Today's Most Popular Games Tagged 'core, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/today/core/Xbox/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> Today's Most Popular Games Tagged 'core, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg Today's Most Popular Games Tagged 'core, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/today/core/Xbox/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> en-us Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic It is Four Thousand years before the Galactic Empire and hundreds of Jedi Knights have fallen in battle against the ruthless Sith. As the last hope of the Jedi, you must lead a band of freedom fighters in an epic struggle to save the galaxy. Can you master the awesome power of the Force on your quest to save the Republic? Or will you fall to the lure of the dark side?
Hero or villain, savior or conqueror...you must choose wisely as you alone will determine the destiny of the entire galaxy!
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:18:12 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords KOTOR II takes place roughly five years after the events of the original. Your created character awakens in the medical bay of a mining station with no recollection of recent events.

The journey across the galaxy is about much more than just discovering your character's true nature. Believing you to be the last of the Jedi, the Sith pursue you tenaciously. But the Sith are not your only enemy. Something is threatening the galaxy. What it is, how it is to be stopped, and your own role in shaping the future of the Republic won't be answered until the very end of your adventure.

Your party, which can hold up to ten other characters, is filled with unreliable members. Almost everyone in your crew has an ulterior motive and more than a few have good reason to hate rather than honor you. Even your droids do some suspicious things. Who can you trust? You may be guessing until the very end.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:20:15 Half-Life Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:10:36 Team Fortress 2 If you're ready for the challenge of true team-based online action, you'll find it in Team Fortress 2. With TF 2, you'll go into battle as part of a cohesive squad of fellow warriors all bent on the same goal - whether it's storming a beach, demolishing a bridge or escorting a VIP to safety. And you'll do it knowing your teammates are watching your back as carefully as you're watching theirs. Begin by assuming one of twelve roles, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. If you're looking for a straight-up fight, you'll choose Marine or Commando. Prefer the shadows? You'll make a cunning Spy or Sniper. Medics and Engineers support their teammates through bravery and ingenuity. Focus the raw force of your team's talents through communication and strategizing.

Team Fortress 2 and Portal are included with all retail and Steam versions of Episode Two for the PC.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 05:22:16 Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Step inside the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful Elder Scrolls saga and utilizes the latest PC and next-generation video game hardware to fully immerse you into the experience.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 06:28:05 Call of Duty 2 Call of Duty 2 redefines the cinematic intensity and chaos of battle as seen through the eyes of ordinary soldiers fighting together in epic WWII conflicts. The sequel to 2003's Call of Duty, winner of over 80 Game of the Year awards, Call of Duty 2 offers more immense, more intense, more realistic battles than ever before, thanks to the stunning visuals of the new COD engine.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 06:37:45 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin AFter the events in the first game 47 quits the Agency and retreats to a life of solitute as a gardener for a church in Italy. When the priest who runs the church is kidnapped and 47 himself is targeted he must return to action.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:39:18 Hitman: Blood Money 47 finally comes to the U.S to escape danger in Europe from a rival assassination agency. But danger follows him. From Vegas to the suburbs of California. 47 must compete and stay alive and stop his competition. This game explains all of the confusion created by Contracts.

This sequel introduce so many new features to the game it's hard to believe. 47 truly comes alive with a more agile move set, a better arsenal and a notoriety system.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:40:15 Advent Rising Advent Rising offers up the legend that a powerful, ancient race will one day unite the universe. Millions of cultures from vastly distant worlds revere and hallow these mythological beings known as humans. One race, the Seekers, know humans actually exist and feel threatened by their potential power. Under the guise of benevolent explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the galaxy in a desperate attempt to eradicate any human society they unearth. Players assume the role of Gideon Wyeth, a remnant of the last human outpost, on the brink of discovering the incredible powers that lay dormant within him. Another race, the Aurelians, worship Humans as gods and, in a way, try to warn them of the Seekers.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 10:15:28 Psychonauts Embark on a unique third person psychic adventure through the minds of misfits, monsters and madmen....

For years, the Psychonauts have deployed their psychically-armed operatives all over the world, but this time trouble is brewing in their own boot camp. A deranged scientist is abducting camp cadets for their brains. One student, a mysterious and powerful new arrival named Raz, stands alone against the lunatic. Raz must develop and unleash an arsenal of paranormal powers including his most powerful weapon of all: the ability to launch himself telepathically into the minds of others. Ultimately he must enter the psyche of his worst enemy and destroy his dark plans at their source while trying not to lose his sanity in the process.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 11:14:08 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Call of Cthulhu -- Dark Corners of the Earth is a first-person horror game that combines intense action and adventure elements. You will draw upon your skills in exploration, investigation, and combat while faced with the seemingly impossible task of battling evil incarnate.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 01:18:28 Hitman: Contracts Contracts was the third game in the series. This one had a storyline that could be considered confusing, but that shouldn't get in your way. You'll relive many past experiences of 47 as he lays dying on a table in France. My only complaint was the levels remade from the 1st game, but luckily they were changed around and they became new again.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 02:32:21 Doom The mother of all FPSes...

Doom. Run around, blast demons, get weapons. Uncompromisingly intense, with no shortage of challenge, Doom ushered in a new era - the age of the FPS.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 06:16:16 Beyond Good and Evil For centuries, the planet Hyllis has been locked in conflict with a race of relentless alien invaders.

Wary of her government's promises to repel the aliens for good, a rebellious action reporter named Jade sets out to capture the truth behind the prolonged war.

Armed with her camera, dai-jo staff, and fierce determination, Jade soon finds herself inside the jaws of a horrific conspiracy, and face to face with an evil she cannot possibly fathom.

In a world where deception is the deadliest weapon of all, will Jade's discoveries be enough to free her people?
]]> 26 Nov 2006 11:41:51 Without Warning When terrorists invade a chemical plant and the employees are struggling to get out of the plant alive, a Navy SEALs team has come to rescue hostages and trapped employees, as well as killing terrorists and defusing bombs at the plant.
]]> 30 Nov 2006 08:22:02 Far Cry Far Cry is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Crytek Studios and published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004. Far Cry sold 730,000 units within four months of release. The game's story follows an ex-Special Forces man named Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago in Micronesia. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their sailboat was destroyed by mercenaries.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:40:12 Manhunt They just killed Cash. Now, they want to kill him again.

America is full of run down, broken rust-belt towns where nobody cares and anything goes. In Manhunt's Carcer City, nothing matters anymore and all that's left are cheap thrills. The ultimate rush is the power to grant life and take it away, for sport. This time, James Earl Cash, you are the sport. They gave you your life back. Now, they are going to hunt you down.

You awake to the sound of your own panicked breath. You must run, hide, and fight to survive. If you can stay alive long enough, you may find out who did this to you. This is a brutal blood sport.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:22:28 Whacked! A crazy arena combat game, this was the first game to come out for the Xbox, Live enabled.

Developed by Presto Studios and published by Microsoft in 2002.
]]> 02 Dec 2006 08:56:45 Jade Empire Jade Empire puts you in the shoes of a humble student of martial arts in a small academy on the fringes of the massive area ruled over by Emperor Sun Hai. When disaster and strife falls upon your tiny village one day, you'll have to embark on a quest to discover the source of the corruption that's rotting the Empire from the inside out.

And as you progress you can choose from an array of Fighting Styles such as:

Martial Arts School

  • Hidden Fist
  • Leaping Tiger
  • Legendary Strike
  • Spirit Thief
  • Storm Dragon
  • Thousand Cuts
  • White Demon
  • White Demon
    • Harmonic Combo

    Magic School

  • Dire Flame
  • Ice Shard
  • Horse Demon
  • Paralyzing Palm
  • Stone Immortal
  • Tempest

    • Weapon School

  • Double Axes
  • Golden Star
  • Long Sword
  • Twin Hams

    • Your opponents in the Jade Empire use a dizzying variety of styles, from the wild punches of a tavern brawler to the studied blocks of a master. Each style has advantages and drawbacks, and each represents a particular school of martial discipline. As a respected master, you have the chance to learn many styles and are not restricted to one in particular.

    But your true strength is the ability to switch styles during combat: strike with the lightning-fast attacks of the Legendary Strike and then crush your enemy with a bold assault from the Storm Dragon style. Inhabitants of the Jade Empire reveal a great deal about themselves by their choices. Of course, the styles you choose speak volumes as well. So choose wisely.
    ]]>     04 Dec 2006 03:30:12     Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is the follow-up to one of the most captivating and intelligent adventures on the original PlayStation. Solid Snake, everyone's favorite mullet-sporting supersoldier, is back, along with many other familiar faces and voices. While its predecessor was lauded for telling a complex story, this sequel has even more fascinating twists and turns. Also, like Metal Gear Solid, MGS2 takes console-game storytelling to an entirely new level with stunning in-game movies, great graphics, and game mechanics that let you find your own solutions to challenges. The game's twisting and at times bizarre plot will undoubtedly keep some gamers perplexed.

    Konami has replaced the moronic enemies from the first MGS with more cerebral and capable foes; this causes an even greater emphasis on stealth than the original. The controls have been refined and Snake's repertoire of moves has grown, significantly deepening the gameplay. This is, technically and stylistically, one of the best-looking PS2 games on the market. The sound is also topnotch, with a fabulous score and outstanding voice acting. What makes this game such a standout, however, is how all of these sight, sound, and story elements combine to immerse the player into an entertainment form somewhere between movie and game. It will be years before Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is surpassed. This is interactive entertainment at its finest. --Raymond M. Padilla
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 07:17:05     RoboBlitz Blitz is a young and capable robot working as a technician in the Opera Point Orbital Defense Station and Space Cannon facility. His job description includes: fueling generators, rewiring electrical systems, re-balancing busted conveyors, spinning massive fans, and even molding giant railgun slugs. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it! Thankfully, Blitz has a trusty sidekick named Karl, who helps out by designing new weapons and tools. We'd tell you more, but then we'd have to EMP you...
    ]]>     06 Dec 2006 11:37:33     MDK2 MDK2, the sequel to Shiny Entertainment’s 1997 hit, take on the roles of Max, Dr. Hawkins, and Kurt Hectic as you fight to save the world from an alien threat. Each of the characters in MDK2 provides a totally unique gameplay experience, delivered in a puzzle-packed action game.
    ]]>     12 Dec 2006 04:11:09     Neighbors From Hell In Neighbors From Hell you star as Woody, a player in a new game show who must infiltrate a neighbor's house to perform mischief in order to please the audience. Woody relies upon resourcefulness and imagination, attempting to boost the show's ratings by performing increasingly trickier pranks upon his unsuspecting neighbors.

    The game challenges your puzzle solving skills, as Woody must search for and utilize objects found at the neighbor's home, typically while the neighbors (and their pets) are going about their own varied routines, so stealth is also a must!

    Neighbors from Hell is a strategy game, produced by Jowood Productions of Austria and published for Windows PC in 2003. Xbox and Gamecube versions came 2 years later. The spelling can also be found as "Neighbours".

    Features include 14 levels, an easy to use interface and controls, cartoon-style graphics, and an excellent soundtrack.

    Available for Gamecube, Xbox and Windows PC

    Minimum pc requirements: Pentium compatible MMX processor, 166 MHz, 64MB RAM, Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, DirectX 8-compatible graphics card w/16mb RAM, DirectX 8-compatible sound card, 130mb hard drive space.

    Trivia: In November of 2006 game producer JoWooD announced the acquisition of DreamCatcher Games.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 03:35:52     Alan Wake Alan Wake's first novel is hailed as a masterpiece of horror, its source material having come from dreams that began just before meeting his fiancee Alice. Her sudden dissappearance leaves him devastated. Suffering from insomnia, he can no longer write, nor even dream. Desperate for help he travels to a sleep clinic in the secluded, small town of Bright Falls, Washington.

    At the clinic he overcomes his insomnia, but meets a woman that looks remarkably like Alice. He begins to have nightmares, and starts writing a new novel based upon them, but soon finds that Bright Falls appears to be turning into the horrible place of his nightmares. With gun and flashlight in hand, he must find out what's going on.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 03:01:56     Mafia Mafia is a 3D action crime epic set in the seedy underworld of the 1930's. Rise from the lowly but well-dressed Footsoldier, to an envied and feared Made Man in an era of mob hits, car chases, and bootlegging. Earn a reputation as a tough enforcer, daring getaway driver, and deadly hitman in your quest for respect and power within the Salieri Family.
    ]]>     15 Dec 2006 05:38:27     fahrenheit Indigo Prophecy is a paranormal thriller that lets you become multiple characters and view the experience from multiple viewpoints. Incredible film-style design pulls you into the story, until you're intimately immersed in the game. Your actions will affect the plot and create a scenario-driven, interactive experience.
    New York City is stunned by a string of weird murders, all following the same pattern: Ordinary people kill total strangers in public areas. Lucas Kane becomes another of these killers when he murders a stranger in a men's bathroom. Covered in blood, Lucas regains consciousness with no Memory of why he committed murder. He must solve this mystery before being incarcerated for life. Over 50 stuntmen and actors were used for the game, to create the most realistic, high-caliber, Hollywood-style action sequences
    ]]>     18 Dec 2006 10:50:16     Halo 2 Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. Released for the Xbox game console on November 9, 2004, the game is a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed blockbuster Halo: Combat Evolved. From the day of its initial release, Halo 2 has been the most popular video game on Xbox Live, even after the release of the Xbox 360. On June 20, 2006, more than a half-billion games of Halo 2 had been played on Xbox Live since its debut, and by October 30, 2006, this number was raised to four billion. Halo 2 is compatible with the Xbox 360, including its Xbox Live functionality.
    ]]>     19 Dec 2006 02:18:15     Metal Arms: Glitch in the System From the Game Box: Blast your way to victory as Glitch, the gunslinging, half-ton fearless bot of Droid City. Found as scrap metal, but transformed into destructive machinery, Glitch is determined to free his people from the evil clutches of General Corrosive and his maniacal army of Mil bots. Unleash a world of pain as your annihilate the General's sinister plan to dominate the world, and salvage the robot race!

    Metal Arms is a third-person shooter based on a planet populated by robots. This game is fun, fast-paced, and humorous along the way. The audio/dialogue of the game is superb, and the game mechanics are generally good, as well. This game doesn't feature the best graphics of its' generation of games, but you hardly notice thanks to the overall enjoyability of the game.
    ]]>     19 Dec 2006 10:17:09     Grabbed by the Ghoulies Grabbed by the Ghoulies was released in 2003 by Rare for the Xbox. It was historic in that it was the first Rare game to be released under the Microsoft banner after being bought out from Nintendo. It also has the dubious distinction of being the biggest flop in Rare's history. The name is a pun on the British slang goolies, meaning testicles.

    Ghoulies starred a young teenager named Cooper who set out to rescue his girlfriend, Amber, from Ghoulhaven Hall. This mansion was full of supernatural and otherwise unpleasant creatures, and Cooper would receive help along the way from the many hired hands that worked there. Ghoulies also had a mini-crossover with another Rare franchise, Banjo-Kazooie, via the small cameo by Roysten the goldfish.
    ]]>     20 Dec 2006 09:26:16     The Simpsons: Hit & Run Strange behavior in Springfield? Even more strange than usual. Black Vans? The Bees[from the mouth's of hounds!?], oh the Bees... Everybody wanting something done. Homer is out to discover what is interupting his daily routine. What the missions reveal is shocking.

    The Simpsons Hit & Run is a mission based driving game with additional/optional; 3rd Person gameplay, and the chance to really explore Springfield, ?? USA.
    ]]>     20 Dec 2006 05:49:04     The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was released in June, 2004 for Xbox, and in December, 2004 was released for Windows as the "Developer's Cut", with the improved shading effects and higher resolution expected with the pc release, as well as added content.

    Inspired by the Vin Diesel movie, the story begins with you captured by mercenaries and locked down in the toughest and bleakest prison in the galaxy. Your obvious task is to make an unprecedented jail break, and will require intelligence, sharp wits, combat skill and sometimes stealth.

    Additional Game Features:

    • First person shooter, but with some third person actions, and even some RPG aspects.

    • Over 30 levels, split into checkpoints.

    • High quality musical soundtrack befitting the movie tie-in.

    • Player eventually acquires "eye shine", a vision enhancement that becomes very useful in the often dark environments.

    • Tied to the movie not only be relating to the story and atmosphere, but including movie star vocal talents such as Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser as Johns, Kirsten Lahman as Shirah, Willis Burks II as Pope Joe, and Ron Perlman as Jagger Vance.

    • Among the first games to use "normal mapping".

    • Fight with melee weapons, special moves, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and more, although by default, guards weapons are DNA coded.

    • Single Player campaign only.

    Developer:Starbreeze Studios
    Publisher: Sierra/Vivendi Universal Games
    Released: Xbox in June, 2004 followed by Windows release in December, 2004

    Minimum System Requirements, PC Version
    CPU 1800MHz, 256MB RAM

    ESRB Rating: Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
    ]]>     22 Dec 2006 09:51:54     Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
    worthplaying.com said,
    Getting Up has a fairly innovative take on gameplay mechanics, attempting to mix street-style brawling with elaborate jumping and climbing puzzles and a new take on player-involved graffiti tagging.

    Play as Trane, a "toy" graffiti artist with the street smarts, athletic prowess and vision to become an "All City King"--the most reputable of all graffiti artists. Along your quest, uncover the mayor's deep, dark secret... and use your fighting talents and high-wire graf to expose the city's leader as a corrupt tyrant.

    As you struggle to save a neighborhood from an oppressive government, one question stands out: What if graffiti could change the world? Risk your life battling city authorities and rival graf gangs--mere obstacles in your attempt to get your tag up. And in this city, not just any tag will do. You'll have to "Get IN, Get UP and Get OUT."


    Additional Game Features:

    • A digital "black book" to store unlocked tags and graf images.

    • A groundbreaking graffiti gameplay system, designed to sharpen your skills as you tag with Aerosol, Rollers, Markers, Wheat Paste, Stickers and Stencils.

    • A revolutionary storyline written by Marc Ecko.

    • Authentic tags from more than 50 real-life graffiti artists, six of whom appear in-game as mentors.

    • Eleven distinct city environments, with 20 gameplay levels. Single-player only.

    • Fighting mechanics that combine kicking, grappling and punching, along with improvised weaponry.

    • The Evolution of Graffiti: As Trane grows from "toy" to "All City King," his style and the state of graffiti evolve.

    • Trane's Abilities: Combat, Graffiti, Intuition, Sneak Mode, Navigation Unique "Intuition" system, allowing you to find ideal places to tag.

    • World-renowned hip-hop artist Talib Kweli as the voice of Trane.

    • A limited edition includes the game, a black book, a soundtrack CD, a making-of/documentary DVD, and a silver Sharpie with the Getting Up logo on it, all in a big metal box. The DVD has a 30-minute documentary on graf culture, with interviews, some "making-of" stuff, and a whole "how to play" section with tips.

    • Acclaimed extensive soundtrack features songs from Hip Hop artists such as Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, Pharoahe Monch, Del the Funky Homosapien, Eric B and Rakim.

    Developer: Mark Ecko/The Collective
    Publisher: Atari
    Released: 2006

    Minimum System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows 2000/XP
  • Processor: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon 1.8 GHz or higher
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM
  • Hard Disk Space: 3 GB free
  • Video: 64MB Hardware T&L compatible video card
  • Sound: DirectX version 9.0c-compatible sound card
  • DirectX version 9.0c (included) or higher

    • * Hardware T&L video cards that do not support shaders, such as the GeForce 4 MX or Intel Extreme Graphics family, are not supported.
    ]]>     23 Dec 2006 07:47:36     Project: Snowblind
    Game Informer said,
    The Future of War


    Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game.

    In the not so distant Future, Lt. Nathan Frost is challenged to stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world.

    Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt. Nathan Frost is just a regular grunt until he volunteers for a super-soldier transformation for an international army called the Liberty Coalition. A painful series of surgeries gives Frost extra-normal abilities via implanted enhancements, which place him on the frontlines of a war against a destructive regime. After a military coup leaves him stranded in hostile territory, cut off from command with only a handful of men, Frost must stop the militia's secret weapon that threatens to plunge the world into darkness.


    Additional Game Features:

    • Originally intended for release as "Deus Ex: Clan Wars", the game has some similarity of style and like the Deus Ex series features bio-mods.

    • Single player campaign and Robust online multiplayer experience with 16 players and voice over IP support - classic and new multiplayer modes are offered, including exclusive modes for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox console platforms.

    • Augmentations such as invisibility, reflex boost and electrical storm give you an edge on the battlefield against your highly equipped and battle-ready foe.

    • Equip yourself with an arsenal of expiremental weaonry such as the Riot Wall and Attack Drones, and other high tech gadgetry.

    • Pick-up-&-play, intense battlefield action starts at minute 1, pulling the player through a cinematically immersive storyline.

    • Wide variety in mission pacing ranges from frenetic action of battlefield chaos to infiltration style missions.

    • Vehicles serve as functional obstacle solving tools and as weapons in both single and multiplayer gameplay.

    Developer: Crystal Dynamics, Inc.
    Publisher: Eidos, Inc.
    Release: February 23, 2005


    Minimum System Requirements
    Pentium IV 1.5GHz (or AthlonXP equivalent), 256MB RAM, 100% DirectX 9 compatible 64MB Direct3D Card with Pixel Shader 1.1 support (GeForce 3/Radeon 8500+)*, 100% DirectX 9 compatible Sound Card, DVD-ROM driver, 3GB free HDD space // * GeForce 4MX not supported
    ]]>     23 Dec 2006 11:53:08     FlatOut 2 Experience the drive of your life as you throw yourself around on and off the track causing fences to shatter, tyre walls explode, water tanks and barrels fly across the track into other cars. And if anyone, including you, gets caught up in a big smash sit back and watch as the driver gets catapulted through the windscreen in spectacular effect. Also unique to FlatOut, anything you destroy or alter stays a part of the race lap after lap, increasing the carnage to unprecedented levels!
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 04:47:18     Serious Sam 2 The series famous for relentless intensity is returning and it's bigger, better looking, and more frantic than ever before. Sam "Serious" Stone is back to rescue the universe one bullet at a time against overwhelming hordes of time traveling enemies in Serious Sam 2. Built from the ground up with a completely new engine, Serious Sam will be a shot of adrenaline to the hearts of first-person shooter fans across the world. This is serious!
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 06:06:00     NHL 2005 The decade-long obsession begun by EA's Genesis-era hockey titles continues with NHL 2005. This year's enhancements include smarter and less scripted player AI, context-sensitive control features based more on the personalities of each real player (enforcers will have the power to level players, whereas more technical pros will have use more of finesse), easier player control for skating backwards and gliding after a sprint, Open Ice Control for coordinating players into better passing positions, and improvements to the robust Dynasty mode.
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 09:51:25     NHL 2004 EA Sports' popular hockey series returns with NHL 2004 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, and GameCube. As with other 2004 EA Sports titles, NHL includes a new Dynasty Mode, where players can try their skills at being the team GM. Revamped fighting engine uses a more realistic grappling approach to brawling, instead of simple button-mashing fistfights. Realistic motion-captured animations, detailed player models, and recreated stadiums make the game look even closer to the real thing. Play as your favorite National teams, or go international with an elite league featuring 39 teams, from Germany, Sweden, and Finland.
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 09:52:34     Tony Hawk's Project 8 The game challenges players to experience the intensity and pressure of skating against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions as they aim to become the #1 skater.

    With an entirely new gameplay engine, the trick-based gameplay features amazing, detailed character animations that react realistically on and off their boards, a new physics system, an innovative bail mode, and the ability to move ramps and rails throughout the city.

    The experience is so real, you don't just skate it...you feel it.
    ]]>     29 Dec 2006 05:56:17     Urban Chaos: Riot Response A city on the brink of total anarchy is being held hostage by the increased threat of organized gang violence. Nick Mason and his elite T-Zero unit, specially trained in all areas of urban combat, are the last line of defense. Take control and be the hero in this high velocity, explosive action shooter.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Be a Member of T-Zero - Play Nick Mason, a member of the elite, newly formed anti gang unit "T-Zero" The last line of urban defense.

    • Take your city back - Build your reputation, expand your arsenal and use whatever means necessary to kick ass to save the day.

    • Intense hostage scenarios - Hold your nerve and take on gang leaders in intense one-to-one situations. Save your citys citizens and make that perfect shot.

    • Real City, Real Terror - Explore the action in a realistic and dynamic environment (using the Havok 3 engine), fighting for a city at melting point.

    • Military grade hardware - Use whatever weapons necessary from military issue and upgraded high-tech firearms to brutal gang weaponry including meat cleavers, Molotov cocktails and power tools.

    • Survive at all costs - Take control and ensure the safety of civilians, recruit key members of the Emergency services from Firemen and Medics to the Police department leading them into the heat of the action to take your city back.

    • Single player and online enabled.

    Developer: Rocksteady Studios / Argonaut Games
    Publisher: Eidos Interactive
    Released: June 13, 2006

    Trivia: This game was originally intended for a Windows release also, and underwent several name changes, as well as considerable controversy due to the portrayal of shooting police officers by players (although not new to gaming). The name Urban Chaos is unrelated to an earlier Eidos Interactive game of that title except in the gritty urban setting.
    ]]>     31 Dec 2006 05:46:03     Max Payne
    PC Gamer said,
    Story is the bedrock of Max Payne. Yeah, it's chock full of mind-blowing gunplay, but at every turn, a new and clever piece of noir storytelling will motivate you forward and illuminate the action.

    Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose in the violent, cold urban night. In the gritty bowels of New York during the century's worst blizzard Max is a fugitive undercover cop framed for murder, and now hunted by cops and the mob, Max is a man with his back against the wall, fighting a battle he cannot hope to win. Prepare for a new breed of deep action game. Prepare for the pain...

    The game immerses us in a dark world, aptly propelled forward by a graphic novel complete with narration in the classic style of detective film noir.


    Additional Game Features:

    • The first PC game with photo-digitized textures, radiosity lighting and hardwaret T&L combined.

    • Another first in gaming is a unique utilization of "bullet-time gameplay" in which the player can briefly enter a slow motion world of quickened reflexes to get an edge in the fierce shootouts.

    • Auto-adjusting gameplay means the action will be challenging and intense without becoming unfair and frustrating.

    • Easiest-to-use game editor ever released, with WYSIWYG-style editing (PC version only). Even recreate your house or workplace!

    • Painstaking attention to detail. Bullets even modeled accurately resulting in realistic and cinematic gameplay. Everything is destructible and comes apart realistically.

    • MAX-FX engine is built from the ground up to take full advantage of 3D acceleration. There is no software renderer in the game. MAX-FX is fully optimized for PIII's SSE instruction set.

    • Single Player only. Game completion unlocks special modes.

    Developed by Remedy Entertainment & Produced by 3DRealms, with Neo developing the Xbox version, Rockstar Canada developing the PS2 version, Rockstar Leeds for the GBA and MacSoft for the Mac.
    Publishers: Gathering of Developers for the PC, Rockstar Games for the console titles, and Take2 for European distribution, and MacSoft and Feral for the Mac editions.
    Released: July 25, 2001 for the PC


    Minimum System Requirements
    450 MHz Intel/AMD Processor, 96 MB RAM, 16 MB Direct3D Compatible Graphics Card

    Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish game development company, was founded in August, 1995. From the very start, the company's goal has been to create die-hard action games that are great fun to play.
    ]]>     31 Dec 2006 11:47:59     Tron 2.0 Twenty years have passed since Kevin Flynn defeated the MCP with the help of his Tron program. In doing so, he also destroyed the technology he'd used to digitize himself. He's long since left ENCOM in the hands of Alan Bradley, who is raising a family of his own.

    Now ruthless global corporate powers want to send humans into the digital realm once more in order to control world finances, and only Alan knows the answer to perfecting their faulty code. Alan encrypted his secrets in time to prevent their theft, but now he's been kidnapped, and the search for the code is on.

    You enter the fray as Jet Bradley, Alan's brilliant but rebellious son, who finds himself enlisted by Ma3a to fight the now viral corporate security officer within the digital realm and prevent global domination.

    The Tron series of games are based upon the 1982 Walt Disney movie of the same name, beginning with a Tron arcade game and arcade sequel. Tron 2.0 is the first game of the series to be produced for the PC, and subsequently was released for Mac. A related title, "Tron 2: Killer App" was later released for the Xbox, but with significantly altered content.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Single player campaign entirely in the digital realm (excepting some cutscenes) immersing you into story-driven, first-person action.

    • As Jet Bradley you will combat digital opponents using guns, rods, grenades, missiles, and the iconic TRON disc, gaining abilities and new weapons as you overcome various challenges to go deeper into the system.

    • Defrag and disinfect your inventory or live with the unpleasant consequences (You're in a computer after all!)

    • Intense action, intense and deadly battles, and the trademark high-speed light cycle races, featuring a new light cycle design by Syd Mead, who developed the cycles for the original film.

    • Musical score by Wendy Carlos, the composer of the original Tron film score.

    • Vocal performers include Bruce Boxleitner, Rebecca Romijn, Ken Boynton, Cindy Morgan and many more, and featuring Jason Cottle as the voice of Jet Bradley.

    • Multiplayer includes some campaign scenarios and light cycle mode.

    • Rendered with the Lithtech Triton engine (specially enhanced version of their Jupiter engine)

    Developer: Monolith Productions
    Publisher: Buena Vista Interactive
    Designer: Frank Rooke
    Released: August 26, 2003 for the PC, April 21, 2004 for the Mac.

    Minimum System Requirements
    WIndows: 500 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 2.4 GB hard disk space, 32 MB GPU
    Max: 700 MHz G4, Mac OS X 10.2.8, 256 MB RAM, 32 MB GPU, 2.5 GB disk space
    ]]>     01 Jan 2007 11:33:32     Soul Calibur 2 Soul Calibur II is the third entry in Namco's "Soul" fighting series and the first real sequel in the series. It was highly successful due to its release on all three major systems at the time: Xbox, PS2 and GC. In addition, each version of the game included a character exclusive to that system. Xbox users got to play as Todd McFarlane's well-known antihero, Spawn (McFarlane also designed the character Necrid for all three versions). PS2 users were allowed to use Tekken veteran Heihachi, the only character who uses no weapon other than his fists. Finally, and arguably of most signifigance, GameCube owners could play as Nintendo's greatest swordsman, Link from the Legend of Zelda series.

    This, combined with the tried and true fighting system and other features from the Dreamcast port of Soul Calibur, led to the game being a staple for the fighting game library of any console owner.
    ]]>     16 Feb 2007 12:43:48     The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind A strange land, home to the dark elves, is under siege from within. The evil Dagoth Ur strives to conquer all, and the Tribunal which protects the land are weakened and can no longer hold out against the onslaught. To Morrowind, to the island of Vvardenfall, you are sent, to do battle with Dagoth Ur and free the false gods of the Tribunal from their ancient folly.
    ]]>     09 Jan 2007 10:43:39     Doom 3 A massive demonic invasion has overwhelmed the Union Aerospace Corporation's(UAC) Mars Research Facility leaving only chaos and horror in its wake. As one of only a few survivors, you struggle with shock and fear as you fight your way to hell and back, in an epic clash against pure evil. Built on ID's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine Doom 3 draws you into the most frightening and gripping 3D gaming experience ever created.
    ]]>     14 Jan 2007 11:34:43     Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil The gripping expansion pack for DOOM 3 takes your even further into the the DOOM universe. Two years following the unexplained disaster on Mars, the UAC returns to the abandoned facility to investigate a mysterious beacon buried deep in the ruins of the ancient civilization.
    ]]>     15 Jan 2007 01:55:25     Sid Meier's Pirates! Now it's time for Sid Meier and Firaxis Games to bring this exquisitely rich, action-adventure game into the 21st century. An entirely new game engine will deliver updated gameplay, stunning new features, spectacular 3D graphics and enhanced surround sound, so players can fully experience the intrigue, adventure and danger of life as a pirate on the Spanish Main.

    In Pirates! you take the leading role of a Pirate Captain in the 17th century Caribbean amassing fortune and fame in an attempt to seize your rightful place as one of the most revered (and feared!) pirates in history. Test your skills as a sea captain exploring the high seas and exotic ports in a richly detailed 3D world. Overtake the enemy and seize valuable booty. Exchange plank-shattering broadsides in fierce naval battles, and engage in duels with worthy opposing captains.

    As your reputation and skills grow, so will the size and quality of your crew, and your ability to take on larger enemy ships, raid and plunder heavily fortified ports, and locate ancient treasure. There's a whole cast of interesting and dangerous characters to meet, mysteries to solve, exotic island destinations to discover, and powerful alliances to forge!

    The new Pirates! carries on with the great gameplay and design simplicity tradition of the award-winning original while adding more challenging and exciting battle options, and a deeper and more varied role-playing experience, including multiple paths to a wealthy, happy retirement. This and many other features and additions make this gaming classic one of the most highly anticipated releases of this century!
    ]]>     24 Jan 2007 12:49:35     Legacy Of Kain: DefIance Return to the dark intrigue of Nosgoth, where the vampire Kain pursues his fallen creation Raziel. Divided by their common enemies, the two heroes must fight to unravel the mystery of their destinies, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. While their adversaries plot their destruction, Kain and Raziel must embark on a dark odyssey, which only one of them may survive.



    Return to the dark intrigue of Nosgoth, where the vampire Kain pursues his fallen creation Raziel. Divided by their common enemies, the two heroes must fight to unravel the mystery of their destinies, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. While their adversaries plot their destruction, Kain and Raziel must embark on a dark odyssey, which only one of them may survive.
    ]]>     07 Feb 2007 05:52:25     Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Kyle Katarn, savior of the Valley of the Jedi, must once again wield the force to save the galaxy from the evil empire. While investigating a far-away imperial outpost, Kyle discovers a sinister plot to imbue Imperial soldiers with the force. And to top it all off, he has to re-learn all of his force powers as he goes.
    ]]>     22 Jan 2007 10:36:44     Need For Speed Underground Electronic Arts' Need For Speed series takes a note from the Fast and Furious handbook with its latest release entitled Need For Speed Underground. Purchase, race, and customize 20 different licensed cars from major manufacturers such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, and more. Race other customized cars through a detailed nighttime cityscape, dodging city traffic and navigating shortcuts all the while. Customize vehicle performance as well as your car's physical appearance, changing rims, stickers, paintjob, spoilers and more. Multiple racing modes range from drift competitions, street racing, and drag racing. Breathtaking graphics showcase the power of next generation systems, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC.
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 09:36:12     Star Wars: Battlefront II Ever wanted to play as your favorite star wars heroes in an epic lightsaber confrontation? Or maybe just a noble clone trooper on the front lines in the battle of Coruscant?
    Well now you can with Star Wars: Battlefront II!

    In this battlefield-esque, third-person shooter, players will take control of any number of clone troopers, battle droids, Jedi, and Dark Lords in the battle for control of the galaxy.
    ]]>     24 Jan 2007 01:26:17