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Video Games : Electronic Arts Games : GameCube
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Electronic Arts
You can't keep him off the telly on a bank holiday and nowadays he seems to be almost as prevalent in the gaming world. That's right: James Bond is back on your consoles in 007 NightFire--and ready to endorse a bottle of vodka near you.Games companies are weird. This release comes in the same year as the 40th anniversary of James Bond, as well as Die Another Day, the 20th film to feature the loveable old womanising drunk. So what do EA, proud bearers of the 007 games license, do? They make a game based on an amalgamation of all the Bond movies, with their own "original" story line, then go and stick Pierce Brosnan's face and a bunch of clips from Die Another Day in it. Whaaaat?
Bizarre marketing decisions aside, this could finally be the game to come out from behind the shadow of the seminal N64 classic GoldenEye. Which means, of course, that this is a stealthy first-person shooter (with a few car-racing levels thrown in for good measure) bolted onto a cracking multi-player mode. Following on from GoldenEye is a bit like being asked to make Citizen Kane 2, but EA have sensibly gone back to the spirit of the original and NightFire is much more strategic than their last attempt, the rather shallow Agent Under Fire. Once again you can learn a pathological hatred of security cameras as you use an even wider array of Q gadgetry to kill people without them even noticing.
The multi-player mode is also good, with meatier weapons than last time, including a particularly fun remote-control missile launcher. People are always crooning about nobody doing it better than Bond, but in the gaming world that's not always been true; with this game, though, it looks like he's taken the ejector seat straight to the top of the first-person shooter pile. --David Jenkins
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Electronic Arts
Billed as the first James Bond film in video-game form, Everything or Nothing certainly doesn't lack in cinematic presentation. For starters it's got a cast of A-list Hollywood stars that most real movies would be jealous of, including Dame Judi Dench, John Cleese, Willem Dafoe, Shannon Elizabeth, Heidi Klum and, of course, Pierce Brosnan. There's even a title song from Mya and fully licensed Q-enhanced vehicles such as the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and the Triumph Daytona 600 motorcycle.In terms of gameplay though Everything or Nothing is far less extravagant. In contrast to previous Bond games it's viewed from a third-person perspective and looks and plays not unlike a more action-packed version of Splinter Cell. There are problems with the entirely manual camera system though--particularly the lock-on for the aiming system, which is frustratingly random in choosing which bad guy you target.
The vehicle sections, which use the same graphics engine as Need for Speed Underground, are less obstreperous and offer some of the most genuinely enjoyable moments as you hurtle in pursuit of bad guys riding heavily armed cars, motorbikes and helicopters. Additionally, both on foot and when driving, the game gives you the chance to trigger "Bond moments" when you find shortcuts or dispatch bad guys in particularly imaginative ways.
Everything or Nothing is perhaps the ultimate example of style over substance in video games, but there's just enough of the latter to ensure that everyone but the most pernickety of gamers will find something to enjoy. --David Jenkins
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Electronic Arts
Bringing familiar faces and locations from the hit film, EA's tie-in game The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King could be easily written off at first glance as a simple cash-in. It's therefore a very pleasant surprise to find such an addictive and high quality game nestling at the heart of it all.The developers have, as with the enjoyable Two Towers tie-in, opted for a beat-'em-up in the style of old classics such as Golden Axe. It proves to be a wise choice. Seamlessly incorporating some of the finest cinematic moments from the film, the game is a frenetic, rip-roaring and hugely entertaining affair. And surprisingly, it's a well-thought-through and highly challenging one too. The gameplay rewards the player willing to try things other than the same old moves, and through a series of combos and upgrades, it constantly pushes you onward. It's no one-weekend wonder either, with a healthy long-term challenge packed in.
Downers? A couple of levels don't quite reach the standards set by the game's best, and the toughness of the challenge may also deter more casual gamers. They'd be really missing out though, for not only is Return of the King one of the best movie tie-ins of recent times--certainly eclipsing the aforementioned Two Towers title--it's a tremendously enjoyable game in its own right. It's just a shame now that EA have run out of films and books, as we'd happily thirst for another instalment 12 months down the line. Best make the most of this one, then... --Simon Brew
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Electronic Arts
It was no surprise that the first Harry Potter games were a huge success, but what was unusual was that they were actually pretty good. Millions of fans will be pleased to hear that the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets game is even better.Taking its visual and audio cues from the movies but sticking closer to the book than a two-hour film ever could, the PS2 game begins as Harry starts his second year at Hogwarts despite an ominous warning from Dobby the House Elf. At its heart Chamber of Secrets is a 3-D platform game, similar to Super Mario or Jak & Daxter, with the same basic controls being used for the majority of the game. However, the nature of the story means the game is peppered with various mini-games and side quests, including Quidditch and Wizard duels.
In between the major quests you get a chance to explore Hogwarts, which is impressively massive and filled with hidden secrets--the collecting of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans being of particular importance since they can then be traded with Ron's brother for everything from Famous Witches and Wizards Cards to upgrades for your Quidditch kit.
If the game has only one fault it's the extremely long and unusually frequent loading screens that keep popping up, and which you soon get very tired of seeing. It's not nearly enough to ruin the game though, which must go down as one of the best book/movie conversions of all time. --David Jenkins
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Electronic Arts
Finally the James Bond games have done what the films should've done years ago: they've gone back to the `60s. From Russia with Love doesn't seem to have all that much to do with the film of the same name (it seems an odd choice anyway since it was the least gadget heavy of all the movies and even vaguely realistic in parts) but it is highly evocative of Connery era Bond in general.Even ignoring the `60s angle, the fact that the game is obviously trying to distance itself from the risible GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is another obvious boon. It's a third person adventure much more in keeping with Everything or Nothing, with a similar mix of on foot and vehicle combat, with particular emphasis seeming to be given to the jetpack from Thunderball.
Although Bond looks and sounds (thanks to newly recorded dialogue by the man himself) like Sean Connery the game also has a role-playing element where you can customise your character according to your preferred style of play. There's also an online and split screen multiplayer mode for you to compare these settings with friends.
Alas there doesn't yet seem to be any sign of a mini-game allowing you to ferret out bad guys according to their incorrect choice of wine at the dinner table, but in all other respects this is shaping up to be the ultimate retro Bond game. --Harrison Dent
This preview is based on an incomplete version of the game; features or problems mentioned above may not appear in the finished game.
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
There was a time when The Lord of the Rings was just a book; now it's a billion-pound industry churning out films, merchandise and games. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is EA's foray into the realm of Middle Earth, and they've chosen good old-fashioned hack-'n'-slashery rather than offering up an RPG. You choose one of three of the fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn, Legolas or Gimli, and guide them through 16 missions of melee combat, where you use your superior fighting skills (and combinations of buttons on your controller) to beat back the hordes of Sauron.How you fight is very important; in a Devil May Cry-style rating system, the more daring moves and perfectly executed combos you pull off, the more points you get at the end of the level. The more points you get the more you can upgrade your attacks, weapons and defensive tactics.
In terms of a storyline, although it bears the name of the second film, the game includes set pieces from Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Rings too--Aragorn beating back the Ring Wraiths at Weathertop, the battle with the goblins in the dwarvern caverns of Moria--plus the Battle of Helm's Deep and more footage from The Two Towers.
There isn't much more to the game; it looks great, provides a good dose of action, is well executed and it's obvious that a lot of thought has been put into capturing the feel of the films. But it's woefully short and most gamers are going to breeze through this in less time than it takes to watch the special features on the Fellowship of the Ring DVD. But if you're a fan of the film or love a bit of mindless button bashing, then this is a good tie-in. --Kristen Bowditch
This review refers to the PlayStation 2 version.
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
The game version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a clear step above its (still well regarded) forebears. Based on both the book and film of the same name, the game sticks close to the look and feel of the movie wherever it can, while filling in details from the book to ensure a longer playing time. The main difference between this game and the last, apart from the vastly improved graphics, is that you now get to play as Ron and Hermione as well as Harry. What's more, throughout most of the game you can switch between any of the three whenever you like, as the other two follow you around and help out with magic spells should you get into a fight.Each character has their own special abilities with Harry being a good all-rounder, Hermione being better at spells and Ron having the ability to detect hidden objects. You must decide which skill is most needed at any one time, adding a cool strategic element to the game.
A special bonus for the GameCube version of the game is the ability to link up to the Game Boy Advance version and trade wizard collector cards, as well as take care of your very own owl with a special owl care kit. Together with the new graphics, which are far less cartoony than before and look just like the proper actors from the film, this is definitely the best Harry Potter game yet and is good enough to appeal even to those that don't usually like the little wizard--if such people actually exist. --David Jenkins
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Electronic Arts
In a nutshell:
It's the game football fans wait all year for and to usher in the next generation EA Sports have given FIFA its biggest revamp in years, changing not just the way it looks but the way it plays in what aims to be the ultimate marriage of realism and fun.The lowdown:
Every new FIFA game gets its expected improvements in graphics and presentation but this year the success of Pro Evolution Soccer seems to have driven EA to concentrate just as much on the gameplay. As such the game features better passing, crossing and free kicks as well as greatly improved goalkeepers. There's also a new "finesse" shot if you get the time and space to use it, while every kick is calculated in terms of space, composure and technique so that it's accuracy is determined by exactly what's happening on the pitch and not just some random factor. Add in completely new ball physics, more than 510 teams, 27 leagues, 4,000 licensed players and all new international crowd reactions and you've got EA's most concerted attempt yet to make the definitive football game.Most exciting moment:
As well as all the individual improvements to ball and player control many of the game's best strikers have their own signatures moves and free kicks, such as Ronaldinho, Frank Lampard and Roberto Carlos. This includes the ability to, quite literally, bend it like Beckham.Since you ask:
As befits its global reach FIFA 07 has perhaps the most multinational soundtrack ever in video games, with everything from Argentinean rock band Bersuit Vergarabat to Spain's The Pinker Tones and German group d.o.c.h.! (As well as Britbands such as Muse and The Young Punx.)The bottom line:
FIFA gets serious in its attempt to out-football Pro Evolution Soccer
.HARRISON DENT
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
Medal of Honor returns to its console roots with this first outing on next-gen machines for Lt Jimmy Patterson. This time the setting is June 6, 1944--D Day and beyond--and the game begins with you storming the beachhead at Normandy. Frontline definitely lives up to its name, and from the outset the action is intense. As you rush up the shingle, comrades falling beside you and artillery ringing in your ears, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were on the set of Saving Private Ryan. Players of the PC incarnation will recognise this mission from Allied Assault, but here is where the similarities end; Frontline is a new game with new objectives and levels designed perfectly for the console.If you survive D-Day you enter the real meat of the game--Operation Market Garden (Arnhem). From scuttling a U-boat to clearing checkpoints in the town itself, the missions are brilliantly designed. The true playability of the Medal of Honor series is how immersive it is: narrative, graphics and sound all combine to give you one of the most gripping first-person shooters on any format. Backgrounds are beautifully detailed, and the sound really sets the game apart. The control system is also intuitive, with the option to customise your controller or choose one of the two default options: MOH Sharpshooter (two analogue stick-control) or the original controls used in the PSone's Medal of Honor.
There are only two criticisms that can be levelled at the game. Firstly, the artificial intelligence errs on the stupid side, with enemies standing around watching comrades get shot, and although this changes with the difficulty level it never responds in a particularly "human" way. Secondly, you can only save at the end of a mission (always a feature of console conversions), so it's quite frustrating to be unceremoniously dumped right back at the beginning after battling you way through a level--but hey, this is war, after all, and these are small niggles about what is a genuinely phenomenal game. Sign up now: the Allies need you. --Kristen Bowditch--This review refers to the PlayStation 2 edition
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
EA Sports turn their attention to Formula 1 for the first time on the GameCube, and with F1 2002 they have once more produced an accessible, enjoyable and challenging game, which still needs a little work but nonetheless has much to offer. As ever with EA Sports, the game is thoroughly buffed up with official team names, tracks, drivers and such like, and is accompanied by the usual high standard of presentation. It's hard not to feel sucked in from the minute the game boots up, frankly. Helpfully, the learning curve is quite thoughtful, allowing you to opt for shorter, easier races before ultimately making your way through to a full Formula 1 season, where you'll need to brace yourself for the incredibly tough challenge of the computer-controlled opposition. Each race offers warm up, qualifying and pit decisions, and you can also choose between a simulation or a more arcade-esque game.Either way, once on the track F1 2002 feels right and while not too easy to get to grips with at first, it does leave you with the feeling that you're in the middle of a fully-fledged Grand Prix. To get the most out of F1 2002 requires patience and practice, though, and if you aren't willing to apply both, then a more arcade-y racing game such as Burnout should be nearer the top of your list. Likewise, if you bought last year's not dissimilar effort on the PS2, then you may be better seeking an alternative challenge. But if you get a kick out of racing games or are willing to put in the time, then F1 2002 is well worth considering. --Simon Brew
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Electronic Arts
Following on from a succession of hugely popular campaigns across numerous formats, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun brings the franchise back to consoles with another engrossing first-person action game. The action is taken to the Pacific Theatre for the first time, plunging the player into the shoes of Marine Corporal Joseph Griffin. Over the course of the game, he has a lot to get through too. There's Pearl Harbor to survive. His brother to rescue. And the small matter of a number of Japanese soldiers who stand in the way…In truth, the formula hasn't moved on much for the franchise, but then it does work spectacularly well. The game's various missions are varied, and they demand elements of stealth, action and a bit of sabotage along the way. And they're not afraid to pull the proverbial rug from underneath to keep you on your toes. As ever, the multimedia elements border on spectacular. The musical scores of Medal of Honor games are rarely given the credit they deserve, but their contribution really can't be understated. The cinematic visuals, however, do tend to hog the headlines, and it's easy to see why. As you fight to complete a mission with explosions going off all around you there's little time to notice them.
A couple of mild criticisms, then. There isn't much scope to deviate from the set path through the game, which is very tightly scripted. Not a bad thing, but not something that will appeal to everyone. Plus it would be nice to see a few more risks taken with the Medal of Honor formula. These mild grumbles aside, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun is simply a very good video game. It's tense, gripping and desperately addictive. And when you ultimately see the end game sequence, you really will be thirsting for more. --Simon Brew
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
In the PlayStation 2's first few months there were only a few standout games; one of them, SSX, brought snowboarding to people who didn't even like snowboarding. Now, GameCube owners get a new reason to stay indoors during the cold winter--and summer--months. SSX Tricky is its name, and it more than lives up to the moniker.SSX Tricky removes two characters from the original PS2 game and adds five new ones and adds two new race locations--Garibaldi and Alaska--to the already beefed up World Circuit. Features have also been added to the older tracks, effectively making them new again. Tricky improves the graphics a bit and refines the controls. The game also tweaks the basic gameplay by letting you upgrade your boarder's stats in races, but also forcing you to attempt and master the show-off mode as well. And they went a long way toward improving the challenge by evening out the learning curve. The first game tended to be a cakewalk until the later races in each set; this time your rivals get more intense and aggressive depending upon the lap you're taking.
Personality is everything--not only in terms of voice acting, but also in how you treat the other riders. The game has three basic attitudes in regard to you. If you block and attack characters too much, they'll remember it and actively seek you out. If you help one or two of them they become your allies, warning you of danger or fending off attackers.
In many ways SSX Tricky is only an upgrade of the previous game, but if you don't own a PS2 this is as good as snowboarding gets on the 'Cube for the time being. If you do own a PS2 and SSX, what's been added doesn't look like enough to equal buying the game all over again. But the changes are deep enough to delight even fans who are tired of, or have mastered, the first game. Maybe that's the most impressive über-trick of them all. --Bob Andrews
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Electronic Arts
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Electronic Arts
In spite of the lack of the competition where PC golfing games are concerned, there's little reason to feel disappointed at just having Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 to pick from. That's unless you feel let down, of course, by majestic visuals, sublime gameplay and an all-round quality gaming experience.Catering for all levels of experience thanks to five well-pitched difficulty ratings, it's an incredibly easy game to get to grips with. Intuitive from the off, you can pick from numerous golfers and courses, each of which are realised exceptionally well. Graphically, the game is outstanding, and given the vast number of gameplay choices available, it's going to last you a very long time.
The drawback is that things really haven't come that far since the 2004 edition. Sure, there are different courses to play on, and welcome they are. Then there's a brand new Tiger-Proof mode that lets you modify those courses to squeeze every ounce of playability and difficulty from them, although it's unlikely to be a feature you'll use that often. And as for the gameplay? It really hasn't changed that much, with those fresh courses the main attraction.
Yet still, you can't go far wrong with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005. Whilst it's disappointing that the game hasn't come on too much in the last year, there is the small factor that it was, and still is, one of the finest sports games on any format. Few games offer quite as much replay value, and that should be ample compensation for the lack of a decent competitor.--Simon Brew