Sony Updates - Video Games Forum

codePhoenix · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:16 AM

Resident Evil Outbreak Impressions

Quote:

Written by Bryan Dawson, GamerFeed:
One of the biggest surprises of the show has to be the announcement of Resident Evil Outbreak (tentative title) for the PlayStation 2. Not only does it support the network adapter for online play, but it also supports the hard drive that will be released alongside Final Fantasy XI.

Four players can battle it out against zombies online, or one player with three computer-controlled friends can take on zombies offline. The Capcom representative we spoke with had no information on whether or not you could play multiplayer offline, or what the purpose of the hard drive was.

The Sony and Capcom booths feature four PS2 systems linked up via the network adaptor. After a lengthy CG intro, the game opens with all four players in a bar. The graphics rivaled those found in the Resident Evil remake on the GameCube.

From what we could tell, the game focuses on the entire team finding ways out of zombie-filled rooms. You will have to work together to survive. Stay tuned to GamerFeed as we try to find a more informed Capcom representative during the final day of the show.

codePhoenix · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:17 AM

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence Impressions

Quote:

Written by Bryan Dawson, GamerFeed
When I first heard that Lament of Innocence was 3D instead of 2D, I was very disappointed. Symphony of the Night is one of the best PlayStation games ever, and it was 2D. The next two console Castlevania titles were 3D and horrible. Then Konami went back to 2D on the GBA and the quality returned. So why do they insist on going back to 3D? We may never know, but the game doesn't really suffer that much.

The first level of the game was playable on the show floor, but the game still has a bit of development time before it's completed. The graphics will remind you quite a bit of Devil May Cry, only sharper and with more attention to detail. In fact, while I was playing, someone asked me if the game was DMC3.

Lament of Innocence even features a combo system that may remind players of Devil May Cry. You have two basic attack buttons, one that performs a quick attack, and another for a slower, more damaging attack. You can mix and match these buttons to perform several different combo attacks. In addition, you have your standard subweapon from past Castlevania titles. The Holy Cross and dagger were featured in the E3 demo, as well as a new crystal that acts like a timed landmine. It will explode as a short period of time, or when it touches an enemy. You also have a jump button that allows you to perform various aerial attacks.

Once I figured out the controls, I started progressing through the level. To my knowledge, you can't control the camera angle, but for the most part it wasn't a problem. The only downfall of the computer-controlled camera angle came when I was looking for a door or some way out of a room. Running at the camera wasn't very eventful.

Much like SOTN, you progress through a castle going from room to room. Once you've entered a room, the doors may lock behind you, preventing you from leaving until you have disposed of all the enemies within. Most of the enemies will fade in once you've entered a room; then it's just a matter of abusing your combo attacks until they've been eradicated.

When you attack your enemies, the damage you inflict will be displayed in hit points that appear above the enemies' heads. This once again reminds you of SOTN. While you have the ability to guard incoming attacks, it will only lessen the damage done. No matter what, you will take damage from enemy attacks.

The boss battle reminded me of a Zelda boss battle. A giant rock creature walked around a large room throws his fists at my character. At first all you really have to do is jump at the proper time to avoid the projectile, and then attack the rock monster while he's pulling it back. If you remain too close, the monster would jump and land on you, or perform a circular attack. All in all, it was fairly easy at first.

Once I took out the monster's initial life meter, the objective changed slightly. The boss moved faster, and had a wider range of attack. You also have to attack a point on the monster's shoulder, which required a jumping attack. In a similar fashion to other boss battles, once you figured out a pattern it was fairly easy. After you defeat the boss, the demo ends with a Fall 2003 release date displayed on screen.

Playing through the first level did remind me of SOTN. However, it doesn't satisfy my desire for 2D. Perhaps if the camera is adjusted a bit, or the player is able to control the camera, things will improve. For now it doesn't quite satisfy the need for a 2D SOTN on PS2, but DMC fans will be pleased.

codePhoenix · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:18 AM

NFL Blitz Pro Impressions

Quote:

Written by Bryan Dawson, GamerFeed
When Midway announced that the NFL Blitz series would be moving away from its arcade-style roots, many people expected a straight simulation. However, after sitting down with the game, fans of the series can remain calm. NFL Blitz Pro plays very much like the Blitz games of the past.

While Midway has increased the player count to 11 on 11, and added official rules directly from the NFL, the game maintains its arcade feel. Players get hit hard when tackled and juke moves are overexaggerated. Blitz Pro plays faster than any simulation title, while adding a standard playbook and 10 yard first downs.

The graphics have been revamped to display a more realistic football experience, but they remain sharp and crisp on the PS2. The animation seems to have been improved since last year's Blitz title, making the players run and tackle smoother than ever.

To maintain the old-school Blitz feel, Blitz Pro features a celebration button that will cause your player to bust out a special celebration after certain plays. This year the game will even feature online play through the PS2 network adaptor; however, Xbox owners will have to wait until next year for Live support.

Electronics Arts and Sega Sports don't have anything to worry about, and neither do Blitz fans. NFL Blitz Pro takes everything we know and love about the series and adds just enough reality to give the series a much deserved face-lift. Simulation fans should still look at Madden or 2K4, and Blitz fans now have more options than ever before

codePhoenix · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:19 AM

Maximo: The Army of Zin Impressions

Quote:

Written by Jeff Downs, GamerFeed:
The first Maximo came out of practically nowhere and garnered insta-hit status among gamers due to its solid gameplay engine, and a visual style reminiscent to that of classic Ghost & Goblins. Capcom has returned with the sequel to the stellar hit titled Maximo vs. The Army of Zin. I was able to spend about a half hour scouring through a few of the game's levels, and I came away just as impressed as I did with its predecessor.

If you've played the original game, then you'll feel right at home with Army of Zin. The game plays almost exactly the same, with Maximo having all of his trademarked moves, plus a few new combos and moves added in to help take out those extra tough monsters.

The environments are much sharper and clearer than those of the previous title, with gorgeous texture work scattered about the scenery. Capcom has done an excellent job so far beefing up Maximo's surroundings; everything's bigger, and the real-time environment destruction is more over-the-top than ever. Camera work has also been improved, and you'll spend less time adjusting the camera behind you and more time concentrating on completing your tasks.

Essentially there's not much that's going to surprise those who experienced the first game, it's basically the original Maximo beefed up with more of everything that was good, and less of anything that bugged us. Heck, that works for me; Capcom was smart and didn't mess with a great formula.

codePhoenix · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:19 AM

Press Release: New Gran Turismo 4 Details
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the winter release of Gran Turismo 4, available exclusively for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Following in the footsteps of the PlayStation 2 "Greatest Hit," Gran Turismo 3 A-spec, Gran Turismo 4 features similarly, authentic racing gameplay with new fully-enhanced features that focus on more cars, courses, race modes and online gameplay via the Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for PlayStation 2). Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., Gran Turismo 4 uses an all-new physics engine coupled with revolutionary technology to deliver enhanced, if not perfected, game physics and graphics providing a near-realistic automotive racing simulation.

As one of the most popular game franchises in the world, worldwide unit sales for all three titles combined is nearly 30 million while unit sales for North America are more than 12 million.

"In Gran Turismo 4, automotive racing is much more than a sport, it is a lifestyle as we take advantage of the highly successful game mechanics of its predecessor and present an even more, in-depth racing experience with all new features," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Due to its cutting-edge technology, enhanced online mode and worldwide anticipation, we are confident that Gran Turismo 4 will meet the demand of our fans and automotive enthusiasts while reaching out to new PlayStation 2 users."

In Gran Turismo 4, the characteristics of the cars are realistically designed and calculated so that they handle to the "real-life" physics of that particular vehicle, taking into account weight, speed, friction, wind, and more. To further enhance the realism of the driving experience, new technology blends real-time action with a photo-fixed background to immerse the player in real-life environments such as New York City, the Grand Canyon and others. Highly detailed vehicles and environment mapping create broadcast-quality graphics, from light and competitor car reflections on the player's automobile to leaves on a tree shaking in the wind.

The online mode features a robust system for players to race with up to six other players and interact and chat with others to form an automotive community.

In offline gameplay, players will have the opportunity to race in an enhanced arcade and simulation mode based upon similar game mechanics from Gran Turismo 3 A-spec. In both modes, players will have access to experience more than 500 authentic automobiles encompassing manufacturers from around the world, with a range from vintage to modern vehicles. Courses include existing closed racing circuits to specially designed city courses, reaching a total count of up to 100 tracks.

The arcade mode allows players to compete against each other or the artificial intelligence on select courses. The simulation mode allows players to start from the bottom and earn their way up the ladder as they acquire driving licenses, race to earn money, unlock cars and courses, buy and sell cars, upgrade parts and compete in various championships. Playable from both first- and third-person perspectives, Gran Turismo 4 offers advanced opponent behavior to capture real-life racing and unpredictability of finishes.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has not yet rated Gran Turismo 4. For more information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org.

codePhoenix · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:21 AM

The Grid Online?
GamerFeed's network of spies has been working overtime to bring you the latest rumors directly from the show floor. It would seem Midway is focusing on online play, as we've heard rumors of a new version of The Grid coming to consoles with online support.

No release date or console specific date has been uncovered, but expect this game to hit sometime in 2004 alongside an online Mortal Kombat 6.

The original version of The Grid hit arcades several years ago and took the multiplayer arcade experience to a whole new level. Due to its heavy focus on multiplayer gaming, the game never made a significant splash on home consoles. Now that online play has come into focus, things have changed.

We'll continue to cover this rumor, so stay tuned to Bluegoop for more details. Remember that all news is sourced to GamerFeed.

codePhoenix · #7 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:24 AM

2 Mortal Kombat Rumors
There are 2 rumors going around about Mortal Kombat, the first, being an online installment of the series, called Mortal Kombat 6: Online. From what I've heard out of this rumor, they're going to build this one from the ground up, so expect some different elements, if this rumor is true.

The other rumor being a "kompilation," however, we have no further information on that.

For more E3 updates, continue to check out Bluegoop, and remember that ALL E3 news is sourced to GamerFeed.

codePhoenix · #8 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:25 AM

Spy Hunter 2 Impressions:

Quote:

Written by Aldo Merino, GamerFeed:
Originally made by Paradigm, the Spy Hunter series is shifting hands to Angel Studios (now under the Rockstar label) and is being rebuilt from the ground up. The game will share the name but is being completely reworked to take into account criticisms of the first game. One change the developer is making is doing away with the requisite completion of sub-objectives, which now yield power ups if accomplished. There are also new transformations, extended alternate routes, and a generally less linear game according to Midway.

Only one level was playable on the show floor, and while it's being reworked, the game still largely plays similar to the first one at the moment. It's evident though that game is early at this point, as collision detection and clipping issues were present, but the general feel of the game was still very much in line with the Spy Hunter series. Among the transformations were motorbike and boat forms, although the introductory FMV also noted a snowmobile form being present among others. It's still too early to say how the game will compare to the first game, but chances are with the criticisms being taken into account, Spy Hunter 2 should be well-received.

codePhoenix · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:26 AM

Playstation BB Impressions

Quote:

Written by Jeff Downs, GamerFeed:
Today Sony was demonstrating one of its new upcoming services -- PlayStation BB. Sony hopes that gamers will view that PlayStation as more than just a gaming console, as PS:BB aims to take you on a multimedia adventure like no other.

Teaming up with AOL, Sony is offering all kinds of streaming content from reality TV shows, music, and music videos. You're presented with an interface similar to the one showcased a few E3's ago when Sony then had a partnership with Real Networks. You can browse through all of that day's streaming content, pick something (e.g. CBS's The Bachelor) and be on your merry way.

If that doesn't suit you, you can hook up your Eye Toy, snap a few pictures on canvases featuring some of the PS2's more popular games, and send them to your friends and family. Still not satisfied with the multimedia potpourri? Don't sweat it, simply hook up your USB headset and start a conversation using the ever-popular Voice Over IP technology. Added to all of that, Sony plans to feature downloadable game demos on the service, so that gamers can check out upcoming titles before they decide to buy.

The Sony representative kept acknowledging the fact that this was just a small portion of all of the things that the PS2 was capable of, so there's no telling how much further Sony plans to expand on the idea. The HDD is a required peripheral to take advantage of the PS2:BB technology along with the Sony Network Adaptor. Judging from what I've seen so far, the Microsoft Music Mixer -- which is a similar product -- is leaps and bounds above Sony's offering. We'll have addition details at a later date.

codePhoenix · #10 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:27 AM

Vectorman Impressions

Quote:

Written by Justin Davis, GamerFeed
First, the good news. Vectorman doesn't look nearly as bad as it did in those first few screens that were released a while back. It's still below average graphically, but it isn't horrible. The main issue I have with the graphics is the lack of color. Everything was grey or brown or some other metallic shade. Not in a good way like P. N. 03 either.

The game isn't all bad though. The duel analogue controls were solid and I was very quickly strafing around corners and shooting baddies like a pro. The game makes good use of the shoulder buttons as well. L1 fires your special item, and L2 cycles through the ones you have available. R1 fires your weapon, and R2 cycles through them. It was very easy to shoot smaller guys with your normal gun, then quickly switch to a rocket launcher to take out someone bigger, then switch back.

Another cool thing the game has going for it is the destructible environments, a feature that is more and more becoming the standard, instead of the exception. More than once I was able to shoot through a wall to provide me with a more direct route to where I needed to go.

All in all my Vectorman experience was a little bit too boring. I would wander around far too long before finding an enemy to dispatch, and the areas all had that bland look about them. The controls are rock solid however, and it appears the game is using a nice engine. If Sega takes its time with the title, it could turn out to be impressive.