360Zine Issue 21

FREE! NAVIGATE Issue 21 | August 2008 SPECIAL REPORT E3Why the Xbox 360 is still the best console in town!

360Free Magazine For Xbox 360 Gamers.ZineRead it, Print it, Send it to your mates…

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! LEGO BATMAN Massive hands-on preview inside...

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QUICK FINDER Don’t miss! This month’s top highlights Every gam e’s just a click a w ay! Mirror’s Edge Halo Wars Bayonetta Warhammer: I am Alive Battle March Borderlands Resident Evil 5 RACE Pro Lego Batman Quantum of Solace Soul Calibur IV The videogames show that is E3 always Scene It: Box Office Command & heralds the battle of the gaming brands and Smash Conquer: this year was no exception. And the good news E3 Show 50 Cent: Blood on Kane’s Wrath for Xbox 360 owners is that Microsoft more round-up the Sand XBLA than held its own in the new announcement Warhammer: stakes. With a ﬂash new dashboard on its way MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! and a stack of new titles to look forward Battle March (especially news that Fable 2 is locked an into ug chasing stage already) to you can rest assured that the 360 will remain at the cutting edge of console gaming for some time to come. Don’t miss our full report kicking oﬀ on page 19. Back in the here and now we have full Resident Evil 5 reviews of C&C: Kane’s Wrath and the awesome Soul Calibur IV. If you only buy one game this DON’T MISS ISSUE 22 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE ! month then make sure that this is it... Enjoy the issue… WARNING! M ULTIMEDIA DISABLED! 360Zine D a n H u tc h i n s o n , E d i to r If you are rea ding this, then you didn’t cho o se “Play” FEEDBACK! 360z i n e@g a m e rz i n e s. co m LEGO Batman interview when Ado be R ea der aske d you ab out multime dia when Click here to you opene d the magazine. tell us what you think of Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will lo ok correct, but you will the new issue. be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. MEET THE We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when TEAM Chris Steve Hill Ian Morris asked about the multimedia to enj oy the magazine as intended. Pro b a b l y th e b est Schilling Is our Resident Evil Is on the Mirror’s Edge g a m es write r s o n Is back from E3 Soul Calibur IV th e p l a n e t CO N T R O L 360Zine NAVIGATE |03 Previews

Though the fighting FIRST LOOK doesn’t seem quite as fluid as the general Publisher: EA movement, the Developer: DICE appearance of your Heritage: Battlefield 2142, hands and legs on Mirror’s Edge Battlefield: Bad Company screen as you lash out Well above parkour Link: www.on- makes it feel much mirrors-edge.com more real and effective. ETA: Q4 2008 InWhat’s a futuristic dystopiathe wherestory? all communication is heavily restricted, a group of couriers, named runners, flout authority by delivering The E3 demo features a packages across the city. They do this by free running across prodigious leap onto the the rooftops, leaping between buildings and sliding under side of a helicopter, as lead barriers while fending off the attentions of the government character Faith escapes her officers who attempt to put a stop to their plans. enemies. Thrilling stuff.

NotWhat only wasdo Mirror’s we Edge know? one of the most visually striking games shown off at this year’s E3 – with its crisp white surfaces and occasional flashes of solid colour – but it was one of the most original. The first-person genre has almost always focused on shooting, whereas here you’re mostly unarmed – making your way through the world in a fluid, fast-flowing manner entirely at odds with the limited The game has virtually no HUD movement commonly found when using this perspective. at all – simply a single dot which Question marks remain over the combat, but the simple joy helps to centre your vision. of getting around the city can’t be denied. Mirror’s Edge reeks of quality, and we’re looking forward to getting more hands-on time with the game within the next couple of months.

“The ﬁrst-person There’sWhen no concretedo we release get date asmore? yet, but it will be PREVIEW genre has arriving before the end of the year. FEEDBACK! usually focused Click here to tell us what on shooting, Anything else to declare? whereas here The coloured items that you’ll spot in the city aren’t just you think of there for show – they’re a way of instantly telling which Mirror’s Edge you’re mostly objects you can interact with – whether by climbing, unarmed” vaulting or wall-running.

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Our gaming senses tell us FIRST LOOK that Bayonetta could be something rather special. Publisher: Sega Bayonetta Developer: Platinum Games Heritage: Viewtiful Joe, PREVIEW Anyone for ice cream? Oh, Bayonetta… Okami FEEDBACK! Link: www.sega.com/ Click here to platinumgames/bayonetta/ tell us what CloverWhat’s Studios themakes verystory? good videogames for Capcom. Clover Studios’ games EnglishUK/index2.html you think of ETA: Early 2009 don’t sell very well. Capcom drops Clover. Clover reforms as Platinum Games. Bayonetta Platinum Games signs a publishing deal with Sega. Sega announces the release of Bayonetta, from the creator of Devil May Cry. World rejoices.

The combat is fast- paced, as is Kamiya’s It’sWhat a third-person do weaction know? game from Hideki Kamiya, trademark. Yet it the man behind gun-wielding, sword-swinging seems that it’ll be demon hero Dante. But not content with the more brutal than Devil outlandish foppery of his most famous creation, he’s May Cry, with much gone for an even more bizarre protagonist this time. more blood and some Bayonetta is a lithe, bespectacled witch with guns in truly violent deaths. her feet. As if that wasn’t enough, she also has magic hair, which can transform into a weapon itself – from a giant fist to a huge dragon. Oh, and she can summon torture devices from thin air, which is rather handy. Kamiya has suggested that the third-person As you can clearly see, action game hasn’t been revolutionised since the there’s been a lot of original DMC, and that with Bayonetta he’s finally going to bring the genre kicking thought put into the graphics in Bayonetta. and screaming into the current gen. Exciting stuff.

WhenUnfortunately, do it’swe not dueget out untilmore? early 2009, but hopefully we’ll be seeing “Bayonetta more of this at the Leipzig game show in August. is a lithe, bespectacled Kamiya’sAnything certainly conﬁdentelse that to Platinum declare? Games can pull this oﬀ. “Where we witch with guns once gave birth to true 3D action, we return to unleash a new truth on the world. in her feet” A truth only we can create.” Bold words. Here’s hoping Bayonetta lives up to them.

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�� Too Human is a trademark of Silicon Knights, Inc., with registrations pending around the world. All rights reserved. © 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. © 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. with registrations pending around the world. Inc., Human is a trademark of Silicon Knights, Too Friedrich Nietzsche

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The initial cause of the devastation isn’t known, which FIRST LOOK “I am Alive’s trailer suggests that the earthquake didn’t occur naturally. Could some is one of the most otherworldly evil be involved? successful we’ve Publisher: Ubisoft seen at whipping up Developer: Ubisoft I am Alive immediate interest” Heritage: Splinter Cell, A whole lot of shaking going on… Assassin’s Creed Link: www.iamalive game.com What’s the story? ETA: Q2 2009 A man called Adam is running through the remains of a destroyed building, his clothes tattered and torn. He falls down, and then the three men that are chasing him catch up, demanding something from him. Adam throws a water bottle to the ground, and as the men scrabble to pick it up, they fall through the pane of glass it was resting on. Cut to six days earlier, and we see the cause of the devastation – a huge earthquake in central Chicago.

PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot AsWhat scene-setting do trailerswe know?go, I am Alive is one of the most successful we’ve seen in a Click here to explains that you’ll have while at whipping up immediate interest in a game we’ve never previously heard of. tell us what to ‘make life-changing Initially it was rumoured that this was the next project for Assassin’s Creed helmer decisions’. It’s all sounding Jade Raymond – though Ubisoft has since conﬁrmed this isn’t actually the case. you think of very intriguing to us. I am Alive Described as an ‘edgy new survival adventure’, hopefully this will play something like a more polished version of the superb SOS: The Final Escape – only this looks a lot more polished than the rough-around-the- edges cult PlayStation 2 hit.

It’sWhen out in thedo second we quarter get of nextmore? year, though Ubisoft will likely be showing off more of the game at upcoming press events. Anything else There’sto declare? a web address on a scrolling display in the background during the trailer – www.ruaumoko. com – Ruaumoko was the Maori god of earthquakes. The site, however, merely redirects you to the game’s official web page. Apparently the trailer is representative of the sort of situations you’ll find yourself in within the game. CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |07 Previews Quantum of Solace Publisher: Activision | ETA: Autumn Sure, the film might have a stupid title, but don’t let that put you off what looks like the best Bond game RACE Pro for an absolute age. Curiously, it’s A fistful of top new titles coming to 360… Publisher: Atari | ETA: Autumn using the Call of Duty 4 engine, and Coming soon from racing sim yet it’s developed by Call of Duty 3 experts SimBin, RACE Pro uses the helmer Treyarch – surprising, but mix developer’s own amazing custom a talented team with a great game Borderlands physics engine to create one of engine and you’ve got what could Publisher: 2K Games | ETA: Q1 2009 the most realistic simulations be the best licenced game in years. Brothers in Arms developer Gearbox’s next around. This is very much for title is this sci-fi-themed FPS-cum-RPG. You those who sneer at Forza for can choose from three different characters, being softcore – with 13 real-life each with their own skillset. The game has tracks and 12-player online races, been influenced by Diablo’s random level we’re sure hardcore drivers will be generator, except here your guns and in absolute raptures with this. armour will differ each time. Halo Wars Publisher: Microsoft | ETA: Q2 2009 Scene It: Box Office Smash 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand We’ve spoken about it before, but Publisher: Microsoft | ETA: November Publisher: Who knows now? (Was Sierra/Vivendi) | ETA: Autumn 2008 Halo Wars is looking particularly impressive, with some atypically The follow-up to Lights, Camera, Action It sounds like an horrific idea. The sequel sees Fiddy and his gorgeous graphics for a realtime looks a much better bet for multiplayer fun G-Unit chums hotfoot it to the Middle East, where they’re strategy game. The game is set than its predecessor. With some interesting given a diamond-encrusted skull, which is then promptly before the original Halo and sees use of the new Avatars, many more different stolen. Cue our rapper and his mates grabbing an array of the UNSC discovering a Forerunner round types and four-team online weapons and blowing enemies away to try and get it back. artifact and battling against the multiplayer, this sequel will be the perfect Yet early reports suggest it’s actually pretty damn good. Covenant. It’s some way off release Christmas treat for movie buffs. With Activision-Blizzard suddenly dropping it after their merger, we may never get to find out. yet but already looks the business.

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Facebreaker – 5th September Rapala Fishing Frenzy – 17th October Tomb Raider Underworld – 21st November Sonic Unleashed – December BAJA: Edge of Control – 12th September Saints Row 2 – 17th October Madagascar 2 – 28th November You’re in the Movies – December

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CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |09 Previews You’re bound to lose some of your men against the larger enemy units, but if you swarm them HANDS ON enough you’ll get enough hits in before they destroy too many.

Publisher: Namco- Bandai Games Developer: Namco- Bandai Games Warhammer: Heritage: Ace Combat 6, Beautiful Katamari Link: www.namcobandai games.com/games/ Battle March warhammerbm ETA: 5th September From the tabletop to your TV screen… he Warhammer series has spawned several videogames You can even alter the facial features of your men. Tover the years, but Battle March marks the first time the Warhammer universe has appeared on the 360, with a tactical realtime strategy title that accurately recreates the sort of battles you’ll get in the tabletop game, only with a lot less clutter when you get frustrated and knock all your lovingly- painted miniatures to the floor. Battle March has been available on The vast array of customisation the PC for a couple of months now as options means that no two battles need look the same. “It’s nice to essentially be offered the content an expansion pack to the 2006 hit of two games for Warhammer: Mark of Chaos. The 360 the price of one” game, however, is an amalgamation of the two – it’s nice to essentially be offered the content of two games for management that had become a the price of one, even if the original’s genre staple, to focus much more on now two years old. the battles themselves, with huge Mark of Chaos was an RTS which combat sequences seeing massive You’ll be able to micromanage your troops eschewed much of the resource armies going up against each other. much better with the camera zoomed out.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |10 Previews This might seem like an unfair ﬁght, but if you’re carrying larger units, chances are you’ve got fewer troops overall on the battleﬁeld.

While you’ll be responsible for strategies and choosing what and where to level up, the busywork is kept to a relative minimum, enabling you to get on with the action. “You’re able to customise individual troops to an almost ridiculous level”

PREVIEW you’ll be ab le to change their shields, you’re essentially forced to use the FEEDBACK! armour and helmets for st arter s – units you start out with, fighting until Click here to which is particular l y us eful as you c an the bitter end. This means that the tell us what then recognis e single units from a average headlong rush into enemy you think of dist ance. It cert ainl y makes for a change territory won’t wash – you’re much Warhammer: from the clone armies that you contro l better off thinking more deeply about Battle March in many other RTS titles. your current situation and using crafty The fighting its elf is enjoyab le to manoeuvres to ensure you keep your w atch, too – the War hammer uni ver s e best units alive. has been recreated well, with With the battles being on such an Despite the blood in this shot, env ironments grubbil y realistic, and enormous scale, it’s fortunate that your Battle March is surprisingly tame s ome excellent lighting which a dd to units are made up of groups, or in its depiction of violence. the drama. The spellc asting makes for regiments, rather than single soldiers. s ome gorgeous magic effects, too – This allows you to move large bands of and while the animation of your your army at once, and each unit has character s isn’t perfect , it’s a small pr ice special abilities and formations which Warhammer continued excellent character models which to pay for such det ail in other areas. suit different styles of combat. The will have any av id War hammer fan As for the gamep lay its elf, it’s fair l y upshot is that there’s much more Though its visuals aren’t quite cutting sali vating over the det ail. As i f the similar to the Tot al War s er ies. You’ll flexibility to how you approach any edge now, it’s still an impresssive- highl y det ailed units weren’t enough, s end your troops into battle, but you given situation, with the special looking game, with a wealth of units you’re ab le to customis e indi v idual won’t be bo lstered with reinforcements techniques allowing even more variety onscreen at any one time, and some troops to an almost ridiculous level – or recei ve any other kind of help – still. If you can devastate your

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |11 Previews Warhammer continued

opponent’s morale with one of these moves, you can take entire units out of the picture as they flee the scene. Your rival won’t be able to use these groups again in the current skirmish, so judicious use of said abilities is essential if you want to go far. The mist and the dark You’ll also have specific hero units, skies make for some which can really turn the tide of battle. atmospheric scraps. These overpowered troops are limited in number but fearsome in power, and they each have skills which can give “You can also take them even more strength, or others which boost the unit they’re part of, to the battlefield on should you choose to keep them At last, you can finally Xbox Live with up to stop painting all those separate. It’s here that your magic users tiny lead figures. three opponents” are most handy – while they’re weak in options – especially as each army has terms of strength, and need keeping its own particular strengths to play to away from enemy warriors, you’ll find (and weaknesses to exploit, in the case they’re probably the biggest damage- of your opponents). Battle March also dealers in the game. Especially when supports online play – you can take to they’re levelled up. the battlefield on Xbox Live, with up to The original Mark of Chaos had four three opponents to engage in huge armies to choose from, but with the skirmishes, either going head-to-head, addition of the Battle March expansion, or teaming up to take down your rivals. you’ll be able to pick from six on the While it’s still a relatively niche genre 360. Dark Elves and Orcs & Goblins are on the 360, there’s enough action in If you’re a Warhammer fan, the two brand Battle March to please those not you’ll be thrilled with the new forces, which ordinarily into realtime strategy – and attention to detail here. join the Empire, with the option to choose from a High Elves, Skaven simplified control scheme to ease and Chaos armies beginners into proceedings, RTS and to give you plenty Warhammer novices will find plenty of different to enjoy here, too. The different armies require unique approaches to defeat – if you’ve got flying units, you can create HOW COMPLETE? FIRST IMPRESSIONS havoc among enemy forces. 85% 80% An axe to the head of boring resource management

CONTROL SBK08 Superbike World Championship © 2008 Lago S.r.l. Published by Lago S.r.l. &©; 2008 Lago S.r.l. Black Bean is a trademark of Lago S.r.l. Developed by Milestone S.r.l. All rights reserved. All manufacturers, motorcycles,names, brands and associate imagery featured in this game are trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. SBK™ and SBK Superbike World Championship© are registered trademarks of FGSPORT S.r.l. “ ”,“PlayStation”, “PlayStation2”,”PS2”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PS3” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “ ”, “PSP (PlayStation Portable)” and “UMD” are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. NINTENDO, NINTENDO DS, WII AND THE WII LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO. Any other Trademarks used in the Site are trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved

It looks like the story sequences will all use the HANDS ON in-game engine, making for a less jarring transition between action and plot. Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Heritage: Resident Evil Resident Evil 5 series, Devil May Cry Link: www.residentevil. Rout of Africa com/5 ETA: 13th March 2009 ow do you top one of the best that playing it through the second videogames ever made? That’s time (on the Wii) was every bit as Hthe challenge Capcom has set enjoyable as the first time round on itself by making Resident Evil 5, after the GameCube. But with the series “The controls and the magnificent fourth in the series constantly on the cutting edge of changed the survival horror genre technology, a fifth game wouldn’t be aiming will feel forever. Not for nothing does Cliff possible on Nintendo’s baby. But the incredibly The minigun can just about Bleszinski acknowledge the part that Kyoto giant’s loss is Microsoft’s gain – chew through anything, though familiar to fans of it needsThe a littletwo leads time canto warm work up. Shinji Mikami’s magnum opus played in Resident Evil 5 is looking pretty much It’s worthtogether the wait, at certain though. points. shaping the creation of Gears of War. like the update we all dreamed of as the predecessor” Quite simply, Resi 4 is one of the most soon as it was announced. thrillingly exciting and immaculately It’s clear that there’s been no giant paced games you’ll ever play – packed leap in the gameplay mechanics – save with incredible boss fights and for one particular addition we’ll get to memorable moments. It’s so good in a bit. The third-person behind-the shoulder camera is retained, and the controls and aiming will feel incredibly familiar to fans of its predecessor. While it was always going to be tough for the 360 to live up to the terrific pointer- based shooting of the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4, it’s more than a match for the GameCube game, with the analogue sticks feeling just right for controlling your guns. It’s still more about crowd control panic than Chris has a powerful melee attack to fend off those who get too close. His punch is almost as powerful as Yes, it’s another chainsaw-wielding nutter with a a short-range shotgun blast! hessian sack on his head. What is it with this virus that makes people do weird things like this?

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |14 Previews

Resident Evil 5 continued dilapidated residences, they cut rather tragic figures; their shanty homes slow-burn suspense – except this time betraying their innocent past. instead of Spanish ganados, you’re So far, so familiar then. But Resi 5 has taking on villagers in an unknown a couple of tricks up its sleeve to prove African country. The race controversy it wouldn’t be better off called Resi 4.5. from the first released trailer seems to For starters, there’s another playable have been taken into consideration, character. Sheva is a quite stunning with hero Chris Redfield (replacing female assistant, who can be controlled Leon S. Kennedy as chief protagonist) by another human player should you now blasting foes of all creeds and not fancy taking the hordes on alone. colours. Though they might look a little Yet even in single-player mode, she’s a There may be a lack of zombies different, their behaviour is remarkably remarkably effective foil, taking out in Resident Evil these days, but similar – they’ll all lurch towards you, multiple enemies when you’re the game’s adversaries are attempting to get rid of you in the struggling, and she’s used to solve every bit as terrifying. fastest and most violent way possible. certain puzzles. Think of the sections in And they’re reminiscent of the ganados Resi 4 with Ashley, then replace her in other ways – bedraggled, with with someone who can actually handle tattered clothing, and roaming around herself in a tricky situation, and you’re halfway there. Meanwhile, the games ever with even better graphics environments are much more and a multiplayer mode thrown in for destructible too – which adds a few free, then you’re probably already dead. gasp-worthy moments, most notably This is the game’s first boss-type when you’re barricaded in a house and character – a behemoth who thinks nothing of smashing his an enormous assailant smashes his way way through bricks and mortar in through the wall… to get to Chris and Sheva. Given that it’s not out until March, Resi 5 is looking remarkably accomplished already. And while it might share a few similarities with its predecessor, that can hardly be considered a bad thing in this case. After all, if you can’t get excited about a current-gen sequel to one of the best

PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Click here to HOW COMPLETE? FIRST IMPRESSIONS tell us what 70% 90% you think of Resident Evil 5 The best just got even better

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Warhammer®: Battle March™ © Games Workshop Ltd 2006-2008. All Rights Reserved. Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, Warhammer: Battle March, and all associated races, race insignia, marks, names, characters, illustrations and images from the Warhammer: Mark of Chaos game, the Warhammer: Battle March game and the Warhammer world are either ®, ™ and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2008, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world, used under license by NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. (P)2008 Deep Silver, a division of Koch Media GmbH, Austria.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |16 Interview BLOCK PARTY James Woodcock interviews

Richard Earl, the Marketing Here’s Batman, about to arrest a criminal for impersonating a Executive from Travellers Tales giant proﬁterole. to discuss the slap ‘brick’ humour of the Caped Crusader…

We’ve had LEGO Star Wars, LEGO have a great range of toys that we are Star Wars and Indiana Jones had a Indiana Jones and later this year able to incorporate into the game and clear movie path to follow with the “Put away that huge straw LEGO Batman… so why Batman? it’s a fantastic story, too. The mini trilogies, so which Batman movie, and look at my funky moves!” We are always looking for opportunities figures in the game are probably the animation or comic is the game with the LEGO franchise, and LEGO Star best I have seen LEGO ever produce. based on, if any? Wars was a very obvious fit. So you will find that it’s a very dark It has been quite exciting for the It was very similar with Batman. and eerie Gotham City in the game, producers of the game and the LEGO had been making the Batman with fantastically bright primary developers, as it has been the first time play materials for a few years, and they coloured LEGO heroes and villains. that we have actually created a wholly original story that’s not tied to any of the previous films. We’ve been able to work with DC Comics to create a very simple and classic story. All the villains have broken out of the asylum once “We’ve created a wholly again and they are running amok in Gotham, creating lots of havoc and original story that’s not tied to mischief. You will then play as Batman and Robin in order to thwart their any of the previous films” dastardly schemes.

CONTROL 360Zine WWW.GAMERZINES.COM NAV I G AT E |17 Interview Interview continued items of LEGO that would need to be destroyed. The great fun thing about LEGO Publisher: Warner Bros. Batman is that you can play it from the Are there any missions featuring D eveloper: Tr a veller’s Tales other way around. If you are feeling a bit the Batmobile? Heritage: LEGO Star Wars, naughty, you can explore your darker Oh yes. It wouldn’t be a Batman The C hronicles of Narnia side and play as the villains from their game if you didn’t have a chance to Link: h ttp://legoba tman perspective. It has almost been a use the Batmobile. game.c om liberation to not be tied to a series of ETA: September ﬁlms, so when it comes to creating our Which villains will we see? It wouldn’t be a Batman game iconic cut-scenes, the guys have had the In Villain mode, there are 15 to play. without the Boy Wonder freedom to do what they want. Obviously The Joker, The Penguin and featuring somewhere. the Riddler and then you have Cat Will the Batman theme from the Woman, Poison Ivy, Bain, Scarecrow original movie feature in the game? and the list goes on. We have yet to LISTEN UP! We have been lucky enough to secure announce them all. Click here to the original Danny Elfman score to use listen to the in the game. We’re very pleased to have What will make LEGO Batman interview in full! it, and it lends an air of authenticity. an essential purchase? We are very careful to make sure that What abilities and gadgets will every time we make a new game, we Batman have? are not just re-skinning LEGO Star Wars We were presented with an interesting and we really work hard to make sure conundrum with Batman. Rather than that each LEGO game we create is a Star Wars, where you have a whole host correct treatment of the universe that of heroic characters and Indiana with his we are stepping into. In LEGO Batman various assistants, with Batman you have there is lots more hand-to-hand these two characters. combat. Playing in Villain mode is With our previous games, having the something unique with Batman, too. The Joker looks suitably insane, and freedom to use other character skills has I have been lucky enough to play has clearly taken on the look of the been a big part of that. So with Batman this in development and I think this is Sixties TV show for design inspiration. and Robin, we have technology suits. looking like the best game we have They will each have four suits and they made so far. will be able to utilise these to enhance their abilities or to access new areas in Have you ever had the temptation the game. Robin has these funky magno to make the whole world LEGO boots, which will enable him to walk constructed? “Each LEGO game we create vertically or even upsidedown on metal It would be fantastic to one day have a surfaces. game where the whole universe is is a correct treatment of the Batman has a demo suit that enables made of LEGO. I am very much hoping universe we’re stepping into” him to drop Bat Bombs around various to see that one day.

CO N T R O L Rise to Rock Royalty with Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith® and rock out and jam on stage like you never have before with Aerosmith’s authentically captured legendary moves. Play the best Rock & Roll tracks of all time including Aerosmith’s greatest hits and chart-topping singles from some of the world’s best bands.

Movin’ Out Sweet Emotion Walk This Way (Run DMC) Dream On Back In The Saddle Make It Toys In The Attic Love In An Elevator Nobody’s Fault Mama Kin Ragdoll Train Kept A Rollin’

Lenny Kravitz Joan Jett and the Blackhearts The Clash The Cult PLAYBACK OPTIONS:

JUNE 27thth 20082008

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith © 2007-2008 Activision Publishing, Inc. Guitar Hero, Activision, and RedOctane are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. The Aerosmith name and wings logo are trademarks of Rag Doll Merchandising, Inc. All Aerosmith trademarks and related rights have been provided pursuant to a license from Rag Doll Merchandising, Inc. Covered by one or more of the following patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 5,739,457, 6,018,121, 6,225,547, 6,347,998, 6,369,313, 6,390,923, 6,425,822, 6,645,067 and 6,835,887; patents pending. The Guitar Hero controller shapes are trademarks of Gibson Guitar Corp. All Gibson marks, logos, trade dress, guitar models, controller shapes, and related rights provided pursuant to exclusive license from Gibson Guitar Corp. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “�”, “PlayStation” and “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii AND THE Wii LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |19 E3 Special LIPS SERVICE 9 Microsoft spent a significant portion of its press briefing attempting to appeal outside its core audience – clearly seeking a slice of the mass-market pie which Nintendo has been greedily scoffing to itself of late. Yet while You’re in the Movies stalled with an ‘embarrassing dad’ demonstration, and Best in Show the Scene It sequel suffered from a weak trailer, Lips looked The great games and memorable moments that made Microsoft’s E3 the most likely to be a breakout hit for the console. Created by Japanese developer iNiS – whose past hits lmost all critical commentators tremendous press briefing and a include the fantastic Gitaroo Man and Elite Beat Agents – Lips Aare agreed: It was Microsoft’s fantastic E3 in general. Here are is SingStar with bells on. Motion-sensing wireless mics are an E3. Despite reports of the 360 the ten reasons why Microsoft had instant plus, and the ability to stream songs from your iPod or being on the slide, Microsoft something to celebrate once the Zune to sing along to is an undoubted bonus. iNis knows its laughed off its problems with a show was finally over. music, so expect Lips to be a big hit this Christmas. RARE’S RETURN TO FORM Since signing up Nintendo’s former chums Rare, with two games which are looking terrific – 10 You can even there’s not been an awful lot to show for the Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts builds on its N64 stream songs from sizeable deal struck between Microsoft and heritage with some creative vehicular action, an iPod or Zune. the Twycross-based developer. Kameo and while Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise has some Grabbed by the Ghoulies were pretty average, innovative new features and ideas to set it apart and while Viva Pinata was enjoyable, it had a from the original. In fact, the only reason that few problems which needed ironing out (and it these games are only in tenth place is because hardly impressed from a sales perspective). So Microsoft didn’t spend very long talking about We’re happy to it’s great to see that Rare is back in a big way them in its press briefing. see the return of Banjo Kazooie.

Lips is clearly inﬂuenced by Can Viva Pinata: Sony’s SingStar, Trouble in but promises to Paradise improve be better. on the ﬁrst game?

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |20 E3 Special FALLOUT BOYS We’ve seen Fallout 3 in action before, 8 but it still managed to look bewitching when demoed during Microsoft’s conference. Its ruined environments are stark, bleak and yet oddly beautiful, and Could Fallout 3 while the demonstration offered wasn’t be the Game of perfect (though admittedly it would be multi-format title, Fallout 3 appeared the Year? Quite possibly. Fable 2 is the latest tough to give any game justice in such in Microsoft’s conference. Ditto for Rock game from industry a short amount of time), Fallout 3 still Band 2 – Harmonix later enthusing legend Peter Molyneux. looked like a potential Game of the Year about how helpful Microsoft had been 7 contender. Its VATS combat system during production of the rhythm- FABLE 2 looks flexible enough to appeal to action sequel, enabling the game to It says something about the wealth of riches that Microsoft showcased in its those who prefer slower, more tactical appear on 360 first. press briefing that Peter Molyneux’s demonstration of the just-finished Fable 2 battles in their RPGs, while the first- Microsoft treats its third-party can only take seventh spot in our list. Reined in from his usual hyperbolic person shooting was solid enough to partners with the utmost respect, and pronouncements, Molyneux was nevertheless clearly proud of his work, We’re pretty impress the action lovers. But perhaps that’s why it’s the best console to own showing a game which looked delightful and ran extremely smoothly indeed. excited about the prospect of most significantly, despite being a when it comes to those titles. It’s rare you’ll see a rural idyll so convincingly recreated in a videogame, Rock Band 2. but Fable 2’s verdant environments had us cooing with delight. Visuals aside, this sequel offers much more content than the original, with the superb multiplayer component shown off to full effect. When walking through the gameworld, you’ll happen across purple orbs which represent your friends – communicate with them, and they can seamlessly jump into your own game, or you into theirs. It’s unusual to see a role-playing game with a significant multiplayer element outside of MMOs, so this brilliant feature should make Fable 2 feel quite unique when it arrives in October.

One of Fable 2’s strengths will be its original multiplayer mode.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |21 E3 Special

by a far more explosive pay-off. It was a ZOMBIE NATIONterrific example of the ‘carrot not stick’ A s far as we’re mentality, which rewards the better players concerned, there Another game deemed unfit for PS3, without punishing the less capable. really can’t be 6 too many zombie multiplayer survival horror title Left 4 Dead Aside from the impressive artificial shooting games. was demonstrated by Valve’s Doug intelligence, us 360 owners were given Lombardi, who spent time showing off the more good news with the fact that the game’s reactive enemy AI. He did this by game will feature a two-player split- showing the same section of game played screen multiplayer mode which isn’t even by two different teams of four. The first in the PC version of the game. team was low on energy and ammo, and With the game all but finished and not playing particularly well. They got a currently going through one of the most lower number of zombies to deal with rigorous playtesting processes in the And you can’t have a zombie film / than the second group, who were business, Left 4 Dead should scare up game without a large hairy biker performing much better – the intensity of plenty of business when it arrives in the covered in tattoos. the latter encounter was further enhanced first week of November.

LIVE ARCADE LIVES! certainly seems to be even hotter than the 5 developer’s previous XBLA eﬀort, Pac-Man: It’s fair to say that the Live Arcade service has gone Championship Edition. With The Behemoth’s long- through a very rocky patch of late – games being awaited Castle Crashers, and Jonathan Blow’s brain- announced then taking ages to appear, developers battering puzzler Braid all on the way within weeks, complaining about reduced royalties and lack of it’s the perfect time to buy yourself some Microsoft advertising by Microsoft, and Microsoft’s own points and get ready to splurge. controversial decision to delist certain games failing to reach a certain critical standard. Yet these issues were all but forgotten about when Microsoft showed oﬀ some of the titles set to hit the service later this year. Bigging up its XNA service – which allows hobbyists and inexperienced bedroom programmers to work on their own titles – was a good start, and then came footage of some seriously impressive XBLA titles. Geometry Wars 2 might have been expected, but it looked like the original with everything turned up to 11, while Namco’s very belated sequel to the original Galaga – the blistering Galaga Legions – Expect bigger and better things from the Live Arcade service real soon.

CONTROL 360Zine NAV I G AT E |22 E3 Special ARE YOU 3 EXPERIENCED? Okay, t h e n e w Avat a r s a re a b lat ant w i t h a M y Xbox pa g e ma kin g i t easi e r r ip-o ﬀ o f N inten d o’s M iis. B u t t h e to a cce ss anyt hin g o n yo ur co ns o l e – n ew dashboa rd unveilin g w as an gam e s , p h otos , v i d eos – inst ant l y. un d o ubted su cce ss. De sp i te n egat i ve Whil e we ’re n ot ent ire l y s o l d o n murmur in gs a ro un d s o m e co rn e r s th e Avat a r s (w hat’s g o in g to ha p pen o f the I nte rn e t , i t’s cl ea r l y a vast to o ur G am e rp i cs?) , t h e y d o ma ke fo r imp rovem ent o n t h e s o m e t im e s a m o re pe r s o na l, fr i en dl y a p p roa ch clun ky an d sl ow ‘ b la d e s ’ sy stem we w hi ch mi ght just a p pea l o u tsi d e c urrent l y have. Sure, we g e t by w i t h i t , M i c ros o ft’s co re gam e r us e r bas e. b u t i t l oo ks a lm ost last-g en co mpa red We’ll re frain fro m sayin g too mu ch to t h e n e w Xbox Ex pe r i en ce. I t’s been m o re, as we ’ve g ot a run d ow n o f t h e st reamlin ed s o i t’s m o re us e r-fr i en dl y, n e w feat ure s o n pa g e 24.

T his is She va, the ne w f emale contr ollable charact er in action. RESIDENT LUSH Another developer putting its weight 4 showcased on Microsoft’s stage alone, ﬁrmly behind Microsoft is Capcom, who quite amazing considering the series has demonstrated the awesome-looking traditionally been known as a PlayStation- Resident Evil 5. Again, it was a title centric series. It’s clear that Capcom has decided to take the ‘crowd control’ scenarios of Resident Evil 4 and ramp them up even further, with probably as many The gameplay style enemies in one scene than in the entirety should be familiar of the original game. to anyone used to playing Resi 4. The graphics and animations were reliably superb (the reload anims once again had us swooning) while the co- The new dashboard is a operative two-player action – with a huge improvement on the blades system we currently second Capcom employee controlling have to deal with. female protagonist Sheva – added a new dimension. Conﬁrmation of a simultaneous worldwide release (on March 13th, 2009) was just the icing on the cake, too.

CO N T R O L 360Zine NAVIGATE |23 E3 Special

Gears of War 2 is far GEARS OF PHWOAR bigger and far badder 2 than the ﬁrst game.

The original Gears of War remains one of the best- looking games on the console, with huge, brilliantly animated characters, fantastic ‘destroyed beauty’ environments and a 1 framerate that stays cool, Final Fantasy XIII: Now even when things are hotting coming to Xbox 360 in a up. So imagine how our jaws surprise announcement at E3. dropped when Cliff Bleszinski LUCKY FOR SOME proceeded to demonstrate generally more going on – the lighting looking Final Fantasy XIII had to be PS3, and certainly the biggest yet to one level of the forthcoming sequel, which particularly stunning at times. With the ability something special to top Gears 2, go multiplatform. The fact that made its predecessor look about as graphically to now use downed enemies as shields (and and the news that the next major Microsoft now has it is reason impressive as… well, as the titles Nintendo apparently the opportunity to ride an enemy instalment of Square-Enix’s gigantic enough for some people not to showed off at its conference. Gears 2 features Brumak) there’s more variety to the ‘stop and RPG series will be arriving on 360 as bother buying a PS3. action on a much more epic scale, with more pop’ action of the original – and we’re told the well as PS3 was the shock of the and larger enemies, more destruction and just game will be significantly longer, too. Final Fantasy is a system-selling show. Quite simply, no-one series, and now Sony has lost that Even better news is expected it – this incredible coup exclusive title, its position in the US, the new online mode had everyone talking (and, when it at least, looks more precarious than Horde, which tasks you was unveiled, cheering and ever. Bolstered by the arrival later and up to four other whooping too). The reason this was this year of stablemates Infinite players with surviving such big news is simple – Final Discovery (a 360 exclusive) and increasingly difficult Fantasy XIII was one of the last The Last Remnant (a timed waves of enemies. It’s remaining third-party exclusives for old-school mechanics A s you’d imagine, exclusive), Microsoft’s with current-gen the graphics will be relationship with Square-Enix audiovisuals, and we second to none. will win it a significant number can’t wait to try it. of additional supporters. And let’s not forget the sense of drama – by closing with such a If you thought the first surprise announcement, just as Gears of War game everyone thought the show looked good, then you ain’t seen nothing yet. was over, Microsoft won the battle of the Big Three in a single, deadly finishing blow. CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |24 E3 Special

The new Party system is a great idea, and the ability to share Time for a Change movies without How Microsoft is using software to revolutionise the 360 hardware separate invites is a welcome move. side from the moves to attract clean and attractive new look, the non-gamers and casual players dashboard instantly looks more with the likes of You’re in the appealing to those who may well have The Netflix A partnership will Movies and Lips, the most significant found the existing set-up ugly and feature about Microsoft’s E3 was its confusing. as to how contestants certainly bolster plans to broaden the capabilities of the are selected, but Microsoft’s position in the US. 360 outside of its spectrum of games. Mini Miis apparently even if For starters we had that news of the As we’ve already said, the Avatars aren’t you’re not centre stage, brand new interface – which, we’ll quite as successful as the new look on or one of the hundred, admit, has taken inspiration from both the whole. But once we’re over the fact you’ll be able to watch Nintendo and Sony to create an that they’re little more than a blatant you might expect, but you’ll also be events unfold and play along from the attractive, user-friendly look which will steal, we’re sure we’ll get addicted to able to share any content on your Xbox comfort of your own living room. While do a lot to strengthen its appeal decking them out in different items 360, so if you want to watch a video there hasn’t been an awful lot of press outside the core market. The current of clothing and customising their together or you simply want to show coverage for Primetime so far, it’s The new menus blades might be fairly gamer-friendly, appearance on a regular basis. With off your holiday snaps, then get the definitely a potentially very powerful are being but while Microsoft’s software line-up different clothes and accessories to party started and ask all your mates to string to the 360’s bow. referred to by proved it’s still firmly supporting its choose from – and the ability to use come along. And when it’s time to grab Perhaps even more notable – Microsoft as hardcore userbase, it’s also keen to them in certain forthcoming titles, like your joypads and get playing, you’ll be certainly in the US – is the partnership ‘channels’. Now if appeal to those gamers who use their Scene It: Box Office Smash – they could able to launch into a multiplayer game between Microsoft and Netflix. For only we had a remote to flick consoles less regularly. With a stylish, well expand in completely different immediately, bringing all your party those who aren’t familiar with the between them… ways to Nintendo’s Miis. Indeed, they along with you. name, it’s the largest online DVD rental already have in one interesting way – service, with around eight million when your friends are online, they’ll Prime suspect customers. Netflix subscribers will be be represented as Avatars on your Another brand new feature is Xbox able to stream content to their 360 at dashboard – which is a bit more Primetime, which will appear in the no additional cost, and even allow visually interesting than just a Autumn (presumably when the update members of their Live Party to watch. username, that’s for sure. goes live). The idea behind this is that While this might not seem significant In the new Community menu, you’ll you’ll be able to star in your own game to UK users, it’s key to Microsoft’s be able to invite up to seven of your show – Microsoft has partnered with strategy, and makes the 360 brand friends to what Microsoft is calling a Endemol to bring 1 Vs. 100 exclusively even more powerful and attractive. Live Party. You’ll be able to chat to Live, wherein you’ll be able to Which is something that can only together and play games together, as compete for real-life prizes. It’s unclear benefit us all in the long run.

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CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |26 Reviews A NEW SOUL Soul Calibur IV What’s different about Soul Calibur IV? The soul definitely still burns he problem – if you can call it not quite as technical as Virtua Fighter, from the Star Wars universe. Yet while that – with the 1999 Dreamcast but that just means anyone can get the back stories are tenuously linked to Publisher: Ubisoft classic Soul Calibur was that it through Arcade mode on the Normal the Soul Calibur legend at best – and Developer: Namco-Bandai T was almost too good. Attracting rave game setting without having to learn the inclusion of The Apprentice from Heritage: Soul reviews across the board for its dazzling 80 separate moves. Existing characters forthcoming title The Force Unleashed Calibur series graphics and fast, balanced combat, it will feel reasonably familiar to veterans, smacks of blatant product placement – Manga Heart in a Build, Link: www.soulcalibur.com didn’t leave much room for its sequels while offering a few subtle differences they’re a pleasure to control. Yoda in leads… gaugaugege create… OUT NOW to raise the bar further. While II and III that you’ll only really notice if you’ve particular is a delight – he’s fantastically were both excellent games, the latter played the previous versions. For agile, and difficult for opponents to hit. in particular struggled to offer a example, we were surprised to find Should you come up against him, HeartBuild,Manga increate, leads a gauge todestroy hate significant improvement above its some of Raphael’s moves had been however, you’ll be pleased that a You’llTheOr to character love, need actually. to paycreator attention Though not only oneto allowsthe or twobar you under look to achange your little energy out the of skills, place,meter. weapons the This and predecessors. But while Soul Calibur IV altered, to the degree where one rather successful hit can slice a large portion representslookcharacters of the designedyourexisting Soul characters byGauge, famous which to Japanese a limitedincreases manga degree, when artists butyou willattack, add also a bit and let of youdecreases variety create doesn’t offer any wholesale changes to cheap attack we used frequently in the off his energy meter. whenyourto the own yourost fighter,defender. We’re with– particularly get the your ability opponent’s fond to changeof Scheherazade, gauge almost flashing every and red aspect Kamikirimusi and you of his/her can the original template, its tweaks to the second game was no longer present. The Apprentice is tricky to unlock, unleashappearance(pictured). a Critical The and latter fighting Finish. certainly Forstyle. the looksYou’ll two good Starget yourWars for herpick characters, age from – she’sweapons it’s apparently a little you’ve over formula all help to make this the best in So even if you think that you know but once beaten is likely to become an differentunlocked,600 years – oldand the – can Force though adjust Gauge she’s anything depletes not the from mostwhen hair ancient using colour special on to the voice Force fighter’s pitch attacks, to list. combat and the series to date. Mitsurugi and Taki inside out and back audience favourite, with some vicious replenishesstance. Awesome over time, stuff. or when you hit an opponent. Soul Calibur still remains one of the to front, the developers have thrown in force moves and a particularly cool way most accessible 3D beat-’em-ups, while a few surprises for you. of wielding a lightsaber. 360 owners offering depth to the real hardcore The fighter roster is more substantial won’t get the chance to control Darth players who can time ukemis and than ever, with one or two controversial Vader (yet) but we’re sure he’ll appear guard impacts perfectly every time. It’s inclusions in the form of characters as downloadable content soon.

FREEZE FRAME Breaking the game down, one stage at a time… 5 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 4 HOURS 8 HOURS 12 HOURS+ Discovering how your favourite Only ﬁve stages to Story mode, but Battling your way through the Tower …and harder near the bottom. The Online play will keep you busy, and ﬁghters have changed is as good a you’ve got another thirty or more of Souls, which gets seriously tricky rewards are worth it, as some of the mastering all the characters is sure place as any to start. characters to complete it with. near the top… best unlockables can be found here. to take you months.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |27 Reviews

which is basically an instant win button. While that might sound like a terrible idea, it’s only possible if your enemy’s soul gauge has turned red, putting them in a state of ‘soul crush’ and that only happens should they be constantly blocking. Essentially, it forces negative players to go back on the It’s often useful to check out the notes under offensive to prevent this from your character’s name when you land a blow. happening, which makes for more exciting play. And the finishes themselves are absolutely thrilling to watch – often shown in slo-mo which makes them look even better. Talking of looks, Soul Calibur IV is certainly no slouch in that department. Soul Calibur IV continued think. For starters, you can now destroy While it’s probably not pushing the an enemy’s armour – the legend hardware quite as much as previous As for the fighting mechanics, it’s ‘equipment destruction’ will appear iterations have, the huge and detailed Yoda may seem cheap at first (he can’t be thrown, pretty much as it used to be but with and any further hits will dole out more characters all move swiftly and and a lot of mid-level blows go over his head) but a couple of adjustments which make damage than before. There’s also the smoothly, and environment and he’s easy to deal with once you know how. more of a difference than you’d initially chance of pulling off a critical finish, equipment destruction makes the

Roll over screen for annotations

“The huge and detailed characters all move swiftly and smoothly” You’ll be able to use most characters’ accessories (and a host of new ones) during character creation, to personalise your ﬁghter.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |28 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life Siegfried’s Critical Finish is particularly impressive – it’s actually difficult to pull one of these moves off, Yes! Yoda is a Afro Raphael? Creating a Can’t. Stop. unless you’re playing a very defensive opponent. Soul Calibur IV continued total badass character is brilliant fun Playing… action more visceral than before. The soundtrack reuses plenty of familiar pieces of music from the previous games and throws a few more memorable tracks into the mix, along Story mode’s great Online play with effective use of John Williams’ but short at last! most celebrated Star Wars themes. Though, as with any beat-’em-up, Soul Calibur is at its best when played everything. For our money, this is the against human opponents, but it’s the best 3D fighter of the generation so far, single-player game which has been and if you even have the slightest bolstered by one of the most interest in the beat-’em-up genre, then noteworthy additions. The Tower of you should snap this up immediately. Lost Souls offers a series of challenges Chris Schilling as you ascend, with the chance to beat a boss at the top. Depending on the floor, you’ll often need more than one fighter, which brings in a The character design in further neat addition – the ability SCIV is exceptional, with to swap out a character for another some terrific new fighters if you’re struggling. It’s brilliant to complementing a wealth tag-team an opponent with two of finely tweaked originals. completely different fighters, as they won’t know what’s hit them when they’ve been trying to hit an agile foe before coming face-to- blade with Siegfried’s enormous sword. Once you’ve conquered the tower, you’ll be able to descend, facing increasingly difficult battles against “Soul Calibur IV multiple opponents, with the chance to The new king of 3D fighters is at its best unlock items as you pass certain markers. and totally without equal when played With an online mode that – at the time of writing, at least – was running Glorious graphics against human fairly smoothly, plus an amazingly opponents” thorough Character Creation mode, Thrilling scraps, online and off Before you even think there’s so much to Soul Calibur IV that So many items and characters to unlock % about it – no, you can’t we’ve not got space to talk about 92 remove Ivy’s clothes in the character creator. CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |29 Reviews Command & Conquer: “Kane's Wrath shares almost the same strengths – and also its weaknesses – as Publisher: EA Kane’s Wrath its immediate predecessor” Developer: EA LA Revenge is sweet in this action-packed RTS expansion Heritage: Medal of Honor, C&C 3: Tiberium Wars he Command & Conquer games basic gameplay (when compared to launching it as a full-price release, Link: www.ea.com/ were the first to really break out more modern realtime strategy games, despite the game essentially being a cnckw360/index.jsp Tof genre confines to become at least) fit the console relatively well, standalone title. But on the other hand, COMMAND AND AND CONQUER CONQUER OUT NOW hugely successful titles in their own with just a few control issues blotting it’s a poor show compared to the PC Why attacking alonealone isis NodNod enoughenough right, with the originals rightly heralded the game’s copybook slightly. It’s fair to expansion. It’s more expensive, and for their (at the time) innovative say that Kane’s Wrath shares almost the doesn’t contain the Global Conquest approach to realtime strategy. The RTS exact same strengths – and also its mode – a Risk-like game which added has never really worked too well on weaknesses – as its immediate strategy and depth to the standard console, so it was with some predecessor. C&C template. Instead we get a new trepidation that many 360 gamers The pricing is the first element that mode – Kane’s Challenge. This is a approached Command & Conquer 3: has both positive and negative ways series of set battles which you can Tiberium Wars. Yet the series’ relatively of looking at it. Kudos to EA for not choose to tackle with any one of the game’s nine sub-factions. Unfortunately though, this just feels like more of the same old stuff rather than something totally fresh like Global Conquest – the replacement mode really does pale by comparison. The nature of the game itself is also Unpack… Relax… And up for debate – it’s a standalone expansion pack, which means you destroy! don’t need Tiberium Wars to play it – clearly a good thing for 360 owners Relax…AndUnpack… destroy! not accustomed to the tradition of PC- Actually,OOnce nce you’ve it’s positionedamassednot simply a largeyoura matter MCV, enough of you resting army, need on youto yourunpack c an laurels, start the marching structure but there’s on to thestartno style expansions. Yet if you’ve not pointenemybuilding. in emplacements. immediately Start with a venturingpower If you’ve plant, outbeen and from managing then base make camp, your sure as c ashflow you’veyou’ll just got and getbarracks buildings played the original, the story here will destroyed.wellto produce enough, Taketroops. you’ll a few If normally you’re small starting teams have anout with advantage, to the control tutorial neutralthough then facilitiesit this pays is toexplained, and attack seem pretty baffling. Though the spendfromalong a with timecouple themining of new angles Tiberium interface rather and which than building justmakes rushing y controllingour defences. headlong multiple into enemy units easy. guns. training mode is fairly comprehensive

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |30

Reviews Roll over screen for annotations It’s still enormously satisfying to build up your armies and then watch as they slowly and surely pull apart the enemy forces piece by piece.

It’s easy to control the action, even when there’s a lot going on.

C&C: Kane’s Wrath cont. and explains the controls and Brotherhood of Nod has split into nine camping outside your enemy’s entirely, rather “EA has made a very mechanics very well, the cutscenes different sub-factions, without the stronghold, firing on any and all enemy than attempt to sensible decision to will confuse anyone who’s picked this leadership of beardie baddie Kane to emplacements and buildings. It might fit PC-style mouse up as their first C&C game. Though hold things together. Well, Kane’s back, not offer too much that’s new in terms and keyboard rework the controls admittedly, the cheesy-as-hell story and he’s hoping he can overthrow the of gameplay – particularly in the commands entirely” sequences (featuring some legendary leaders of these splinter cells to rule Campaign mode, as you only have the around the 360 – and probably knowingly – bad over the Brotherhood once more. This ability to play as one side – but it’s still joypad, and it’s an acting) are still hugely entertaining, is all accomplished in the manner you entertaining if you’re after a more almost completely successful with the actors hamming it up might expect – a bit of stealth here and action-packed take on traditional revamp. You’ll use the A button for the something rotten against sets that there, the odd defensive campaign, but strategy games. vast majority of orders, which change make Seventies-era Doctor Who look mostly brute force, as you spread out Perhaps the most successful facet of according to where your cursor is like Pinewood Studios. from your base and attempt to capture Kane’s Wrath is the revamped control positioned, but the real innovation is The basic story is that, after its defeat as many facilities as possible before scheme. EA LA has made a very in the new radial menu. Squeeze the in the second Tiberium war, the taking your by-now massive army and sensible decision to rework the controls right trigger, and you’ll be able to FREEZE FRAME Breaking the game down, one stage at a time… 15 MINUTES 2 HOURS 5 HOURS 7 HOURS 12 HOURS+ Getting to grips with the brand new Kane’s giving you an ear-bashing, Breezing through enemy defences – Onto the game’s Challenge mode – Online multiplayer adds longevity – control scheme, which soon becomes which must mean you’re not doing the action’s hotting up, though the ninety (count ’em) missions will just find a like-minded opponent at second nature. very well in Campaign mode. you’re wishing for more variety. keep you going for a fair old while. roughly the same skill level.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |31 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life With bright lasers ﬂashing across the Thorough tutorial takes Campaign becomes Challenge mode no match screen in the more hectic skirmishes, you through the basics a bit of a slog for Global Conquest it’s quite a spectacular sight at times.

Hilarious cutscenes Online play is great fun propel the story The Tiberium crystals that you mine are unfortunately harmful to your infantry. Particularly annoying when you’re leading factions, which offer a pleasing amount them across the map and find it a real of variety in multiplayer skirmishes. Not struggle to extricate them. a must-buy then, but recommended to RTS lovers looking for their next fix of While the gameplay doesn’t C&C: Kane’s Wrath cont. tactical action. really mix things up enough, Chris Schilling the environments offer select from an array of commands quite a bit of variety – at instantly. It takes a little while to get the least in the way they look. hang of, but once it clicks, you’ll be manoeuvring your entire squad around the battlefield, while simultaneously taking charge of your buildings back at “It takes a little base. We still have some issues with while to get the units seemingly refusing to respond in some circumstances, though that hang of the new might just be us getting a little trigger- control system” happy with that A button – as if pressing it multiple times will somehow make those buildings fall that bit quicker. Naturally, it doesn’t. Ultimately, Kane’s Wrath won’t Multiplayer is the change your mind about the series. If A decent expansion – best way to play the you’ve resisted C&C’s charms before no more, no less. game, but the huge then there’s little here to make you array of missions in significantly alter your opinion. By the Kane’s Challenge same token, if you’ve finished Tiberium Classic C&C gameplay will keep solo Wars and were simply after more of the players busy for Playing as cyborgs is cool. Perhaps it’s the fact that Lack of variety quite some time. same, then this is a very worthwhile their larger units are huge mechs, or perhaps it’s purchase – certainly if you fancy trying Not as good as the PC version % the moody red and grey colour scheme. your hand with a series of different sub- 76

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www.gamerzines.com CO N T RO L 360Zine NAVIGATE |33 Reviews

Xbox Live ArcadeWelcome to the stage of history Round-Up Ticket to Ride Golf: Tee it up Developer: Next Level Games Developer: Housemarque Publisher: Activision Publisher: Playful Entertainment Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) ith 3D Ultra Minigolf having icket to Ride is an enjoyable Wreigned supreme over the Tenough board game based XBLA for the past few months, a around the great railroad expansion challenger has arrived, in the shape of early 1900s America. Drawing first Schzoid of Golf: Tee it up. From the people a route card and then a coloured Developer: Torpex Games who bought you Super Stardust HD, train card, it’s up to you to claim Publisher: Microsoft Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) the game is a more down to earth routes across the country and also version of the XBLA’s current golf to connect the two destinations on h, now this one is definitely a bit champ, with a decent variety of your route card, while also blocking Aof a strange one, and no mistake. courses. With three friends, this is a your opponent in the process. It may A two-player, co-op shooter without blast, and very close to being a be a slow paced kind of game, but the shooting, Schizoid tasks you with competitor to 3D Ultra Minigolf. If there’s plenty of strategy that goes piloting a small craft around a variety only it had a few more courses, then into each turn – with offline and of biologically themed arenas, simply it might actually have rivalled it. “Namco have stripped online multiplayer (for up to five crashing into enemies that are the Close, but a last-minute bogey keeps Soul Calibur the soul out of Soul people), this is recommended. same colour as you. The twist comes it off the leaderboard. when you see that enemies that are Developer: Namco Bandai Calibur by removing the same colour as your friend’s ship Publisher: Namco Bandai Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) the Mission mode” go after you – forcing you to work ever before have we been so closely together if you’re to have any Nundecided about a game. hope of survival. That may all sound Although it’s a port of the Dreamcast With no online play and the game’s confusing, but in reality it’s a lot more version of Soul Calibur, and as such, main single-player mode removed, this fun that it sounds and it’s very easy to features the same brilliant fighting is a disappointing package. get totally hooked. mechanic, elaborate stages, and still decent enough graphics, Namco Fighting’s still good Offline and on Challenging Nice graphics have stripped the soul out of Soul Offline multiplayer’s fun Plenty of strategy Great gameplay Nice gameplay Calibur by removing the innovative No Mission mode Not that great visually Lacking presentation Needs more holes Mission mode – which was the best We’ve got a ticket to ride Just the two of us Birdie bit about the original game by far. More missions needed 73% 83% 83% 81%

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