E3 2004: Microsoft's Xbox Line-Up
We preview the fairly short line-up of confirmed titles - expect us to bring you more from behind closed doors during the show...
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| Will Robbie, J and Co. have a surprise for us this year? |
Unless it has a big surprise - or several smaller ones - lined up for E3 this year, then Microsoft will probably be the least talked-about firstparty at this year's show. Both Sony and Microsoft are unveiling new portable hardware and showcasing some killer-app titles. And although Halo 2 is probably the most anticipated game in the world right now, it will be the game's second E3 showing.
This is not to say Microsoft's firstparty Xbox line-up is lacking in quality, not by any means. In addition to Halo 2 - which we've been led to believe will be playable this year, if only at one of our closed-doors sessions - there's a whole bunch of other first class games to look out for.
You wait years for a decent RPG on the Xbox - and then three come along at once. Jade Empire, Sudeki and Fable are all set to impress big-time at this year's show, but we think Jade Empire, from KOTOR creators BioWare, could be the biggest of them all.
Xbox Live is boosted with Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, both of which are definitely worth your attention.
Meanwhile, the Rare output continues with Conker: Live and Uncut, and yet another E3 appearance for Kameo: Elements of Power, which is now nearning completion. Both fine titles, but not exactly what you spend $375 million on. We have high hopes that the mythical Perfect Dark Zero will finally debut at E3, and we think you should too.
Expect some seriously detailed hands-on with all these titles next week, plus kick-ass video coverage and interviews.
Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com
Halo 2 (Xbox) - You may have heard of a game called Halo, a firstperson shooter for the Xbox. This year, once again, Microsoft will be showing the sequel - and if what we hear is true, we'll be able to play it. We're quite excited about that. Halo 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved. The saga continues as Master Chief - a genetically enhanced super-soldier - is the only thing standing between the relentless Covenant and the destruction of all humankind.
Sudeki (Xbox) - We're playing near-complete preview code right now, so expect full and detailed E3 impressions during the show. A sultry wizardress, a soaring gunslinger, a powerful swordsman, a dark huntress. Four heroes, about to be hurtled over the edge for a flight into darkness. Sudeki will push the limits of an RPG, with bigger worlds, more powerful heroes and sexier heroines all wrapped around Hong Kong-style cinematic combat. Set in a world ripped apart by deceit, Sudeki sets its heroes on a twisting path of betrayal, gravity-defying combat, and unbelievable magic.
Jade Empire (Xbox) - Expect this to be BIG! Set in the ancient, mysterious world of mythical China, players train under their master's watchful eye and learn powerful martial arts and mystical powers. When danger threatens, players travel across the world, from the harsh mountains of the Land of Howling Spirits to the lush gardens of the Imperial City. In their adventures, players face powerful human and supernatural foes, learn exotic and magical martial arts, and discover the darkest secrets of the world. Only by mastering the greatest fighting styles and defeating the most powerful enemies will players earn their place as a master of martial arts in the world of Jade Empire.
Kameo: Elements of Power (Xbox) - Kameo is a magical, epic adventure full of magnificent exploration and intense combat. The future of the world depends on Kameo, who must capture, grow and unleash a wide assortment of incredible monsters to combat ever-present evil, and rescue her three Elemental Ancestors from the Dark Troll King, who threatens the planet and its wildlife. In ttraditional Rare fashion, the world is wondrous and immense to explore, the puzzles and challenges are brilliant, and the monster-oriented combat and exploration is innovative and unique.
Conker: Live and Uncut (Xbox) - From Rare comes Conker: Live and Uncut - Conker is back in an all-new Xbox Live-enabled team-based shooter. Conker is a cartoon rodent with a penchant for booze, wild women and lewd conduct, and the world he lives in is a reflection of him. With a wide variety of customizable multiplayer scenarios available, the game centers on teamwork and fun. Each scenario has its own objectives, rules, environment and back story that provide hilarious gameplay and wacky entertainment. Also included is the original, critically acclaimed single-player game, "Conker's Bad Fur Day," with never-before-seen, uncensored content and completely revamped, only-on-Xbox graphics and sound.
MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (Xbox) - A huge Xbox Live title. Promises to offer an entirely fresh and exciting gameplay experience for seasoned combat veterans and newcomers alike. Players will battle on foot, in the air and in massive 'Mechs as they attempt to control the Inner Sphere. The intense action, destruction and easy pick-up-and-play game style is still there; but now solo gamers will find the single player campaign is now significantly richer, with a deeper storyline, new vehicles, NPC interaction and missions delivered on the fly.
Fable (Xbox) - A high-hopes role-playing adventure game from Peter Molyneux, in which your every action determines your skills, appearance, and reputation. Create your life story from childhood to death. Grow from an inexperienced adolescent into the most powerful being in the world. Choose the path of righteousness or dedicate your life to evil. Muscles expand with each feat of strength; force of will increases with each work of wit. Obesity follows gluttony, skin tans with exposure to sunlight and bleaches bone-white by moonlight.
BC (Xbox) - BC is an original third-person action/adventure game from Intrepid Computer Entertainment, that hurtles players back millions of years into prehistory, to the beginnings of humankind. Members of a clan take part in an epic journey of survival, battling against ferocious, prehistoric creatures and exploring and exploiting vast natural environments. New technologies and knowledge could be just over the next rise. If humanity is to survive, the tribe needs to evolve into a thinking, resourceful unit that can rise up to become the pioneers in a primeval, unpredictable world.
Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict (Xbox) - Unreal Championship is returning to Xbox. Developed by Epic Games, the creators of the best-selling Unreal franchise, is promising that The Liandri Conflict will revolutionise the shooter genre with its high intensity melee combat system, optional third-person perspective and unique character combos. No longer solely bound to the first-person perspective, players can switch to third-person mode for lethal melee attacks and defensive combos; including the devastating reflect move, which sends an incoming attack back to the sender with interest.
Satoru Iwata Video Interview - the late Nintendo president spoke with Kikizo in 2004 as 'Nintendo Revolution' loomed.
Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
Yu Suzuki, the Kikizo Interview - we spend time with one of gaming's most revered creators.
Tetris - The Making of an Icon: Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers reveal the fascinating story behind Tetris
Rare founders, Chris and Tim Stamper - their only interview? Genuinely 'rare' sit down with founders of the legendary studio.
The History of First-Person Shooters - a retrospective, from Maze War to Modern Warfare