I was tasked with making a list of the ten most-anticipated games scheduled for 2005, and here it is. Personally, I wish it were 2006 so Bethesda's Oblivion could be on the shelves. But in the meantime, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I can do with what life offers me. Fortunately, it is not as traumatic as in that movie where Bette Midler explains the difference between potato and shit salad (Yeah, 'Beaches' was a great movie -Ed). Many excellent titles are to be released in 2005, so I guess we can leave "Drowning Mona" aside and see what we're stuck with.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Genre: RPG
Release date: 2/15/2005
Should Half-Life 2 F.E.A.R. this one?
Nothing is as black and white as it seems...
If you're a fan of Star Wars and the original KOTOR, you probably already know more about this game than should be allowed by law. Still, being a sick bastard that feeds on the Force, I do not doubt that you will read this article nevertheless. The X-box version of the game has gone gold and will ship on December 6, while us devoted PC gamers and Star Wars fans will have to wait till February 2005.
The task of bringing The Sith Lords to life is assigned to the veteran team at Obsidian. The story takes place five years after the events in the original KOTOR, putting you in the role of the Last Jedi. Apart from being anonymous, you are given a mysterious background and the task to stay alive while finding allies in your fight against the Sith.
While the game plays similar to the original, a number of new Jedi Force powers have been introduced in order to add some variety to the game. Apart from introducing about twenty new Jedi powers and more than sixty new feats and skills, there are only some minor changes in the gameplay and the interface, along with neat additions to the Jedi classes. The combat system has also undergone some changes. The fact that the core of the game has stayed the same and that no significant changes have been made bodes well - the original game was, "better than eating scrambled eggs off of Natalie Portman's bare ass" (or so I was told by our U.S. Editor Vince "Moesha" Massa). Instead, Obsidian decided to improve the game rather than to change it. Along with the aforementioned additions, The Sith Lords 2 will boast with a redesigned, enhanced look, with a lot more realism and details. An amazing example of these new, improved graphics is the Sith Lord Dark Sion, the villain introduced into the game. We'll also get to see more detailed textures, better animation and lightning effects, more terrain types, weather effects and improved art, along with a more varied range of NPC heads.
In The Sith Lords, the player will be able to walk the path of the Light and Dark sides of the Force. The choices the player makes will influence other characters he'll meet throughout the game. (Being a Big Bad Fart won't earn you much respect, I'm afraid. Try picking a less unorthodox class.) On your way from an anonymous Jedi-outcast from Peragus Station to the powerful follower of the Force, you will get a chance to explore seven worlds - Dantooine, Korriban, Telos, Dxun and some others. The environments are now much bigger and more varied, and a number of mini-games and bonus missions (useful for getting more experience points) are also incorporated into the game.
We should expect no less than an involving game with new worlds, powers and features and improved gameplay, therby making it a worthy sequel to the popular SW RPG. Now move out of my way or I'll show you the special ability of the Big Bad Fart class!
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Action
Release Date: March 2005
The destiny of Sam Fisher is once again in the hands of Ubisoft Montreal, the team behind the original Splinter Cell. One of the most famous virtual top agents is ready to face the new challenges in a drastically different visual setting. The most noticeable change in the new installment of the highly popular Splinter Cell franchise is in its almost photorealistic looks, featuring some very impressive special effects. The game runs on a new engine that enables advanced use of such effects as dynamic lightning and shading, with more detailed textures and fantastically rendered weather effects. Enhanced character models now move around a completely interactive world, and some bugs in interaction with objects should now be gone for good. (And by this, boys and girls, we mean that you will not be able to blame it on the light bulbs anymore. You can't miss the light bulbs, and you're able to open your fly. With some practice, that is.)
Chaos Theory features a new, enhanced AI and a more non-linear approach to game play. Sam will have to take into consideration all possible ways of solving a problem and decide the one that suits him best. (Personally, I favor the one that allows me to show my violent side.) Of course, the most important thing still, is to remain unseen, so Sam will have to find ways to lure his victims into the dark corners where he will get them out of his way without being seen or heard. Trying to avoid being seen also means he will not be able to leave the guards' bodies lying around. Still, Sam now has some new, spectacular moves, and he is ambidextrous - meaning he can use both his hands, which gives him more angles from which he can fire. Sam also has some new gadgets, and what's even more interesting is the fact that on the list of his weapons he now has a knife, which is definitely a nice addition that promises plenty of gore. (Not that we *cough* like that in a video game...)
Levels offer an open-ended gameplay with primary and secondary mission goals, and the relevant information is collected from the crime scene, not through the inventory data. Ubisoft described the multiplayer as even more impressive than before, with an accent put on team work and good coordination. Chaos Theory comes in March 2005.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Genre: Action
Release Date: Q2 2005
This long-anticipated game had its debut on PS2 at the end of October and demonstrated to the gaming community it was definitely worth the wait. San Andreas follows the path of success of its predecessors, to the point where it's labeled as the "best game in the series."
The game puts you in the role of Carl "CJ" Johnson, taking you to the island of San Andreas, which consists of the three cities the game takes place in. While the relatively anonymous rapper Chris Bellard lent his voice to the game's main protagonist, the cast of actors who gave their voices to various characters from the game features celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Penn, James Woods, Peter Fonda, Ice-T, and David Cross... even ex-Happy Monday Shaun Rider. There are many rappers whose careers had their climax in the early '90s, which is when this game takes place.
Anyway, Carl gets back home only to find out his mother's been murdered and his gang is practically non-existent. Of course, his role is to put things right and help everything get back to normal (if one could apply that word to setting your territory and reestablishing your gang). San Andreas follows the well-established principle of the franchise, featuring a very well written linear story and a rather free-flowing gameplay. It offers you a lot of variety and a wide range of different missions that are much clearer and less frustrating than before. The side missions are very rewarding although not obligatory in order to finish the game, and there are a number of mini-games to remind us that we're dealing with an inherently console title. What will also make San Andreas so fun to play is the two-player co-op mode, which will be available at some points during the game.
What else is new in San Andreas? Well, you can now ride a bike and swim and dive, jump and climb high walls. In order to do all that, however, you will have to stay fit, so you'll learn to take care about the right balance between eating and physical exercise, you lazy slob. The interface is very intuitive, and your body changes are visible in the game, so you will have no trouble in finding and adjusting your stats. Apart from staying fit, you'll also have to upgrade your weapon proficiency, as well as to take care to increase your respect, which will allow you to spread your influence and recruit new gangsters. If you need more reasons to buy this game, let's just say it's supposed to look really fantastic, from the authentic neighborhood looks and beautiful environments to great character models. Oh, and characters from previous titles also make short cameos, which is certainly a nice touch by Rockstar North.
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