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[Screaming_Gremlin]

Just got the February issue of EGM, which is weird since I never got the January issue, and here are the scores and rumors.

Multi-platform

NFL Street - 8.0; 8.0; 9.5
Virtua Quest - 5.5; 5.0; 4.0
Backyard Wrestling 2 - 5.5; 5.0; 6.5
Mercenaries - 8.5; 8.5; 9.0

Playstation 2

The Getaway: Black Monday - 4.5; 7.0; 6.5
Ghost Recon 2 - 2.5; 3.0; 5.5
Fullmetal Alchemist - 6.0; 5.5; 6.0
Suikoden IV - 6.5; 6.0; 5.5

Xbox

Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf - 8.0; 8.0; 8.0
Oddworld Stranger's Wrath - 8.5; 8.5; 8.5
Star Wars KotoR II - 8.5; 7.0; 9.0

Gamecube

Mario Party 6 - 6.0; 6.5; 8.0

Nintendo DS

Asphalt Urban GT - 6.5; 5.5; 6.0
The Urbz: Sims in the City - 8.5; 7.5; 9.5

N-Gage

Pathway to Glory - 7.5; 7.5; 7.0

GBA

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - 9.0; 9.5; 8.5 - GOTM

Rumors

- Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man who created the Final Fantasy series, has created his own studio, Mist Walker. He is currently talking with both Nintendo and Microsoft over where his studio's next-generation game will land.

- There will be a new Castlevania on the PS2 in 2005

- A new Bond 1st person shooter will be on PS2 by the end of 2005. Might be first known game with saves that are compatible with both PSP and PS2.

- Capcom will release complilation discs with old arcade games similar to the Midway arcade collections.

- PS3 is still far off and no one really has a clue to the PS3's specs. This is why so many developers are putting all their efforts into Xbox 2.

- After the PSP Twisted Metal is released there will be a PS3 version. It is suppose to have a huge online mode and a better story than Twisted Metal: Black.

 

[ToyMachine228]

Good scores all around

 

[Musashi Wins!]

So Virtua Quest is really and truly dog shit.

Glad to see that Mercenaries score. Kind of hoped FMA would be better.

 

[Kon Tiki]

No Racing Gears Advance review? Pfft, not like I need one anyway.

 

[DCharlie]

note to magazines....

ITS JUST GONE JANUARY TODAY , FEBRUARY EDITIONS????

how about, you know, having the mag that comes out in January be the January edition?

i'm sure we'll have the Madden 2006 in a months time or so...

 

[Wario64]

CONNECTIVITY LIVES!

 

[CloudNL]

WTF?
February issue?

It's still December here.

:lol

 

[johnjohnson]

What are the reasons for the 7 for Kotor 2? And why is there no love for Suikoden 4? How was Suikoden 3 rated by EGM?

 

[Wario64]

What are the reasons for the 7 for Kotor 2? And why is there no love for Suikoden 4? How was Suikoden 3 rated by EGM?

About the same scores IIRC. Actually I think it had slightly better scores, like a 7.

 

[jarrod]

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - 9.0; 9.5; 8.5 - GOTM

GOTY too!

- There will be a new Castlevania on the PS2 in 2005

A Castlevania called NanoBreaker maybe.

- Capcom will release complilation discs with old arcade games similar to the Midway arcade collections.

Hopefully SCEA doesn't block Capcom Generations 2nd Impact.

 

[Riskbreaker]

- Capcom will release complilation discs with old arcade games similar to the Midway arcade collections.

I hope this is true

 

[Kon Tiki]

note to magazines....

ITS JUST GONE JANUARY TODAY , FEBRUARY EDITIONS????

how about, you know, having the mag that comes out in January be the January edition?

i'm sure we'll have the Madden 2006 in a months time or so...

Actually EGM was 2 months ahead. Their year end extra issue seems to set them to the 'normal' one month ahead of most periodicals. (The Feb issue was intended for Jan newstands.)

 

[john tv]

PS3 isn't that far off. The specs are final and the hardware will be unveiled pretty soon.

 

[Rhindle]

Looks like Mercenaries and Oddworld Stranger will be bought, and piled on to the backlog.

 

[Wario64]

What games would they include? Final Fight, Aliens vs Predator, 1944...

 

[Deleted member 284]

Hopefully SCEA doesn't block Capcom Generations 2nd Impact.

As long as Capcom makes it multiplatform, SCEA can go eat dog shit

Forgotten Worlds with a side helping of Black Tiger please.

Edit: Shit, forgot about AvP

 

[Sysgen]

That's some contrast between the PS2 and Xbox releases.

Playstation 2

The Getaway: Black Monday - 4.5; 7.0; 6.5
Ghost Recon 2 - 2.5; 3.0; 5.5
Fullmetal Alchemist - 6.0; 5.5; 6.0
Suikoden IV - 6.5; 6.0; 5.5

Xbox

Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf - 8.0; 8.0; 8.0
Oddworld Stranger's Wrath - 8.5; 8.5; 8.5
Star Wars KotoR II - 8.5; 7.0; 9.0

 

[Doom_Bringer]

PS3 isn't that far off. The specs are final and the hardware will be unveiled pretty soon.

What? The GPU is set to finish in late 2005. I think its far off.

 

[DCharlie]

"PS3 isn't that far off. The specs are final and the hardware will be unveiled pretty soon."

does that include GPU details or not? (happy noo year by the way - it's 2005 here in the future)

 

[jarrod]

What games would they include? Final Fight, Aliens vs Predator, 1944...

Older probably... though I'd kill for a CPS/CPS2 anthology.

 

[Solid]

Star Wars KotoR II - 8.5; 7.0; 9.0

Ouch.

 

[Defensor]

A Castlevania called NanoBreaker maybe.

Nope, there will be another Castlevania game for the PS2 in addition to NanoBreaker in 2005

No Castlevania DS info though?

 

[Raistlin]

He is currently talking with both Nintendo and Microsoft over where his studio's next-generation game will land.

Not talking to Sony?

 

[Vortac]

"PS3 isn't that far off. The specs are final and the hardware will be unveiled pretty soon."

Maybe in Japan, but US it's definitely at least a year behind.

A huge amount of studios are neck deep in Xenon projects already. Most are going to be ported to PS3, not the other way around. MS is betting on this timing to continue.

You know, Japanese people couldn't care less about Xenon, and couldn't care less about making games for the western market, so screw them, if you want to play games like Oblivion and KOTOR, buy a Xenon and buy lots of games. Man the market will be so much healthier with MS to counterbalance Sony's ass-backwards technology marketing-saved Japanese-dominant rule.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

What are the reasons for the 7 for Kotor 2? And why is there no love for Suikoden 4? How was Suikoden 3 rated by EGM?

The 7 was from Bryan Intihar. He mainly just bitched about how he didn't like the story. There was also one line of complaining that the visuals haven't been improed much from the first game.

 

[jarrod]

Nope, there will be another Castlevania game for the PS2 in addition to NanoBreaker in 2005

With Iga going full tilt on NanoBreaker and Castlevania DS, I don't see how he'd have time for another console Castlevania... maybe one will be announced but I highly doubt we'll see a 2005 release. Unless maybe he convinced KCET management to go ahead with Rondo of Blood Chronicles.... which would be like the best thing ever.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Not talking to Sony?

Didn't mention it in the rumor mill.

 

[pj]

Oddworld Stranger's Wrath - 8.5; 8.5; 8.5

+'s and -'s?

 

[jett]

Seems like my wallet is gonna rest this month.

 

[Drinky Crow]

*is* there actually a Castlevania DS in the works, or is this just more fanboy wishful thinking based off of a few asides at gameshows?

 

[jarrod]

*is* there actually a Castlevania DS in the works, or is this just more fanboy wishful thinking based off of a few asides at gameshows?

Konami announced it (along with 10 or so other DS games). Should be getting first information on it in January (along with Boktai DS).

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

+'s and -'s?

Good: Refreshingly unique and imaginative
Bad: Some minor camera issues, most enemies look the same
Voices: We love 'em but we need some variety, please!

 

[Doom_Bringer]

Didn't mention it in the rumor mill.

Why is he ignoring Sony?

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

*is* there actually a Castlevania DS in the works, or is this just more fanboy wishful thinking based off of a few asides at gameshows?

Yes, in fact it is featured in this month's issue with screenshots. It is a 2d sequel to Aria of Sorrow.

 

[jarrod]

Why is he ignoring Sony?

Sony doesn't really need him... and probably can't afford him.

 

[jarrod]

Yes, in fact it is featured in this month's issue with screenshots. It is a 2d sequel to Aria of Sorrow.

???

!!!

Scans please? PM if necessary??!!??!

 

[Pellham]

- Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man who created the Final Fantasy series, has created his own studio, Mist Walker. He is currently talking with both Nintendo and Microsoft over where his studio's next-generation game will land.

How is this a rumor???

 

[Mrbob]

I'd like to hear more about Oddsworld. And a 9.5 for Street 2? Please.

Also, we really don't know if Castlevania DS is even a priority right now. Itagaki announced Team Ninja is developing Ninja Gaiden 2 (For Xbox 2 lets not even speculate!) but the game is still 2, maybe 3 years away. He stated the game is coming out after DoA4. So just because some projects have been formally announced and others have not doesn't mean the announced project has priority. Either way it doesn't matter much to me. As long as the DS and PS2 games are in the vein of SoTN I'll be happy. Aria of Sorrow is fantastic lets hope the ball keeps on rolling.

And you can't go wrong with brand new Twisted Metal games.

 

[paul777]

If you get those Castlevania scans, Screaming_Gremlin, PM me too please.

 

[Raistlin]

Sony doesn't really need him... and probably can't afford him.

I'm not sure I follow you?

 

[Deku Tree]

Minish Cap & Oddworld Stranger GET.

 

[Mrbob]

I drew a parallel mentioning if a game is announced does not mean it is priority number one.

 

[Wario64]

Yes, in fact it is featured in this month's issue with screenshots. It is a 2d sequel to Aria of Sorrow.

Got a scanner?

 

[paul777]

I got this from the IGN DS boards on Castlevania DS:

Top screen is used for a map, bottom screen is for the side-scrolling 2D action and you use the stylus to "seal" the souls of bosses. You have to pay attention to how a set order of lines appear on screen to then correctly draw the shape to beat the boss.

There's a few screenshots and it looks to be getting on par graphically with SotN. Igarashi notes that the DS is stronger than PS1, so he hopes to push the graphical limits even farther.

 

[Crazymoogle]

No Racing Gears Advance review? Pfft, not like I need one anyway.

I'm kinda scratching my head on that too, but I guess mags are holding the review back so it doesn't show up before the game (Jan 27 US release)?

*wonders if there has been any euro coverage yet

 

[evilromero]

PLEASE PM me with the Castlevania DS scans. Ugh. Thank you.

 

[Kon Tiki]

A new 2D CastleVania that looks better than SOTN? With connect the dot gameplay?

 

[Lord Error]

Most are going to be ported to PS3, not the other way around. MS is betting on this timing to continue.

99% of multiplatform games are released simultaneously anyways, and I don't see that changing once the consoles are all introduced to the market. Noone get much mindshare from multiplatform games anyways, regardless if they look better on one console or the other (if you are speculating that they will look the best on PS3 this time around)

 

[Wario64]

Haha, touch screen = innovation

Vampire hunters to connect the dots!

 

[Razoric]

Suikoden IV - 6.5; 6.0; 5.5

What was the problem with the game???