360Zine Issue 18

FREE! NAVIGATE Issue 18 | May 2008

360Free Magazine For Xbox 360 Gamers.ZineRead it, Print it, Send it to your mates… PLUS! EXCLUSIVE BOURNE CONSPIRACY SUPPLEMENT MASSIVE PREVIEW INSIDE... NINJA GAIDEN II Tecmo’s latest looks bloody brilliant... FIRST LOOKS! BAJA Could Baja be a MotorStorm beater? STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED MASSIVE REVIEW! Preview inside there is... REVIEW! PREVIEW & INTERVIEW OPERATION GTA IV DARKNESS EURO 2008 Here at last! FALLOUT 3 Werewolves & Nazis. Nice! Gearing up for summer CONTROL a NAVIGATE |02

QUICK FINDER Don’t miss! This month’s top highlights Every gam e’s just a click a w ay! Star Wars: Unreal The Force Unleashed Tournament III Baja Battlefield: Bad Operation Darkness Company Braid Ninja Gaiden II The Wheelman Fallout 3 After months of speculation the wait is ﬁnally Mortal Kombat vs. Grand Theft over and the world’s biggest videogame has DC Universe Auto IV now been released on both next-gen consoles. GTA IV Silent Hill: Euro 2008 In short GTA IV is nothing short of a tour de T h e d e ﬁ niti ve re vi e w Homecoming XBLA force and if you’re old enough to play you simply have to get stuck in today - assuming Ninja Gaiden II MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! you haven’t already that is. Read the review and M AS SIV E P REV IEW send us your comments - we’d love to hear your points of view... Not surprisingly there’s not a huge release schedule to trawl through while GTA IV laps up the retail limelight, but there’s plenty-a-coming in the next few weeks and months. Ninja Fallout 3 Gaiden II is imminent and looking stupendous, Pre vi e w & I nte rvi e w while Fallout 3 is a little further down the line, but with equally lofty ambitions. Don’t miss the DON’T MISS ISSUE 19 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE ! latest news on both starting on page 10. 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 Euro 2008 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 Enger-land, Enger-land. Er, no. 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 Lee Hall asked about the multimedia to enj oy the magazine as intended. Pro b a b l y th e b est Schilling Looking forward Unlike England, Baja g a m es write r s o n Larging it up in to Fallout 3 playing Euro 2008 Take to the dunes th e p l a n e t Liberty City CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |03 Previews

As you advance through the game, you’ll learn additional powers to enable you to deal with the toughest situations. FIRST LOOK Break out the Force lightning if you’ve a room full of enemies. Star Wars: The Publisher: Lucasarts Developer: Lucasarts Heritage: Wars: Battlefront, Jedi Knight Force Unleashed series Link: http://www. An advanced physics engine you have, hmm? lucasarts.com/games/ theforceunleashed/ ETA: September 19th SetWhat’s between Episodesthe IIIstory? and IV, you control a new apprentice of Darth Vader, tasked with helping the Dark Lord of the Sith rid the galaxy of the last remaining Jedi. Yet with screens and videos showing players attacking Stormtroopers and the like, we PREVIEW wouldn’t bet against the possibility of wandering from the path of the Dark Side The game’s bosses are huge, FEEDBACK! and turning good, if the player so chooses. and take a combination of Click here to tell Force powers and lightsaber us what you slashes to defeat. Good to see think of Star TheWhat first level do offers we a jaw-dropping know? experience right off the bat - the chance to play the return of the Rancor. Wars: The Force as Darth Vader himself! It’s a remarkable turn of events for a Lucasarts Star Wars title, Unleashed The realistic way the the company thus far resisting temptation to really use the Sith Lord’s Jedi powers. character models Set on the Wookie planet of Kashyyyk, you’re able to unleash a devastating force animate combined with the amazing physics blast which will send the walking furballs flying - with the game’s Euphoria physics makes hurling your engine seeing them topple from bridges and platforms and even making distant thirtieth Stormtrooper Wookies stumble and sway. Once you take control over the game’s main as much fun as the first. protagonist (about whom Lucasarts remain very secretive) you’ll have similar powers, as well as the ability to wield a mean lightsaber, and conjure Force lightning to zap multiple assailants. “The first level When do we get more? offers a jaw- It’s due for release on the 19th September, just three days after the US version. dropping experience right There’sAnything an additional else engine workingto alongsidedeclare? Euphoria named DMM, which off the bat” allows matter to react in an ultra-realistic manner - so metal will bend and break as you use your powers to rip apart doors and wooden bridges will wobble and shake, adding further to the immersion provided by the awesome physics.

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© 2008 Id Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Published and distributed by Activision Publishing, Inc. under license. Activision makes no guarantees regarding the availability of online play and may withdraw online service in its discretion without notice. Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars and ID are trademarks of Id Software, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “2”, “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. CONTROL

ETQW_DPS_360Zine.indd 1 25/4/08 17:12:17 360Zine NAVIGATE |05 Previews PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Some of the tracks FIRST LOOK Click here to are fearsomely tell us what difficult to navigate Publisher: THQ you think of - sharp curves and Baja! Developer: 2XL Games steep inclines at the Heritage: N/A same time? How on Baja Link: http://www. earth will you keep bajagame.com/ those sponsor logos Getting your wheels dirty with THQ’s dusty off-roader ETA: Q3 2008 clean? TheWhat’s world isn’t the exactly under-subscribedstory? for off-road racing games, but Baja looks to offer something different from the MotorStorms and DiRTs As you progress through of the current console generation. It’s certainly not shy of the single-player mode, content, offering almost a hundred courses which are split you’ll go from small into a number of different challenges, set in places like buggies to giant four- Nevada, Arizona and Mexico. So rather than splashing wheel drive trucks. There through gloopy wet mud like Sega Rally, you’ll be whipping are well over a hundred up dust storms as you travel through winding desert tracks. vehicles in the game, so there’s plenty of choice. ThereWhat are twodo particularly we know? neat touches which elevate Baja above its rivals. One is the way you earn money - while the best way to make the most cash is to finish in first, the amount of sponsorship money you earn is based on how visible the sponsors’ logos are at the end of the race. So a The Baja 1000 race is the clean, careful race seeing you finish outside the top three big one - three hundred could yet net you a tidy sum, while bashing your way to the miles of track, with the shadows lengthening as finish line will see those sponsors tear up their cheques. The the day goes on. Four hours other feature will only be used by a small minority, but it’s is a long time to race - have cool nonetheless - link up three Xbox 360 consoles and three TVs and you can play you got the stamina? in Panoramic mode, which allows you to get a real widescreen view of your surroundings.

It’sWhen been pencilleddo we in for geta US release more? in August, so expect it to reach European shores shortly afterwards.

There’sAnything a 300-mile raceelse which apparentlyto declare? takes four real-time hours to complete - though you can set the AI to temporarily race for you if you need a loo break...

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It’s bizarre to see items like bazookas and rocket FIRST LOOK ammo in a role-playing PREVIEW game - where’s the FEEDBACK! strange potions and Click here to Publisher: Atlus monster parts? tell us what Developer: Success Operation you think of Heritage: Zoo Keeper, Operation Mystery Detective Darkness! Link: http://www.atlus. com/operationdarkness/ Darkness home.html ETA: TBC 2008 Werewolves and Nazis make for strange bedfellows...

You’reWhat’s probably the not going story? to believe us if we tell you, but here goes. You take control of the ﬁrst platoon of K Company in the SAS (codenamed The Wolf Pack) in an alternate universe take on World War II. You’re ﬁghting against Hitler and the German army, of course, but using more than just weapons. The platoon isn’t called the Wolf pack for nothing, you know - particularly once you realise its leader, James “Hitler has Gallant, can transform into the creature his pack is named after. recruited skeletal armies, zombies Yes,What that’s rightdo - andwe things know? get weirder still. It seems Hitler has been dabbling in the and werewolves to supernatural and has recruited skeletal armies, zombies and werewolves to his his cause” cause. But you’re not exactly shy of otherworldly powers - your various characters (including nominal young hero Edward Kyle and stereotypical spunky female Cordelia Blake) all can cast spells as well as chucking grenades. It’s a tactical RPG which is vaguely reminiscent of the Fire Emblem series - you move your squad on a grid-based map and battles take place in dramatic 3D sequences.

TheWhen US version do is releasedwe get on June more? 24th - and though it’s not been conﬁrmed for a UK release just yet, it’s surely only a matter of time before a smaller publisher (someone like Rising Star Games) localises it for Europe.

TheAnything game’s trailer is elsesupremely tostrange. declare? Watch it at the link given in the info box, Battles play out in a rather paying particular attention to the slo-mo bullet fired at a dazed Hitler at the end. traditional RPG format once Brilliantly barmy stuff. you’ve moved your units - Different terrain and weather conditions will affect both your stats and your cover is like your standard movement capabilities, so be sure to plan ahead on the map screen. defensive move, allowing you to protect team-mates. CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |08 Previews Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Publisher: Midway | ETA: Autumn Midway’s gory fighting series meets Superman, Batman et al in this forthcoming brawler, which is looking The Wheelman a little less bloody than usual for a A fistful of top new titles coming to 360... Publisher: Midway | ETA: 2008 Mortal Kombat game. The story tells of An open world driving game a violent, powerful force that causes which stars gravel-gargling two universes to collide, but really it’s beefcake Vin Diesel, The just an excuse for some entertainingly Braid Wheelman could be one of the iconoclastic scraps. Though how do Publisher: Microsoft | ETA: Spring surprise hits of the year. Diesel, a you beat Superman? It’s not often we’ll feature an Xbox Live keen gamer himself, has had a Arcade game here, but mark our words – great deal of input in the game’s Braid is going to be very special indeed. It’s content. Given the last time he a platform-puzzler that uses time- did that we got the superb manipulation as its central mechanic, but in Chronicles of Riddick, our a far more inventive and clever way than, hopes are high say, Timeshift. This year’s Portal? Could be... for this one. PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Click here to tell us the Battlefield: games you’re Silent Hill: Homecoming waiting for... Bad Company Publisher: EA | ETA: 23rd June Publisher: Konami | ETA: September Unreal Tournament III The popular multiplayer FPS returns A new title and a release date for Konami’s first new Publisher: Midway | ETA: Summer amid controversy over EA charging generation iteration of its popular (and absolutely Epic’s multip layer-focus ed FPS finall y makes it to Micros oft’s extra for downloadable weapons. terrifying) survival horror series. As usual, it’s all about cons o le, and it’s loo king in better shape than ever thanks to But with that issue resolved, ace a missing person – this time protagonist Alex a host of new features. Two new character s are introduced, developer DICE should provide Shepherd must visit the titular village to search for his there’s a sp lits creen offline mode for lounge-bas ed another fine shooter - this time brother. A brand new combat system should alleviate deathmatch antics, and five brand new maps to dr i ve and with an increased focus on the one of the only problems the earlier games had. shoot around. single-player experience.

SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER Cobra 11: Crash Time – 9th May Plunder – Summer Saint’s Row 2 – 29th August Gears of War 2 – Nov Roogoo – 16th May Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix – Summer Midnight Club: LA – Sept Dead Space – 31st October

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The game’s more fantastical elements probably helped it scrape HANDS ON past the censor - it’s one of the goriest games we’ve ever seen. Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Developer: Tecmo Heritage: Dead Or Alive Ninja Gaiden II series, Ninja Gaiden Link: http://www.xbox. Gaiden star - Tecmo’s latest looks bloody brilliant com/en-US/games/splash/ n/ninjagaiden2/default.htm t’s fair to say that 2004’s Ninja Gaiden II’s first boss is ETA: 6th June Gaiden surprised a few people. tough enough on his IArriving without a great deal of own - when he turns up fanfare - despite being a remake of a later on with an army of hugely popular late Eighties arcade ninjas in tow, you’ll be game, it blindsided critics and panic-stricken! audiences with a near-perfect blend of fast-paced scrapping action, superb platforming sequences, and an intense challenge. Too intense for some, it’s fair to say - the series’ extreme difficulty hadn’t been lowered over the intervening years. On the contrary - Tomonobu “Ryu is a whirling Itagaki’s hardcore reimagining of the franchise in 3D sorted out the men dervish - dealing These arrow-shooting foes can be a real pain. Give them a from the boys, with some players unable to make it past the game’s first death to all comers taste of their own medicine with a charged blast from your boss. While it was hard, though, it was with his array of bow, or run up close to rip their arms off. almost always fair, apart from the save deadly weaponry” points being spaced way too far apart, and the game’s dynamic camera not always providing the optimum view of and placed more sensibly, also allowing the action. you to heal your wounds after Though NGII’s camera is an particularly tough battles. If anything, undoubted improvement, it’s still far the action seems even quicker than from perfect - the option to centre it before, with Ryu becoming a whirling behind Ryu with the right trigger is dervish - dealing death to all comers certainly a welcome one. But its other with his array of deadly weaponry. slight niggles have been tightened up. And what a collection of head- Hold down the Y button and you can charge up your more Those save points are more frequent, removing, flesh-ripping items they powerful attacks - for ensuring those enemies don’t get up again.

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With twin swords, enemies have twice as much blocking to do. For stubborn foes, just leap over their heads and stab them from behind.

The visually-stunning New York level has an epic boss fight at its climax. Seeing off this beast should take a fair while. “Bloodier than pretty much any game you PREVIEW care to mention, FEEDBACK! encounters are quick Click here to Charge up your powerful attacks and you and painful” tell us what can take down three or four enemies at a you think of time. You’ll find these opportunities to be Ninja Gaiden II increasingly infrequent later on, however. p unishing - Chapter Two’s guardian has unsuspecting Ryu while he’s dealing one move which t akes aw ay around with a standing opponent, in an half your energy - s o you need to attempt to pull off an explosive suicide w atch for tellt ale animations like a attack. hawk. Timing is tr icky to learn, b ut once Thankfully, there’s more than one mastered, you’ll be dancing a merry jig way to skin a cat - or in this case of death around s cores of circling decimate a group of enemy ninjas. Old ba ddies, slicing and dicing your w ay man Muramasa returns with his helpful through them until they’re little more shop, and his amazing performing than piles of us eless flesh, their eyebrows. The store features brand surroundings st ained a deep cr ims on new weapons, some of which are with torrents of b lood and innards. absurdly welcome treats. The Gatling S o yes, it’s not for the weak of Spear Gun is a particular delight, stomach. But Gaiden’s v io lence has a especially given how ineffectual the meaning. Every s crap is meant to standard shurikens now are as a ranged literall y tear enemies limb from limb. repres ent a fight to the death, and weapon. There’s also the opportunity Ninja Gaiden II continued Bloodier than pretty much any game you’ll feel like you’ve been p ut through to upgrade your existing arsenal, with are. From the Lunar Staff which can you c are to mention, encounter s are the mill, even when onl y facing four of swords doing more damage, and the pummel foes into submission, to the quick and painful - requir ing inst ant the game’s r i val ninja clan - ess entiall y, Talons extending in length. That bit of Falcon’s Talons which attach sharp steel reactions to b lock and parry incoming the basic enemy grunt. It’s death over extra oomph in battle is definitely spikes to Ryu’s hands and feet, which att acks, and perfect timing to dodge dishonour for them - legless foes will required for some of the later stages, he can use in short range melees to and counter. Boss fights are particular l y drag their c arc ass es tow ards an with larger enemies becoming the

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |12 Previews Ninja Gaiden II continued

norm rather than the exception. Fortunately, you also have the luxury of your ninja magic, or ninpo. Ranging from powerful balls of flame to wind ‘blades’ which slice multiple enemies into tiny pieces, these are best used when you’re in a spot of bother - either just before a save point when short of The game certainly takes you energy, or left to the enormous through some varied locales. guardians which close out each stage. If you thought the standard fighting was intense, just wait until you meet these Though Ryu gets behemoths. You soon learn why your plenty of blood on his blades, if you early assailants are named The Black wait a few seconds “Ninja Gaiden II is Spider Clan when first boss Genshin and contains enough action to sate after a battle, he’ll an ultra-refined appears - this arachnid foe can rip even those who were becoming jaded wipe it off, which sequel to a storming newcomers to shreds if they’re not well with roaming beat-em-ups. Itagaki-san looks insanely cool. original” versed in parrying and dodging. The has another potential classic on his heart-stopping moment when he hands. appears later, not as an end-of-level boss, but halfway through the stage is the point when you realise how much you need to raise your own game to EASY GOING? compete. Button-mashing will get you Has NGII been tailored for a mainstream absolutely nowhere here. audience? It’s evolution rather than revolution, Though Microsoft claim it’s “accessible to novices”, we can’t see your Wii- Falcon’s Talons are only useful but that’s not really an issue here loving older relatives getting very far. Path of the Acolyte - the game’s lowest in close-up combat, but their considering the difficulty - is still tougher than Normal mode on most games, and should you destructive abilities make first game got so choose Path of the Warrior, you’ll likely be dying every five minutes. On the them our favourite weapon. much right. Ninja lower difficulty, it’s still undeniably a little easier than Gaiden on Xbox - save Gaiden II is an points allow you to heal, while Obliteration techniques (one hit kills) are ultra-refined pretty simple to pull off. But those after a hardcore challenge will certainly sequel to a find one - two further difficulties above Warrior will surely weed out the storming original, precious few with genuine ninja-like reactions in battle. Better to be safe than sorry - if you’re not sure whether an enemy’s going to get up, stab him while he’s HOW COMPLETE? FIRST IMPRESSIONS grounded to make sure. 90% 90% A true master of the art of violence

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HANDS ON Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Bethesda Softworks Heritage: The Elder Scrolls Fallout 3 IV: Oblivion, Star Trek Legacy We witness the opening stages of the Link: http://fallout. bethsoft.com/index.html year’s most eagerly-awaited RPG ETA: September ar. War never changes.” growls the voiceover. The Ink “WSpots croon I Don’t Want To “The depiction of a Set The World On Fire through a crackly wireless in a battered, ruined tram, as world destroyed by the camera rises to reveal a devastated nuclear war is The minigun can just about Washington DC. Zooming further out, wholly convincing ” chew through anything, though we see a gas mask-wearing brute it needs a little time to warm up. It’s worth the wait, though. toting a gigantic gun. Cue titles. Opening with the series’ most iconic catchphrase, it’s clear that Bethesda have gone to some lengths to ensure and it’s this bunch that have been that Fallout 3, while very different from watching the game’s development as its predecessors, is still very closely as they possibly can. Suffice to recognisably Fallout. The two PC say that Bethesda are under pressure to games from the late Nineties attracted appeal both to franchise veterans and a substantial, fanatical cult following, create an inclusive experience for everyone. Well, perhaps not everyone. As you might expect from such a bleak opening, Fallout 3 is definitely not for kids. Subject matter aside, as you explore this post-apocalyptic world, you’ll encounter many enemies The feral ghouls are even more whose sole objective is to kill you, dangerous when they’re glowing, as that means they’re still suffering from the effects of radiation - and can use it Though almost everything is in ruins, some evidence of the pre-war world to power special attacks against you. remains intact. The Vault Boy, which is essentially the game’s emblem, is part of the special edition boxset of the game - in bobblehead form.

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Though you can patch up Dogmeat if he gets injured, Fallout 3 continued but as you reach nineteen, your father there’s no going back should he be killed while mysteriously disappears. It turns out scavenging for food or stimpaks - make sure you watch preferably in as violent a manner as that he’s left the vault - the first person his back if you’re sending him out into the wilderness. possible. Engaging them in combat, for two hundred years - and thus starts you’ll send limbs flying, spraying blood the main story thread. It’s up to you to and viscera. Decapitations are not venture out into the wilderness to find uncommon. Claret splashes on the your father, and perhaps more camera are evidence of the ferocious importantly, find out exactly why he intensity of the battles. Like we say, it’s went. very much a game for adults only. The depiction of a world destroyed Ironically, though, you start the by nuclear war is wholly convincing - game as a new born baby. Complete though the game may lack the visual with wince-inducingly squelchy sound variety of Cyrodiil, it’s an undeniably effects, you exit your mother’s womb, well-realised universe, strangely with only the ability to cry (press A to beautiful at times. Outside, the world is a canine companion, Dogmeat, who There’s not enough space here to emit a gurgly ‘wah!’) The next few a completely seamless environment, can forage for you. Be careful, though. detail all of Fallout 3’s many facets - but short sections of the game document with the various buildings representing An encounters with a host of enemies click through to the next page and you your growing up - as a one-year-old the game’s ‘dungeons’ and providing can see your four-legged friend killed can read more of what’s in store in our toddler, you can use a kids’ picture the game’s only loads - and they’re in action - and he won’t come back. exclusive interview. For the here and book to select your character’s stats, fairly short ones at that. Ammunition Fallout 3’s combat is potentially now, all that needs to be said is that it’s while your tenth birthday sees you and stimpaks (the game’s medical kits) more problematic than Oblivion’s - looking very, very good indeed. given your first vault responsibilities - are fairly rare, so it’s handy that you get while the first-person shooting seems very solid, it’s got a lot of competition from other games in that department. If enemies get this close, you’re Fortunately, players can take a more probably best pausing the game strategic approach, with the Vault and entering VATS mode - you’ll Assisted Targeting System. This allows almost certainly get effective you to pause the game and pinpoint results from point-blank range. individual body parts on your opponent to shoot at. When you’ve used up your action points you’ll be treated to a cinematic cutaway of your attack - often with fairly bloody results.

PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Click here to HOW COMPLETE? FIRST IMPRESSIONS tell us what 80% 90% you think of Fallout 3 More than just Oblivion with guns

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

The entire game can be played in third-person if you prefer - unusually, your character is generally positioned to the left There have been suggestions that - some of which are main quest related, of the screen, particularly when there are literally hundreds of some of which aren’t. It may be just aiming his weapon. endings to the game... things that you’ve done along the way. Yeah, we’re at over five hundred now. And we want to make sure that the ending you get takes into account all So are there significant differences the big decisions or key moments in between each of those? your life. So once you get to the end No, they’re all meant to be flavour, point of the game, it’s not just “here’s a variations. Basically the idea is you have generic ending”, or “here’s two generic all these key moments within the game endings”. What you may have done may be any number of things in between - we want to come up with an ending that takes into account all you’ve done. It’s actually the way the “The ending you get takes into endings worked in the previous two - they took all the things you did along account all the big decisions or the way and put them together, and so key moments in your life” we’re doing a very similar thing.

CONTROL 360Zine WWW.GAMERZINES.COM NAV I G AT E |18 Interview Though most of the outside world is fairly empty, you’ll rarely be Interview continued homage to the original turn-based short of a companion - find a fellow survivor and they can join you tactical combat of Fallout, to make it and Dogmeat on the journey to find your father. You mention the earlier games - work in the style of game we were Publisher: Bethesda are there any significant nods to making, and present it in a way that Softworks the previous Fallout titles? was different and unique. D eveloper: Bethesda Yeah. The character system for example Softworks is from the older games. If you’ve Is Dogmeat your only companion Heritage: The Elder Scrolls played the original game, then you’ll in the game? IV: Oblivion, Star Trek Legacy recognise all sorts of stuff - whether it’s He’s your only canine companion. You Link: h ttp://fallout. the Pip-Boy [a device worn on the arm can have a human companion join bethsoft.c om/inde x.h tml that acts as the game’s interface] or you along the way - you can recruit ETA: September even the chairs and the vents in the people depending on your karma, vault which are nods to similar items in which is affected by your behaviour in the original game. Lots of the the game. If you have good karma and references to the pre-war world and they have bad, then they won’t join what things were like beforehand - you, so you’ll need someone with robots and things like that in the similar karma to you. new game that you might have seen in the originals. You could Has the fan feedback had any sort have a dog called Dogmeat in the of effect on development, or have original ones... basically, there are you blanked that out and said lots of iconic things that we tried to “we’re making our own game bring back - like the 10mm sub here”? machine gun that was one of the You never completely blank it out. I favourites with folks who played the mean, you take all the feedback you first game. There are lots of get from Oblivion, and you take the weapons and creatures and all sorts feedback you get from [the people of stuff really, all taken from the who say] “here’s what I want in a Fallout The screen blurs and blood original games. game”. But what you also find is that spatters on the camera if you’re there’s never total agreement on seriously hurt - time to administer a stimpak before it How did the VATS battle system anything. You’ll get people who say “as gets too serious. come about? long as it’s got specials, as long as it’s It was a case of thinking about got skills and perks then it’s Fallout to combat and having something that me, I don’t care what perspective it is”. supplemented the real-time combat And then you get people who say “if that was cinematic and more it’s not isometric and it’s not turn- strategic and used cameras to play it based, then it’s not Fallout”. So you “There are lots of iconic things out in a more dramatic style. The big basically go and you look at what made question in the beginning for us was the game meaningful for them, and try that we tried to bring back - like “how are we going to do gun combat, as much as you can to match that with but make it meaningful to stats and what you’re doing, so that you are the 10mm sub machine gun” skills?” So VATS was our attempt to pay capturing the important stuff.

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ONE APOCALYPTIC SECRET. Half-Life 2-style physics and item manipulation item and physics 2-style Half-Life ONE MAN. ONE NIGHT. and bringing them to the next level entirely.” level next the to them bringing and ambitious games we’ve seen in ages, taking ages, in seen we’ve games ambitious “Alone In The Dark is also one of the most the of one also is Dark The In “Alone THEY SAID CENTRAL PARK WAS FOR THE PEOPLE. THEY LIED. Eurogamer 360Zine NAVIGATE |20 Reviews I GET AROUND entirely unscripted and unplanned, but How to get from A to B in Liberty City which somehow seem to provide some kind of satisfying payoff like this. Grand Theft It creates order from absolute chaos, and vice versa - a standard mission to cap some punks hassling your cousin turns into a full scale police chase, with Niko only escaping by grabbing hold of Publisher: Rockstar Games Auto IV a passing truck and clinging on for dear Developer: Rockstar North life. A seemingly simple set-up is Heritage: Grand Theft Auto An American dream transformed into a set of series, Manhunt improvisational leaps by scripted twists Link: http://www. iko Bellic is on the run. Having At full speed, the bike smashes into the and surprise elements - sections where rockstargames.com/IV/ just knocked off a couple of front end of the taxi, and Niko is sent you’re freewheeling madly, your brain Grand Theft Two Wheels Life on goons causing trouble for his spiralling through the air. The screen constantly having to come up with Auto GoodGood?? the ocean OUT NOW N latest employer, he hotfoots it away fades to a sepia tone, and slows down, ways to get out of this latest scrape. waves from the police, alerted to the scene by as Niko smashes against the pavement While past GTAs have always provided loud gunshots and the scream of a like a rag doll, his body collapsing into a personal moments of memorable TwoLifeGrand on Wheels Theft the ocean Good?Auto waves witness. Shoving a man from his bloody heap right in front of two triumph and just as unforgettable WhileIt’llJacking be bumper-cam a a long car iswhile no longer beforeis wonderful just you about get for your gettingcars, hands the in. see-sawing on Niko a boat, has to butview smash it’s makes a thepleasure bike motorcycle, he clambers aboard and onlookers watching from their front disaster, they’ve never happened as handlingjustwindow to speed with near-impossible. aroundhis elbow the before islands. Revert reaching Though to third-person inside it’s fair and to mode sayhotwiring the if you’re vehicle the stealing car. handling You onecan speeds off. He’s just about out of sight, porch. One says to the other “now you often as they do here. ofinspeed generalthese the - they processis a little range up sensitive fromby hitting mobile there’s the hairdryers trigger still a pleasing buttons, to sleek weight but Japanese that to extra the models. way few they when he spins round to check whether don’t see THAT every day!” Liberty City itself - or its latest allseconds move. mean you need to be more careful. his pursuers are still following, failing to Grand Theft Auto IV is full of incarnation, anyway - is one of the see the taxi emerging from a junction. moments like this - moments which are main reasons for this. The attention to There’s been a lot of thought put into every location. Even seemingly unimportant areas have plenty of background detail, even if it only appears for a fleeting moment in a cutscene.

The game has several multiplayer modes, which are enjoyably chaotic, if not always well-balanced. The team-based modes are most successful, with “An indelibly memorable digital the self-explanatory Cops ‘N’ universe that you’ll want to spend Crooks alongside more traditional deathmatches. countless hours exploring”

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Reviews A s Liberty C ity is based on New York, there are plenty Roll over screen for annotations of familiar landmarks and areas which have been GTA IV continued given the Rockstar treatment. Middle Park, anyone? detail here is - and we don’t use this word lightly - staggering. It feels genuinely, mouth-wideningly, goosebump-inducingly real - when you turn your 360 off, you’ll swear the world is carrying on without you. Driving through the streets of Broker (one of the four main districts in the game), you’ll witness minutiae like smoke rising from the stands of hot dog vendors, and litter fluttering in the breeze, and more instantly noticeable elements like cops pulling over and arresting criminals, and trains rattling overhead as you drive under bridges. cam on when you’re behind the wheel of your new home. You can just spend signal jus t b efore you re ceive a call on Small gangs will be embroiled in minor and you’ll witness stunning sunsets time cruising through the city like this, your mobile. gunfights as turf warfare spills onto the dappling skyscrapers with a hazy taking in all the sights and sounds. It’s your phone that makes this the streets. Get in a taxi, and your driver will orange glow, and rain-lashed streets Sounds like radios which get louder mos t s treamlined G TA ever, as well as lean his elbow on the seat and look with flashes of lightning illuminating when car windows are open, or like the ushering in a more communicative back as he’s reversing. Put the bumper- the gloom of the less salubrious areas ‘dit dit dit’ of interference with your approach. A s your cousin Roman

Best supporting character? It’s got to be Little Jacob. His thick accent and rapid-ﬁre patois means you’ll want to switch subtitles on - though it’s more fun to try and decipher it yourself.

“It feels genuinely, mouth- wideningly, goosebump- inducingly real”

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Cutscenes can be fairly lengthy at times, Slow down at the toll booths, or you’ll but you’ll never want to press the skip attract suspicion - and the immediate button. The earlier characters do seem a attention of the police if you smash little more memorable than those you’ll through the barriers without paying! encounter later, though.

“There’s a shortcut for everything - you just need to know GTA IV continued where it is” sniper rifle in tow. Complete these GTA fare. Indeed, those who’ve played tasks and you’ll form friendships all the home console GTA games may says, “there’s a shortcut for everything - increases, Roman’s pals, and their which reap rewards - for starters, feel a nagging sense of déjà vu during you just need to know where it is” - and acquaintances will want to get in touch Roman will provide a handy cab service certain sections. But there are several he’s not just talking about taking those with you. After a slow start to the game for you when you need to get elements which elevate the tasks back alleys to throw the police off your merely getting to know the local area somewhere and don’t want to steal a above those in the previous games. For trail. Tap up on the d-pad and you’ll be and performing fairly mundane tasks, ride. Should you fail a mission, your starters, the simple joy of navigating able to speed dial any contacts. Initially, the phone won’t stop ringing. Various phone comes in handy again - allowing the city environs is a joy in itself. this will be Roman alone - the man unsavoury characters will ask you to you to restart at the touch of a button Secondly, while still not perfect, the who brought you to America on the steal vehicles, threaten those late with rather than having to return to the controls on foot are much, much better. promise of money, flash cars, a fancy their protection money payments, and starting point. Though hand-to-hand combat remains apartment and women “with beeg watch over potentially dodgy drug The missions themselves, while pretty poor (and you’ll rarely, if ever, teeties”. But gradually, as your profile deals from a nearby rooftop with a enjoyable enough, are pretty standard need to bother with that after the FREEZE FRAME Time goes pretty fast... you just need to stop to look around! 10 MINUTES 90 MINUTES 10 HOURS 25 HOURS 50 HOURS PLUS Stepping off the boat and starting Finally getting your first gun. Some Chatterbox street warrior Manny If you’ve ignored everything else, the Still finding plenty of stuff to laugh your adventure - though this isn’t won’t get on with the slow start, but Escuela has his own way of cleaning story will soon be coming to a close - at - simply spending twenty minutes your average rags-to-riches GTA. we like the social elements. the streets - without getting his own but you’re missing out if you rush. watching TV at home is a fun time- hands dirty. killer.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |23 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life Curiously low-key A new start Cops ‘N’ Crooks online opening in Bohan keeps you playing

The wonderfully Visiting the comedy incomprehensible Little Jacob club in Algonquin

once or twice, but you’ll applaud its Another brilliant feature is the ability to text a number using your brilliance many, many times more. It’s in-game phone to identify a song currently playing on the radio. an indelibly memorable digital universe GTA IV takes plenty of swipes at popular culture - its - far beyond the capabilities of 99.9% of humour can be a little sledgehammer at times, but developers, and one you’ll want to it’s undeniably hilarious in places. spend countless hours exploring. It’s a You need to eat masterpiece. Chris Schilling occasionally to refuel, GTA IV continued building up your energy bar after a few first hour) the gunplay is much more shots to the chest or solid. You can stick to cover - and even from being knocked jump and roll to it when necessary - down. Thankfully, you and squeeze the right trigger to lock don’t have to worry onto a target. Nudge the right about doing this just analogue stick to switch between to survive, as in San targets, though you can fine-tune your Andreas. aim to focus on specific enemy body parts by moving the stick while aiming, too. Though it never feels as solid as a Gears of War, the thrillingly random nature of most encounters - particularly when you hear an approaching siren protagonist, and the rest of the cast words listing its strengths and still Game of the Year? It’s over wail - more than makes up for that. lend sterling support, too. The script, wouldn’t come close to describing half already. An incredible The game’s story peppered with hard-boiled dialogue the things you’ll see and hear during helps make the and liberal use of profanity, is your time in Liberty City. Though it still experience. “Niko is a missions more impressive, with the radio stations and has several flaws - most notably with its Liberty City is astonishing compelling, too. spoof TV programmes providing controls and a few uninspired missions realistically flawed, Niko is a several chuckle-worthy moments. - it transcends them through the sheer Jam-packed with distractions less caricatured realistically flawed, There’s so much to GTA IV that we ambition and bravado shown in its More accessible than ever before % protagonist” less caricatured could spend five times the amount of creation. You might curse the game 97

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Dark Sector © 2008 Digital Extremes, London, Canada. Dark Sector and the Dark Sector logo are trademarks of Digital Extremes. Digital Extremes and the Digital Extremes logo are trademarks of 1085522 Ontario Ltd. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Published by D3 Inc. under license from Digital Extremes. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. “ ”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

CONTROL 360Zine NAVIGATE |25 Reviews COME ON, LET’S CELEBRATE Celebrations are crucial in Euro 2008 - here’s UEFA Euro 2008 some of the best we’ve spotted A box of celebrations The Wankdorf stadium, where the he EA bods have got their work atmosphere seems a little flaccid. cut out convincing us we need a Publisher: EA Sports Euro 2008 game in our Developer: EA Canada T collection. Let’s be honest, it’s hardly a Heritage: EA’s Official best-team-wins scenario when Greece tournament tie-ins can lift the flippin’ trophy, and besides Link: www.electronicarts. we don’t even have any home nation co.uk/uefaeuro2008 sides to cheer on... But summer OUT NOW tournaments aren’t just about partisan allegiances, or Germany winning on The The double Siam-easy penalties like some unstoppable head-pat bass does it football machine. They’re about flair, glamour and great stories of triumph from footballing disaster. hyperbole we’ll see when the real thing are enough difficulty levels to keep you TheSiam-easy doublehead-pat does bass it All of the above is present and kicks off in June. On the pitch the playing until Fabio Capello finally puts WhenOutwardlyA classic the manoeuvre happy portray match-winner team in which solidarity a joyful is greeting with older this theplayer twin crowd celebration, directs with the arms plaudits even outstretched if on to thehis correct here as EA have delivered an action is tough - which is a good thing. together an England side worthy of youinsidegoal-scoring can’t you go want wrongprotégée. to steal with A your thisgreat, musicalirritating patronising move. team-mate’s confirmationOne hand girlfriend. behind of who his Grab is,neck, in onto fact, one experience worthy of all the pomp and It’s never easy to score a goal, and there playing in a Euro proper. nearyourda man. ‘pal’his waist(Even and then -if then the mimic youngplay him whipper-snapper exactly.like a flesh “Look instrument. boss, notched we getthis along...” time). On the down side, it’s not until you get to grips with the game’s myriad controls that you finally start to Germany win the best-dressed A tackle. Savour this away - “Yay! Let’s go wild, girls...” appreciate the tools at your disposal. moment, you won’t see many of these coming in.

Yup - Ronaldo is annoyingly good in this game too...

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FREZE FRAME It’s a game of two halves y’know... 4MINS 1HR 16MINS 2HRS 12MINS 7HRS 52MINS 9HRS 49MINS Barely five minutes in and we’re Our first goal from open play! Yes, it A big win counts for the Battle of the We’ve played every mode and finally We’ve perfected our sexy celebration already drunk on the pomp and took us that long to score with a Nations, registered points to bring get focused to win that glittering move. But why no Peter Crouch-style ceremony. proper effort... our fair homeland glory! Euro trophy. robo-dance

Euro 2008 continued playbook and begin to dazzle. Managers too have been well added to a European-wide league table Feints and tricks are just the observed, with uncanny likenesses of registered players. Do well and Where at first matches are fairly dry glimmering tip of an iceberg that also punctuated by ultra-realistic managerial personal, as well as national, glory is affairs in which you deploy the basics features more mundane, but still points and suitably cheesed off arm yours. Turns out England could prove of shooting, passing and dribbling, deliciously authentic manoeuvres such folding. When you get sick of reality, to be the best footballing country on eventually you’ll open up your as trapping the ball and making a run. you can turn to the scenario mode, the continent after all... In fact, once you get going, juggling taking control at key moments in the ball and bringing your team mates matches to put right what once went Close control is vital. into play, there’s barely any stopping hideously wrong in qualification, Master it and you’ll you. And therein lies a double-edged putting your failing nation back on the humble many a foe. sword - opponents are sickeningly well- map. In fact, woven into the Euro 2008 behaved, failing to put the boot in no experience is the notion of matter how much you try to draw a representing your country. The Captain foul, and defensive play is of far less Your Country mode gives you the importance than attacking moves. chance to vie for the armband of your Yellow cards are Both are blows to realism, though chosen nation, competing in several rare in a supremely together - and combined with clashes as a single player. It’s a neat free-flowing game. admirably lenient refereeing - make for twist on the Be A Pro mode from FIFA, flowing play that is rarely interrupted even if passing to a dumbass midfield by a menu screen. team-mate as a wannabe Scotland Off the pitch you’ve got everything captain can prove cheek-bitingly you need for a Euro party minus the frustrating. Yet another footy game? beer stains and triangular flag bunting. If you really want to play for England, Yes, please. Special attention has been paid to there’s no finer way to do so without the joy of scoring a goal. Twitch your pulling on your boots and begging Classy presentation gleeful fingers around a few button Fabio for a game than the Represent combos and you’ll have your players Your Country mode. Mountain of options Relive England’s qualification dancing like Ronaldo on Christmas Here your performances in Not instantly accessible % agony. Or better still, reverse it. bonus night. competitive matches will be rated and 77

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Xbox LiveAnother Arcade fantastic four available for download Round-Up today... Mr. Driller Battlezone Developer : Stainless Games Publisher : Atari Online Price : 400 MP (~£3.40) Developer : NAMCO BANDAI Games Publisher : NAMCO BANDAI Games e know we’ve been damning Price : 800 MP (~£6.80) Wof these “updates” in the past, but we have to admit, this time, he first Dreamcast port of the Stainless have got it bang on! Tmonth, Mr. Driller is something Ikaruga Offering two versions of the game in of a gaming icon. Playing as the little Developer: Treasure Publisher: Treasure Studios one neat package (both retro, and guy in the pink jumpsuit, it’s your Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) “evolved”) this time, the evolved sole purpose in life to drill as much version is head and shoulders above as you possibly can, until you he second Dreamcast port of the the original, and the graphical eventually reach the bottom, or Tmonth, Ikaruga has been given a overhaul is gorgeous. Sticking more likely get squished by a block. second lease of life on the XBLA, after perfectly to the feel of the original, While it’s called Mr.Driller Online, the becoming something of a forgotten whilst maintaining the same online play is laggier than a sloth classic, some six years ago. Ikaruga is addictive gameplay, Battlezone is a with arthritis. To make things worse, a Japanese vertical-scrolling shooter, real steal for £3.40, and well worth “An addictive mix of there’s no offline multiplayer which with a difficulty level that’s been the asking price. Hey, it even uses Tiqual makes this one hard to recommend. tweaked almost to perfection. During the Xbox Vision Cam! Lumines and Tetris” play, you’ll be attacked by two Developer: Slapdash Games colours of enemies, white and black. Publisher: Slapdash Games Price: 800 MP (~£6.80) Depending on your polarity, you can iqual is an addictive mix of while to explode, there’s a huge then absorb bullets of the same TLumines and Tetris, with more potential for screen clearing combos, colour, deal extra damage to ships of than a hint of Zuma in its design. and with a co-op mode also present the opposite colour, and chain Presenting you with a row of and correct, Tiqual is well worth a look. together kills of same-colour enemies coloured blocks (and a Mayan for huge bonuses. Well worth a buy. influenced background), it’s up to you to drop a variety of different shaped Life swallowing Great Mr.Driller action Innovative gameplay Great Retro burst blocks (which bear a striking Co-op Brilliant offline Great dual-colour system Beautiful updated graphics resemblance to certain Tetris pieces) Great gameplay Awful online Polished Right Price onto the board, to form a 2x2 square Good, if you have no friends Forgotten classic rises again Mmm. Vector-y. of a solid colour. As the pieces take a Stuff of Gods 88% 70% 90% 85%

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EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY PLUS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW We talk to Lead Designer Ror y McGuire insi de... CONTROL

SPECIAL Bourne has plenty of melee INTERVIEW moves to take the enemy down.

A well-timed Welcome attack will send your enemies hile the explosive film flying. W trilogy looks to have run its course (internet rumours “Out of the frying notwithstanding), Jason pan and into the Bourne is set to continue his PROFILE fire applies to search for the truth on the Rory McGuire is Bourne in spades” small screen. Hot on the Lead Designer at Blocking incoming heels of Identity, Supremacy High Moon Studios ROLL OVER blows is as and the man behind important as going and Bourne the hunter being sent on and Ultimatum, this summer Robert Ludlum’s THE BIG on the offensive. assassination missions for will see the release of Robert Bourne Conspiracy. PICTURE Treadstone. From a game play Ludlum’s Bourne Conspiracy standpoint, this allowed us to create on next-gen consoles. By an action game that gives players the dipping in and out of the combat skills, his ability to escape option of moving seamlessly between films, and the late Ludlum’s deadly situations and even his skill fighting and shooting. Ultimately, the behind the wheel of a car. Bourne design of the combat in the game novels on which they were Bourne to win finds himself in these situations and the arsenal and abilities given to based, Conspiracy is set to because in the films, he’s a players are well within the parameters fill in the gaps for Bourne- Lead Designer Rory McGuire waxes lyrical about malfunctioning government agent on of the character of Jason Bourne. philes everywhere. Taking Jason Bourne’s first videogame adventure the run. He’s also developed a over where Matt Damon left conscience - a traumatic side effect The game spends some time off, you get under Bourne’s re the events of the game Bourne is conveyed through the of his past as an assassin and, at exploring Bourne’s past prior to more closely inspired by action, the experiences and sense of times, an indiscriminate killer. This is events in Identity - will certain skin as you punch, kick and ARobert Ludlum’s original control players will feel in settings why firefight scenes are brief in the scenes have more resonance to shoot your way through a novel, or the Bourne Identity film? that are both recognisable and fresh. movies; he’s not going to run around those who are more familiar with swathe of enemies across a The video game is a companion to gunning down those hunting for him, the series? series of bleak global both the films and the books. It’s From the screenshots and especially considering that, for the Working with the Ludlum estate and destinations. We were privy essentially a third shelf, adding a footage shown so far, it looks like most part, these are civil personnel Tony Gilroy - the screenwriter on all to an exclusive preview video game based on Jason Bourne’s there’s more gunplay in the game like he used to be. Yet to us, even in three films - we expanded on the mythology to the existing Bourne in comparison to the Bourne those brief moments with a gun, storyline of the books and films to version, and played it until entertainment library. We’ve taken films - why is that? Bourne still displays that same uncover the events that led to our thumbs ceased and we inspiration from both the films and All the action in the game is defined combat expertise. For the game, we Bourne’s breakdown. In the game, became hyper sensitive to books, redefining Bourne from a film around Bourne’s signature abilities created a framework for both fighting players relive missions from Bourne’s light. Read all about our and book action hero into a game that make him the perfect human and shooting by letting players past as a fully functioning flashback and what you can character that players can become. weapon. This is represented in the become both Bourne the hunted (i.e. government weapon. Each expect from the full version... In the game the notion of ‘being’ films through Bourne’s hand-to-hand the Bourne you know from the films) mission, while fun to the player, is

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in a sense a complete disaster. Bourne is given bad intel by his Treadstone handler Conklin, he’s put in bad situations and he’s always left fighting for himself without any plan to exfiltrate him. These situations The bone-crunching sound effects “The goal was to force him to fight his way out, will really make you wince. consistently make the indiscriminately killing those in his player feel like the way. For Bourne fans, it’s a new chapter and experience in the history star of the action” of the character they’ve come to Entertainment. With Robert Ludlum’s The game moves from know. For any action game fan, passing, they are the guardians of his one-on-one they’re exciting missions where the creative vision for Jason Bourne. we first began development, but that recreate the shaky-cam rapid- fights to larger objectives and situations are always They gave us the right boundaries for was during the time when he was cut action of the movies scale gun changing, and the action is running at the mythology Mr. Ludlum has publicly questioning if he would even themselves, how difficult was it to battles with a constant high pace. created for this character and his continue with the film franchise. We get the desired effect? amazing compelling story. That enabled us to want to establish a game franchise Indeed, we spent time directly with smoothness. How important was it to have the explore and become creative with for Jason Bourne. While naturally any Mr. Jeff Imada, the fight support of Robert Ludlum’s what we could do within that space. future games are going to be choreographer on the movies. He not estate holders? Did that allow you dependant on the success of this first only helped motion capture all our more freedom for what you could After Matt Damon ended his title, there still has to be a solid, animations, but he also assisted in include in the game? involvement with the series, consistent foundation for that. For us, designing the fight system that we It was critical to have not just obviously it was impossible to first and foremost, that reality came have today. Beyond just the involvement, but a good working have Bourne look like the actor. through creating compelling movements that the characters relationship with folks at Ludlum When he reconsidered his gameplay defined around the most execute, fight choreography is also position and meaningful elements that typify central in the movies and they way signed up for a Bourne. Ultimately, our goal is to they are framed. The handheld fourth film, did immerse players in the character and camera style of Paul Greengrass is you consider his universe, to let them ‘become really one of the essences of the WATCH THE approaching Bourne’. Celebrity involvement very Bourne franchise as a whole; and it’s TRAILER! him again, or quickly took a back seat for us. influenced moviemaking substantially was the game in the years that have followed since Click Play to too far forward The game has several brutal fight Supremacy and recently Ultimatum. see the game at that stage? sequences, which were The goal was to consistently make trailer now... We wanted Matt choreographed by the fight the player feel like they were the star Damon to portray co-ordinator on the film series. of the action when they were the game Given that the interactivity controlling the character; we wanted character when required means it’s impossible to to make sure that the player didn’t

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feel like the only time the game was participating in. When cinematic was during a cutscene. To the player gets a quick capture that feel of the movies, the action sequence, it’s approach that we took was a usually something philosophy of “The player always has incredibly over the top a camera man following him” this that is going to leave philosophy guided all the time we their jaw on the floor when they spent working on cameras. As a actually get to participate in it. result, we were able to get a very cinematic feel when the player was The game is split between hand- in-game and in control of Bourne. to-hand combat and gunfights, It wouldn’t be with Escape and Evade sections Bourne without Tell us more about the Quick- too - does the game lean more a blistering Action Events - what sets them heavily towards one single enemy presents himself, it’s the frying pan and into the fire” car chase – apart from the QTEs featured in aspect, or have you tried to mix ultimately up to the player how he applies to Bourne in spades. The and thankfully other games? it up as much as possible? solves a situation, he makes the essence of the Bourne character in the game The approach that we took with One of the true strengths of the choice whether it’s going to be the books and movies, but what we delivers on Quick-Actions was that it was game is the seamlessness of the through hand-to-hand or weapon use. captured in the game as well, isn’t that front in moments of action that normally hand-to-hand and shooting. Not only The player can choose to hang back just that he’s put into these situations, spades. most games would show in a the seamless transitions but the or rush forward and engage them. it’s his ability to react to them. cinematic we wanted to deliver in- control that the player has when We mix things up on the player for Playing as Bourne, the player will be game and with the player choosing who he engages. If an setups and the situations he runs put into these cinematic and tense into, but the player himself is also situations, at times without a weapon able to alter his strategy, depending and just their wits to get them past The gunfights will on how he feels at any given moment. an embassy full of marines or half of be more frequent the Parisian police force. and intense than in The pacing of the films is the films... arguably what makes them so Finally, do you think Conspiracy compelling - is that something might be the first step on the you were particularly keen to get road to a whole new Bourne across in the game? franchise? Absolutely. The pacing of the films is We have yet to announce anything for what makes them what they are. further titles, but both the books and Bourne always has a threat behind the movies are a large franchise with him pushing him along (such as police multiple stories in their series. We or military). Additionally, he’s always hope that Conspiracy is as well ...while certain sections require being presented with problems in received as the books and movies a more stealthy approach. front of him. The old cliché of “out of have been.

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Publisher: Vivendi Developer: High Moon Studios Heritage: Darkwatch ROBERT LUDLUM’S Link: www. bournethegame.com ETA: June 27th 2008 THE BOURNE

The conspicuous CONSPIRACY red backpack is He’s Bourne again… lovingly recreated. n the space of ﬁve short years, eyebrow replaced by a furrowed the Bourne trilogy has seared brow, the holiday brochure locales Iitself indelibly into 21st century supplanted by bleak European cities, cinema, with Jason Bourne proving a and the gimmicky gadgetry giving prescient hero for an increasingly way to the techno stylings of 24. With paranoid world. If for some reason more than a nod to the brutal thrillers you’ve never seen any of the Matt of the 70s, such was the effect of Damon ﬁlms, imagine a harder- Bourne’s arrival that the other JB “I’m the edged James Bond, with the raised was forced to re-evaluate his act, Daddy now!”

Should have taken the lift. GAMEPLAY VIDEO! Click Play to see Bourne in action...

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THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY CONTINUED culminating in Daniel Craig being repeatedly whacked in the bollocks in a pivotal scene in Casino Royale. The Bond ﬁlms have of course spawned many a game, and the same fate was inevitable for Bourne. In fact you’d be hard pushed to think of a series that was better suited to a ﬁlm adaptation. The amnesia- ridden lead character is a perfect blank canvas for the player, and he

Not the best BOURNE TOTO WIN WIN person to He’s the man who can… subject to a bit of road rage.

ROLL OVER With enough adrenaline, THE BIG pretty soon it does properly kick off. multiple PICTURE Initially, you get a chance to use your takedowns are CIA-honed skills in a bar fight in possible. Marseilles, batting away assailants spends much of his screen time involved, as is screenplay writer with a flick of the wrist and a slapping enemies upside the head, Tony Gilroy. While for the music, it’s pummelling of the pad. With a light shooting them, or using parts of the out with Moby, and in with superstar attack or heavy attack, various scenery in an inventive fashion. So DJ Paul Oakenfold, who has combos produce different it’s no surprise, then, that recorded an entirely new score. responses, and each can be charged Fighting Shooting Driving Conspiracy is every bit the DVD As for the story, it weaves around up to give your foe either a quick bonus content, with the key the fiction, with a few scenes lifted kick or full-on roundhouse. As you difference being that you are directly from The Bourne Identity, fight, your adrenaline bar fills up until Jason Bourne. including the Mini Cooper car chase, you are able to carry out a FIGHTINGDRIVINGSHOOTING Incidentally, you’re not Matt and the attempted assassination of takedown. It’s here that Bourne gets TheHe’s kindBournealso ofpretty blokeConspiracy handy who canwith is bystart a noshooter, anmeans argument able a driving to inpick an off Damon, who had no part in the Wombosi. In fact, the opening levels really creative, with Jason using any emptygame,enemies room,but with for Jason aadded shooting Bourne authenticity takedown spends it move,adoes large recreate as part well of as thethe project. In fact, it’s largely a clean build up to that key event, with the part of the scenery to disable his gameepicblow Parisianup in carshand-to-hand andcar chaseeven combat.the from odd The explodingTop Bourne grappling. barrel.Identity. slate in terms of film talent, although game kicking off two days before enemy. fight choreographer Jeff Imada is the beginning of the first film. And Fans of the film will recognise the

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Problems escalated at Terminal 5.

Take ‘em down while standing on one leg. Nice.

relevant button, nearby enemies are That’s one way highlighted and targeted, enabling of livening up a you to rapidly pick them off without dinner party. exposing yourself for too long. The gunfights are on the frantic side of mental, with an entire army of terrorists taking over an airport as easily surmountable and not THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY you attempt to board a cargo plane, frequent enough to erode the CONTINUED traditional beat-em-up. for instance. general sense of turbo charged No shirker when it comes to Unsurprisingly, everything is progress. biro in the hand trick, along with the armoury, Bourne also progresses presented in an extremely cinematic With a healthy spread of levels book in the face, but with over 250 from pistol to shotgun to machine fashion, to the extent of Tomb Raider promised, covering both new ground animations included there are such gun, taking on multiple enemies style interactive cut scenes. At a key and old, Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne delights as smacking enemies faces from the fleeting safety of anything moment, such as leaping out of the Conspiracy is set to feature into a photocopier, drowning them in he can find to take cover behind - way of certain death, a button considerably more action than sinks or introducing them to the there’s a lovely touch where pretty flashes up on screen, and you have sitting in and watching the trilogy OUT blunt end of vending machines. It much all cover in the game is fully the ungenerous part of a second to in its entirety. Although it has to be TH really is some of the most brutal perishable. Utilising the so-called press it correctly in order to seal said, the latter option is much easier JUNE 27 combat we’ve seen outside of a Bourne instinct, by pressing the your fate. Thankfully, these are on the thumbs and heart rate.

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