Panzer Dragoon Orta

Platform: Xbox

Developer: Smilebit

Publisher: Sega

Percent Complete: 60%

Despite the nay sayers, the rejuvenation of old titles is increasingly more critical to the success of a system. Xbox says, "Thank you Sega!" for licensing such intriguing oldies/goodies to their pugnacious platform. Chief of these licenses is Panzer Dragoon Orta. A show stealer to be sure, this title cranked some exceedingly beautiful visuals out of the hulking hardware. The eye candy that Orta dishes out further sweetens the perfected control scheme. This is shooter-on-rails utopia here. With enemies attacking from all angles the "Hero on the Dragon" handles them by means of an intuitive radar system and an instinctual play mechanic. To shift the aiming cursor towards the enemies, you tap the corresponding trigger, thus to aim right you depress the right trigger. Fighting can get extraordinarily hectic, requiring you to keep your eyes on the radar at all times, or catch a photon torpedo up the heiny.

The playable level at E3 was enough to exhibit a level of technical prowess that Smilebit has monopolized since JSR (Jet Set Radio). The level takes place almost entirely in a cave, a cave reminiscent of Gun Valkerie though darker. The boss encountered at the end of the level is a huge flying machine which discharges heavy duty heat seeking missiles at you incessantly. To beat this beast a special attack is at your disposal, one that’s so visually impressive it weakens the knees.

Panzer Dragoon Orta will lead a charge that will end with the Xbox pulling towards a firm second place position in these console wars.

Game of Show: Shooter

Show Stopper: (out of five) ****1/2

Jaw Dropper: ****1/2

Soap Opera: ****

Call the Coppers:***

Star Wars Galaxies

Platform: PC

Developer: Sony Online Entertainment (SOE)

Publisher: LucasArts

Percent Complete: 60%

Release Date: 4^th quarter 2002

Bias’ must flare up at some point in the life of a journalist, so in order to clear the air here and now, from present to eternity and beyond, I am and will always be….a Star Wars fanboy. And Star Wars Galaxies will soon compete with inhale/exhale as the numero uno method of time expenditure in my life (yours too most likely). Witnessing this game in action for the first time, in LucasArts’ closed booth, accessed by appointment only, demonstrated by an anonymous yet eloquent physics programmer, changed my life. This change, however, came by considering the future potential of Galaxies as opposed to its current state. Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is ambition personified (or rather, developerfied). Star Wars Galaxies, as many previews have alluded to, will attempt to create the real world environments that populate the Star Wars Universe that we all know and love. Initially eight worlds will be available to explore, yet in early 2003 ten more will be added. Transport between the worlds will initially be a non playable cut scene, however, at the release of the expansion pack in early 2003 ships will be purchasable, customizable, and personally flyable. These vast upgrades, come 2003, will arrive at a time in the games life where tens of thousands are engaged in sim life on numerous planets, all interconnected in subtle yet profound ways. Plato would have a field day with this. Graphically the game is shaping up to be film quality, though it is on the back burner to the AI and persistent online system integration.

Regarding AI, Raph Coster, project director stated that the locations will be densely populated with NPC’s, all which can be interacted with, manipulating the adventure. Whew…. the mind reels when considering the incredible opportunities this gameplay experience could afford. Here’s prayin’ I make the beta team.

Game of Show: MMORPG

Show Stopper: ***

Jaw Dropper: ***

Soap Opera: **