Mercutio
04-18-2003, 11:54 AM
Welcome one, welcome all to the first issue of "The Gaming Spirit" a new thread/digest from Reanimated Spirit. A new issue will be availiable every week with the news for that week, covering reviews, previews and the latest in gaming news. This week I'll have a review for the highly anticipated Metroid Prime aswell as Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance! But of course, first we have the news, and what news it is!
X B O X
- Microsoft / Capcom announced they will release a Dino Crisis 3 Limited Box in Japan in June, for 26,800 yen. The limited box will include the Xbox console, joypad, DVD remote control, and Dino Crisis 3.
- Rare announced a new Xbox racing game called Sabre Man Stampede, which is based on the characters from the classic 8-bit NES action game Sabre Wulf. More details of the game will be available at E3 in May.
- Level 5 and Microsoft announced they will begin the beta test of the Xbox Live MMORPG True Fantasy Live Online in Japan sometimes this summer.
P L A Y S T A T I O N 2
- Sony announced they will release Everybody's Golf Online for PlayStation 2 in Japan in June, for 4800 yen. The membership fee is divided into two categories. You can setup a full membership, which is 500 yen per month; or purchase a one-time access pass, which is 600 yen for 30 days or 1500 yen for 90 days. The payment methods are credit cards or WebMoney.
- Playmore has rescheduled their PlayStation 2 action shooter Metal Slug 3 for release in Japan on May 22.
- Sony is planning to release a PlayStation 2 Network Bundle Pack in Japan, the package will include the PlayStation 2 console and the Broadband Unit, and it will retail at the same price level as the regular PS2.
- Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced they have sold over 4 million units of PlayStation 2 and 7 million units of PSone in UK.
- Sony announced they will release Ka 2: Let's Go Hawaii (Mister Mosquito 2) in Japan this summer, the sequel of the popular mosquito action game from 2001. As the name implies, this time the game takes place in Hawaii instead of Japan.
- Sega WOW Entertainment is developing a sequel to the classic action games Altered Beast; and Pseudo Interactive is also working on Vectorman for PlayStation 2. Altered Beast is scheduled for a fall release, and Vectorman is scheduled for a January 2004 release.
- Square Enix announced the development of All-Star Pro Wrestling III for PlayStation 2, the 3rd installment of Square's popular 3D wrestling game. This time the game will feature over 40 genuine professional wrestlers. The game is scheduled for a summer release.
- Here is a screen shot of Polyphony Digital's Volkswagen Lupo GTI Cup 2003 for PlayStation 2, a training game specifically designed for Lupo Cup drivers, the game only features Volkswagen Lupo GTI vehicles, and it is not for sale. The game is developed on the Gran Turismo 4 game engine.
- Sony / Insomniac announced they will release Ratchet & Clank 2 for PlayStation 2 in US in November, the sequel to last year's popular action adventure game.
- SCEA announced they will release the US version of Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits for PlayStation 2 in June.
G A M E C U B E
- Nintendo of America mentioned that they are planning to release a GameCube + GameBoy Player Bundle later this year, which enable players to access the entire GameBoy / GameBoy Advance software library on GameCube.
- In addition, Nintendo reaffirmed that they do not have plans to focus on online gaming in the current state, instead they will emphasize on the GC/GBA connectivity and LAN support for GameCube.
- UNCONFIRMED: Nintendo's Mario Kart GameCube will not include online capabilities, instead it will have LAN support, which allows two GameCube consoles connected together using link cable. Up to 8 players can battle, by using 4 players split screen on both GameCube systems and two TV displays.
- Nintendo of Japan is recruiting about 20 new staffs in Tokyo, for a new development project, which include experienced programmers, designers, CG programmers, sound programmers and music composers.
- Epoch has released new info on their GameCube action game Doraemon: Let's All Play in Mini Doraland. The game is based on the classic anime series Doraemon, and it is a 4 players action game, up to 4 players can play simultaneously. The stage of the game is the Theme Park Mini Doraland in the future, which is overtaken by an unknown enemy character. Doraemon and his friends must battle to save the theme park with different kinds of tools from Doraemon.
- Nintendo announced they will release the GameCube multiplayer racing game Kirby Air Ride in Japan this summer.
- Nintendo mentioned they will reveal a new Pokemon title for GameCube in the Japanese KoroKoro manga magazine, the game is not Pokemon Box Ruby & Sapphire announce yesterday.
- Nintendo will release Pokemon Box Ruby & Sapphire for GameCube in Japan on May 30, for 2000 yen. This is an expansion disc for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire for GameBoy Advance. To use this software, you must connect the Pokemon Ruby / Sapphire to GameCube using the GBA cable. Pokemon Box Ruby & Sapphire allows you to view your Pokemon collection in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire for GBA.
P O R T A B L E S
- Capcom announced they will release the WonderSwan Crystal card RPG Rockman EXE N1 Battle in Japan in June.
O T H E R
- Sega mentioned that they have received a merger proposal from Namco, but since Sammy and Sega are to be merged on October 1, the negotiation for the merger will only solemnly advanced after Sammy and Sega's business integration in October.
- Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Sega and Namco executives are discussing a possible merger between the two companies. If an agreement is reached, the merger could take place in 2004.
- Taito announced their earnings for the financial year of 2002. The company posted a net profit of 4.6 billion yen, which exceeds the expected profit of 3.2 billion yen.
- Codemasters announced they will be showing the following titles at E3 in May.
Pop Idol (PS2)
Club Football (PS2, XB)
Operation Flashpoint (XB)
New Colin McRae Rally
New Operation Flashpoint
New LMA Manager
Metroid Prime
In the future, there is a legend, a legend of a Bounty Hunter and her skills and courage... and of a fierce breed of creature known only as "Metroids". Now the legend is on GameCube, in the form of Metroid Prime. The first time you play this game, the first thing that hits you are the graphics, which a crisp and clean with an amazing feel. They are unrivaled by any game on the GameCube and really pull you into the game. Many doubted the ability to take a well known side scroller and turn it into a first person game, but Texas based Retro have proven many fans (Including me) wrong by pulling it off almost flawlessly. The controls are strange for a FPS, but you get used to them, basically, you can't side step unless you're "locked on" to a target (Similar to "Z" targeting in the 64 Zelda games) and you use the D-Pad to equip various "visors". You soon learn to love the controls however, when you first bump into the dastardly Space Pirates in a space station above Tallon IV.
The experience is unrivaled, when you first land on the Tallon IV overworld and the rain drops hit your visor and makes splashes on your weapon, when your visor gets residue on it from the heat and fogs up, everything is perfect. Even the sound is great, from the techno-ish beats of the Chozo Ruins to the calm and relaxing Tallon IV Overworld soundtrack, it's all there.
Unfortunately, the replay factor is lacking and you wont want to play this game through again after say, the 3rd time through. But that's only expected.
Graphics: A+
Sound: A
Gameplay: A+
Replay Value: A-
Overall: A+
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was released a couple of years ago, and many complained about it's short length. If that's you, this game is for you. Best of all, in the PAL release "The Document" is free with Substance! A DVD disc that Japanese and American gamers had to shell out cash for; great. What extras does Substance have over SoL?
Think 350+ VR missions (Some of the missions will be simple stuff, ranging from having Raiden navigate through a course as fast as he can, to using Snake to shoot out 15 targets and hit the checkpoint as soon as he can. Other missions will require Nude Raiden streaking through 5 VR levels in a row without getting caught, and Tuxedo Snake trying to kill 20 men with the PSG1 before they reach his bowl of ramen, and dunk their face into it. (Honestly...use the chopsticks, guys.)
In addition to the VR Missions, there are about 150 "Alternate Missions", which are basically like the VR Missions, but they're not using the "Tron Style" graphics. You'll go through the level maps from the game, and have to do stuff like catch guards in a "Hold Up" move, dispose of a bunch of explosives within the level, or just shoot a certain number of people.
And once you tire of all that... there's SNAKEBOARDING! This is arguably the most fun mode of the game, mainly because it's nothing like the rest of the game. I mean, the rest of the stuff on the disc is fantastic, but for some quick fun, nothing beats Skateboard Mode.
You have 2 routes, Snake has access to Route A, and Raiden gets Route B. You have 6 goals to accomplish on the level within 3 minutes. As Snake, I had to grind on rails for 150 meters, score 8000 points worth of tricks, destroy all 3 Cyphers, pick up the 4 dog tags, get the gold coin on the level, and set off the 4 sets of explosives.
Raiden gets basically the same objectives. The controls are set up nicely, and it works really damn well. One of the best gimmicky add-ons to a game I've seen in quite a while. On top of that...the music for that part of the game ROCKS!
In addition you have the original game and Snake Tales. At first, people thought "Snake Tales" was going to be a way to let you play through the game as Snake. I saw the commercial over here for the game, and it looks like that's what they wanted you to think. However, you don't really get to do that. "Snake Tales" are 5 missions that you play outside of the MGS: Sons of Liberty area while using Snake. They're harder than the normal game, but they are outside of it, too. So, if you're just buying this game to run through as Snake because you didn't like Raiden, well, you're outta luck.
If you either haven't played SoL or you really enjoy it and want that little bit more MGS gaming goodness, I recommend this game for you.
Graphics: A
Sound: A
Gameplay: A
Replay Value: A
Overall: A
None yet, seeing this is the first issue, but if you have any quieries to game release dates, prices or just comments send them to [email protected] (Please mark all e-mails appropriately).
--I'm currently on the lookout for helpers, if you know how to type, know your games, and can get through at least one review (Be it a game, movie or CD) a week then apply by e-mailing the above address and I'll get back to you with details (Remember, label e-mails appropriately).