Contents of the new EGM

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25 Jan 2003, 02:04 PM
xS

Contents of the new EGM

Registered: May 2002
Location: Zack Island
Posts: 2878
Just got the new EGM... here are the contents!
Electronics Gaming Monthly, March 2003 (Number 164)

Cover Story
Driver 3

Press Start
System Forecast 2K3
Afterthoughts: Hitman 2
Celebrity Gamer:Busta Rhymes Got Game
Nintendo Unveils New GBA
Under the Radar

Quartermann -- Game Gossip & Speculation
Vince to Work His Voodoo on Xbox This Year
Rumblings on New GC Pokemon
Sega to go Heavy Into Mobile Gaming
Kingdom Hearts: The Movie

Previews
PlayStation 2
Backyard Wrestling
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Midnight Club II
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
My Street
Amplitude
NBA Street Vol. 2
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelists of the Roses
The King of Route 66

GameCube
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Hitman 2
Lost Kingdoms II
Vexx

Xbox
Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Midtown Madness 3

PlayStation
Final Fantasy Origins

Feature Stories
Thrill of the Chase (Driver 3)

Reviews
PlayStation 2
Dark Cloud 2 (Game of the Month) - 8.0, 8.0, 9.5
Devil May Cry 2 - 7.0, 7.0, 8.0
Everblue 2 - 6.5
P.T.O. IV: Pacific Theater of Operations - 6.0
Disaster Report - 4.0, 6.0, 6.5
Galerians: Ash - 5.5, 5.0, 5.5
Everquest: Online Adventures - 7.5, 5.0, 6.0
The Getaway - 7.5, 6.0, 8.0
Guilty Gear X2 - 8.0, 8.5, 8.5
Pride FC - 6.5, 6.0, 5.5
World Tour Soccer 2003 - 6.5
Xenosaga: Episode I - 8.0, 8.0, 6.5

GameCube
Cubix Robots For Everyone: Showdown - 6.0
Summoner: A Goddess Reborn

Xbox
Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball - 7.5, 8.0, 6.0
Apex - 8.0
ATV Quad Power Racing 2 - 7.5

Game Boy Advance
Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced - 6.5
Lufia: The Ruins of Lore - 8.0
Daredevil - 4.0

Tricks of the Trade*
Top 5 Tricks of the Month
1. Simpsons Skateboarding: Homer's Code Odyssey
2. Rocky: Eating Lightning and Crapping Thunder
3. 007 Nightfire: Instant Oddjob, but no Pussy Galore
4. Crash N-Tranced: Bandicoot Bonanza!
5. Tony Hawk 4: More skaters
*there are more tricks... if you want me to post them, just ask.

Next Month's Issue
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness

Reviews
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire (GBA)
World Series Baseball 2K3 (PS2, Xbox)
Def Jam Vendetta (PS2, GC)
Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC)

Previews
Silent Hill 3 (PS2)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA)
Pitfall Harry (PS2)
Auto Modellista (PS2)
X-Men Legends (PS2, GC, Xbox)
Vexx (PS2, GC, Xbox)
25 Jan 2003, 02:11 PM
Kbu Chan

You know, Nitendo Power isn't that great, but at least you can get some NINTENDO COVERAGE!!! there. Guess I'll skip this months EGM...again.:(
25 Jan 2003, 02:20 PM
Jeremy

Don't blame them for the lack of Nintendo coverage, blame Nintendo. That celebrity gamer thing reeks of Incite.
25 Jan 2003, 02:30 PM
Kbu Chan

Why? Theres a shiteload of games which could've been covered. Same goes for the XBox. Neither one has hardly any coverage this month.
25 Jan 2003, 02:31 PM
Yoshi

I'm going to pretend I'm EThugg for a minute:

There is no fucking way that Dark Cloud 2 is better than Devil May Cry 2. Ignore the fact that I have played neither. EGM is just fucking wrong.
25 Jan 2003, 02:38 PM
Kbu Chan

Speaking of EThugg, what happened to him, haven't heard much from him lately, not that thats a bad thing.
25 Jan 2003, 02:39 PM
Dyne

Quote:

Originally posted by kbuchanan
Why? Theres a shiteload of games which could've been covered. Same goes for the XBox. Neither one has hardly any coverage this month.

because Nintendo is NOTORIOUS for not sending magazines betas or even finished games. it's been mentioned several times in Play that Nintendo is none to friendly when it comes to the magazines.
25 Jan 2003, 02:40 PM
Despair

I agree with Yoshi. DMC2 getting just 8,7,7 WTF????
25 Jan 2003, 02:43 PM
Kbu Chan

Yeah, but at least that means it's better than the first one. BOOYAA!!!!!!

jk.
25 Jan 2003, 02:47 PM
Despair

Did the original scored worse? I dont remember what scores DMC got from the magazines.
25 Jan 2003, 02:47 PM
Kbu Chan

Should a game maker have to send a magazine a copy of a game before they'll review it though? Sounds kinda like pimping.
25 Jan 2003, 03:01 PM
Jeremy

Um, that's the way it's been for YEARS. If the mag can't get a copy from the company, they'll review the copy of it that they bought themselves, of course, the review will come out way AFTER the game's release, which negates part of the reason to review the game in the first place.
25 Jan 2003, 03:08 PM
jiji

Hm, I'm suspicious of that Disaster Report score. Everything I've heard about the game leads me to believe that it's much better than 5.5-average material. I'll be picking it up regardless of EGM's taste.
25 Jan 2003, 03:12 PM
Jeremy

Despair, have no fear about DMC 2, they gave it FOUR PAGES and quite a bit of praise. Disaster Report is apparantly marred with slowdown. Best thing- being able to have a huge wardrobe. Yipes...
25 Jan 2003, 04:08 PM
thray-walsh

Quote:

Originally posted by kbuchanan
You know, Nitendo Power isn't that great, but at least you can get some NINTENDO COVERAGE!!! there. Guess I'll skip this months EGM...again.:(

We actually reviewed every potential Late Feb/Early March Gamecube title that was made reviewable to us by publishers(in a timely manner). It's not our fault that the number of GC (and Xbox) titles during this period paled in comparison to the PS2 list. You will find an excellent 4-page Zelda preview in the issue...

Quote:

Originally posted by kbuchanan
Should a game maker have to send a magazine a copy of a game before they'll review it though? Sounds kinda like pimping.

If mags didn't work with publishers to acquire final reviewable code prior to release, no reviews would be timely.
25 Jan 2003, 04:10 PM
Glass Joe

Quote:

Originally posted by Despair
I agree with Yoshi. DMC2 getting just 8,7,7 WTF????

\

Maybe, just maybe it sucks?!?!:confused: Seriously, I loved DMC and for some reason I could care less about part 2. I'm not sure why, I think it might have something to do with the city area instead of a bad ass castle.
25 Jan 2003, 04:11 PM
Videodrone

Quote:

Originally posted by Despair
Did the original scored worse? I dont remember what scores DMC got from the magazines.

after seeing the video review on EP the game does look VERY rushed...the background visuals are just ugly...
25 Jan 2003, 04:14 PM
Diff-chan

OMG EGM SUX0RS!!!!111 THEY R N0T HARDC0R3!!!!111 D3V1RU MAY CRY 2 1Z TEH L33T DARK P00P 2 1S TEH SUX!!1111 JEANNE K1M IS A WH0REZ0R!!!!111111
25 Jan 2003, 04:16 PM
Omni

Quote:

Originally posted by Despair
I agree with Yoshi. DMC2 getting just 8,7,7 WTF????

With all due respect Mr. Despair, you have not played this game, so have no right to say "WTF???" Just because it's the sequel to your favorite game does not make it immune to below average scores. And they're not even below average. Those are pretty decent scores.
25 Jan 2003, 04:24 PM
xS

DMC got what it deserves.:P How much longer should we tolerate filler puzzles and a camera that gets stuck inside bosses?:jest:
The action sections of the game probably are great ( just as in the first one), it's just it's probably an unpolished bastage.
25 Jan 2003, 04:29 PM
Tommy Tallarico

Diff pretty much said what I was going to say.

Nintendo doesn't make a lot available, so they don't get the coverage. Big fucking deal. I'm not sure why it's so hard to skip EGM if you don't like it. It's a megazine that's filled with opinions, just like any other. If you don't agree, then ignore it.
25 Jan 2003, 04:30 PM
sleeve

Quote:

Originally posted by kbuchanan
Speaking of EThugg, what happened to him, haven't heard much from him lately, not that thats a bad thing.

He got himself banned.
25 Jan 2003, 04:32 PM
xS

Is he ever coming back?
25 Jan 2003, 04:32 PM
Omni

I actually have a feeling Dark Cloud 2 probably isn't all that bad. Something tells me the developers took a good hard look at the first one, realized where they went wrong, and went out and made a good game. I was really quick to write this one off before, but now it's looking hopeful.

Quote:

Originally posted by sleeveboy
He got himself banned.

Speaking of which, why do some people, like 7F, get their avatar taken off and are marked as "not registered," while others, like EThugg, still have their avatars and crap. Is it a different type of ban or something?
25 Jan 2003, 04:37 PM
xS

7F's account has expired. Ethugg's is still there, but will expire if he doesnt log in for a certain period of time.
25 Jan 2003, 04:41 PM
FirstBlood

their complaint with DMC2 is that it's easy as shit... and even hard mode is even easier because (just like in DMC) you are powered up as you were at the end of normal mode

that would warrant a much lower score from me. The challenge from DMC was one of the main draws for me, and now i hear this and i'm doubting whether i should drop 50 bucks on DMC2

as for Xenosaga, all i had to read was "mind-boggling story" and i was sold
25 Jan 2003, 04:42 PM
Omni

Quote:

Originally posted by xS
7F's account has expired. Ethugg's is still there, but will expire if he doesnt log in for a certain period of time.

Ahh I see.

Quote:

Originally posted by FirstBlood
as for Xenosaga, all i had to read was "mind-boggling story" and i was sold

I wasn't expecting Xenosaga to get good scores, but those two 8.0s will do just fine. An EGM review wasn't stopping me from getting this game anyway.
25 Jan 2003, 04:45 PM
Xero_Kaiser

Quote:

Originally posted by FirstBlood

as for Xenosaga, all i had to read was "mind-boggling story" and i was sold

all I ever hear is references to how much talking there is. I want the game but still....30 minute cinemas?:bs:
25 Jan 2003, 04:45 PM
FirstBlood

Quote:

Originally posted by OmniGear
I wasn't expecting Xenosaga to get good scores, but those two 8.0s will do just fine. An EGM review wasn't stopping me from getting this game anyway.

same here, i was just wondering if the story in Xenosaga could compare to Xenogears, and it's looking like it just might, which makes me very happy

Quote:

Originally posted by Xero_Kaiser
all I ever hear is references to how much talking there is. I want the game but still....30 minute cinemas?:bs:

... they had the same complaints about Xenogears, and i had absolutely no problems with any aspects of Xenogears, whether it was the cut-scenes, the dungeons, or the second disc... i thought they were all great
25 Jan 2003, 04:45 PM
Despair

Well, I wonder how many people whould have said, WTF if Wind Waker would gotten a lower score? Yes, I am looking forward DMC, and was expecting at least 8 or 8.5.

Not like I really care about magazine review of the game.

You say they complained that part 2 is easier than original? That we shall see, come this Wednesday.
25 Jan 2003, 04:53 PM
MechDeus

Quote:

Guilty Gear X2 - 8.0, 8.5, 8.5

My issue still hasn't arrived, but I'm guessing I already know what problems they had with it. Solid scores, yes, but the game is better then that. Ah well, I wasn't expecting anything higher marks from a 2D fighter in any magazine these days.
25 Jan 2003, 05:01 PM
alan_fatima

Just got the issue through the mail. The main complaint about Devil May Cry 2 was the difficulty. Throughout the three page spread and the three reviews it comes up again and again and again. One reviewer (Shane) said he'd played tougher Rugrats games.

The other main complaint was that Dante and Lucia's quests are pretty much the same as far as areas/monsters/bosses go. I don't recall it saying anything about learning more about the story depending which character you choose...although I'd assume you do....

Shane says the plot is a "big puddle of nonsense" and Mark says "The story is awful..." The third reviewer doesn't mention the story.
25 Jan 2003, 05:05 PM
Despair

My issue didnt arive today, hopefully Monday.

Original DMC storyline wasnt the greates either, but hopefully DMC2 story will still be better than Rygar's :p
25 Jan 2003, 05:07 PM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally posted by alan_fatima
Shane says the plot is a "big puddle of nonsense" and Mark says "The story is awful..." The third reviewer doesn't mention the story.

I'm glad I don't play my action games for the plot.
25 Jan 2003, 05:09 PM
MechDeus

Difficulty, story... who cares. Did they fix the camera? That's really the only important change they needed to do for it be worthy of being called a sequel.
25 Jan 2003, 05:11 PM
SamuraiMoogle

Quote:

Originally posted by MechDeus
My issue still hasn't arrived, but I'm guessing I already know what problems they had with it. Solid scores, yes, but the game is better then that. Ah well, I wasn't expecting anything higher marks from a 2D fighter in any magazine these days.

I got the issue and read the GGX2 review and they said its a a no brainer purchase for any fighter fan. They said the graphics and animation put Street Fighter 3 to shame. The only real problem with it they said its a serious, skill-based fighter with a rough entry barrier.
25 Jan 2003, 05:13 PM
alan_fatima

The reviewers (and the two page spread explanation/semi-review-thing) seemed to perfectly understand that, Yoshi, as they only mentioned story in passing, the only person who concentrated on it to any degree being Shane, who goes on to say "Events unfold in a slap-dash, thrown-together manner that rarely makes logical sense."

No mention of the camera. The closest thing to it is "The janky targeting system sometimes adds some challenge, but that's a whole other story" (Miguel).
25 Jan 2003, 05:49 PM
MechDeus

Quote:

Originally posted by SamuraiMoogle
I got the issue and read the GGX2 review and they said its a a no brainer purchase for any fighter fan. They said the graphics and animation put Street Fighter 3 to shame. The only real problem with it they said its a serious, skill-based fighter with a rough entry barrier.

:wtf: Perhaps they were entranced by the sparkly effects, because the animation itself is still below TS. I can see the complaint (about the rough entry barrier) since as the last newbie to it I played with said, "This game is perfect for squirrels on crack."
25 Jan 2003, 05:49 PM
johnk_

i actually liked the camera views in DMC1..

i felt that it added something to the game that made it interesting for me..
25 Jan 2003, 05:51 PM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally posted by SamuraiMoogle
They said the graphics and animation put Street Fighter 3 to shame.

Now if only the gameplay could approach a Capcom or SNK offering...
25 Jan 2003, 05:55 PM
skelly

Quote:

Originally posted by SamuraiMoogle
(GGX2) They said the graphics and animation put Street Fighter 3 to shame.

The animation comment is a bit of hyperbole. SF3 is still the 2D animation king, IMO.
25 Jan 2003, 06:48 PM
thray-walsh

Quote:

Originally posted by alan_fatima

No mention of the camera. The closest thing to it is "The janky targeting system sometimes adds some challenge, but that's a whole other story" (Miguel).

The camera actually didn't bug me that much (only on a few bosses, really). Maybe I'm just more accustomed to the 3D dyamic camera after playing thru DMC and the ilk in the past... The lack of challenge, nonsense/laughable plot and sometimes blah graphics were the real problems. Even so, a 7 is a good (not great) score and I do suggest that everyone interested either rent it (or have done that great GS trade-in deal to get it on the cheap.)
25 Jan 2003, 07:11 PM
MechDeus

Quote:

Originally posted by thray-walsh
The camera actually didn't bug me that much (only on a few bosses, really).

So would you say it's just like DMC's, or perhaps better? I'm wondering because that will determine the worth of this game at either $50 or $5.
25 Jan 2003, 07:31 PM
Shin Johnpv

Quote:

Originally posted by SamuraiMoogle
I got the issue and read the GGX2 review and they said its a a no brainer purchase for any fighter fan. They said the graphics and animation put Street Fighter 3 to shame. The only real problem with it they said its a serious, skill-based fighter with a rough entry barrier.

isnt the game play for this one pretty much the same as GG and GGX

everyone said to me that were pretty hard fighters but i dont see it
25 Jan 2003, 09:06 PM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally posted by Shin Johnpv
isnt the game play for this one pretty much the same as GG and GGX

everyone said to me that were pretty hard fighters but i dont see it

I beat GG without continuing the first time I turned it on. The series is only hard for grossly deformed people or those who are hand/eye inept. ;)
25 Jan 2003, 09:18 PM
Green

Quote:

Originally posted by MechDeus
So would you say it's just like DMC's, or perhaps better? I'm wondering because that will determine the worth of this game at either $50 or $5.

The Extended Play review said (and showed) that the camera sometimes pulls back very far to give you a large view of the surrounding area. Seeing as how Dante can run up the walls 50ft and do long air combos, thats a good thing. However, the far off view can sometimes make it hard to make out whats going on. They gave the game a 4, btw. I'm looking forward to it, especially since I only payed 30 bucks thanks to the trade in deal. Dante running up the walls and doing air battles looked badass.
25 Jan 2003, 10:47 PM
sleeve

I still haven't beaten Guilty Gear X. *sniff*
26 Jan 2003, 02:31 PM
skullkid

Ugh. Dark Cloud 2 is terrible. At least the demo was.
Good to see The Getaway get lower scores. It's this year's
State of Emergency.