Volume 2 Issue 5 November 2006 Grand Theft Auto - Hardcore Gamer

Preview by 4thletter
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch
Release Date: November 2006
Genre(s): FPS
Category: World War II
# of Players: 1
World War II shooters are pretty much America’s version
of Japan’s RPGs with pretty-boy protagonists. There are
zillions of both of them, and probably 90% of those zillions
look and sound the same. Perhaps we should combine the
two to introduce a shot in the arm to both genres?
Nah, there are other ways to innovate. Call of Duty 3 is
pushing for a more realistic war experience. Case in point:
you’re deep in the enemy camp with little backup. You spot
a Nazi a few feet away just as he spots you and you begin to
take aim. Will the Nazi stand there and take the bullet
(like they have done in the past few games) or will he
rush you, grab your gun, and try to kill you with your
own weapon? Just FYI: the last one is the right answer.
That’s what CoD3 is bringing to the table. Running
around ruined towns shooting up zee Germans only
gets you so far. The French Resistance was one of the
most harrowing fronts in WWII. You and your squad are
going to be dropped directly into the middle of it and
will ght until Paris is nally liberated. You start at
Normandy, and go all the way through to the end of the
war, so expect a long and difcult haul.
World War II is a tired setting, but the Call of Duty
series keeps showing us that an old dog can learn new
tricks. Liberate Paris in November.
Oh, Marvel Comics, who doesn’t love you? Spider-Man 2 and the
X-Men Legends series are classic, and barring well-intentioned
missteps like Marvel Nemesis or X-Men: The Ofcial Game,
you’ve got one up on your Distinguished Competition. Where do
you go from here?
Easy; you take it directly to the fanboys. Marvel Ultimate
Alliance builds on the X-Men Legends style and throws at least
twenty playable Marvel characters at you. Ever wanted to sling
Captain America’s shield at a bad guy? You can do it. You can go
upside a bad guy’s head with Thor’s Mjolnir and put the hurt on
another with Blade. Regulars like Spidey and Wolverine are also
making appearances, along with a few surprises.
Even more surprising is the attention to detail that Raven
Software is bringing to the game. The characters have Publisher: Activision
Preview by 4thletter
unlockable costumes. That’s par for the course, but how many
of those unlockable costumes change how the characters play?
Spidey in his black costume has different stats than he does in
his old red and blue outt. That sort of detail is implemented
in the game. The costumes aren’t just eye candy.
If you need a little more convincing, think on these things. You
can have Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine on one team.
That’s three-fourths of the New Fantastic Four. There are over
a hundred and forty Marvel characters in the game, so one of
your favorites may make a cameo. Thor is in the game, so there
is also a very good chance you might be able to score a Beta
Ray Bill skin. Who can resist that?
Developer: Raven Software
Release Date: 10/24/06
Genre(s): Action RPG
Category: Secret Wars
# of Players: 1-4
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