THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Video games
Star Wars:
Republic Commando
Xbox PC
At first I only wanted to play Star Wars' Republic Commando because part of the story takes place in the third movie. I had also just stopped playing Brothers in Arms and I didn't know if I was ready to do another squad-based first-person shooter, but after learning how to run my squad and which grenades do what Republic Commando became a really intense experience in the Star Wars universe.
All images courtesy of games.yahco.com
The combat was fun and I always found destroying a droid dispenser challenging and rewarding. One thing I really hate in games is escort missions. I hate guarding people, but my squad actually did a better job than me as long as they didn't get overzealous. Each of the three members of the squad developed a personality throughout the game and their actions in combat reflected that personality. Scorch liked to throw grenades. Sev would charge a horde of battle droids and Fixer would always shoot something that snuck up on me.
I'm not saying the game is without fault. The levels were linear and felt repetitive, even my squad mates agree. Sev said, "How many hangers do they need," and Scorch replied, "What can I say Wookies or langer们的." And the most annoying situation is when your squad suddenly decides to stop what they were doing and stand around. I really hated it when someone would abandon a turret or stop sniping because the immediate threat is over.
The multiplayer is boring even on Xbox Live and after five minutes of it I went back to Halo 2.
Xenosaga Episode II:
Jenseits von Gut
und Bose
PS2
Even with its faults, I looked the way the Star Wars universe looked from the perspective of a clone. I didn't have any Jedi powers. I wasn't an ace pilot and I never once saw a light saber. The world was dirty and dark. The story was cool, except the ending didn't sit right with me, and I did see the beginning of what looked like a major battle in *Episode III*.
The battle system is seemingly standard at first, but after playing a while you'll see that it can be used in various ways to take out your enemies. You can
The story is complicated and has its share of plot twists and craziness to keep you entertained. You have to keep track of several characters in this epic RPG. Each playable one has his or her own attacks, but any one of them can learn skills from points earned during battle.
Grade: B+
Xenosaga is one of those games that makes you feel just like you're inside a dark theatre watching a sci-fi flick, and not a bad one at that. There are so many cut-scenes in this game you'll be leaning back in your chair watching the story unfold rather than having control over your characters. It's not quite as annoying as in Metal Gear Solid 2.
Dan Hovt
have a character attack normally, cast a spell (if they know any) and even team up with another character to perform combo moves. Figuring out the nuances of the battle system is probably the most important thing in the game so you can successfully defeat bosses and advance the story. It's not an easy task, but for any RPG game fan Xenosaga II will provide hours of entertainment.
Grade: B-
Nick Finnegan
God of War PS2
When Devil May Cry 3 came out a few weeks ago, action adventure games seemed to have found a new champion. The game combined all of the best elements of the genre and rolled
them into one tight package, leaving little room for improvement. What a difference a few weeks can make.
Enter God of War, Sony's new king-of-adventure game. The game is centered around Kratos, a former Spartan soldier, and his quest for revenge on the Greek god of war, Ares. Taking place in ancient Greece, much of its appeal comes from its wonderful use of Greek mythology. Dozens of gods and monsters from classic Greek works are represented here, most of them with some sort of new and interesting twist.
The gameplay itself is also exceptionally well done. The combat is fast-paced and strategic enough to warrant more
things interesting.
than a little skill.
Timed button-
sequence minigames
often pop up during
fights, giving the
game a unique
rhythm-style twist.
Additionally, well-
designed puzzles are
dispersed throughout
the game's areas just
often enough to keep
Overall, God of War is so good that it's hard to find fault with it. The bar has been raised. This is the new standard for action adventure gaming.
Even the game's presentation is superb. First-rate character models and animation meet with detailed environments to round out the graphical package. Coupled with the wonderful soundtrack and some of the best cutscenes in recent memory, God of War is truly a showpiece for the PS2.
Tekken 5 PS2
The fighting engine isn't as flashy as Street Fighter or Guitar Gear X. You don't really use special moves like fireballs with most of the characters. The fighting is more realistic, using karate, tae kwon do and capoira and relies mostly on
The King of the Iron Fist is back with its fifth tournament. All of the veterans from the last game have returned with a few new faces to compete. Tekken 5 comes with stellar gameplay and great fighting environments.
—Andrew Campbell
The main premise of the gameplay is the same: You pick one of the fighters and play with him through the tournament. In story mode, you uncover what it is they're fighting for, whether it be for money or respect.
After his final fights with his father, Kazuya, and grandfather, Heihachi, Jin grows his black wings and flees the temple of Honmaru. Soon, JACK robots come crashing down into the temple, leaving Kazuya and Heihachi to deal with them. At first the two battle together as father and son, but suddenly, Kazuya throws Heihachi at the JACKS and flees the scene. The temple then explodes.
combs to deal heavy damage to opponents.
The fighting environments have also improved. Now when you crash into obstacles, not only does it still take away some health, but it also
changes the environment, leaving broken walls and crushed pavement.
Tekken 5 has added a new feature that comes from the pages of Virtu Fighter 4: Evolution. You can customize characters; changing their names, buying them new gear and altering their appearance. Also with each fight you win, you have the ability to go up in rank and fight harder opponents.
Tekken 5 includes the first three Tekken games and a minigame called Tekken: Devi! Within where you take control of Jin Kazama in a *Streets of Rage* esque game to unlock the history of the Mishima family.
Tekken 5 is another great all-around fighting game. I wish the character endings were better, but it's still worth purchasing.
Grade: A
Chris Moore