, then, with explosive force, exit the scene ailidretum to wreak havoc seconds later

Though it hardly matters when you're twisting away frombursts of SAIvi missiles, you are part of the United Peace Forcefighting bad eggs the world over Your Dropship acts as a shott-range hover-plane and fighter Jet with just a quick button pressswitching between the two modes.

As you skip into the Full Flight mode, wispy vapour trails;drift from the tips of the Dropship's wings. You can also foiloi^/ amissile from a first-person perspective and use the rightanalogue stick to zoom Into distant tai^ets before nailing themwith rockets, missiles and powerful machine guns, it's ailtechnically impressive stuff. What's more, even when you ap|5lythe afterburner to reach speeds over l,800kph, there isnt a hintof pop-up. Then If you tire of viewing the rolling landscapesfrom on high, you can switch to the discomfort of an APCground vehicle, which although easy to handle, 'suffers' from athrilling propensity to skid.

While Dropship Is clearly bursting with great Ideas, it's stiiionly 70 percent complete, and it shows. In fact, there are somecracks that need welding together rather than papering over Ifthis Is to be a truly outstanding game. The first mission, for

First, engage in a dogfight. Now, slip silently into Hover Mode for a swift reccy. Finally, blast the gubbins out of an eneiriy radar!

An enemy jeep tnes to ram your APC, but with heavyarmour and mean ordnance, you're safe as houses.

example, is a familiar test for flight sim stalwarts - you have tofly with pace and control through a sinewy ravine. TTie missionsthat follow are, at this stage, little more original than that. Themain element Is the escort, seek and destroy and ground targetdestruction tasks, with the switch to the ground vehicle provingthe main device for variety. The missions are also particularlytough with no learning curve early on, despite the presence ofthree training missions.

There's an inevitable trade-off in creating a realistic-lookingflight sIm free from a restrictive attention to detail, too. Thereare too many opportunities to Are and forget, which can makecombat seem pretty basic at times, but other simplified aspectsof the game are much more useful. The damage mechanism,for example, means that you can still take hits to your enginepower radar or HUD without crashing to the ground, giving youthe chance to play the hero when you temporarily lose yournavigation system.

However, Studio Camden seems firmly on course withDmpship. The developer Is walking the fine line between actionand simulation, and all that's needed now is for their attentionto turn to ramping up tactics and balancing the difficulty curveIn time for release. The future of flight sims starts here. □

□N T R R E E T P □R D P 5 H I PA clever balance of old skool dogflghting and high-tech weaponry. Afew tweaks could make this a must-have PS2 title.

//Zwm into distant ta^etsbefore nailing tiiem witfirockets, missiles andpowerful machine guns//

E N E M I E S

They seem far thickerIn the sku l l t han int h e h u l l .

C O M B A T

High action dogfightsb u t w i t h o u t t h e 1 2 -

key combos...

V A R I E T YT h e m i s s i o n s a r efamiliar, but twov e h i c l e s t o m a s t e r .

M I N E S A - P L E N T YThe North African stage features one mission In whichHQ guides you through a series of waypolnts as youzip across a landscape pitted with mines and irateenemy vehicles.

The D^ining Mode equips you will the skills needed in realcombat with a fun checltpoint mini-game.

B L A S T M A S T E RLater you're wedged into your APC's turret, ridingshotgun in a classic shoot-out against land and airforces. Sadly, SCEE has no plans for a double-barrelled,recoiling G-Con just yet

More heavy defence systems form an easy target. Make 'em payl

■M ' ' "

You're in the army now - so let loose with your payload! The beatific approach of a chopper while the battle rages on...

H I D E A N D S N E A KThe dense canopy of the Colombian jungle environmentallows you to sneak up on a string of enemy vehicles,Switch to the first-person view to negotiate the woods,t h e n s t r i k e .

PlayStation, 033

R E N I E LS M U G G L £ R ' S R U N 2 : H O S H L f T E R RT TO RY

L U G R D S : P R U L F I T Z P R T R I C K

5 SR U N 2 :

How do you go about building on the successof an unlieralded PS2 deeper Init? Angel

Studios thinks it has the answer

P u b l i s h e r R o c k s t a r G a m e sDeveloper Angel Studios

Players: 1-2R e l e a s e : N o v e m b e r

n L U D R DTHE LJJBI

he original Smuggler's Run was a surprise hitthat pulled ahead of many hype heav>' PS2launch gannes thanks to an element thatfailed to register with those flashier; next-gengraphics-obsessed also rans. Gameplay. Pureand simple. Smuggler's Run seduced gamers

with an arresting combination of missions married to a well-balanced driving engine. An experience that made you grinfrom ear to felony-committing ear

Not bad for a game whose short development time andrelease were tied firmly to the PS2's own launch date. And so,even as The Run hit the shops, a sequel was already beingplanned by developer Angel Studios. A sequel that would fulfilo//the promise of the newborn franchise Fast forward a yearand the final touches are being made to Smuggler's Run 2. Andas its subtitle 'Hostile Territory' suggests, this time having yourcollar felt by the rozzers Is going to be the least of your worries.

To kick off, the relatively benign Mexican and Canadianborders of the first game have been left for the altogether more'interesting' temtories of Afghanistan and Vietnam, completewith the insurance-buggering headaches of crossfire from tank-equipped waning factions and the occasional minefield. Andthat's in addition to Mother Nature's interference. The eightyplus missions will be scattered between three tightly designed40km square environments: Afghanistan in summer; andVietnam and Afghanistan in winter Each will threaten varioustypes and degrees of weather and lighting designed to test yourcross-country driving skills to the limit There are even n(ghtmissions where the unnatural green glow from night vision

goggles provides your only view through the treacherous terrain.Responding to punter feedback, SRZs structure has also

been overtiauled to cushion a greater variety of mission typeswith an R»1V bolstered plot that will. It's hoped, tie the actionInto a far more satisfying whole than was found with the firstgame In addition to the core pick up and drop off missions.

We chased Director of Game Design, Frederic Markus,caught and grilled him on Angel Studios' latest crime spree.How did the sequel toSmuggler's Runc o m e a b o u t ?

Smuggler's Run had to bea launch title for PS2 sotliat gives you a lot ofc o n s t r a i n t s w i t h t i m e .About halfway through itsdevelopment we knewt h e r e w a s s o m u c h t t i a tc o u l d b e d o n e t h a t w e ' dh a v e t o d o a n o t h e r o n e .With Hostile Territory vteh a d m u c h m o r e t i m e .

What did you feel neededto be improved in SR27We read newsgroups andpeople were saying "Hey,w h a t a b o u t m o r e amission-oriented game?"

and we were like, "Okay!We know guys! It's coming!J u s t h o l d o n ! " A l s o w i t h t h efirst game, the difficultyramp up was so well-tuned.We had problems with theA ! t h a t w e ' v e w o r k e d o n f o rthis game, it's nearly alwaysa work in progress becauseas you're doing It you'rediscovering new stuff.

What excites you aboutthe game?What I'm trying to get outof this game is the rewardof nailing a guy who'sbothering me. Now you cansee him in your rear-viewmirror If there's a gamet h a t n e e d s a r e a r - v i e wmirror it's SR2! So the goalis going to be to lose himby taking a lot of drivingrisks and reward people forthat For example, if you'redriving at 130mph andpass between two treessuccessfully you can lookbehind and the guys whowere trailing you willprobably have hit them. It'show your skills cometogether, and I look forwardto seeing that guyexploding in my rear-viewm i r r o r a n d f e e l t h eShockwave in my vehicle.And that's what we're tryingto do, and that's whate x c i t e s m e .

Green and pleasant, but SR2 is deadly. Vehicles include this army half-tracl<. Detail does not mean a loss in sp<«d.

■ ; - 1 — i — . ^

034 PlayStation-E

would-be petrol heads will have to chase transport planescollecting the multiple packages they drop; locate and destroystationary targets by colliding with them; trail vehicles to hiddenbases; and even chase and ram opponents off the road. What'smore, even basic missions will have added dangers in the formof fragile contraband that can be bumped off your vehicle,heavy packages that will slow/ you down and blohazardousbooty that will explode mid-mlsslon if you're not careful. But thefight Isn't ail one-sided. Complete enough missions and you willearn power-up 'countermeasures' in the form of smoke bombs,oil slicks, 'real' bombs and nitro boosts. But with only five ofeach per car, you'll need to use them wisely

Visually too, SR2 Is eclipsing Its predecessor with five timesas much detail and an unwavering 30fps that looks a damnsight faster than It sounds and has enabled the developers tocreate a lush 3,000 metre forward draw distance, and a further600 metres out of a newly added rear-view mirror If SR2sCareer mode evolves to keep pace with the game's graphics,and the promised sharpening of the already supreme handlingdoesn't change, this could easily match its big brother'ssuccess. And then some. □

□N~fnf^G^P 5mUEELER-5R U N E : H O S T I L E T E R R I T D R yAn accomplished update of one of PS2's best launch titles Is on Itsway. Will increased danger and new visuals draw In the crowds?

G R A P H I C SLush greenery,temples and nounintentional fog

D A N G E RS R l ' s a c t i o n s e e m s

as dangerous asscrumping apples.

R O A D i U L L ?

Elephants, camels,bison and 12 typesof pedestrian.

//As its subtitle suggests,liaving your collar felt by therozzers is going to be theleast of your worries//

F U N L O V I N ' C R I M I N A L S

f eaturlngpSgbt promotional videos including ScoobyBig Night Out and Love Unlimited;

M . \

Love â Back also features the film IVIaui Homicide 2000 - FLC at theirîminaj .finest in a free 4 all of Beer, Babes, l\/lurder and iVIayhem!

Awaking Of iVIaui Homicide JOGG and On The Road With FLC.Election and Maui Homicide 2GG0 are brought to you in

Iby tîgital 5.1 Surround Sound.

FILMS

H RY S A L I S

Also out now - the top 5 album Loco. Includes the hit single Loco plus Bump and Run Daddy Run.

w w w . f u n l o v i n c r i m i n a l s . c o m.0

O u t n o w o n

<E. " and "PlayStation" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Ail Rights Reserved. © Treasure 2001. © Conspiracy Entertainment. Published by SWING! Entertainment Media AQ. All imiand trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Distributed by Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd. All rights reserved. Virgin is a registered trademark of Virgin Enterprises Ltd. All right

E n s N E I L

Namco's mongrel creation Klonoa isbacl^ And it's still not sure whether it

wants to be 2D or 3D.

P u b l i s h e r S C E EDeveloper Namco

Players: 1R e l e a s e : O c t o b e r

F E E L I N G P U Z Z L E D PPuzzles play a big part in Klonoa 2 and mainly involve switchhitting with careful timing and aiming. Here are a fewexamples of the kind of brain-teasers you'll come up against.

1. Massive stone pillarsblock your route. Get thependulum swinging, andthen smash those pillars tget through the level.

2 . T h r e e s w i t c h e s h a v e t obe activated in quicksuccession to open a door- you'll have to find outhow to fly across the room.

3. Here you've got to reacha switch on the highestplatform. Using only twoenemies, you have to workout how to get up there.

4. A rocking boat is theonly way to the other sidebut it isn't swinging enough.N o w w h a t c a n I t h r o w a tthe target...?

' R E MK L O N O A 2 : L U N AT E A ' S V E I L

hen we first preview/ed Klonoa 2,back in Issue #04 of 0PS2, littlewas known about the tit le asidefnam a handful of screenshotsand a few glimpses of videofootage that showed a 2D eel-

shaded character in a 3D world. At this point the gamedidnt even have a publisher; but as 0PS2 predicted,SCEE has snapped it up and now with a full version inhand we've been able to see how it actually plays.

The game will see the titular Klonoa - half kitten,half rabbit with odd hand-shaped ears (you can alreadyguess what age group Namco is aiming at her^l -embarking on a magical multi-stage quest. Theandrogynous-but-cute creature's mission is to locate theelemental powers needed to rescue the world ofLunatea from the forces of chaos.

With uncomplicated gameplay that will send theplayer on a series of collection tasks, Klonoa 2 is fiveparts Sonic The Hedgehog to three parts Rayman witha side order of Namco's old DigDug coin-op. Despitebeing a sequel to one of Namco's lesser-known PSonetitles, Klonoa 2 bears little relation to its predecessorKlonoa: Door To Phantomile Its closest cousin isperhaps the relatively unknown, but well received PSonetitle, Pandemonium 2. This Crystal Dynamics-developedplatform game was also adorned with the kind ofcamera angle switches and sumptuous visual tricks thatKlonoa 2 has focused on, with the camera swingingsmoothly from a sideways scrolling perspective to athird-person view. The effect Is a recognisable platformformat but put through a 3D blender which makes upfor the title's less-than-original structure.

The game will be split Into a series of bite-sizedplatform escapades, with a handful of simple but well-

worked puzzles thrown In to add some kind of variety(see Feeling Puzzled?]. Game devices like the verticalwind currents that shoot Klonoa like a cannonball tootherwise unreachable arBas of levels, and theImaginative, scrBen-filling end-of-stage Boss adversariesarB given a new lease of life when rendered by the PS2.Klonoa himself is easy enough to guide with one buttonused to jump and another for picking up dimwittedbaddies. Once in your possession these take on a dualpurpose: they enable Klonoa to perform double-heightjumps by using them as a kind of Space Hopper or canbe used to feed huge cave-dwelling creatures to taketheir minds off of eating you instead.

There'll no doubt be sceptics. After all this Is hardlya revolutionary title and Klonoa himself/herself/itselflacks the cult appeal of other more famous gamemascots. What should appeal Is the simplistic platformmentality this title encapsulates, which has proved sopopular with gamers thnaughout the years. Klonoa 2 willdo well to remind us that there is still enjoyment to behad in kitsch candy coloured worids like these □

□N T R R G E T P K L D N D R 2 :L U N R T E R ' 5 M E LA trip down a redecorated memory lane proves that simple gameplayI s s t i l l v i a b l e a n d w e l c o m e .

R E T R O V A L U EVeteran platform fanswill go misty-eyed atthe map screen.

S C E N E R YP l a t f o r m c l i c h e s -haunted house,forest, fairground.

#C A M E P I A YThe l essons i t hasl e a r n e d w i l l m a k e i te v e n b e t t e r

Never ever asit for a lift from aKlonoa developer. It'll end in tears.

Puzzles never interfere with your primary objectives: to jump and to collect.

Okay, it's not revolutionary but thesimple gameplay has charm.

When platformer met roller coaster - Klonoa 2 takes you for a ride. Enemies can be used, Space Hopper-style, to jump higher. Klonoa Zs retro feel is complete with this level map.

Play5tation»B 037

G o t o H e l l . . .

0

%m

*

www.projectedengame.com Play5tati(()n,2Project Eden © Core Design Limited 2001. Project Eden is a Trademark of Core Design Limited. Published by Eidos Interactive Limited. Ail Rights Reserved.

" ^ " and "P layStat ion" are rea is tered t rademarks o f Sonv Cnmni i t f>r Pnt t t r ta i

Itoo PlaySiaiion 2games for £60.

F1 Championship Racing A l l - S t a r B a s e b a l l 2 0 0 2 S h a d o w o f M e m o r i e s

Two PlayStation 2 games for £60 - choose from a great selection in store now

One store you can't ignore V , S H Q WMoi i i ies

For your nearest store www.virgin.com/vshop

SONY COMPimR ENTERIAINMEm-EUROPE'S next wave of PS2 games is tocome direct from Japan, as the publisfier'sEuro releases come to the end of theirdeveiopment. As this issue shows, titlesincluding Dropsh/p, This Is Football 2002,AlrBlade, World Rally Championship andWIpEout Fusion are finally coming to fruitionwith pre-Christmas release dates for ail.

However until Studio Camden-produceddriving adventure The Getoway rears Itsgangster head next spring, SCEE Is lookingto Japan for its next wave of titles. Thepublisher's iong-held publishing deal withNamco will spawn the latest incarnations of

the Tekken and Ace Combat series, whileparent company SCE will contribute next-gen sequels to PaRappa The Rapper andApe Escape Following on from SCEE'sannouncement that It will publish Sega'sPS2 games, release dates for Head Hunter,Virtua Fighter 4 and other titles have beenrevealed to 0PS2. Here's what's coming up.

ECCO THE DOLPHIN:DEFENDER OF THE FUTURER e l e a s e d a t e : N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 1

The first Sega game to be published bySCEE, the original Dreamcast version ofDefender Of The Future was much maligned,

with gamers not persevering with themeandering early levels to discover themore engaging later ones Now the title hasbeen given an overhaul with improvedgraphics and level design to make Ecco TheDolphin less esoteric and a lot more fun.

M 0 1 0 G P 2Release date: December 2001Namco's motorbike racing sequel expandson last year's game. See page 60 for more.

R E ZR e l e a s e d a t e : D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 1

Rez is a true original. A synergy of 3D

blasting action with staggering visuals and apumping techno soundtrack that changesand morphs as the player progresses.Launched this month at WIREOl danceparty In Tokyo's Yokohama district. Head topage 68 for an exclusive inten/lew with Re^smain man, Tetsuya MIzuguchl.

HEAD HUNTERRelease date: December 2001Yes, it's developed in Sweden by Amuze, butthis Sega-spawned title could possiblytrouble a certain Metal Gear Solid 2 with Itssimilar gameplay and earlier release date. Athird-person action-adventure, you'll play the 0

Sega's Ecco The Dolphin, Head Hunter and Virtua Fighter 4 prepare for the journey to Blighty. The mesmeric visuals of Sega's Rez, plus Namco's Vampire Night on PS2.

PlayStation.^ 04

feBfej ^teiu. TEgajafiiiim (Id

1 0 / 1 2 M 3 M 4 I

FROM^KYOWITH LOVESo this Tokyo Game Show gubbins a Iabout then?

Held twice a year at the Makuhah Mes ;econvention centre In Tokyo's Chlba Citydistrict, the Tokyo Game Show Is thechance for the Japanese games Industyand public alike to try the latestvideogames before release.

This year, organisers CESA expectover 150,000 people to attend the threday stiow, to be held from 12-14 Octot erTied around a theme of 'Let's PlayTogettier", CESA claims TGS will be "moiesubstantial than ever," with 1358 boothsfrom 52 companies. 0PS2 will bring yo j afirst-hand report In Issue #014.

Tekken 4, Ace Combat 4 and the G-Con 2 compatible light gun shooter Vampire Night - it just Iteeps getting better and better.

0 role of bearded-up, cool shades-wearingsecret agent Jack Wade. Wade is embroiledIn a violent plot involving a sinisterreactionary government's Illegal trade inconvicted criminals' body parts.

PARAPPA THE RAPPER 2Release date: January 2002SCE's sequel to the cult 'Simon Says' musicgame on PSone. Introducing new charactersincluding Boxy Boy The Ghettoblaster andMatt Major The Basketball Nut, MasayaMatsuura's 2D canine rapper should find awhole new set of PS2 fans in his kennel. Outnow In Japan, a UK release has beenconfirmed as has an appearance byMatsuura-san at this month's ECTS. 0PS2will report back next issue.

ACE COMBAT 4 :D I S TA N T T H U N D E RRelease date: January 2002Renamed Distant Thunder for the UK (asopposed to 'Shottered SWes'l PS2 ownerscan take to the air In this next-gen versionof Namco's arcade-tinged flight sim seriesCurrently being prepared for release inJapan with a PC-styled USB analogue 'flightstick' for the necessary sensitlvlly to reflectthe title's Increased realism, exclusivepreview code shown to 0PS2 shows a moregritty, Sim-like Ace Combotthan the anlme-tlnged offerings on PSone.

EVERYBODY'S GOLF 3Release date: February 2002A million-seller in Japan, Everybody's Golf

//SCEE is lookingtowards Japan forits next wave ofPlayStation 2 iMes//has a cult following In the UK but sadly nomore than that Hopefully this latest PS2Incarnation will change that - expect newcourses, super-deformed golfers and thesame blissful gameplay. Yet to be confirmedby SCEE however; Is whether Everybody'sGolf 3 will feature the same face-mappingfeature as Golf Paradise DX, where playerswere offered the chance to Input their faceinto the game by plugging a digital cameraInto the PS2 USB port (see 0PS2 Issue #04|.

SPACE CHANNEL 5 V. l AND V.2Release date: February 2002The alluring saucy dancing of Sega's Ulalagrooves onto PS2 with an enhanced versionof the Dreamcast original, now containing anextra Two-player mode. will be an entirelydifferent and PS2-exclusive sequel. Think aparty-oriented version of Konaml's Bemanlseries with a serious Injection of the funk.

VAMPIRE NIGHTRelease date: February 2002Namco's House Of The Deod-style coin-oplight gun shooter sinks its teeth Into thePlayStation 2. Featuring G-Con 2compatibility, the true next-gen visuals willup the stakes (ahem) fliam Time Crisis 2with enough blood-sucking action to satiate

even the most gariic-stalned gamer As ourshots reveal, this is a game with bite.

ICORelease date: March 2002Ethereal castle-based adventure from SCE

starring a boy born with horns and hisghostly companion. The intricate animationand beautiful Interiors impressed Hideo'MGS2 Kojima enough to reveal to 0PS2that It was the game he most wanted toplay at last May's E3. Widely tipped as oneto watch, SCEE has conflnned a UK releasefor next March.

F -355 CHALLENGERelease date: March 2002Yu Suzuki's PS2 version of Sega's realistic-but-tricky coin-op/Dreamcast racingsimulation that gives gamers the opportunityto get behind the wheel of a Ferrari. Morewhen 0PS2 talks to the F-355 team at thisOctober's Tokyo Game Show.

VIRTUA F1GHTCR 4Release date: March 2002In last Issue's Vlrtua Fighter 4 Vs Tekken 4feature, we detailed many of the game'simprovements. Including new 'stagger'attacks, defensive moves and breakableenvironments. The coin-op version Is outnow with the PS2 version soon to follow.

T E K K E N 4Release date: Spring/Summer 2002Namco's recently-released arcade beat-'em-up has been developed on the PS2-friendly

System 246 arcade board, and the consoleconversion should be absolutely perfect Aswith rival Vlrtua Fighter 4, the coin-opversion will be port:ed and then embellishedwith a multitude of PS2-only features.

SMASH COURT TCNNIS :P R O TO U R N A M E N TRelease date: Spring/Summer 2002With rumours still circulating that Sega is tobring Vlrtua Tennis to the PS2, 0PS2understands that Namco hopes to beat Itsrivals to the punch with a completemakeover of the cult Smash Court Tennisseries. See page 45 forfurt:her details.

APE ESCAPE 2Release date: Spring/Summer 2002Vacuuming underpants from little monkeys?Japan watchers will know that Is the plot ofApe Escape 2001. However 0PS2 can revealthat this game will NOT be released in theUK Instead, SCE Japan is currently workingon a true next-gen version of Ape Escape -Ape Escape 2001 is merely a PS2-|: dishedversion of the PSone title. This tme PS2game will be released in Japan nexryearwith a SCEE release soon after

Thanks to Sega, Namco and Sony japan,SCEE has an enviable line-up of PS2 games.Keep an eye on future Spy stories f)rfurt:hera n n o u n c e m e n t s . □ J S / M G

*0PS2 will bring you exclusive Info on allthese titles when we visit the Tokyo GameShow this October.

142 PlayStatlon.E

' ' W E mP R O D U C ES O M E T H I N GDIFFERENT -DEEPER ANDGRITHER. . . "

7DMB RAIDER, PG 044

Climax Studios' liead-to-tiead driving game RaceOf Champions gets tine chequered flag.

ACnviSION IS EXPANDING its portfolio Of racing titles with a brand new licencebased on the unique Race Of Champions competition. The three-day event gatherstogether the best drivers from around the globe and makes them compete in frenetichead-to-head races around a figure-of-eight track with space for two supercars.

"Race Of Champions includes all sorts of raily competitions but is reaily about'action racing'," says Global Strategic Marketing Director Roger Walkden. "We feel that agap has been left by World Rally Championship and the new Colin McRoe game, andwhile ROC wont be a complete raily simulation, it'il use a visually explosive styie tobecome the SSX of rally racing titles"

0PS2 has seen impressive-but-limited footage of the promising title, with realisticTV-style replays, destructible scenery and races with 24 licenced vehicles frommanufacturers including Toyota, Ford, Porsche and Audi. There'll also be an interactiveco-driver and over 30 top drivers from the racing world such as Sweden's TomiMakkinen and France's Didier Auriol.

Race of Champions is being developed by Brighton-based Climax Studios to goalongside Activision's forthcoming Supercar Street Challenge on PlayStation 2, backingup the publisher's research that revealed racing sims account for a staggering 25% ofgame sales on consoles Expect that racing portfolio to get bigger soon. □ JS

•Race Of Champions is scheduled for a summer 2002 release

S L U E L I N E SeDS» Sharp-eyed gamers may have spotted that the sleeve of Capcom's superb Resident Evil Code: Veronica X bears an uncanny resemblance to OPSZs issue #010 cover. VVell,

that's because Capcom loved the final image so much, that the company decided to use it for the full packaging. Big ups to 0PS2's Nick Moyle and Chris Stocker» Activisionhas acquired the videogame rights to Steven Spielbeig's next movie Minority Report The sci-fi spectacular is due for release in summer 2002 and stars Tom Cruise

Improved playerl ikenesses arepromised. Until Becks

his hair again.u

w

: s N G H O nFirst pictures of Pro Evolution Soccer 0PS2 office 'aroused'.

Look! They've gotproper names! Andin English too! Yes!

FINALLY. IT SOLD OVER HALP a mtilion in Japanand it's 0PS2s lunch time favourite - Winning Eleven5 is coming to these shores. Spawned from the ISSPro Evolution series on PSone, KonamI has recentlyannounced the new name of their consistentiyexcellent football series for PlayStation 2, The gamewill now be known as Pro Evolution Soccer in a moveto distance the game from Konami's other morearcade football game lyes, also called ISSI and makethings a little less confusing for you out there.

Pro Evolution Soccer is the PlayStation 2 updateof ISS Pro Evolution Soccer 2 but there's a lot mote toit than Just prettier graphics Comparing the two is liketrying to make a comparison between Stanleyiviatthews-era footy and today's. There is none.

'Shoot-oh', as we lovingly call it, needs no betterrecommendation than the fact we play the Japaneseversion ail the time. That's evety single day for the lastsix months Trust us. if you're football mad, you haveto have this game.

The good news is that the UK version will be evenbetter than Winning Eleven 5. Probably the biggestdifference is that ind'Mdual players can have more ofan effect on the game. As in real-life, a turn by Rlvaidoor a 30 yard shot by Veron can now drastically changethe outcome of a match. Zidane, for example, hasincredibly precise dribbling skills and a special foot-over-the-baii skill that only he can do.

Basically we're promised a better game all round.Faster more intelligent players, crisper passing, newanimations, better 'keepers, noticeable differencesbetween players' skills and some spot on playerlikenesses. But for those of you only familiar with thePSone version, all you need to know is that ProEvolution Soccer is something of a revelation.

A release date for Pro Evolution Soccer is yet tobe confirmed but we reckon a head-to-head battlewith FIFA 2002 in November is on the cards. □

"Winning Eleven 5 is out now Ibut only in Japanj.

Play5tation.E 04

"AS THfeFiwiNGljow, we wantTHE GAMEFI TOGET A REAlS E N S E O F tV E R T I G O ! "

SPIDER-MAN, PG 046

□ R R RCore reveals new info on the next five Tomb Raider games.MORE TANTAL IS ING DETAILS o f Tomb

Raider: Next Generation have beenrevealed by Core Design. Speaking thisAugust to 0PS2, Operations Director AdrianSmith confinned that the company hasspent the last 12 months producing aTomb Raider'book' - basically a massiveadventure that will be split into five newgames. "Each episode will be completelyself-contained, but rather like the X-Rles, ifyou play all five you'll understand moreabout the complete story," says Smith.

In the new game, Lara Is accused ofmurder and is wanted by both the policeand a shadowy, sinister force. After fleeingto Paris, young Ms Croft has to evade herpursuers and meet up with charactersfrom the dark undenworid of the Frenchcapital in the hope of discovering who hasframed her and why The adventure willtake place In the two major Europeancities of Paris and Prague - both of whichhave been extensively modelled - andapparently revolves around the search forfive mysterious paintings and an ancientbiblical race of people. "We wanted toproduce something that was shockinglydifferent - deeper and grittier," continuesSmith. "We decided to put i^ra in a

situation that's totally alien to her and thegameplaying public, not Just add moretemples and tombs."

Other unique elements include: an as-yet-unnamed male playable character;non-linear level design that allows gamersto choose their own path; newpersonalities that may move out of theTomb Roiderarena to star in their ownadventures and character development forLara herself. Players can train' l-ara simplyby performing cert:ain actions more often,giving her more experience at abilitiessuch as making bigger Jumps.

Adrian Smith also stated that further

Tomb Ro/der episodes will definitely not bedistributed online. 'We're going to Lise thePS2 online aspect to add extra value andenhance the overall experience with theback history of characters, movies andhidden Web sites, for example. We're notgoing to force you to buy the next gameonline, because I don't believe consumerswant it." However; Smith wouldn't rule outthe possibility that special bonus levelscould be downloaded in the future. □ JS

Tomb Raiden Next Generation (workingtitle! wiii be released late next year

B L U E L I N E SJVC has announced a new PS2 game starring a snap-happy news reporter called Polaroid Pete to be released in December. Players must take the best pictures of ghosts, arampaging Godzilla and other amazing sights in the hope of winning the Pulitzer Prize » Secret game alert! EA Sports Canada has revealed that the next release from the SS <team will be a motocross game. The new project, tentatively titled MBX, is already under development alongside SSX sequel, SSX THcky. Think SSX on motorbikesi Can't wa...

H U 5 5 E I N I NPivotal's Gulf War epic Conflict: Desert Storm explodes onto PS2.0PS2 HAS BEEN given exclusive access to Pivotal's exciting new PlayStation 2 war gameConflict Desert Storm, first revealed in our January issue. Due for release in spring 2002, thesquad-based action-adventure has conflicts that take place in open desert:, small towns andmajor cities across the Gulf War battle zones during the day or night

'The game's missions have been inspired by actual events that occuned during the conflict,"says Managing Director, Jim Bambra. "Players will have to use stealth and skill to completeobjectives with their Special Forces soldiers such as blowing up a vital bridge or rescuingcomrades in distress" Each of the four squad members available has different strengths that canbe put to use on the battlefield, including a sniper and a demolitions expert.

However, this is no PC strategy title - Pivotal has designed the game from the ground up tobe Dual Shock 2-compatible. Players can quickly switch between each character in third-personmode with one button press, allowing for the speedy setting-up of ambushes or all-out attacks.'We're paying special attention to the Al," continues Bambra. "Your men will do exactly what youtell them to do, so you can happily leave your sniper in a position where he can take out anyopposition. But the soldiers will also react independently to the action, for example, if they seethat someone Is being pinned down by enemy gunfire or they're attacked."

Of course there's a hefty supply of historically-accurate weaponry to assault the enemy,including anti-tank rocket launchers, rifles and grenades, plus a huge variety of vehicles □ JS■^^onfllct Desert Stonn will be released spring 2002 through SCI.

"Now, I'm sure theywent thataway. Or wasIt thisaway. Or..."

You're a big sni|He's a small t¥bu know what to

)44 PlayStation.2

U P D H T EBringing you up to date withthe biggest PS2 games.

Is an all-new Smash Court Tennis on the way for the PS2?SHE MAY BE THE girl who makes more money from modelling than she does fromprofessional tennis, but you can't help loving Anna Kournikova. PSone owners will know theprodigious Russian not Just as an athletic object of desire In a tiny skirt, but the endorsee ofthe console's finest tennis game, Namco's Smash Court Tennis,

Of course, much like her presence In grand slam tournaments, Kournlkova's role waslargely cosmetic In that game - a photo appeared on the box, while her In-gamerepresentation was of the cute, superdeformed variety. However rumours are currentlyreaching 0PS2 that a new, photo-reailstic version is In development at Namco's Tokyo HQ. Inthis new PlayStation 2 version, playing as Anna will be far more convincing due to Namco'sadoption of this realistic style.

Taking a cue from Sega's superb Virtua Tennis Istlil potentially PS2-bound as Sega SportsTennis), 0PS2 understands that a whole range of pro piayers including Pete Sampras andAndre Agassi wlli also be Included. However unlike Virtua Tennis, the new Smash CourtTennis wlii also feature faithful reproductions of grand slam arenas and will allow you toplay in real tournaments such as Wimbledon, Think about what Namco did for bike racingwith Moto 6P then apply that level of loving detail to the sport of tennis and you've gotthe essence of a whole new bail game. Here's hoping □ SR

'Hopefully the new Smash Court will confirm itself at this year's Tokyo Game Show.

Mortal Kombat resurrected on PS2.

BLOODIED, BRUISED AND almost batteredto the point of extinction after a series ofdepressing PSone spin-offs. Mortal Kombat Ismaking an unexpected comeback on PS2doing what It does best - one-on-one fightingwith lashings of ketchup. Technically speaking,the new game would be number five In theseries, but Midway saw fit to drop the numeralto signify a new beginning for the iong-running

fighting franchise and 0PS2 was privilegedto witness the next-generation game first

hand th is month .The game Is still in the early stages

of development but the video trailer wesaw Indicates that the series has finallybeen dragged kicking and screaminginto a lavish new 3D domain. As

moody scratched typography(reminiscent of the film, Seven) flashed

on-screen to Indicate that the legend wasreturning', familiar characters such asScorpion and Jax could be seen exchangingblows as a camera swirls around them.

We're promised the return of the silckly-slck finishing moves, Friendlies, Animalltiesand all the other touches that made theMortal Kombat name such a massive unlt-shlfter In the first place Although to be honest,the character models still look a little rougharound the edges compared to the fleshed-out smoothies that populate the Tekken 4arenas. Now that long-standing MK stalwart,Ed Boon Is back at the helm, we fully expectthe finished article to be a realistic challengerto the PS2 beat-'em-up crown. □ RB

* iviortal Kombat will be released by Midway

Gomes In autumn 2002.

T H E G E TAWAY

P u b l i s h e r ; S C E EL a s t s e e n : 0 P S 2 # 0 5Latest release date: Spring 2002

The extensive photography of ournation's capital has now beenfinished. Team SoHo is currentlyconcentrating on making sure thegameplay is 'pukka' as certainmockney TV chefs might say.

T O N Y H A W K ' SPRO SKATER 3

Publisher; ActivisionL a s t s e e n : 0 P S 2 # 1 0Latest release date: November

Revealed for the first time here Isthe Japan level with an insanecollection of bright neon signs,loops and slides. Very SSX

Okage: Shadow King is an RPG/action game from SCEA starring Ari, a young boy on a quest to destroy demons. No word yet on whether SCEE wilt bring the adventure to the UK »As well as Defender and Mortal Kombat Midway's recent Gamers' Day in the US revealed plans for a helicopter action-adventure Hreblade and a Morio Kart-st e airborne racerentitled Freaky Flyers » Kodiak Interactive, developer of Circus Moximus has announced a new platform game entitled (sigh) Gob/in Quest Expect to see lots of green warty freaks

PlayStation.2 0^

|||G -"CEL-SFT H E 2 1 S TC E N T U R YEQUIVALENT OFSTONE WALLC L A D D I N G "

GOOD AND EVIL, PG 053

TF E X

Krypton's most famous son Superman flies onto PS2.

HE MAY BE the Man of Steel and be able to Jump buildings In a single bound,but Superman has had a disastrous run of recent videogames - until now.Infogrames plan to bring the legendary DC Comics star to PlayStation 2 In whatthe company hope will be the definitive Supennan title, with the stylised ArtDeco look of the successful Warner Bros cartoon.

'This Is not an Interactive comic or movie. It's a game first and foremost."says Senior Producer and self-confessed Superman nut Rob Smith. "A next-genplatform gives us the opportunity to do a lot of very cool things and we've areally compelling plot with plenty of twists, conspiracy, subterfuge, sabotage,super-villains - the lot"

Smith and his 26-strong Sheffield team are working closely with DC Comicsand Warner Bros to make sure the third-person action game remains consistentwith the Superman character and cartoon universe - you will never see thehero kicking anybody for example There'll be aerial combat and realistic physicsso Superman can pick up and throw heavy Items such as cars, destructiblearchitecture and a massive 2km square environment

The scale Is awesome," continues Smith. "On some levels you can't actuallysee Superman until you zoom in on him. Because he can fly the volume of theplay area Is Just enormous - you're the world's strongest man, but you're upagainst heavy weaponry, super-villains and this huge environment, although you'llhave super-speed to get you there faster." Elegant eel-shaded animation willbring the game's characters to life, with detailed models of Superman and hisareh-enemles such as LiveWIre, Metallo and, of course, Lex Luthor

Smith believes that the dedicated Infogrames Heroes Division will deliver aquality Superman experience that brings together elements of a comic, cart:oonand videogame "We're looking at 12-15 hours of visually stunning variedgameplay with extremely high production values. It's easy to blind people withcool animation and eye candy, but when it gets down to it, If the gameplay isdull, it's in no-one's Interest." □ JS

■Superman will be released in late 2002 thmugh Infogrames

146 Play5tation.E

Ice dance meetsRoHerbo/ / forSpeedball Arena.

TN^ E N R

0PS2 exclusively unveil the Bitmap Brothers' Speedball Arena

T H E L E G E N D A RY N O - H O L D S - B A R R E D v i o l e n t

metal ball slamming action of Speedball iscoming to PS2 - and It's going to be playableonline. Developer Bitmap Brothers spoilsexclusively to 0PS2 about tfielr brand new gameSpeedball Arena and how they're going to takeSony's next-gen console by storm,

"Quite simply, there'll be nothing else like it,"says L£ad Designer Ed Bartlett. "We're creating acomplete online gaming experience that playerscan become totally engrossed In, whilst retainingthe raw 'plck-up-and-play sentiments of theoriginal," The team Is confident that their futuristicsl ice of handbal l combined with brutal and

bloody pit-flghting which has appeared onvarious game consoles over the last ten years, willbe a kllier-app for SCEE's soon-to-be-neieasedNetwork Adapter 'The whole ethos behind theconcept of Speedball Arena has been to create aproper online sport. Professional gaming Is takingoff all over the world and Speedball Arena Is theperfect title to facilitate this as it retains thetactics of a sports game, whilst not being

burdened by the masses of rules apparent intraditional sports,"

Speedball Arena takes the elements of theclassic 8,16 and 32 bit franchise, and adds to itThere will now be a First-person mode, motion-captured, hand-animated characters, anadvanced combat system and TV-style replays.The Single-player mode allows gamers to learnSpeedball Arena's dynamics, guide their teamthtDugh various leagues and - crucially - traintheir squad. However, the iviultipiayer mode iswhere the mal action iies, containing traditionalsplit-screen matches as well as sponsored onlinetournaments made up of human-only 'clans'competing in over 30 varied virtual arenas. "We'realso looking at mobile phones and PDAs thatallow Speedball players to track league standings,latest scores and news on the move, keepingplayers Involved even when they're away fromtheir PS2," adds Bartlett. □ JS

■Speedball Arena will be causing bone-crunchingfuturistic mayhem come Christmas 2002.

fRON THD NAKERS Of "QHOST IN THE SHELL"" DigiTAL INAQINQ HAS ENTERED A NEW ERA.

T H E W O R L D W I L L C O N E T O C O N S I D E R T H I S W O R K

AS THE STANDARD Op TOP QUALITV ANIMATION."J A M E S C A M E R O N - D i r e c t o r o f " T I TA N K '

" ABSOLUTELV ASTOUNDINQ,"

A N I M E N E W S N E T W O R K

" IT WAS BEAUTIFUL

IT WAS AS THOUQH THE ART Of

FRANCIS BACON HAD CONE TO LIFE."A N D Y W A C H O W S K I - D i r e c t o r o f " T H E M AT R I X "

w w w . b l o o d t h e m o v i e . c o m

Cheek out www.manga.coni for news on upcoming releases

A V A l l . A B I . U F R O M H M V O N A N D V H S F R O M . S I i P T 1 7

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□ Simply step into Rio's boots and away you go. This Is Football 2002 lets you be any one of 5000 world class players. Featuring lifelike facial graphics, t lus narnumbers on shirts, it leads the way for football games on PlayStation 2. This is the closest you'll get to the real thing - not to mention a lot less hassle tlian ti-ai

w w w . t i f 2 0 0 2 . c o m P l a v S t a t i® T H E r H I R D

" B L A C K ^ T H E RJACKET, FLAT-TOPH A I R C U TS E E M I N G LYP E R M A N E N TC O N S T I PAT I O N . . . "

POCKET HEROES, PG 054

Scoop! 0PS2 grabs exclusive details on Codemasters' TOCA Race Driver.AS REPORTED LAST issue, the successfulTOCA Touring Car series is coming to PS2and now 0PS2 can reveai ali-new exclusiveinfo on Codemasters' promising PS2 racer.TOCA Race Driver continues the innovationsmade in TOCA WIC on PSone Iwhich received10/10 in our sister mag OPM) but now thefranchise has more offlciaily licencedcompetitions, tantalising next-gen graphicswith up to 14 cars on-screen at once and apotentially fantastic physics engine thatpromises realistic collision damage,

"We're using a damage system that'sexactly the same as the one used by the carindustry In computer-modelled crash tests,"says Gavin Raeburn, studio head andProducer of the TOCA series. All the physicalforces of a crash will be transferredaccurately: crumpling metal, shattering glassand the loss of various vehicle parts as theywould in the real worid, hampering thevehicle and making driving hard as hell.

engine for raglistic damajfe.

Computer-controlled opponents havebeen vastly improved for the new TOCA title,with individual driver A! based on realpersonalities from the championships. "All thevehicles have the same physics, not just theplayer car, so the Ai can make mistakes,crash and cause pile-ups," continuesRaeburn. There'll be no catch-up or otherracing 'cheats' to make the game easier toplay, Codemasters wants players to beat theopposition on their own merit.

However, new to the franchise is theintroduction of a new character-basednarrative, where players follow the career offictional driver Ryan McKane. "In most racegames the car is the star," says Raeburn, "butwe want to change the focus from the lumpof steel around the driver to the driverhimself." ISee The Car's Not The Star)

Codemasters is also including afour-player option - running at ajudder-free 60fps - and

possibly even an Internet link-up mode, asthe PC version of the game uses networkcode that will easily transfer to the PS2. Withsome of the worid's most exciting races,including the new AVESCO V8 Supercar Shellchampionship from Australia and the flagshipBritish Touring Cars licence packed into thegame, Raebum is convinced TOCA RaceDriver will be the most successful title in theseries' history. "Working with PlayStation 2 isheaven for us. We're finally getting to makethe TOCA game we've always wanted." □ JS

"Codemosters'TOCA Race Driver wiii bere/eased spring/summer 2002.

/ T l i e r e ' l l b eno 'cheats' tomake the gameeasier to o\av//

0 -- ' i W

Hero Ryan McKane and (left)A Glamorous Racing Lady.

TOCA Race Driver - a car game withr e a l c h a r a c t e r .

Codemasters' latest TOCA smasii willbravely introduce the Idea of acharacter-based nan-ative to the racinggenre with fictional hero Fiyan McKanepermanently behind the wheel. So.Instead of the traditional racing gamefront-end, TOCA Race Driver will startwith McKane's office.

This is used as the central pointwhere players can open a door toenter a race, or receive championshipdetails via email or fax. There's nothingto jump you out of the game world,such as menus with Arcade mode andso on," says Producer Gavin Raeburn."We want 7DCA Race Driver to becompletely Immersive from themoment you boot it up."

PlayStation,E i

"I 'm sure it saidsecond le f t a f te rthe c rossroads. . .

N TBrand new details on Evolution Studios' World Rally Championship 2001.

S E E F O R M I L E SWRC 2001's huge scale impresses.

Evolution Studios has spent the lastsix months frantically working onWorld Rally Championship 200rsrendering technology to produce someof the most dramatic images everseen in a videogame. "We're creatingsomething that hasn't been donebefore. Instead of cartboardmountains you're going to see adistant road and eventually be able todrive on it," says Kenwright Thedriving game has a huge depth offield, v»ith heat haze effects, real-timeweather on certain courses that willaffect conditions and incredibleshadow technology. "We're trying tocreate something televisual," addsKenwright, "with dazzling graphics,immersive sound effects and stylishreplays. Plus the scale of the game ishuge, with over 500i<m of courses andsome spectacular 1,000ft drops."

P L AY S TA n O N 2 W I U S O O N w i t n e s s t h earrival of a glorious rally pretender to a certainColin McRoe's throne - World RallyChampionship 2001. 0PS2 first tracked downthe exclusive on this glorious racing title backin Issue #02 and now, with only a few monthsuntil release. Evolution Studios' MD and co-founder Martin Kenwright agreed to take usthrough the game's extensive changes andenhancements made since Its last appearanceat May's E3 videogames trade show.

"People ate going to be amazed," says anenthusiastic Kenwright. "On the Argentinian rally

like to think thatCT3 is a Mercedesand we're a BMW/'Martin Kenwrig^it/stage, for example, there's a moment when youdrive round a corner and suddenly see aspectacular mountain range with a tiny roadwinding Its way as far as the eye can see It'soverwhelming" The team has been extremelybusy concentrating on fine-tuning the gorgeouscars (modelled expertly on the outside andinside) creating breathtaking scenery andensuring that WRC is a forgiving playingexperience with a credible sensation of speed.

"We've come from a simulation background,with our previous company DiD, so we startedby going down the hyper-realistic route,"continues Kenwright. "We then toned that downto make it much more playable and arcadey."The team believe that the handlingof the cars in WRC Is now

spot on, with a fast and smooth edge-of-the-seat rally driving feel where gamers can pull offspectacular time-saving power slides

Other improvements Include the full use ofDIgimask technology, which has been used tomap the faces of all the actual drivers from theofficial World Rally Championship, althoughKenwright confirmed that PS2 owners wont beable to import their mugs Into the game justyet, "Its a long tenn ambition, but at themoment there are quite a few technical issuesto overcome. It's been tough enough Justgetting the real driver's faces spot on."

So how does WRC measure up to thesuperb Rally mode In Gran Turlsmo 3: A-spec?The look and feel of Kazunori Yamauchl's gameis magnificent" concedes Kenwright "GranTurlsmo 3 is a real benchmark, but there arenoticeable differences to WRC with GT3'srelatively small tracks and the fact Its cars donttake on damage. We like to think that GT3 Is aMercedes and we're a BMW - Its a differentgame, but WRC definitely measures up," UnlikeGTS, Evolution Studios' rally title has fullydefonmable vehicles that get dirty and collectdents and scrapes on the bodywork. Meanwhilemotion-captured spectators by the roadsidereact to the cars as they speed past

Also definitely making It into the final gamewill be a Widescreen mode, a fast and smoothsplit-screen two-player competition andforce feedback support for the

rather smart GT3 steering wheel. With an ofl ciallicence and all the locations from the 2001season that spans the globe from Europe tcSouth America and Australasia, World RallyChampionship 2001 could deliver the ultimaterally driving experience. □ JS

•WRC 2001 Is published by SCEE and willout In November Watch out for nextIssue's full preview with an exclusiveplayable demo to follow.

lO PIayStation E

@ 0 0On their knees but still fightiiThe PlayStation 2's fighters (the 'PAL borders l imbo danc

I L L U S T R A T I O N ; L E E W O O D G A T E

THE HITS HZThe heroes and villains ofthe optimisation row.

0PS2 investigates why PAL conversions of NTSC games are bordering on the unacceptable."WHY IS rr THAT tit les l ike Resident E\fil andOnimusho are spoilt by huge black borders andJerky visuals?" This is one of the most commonquestions that appears In the 0PS2 postbag. Itseems that even after similar probiems onPSone titles, Japanese games are stiii beinglazily converted for the UK market. Graphicsstutter and iook out of proportion, while thegame is stuck between black borders.

The reason iies In physics and the figures,50Hz and 50Hz What this refers to Is theamount of times a TV updates the picture yousee on screen to give an Impression ofmovement TVs In Japan and America weredeveloped under the NTSC standard and theyare 60Hz, meaning they update at 60 framesper second. Just to make things difficult, UK TVsare 50Hz and therefore update at 50 fps. This isknown as PAL Furthermore, PAL and NTSCdisplays have another difference - an NTSCdisplay Is smaller when viewed on a PAL TV asit Is made up of less horizontal lines.

The way this affects your PS2 games is that,firstly, a game made for NTSC TVs produces anarrower display than a PAL TV. Thus the Imagedoesn't fill the screen causing those blackborders. Secondly NTSC games running at60Hz run ten frames faster than PAL can

handle. The result? Slow-down. These conditionsarise because no attempt Is made by thedeveloper to convert the game to PAL

Luckily UK PS2 owners are not forevercondemned to poor quality conversions Manynewer UK TVs are capable of 'stretching' thenarrower NTSC display and njnning at 60Hz.The problem is, it requires the game to give youthe option to chose between the two and atpresent too few titles include this. Why? Themain argument cited by publishers Is that onlyone in eight UK TVs can accept a 50Hz signal,it's worth noting that Sega Incorporated theoption In nearly ail Dreamcast games.

There is an alternative. Case In point? GTS.While the European version of GTS lacked a60Hz mode, developer Polyphony spent a greatdeal of time on the PAL version to eliminateborders or slow-down. A SCEE spokespersonexplains: "Although It Is technically possible toInclude both a 50Hz and 50Hz mode on somegames, developers sometimes chose to offer

PAL gamers the same quality of experiencewith an expertly tuned PAL conversion.

"Where possible, we encourage developersto explore the possibility of including bothmodes in the game," SCEE's spokespersoncontinues "It Is also the creative, technical andcommercial choice of the software developer asto whether they include this feature - notsomething that SCEE can insist upon."

So what about Resi and Onimusha? Amember of Capcom's UK HQ is due to talk withthe Japanese office regarding the optimisationof Its EuHDpean conversions, so such futurereleases as Devil May Cry should be moresensitive to the problem. And there's no need toworry about Konami's Metai Gear Solid 2. DaveCox, European PlayStation Product Manager forKonamI assured us that "All our major releaseson PS2 have always been full screen and fullspeed. There should be no perceivabledifference between our NTSC and PAL releases."Are you listening, Namco? □ SiVI

H E R O E SFull screen and proud.Fur Fighters: BizarreCreations show how itshould be done with Its fast,full-screen title.Deod Or Alive 2: Anotherexample of developerstaking the lead, with Tecmoshowing Tekken Tag howfull-screen fighting Is done.G T 3 : A s u c c e s s f u l PA Lconversion - still 50Hz, butstill high quality.

//''It is the choice of the developer as towhether they include a 50Hz and 60Hz feature.It's not something SCEE can insist upon"//

V I L L A I N SBorders only AlanTitchmarsh could love.Tekken Tag TournamentCrouching Tiger, ReducedPlay Area.Ridge Racer V: A shoddyc o n v e r s i o n . S h a m e o n

you, Namco.Onimusho: Capcom tal esthe cinematic trend too farwith this widescreen epic.

)52 PlayStation,E

i tQ D _ ,

SssisoOQ(jut / )C3mr = Q Z z S^ ^ z S x u jr < < S H o a

Distinguishing features: Ponytail, high-pitched voice, ili-fittinglong johns, fear of evil undead pirates.

COLLECT THE ENTIRE SERIES!S WA P W I T H Y O U R M AT E S !

C U T O U T A N D K E E P !S E N D N O C A S H !

BIG BIG FUN!

L o o k s i A foppish, twenty-something BillGates. Bit of a geelt really. 5 8

A t t a c k : A vicious barrage of verbal insults:"You fight like a cow!" 4 5

Defence Indestructible against lava, cannon-fire and undead pirates from Heck. 9 5

Spec ia ls Solves puzzles with an apparentlyunconnected collection of objects. 8 4

HAPPILY SAYTHAT YOU'LLN O T N E E D P E T YNOSTALGIA FC RTHIS GAME"

DEFENDER, PG 057

Activision's Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 tofeature RPG elements?

AS wrm ALL OF Activision's forthcoming 02 extremesports titles {Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 inciuded), RainbojvStudios-developed Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 wiil featuresonnething 02 representatives are calling 'quasi-RPG'gameplay. Essentially this adds adventure elements to themain part of the game - and for Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2,It's called Road Trip. Brian Bright, the game's Producer,explains. There are slight tinges of RPG In the game. Forexample, in Los Angeles there's a pool full of water You'lhave to travel to Portland to get a pump and then Austin toget an extension lead - combine them and you can emptythe pool In LA and ride in It Everything builds on top of eachother to give a motB Interactive experience." This means thatpart of the game involves exploration and the completion ofsimple puzzles.

This leads to the game being much more open-endedthan any previous BMXIng game. 'The game is based arounda road trip," says Bright. The story is that you're travellingaround America on a bus and then abroad. You have certainobjectives in each place you visit - you have to get gas toget to where you want to go - but the game is non-ilne.:sr"

Bright also says that pulling stunts in Mot Hoffman's ProBMX 2 is going to be more organic, "You can pretty muchmodify any stunt mId-trIcK and the game wiil smoothlyanimate between them, if you're doing a bacl fllp, you'll ')eable to smoothly blend into a barspin." □ NJ

•Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 is out next spring.

' PlavStation®?1 / O F F I C I A L M A 6 A 2 I N E - U K

M A X P A Y N EMox Payne

Age: Unknovt^n Height: 6'3" Blood lype: Cold

Distinguishing Features: Black leather jacket, flat-top ha rcut,seemingly permanent constipation.

Guybrush is the wfannabe pirate hero of this infuriating-but- !|\)chucklesome PS2 adventure . Also stars Mrs Threepwood, 'Elaine Mariey and zombie pirate baddie LeChuck |

Looks A psychotic, gun-toting ChrisPackham looka l i ke . 7 7

A t t a c k Two-handed gunplay sprayingbullets in all directions. 7 9

D e f e n c e Max's leather Jacket unfortunatelydoesn't provide much protection. 3 9

Specials Hong Kong cinema-style power-ups for slo-mo 360..blasting 6 7

After the murder of his parents and being framed by a crimesyndicate for the police chiefs death, hard-nosed New Yorkcop Max Payne is on a brutal mission for justice and revenge.

)54 Play5tation.E

□R U 1 ( J U L y 1 5 )Got some mecha figures and the bizarreMosquito game for my birthday. For theiatter I find a cheat which unioci^s amini-game sumo battie between thegame's human cast - on bicycles, it justgets stranger and stranger...

□n u 7Leave the Tokyo Character Show atMakuhari l^esse totaiiy emply-handedeven though the event Is packed withanime and game merchandise.Nevertheless, stage appearances andconcerts by voice actors from some ofmy favourite anime make my day.

Try Konaml's motion tracking punch-'em-up Mocop Boxing. It's very good andworth looking like a fooi punching thinair to piay - definitely the oniy time i wiilever knock out someone who looks atieast twice my weight and strength.

O R y BGo to a Japanese festival and end updoing Bon Odori, a traditional Japanesedance with the rest of the crowd. Ofcourse I've never danced it before andam totaliy crap. Oniy by mimicking thepros do i bareiy scrape by

□R i d 11Go to Square's Tokyo HQ to interviewSakaguchi-san, creator of the FinalFantasy series Isee feature on page 881.

□R y I EAbout to pack up and leave Happy Worldat Sony Plaza, when Toro hits the stage.A photo opportunity Is Irresistible.

□R b J 1 9Check out the Ultraman Festival,dedicated to one of Japan's mostpopular superheroes. Go crazy overcostumes and displays from the show Iwatched as a kid. The live stageperformance with the Ultra heroesmanages are both cheesy and brilliantlynostalgic. Make a mental note to see thelatest Ultroman Cosmos movie. If only Icould don a rubber suit and fightmonsters, things would be perfect...

i p a n e i

This Is what Super Robot Wars fans havebeen screaming for - real-time combat infull 3D. Team up super robots from 15classic anime (plus the game's originalcharacter) for the offensive and unleashtheir famous long- or short-range attacks,depending on the level of the spirit gauge.Should things get dicey, a RegimentAttack calls all your allies for adevastating assault. Excuse me while thiswriter cleans up his drool...

PlayStation's cute mascots take over Tokyo's Sony Plaza.

I T S T H E S U M M E R H O U D AY S a n d t h e

McDonalds PlayStation promotion is in full swing0PS2 Joined the many families escaping the heatat Happy World In Tokyo's Sony Plaza. The wholeplace was decorated with cartoony backdrops andoodles of toys, and if more Interaction was neededthen PaRappa The Rapper, Chocobo Racing, bothApe Escape games and the Doco Demo Isshoutitles were available to play.

On display was the history of the McDonaldsHappy Set (Japan's version of UK Happy Meal toys)starting with a Sonic The Hedgehog set in 1995,while the current Happy Set gift - a PaRappa TheRapper 2 demo disc (see last issue) - wasplayable via a huge PS2 controller: Appearancesfnom Toro (Sony Japan's mascot) and Plpo Saru(the Ape Escape star) also made the kids' day.

Accondlng to a mockumentary video shown,the chimp and an Elvis wannabe travelled to NewYork's ballet schools and hung out with streetdancers to research an official 'Saru Getchu'

dance that features on the TV ads. To say that theybore any resemblance to said 'reseatth' stretchesthe fabric of reality to the limits

Also on show were Yoshltaka Amano's FinalFantasy illustrations showcasing charactersketches and battle scenes from the entire series.

Seemingly near-complete versions of Devil MayCry and Everybody's Golf 3 occupied the gamesfloor, the most eye-popping sequence from theformer Involved Dante discovering a new sword. Itdislodged from the altar with such a force, that theblade slammed through the heno's chest andpinned him to the ground! Gotta hurt., □ AW

1. GRAN TURISMO 3: A-SPEC (SCEil2. MOSQUITO (SCEil3 . P l P O S A R U 2 0 0 1

[APE ESCAPE 20011 (SCEI)4. SHADOW HEARTS (ARUZEj5 . M A K I B A M 0 N 0 C S A 1 A R I - H A A T O N l

HIOTSUKETE (ViCTOR il>n-ERACTiVE|6 . S U P E R P A C H I N K O S I M U L A H O N V 2 ;

GENIUS BAKABON ISUNSOiT)7. RIMOKOKORON (SCEil8 . S H O U B U S H I D E N S E T S U

TETSUYA (ATHENA)W O R L D S O C C E R W I N N I N GELEVEN 5 (KONAMIl

10. ALCHEMIST ATEUER UUE (GUSTO)

9 .

•Chart source: Famltsu PS2 124/08/20011

H O T T O y i

S P R C E C R U I S E Ra R m R T DEven If you didn't watch the Star Blazers series in the Eighties, thisdetailed toy Is a must have. The Space Cruiser 1'amato has too manygimmicks and flickering diodes to list The best? Side panels that revealthe wave motion gun barrel that at the press of a button will emit afiring sound complete with flashing lights. Yours for only £110i

E U E R b l B D D ! d 5G O L F 3

SCE's latest instalment of this million-selling golf game (sadly only a cult hit inthe UK) boasts realistic scenery,undulating greens and 'natural effects' likeshimmering lakes. Funny how all theplayers still look superdeformed though.Most promising new feature is a virtualtournament at wvw.mlngoLnet whereputters can enter their best scores for bigprizes. Expect a UK release soon!

PlayStation.E 01

G O T T H I S ?

R E A D T H I S !

AND GET PLAYABLE DEMOS EVERY MONTH

• ALL THE VERY LATEST PLAYSTATION NEWS, PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS • THE ONLY OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION 1 MAGAZINE WITH A PLAYABLE DEMO DISCThe Official iJK PlayStation f agazine is the worid's biggest-selling PlayStation magazine. On sale every 28 days. Got a PlayStation? Get this.

B R C I K T O B R 5 I COPSZs Jamie Sefton shows you how to make yourown Yabasic games.

C H A R A C T E R SS O U N D SOKAY. BUT ITHAS BEENDONE BEFORE.. . "

THIS MONTHE N E M I E S

Classic coin-op, Defender, gets a major PS2 face-l

F O L L O W I N G T M E S H O C K a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t

Midway was disbanding its coln-op division,many assumed that the US gaming giant wouldbe cutting off a supply ilne of ludicrous money-spinning console ports - not so. As games iikeSpy Hunter have hinted, the company has a vastback-cataiogue of gaming greats to fail back on,the iatest of which to get the next-gen revamptreatment Is classic shoot-'em-up. Defender.Before you tut In disgust about pillaging fromsuch a sacred tomb, iet us inform you that

//The aim is to savemanldnd f romannil i i lation at thehand of grays//

Defender on PS2 is the same in name only Theaim Is still to save mankind from annihiiation at

the hands of unscrupulous grays, but long goneare the flat 2D visuals of yore, replaced by lush3D landscapes that display every crusty rock onMars's crimson surface. The action Isnt justconfined to the red planet though, as ailensawait behind every star ready to pose a threat

By saving humans you are rewarded by shipupgrades such as extra shields, advancedprojectiles and cioaklng devices and if youhavent got the bottle to go It alone then youcan rope In a mate to cover your ass In a newtwo-player Co-operative mode. Developer 7Studios has aiso implemented more strategicelements to enrich the frantic shoot-'em-upgamepiay and now you can deploy guntowersand battie stations to lessen the alien threat.

The game is stiii some way off completion,but whiie at Midway's recent Gamer's Day expo,0PS2 was treated to an exclusive preview In theform of video footage that shows just how farthe game has progressed since Its Eightiesconception. Of course. If you simply cannot letgo of the past then the original game has alsobeen included in the package - but having hada taster for what the future of Defender holdsand seen just how well the publisher treated Itsnext-gen update of Spy Hunter (see page 110],we can happily inform you that you'll not needpetty nostalgia here. □ RB

•Defender is scheduled for release by MidwayGames In m id -2002 .

W E L C O M E TO PA RT f o u r I n a

continuing series thatdemonstrates the gamingpower of Yabasic. In the lastthree Issues, we've showedyou how to draw a side-scrolling mountain range andspaceship, added code thatenables players to control thecraft via Dual Shock 2, createdcollision detection and set upan energy bar

For this Instalment, we'veadded a very simple - ahem -'object manipulation system'for enemies. In this case yourenemy Is a coloured block thatmoves from right to left acrossthe screen at varying heightswhich the player must avoid tosurvive. In order for the enemyanimation to ' take I ts turn' I tInvolves the followingIns t ruc t ions In the code:□ Draw the object.□ Calculate the position it

shou ld take nex t f rame.□ Detect If the object has

disappeared off screen. Ifso It must destroy Itself, orcomputation time will bewasted consideringIrrelevant objects.

□ Detect If an object hastouched the player - If so,deplete the player's energyand destroy the object.

"Thanks to Mike Dean at SCEEfor his Yabasic ski l ls.

N E X T M O N T H :A D D I N G G A M E P L AY E L E M E N T S

T H I S M O N T H ' S C O D E

Firstly, insert this piece ofcode to the existing program(from Issues 9,10 and 11) inbetween 'energy = 100' and'LABEL Framestart'. (Line 11)f r a m e c o u n t - 0maxobjs = 100DIM obj typelmaxobjsjDIM obj xlmaxobjs)DIM obj yimaxobjsjFOR t - 1 to maxobjsobj typeltl = 0NEXT

Now add this piece of code inb e t w e e n t h e ' D r a w M o u n t a i n 'and 'Draw Player' sections(Line 29)REM - - Object control - -FOR n - 1 TO maxobjsIFobJ_typeln) = lTHEN GOTOenemy turn ENDIFi_ABEL endturnNEXT

Nearly there! Now add thiss h o r t b i t o f c o d e i n b e t w e e nthe 'Background CollisionD e t e c t i o n ' a n d ' E n d o f F r a m e 'sections. (Line 59)REM Schedu le riP MOD(framecount,30l = 0 THENn = nextobJOobj_type|nj = 1obj xlnj = 640obJ_y(n| = ran(380lE N D i Ff ramecount = f ramecount + 1

Finally, add this last piece ofcode right at the end of theprogram after the 'End off r a m e ' s e c t i o n .

SUB nextobjOLOCAL tFOR t = ITO maxobjsIF 0bj_ typeltj = 0 THEN RETURN tENDIFNEXTPRINT "Erron run out of objects"ENDEND SUB

LABEL enemy_turnSETRGB 1, RAN(600), RAN(6001,RANleOOjFILL RECTANGLE obJ_x(nl,obJ. y(n|TO Obj x|nl+10,obj y(n|+10obj. x|n) = obj xlnj - 25IF obj x(nl <= 0 THEN obj type(n)= 0

ENDiFIF ABS(obj_x(n] - lpix+3011 < 15THENIF ABSIobJ y|n| - (ply-10]] < 15T H E Nenergy = energy - 20obJ,type(n| = 0ENDIFENDIFGOTO endturn

(Play around with the '25' settingIn the line 'obJ .x(n| = obj x|n] -25' to change the speed of theenemies]

PlayStation. OS

/ Can humanitysurv ive? Mr JohnConnor takes on adeadly T-1000.

THRUSTMASTER, PG 064»

- Robol^man: Exp^t mode

w e a p o n r y.

New Terminator game coming your way.

LETS FACE fT, the Term/notor films are going to make forsome excellent videogame fodder You've got a humans vsmachines war set In a post-apocalyptic world. You've got oneof the cinema's greatest evervllialns In the shape of theTerminator T-1000 robot. And you've got all that time-travelling confusion with the computers sending Terminatorsback In time to klil future human leader John Connor in anattempt to change history and win the war Cracking sourcematerial, we think you'll agree.

Good Job then that someone's taken up the initiative TheTerminator is being developed by Paradigm Entertainmentbest known for the N64's Pilot Wings, the Just-neleased Spy

□N P 5 2Hunter and the forthcoming racer MX Rider, soon to appearon PS2 as weli. Information is stili sketchy at this stage butwe do know the game will take piace primarily in post-nuciear war Los Angeles where remaining human survivorshave banded together and are engaged in a war against theall-powerful machines. It's also been confirmed that you'll getto piay various soldiers in this human army, John Connorincluded, and take part In a number of missions against theSkynet forces - both In the fututB and In the past. □ NJ

•The Terminator has been in development for more than sixmonths now and is set for release in spring 2002.

S L U E L I N E SShifters is a new third-person adventure to be released by 3D0 this November. Players can shape-shift into 24 different characters and must go on a quest through 30 levels todiscover the good/evil force controlling their destiny » Eidos has apologised to a French archaeologist who bears a spools resemblance to an archaeologist In PSone gameTomb Raider The Last Revefot/oa Eidos was quoted in French newspaper Le Monde saying that the likeness to the similarty-named Jean-Wes Empereur was purely coincide ital

G E NGames designed by you. This month; A team-based dragon battling role-playing game.

GAME NAMEOVERCAST DRAGONS

DESIGNERA L A B A O N A J I N

■THE UNIVERSE IS aiied by the Ancients who run the affairs of the worlds withinIt One of the Ancients, Earth, is the mother of the world named after her At thestart of every new millennium the Ancients release a new force Into the worldswhich they must team how to tame.

"One millennium a Dragon Is released into Earth, which multiplied and gaverise to others like rL As they flouilshed, they became Imbued with certain humancharacteristics like Intelligence In order to test the humans on Earth, the Ancientsdecide not to help them in their plight against the marauding Dragons.

Thiiee great wanlors, Hegor, Shekeru and Suna are sent on a quest to find theSacred Eye of Azor which Is needed to destroy the Mother Dragon. Each of thembegins their Journey from a different continent but at different points In the gamethey are brought together through fate.

The Idea Is to go through the world engaging In battles withdifferent levels of Dragons before eventually meeting the Motherherself. In order for the fighting to remain interesting each dragonhas unique Al and It is down to each of the warriors to work outout how best to tackle each one. You play as each of thecharacters, switching them as you go.

'Dragons will fight In different ways. Ground troops fight withaxes and swords and aerial troops blow fireballs." □

WRITE TODesigner Genes, Official PlayStation 2 Magazine, Future Publishing, 30 Monmouth Street,Bath BAl 2BW. Or email us at PS2e futurBnet.co.uk. Send us a description of your gameidea and try to accompany It with a few sketches or drawings to bring your words to life Ifwe use it we'll send you a T-shirt and a print of the box art designed by top art boy, Moyier.

■THE EXPERTS OPIN ONPA U L G L A N C E I T

"RPGs are a real hard< oremarket so the first qu !stiona publisher would ask Is,"How are you going to beatFinal Fantasy?" Unden eaththe waffle about gods andevolving dragons the j ame Isshort of anything teall /i n n o v a t i v e . T h e i d e a o

switching characters; t keypoints sounds okay, b Jt ItHAS been done befon ■ IFF;original Phantasy Stai etcls o w h a t ' s n e w a b o u t ' h e

implementation In tht.game? As for thisincomparable depth, i 5 thatJust down to dragon ^ I? Arethere great puzzles? A 'ethere amazing cut-sc( nes?Because that isn't en{ ugh tosell the game to anyo ie."

'Paul Glancey Is Creat veManager at Criterion: tudlos.

I N V E N T D R aYour one-stop guide to the PS2 power-ups.

And cue Por ta lR u n n e r j o k e . . X« 1 2 : T H E P D R T R L'Fermez la portal' wasn't it?Zut alors! A portal is a convenientgateway that allows you to leap fromone part of a level/arena to anotherwithout all that hoofing up gore-slickedstairs which, let's face It are a disasterwaiting to happen.

You're so right. How do I spot one ofthese 'portal' things then?When playing a first-person shoot-'em-up (Quake III, Unreal Tournament stepthrough an archway and look out forthese signs; If your body disassemblesonly to reform in a distant chamberfilled with gun waving genetic atrocities,congratulations! You've found a portal.

Are there any drawbacks to portals?Potentially, yes. Although portals can belife-savers when you're being pursuedwith nothing more than a broken Pezdispenser to keep the hoards at bay,there's nothing to say that you won'temerge the other end in an electrified,rabid-hell-bat nest. Flooding with acid.

Anything else I should know?Just make sure the portal you'restepping into has been servicedrecently. It's no fun playing the rest ofthe game conjoined with your archenemy, or with your trigger fingersgrowing out of your arse.

Moto GP 2, the sequel to the best bike game ever is about to iet rip.

tTT\wo-wheel racing fanatics will love theenhanced graphics and TV-style replays.

AS AN UPDATE OF last year's brilliant MotoGP, Namco's logically named Moto GP 2 boastsall the current riders, bikes and teams from the2001 Moto GP season as well as a number ofthe Moto GP tracks from around the world. Just

like in the original you'll be able to compete in125CC, 250CC and the monstrously powerful500CC classes.

The main difference wil l come with the all-new weather conditions. Not only can it nowrain during a race, but the ferocity of theshower will change or the sun may come outand dry off the track Naturally water on thetrack affects the way your bike handles while

the rain will affect your vision making it ha-derto see comers and, probably more importantly,the other bikers. Expect to see Meta/ GearSolid 2-style raindrops on your screen too.

Moto GP 2 will also have five more tracksthan the original, bringing the grand total up toten. Another new addition Is a Championsmode where you can race against Moto GPgreats of the past And for hardcore fans, youcan choose to race with either the 16.5 or17 Inch tyres. Now that's going to make allt he d i f f e rence □ NJ

•Moto GP 2 is out in December from SCEi.

H M V P 5 2 C H R R T 5 Brought to you in conjunction with HMV. Charts w/e; 30/07/01G U E S T C H R R T SPlayStation 2 Top Tens from around the woric

T I T L E

1. GRAN TURISMO 3; A-SPEC2. ONIMUSHA: WARLORDS3. RED FACTION. ..

D E V E L O P E R P U B U S H E R

. . . . P o l y p h o n y S C E E

. . . . C a p c o m . C a p c o m

. . . Vo l i t i o n . . T > I Q4. MODERNGROOVE MINISTRY

O F S O U N D E D I T I O N

5 . N B A S T R E E T6. ESCAPE FROM MONKEY ISLAND7. ATV OFFROAD8. TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 20019 . R U G B Y10. THE BOUNCER

. . .Modemgroove Ub i So f t

...EA Sports |canadal..EA Sports Big

. . . L u c a s A r t s A c t i v i s i o n

. . . R a i n b o w

...EA Sports ......SCEE

...EA Sports....Creative Assembly .EA Sports

Dream Factoiy/Square SCEE

# 1 : G R A N T U R I S M O 3 ; A - S P E CNo surprises here, GT3 beats theopposition by several laps.Amazing graphics, sublime carhandling and a hellishly addictiveGT mode all add up to make thisthe best driving game ever and amust-have for PS2 ovirners.

topdijgfori

# 4 : M O D E R N G R O O V EM I N I S T R Y O F S O U N D E D F T I O NIt's not really a game, but providesa whopping five hours of music,visuals and video clips. Mixed byDJs Tall Paul and Ferry Corsten,t h i s D V D - R O M i s a c o o l d a n c e

extravaganza In a box.

# 5 : N B A S T R E E TThis NBA Jam-inspired arcadebasketball title from the makersof SSX slam dunks in at arespectable number five. The two-player game is great fun, althoughit's slightly limited and predictablein single-player mode.

w w w. h m v. c o . u k

; TOP 10 USA; PS2 GAMES

1 . G R A N T U R I S M O 3 : A - S P E C S C E A2 . N B A S T R E E T E A S p o r t s B i3 . T W I S T E D M E T A L B L A C K S C E A4 . M X 2 0 0 2 T H Q5 . N A S C A R H E A T 2 0 0 2 I n f o g r a m e s6 . R E D F A C T I O N T H Q7 . D A R K C L O U D S C E A

8 . A T V O F F R O A D F U R Y S C E A9 . T E K K E N T A G T O U R N A M E N T N a m c o1 0 . M I D N I G H T C L U B R o c k s t a r

•Chart source; NPD TRSTS VideogamesService (21/07/01)

I I TO P 1 0 I R I S HP S 2 G A M E S

1 . G R A N T U R I S M O 3 : A - S P E C S C E E2 . R E D F A C T I O N THQ3 . O N I M U S H A : W A R L O R D S Capcom4 . T H E B O U N C E R S C E E5 . R U G B Y EA Spons6 . F O R M U L A O N E 2 0 0 1 S C E E7 . H F A 2 0 0 1 EA Sports8 . C R A Z Y T A X I A c c l a i m9 . E X T E R M I N A T I O N S C E E10. QUAKE III: ARENA E A

'Chart source.- Chort-Track ill/08/01}

060 Play5tation,E

Time goes slower In the country:Herdy Gerdy put back to next year.

i n c o m i n gNeed to know when a game is coming out? Ijook liere.

September 2001 G e n r e P u b l i s h e r

Alone In The Dark: The New Nighitmare Adventure InfogramesD a r k C l o u d R P G S C E E

F1 Championship Season 2001 Racing sim EA SportsG i a n t s : C i t i z e n K a b u t o Strategy InterplayG-Surfers F u t u r e r a c e r M i d a s

Legion: Legend Of Excalibur Strategy MidwayM a d d e n N F L 2 0 0 2 Sports Sim EA SportsN H L 2 0 0 2 Sports Sim EA Sports

Project Eden A d v e n t u r e E i d o s

T h i s I s F o o t b a l l 2 0 0 2 Sports Sim S C E E

Thunderhawk: Operation Phoenix A c t i o n E i d o s

Tw i s t e d M e t a l : B l a c k R / S S C E E

October 2001 G e n r e P u b l i s h e r

Age Of Empires II Strategy K o n a m i

A r c t i c T h u n d e r A r c a d e r a c e r MidwayBatman Vengeance A c t i o n U b i S o f t

Conflict Zone Strategy U b i S o f t

Crash Bandicoot : The wrath Of Cortex P l a t f o r m e r U n i v e r s a l

D r i v e n A r c a d e r a c e r B A M !

1 8 W h e e l e r A r c a d e r a c e r A c c l a i m

Evil Twin A d v e n t u r e U b i S o f t

F r a n k H e r b e r t ' s D u n e A d v e n t u r e CryoGrandia II RPG U b i S o f t

G r a n d T h e f t A u t o 3 A c t i o n R o c k s t a r

James Bond 007... /^ent Under Fire A c t i o n E A

Lotus Challenge Racing Sim VirginMotor Mayhem R / S InfogramesM X R i d e r Extreme sports InfogramesParis-Dakar Rally Rally Sim A c c l a i m

S o u l R e a v e r 2 A d v e n t u r e E i d o s

Supercar Street Challenge A r c a d e r a c e r A c t i v i s i o n

T h e W e a k e s t U n k I V t i e - i n A c t l v i s i o n

T i m e C r i s i s 2 Light gun game S C E E

N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 1 G e n r e P u b l i s h e r

AirBlade Extreme sports S C E E

Baldur's Gate; Dark Alliance R P G InterplayB u r n o u t A r c a d e r a c e r A c c l a i m

C r i c k e t 2 0 0 2 Sports Sim EA SportsD a r k S u m m i t Extreme sports THQDevil May Cry A c t i o n K o n a m i

DNA - Dark Native Apostle A d v e n t u r e VirginDropship Strategy S C E E

Ecco The Dolphin A d v e n t u r e S C E E

Endgame Light gun game EmpireESPN X-Games Skateboarding Extreme sports K o n a m i

F I FA 2 0 0 2 Sports Sim EA SportsH a l f - L i f e F P S U n i v e r s a l

K l o n o a 2 P l a t f o r m e r S C E E

N o O n e L i v e s F o r e v e r F P S F o x

Pra Evolution Soccer Sports Sim K o n a m i

Rayman M P l a t f o r m e r U b i S o f t

R o b o t W a r s A c t i o n B B C

S i l en t H i l l 2 A d v e n t u r e K o n a m i

Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette S h o o t e r K o n a m i

Shadow Man: 2econd Coming A d v e n t u r e A c c l a i m

Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder Extreme sports A c t i v i s i o n

Smuggler's Run 2 A r c a d e r a c e r R o c k s t a r

Splashdown Extreme sports InfogramesThe Simpsons: Road Rage A r c a d e r a c e r E A

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Extreme sports A c t i v i s i o n

WipEout Fusion F u t u r e r a c e r S C E E

World Rally Championship 2001 Rally Sim S C E E

W TA To u r Te n n i s Sports Sim K o n a m i

WWF SmackDownl 'Just Bring It!' Wrestling THQ

D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 1

E v e O f E x t i n c t i o n

Good Cop, Bad CopH e a d h u n t e r

J a k A n d D a x t e r

M o t o G P 2

P i r a t e s O f S k u l l C o v e

P o l i c e 2 4 / 7

R e z

S l e d S t o r m 2

SSX TrickyS t a r Tr e k ; S h a t t e r e d U n i v e r s e

W a v e R i d e r s

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 2nd Edttion

A c e C o m b a t 4

A l i e n s ; C o l o n i a l M a r i n e s

Ape Escape 2B l a c k A n d W h i t e

B l o o d O m e n 2

Capcom Vs SNK 2Commandos 2: Men Of CourageC o n fl i c t D e s e r t S t o r m

D e u s E x

D r a k a n

D u k e N u k e m F o r e v e r

Everybody's Golf 3E x o

F355 ChallengeFinal Fantasy XHerdy GerdyHidden And Dangerous 2I c o

Kelly Slater's Pro SurferKingdom HeartsM a t H o f f m a n ' s P r o B M X 2

M a x i m o

Max PayneMedal Of Honor: Fighter CommandMedal Of Honor; FrontlineM e t a l G e a r S o l i d 2

Mike Tyson BoxingO n i m u s h a 2

PaRappa The Rapper 2P r i m a l

P r i s o n e r O f Wa r

Res iden t Ev i l : Gun Su rv i vo r 2

R u n L i k e H e l l

SOCOM: US Navy SealsSpace Channel 5 vlSpace Channel 5 v2Spider-Man The MovieSpyro The Dragon 4Star Wars Racer 2; RevengeState Of EmergencyS t u n t m a n

Te k k e n 4

The GetawayT h e L o s t

TimeSpiitters 2T O C A R a c e D r i v e r

To m b R a i d e r : N e x t G e n

Tr ibes 2

Vampire NightVIrtua Fighter 4Zombie Revenge

*6ame release dates are correct at the time of going to press.

G e n r e Publ isherA c t i o n E i d o s

A c t i o n T B C

A c t i o n S C E E

P l a t f o r m e r S C E E

A r c a d e r a c e r S C E E

A d v e n t u r e E A

A c t i o n K o n a m i

S h o o t e r S C E E

Extreme sports EA Sports BigExtreme sports EA Sports Big

Space shooter InterplayA r c a d e r a c e r E i d o s

I V t i e - i n E i d o s

G e n r e P u b l i s h e r

Flight Sim S C E E

F P S E A

P l a t f o r m e r S C E E

G o d S i m E A

A d v e n t u r e E i d o s

Beat-'em-up CapcomStrategy E i d o s

A d v e n t u r e S C I

F P S E i d o s

A d v e n t u r e S C E E

A d v e n t u r e R o c k s t a r

Sports Sim S C E E

A c t i o n InfogramesRacing S C E E

R P G S C E E

P l a t f o r m e r E i d o s

A c t i o n Ta k e 2


Extreme sports A c t i v i s i o n

R P G S C E E

Extreme sports A c t i v i s i o n

P l a t f o r m e r CapcomA c t i o n R o c k s t a r

Flight action E A

F P S E A

A d v e n t u r e K o n a m i

Sports sim C o d e m a s t e r s

A d v e n t u r e CapcomRhythm action S C E E


Strategy C o d e m a s t e r s

Light gun action CapcomA c t i o n InterplayC o m b a t s i m S C E E

Rhythm action S C E E

Rhythm action S C E E

A c t i o n A c t i v i s i o n

P l a t f o r m e r U n i v e r s a l

A r c a d e r a c e r A c t i v i s i o n

A c t i o n R o c k s t a r

A r c a d e r a c e r InfogramesBeat-'em-up S C E E

A r c a d e r a c e r S C E E

A d v e n t u r e C r a v e

F P S E i d o s

Racing C o d e m a s t e r s

A d v e n t u r e E i d o s

F P S U n i v e r s a l

Light gun game S C E E

Beat-'em-up S C E E

A d v e n t u r e A c c l a i m

KEY FPS - First-person shooter; R/S - Racer/Shoot-em-up; RPG - Role-playing game

n n o B TL U R N T E D

This month a joint effortfrom siblings Laura andM a t t h e w B r o w n I nW a l t o n - O n - T h a m e s .

1 F I N A L F A N T A S Y X / W W FS M A C K D O W N ' J U S T B R I N G m *Lush Japanese RPG/Potentialchart topper from Juke's.O u t : S u m m e r 2 0 0 2 / W i n t e r 2 0 0 1

2 B R O K E N S W O R D / H A L F - U F EDragons abound in Revolution'sadventure/PC classic on PS2,O u t : T B C 2 0 0 2 / T B C 2 0 0 2

3 T O M B R A I D E R ;N E X T ' G E N / T E K K E N 4Lara gets dark and dangerous/T h e fi r s t n e w Te k k e n s i n c e 1 9 9 8 >Out TBC 2002/Sprlng 2001

4 S S X T R I C K Y /W t P E O U T F U S I O NS e x i e r s n o w - b a s e d b o a r d

capers/Cult racer returns.O u t : W i n t e r 2 0 0 1 / W i n t e r 2 0 0 1

5 A L O N E I N T H E D A R K /T t M E S P L I T T E R S 2The 'original' shocker back tohaunt/FPS fave gets a story line.O u t O c t o b e r 2 0 0 1 / T B C 2 0 0 2

6 R E S I D E N T E V I L C O D E :V E R O N I C A / C O M M A N D O S 2

Rejigged PS2 version of DCR e s f / U i t r a - d e t a i l e d R T S .O u t N o w / W i n t e r 2 0 0 1

7 M G S 2 / S 0 L D I E I t O F F O R T U N EGenre-defining stealth adventure/Bloody and violent shooter.O u t : T B C 2 0 0 2 / W l n t e r 2 0 0 1

8 C R A S H B A N D I C O O T /A U E N S : C O L O N I A L M A R I N E SAussie varmint goes free-roaming/HR Giger's seminala l i e n s b e c o m e a P S 2 F P S .Out October 2001/Winter 2001

9 W I P E O U T F U S I 0 N / G T A 3Fight the ftjture/Fight the rozzers.(For WipEoutr see page 72. ForGTA3, see page 22)Out Winter 2001/0ctober 2001

a O T E K K E N 4 / R O B O T W A R SThe King Of The Iron Rst returnsanew/The ironmongers doess o m e b u s i n e s s f o r t h e T V t i e - i n .O u t T B C 2 0 0 2 / W i n t e r 2 0 0 1

Y O U R G O !Drop us a line with the gamesyou can't wait for (and why], plusa photo of yourself, and we'll dothe rest. Most Wanted, OfficialPlayStation 2 Magazine, FuturePublishing, 30 MonmouthStreet, Bath BAl 2BW. EmailP S 2 @ f u t u r e n e t . c o . u k

PlayStation.? OC

6

M O V E M E N T

B E D I T O R

- -

I - - - - - - ^ "<iV

b h e b e a u b i p u l g a m e IIn 0PS2 s last ever Beautiful Game, we give you the best Lara-beating platform-Jumping artifact-finding zombie-annihilating third-person action-adventure game we can muster Can we go home low?1 . G E T F L E S H I

Expect to pump severaltourids of shotgunshellage into thoseooky, stitchy-facen u r s e s f r o m S i l e n t H i l l2, the rotten zombiecops from Resident Evila n d t h e s l < e l e t a l h o r d e sfrom Tomb Raider. Alsolook out for mummifiedNewsnlght presenters,O - To v ^ n w e r e w o l v e s a n d

blood-sucking, vampiricmembers of the RoyalFamily And PrincePhilip, Wahay!

2 . A N O n i E R B R I C KI N T H E W A L LInclude the magnificentarchitectural design ofthe Gaudi-styledbuildings In Capcom'ssuperb Devil May Cry,combined with the lushsettings of Square'sFinal Fantasy X.

3 . K I L L F R E N Z YAn enviable armouiy oflethal guns, knives,flame-throwers, poolcues and Beck'sbottles. Experimentalweapons, such as thealien parasites fromValve's Ho/f-Ufe andRed Fac t i on ' s Ra i lDriver gun, addsunirlsing ways to seeoff that strange-lookingc r e a t u r e w i t h w h a tl ooks l i ke anarse grafted ontoI t s f o rehead .

A . ' W I O Y O UL O O K I N ' A T T

Spooklly advanced Almeans that It a playeris constantly dumpingthe main character Intoa pit of filthy woodenspikes, they'll getannoyed and take overt h e D u a l S h o c k 2

controls Expect futureLara Croft-typecharacters to suddenlyturn around to face theinept PS2 gamer, andb e r a t e t h e i r u s e l e s ss k i l l s w i t h s o m e

saucy swearing.

S . S I L K Y M O V E STtie ability to 'eam' newm o v e m e n t s a n dattacks as yourcharacter progresses Inthe game, rather likeDante In Devil May Cry.A c l e v e r M o v e m e n tEditor gives players achance to design theirown unique charactertraits, such as thesneaky groin scratch orlook-I'm-hard gob.

6 . E N V I R O N - M E N I A LHarsh environmentsIncluding water. Ice, Are,alien planets andW O M A D c o n c e r t s s e tthe scene. Differingtemperatures andconditions affect yourcharacter's health, sogoing straight from ashivering Ice world to asweaty Are world willsee Lara sniffitng andsneezing Into a crustyKleenex swapping herquest for jewels for anice hot Lemslp.

7 . D R I V E - B YS H O O n N GA garage of actionvehicles to play with asIn the Tomb Raidergames - helicopters,speedboats, sportscars, motort)ikes andJet packs. Other meansof transport availables h o u l d a l s o i n c l u d e

pogo sticks, tractors,winnebagos, cabs anda great bonus of apsychotically over-engineered Sinclair C5e l e c t r i c t r i k e .

8. MONSTER,MONSTER jOnce you've comnletedthe adventure, yoi| getto play In First-pefconmode (Res/-style) Indas any character fomthe game. For exalnple,choose to be a vinouszombie dog, an arfclentbandaged-up murjimyor some tofu. Whithwould be funny If jtwasn't real. I

062 PlayStation E

' v . ; -

Suioe E

Mosijw-tof?et>elleBt

C^-fc- ten

BUPS

♦third-person heavenI L L U S T R A T I O N ; B E N K I R C H N E R

All of which is greatexcept this bloke's meantto be in the bobsleigh...

T ! d D F G DPS2 to host 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

WHERE THERE'S A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT you can almostcertainly guarantee a videogame licence. This is certainly true for nextyear's Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and like last year's summerOiympics, the licence has been snapped up by Eidos for this winter'sSalt Lake Olympic Winter Games 2002.

Six playable events will be on offen Men's and Women's AlpineSkiing Downhill Skiing Men's Two-man Bobsleigh, Women's FreestyleSkiing Aerials, Men's Ski Jumping K120 individual and Men'sSnowboand Parallel Giant Slalom. So In theory that's six games forthe price of one,

Eidos Is boasting that the game will have anunparalleled level of realism, using satellitetechnology to recreate the actual Salt Laketerrain, accurate to two feet In height. The gamewill also feature several styles of play including mostinterestingly a Freeform mode where you can definethe weather conditions you compete In,

According to Eidos the game will also feature theusual realistic physics and motion capture, a Multitap-frlendly Four-player mode and, a must for some top Olympicgameplay realistic finger movement of the competitors. Usneither, but It'll be your fingers moving Truck And Field-stylewhen the game is released this winter □ NJ

9 . G E T A N E A R F U LSuperb Dolby 5.1 3Dsurround sound allowsgamers with state ofthe art speakersystems to heareverything from distantshuffling and high-pitched screams ofa rampant giblet goblin,to the gentle, burblingsound of you fillingyour trews at the sightof said giblet goblin'shand, clasped aroundyour nether regions.

1 0 . H O M E A L O N E

Option to have playablec h a r a c t e r ' s d o m e s t i cl i f e a s b o n u s m i s s i o n . A' S / m s ' l i k e s e c t i o n w i l ls e e h a r d - a s s h e r o

relaxing at home,hoovering, polishingDagger Of Xang andgenerally preparing fort h e i r n e x t a d v e n t u r e .Flawless domesticitywill trigger bonuses.Live like a slob andyou'll find youVepacked a pair of pantsrather than a pairo f U z i s . . .

1 1 . " H A V E W E M E TB E F O R E ? ' 'O n l i n e / H a r d D i s c D r i v e

compatibility allowingcross migration ofcharacters courtesy ofdownloadable specialm i s s i o n s . L e t L a r a l o o s eI n G T 3 w i t h h e r L a n d

Rover, put ClaireRedfield in your ISSteam, both completew i t h a u t h e n t i ccharacteristics (andguns). Want to tackleOnfmusho as Rayman?It's your funeral.

1 2 . A N D R N A L L Y . . .I n n o v a t i v e ' F o u r t h -

person adventure'mode allowing you toplay the game from theperspective of acomplete stranger in apub being relayed thegame's progress over aphone. "She's comingto a precipice, wants toknow what to do...Hang on, no, she'sscreaming... Christ,that's gotta hurt" [Click]

Play5tation,E C

X I u

RWa-hey! It's another one of those peripherals that make you look stupid.THE DUAL SHOCK 2 IS a fantastic controller butwith the arrival of a game as good as GranTuhsmo 3: A-spec, It's definitely worth grabbing theGTS force-feedback steering wheel to neaiiy add tothe whole driving experience.

So what about beat-'em-ups? Before now, theonly way of nnaking the fighting In Tekken TagTournament more real ist ic was to cult ivate an

Eighties haircut, siap on a pair of ripped Jeans andhit yourself repeatedly In the face, body and iegsbetween rounds. Luckily, Thrustmaster also has asolution for creating more involving gaming in theform of the Rghting Arena.

Plugging straight Into a Dual Shock 2 port onPS2, the Ingenious lurid orange peripheral has aplastic mat with directional and shoulder buttonmarkings, pius two adjustable towers adorned withinfrared sensors for ®, (3) and ®. Simply

//Playing GT3 with tlieadd-on will have yougambling around like ababoon on heat/ /

load up a fighter such as Dead Or Alive 2 andplayers can stamp, kick punch and karate choptheir on-screen opponents within seconds.Particularly unfit Individuals (not the sprightlyspecimens on 0PS2] can also use the extrafi^netlc exercise to burn off a few calories piled onwhile munching lager samies and other essentialfoodstuffs during lengthy gaming sessions.

Unfortunately, the Rghting Arena doesntrecognise the analogue sticks, so gamers wont beable to dance and jab their way through Quakelirs goty arenas. However playing GT3 with theadd-on has you gambling around like a baboonon heat - especially on twisting courses with a lotof comers - and playing an Import of WinningEleven 5 could possibly release more sweat than ahalf-hour five-a-slde footy match.

At just under £70 Rghting Arena Is on theexpensive side, but remains a ridiculous anddiverting way to enjoy games on your PlayStation2, sadly starved (at the moment) of the genius of atitle such as Sega's maraca-waving music actiongame Samba De Amiga. □ JS

'Check out the Web si te: www.thrustmaster.co.uk

Our arty karate bod Nikiimagines iVIr Goldsmitlistanding between the poles.

P H O T O : K A T H E R I N E I A N E - S I M S

e U R N I N E Q U E S T I O N

i ENfRATiOlM GIPHI£S A£pb THINcSfcoRBfiSlElJr0PS2 grills the videogames industry's finest on a hot videogames topic.

p r

DA^PmRY V; PRESIDENT OFMTERT/WMENT

f M m

D S C H N E I D E R

Are graphics more importanttlian gameplay in marketing aP S 2 t i t l e ?

Will gameplay become lessimportant as graphicsconstant ly improve?

Can better graphics actuallyimprove gameplay?

Name one game that haspoor graphics but is stillincredibly playable.

So, are fantastic next-generation graphic; agood thing for gamers?

Graphics are very important toget the head to turn and to tellyou at a glance what kind ofgame it is. Also, they need arecognisable look, so when yousee other images from a game,they have a style and it becomesfamiliar. Then it's about gameplay

N e v e r N e v e r . N e v e r . God yes. But what really gets me,is how many questions 1 get tikethis that talk about graphics, butnever about sound design.Sound design Is at least 50% oft h a t a m b i e n c e . G r e a t a r t a n d

great sound design combinedmake for an Incredible ambiencet h a t n o b o o k o r m o v i e c a n t o u c h .

Te t r / s I t l o o k s l i k e a r s e a n d c o u l d

easily be turned into somethingveiy visually Interesting, but whybother? It's just a distraction thatwouldn't improve the alreadyrack-solid gameplay

Often the visual look of a game isthe first contact a player willhave with a new product So,often to raise their initial interest,graphics need to be very good.Obviously great gameplay is themost important factor andshould ultimately ensure that thepublic will buy the game.

Absolutely not. Graphics aresimply part of the equation, amajor part, but not the whole.Without excellent gameplay, avisually stunning game becomesquickly sterile and Is soon left ton o t i n t h e b e d r o o m o r o n t h eshelf Great gameplay will keepyou coming back for more.

Ttils should hopefully be thecase. If through great graphics wecan help a player to suspendtheir disbelief, even If only for amoment and become fullyImmersed, then the graphicshave done their job. Again,graphics are only part of whatmakes this happen.

Te t r i s .

Graphics are certainly not moreimportant than the gameplay.There is no point making a gamel o o k f a n t a s t i c a n d t h e n

neglecting the other aspectsthat go towards making a gamegreat - it would be tike polishinga tunJ.

Never Gamers are certainly notstupid and they wilt never befooled Into thinking a game Isgreat just from an aestheticsense. You have to give peoplem o r e c r e d i t t h a n t h a t

Better graphics can Improve thegaming experience greatly Forexample the locations andcharacters In our forthcominggame. Batman Vengeance arepainstakingly detailed, so If you'rea fan of the comics. Alms orwhatever you really feel like youare In Gotham City.

Tetris. Graphics were very basica n d I t ' s o n e o f t h e m o s t a d d i c t i v e

g a m e s e v e r

064 Play5tation.E

^ iL /P A R E T O B

lent Games. LLC, All rights reserved. SPY HUNTER, MIDWAY and the Midwed under license by Midway Games Ltd. "PlayStation and are regist

THE PlayStation. INTERVIEW/ O m a M I M G A Z l N E - I K

W O R D S : J A M I E S E F T O N / P H O T O G R A P H Y: J A M E S C H E A D L E

R i o F e n d i n s n dThe Ljeeds United and England defender talks to 0PS2 about the Champions League, Sven-GoranEriksson's new regime and his biggest challenge yet - beating his team-mates at PlayStation 2...

C u r r i c u l u m V i t a eName: Rio Ferdinand

Nationality: EnglishDate of birth: 8/11/78

Birtiipiace:Pecidiam, LondonS e a s o n 1 9 9 5 / 9 6 -1 9 9 6 / 9 7 W e s t H a m

appearances: 16, Goals: 21 9 9 6 / 9 7 B o u r n e m o u t h(on loan] appearances:10, Goals: 01 9 9 7 / 9 8 - 2 0 0 0 / 0 1 W e s t

Ham appearances: 110,Goals: 02000/01 - Now LeedsUnited appearances: 23,Goals: 2

England caps: 15Footballing iienoes:IVIaradona, John Bames,Ian Wright, Frank Rijl<aard

, At just 22 years of age, RioFerdinand briefly becameBritain's most expensive footballplayer with an £18 million movelast season from London battlers

West Ham to northern giants Leeds United.Manager David OLeary has just made thetalented young defender dub captain for thenew season, and Rio is to be the cover star ofthe brand new SCEE PlayStation 2 game This IsFootball 2002. Can life get any better forPeckham's finest? 0PS2 Ravelled to the plushsurroundings of Leeds United's Thorpe Archfootball academy to find ouL

How does it feel to be made captain of abig club like Leeds United at such anearly age?It's brilliant to be honest, something I'm reallyproud of. When you're a kid you dream of thatand luckily I've been able to do it at such ayoung age. It's a big thank you to all the staff atLeeds United who have belief in me and

hopefully I can go on and do as well as Lucas[Radebe] has done.

It was obviously a tough decision to leaveWest Ham, a club where you spent manyyears and one that had nurtured yourtalents through their excellent youthpolicy. Did you know that the move toLeeds was going to be a good one,especially with all the hype surroundingthe huge transfer fee?Well, 1 hoped it would be. I wasn't 100 per centwhen I moved, but as soon as I got here and Isaw the boys and started playing, I felt it wasthe right decision. I'll never forget West Hamand what they did for me, but being at Leedshas turned out better than I could've possiblyimagined. As for the transfer fee, I didn't reallythink about it It was only the press that reallytalked about the money and I didn't read any ofthe papers. I just went out there on the pitch,played my game and hoped for the best.

It must have been an incredible rollercoaster ride last season with LeedsUnited's Champions League exploits -knocking out massive European clubs likeL a z i o a n d B a r c e l o n a ,

h was a great experience to be involved in thatcompetition. I came to Leeds to play Europeanfootball and we got that in abundance last year.As a young and inexperienced side, we didremarkably well to get to the Champions Leaguesemi-final, but we need to improve on that thisyear and get some silverware in the cabinet

What do you expect Leeds United toachieve this year?I think we've put pressure on ourselves thisseason. We've learned a lot from last year andended the season very strong, but consistency isthe key and you've got to be lucky with injuries- if you don't get any injuries then you've got achance. We have to aim for qualifying for theChampions League, but we've really got to winsomething, whether it's the Worthington Cup orwhatever. As long as we get a piece ofsilverware, then it's the start of something. Theboard and the club have spent a lot of moneyand resources on players and I think that thefans deserve a bit of repayment

^111 never forgetWe s t H a m a n dwhat they did forme, but being atI jeeds is be t te rthan I imagined''You're now a major part of the Englandsetup, so what do you make of Sven-GoranEriksson and his style of management?The first impressions since Sven-Goran arrivedhave all been positive. The boys seem happierand a lot more relaxed, but saying that, I don'tthink that anyone can put their finger on whythere's been such a difference in the Englandteam. The manager comes in and says what hewants, then leaves and you either do it or youdon't It's as simple as that Speaking personally,when you're given a long chance to proveyourself in a team, then you can't ask for morefrom a manager. 1 want to play in the nextWorid Cup because it's such a great event,especially after not making the England squadfor Euro 2000. Now, luckily [taps hishead and the table] I've beengiven a proper chance to showwhether I'm good enough.

Can Svengland do thebusiness in the next World

Cup and beyond?Yeah definitely. We've got a lotof good players aroundand if we can all geltogether with theexperienced playersthen we're on to a

good thing, butonly time will tell. V

066 Play5tation.E

What are your main ambitions in foothiJl?I'd love to win the World Cup or the EuropeanChampionships with England, but I also want todo well in the domestic English league. Any twoof those things would be great

SCEE has chosen you to be the star of litisIs Football 2002. Are you a videogame fan?Oh yeah. When we go away from home withLeeds, we play videogames the night before thematches - mainly football and driving games,but WWF is very popular too. Harry KeweU is abit of a boffin and well into the WWF wresdingthing especially. With the footy games we allplay international matches, so I'm England, EirikBakke's Norway, Dominic Matteo is Scotlandand Harry is Austi^alia, but unfortunatelyEngland don't usually come out on top! Whenyou look at their faces playing it's well funny Ifsomeone does a bad foul and a player getsinjured it can get a bit heated sometimes.

Are you allowed to play videogames whenyou're with the national squad? On thecoach for example?Not on the coach, but when you're with Englandyou have your own room, so you either haveyour own machine or you go round to someoneelse's room. David James likes videogames andsome of the younger lads such as Ashley Coleand Joey Cole play as welL 1 think most playersare into videogames.

What do you reckon to the PlayStation 2and This is Football 2002? Is it a realistic

representation of the beautifid game?The games are getting so much better, I had aplay of World Soccer on the SNES the other dayand it was like, 'Wow, it's in slow motion! What's

going on there?!' Now with PlayStation 2, tiiegames have better commentary and the lifelikegraphics are fiightening - before if f was to beput into a football game it'd probably be just achange to the colour to the skin of the player orsomething fike that!

You've already achieved a lot in yoiu-football career, but did you ever imaginnthat you'd be the cover star of a

PlayStation 2 game?Oh yeah, I used to think, 'Oh it'd bt

great to have your face on a game,'or, 'I'd love to see myself in the

paper on Saturday,' littiethings fike that To be

able to do it now for

real is justu n b e f i e v a b l e . □

J

Rio Ferdinand reiaxes afteia hard afternoon's grillingLeeds otaku Sefton. Want Iwin ti ie shirt off Rio's bacliTUm to page 144 now.

PlayStation 2 0(

THE PlayStation. INTERVIEW/ ffnCULMAGflZINE-UK

W O R D S : S A M R I C H A R D S / P H O T O G R A P H Y: N I C K W I L S O N

letsuys nriizuguchiThe Sega Rally creator has abandoned racing and realism in favour of the future - aresplendent rhythmic shoot-'em-up named Rez.

C u r r i c u l u m V i t a eName: Tetsuya MizuguchiNationality: JapaneseD a t e o f b i r t h : 2 2 / 0 5 / 7 8

Birthplace: Sapporo,JapanTitle: President and ChiefCreative Officer of UnitedGame /A r t i s t s

Games: Megalopolis,Sega Rally Championship,Sega Touring CarChampionship, Manx TT,Sega Rally 2, SpaceChannel 5 vl, SpaceChannel 5 v2, RezFavourite bands: HieBeatles, The Style Council,Simply RedFavourite clubs: Twilo,New York

I Joining Sega in 1990, TetsuyaMizuguchi is best known for hisleading role in creating a series ofarcade racing games that include

I Sega Rally Championship. The factthat the mascot for his development studio,United Game Artists (formerly Sega AM9) isnow a slinky pink-haired dancing VJ may seemlike something of artistic U-turn. But Mizuguchi-san sees no real contradiction between SegaRally and Space Channel 5 as long as theplayer's enjoyment is paramount. Now his newPS2 project is a stunning shoot-'em-up in whichthe rhythm of your fire triggers musical samples,culminating in trance-driven sensorysatisfaction. Meet one game developer whosevision is truly out there.,.

Rez is characterised by stunning abstractvisuals, whereas the majority ofPlayStation 2 developers are opting forever-more-realistic game worlds. Are youa n t i - r e a l i s m ?

That's a good question but difficult to answer!From my point of view, too many games thesedays look similar. Not only that, but the fun partof the game has become second or third priorityafter the quest for absolute realism in thegraphics. Graphics are obviously important, butI don't think they are the essence of a game.

Yet Rez looks amazing in its own way...Yes, but when 1 was first working on Rez thegraphics were not so gorgeous and you couldstill play it and feel the experience of the game.The graphics came later. 1 wanted to get back tothe attitude of 20 years ago when games did notlook so impressive, but everyone could feel theexcitement of playing them. Also, human beingshave great imaginations! They can complete therest of the graphics in their minds.

Do you think the creation of a game likeRez could have been done in the past?No. Three years ago, developers had a choice ofSega Saturn or PSone. To integrate MIDItechnology within a game was impossible. Theconcept of Rez is visual/sound synaesthesia, soit's something that's very close in philosophicalterms to Sony's vision of the Emotion Engine.Of course, the fact that the hardware inside thePlayStation 2 can support advanced soundtechnology is important.

Do you feel like a game pioneer,particularly in terms of interactive sound?I don't like to call myself a pioneer. My job isbasically just to make a game that's fun to play.

Maybe there aren't so many developersexploring interactive sound, but it's justsomething 1 wanted to do. Sometimes 1 feel myears are neglected when playing a \ideogame,the makers definitely spend too much time onthe graphical aspect. Perhaps my brain worksdifferently but I like to explore the possibilities ofsound. I don't like to think of /fez just as amusic game. But many, many people in theworid love music and clubbing and dancing soI wanted to bring music closer to videogames.

Is Rez a tribute to retro gaming?Maybe you could say that. Twenty years agothere were many good shooting games, but

'^Rez is visual/sound synaesthesia.in pliilosophicaite rms i t ' s c lose tothe vision of Sony'sEmotion Engine''recently - no games. 1 don't know know why.I'm talking about things like R-Type and Gradius,I think people like these type of games. 1 hopepeople like these type of games!

Has the popularity of Bemani games madeyou more confident about creating amusic-based game?I haven't thought about that 1 didn't takeinspiration for Rez from Beatmania and thosetype of games - I class Beatmania as a puzzlegame. I took inspiration from MIDI sequencersand shooting games. One day 1 was playing anold shooting game and I was listening to thesounds as the spaceships exploded. 1 thought ifthese sounds went together to make a piece ofmusic, I would be very happy playing this game.This was my first dream for Rez.

Do you play or compose music yourself?[Laughs] Not really. The closest I canget is making this videogame. 1 lovemusic, clubbing... sometimes singing!So maybe this game is my dream.

There are many people in the worldwho can't play music, and who can'tplay an instrument, and maybe mygame will give them the feelingthat they can control or evencreate the music. So the

PlayStation 2 is a new

What do think about Jester Interactive'sM T V M u s i c G e n e r a t o r ?

1 haven't played it myself, although it soundslike a great idea. But there are many types ofsequencer software out there for PC and eventhose that are relatively easy to use can bedifficult if you don't know about music. I reallywanted to make a game

You've been around the world meetingvarious musicians in order to sign upartists to the Rez soundtrack. Obviouslyyou're asking for a little bit morei n v o l v e m e n t t h a n t h e u s u a l h a n d s - o f f

collaboration, so what's been the reaction?It's been very good. Of course the hard part isasking these musicians to aeate new musicbased on the theme that I have, but I think mostof them are in terested in the v isual isat ion of

their sound and they do have a visual concepttheir heads when they make the music. So it'sbeen easy to discuss these kind of ideas.Everybody we approached was very welcoming.With all the collaborations 1 feel it's now not justUnited Game Artists making the game, butart is ts f rom al l over the wor ld.

What styles or genres of music arerepresented in Rez?It's a variety. There isn't one particular style ofmusic, but the theme is similar.

What are your plans for the release ofSpace Channel 5 and it's sequel onPlayStation 2?I'm working on both vl and v2 simultaneoush. Iwasn ' t sure whether v l wou ld be re leased in

Europe at first. One of the reasons for SpaceChannel 5s popularity in Japan was the uniqueand amusing slang spoken by Ulala. When thegame was localised into English [for Dreamcast]they translated her speech into boring phrasesand it's not fun at all. I need to change this forthe PlayStation 2 release so now Tm looking fora good writer! It's difficult because Ulala's

Japanese speech can't be translatedliterally, but 1 want to try.

How will Space Channel v2b e d i f f e r e n t ?

It wil l be l ike a musical.

Maybe you can singwhen you play! There will

be more playable charactersa n d t h e e n v i r o n me n ts w i l l b e e ve r

more co lou r fu l . These w i l l be d rawn

in real-time 3D, unlike the pre-rendered- nice..\ backgrounds of the first game. □068 PlayStation.^

UJl i lF SmRCKDDUJN!J U S T B R I N E I T ! 'THE PLEASURE, THE PAIN, THE PEOPLE'S ELBOW - PREPARE FORWRESTUNG RAPTURE AS THE WWF BRING DA RUCKUS TO PS2!WE'VE GOT THE WORLD EXCLUSIVE HRST REVIEW!

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BEHIND THE SCENES WITH HEADHUNTER- COULD THIS GAME TRUMP MGS2?

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070 PlayStation 2

n e x b z m a n b :in the november issue

PlayStation/ OFFICIAL MAGAZINE-U

WORDS: ANDY LOWE/PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN BURTON

R R E y o uB D D D E N D U G H PHow do you improve a game that is already genre-defining? Tiiat's tlie task faced byWipEout Fusion developer Studio Liverpool. uPS2 paid them a visit, wish-list in hand, andfound that fans have nothing to fear - it's WipEout, but not as we know it.

I 'The WipEout Experience". It's a phrase that WipEout FusionLead Designer Rob Francis uses as a ccilective term for hisgame as if it were a genre in its own right, it's the kind ofshorthand speal< reserved for genuine benchmarks; classicsthat sit snugly in their vety own genre grooves. Think Resident

1 £W/, Metal Gear even Tomb Raider."It's a sign of the strength of the game's identity that we never really take

much inspiration from other games," says Francis. 'There are a lot of qualityracing titles out there, and there is pressure for mass appeal. But we try toresist simply bolting on familiar features for the sake of it We only everpursue things which we think will enhance The WipEout Experience"

The latest WipEout Experience is currently being 'polished' for SCEE by azealous ctew at Studio Uverpooi, many of whom also wori<ed on F] 2001. Thevibe In the office however; Indicates that WipEout Fusion is the favoured son.Deadline-frantic corner-cutting is not an option. The muted commercialresponse to WIpSout - last year's third PSone instalment - seems to haveshocked the team Into a conviction to never again take a sidestep when agreat leap fonwand is requited. And with the next-gen hike, they wouldn't havehad an excuse, anyway

"We've looked long and hard at the things that made the PSone gamesspecial," says Studio Liverpool Manager; Clemens Wangerin. 'We wanted tomake sure that nothing was lost in the PS2 translation. The essence of thegame can be boiled down to two things: the music and the speed. Once wehad a grip on that, we got to work on how to move things on to a new level -instead of Just porting over the original games and buffing up the graphics."So, they have the technology and the philosophy but can they deliver thenext-gen gameplay that WfpEoutfans and WpEout virgins alike are craving?

Many gamers felt that some aspects were missing or cert:aln elementswerent quite right In the FSone games. So ftum our own personal gripes andthose expressed by the gaming public at large, 0PS2 has made up a wish-listfor our perfect WipEout Experience. Can Studio Liverpool step into the purpleturban of the PlayStation 2 Genie and grant us these humble wishes?

UJIPEDUT FUSION UJI5H LIST...1. BETTER HANDLING

The WipEout games on PSone were often criticised for liaving far toosensitive iiandling, and controlling your craft involved a very steeplearning curve. Ttiis lack of instant expertise often led to muclifrustration, tiiougfi once mastered the control was very rewarding. So

now we want less fighting the track and grinding the walls, with morefocus on reflexes and creative control."We've spent a lot of time redesigning the craft dynamics," says Dave Burrows,Lead Programmer The PS2 has allowed us to really play with the physics.There's more variety in the way the crafts 'drive'. Traditionally, there's the bigcumbersome ship and the sleek, fast one. It's more subtle now."

There's also the bonus of an increased depth of field, giving players morereaction time. Even on a debut glide around a new track we managed to limitthe stop-start: grinding to one or two careless clangs. A bit more familiarity,and races will be races - as opposed to frantic effort:s to hit as few walls aspossible with a vague ambition of finishing somewhere in the rankings."

2. MORE VARIED AND INSPIRED TRACKSUnfortunately the limitations of PSone meant that the draw distancewas limited and tracks were often accused of being similar in style. Sohow about some loops, twists, corkscrews and upside-down sections?We'd also like short cuts, freeform areas... WIPEOUT OFF-ROAD!This wish seems to have been granted as 0PS2 plays one of the new tracks:a lush jungle with lots of craggy kinks and foaming waterfalls Burrows guideshis ship over a trigger pad which raises a drawbridge. He zooms up the newramp and soars over the top of a mountain onto a secret landing area. "Wecan do a lot more of that kind of thing because of the new design flexibility.On top of the standard reverse mode, there are hidden short: cuts andalternative routes - some guarded by banters which need to be destroyedwith missiles. Most of the short cuts are 'hidden' in the sense that you needto use a turt50 to fly to a seemingly inaccessible section.

"it's a key part: of the feedback we get about racing games," says Francis.■Players like to see what comers they can cut, and, because there's a lot ofbig big leaps and drops, we've used that to give the game a more open-e n d e d , g o - a n y w h e r e f e e l . " 0

essence of the game canbe boiled down to two things:the music and the speed.''Rob Fkancis, Ljead Designer^

>72 PlayStation.^

Excited? You should be.This latest example ofwhat Lead Designer RobFranc is descr ibes as TheWipEout Experience' isthe biggest and best yet.

■%

o o m i ] f t

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W I P E O U T: E V O L U T I O NIn 1994, with the original PlayStation over ayear away, Psygnosis got to work on a gamefor the European launch. Gaming hadrecently suffered a slump throu^ a dearth ofIdeas (too many flabby platform games),over-ambitious gimmicks (Sega's Mega CDand 'interactive movies') and, crucially, somelaughable marketing (Atari's perfectly decentJaguar console was released to barely awhimper of publicity). Gaming was perceivedas geeky, childish. Insular until...

C H e C K

0 = 3 2 - 6 .

Taking their cues from the fashion and musicindustries, SCEE pounced on the originalIVIpEoufs stripped-down, sci-fi appeal andbegan pumping out the brand extension,'Proper' packaging designed by Designer'sRepubiic, a separate CD of the in-gameunderground electronica soundtrack, a uniqueline of ciub-wear, WfpEout pods instaiied in chill-out rooms and a series of edgy mainstreamadvertising campaigns.

f M Z U S t

I S o p I S

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In 1996, the sequel - WIpEout 2097 in Europe,WipEout XL in the US - received similartreatment. This time, the bands and recortilabels were approached to provide exclusivetracks (Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Underworid)and the old sponsor-monster reared his hungryhead, with a Red Buil-branded nightclub tourand the distribution muscie of Virgin pushingt h e s o u n d t r a c k

In 1999, the thirt edition, W/p3out still had theclub tour (alongside prog-house god DJ Sashaland the l<udos (including a funky Designer'sRepublic Web site (www.klebernet/wipeout3| butit was beginning to suffer from Tomb RaiderSyndrome - a sound idea not evolving radicallyenough. Sales were down, and a Special Editionfeaturing a graphical polish and a mix of thebest tracks from previous games heightened thesense that the series was losing its thrust

IF THEY MOVE, KILL 'EMIn addition to tlie standard classic picl(-ups (Autopilot, Shield Drain), WipEoutFusion is stuffed to the armpits with all-new death-dealing gadgets...

G E N E R A LW E A P O N SY o u r c o m m o n o r

irden artillery. Won't!ss the ladles.

P R O T O N C A N N O N

Rapid-fire minigun ttiatspits out glowingplasma bullets. Firesf o r w a r d f r o m t h e f r o n tof the ship. One pickup has around 25rounds that can befired at will.

G R E N A D E SThree bouncinggrenades are firedf o r w a r d o r b a c k w a r d a tdifferent angles. Theyexplode on contactwith another ship,track-side or scenery.

F I A M E RBreathes out a lethaldose of fire In front ofthe ship. An enemy thatgets caught will catchfire and take damagefor 30 seconds or untilthe ship goes throughthe pit-lane

G R A V - S T I N G E RReleases a cop-style'stinger from the backof the ship. Enemy craftmust dodge It or riskhaving their anti-gravityu n i t t a k e n o u t

temporarily causingthem to drop to thetrack, scraping metaland taking damage.

G R A V I T Y B O M BA b o m b t h a t c a u s e st h e I m m e d i a t e a r e a t owhite out. All shipswithin the explosionradius are affected,with an effect similar tothe Grav-Stlnger's.

M U L T I P L A Y E RW E A P O N SNaughty slapdownsspecific to 'all-back-to-mine' sessions.

C O N T R O L J A M M E RReverses the steeringcontrols of the targetedship for a few seconds.

T U R B O E N F O R C E RGives enemy ships aninstant (and unwanted)turbo boost. It's ail Inthe timing to make Ita s i n c o n v e n i e n t a s

possible for them.

H U N T E R M I S S I L E

Programmed to huntdown the race leaderBig explosion, damageand slow-down.

G L O B A L D R A I N

Very nasty. Reduces theshield energy of allenemy ships to zero.Any further contactdamage will result indestruction. Onlyremedied by a visit tothe pit-lane.

S T E A L T H

Player's ship renderedtranslucent. Weaponswill have no effect andweapons can't lock-on.Flying through enemyships causes themdamage. If it wears offwhile flying through anenemy ship, it destroysthe enemy Instantly

Avant-garde paperweight?Star Ttek prop? Nope.Grav-Stinger. Nasty.

SUPER WEAPONSEach team has its own specialityblast, accessed by completingmissions In the new, more practicalChallenge mode.

F E I S A RS U P E R M I S S I L E SS i m i l a r t o t h e s t a n d a r dMissile, but with more painguaranteed. Three missileslock-on to the nearestthree enemy ships ahead.If only one enemy ship Isahead, all three missileswill home In and destroy Itcompletely.

veni<3Sf VAN-UBERS E I S M I C H E L DA b l a c k h o l e I s fi r e dforward. Enemy ships aredrawn In, causing slowdown and damage. Directhits cause major damagewith a high chance oft o t a l e l i m i n a t i o n .

G - T E C HB I O S N A R ECreates a throbbing wallcovering about half of thetrack width. A ship thathits it will take Immediatedamage and the snare wills m o t h e r I t t o d r a i n t h e

ship's shield energy todestruction. Requires a pit-lane visit.

A U R I C O M___ ORBITAL LASER

siW-CffiRra player gains a lock-onby guiding a laser sightover an enemy ship. Whenfired, several shafts of lightpump down from above,causing major damageThe blast also causes am a s s i v e s m o k e - s c r e e na r o u n d t h e a r e a .

E G - RP O W E R S W A R M

Forward and rear-firingThe player gains anautomatic lock-on, as witha standard missile. Threeor four bee-like dronesequipped with machineguns zip out from underthe player's ship andattack the enemy

H G R O NN I T K O - R O C K E T

J They lock-on like astandard missile. A

zktsuxAr projectile of liquid nitrogenIs fired at a ship whichthen crystallises. This lastsfor five seconds, but theship can be restored byany heat source

X I O SS H I E L D D R A I NSimilar to the previousW/pEouts'Shield Drain,only much more powerfuland with a more flexiblelinking distance

P I R A N H AP E N E T R A T O RLock-on, and the wholeship fires itself like amissile at the enemy ship,penetrating It and causingmassive damage,

Inside SCEE StudioLiverpool. See tliatdrawing board?That's what they'vegone back to.

074 PlayStation B

0 One of the later, more advanced tracks features a gut-spinning vertical drop linked to an Immense reverse loop,Francis claims the roller coaster chic was there from dayone. 'The difference between WipEout 1 and 2 was speed. When we increasedthe speed, we found that the ship would just hammer off the end of dropsand then nose-dive Into the track below. Some people liked that feeling ofhaving to pull back to correct in midair: When we were redesigning thedynamics for Fusion, we kept the leap effect, but added a few drops andtwists where the ship 'sticks' to the track, to give that pit-of-the-stomach rollercoaster effect. Once we had that working, the Idea of adding loops and twistscame naturally It wouldnt have been possible in the PSone games. When theartists were designing the levels, the programmers were still working on thecraft dynamics. So, a lot of the artists' more outlandish Ideas - loops, drops,leaps - often served as inspiration for the coders."

Probably the most thrilling advantage of being able to 'stick' the ships tothe track Is the new flip-pad. if the triad ahead is a little congested or mine-littered, simply drive over the pad and your car will do a 180" hop up and sailright over the blockage.

3. SPEED WITHOUT FRONTIERSA big issue with WipEout Fusion's predecessors was that the speed gotridiculously fast, often faster than a human could handle. What if thecapacity for speed was limited only by the player's skill? And maybeshowcased with, say, a special nosebleed-level 'speedway' track?"We can do better than that," says Francis, and Burrows calls up 'Zone' mode- an entirely new challenge where the player controls a ship on constantaccelerate with no brakes. The speed gets faster and faster, and the longeryou last, the higher the score clocks up. There are special multiplier bonusesfor shield energy, hitting all the speed-ups, perfect laps and so on.

Francis claims that it's the mode that the designers most frequently playagainst each other 'The idea came from Tetrls - the way the blocks fail fasterand faster It's theoretically Infinite, but eventually. It Just becomes too fast tocope with. The only question Is - what 'level' can you reach? I'd say that youcould ptDbably hit around 3000kph in Zone mode."

4. MORE CHARACTERAlthough the ships, weapons and logos looked very good, there was nofeeling that the companies were separate entities. It is easy forcomputer-controlled cars to just roll on by, glued to their fixed racinglines with little individualism, no reaction to shunts and no sneakymanoeuvres. Could we see a little soul in Fusion, perhaps?This time, the other drivers all come with their own looks, backgrounds anddriving styles. At opposite ends of the scale are Ms Natasha Beimondo - leadpilot for Xios, daughter of the Inventor of anti-gravity racing - and OmarrKhumaia - lead pilot for Tigron. He's bad. He drives a specially customised,Ben Hur-style 'Bull' craft designed for ramming

A grudge system has also been Included giving the single-player game alittle muitlpiayer-style spice, "if you eliminate someone In a league race," saysFrancis. 'They will remember you In the next race. The more eliminations, thetrickier the races get The eliminations give you Impressive bonus points ontop of your tally for high finishing places also." For example if Khumaia isunlocked it makes everything more difficult as all the other pilots will go outof their way to get him - and you, for unlocking him. Not fair, but more fun.

5. BETTER DAMAGE ZONESin previous WipEouts, the only reference for imminent destruction wasthe impossible-to-keep-tabs-on damage gauge. So we want a damagecontrol system that's easy to monitor.And according to Burrows our wish has been granted again, "All of the shipshave several damage zones, if you take too much damage on the left, then

y/'^People ask us what the newmusic will be. Is it The ChemicalBrothers? The Prodigy?"Clemens Wangerin, Manager/^

the left wing will be clearly ^buckled and the left-turning dynamicswill be severely impaired. Too muchdamage on the nose, and the nose-cone willfail off, sacrificing control in the air"

And, naturally, a quick drive through the pitrecharge area will result In a miraculous,Termlnotor-style flourish of metallic healing

6. DONT CHANGE THE MUSICIt's still sweet to cherish a racing game that will never feel the need totum to rep-friendly Blair-rock. Stereophonies? Travis? Say it aint so."Definitely not," says Wangerin, "People keep asking us - what music is goingto be in it? Chemical Brothers? The Prodigy? Well, we did all of that back in1996. It's still going to be vety much in the techno/progressive house vein,but the main thing Is not to worry about, say, Underworld being In theresomewhere. It has to be right for the game."

"Yeah, there's nothing signed up yet," adds Francis. "But, the main goal Isto find high energy music that enriches the play We review tracks by playingthem in-game, if they start to feel bigger than the game, they get dropped,even If It's a massive name and the marketing department have a gun to ourhead. The game comes first, and the music's job Is to enhance the gameplayAlso, we want to put together a good album in itself 1 want the track listing tobe so good that people would buy the game for the music alone."

7. A WARMER LOOKThe slick futuristic designs of the past meant that a lot of the humanitywas lost out of the games, although your pilots were human, a morerobotic, mechanical feel was conveyed. Our final wish then is to fill outsome of the ultra-arch minimalism and give first-timers a friendly handto ease themselves in.From the beginning the look and feel of the series has been handled by theSheffield-based design agency Designers Republic. Wlp3outwas presentedvia some particularly fierce lateral graphic design. WipEout Fusion owes Itsmore unselfconsciously videogamey look to new boys Good Technology.

"We were getting the Impression that people thought that Designer'sRepublic actually designed the games," says Francis. "With the originalWipEout, they came up with the team Identities, a lot of the more Iconicvisuals, they designed a few print ads... This time, we pitched three newagencies and Good Tech seemed to have the strongest grasp on It. Theyrevamped the team and ship Iconography, they did the weapon icons, theteam logos... Again, we wanted to keep that sense of an entirely newgeneration game for the series - not just another gradual progression."

R N O N O U T O P L R y. . .So not only have our wishes been pretty much granted, but WipEout Fusionplays beautifully too. it's slicker; it's faster, the graphics are sharper, there'smore of everything and It's rammed with glorious set-pieces (best so far beinga swooping dash through a rocky desert corridor, with the leading shipswhipping up a blinding sandstorm wake]. Be advised - this IS WipEout 1.5(absolutely everything has been ramped up to the z-th degree, with all of thePS2 de luxe trimmings) but It's also been rebuilt so that it feels like a newgame. It's a brilliantly realised mix of old and new. Fusion. Good title.

Cynics will still asK how, despite all of the well-targeted PS2 wonder, canStudio Liverpool hope to repeat the legendary, hand-in-hand feel that theoriginal WipEout had with the PSone? How do you convince the unconvertedthat a PS2 without WipEout Fusion is like a gun without ammo?

"It's much harder now because there's more competition around," arguesWangerin. "When PSone launched, everything was new and stood out With anew, fairly familiar machine, there's a fight for attention. Before we went to E3,we were apprehensive - wondering whether or not we'd done enough tomake it a 'different' game while keeping the WipEout hardcore firmly on-boatti. But the reaction we got there convinced us we were on the right trackThere's something about The WipEout Experience which makes It accessible,yet still appeals to hardcore racing game fans. The deeper you get, the morethe challenge there Is. There's a real sense of - are you good enough?" □

PlayStation.E 0

S T U N T m n i

j r c iaMTc s s s T R H T H 5F U H O m E .

WORDS: SAM RICHARDS/PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN BURTON

From Destruction Derby to Driver, Newscastle-based developerReflections has always been obsessed with car crashes anccrumpled chrome. Now its smashing new PS2 project

I Stuntmon is set to make standard fifst-past-the-post racef games look extremely pedestrian. 0PS2 investigates.

I The video, evidently obtained at a Tyneside car boot saie, isentitled World's Wildest Daredevils. Our commentator, oneSpanky Spangler chuckles with sinister glee as Brian 'KingOf Crash' Carson plies nose first Into the row of upendedJunk cars he was meant to clear after his knackered Dodge

1 could only make 70mph in the run-up. Eventually, Carsonstaggers from the wreckage and waves meekiy to the crowd before beingushered Into a waiting ambulance, "People have died attempting this stunt!"Spangler Infonns us, breezily

Next, a clearly insane Frenchman with a handlebar tache proceeds todemonstrate the art of the low barrel roil - In a convertible. This is whatpasses for light entertainment round Reflections' way Martin Edmondsonand his ever-expanding development team are auto-addlcts - but not In thesame, reverent way as Kazunori Yamauchi. No, Reflections likes to takeclassic cars and then see them battered to death.

As for those lunatics that sit behind the wheel, well, no-one with a fullset of marbles would ever try to emulate the antics demonstrated In theWor/d's Wildest Daredevils. That's why we love to get our vicarious kicksthrough videogames.

JUST UKE THE MOVIESReflections' flrst PSone effort was Destruction Derby, a game based onhilarious bouts of chrome carnage and auto endurance. The studio thencreated the landmark Driver series. Inspired by classic car chases fromSeventies cinema. Stuntman distils the essence of Driver; its screeches,leaps, rolls and smashes ail the way, but without any of that tediousnavigation business. 0

Play5tation.E

f - i — - -■ J

Flying cones, breakingbones... The challenge isto make i t look cool whi lestill walking out with allyour ribs intact.

i ? l L

/^You're reminded of the poweryou felt when you first pulled ahandbrake turn in Driver//

□ Whereas Driver was a movie, punctuated by the consciously cllch6d cut-scenes that an action thrilier demands, Stuntman goes behind-the-sceneson set it's a ciever concept that casts the player as a professionalHollywood stunt driver and therefore allows you to handle all kinds ofvehicles In films of almost every different genre.

You begin in a low-budget London gangster flick driving approximationsof Capris and Cortinas, The movie's feel Is gritty rather than gratuitous so the

stunts are less spectacular than those encountered later in the gameNevertheless, you're immediately reminded of the sense of power youfelt when you first pulled a handbrake turn In Driver. In factStuntman's control system Is identical to Drivel's, so veterans ofReflections' PSone games will Instantly feel at home. The very firststunt your director will ask you to perform involves a bumout awayfrum a bank lyes, you're the getaway car) and an outrageoushandbrake comer In a narrow alley

When observing the making of actual movie productions, IncludingMartin Scorcese's forthcoming Gangs Of New YorK Martin Edmondson

realised how little of any car chase scene could be filmed in one take.Obviously the stop-start nature of a real movie stunt driver's commission

would make for a frustrating game, so Reflections has stretched reality alittle. Eariy In the game you'll only be asked to perform two or three stuntsback to back but by the end you'll be linking up to twenty stunts togetherfor the length of a typical Driver mission, Rnales are fantastic - you'llconclude each mission by slamming Into a fruit stand, or bursting through aflaming barn door for example

What Edmondson has assimilated from his movie set experience is aknowledge of camera placement These will be positioned at cmclal pointsIn each environment and the idea Is to play to the cameras for maximumeffect. The closer your back end swings out towards the lens, the morepoints you'll get for the stunt However, If you overshoot and send thecameraman flying you'll probably end up on a manslaughter charge

Before each mission you'll be given a fly-through of the set pointing oulthe exact location of each camera. As missions become longer, it'll get mor);difficult to remember exactly which stunt you're required to pull next, so asystem of simple Icons has been created which fiash up on the screen toguide your way You'll also have the director screaming In your earpiece.

-mE UNKNOWN SnJNT IV IANFor Driverfans, Stuntman's potential turn-off Is Its lack of freedom. There'sno choice of routes, no alternate interpretations of how you approach aparticular stunt You're destined to follow your director's instructions - thegoal Is perfection, not variety. Still, with a percentage success rating for everystunt, the replay value is huge.

And if It is stunt creativity you want it's time to visit the Motorpiex ArenaSuccessfully complete your film set missions and you'll unlock constructionswith which to build the kind of stunt daredevil's playground that would haveBrian 'King Of Crash' Carson doing cartwheels. Ail the ramps and obstaclesyou could wish for can be unlocked by attaining high scores In the Stunt

TRAILER PARKThe appeal of editing your replays inStuntman is huge. Once a level iscompleted you'll be able to watch your In-game stunts spliced between FMV cuts,with the finished product playing exactlylike a movie trailer This is whereReflections' tove of cinema comes into play- the sensory assault of your typical actionmovie trailer has been both convincinglyportrayed and affectionately parodied. Eachfilm has been closely based on an existinggenre, allowing the game's scriptwiitingteam to have fun with those stereotypes.These are the potential blockbusters inwhich your daring stunts will feature. T O O T H L E S S I N WA P P I N G

C Loosely based-sn: Lock, Stock X TWoSmoking Barrelsr; Vehicle of choice: Knackered Seventiesspor ts carU Geezers abound In this London gangster flickwhere the bower is caused by a couple ofchancers called Ray and Vlnce. Punishment Isduly metered out a menacing bald kingpinnamed Hie Dentist

A-WHOOPIN' AND A-HOLLERIN'n Loosely based on: The Dukes Of HaxzanI□Vehicle of choice: American muscle carDThose good ot boys have done got themselvesIn trouble v*ith the local sheriff In theirbackwoods Louisiana hometown again.Unfeasible leaps over lakes and through movingt r a i n s a r e i n e v i t a b l e

S T U N T m R N

Driver mode. Ever wanted to leap a fleet of flaming trucks In a flying Mini?Your wish is Stuntman's command. Although no-one's guaranteeing youwont crash and burn.

Your stunt constructions can be built In much the same way as thesl<ate parks In Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, so it's simple to drag and drop rampsinto the required position. The Motorpiex Arena gives you the freedom to pullany kind of stunt with any vehicle available, but mini-games with specificobjectives can also be unlocked,

Stuntman is ail about destruction, so It's paramount that the game'svehicles react to damage In a realistic manner The insides of each car areas lovingly modelled as the exteriors and It wont take long for you todislodge a bonnet, revealing the engine beneath. Smash the windscreensand you'll have a fine view of those patent leather seats. Push your car to Itsphysical limits and you'll eventually be left with nothing more than ablackened shell of the kind that regularly decorate Cardiff council estates.

Understandably, given the workout you'll be putting your vehiclesthrough, named manufacturers have distanced themselves from the gameas they did from Driver before It To compensate. Reflections has designed acollection of vehicles that bear many resemblances to real-life modelswithout arousing the Ite of the copywright lav^yers. Remember we're not justtalking about cars; it's at least as much fun to wreck a Jeep or a tanker as ItIs an Aston Martin.

It's the mangled wrecks and flying body parts that'll make Stuntman asuccess. It means that even when a stunt goes wrong and you end uphorrendously flipping your car before Impaling It on a pylon instead oflanding cleanly on the warehouse roof, there's always enjoyment to be had.Given that It's only a game, you get most of the thrill with none of the riskThat means you wont be left counting your legs to see they're both stillthere as Spanky Spangier goes on chortling In the background. □

m R R T I N E D m O N D S D NThe founder and Creative Director of Reflections confesses to afetisii for Ford Torinos and twisted metal.

What's wrong with a making nice polite racing game where thefastest man wins and nothing gets broken?I've never been keen to follow the crowd. Car games will always be popular,but I dont see what the point is in owning more than one F1 game forexample. There are so many racing games out for PlayStation 2 already butreally the only one you need is Grvn Turismo 3: A-spec.

Are you a true petrol head?1 am enthusiastic about cars, but for me it's more cars in movies, carchases and car smashes. When I was a kid my father used to take me todemolition derbies, that's how my fascination was formed, i was always thefirst to hop over the fences after the action had finished to examine thedebris lying on the course. I Just have a weird attraction to bending metal.

I remember being allowed to stay up late to watch the opening creditsof Starsky & Hutch where that black car gets chased around In a circle bythe Ford Torino. I was too young to ever watch the whole programme atthe time but the car chase is etched In my memory. Obviously 1 lovedSmokeyAnd The Bandit Hooper, The Dukes OfHazzard... I used to watchfor stuff that most people probably werent concerned with, like how theback ends of the cars swung out, how the suspension would buckle whenthey landed. I've got a book about the making of The Dukes Of Hazzard onmy shelf here, it tells you how they managed to smash up over a hundredcars In the programme's lifetime. S

B U X W O A T Hi:^lJ00sely based on: Hard Boiled□Vehicle of choice: Hik tukCA gang thriller set In Bangkok's seedybackstreets and moody noodle bars. Expectplentiful slo-mo shootouts In dimply-llt dives linedwith ladyboys as you make the getaway on athree-wheeler

TME SCARAB OF LOST SOULSULoosely based on: Indiana Jones And TheRaiders Of The Lost Arki.lVehicle of choice: WWII mllitaty jeep□ Reluctant archaeologist hero Dakota Scott(geddit?) plunders the pyramids In order to lay hishands on ancient artefacts before the Nazis turnup. Too iatel Time to hotwire that Jeep...

T H E ' P O L I T I C A L T H R I L L E R 'r; Loosely based on: Patriot Gamesnvehlcle of choice: SkhkwCNo conflmied title yet for this typicallyconvoluted wrangle probably Involving someheavy-iawed US Government official chasing downanti-Nato terrorists on his snowmobile.

T H E ' B O N D F U M *□Loosely based on: Every Bond film ever□Vehicle of choice; Something very simBar tothe Aston Mart in 087□With a plot that could easily pass for Never SoyDiamonds Uve Twice, a role in this plush actionsmash forms the pinnacle of your stunt driver'scareer. Monaco is your venue, so live It up.

0 So when you reached 17, did you spend every night in a Tesco carpark impressing the girls with your handbrake turns?No, I used to go bombing around country lanes and farm tracks in myAudi Quattro, scaring the horses, I organised my own destnjction dert)yonce. We all went out and bought £50 Ford Escorts from a scrap dealerand tore around a field until the cars stopped working

How do you go about recreating that kind of experience in aPlayStation 2 game?We spend a long time on the physics. The handling has got to feelabsolutely right, otherwise the game wont be convincing In Stuntmanyou'll notice that a fractional change in the way you approach a ramp willresult in a totally different tumble. It's difficult to program that variety, butyou've got to get it spot on because thats how It works in real life.

How did you get the idea to makea game that explored the

mechanics of setting up astunt as much as it glorifiedthe stunts themselves?I've always been intrigued as to

how these things were done, like the use of compressed hydrogencannisters to Are driverless cars into a roll across the freeway It's beenInteresting to watch a lot of those extra features that you get on a DVDmovie. There's a good 'making of documentary on the Ronin disc.

We were lucky enough to go on-set on a couple of productions. Weobserved the making of an episode of A Touch Of Frost that featured a ca •chase, and then we went on the set of Scorcese's new movie Gangs Of NswYork Obviously there are no car chases in that but the filmmaking processis fascinating It's amazingly fragmented. A car chase scene Is literally puttogether a few seconds at a time, and it can take days. Obviously youcouldnt possibly have a game that represents this process realistically Scwe face an issue that's veiy much like the last scene of Hooper - which I; afilm about a stunt driver. There's a five-mlnute stunt sequence filmed In o ietake, which is completely ridiculous. But the action had to be madeentertaining for the audience to watch.

How long have you been working on Stuntman?Probably about two years already. But it's difficult to put a start date on Itbecause a lot of time at the beginning was spent wrestling with the PS2 cevkit We actually threw away the first rendering engine we wrote for PS2because it wasn't fast enough. We learnt a lot, but it was still about sixmonths work that ended up in a cui-de-sac. Thankfully there was nopressure on us to get a game out at launch, but I didnt want to waste theidea of Stuntman by bashing out a substandard game.

Do you feel that the name 'Reflections' is now recognised as a stam jof quality videogames?Within the hard-core gamespiaying audience, yes. In the mass market the -eJust isnt that association between the game and the people who make ItWe've got a long way to go before developers are treated like authors orartists in that respect

Tell us something about Driver 3.I can tell you that we're making It We've got half the studio working on Itright now. But Stuntman wont be out until next May so you wont seeDriver 3 for a while after that □

U M \

seriouslya d d icti vePlayStation E -sfe.

f PtAY€R MANAGER 300i j

©2001 Anco Software Ltd. All rights reserved.Published by 3DO Europe Limited. Player Manageris a registered trademark of Anco Software Ltd.300 and the 3D0 logo are trademarks of The 3D0Company in the US and other countries. Ali othertrademarks belong to their respective owners.

A l e x F e r g u s o n ' s P l a y e rM a n a g e r 2 0 0 1

Featuring the 2002 new season statsand over 10,000 players, there's also anew 3D match engine where you canwatch your tactical expertise come tolife. Incorporating brand new easy touse menus allowing greater flexibilitywhether training, playing, dealing inthe transfer market or setting yourstrategy. Sir Alex has worked closelywith the development team to makeAlex Ferguson's Player Manager 2001the most realistic and in-depth footballmanagement game ever.

PlayStation.S

C 3 ' f = » A C i r M G

Extreme G3Extreme G3 takes players on a gravity-defying race over massive tracks that rangefrom beneath earth's surface right up intothe boundaries of space. After climbingonto one of 12 super-charged and fullyarmed bikes and engaging the protectiveshield, players are ready to begin theultimate racing challenge. Featuring ahuge array of futuristic weapons, intensespecial effects and a selection of twistingtracks that lead you on an adrenalinefuelled frenzy through futuristic cities andinto the gut-wrenching heights of theupper stratosphere."Sci-fi racing at its most spleen-crushinglyintense - welcome to the future" 8/10Official PlayStation 2 Magazine

PlayStation 2 <4?

© C A P C O M C O . , L T D . 2 0 0 1 A L L R I G H T SRESERVED. CAPCOM and the CAPCOM LOGOare registered trademarks of CAPCOM CO.LTD.RESIDENT EVIL is a trademark of CAPCOM COLTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Res ident Ev i l Code:V e r o n i c a X

Regarded by many as the finest ResidentEvil game yet. Code: Veronica X is survivalhorror at its greatest. Set two months afterthe events of Resident Evil 2, puzzle solvingand nerves of steel are required as you takeon the role of Claire and attempt to solvethe mystery surrounding her missingbrother. The game is the first of thefranchise to feature 3D environments thatmake for dynamic camera movements thatintensify the tension and panic.Also includes exclusive playable demo ofthe forthcoming smash Devil May Cry."The pinnacle of survival horror." 9/10Official PlayStation 2 Magazine

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© 2001 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved.^13 "Formula One", "Fonnula 1", "Fl" and "FIAFonnula One World Championship" (together withtheir foreign translations and permutations) aretrademarks of the Formula One group ofcompanies. An official product of the FIA FormulaOne World Championship licensed by Formula OneAdministration Limited. Ail other trademarks are theproperty of their respective owners. EA SPORTS^"is an Electronic Arts'^" brand.

F l 2 0 0 1Battle for position at every sweepingbend, high-speed straight away, andhairpin turn within the world's mostglamorous sporting arena. FromMonaco to Monza, take on the mostintelligent and daring racers to hit theFormula One circuit. The circuit comesto life with fully interactive pit stops,roaring crowds, a buzzing grid, driveranimations and a full spectrum o1driving conditions, including torrentiadownpours and other mid-race weatheichanges. Add the official 2001 Fl/iFormula One World Championshiplicense and Fl 2001 is poised to reachnew milestones in motor sports gaming.

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Snowboarding sensation SSX is still the best game available for PS2 - FACTl -and it lust got better Originally touted as a mere add-on, SSX Thcfy has evolvedinto a full-blown sequel complete with colourful new characters, radicaloverhauls of familiar courses and breathtaking new 'uber tricks' 0PS2 shared achicken salad with EA Canada's developers promising another white Christmas.

Think back to the PlayStation 2 launch almost a year ago.Which of the games that you bought then are you stillplaying now? Probably not the limited Ridge Racer V. TekkenTag Tournament has surely been hammered to death. AndTimeSplltterg Single-player mode lost Its lustre a long timeago. But can you resist just one... more... go... on SSX's

Pipedream course? What If your best mate tells you he's Just beaten your all-time high score? Thought not.

Once the darkest of dark horses, SSX Is now the game that defines thePlayStation 2 experience, Bllndingly fast and Impossibly cool. SSX's thrillingImmediacy Is obvious, and yet It still begs for plays months after all thecharacters and courses have been unlocked. All this from an EA Canadastudio previously renowned for churning out those annual FIFA updates,,.

"1 didnt expect that game to become as culturally (mportontto PS2 as Ithas been," says Steven Rechtschaffner; SSXs Executive Producer and theman we can thank for inventing the game concept In the first place, I'm ;surprised at how different players have approached SSX In different ways.Some people play and never race, some people play and never show off. It'sbecome very personal to a lot of PS2 owners." jTQ-mE EXTREMEIt is one of gamings great recent success stories that a team consisting ;largely of alumni from the Triple Play Baseball series could create such animportant title. But Rechtschaffner himself has a history In the emerging ;world of extreme sports that marked him out as the ideal man to puts n o w b o a r d i n g o n P S 2 w i t h s u c h p a n a c h e . 1

As well as once being the captain of the US freestyle ski team "a long, ;long time ago, back when it was a far milder sport," he ran the marketingdepartment of Swatch for a year during which time It was one of the firstcompanies to get Involved with extreme sports sponsorship. If those weren'tcredentials enough, Rechtschaffner also lays claim to inventing the wholediscipline of boardercross itself.

"Back in 19911 was prt)ducing a TV programme called World Of Extremesfor the Fox NetworK which was probably the first extreme sports show on TV.We had one segment left to shoot and we dIdnt have a sport. I'd had theidea for a while to create a snowboarding event that better encompassedwhat the sport was about, namely jumping riding banks, freestyling andhaving fun. So I designed a course that was then built In Whistler [BritishColumbian ski resort] and boardercnoss was bom."

Rechtschaffner subsequently moved to EA Canada where he worked onMadden NFL and the aforementioned Triple Play Bosebo// series, but theextreme end of the sports spectrum continued to call his name. SSX wasnaturally based loosely on the boardercross discipline but Rechtschaffnerwanted to use the freedom of the digital format to "evolve the sport ofsnowboarding faster than It could evolve Itself Making a sports simulation is El

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Increased depth ofc h a r a c t e r i s a t i o n m e a n stha t the re a reconsequences each timeyou shove an opponent.

//Each character starts arace as either a buddy orrival. One will knock you,the other will avoid you//

H challenging because you have to work within preset parameters, but for meIt's more creatively rewarding to see how I can amplify the essence of thatsport in a fantasy environment"

Some pro snowboarders have reacted unfavourably to SSX given theoutrageous nature of the tricks at hand. If you Imagine how most of us wouldview FIFA if all players were allowed to score with overhead kicks from thehalf-way line, you can kinda see their point. Luckily, animosity from thesnowboard community of which he was once a part hasnt fazedRechtschaffner one bit .

"i thlnl< It's like the pop song you hate to admit that you love. You dontwant to lll^e the song you know It's not cool to like the song but there'snothing you can do because It's so good. So SSX is a pop videogame. Betterthan that, it's a pop videogame with lasting value."

S S X M A DDetails of what was to become SSX Tricky firstemerged early this year under the name 'SSX DVD'.The working title referred to the fact that the originalSSX, being a PS2 launch game, was only issued onCD. Rechtschaffner takes up the stoty.

'We had never planned to make another title in2001, but EA was concemed about maintaining aprominence for the SSX brand for when new usersare expected to gravitate to PS2 In the autumn. Theoriginal solution was to release a kind of a 'director's

cut' of SSX but once the Ideas started flowing, we realised there was enoughto make a whole new game."

Thankfully what could have been little more than a reissue designed tograb the attention of autumnal 1^2 virgins, has now become a game thatevery SSX fan will need to own.

Two entirely new courses are included (see Course It Is] but crucially, ailthe old favourites return, having been significantly restructured and revamped.Snowdream, always good for a rapid trick fix, has now become a grinder'sparadise. A whole new network of rails and ledges practically scream for youto link tricks and grinds into stupendous combos. Mesablanca returnsboasting breathtaking new short cuts. Tokyo iviegapiex, something of an anticlimax In the original game, has been radically overtiauied. The ratio oframps and obstacles was severely miscalculated on the original incarnationof the pinball-themed course, but a whole new dimension has been added.The iviegapiex now comes replete with a networi< of intertwining flumes thattwist through the air metres above the main thoroughfare. Even Untrackedwill seem like a whole new experience, with many more options on how toplot your course through the tranquil virgin snow.

Despite all these alterations, some SSX fans will probably wonder why theteam hasn't Just created a whole new set of courses. There was a lot offeedback from players that asked for the same tracks to be improved forshow-off play," Rechtschaffner responds. "It's actually more work to go backand renovate an old track than It is to build a new track But we like the idea

rrs TRICKY TO ROCK A RHYMEHow Run DMC gave the SSX sequel its name.

"It was more a fluke than anytliing,"admits Steven Rechtschaffner, SSXsExecutive Producer "We were reallystruggling for a title and SSX Trickywas way down the shortlist at thistime. One of my passions Is DJ-ingand I like to scratch and fool aroundand make up CDs to listen to atwork. I'm a fan of old skool hip-hopand one night I pulled cut It's Trickyby Run DMC without even thinkingabout the game. It suddenly struckme as the perfect song because it'ss o a n t h e m l c . "

Arguably the pioneering raptrio's finest single, /t's Tricky datesfrom their 1986 album 'Raising Hell'.The track may be old skool, but Itstill undoubtedly sounds vital today"First of all we asked Fatboy Slim toremix it, but he called back sayingthere was nothing he could possiblyadd to the originail Eventually wefound a couple of copies of the vinylIn good condition, so we sent themdown to iviixmaster Ivlike He playedaround and came up with an hour-long scratch remix What IvIIke doesis amazing, it just blows me away.So the sections of the track we'reusing In the game are extracts fromMixmaster's (Hike's cut-up,"

The Idea of the game'ssoundtrack shifting to reflect yourperformance is retained andexpanded from the first game. Thistime around, when your trick boostis full and you start pulling 'Ubertricks', the track will be subtlydropped Into the mix

Mixmaster Mike himselfcontributes a brand new originaltrack to SSX Tricky and otherfeatured artists include the PlumpDJs, Aphrodite, Hybrid and Rasmus- EA Sports Is even planning toissue a stand-alone soundtrack CD."People keep saying we should sticka more popular track on there,"Rechtschaffner continues"Something like Ump BIzklt." Hegrimaces "No thanks We like it theway it Is."

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S S X T R I C K !

/ C O U R S E r r I SThose two all-new SSX Th'cky courses revealed.

that it's a world circuit that you'll go back to a familiarcourse a year later and things will have changed,"

'The courses have been redesigned to be more rhythmic," hecontinues. 'Every piece of scenery should make you curious as towhether you can grind It or smash through It to access a short cut. Thereare many more layers to the onion this time around."

TRICKY BUSINESSWhen overhauling the game, the development team has placed moreemphasis on the show-off events because that's where It perceives SSXTr/ckys longevity lies. As well as the additional trick opportunities built Intothe courses, this means expanding the trick books to include all manner ofstupidly-named stunts.

Best of all are the new 'uber tricks', providing you with a new motivationto fill that boost bar In the new screenshots you'll notice the word Tricky'spelled out above the boost bar Weil, once your bar is full you'll have theopportunity to perform an uber trick, prompting a series of staggeringlyspeedy contortions from your boarder Pulling an uber trick Isnt easy - youneed to jump, grab and tweak in perfect rhythm. If you land the uber tricksuccessfully, one of the Tricl<y' letters turns red. Light ail the Tricky' letters Inone run and your boarder is primed for a super uber trick This will quitepossibly make your brain implode.

Ail this trickiness Is not to say that the development team hasabandoned the racing dynamic. The Al is more intelligent," Rechtschaffnerassures us. "Before. If you got out in front early on you could really beat thepack. Similarly if you fell at the beginning It was almost impossible to catchthe leader There are usually other riders around you all the way this time."

And with other boarders zig-zagging across your racing line, things aregoing to get heated. That's why a complex system of loyalties has beenimplemented, with each character starting a race as either a buddy or arival of your boarder Rivals will try to knock you down whereas friends willgo out of their way to give you breathing space. Shove a friend and theymight get touchy Shove a rival and they'll get madder than ever Negotiatingthe personalities of your fellow racers is going to be almost as challengingas negotiating the Jumps and obstacles of the course

"We wanted to give players more of a reason to push and shove becausethat's kinda fun, and we've made It easier to do this time. Luther doesnthave much time for Eddie, so If you're playing as Eddie it might only takeone shove before Luther comes after you, concentrating more on knockingyou down than finishing his own race."

Epitomising SSX Tric/q/s further emphasis on character developmentalbeit In a cartoon-style, a posse of famous film actors have been drafted into provide the voices of Ellse, Eddie, JP and pals.

"Some people would say, 'why are we getting In all these celebrities In todo voice-overs, is It Just for PR?' In fact my real motivation was to employactors with personality in order to help create better-defined characters. Wehad such a blast during the voice recording sessions, we tried to go for animprovlsationai feel and It worked out great Hopefully we can announce the S

Wonder why Kaoriand Elise are backwhile Jurgen andHiro get theboot? Exactly.

G A R I B A L D IAn entty-level course designed fornew users now that Snowdream'sgone grlnd-tiappy. Despite Itsunassuming demeanour. Garibaldiboasts some huge drops, perfect forgetting to grips with those newtricks. These ciifftop plunges alsodemonstrate an impressive newgraphical feature as boarderstumble through a blanket of fog.

7 . ^

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A L A S K AThe new toughie In town challengesyou to forget everything you knowand learn it again from scratch. AnIcy giant's causeway, a perilous slidedown the wing of a burled plane, anundenvater tunnel and theinvitation to attempt a prodigiousgrinding short cut between a seriesof huge electricity pylons. Feelingstoked already?

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New lighting effectsm a k e t h o s esnowcaps glistenmore than ever.

B O A R D M E E T I N GMeet the newly-elected representatives of the SSX council.

EDDIEAKA Edward TheKid ' Wachowsk iThe guy who wishes he was AfroThunder tnalies the transition tothe SSX Worid Circuit from theterminaiiy siliy sport of streetiuge With a mouth as ioud ashis shirt, Eddie's bound tomake friends and enemies Inequal measures.

B R O D IAKA Broderick Caseiviaintaining a state of extremezen caim even in the mostturbulent of circumstances,Btodi is SSJCs deep-thinker He'seven got a degree - in MarineScience, like you cared.

L U T H E RAKA Luther-Dwayne GradyBeer gut leading the way mulletflapping behind in the wind,Lutiier has somehow lost histruck and found himself on asnowboard. Still, now he's there,he aint gonna take no shit fromnobody Knock down this bear ofa man and he'll be back to biteyou on the ass.

M A R I S O LAKA Marisol Diez DelgadoHighly string sexpot Marisol willapparently board ail day andparty all night If given half achance. She'll also flirt witheverything in sight but if thingsdont go her way, those tempert a n t r u m s a r e v i c i o u s .

P S Y M O NAKA Psymon 'Sketchy* StarkErratic but single-minded,Psymon is a nu-metal dude whoflagrantly Ignores his mother'sadvice by refusing to don ajacket even in the coolest ofclimes Once landed on a set ofpower lines, blacking out ane n t i r e d i s t r i c t

S E E I A HAKA Seelah OwensA former inline skater from theEast Coast Bringing bllng-blingto the slopes, Seelah Insists onwearing a huge fur collar eventhough it makes her look like amatchstick wrapped in cottonwool. With big purple shades.

186 PlayStation.?

Extra features on the SSXDVD will give you an insightinto the making of the game.

r l j

' U Discover more 'grindable' sceneryon the revamped courses.

5 S X - T R A SOne of the Ideas that has survived from the days of'SSX DVD' Is the Inclusion of extra video features onthe game disc. One of these extras will be a MakingOf documentary, for which Rechtschaffner's pastexperience In TV production comes In handy

"We figured there's a lot of stuff we do along theway that people might find Interesting If you like the game you mightbe curious as to how we build the tracks or how we develop thecharacters or even which characters never saw the light of dayI have so many people ask me basic things, Just like 'how thehell do you get the world In there!' so this Is an opportunity toshow them, 1 love looking at that kind of stuff on DVD films."

This is still a novel concept for PlayStation 2 games (see alsoSpy Hunter and SWntmanI but expect It to become commonplacebefore long. It's just one of the many ways In which the SSXdevelopment team has sought to continue the pattern of innovationthat lead to creating the most exciting game on PlayStation 2. There'sno way that SSX Tricky was going to be a mere update, or even amere sequel. People may be cynical wherever EA Sports and sequelsare mentioned in the same sentence, but SSX Tricky should go someway towards changing that perception.

One last thing. SSX Tricky will again feature game tips on theloading screens, and again these will be genuinely useful, giving clues toshort cuts for example. However, when 0PS2 playtested the game, wediscovered a loading screen that simply read 'recycle, stay In school andfight the power'. Proof, if It's still required: SSX Tricky is more than Just agame, it's a way of life □

//'"We like to say Hiro andJurgen arent coming backbecause they got cauglitup in a bad accident"//

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L I F T I N GT H E v ; e i lThe series that brought role-playing to themasses is back with another must-haveinstalment. It's already sold over two millioncopies in Japan and it's only on one console.Final Fantasy X is coming to the UK next summerand we're afready getting excited. 0PS2 revealsthe story behind the game that's setting newstandards for PlayStation 2 games.

I Is an introduction necessary? This is another Final Fantasygame after all, the latest incarnation of the most popular role-playing game in the world, and a name that has becomesynonymous with PlayStation. Copies of earlier games stillfly off the shelves, while the tenth instalment has already

I sold over two million units on its home turf. But somethingspecial is happening again, as the series makes its transition to the PS2 andundergoes another radical transformation.

Initially, it is of course the breathtaking visuals that cause you to stopfluffing about with manuals and disc cases and stare intently, as the cameraweaves its way over a party of adventurers relaxing around a campfire attwilight. Warm shades and delicate details abound as you see, for the firsttime, the shy Yuna, the beastman Kimahri, the darkly mysterious Lulu; whilemain protagonist Tidus stands on a high outcrop, brooding over the sunset.

However, it's when you pick up the pad and begin your adventure in astrange new futureworld of neon and spires that the real changes becomeapparent. Gone are the pre-rendered backdrops and faux-3D environments ofthe PSone titles - the characters you just saw weren't part of some FMV butrendered on the fly, with stunningly compelbng faces and outlandishcostumes. And as you move around, the camera follows you to grant an ever-shifting perspective on your surroundings. FF has at last gone 3D.

FFX: THE STORY SO FAR...The world is under threat of obliteration. Not from some scheming archenemy, but from an all-engulfing force called Sin, which the designers havelikened to a disaster with a form or sentience - "Like a typhoon," says ArtDirector Yusuke Naora. Sin's power is demonstrated in the first few sceneswhen our hero Tidus, a rising star in the high-energy sport of BlitzbaU, sees agrowing, manipulated wave of water tearing its vray through the city.

As the crowds flee the stadium, Tidus spots his friend Auron and chasesafter him. Alien seed pods plummet to earth, embedding themselves in theconcrete and hatching dark shapes. Auron throws Tidus a sword. "Use this. It'sa gift from Jeckt." "My father's... ?" Tidus struggles to lift the heavy, wave- E]

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i dThe angry cavalryChocobo is ColonelSanders' worst nightmare.

Tidus wishes the groundwouldn't open up ands w a l l o w h i m .

J j F - S B I I I B ,

2 ^ ^B crested blade as the swarni attacks...

Technical excellence is something thatSquare takes very seriously, and the

company has built its reputation onbreaking new ground in audio and

video. Upon working with anynew console, they set up their

teams with the engineering savvyand experience to take the thing

apart, study it, get to grips with it and findways to exploit it. Their rivals have even

gone on record to complain that they can'tcompete against such impeccably high

standards of presentation and design.Square fans know this only too well, of

course, and it's one of the reasons why thecompany attracts an ardent following For thefaithful, it's not so much a question of lookingat price tags or system specs as asking,"Which console must 1 buy to keep playingtheir games?'

One innovation that's likely to provoke

J debate is a direct result of the game's move to3D, and that's the increased linearity of the first half

of the game. Telling a good story while accounting for theplayer's actions always involves a balance between playerfreedom and tight scripting, and many events have beenplanned with a stronger emphasis on the narrative. Cleverlythough, this seems to parallel the fate of Tidus as he getsthrown from one difficult situation to another by forcesbeyond his control, meets people whose language hecannot at first understand, and attempts to find his wayout by making new friends and adapting. ProducerHironobu Sakaguchi has already mentioned that thegame's themes are Change and Travel, a description that

becomes less nebulous as you play.

Beaches, Blitzball,pirates and sunkencities. Water plays ahuge role in FFX, sopack your trunks.

PLAYING -mE GAME1. Battle scenesWhile critics of the series often pick up on the extensive and lavishcomputer generated (CG) cut-scenes as evidence of a lack of interactivity',they tend to overlook the deeper and more strategic character building andparty management aspects of the battle system that forms the core ofevery Final Fantasy. But Square isn't afraid to dispense with establishedgame rules in the interests of trying out brave new ideas, and the battlesystem has been reinvented many times in recent years.

This time around it's the work of Toshiro Tsuchida, the brains behindmobile suit strategy-adventure series Fmnt Mission. The old Active TimeBattle system has gone, although the new Count Time Battle (CTB) bearsenough similarities to make it easy to grasp. "I don't like battles that canbe indecently won by tapping buttons," Tsuchida-san once told journalist.

Check the top right comer of the screen and a handy box tells you theorder, from top to bottom, in which you and your enemies will strike.You're free to think out a plan, and no enemy can attack while you're

F ^ A S Y S T A R T S O N U N E I N 2 0 0 2 !As if we needed reminding, Rnol Rintasy XI will be a completely online experience.Okay, so we're st i l l wait ing for FFX, but here's what the next instalment wi l l hold. i

The latest news is that the launch of Square's of FFIX's Tetra Master is currently in beta testing, and iambitious Play Online Internet portal has been pushed Square's ultimate goal Is to provide gameback to at least spring 2002 in Japan. This delay enhancements and content that can be downloaded .inevitably affects the release of Hnal Fantasy XI, the straight to the PS2's HDD. A PC version will be Ionline multlplayer role-playing game that wlli sen/e as launched simultaneouslyPlay Onllne's flagship titte, as well as any hope of FFXI will be Square's first multlplayer online RPG,Imminent announcements regarding the US and In which you'll be able to create your own characterEuropean versions. and embark on adventures by working co-operat ively

Square has already stated that the service will be with other players. An early promotional trailer of woriifee-based, with a suggested monthly membership of In-progress shows some Impressive scenes of the¥1500 (£10) that Includes the monthly 'pay-per-play' proposed environments as the camera zooms overcharge for FFXI. Rumours abound that FFXI Itself will forests, Icy tundra and sun-parched plains before '■sell for under ¥1000 {£61 in an effort to encourage trial joining up with a party of warriors gathering In a !s u b s c r i p t i o n s , b u t U i e s e a r e u n c o n fi r m e d w o o d l a n d c l e a r i n g '

The company Intends Its Play Online sen/Ice to be The battle sequences appear familiar, but It will bemore than simply a means of linking up for a game of fascinating to see how they turn the tightly scripted IFFXI. however While waiting for friends to join In, format of previous titles Into an open fantasy worldsubscribers will be able to catch news, download pop where you're free to roam and make friends landsongs, read manga cartoons, shop online or keep In enemies, hopefully If your experience of the Internet's itouch through chat rooms and email. An online version asklng-for-it denizens tallies with ours). :

■S F a m i l i a r b a t t i e s c r e e n s b u t

bizarre enemies (Right).

f : :

^ ■ ■ FTidus appears equallystunned by the game's Intro.

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T H E C A S TFor all the monsters and magicand doomsday devices, it's therelationships of the characters thdrives every FF plot, and they'll b'remembered long after the playehas finished playing the game. Tftask of character design has oneagain fallen to Tetsuya Nomura,whose style most recently graceF F V I I I . J u s t l o o k a t Yu n a - d i danyone say 'Rinoa'?

T i d u sOur hero is a rising star in the spoof Blitzbail. Tidus is piucked from timiddle of a match and transportedt o a n o t h e r r e a l m w h e n S i n a t t a c k s .

Y u n aA descendent of the great summoBraska, with similar powers. Sheknows she must grow in strength toprevent Sin destroying the world.

A u r o nOld friend of Jeckt, Tidus's father,and a skilled swordsman whosewisdom helps to set Tidus on hisjourney.

(Above) Auronanticipates the fall

''Square's rivals have gone on rnthepafh'ofs"^record to complain they can'tcompete with such highstandards of presentation"deciding what to do. Tsuchida's experience of strategy gaming noticeablylends a harder and more involving edge to the combat of FFXAnticipating the question that you're already pondering, the answer is yes,the game still features random battles - but the encounter rate is muchlower, giving you a better chance to explore uninterrupted.

Ordinary encounters will fling you to a generic 3D battlefield screen,via some increasingly outre video wipes, but the advantage of the game'snew 3D world is that the pre-scripted battles can suddenly take place inthe very same environment that your characters are exploring. You'll beambushed by aeatures swooping from the rafters or lunging from the El

S P H E R E O F D E S T I N YYou need balls to get anywhere In this game.

Fighting monsters remains at the iieart of every FFgame. Tsuchida's new (Count Time Battle] CTB battleengine isn't too difficult to grasp, even if you haven'tplayed a game iike this before, so iet's examine atypical monster encounter.

1. So there you are, Justswimming along whenWHOOSHi I t ' s TOTP

circa 1980. This meansa fight's about to takepiace. Cue battie music.

2 . N o w s e l e c t R i k k u ' sThrow ability from herm e n u t o t h r o w s o m e

ultra-powerful explosivesat the super-sizedcephaiopod.

3. If you can performthe necessary padacrobatics here, Tidusc a n u n l e a s h h i sOverdrive - a specialsword technique.

m i4. Monster dispatched,you might pick up someability Spheres. Checkthe Sphere Boart to see ifyou can buy anotherm o v e w i t h t h e m .

W a k k a IAnother sportsman, and coach of theteam Beside Auraka, Wakka can hurilhis Blitzbail at tremendous speed touse it as a projectile weapon.

R i k k uAn inventor and thief, Rikku is one o1the Al Bhed and captains a salvageship with a crew of scavengers,always on the look-out for booty.

LuiuA mistress of the darker forms ofmagic, Lulu is the guardian of Yuna.Her power is spiritual and sheattacks through a spooky doll.

J ^ -Jk-.K i m a h n R o n s oine Dcastman of a slave race (Ronscis his tribe) looks tough but caresdeeply for Yuna, for whom he hasserved as bodyguard for many years

The ever-present engineer andmechanical genius, Cid - describedby Sakaguchi-san as the 'Yoda' ofFinal Fantasy - is somewhere in FF>

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waves, sometimes with a brief engine cut-scene in a style more akin toResident Evil or Vagrant Story.

2. Overdr ivesEvery character possesses an Overdrive, similar to the earlier Limit Breaks,which enables them to perform a special attack or technique when apower bar reaches its max. The bar can fill in a number of ways, basedupon outside influences. It increases through pain, when your charactertakes damage; anger, when you see allies being hurt; crisis, when you'rereduced to your last few hit points; sorrow, when a fellow party memberdies; and so on.

Every character has a range of Overdrives to learn, some of themrequiring a spot of joypad dexterity and timing to pull off. Tidus acquiressword skills, for instance, while Kimahri can absorb, learn and then

reproduce the attacks of enemies (which is very similar to Gau's Rageability in FFVT).

3. Aeon SummoningEarlier games were both loved and loathed for their extreme,

sometimes overwrought, invocation spells that called on thepower of monsters, titans and even deities to rain beautifully

conceived and animated deaths upon your enemies. FFX takesa very different tack, but retains the joy of discovering a new

ally with the power to mete out righteous vengeance.Summoned aeatures are called Aeons, and in a hark back

to earlier episodes (recalling Rydia of FFIV} only Yuna, adedicated summoner, can conjure them. Upon summoning anAeon, that creature replaces one of the party members and joins

the line-up for the duration of the battle so that they fightat your side, disappearing if reduced to zero Health

Points (HP). Thus they take on a Ufe of their own,boasting their own range of attacks and unique

Overdrives. You can even teach themcommand abilities or build up their stats.

4. Character DevelopmentFFX has done away vrith the Experience

Points system altogether, replacing it with awhole new concept of character development

Defeating enemies instead wins you AbilityPoints (AP) and rarely, depending on the enemy,

items called Spheres that are necessary for youradvancement, (see Sphere Of Destiny)

When you have enough AP, you can buyyourself a move on the Sphere Board. This shovre

your position on a large map of connected skills, andyou can control the way your character develops bychoosing the route you're going to take around theboard. Each position on the board corresponds to acommand ability or a stat boost, so you mightspend your AP increasing your magic points ortake a forking path that leads you to learningCure magic Since the characters start off bybeing spread across various parts of the board,they are naturally predisposed to acquiringdifferent skills at first It's very important thatyou pay attention to balancing your characterimprovement throughout the game, or youcould find yourself in a situation where yourentire party is weak in some areas.

When the FF series shifted from SuperNintendo to PlayStation, it took off in a

whole new direction. That change is happeningagain, thanks to the Square ethic of knowing whatthey're working with and continuously pushing thehardware until it can do things that even Sony'sengineers couldn't have foreseen. We saw it withFFVU, and they're doing it again with FFX.

Another must-have title for PS2? You alreadyknow where you stand. □

T H O S E ' G R A P H I C SIt's difficult not to get carriedaway when describing FFXsground-breaking grapnlcs.

WItli Square's teclinlcai flair at worl(,FFX excels at segueing between CGflim sequences and fuiiy playable,explotable PS2-renderedenvironments. The question Is, canyou tell where the game stops andt h e m o v i e s t a r t s ?

Ttie close-up gives it away. We'rewatching the video at the moment

Ttiis bit is obviously pre-renderedtoo Oh hang on, no it isnt We're inthe middle walking around.

Now, this bit's back to In-gamegraphics. Definltely. Er, apart from theCG video backdrop. How the...?

H A R D D R I V EC 0 M P A T 1 B L £FFX can be played in conjunctionwith Sony's forthcoming Hard DiscDrive for faster loading.

Having previously claimed they wereexperimenting with fast cache', FFXsdev team has indeed managed toinclude full support for Sony's newHDD add-on. Released in Japan inJuly, the 40Gb Hard Drive effectivelyeliminates loading times betweenlocations and smoothes the transferfrom game to movie cut-scenes. It isanticipated by 0PS2 that the releaseof FFX in ttie UK will accompany ttielaunch of the HDD, allowing us theopportunity to experience the gameat its best from the outset

In further hi-tech Sonyloveliness, the game also supportsDolby 5.1. Those of you with hometheatre set-ups will be able to baskI n t h e d e l i c i o u s s o u n d t r a c k o f F F

composer Nobuo Uematsu, whilepresumably resting your feet on anidle servant and tapping Cuban cigarash Into a Fabergfe egg.

Dr Sid, as voiced byDonald Sutheriand,scans the script fora single decent line.

G e i

^licleGenera l He in

^arly wants toknow Ak i ' s " l eve lof detail" (Right).

I N H L F fl N T R S U :H E S P I R I T S l U I T H I N

So what do you do with an incredibly successful videogame and a team of the world'smost talented 3D computer animators? iviake a film of :ourse.

T h e E a r t h o f 2 0 6 5 i s a

lifeless wasteland, ravaged

J J ■ by alien Phantoms. TheM last few human survHors

remain holed-up in barriercities protected by energy

shields, but time is quickly running out.Believing she holds the secret to defeatingthe evil aliens, scientist Aki Ross sets outto save the planet with the help of hermentor, Doctor Sid, and the protection ofthe Deep Eyes miUtary unit, captained byGray Edwards.

Released in the IK on 10 August,Square's full-length cinematic debut hasreceived a mixed response. Chances areyou've already winced at some haplessfilm reviewer demonstrating how littlethey know about videogames, even if youhaven't seen it yourself, but mostcriticisms have centred tm tlie dialoguewhile the incredible look <rf the film hasreceived praise. Describing it as a"technical milestone". US critic RogerEbert commented, '"The reason to see thismovie is simply, gloriously, to lo<^ at it."

Indeed, watching it is a p^Ailiarexperience. You're constandy looking forthose little mistakes - robotic mwenients,plastic skin, awkvt'ard limb angle^Mdfinger gestures - that remind you wlyou're seeing isn't real, but at the saA-fimc you're bowled-ove 'just Blw,cfejt h e y g e t . Yo u f i n d ^ o u r s e t f «everything from l>oot-Mn|>s idi "*

/ W ^ S ,

constantly amazed by how close they getto an impression of reality.

While it may not be a critical oreven commercial success, making justS30 mill ion at the box-office after

exhausting a $100 million budget, TSWrepresents a landmark in film-making. Ofcourse, many modem films employcomputer effects, and this isn't the firstwholly computer-generated movie. Butwhile PLxar and Dreamworks have seenCG as a tool that enhances a tradition ofcartoon animation, Square has focused onthe ability to simidate reality withsuperior technology^ and so raised hugequestions about the future of virtualactors. You're watching science fictioncome true, and director Hironobu

Sakaguchi is already thinking of careersfor his pre-rendered performers. "We canuse the digital models of Aki or Gray andgive them another role. Aki would play adetective and Gray a mafia boss; the twowould eventually fall in love, somethinglike that." speculates Sakaguchi-san.

Not surprising, then, that some in thefilm industry have sniffed at the idea ofreplacing real actors with 'vactors'. If youcould make an epic film with thousandsof extras set in any place and at any time,without needing exotic locations,costumes, scenery, camera crews, ormillionaire divorcee prima donnas justout of rehab, a few people are going to beout of a job... □

D V D T H R I L L E RThe Spirits Within DVD is set to contain a bizarre Jacko tribute.

rThe film may have only just piayait-Jin cinemas, butj*rea^the det«sfor the DVO rtlM'iii BfStoBt ftmtasjrThe Spirits Within have beenrevealed. The two-disc set willcontain more audio commentariesand 'Making Of features than youcan shake several sticks at, but theextra feature that has raised mosteyebrows is the Inclusion of a FinalRmtosy Thriller music video. 0PS2u n d e r s t a n d s t h i s c o n s i s t s o f M i c h a e lJackson's ground-breaking video asplayed out by the cast of The SpiritsWithin - presumably to demonstratethat the film's animated characterscan be made to do anythinghumans can do, even moonwalk.The DVD will also feature analternate opening sequence, a mini-movie entitled Aki's Dream, DVD-R O M e l e m e n t s a n d a n i n t e r a c t i v e

segment In which you'll be able tore-edit pivotal scenes of the film.

Deta i l f rom a scannerused in sureeiy (Right).

"That b loke over therejust called you a nonce..

F I N R L F R N T R 5 U X

□ f i RW O R D S : A M O S W O N G / P H O T O G R A P H Y; C H A R L E S P E R T W E E

H I R O N D B U 5 R K R G U C H IIf the worlds of Final Fbntosyever had one omnipotent, godlike, all-seeing eye then It's this man. HIronobuSakaguchI spoke to 0PS2 about the phenomena that changed the face of videogaming

C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E

Name: Hironobu SakaguchiNationality: JapaneseDate of Birth: 25 November 1962Birthplace: Hitachi City

Gameography:1 9 8 4 - 1 9 8 5Death Trap, Deathtrap II Will,Cruise Chaser Btosty(all FM-7) Director1 9 8 6

Kings Kn/ghttNES) Director1 9 8 7Hibitase Dai Sakusen, HMsta,Final Fantasy lall NES DiskSystem! Director1 9 8 8 - 1 9 9 4Final ftintasy IIINES, 19881Final Fantasy III (NES, 1990]fina/ftintasy IVISNES, 1991)Rno/RintasyVlSNES, 1992)Final Fantasy W ISNES, 1994]D i r e c t o r

1 9 9 5Chrano Trigger ISNESI Director1 9 9 6Bahamut Lagoon ISNESISupervisor1 9 9 7Rnal Fantasy VII, Final FantasyTactics (both PSonel Producer;Front l\/lission 2, Chocobo'sMysterious Dungeon(both PSone) Supervisor1 9 9 8Parasite Eve, Brave FencerMusashi Iboth PSonel Producer;Xenogears, SaGa Frontier II (bothPSone) Executive Producer

1 9 9 9fino/ ftintosy VIII, Front Mission 3(both PSonel Executive Producer;Parasite Eve 2 iPSone) Producer2 0 0 0Final Fantasy IK Vagrant Story(both PSone) Executive Producer2 0 0 1Final Fantasy X (PS2|Executive ProducerFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Within|l>^ovie| Director

Favourite games: Game Boy Wars,Palm Mahjong

Favourite films: Blade Runnerri like films with a philosophicaltone."|

Favourite director Ridley Scott

F a v o u r i t e b a n d s / m u s i c i a n s : B o bJames Ifusion pianisti, KatsumiWatanabe Ifusion guitaristl

Favourite author: Ryu Mitsuse

. Final Fantasy was one of the pioneers of RPG gaming on theNintendo Entertainment System (NES), not to mention thecommercial and personal hit that pulled its creatorHironobu Sakaguchi back from the brink of quitting thegames industry altogether in 1987. Ten years later, his

commitment to next-generation entertainment and expanding storytellingpossibilities took the popular series to the PSone. A massive hit, jawsdropped at the sight of its sumptuous cinematic visuals and upon FinalFantasy VHs overseas release, the RPG genre finally exploded from therealm of hobbyist's computers and into the mainstream. With the releaseof Final Fantasy X on PlayStation 2 and his directorial debut with TheSpirits Within movie, Sakaguchi-san continues to push the boundaries ofdigital entertainment...

IHow did you become involved with the game industry?I used an Apple 1 [ computer as a hobby when I was a college student; itwas the time of new concepts like the spreadsheet, as well as adventureand role-playing games. I ended up barely going to college at all andspent most of my time on the computer instead. I really enjoyed Wizard,Ultima and an adventure game called Transylvania by Penguin Software. Ieventually switched to programming them myself and I started workingfor Square as a part-timer when the company was established - I wasmaking ¥700 (£4) an hour back then.

What were your family member's reactions to your work whenthey foimd out?My parents strongly opposed the idea! [Laughs] At the time there wasn'tanybody making games as a profession, only amateurs. The industryh a d n ' t b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d .

So were there any other careers you had contemplated or workedin before videogames?rd wanted to become a musician. I'd composed some songs onthe keyboard... But ultimately I didn't have any talent [laughs].

How did the Final Fantasy series originate?It was for the NES. When I was designing my early gamesfor the PC, ROM cassettes were used as the storage medium.They didn't have enough capacity for role-playing games so,as a result, there were many action games being made. Ididn't like the early works I created. I wasn't satisfied withthem at all, so I thought I'd make one last game and thenquit the industry. That's why I put the word 'Final' inthe tit le.

Why weren't you happy with your early games?I think it's a matter of talent. Designing action gamesand role-playing games are completely different and,to this day, I don't think I have what it takes to makea good action game. I prefer telling stories.

What have been some of the challenges inexpanding and developing Final Fantasythrough the years?I try to use up all the ideas I have each time so thatnothing is left for the next instalment. It reallytriggers my motivation because you have to startagain from zero - it's always worked for me this way.I think I'm lucky in that the story-line and characters

are different in each production - there's no need to worry about theprevious cast and how they carry on in the next story.

What about the gameplay?It's a similar process; every time we start again from scratch and try todevelop the game system and programming techniques to a higher level.Of course if there's something that we feel works well in the previousversion, we'd use them again.

What are you most proud of as Fiital Fantasy shifts to PS2?I'd say it's the seamless connection between the movie, battle and theinteractive scenes. This has been my continual effort since Final FantasyVII. I'm also happy with the use of speech for the dialogue and the voicecasting. I let the director Kitase (Yoshinori) handle it, but our belief wasthat we should hire someone regardless of whether he or she is anes tab l i shed o r f amous an ime vo i ce ac to r

Have you ever felt like creating a sequel that does continue frtjma previous game?I'd rather not show the future of those characters. The players areimmersed in them and have their own ideas. If we really do show themwhat happens, I think many would be disappointed.

Are there any particular real world events that have inspired you?Oh yes - our culture consumes too much. I don't like that. Also, everythingis about markets and marketing. There's far too much value placed onthese concepts and Fd often incorporate these traits in a bad character.The list is endless - so many things could be used to create badcharacters [laughs].

From your experiences in the industry, how easy is it for anewcomer to make a name for themselves?

I don't see that much trouble for young people getting into the industry.Games are diverging and will take three very distinct paths. Firstly

there's what I caL 'game-like games,' which have the same gameplaycharacteristics going back to 16 bit days. The second will besimilar to Final Fantasy X in that they are dramatic and displaysophisticated visuals. The third will be online games. Newcomersshould follow some steps. For example, they should start with theproduction of'game-like games.'With the staff and financesneeded, they can't expect to make a Final Fantasy at the start.

You thought that Fitml Fantasy woidd be yoiu- lastgame, yet it's come this far. How do you see it

ten years from now?I have no idea, my mind's reset to zero after

making the movie.

094 PlayStation.2

What o ther k ind o f enter ta inmentmediums would you like to see

i n t h e f u t u r e ?

My dream is that someone would make aholographic device, similar to the chess game

in Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV). I canimagine a couple about to kiss in the rain and as

the player, you can poke and startle them, but theyaren't aware of you doing it They'd give up trying t( kissand the story will go into a different direction. I'd like tocreate that kind of game. □

don ' t t h i nk I have wha t i ttakes to make a good actiongame. I prefer telling stories''

Hironobu Sakaguchi -Writer, Director, andExecu t i ve P roducer o ftiie Final Fantasyseries poses withessent ia i coffee tab iereading matter.

PlayStation.^ ^PlayStation' and ttie "PS' Family logo are registered trademarlis of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All Rights Resen/ed. Made in Austria, Grand Ttieft Auto III and ttie Grand Theft Auto III logo are trademarks of DMA design. DMA design and the DMA design logo are traderloftware Europe Ltd. Rockstar Games and the Rocl<star Games logo are trademarks of Take Two Interactive Software Europe Ltd 2001. All Rights Reserved. All other marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

.★,GRfnE OF THE ITIDNTH^

PROJECT EDENYou're going down - and it aint prettym» The world's rotting fram the ground up and it's your Job to fix it.Get ready for the ungodly badness of Core's Project Eden...

The only PS2 game reviews worth reading

0PS2 review ratings Game reviews

PlayStation^^/ O m O M M K J U I N t W

If It's for PlayStation 2, and heading for a store near you, we'veplayed It argued about it, and, ultimately, judged it Evety Issue,we look at the latest games and rate them out of 10:

10/10 Utterly essential9/10 Hugely satlslying and entertaining8/10 Highly recommended. Definitely worth your money7/10 Good, solid fare, and well worth a gander6/10 Better than average, and fine for fans of the genre5/10 An average game of some merit4/10 Poor but may still have the odd moment3/10 Extremely disappointing2 / 1 0 To b e a v o i d e d

The 0PS2 StarPlayer awardAwarded to any game that gets 9/10 or over Tliis is just ourlittle way of trying to hammer home what is a fairly simplemessage: Get this game, and get It now.

Project EdenDave MIrra Freestyle BMX 2Thunderhawk: Operation PhoenixSir Aiex Ferguson's Player Manager 2002Spy HunterTwisted jvietai: BlackThis Is Football 2002

MX 2002 Featuring Rici CarmichaelFreak Out

PSone reviews

Media reviews

DVD reviews: The Stanley Kubrick Collection/What UesBeneath/Almost Famous/Ttie Simpsons/Best in Show/Way Of Tlie Gun/Gandhl/Piatoon/SaivadorTop 10 Ai Pacino DVDsinterview: George Lucas/intemet roundupBooks/Magazlnes/Music reviews: Spiritualized/BJori</|viOP/mote

The original Tomb Raider team return with a slice of futuristic team-based action. Going down

The team, from left toright; Minoko, Andre,Amber and Car te r Eachboasts specialistrid||M

098 PlayStation E

R E N I E U JP R O J E C T E D E N

Energy cells- devices and,

provide weapons,thank Zarg, ammo.

« f = i r i [ 3 = f E IProject Eden's futuristic locations ,are suitably dingy and destitute^ <'*'

P u b l i s h e r E i d o sDeve loperCore DesignP i i c e : £ 4 4 . 9 9Players: 1-4R e l e a s e : O c t o b e rWe b s i t e :w w w . e i d o s i n t e ract ive.co.uk/games/inf6.lit i i i l?gmid=84

Back storyHaving started life as a PCgame [particuiatly apparentin the mouse 'n' keyboart-style interface) Project Edenwas soon chail<ed ontoCore's PS2 teiease sciieduiewi ien i t became c lea r tha tLara wouldnt appear on thenext-gen machine as soonas everybody hoped. Ttieteam beh ind Eden Is theone that v^ori^ed on the firsttwo Tomb Raider games.

r n i r C T - 4 a

h s i

Few things In this world are for certain.Except for life, death and that one dayour beloved planet is going to explodedue to giobal warming overcrowding

and excessive over-exposure to Kate Thornton. Ascaty thought, but seeing as the Inevitablemeltdown probably wont occur for a few thousandyears yet, let's plaster on a bit more deodorant,overfill the kettle and tune into every episodeof I r 1980-2001 - after all, we have videogamesto remind us of what honor lies ahead in order to

prepare for every eventuality.The portrait that Project Eden paints for

mankind's future Is, as you would expect, grim.Due to severe overpopulation, and the fact thatthere Is no more wasteland to build council flats

on, our planet's cities have no option but toexpand upwards rather than outwards. Hence theIntroduction of mega-citles - hulking skyscrapersthat tower further than the eye can see up Into theheavens, linked by suspended roads, narrowwalkways and service channels.

Housing millions of civilians, these humanhives have a distinct class system in place - thericher you are, the closer you get to therejuvenating solar rays and sweet, sweet air Thosewith little or no cash get stuck at the foot of thetowers living their lives in almost pitch darknessand poverty. Years of depraved decay has mutatedthese unfortunate souls into hideous fornis and

they form just one of your problems In thissprawling third-Zfirst-person strategy adventure.

Each mega-city is patrolled by the UPA (UrbanProtection Agency) and you actually play an entire

unit sent to investigate a number of disturbancesat the 'Real Meat' factory. Your team comprises offour members, each possessing a specific skillwhich will be needed In order to solve puzzles andconquer each of the 11 vast levels.

CALL THE COPSThe team is lead by Carter, a straight-talkingprofessional whose job it is to interview witnessesand suspects iviinoko is your standard computerboffin who can hack into the city's maincomputers and access new doorways, whereasAmber; the other female character; Is actually arobot and can withstand Intense heats and

noxious gases. Finally there is Andre, the Mr Fix-Itwho can repair damaged machines and controls aremote- and thus player-controlled robot calledRover This robot can scoot Into confined placesand enter seemingly inaccessible areas.

Each UPA member has their own arsenal of

firepower (although they're all quite measlycompared to the intergalactic weaponry of, sayQuake III] and, to avoid any confusion as to whoyou're controlling, their own HUD colour You canswap between squad members at any time duringyour investigations, although you have to ensurethat they're safe to be left alone if you choose togo solo at certain junctures. For the most partthough, you will choose to keep all your teamtogether and this is made possible by an easy-to-use interface that utilises the analogue sticks toinnovative effect to call up various menus. Eachcharacter has their own utility screen and fromhere you can signal to your troops to follow you.

L U D R K I T O U TMaking any sort of progress in Project Edenrequires members of your party to work as ateam, with each having their own part to play.Here Mlnoko, Andre and Carter must join forces.

Player One: MinoltoWhen hacking into the main computer terminal of theReal Meat facility, Mlnoko is able to access securitycameras and track down a suspect. She can alsoopen a new compound where the suspect Is situated.

Player 1V»o: AndreCalling on Carter to follow him into the compoundAndre finds the suspect in a dingy toilet Unable toenter it, he utilises his trusty Rover robot to scootunder the door and shoot the lock off from within.

0

Player Three: CarterThe team leader is then able to access the cubicleand interrogate the suspect, gaining a useful keycardin the process which will allow the party to Investigatefurther Into the facility premises.

PlayStatlon.E 099

P R O J E C T E D E NF o r m a t : P S 2P r i c e : E 4 4 . 9 9L e v e l s ; 11Characters: Four mainprotagonists.Visuals: Rougiiand sparse.Hours of enjoyment48 lapproxl.Likely adversaries:M u t a n t s a n d c r a z e danimal liybrids.Typical puzzle: HaveM l n o l < o a c c e s s a

computer terminal andmanipulate an air vent.M o v e A m b e r i n t o t h event to negotate thenoxious gas and shutoff the outlet. Follow upw i t h A n d r e t o a c c e s sthe vent and repair anexit door terminal sothat all members,minus Minoko maypass through anda c t i v a t e a r e t r a c t a b l e

bridge so that Minol^omay Join them.Value for money: 7/10Comment: A taxingand engaging next-genstrategy actiona d v e n t u r e t h a t w i l l

delight and enthral.

E D E N P R O J E C TFormat Real lifePrice: £9.50 [childrenand OAPs half pricelLevels: Four domes.C h a r a c t e r s : A f e w

hairy gardeners and awhole host of greenflyVisuals: Roughand sparse.Hours of enjoyment0.45 lapproxl.Likely adversaries;Bumbling fogies ande x c i t a b l e c h i l d r e n .

Typical puzzle: Designyour own banana. Doyou know that therea r e s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n tk i n d s o f b a n a n a sa c r o s s t h e w o r l d -some straight, somebendy, some yellow,some orange. Thanksto a handy side stallyou can design youo w n v e r s i o n . G r e a t ,Value for money: 5/10C o m m e n t A n o v e rpriced, over-populatedsweat-pit devoid ofinteresting plants, Awaste of time were Itnot for the fact that thew h o l e s t r u c t u r e l o o k sl i k e a Te l e W b b i e s s e t .

El as well as check for incoming messages andemails, Eden's contnDl system takes a little while tograsp, but when it becomes second nature you'llbe genuinely surprised by how well it works forthis game. Both thumbsticks also move youaround and, rather spectacularly, the camera angle- allowing you to fully rotate the scenery as you're

running Again it is slightly confusing to begin with,but soon becomes a necessary gimmick.

This game has been in pnoduction a while andit is easy to see why Trying to get Project Eden towork must have caused a fair few headaches at

Core HQ as there is just so much information toconvey to the player During the course of the firstten minutes play, we were prompted to read thefull control method tutorial - which took a while -listen to onders from Control and read emails thatrelate to the case. By the time you actually get tofree noam around the levels your head is alreadyspinning. Perhaps this was the idea, to convey theurgency of your mission, because the eariy stagesare hardly rivetting for any other reason. This gameIs like your average drawn-out Hollywoodblockbuster in the sense that it Is exceedingly slow

//Due to overpopulationour planet's cities haveno option but to expandup rather than out//

DO OR DIEThe strategic elements, in the way that you utiliseyour group members, are reminiscent of the 16 bitconsole days and in particular the Lost Vikingsseries. On face value there was very little to drawyou into those games, and indeed this one, butyou'll be surprised Just how attached you becometo the characters. Before long you'll instinctivelyknow which person to assign to which task and itis then the gameplay develops from a half-heartedtraipse Into a bounding gallop.

This is definitely one of those 'persevere andyou will be rewarded, honest!' types of gamebecause the graphics do it few favours. The visualelements look rather middle-of- the-road PC In

comparison to the next-generation explosion we'vebecome used to with games like Red Faction,Resident Evil and GTS. The characters are slightlyclumsy, look flat and can move with a puppet-likegait. The backgrounds are also basic anddepressing Yes, Project Eden's future is a bleakone but we also spotted some hideous scenerytearing which seems to su^ests that this oft-delayed title would have benefited from even moretime in production. The gong for development tocease was bonged just that bit too early

Hacking consoles cangive you access toc iosed -c i r cu i t TV

Tiie story is aide iwith plenty ofciever set pieces

100 Play5tation,E

R E MP R O J E C T E D E N

U R B R N G D R L L R ZA crack team of four assigned to protecting the future'smega cities from crime and corruption. Meet the gang.* /

*-1 %C A R T E RAge: 36Occupation: UPA Team LeaderSkill: InterrogationH U D c o l o u r ; G r e e n

W h e n C o n t r o l l e a r n e d o f t h e

problems occurring In the 'RealMeat' factory, they only had onem a n i n m i n d t o l e a d t h e

Investigation and so cries of 'GetCarter" echoed around the UPAheadquarters. Probably. This no-n o n s e n s e f e i l a t a k e s h i m s e l f a n dhis job very seriously and takesno prisoners when it comes tohard-ass Inten-ogatlon techniques.A natural born leader

M I N O K OAge: 20Occupation: IT expertSltill: Computer hackingH U D c o l o u r : P i n k

S n a t c h e d o f f t h e s t r e e t s a s a n i n e -

year-old orphan by the UPA, itsoon become apparent thatMInoko had a real gift forcomputers. She underwentIntensive training and has been aloyal servant of the organisationever since. At the age of 17 (theyoungest possible age) MInokobecame a fully paid up UPAoperative before joining Cartera n d C O . A n a t u r a l b o r n b o f fi n .

A M B E RAge: 27Occupation: RobotSkill: Hazardous jobsHUD colour Orange

When a Skyway accidents h a t t e r e d A m b e r ' s d r e a m s o f

becoming a model, she optedn o t t o h a v e r e c o n s t r u c t i v e

human-cyborg surgery in favourof becoming a robot. Now AmberI s w i t h d r a w n . H e r e n h a n c e d '

strength and ability to withstandIntense heat and poisonousgases make her a valuableasset, able to venture whereo t h e r s f e a r t o t r e a d .

A N D R EAge: 32Occupation: Maintenance manSkill: Fixing damaged goodsH U D c o l o u r B l u e

When his previous occupation ofSkyway engineer failed to attractthe girls, Andre quit In favour ofthe more glamorous lifestyle of theUPA. He actually quit when 25,meaning he left shortly afterAmber's accident - hmm, verysuspicious. He's thought to have abit of an attitude problem but histeam-mates don't mind as long ash e s t i c k s h i s s o n i c s c r e w d r i v e r I nthe right holes.

Witii no lock-on function, targeting enemies and running at tiiesame time is nigli on impossible.

When death comes to one of your team, as it inevitably will,they are simply respawned back at the nearest checkpoint.

These are purely cosmetic nicies, though,and the intense gameplay that engages your mindfnam the outset far outweighs any graphicalconcerns. Of course, it Is as nnuch a game of trialand error as anything else and you'll often findyourself a team member down when one of yourhapless crew falls 80 stories to their doom or Isravaged to death by mutant hounds when youaccidentally swap players and leave themunguarded in perilous situations In fact, this isperhaps the one area when the added power ofPS2 should have evolved the Lost WWngs-stylegameplay. In that game you basically had torestart the entire level when a character died,which is essentially true In this case as the ill-fated member is warped (somewhat divinely) backto a rejuvenating machine, several of which aredotted anDund each level, and must be thenmoved back into position.

However It would have tested the player moreif there was a means to cope without certainteam members, with the existing party having toovercome trickier and more perilous bundles Ifthey are to finish the level. This would have addedgreater depth to the gameplay and eradicated thestrictly linear path that you have to follow In yourquest It may Just be being picky now, butsomething simple like a map would also haveassisted you greatly as too often you find yourselftraipsing around the levels trying to find newunexplored areas when the technology available

to each character at your fingertips makes suchan omiss ion a lmost cr imina l .

CorB Design's PS2 debut Is no head-turner byway of a lavish gaming spectacle, and sadly onlyever hints at true greatness. However, It Is a hint ofPlayStation 2 games to come with Its rich controlsystem and twisty scl-fi narrative - Indeed, If youallow yourself to become immersed In Eden'sfuturistic world of terror and intrigue, you wont gohome disappointed.

Project Eden Is a solid action-adventure thatgets steadily better the more you get Into itComing from the team behind the first and bestTomb Ro/der games. It's not only a bravedeparture, but one that breathes new life Into agenre that was In serious danger of flat-liningYour move, Lara. □ Ryan Butt

One of the best aspects of Project Eden is that it canbe played in both fir«t- and third-person modes.The first lets you see the action up close andpersonal, but the other is more useful whennegotiating difficult obstacles.

Here we see Carter trying to fry an Innocent civilian inthe first-person. Nice and easy.

P R O J E C T E D E Nn

Why we'd buy it- A w e l l - w o r k e d a n d fl u i d

game interface- Pulling your team

together as a unit- Genuinely taxing puzzles

Why we'd leave it:- The graphics could haveb e e n b e t t e r

- Takes a while to graspand fully appreciate

-The voice actingis cringeworthy

look beyond the iffyv i s u a l s a n d t h e r e ' s n odoubt you'll lose weel^s ofyour life to this complex,yet satisfying adventure.

Graphics Clumsy characters, bleak backdrops B E

W 1S o u n d Good atmospheric effects 0 7

Gameplay Fantastically playable when you get into it B B

Life span Very challenging, but handiy any replay vaiue 0 7

PlayStaMon^g MERDIIITTrying to target the same, by now terrified, bystander inthe third-person proves a lot trickier.

PlayStation,E 101

REMIEUUDAVE MIRRA FREESTYLE BMX 2

P u b l i s h e r : A c c l a i mDeve loper Z-MsP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1-2O u t N o wW e b s i t e :w w w a c c l a i m m a x

sports-com/freestyleb m x 2 / i n d e x J i t n i l

Back storyAs a developer Z-Axis hasmastered the art of beingovershadowed. Ifs poortiming has seen a history ofquaiity tities disappearingunder the ava ianche o fActivision hype. Ttiedeveloper's not-too-shabbyThrasher Skate and Destroyon PSone was obscurBd bythe briiiiance of TonyHawk's Skateboarding,while Mirra's two excellentprevious PSone outingsw e r e d i s m i s s e d a i m o s t o u tof hand by a gamingnation desperately waitingfor the delayed landing ofone Mr Mat Hoffman.

'Z-AxIs Rock' claims the legend beforea collection of developer faces flashacross the screen. It might set geekself-esteem back to Eighties levels and

be accompanied by The Cult's similarly dated SheSells Sanctuary, but this inauspicious Intnoductionfnonts an Impressive If unoriginal title. Taking thesolid building blocks of Its underrated Dave MirraFreestyle BMX for the PSone, Z-AxIs has fusedblack box power w/lth grey playablllty.

Central to this success Is the tietentlon of theInnovative trick modifier system that allows stuntsto be joined Into new moves rather than merelychained together This adds an element otherBMXers lack; skill. Random button stabbers willfind those larger scones and later challengesImpossible to conquer without developing thestudied skill of a seasoned pro. It's something thatwill come down to a matter of personal taste -whether to go for the button-bashing friendly styleof Activlslon's titles or this, what you mightconsider a more cultured BMXIng method. Itcertainly offers a lot of satisfaction when youmanage to pull of a particularly difficult trick.

The size of the areas you are placed In Isimpressively vast. Combining the iBstrictlve layoutsof the old courses Into eight new voluminoussections has lead to a new sense of freedom.Skate parks no longer end with solid concretewalls. Instead they merge Into hangars, acrossrivers and out Into the countryside. In thisexpansive environment the length of each run has

been extended - Just crossing them can take twominutes of solid pedalling You can quite happilyplay for a few hours simply by exploring anddiscovering the best nooks and crannys to gethigh trick scones. With such a large area somepop-up might be expected, but the action remainsfluid throughout each rider's repert:oine - that isuntil another body in motion such as a car arrives.

These Interactive elements (traffic, otherBMXers and pedestrians) serve two purposes -moving trick opport:unlties Ifor which you arerewarded handsomely with points) and as a way offinding new and progressively more difficult

/ySkate parks mergeinto hangars, acrossrivers and out into thecountiyside//

102 Play5tation.E

Cars provide little genuine interaction.

B R I L E R N DB R U E E 5Scraped skin and broken bones seem to pass ascurrency in the Pepsi Max-fuelled world ofextreme sports. Key to progress Is the need toearn the respect of the local riders and sponsorsand the only way to do that is to earn yourblood-red badge of courage.

m m L . . , >

i h l / ' i f f * 0 0 * 01. Pre-book that ambulance! Ttiese do or die-stylestunts just leave you heading for another uncontrolledd e s c e n t t o e a r t h .

2. Mr Ivlirra's injuries are bloodless but ball-bustinglybrutal. Leaving the rider sobbing into tiie Tarmac.

3. The realistic siieleton animations ensure that abattered body folds, falls and slips from the top of aramp to the bottom. You can almost smell the pain.

One reason you'll beplaying Dave Mirra formore than a couple ofw e e k s i s t h e B M XParit Creator. Here youc h o o s e f r o m d i f f e r e n tt h e m e d l o c a t i o n s a n dcan plant all mannerof ramps, half-pipes,rails and obstacles foryour BMXIng pleasure. 1. Simply select a location, in

this case a beach parl^.2. Scroll through and chooseyour equipment...

3. ...and you're off. So that'llbe infinite levels, right?

Clever level design allows trains, stairs and cranes to double as ramps. Point scoring challenges form the basis for each run.

Challenges. Ride up to one of the local BMX ridersand he'll give you a task such as clearing a certainramp or performing a special trick in a designatedplace. Obviously, impressing the locals with yourskills is a sure fire way to progress but alsoprovides more replay value in repeating levels soas to find and complete the many tasks.

BUNNY HOPPING VISUALSAside from this innovation, the game follows thenow established Tony Hawk's method of layingdown several tasks to complete, such as trickscore totals, finding and destroying a number ofobjects and discovering certain difficult-to-reachareas. This is an effective motivator forcing you tolearn and fully explore every level if you are tocontinue further it also has the added bonus of

enabling anyone familiar with Activision's extremesports titles to Instantly feel at home.

Unfortunately a lazy game camera causes afew problems on certain locations where a roof oroverhang leaps out and obscures your view.Turning your bike too quickly also has the effect ofrendering you 'blind' to what's ahead and oftenresults in you missing a ramp or putting you offcourse for a trick The only way around this is totake time lining up certain manoeuvres whichconsequently interrupts any rhythm you may havebuilt up. Furthermore, players occasionally passthrough solid objects unimpeded only to crashInto a wall. Frustrating to say the least.

With the challenges of Career mode offeringthe core of the game, there are a number of ratherlimited multiplayer options. Here you take it inturns against a friend to see who's the best BlvlXerThese vary from doing the biggest single stunt In30 seconds to matching your opponent's trickexactly (the first one to mess-up three times is theloser). They are Joined by other slightly short-livedgames: 'causing the most harm to your rider' and'making the longest grind'.

Put simply. Dove Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 isglorious but flawed. Challenges are numerous.Involving and well designed. Arenas are vast theriders are Immaculate and the stunts inventive. A

few errors might mar the surface details, but thegreatest shame would be if tills rollicking riderremained ignored once again. □ Alex Cooke

Showing off gets younowhere - exceptmaybe to casualty..

D A V E M I R R AF R E E S 1 Y L £ B M X 2

n

Why we'd buy it:- Inventive array of tricks- Spacious riding areas- N u m e r o u s a n d

varied chaiienges- Fantastic, bone-snapping talis

Why we'd leave it- Tha t noncha lan t camera- in anticipation of

Tony Hawk's- "me occasionai

co i i i s ion emar

Orthodox but impressive,Dave Mirra 2 isnt perfectb u t w h a t r e m a i n s s h o u l de n t h r a l a n d e x c i t e .

Graphics Vas t bu t somet imes flawed B E

337S o u n d Pompous frat-rock ruies 0 7

Gameplay invoiving and entertaining 0 7

L i fespan , ivlore tlian enough to tease and frustrate 0 8

Play5tat_ipn.g XIERDICT

PlayStation.2 103

R E NTHUNDERHAWK: OPERAHON PHOENIX

The in-cockpit view canbe tricky but gives ana u t h e n t i c e x p e r i e n c e . ^ g .

M i s s i o n O A i e c t f V e s ;

3 . D e s t r o y A i r b a s eT. 4. Destroy Runway

m \ Night missi < i.'I will totally change

the way yo>r' |play Thunderhawk.

f l j e c i 3 £ p o T 4 I _

4,0cit>-ev ftjrf*- LSlllSBllwi

□P E R R T D N P H O E N I XCongratulations on purchasing the AH-74 Thunderhawk Please read the following before fighting the good fight

P u b l i s h e r E i d o sDeveloper:Core DesignP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1O u t N o wW e b s i t e :v w v w . e i d o s i n t e ract ive.co.uk/gaines/info.l itnil?gmid=112

Back storyFully 3D from ttie outset,C o r e ' s T h u n d e r h a w kfranchise k icked off on PCand Sega Saturn in 1991. Bythe t ime F i res to rm:Thunde rhawk 2 h i t t he

shops in 1995 it met therelatively new PSone head-on with the series' familiarfusion of accessibility andSim gravitas Time for aPlayStation 2 refit..

Robert Duvall In Apocalypse Now, JanMichael Vincent in Airwolf, JohnHolmes in, well everything he ever did.They all understood the fun you can

have with a superior chopper Odd then that asidefrom the civilian heli-fest of City Crisis and the ToySnorey exploits of Blade's Revenge, gamedevelopers have been slow to let gamersexperience the rush of flying without wings

Enter (from directly above) Cone Design'sThunderhawk: Operation Phoenk A threequel tothe platform-hopping combat helicopter seriesthat carries the distinctive family genes of arcadeaccessibility and combat sim credentials.

Not that there's anything particularly arcadeyabout the front end design of the game. Pop thedisc In, eyes front and your screen will be annexedby a suitably militant succession of menusdesigned to take you, with the minimum of fussfrom the briefing room to the front line No lengthyloading times, no civvy street arslng about. Butwait, what war are we fighting again?

As with the Thunderhawk chopper itself, theconflict forming the action's back story Is a hybridof gameplay enhancing fiction and fact. It seemsthat a co-ordinated wave of attacks by extremistterrorist groups has caught the principle nations of

the world off guard. In order to combat thisunderground menace (well, as underground as anenemy capable of deploying tanks surface-to-airmissile batteries, heavy artillery, helicoptergunships and scores of troops can be) these selfsame principle nations have pooled their militaryresources and technologies, declared a state ofemeiigency and called the lot Operation Phoenix.That's where you and your chopper come in.

WHUPPA WHUPPAThe action hovers around four campaigns each ofwhich is subdivided into progressively morechallenging missions, designed to drag you andyour AH-74 gunship through the warfare hedgebackwards And as you might expect, the happybonus of tackling a multinational enemy is thatyou get to blow them six ways ftum Sunday in avariety of climates and ten-ains. Say hello then tothe Middle East, Alaska, Africa and Eastern Europe.

The missions themselves are a mixed bagranging from the blindingly obvious fly-unruly-tenDrists-home-for-Stella-and-Pringies variety tothe positively 007 delights of clearing a terrorist-seized train en route to a major city with bothhostages and a hair trigger nuclear device alongfor the ride. Even Dubya's world Imtant National

//Reduce the gameplaybroth and the essenceof Operation Phoenix isblowing stuff up//Missile Defence program gets hijacked literallyand figuratively for topical mission fodderHowever, even where your sortie objectives a,e ofthe more humdrum nature, Thunderhawk has ahabit of seeing to it that they unfold in a densesea fog or through the indistinct, kermitcomplexion glow of night vision goggles. Not sostraightforward after all.

Reduce the gameplay broth though, andhowever you ladle It, the essence of OperationPhoenix is In blowing stuff up. And in combatsIms this is only ever as good as your hardwareand the way It handles For those of you whorelish flight sims accompanied by the kind ofjargon rammed instruction manuals that areheavier than a human head, ThunderhawKssimple control system will be a crushing blow.Good. Because what Core has done Is carefullytread that easily trampled line between intuitivesimplicity and baffling worthiness, and made t

A C R O N Y M SO F D O O M !

The AH-74 can carrya dizzying array ofweapons. Here arethe pick of the bunch. 1 . E M P R o c k e t

Unleashes a circuitryfritzing electromagneticpulse. Perfect forattacking hijacl^edb r a n c h e s o f D i x o n s .

2 . S O m m C a n n o nNot so much a gun as areason to fill your shorts.

3 . A G M - 6 5 M a v e r i c k I I

M i s s i l eTV guided with POV camfor 'hilarious' Benny Hill-style tank chasing

4 . A G M - 2 1 4 F i r e s t o r mM i s s i l e

Lock-on, fire and for^getT h e u l t i m a t e a l l r o u n d e rG e t s o m e o f t h e s e .

5 . M W A RM u l t i Wa r h e a d A e r i a lRockets. Approachestarget and releases acluster of energyprojectiles, kills many.

104 PlayStation-E

3 . A W A C S C A MAdvantage: You can see your house from here.Disadvantage: Impossible to distinguish enemytanks from large boulders.

4 . M I S S I L E C A M

Advantage; Are you kidding?Disadvantage: None realiy, unless you're on thereceiving end

work on a Dual Shock 2. The left stick contn3lsmovement forward, back and banking left andright. The right stick controls vertical movementand strafing Shoulder buttons make weaponmanagement a breeze, while Icon buttons takecare of targeting and radio support. Simple. It's tothe developer's credit that you really can masterthe basics on the fly. You may want to practice alittle before tackling a fuel dump though.

As for the hardware? Take a look at the buffet

of rocket-assisted widow makers available as youroff the shelf arsenal and you may wonder howyour gunship ever gets off the ground. From thehumble 8mm chain gun to concrete/armourburrowing flechettes, you wont be wanting forways to rearrange body-parts and real estate. Infact, perverse as it may sound the quantity andquality of the weaponry is almost too effective.Use the chopper's powerful sniper zoom with a50mm cannon and you can take out mostopponents from your hangar Load up with 32possible fine-and-forget Firestorm missiles andwith judicious cat and mousing behind terrainthere are few of the open time limit missions thatwill really tax the patient pilot. Blame the Gulf War

Graphically, Operation Phoenix is solid ratherthan spectacular but does boast some Impressivetouches. For example, missiles arc and dive totarget authentically, and if you're not too busy youcan opt to follow their progress through point of

view cams. You can also view the area from a

circling AWACS reconnaissance plane and evenexperience your current target's viewpoint.Environments do seem a little sparsely populatedat times but the terrain Is nicely modelled andzips away beneath you at fair old pace. Equally,the weather effects are well Implemented and theexplosive sound effects are gut-shakingly effective.

When it comes to the debrief. OperationPhoen/x's stab at a sim/ancade hybrid is asuccess. Arguably, combat sim fans may find thegame's selective realism too lightweight, but forgamers who want a little meat with their plug-and-play pynotechnics this a superbly balancedaddition to PS2's war chest. □ Paul Fitzpatrick

"Ily and focus on themeda ls . Thosecrossed out choppersaren't Important. No.

r

L

- m U N D E R H A W K :O P E R A n O N P H O E N I X

Why we'd buy it- Great control system- Supert) anay of

lethal weapons- Flying at 50 feet off the

ground is a blast

Why we'd leave it- The graphics could've

been sharper- Hardcore sIm fans wontbe taxed for long

- You're a pacifist

An enjoyable and fluidgame that suffers only fortrying to please all thepeople ail of the time.

G n u h t c s Smooth bu t cou ld have been sml o o t h e r

S o u n d Funct ional and fantast ic for i t

Gameplay Enjoyable if a little repetitiveLife span Ijter missions gve 1fie game legs

07 J

PlayStation^ \IERDCT

PlayStation.2 105

R E N ISIR AL£X FERGUSON'S PLAYER MANAGER 2001

Transfers are a little unrealistic - StevenGerrard can be bought by Wimbledon...

A statton's dream come true. Crunclinumbers, buy players, lose trophys...

B B

Each player has a wealth of statisticsmaking team selection like maths.

Numbers are king. If you haven't got a vividimagination then Player Monger 2001 can be dull.

l l y j i l j

P o s s e s s i o n

Shots At Goal

Shots On Target

Champ Manager it isnt, the only footy management sim on PS2 it is.

5 R R L E X F E R E U E D N SP L R y E R m R N R G E R E 0 0 1Follow Fergie and take your team to the top of the Premiership.

P u b l i s h e r 3 D ODeveloper AncoP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1O u t : N o wWe b s i t e :w w w . a n c o . c o . u k

Back storyT h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u lfootball manager of modemtimes lends his name andface to the first PS2

portrayal of Anco's long-running series. As ever thea im rema ins the same; l ead

your team to gloty viatac t i ca l nous and sh rewdtransfer dealings...

Since the success of ChampionshipManager on PC, attempts to shoehorna decent managerial title into aconsole have been of the quart/pint

pot variety, often omitting key responsibilities. Withthe advent of PS2, Anco is confident that Sir AlexFerguson's Player Manager 2001 features the fuiigamut of managerial duties without compromise.As such, a fuii roster of Premiership, Nationwideand Conference sides are at the player's disposal,alongside a mixture of tactical i<now-how andtransfer-wheeler dealing that would do HarryRedl<napp or Barty Fry proud.

This is football's version of Jim'll Fix It it's theonly way Coventry will ever top the Premiership, agame where pretty much any outcome is possibleand the miracles are effected via a simple menusystem. On selecting your team, the first hour isspent recruiting coaches, establishing trainingsessions and scouring the transfer network. To thisend, the Dual Shock 2 proves a useful ally Ancohas kept the menu system to a sensible level,using the shoulder buttons to summon additionalmenus which act as short cuts to contracts,scouting reports and other necessary informationyou need to run a football club.

Whether it is with Luton or i^eeds, success inPlayer Manager comes via predictable logic. Withthe available coaches marked out often, it isapparent that employing the highest rated will -yes - produce the best results. Therefore, althoughPlayer Manager does make organising tacticssimple via one-touch controls, it comes at theprice of gameplay boiled down to a 'do well, makemoney, buy Beckham, do even better" format Thismay be iBpresentative of the miracles Sir Alex hasperformed in the last ten years, but Is notconducive to an enthralling simulation.

Despite Anco's pledge to deliver the fullmanagerial experience, the game still falls someway short with its transfer dealings particularlylimited. Although the negotiations include settingwages and bonuses, actually agreeing a price isridiculously simple. No team wants to part withtheir best stars, but players such as Kieron Dyerand Steven Gen^rd can be bought by the likes ofBolton or Wimbledon simply by matching or evenundercutting the meagre asking prices. Worse still,even the struggling smaller teams sell their bestplayers at bargain prices, negating any need fortracking players or scouring for bargains.

This Is a pily as a key part of managerialgames is discovering an unknown player; and itsloss merely reiterates Player Manager's simplisticnature, A few more unpredictable elements andgiant-killing defeats wouldn't go amiss either, butwith Sir Alex overseeing the game, maybe he'sforgotten what it's like not to win the league at acanter Nevertheless, it took him a decade of hardwork to succeed, and making it seem so simpledoes him, his game and armchair managers ahuge disservice. □ Steve Merrett

S I R A L E X F E R G U S O N ' S, PLAYER MANAGER 2001

n

J

Results rarely surprise - real football is neverpredictable. Even Man U get beaten In re.]l life...

N B RT U R D R LLUHEN ^□□ m E 5Match day Is when all that planning and |o r g a n i s a t i o n c o m e s t o a h e a d a n d t h e ihelplessness of watching your team put your iorders into practice can be particularly tense. Tothis end, Anco has Incorporated three views.

1. A tactical view wherein icons play out the ganie Ina n a b b r e v i a t e d f o r m . 1

Why we'd buy it- Easy-to-use- Effective pointer and

m e n u c o n t r o l s- Huge player database- Ful l domest ic and

European cups

why we'd leave it- Predictable logic kills

quirl^ results- Dreadful match highli^ts- Over-simplistic

transfer process- Quickly becomes routine

Uke the mddy-facedFerguson, Pk r Manager2001 is tactically adept,yet often wfthout charm

Ck-apNcs More menus than a dozen Caf6 LJ n o s 1S o u n d Subdued, with beeps and match d a y r o a r s 1Gameplay Soon falls into a rut of basic task:L i fespan Predictable Al stunts grovrth

Play5tatLon,g XIERDICT

106 PlayStation.?

a

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The menu screen. No cheats just yet, so wherewill you begin?

Publisher MidwayDeveloper ParadigmE n t e r t a i n m e n tP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1-2O u t N o wWe b s i t e :www.m idway. com

Bacit storyBally Midways 1983 coin-op classic Spy Hunter wascreated by one GeorgeGomez whose name andbirthdate were immortalisedin the famous car's serialnumber (G-6155). SpyHunter I I was released in1987 and featured cooperative play and a 3Dperspective, but failed tocapture gamers'imagination like the original.

Good ideas. People must have them allthe time. If they didnt there wouldntbe any around for people to revisit at alater stage, as they're In the habit of

doing Movies, music, games - they're all subject tothat fine tradition known variously as the homage,the remake, the rip off. Cynicism aside, the sad factIs that having someone else's good Idea Is nosubstitute for having a stab at one of your own.

But Just as original ideas don't always set theworld ablaze, occasionally revisiting the past canact as an inspirational kick In the pants andbecome part of something rather good. So It Iswith Spy Hunter, the spiritual successor to 1983'sarcade legend and one of the most purelyenjoyable things to happen to the racing game.

Ironically, the original top-down scroller wasAmerican publisher (BallyJ Midway's slightlyunoriginal, 007-envy-made-coln-op-paydlrt, in fact,the game's famous theme - the chugging sonicJuggernaut of Manclnl's Theme From Peter Gunn -was only used when access was denied to theJames Bond theme. And a good thing too. Forcedto strike out on Its own, the game built Its hugeappeal from a seductive combination ofsimplistically addictive Good vs Evil gameplay anda novel 'Is It a car? Is It a boat?' hook.

But as ABC's Martin Fry was prone to warble,that was then, and this Is now. Neon socks, Griftersand Rublk's Cubes have long gone. Hell, for a fair

//The best complimentyou can make of SpyHunter is there isnothing else like it//slice of people reading this, 1983 isnt the past, It'spre-history. So come on gramps, what do you do?

NOSTTW, the gentleman's club with ambitionsto world domination and leather furniture Is aboutto launch the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, aquartet of death affirming satellites. Only theInternational Espionage Section can stop thisdiabolical plan, and due to staff cut backs thisbolls down to you and a bespoke gadget wagonknown as the G-6155 Interceptor Looking like thekind of four-wheeled fantasy car designers doodlebefore pesky factors like cost and reality get in theway, the Interceptor Is a rocket-assisted Insurancepnemlum-nlghtmare.

Not only does It hit 132mph faster than Ittakes for a single syllable expletive to stick In yourthnoat, but It comes with upgradeable offensiveand defensive countermeasures, and theautomotive equivalent of a split personality. Drivethe Interceptor Into water and it will mechanicallymutate Into a speed boat alter ego. What's more,each Incarnation contains a single-seater escapevehicle which Is launched when the damage racks

S a t l v a i T h a S p y H u n t a r T h « i r

h NAV 0 LAVCMT ^ PLAY (1^

Listen to and watch the special tracks made for ISpy Hunter by Saliva,.,

Or watch your favourite, climactic missionmoments in all their FMV gloty?

By land, air and sea, the bad guys don't let uo.

That target is a stolen Interceptor. Move it. Mines dropping from the ceiling. In Dover. Right. Yes, the car looks nice but it's killing you fast.

110 PlayStation.?

F O U L P L A YTwo-player bird-crushing madness in Chicken Hunter.

A fantastic bonus of progressing through Spy Hunter is an inspired two-piayer ievei caiied Chicken Hunter The objectis simple and the results hilarious. Part deathmatch, part animai rights horror, Chicken Hunter has you racing throughthe Panama Canal ievei trying to knock down as many chickens as you can whilst nobbling your opponent along theway Cue non-stop carnage of the fouiest kind...

r

5 guns dont take you out the NOSTRA cars will try and grindI your chassis into oblivion.

up. For the boat there is an armoured Jet-Ski whilethe car contains a bike with radiais that wouldntlook out of place in Judge Dredd's local Kwik-Flt.

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYEYour overall Job is to kibosh NOSTRA's evil schemeand In so doing, deny them the means to buy anymore smoking Jackets. In practice this equals 14route-based, time limited missions, divided Intoprimary and secondary objectives and set in sexylocations from Panama to the world famous canalsof... Dover? Well this is an American game.

Take the Florida Keys-based Swamp Venommission for example. Your primary objective is todestroy a series of NOSTRA owned turbinespolluting the local environment Secondaryobjectives Include prBservIng civilian life,electronically tagging NOSTRA cargo trucks andpicking up a number of SATCOM markers. Nowthrow bomb dropping helicopters, gun towers anddepth charge spilling speed boats Into the mix andyou have a surprisingly modem, old school arcadeexperience. Addictive as booze and damn tricky.

Progressive missions are opened up only whenyou gain the requisite number of objective pointsand there are many ways to fall short:. Yet, eachlevel is such a well-designed, tightly-coiled blastthat revisiting Incomplete missions to improve yourperformance Is never a chore. And although each

level Is basically an explosion-filled trip from A toB, the developer has gone to great lengths to hidethe linearity with multiple routes that are oftenIngeniously hidden. Combine that factor with theconstantly replenished threats and the tickingclocK and the game's modest 14 level tally seemsbl^erthan It actually Is.

The Intereeptor's controls are well laid out andmake the later-level juggling of guided missiles,lasers, electromagnetic pulse gun, GPS tags, oilslicks and so on, a relative breeze. A good thingsince there's nothing worse than lining up anenemy jet In your sights at 120mph only to fart asmoke screen out of the back of your car byaccident, and hit a wall.

Spy Hunter's graphics are clean, crisp andmove at an Impressive lick with no slow-down andonly the occasional Incidence of pop-up whenwater based sections open up the draw distance.The Interceptor's transfomnatlon animations arecool and the developer has done a top job withthe water effects. However; the best complimentyou can make about Spy Hunter is that there reallyIs nothing else like It out there. True, It could belonger; but the quality of the experience Is suchthat it's hard to fault. This is arcade action like it'ssupposed to be. Fast, challenging and deeplyaddictive. In short:, it rocks. A bit like a cert:ain coin-op classic from way back when. □ Paul Fitzpatrick

Spy Hunter lets you takethe zero to le rance l inewith people cutting youup on the motorway.Again, and again.

LS P Y H U I ^ R

Why we'd buy it- it's splendid adrenaline-

spiking tun- It's a racer and you get

to blow things up- Two words. 'Chicken

Hunter". You'll see

Why we'd leave it- You're a joyless

curmudgeon- You can only do one

thing at a time- No.Tl ia t 's I t

Capturing the spirit of theoriginal, Spy Huntermakes the most of PS2'spower to deliver acracking arcade racer

Graphics Sharp, smooth, fastS o u n d Peter Gunn and some corking wtlizzbangsGameplay Simple to picl< up, hard to perfeclL i f e s p a n Not liuge, but quality throughout

Play5tatLoni2 \IERDIIZT So you've completed the main objective. But themission has only just got going...

PlayStation.E 11

Direct hit! The sweet,s w e e t s c h a d e n f r e u d e o fTwisted Metal : B lock.

US Game Design 101bigger, faster, IVIORE!Well, it's workedwonders he re .

# #

Much l ike a beat-

'em-up, eachveh ic le hasind i v i dua l a t t acks . 1 .

m l

TUUETED mETRL: BLRIZThere's been a nuclear war; so what do the survivors do? Drive around killing each other of course...

P u M i s h e r S C E EDevelopen Incog IncP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9

Players: 1-4O u t N o wW e b s i t e ;v w v w . t v v i s t e d m e t a ll i l a c k . c o m

Back storyThe previous Twisted Metalgames on the PSoneboasted a similar blend ofvehicle-based combat,vvlthout the post-apocalyptlc tv^lst Combatoccurred in a diverse an^yof arenas, from lush fruitorchards to trailer parks.More popular In the USthan the UK, can The Metalstep up to the mark?

All things considered, a teenagergrowing up In the Eighties had it prettydamn bad. Some would argue It was atime of great musical developments

and a rich period in terms of popular culture(they'd be wrong though). But socially, andpolitically, they sucked big time. For any child ofthat decade - and it's a fair bet that includes themajority of today's game designers - the threat ofnuclear war hung over everything

HecK for every episode of The A-Team orManimal, there were two new dramas ordocumentaries or public information films dealingwith the topic of WWIII. Threads. The Day After.When The Wind Blows... It's little wonder that theconstant threat of global destruction left its markon the pop culture of today

Unfortunately much In the same way thatwe're all a bit blas6 about nuclear war itself,despite the threat being no less reduced in today'sclimate of political snook-cockIng the post-apocalyptic videogame has become something ofa over-used theme. Twisted Metal: Black Is onelong cliche, from its ravaged cifyscapes, to itsirradiated oil fields. But, like the hen3ln addictedrock star cliches can still be rather wonderful.

The previous Twisted Metai games - theTwisted Meto/-ln-all-but-name-Star WarsDemolition excepted - were rather greatAdmittedly, they won few awards, and annoyedmany with their lack of pretentiousness, but as faras vehicle-based mayhem goes, they don't getmuch more mayhem-laden. Until now, that is.On the most basic level. Twisted Metal: Block isexactly the same game as its forebears. Thebottom line gameplay and structure has notchanged one iota. Choosing to go for a quick one-off bout of combat, the debilitating Endurancemode, or the vaguely pointless, but level andvehicle-unlocking 'story game, you simply pickyour chariot, select your level, and get stuck inwith blowing merry heck out of a number ofopponents across power-up-laden arenas ofvarying sizes. Complicated brain science It ain'tWhat it is, however, is a PlayStation 2 game, and tothat end while Twisted Metal: Blaci< may doeverything that Its predecessors did. It does thembigger faster and more Impressively

Ttie vehicles are the usual mix of comic bookexcess, with each having its own special attackand beat-'em-up inspired special moves, inaddition to the standard missiles and cannons.

Arenas varyin size, alteringthe intensity of,the mayhem.

TWisted Metal: Blackboasts more thanenough weaponryto satisfy even themost extreme psycho.Here are a few ofour favourites. G a s C a n

It's a gas can. Only youpropel it at speedtowards your enemy Aspainful as it sounds.

R i c oThis razor-sharp disc canbe bounced off scenery.The more it bounces, themore damage it does.

Z o o m yLaunches a barrage often missiles. One of themost devastatingweapons in the game.

S a t F r e e z eActivating the Sat drops a Traps an opponent In astorm of missiles upon block of ice, giving youan unsuspec t ing t ime to l i ne -up aopponent 's head. t ruck- t rashing at tack.

112 PlayStation-E

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It looks beautiful and moves super-fast.Sometimes a bit too fast to play properiy.

It might look bleak, but hang on, youVe gota Zoomy. Not so bleak now is it?

The TWo-player mode boasts a wide selection ofmodes - deathmatch, above, is among the best.

//TlVfrB does everythingits predecessors didonly bigger, faster andmore impressively//However, while it's agreeable to freeze youropponents, catapuit exploding religious fanaticsthrough windscreens, or launch devastating missilesalvos from orbiting satellites, the real joy is in theexploration of TM.B's absurdly large levels.

MISTIN' MY METAU MANUnlike the previous games In the series, theselevels are alive. The city stages alone are bristlingwith hapless pedestrians, and rush hour traffic,that frequently finds itself between you and yourtarget. Think Crozy Taxi with guns and bombs, andwhacked off its nips on absinthe, and you'll havesome Idea of what to expect in addition, fans ofthe series will be enraptured to hear that thescenery can still be torn apart by your weapons, orused to hinder your opponents' progress; scrapmetal crushers, and cliff edges both play their partfor the wily combatant. Adding to this unexpectedsense of strategy are the recharge stations. Withhealth pick-ups hard to find, memorising theposition of these energy ports Is essential.

You might gather that Twisted Metal: Black issomewhat essential In Multiplayer mode - and itIs. Few PS2 games manage to match It exploslon-for-exploslon, and bitter rivalries soon develop. Theonly disappointment Is some unexpected slowdown when playing in Split-screen mode, a shamebecause the graphics are otherwise stunning

Stunning? As you'd want. Twisted Metal: Blackis a graphical tour-de-force, in Single-player mode

at least there's no glitchlng, and no pop-up. Giventhe complexity of some of the levels, this isnothing short of remarkable. When you factor inthe speed of the game, It's a borderline miracle.

In fact. Twisted Metal: Black Is so damn fastthat It's almost to the detriment of the gameplayThanks to the relatively useless radar, keeping abead on an opponent is tricky at best. When you'recareering around the levels at something akin to1,000 mph It becomes Impossible. Thank heavenfor homing missiles, and lock-on machine guns.This Isn't the only downside. Some of the levels are(deliberately) dimly lit. in addition, when stormsblow up, or rain starts to fall, the levels findthemselves concealed behind some impressive,but needlessly obscuring effects.

But hey It'd be cruel to label Twisted Metal:Black as anything other than a big sack of post-apocalyptlc, vehicle-based hedonism. It's stupidlyfast, it's stuffed to the gills with violent action andit's one of the most addictive multiplayer romps onyour console. If it has managed to result in gamesthis larksome, maybe that constant threat ofnuclear war wasn't so bad after all. □ Paul Rose

rTWISTED ME1AL: BLACK

n

TWISTED ME1AL BLACK

T H E F R E R K B□□m E O U TA cross-section of TM.B's rogue's gallery.

1 . B L O O D Y M A R Y

Hating men after being rebuked by a childhoodsweetheart, Bloody Mary stole the bride's car fromher best friend's wedding and now fills theemptiness in her heart by murdering people.

2 . P R E A C H E RA redeemed sinner, Preacher seeks salvation byputting paid to evil-doers, and »/oolng a legion ofequally demented zealots. Preacher delivers hismessage from his mobile chapel, replete with Itsburning fanatic strapped to the bonnet

Single-player proves abit of chore, but itdoes open up morelevels for the TVvo-player mode.

Why we'd buy it- It's loud, it's furious, and

completely over-the-top- You cant cuss any

game that begins withTtie Roiling Stones' PaintI t B lack

Why we'd leave it- We may have alreadyhad our fill of TwistedMetal games

- It does little nev(

Graphics Bold, fast, and in your face - just a l i t t l e d a r t ( I

S o u n d Ffaint It Black aside there's nowt;s p e c i a l IGameplay Not the most cerebral Rame ever. but so v^hat?

Life span Plenty of bang for your buck i i ^ ^ l

Everything you expect aTwisted Metal game to beon the PlayStation 2 - andt h e n s o m e .

Plav5tat_ipn.g \JERDI1ZT

3. MR GRIMMA Vietnam War veteran, Mr Grimm is still haunted bythe horrors he witnessed in combat He numbs thepain by driving a customised motorbike, anddelivering explosive death to alt and sundry.

4. SWEET TOOTHA former surgeon, the hideous Sweet Tooth killed hisfirst victim on the operating table. Now he drives aweapon-laden ice cream van in an effort to lureinnocent victims to sample his creamy 99.

PlayStations 11

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Players are accurately modelled, asdemonstrated by the ace replays.

Extensive pre-match warm-upsheighten the realistic atmosphere.

Goalkeepers are reliable, but mustbe coaxed off their l ine.

Swift flank attacks and whipped crosses are aprimary source of goals, although headers stillfeel disappointingly automated.

T H E 5F D O T B R L L 2 0 0 2Can SCEE's key player secure first team selection on your PS2?

P u M l s h e r S C E EDeve loperTe a m S o H oP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1-8O u t N o wW e b s i t e :w w w . s c e e . c o m /footbal l / indexjhtn i i

Back storyTtiis is the third outing ofTeam SoHo's This IsFootball series for SCEEThe first two PSone gameswere poorty received,maiigned for messygraphics and poor controisTfie game has thanitfuliyreceived a completeoverhaul for PS2,

So this is football? All of it? Evety trIcKtantrum and through-ball; eachplayground dream, vicious foul andlast-minute winner? No - not quite -

though Team SoHo has made an admirableattempt to distil the beautiful game's emotionalhighs. Rarely has the atmosphere - or diversity -of real football been so ably committed to silicon.Forget the sins of its PSone predecessor becausethis is an engaging if slightly flawed kickabout.

Match days are wonderfully evoked. Clearlyidentifiable, RFPro licenced players bound onto thepitch exchanging banter and stretchingconvincingly. Throughout the game, the crowdchant and holler in accordance with the action,and despite their paper-chain appearance, the fansdisplay greater emotion than in any football title todate - like holding their head in their hands asshots flash wide. On the pitch, players sunnundthe referee after a foul, strikers clap toacknowledge a cross and muddy patches spreadconvincingly across a wet goalmouth. The nuancesweave a captivating illusion of reality.

The passing game is tight, with some neatlobbed one-twos and delicate withheld through-balls. Defences won't succumb to repetitive tactics,so you'll have to wait for the darting runs of yourteam-mates. Sadly the finer skills feel redundant.The shoulder buttons activate a variety of tricks,but it's almost impossible to beat a player one-on-one - even with Giggs or Di Canio.

Goals ate invariably spectacular - a range ofgratifying strikes, headers and overhead kicks -which, while imprecise, avoid the painful 'sweetspot' feel of the FIFA games. Sadly, the ball's aerialmovement is straight from EA's banana-curling

lineage. Crosses swerve magnetically towardsplayers, while headers loop aimlessly in the crucialmidfield area. Questionable collision detectionmakes close-range tackles risky, so slide tacklesbecome your first line of defence.

Despite the shortcomings, games are eventfuland varied. A two-player match becomes a tight-passing scrap punctuated with dramatic strikesand hilarious dives. Every major world tournamentis in there, including the World Cup and theEnglish Premiership, with over 350 sides to chooseftDm, And such is the concession to boyish fantasythat exhibition matches allow you pit Burnleyagainst Brazil, or a Seventies Liverpool againstmodern-day Real Madrid,

So this is arcade football, FIFA with richeroptions and improved passing and a game worthyof any true fan's consideration till Pro EvolutionSoccer hits the UK. Football has felt more skilful,but rarely so alive - and given this series' abysmalpedigree, that's as surprising a result as we're likelyto hear all season, □ George Walter

r-m is IS FOOIBALL 2002

I F I T S I NT H E G R T I EThis Is Football 2002 offers a unique andexhaustive range of options, with more specialtouches than a Diego Maradona's Greatest Hitsv i d e o . Ta k e a l o o k - a n d l e a r n . . .

H F

H o n w I t m C u M s m O ^ m i

Customisation options are extensive, allowingchanges to kit design, formation and tactics.

t e a m a n d f o r m a t i o n i . I I F

©

m m '

The team rosters are up-to-date - for the big teamsat least - so expect to see new anivals like Veron.

It's possible to perform deliberate two-footed tacklesor dives, provided the ret isnt looking...

The Jumpers for Goalposts mode lets you reliveplayground glories, including accurate school PE kits.

Why we'd buy it:- A c c u r a t e t e a m s a n d

player likenesses- Fine graphics andatmospheric touches- Unfussy, instantlyrewarding gameplay

Why we'd leave it- The learning curve isnt

that steep, limiting long-term appeal

- Ball movement can looka l i t t le odd

An atmospheric, option-rich and surprisinglyplayable addition to aonce weak series.

Fine stadia, players and incidental touches 0 B

07 J

1 Sound ~| Good context-sensitive crowd 0 7

Instantly engaging but slightly flawed 0 7

lufeian Good multiplayer patience-dependent solo ! B E

PlayStat lon-g \ IERDIIZT

PlayStation.^ 11

R E MM X 2 0 0 2 F E AT U R I N G R I C K Y C A R M I C H A E L

Vanity or starting a family? The decision is yours.. Opponent Al is pretty accurate, so expect riders to crasii and bum just like you..

MX 2002 allows you tor e c r e a t e s t u n ts c e n a r i o s i n a s e r i e s o f

sub-games, the bei tbein^ the spectacularbus jump. Just likeKnievel found out at t

Getting big air on yourjutfips is wiiat MX 2002is al l about

T l x 2 0 0 2 ^ j p ' . I s # !FERTURING RCKId CRRITICHREL

T h e 1 2 - b u s c l e a r a n c e

attempt starts well withplenty of height obtciineda t t h e t a k e - o f f .

Two wheels cant possibly be better than four; can they?

Publisher THQE n t e r t a i n m e n tDeveloper PacificC o a s t P o w e rA n d U g h tP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9Players: 1-2O u t : N o wWe b s i t e :www. thq . con i /M X 2 0 0 2

Back storyAlthough this is the firstmotocross game on PS2,they have been pollutingthe PSone w i th the i rexhaust fumes for ages.THQ (ist made a bid forsupercross supremacy withits first game to featurediddy dirt-biker RickyCarmichael, two years ago.However; it proved to beinferior to Acclaim's attemptfeaturing Ricky's arch rival,Jeremy McGrath. MX 2002sees a new developer; anew engine and a newneed for a helmet..

After the recent sweat-drenchedadrenaline rush of Gmn Turismo 3, wewere in serious danger of gettingcompletely raced out. But, like the

beer-swilling foam-hand-waving contingent thatfrequent motoctDss events, our enthusiasm for allthings speedy knows no bounds.

MX 2002 Featuring Ipint-sized MX god) RickyCarmichael can seemingly cut it with the four-wheel massive thanks to wicked speed,ridiculously Implausible stunts and three distinctlydifferent styles of play: Motocross, racing roundgruelling undulating tracks; Supercross, the same,but raced in huge indoor arenas; and Freestyle, theshow off element, which is the riders' chance towow the ciiDwds with tricks. To take part In bothsupercross and motocross competitions enterExhibition mode. If you are mote interested in thethrills of pulling stunts, go for Freestyle mode.

If you want the best of all three worlds then ttythe Career option which invites you to create yourown rider fnom scratch, before easing you Into thelower leagues with aspirations of mixing it with thebig boys and gaining untold riches.

Your career is played out over a racingcalendar with a race meeting every week to putyour motorbike riding skills to the test. Only byfinishing in the top three positions of each racecan you progress to the next meet, and in theearly stages this is a forgone conclusion. Luckily,for those who find their arses more on the mudthan In the air, there Is a tutorial on hand to teachyou some of the more cunning aspects of tamingyour motorlsed beast.

There's plenty to master; Including powerslidesand speed boosts, plus you'll have to learn how tomove the bike in the air in order to land in the

best position. The pace Is undeniably fast andopponents provide a tough, but fair challenge,falling off and spinning out Just as much as youwill. Tracks are detailed and sprawling full of hills.Jumps, hairpin bends and mud. Ijots of mud.

At times though, MX 2002 can be frustratingYour bike can cut through a muddy track withease, but stray off onto some grass and you'll legoff. Also, while cornering the bike seems to glideover, rather than wheel spin thnough the mud. Mostbizarrely each time you hit the deck, you're putback In the race at full speed, one position behindwhere you were when you crashed. Although itkeeps the pace of the action at a relative constant.If MX 2002 is to be at least vaguely realistic thenyou'd expect it to ditch such arcade-Isms, it's onlybecause the rest of the game logic is so spot onthat such glaring inconsistencies stand out.

This is another case of a sport with a relativelysmall following vying for mass appeal on amainstream console. To a certain extent this isachieved, but too many non-devotees will provethat bikes are less sexy than cars. □ Ryan Butt

But lo, the loon decidesto play up for the crowdsand perform a trick inmid-flight.

Oh no, all those piesconsumed beforehandare dragging him da«nt o t e r r a fi r m a . . .

Man against machine, hemanages to straightenup, but by then it is "art o o l a t e .

M X 2 0 0 :F E AT U R I I

2 0 0 2~ ING RICKY CARMICHAEL

Why we'd buy it- Top speed- Instantly accessible- Challenging tracks- Creates the madness of

m o t o c r o s s a l m o s t

perfectly(»aph lcsS o u n d

C a m e p b yLifespan

Why we'd leave it- The graphics arent

t h e b e s t- The control system can

befidd^- Vbu cant ride over grassi

A polished and engaginglacing game that utilisesthe subject matter togreat effect rs a must forfans but plays it toostraight to attract newd e v o t e e s .

Functional but not crisp enoughRocky soundtrack and great spot FXTricky to get into but ultimately a blastPlenty of tracks and tricks to master

CrashI BangI Boliocks!Umbs bent the wrongway, family jewelssmashed beyond repair,but it's the damaged egow h i c h I s t h e r e a l k i l l e r. . .

.16 PlayStation.E

l i ' ^S ' lfe'

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EXCLUSIVE!

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)];

T T i m0WEDNESDAY 29TH AUGUST

R E N EF R E A K O U T

S P O I L E R A L E R T ! H e r e ' show you can freak outthe evil demons ofF r e a k O u t . .

1. Unda needs points toopen the door to a sister'srealm plus five more for aS c a r f B o m b e x o r c i s m . G e tthese by entering thed o o r s w i t h ' E X ' o n t h e mand defeating the zako.

2. When confronting apossessed sister time yourS c a r f B o m b a t t a c k . Yo uneed at least five secondsuninterrupted grabbing ort h e a t t a c k » / l l l f a l l a n d t h e

points will be wasted.

3. Pressing L3 and R3simultaneously will launcha Scarf Bomb that triggersa t h r e e - a r m a t t a c k H o l don tight for five seconds -you'll have to avoid beingdamaged too.

4. if you're successful, thes c a r f w i l l w r e n c h t h ed e m o n f r o m L i n d a ' s s i s t e rThe evil pink demon withgreen wings will follow youaround the realm until youd e f e a t t h e l e v e l b o s s .

5. Perform snap attacksa n d l a u n c h a t t a c k s a s w e l las picking up rocks andbombs to throw. EventuallyUnda will cause enoughdamage to destroy thespell and free her sister

6. Now you can ring thegiant bell In the Museumof Agony to enter theGallery Of Shame, wherethe captured demon canb e t e a s e d a n d h u m i l i a t e dIn a variety of ways.

Unda and her f reako idneckwear in ac t ion .

m

' • • a ' f i ! " ■h

Publisher SwinglDeveloper l^easureP r i c e : £ 3 9 . 9 9

Players: 1O u t N o wWe b s i t e :wvvw.planetswing.de

Back storyCult Japanese developerTreasure has producednumerous videogameclassics on a variety ofplatfonns Bangal-0, aneight-way scrolling blasteron the Dteamcast is one ofits most recent offerings,but Sega Satum titleRadiant Sllveiyun has themost fanatical following Inthe US Freak Out was

released with the morefitting title, Stretch ftinic

It's not often that you play a game sowonderfully odd that you find yourselfJust shrugging your shoulders andsurrendering to the beautifully unique

world it creates. With Treasure's Freak Out this is

the oniy thing you can do.The star of this strange adventure is Unda, a

young giri sporting a red and yeilow striped bobbiehat. Her 12 sisters have been captured by thedemons of vanity, transformed into hideouscreatures and are now inhabiting various strangerealms. Linda's task is to defeat the evil spiritscontroiiing her sisters with the help of a possessedscarf that can be used to pull and stretch anythingit touches This enables her to launch snapattacks, fire her at enemies, ]ump long distances,exorcise demons and gain game points.

After an Inventive comic book intro sequence,Unda and her magic scarf plummet into theMuseum Of Agony (no, not a song by Slipknot)which is presented in a scratchy pencil sketch-style and complimented by some discordant drum'n' bass. This is the hub of the game where playersenter doors to different worlds, save their progressand view the Gallery Of Shame where defeateddemons can be tweaked, prodded and played withfor cruel amusement using the Duai Shock 2.

To enter the boss realms and liberate her

sisters, Unda must accumulate points from levelspopulated by women with breasts of beachballproportions. Suitably, these women (or 'zako' asthey are known! are minions of the demons ofvanity. After you've gawped for a whiie, you'll findthis is an ace opportunity to practise the attacksthat Unda's vicious knitwear can perform.

Once enough points have been collected,entering one of the sister's realms wiil allow Undato battle it out with a hideous alter ego of herpossessed family member Players have to watch

the sister - who can be any number of hideousforms Including an orbiting satellite or a gelatinousgreen blob - to discover when she's weakest andadminister the most damage with the scarf todestroy the demon within (see The Exorcist).

Controlling Unda and the scarf independentlywith the two analogue sticks is ingenious and theway you can grab and stretch things to pull offattacks and special moves is Immensely satisfying- especially with the accompanying boing sound

effect. The graphics never fail to amaze, withmesmerising special effects delivering ever morefevered sights - digitised psychedelic confettispewing from rainbow-coloured i^r Potato Headlookalikes being Just one strange sight that awaitsthe player

On the downside, gameplay can quicklybecome repetitive and frustrating with what iseffectively a succession of boss fights. Oh, and awaywand in-game camera doesn't help your quest,it's certainly not for everyone, but Freok Out isdefinitely worth indulging in if you're after arefreshing and curious addition to your PS2 gamescollection. Prepare to be utterly overwhelmed bythe beautiful insanity of it ail... □ Jamie Sefton

rFREAK OUT

(Above) IVveaking thenipple of fear.

(left) The seventhcircle of hell...

1

Why we'd buy it- Utterly bizarte yet

original gameplay- Distinct and impressive

cartoon graphics- Excellent stretch effects

Why we'd leave it- Can become repetitive- Annoying camera- Some gamers might find

it all a bit too bonkers

Graphics Smooth animation and magical Sil=X

S o u n d Ethereai and disorientating soundt r a c k

Oiiginai and engaging if somewhcIt repetitive

l ®Pan You'ii finish it quickly, but will returT) for weeks

A unk)ue cartoon action-adventure with twistedgameplay, marred only bybeing slightly repetitivea n d s h a l l o w . A n o d d -

shaped peg in a PS2 hole.

J

Freak Out begins witha comic book in t rosequence to explainthe plot.

PlavStatlon-g \ |ERDI1ZT

PlayStation.? 119

R E N

PS\

o n e T MI Edited by Officiai UK PfayStation Magazine's Nick Ellis

m y ,

The graphics are nothing to shout about ancithe human characters are particularlyindistinct. Weii, it was the Sixties.

NTake the wheel for the biggest heist in videogaming history.

P u b l i s h e r S C iDeveloper PixelogicP r i c e ; £ 2 9 . 9 9Players: 1-8O u t N o w

PS o n e ,T O Er i A U A N J O B

GraphicsA tad blocky butgreat backgroundsS o u n dT h e m u s i c w e a r sthin very quicklyGameplayTop stuff. Excitingmissions abound gg

U f e s p a nPienty of extras tok e e p y o u g o i n g 0 B

A truly great game attimes, this runs prettyhigh in the 'Best Driverc l o n e ' s t a k e s .

0 7

0 5

M E R D I I I T

Over 30 years is a long time to wait fora videogame/film tie-in but tiene it is,an Interactive accompaniment to oneof the great British films of the Sixties.

The Italian Job is recreated here in all it's glory -or rather the driving elements of the film are. FromCharlie Croker's post-prison ride in the PakistaniAmbassador's Limo to the Minis hurtling aroundTurin, every four-wheeled facet of the movie hasbeen inc luded.

With the aim being to steal £4 million of goldbullion from the Rat company and the Italianpolice, the game is a riot of car chases, dodgypick-ups and buttock-clenching getaways.Proceedings start in bsndon, with eight missionsthat include a hook-up with Camp Freddieoutside King's Cross station and generally hurtlingaround the capital preparing things for the grandsnatch in Italy

//The game is a riot ofcar chases, dodgy pickups and buttock-clenching getaways//

The action get trickier In Turin, where the sixmissions are a little more difficult and build to a

superb set-piece ending: the getaway With yourblue iviini packed with the loot, you must keep onthe tail of the red and white iviinis as theynegotiate traffic jams, Jump ftiDm tall buildings,skim across the weir and of course, climb onto theroof of the Rat factory to lose the rozzers.

Sadly though, the climax in the Alps Is amonumental let down. Trying to get your Cooperson the coach Is a frustrating task and guiding thecoach itself around the twists of the Alpine road Is

It's all in here, from the lecherous Professor Peach to the nailbiting chase through Turin's Streets.

The cops and their Panda cars never leave youalone, so you'll have to hone those driving skills.

equally Irksome Thankfully once the coach issafely hanging from the cliffs edge, you will haveunlocked a heap of bonus games that up to eightpeople can play at a time.

The various motors used In the missions -

Mini Coopers, Charlie's Aston ivjartln, the four-wheel drive van, an E-type Jaguar and the getawaycoach have nicely varied handling, with relativeacceleration and weight taken into account.Happily, the handling cares more about fun thanrealism; so you'll soon be power-sliding aroundtight corners at speed.

The major flaw is the inconsistency TheLondon levels, while enjoyable to a point, fail "ogenerate the same tension and excitement a:;those in Turin and the ending in the Alps shouldhave been a nice cut-scene rather than a gruellingtest of patience. Despite the criticisms, The ItalianJob Is an impressive romp that fans of Driverwould do well to check out. □ Nick Ellis

120 PlayStation-E

□B N E y ' B n T L R N T B :

A

More Disney schmaltz likely to sink without trace.

P u b l i s h e r S C E EDeveloper EurocomP r i c e : £ 2 9 . 9 9

Players: 1O u t N o w

Another underwhelming paint-by-numbers Disney piatformer roiis off theproduction iine. This one's all abouthopping, sl^ipping and junnpingyour

way to Plato's sunken city, with the odd shoot-'em-up section to break things up. There are sixplayable characters, each with different skills, butyou never have to think about which one to usefor each puzzle. If a certain switch or event canonly be triggered by a particular team member; thegame lets you know.

Presentation is of a high standard, featuringvideo clips and sounds from the animated movieto back up the nicely drawn backgrounds. Just likeevery other Disney game, in fact. □ NE

P S o n e .

If you were being cynical, you mighit say thiatAtiantis is mereiy an extended traiier for tliemovie of the same name. Fair point.

H O T L U H E E L 5 R R C I N GIt's once, twice, three times a racer

A pretty but unoriginalpiatformer with a big'no brains required'l a b e l o n t h e b o x .Standard Disneyf a r e t h e n .

05^L * * ^ JN E R D C T

Publisher THQDeveloper HotgenP r i c e : £ 1 9 . 9 9Players: 1-2O u t N o w

Is it a car? A plane? A boat? Wahey it'sall three at the same time! Popular withthe kids' (so we're told) thesetransformable all-terrain toys appear in

a mildly distracting arcade racing game. There areplenty of interesting tracks on offer most with apost-apocalyptic feel, plus an arsenal of weaponsand pick-ups to match.

The racing Is pacey and with your vehiclehaving to shape-shift according to the terrain,things never get boring Depth is added by theneed to tweak and balance your vehicle to suiteach course - more fins for tracks with a wateryslant, bigger tyres for dirt-based courses - andthrash a friend in Two-player mode. □ NE

P S

simple but fun racing, Hot Wheels will provideliglit relief for mini racers everywhere.

O n G r MNothing groundbreaking but a betterthan expected racerfrom THQ.

N E R D C T

N C I N E 5 T H B E D B N E l d I T I I XOh IMickey you're so fine...

The Mickey iviouse massive is in dahouse! The latest interactive music

game in Konami's excellent Bemaniseries, Disney ivlix gives you the chance

to keep fit and play videogames at the same time.Plug a dance mat Into your controller port

then follow the on-screen instructions (whichcome in the form of upwards scrolling arrows thatvary in complexity and speed according to whatlevel you choose) and groove along to eutopopinterpretations of classic Disney tunes like Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah and Supercalifraga-thingy. It soundsawful but is actually a lung-chucking laugh and Ifyou have two mats, you and a keep-fit friend canindulge in a two-player boogie off. □ NE

P u b l i s h e r K o n a m iDeveloper KonamiP r i c e : £ 2 9 . 9 9Players: 1-2O u t N o w

PS o n e TThe most fun you canhave with a PSone, agiant plastic dancem a t a n d a l a c k o f

self-respecL..

"And stretch, two three, four. And bend, two,three AAARRGH!" Lose those extra pounds witha Mickey Mouse workout.. ' J

N E R D C T

ALSO RELEASED THIS MONTH. . .Things are all a bit quiet this month but there's many a budget price re-release to be snapped up. Tiie excellent Capcomblaster DINO CRISIS 2 can be snapped up for £20, as can WWII resistance romp MEDAL OF HONOR: UNDERGROUND.James Bond is at It again with the passable TWINE and the disappointing 007 RACING both getting a Platinum coating.Best of all, the Help 2001 compilation boasts TOMB RAIDER, RIDGE RACER REVOLUTION, TOCA and WWF WARZONE,all for £20. And it's for charidee too. Don't forget for all the latest PSone news, reviews, previews and playable demos, seeour sister mag, OFRCIAL UK PLAYSTATION MAGAZINE...

PSoneR O U N D U P

T M

N E W S

T D N y H R L U K S P R O5 K R T E R 3Actlvlslon is set to deliver the thirdinstalment of the skateboarding game toPSone, Rather than churn out a revampedTony Hawk's 2, we're promised a game thathas the same innovations as those on PS2,such as more mission-based antics,although it will be watered down to around2/3 the size for the iast-gen console. Slatedfor a Christmas release, the news will nodoubt delight PSone gamers looking forsomething to go with the mince pies

P R E V I E W

S y P H D N P I L T E R 3Special Agents Gabe iDgan and Lian Xingare back this October for another sneak and

destroy adventure. The pair are still trying toclear their names after being framed in theiast adventure, while terrorists are trying tounleash a deadly virus Can the sharpshooters save the day? Helping them will bethe X-ray gun, that can blast through wallsRed Faction-style, plus a heap of other newQ-branch gadgets and an auto targetingsystem. Pitched as a Metal Gear beater,SCEE is hoping SF3 will be the best yet

P R E V I E WE C D D S y □□□ R N DT H E C y B E R C H R 5 EThe cowardly canine and his master Shaggyclimb into the Mystery iviachine thisNovember for a Crash Sand/coot-styleadventure. They have to solve the mystery ofa computer vinjs that's terrorising the localuniversity. The heroes' trail leads them toEurope, China and beyond in order to trackdown the culprit Our money's on thefriendly groundskeeper who turns out to bea vengeful ex-student.

PlayStation.E 123

Edited by: Sam Richanis

□ \ J D / I N T E R N E T / P R I N T / m U 5 I I IPS2 doesnt Just play games, you know. Here's some other stuff you might like."Ifext Jason Brookes/Paul Fitzpatrick/Lee Hart/Sam Richards

T H ESTANLEY KUBRICKCOLLECTIONWa r n e r s / £ 9 9 , 9 9 / O u t n o w

Rim: Arguably the greatest Movie Director of them all,Kubrick could never be accused of being a prolificfilmmaker but the 12 movies he made during his careerrepresent a peerless body of work. Unlike most Directorsw/ho Inevitably produced a dud now and again, Kubrick'sInfamous perfectionism meant he was incapable ofmaking a bad film. Hence the eight movies presented inthis superlative boxset can be spilt Into two loftycategories: classics and masterpieces

The mere classics are Lolita, a daring adaptation ofNabakov's Ingenious book; Vietnam War tour de forceFull Metal Jacket; and his final film, the gothicpsychological drama, Eyes Wide Shut The masterpiecesare Dr Strangelove, the best war satire ever made; 2001:A Space Odyssey, touted as the best sci-fi movie evermade; Barty Lyndon the best period drama ever made

A Clockwork Orange, the best social satire ever made;and The Shining, the best horror film ever made.

There isn't room for an In-depth analysis of them allhere but suffice to say, they demand to be seen and thisDVD collection demands to be bought. LHFeatures: Dr Strangelove has a featurette tracingKubrick's career; a retrospective documentary andInterviews with George C Scott and Peter Sellers. MakingOf The Shining by Kubrick's wife Vivian Is the mostcandid look at the secretive Director at wor1< we willever have the opportunity see While Eyes Wide Shutfeatures interviews with Tom Cruise, I JIcole Kidman andSteven Spielberg,Verdict: Eight magnificent films, one magnificentdocumentary. How can you argue with quality

A L O O K A T T H E M A NThe ninth DVD In the collection is StanleyKubrick: A Life In Pictures. An exclusive 140-mlnute documentaiy, it's the definitiveaccount of Kubrick's life using never beforeseen materials. Narrated by Tom Cruise andboasting contributions from luminaries suchas Spielberg, Scorsese. Woody Allen and PeterUstinov as well as his close friends and family,this has everything you need to know aboutthe genius Director As Jack Nicholson puts It:"Everybody pretty much acknowledges he'sthe man and I still feel that underrates him."

W H AT U E S B E N E AT HFox/£ 19.99/17 September

A L M O S T F A M O U SC o l u m b i a T r i S t a r / £ 1 9 . 9 9 / O u t n o w

Film: The happy marriage of Claire SpenceriMicheile Pfeifferl and her husband Norman(Hamson Ford) is piunged into turmoil whenshe thinl<s a malevolent spirit is hauntingtheir house. Photograph frames shatterinexpllcabiy, objects move and when Ciairesees the face of a beautiful woman In the

bathwater, her suspicions are confirmed.Who is this ghostiy woman? Why is shetrying to mal<e contact from beyond thegrave? And Just why is Norman so adamantthat the manifestat ion doesn't exist?

DltBctor Robert Zemeckis is in fui i-onHitchcock homage mode with this

supernatural thriiier and for the first half-hour he pulls It off; building the suspensenicely and Implying numerous sinisterpossibilities. Unfortunately, he then proceedsto empty aii the tension down the plugholewith some incr^aslngiy over-the-top set-pieces and idiotic plotting that would haveold Hitch spinning In his grave. LHFeatures: A commentary by Zemeckis andProducers Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke.Constructing The Perfect Thriller featuretteand some clips of Zemeckis's student films.Verdict Starts promisingly but soondescends Into extreme s i l l iness. 6/10

Film: Almost Famous is the semi-

autobiographical depiction of DItBctorCameron Crowe's formative years when, asa Jammy 15-year-oid, he was given thedream assignment of heading on tour withhis favourite bands and documenting hisexperiences for Rolling Stone magazine.

His story Is a paean to the Seventiesand the people who made him who he Istoday; his disapproving mother (FrancesMcDormand), influential music critic LesterBangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman] and PennyLane (Kate Hudson] a free-spirited groupiewho helped the boy become a man.

As such, the movie is cert:ainly enjoyablebut Just a little too sentimental; It's hard toimagine that life on the road with aSeventies rock band would have been quiteso, well, nice. LHFeatures: The MoWng Of featurettecontains Interviews with ai l the main cast

and crew as well as background info on theera and Cameron Crowe's career at RoliingStone Furt:her insight is provided by sevenof Crowe's articles from the period.Verdict Funny and likeable but ultimatelymore of a soppy Bon Jovl power ballad thana memorable Led Zeppelin anthem, 6/10

T H E S I M P S O N SS E A S O N O N E B O X S E TFox/£39,99/24 SeptemberFilm: The entire (13-eplsodel first series ofthe greatest ever animated sitcom starring afamily of ioveable yellow ne'er do wells, Isnow available In one pristine collection ofshiny DVDs. As Homer would probably say'Mmmm'. The quality of the animation, thevoice-acting and the writing have allimproved considerably since these eariydays but as the template for the genius thathas followed, this is a priceless collection.

Highlights of the first season IncludeKrusty Gets Busted with Bart and Lisaclearing the clown's name and incriminatinghis bitter sidekick Sideshow Bob. And the

Christmas special, Simpsons Roasting OnAn Open Fire which introduces the famliyspet greyhound Santa's Little Helper LHFeatures: There are scripts for four of the13 episodes, eariy artwork from SorrieEnchanted Evening that didn't make thefinal cut and a short MoWng Of featurettewith contr ibut ions from creator iv latt

Groening The highlight though, is the Alberi:Brooks audio outtakes from Life On The Fast

Lane, where he improvises hilariously as asleazy Frenchman attempting to pull Marge.Verdict : An essent ia l co l lect ion f rom one ofthe al i - t lme classic TV shows. 9/10

B E S T I N S H O WW a r n e r s / £ 1 5 . 9 9 / O u t n o w

Film: A spoof documentary from the masterof the genre, Spinal Tap writer/starChristopher Guest (who played guitarist andgorilla expert Nigel Tufnell] this time thefocus of his subversive eye is a Crufts-styledog show In the American Midwest

The pampered pooches take a backseat to their oddball owners as they preparefor the gala event and we're treated tocomic turns from the likes of Eugene Levyas a long-suffering husband with themisfort:une of having two left feet jliterailyl,and Michael McKean (Top's David StHubblnsl and John Michael Higgins stealingthe show as a delightfully camp gay couple.

The format Is identical to Spinai Tap andwhile it's consistently amusing Best In Showlacks the satirical edge and real gut-burstinglaughs which made the metalmockumentary such a landmark LHFeatures: A surprisingly dull commentaryby Guest and his co-writer Eugene Levy.Both of them play it absolutely straight andthere's none of the laughs you might expectfrom the double act They also provide acommentary for 30 minutes of deletedscenes that are as good as anything thatappears In the movie ItselfVerdict: A gently amusing comedy thatnever cranks the humour up to 11. 7/10

» A L S O R E L E A S E D15 Minutes (Entertainment In Vldeo/£19.99)/Proof Of Life (Wamers/£19.99|/State And Main (Warners/E15.99|/Nurse Betty |Pathe/£19.99)Bom Romantic (MGM/£17.99|/Saving Grace (Fox/£19.991/102 Dalmations iBuena Vlsta/£19.99j/Sliailow Grave |MGM/£15.99]

PlayStation.? 123

» D \ n R E N I E U U 5

mAnd the trick cigarettelighter claimedano ther v i c t im .

And next time, rememberhe naan bread!" Pacinolurr ies favour in Scarface.

TOP 10 AL PACINO DVDS)og Day AfternoonVa r n e r s / £ 1 2 . 9 911m: Pacino plays SonnyVorzik a confused bisexual whololds up a Brooklyn bank tolay for his gay lover's sex-;hange operation. When theleist goes wrong and escalatesrito a media circus, SonnyDses the plot with both funnyind shocking consequences.V h a t m a k e s t h i s m o v i e e v e nn o r e i n c r e d i b l e i s t h a t i t ' s>ased on a true story.' e a t u r e s : P r o d u c t i o n n o t e s .

> c a r f a c e; o i u m b i a T r i S t a r / £ 1 9 . 9 911m: Cuban emigre Tonylontana (Pacino) arrives inliami and embarl^s on a drug-ueiled crime odyssey. Pacl^edi/ith unforgettabie moments -rem the chainsaw bioodbathD the grandiose "Say haiio tony ieetie friend!" finale - this5 a tragi-comic classic of;ighties excess.'eatures: Documentary,l e i e t e d s c e n e s ,

>ea Of Love: o l u m b i a T r l S t a r / £ 1 9 , 9 9llm: A sexy suspense thriller(ith a cracking final twist,'acino is divorced cop Frank[eller wiio falls for chiefuspect Ellen Barkin whileluntlng a serial killer whoneets victims tiirough personalds. Ellen is certainly horny,rouble Is, she might also bel o m i c i d a l . . .e a t u r e s : T h e a t r i c a l t r a i l e r

lengarry Glen Rossl i n e m a C l u b / E 9 . 9 911m: David Mamet's stunning

play about reai estate agentsforced to hit targets or iosetheir jobs, makes for a superbfilm, expertly performed by apowerhouse cast - JackIjemmon, Ed Harris, KevinSpacey Alan Arkin and Pacinoas Rick Roma, the smoothsalesman on a hot streakF e a t u r e s ; N o n e .

S c e n t O f A W o m a nC o l u m b i a T r i S t a r / £ 1 9 . 9 9Film; Blind, sex-crazed andsuicidal, Lt Colonel Frank SladeiPacIno] hires schoolboy CharlieIChris O'Donnelll to babysit himon a final uproarious weekendbefore killing himself. A ratherschmaltzy film but It has Itsm o m e n t s t h a n k s t o P a c i n o

chewing the scenery to Oscar-winning effectF e a t u r e s ; P r o d u c t i o n n o t e s .

Cariito's WayColumbia TrlStar/£19.99Rim: In a lyrical flip-side ofScarface, Pacino is CarlitoBrigante, a drug dealer freshout of prison, older, wiser anddetermined to go straight. Buthis sleazy lawyer (Sean Penn)and his old gangland contactsInexorably pull him into onefinal, doomed job.Features: Theatrical trailer.

H e a tW a m e r s / £ 1 5 . 9 9Film: This epic cops androbbers masterpiece fromMichael Mann has Pacino andDe Niro sharing scenes for thefij^t time as detective and thiefrespectively. Driven, meticulousmen, the only thing thatseparates them is the thin blue

line of the law. When they domeet, the screen crackles.F e a t u r e s : N o n e .

D o n n i e B r a s c oE n t e r t a i n m e n t i n V i d e o / £ 1 5 . 9 9Film: Paclno's best recentperformance, up there with TheGodfather Part II, Is In this truestory of Donnie Brasco (JohnnyDeppI an FBI agent who goesdeep undercover In the mob. Assmall-time hood Lefty Rugglero,Pacino Is a father figure toDonnie but pays dearly for hisfriendship when the truth Isfinally revealed.Features; Making Of featurette.

T h e I n s i d e rB u e n a V i s t a / £ 1 9 . 9 9Film: Michael Mann's grippingexpos6 of the real-life eventsthat occurred when JeffreyWIgand (Russell Crowe) aresearch scientist at a tobaccocompany, turned whistleblowerto 60 M/nutes producer LowellBergman (Pacino) on industrymalpractise. A supremelyintelligent, disturbing look atthe world of Big Business.F e a t u r e s : P r o d u c t i o n f e a t u r e t t e

Any Given SundayW a r n e r s / £ 1 9 . 9 9Film: Oliver Stone tackles USfootball with typically kineticand entertaining results. Pacinoplays a coach trying to keep hist e a m o n t r a c k a m i d f r a c t i o n swith egomaniac players andpressure from the boardroom inthe feisty form of Cameron Diaz.Features: Documentary,commentaries, music videos,outtakes, screen tests, deletedscenes, stills gallery.

WAY OF THE GUNM o m e n t u m / £ 1 9 . 9 9 / O u t n o w

Film: Career criminals Benlclo Del Toro and

Ryan Philippe kidnap pregnant JulietteLewis, w/ho Is surrogate mother for a wealthycouple, and demand a $15 million ransomfor her return. Unfortunately for them, thewould-be parents are involved In organisedcrime and soon a group of heavies aretracking the kidnappers, culminating in abloody gunflght In a Mexican village.

The first directorial effort fnom

Christopher McQuarrie - writer of themasterful The Usual Suspects - is a

•Toga, toga, TOGA,TOGA, TOGA, TO-Altogether nowP

throwback to the Independent spirit ofSeventies cinema with Its gritty ns'alism,casual violence and nihilistic attitude. It's animpressive film but a difficult one to reallyenjoy because the characters are such abunch of unlikeable scumbags. LHFeatures; Commentary by ChristopherMcQuarrie and composer Joe KraemerThere's also the isolated scotB and six shortinten/iews with the principal castVerdict: A gripping part western, part roadmovie, that tries too hand to be cool. 7/10

G A N D H IColuinbia TriStar/£19.99/Out now

Film: The life and times of Mahatma Gandhi,the Indian leader who won Independencefrom the British Empire through peaceablemeans, is told on a grand scale by LordAttenborough. From the racial discriminationhe suffered as a young lavi/yer In SouthAfiica to his elevation to mythic status in hishomeland, there's a level of authenticity thatmakes the audience feel like flies on the

wall, simply by observing the great man(largely due to Ben Kingsle/s uncannilyaccurate lead perfonnancel.

But while it always engages the brain,Gandhi Is too dry, too overbearingly worthyto really engage the heart. Attenborough'sdeep respect for his subject seeminglyrestricts him to a wholly uncritical portrayal

that lacks the intensity of rival biopics likeLawrence Of Arabia and Pattoa LH

Features: A rather self-aggrandisinginterview with Ben Kingsley In which heanalyses the movie and boasts al:)out the(admittedly stunning) transformation heunderwent to become Gandhi. There's also

a dull MoWng Of Gandhi photo n-ontage,which contains sti l ls from the filn- and

behind-the-scenes photos accon- panled bysome really awful music, archive newsneelfootage of four major events In G.andhl's lifeplus a selection of quotes from the greatman's speeches.Verdict: An epic, if overly-worthy, account ofa legendary historical figure. They don'tmake 'em like this anymore. 7/10

124 Play5tation.P

P L AT O O NM G M / £ 1 9 . 9 9 / O u t n o w

Film: Oliver 1 was there man!' Stone drew

on his own experiences in Vietnam for thisdevastating account of America's futiiepoiiticai war The movie foiiows rool<iesoldier Charlie Sheen from his arrival in

'Nam, through his ordeals In the fieid andradically different iessons in life and warfareat the hands of polar-opposite sergeants,Wiilem Dafoe and Tom Berenger

The nightmare of the Vietnam War iscaptured with incredible veracity andStone's first-hand i^nowledge is evident

throughout. Harrowing scenes of cruelty tovillagers, unbearably tense guerilla battlesand the camaraderie that helps the platoonsurvive their Jungle hell mal<e this acompelling story of how, as the tagline says.The first casualty of war is innocence'. LHFeatures: Tour Of The Inferno: RevisitingPlatoon - a documentary with contributionsfrom Oliver Stone, military advisor Dale Dyeand the cast.

Verdict: Authentic and intelligent Platoon isone of the great war films. 9/10

S A L V A D O RM G M / £ 1 9 , 9 9 / O u t n o w

Film: Based on the actual experiences ofAmerican photo-Journalist Richard Boyle,this is a powerful indictment of the fascist ElSalvadorlan regime i<ept in power during theearly Eighties by the CIA in the face of apopular communist uprising. Over 50,000people were slaughtered by Americanweapons and Boyle risi<ed his life to let theworld know the horr ific truth.

The first and best of Oliver Stone's

paranoid exposes of US governmentmisconduct, Salvador is a passionate movie

rightly regarded as the poiiticai film bywhich all others are Judged, in turn it'shilarious and tragic, James Woods gives adynamic performance as the sleazy butundeniably brave Boyle. LHFeatures: Commentary and deleted scenes.But the main extra is an hour-long Into TheValiey Of Death documentary detailing theevents in El Salvador and the craziness ofthe film ptDduction.Verdict A rare case of a movie that madethe Powers That Be take notice. 9/10

0219 Kn igh t R ide r0 2 0 7 I t a l i a n J o b >61127 Only fools-^horses0241 Pulp Fiction * 60223 Exorcist0 2 9 8 X F i l e s • 61131 Star Trek-next gen

fhe fo l lowing Nok ia handsets can rece ive both tones & graphics :Nokia 3210, Nokia 3310, Nokia S1xx ser ies, Nokia 62xx s•^okia 71xx ser ies, Nokia 81xx ser ies, Nokia 8210 ser ies,Mokta eSKX series, Nokia 9000 / 9110.n ie Nok ia 51xx ser ies can rece ive graph ics on ly.

UMES OPEM 2d HOURS A DAY, SEVEH BAYS A WEEK

»INTER\I IE1JU

j c z a !0PS2 speaks to the Star Wars creator about his new DVD.

Ask any DVD aficionado which movie best taps theformat's potential for providing 'added value' andnine times out of ten the answer wiil be T2 or TheAbyss. The fact is, few releases benefit from thelavish application of time and money needed tomake a DVD 'special edition', weil, special. ThisOctober, the much maligned Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace wiil gatecrash JamesCameron's exclusive club.

It's perhaps surprising that It's taken this longfor the Star Wars universe to make the leap fromfuzzy VMS onto 'everything but the kitchen sink'high-density disc. Surely such a momentous'money for old nope' opportunity as releasing theoriginal trilogy on DVD couldnt be passed by?

"it's going to take mors time [to convert theoriginal trilogy] because we didnt shoot very muchbehind-the-scenes stuff back then," says creatorGeorge Lucas, speaking to 0PS2 at SkywalkerRanch for the press launch of The Phanton)Menace. "A lot of the material that would nonnallybe included just dIdnt exist In those days. This wasa long time ago - before even VMS."

Purists might atgue that the first chapter in thesix-part Star Wars double trilogy is a more naturalpoint to kick off the series on DVD anyway "lama

//'I look at the DVD asthe highest qualityversion of the film/'Geoige Lucas//

firm believer that the films should be shown in theway that they were intended," he adds. "I mean, thedesign of the film and the framing and everything isvery Important, and I look at the DVD as the highestquality version of the film that's going to becontinuously in the marketplace, i want It to be thebest possible way to see the film."

Easily the biggest draw Is the sheer amount ofmaterial that DVD producer Van Ung has crammedonto the two-disc set - more than 8.5 hoursincluding ail the extra footage, features and, yes, themovie Itself The standout attractions though, aretwo documentaries, one featuring seven deletedscenes (which, by itself accounted for nine monthsof work) and the other a rare fly-on-the-wall insightinto the movie's creation.

Ironically it is John Shenk's 60 minute featureThe Beginning - which proves more enjoyablewatching than the movie It serves. Shot over fiveyears and rich with choice 'moments' such as anexcitable Ewan McGregor presented with the firstlight saber prototypes, the Anakin Skywalkerauditions, and Lucas himself giving a curiousSteven Spielberg a tour of the set, it distills 600hours of footage Into a fascinating collage.

As a state-of-the-art showcase, the first StarWars DVD succeeds with its In-depth analysis andfaultless presentation. Unfortunately though. It alsoemphasizes the inevitable - that great specialeffects wiil never save a badly acted, poorlyscripted, turkey of a movie Bit harsh, perhaps? Onlythe Inclusion of a Jar Jar Binks PS2 light gunshowdown would have made amends. □ JB

S T A R W A R SE P I S O D E I ; T H EP H A N T O MM E N A C E

While Disc One containsthe movie chapters,audio commentaries, asweil as useful featuressuch as a step-by-steppicture and soundoptimizer, it's Disc Twow h e r e t h e e x t r a s a r e .

Documentaries,featurettes, photos,trailers, and otherassorted titbits combineto cover most aspects ofthe film's creation, (^ostinsightful though, isdocumentary TheBeginning as well as 40minutes of deletedscenes showcasingseven CGI-heavysequences omitted fromthe movie's release andcompleted Just for theD V D . N o n e a r e

remarkable, most areworth checking out Butalas, still no sign of anEpisode /(trailer...

■star Ware Episode 1: ttiePhantom Menace !s releasedthrough 20th Century Fox onO c t 1 5 .

P L AY O N U N E . C O Mwww.squaresoft.com

With Japanese PS2 owners due to get onlineahead of the rest of us there has never been abetter time to log onto Squaresoft's official Website. As you'd expect there's plenty ofinformation about the publisher's titles from thenot-so-hot Driving Emotion Type-S to thepermanently wonderful Final Hintasy series. Butthe real reason to come here is to register freewith Square's Play Online service. Do that andyou'll get to see at first hand the type of contentand interface you'll be able to access when thePS2's Network Adapter goes on sale next spring.Best of all you can watch the promo movie ofthe sen/ice featuring footage from the strictlyInternet-based Final Fi^ntasy XI. it's not likehaving the real thing but it's a tantalisingglimpse of what's to come. □ PF

SPOOF AOS

4I I Tr j a a ai m s s st u r n

i M

t t a u t a o t m

> a a 2 K

A D B U S T E R Sadbusters.org

The Adbusters ivledia Foundation is a 'globalnetwori( of artists, activists, writers, pranksters,students, educators and entrepreneurs' that'staken a look at our 21st Century obsession withself-image and status shopping and decidedsomething needs to give. With this In mind,Adbusters creates spoof adveri;s that usecorporate imagery to subtly take the mick Hckof the bunch has to be the couple spottingthemselves advertising cola on a vendingmachine. You may not agree with all thefoundation's campaigns and ideas but whetheryou take part in the Buy Nothing Day or not thisis a fascinating look at how advertising can beused as an effective form of protest □ PF

T H E T O P F N ERve of the best WWF Websites

1 . w w w . w w f . c o mThe official WWF site, packed with inforniation onstars, events and all the PSone and PS2 bamesincluding 'Just Bring It!'.2. www.thq>wwfgames.comNot up yet, but the official Smac/<Oown/jportal.3 . w w w . w w f f a n 2 . c o mThe chance to put questions directly to ^irapplers.4. www.therock.comThe lowdown on the People's Champion 15 . w w w . w c w . c o mWWF and its opposition are merging. Fi^d outw h o ' s w h o h e r e .

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SONICBOOMNAPSTER, P2P AND THE BATTLE

FOR THE FUTURE OF MUSIC

JOHN ALDERMAN

S O N I C B O O MAutho r : John A lde rman /Publ isher : 4 th Estate/On sale: Now/Price: £17.99

It's statistically probable that sat on yourcomputer desktop right now are a selectionof MPS flies you've downloaded from theInternet using Napster or a similar file-sharing program. Free music - brilliant isntit? So whether It bothers you or not that youcould be violating all kinds of copyright lawsand at the very least engaging the wrath of

2 0 0 0 A D P R E S E N T STHE JUDGE DREDDM E G A Z I N EFrequency: Monthly/Price: £3.95/See : wvw.2000adon l ln8 .com

Given a shiny, collector-frlendiy makeover,the Megazine is an excellent occasion for2000AD virgins to get experienced and forthose In the know to revisit some

undisputed classics. The mag Is splitneatly between a trio of new stripsfeaturing current 2000AD cast membersDredd, Lenny Zero and Wardog, and threegems from the Tbrili Power vaults. Ro-Biisters features the original exploits of theself-same Hammerstein who latergraduated to the ABC Warriors. LazarusChurchyard Is a stylishly io-fl strip starring

the record Industry, you're contributing tothe future of music.

Sonic Boom is a thorough account ofthe rise of online music distribution and flie-sharing, with the current debate engulfingNapster (Inside and outside the courts)naturally forming the crux of Alderman'sInvestigation. He gently introduces readersto the technologies of Liquid Audio,RealPlayer and MPS, but it's the politics ofthe si tuat ion that fascinate.

Should artists and record companiesget paid every time you download their songfrom the Net or you should be able to haveaccess to any song you want for free at thetouch of a button? Of course, the advent ofsimple online flie-sharing programs havemade this particular moral and legalconundrum irrelevant if you're already usedto getting something for free, you're going tobe reluctant to suddenly start: paying for It -technology thwarting consumerism again.

Meanwhile two distinct groups of anti-Napster campaigners have had to forge anuneasy alliance, with disgruntled art:istssuch as Metaillca's Lars Ulrich on the sameside of the fence as the cabal of ugly, profit-driven corporations that make up theAmerican record Industry. Who wins, wholoses and who has to pay the DSL bills? Asthe 'battle for the future of music' still rages.Sonic Boom provides ail the history youneed to form your own opinion. □ SR

JE> |KE>

the titular; immortal junkie lowlife boastingan indestructible, morphing plastic body,and some delicious one liners courtesy ofWarren Ellis. And the brilliant DR & Quinchwith Alan (Tom Strong/Top Tent Mooreobviously having a blast with the pair ofalien delinquents. Of the new stories,Dredd's Is the best, with the Judge broughtin to investigate the kidnapping of a childprodigy from a fat camp where kids aretrained to gorge by two times Fast FoodChampion, Expanding Ernie Mlikovltz.Bizarre, and very funny Well worth four ofyour Eart:h pounds. □ PFGaming Content: With the likes ofStrontium Dog ABC Warriors and Dreddhimself due to see some PS2 action In thenot too distant future, this is the perfectway to get ready for mayhem.

Spiiitualized's JasonP i e r c e d e m o n s t r a t e shis own interpretationof the 12-step plan.

5 L E E \ I E N D X E 5 ( . ® )IUsing the powerof younPS2 with'this month" best CDs!!

SPIRITUAUZED Let It Come Down lAristajWho? Jason Pierceand his extravagantcrew of spacetravel!ers> previous^responsible for theopiate opus LadiesAnd Gent leman WeAre Floating In Space.

Highlights: Ihetiypnotic, hymnal feelof Stop Vbur Cryingand Lofti Can VouHear Me justifies theirlavish arrangements,putting the spiritualinto Spiritualized

Lowli^ts: WherePierce's weai< voice iseKposed Incomparison to thehuge gospel choir heinsists on employingat every chance.

Ve r d i c t : Wa r m e i

happier and moreapproachable thanpast worK the onlygripe is Pierce seems 'to have traded in his •mystery forc o n t e n t m e n t . 7 / 1 0 •

MOP Warriorz (Loud/Epic)Who? The menbehind genius noveltyhip-hop hit Cold AsIce are actually a pairof dues-paid hardcorethug rappers fromBrooidyn. Warriorz Isthe i r four th a lbum.

Highlights; It's not ailspeeded-up samplesof iÔR dinosaurs -DJs Premier and FizzyWomack (us neitherldig deep in liie cratesfor Roll Call andRjHow Instruct ions.

Lowlights:Relentlessly brashrapping sounds greatnext to simperingboybands on daytimeradio, but not quite sogreat amongst morerelentlessly brash rap.

Verdict MOPs urgent,lunacy has the ;• ••capacity to decimate 'buildings at ten paces,'but you can only be 'hit in the face so

many times before itbecomes painful. 6/10

BJORK Vespertine [One Little IndianlWho? Ice land 'sfavourite daugiitenoffering a contrast tothe h is t r ion ics ofSe/mosongs with analbum designed to beplayed as you're doingthe housework .

Highlights: The waythe toy chimes onFrost) and An Ecfio AStain morph intoimmaculate giltchêats. And thenthere's that voice...

Lowlights: The end ofPogon where Bjorlâppears tohypen^ntllate withpassion. Not affecting,just disturbing

Verdict' Too complex •and demanding to beconsidered a sui tablesoundt rack to the

washing and ironing,Bjork's music cant ;help but bespellbinding. 8/10 ; .

NEW ORDER Get Ready iLondonlWho? Ivlanc legendsback together for thefirs t t ime s ince I993 's

Republic Get Ready isguitar-heavy andtherefore sounds quitea lot like Electronic.

Hlghli^ts: Turn MyWay gets those fêckhairs standing on endlust like the NewOrder of yore, but It'smalniy a guiltilynostalgic thrill.

Lowlights: BarneyS u m n e r ' s i n f a m o u s

^ricai incompetenceis also back to hauntus. Rhyming 'sick' with'ar i thmet ic ' on S/owJam is the nadir.

Verdict it's finallyhappened - NewOrder have become asirrelevant as their side

projects Not even aslew of majesticbassltnes can savethem. . . 6 /10

ADAM F PRESENTS Kaos (EMI chrysalis)Who? More Brit hip-hop in the unexpectedguise of fonner dnjm'n' bass prodigy AdamF who's curried thefavour of NYC's finest,including De La Souland 11 Cool J.

x A i mHighlights: Mr Fspecialises in ftjnkyapocalypse, perfectfoil for the iikes ofPharoahe Monch HostDoyz} and RedmanIthe gargantuanSmosh Sumthin'l,

Lowlights: Anunusually out-of-sortsGuru on the a lbum'sone "wack' track,ca l led Kom\a ComesSock Around.

Ve»xllct The best rapcast since Lyrlc/stLounge, and Adam Fmelds h is mus icaround the rhymes ofthe MCs better thanmos t ve te ranproducers. 8/10

» A L S O R E L E A S E DRoots Manuva Run Come Save Me (Big Dadal/Jamiroquai A Funk Odyssey fS2!/Gorky'sZygotic Mynci How I Long To Feel That Summer In My Heart (Mantral/Freestylers PressurePoint {Freskanoval/Vinceiit Gallo When (Warp)/Ben Folds Rockin' The Suburbs (Epic)

PlayStation.? 127

1Tips, tactics, tricks, clieats. Want to rip your new games to shreds? Welcome to the section that's strictly for the HardCore..

j R R N T U R I S m n 3 : R - 5 P E I Z

No, your eyes are notdeceiving you. Ttiis montli,Hardcore is coming to youover an epic, Cecil B DelMiiiebaiting six pages. Along withthe continuing adventures ofour Escape From MonkeyI s l a n d a n d R e d F a c t i o nwalkthroughs, we are proudto bring you the firsti n s t a l m e n t o f o u r O f fi c i a lGran Hirismo 3; A-specguide. Whether you're a GTn e w b i e o r a c h i c a n eh a r d e n e d r a c e r t h i s i sessential reading, so enjoy.And of course, you'll also findall the game cracking codesand cheats. At th is rate 1

may even stop trying toescape from the mop room...

See you next month.

Paul FitzpatrickS t a f f W r i t e r

S A V E M E !

Games can be be a grind, But onlywhen you're stuck on Level 24 ofCmst Of Zorg; The Search For TheShield Of Batmore The Third, unableto unlock the gate to the Dungeonof Krell. Then, things can get vehveh desperate. That's why Fitz wassummoned - to help you throughthose lonely dark nights So, if youneed a hand, just pick up that penor keyboard and write to me atHardcore, Official PlayStation 2Magazine, Future Publishing, 30Monmouth Street, Bath BAl 2BW.Send email to [email protected]

greatest driving game ever. Essential PS2 purchase. You know what GT3: A-spec is but"low good are you? Raise your game with this, the only Official Guide.

LICENCE TESTS: DOMESTIC B

□ BROUGHT TO YOU IN ASSOCIATIONW I T H G R A N T U R I S M 0 ® 3 ; A - S P E CTHE OFFICIAL WINNERS' GUIDE,P U B U S H E D B Y P I G G Y B A C K A N DAVAILABLE IN THE SHOPS FOR £9,95 .

Y O U C A N W I N O N U N E IThe Gron rurismo®3; A-spec EuropeanWinners' League Is now online atwvw.authorisedcollection.com. Thiscompetition will run for five months,and is open to all Gran Turlsmo®3: A-spec players from PAL territories. Eachmonth, a new set of tracks will beunlocked on the site, and registeredusers invited to input their fastest lapand race times. The player who putsin the best overall performance acrossthe entire track set will be deemedthe winner - netting superb prizes.

1. starting^ acceleratingand stopping 1□ Car: Volkswagen New Beetle□ Gold: 0:35.100 □Silver: 0:35.400□ Bronze: 0:35.800'Accelerate, drive straight ahead, andbrake' - the motto for your first test toobtain your National B license. Beforestarting, take a look at your revscounter and hold the engine at around2,500rpm. Hit the gas... but viithout thetyres spinning too much and squealingloudly If that happens, you know thatyou have lost grip and the engine'spower can no longer be fullytransmitted to the track When you haveswitched to second gear (this happensautomatically from a certain speedonward. If you didn't select manualtransmission In the Options menu) driveat full speed. At around 940 metresstep on the brake and ceaseaccelerating, in the best-case scenario,you will come to a stop behind thefinish line, In the braking area.

2. Starting, acceleratingand stopping 2□ Car: Dodge Viper GTS□ Gold: 0:25.200 DSiiven 0:25.500□ Bronze: 0:26.300As was the case in the first test, thistest also Involves covering the distanceas fast as possible, and coming to ahalt on the marked area. Beforestarting hold your vehicle's engine atS.OOOrpm, and step on the gas withoutthe lyres spinning You should thereforepress the acceleration button gentlyrather than suddenly The braking pointI s a t a r o u n d t h e 8 7 0 m e t r e m a r k . U s ethe 850 metre line as a reference point,a n d h o l d d o w n t h e b r a k e b u t t o n o n c e

you pass that line. Should you come toa halt before the finish line, simplybrake a little later at your next attempt.

3. Basics of cornering 1:FF cars□ Car: Fiat Coupe TUrbo Plus□ Gold: 0:31.100 GSiiver: 0:31.400□ Bronze: 0:32.500Before the start, hold the engine ataround 3,000rpm, and steer gently tot h e o u t s i d e a f t e r t h e s u m m i t o f t l e h i l l .

Shortly before the braking point markedIn red, your right-hand tyres shouldtouch the curbs and you should .ilreadybe decelerating Brake, and only ;;teerproperly Into the corner after a fractionof a second. Do not accelerate analn toavoid being propelled too far to theoutside. As soon as the winners' ine isshown In blue, you may accelera" eagain IgentlyJ and allow yourself to bepropelled to the outside. Before thenext summit, steer Just slightly tc theright so not to forfeit speed, if yo i arepropelled out of the corner, you fiad toolittle grip on the front wheels. Tocounter this, increase your brakingstretch or accelerate slightly iatei

L ICENCE TESTS: DOMESTIC A

p i g g y b a c k

1. Race cornering 1□ Can Honda NSX Type S Zero (J)□ Gold: 0:32.600 asiiver: 0:33.100□ Bronze: 0:34.700Your best bet Is to leave the start linewith 3,500rpm on your rev counter.Accelerate gently so that your tyresdont blocK which would have anadverse Impact on your acceleration.Then just follow the blue line, and steergently to the left into the first comer.Take your foot off the accelerator at thegrey marking, and then step on thebrakes a fraction of a second later Aftera few metres steer into the comer.Before reaching the clipping point, takeyour foot off the accelerator again.Don't wony about driving over thecurbs with your right-hand tyres, inorder to take the corner as tightly aspossible. If you directed your car Inaccordance with the winners' line, youwill be able to accelerate again afterthe clipping point, and can then letyourself be propelled to the outside.

2. Race cornering 2□ Can Nissan Skyline GT-R V -spec II (R34)□ Gold: 0:26.000 GSliven 0:26.300□ Bronze: 0:27.600At the start your revs counter shouldshow 4,000rpm. Then gently drivethrough the first gear, continuing toaccelerate In order to speed along theright-hand track edge of the 90..cornerafter the hill. Then take your fingerbriefly off the accelerator at the greymarking, In order to press the brake.While doing so, steer into the comer ina c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e d l i n e . B e f o r e

reaching the clipping point, simplyaccelerate In short bursts. In order tohave better control over your drivingdirection. Then allow yourself to begently propelled to the outside, andwhen accelerating make use of thenarrow verge on the right-hand side.

3. Race cornering 3□ Car: Honda S2000□ Gold: 0:29.800 GSiiver: 0:30.200□ Bronze: 0:31.600Your best bet Is to start at 4,000tDm, Inorder to gently drive through the firstgear Squealing and spinning tyresindicate that you are acceleratinfi tooheavily - so simply lift your finge alittle fram the acceleration button.Follow the blue line, and approacn thecomer from wide outside. Take yourfinger briefly off the accelerator etthegrey marking, and then brake and steerInto the corner Stay on the line and,from the grey marking, remove yourfinger from the brake button. You II nowhave to accelerate In cautious bi rsts inorder to remain on track However,you'll be able to accelerate fully againshortly before the clipping point. Allowyourself to then be gently propelled tothe outside, and drive towards thefi n i s h l i n e . ,

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OFHCIAL GUIDE

4. Basics of cornering 2:FR cars□ Car: Honda S2000□ Gold: 0:29.100 DSilver: 0:29.400□ Bronze: 0:31.000Again, start the HONDA at 3,000rpma n d f o l l o w t h e b l u e w i n n e r s ' l i n e . A t t h eentrance to the corner, drive along theoutside track and - once again - makefull use of the curbs. Your brakingm a n o e u v r e s t a r t s e a r l i e r t h a n i n t h eB-3 test, as you can see from the redmarking. While you steer towards theInside, the brake pedal remainsdepressed until you pass the areamarked in grey. Release the brake andaccelerate gently, to ensure that youcontinue to have plenty of grip availablefor your steering movement. After a fewmetres you can accelerate fully again,and race towards the finish line usingslight steering movements.

5. Cornering response 1:FF cars□ Car Honda Civic Type R□ Gold: 0:34.400 DSilver: 0:34.800□ Bronze: 0:36.200Hold the engine at 5,000rpm, andaccelerate cautiously, so that the tyresdo not spin. Drive through first gearwithout the tyres blocking From thesecond gear you can step down on thegas and follow the blue line. At the greymarking, briefly take your foot off theaccelerator and steer gently l!| to theinside. When you reach the red marking,brake briefly and then accelerate fully.Ifs best to have a brief pause betweenbraking and accelerating During thisprocess you also steer sharply into thetunnel, making use of the curbs on theinside track. Keep to the right-hand wallin the tunnel, but avoid the marking onthe edge, which causes the car todecelerate. At the exit, steer gently tothe right to reach the finish line.

6. Cornering response 2:FR cars□ Car: Mazda MX-5 1.8i□ Gold: 0:33.000 □Sllven 0:33.300□ Bronze: 0:34.700Drive away from the start line at3,000rpm. and follow the blue line.Keep to the left-hand boundary duringthe first comer and, when steering intothe second corner, briefly take your footf r o m t h e a c c e l e r a t o r t w o o r t h r e e t i m e s .This ensures that you remain on theinside track and approach the nextcorner from the outside. Step briefly onthe brake when you reach the redmarking do nothing for a brief momentand then accelerate again. Also, steerinto the tunnel by again making use oft h e c u r b s o n t h e l e f t - h a n d s i d e . I n o r d e r

not to be propelled too far to theoutside when steering in, you mayagain have to take your foot off theaccelerator. Then drive along the tunnelwall, but without touching the right-hand edge marking.

7. Basics ofsequential cornering□ Car: Toyota MR2□ Gold: 0:33.000 QSIiver: 0:33.400□ Bronze: 0:35.400Start your car at 3,000rpm and drivet o w a r d s t h e fi r s t h i l l s u m m i t . H e a d

directly for the second corner and passIt a little beyond the right-hand sideedge. Take the second corner a littlemore tightly than suggested by thewinners' line, and take your foot off theaccelerator briefly before reaching thefirst grey marking When steering intotfie tunnel, it's a good Idea to stay ontfie winners' line. At the end of thetunnel touch the left-hand track edge,and then twice briefly take your foot offthe accelerator before steering into thenext corner Drive through the corner inthe tunnel as wide as possible toachieve maximum exit speed. Onexiting the tunnel steer Immediately tothe left, in order to head directly for thefi n i s h l i n e .

8 . Domest ic Class B L icensefi n a l t e s t□ Car: Nissan Si<yline CT-RVspec il (R32, J|□ Gold: 0:42.800 □Silver: 0:43.400□ Bronze: 0:46.000Your left-hand tyres should be on thecurbs before the grey marking. So takeyour foot off the accelerator, then stepon the brake and steer sharply into thecorner Drive wide out of the corner, toenter a chicane, steer to the left andavoid driving through the next cornertoo wide. Before the tunnel you shouldfind yourself on the right-hand edge.Take your foot off the accelerator. Steersharply into the tunnel and, from themiddle, accelerate in short bursts. You'llnow drift along the left of the tunnel,a n d s k i d i n t o t h e n e x t c o r n e r B e f o r ethe next tunnel, stabilise your car bycounter-steering, to take the finish lineat full speed. For a record time, take thesecond corner and passage betweenthe tunnels, as tightly as possible.

TOWHONV

4. Circular turns, 60R,dry road□ Car: IVIazda RX-7 Type RZ□ Gold: 0:43.200 □Silver 0:44.000□ Bronze: 0:46.000Start your car at around 3,000rpm. Aftera few metres steer to the inside andstay In the dark area of the road. Nowcontinue accelerating and try toestablish a constant speed whilesteering to the right. Steering is bestdone using the left stick of your DualShock 2, even if you normallydetermine your car's course using thedirectional buttons. The secret Is to turnthe steering wheel fully while driving atmaximum speed, without leaving thedark track area too wide. If you see thatyou're being propelled to the outside,take your finger off the accelerator Ifyou are being pulled too far to theinside, accelerate more heavily andsteer less to the inside. After three laps,accelerate fully before the finish line, tobe propelled to the outside.

®,l5. Circular turns, lOOR,dry road□ Car twiazda RX-7 Type RZ□ Gold: 0:55.800 □Silver 0:56.300□ B r o n z e : 0 : 5 9 . 0 0 0Just as in the previous test, your bestbet is to start at 3,000rpm, and thenpull the car to the inside after driving afew metres. From there accelerate againand allow yourself to be propeiled a fewmetres to the outside, Your right-handtyres should always remain in contactwith the dark rather than the paleasphalt. Always remember: if you arepropelled to the outside, simply takeyour finger off the accelerator If yourcar pulls too far to the inside,accelerate more heavily and steer lesst o t h e i n s i d e , A s s o o n a s t h e fi n i s h l i n eis in view, accelerate fully and letyourself be propelled to the outside.With this test it's best to steer using theleft stick of your Dual Shock 2.

6. Taking long corners□ Car; Jaguar XKR Coupe□ G o l d : 0 : 2 7 0 0 0 D S i l v e r : 0 : 2 7 5 0 0□ Bronze: 0:29.500First, follow the blue line and, beforereaching the red marking take yourfinger briefly off the accelerator. SteerInto the corner taking care not to bepropelled to the outside. Beforereaching the clipping point, you canaccelerate again in gentle bursts.However, don't accelerate too much, sothat you can drive along the right trackedge at the end of the corner In agentle left arc, approach the nextcorner from wide outside. Again, takeyour finger off the accelerator andbrake acconjing to the markings shown.Pull to the inside, and take care tofollow the marking, since it dictatesyour speed. If you are too quick anddrive to the right of the line, you'll bepropelled out of the comer At the endof the corner simply accelerate In ordert o c r o s s t h e fi n i s h l i n e I n r e c o r d t i m e .

7. Taking blind corners□ Car Chevrolet Camaro Z28□ Gold: 0:14.200 nSiiver: 0:14.700□ Bronze: 0:15.400Drive up the hill in accordance with theblue line, and steer gently to the left.You will soon see a grey and redmarking. This means you should reducethe gas and steer into the comer that isoutside your field of vision. Beforereaching the clipping point, acceleratefully again and pull close to the righttrack edge around the corner Continuesteering heavily to the right, becauseyour high speed will propel you to theleft in any event. Don't be afraid to usethe left verge, in order to approach thefinish line at full speed, in principle, theonly challenge posed by this test isapproaching the corner in an optimalmanner Why not experiment a littlewith braking and steering-in points?You'll quickly find yourself beating thetime needed to win a Gold Cup.

8 . Domest ic C lass A L icencefi n a l t e s t□ Car: Mitsubishi [..ancerE v o l u t i o n I V G S R□ Gold: 0:15.400 □Silver 0:15.800□ Bronze: 0:17.300A f t e r t h e s t a r t d r i v e d o w n t h e h i l l a n dsteer into the chicane early on. Whenyou are between the two comers, pullto the right. Ideally, your front bumpershould pass close by the right boundarycone. You should now briefly brake untilyou have stowed down to 60-65kmh.Now start steering into the cornerwithout stepping on the gas or brakes.Although your car will now drive to theleft, it will also be pulled to the right. Donot leave the winners' line, if you findyourself too far to the inside, youbraked too heavily and were thussimply too slow, if you're being pulled tothe outside, however, you must brakeeariier or more slowly - or just takeyour foot briefly off the acceleratoragain when steering.

PlayStation.^ 129

R D C D R

G R R N T U R B m O 3 : R - 5 P E C ( = o n b^TUNING YOUR VEHICLESome general points■ tuningabout IYou'll find lots of tuning parts In theTune Shop, all of which can be acquiredand used to upgrade your vehicle. Buttake care: not all parts are Intended forall cars - and they won't benefit all carsequally. Remember that the tuningparts are always tailored to the carcurrently selected. Although you canremove parts purchased for a specificvehicle, you cannot use them for othercars in your Garage.

^ gt&HiimAasT

1 ^ o o i T t . n i m H z u a K f t

You can acquire a total of 44 tuningparts, divided into six categoriesrSuspension & Brakes, Engine & Exhaust,Drivetrain, Turbo, Tyre and Others/Rom.Once you've selected a part from acategory, Just press the (g) button andthe next screen will appear As well as abrief description of the part, you'll finddetails on how the part In question mayImprove your engine performance(expressed in BHP).

If you decide to go ahead andpurchase the tuning part, you can haveit Installed in your car Immediately soyou'll automatically benefit from itseffects during the next race. In theevent that you already possess a similartuning part {e.& another Exhaust and AirCleaner) the old one will be removed,and you can access it again by going tothe Settings menu. Thus, you can

□ O O O ^ S

decide before each race whether you'dlike to try your luck with the Exhaustand Air Cleaner/Sports or the Exhaustand Air Cleaner/Semi-Racing

You should also remember thatsome tuning parts only reach their fullpotential In combination with others.For example, an Intercooler supports aTurbo Kit. it makes no sense to Install alarge exhaust such as an Intercooler Ina car with a low-performance engine.

lUning categories and parts□Tuning part: Here you'll find theprecise name of the tuning part. Ailtuning parts are listed In the sequenceIn which they occur In the game.

□ Approx price in Cn The purchaseprice varies slightly depending on thevehicle. To give you an indication, we'velisted a medium guide price. If youcannot find a price for a tuning part inthe game. It could mean two things:11 This part Is generally not suited toyour current vehicle.21 You cannot yet install this tuningpart, but must first create the necessaryconditions with another tuning part

□Settings possibie: Certain settingscan be made In respect of your vehicleafter Installing some tuning parts. If thisIs the case, you'll find a Yes' In therelevant column. Read part two ofHardcore's Official Guide next issue forfurther Information on settings

□ Removal possibie: Most tuning partscan be removed again. If so require.This may for example, be necessary Ifyou would otherwise exceed the BHPlimit qualifying you to enter a race.

□ Effects and remarks: We have useda star rating, from one to five, toI n d i c a t e B H P o r a c c e l e r a t i o nImprovement resulting from installationof the tuning part. One star |'| indicatesthat the improvement is only slight,while five stars (•"*1 Indicate that thistuning part results in a significantImprovement In some cases we havelisted acquisition requirements Inaddition to the effects - Indicating forexample, that a specific part Is onlys u i t a b l e f o r 4 x 4 v e h i c l e s .

p i g g y b a c k

tuning par t Approx Settings R e m o v a l E f f e c t s a n d r e m a r k s

price in Cr possib le possib leSimulation Tyres 5 0 0 0 N o Ye s These tyres offer only slightly more grip, anc are

only suitable for professional drivers.Sports Tyres 5 0 0 0 N o Ye s Tyres with a slightly better grip than your

conventional tyres.

Racing Tyres/Super Hard 1 0 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 1 out of 7 grip and7 out of 7 durability. Superbly suited to loni races.

Racing Tyres/HanJ 1 3 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 2 out of 7 grip and6 out of 7 durability.

Racing Tyres/Medium Hard 1 6 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 3 out of 7 grip and5 out of 7 durability.

Racing TytBS/Medlum 2 2 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 4 out of 7 grip and4 out of 7 durability.

Racing Tyres/Medium Soft 2 7 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 5 out of 7 grip and3 out of 7 durability.

Racing Tyres/Soft 3 4 5 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 6 out of 7 grip and2 out of 7 durability.

Racing Tyres/Super Soft 4 7 0 0 0 N o Ye s High-performance tyres with 7 out of 7 grip and1 out of 7 durability. Superbly suited to Nor nalraces with a low number of taps.

Dirt Racing Tires 2 2 5 0 0 N o N o A tyre offering a good grip especially on dirt roads.Necessary for rally races.

E N G I N E A N D E X H A U S TTuning part Approx Settings R e m o v a l E f f e c t s a n d r e m a r l t s

price in Cr possib le possib leExhaust and Air Cleaner/Sports 1 5 0 0 N o Ye s Horsepower (BHP) Increase: *. Especially su ted to

turbo engines. The horsepower (BHP) increcsesthanks to the Exhaust and Air Cleaner. How jver,take care to also strengthen the engine -otherwise you will not be able to fully utills< ' thepotential Exhaust performance.

Exhaust and Air Cleaner/Seml-Racing 2 8 0 0 N o Yes BHP increase: *. Especially suited to turboengines. The BHP increases thanks to theExhaust and Air Cleaner. However, take car?to also enhance the engine - otherwise yoiiwill not be able to fully utilise the potentialExhaust performance.

Exhaust and Air Cleaner/Racing 4 5 0 0 N o Ye s BHP Increase: Especially suited to turboengines. Ttie BHP increases thanks to theExhaust and Air Cleaner. However, take careto also enhance the engine - otherwise yoiwill not be able to fully utilise the potentialE x h a u s t p e r f o r m a n c e . s

NA Tuning/Stage 1 4 6 0 0 N o Ye s BHP increase: **. This also slightly worsenst h e a c c e l e r a t i o n .

NA Tuning/Stage 2 1 1 5 0 0 N o Ye s BHP increase: **. This also slightly worsens' Bthe acceleration.

NA Tuning/Stage 3 6 5 0 0 0 N o Ye s BHP increase; ****♦. In this reganj, accelerationalso worsens slightly.

P o r t P o l i s h 5 0 0 0 N o N o BHP Increase: *. The Polish increases the ra *®displacement, thus Increasing the horsepov er.

Full-Engine Balancing 1 0 0 0 0 N o N o BHP Increase: *. The engine weight Is balan::edout, thus Improving performance and, as aconsequence. Increasing horsepower (BHP).

DIsp Increase 8 5 0 0 N o N o BHP increase; By increasing the displacenentthe engine performance is improved, Increasingthe BHP

Racing Chip 1 0 0 0 N o N o BHP Increase: *. The engine control computer chipIs replaced, thus increasing the BHP

T U R B O 1 1Tuning part Approx Settings R e m o v a l Effects and remarks

price in Cr possib le possib leTurtH) Kit/Stage 1 4 5 0 0 N o Ye s Horsepower (BHPl Increase: ****. Although t le

BHP increases, acceleration Is reduced. A Ti rboKit therefore only really comes into Its own Vom acertain speed.

Turbo Kit/Stage 2 1 2 5 0 0 N o Ye s BHP Increase: ****. Although the BHP Increases,acceleration Is reduced. A Turto Kit therefoi e onlyreally comes Into Its own from a certain spred.

Turbo Kit/Stage 3 4 2 5 0 0 N o Ye s BHP Increase; Although the BHP Increases,acceleration Is reduced A Turbo Kit therefoi e onlyreally comes Into Its own from a certain spt ed.

Turbo Kit/Stage 4 8 0 0 0 0 N o Ye s BHP Increase: Although the BHP increases,acceleration Is reduced. A Turbo Kit therefore onlyreally comes into Its own from a certain sp( ed.

Intercooler/Sports 1 8 0 0 N o Ye s BHP increase: *. Supports the function of a TurboKit thus Increasing the BHP.

Intercooler/Racing 3 0 0 0 N o Ye s BHP Increase: *. Only after Installing a higherStage Turbo Kit supports the function of the TurboKit, thus Increasing the BHP

130 Play5tation.E

OFFICIAL GUIDES U S P E N S I O N A N D B R A K E SlUning part Approx Settings R e m o v a l Effects and remarks

price in Cr possib le possib leSuspension/Sport Kit 3 0 0 0 Ye s Yes Settings possible to the Damper and

Camber Angle.Suspenslon/Semi-Racing 7 0 0 0 Ye s Ye s Settings possible to the Damper, Camber Angle,

Ride Height Adjustment and StabilizerSuspension/Fully Customised Service 1 5 0 0 0 Y e s Ye s Settings possible to the Damper (fine), Camber

Angle, Ride Height Adjustment, Stabilizer, SpringRate and Toe Angle.

Sports Brakes 4 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves braking behaviour and reducesb r a k e f a d e .

Brake Balance Controller 1 0 0 0 0 Ye s Ye s Settings to the Brake Balance possible.

D R I V E T R A I N 1Timing part Approx Settings R e m o v a l E f f e c t s a n d r e m a r k s

price in Cr possib le possib le

Clutch/Single 1 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: * Slightimprovement to gear switching, and thus to thev e h i c l e ' s a c c e l e r a t i o n .

C l u t c h / T w i n 2 5 0 0 N o Ye s Impraves the acceleration: **. Mediumimprovement to gear switching, and thus to thev e h i c l e ' s a c c e l e r a t i o n .

Clutch/Triple 4 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration; ***. Significantimprovement to gear switching, and thus to thev e h i c l e ' s a c c e l e r a t i o n .

Flywheel/Sports 4 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: *. Vehicle'sacceleration improves, but Torque worsens. Thisbecomes particularly clear on inclines In thecase of a low horsepower |BHP) engine.

Flywheel/Semi-Racing 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration; Although thevehicle's acceleration Improves, the Torqueworsens. This becomes particularly clear oninclines in the case of a low BHP engine.

Flywheel/Racing 9 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: ***, Although thevehicle's acceleration improves, the Torqueworsens. This becomes particularly clear oninclines in the case of a low BHP engine.

D r i v e s h a f t / C a r b o n 2 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: ***. Only for carswith FR and 4x4 drive. The power transmissionto the rear wheels increases, improvingacceleration and also slightly Increasing speed.

Transmission/Sports 5 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: *; Increases themaximum speed: **

Transmisslon/Senfii-Racing 5 5 0 0 N o Ye s Improves the acceleration: Increases themaximum speed: *.

Transmission/Fuil-Racing 1 0 0 0 0 Ye s Ye s Settings possible to alter gear ratios.t^D/1 Way 4 0 0 0 N o Ye s Understeering reduces when accelerating.LSD/1.5 Way 4 0 0 0 N o Ye s Understeering reduces when accelerating, but

Is only slightly reduced when braking.LSD/2 Way 4 0 0 0 N o Ye s Understeering reduces when accelerating

and braking

LSD/Full Customisation 6 0 0 0 Ye s Ye s You can determine the attributes and effects ofthe LSD yourself

O T H E R S / R O MTuning part Approx Set t ings R e m o v a l E f f e c t s a n d r e m a r k s

price in Cr possib le possib le

Lightweight/Stage 1 1 0 0 0 N o N o Improves acceleration: *. Vehicle componentsnot needed for a race are removed, thusrendering your vehicle lighter and Improvingacceleration. You must observe the sequenceStage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3,

Lightweight/Stage 2 5 0 0 0 N o N o Improves acceleration; *. Vehicle componentsnot needed for a race are removed, thusrendering your vehicle lighter and improvingacceleration. \bu must observe the sequenceStage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3.

Lightweight/Stage 3 2 0 0 0 0 N o N o Improves acceleration: *. Vehicle componentsnot needed for a race are removed, thusrendering your vehicle lighter and improvingacceleration. You must observe the sequenceStage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3.

AY C C o n t r o l l e r 8 0 0 0 Y e s Ye s Each tyres' turning motion is controlled,preventing understeering in corners. Settingspossible to the AYC Controller

Variable Centre Differential 1 0 5 0 0 Y e s Ye s Only for cars with 4x4 drive: The turning ofeach tyre is controlled, so that a 4x4 vehiclec a n b e d r i v e n I n a m a n n e r s i m i l a r t o a F F c a r

Tip on buying tuning partsIf you are not sure that buying a tuningpart will have the desired effect, saveyour game on a Memory Card. This willenable you to reload your previousGame Status, ensuring that you do notend up spending money on anunnecessary part.

After acquiring a new tuning part,It's a good Idea to tal<e your car for atest drive. Always take care to select thesame conditions for this, eg one of thethree Time Trials available in MachineTest. Or you can go to My Home andse lec t a F ree Run .

Timing suggestionsTo ensure that you tune yourvehlcle(sl as effectively andeconomically as possible withoutincurring unnecessary expenditure,we have listed below some examplesof how you can achieve specificImprovements by tuning. In thisregard we have listed the parts inthe most logical and typicalsequence in which you can purchasea n d i n s t a l l t h e m .

When looking through the list,bear In mind that - depending onyour car - you cannot acquire ailparts. You should also rememberthat prices are only approximate,since costs vaty slightly dependingon the car In question.

Don't forget that you can alsobuy additional updates of certaintuning parts. For example, if you'vecarried out Ughtweight/Stage 1,there's no reason why you shouldn'talso carry out Lightweight/Stage 2and Lightweight/Stage 3.

The same applies to Turbo Kits,NA Tuning and LSD. In fact, in thesec a s e s t h e r e ' s n o n e e d t o s t a r t w i t hthe lowest level: you can select ahigher update from the beginning.

T Y P I C A L O R D E R O F T U N I N G PA RT S F O R H I G H S P E E D

CategoryEngine & Exhaust

Engine & Exhaust

Engine & ExhaustT u r b o

Turbo

D r i v e t r a i n

D r i v e t r a i n

Tuning partExhaust and Air Oeaner/Sports

Racing ChipNA Tuning/Stage 1

Turbo Kit/Stage 1

Intercooler/Sports

Clutch/Single

Flywheel/SportsTo t a l c o s t :

Approx price in Cr1 5 0 0

1 0 0 0

4 5 0 0

4 5 0 0

1 5 0 0

1 5 0 0

4 0 0

1 4 9 0 0

T Y P I C A L O R D E R O F T U N I N G PA R T SF O R G O O D D R I V I N G A N D S T E E R I N G B E H AV I O U R

Category Tuning part

Engine & Exhaust Exhaust and Air Cleaner/SportsEngine & Exhaust Racing ChipT y r e S p o r t s T y r e s

Suspension & Brakes Sports BrakesSuspension & Brakes Suspension/Sports Kit

To t a l c o s t ;

T Y P I C A L O R D E R O F T U N I N G PA R T S F O RI M P R O V I N G E N G I N E P E R F O R M A N C E

Category

Engine & ExhaustEngine & Exhaust

Engine & ExhaustT u r b o

Engine & ExhaustEngine & Exhaust

Engine & Exhaust

Timing partExhaust and Air Cleaner/Sports

Po r t Po i i sh

Full-Engine Balancing.Turbo Kit/Stage 1

DIsp. IncreaseNA Tuning/Stage 1

Racing ChipTo t a l c o s t :


1 0 0 0

5 0 0 0

4 5 0 0

3 0 0 0

1 5 0 0 0


5 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0

4 5 0 0

8 5 0 0

4 5 0 0

1 0 0 0

3 5 0 0 0

T Y P I C A L O R D E R O F T U N I N G PA R T SF O R I M P R O V I N G A C C E U R AT I O N

Catego ryD r i v e t r a i n

D r i v e t r a i n

D r i v e t r a i n

O t h e r s / R o m

D r i v e t r a i n

D r i v e t r a i n

Hinlng partDriveshaft/Carbon

Transmlsslon/Sports

Clutch/Single

Lightweight/Stage 1Flywheel/SportsLSD/1 Way

To t a l c o s t :

PlayStation.E 131

C R R T F U R y :□H R m P D N E H l PR fl C I N E

R D C D R

R E D F R C T O NIf you took advantage of part one of our official Red Faction walkthrough last month you'llbe up to your eyeballs in it by now. Time to continue the fight comrades...

ABANDONED SMELTER (PART TWO)Run down the shaft to the end where you will dropinto a smalt silver room. A hatch will open so dropdown and slowly creep down this next shaft. At theexit will be a small scoop for you to drop into, as wellas two guards. Save your game. Drop down and runup the ramp ahead of you, turn left and run up thenext ramp to a switch. Flip the switch and quicklydrop down into the scoop before it movesaway. Ride the lift until you see a giant fanthat Is labelled Ventilation', Jump across,duck past the blades and run downt h e v e n t i l a t i o n s h a f t .

V E N T I L A T I O NS H A F TSave your gameagain. You1l come outinto a targe shaft with multiple platformsconnected by ladders. There are at least fourguards in this area, so as you climb the laddersto the platform keep firing away with yourAssault Rifle at each of the enemies. From theplatform you started on, climb up the ladder to thegrating right above you.

Next climb up the ladder ahead of you and pressa switch on the wall, which will stop the giantpropeller blades at the top of the shaft. With theblades slowed, or stopped, you can then reach theopening on the other side of the room that is labelled'Rock Crusher*. Climb up the small ladder and enterthis next shaft where youll kill one more guard beforeloading up the next level.

A B A N D O N E D C R U S H E RWhen running through this tunnel, you will encountera dying Miner who warns you about a sniper on topof the Rock Crusher ahead Creep slowly to theopening, and then use the Precise Targetingcommand to target the lone guard on top of the largeyeltow machine and plant some bullets in his head.Then drop out of the shaft, shoot the guard on the farside of the room and then run to the back of thelarge yellow machine to find a ladder Climb up to thetop to pick up the sniper rifle from the dude youk i l l e d e a r l i e r

Also, on the ground in the back of the machine isa box that holds a Rocket Launcher and somerockets so pick them up. Once that Is done runthrough the small passage on the left side of theroom until you come to a retracting bridge. Shoot thefour guards on the other side of the chasm, and thenequip the Sniper Rifle to shoot the switch on theother side which will extend the bridge. Run down theshort tunnel to an airlock on your right, Press thebutton to open the door, shoot the guard inside andthen press the other button to seal the airlock and toend the first part of the walkthrough.

P L A N T E N T R A N C EThe entrance to the Geothermal Power Plant caneither be an annoying dragged battle or a quick runthrough a tunnel depending on what you choose todo. Here is the quickest way through the level thatwill prevent you from dying a very bad and bloodydeath at the hands of a powerful machine gunemplacement.

At the start, follow the stairs as they veer to theleft. Kill the single guard and then turn the comer tothe right. Wipe out the two guards In the smallpassage and then equip either the Rocket Launcheror some Remote Charges. Look on the ground in frontof the sandbag barriers and blow up the section ofground between the two grates. Drop down into thehole and follow the tunnel until you come out with adoor to your right Don't go in there, instead walkforward and go through the door to your left that Islabelled 'Geothermal Facility #4'.

■■■■

Ventiliation Shaft. ' "Time to 'vent' that anger.

G E O T H E R M A L P O W E R P L A N TTills Is one of the more confusing levels in the game,but as long as you do things in the right order youshould do fine. Once you go through the first door,

turn left and take out the two guards. Thenturn right and go left down the passage

labelled Lava and Water Control. Take thefirst left and follow the hall down to

Lava Control, kill the two guards ande n t e r t h e r o o m .

Go through the door In thefence and walk over to the leftwall where there Is a wheel.Press ® to turn the wheel and

t h e n e x i t t h e r o o m w h i l e

destroying any resistance. Run upthe hall and tum left to head to

Water ContnDl. As soon as you enterthe room, head to the left and dropdown to the second level. Run up to

the small console and press the buttonto cause the room to begin to shake and

then exit Head down the hall and tum left tohead down to the Turbine Room. Enter the door toyour left (which is labelled Turbine Room') and headto the back where there Is another wheel to turn.Once again, activate It and then leave the room.

Return to the main hall, turn left and then rightup the ramp. Kill the guards behind the sandbags andturn left down the hall. At the end go left again andenter the Water Reclamation room. Blow up the twoyellow machines with Remote Charges, and thenleave the room and run directly across to the controlroom. Upon entering the room, kill the guard andthen run down the ramps. When the guy down therepleads with you to spare his life, listen to him. Himstaying alive is crucial to completing tills level. He willtell you about a switch you need to press at the sametime he presses a different one, so walk over to thecentre pillar and find the switch on one of theconsoles. When he tells you to, press the switch andthen leave the room. Now you are able to enter thecentre door in this hall. Do so and run down thetunnel to reach the Submarine Bay.

S U B M A R I N E B A YYou now have an opportunity to drive a one-man sub through an underwater tunnel tothe Underwater Research Base. Uponentering the bay turn to the left andshoot the single guard that youfind there. The only way tolower the sub is in thec o n t r o l r o o m a n d t h edoor is jammed shutPlace a Remote Chargeo n t h e w a l l n e x t t o t h edoor (you can also fire arocket) and detonate itNow go Inside and presst h e b u t t o n o n t h ec o n s o l e t o h a v e t h e s u b

drop into the water.To enter the sub,

jump In the water on top ofIt and press the ® button.Begin to move forward intothe tunnel ahead, and followthe white lights. Abouthalfway along the tunnel,you'll come to a large opencavem. Directly below you willbe an enemy sub. It will firetorpedoes at you, but you areable to fight back Strafe leftand right to avoid his fireand you can defeat himwith about three direct

hits. Next head through the other tunnel with thewhite lights and continue forward. In that tunnel youw i l l e n c o u n t e r a w h a l e t h a t w i l l fi r e o f f a s o n a r a t t a c kat you - one or two torpedoes should kill it Continueforward to a large cavem where you will find theUnderwater Research Base,

U N D E R W AT E R R E S E A R C H B A S EBefore you can dock, you'll have to deal with onemore sub, so strafe around it while firing off yourtorpedoes and once It explodes head into theunderwater base to dock and enter the base. In thedocking chamber there will be two guards. You canequip your Handgun and shoot them from under thewater (the sub's torpedoes cannot be shot at themunfortunately! or Jump out of the water with yourfavourite weapon and kill them quickly. Now gothrough the only door, and turn right

Run to the end of the hall towards the largenumber '2' and go down the ladder At the bottom goright again and head towanjs the end of the halltowards the targe number 1' and two guards willcome out of the door to your right Wipe them outand then enter the large room. Now you can standaround here waiting on the tram to appear on thetracK but Instead equip your Assault Rifle and beginto run down the tracks. Eventually you'll Intercept thetram, complete with two guards. Kill them and thencontinue down the track. Tum left at the end, enterthe door and turn right and run to the end of the hall.To your right will be a Miner who will brief you onyour next mission, give you a suit to wear as well asa S i l e n c e d P i s t o l .

'That's It for this month. Next time we go deep Intothe Ultor"s Corporate HQ and Parl<er learns somedisturbing facts about his former employer...

We teased you with a few ta^tytreats In issue #10, well now ourundercover spies have repori:edback after infiltrating the MidwayHQ with a whole host of exc usiven e w c h e a t s .

All of the following codes mus" beentered on the Cheat screen whichcan be accessed via the Optionsmenu. If the code has worked thenthe cheat will instantly appear int h e o n - s c r e e n l i s t .

A l l c a r s

A l l t racks . . .I n fi n i t e t u r b oN o t i m e o u t . f D , C D , iI n fi n i t e t r i e s i d , ( d , iBig heads

i B , C DI B , I D

L o w g r a v i t y C B . a iJump op t i on a i , fB , fD ,GD,<Thick fogN i g h t d r i v e 0 , ® , ® , ® ,R o c k e t w h e e l sD e a t h c a r m , ( S ) , c D , c s ,Opponent death cars

D , C D

s , m

i B , a i

D e a t h w a i iA l i F I ^ V

ID,CD

IB,®

R T \ I n R F R D R D

If you're one of those people thatlikes everything handed to y)u ona plate and then shovelled intoyour cheating gob on a silverspoon, then we have a whol :h o s t o f s e c r e t c o d e s f o r S C E E ' s

outrageous quad bike sim.

G e t a l l AT V s

Flrstiy, to unioci* every A1V In thegame without so much as having toturn an ignition key, enter ProCareer mode and enter your rameas CHACHING. Every uniocl ab emachine will now be yours, m jkingyour task of winning every time adead cert.

G e t m o r e t r a c k sTo instantly unlock more tracks tounleash your bolstered garage ofmotors on, enter Pro Career modeand enter your name as WHAT EXIT.Every previously unridable terrainwlli now be accessible for your turf-tearing pleasure. And finally...

Increase opponent AlWhat with every vehicle and trackalready unlocked, the challengefactor is now seriously depleted.Worry not, by entering this finalcheat password, you'li increase theAl level of your opposing rider>,making it Infinitely harder to tikethe chequered flag Simply enterPro Career mode and enter ycurn a m e a s A L L O U TA I .

E X T E R M I N A T I O N

Here's some top secret inform itionthat goes out to all you hard-c )realien annlhilators.If you complete the game aftercollecting all 15 hidden dog tags you'llunlock a kick-ass Expert mode 11which you start the game with tiie six-shot grenade pistol, 99 grenades 300PSR4 rounds, 50 shotgun rounds and25 m iss i l es , S t r ev r t h .

132 PlayStation.?

R E 5 0 E N TE N I L E D D E :N J E R D N I E R X

E S C R P E P R n m m o N K E y E L R N UHaving found the real culprits of the bank robbery last month, you now need to stump upsome proof, and the missing booty. Now read on...

C O N T I N U E D . . .Proving The Real Thief Was At The SceneO f T h e C r i m e

l^ok at the MANHOLE COVER. Remember the nameson it and go to the Prostheses shop. Tali< to Daveabout free Prostheses, after he's toid you a story andyou've given him the names you had to remember,he'il give you the PROSTHETIC SKIN, You can also gett h e W O O D E N P R O S T H E T I C H A N D . G o t o t h e m u s i c b o xand while the music is playing and the words appearwalk to the barrel and take the hand. You'll have to tryagain if the music stops.

Head back to the bank and use the PROSTHETICSKIN on the manhole to turn it into a trampolineand then propel yourself into the open window. Walkover to ladder and grab the SCUPPERWARE. Now walkto the left of the counter and pull the chain. Go backto the ladder and climb up it to the balcony, on theleft you will find a prosthetic nose that InspectorCanard will take - proving that Pegnose Pete was atthe scene of the crime all along Now all you have todo is find the booty...

Ending The BootyGet some BAIT from the bait shop and combine itwith the SCUPPERWARE. Now go to the termite circusand use the WOODEN PROSTHETIC HAND on it. Oncedone, leave the shop, look at the Lucre Island mapand go to the mansion where Ozzte Iviandrill andsome stuffed animals are waiting Talk to Ozzie,but don't challenge him to a sword fight oryou'll lose, then use the COLOGNE on anystuffed mammal. This will make Ozziem a d a n d h e ' l l b r e a k h i s c a n e .

G o t o t h e H o u s e O f S t i c k s a n d w a i tf o r O z z i e t o t u r n u p t o g e t h i s c a n e *repaired. In the shop go to the rack ofsticks near the 'Choosing The Right WalkingStick' sign where Ozzie's cane Is sitting, Nowuse the TERMITE INFESTED PROSTHETICHAND on It; this will leave a trail ofsawdust. Go back to Ozzie'smansion and accuse him ofhiring Pete to frame you. Tellhim 'Pete's Booty Showcasehas lots of booty'. Ozzie willleave, so follow him throughthe woods using the trail ofsawdust and you'll see a hillof sand and a hiddenp a s s a g e .

O n c e d o w n t h e

ladder, press the redbutton on the tablethen climb back up theladder and dive into thedeep water. When yousee the glowing fishopen the SCUPPERWAREand catch them, you nowhave a lantern. Go left intothe cave to pick up theMARLEY FAMILY HE IRLOOMS

and the BRASS SCREW thatfalls to the ground. Exit thecave and head left to dryland and the town. Go to theH a l l o f J u s t i c e a n d s h o winspector Canard the MARLEYFA M I LY H E I R L O O M S a n dB R A S S S C R E W,

Coffee break?Not on yer li

ACT I IEnter The Manatee

M E L E E I S L A N DIn the Mansion ask Elaine all the questions presentedto you and take up her suggestion to visit the VoodooLady Enter the International House of Mojo and pullthe Index finger of the table shaped like a hand. Youwill learn about the Ultimate Insult and GrandpaMarley's wedding gifts. When you ask her about thegifts, you will receive the EARRINGS, the NECKLACEa n d t h e P E N .

Leave and go to the Mel6e Island map and thento Meathook's house Talk to Meathook about thec a n d l e s t h e n t a k e t h e PA I N T B R U S H f r o m t h e b u c k e the showed you. Head towards the docks.

Use the QUARTER In the Grog machine; it will getjammed so give the machine a good kick, thenpunch, shake and yell at it and a CAN OF GROG willdrop out. Head back onto town to the SCUMM Bar,w h i c h i s n o w c a l l e d t h e L U A B a r. Ta k e t h eCHOPSTICKS from the table to the left of the door,and onder food, A flaming ship will float by you. Usethe PAIIvrrBRUSH in the mechanism, you must time itso that the boat stops right in front of the paintingWhen the chef comes out to investigate, go into thekitchen and grab the CANAL STEAM GENERATOR anduse It with the CAN OF GROG. You will now have the

B L U E PA I N T I N G .In the docks go to the Dainty

Lady Use the EARRINGS, NECKLACE.PEN and BLUE PAINTING In thatorder on the figurehead. The nextstop Is Jambalya Island. Before

you leave, however, Elaine showsup and takes the MELEE ISLAND

G U B E R N AT O R I A L S Y M B O L

J A M B A L Y A I S L A N D

Getting The Sliver Monkey HeadIn town go to StarBuccaneer's Coffee Shop,

walk up the tourist in the purple shirt andlook at her shopping bag. Take the

STARBUCCANEER'S LOGO MUG thenget a free sample of mini bagels fromthe counter You now have theB A G E L C H U N K S W I T H S C H M E A RWHIZ That done, go to the JambalyaIsland map then on to the pinkhouse, you'll see Stan there Go overto the desk and grab a TIME SHAREBROCHURE, then the JAR OF GLUEf r o m n e a r t h e d o o r

At the Micro Groggery use theJAR OF GLUE on the MechanicalManatee and ask the bartenderabout the thing with the saddle

i Tell him you want to ride It, you'llt h e n r e c e i v e a P L A N E TT H R E E P W O O D C O U P O N .

At Planet Threepwood read them e n u a n d t a l k t o t h e w a i t r e s s a n d

get a drink. Sit down and ask thePirate for a free caricature, answerhis questions to receive the

MONKEY MUG CARICATURE whichwhen used with the jar of glue can

b e s t u c k t o t h e S TA R B U C C A N E E R ' SUDGO MUG, Swap It for the mug thatthe waitress bought you.

Getting A Bronze HatAt the Micro Groggery the bartender will ID you whenyou ask for some Grog then he'll give you the WIMPYGROG. Leave the bar and talk to the tourist by thestatue, find out all you can about Tiny Lafeet. Whenyou've finished chatting go to the docks, get into therowing boat and go left to Knuttin Atoll. Don't worryabout Admiral Casaba, just let him know you're goingto leave when you can, then leave. When you landwalk left to the school (it's a brightlsh building) talk tothe teacher then get enrolled. When you take theexam, give a really evil and nasty answer to beawarded the DUNCE CAR You'll then find yourselfoutside the school. Now activate the fire alarm andthe teacher will run out leaving the way clear for youto run in and grab the WHISTLE from the box ofconfiscated toys.

On the beach is a puppet show. Tell Ll'l LeChuckhe died over 80 years ago and ask him where he'sbeen. Leave the puppeteer alone, then show him theBLUE PAINTING. This will scare him and he'll throw thepuppets on the ground. Now pick up U'L GUYBRUSHa n d U ' L L E C H U C K .

Walk to the beach and you will find a fat piratewith a parrot perched on either shoulder, one tells thetruth, the other lies. Tell him he is large, then enquireabout his father, Tiny the friendly pirate. Ask where heburled the hat and he'll tell you It was in a field ofrocks . Go to t h i s fie ld and use the WHISTLE to

summon the parrots. Give one the WIMPY GROG thenask a simple question like, 'What is one plus three?'This way you'll weedle out the lying parrot. Now onlyever ask the truth-telling parrot whether he Is sat onthe boulder that conceals the hat. Keep moving andwhistling the parrot until you find the right rock. Whenyou do talk to U'L GUYBRUSH & U'L LECHUCKAdmiral Casaba will fire the cannon and blow up theboulder, revealing the BRONZE HAT

Getting A Golden ManBack on Jambalaya Island go to the plank divingcompetition and use the CHEWED UP BAGEL CHUNKSWITH SCHMEAR WHIZ with the seal oil that's on thetable. Talk to Marco de Polio and ask how to enter thediving competition. Now go to the judges and getcertified. Once this process is done go back to Marcoand tell him you'd like to dive against him. Your divedoesnt go too well so ask the grumpy judge whatwent wrong after a bit of a rant about his wifeexamine the TIME SHARE BROCHURE in yourinventory. On it Is an interesting picture featuring hiswife which when showed to the judge will make himgive you a fair score. Next go to the wise hippy-typejudge to ask what was wrong with your diving He'lltell you to copy Marco's moves. So for the four kindso f d i v e s h e r e ' s w h a t t o d o :

Alpha Monkey: <-Keelhaul: tRum Barrel: 4^Spinning Swordsman:

Tell Marco you're going to dive again, but put on theDUNCE CAP - making you more aerodynamic whichwill satisfy the middle judge. Copy Marco's diveexactly to tie his score. In the tie-breaker you go firstso do any dive you fancy, and when It comes toMarco's turn he'll put the sabotaged seal oil in hishair, thus attracting seagulls which will put him off sohe gets really bad scores. You have now won thecontest and the Golden Man.

*You now have all three parts of the Ultimate InsultFind out how to use It In Act III next Issue.

Completed It yet? Wrong! Youshould know by now that beatingany Resident EvU game once Isfar from completing It becausethere are always so manyadditional hidden extras that onlythe most skillful and persistent ofplayers will get to savour. Here'sw h a t s i n i s t e r s e c r e t s l u r k b e h i n d

the evil of this revoltinglya w e s o m e a d v e n t u r e . .

B a t t l e m o d e

Successfully complete the mainadventure under any difficultysetting After the credits have rolled,the game will automatically save,leaving a brand new Battle optiono n t h e m a i n m e n u .

First-person perspectiveBy successfully completing thegame under the Easy or Normaldifficulty setting you'll be able toplay through the entire game againin first-person. Try it and prepare tob e a m a z e d l

S t e v e B u r n s l d e i n B a t t l e m o d e

Yo u c a n u n l o c k S t e v e B u r n s l d e I nBattle mode by putting In a goodperformance as Chris. But a moresure-fire way of unlocking him isto get the Gold Lugar replicapistol from the basement office ondisc two. The drawer sequence toget access to it Is: red, green, bluea n d b o t t o m ,

Albert Wesker In Battle modeYou can unlock evil Albert Wesker inBattle mode by performing wellwith Steve Burnslde. But a betterm e t h o d i s t o t a k e W e s k e r ' s

sunglasses from the floor of theincubation lab when playing themain game as Chris.

Alternate Claire In Battle modeYou can unlock an extra version oft h e m a i n h e r o i n e i n B a t t l e m o d e

simply by performing well as herstandard self.

A l t e r n a t e C h r i s i n B a t t l e m o d eClaire's brother also has a alter-egoarmed only with a knife. To unlockhim, simply complete the Battlem o d e a s W e s k e r

Linear launcherObtain an 'A ranking with SteveBurnslde, Chris Redfield, AlbertWesker and both versions of Clairein Battle mode to unlock the linearlauncher This staggering weaponwill appear In your inventory thenext time you enter Battle mode.

Saving ammoTo conserve much-needed ammo,you should opt to kill zombies withyour combat knife. The besttechnique to use is to aim yourattack at the creature's head andwhen timed right you'll knock Itdown. Now thrust your blade IntoIts torso when on the ground tofin i sh i t o f f .

N o b a t b o t h e rA cunning trick to avoid beingbothered by bats is to use yourlighter Keep this out whenever theyare about and they won't comenear you. This works for both Clairea n d C h r i s .

PlayStation.E 133

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PlayStation d' q F T H : M l M A 6 A 2 t N E - U K

FINAL f^NTflSy XON 10CAIION VWWS<SE> tEVOl.lONWf* RPci

D aThis month: retro musings, import woes, DVD hassles and our new text sen/ice...

Got something you want to get off your brain? Then tell us and win aprize! The winner of the Startetter each Issue gets a voucher for £50 tospend at V Shop. Ali other full letters printed receive a £5 voucher forV Shop. Send your ietters to the Editor; Mike Goldsmith, c/o Postal,Offic/o/ P/oyStat/on 2 Magazine, Future Pubilshing 30 Monmouth StreetBath BAl 2BW. Email us at [email protected] (maridngyourmessages 'Postal') or text us your PS2 rants, raves, brainaches andfaves on 07764 175886 for our shiny new Postal Bytes section. Reasenote: this phone number Is for Postal Bytes only! TXT US!

STARLETTER

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SIAR LETTER: SQUARE PUSHERAm I sensing a change in views of your magazine In regards to the importing of PSone andPS2 games? In issue #10, you make two very biatant promotions of non-European games -one reference to Chmno Cross and then your East vs West article on page 58. Thesecertainly will have got some gamers thinking about what they are missing out on.

i own a lot of games that aren't available In the UK Chmno Cross and Parasite Eve aretwo of the best and It Is amazing that Square never released them In the UK /Parasite Eveli was! - Ed], Final Fantasy Tactics Is finally being re-neieased in the US and 1 would behappy to grab a much cheaper version than what one must pay for on the auction sites.

In no way do 1 condone piracy or the copying of games but I'll be damned that Icannot use my PSone or PS2 to its fullest because of where 1 live. I realise that althoughyou are independent from SCEE, you must still tow a line of some sort but you guys shouldbe placing far more pressure on publishers to get these games released.

Admittedly, we could probably do without the 20th version of Love Stoo' High SchoolSuper (or whatever - you get the point) that Japan receives but we still havent got DarkCloud (out for ages in the US) while Twisted Metal: Black is also taking Its time.

Finally, your interview with Rockstar's Sam Houser made me laugh but If you dontknow who The Strokes are, I suggest you stop reviewing ali music immediatelyLloyd Garrett, via email

We write about games because we love 'em, Uoyd If titles ore only available on Importand deserve a UK airing, then we scream at publishers llncluding SCEEl to release them -while Editor of Official PlayStation Magazine, this writer campaigned for the release of VIbRibbon land it worked], did It again for Rnal Fantasy Tactics land, urn, It didnti while 0PMis currently fighting the good fight for a UK version ofSNK's superb Metal Slug X. BothDark Cloud and Twisted Metal are now here /Dark Cloud delayed to include way morefeatures than either the Japanese or US versionsi and believe me, we're currently moaninglike biliy-o for a UK release of Sky Gunner and Ally Of Justice. Oh, and we're very aware ofThe Strokes, as the copt/on you refer to states. Lead singer looks like Bob Geidof, right:'

MONKEY BUSINESSI am writing to respond to Simon Miller'semail in Issue #10. He was talking abouthow videogames are value for moneyMaybe I am complaining too much, but 1think games being value for money Istotal rubbish.

You see, I just purchased Escape FromMonkey Island. I'm not saying It's a badgame or anything but it lasted me Justfour days. Four bloody days! Whooplei Ibought the game because of Its braln-teaslng puzzles and side-splitting laughs.Admittedly the puzzles were hard and thejokes made me giggle, but the game Justwasnt long enough. As It relies on yousolving the puzzles to get anywhere, it hasno repiayablltyiLee Yarker, via email

Fair point about Monkey island - whilethere are multiple routes through thegame and lots of secrets to be discovered,

It is a multiple choice adventure gameThat said to ask Monkey island to be anylonger Is to ask It to be a completelydifferent game. Can we point you to ourReviews section for future reference?

CAR TROUBLEI'd just like to add this to the great 'Why Isthe Ai In driving games so bad?' debate.There was a game out on the ZXSpectrum back In the good old dayscal led 3D Stock Car Simulator

This game has the best Ai of anydriving game before or since. Thecomputer cars would avoid you if you hityour brakes when In front of them or Ifyou went straight Into reverse on thestarting grid (as you do). You could evenmake them lose conttol and crash intothe fences while attempting to get pastyou by swerving around in front of them.

I find It strange that the hyper-advanced games of today cant compete

with a lowly Spectrum game. They don'tmake them like they used to...Paul Fawcett, via email

Two possible options then. HI Kazunorl-sanaddresses this in future versions of GranTurismo. mi Sir Cilve Sinclair storms thePS2 development community, dressed likea wizard and riding a white elephant, andreleases a driving game that he claimsplays exactly like the teal thing. Thename? Need For Speed: The C5 Edition...

GETAWAY WITH ITAfter seeing a screenshot of The Getowoyfor the first time almost a year ago, I wassimply stunned by the supreme look of Itall. But something has worried me. What Ifthose brilliant graphics Is all the game hasto offer? I say this because It hashappened before.

A while back In January 2000, beforethe PS2 had hit Japan your sister mag,Official PlayStation Magazine, wrote aboutSquare's The Bouncer To answer thequestion of whether or not the gamewould be tBleased in the UK the magreplied, "Please God, this Is the future ofgames." Of course, this was mainly basedon the graphics and how It was 'supposedto play' after looking at footage of thegame. The result of this was a game thatJust didnt deliver the way so many hadhoped. If the same thing happens to TheGetaway and the gameplay Is rubbish, 1will be devastated.

What a shame It would be If along theway the developer got too carried awaywith making sure that the outside of ahouse near Oxford Street had exactly theright amount of bricks, they forgot tomake sure that the game was actuallyenjoyable. Graphics aren't the only thingthat can sell a game. If anything gameplaycounts so much more because when 1

buy a game, I buy it to play the damnthing not to watch It. So lets hope thatwhat Is looking to be the best-lookinggame on the PS2 so far, doesn't plummetdown on your review mari lng because ofshoddy gameplayNick Taylor, London

Confession time I was in Tokyo for theannouncement of PlayStation 2,1 waslucky enough to see The Bouncer firstand, as then-Editor of 0PM, this writer atthe very least contributed to the earlyhype for The Bouncer Why all the froth?Not because of the graphics but becausethe entire crowd gawped as we watchedSquare developers play an astonishing

bar brawl scene that looked amazing andpromised a narrative-lead free-roamingbeat-'em-up with fully Interactive sceneryThen 12 months later; what we got was ashiny Ehrgeiz. Will this happen with TheGetaway? Having visited Team SoHo andseen the game up and running /not cut-scenes, but actual in-gamel things arelooking extremely promising There are acouple of new shots in Spy this issue andwe'll bring you more news next Issue

ONLINE FANTASYI am a dedicated fan of the Final Fantasyseries and 1 am waiting with anticipation forFinal Fantasy X and I expect 0PS2 Is too.

What I find makes Final Fantasy standout from the RPG genre is the deep andinvolving plot. Even in the good old days ofFinal Fantasy V, the plot still remainedbetter than any other game to date.

To get to the point, I have seen atrailer of Final Fantasy XI which I thinklooks like Dungeons & Dragons. But whatbothers me more Is that the game Isonline. Okay, fair enough, this is an originalIdea but with millions of people playing atthe same time, the deep and Involving plotthat makes Final Fantasy so amazing willbe lost and foiigotten. People will not befollowing the plot and therefore will not beplaying the game as It should be played.Matthew, Weston-Super-MatB

Surely online play will allow Final Fantasyto evolve In ways previously unimaginable,incorporating any increased gamerinteractivity to actually enhance thosewonderful plot lines rather than stray fromthem. See your point Matthew, but let'scut Square a little slack here. EverQuestdoes alright online and so will FinalFantasy Head to page 88 to find out why.

TOP OF THE FLOPSYour GTS interview with Kazunori YamauchIon Issue #10's DVD was brilliant. The storyof Gran Turismo through to GTS wasfascinating - the quality of video, ofcourse, was breathtaking and the contentwas of interest to any GTfan. In fact, 1 wasglued to the screen from beginning to end.When It came to the GT3 music, a braveattempt was made to hide the fact thatthe vast majority of GTS's music Is dire -simple as that! Come on, the first thinganybody has to do when playing GTS forthe first time Is to take off 80% of the so-called background music (BGM to usGT3-ers). On your disc, the bands wereInterviewed as If IOTP heroes, and none ofthem apologised for their appalilrlg efforts.

L36 PlayStation.

For information on V Shop'stwo games for £60' deais turnto page 40 now.

tTHE lAST) roSTAL EXTRAFor this bit next month, text us your rants and raves on 07764 175886

Now, an interview with some real musicmaimers - the peopie behind the music forSSX, Twisted Metal: Black or Tomb Raiderto name a few examples - would havecommanded respecti

And can we have an interview with the

President of Microprose next, goingthrough the history of the X-COM games,from PC to PSone and when they plan togo onto PS2 (please!)Malcolm Brown, Kings Close

No news on X-COM yet, Malcolm, butwe're on It. As for the Issues of the musicIn Gran Turismo 3 - well, you can 'blame'Polyphony for the Feeder tracks as thedevelopers are all big fans while the otherbonds will have been sourced by SCEE.Us? Well, our suggestion of using The Falljust didn't cut It Strange that

MOVIEWATCHThis is my first letter to your amazingmagazine, I'm from Belgium (thafs the littlecountry to your right the one with thechocolatel and I recently came acrosssomething that stmck me as a bit strangeI'm a big PS2 fan and 1 love the gaming butI occasionally like a good DVD, and thafswhere the problem arises. You see, Iunderstand that there is a diffetBncebetween the release dates of US andEuropean DVDs, but why is there sometimessuch a big difference between the Europeanrelease dates?

You lucky Brits nonnally get most DVDssooner than us, but sometimes we Belgiansget DVDs before you. For example, the Cageblockbuster Gone in 60 Seconds was

released in the UK in July, but I bought mycopy in January.

Why is that? Why can I buy that DVD fivemonths before you? They dont have toinclude subtitles, its in English, it has all thesame extras, so why? i hope you cananswer this question because it has beenbugging me for some time now.Christophe, Belgium

Ah, the bizarre world of DVD. Features arestripped out from the original US version,release dates are apparently decided on therole of a dice and we all get narked that wecant get that cnicial Porkys outtake wewont. The reason? Our enguihes were metwith blanks but metfiinks we should all

complain to the highest authority for havingto watch Gone In 60 Seconds any woy

THE PRICE IS WRONGin the latest issue of your brilliant magazineI couldnt help noticing the interesting article

about the exciting new HDD and Networi<Adapter coming out for the PS2 next yearOne of the first things I noticed was thesmall list of release dates and prices for thetwo add-ons. It said that the Network

Adapter was going to retail at somewherearound the price of £40. 'Fair enough,' Ithought, Ttiats very reasonable for either56K or broadband connection.'

Now let's have a look at how much the

HDD will set me back. £20011 couldntbelieve it I know that a 40Gb HDD is large,but £200? I'm very interested in going onlinewith my PS2 as early as I can. The prospectof being able to download extra things likeweapons, characters, cars, tracks, levels andeven whole games and movies means I Justdont want to miss out on such a big thing

I decided to surf the Web and find out

for myself how much the HDD was going tocost The response that I got was that itwould retail at around $100-150 in the US.Thafs alright I thought, because when thePS2 first went on sale in the US it was soldfor $300 so we'd be getting the HDD foraround £100-150. Not only was this theprice that many reliable people told me butthe same people also said that that wouldcome bundled with the Networi< Adapter

I would like to know how accurate yourprediction was on the price of them both.Please dont say that the whole lot will inactual fact cost a total of £540 for the PS2,a HDD and the BBA because I, and manyother people, feel that this is far too much.Niall iVIcNally, Halifax

With no info from SCEE as we went to presswith the feature, our 'prediction' wos basedon a mixture ofSCEE's previous pricingpolicy ($200 = £200, if you know what wemeant, foreign release info and educatedguess work The latest official word frvmSCEE on the HDD/Network Adaptor? Therestill Is no official announcement but we

First up, Smedley Cadwalade has a problemwith his scratched and splattered PlayStation2, "I've now considered giving my console amakeover I've bought some black spray paintenamel but it looks crap and there's no waythafs going within two feet of my PS2,1 waswondering could you give me the exact (orclosest) colour that those folks at Sony havesprayed on their machine, just so I dont haveto shell out for njbbishy blacks." Well, aftermuch paint swatch testing and umming andahhing (and asking SCEE), we reckon ifs, well,dari^ black Hope that helps OyewoleAjagbe (are these real names?!) is concernedabout inconsistencies in the Tekken'scharacter biogs printed in issue #10's Spystory. "When talking about Tekken 4 you saidthat Christie Monteiro (one of the amazing

new characters) is Eddy Gordo'sgranddaughter If the fourth instalment takesplace only two years after the third one, howthe hell has Eddy got a 20-year-oldgranddaughter when he is only 29!" Goodspot, Oyewole After consulting our residentTekken expert, it turns out Monteiro is actuallythe granddaughter of the man who taughtEddy Gortlo capoeira while he was in prison.Forgive us... Andy pops his head round thePS2 mailbox to chirpily add, "At last, Swindonin a game!". We think he's talking about MXRider, and we couldnt agree more. And finallya special cheer goes out to Mr Marbles whois cleariy the most insanely addicted GT3player we've heand of yet "Oh man. Ifs nearlyhalf Ave in the moming Have reached theSpecial Ucense. Will. Not Sleep Til. I. Pass..."

'predict the following: HI The NetworkAdaptor will be out around February/March,im The HDD will probably now cost LESSthan £200, as the cost of memory drops. HillWe understand the HDD will launch in theUK with the release of Final Fantasy X. Webelieve that will be around June 2002

More - inevitably - next Issue...

MIND YOUR LANGUAGEThis letter is about something that youalways seem to omit in your reviews ofgames - choice of language. Or, morespecifically, choice of spoken language.This is mainly a problem with games ofJapanese origin.

For some reason Western publishersseem to think that we want Japanesegame characters to speak American (orsometimes a choice of Europeanlanguages). The logic behind this escapesme, because there is something calledsubtitles... Anyway, sound is important, and

with amateurish voice acting the result isthat the atmosphere in these games isalmost completely ruined, Onimusha isone such game, where the originalJapanese speech is inexplicably removedIn the European version (according to myretailer). This wasnt mentioned In yourreview, so apparently you dont find this abig issue. But it is the sole reason I wontbuy an otherwise good game.Svenn A Ramlo, Oslo

Some games are dubbed, some gamesare subtitled but sadly - unlike, say, theDVD of Run U)la Run - they dont comewith the option of both. A good pointthere, Svenn, and we'll endevour tomention it in future reviews. FdrvdIlO

To be eligible for the StarLener prize,remember to include your full nameand address. 0PS2 reserves the rightto edit letters for clarity and style.

PlayStation.E 137

p a s t a

□ EEvery issue, 0PS2's Dr Paul Fitzpatrick cauterizes your gaming wounds.

1. I've recently brought a copy ofExtermination for PS2 and I'm stuck.I'm trying to get to the third detonator bythe control room but when I go throughthe door by the floor that gives you anelectric shock, I'm faced with a wall ofwater that I cant get past. There's a switchon the wall which makes cold air comeout of the pipe but It doesnt seem to doanything else.M Kidd, via email

2. I'm asking for a bit help withExtermination I've just planted thedetonator In Researoh Level 1 but don'tknow how to get Into Research Level 2.Any tips would be gratefully received,Jo, via email

1. Tricl<y one this. What you need to do istake 0 run up and sprint as far as youcan into the wall of water Before you getpushed bock, use your knife to slash atthe pipe. Sever it compieteiy and then by

turning on the coolant system (that pipeyou mentioned! you can freeze the watersolid Once done you can smash It andexit up the stairs just beyond Job done.2. Once you've planted the detonatorwhat you need to do Is backtrack to theUnderground Storage Area where you lastmet your comrade Gary. Go through thedoor on the upper floor above where hewas sitting, follow the corridor and godown the stairs. Turn right and you'll findthe way blocked by spider webs. Cutthrvugh these and you'll enter Level 2.

1. Will Championship Manager be comingto PS2?2. Will Mrtua Tennis be coming to PS2 andif so, when?3. What the hell Is PS2 Linux that youtalked about briefly in your last Issue?Ben H, Oxford

1. There has been no official confirmationas yet, but once the Hard Disc Drive has

been released it's almost certain that thestat-heavy PC football management serieswill be making its way to PS2.2. As the PS2 port of Crazy Taxi hasshown there's definitely a demand forfaithful ports of class Sega titles. With thatIn mind 0PS2 believes it's only a matter oftime before Virtua Tennis makes theplatform leap3. The PS2 Linux kit Is a tBlatlvely low-costsetup for designing and developing PS2games. Incorporating a Hard Disc Drive,mouse, keyboard and software it enableswould-be games makers (In Japan onlyas yetl with a fairly advanced level ofprogramming knowledge to hook a PS2up to a PC and get creative Much morepowerful than Yabasic, the PS2 Linux isstill shy of the full specs boasted by theproper PS2 development kit used byprofessional developers.

1. The Sega Dreamcast game Shenmuewas supposed to be continued overseveral sequels but with 1 and 2 onDreamcast and Sega becoming a third-party developer will 1, 2 and futuresequels now be made for PS2?Andy B, via email

1. Will the new DVD Region X cartridgefrom Datei allow the PS2 to play VCD's?2. If not is there any other way of playingVCD's through the PS2?Tom, via email

1. No. The Region X doesn't support VCD.2. The PS2 simply doesn't support VCDs.

1. i've been stuck on the flnal level of StarWars: Starflghter for ages. I beat the shipand destroyed the generator but cannotAnd my way out of the drold control ship.It's driving me Insane because 1 know itsright at the end of the game.Adam Fraser, via email

1. FJy around the final chamber afteryou've destroyed the generator and you'llsee one of those huge viewing windowsset in one of the walls. Believe It or notyou can fly straight out of that and intoopen space and victory

1. What's the name of the song playing inthe background on the GT3: A-spec DVDfootage on the demo disc on Issue #10?2. Who's It by?Tom, via email

1. Well, Yu Suzuki, the creative drivingforce behind Shenmue is working onVirtua Fighter 4 for PS2 as we speak...

1. Could you recommend me a good PS2RPG out now or in the near future?2. Is It worth waiting for Final Fantasy X?L Yen, via email

1. Of the PS2 RPGs out now It's a photofinish between Summoner and EphemeralFantasia. Neither are perfect butSummoner is a stylish, traditional epicwith a novel plot driving the action, whileEphemeral Fantasia boasts an originalland very funny] spin on RPG staples2. If you're very patient you wait for FinalFantasy X, Although It's not out until nextJune In the UK it's already notching upmind boggling sales In Japan, and fromthe look of an Imported copy we've seen,it's no fluke. See our feature on page 88.

1. The grill at the front of my PlayStation 2has become really dusty and I want toknow how 1 can clean It without damagingmy lovely machine.Richard Anafi, via email

1 Short of asking your mates not to shedquite so much dead skin, have you triedusing a cotton wool bud? it's like theywere made for the job

1. The track Is called Just A Day.2. It's by Feeder and features as a bonustrack of their single Seven Days In TheSun as well as in Gran Turlsmo 3

1. When is SSXTricky coming out?2. Will It be worth waiting to buythis version?

Paul Cunningham, via email

1. The new DVD-enhanced SSX Tricky Isslated for release this November2. if you can wait till then it will be wellworth a purchase. Totally redesignedtracks plus two new additions, six newriders featuring the voices of some yet-to-be-named celebs, Improved frame rate,new tricks and featurettes on the makingof the game. For more info see our featureon page 82

1. Why are there horrible bonders on PALconversions of NTSC games?2. Why can't developers do somethingabout it?

Numerous, via email

1, 2. We have had a growing number ofemai ls and let ters on this content iousissue. So with all the readers who've takenthe time to contact us in mind we've goneto a number of publishers and developersto find out what they're planning to do

"What i s co l l i s ionde tec t i on? " asksMichael Field. I t 'ssomething ttiat's not inthis game, Michael...

o2 0 S

D I A G N O S I S O F T H E M O N T HThe rickety biplane of nosediving comprehension talked in for a safe landing by 0PS2s airtraffic control of factual dependability. Or our answer to a particularly buming question. Tillsmonth, Michael Field from Bournemouth asks: 'What is collision detection?'It's one of those things that's invisible when done correctly but painfully obvious when it'snot Collision detection refers to a varied collection of methods programmers use to giveIn-game objects the appearance of solidity. Collision detection Is what stops you fromrunning through wails and out of the game environment in Quake ill and prevents yourNaboo fighter from passing through the 'space' occupied by the drold control ship In StarWars: Starflghter. When the process is implemented badly or hastily lor merely in areaswhere programmers haven't anticipated gamers will be able to reach! it results in thatImmersion wrecking experience of having game characters merging or partiallydisappearing into either one another or the scenery Where collision detection has beenover zealously used, objects appear to have an invisible bonier around them.

138 PlayStation E

about the problem. You'll find out whatthey sold oh page 50. Thanks to everyonewho wrote In.

1. Just a quick question regarding MTVMusic Generator 2.1 have several trancetunes stored on my 8Mb memory card.Hov^ would i go about getting them to arecord company to see if they'reinterested?2. Aiso would i be able to save to a

MinlDisc via some sort of cabie?Simon Jenkins, via email

1. Send them your best work and Justhope they reply Is the only sound advicefor budding producers2. Providing your MinlDisc recorder has anoptical In/out port all you need to do Ishead to your local hi-fi store and snap upan optical lead. Hook up the MinlDisc tothe PS2's Optical Out port llocated at theback below and to the left of the powersocket] and you'll be sorted. The PS2 willautomatically adjust the sound levels toensure a distortion-free copy Good luck

1. What Is the difference betweenBroadband and iSDN?

2. If i already have an iSDN line, wiii thatworl< with the PS2?3. If i have a Sony |viP3 piayer; wlli i beabie to use the PS2 to download songs?4. i read in your magazine that a USBkeyboard works with the PS2 and I gotone of these from an Apple Mac. Can youuse an Apple Mac mouse with the PS2?Rich, via email

1. ISDN is a specific term and refers to aset of standards for digital transmission ofdata along existing copper wire phoneconnections. Brvadband is a much morevague term and refers simply to anyInternet connection that operates on ahigh bandwidth. For example, aconnection via a fibre optic cable2. Yes. It'll work fine3. You should be able to download MP3sto any brand of MP3 player: provided youhave the necessary means to connect Itto your console.4. Any USB keyboard or mouse will workwith PS2. However each device must beconnected to a separate USB port.

1. When Is G-Surfers coming out?2. Will SCEE reduce the price ofPlayStation 2 consoles to compete withthe Xbox when It arrives?3. Also wiii SCEE continue to use the'Platinum' range for PS2 any time soon?Aaron, Kent

1. G-Surfers wil l be out in October

2. As you know PS2 has already shed£30 off Its price tag. Although there is noofficial word, It's likely that there'll besome kind of cut to coincide with the

pre-Christmas season.3. Until the PS2 celebrates Its first UKbirthday there con't be a Platinum rangesince a game needs to sell a certainnumber of units In a year to qualify forinclusion. When that happens however,its very likely that the same lor a similar]series wl l i be launched.

1. Does Final Fantasy X use voice acting Inthe whole game or just in the cut-scenes?Morten, Denmark

1. The voice acting wlli appear In thecut-scenes only While the subtitles,which provide the bulk of the game'sconversat ion wi l l be local ised in to fivedifferent languages.

1. Those screenshots of The Getaway Arethey in-game graphics or Just cut-scenes?2. i have an old VR F1 steering wheel thatworks with most of my PSone drivinggames. Will It work on GT3?Nick Tayior, via email

1 They ore In-game graphics.2. It's unlikely but try it out It won't harmeither the peripheral or your PS2.

1. Do you know if there will be DragonBali Z game by Infogrames for PS2?2, Would you be able to tell me if ResidentEvil Zero (y'know the one with Rebecca)wlli be released on PS2?

Kyle Mortimer, Scotland

1. For now at least Dragon Bali Z gamesore still largely a Japanese obsession,and when they do come out they tend togravitate towords PSone so don't expecta PS2 release

2. Resident Evil Zero is currently beingdeveloped for GameCube. When weasked Capcom If It would make anappearance an PS2 the the answer wasa shrug and a wry smile Rest assuredwhether Its Resident Evil 4 or Zero,MIkamTs zombie- In fes ted wor ld w i l l be

returning to PS2.

Send all your game-related andtechnical queries to: Surgery, Officio/PlayStation 2 Magazine, FuturePublishing, 30 Monmouth Street, BathBAl 2BW. Or email [email protected],marking it 'Suiigery'. Get writing now!

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1I — 1If its for PS2, and on sale in the UK then we've played it, argued about it and played it some more. Want thedefinitive verdicts on the 113 PS2 games available right now? Then welcome to Tne Shortlist.

, A tite marked withour StarPlayer

award is your guarantee ofa titie which exceis onevery ievel. Lx)Ol^ing for atruiy great PS2 game? Thenget one of these now.

4 X 4 E V O L U T I O N(Take 2/Terminal Reality)Fiash but slack off-roader,which faiis to make aiasting impression.Reviewed OPS2#06/Overal l 05

7 B L A D E S(Konami/KCEJ)Ninja-styied adventure withrepetitive gameplayRev iewed 0ps2#05 /0vera l l 06

A L L - S T A RB A S E B A L L 2 0 0 2(Acclaim/AcclaimStudios Austin)A sensibly-designed all-round game of baseballwith oodles of hiddenplayability and depth.Rev iewed 0ps2#07 /0vera l l 07

AQUA AQUA:W E T R I X 2 . 0(SCI/Zed TVvo)Addictive, well-realisedupdate of Wetrix.Reviewed OPS2#01/OveralP 07

A R M O R E D C O R E 2(Ubi Soft/From Software)Infinitely-tweakable first-person mech shooter witha bewildering array of bolt-on bionic body parts tot inker with.Reviewed 0 l>s2#04/0vera l l 07

A R M Y M E NA I R AT TA C K :B L A D E ' S R E V E N G E(3DO/3DO)Dullsville helicopter game.Rev iewed 0ps2#09 /0vera l l 02

A R M Y M E N :G R E E N R O G U E(3DO/3DO)On-rai ls shooter whichmanages to plumb newdepths of tedium.Reviewed OPS2#08/OveraH 01

A R M Y M E N :S A R G E ' S H E R O E S 2(3DO/3DO)Poorly realised shooterRev iewed 0ps2#07 /0vera l l 03

AT V O F F R O A D(SCEE/Rainbow Studios)Quad bike stunt racer withwonky Al and light handling,resulting in a poorly-controlled, uneven ride.Reviewed OPS2t l0 /Overa l l 06

B L O O D Y R O A R 3(virgin/Hudson Soft)Beast battler with a lot offur, but a lack of teeth.Rev iewed 0ps2#09 /0vera l l 06

C A R T F U R YC H A M P I O N S H I PR A C I N G(Midway/Midway)An arcade racer rammedwith crazy physics andridiculous speed, butlacking longevity.Reviewed OPS2#10/0veral l 06

C I T Y C R I S I S(Take 2Interactive/Syscom)Innovative helicopter airliftadventure with neat controlsystem. Short on levels tho'.Rev iewed 0ps2#10/0vera l l 06

Nominated by 0PS2 reader CHRIS HYNDMAN via email"You cant beat Red Faction for story line and gameplay."

"I nominate Red Faction because It is the best first-person shooteravailable for the PS2 at the moment. I love the way all the sceneryis destructible and that you can pick up different vehicles and drivethem about. It gives you a feeling of total realism and freedom inyour gaming world. VmeSplitters and Quake III are both greatgames too, but you just can't beat the might of Red Faction forstory line and absorbing gameplay"

Wiiat's ttie PS2 game you ttiinii eveiyone should own? Write to Reader's Choice at the usual address or email yoursuggestion to [email protected]. Enclose name, address, age and photo to win a game of your choice.

C R A Z Y TA X I(Acclaim/Sega/Acclaim)Pure arcade thrills. If youwant speed, buy this now.Reviewed 0(>s2t07/0veral l OS

D A R K C L O U D(SCEE/Level 5)The new 'best RPG on PS2'.Enthralling story,atmospheric music anda fantastic world-buildingelement thrown in forgood measure.Reviewed OI>S2#12/Overall 07

D E A D O R A U V E 2(SCEE/Tecmo)Blistering beat-'em-up.Includes a 60Hz option.Rev iewed 0ps2#02 /0vera l l 07

D I S N E Y ' SD I N O S A U R(Ubi Soft/Ubl Soft)Poor movie spin-off.Rev iewed Ops2#03/0vcra l l 04

D O N A L D D U C K :QUACK ATTACK(Ubi Soft/Disney Interactive)More 'cack' than 'quack'.Rev iewed 0ps2#04 /0vera l l 04

D R A G O N ' S L A I R(Digital Leisure/Cinematronics)Unplayable retro adventure.Rev iewed 0ps2«03 /0vera l l 02

D R A G O N ' SL A I R I I : T I M E WA R P(Digital Leisure/Cinematronics)Painfully dull arcade sequel.Rev iewed Ops2«03/0ver3 l l 01

D R I V I N GE M O T I O N T i r P E - S(EA/Square)Dismal, dismal racer Failsto evoke any emotion at all.Rev iewed Ops2#05/0vera l l 04

D Y N A S T YW A R R I O R S 2(Midas Interactlve/KOEI)Epic battler mixing strategy,sword-slashing, horse ridingand shooting peopleReviewed Ops2#02/0vera l l 07

E P H E M E R A LF A N T A S I A(Konami/KCEJ East)Bemani-flavoured RPGwhere periodically whippingout a guitar and playing asolo is integral to the plotReviewed OPS2»10/Ovetal l 07

E S C A P E F R O MM O N K E Y I S L A N D(Actlvislon/LucasArts)Adventure wi th smar tvisuals, witty script andintelligent puzzling.

d 0 r e 2 t 0 9 / 0 v e r a l l 0 8

E S P NI N T E R N A T I O N A LT R A C K & F I E L D(Konaml/KCEO)Graphically impressiveathletics sIm with dodgy Al.Rev iewed 0ps2#01 /0vera l l 06

E S P N N A T I O N A LH O C K E Y N I G H T(Konami/KCEO)Gameplay kinks put thisbelow its EA Sports rival.Rev iewed 0ps2#05 /0vera l l 06

E S P N N B A 2 N I G H T(Konami/KCEO)For basketball heads onlyRev iewed 0 l%2<05/0vera l l 06

E S P N W I N T E RX - G A M E SS N O W B O A R D I N G(Konami/KCEO)Lifelike snowboarder, ruinedby bland graphics,unresponsive controls and alack of excitement.Reviewed 0PS2#01/Overal l 06

E T E R N A L R I N G(Ubi Soft/From Software)Unoriginal Japanese RPG.As painful as its title.R e v i e w e d O P S 2 # 0 5 / O v e r a l l 0 3

E V E R G R A C E(Ubi Soft/CraveE n t e r t a i n m e n t /From Software)An ultimately depressingrole-playing game, whichfails to engage on anymeaningful level.Rev iewed 0ps2»06 /0vera l l 02

E X T E R M I N A T I O N(SCEE/Deep Space)A/ten-inspired sun/ivalhorror-fest set In a desertedAntarct ic research base.Positively crawling withdesign innovations.Rev iewed 0ps2#08 /0vera l l 07

E X T R E M E - G 3(Acclaim/Acclaim)A great future racer that willdo more than just stop thegap between now andStudio Uverpool's long-awaited WipEout Fusion.Reviewed 0PS2#12/0vera l l 08

F 1 C H A M P I O N S H I PS E A S O N 2 0 0 0(EA Sports/EA/Visual Sciences)Hardcore F1 fans willfind this a little too easyReviewed OPS2#03/Overal l 06

F 1 R A C I N GC H A M P I O N S H I P(video System/Ubl Soft)Good attention to detailbut a lot less fun than its(many) competitors.Rev iewed 0ps2»06 /0vera l l 05

F O R M U L AO N E 2 0 0 1(SCEE/StudIo Liverpool)Tons of depth, but it'll feeljust too 'Simmy' for some.Still, the best F1 game onthe PS2 to date though.Reviewed 0 l>s2#07/0vera l l 08

F A N T A V I S I O N(SCEE/SCEI)The world's first fireworksgame. Not enormous, but ofrare and random beauty.Rev iewed 0ps2#01 /0vc ra l l 07

F I F A 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports Canada)Great graphics but seconddivision gameplayReviewed 0PS2f 02/0v8ral l 06

F U R F I G H T E R S(Acclaim/Bizarre Creations)Cute fluffy creatures armedto the teeth with shotguns,blast each other to piecesin this rawkus eel-shadedcar toon adventure.Reviewed OPS2#08/Overall 08

G A U N T L E T :D A R K L E G A C Y(Midway/MidwayEast Games)Dated gameplay negatesany innovative additions.Reviewed 0ps2#08/0veral l OS

G I F T(Cryo Interactive/Ekosystem)Original take on the old 3Dplatformer, but lets itsriotous imagination get inthe way of its gameplayReviewed OPS2#10/Ovetal l 06

G R A D I U S I I I & I V(Konaml/KCET)Dul l 2D arcade shooterReviewed OPS2#01/Overal l 02

^ G R A NT U R I S M O3 : A - S P E C

(SCEE/Polypbony Digital)If you didn't know alreadyGT3 is the greatest drivinggame in the world. Rallycars, sports cars, they're allthere - buy it now andnever look backReviewed OPS2#09/0veral l 09

G U NG R I F F O N B L A Z E(Swingl/GameArts)Another mech shooter forrobot obsessives everywhere.Reviewed 0 l>s2#03/0vera l l 07

H 3 0 S U R F I N G(Take 2/ASCII)Inadequate surf sim with aninfuriating camera angle.Reviewed 0l>s2#02/0veral l 04

140 PlayStation.E

S I X o pb h e b e s bB E A T - ' E M - U P S

t h e s h a n t i i s c z

1 . T E K K E N TA G TO U R N A M E N TTekken 4 is on its way, but for now this isstill the daddy of the dojo for the discerningPS2 fight fan. Mastering al! the combostakes real sl<ill but it's that very depth that'llkeep you fighting♦Tekken Tag Tournament Is out now from SCEE

2. DEAD ORA L I V E 2Brash and breezy Yangto TTTs studied,hardcore Yin, D0A2 isa supremely fluidgame with emphasisfirmly on ease of usea n d b u x o m b a b e s .* D e a d O r A l i v e 2 I s o u t

now fnym SCEE

3 . K N O C K O U TK I N G S 2 0 0 1A Sim-like approach toboxing tiiat repayseffort witli a verysatisfying climb up tfieranks of the world'sfinest pugilists.•Knockout Kings 2001 Isout now from £A Sports

4 . B L O O D YR O A R SEntertaining arcadegrappler boosted bycontestants' ability totransform mid-flghtInto bestial alter egoswith ketchupsplattered results.'Bloody Roar 3 Is out nowthrough Virgin.

5. READY 2R U M B L E :R O U N D 2Hard to fault cartoonboxing with a gym fullof hilarious fightersand swaggeringshowmanship in everys w e a t - s o a k e d b o u t .

'Ready 2 Rumble; Round 2IS out now from Midway.

6 . T H E B O U N C E RI n n o v a t i v e b r a w l e r t h a tweaves an engagingstory through its teamoriented fight action,ironically, would'vebenefited from lessscene setting,* T h e B o u n c e r I s o u t n o w

through SCEE

H E R O E S O F M I G H TA N D M A G I C(3DO/3DO)Patchy PC-style adventure.Rev iewed ops2#08 /0vera l l 03

H O L j O G R A MT I M E T R AV E L L E R(Digital Leisure/SegajIt may be classed as a'classic', but you shouldavoid this like the plague.Reviewed OPS2#03/Overal l 00

I N T E R N A T I O N A LL E A G U E S O C C E R(Eon DigitalEntertainment/Taito)Astoundingly rotten. Easilyone of the worst footle simsever to grace the PS2.Rev iewed 0ps2#10 /0vera l l 02

I N T E R N A T I O N A LS U P E R S T A RS O C C E R(Konami/KCEO)Genuine squads and moreinstant terrace gratification.Reviewed OPS2#01/Overall 08

K E N G O : M A S T E RO F B U S H I D O(Ubi Soft/UghtWeight)A padded-out Trainingmode makes up for thissmart ninja fighter's ratherl imited nature.Reviewed Ops2#07/0veta l l oe

K E S S E N(Electronic Arts/KOEI)RTS on an epic scale withup to 100 warriors ons c r e e n a t o n c e .

Rev iewed ops2#04/0vera l l 07

K N O C K O U TK I N G S 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports)Competent boxing sim. Notgood enough to earn itsroyal status though.Reviewed OPS2#05/Ovetal l 06

K U R I K U R I M I X(Empire/From Software)Bizarre two-player puzzlerfixated with greed.Rev iewed ops2#07 /0vera l l 07

L E M A N S2 4 H O U R S(Infogrames/Melbourne House)More accessible for thegamer daunted bysimulation-style vehiclehandling, but has depth andthr i l ls in abundance.Rev iewed ops2#09 /0vera l l 08

M A D D E N N F L 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports)PS2's most rewarding andcomplete NFL game. Couldpotentially convert non-believers to the sport.Rev iewed ops2*01 /0ve ra l l 08

M D K 2A R M A G E D D O N(Interplay/BioWare)A unique, challengingadventure bursting withideas and an inspiredthree-charac te r fo rmat .Rev iewed 0ps2#07 /0vera l l 08

M I D N I G H T C L U B(Rockstar/Angel Studios)Speedy urban racing,boasting huge and action-packed NYC and Londonenvironments. Sadly, thegame ain't much cop.Reviewed OPS2#01/Overal l 04

M O D E R N G R O O V E :M I N I S T R YO F S O U N D(Ubi Soft/Modemgroove)Entertaining lightshowgenerator, containing fivefull dance albums, althoughcouldnt really be classedas a game.Reviewed 0PS2#12/0vera l l 06

M O T O G P(SCEE/Namco)Gran Turismo on twowheels. A fantast icmotorb ike s im that rewardsrepeated plays.Reviewed Ops2#03/0vera l l 07

^MTV MUSICH GENERATOR 2

(Codemasters/Jester)Home DJ sample/mixermusic maker Enormous funand nigh on faultless. Oneof the most interactive andwell put together PS2releases yet.Reviewed 0ps2#08/0vera l l 09

N B A H O O P Z(Midway/Eurocom)Ace arcade-styledbasketball sim but not asgood as NBA StreetReviewed: OPS2#06/Overal l 06

N B A L I V E 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports)Solid and playable EAfranchise. But where's theb-ba l l exc i tement?Rev iewed: 0ps2#05/0vera l i 06

N B A S T R E E T(EA Sports Big/EA Sports)Great looks, great to play,but not quite next-gen. Stillin a world of six out of tenbasketball titles this one isundoubtedly the mostoriginal and accessible.Rev iewed ops2#10 /0vera l l 06

N H L 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports Canada)EA Sports' perennial icehockey licence hits themark beautifully.Rev iewed Ops2#02/0vera l l 08

O N I(Rockstar/Bungle Software)Pioneers new characteranimation in an enjoyablethinj-person sci-fi romp.Reviewed OPS2#05/Overal l 07

O N I M U S H A :W A R L O R D S(Capcom/Capcom)Impressive survival horrorthat lets the PS2 run riot.Gameplay isn't quite sofresh, though.Reviewed 0PS2#09/0vera l l 08

O P E R A T I O NW I N B A C K(Midas Interactive/KOEI)Lacks variety, but still anenjoyable stealth shooterReviewed OPS2#07/C>verall 06

O R P H E N(Activision/Shade Inc)Disappointing anime-Inspired Japanese RPG.Reviewed OPS2#01/Overal l 04

P O O L M A S T E R(Take 2/Ask)Dull pool sim, despitesome tidy ball physics.Rev iewed ops2#02 /0vera l l 05

^ QUAKE IIIlA (EA/ld & Bullfrog)In Four-player mode, thisfirst-person shooter is thebest multlplayer yet. Runslike greased lightning andlooks absolutely gorgeous.Buy it.Reviewed OPS2#06/Overall 09

R A Y M A NR E V O L U T I O N(Ubi Soft/Ubi Soft)Animation-quality graphicselevate this classicplatformer above others ofits kind. New elements addlongevity, and make forengrossing gameplayRev iewed 0ps2 t02 /0ve ra l l 08

^RESIDENTM EVIL CODE:

V E R O N I C A X(CapcomEurosoft/Capcom)Its captivating story,cinematic atmosphere,kinetic action, frights, thrillsand blood-spillage rival99% of horror flicks forimpact. This inhabits thefoul pinnacle of Its genre.Reviewed OPS2#10/Ovetal l 09

R C R E V E N G E P R O(Acclaim/Acclaim Cheltenham)Last-gen graphics and lackOf discernable speed addsup to a completelyavoidable kart racerRev iewed 0ps2#02 /0vera l l 03

R E A D Y 2 R U M B L E :R O U N D 2(Midway/Midway)Marve l lous a rcade-basedcomedy boxing game,pitting ridiculous cartoonfighters against one anotherin insult-fil led brawls.Rev iewed ops2#01/0vera l l 07

R E D FA C T I O N(THQ/Volition)First-person shootermelding MGS-slyle tacticsand the all-out blasting ofQuake III. Marred only by alittle lazy design.Reviewed OPS2#08/Overal l 08

R I D G E R A C E R V(SCEE/Namco)Initial high hopesscuppered by jagged edges,limited size and a generallack of originality.Reviewed OPS2*01/OveralP 07

R ING OF RED(Konami/KCE)A mech RTS that's fun?Oh yes. A must-buy for thediscerning robo-fetishistafter something different.Reviewed 0ps2#07, '0vera l l 08

R O B O T W A R L O R D S(Midas Interactive/DaZZ)Many other superior mechgames make this redundantin a somewhat minoritygenre in the UK.Reviewed ops2#06/0vera l l 04

R U G B Y(EA Sports/Creative Assembly]More akin to Madden thanFIFA in approach, a highlyenjoyable and refined takeon the sport.Reviewed OPS2#08/Overall 07

R U M B L E R A C I N G(EA/EA)Fast and furious arcadestunt racer with oodles ofchallenge and replay valueto die for in Two-playermode. A sleeper hit thatdemands recognition.Reviewed OPS2#08/Overall 08

R U N E :V I K I N G W A R L O R D(Take 2/Human Head)Viking slash-'em-up thatshould have been confinedto the Dark Ages.Reviewed OPS2#12/Overal l 04

S H A D O WO F M E M O R I E S(Konami/KCET)Fi lmic adventure whichkeeps the surprises comingwith a serpentine plot. Itsslant on pure terror willleave you slack jawed.Reviewed OPS2»05/Overall 08 (3

Play5tation,E 141

t n e s h o ( — t i s t z i

d s b a b a s i sCan't get hold of one of the games inShortUst? Something gone wrong? Needto checl< a release date? Here's thedefinitive list of ail the UK PS2 publishers.

E l S I L E N T S C O P E(Konami/KCEO)Slick but simple shootinggallery-style game whereyou play a police sniper.Walks the thin line betweenfrustration and progresswith grace. Extremely tautand enjoyable.Rev iewed 0ps2»01 /0vera l l 08

S I L P H E E D : T H EL O S T P L A N E T(Swingl/Treasure,GameArts)Tedious top-down shooterReviewed OPS2#03/Overal l 03

S K Y O D Y S S E Y(SCEE/Cross for SCEi)A flight Sim where you don'thave to shoot anything justcomplete crazy missions.Engrossing and immenselyplayable. Also Includes a60Hz option.Rev iewed 0ps2#06/0vera t l 08

S K Y S U R F E R(Virgin Interactive/idea Factory)Whoever thought thatjumping out of a planeattached to a board wouldmake a good game shouldbe duly shot.Reviewed OPS2#04/Overai l 03

S M U G G L E R ' S R U N(Rocl(Star/Angel Studios)Mission-based fun in whichyou escape from the copswith a trunkload of booty.Has impressively large free-roaming environments andIs just difficult enoughto keep you wanting 'onemore go'.Reviewed OPS2#01/Overal l 07

S PA C E A C E(Digital Leisure/Cinematronics)Horr ific and ancient arcadeport, of which the originalwas only of cult appeal.Reviewed OPS2#04/Overal l 01

^SSX(ea Sports Big/EASports Canada)

This outrageous, inventiverainbow-coloured highspeed snowboard game ispacked with crazy courses.One play and it'll really takeyour breath away If the PS2ever needed anadvertisement, this is it.Rev iewed 0ps2«01/0vera l l 09

-VSTAR WARS:M STARFIGHTER

(Activision/LucasArts)Mesmerising 3D Star Warsblaster with engagingmissions and film-perfectsound effects. A bllndinglygood space shooter Buythis game, you must.Reviewed OPS2#06/Overal l 09

S TA R W A R S : S U P E RB O M B A D R A C I N G(Activision/Lucas Learning)Cartoon kart racer withwonky Al and derivativegameplay. The Force isweak with this one.Rev iewed Ops2#08/0vera l l 05

S T R E E TF I G H T E R E X 3(Capcom Eurosoft/Arlka)A decent enough 2D/3Dbattler, but doesn't giveTekken Tag Tournamentanything to worry about.Hardcore fans of the serieswill be in their element. Therest will wonder what allthe fuss is about.Reviewed OPS2#03/Overal l 07

S U M M O N E R(THQ/Volition)One of the best PS2 RPGs.A little ugly, but still a gemlike, sprawling epic boltedto a highly original andmoving plot.Reviewed OPS2#04/Overal l 08

S U P E RB U S T - A - M O V E(Acclaim/Taito)Another update of a classicgame, but a pointless oneas It adds nothing originalto the timeless gameplay.Rev iewed 0ps2#02 /0vera l l 04

S W I N G A W A Y G O L F(EA Sports/T&E Soft)Cutesy PSone golf sIm letdown by a poor conversion.Rev iewed 0ps2#02 /0vera l l 03

T E K K E N TA GT O U R N A M E N T(SCEE/Namco)Fantastically playable andgraphically spectacularbeat-'em-up. The all-newtagging moves will keep thetesty Tekken faithful happyRev iewed 0ps2#01 /0vera l l 08

TG DARE DEVIL(Kemco/Papaya Studios)Mission-based retro carracer that manages toprovide no challenge.Reviewed OPS2»02/Overal l 05

T H E B O U N C E R(SCEE/Squaresoft)Access ib le brawler whoseadventuring elements arefairly limited. All short-termflash and not a dickie bowin sight.Reviewed 0ps2«09/0vera l l 06

T H E F L I N T S T O N E SI N V I VAR O C K V E G A S(Swing!Entertainment/Toka)Yabba dabba do? Yabbadabba don't more l ike.Reviewed OPS2#12/Overal l 02

T H E M EP A R K W O R L D(EA/Bullfrog)Take on the role of a themepark tycoon for a day. Youknow the score; rip off thekids, make them sick onthe rides, then put more fatin their burgers.Rev iewed 0ps2#03 /0vera l l 07

T I G E R W O O D S P G AT O U R 2 0 0 1(EA Sports/EA Sports)Pleasingly authentic golfSim which suffers from aseemingly random clubcontrol system.Rev iewed 0ps2#06 /0vera l l 06

^TIMESPLITTERS(Eidos/FreeRadical Design)

Fast and frantic multiplayerfirst-person shooter Maylook 'old' when besideQuake III Revolution but stillone of the best 'Shoot yourbuddies' PS2 games.R e v i e w e d 0 P S 2 # D l / 0 v e r a l l 0 9

T O K Y OE X T R E M E R A C E R(Crave/Ubi Soft/Genki)Drive around the streets ofTokyo in a car that lookslike your granddad's.Sedate, and thus dull, racerR e v i e w e d 0 P S 2 « 1 2 / 0 v e r a l l 0 4

U E F A C H A L L E N G E(Infogrames/lnfogrames)Buy ;SS or buy FIFA - justnot this. Everything thatcould go wrong in a footballgame is right here.Rev iewed ops2«10 /0vera l l 02

U N R E A LT O U R N A M E N T(Infogrames/Epic Games)Satisfyingly gory, over-the-top, extremely violent andImmensely playable FPS,Sadly let down by game-hindering jerkiness in theFour-player mode. GetQuake III or TimeSpllttersfor the same deal - only ahell of a lot fasterR e v i e w e d 0 p s 2 # 0 4 / 0 v e r a l l 0 8

V I C T O R I O U SB O X E R S(Empire Interactive/ESP)Offbeat Japanese boxingtitle that sadly lacks thesucker punch.Reviewed 0PS2«12/0veraN 04

W A C K Y R A C E SS TA R R I N GD A S TA R D LY A N DM U T T L E Y(infogrames/lnfogrames)Misty-eyed fans of theseries will love the visuals,however the averagegameplay punctures anynur tu red en thus iasm.Reviewed OPS2t09/Overal l 06

W A L T D I S N E T SJ U N G L E B O O KG R O O V E PA R T Y(Ubi Soft/DisneyInteractive)Disappointing Disneydance-'em-up. Go for thesoon- to -be P la t inum PSoneversion Instead.Rev iewed Ops2*08 /0vera l l 04

W A R R I O R S O FM I G H T A N D M A G I C(3DO/3DO)Dreadfu l non-adven tu re /RPG.Rev iewed 0ps2#07 /0vera l l 03

W D L :T H U N D E R T A N K S(3DO/3DO)An arcade tank sim whichis an absolute romp in four-player Deathmatch mode,although blowing up CPU-controlled tanks in single-player isn't much fun.Bursting with acres ofsuitably OTT weaponry.Reviewed OPS2ir05/Overal l 07

W I L D W I L D R A C I N G(Rage/Rage)Off-road buggy racing gamewith merely acceptablelooks and initiallydiscouraging handling butchallenging stunt coursessoon become addict ive.Reviewed 0PS2f Ol/Overall 06

W O R L DC H A M P I O N S H I PS N O O K E R 2 0 0 2(Codemasters/Blade)Encapsulates everythinggood and bad aboutsnooker while stillremaining entirely playable.Reviewed 0PS2»12/0vera l l 08

W O R L DD E S T R U C T I O NL E A G U E : W A R J E T Z(3DO/3DO)Looks like an averagePSone game but thenmanages to bolt on pooriyexecuted gameplay foradded debasement .R e v i e w e d 0 p s 2 # 1 0 / 0 v e r a l l 0 2

X-SQUAD(EA/EA Square)Team-based third-personshooter Enjoyable enoughfare, but never inspiring.Rev iewed 0ps2#02 /0vera l l 05

☆ZONE OFT H E E N D E R S(Konami/KCEJ)A mech game with soul,courtesy of Metal Gear guruHideo Kojlma. Incrediblerange of mech creatures tobattle with and a visionarysense of scope. Oh, and itcomes with A FREE METALGEAR SOLID DEMOII!Rev iewed 0ps2#06/0vera l l 09

3D0 M895 456 700www.3doeurope.com300 Europe, 21-23 Mossop St, London SW3 2LYACCLAIM 0207 344 5000www.accla imnat ion.com112-120 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge,London SW3 IJJ

ACTIVISION 01895 456 789www.act ivlslon.comLong Island House, Suite 3a, 1-4 Marpie Way,London W3 ORQCOOEMASTERS 01926 814 132vww.codemasters .comStoneythorpe, Southam, Warwickshire CV33 ODLCRAVE 00353 617 020vww,cravegames.com58. Canalot Studios, 222 Kensal Rd,London WIO 5BN

CRYO 0121 250 5072www.cryo-interacttve.com186a Stratford Rd, Shirley, Solihull B90 3BQDISNEY INTERACTIVE 0990 998 877www.disneyco.ukc/o PlayStation Caroline, PO Box 2047London WIA 3DN

EIDOS tNT^RACnVE 0121 356 0831w w w . e l d o s . c o . u k

1 Hartfield Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 3RU

ELECTRONIC ARTS 0870 243 2435wvvw.uk.ea.com2000 Hiilswood Drive, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 OEUEMPIRE 0800 783 0156wvi/w.empire.caukThe Spire, 677 High Rd, North Rnchiey N12 ODAFOX INTERACTIVE 01932 454 032www.foxlnteracttve.com2000 Hlliswood Drive, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 OEUINFOGRAMES 0208 222 9700v/ww.infogrames.com116 Baker St, London WIM ILB

JVC INTERACTIVE 0207 240 3121www.jvc.com44 Wellington St, Covert Garden,London WC2E 7BD

KONAMI 0208 582 5573www.konami-europe.com7/9 "me Oaks. Ruisiip, Middlesex HA4 7LFL£GO 01753 495 453

vww.1ego.com33 Bath Rd, Slough, Berks SLl 3UF

MICROIDS 0208 901 7388w w w . m i c r o i d s . c o m

2 Gayton Rd, Harrow, London HAl 2XU

MIDAS INTERACTIVE 01279 858 000www,mldas-interact ive.co,ukMatrix House, Cambridge Business Park CB4 OHHMIDWAY 0207 938 4488v w w. m l d w a y c o m96 Kensington High St London W8 4SGSCEE 0990 998 877www.playstat lon-europe.comPlayStation Carellne, PO Box 2047,London WIA 3DN

SCi 0207 585 3308wvm.sci.co.uk11 ivory House, Plantation Wharf, York Rd,London SWll 3TN

TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE 0870 124 2222vww. take2games.comSaxon House, 2-4 Victoria St, Windsor,Beri<s SL4 IBY

THQ 01483 767 656wvw. thq .comDukes Court, Dtike St, Woking, Surrey GU21 5BHUBI SOFT INTERACTIVE 0208 944 9000vww.ublsof t .co.ukChantrey Court, Minorca Road, Weybridge,Surrey, KT13 8DUVIRGIN INTERACTIVE 0207 551 4222w v w . v i e . c o , u k

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UMM ONE OF TUJQ hFI R5<C R R 5 P L U S R C C E 5 5 C I R I E 5Gran Turismo 3: A-spec has been on sale for two months now, to extend yourracing pleasure have a go at winning one of these great HPI model cars...so YOU'VE PLAYED Gran Turismo 3: A-spec to death, unlocked every single car andknow all the tracks like the back of your hand. Now you want to get behind the wheel of areal racing car Now 0PS2 Is about offer you the chance of that all-out driving experience!Well, almost.. Because we've teamed up with top radio-controlled car makers HobbyProducts International to give away a Nissan Skyline GT-R or a Lxitus Sport Ellse model carto two lucky 0PS2 readers.

Each of these highly detailed model cars come complete with a radio control unit glowplug starters and a set of stickers that will make your new remote-controlled vehicle looklike an authentic racer straight out of GT3!

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T h e Q u i :Sluggish summer sun blunting your lobe walnuts? Time to sharpen them on thespinning whetstone of trivia that is the the Official PlayStation 2 Magazine Quiz.

N H - H E L L !W h i c h c i t i e s a r e h o m e t othe following NationalHocltey League teams71. Predators

2. Devi ls3 . O i le rs

4. Mighty Ducks5. Thrashers

A N A G R A M R O U N DYo u k n o w t h e e s c r o . . .

1. A last fanny fix2. Then syrup3. She'll tug a clone4. Dish prop5. We'l l test mad cab kit

F F FA C E SWhich FF games do thesec h a r a c t e r s c o m e f r o m ?1. Vivl Orunitia

2 . Yuna3. Laguna Loire4. Aerls Gainsborough5. Elko Carol

C R Y P T I C R O U N DU n t h i n k t h e c l u e s i n o r d e rto reveal the PlayStation 2game characters. Thinklaterally not literally...1. Cilia Black knocking backthe pale cream sherry,,,2. What's shooting out of myspace gun, man,,,?3. You can see all the way tothe other side of the poppypasture,,,4. Extremity, leg Joint, birdof prey,,,5 . An unfor tunate co l l is ion fora bow-legged waterfowl,,,

C H O P P E R C H O I C Ewhich of the following aren a m e s o f r e a l c o m b a thelicopters and which havewe made up?1. Apache2 . H o k u m

3. Gecko4. Tiger5 . T h u n d e r h a w k

L O T U S C H A L L E N G EC H A L L E N G ED - u e o r n o t t r u e ? L o t u s h a sproduced special versionso f t h e s e c a r s . . .1 . Vauxhal l Car l ton

2. Robin Rel iant3. Ford Cortina

4 . Ta lbo t Sunbeam5. Peugeot 309

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1. Man navigates underside ofmoving truck with the help ofa whip2. Man drives police bike outof an office window to grabonto hovering helicopter3. Two men have a fight onwing of Jumbo Jet4. Man rides horse off hotelroof to land In adjacent roofsswimming pool5. Man bungee jumps off sideof a dam

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3. Spike4. Hangtime5. To sack

T H E M O N S T E RM A T C HF r e a k O u t i s o u t n o w. I nh o n o u r o f L i n d a ' s s t r i c k e nsiblings, supply themonstrous alter egos tot h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s .1. Bruce Banner - a physicisttrying to lose his alter ego2. Dr Curt Conners - a manwi th a co ld -b looded o the r3. Edward E NIgma - riddle usthis one. Bat fans4. Seth Brundle - bugged by anasty case of transformation5. Norman Bates - he neverlet go of those apron strings

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1 T H E G R A N D T O U R 3Sandra Kazanori's legendary matchmaking sim makes its PS2debut and finds UK game girls swooning. From the photo-realismof the European locations, to eerily headstrong suitor Al, this Is arich assauit on the senses that pushes all the right buttons.

2 C L U B B E R C L O B B E RThe beat-'em-up genre gets a whole new set of moves with thisBemani makeover Set in reai ciubs from Cream to Hedonism,fighters' defeat their opposition by eciipsing them on the dancefloor In a series of one-on-one dance-offs. Do you choose aninelegant but booze-fuelled all-rounder like Kajlya or a Hard Housespeclailst iike Dee and risk a Wili Smith remix coming over thesystem? Have you truly got what it takes to become Queen ofthe Neon Podium?

3 HARVEY NICS SALE 24 HOURS 2001The endurance shopathon hits the top three this month, In a gamewhere combos are king. This first-person shopper comes with allthe must-have designer coiiections, and the opportunity to use aweli placed elbow in the ribs to get what you want. The multipiayercredit card deathmatch is a biast!

4 B A R M Y H E N : S I L L Y C L U C K E R SThis time Babs, leader of the henhouse has been kidnapped by theGreasy Geese'" and her sisters 'hatch' a pian to rescue her using are-animated super fowi. Perhaps they should have chosen one that

Is this the future(or just the start ofa bulging postba;^?

wasnt decapitatedl Can the hens steer their headless chicken tovictory or is Babs's goose well and truly., cooked?

5 L A R R Y C R O F T A N D T H E F O O T S PA O F K R A N Gl_arty makes a welcome return. Yes, his iunch box is still packed, butdont be distracted 'cause the teai meat is in the suspense-fiiiedstory. Croft is hired to recover the artifact of the title oniy to find thatshadowy society. Brotherhood of the Fallen Arch are out to stop himand get the spa for themselves. Evii's afoot. Can l_arry save the day?

/ /Wi th one-on-onodance-offi have yougot what it takes tobe Queen of theNeon Podium?//

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NEXT MONTH IN THE NOVEIMBER ISSUB 0F|

Play5tation.P/ OFFICIAL MAGAZINE-UK:□ Meet a new breed of hero in Rockstar's revolutionary ;!

first-person shooter Max Payne□ Behind the scenes with Amuze's Headhunter

□ Why Devil May Cry wili scare you ilgid ■□ Part Two of our Official Gran Thrismo 3; A-spec Guid iPlus! Tony Hawi^'s 3 / Rez / Win a DVD collection! / GrandTheft Auto 3 / PaRappa 2 / And the only playable DVD arOund!

OFHCIAL PLAYSIiKnON 2 iVIAGAZINE; ISSUE 13/ON SALE: WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER

146 PlayStation.?

J l o o d y R o a r 3 £ 3 6 . 9 9Z o d e V e r o n i c a X € 3 4 . 9 9: r a z y T a x i € 3 2 . 9 9; ) e a d o r A l i v e 2 £ 3 5 . 9 9dynasty Warriors 2 £19.99Ephemeral Fantasia £34.99E x t e r m i n a t i o n £ 3 4 . 9 9" a n t a v i s i o n £ 2 7 . 9 9- 1 2 0 0 1 £ 3 4 . 9 95 r a n T u r i s m o 3 € 3 2 . 9 9i A a d d e n 2 0 0 1 £ 3 4 . 9 9^ A e t o l G e a r S o l i d 2 €3 7 . 9 9i A o t o & P £ 3 2 . 9 9i A u s i c G e n e r a t o r 2 £ 3 1 . 9 9s l B A S t r e e t £ 3 4 . 9 9 1D n i £ 3 2 . 9 9Q n i m u s h a € 3 5 . 9 9Quake 3 Revolution €34.99dayman Revolution £33.99^eady 2 Rumble Round 2 £24.991i c d F a c t i o n € 3 3 . 9 9 1R i d g e R a c e r V £ 2 9 . 9 9^ i n g o f R e d £ 3 4 . 9 9^ugby2001 £29 .9915 h a d o w o f M e m o r i e s £ 3 2 . 9 9S h a d o w m a n 2 £ 3 6 . 9 9 1S S X € 3 3 . 9 9Star Wars Starfighter £32.99Street f ighter Ex 3 £34.99r e k k e n T a g £ 3 3 . 9 9T h e B o u n c e r € 3 5 . 9 9T i m e S p l i t t e r s £ 3 3 . 9 9Jnreal Tournament £34.991Z O E £ 3 1 . 9 9 jL + many morel

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. .' GRAN TURISMO 3

PlayStation.2

THIS IS FOOTBALL 2002Released 28th September

DARK CLOUD

Released 21st September

PlayStation 2

RESIDENT EVILCODE: VERONICA X(Includes playable demoof Devil May Cry)

Official PS2 Magazine UK issue 12

Documents

Transcript of Official PS2 Magazine UK issue 12