Random sightings from E3 2002.

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E3 2002: Best of Show, Adventure, RPG and Platformer

As Chosen By Tolkeimingway

Kingdom Hearts
Platform: PS2
Developer: Squaresoft
Publisher: Squaresoft
Percent Complete: 100% (language localization aside)
Release Date: Fall 2002

Firstly and foremostly (sic) it must be said that the quality of an E3 booth directly effects the reception of the games within. Not to diminish the extraordinary quality of Kingdom Hearts, the best offering out of the Square camp since FF VII, but the Square booth was right on time. The entire Square booth was dedicated to Kingdom Hearts, Squares lone E3 offering besides Final Fantasy XI which was only found in Sony’s booth. Many (about ten) Square representatives stood by the kiosks, eager to answer any and all questions regarding said title, and given it’s 100% complete nature, there were many answers available. All these special touches, the biggest of which being Tetsuya Nomura himself shuffling around were powerful skeptic converters (I being a skeptic).

Kingdom Hearts is a solid title co-developed by Squaresoft and Disney. Following the exploits of young Sora, another Nomura lovechild, Kingdom Hearts introduces over 100 Disney characters over the course of 7 levels ranging from Alladins' Agrabah to Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. All of these levels exhibit awesome atmosphere, much like the films they emulate. In each of the levels, Sora, as well as his companions will evolve to adapt to their surroundings. For example in Ariel's water world, Goofy and Donald acquire bodies of a crab and octopus respectively, and in the Nightmare before Christmas land, Sora is wrapped up mummy style. The sense of comfort and happiness that this game imparts is not to be overlooked. Just like the movies which kept us stable as youths, this game will appeal to those slowly eroding inner-children in us, requesting them to stick around for a little longer. This aspect alone is powerful enough to gain my coveted calloused thumbs up.

Game of Show: RPG

Show Stopper: ***
Jaw Dropper: **1/2
Soap Opera: ****
Call the Coppers: ****

Knights of the Old Republic
Platform: Xbox
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: LucasArts
Percent Complete: 60%
Release Date: November 2002

Disclosure: It is noted that KOTOR is officially categorized as an RPG, yet truth speaks another tale, it is all adventure baby.

A game like Knights of the Old Republic sends shivers down my spine, and seeing it in action amplifies these shivers to quakes. Bioware, the force behind the Baldur’s Gate series secured this lucrative Lucas license and is lavishing it with love in the form of a
fantastic looking video game. KOTOR is set 4000 years before episode one, during the golden age of the Republic, when Jedi and Sith number in the thousands (far more than in Phantom Menace days). After a cataclysmic conflict with the Dark Lords (hopefully light will be shed on these mysterious entities) sends the galaxy reeling, the battle between Jedi and Sith rages on. From the start KOTOR allows you to pick your player from the common set of scout, scoundrel or school superintendent… wait…I mean scout, scoundrel or soldier. After deliberating for hours on this impossible choice you also get to choose their gender, and nothing could be easier. Unfortunately the player has to be human in order to keep the relatability level high, but I don’t see the problem. Surely Rodians or Wookies deal with the same stuff as us: social complexes, phobias, acne.

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Nevertheless the decisions you make as this human type will dictate which side of the force you fall on, dark or light. Interaction with NPC’s is of major significance, thus when dealing with one of the 200+ NPC’s you encounter, you’ll be given multiple responses to their probing which you can select. My favorite was, when encountering a Sith lord he said, “you’re no match for me” (or something like it), and I was able to choose

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either “Good will always prevail over the dark side of the force”, or “I’ll enjoy feeding you my light saber” (or something like it). Alas I chose the latter, and wouldn’t you know, he responded, “Ah young Jedi, feed you hatred, and you’re journey to the dark side will be complete”. That devious trickster! This type of interaction adds significant depth not only to the title but to the Star Wars universe which we all know has ultimate mind share among the 18-26 year old demographic. This non-linear path system, which is also being utilized by the Molyneux team with Project Ego, will further supplant KOTOR in the realms of Star Wars stardom. In addition to all this KOTOR also features some pretty involving mini-games, namely space combat. Visually, it’s as astounding as could be featuring some really convincing lighting models (check the screen shots). I just think it rocks, and for any Star Wars fan it is a certifiable killer app.

Game of Show: Adventure

Show Stopper: ***1/2
Jaw Dropper: ****
Soap Opera: ****1/2
Call the Coppers: *****

Super Mario Sunshine
Platform: Gamecube
Developer: R&D 4 (Miyamoto)
Publisher: Nintendo
Percent Complete: 70%
Release Date: August 2002

No other game at E3 came with such great expectation and uncertain skepticism (except perhaps Zelda). Yet despite all the baggage, Mario came correct. The largest of the “Game Giants” as the Nintendo PR team likes to call them, played exceptionally well, and looked exceptionally next gen. The premise, still mostly unclear, involves Mario on a vacation taking in some rays only to be disrupted by some nasty buggers littering the land with sludge and various other pollutants. Hero that he is, Mario dons his multifaceted back pack and prepares to wreck shop.

This pack of his, yeah the one that has been surrounded in entirely too much speculation, is capable of many neat tricks. The first function is as a water sprayer, the propulsion of which can be used to clear the land of sludge/baddies, or to fly Mario to new heights. Initially Mario is unable to fly very high, however I have been assured this will not be a constraint during later stages. Running Mario around is as giggle inducing as ever, and when dispatching the glorified koopa troopas there are a plethora of techniques at your disposal. One meanie requires a sadistic method of dispatchment, you much pull off his arms, then his nose, then he pops! Miyamoto the child lover might have to change that if he’s to stay on good terms with the worlds parental units.

The really impressive parts of Super Mario Sunshine were the graphics and the environments. These two of course go hand in hand, and yes, we only saw one level, yet all I wanted to do while playing the game was dive into my multi billion dollar trust fund and build what I was seeing so I could play in it. This first level in Mario Sunshine will influence the water park industry from here on out. I guarantee it.

Super Mario Sunshine out did the other big Nintendo offerings in my book (Metroid, Zelda) because of its unabashed reliance on old play mechanics. This is the first in the long line of GCN killer applications to come.

Game of Show: Platformer

Show Stopper: ****
Jaw Dropper: ****
Soap Opera: ****
Call the Coppers: ****


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