Xbox PlayStation 2 Multi-Platform
Eternal Darkness
Super Smash Bros: Melee
Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II
Luigis Mansion
Pikmin
How to use these lists: You'll notice that each of
the lists are preceded by an index of the titles covered. Click on those titles and you'll
get to a blurb about each game. At the top of the blurb, the title is again linked, but
this time the link leads to a preview page where you can get more screens and (usually)
more in-depth coverage of the game, including the release date.
Eternal
Darkness
This was my favorite game
of E3 this year, while Eternal Darkness appeared on my best of show list last year, back
then it was an N64 title. This year Eternal Darkness was the GameCubes killer app. I
hate to say killer app, but Eternal Darkness makes me want to run out and reserve that
GameCube right now. The bad news is that Eternal Darkness isnt a launch title, but
expect it in late December. Eternal Darkness is billed as a psychological thriller, which
alludes to the cinematic quality of the game. Think zombies, but dont think Resident
Evil. The characters, the architecture, the weapons have all been researched and are
authentic to the over ten characters and time periods spanning thousands of years. The
graphics are simply amazing, rivaling anything on the PlayStation 2, X-Box, or PC. The
lighting effects and the textures are breathtaking, but theyre nothing compared to
the characters. They are by far the most lifelike avatars Ive seen. Their eyes are
always glued to the most important action, their faces give emotional reactions to what
they see, and they have the coolest and most authentic costumes. The camera is always in
the best place, focused on the bad guys or creating a stunning shot from high up in the
architecture. The game play is just as spectacular as the graphics, movement is agile
Mario-type control and there is a unique sanity meter. The more supernatural scaries the
characters see, the less sanity theyll have, and insanity leads to hallucinations.
The hallucinations are seamlessly cut into the game, leading you to a believe nothing and
question reality feeling to the game. Confronting and killing your undead tormentors will
increase your sanity and improve your state of mind. The combat system is simple but
allows for skill development. It creates a seamless system that takes you through swords,
spell casting, and shotguns. Eternal Darkness will give all the grown-ups something to
really look forward to on the Nintendo GameCube.
Super Smash Bros: Melee
No surprises here, fans of the first Super Smash Bros. will be
thrilled with this installment of the series. Actually, any Nintendo fan will be happy to
see their old favorites again on the GameCube; just about everyone is back: Mario, Donkey
Kong, Link, Kirby, Yoshi and others. Also expect to see Poké Balls with Pokémon
favorites inside, like Charizard, Lugia, Entei and more. There are over a dozen all new
stages based on hit Nintendo games, and expect them to be more animated than the first
installment. The graphics are just incredible -- they no longer seem computer rendered,
just silky smooth, ultra fast animation. There are also a number of new game modes,
decision matches that judge how well you battle, a tournament mode that can handle up to
64 entrants, and new rule options to spice up normal play. Super Smash Bros: Melee
wont be changing the way we play games or create a new video game star, but it will
be an awesome fighting game for the GameCube launch and be our first next-gen look at our
old Nintendo favorites.
Star Fox Adventures:
Dinosaur Planet
Last year this game was two separate games for the N64, a Star Fox title and
Dinosaur Planet. Last year I was blown away by Dinosaur Planets graphics, but I just
couldnt figure out how they were ever going to do that on the N64. Well apparently
they couldnt, but they made them look even better for the GameCube, for real this
time. The whole Star Fox team is back, each fulfilling a special role in the game, and
Dinosaur Planets stars will become part of the Star Fox team. Therell be lots
of cute and menacing dinosaurs, magic, and at least a few Arwing flying missions. Star Fox
Adventures: Dinosaur Planet will be a giant sized game that incorporates many different
charters, game play styles, and even dino riding. This game, despite its dubious two in
one start, could be one of the GameCubes most expansive and interesting titles.
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue
Squadron II
Far
and away the prettiest looking game on the GameCube, like Super Smash Bros: Melee, Star
Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II doesnt have many surprises in store for us, but
it is one hell of a good looking game. The game takes place in between Star Wars: A New
Hope and Empire Strikes Back. It includes familiar locales like Hoth, Tatooine, and the
Death Star trench, as well as familiar ships like X-wings, A-wings, and B-wings. For the
first time I really feel like the immense scale of the movies space scenes has been
conveyed in the video games (which is helped by the presence of music from the original
movies). The GameCubes new controller handles like a dream, especially when giving
orders to your wing men while shooting down hoards of TIE fighters. I was also impressed
with the targeting system; it mimics the movies low tech style while also being
highly effective. While Im not the biggest fan of space shooters, Im not going
to miss Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II for the world.
Luigis Mansion
Nintendo keeps calling this the GameCubes first Mario title,
but wheres Mario? Well, Mario is missing; he was supposed to meet Luigi at the
mysterious family mansion but never showed up. Now its up to Luigi to save his big
bro by clearing the mansion of its numerous ghostly inhabits. Luckily Luigi is armed with
a flashlight and vacuum, so he can battle the ghouls Ghostbuster style. Even with his
brother missing, poor Luigi isnt the real star of Luigis Mansion, the awesome
lighting effects are the real stars. Outside a lightning storm flashes and pops, inside
Luigis flashlight searches the room nervously for ghosts. The shadows and textures
created by the mixing light sources are breathtaking. The gameplay is fast and fun and
pretty unique (though Silent Hill 2 promises the same sort of limited lighting, but in a
very different context) There will be over seventy rooms in the final version. I really
hope that theyll be a bit more diverse than the levels showing at E3. If youre
a big Mario fan, this is the game you need to pick up with your GameCube. I say its
about time for Luigi to grab the drivers seat and get his bit of franchise fame.
Pikmin (temporary name)
Word has it that master game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, came up with the idea
behind Pikmin while he was tending his garden. Pikmin takes place at teeny scale; giant
cliffs are footprints, and ants are monstrous beasts. While the miniature scale is unique,
the gameplay is totally new and innovative. You play a wee spaceman that has crash landed;
your wrecked ship is scattered about and your job is to retrieve the pieces and get the
ship up and running again. This is no easy task but you are able to enlist the help of the
Pikmin, indigenous plant-like creatures. Pikmin can fight creatures, carry objects, and
otherwise assist you. You are able to amass great Pikmin armies -- over 100 Pikmin can be
on screen at once. The game also utilizes a game time day/night system, which is important
because Pikmin are plants and need to be home overnight. Pikmin promises to be a strategy
game like no other, with Shigeru Miyamoto at the helm, I have very high hopes for this
innovative GameCube title.
Xbox
PlayStation 2
Multi-Platform
Sarah
Wichlacz |