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ARMY OF T WO Rock Band 2008• Devil May CryTOP 4 • 20 3 Come together PFr e e M a g a z i n3 e Fo r Pl a y S ta t iZ o n 3 G a m e r s .R e ai d i t , Prn i n t i t , S e n d i t t o ye o u r m a t e s…

MASSIVE PREVIEW! FAR CRY 2 GTA IV Jungle japes All the latest videos inside INTERVIEW! C& C TIBERIUM TNA iMPACT S q u a d y s t y l e

REVIEWED! REVIEWED! REVIEWED! 4 Persona 3 Rock Band Bigger, badder and better 70 hours of RPG Take to the stage than ever before? loveliness with your mates CONTROL NAVIGATE | 02 The latest & QUICK FINDER Welcome DON’T MISS! greatest titles Every game’s just a click away This month’s highlights... on PS3 C&C: Tiberium GTA IV toP3Zine Shin Megami Far Cry 2 Army of Two Tensei: Persona 3 MX vs ATV Untamed Rockstar have done it again. No sooner as Mirror’s Edge TNA iMPACT the tumbleweed had threatened to roll Battlefield: BC through the streets of Liberty City and the Highlander Rock Band developers with marketing nous release not Final Fantasy XIII Persona 3 one, but five, video clips to whet the world’s MX vs ATV Team The Club GTA appetite. Along with a website to boot. You can see all five cameo clips in our cover feature preview kicking off on page 8. MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! Other cool stuff this issue? Check out Army of Two, have a gander at TNA iMPACT, and strut your stuff with Rock Band ahead of its imminent arrival this side of the pond. Oh, and take a look at the new tweaks to your favourite GTA IV (and let’s not forget, free) PlayStation magazine. The last ever preview. Probably. Enjoy the issue... MAGAZINE Dan Hutchinson, Editor FEEDBACK! [email protected] DON’T MISS ISSUE 13 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! Click here to tell us what you think of WARNING! M ULTIMEDIA DISABLED! the magazine. If you are rea ding this, then you didn’t cho o se “Play” when Ado be R ea der aske d you ab out multime dia when MEET THE TEAM you opene d the magazine. There’s nowt they don’t know about PlayStation Devil May Cry 4 Rock Band Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will lo ok correct, but you will be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when Chris Schilling Ian Morris Lee Hall asked about the multimedia to enj oy the magazine as intended. Has mostly been Looking forward to Can’t. Wait. For. playing Rock Band Army of Two GTA IV. Army of Two

CONTROL P3Zine N AV I G AT E | 03 Previews Calling in mechanised FIRST support, and watching LOOK them stomp your Tiberium enemies is going to be Publisher: EA very cool to watch. Squad based C&C action... Developer: In-house What is it? Heritage: Command A first person shooter, set in the Command and Conquer universe, and Conquer 3 Tiberium is the spiritual brother to C&C Renegade, an average FPS that Link: http://www. didn’t set the world alight in quite the way it was intended. ea.com/tiberium/ ETA: Autumn So, what’s new? The big difference here is that rather than being a straight out FPS with the oh-so-familiar setting of C&C, Tiberium is said to play more like PREVIEW Vegas than Resistance, and is actually a squad based shooter. Running FEEDBACK! on the Unreal 3 Engine, Tiberium will suck you into the Command and Click here to Conquer world like never before. With a variety of destructive weapons tell us what on tap, a vast tapestry of C&C mythology to draw from, and a storyline you think of that picks up where C&C 3 left off, we’ll be the first to admit we’re Tiberium actually quite looking forward to this. V isually, the Your team mates’ AI should ensure game seems a lot Anything else to declare? you don’t have to lead them by dark er in style . One of the most impressive things the hand through each level. about Tiberium is the way it’s looking to capture the big-battle feel of its RTS brethren. Rather than simply controlling a group of three people, you’ll be controlling numerous squads of men in the battles, with the ability to call in heavy armour support, or air strikes, Send y our friends in as you make your first if y ou w ant t o way through the sa v e y our o wn sk in. numerous missions. “Running on the Unreal Turning the RTS into 3 Engine, Tiberium will an FPS is going to be no easy task, but with suck you into the two and a half years of Command and Conquer development already world like never before” under their belt, this should be a polished, and enjoyable ride.

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DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 © 2007-2008 KOEI Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Dynasty Warriors and the KOEI logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KOEI Co., Ltd. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, , Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 05 Previews Physics were a major part of the first Far Cry, FIRST and are sure to be as Far Cry 2 LOOK Publisher: Ubisoft impressive as ever here. There’s a rumble in the jungle Developer: Ubisoft Montreal What is it? Heritage: Rainbow Six Before you get too excited, this isn’t the official announcement of Vegas, Assassin’s Creed Crysis, rather, it’s exactly what it says on the tin - the official sequel to Far Link: http://www. Cry, rather than the spiritual cousin. farcrygame.com ETA: Winter What’s the story? Rather than being set on a tropical island, as has become vogue as of late, Far Cry 2 instead takes place in the vast African Savannah, with over PREVIEW 50 km2 of ground for you to explore at your free will. Built on an entirely FEEDBACK! new engine, Far Cry 2 promises some explosive physics, Click here to destructible environments, and a real time day-night cycle tell us what “Far Cry 2 promises some to boot! The game sees you sent to Africa in pursuit of a you think of explosive physics, mysterious terrorist type bloke called “The Jackal” who has Far Cry 2 destructible environments, somehow managed to draw the country into a state of war. Using the environment to your advantage, it’s up to and a real time day-night you to pursue him through the outback, before eventually Driving vehicles was brilliant fun cycle to boot! ” bringing him to in the first one - here’s hoping justice. it’ll be just as good here. Graphically, at least, the game’s looking the “biz”. Just look at the exploding When can we warehouse in the background. expect more? Having been in development for quite some time, we’re hoping to be able to start driving across the open desert, looking out for any zebras or lions along the way, sometime this winter. Hopefully, we’ll have more on this for you before then.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 06 Previews INCOMING More top tiltes coming to PlayStation 3... Mirror’s Edge Battlefield: Bad Company Final Fantasy XIII Publisher: EA | ETA: Autumn Publisher: EA | ETA: Summer Publisher : Square-Enix | ETA : Winter hile a parkour game from long with the mega destructible environments ore shots are continuing to leak out of Square- Wthe makers of Battlefield may Athat we’ve been salivating over for the past few MEnix’s opus, Final Fantasy XIII, including this nice seem as likely as Mr.Blobby making months, Battlefield: Bad Company is also bringing one of everyone’s favourite fire-beast, Ifrit. While rumours a comeback and being elected with it something else that’s new to the series - a swirling round the internet of a 2008 release and President of the USA, that’s actually full single player campaign. With some humorous summer demo have not been confirmed as true, the what Mirror’s Edge is all about. dialogue intertwined with blowing everything up, this very prospect has excited already. Putting the focus on the person, should be a sure-fire hit. rather than on the gun, Mirror’s Edge Disgaea 3 will be played from a first person Publisher: TBA | ETA: TBA perspective, and is one of the most Highlander intriguing games on the horizon. ans of turn-based 2D strategy Publisher: Eidos | ETA: 2008 Fgames rejoice, as Disgaea rom French 3 has been confirmed for a PS3 Fdevelopers release, though we don’t yet Widescreen Games know whether or not it’ll see the comes the Unreal light of day over here. Having said 3 Engine powered ’s New Game that, thanks to the PS3’s region- conversion of the film Publisher: Stainless Games | ETA: ‘09 free nature, we don’t see that and TV series of the ust one, tiny screenshot of this one, but even that’s being much of a problem for the same name. Sounding, most hardcore of gamers. The Jenough to get us dribbling with anticipation. Team and looking like a typical hack-and-slasher, you step into ICO, the legendary developers behind PS2 classics ICO campaign for a UK release starts the shoes of an Immortal, and experience the brutal here. and have released this first piece combat of Medieval Scotland. of artwork of their first PS3 project.

IN THE SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER “Mirror’s Edge is one GTA IV ETA: April 29th ETA: June TNA iMPACT ETA: September TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD ETA: October of the most intriguing PIPELINE HAZE ETA: April SOUL CALIBUR IV ETA: June TEKKEN 6 ETA: October 2 ETA: December games on the horizon”

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“There isn’t any other shooter on the radar that has www.unrealtournament3.com UT3’s breadth of weapons, vehicles and level design” - PC ZONE ������������������ �������������

TBC Unreal Tournament 3 © 2007 Epic Games, Inc, Cary, N.C., USA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Epic, Unreal, Unreal Tournament, Circle-U logo, Unreal Tournament 3 logo, and Gears of War are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere. MIDWAY and the Midway logo are registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission. Distributed under license from Epic Games, Inc. by Midway Games Limited. All brands or product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks and are property of their respective holders. Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, and The Way It’s Meant To Be Played are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. ® 2007 Creative Technology Ltd. The Creative logo, Sound Blaster logo, X-Fi logo, EAX logo, EAX ADVANCED HD logo are registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd, in United States and/or other countries. All brands or product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks and are property of their respective holders. Used by permission. Midway Home Entertainment Inc. and its affi liates do not monitor, endorse or accept responsibility for the content of any non-Midway website.

intel.com/go/id CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 0 8 Previews

CITY FINAL

Publisher: Rockstar Developer: Rockstar Grand Theft Auto IV North Heritage: GTA series Lesbian sex, patent lies and five wonderful videotapes... Link: www. his is how you imagine it feels The big bang is imminent, all leaked out five videos showcasing rockstargames.com/iv in that split second of lucid hell’s about to break loose and then the pitch black sense of humour ETA: April 29 Trealisation after you see a Rockstar go and pull a trademark that’s become synonymous with the grenade swirl to a stop next to your masterstroke... by making us laugh. series. feet, and just before it’s ripped apart How the hell are we supposed But this being Rockstar, each by a limb-wrenching explosion... to wax lyrical about the latest AI video is a conceptual cameo, a What promises to be revelations, gameplay hints and comedy signpost to the mouth- Grand Theft Auto yet is almost vehicle unveilings when we’re watering gameplay and immersive upon us and our eyes are wide, our choking back a guffaw? How? We’ll atmosphere we’re expecting from breathing’s heavy and we’ve just tell you how... the most ambitious free-roaming Fly a chopper - it’s quicker about got a handle on the enormity To coincide with the debut of shooter yet. than taking the stairs and slavish detail of GTA IV. the new GTA website, Rockstar has If you were expecting to see

“A game that dares to Old skool GTA - take on blockbuster annoying the pigs... mob films”

PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Click here to Firing RPGs near skyscrapers tell us what - what can possibly go wrong? you think of GTA IV CONTROL P3Zine WWW.GAMERZINES.COM NAVIGATE | 09 Previews

“Rockstar don’t do Get the cash out before GTA IV continued dull developers, or you torch the van. dull games” a full level played out by a dull The first video is an advert as ditchwater developer, forget for Whiz, a provider of mobile it. Rockstar simply don’t do dull communications who are happy to developers, or dull games. (Hell, sell you crappy ringtones that will they even made table tennis seem bug the hell out of fellow Liberty interesting..) City residents. It shows the Eastern VIDEO EVIDENCE Exhibits A-E for your consideration, your honour...

A Vice City BOSH moment, minus Watch all the the mullet. latest clips here!

Gee Steinway Roman Manny Vlad Whiz Bellic Escuela Glebov GeeSteinwayRomanMannyVlad Whiz Glebov EscuelaBellic KeepingMale“NoMeetIs anyone I’m bondingSouth not Liberty in gay.” Bowen’sGrand the City Need old Theft dwellerskingpin fashioned, we Auto say and inmore?IV touch,sobre? homoerotichis house-sized with their way... ...dealers...

CONTROL P3Zine WWW.GAMERZINES.COM NAVIGATE | 10 Previews

GTA IV continued European anti-hero of GTA IV, Niko, not that radgy bloke in the corner calmly walking from a scene of who came out for a quiet drink police panic. He’s on his phone, a armed with a baseball bat. Look out! device that will be your link to tasks The other three videos are from assassination to old fashioned character cameos and give an theft, and clearly in touch with a insight into the rich tapestry of contact for his next hook-up. Then lowlife you’ll encounter in Liberty follows some slapstick comedy and City’s backstreets and strip clubs. a lesbian reference - ok, so it’s not all Roman Bellic, Niko’s cousin, is sophisticated stuff... portrayed as a bit of a joke. He’s Next up is an advert for the variously drunk, legging it, trying out Steinway beer garden, and a pop horrible chat-up lines and getting a at the kind of macho culture of shinning. And to cap it all, set against drinking and fighting which we all dodgy East European music, he gets love to secretly enact in front of our knocked over. It made us laugh, console. Hey, if you can’t laugh at anyway. Fight like a man. Or yourself, who can The crass humour, which is set just pick on old guys. you laugh at? against dark themes of violence “All the characters Well, probably and crime, comes through in the show flares of humanity” Better threads - things are looking up for Niko

Shoot out of cars using a precise reticule.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 11 Previews

GTA IV continued remaining videos which take the and firing aimlessly into the sky as cracking - though obviously you’ll be proverbial out of gangster mo-fos you snipe them from afar. Better erring on the face-kicking side of the who take themselves a little too still, all the characters show flares of peace-war axis. You can creep up on seriously at times. humanity that will generate genuine enemies to steal vehicles and even All the clips are testament to the empathy, or loathing, thanks to the use police computers, if you can detail and characterisation in a game NaturalMotion AI-based physics. snaffle a squad car, to get classified that dares to take on blockbuster This new technology sees characters info on targets and associates. Can’t mob films and TV shows at their cowering when they’re in danger wait? Us neither... own game. - even ‘instinctively’ moving their On next generation consoles breaking ambition Rockstar have Look beyond these videos to the hands to protect their head when a Grand Theft Auto looks set to truly shown throughout the series gameplay snippets we’ve seen so speeding car approaches. come of age as the technology evolution. far and there lurks a game of vast The roster of weaponry, from catches up with the ground- As grown up as GTA has become, potential. rocket-propelled grenades this latest round of teasers prove it’s GTA IV has been largely under to your more potent than still in touch with the mischievous wraps for six months, but minus ever fists, feet and knees “Stealth and brains are child within us all. the framerate issues that bedevilled is a toolkit for destruction. as likely to win the day as earlier builds it’s looking sumptuous. Mind you, in GTA IV stealth Enemies are more intelligent (and and brains are as likely to all-out nut-cracking” dumber!) than ever, seeking cover win the day as all-out nut-

Taking cover isn’t just for wusses, so hide!

P Zine PERCENTAGE COMPLETE FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3 95% 94% Motorbikes: impractical, dangerous... and bloody marvellous. Bang on target to blow you away

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 12 Previews Get your buddy to watch your back, HANDS ON turning you into an impregnable unit.

Publisher: EA Developer: EA Heritage: N/A Link: www.armyoftwo. Army of Two com When two become one ETA: March “With Army of Two, et’s face facts; in many games, can’t even drive the same vehicles. EA are looking to the co-op mode is simply an In all, it’s a pity poor show, but every take co-op to the afterthought - a tacked on now and then, you’ll get a game L As you would expect, there’s a wide addition to garner an extra bullet that makes it work, and makes it next level” point in the press releases, and work well. A game like a Halo, or a range of vehicles in the game, hopefully an extra point in reviews. Resistance, that drains you and your in a friend for all you Billy no mates which both players can drive. As it turns out, it often doesn’t work buddy of sleep for the next month or out there, as the computer can take all that well, as with no real thought so, as you play through with a friend, over the second player when need having gone into these modes, and the experience is magnified be, it’s apparent from the start that you’re left playing through a single many times over. this is a game that’s been made to player game with two people - the With Army of Two, EA are looking be played through with two people. only real benefit being that you now to take co-op to the next level. And in our books, that’s enough to have double the firepower. There’s Here, co-op isn’t simply a mode - it’s get us excited. no particular need for you to work the entire damn game. While that But, what exactly do we mean Drag your together, and in some cases, you doesn’t mean it’s necessary to rope when we say it’s been designed for partner to cover, while he lays down The game will suppressing take you round fire. all sorts of exotic locales, such as Iraq and Southern China.

The Slipknot reunion tour was proving to be a bit of a disappointment.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 13 Previews PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Army of Two continued Click here to two players? Well, each and every them - whether it’s by lifting your be able to carve a path through the over to them, and revive them, by tell us what thing about the game’s levels has friend up on the forks of a forklift level, leaving the novice behind. either jamming a tampon into their you think of been created with the intent of truck to get him over an obstacle, or Even when you get hit, the game chest to absorb the blood (courtesy Army of Two making it as interesting and exciting giving him a leg up over the side of a falls back on the co-op mechanic, of a healing mini-game), or simply as possible for two people to play building. Each level is based around relying on, of all things, tampons by dragging them to a safe spot, through. For example, the vast the concept of teamwork, and the to patch your buddy up. Upon while they give you covering fire by majority of the puzzles will require developers have promised that taking a few hits, your partner will shooting behind you. you to work as a team to overcome experienced players won’t simply go down, and it’s up to you to get With its mature rated themes, and somewhat unrelenting plot (which revolves around - you guessed it You wouldn’t want to see this “You’ll need - the Iraq war), Army of Two is not a coming towards tampons to game you’d want your granny to see you on a dark you playing. However, thanks to its night... patch your unique co-op mechanics, this is high buddy up” on our most wanted list. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.

Just because you’re There are loads of different hard nut, professionally ways you and your partner trained killers doesn’t can team together, and mean you can’t have a you’ll have to make use of sensitive side. them all to survive.

Controlling the vehicles is one of the best parts of the game.

P Zine PERCENTAGE COMPLETE FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3 90% 90%

Split-screen’s in, as you would imagine. Could take co-op to a completely new level...

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TAKE UP ARMS AND RESIST THIS UNSTOPPABLE AXIS ARMY

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© 2006 The Codemasters Software Company Limited (“Codemasters”). All rights reserved. “Codemasters”® and “Turning Point”® are registered trademarks owned by Codemasters. “The Fall of Liberty”™ and the Codemasters LOGO are trademarks of Codemasters. All other copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are being used under license. Developed by Spark Unlimited Inc. and published by Codemasters. This product contains software technology licensed from GameSpy Industries, Inc. Developed by Spark Unlimited Inc. and published by Codemasters. © 1999-2007 GameSpy Industries, Inc. GameSpy and the “Powered by GameSpy” design are trademarks of GameSpy Industries, Inc. “�” and “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Windows, the Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and ‘’ and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 15 Previews

HANDS ON Publisher: THQ Developer: Heritage: Motocross Madness, Cars, MX vs MX vs ATV Untamed ATV Riding dirty in open worlds - sounds right up our alley Link: www.mxvsatv. f there’s one thing Rainbow And while it may seem the valleys, streams, mud pits and more com Savour this picture ETA: 7th March Studios know well, it’s how PS3’s off-road market has been in each of the well-designed courses. - it’s pretty much the Ito make a good off-road firmly wrapped up by the seminal Thanks to a nifty physics engine, last time you’ll be on game. Beginning their developing Motorstorm, MX vs ATV Untamed the game also manages to get a firm surface. careers with the brilliant Motocross does enough to distance itself the balance between realism and Madness, the team have gone on from the pack, and is an impressive arcade-style handling just about to produce MX after ATV game after package on its own. Like right. This means that while it’s MX vs ATV game for the past few Motorstorm, each race will pit a mix possible to pull off all sorts of fancy The tracks on offer are well varied, and take years. Now, with the latest game, of vehicles against each other on the jumps and mid-air spins, you’ll also in a variety of different environments. PREVIEW MX vs ATV Untamed, the team are track, joshing it out for position as have to worry about gravity pulling FEEDBACK! looking to kick things up a notch, as they career you back Click here to the series makes its next gen debut. over hills, down to tell us what “12-player online and some you think of of the largest open-world MX vs ATV environments we’ve seen”

Brilliantly, all the scenery you Buggies and bikes, together in harmony. see is completely scalable.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 16 Previews “ Leaping over a real Racing away from the sunset. How romantic. MX vs ATV continued person to finish in first place is an incredibly earth a bit too soon, though the limit. Racing through courses that rewarding experience” game is nothing if not forgiving. are scattered with hundreds of The main chunk of Untamed obstacles, it’s up to you to try and comes with the X-Cross mode stick to the narrow, unobstructed - a tournament that sees you path, which, when you’re racing style light-cycles, as you leave a trail racing through loads of different against several other competitors, is around the course, attempting to competitions, taking in the full much easier said than done. trap your opponents. However, the gamut of MX vs ATV’s vehicles, Outside of the single player twist here is that, with some perfect including monster trucks, dune game, MX vs ATV is also going to timing, it’s possible to leap over each buggies, and even 4x4 golf carts. be shipping with a full multiplayer other’s trails, making the mode all Apparently, there’s some sort of real-life rivalry going on between Throughout the progress of each mode, including both on and that more competitive. MX and ATV. We had no idea. competition, you’ll be required to offline split-screen that’s sure to be With 12-player online, a drive in each of the different vehicles, a massive hit. Allowing up to 12 huge selection of vehicles, and and, as you might expect, every players to compete in straight races, some of the largest open-world type has a radically different way of or a series of mini games, the human environments we’ve seen in an handling that you’ll have to adapt to competition adds a lot to the game, off-road game, there’s plenty to like if you want to win the race. and leaping over a real person to about MX vs ATV Untamed. We’ll be Another new mode is the finish in first place is an incredibly bringing you our full review Endurocross - a bizarre, torturous rewarding experience. One of the very soon. scheme that’s designed to test cooler mini-games, named Snake, both rider and machine to their basically turns your bikes into Tron Each car comes with a variety of different skins, and you can unlock even more.

We don’t fancy the bike’s chances against the bigger machinery...

P Zine PERCENTAGE COMPLETE FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3 90% 87% Each vehicles handles suitably differently, forcing you to adapt to each race. More off-road antics in the offing

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CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 18 Interview staying in the air more than it does on the ground - has it been C hristian C age a challenge to capture this style is also a former of wrestling in game? fix ture of WWE Yes, the X Division and it’s Ultimate - remember him? X matches are crazy fun but have posed many unique challenges to our development team. But it just may be the most important, most rewarding, and visually gratifying TNAi MPACT aspect of TNA. Seeing attempt to unbuckle the X, while Meet the new kid on the block... hanging 20 feet above the ring, all the while being attacked from every angle by multiple wrestlers is a wild gameplay moment. The 6 sided ring means flying As the “new kid on the block”, disguise! We won’t have the same and exceptional gameplay. turnbuckle attacks, and rope spring going up against the sheer number of features, or the same moves are more the norm, than power of the WWE, the TNA number of wrestlers, but instead we A lot has been said of the a rare choreographed moment. game appears to be mirroring choose to target the most important grappling system in game, and The action is always fast and often the company in real life. Is the aspect: Gameplay! At the end of how it’s being likened to WWE highflying in TNA Impact. power of the WWE brand a the day, is No Mercy - could you tell us a bit concern to you? bigger than just the W WE, and we about how the game’s controls How has working with wrestlers We think being the “new kid” in are delivering a game with stunning work? like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, the wrestling genre is a blessing in visuals, tons of wrestling superstars, We are certainly big fans of the old both of whom are known for No Mercy videogame on the N64 being huge gamers, affected the and used it as an initial blueprint for development of the game? TNA Impact. We are not using an I t has been surprisingly huge! Both analogue stick to trigger grapples, so of those guys are huge gamers, have in that respect we are old school, but strong insightful opinions, and have then the analogue sticks open up been a pleasure to work with. From an entirely new level of smooth and the motion capture sessions, down intuitive manoeuvres, submissions, to the audio recordings, these guys throws, and power moves. Of course, countering attacks, and reversing grapple moves is paramount to our gameplay and skilled players will use them to their advantage. “The action is always fast With stars like Booker T jumping to TNA seemingly once a month, you c an see the TNA is famous for its X Division, and often highflying in is a man you company has the star power where it matters. who have a unique ring-style, don’t want to meet which often involves them TNA Impact” in a dark alley. CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 19 Interview D isappointingly, submission moves won’t Interviewcontinued play much of a role in the worked hard. It ’s clear to everyone A few clips we’ve seen of the gameplay. why they are successful in the ring TNA game seem to show each too, they are just talented & hard wrestler having a really brief working athletes. Even beyond the intro, cutting out before the guy moves, they impacted our design even gets to the ring - will each on things such as venues. We now wrestler have a full ring entrance have venues from around the world, in the finished game? it was important to get their insight No. Extended ring entrances will into how the crowd and announcing not be included in TNA Impact, should be developed for each locale. but certainly the unique way each wrestler enters the arena and How many wrestlers are we charges toward the ring will be going to be looking at in the final included. game? Are we nearing the point now where you have to lock Could you tell us a bit about the the roster down, and no more story mode and how it will play? wrestlers go in? Will it be a proper, story driven We’ll have at least 25 TNA superstars career mode, or will it just be a Of course! When Eric was recently in the game, and then a series series of matches? in our studio to review the game, of lesser known wrestlers will be We don’t have a career mode, but he played for at least 30 seconds included in our story mode. If rather a story mode which begins holding the controller upside down. another strong talent signs with TNA with the player waking up dazed He was smiling the entire time! Publisher: M idway Games prior to our Beta date in early 2008, and confused in a Mexican doctor’s Shortly afterwards he was touring D eveloper: M idway we’ll scramble to add them to the office, dazed, confused, and trying the studio and I swear he must have Studios We can only hope roster. to recall who and where he is. The sniffed every person here at least that ’s sweat Heritage: X-Men, player is drawn to the ring, and once. dribbling down B ackyard Wrestling AJ’s huge chest. slowly begins to unfold his past, and Link: w w w.midway.com future. How complete is the game at the We’re not sure just holding his hands up ETA: Summer 2008 moment? is gonna help S ting in this situation. What sort of multiplayer 65% - But we are rolling on all functionality are you looking to cylinders and the game gets better include? each day! It ’s such an exciting time TNA Impact supports 4 players for all the developers in the studio. wrestling on the console, but only “We are delivering a game 2 humans for on-line matchups. And, finally, when can we expect Although all match types are to see more of TNA iMPACT? Is with stunning visuals, tons accessible. there a release date set for the of wrestling superstars, and UK at the moment? Do you want to fire Eric Young? Summer 2008. exceptional gameplay”

CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 21 Reviews TOOLS OF THE TRADE Devil May Cry 4 Dealing death, demonically So , yet so far...

hen so many undeserving any loading screens for any length always been renowned for its Publisher: games get hyped to of time - though you’re talking a fearsome difficulty - so it’s quite Developer: Capcom Wthe gills, it’s somewhat difference of about two or three a shock to see both options for a Heritage: God Hand, unfair that all the pre-release talk seconds max each time. And yes, it’s casual-friendly Human difficulty 4 about Devil May Cry 4 has been the first time that this PlayStation- mode and - horror of horrors - a Link: www.devilmaycry. about anything but the game. centric series has been released on tutorial. Naturally, this is the kind of com Yes, there’s a twenty-minute initial another console. But the negligible thing that sends the ultra-hardcore OUT NOW install on the PS3 version of the differences between both versions into fits of rage, but ignore the It’s Gripped Bringer it on Exceed-ingly game - but it comes with a host make all this pretty moot. All you internet bile - the change is a good of pretty concept art bringing you need to know is that it’s a very, worthwhile one, making the game up to speed with the story of the very good action game, whichever more welcoming without blunting previous three games. Yes, this wait format you choose. its tough-as-nails edge. Seasoned It’sBringerExceed-ingly Gripped it on good means you won’t be looking at The Devil May Cry series has DMC players will find the available CapcomMeanwhile,Nero’s sword certainly his is officially Devil can’t Bringer be The accused Coolest power of Swordis resting vaguely Ever. on reminiscent theirRev up laurels your of inRed PS2 Devil Hunter mode much more to chuckingcultQueen classic sword in God handfuls (complete Hand of- enabling newwith elements a throaty you to toreachmotorcycle further out andenhance growl smash that the enemies just their tastes. combat.intomight the be floor,The our Grim favourite or to Grips grab sound use heavier Nero’s effect foes demonic this from year) a arm distance, and to yougrab and can specific pivotunleash parts Surprisingly, it’s not the series’ ofaroundmuch scenery, more them to powerful sozip you him can attacksfrom attack one with themplace your fromto blade.another the rear. at high speed. wisecracking, ice cool protagonist that takes centre stage. Instead, he’s sidelined for much of the game in favour of Nero, a Berial might look like the sort of younger, better-looking version of boss you see towards the end of a Dante whose relatively ineffectual game, but he’s actually one of the gunplay is made up for with his all- first. That’s how tough the game is. powerful Devil Bringer - a demonic right arm that can smash enemies into the floor at brain-shattering force and velocity. He also has a sword with a handle revs like a Even on Human difficulty, the bosses motorbike - a touch that will bring require far more than just button- out the inner teen in anyone. DMC4 mashing to defeat. Each one is is full of moments like this - from gloriously different from the last.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 22 Reviews Angelo Cr edo is one of the easier boss design (scythes for feet, anyone?) ba ttles , y et he ’s still and unerring efficiency, even on the quit e har d t o bea t . Lik e man y encount ers , lower difficulty setting. Beginners immacula t e dodging can turn on an automatic combo is of paramount system which essentially rewards importance . button-mashing, allowing less adept players to pull off the kind of moves that only experts can usually manage. It might be less satisfying this way, but it sure lets you get further. The level guardians are spectacular, as expected It might look good in static shots, but it’s - Capcom just can’t do bad boss genuinely stunning to witness in motion. encounters - and reward both skill The pace never lets up. and persistence. Though once you relinquish control of Nero, things do go a little downhill. DMC4 continued Put simply, the structure of the While ice and fir e demons ar e fairly cliched , their hyperactively-edited cutscenes set whirlwind. game is baffling - once you’re in design is far fr om rudimentary . T his has some of to a ridiculous J-metal soundtrack, to The story’s not up to much, but Dante’s shoes, everything seems the most stunning villains w e ’v e e v er seen. flamboyant wire-fu scraps that - let’s then that was never the point - all all too easy. Clearly pandering face it - are incredibly cool. Some you need to know is that Nero and critics may sniff at its sniggeringly Dante are at each others’ adolescent feel - lesbian sirens and throats from the outset, and Roll over screen for annotations double-entendre-loaded dialogue that the next few hours see “The level - but its all so deliberately OTT, you you battling myriad monsters guardians are can’t help but get caught in the of fantastically grotesque spectacular” FREEZE FRAME All in a day’s work...

15 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 4 HOURS 7 HOURS 11 HOURS Tum te tum....waiting for Dante arrives - as an Starting to string together Nero’s adventure is over, Credits roll, and the higher the game to install to your enemy! Great opening combos - you’ve got and Dante’s the main man difficulties beckon - if PS3’s HD. boss scrap. ‘smokin’ style’! now. you’re up to the task...

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 23 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life Come on! I need Jaw-dropping boss Harder difficulties to play NOW. battles abound. will eat you alive

Dante is much quicker than Nero, and with his four different Leap, shoot slash and Dante can’t die fighting styles, he’s just a little too smash - amazing fun. - he’s too fast! strong to be true.

Devil May Cry 4 represents the most accessible entry to the series to date - and, for most players, it will be comfortably the most enjoyable. Chris Schilling It’s a shame that so much of Dante’s “Its balletic scrapping adventure revisits previous areas. provides the kind of spectacle you rarely see DMC4 continued in gaming” a little too much to fans, Capcom off what’s otherwise an incredibly have overpowered him, to the polished product. degree where you’ll dance around Fortunately, when DMC4 is at its your opponents with very little best, its balletic scrapping provides resistance - certainly compared to the kind of spectacle you rarely see your earlier struggles with Nero. in gaming. Whether you’re fending Not only that, but you’re essentially off a screen-filling boss, or simply retreading old ground, fighting the making mincemeat out of a horde same baddies, with very little change of grunts, you’ll be dazzled at some from the first time around. Perhaps of the most graceful - almost poetic that’s part of the point - Dante is - fighting in any videogame. It’s Stunning, displaying his clear superiority to satisfying, enjoyable, rewarding, silky-smooth P3Zine visuals this young pretender - but the achingly hip and beautifully result is tantamount to some of the presented. And if its final third feels Simple yet True mastery of the game rests worst backtracking we’ve seen in like such a disappointment, it’s only Verdict deep combat in completing it on the very a game. It smacks of laziness, that through awe-struck wonderment It loses its way, but 85 hardest difficulty. Which is three Capcom simply ran out of ideas, or at what could have been. Hopefully DMC4 is a fabulous Unnecessary steps up from Devil Hunter. Gulp. time... or both. Either way, it takes Capcom will master the formula fighting fantasy. repetition a considerable amount of shine with the next game. But for now,

CONTROL www.koei.co.uk

®

TM

Student by day. Hero by night. Join forces with your classmates, summon your inner Persona and battle creatures that feed on the minds of the unsuspecting. Can you survive the school year? IN STORES FEBRUARY 29

10/10 “An absolute triumph” PersonaTM 3 © Co., Ltd. 2006, 2007 All Rights Reserved. SMT, SHIN , PERSONA are registered trademarks of Atlus USA. Licensed to and published by KOEI Co., Ltd. The KOEI logo is a registered trademark of KOEI Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 25 Reviews

I M P O R T P3Zine Rock Band Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Harmonix Ay! Oh! Let’s go! Heritage: Guitar Hero, Amplitude, Frequency t’s not often that you can say of a and our countless hours on the It’s gr ea t t o pla y online , but Link: http://www. game that it’s worth every penny region-free US version is testimony the quint essential Rock Band rockband.com/ Iwithout knowing the price, but to that. Bearing in mind that thanks e xperience comes with thr ee ETA: April that’s the position we find ourselves to extortionate postage costs we pals in y our fr ont r oom. in with Rock Band. Despite being shelled out around 150 notes for the pencilled in for an April release, privilege of playing this early - and there’s no concrete details of how we still think it provides more bang peripherals. The Fender Strat guitar o n t h e s i d e o f t h e n e c k r a t h e r t h a n much the full pack (with bundled for your buck than 95% of other controller may not feel quite as t h e f r o n t , w h i l e a n a d d i t i o n a l s e t o f guitar, drum and mic peripherals) games should tell you everything chunkily solid as the Guitar Hero III fi v e n e a r t h e b o t t o m a l l o w y o u t o will cost - if the US release is anything you need to know. Rock Band is a Les Paul, but it looks more like a real p l a y t h e s o l o s i n a m o r e r e a l i s t i c to go by, it could cost around £90. genuine gaming masterpiece. guitar. The fret buttons are coloured p o s i t i o n - a n d w i t h o u t t h e n e e d Now, to the average consumer, that Open the enormous might seem expensive. Not a bit of box, and what it - in fact, Rock Band is one of the immediately strikes “Rock Band is a Roll over screen for annotations best value games we’ve ever played, you is the quality of the genuine gaming masterpiece” ROCK ON You’re a rock & roll star!

1 HOUR 5 HOURS 8 HOURS 15 HOURS 2 MONTHS Starting out on the rocky Goosebump-inducing It’s 4am, and time to stop A well-timed drum fill into New track packs keep you road to stardom - you’ll be moments galore, as playing for the day. One... Overdrive saves you from coming back for never- playing a few toilets. crowds holler along to more...song.. an online booing. Sheer ending encores. It’s the your best performances. joy. game that never stops...

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 26 Reviews As you progress in Solo Career or World Tour mode, stages get bigger and lighting more elaborate. There’s a genuine sense of achievement in getting further and further.

There’s a slightly fuzzy look to the background graphics, though that’s Hearing the crowd shout the no doubt deliberate so as not to lyrics back during some songs deflect your attention from the - or even just clapping along crystal clear note displays. “The drums will get most enthusiastically to the beat - is people’s anticipation truly goosebump-inducing. glands throbbing” Rock Band continued to strum during those particular impressive part of the whole appraisal of your performance than sections. Meanwhile, there’s an package. It’s a compact little number SingStar’s ever-wavering blobs. effects switch whose various sounds which performs well enough, but It’s the drums that will get (from flanger to chorus) kick in we’ve seen this sort of thing before most people’s anticipation glands on the aforementioned solos and in the likes of SingStar. Vocals tend to throbbing though, and once you’ve whenever you tilt your Strat to be marginally easier to master than put them together - a surprisingly unleash Overdrive for the multipliers the other instruments assuming simple process - it’s likely that you’ll that get you the biggest scores. you’ve got some competence in that immediately launch into the The mic is probably the least area, though we prefer its less savage solo career mode. Easy is going

Some songs finish with sections where you can indulge in some freeform fretwork or drumming - just make sure you all end on the right note to get extra points for that special finale.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 27 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life We can Offline multiplayer DLC means infinite while the drumming is still satisfying play the - best thing ever. replay value well before you reach Expert where drums! you’ll essentially be playing like a pro sticksmith. Like all games, drums take a fair bit of practice before you master them, the main stumbling block getting your feet and hands moving independently. Not very well, Mastering Career Once you feel up to playing in though. mode. EXIT LIGHT! The singing is the weakest part a band, you can start the offline- of the package, and that’s highly only Band World Tour mode with entertaining on its own. Rock Band up to three mates (though you’ll to an enraptured crowd, you’ll get is basically four games in one. Rock Band continued need an extra guitar for the bass a gaming buzz that will have you parts) or venture online and play coming back time and time again. to be the best stepping-off point different songs with a few online Whatever the cost, come April you for most, though we were able to buddies. While it’s a shame you must own this game. ROCK BAND pass most Medium songs first time, can’t progress through an online Chris Schilling Put on the red light! even though we were rarely getting career as a group, it’s still a hugely five-star ratings. The thwack of the satisfying and enjoyable experience sticks against the solid rubber pads is to nail that perfect gig. And if one of occasionally a little loud - particularly your band isn’t quite up to the task, when you’re going hell for leather on or is struggling with an unfamiliar the faster numbers - but if you adopt track, the Overdrive power you the game’s suggestion of holding accumulate through consistently the sticks a little looser (and take our hitting consecutive highlighted advice and turn your TV’s volume notes or beats can be used to ‘rescue’ way, way up) then you won’t notice. them and get the crowd back Besides, it provides useful feedback behind you. to your thrashing in the early stages. Saving your mates via the The kick drum pedal works just as healing power of music? Moments Skins Licks Pipes well, though occasionally the spring like that provide the kind of seemed a little spongy after lengthy satisfaction you’d get from beating Play-all-day fun play sessions. a tricky boss or solving a difficult P3Zine Harmonix have plenty of ex- puzzle in other genres. Rock Band DLC adds musicians (and those still plying their transcends its rhythm-action origins astonishing SkinsLicksPipes longevity TheThough onscreen thereExpert displayare requires some for trickypitch-perfect the drums songs is later similarperformances on, tomost the players guitar, with certain willwith find a line trade in amateur bands) onboard, to become something altogether Verdict acrosstheelongated bass the a littlemeternotes easier thatfor kick go than againstdrum the beats. other the nature Toinstruments. save of your rock, calf Meanwhile, singing muscles, is theit’s and it shows. Note placement is more social, more thrilling. And It’s like God gave A cracking 95 bestnewan enjoyable tosolo keep sections your part footonof thelead pressed Rock guitar Band down see package. aon percentage the pedal On easier atmeter all levels times ticking it’s- just absolute perfection on most songs, when you’ve pulled off a blistering rock and roll to soundtrack, with lifttowardsremarkably and press 100% generous, back as you down play. giving for Tense, each us 90% thump.and plus hugely ratings gratifying. for our howls. with Medium guitar never feeling group performance and your everyone. more to come like a compromise for the weak, onscreen avatars take their bows

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CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 29 Reviews The number of extra- curricular activities is Shin Megami P3Zine quite astounding. Tensei: Persona 3 Publisher: Koei School’s out for summer, though you won’t be Developer: Atlus Co. “Significant depth Heritage: Odin Sphere, he Shin Megami Tensei series that somehow loses none and a fascinatingly Disgaea has always dealt with adult of its hardcore edge. complex story” Link: http://www.atlus. Tthemes such as isolation, It’s essentially two RPGs com/persona3/ death and the occult in a measured, rolled into one. During ETA: February 29th mature way. But rarely has its the day your character throughout each day, all of which gameplay been able to match up to attends school, chats to friends and affect your statistics. You might be increases your Academics skill. The its ideas. Persona 3 changes all this takes part in lessons - you’ll be asked asked to sing karaoke which boosts idea is really to build friendships with a more accessible approach questions and tested in various ways your confidence, while studying hard with classmates, as these ties

The anime-styled characters are full of personality - though it’s tough to keep everyone happy.

While you can waste a few attacks figuring out your opponent’s weakness, once you’re aware the battle’s yours for the taking.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 30 Reviews The game’s animated story sequences are exceptional - dark Once More, and brooding, with a twist of with feeling jet-black humour. The battle system is very reminiscent of the series’ Press Turn mechanic, rewarding any attacks on opponents weak to their elemental power. You’ll often get an extra turn for this, which allows you to knock your enemy to the floor. Here your party can rush any grounded foes to finish them off with a powerful combination attack. “Pulling the trigger brings out your old-school dungeon-crawling is character’s Persona” an effective one that surprisingly doesn’t feel jarring. Skilfully connecting both worlds, Atlus has Persona 3 continued crafted a lengthy (around seventy hours) RPG which offers significant affect your combat performance in depth and a fascinatingly complex Enemy design is reliably wacky, which compensates the other half of the game. story. If you’re short on money for the fairly dull look of the dungeons. Because when midnight strikes, and looking for something that your school transforms into a tower will last you a while, then we can’t full of monsters - and it’s here that recommend Persona 3 highly your skills are really put to the test. enough. With more content than Pointing a gun at your head and your average PS3 game - never pulling the trigger - a controversial mind its PlayStation 2 rivals - you’ll touch sure to get certain MPs be playing well into the summer frothing at the mouth - brings out months. your character’s Persona, a powerful Chris Schilling demon that can use magic and special moves to defeat the powerful foes that await in the randomly Epic story and likeable generated dungeons. The more P3Zine characters social connections you have, the more effective your Persona will Beautifully Verdict translated be - so it pays to try and keep your dialogue friends close in order to beat your A schizophrenic 90 enemies. masterpiece Tough-going The mix of such peaceful, almost in places relaxing daytime sections with

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 0531 Reviews

“A fast paced shooter with the gameplay The Club principles of PGR” The first rule of The Club? Run. The second rule? Run faster. t’s not often that a game game was Project Gotham Racing Bizzare Creations produced Sega Renwick is a giant and makes all Publisher: Sega developer moves outside of - a game so great, it made everyone predecessor Metropolis enemies look small. Use his grunt Developer: Bizarre its comfort zone and makes a forget that Sony had spent five years Street Racer which attracted the to smash enemies with a melee I attack when they get close. Creations game that bears no relation to the pissing around with 5 attention of Microsoft and quickly Heritage: Project Gotham kind of games that made it famous. only to deliver a half baked demo. prompted a signing that would Racing 4 In the case of Bizarre Creations, that Before Project Gotham Racing, produce the ultimate racing series Link: www. on Xbox. bizarrecreations.com/ Fast forward to today and Bizzare games/the_club/ Creations have taken a break from OUT NOW developing solely for Xbox which not only makes a PS3 Project Most levels are bleak, dark, Gotham clone a cert but has led to hell holes which should the creation of The Club. The Club have been condemned is a fast paced shooter based upon years ago. the gameplay principles of Project Blast enemies and you can immediately steal their weapons and ammo by running Targeting over their grave. enemies at speed can be tricky, even if they’re close thanks Prepare to hit the shoulder button to the fiddly and sprint, but be ready to shoot controls. the target as soon as you see him appear at the end of the road.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 32 Reviews

speed of each kill. Continue a killing Scenarios include a crumbling spree and you’ll get points combos, closed prison and a German factory, constantly building your score. Fail to procured by The Club on the basis find a new kill or walk the wrong way that a Hollywood film is being made and the points frenzy stalls or - in on the premises. the language of The Club - starts to The plot and characters are ‘bleed’, leaving you feeling deflated flawless and much effort has and a bit stupid. That’s not to say been spent on creating believable that picking one of the brilliantly designed characters and letting rip isn’t fun for an hour. There’s a comic book style range of weird vigilantes that range from a man in a yellow anorak called Nemo and a buff ex-cop called shredding drift and kudos points fly Renwick. Ultimately, The Club is a bit The Club continued across the screen, acting as currency like Fight Club with guns, an illegal Gotham Racing. If that sounds odd, for your next vehicle purchase. It underground human cockfight for that’s because it is - let us explain. made racing games exciting again the entertainment of the wealthy. The secret formula of Project and inspired arcade based racers Renwick wants to bring the whole Gotham Racing was ‘kudos’, a points such as and Need For thing down from the inside while based reward scheme for doing Speed. But how does kudos fit in to other characters have their own tricks and performing well on the The Club? There’s a Kill Meter which motives for joining the murderous Next Gen? race track. Get a great lap, overtake serves as a kudos meter, rewarding party. Each level is based around an an opponent or perform a tyre players for headshots and the area which allows such behaviour. The sheer amount of bullets and enemies moving at speed could only be done on a modern console. Forget waves of enemies approaching as you kill their friends one by one. In The Club, armies of vigilantes FROM THE MANSION TO THE PRISON will come at you together while rockets, grenades and bullets make Got to jail, a mansion and a warzone in one week! the screen shaking action pulse with giant explosions. “The plot and characters are flawless” PRISON STEEL MILL VENICE WARZONE MANOR HOUSE Bleak, long corridors and The German factory where The beautiful city gets Combat for kicks in a Like crapping at the Ritz, lots of close combat. Your the locals think you’re taken over by The Club warzone? Can The Club be only with guns and shit. Or introduction to The Club. making a film, with ‘real’ thugs and becomes ugly. any more sick than this? bullets, rather. explosions.

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 33 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life The split screen mode Amazing Missions seem More running works well, and no detail intro identical commences is lost when the screen is INCOMING! scrunched. The ultimate weapons of The Club revealed...

Boring The rocket launcher training is discovered

overall style of The Club is appealing, it’s just the business of running and The Club continued killing at speed that’s wrong. We might have spent a few minutes personas and every bit of the game taught us anything, they showed dashing around a city in Grand Theft The Titan The Zeus RG The Enforcer has a big budget feel, including the us that creeping and killing an Auto, shooting shoppers in the head shining visuals, not that you’ll have enemy slowly with an element of in a moment of madness, but that’s time to look at them in any detail. thought was thrilling. There’s always just for a laugh. Ultimately, we don’t Which is kind of the problem. Racing a time and a place for running into a want a whole game based around to collect kudos points in a racing barrage of enemies with a shotgun point combos and a clock unless it The TitanEnforcerZeus RG game worked because gamers but you need breathing space. features a Ferrari Enzo. Call us sickos, AAnYou big automatic know turrent a weapon gun weapon which is goingwhich is fast, tois thepowerfulhurt fastest when but init requiresthenot game.as accurate the Pull use the asof other a were used to travelling at speed. The Club feels like one desperate but we want to spend at least two weaponstriggershoulder. and becauseThe The most Enforcer of potent the timecan weapon spunk it takes ais wholealsoto shift the magazine the most hulking dangerous (or thing20 bullets) to towardsinyourself. just five a Kill target. seconds. groups It alsoWhenof enemies makes you have the with greatest to this kill giant every budda-budda rocket mother launcher in soundthe room, but Rushing through a shooter isn’t half rush from beginning to end, with seconds savouring a kill, waiting to we’veyou’lltake care beheard needing not in to ages. kill this yourself baby. at the same time. as much fun. If stealth epics like players frantically looking for the see if he collapses or falls forward, Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell next head shot before their kill meter over that balcony and flat on his falls. It feels like chasing stars in a face. particularly violent Bushtucker Trail Richard Melville You’ll rarely see anyone from I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of standing still in The Club. Here! They should’ve called it In a strange parallel, veteran The Running Man. developer Criterion paused development on Burnout to P3Zine Great characters create a shooter called Black in 2006 and, rather than trying to redefine Flawed the genre, simply made a polished Verdict concept shooter which was gloriously violent Fun in short bursts, 78 and looked amazing. You can’t help but short bursts is Lack of varied gameplay wishing that Bizarre Creations had all you get. done the same. After all, the look and

CONTROL NAV IG AT E | 34 Subscribe toP3Zine FREE! EVERY MONTH! The world’s best PlayStation 3 mag! DON’T MISS OUT AGAIN SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! Over 35,000 pe o p le have alre ady chosen to subscri b e to o ne o r mo re of o u r G amerZi ne s an d now re ceive noti fica ti o n of e ach new issue a s so o n a s i t’s publ ishe d. Why not j o i n them an d ensu re yo u never m iss another issue a g ai n?

www.gamerzines.com CO N T RO L P3Zine NAVIGATE | 35 Network Publisher: Electronic Arts Ltd Developer: Delphine Fade to Black Software Price: £3.49 he first of two band from Flashback, who somehow finds references this month, Fade himself captured and imprisoned PlayStation Network Tto Black is, in fact, not a game by the baddies from the first game. based on the Metallica song, but While it may not be as enjoyable More? You want more? Well here’s another four... actually the 3D adventure-game as its prequel, thanks to the switch sequel to Flashback, a well received to 3D, Fade to Black remains an that attack you. With a good deal of 2D game from interesting look back at the PS1’s thinking required if you’re going to Delphine heritage. Worth a try. PixelJunk Monsters place your weapons efficiently (each Software, Publisher: SCEE real-time strategy game of turret has a limited optimal range), the creators Developer: Q-Games sorts, PixelJunk Monsters fantastic hand-drawn graphics, and a of Another Price: £3.49 Atakes place in a forest, and, 2-player co-op mode to boot, this is World. Set in an P3ZineVerdict as the guardian of a tribe of little worth every penny of your three- inventive sci-fi Not quite Tomb Raider people, it’s up to you to chop down and-a-bit pounds. universe, Fade to the trees that make up their home, Black puts you Good 3D adventure P3Zine and construct in the shoes of Lack of movement a veritable Conrad, the hero 78 armoury of P3ZineVerdict weapons and Nothing “junky” about this at all turrets in their Publisher: Zoo Digital to choose from, and a respectable place, to wipe Innovative gameplay Developer: DICE eight tracks to race around, there’s out the waves Incredibly addictive Price: £3.49 Motorhead certainly plenty to do here for your of enemies 90 money, and the action is as smooth rom the people who went as they come. Running on a fantastic release are very much present here on to bring us Battlefield custom coded engine, Motorhead’s - squashing an entire keyboard’s F1942, Motorhead is a futuristic actually managed to age fairly well, Theme Hospital worth of controls onto the PS3 racing game, with an interesting and stunningly, still manages to controller is not an easy task, but blend of Ridge Racer and Gran look impressive, all these years later. Publisher: Electronic aking the premise that made luckily, it can’t distract from the fun Turismo style handling. With ten cars Which is certainly more than we can Arts Ltd Theme Park so much fun, too much. say for Lemmy. Developer: Bullfrog Tand swapping the patrons Price: £3.49 for patients, Theme Hospital was a classic when it was released on P3ZineVerdict P3ZineVerdict the PS1, and thankfully, the game remains as fun to play Cough Cough Time to play the game now as it was then. Fun management game Unfortunately, however, Great looks the same problems Dodgy controls Smooth gameplay that plagued its original 80 85

CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE | 36 Column Out of the shadows... How PS3 is starting to live up to its precursor’s legacy

laying brilliant role-player new Xbox or GameCube release criticising Microsoft for having two Persona 3 over the past week on shop shelves? Exactly. Yet the different 360 models, the next PlayStation 2 or so required me to dust continued success of PS2 has caused releasing four different PS3 units - the console that P wouldn’t stop down my PlayStation 2 and plug it Sony quite a few problems - or, over the three major territories into my HDTV for the first time in a rather, it’s created trouble for their - has led to widespread customer selling. It’s only Chris Schilling few months. I hadn’t realised how current generation model. This late confusion over which model to recently that its Chris is the proud star has finally long it’d been since ‘old faithful’ renaissance for what should, by now, buy. We’re lucky that in Europe, started to wane. owner of all three had been relegated to a box in the be an obsolete machine has led the issue is less complex, with just ‘next-gen’ consoles. cellar, but it’s proof that the PS3, many gamers to delay upgrading. the 40GB and 60GB units (and the Every issue Chris will given pride of place under my new FIFA 08 and Guitar Hero III are just latter being phased out) available, PS3 isn’t the only thing to emerge chart the progress of telly, is finally beginning to emerge two games which sold considerably though rumours of a 120GB PS3 from the shadows, either - the PS3 and commenting from the large shadows cast by its more on PlayStation 2 than on 3 with increased functionality won’t go recent screenshot teaser of Team on Sony’s latest and predecessor. - something that must prove more away. ICO’s follow-up to Shadow of the greatest initiatives. The release of Persona 3 is proof than a little embarrassing for Sony, Yet if the first six months of the Colossus is surely one of the most that there’s still a substantial market given the hype surrounding its PlayStation 3’s life were chaotic and exciting gaming developments of for PS2, and that’s something most powerful games console. It’s underwhelming, recently it’s starting recent months. The thought of such that’s both surprising and highly one of the most important factors to look like the machine we know a talented team at work on much The one simple screenshot that admirable. It’s easy to forget that in the company removing PS3’s it can be. As the blurb on the left more powerful hardware is further caused so much - of the last generation consoles - backwards compatibility - rather says, I’m the proud owner of all three proof that PS3 has a tremendously anticipation PlayStation 2 was the first to market, than the cost saving excuse many current generation consoles, yet in exciting future ahead of it. At this - expect to hear and yet it’s still getting new games. thought Sony would trot out, SCEA my free time I’ve been playing the rate, it could even last longer than its more about Team When was the last time you saw a boss Jack Tretton held his hands up PS3 almost exclusively - , predecessor - now that would be an ICO’s latest at the and admitted it was to “encourage SingStar and the incredible Rock incredible feat! Game Developer buyers of the entry-level PlayStation Band are all terrific games that make Conference later Hopefully quality first-party 3 to purchase more games designed use of the machine’s capabilities this month. software like Uncharted will specifically for the new system”. In in very different ways - the former allow PS3 to forge its own other words: please stop buying PS2 not only playing very well indeed identity this year. games, you’re making us look bad. but looking a cut above 95% of Xbox 360 titles, while the latter Model console two have the advantage of regular Indeed, Sony’s repeated fudging downloadable content to add to of the SKU issue - one minute their already impressive longevity.

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