In True CrimeTM: Streets of L.A., players assume the role of rogue Elite Operations Division (E.O.D.) operative Nick Kang, a no-holds-barred badass, whose brutal reputation and lethal skills have landed him the nasty task of taking down the Chinese Triad and Russian Mafia cartel that has turned the City of Angels into a war zone. Take part in explosive gun battles with double fisted firepower, devastating martial arts brawls, and high-speed shootouts across 250 square miles of accurately recreated L.A. In car or on-foot, the unique branching missions include locating hostile witnesses, searching for case-cracking clues, taking out evasive informants and busting the heavily armed and deadly bad guys.

KEY FEATURES:

• The Trifecta of Gaming- True Crime: Streets of L.A. seamlessly blends action and driving genres by allowing players to drive, fight and run and gun anywhere in the game world. Over the course of a single mission players can engage in car chases, on-foot pursuits, gunfights and hand-to-hand combat as they try to take down big time crime.
• Fast and Frantic Driving – Car chases in True Crime: Streets of L.A. take on a manic quality with the ability to commandeer any vehicle in the game and to target and shoot at perps from a moving car.
• Take Down The Bad Guys Hong Kong Style – True Crime: Streets of L.A. features a fully realized, intensely painful, hand-to-hand combat system allowing the player to perform a huge variety of maneuvers including punches, kicks, combinations, grapples, and stealth attacks.
• Deal Out Justice with massive gunfights- Ferocious gun battles with an arsenal of weapons, slow motion dives, the ability to target multiple enemies and precision firing give an entirely unique feel and intensity to the combat.
• Near Endless Gameplay – Branching storyline with over 100 missions plus free-roaming random missions enable True Crime: Streets of L.A. to deliver multiple outcomes and near limitless replayability.
• To Live And Play In L.A. – Hundreds of square miles of realistically recreated living, breathing L.A. streets including landmarks and popular areas such as Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Downtown.

Designed as a thrilling blend of role-playing and action Pirates of the Caribbean takes place in a large group of Caribbean islands during the golden age of piracy and high seas adventure. You will take command of a ship and its crew, swordfight with other captains, accept and complete daring quests, chase rumors of dangers and riches, and change allegiances amongst the colonial powers in the game. Through skill and daring, you will have the ability to obtain more power than the toughest captains in history ever dreamed possible.

You will be able to customize your captain, crew, skills, and attributes to their individual liking. During shore leave on the many fanciful islands, players can interact with townspeople and shopkeepers to replenish stores of ammo and crew, and explore the wilderness in search of adventure and treasure!

A party-based system on land and at sea allows you to hire friendly captains to form small fleets of ships for trade or battle, and your own band of adventurers when on land. Ultimately, you will be able to control your destiny by following the game story or sailing off in a search of pirate loot.

Pirates of the Caribbean features advanced AI, incredibly detailed characters and vessels, breath taking views at sea, and lush, exotic environments. Enhancing the game’s realism, wind and water conditions will affect how ships sail and fight. Day and night lighting and jaw-dropping water effects make the game come alive.

KEY FEATURES:

- An epic role-playing game on land and at sea
- Gorgeous graphics and realistic weather effects
- Open-ended gameplay set in exotic locales
- Exciting high seas battles and thrilling duels
- Inspired by the feature film coming July 9th

In its 14th year and with over 28 million copies sold, Madden NFL Football once again proves its status as the undisputed leader in authentic NFL football simulation. With a primary focus on in-game graphics, incredible depth, visual presentation, and tournament tested gameplay, this season Madden NFL 2004 continues to demonstrate why it’s the definitive interactive sports gaming experience. New features include revolutionary Playmaker Control that lets gamers adjust on the fly just as NFL players do, deep Owner Mode options, and improved online play for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

Key Features:

Revolutionary Playmaker Control: Just like NFL players on the field, gamers now have more control over the action before and during the play with intuitive right stick adjustments. With Playmaker Pre-Play Control, use the right stick to quickly change plays, routes, or defensive coverage. After the snap, use the right stick to call out blocks, direct receivers, and make quick adjustments on defense.

New, Deep Owner Mode: Take over the full bottom line responsibilities of the owner in addition to GM, coach, and player duties in Franchise Mode. Features include relocating your team and building a new stadium and setting all prices including food, merchandise, and parking. With the addition of the assistant coach license, gamers can even hire their own coaching staffs.

Knockout Graphics and Presentation: New broadcast quality effects create a seamless transition from the end of the play to the play-call interface with post-play graphics shown on screen. Other enhancements include new split screen replays, numerous specialty animations including stumbles with the ball, open field blocks, defensive reaction moves, and new QB scramble transitions to improve throwing the run. Players are modeled with the greatest accuracy ever including tattoos on player arms, dreadlocks, and long hair sticking out of the helmets, and all the latest NFL alternate uniforms and helmet styles.

More Game: The deepest and most realistic playbooks to date are packed with information directly from NFL Coaches via the NFLCA license, and the package personnel system provides an innovative and fast way to change personnel to create favorable match-ups in any formation at the play-call screen. Deep AI includes situational passing that will not throw up the middle with time running down, real NFL zone coverage schemes, and much more.

Stadium Builder: Using graphical building tools, choose from multiple pieces to build your fully customized home field with over 17 billion combinations-put scoreboards, luxury boxes, and tunnels, where you want them.

EA SPORTS Bio: Memory card based tracking/rating system recognizes and rewards gamers for playing multiple EA SPORTS titles.

Deeper Franchise Mode: Mini-camp drills will be integrated to boost up players during franchise mode in the off season and the Horse Trailer Player of the Game has been added, playing off John Madden’s new on-air recognition. Signing bonuses are now available so team and player management can emulate the NFL’s real salary cap system. Put players on the trading block and field offers for trades from computer teams.

New and Improved Commentary: Featuring the Monday Night Football team of John Madden and Al Michaels for commentary and dynamic play-by-play and sideline reporter Melissa Stark. New commentary elements include “Gamestory” mode which provides improved overtime commentary, halftime analysis, and increased rivalry/championship specific commentary, improved replay commentary, audio for specific player moves, blowout commentary, and much more.

New EA SPORTS Trax and Jukebox: New songs are featured, and full Jukebox feature allows custom orders and play lists.

One of gaming’s most treasured franchises will be given new life this holiday season as Tecmo’s esteemed internal development group, Team Ninja, and the powers of Xbox join forces to bring you 100% action in one of the most anticipated games of the new millennium. Ninja Gaiden is on the cutting-edge of action as the player takes on the role of powerful ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, who seeks revenge after his clan is massacred by the Vigor Empire. Taking full advantage of three-dimensional space, you follow the story with only your wits, your ninja skills, and your deadly sword, cutting down opponents in the Vigor Empire as you attempt to beat the Holy Emperor and reclaim the magic sword “Ryuken”. Realistic battle actions and acrobatic ninja actions add another dimension to the game, restoring Ninja Gaiden to its rightful place in the gaming pantheon.

Features:

Xbox Live Compatible. Tecmo’s “Team Ninja” development group has created a revolutionary new Xbox Live Compatible feature within Ninja Gaiden. This radical new feature is being developed specifically for Ninja Gaiden and is like nothing any gamer has experienced in an action game before it.

Increased skills and new weapons. Through the progression of the game the player’s skill will increase, as this happens they will be rewarded with new weapons to fight their opponents with. As the player becomes more competent fighting enemies, the stronger they become, unlocking new combinations and skills. Wit and skill are also rewarded while they play and the decisions the player makes in the game affect the weapons and skills they can acquire.

Amazing visual effects. Players will witness an amazing level of detail as they take on their opponents in a variety of environments. The player will hear the swords slicing through the air and jump as gouts of blood pulse out from vanquished enemies. Beautifully rendered graphics, amazing visual effects and realistic combat take Ninja Gaiden to a whole new level.

Many challenging levels. Your ninja skills will be put to the ultimate test as you battle through various levels in your mission to avenge your clan.

Continual gameplay. Once you embark on your role as a ninja hero you never have to stop the journey-the Xbox allows you to quit the game at any time and re-start at the very same point.

BATTLE THE MIGHT OF JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY

Set in ancient Japan and steeped in real-life folklore and mysticism, “Otogi – Myth of Demons” is the story of Raiko, an undead warrior who must stop a ferocious demonic army that has been unleashed upon the Earth. As a long-forgotten doomsday myth materialises, Raiko must quickly master more than 30 weapons and 12 varieties of magic to dispatch endless hoards of demon warriors, massive boss characters and everything else that gets in his way.

Blending frenetic fast-paced 3D action with deep RPG elements that allow gamers to upgrade weapons, magic and character attributes, in addition to managing an inventory of special items, “Otogi – Myth of Demons” delivers more than 25 massive, highly-destructible environments to explore and decimate. Trees, walls, furniture and even entire buildings can be destroyed as gamers master dozens of special moves and techniques that make for the most intense, stylish combat available on Xbox.

Features:

More than 25 levels – face down hordes of demons, destroy mammoth bosses, and set the world right as an undead warrior in search of peace

Collect and customise more than 30 weapons, 12 varieties of magic and more than 10 special demon slaying items

Deep story based on classic Japanese mythologies

More than 15 hours of game play

Winner of Graphical Achievement of the Year Award 2003, EDGE

Runner-up of Audio Achievement of the Year 2003, EDGE

What would James Bond do? That’s the question players will answer in every dramatic moment of James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMESTM brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world. Finally, you will see every Bond moment from the new third person perspective that shows the Hollywood cast playing out a real-time cinematic action adventure that could only come from the world of James Bond.

Returning as James Bond is Pierce Brosnan, who will lend his cyberscanned likeness and voice to the character. The rest of the cast will include new Bond girls as well as old and new Bond villains. The original script will take players through exciting locales in four continents including the Valley of the Kings in Egypt and the French Quarter in New Orleans.

To play out the challenge of thinking and acting like Bond, players will make choices ranging from direct confrontation to subtle misdirection when interacting with enemies. When it comes time for combat, Bond can engage in hand-to-hand fighting, using objects from game environments as weapons, as well as accessing a guns and gadgets. The discerning player, however, may find a multitude of different options ranging from disguise to distracting guards to using cover-and using these Bond-style tactics to outsmart the bad guys will reward the player with special enhancements including Q-Lab gadgetry.

Other new features include two-player co-op missions and four-player multiplayer arena modes, all set in third person views and featuring multiple playable characters.

Key Features

New third person perspective that showcases Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

Multiple ways to complete missions, with player rewards for completing objectives with Bond style by using disguise to temporarily take the identity of a defeated foe, misdirection, and other spy tactics rather than brute force.

New over the top hand-to-hand fighting that includes the use of environmental objects such as bottles, chairs, tools, boards, etc.

Original single player storyline that immerses the player in the world of James Bond with classic villains, exotic locations, beautiful girls, fast cars, and high-tech gadgetry.

Missions that span exotic locales in four continents, including the French Quarter of New Orleans, a mountain fortress in Peru, a secret facility in Egypt, and Red Square in Moscow.

Seamless transitions from on-foot exploration to piloting interactive vehicles including cars, motorcycles, helicopters, and tanks.

Over 20 weapons and gadgets including the ability to rappel up or down any wall.

New third person multiplayer modes including two-player co-op missions and arena-style combat with up to four players.

1) The Prince is quite familiar to gamers, as the main hero of the series that carries his name. Is there any link between your Prince and the one featured in previous games of the series?

Answer: The new Prince of Persia has a very different look from the previous games. For this game we needed a strong hero who would project the Prince’s key attributes: agility, courage and determination. To achieve this, we gave our character designers complete freedom to break from previous visual conceptions of the Prince, and start over from scratch. They did a fantastic job and gave us exactly what we hoped for.

2) And what is the personality of this new Prince?

Answer: He starts out as a young Prince seeking adventure and glory. He is eager to embark on a journey which will demand all his courage and determination, and soon gets more than he bargained for, as his adventure transforms into a sheer struggle for survival. He realizes that not just his own life is at stake, but also the fate of everyone he loves and his entire world.

It was important for the Prince to evolve and change as a character throughout the game. As the stakes rise and the odds against him increase, he gets more and more beat up, and also more determined. This gradual transformation is reflected in the character’s appearance, as he becomes a tougher, stripped-down kind of action hero. The Prince’s ideals and illusions will be challenged by the hard choices he must make. In the course of the story he matures, and learns what is really important.

Players will get to control a very agile and acrobatic character. He has feline movements that are quick, light and spectacular. The Prince was designed so that his skills in combat, from swordplay to martial arts, are unmatched, since he has been trained all his life by the best instructors of Persia. Of course, in the beginning, he has a certain innocence, even over-confidence, since he has not yet tested his abilities in a life-or-death situation.

3) How would you describe his evolution to meet current gaming standards?

Answer: On the one hand, the Prince of Persia is a classic videogame character, whose acrobatic movements are instantly recognizable to millions of people around the world. We could just show a shadow of the Prince and you would know right away that it’s him, just by seeing him move, jump or fight.

But, today’s videogame standards are extremely high. It is harder than ever to create a truly special hero that the gaming public will embrace. For Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, we faced a double challenge: To recapture the spirit of the original character, while reinventing him as a distinctive hero for a new generation of gamers.

The new Prince is much more fully developed than the character in the earlier games. He has a unique look that reflects his specific personality and totally fits with the exotic Persian settings of the game. He is an extremely expressive hero whose essence is communicated through in-game action, facial expressions and dialog, all while advancing the story. Also, players will really get to see the physical and psychological evolution of the Prince.

4) Did Jordan Mechner provide input on The Prince?

Answer: One of Jordan’s main objectives during this project has been to unite the story and game-play aspects of the game. As the Prince is the main character, it was of course especially important to get his feedback on our approach. We agreed on the key attributes of the character and the artistic direction.

We felt it was essential for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time to capture the exhilaration of movement that was such a key element of the first game’s appeal. The animated character needed to feel acrobatic and graceful, as opposed to mechanical, and the controls had to be simple and intuitively satisfying. Jordan’s input was of great value for this process.

The Prince’s personality is expressed not just in his physical movements, but also through his dialog and interactions with other characters. Jordan’s role as screenwriter helped to ensure that all these aspects are woven together to clearly delineate the Prince’s character development over the course of the game.

Ivory Tower:
There are two Palm Trees that are easy to climb atop and almost completely conceal you (a side effect of complete concealment is the inability for yourself
to see). Located on the upper side of the Overshield Ramp, the highest branch will give you marginal visibility, but provides great camouflage for brighter-colored
character models.

Coagulation:
The large Pine trees in the Map are only accessible with the Banshee and are hard to land on top of, but if your team controls both sniper rifles, you will
be out of reach on top of the pines. Even though Battle Rifles can still reach you, the drop down from the top of the tree gives you ample cover for your
escape into the cave.

Beaver Creek:
The trees here have little use to hide in, but you can hide behind them for momentary cover from Needles or the Overcharged Plasma Ball.

Warlock:
This was found shortly after the maps were released, the bushes on the ground level of Warlock can provide great cover for darker colored characters, but no
matter what the color of your armpatches are, they will stick out. Try not to move while using the bushes and your enemy might overlook you.

Gemini:
The large tree in the center of the map has many branches to stand on, and can be jumped onto via the teleporters that warp you above the tree. But watch out,
other people dropping down from the teleporters will be able to easily spot and eliminate you with no difficulty.

Backwash:
This is the most obvious. Vegetation is abundant everywhere, Maybe someone will find a way to get into those big trees …

I’ve found that the most versatile colors are Tan, Sage and Steel. The colors that fit in the least are White, Yellow, and Orange.

This is a list of character colors that might be worth your while to switch to prior to entering a game.

Lockout
Exposed Areas – Cyan

Ascension
Catwalks – Steel
Rocks – Tan

Ivory Tower
Lit Areas – Tan
Dark Areas – Steel

Colossus
Central Areas – Brown
(pictured in article)

Waterworks
Overall – Steel
(almost completely invisible)

Containment
Snow – White
(duh)

Warlock
Overall – Steel or Sage

Gemini
Coming soon!

Relic
Coming soon!

Backwash
Coming soon!

Elongation
Coming soon!

Terminal
Coming soon!