So, you want to play like a pro? Do you want to kick butt? Do you want to send your opponents screaming in agonized defeat from the room? Do you want the glory? The legions of fans? How about the fame and fortune? Do you think you can handle it?
Unfortunately, there is no fame, no fortune, no legions of fans. And most opponents over the age of six won’t go screaming from the room. So, calm down, okay? Good.
The first thing you should know is reading this book won’t make you a better player. Only playing a game can make you a better player. That’s true for baseball, football, basketball, chess, and, yes, video games. The more you play, the better you get. This has been true since ancient times when human-kind was living in caves and playing Pong by firelight. It was true when your parents played Pac Man or Space Invaders. And it’s just as true today. It’s a fact of life. So deal with it. Reading a book, even this informative and excellently written book, will not automatically make you a better player. The only thing that will make you a better player is playing the games. However, things have changed in some ways.
What has changed, of course, are the games. There wasn’t much to learn about Pong or Space Invaders. Knock the blip to your opponent’s side of the screen or blast the Invaders. It was all fairly simple stuff, which is why your parents probably aren’t very good at today’s video games. Many of the games for the Sony PlayStation system are incredibly complex. You could play these games for hours and hours on end until your hands swell up to the size of toilets and your eyeballs bulge hideously out of your head. That’s just about how long it would take to learn all the tricks and strategies.
Or you could simply read this book. Take my word for it, hands the size of toilets that are permanently bent to hold a video game controller and bulging eyeballs are not considered attractive. They will not prove to be an advantage at any point in your life, unless your main goal in life is to scare young kids and small pets. So let’s get started with a few basic phrases.
Cheats:
From the time you were little you’ve been told it was wrong to “cheat,” right? Cheating was bad. Only cheaters cheated, right? Okay, one of the coolest things about video games is that cheating is allowed. Not only is it allowed, but manufacturers encourage it. They want you to cheat. In fact, they build the cheats right into the games.
A cheat is a lot of different things in a video game. A cheat is a secret code built into the game. A cheat can be practically anything, from extra or unlimited lives to additional weapons or secret powers for your character. Often these codes can be punched in with the controller at the beginning of a game when the menu comes up or during the game.
Legend has it that hundreds of thousands of years ago, game designers put “cheat codes” into games to make testing them easier. Primitive caveman-type programmers would use the codes for their own testing, but it was only a matter of time before players discovered the secret codes and began swapping them. Video game cheat codes became more and more important as time went on. In fact, cheat codes became so prized among players that the game manufacturers took note and began including them in the games as a playing feature. Today discovering the codes and mastering them are as much a part of the game as winning.
Codes can be anything from entering a secret password on the Menu screen to executing a series of special moves during game play.
Easter Eggs:
You don’t hear much about these in video games anymore, mostly because they’re called tricks. A trick, like a cheat code, is a secret program the designers inserted into the game. Tricks began as a game designer’s way of playing a joke. They have nothing to do with helping you win the game, they are just funny things designers put in to make themselves and their friends laugh. And again, like cheats, players soon discovered them and game manufacturers began putting them into games as a player feature. Like cheats, tricks or easter eggs can be activated by everything from a secret password to a series of special moves while playing the game.
Secret Characters, Hidden Characters, and Just Plain Weird Characters:
I have to be honest with you, I don’t know how this started. Game designers are a wild and crazy bunch. But the best games include a bunch of secret characters or hidden characters. Sometimes you fight them in a bonus mode; other times you need to enter a password or code to get to them. Sometimes these hidden or secret characters have special powers that can help you win a game, but other times they just have weird body parts, like huge, giant heads or feet. Go figure, right?
Secret Modes:
More often than not, secret modes have nothing to do with winning the game. Just like the secret characters, you get to these modes by entering a password or code. Sometimes you get an entirely new type of game, but other times you get to play the original game in a weird place.
A large part of this book is about cheats, secret modes, and secret characters. Frankly, they just make a game more fun to play.
A Short Dictionary for the Video Game Player
AI: Short for artificial intelligence. When you play against the central processing unit (CPU) and it seems like you are playing a real person, that is an AI function. Of course, it really isn’t “intelligent”; the CPU is simply following programmed instructions that go something like “If the player does that, then I do this…” A more accurate description would be “Fake Intelligence.” If the system were really intelligent, it would be able to do your homework, take tests for you, and answer really tough questions, such as why charcoal isn’t really made out of coal.
CHEAT: A feature concealed in the game by program-mers to make the game more enjoyable or as a reward for playing the game well. Also, a hidden option in the game that gives you an advantage.
CODE: A password or buttoning sequence that opens special options in a video game. Just like a cheat, codes can be placed in a game to make it more fun or put there for use by programmers. Codes can include passwords to new modes or bonus levels. They also can disable or add features in a game.
CONSOLE: The PlayStation unit that plugs into your television or VCR.
CPU: Central processing unit. It is contained in the console and serves as the brains of the game. The term is used most often in describing your opponent when in single-player mode.
DISC: The round flat object that contains the game’s software. The PlayStation uses a disc, very much like the kind used for CD players, rather than a cartridge, or “cart,” to store the software that is the game. A lot of people call the disc itself the game, but they are only half right. The actual game is nothing but code stored on the disc that the PlayStation console can read by shining a light on it. Those who prefer the PlayStation say that the disc has many advantages over the traditional cartridge. It can, for instance, store more information more easily. It’s easier to manufacture. And the sound quality is often better. The disc can also store other types of images more easily, such as animation and live action that can be used in the game.
DUAL SHOCK: A PlayStation controller with two vibration units built into it that are activated during appropriate times in game play. For a cheap thrill try playing a standard music CD in the PlayStation with the TV turned on while holding the Dual Shock controller.
FAQ: An abbreviation for frequently asked questions (get it? FAQ). However, it is pronounced “facts.” So, there is a double-meaning there. A FAQ guide can include everything from a few simple codes to a complete walk-through of each level of a game. It also can include problems players may encounter in game control.
FMV (FULL MOTION VIDEO): A movie-style sequence stored on the disc along with the game. Most frequently these live-action sequences are programmed to appear within game play but sometimes can be accessed and played on command using codes. One of the major advantages the PlayStation has over other systems is the fact that games are stored digitally on a disc, in the same way music is stored on a CD. This allows programmers and designers to use live-action-style videos to liven up games. It also provides better sound quality for a game’s music. Another type of format is FMA (full-motion animation) in which the movielike sequence is animated and not “live action.”
MODE: How the game or character plays. For example, on a race game you might drive the same track in “time attack mode” trying to beat a preset time; however, you also might drive on the same track in “battle mode” where the object is to crash into other players. The mode in which you play a game determines character movements and your objective. While there are some “generic” or “standard” modes, such as “time attack,” other modes have names made up for a particular video game.
OPTIONS: Features in a game that you can control. This gives you the ability to set the game play to include characters with “Big Heads,” for example, and is easily done from an opening screen. Option also means the ability to set the game for different types of play.
PAD: The “directional” button on the controller, usually with movement in eight directions. Its operation is like a joystick, but without the stick part. It’s also called a “joypad.”
PLATFORM: In a video game, a platform is something that a player jumps onto or from, such as a floating raft on a lake. The word also is used to describe the type of software system or even the type of console used to play a game. Usually these descriptions are by brand name, such as PlayStation.
PLATFORMER: A video game in which the major action involves the hero jumping from one platform to another.
RED BOOK: Refers to audio (usually music) included on a PlayStation disc that is stored the same way as on a music CD. These sound tracks can be played on a home stereo. The music recorded via Red Book is usually of higher quality, both in terms of sound quality and creativity, than standard game soundtracks.
ROLE-PLAYING GAME (ALSO CALLED RPG): A game in which the player assumes the part of the game’s lead character to explore the multienvironment world of the video game on a quest. These games most often involve solving puzzles or obtaining weapons or special powers in order to complete the quest. In some of these games the question (or mission) takes place in a single building, such a castle with the player exploring the different rooms. In more complex games, the quest takes place in a highly detailed alternate world. And in still others, the game play may move the player from one miniworld to another.
SIM: Slang for simulation. A sim is any game that puts as many realistic details as possible into the game play. A game that features a realistic cockpit of an airplane would be a sim, but a few action games and role-playing games now fall into that category. Sim means realism.
STREAMING: Rather than load some games all at once from the disc to console, some games will load single levels and then go back to the disc for the next level. This allows programmers to pack more data on the disc than could normally be loaded into the console. More data typically means more complex or realistic graphics
TIME ATTACK: A mode in which you try to beat a set time. You play against the clock rather than an opponent.
WALK-THROUGH (OR WALKTHROUGH OR WALK THROUGH): Detailed step-by-step and screen-by-screen instructions either written or drawn that tell you how to beat a game in CPU-as-opponent mode.
Hey, What’s in This Book Anyway?
So, by now you’re probably asking: What’s in this book, anyway? And why am I reading all this stupid stuff? Are all the secret codes, cheats, tricks and strategies in this thing? The answer is no. Hey, I have to be honest with you, right? The codes, cheats, tricks, and strategies for a single video game can fill an entire book. What I’ve done is taken what I feel are the most useful, the most interesting, and the weirdest codes, cheats, and strategies for my favorite games and put them together. The sections are arranged by types of games—that is, sports, adventure, and action. There are one or two “main games” listed at the beginning of each chapter. These are the most popular, the best, or my favorites. I explain and describe these games in detail. After that are other similar games, for which I just list cheats, codes, or strategies without a lot of detail.
Now, I didn’t list any “walk-throughs” and I’ll tell you why. I don’t believe in them. I think they make games less fun. It’s the difference between exploring and going on a trip with a map. Video games should be explored, not mapped out and planned like a family vacation.
You should also know that I didn’t review or rate any of the games. I figured, what’s the point? Why include bad games in a book to begin with, right? I picked the games that I liked best and put those in the book. Some of the games are better than others. All of them, I think, are pretty good. Video games, like anything else, are a matter of personal taste. Some people like driving games and others like role-playing adventures. No one type of game is better than any other, so I tried to include as many different kinds as I could. I also tried to include a full range of games, from easy to difficult.
If you’re just starting out with using cheats and codes, this is as good a place as any to start. With practice, some of them will make you a better player and others will just make you laugh. In my opinion, there are a bunch of people out there who take video games way too seriously when they write about them. Reading about video games should be fun, too. The main thing is still to have fun. Remember, they’re just video games.
And, as to the first question, “Why am I reading all this stupid stuff?” I have no idea. I would have turned directly to the actual cheats and codes. So, you better stop reading right now. Immediately! Stop reading before you learn something.
Well, a long, long time ago video games weren’t fun. They had titles like Growing Brussels Sprouts and Clipping Toenails. And only a few really, really weird kids played them. Big problem. So, the guys who made the games decided to make them fun. This proved to be a major breakthrough for the business. One of the important things they discovered is that the act of learning makes the games fun. Learning how to get through tricky parts or finding out all of the secret stuff is a big part of what adds to the fun of video games. Naturally, the more you play, the better you get at the game. You begin to win. This is true when you are playing against the computer or against friends. And winning, of course, is fun. So, the more you win, the more you play, right? Well, almost.
If the game is too easy, nobody wants to play it. A game that’s too easy is almost as bad as a game that’s too difficult. It’s boring. Learning how to play the game is half the fun. The other half is winning. Together, winning and learning create what’s called a “learning curve.” Draw a picture of a half circle on a piece of paper with the round side up. That’s the learning curve. You start at the bottom of one side playing the game and learn all you can. That moves you up one side, following the line of the curve. After you reach the top of the curve, learning all you can or want, then the game becomes less fun and you begin to play it less and less. That’s the downward side of the curve. It’s the opposite of riding a bike up a hill. In video games, the fun part is not going down the hill but going up it. That’s why even your favorite game gets boring after a while. And that’s why the manufacturers started putting codes and cheats into games, to give you more to learn. Codes and cheats, along with extra modes and levels, keep games from becoming boring too quickly.
Video games are fun. There is no getting around that fact. They are part of a kid’s life and one of the many entertainment choices he or she has today. However, as the technology has improved over the years, games have evolved in a fashion similar to movies to include a wide variety of themes, content, and situations. That is to say, not all games are suitable for all age groups. Just as all movies are not suitable for young children because of violent or adult content, the same holds true for video games.
To their credit, the video game manufacturers have acted as responsible adults in the matter. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), supported by the video game industry, independently rates all video games in much the same way as movies are rated. Indeed, as the available technology allows for ever more detailed screen representations, today’s games move ever closer to movielike action. For that reason, parents should select video games as cautiously as they select movies.
It is a parent’s responsibility—along with the youngster—to carefully monitor the types of video games that come into the home. Clearly displayed labeling listing the ratings on packages make this job easier. But it is up to the parent (and kid) to learn the rating symbols and what they mean.
Following is the ESRB’s rating system.
• E is for EVERYONE: The designation of E indicates that the game has content suitable for ages 6 or older. Older games may have a rating listed as K-A, which is an identical rating.
• T is for TEEN: The designation of T indicates that the game is suitable for kids 13 years and older.
• M is for MATURE: The designation of M indicates the game includes content that should be restricted to people 17 years or older.
• A is for ADULTS ONLY: Should be played only by grown-ups.
You’ve seen the ads. You’ve read about it in newspapers and magazines. And you’ve maybe even talked to the weird clerk in the video game store who does nothing but play video games. Maybe you even went out and bought one already.
And now you want to know for sure—Is PlayStation 2 as good as they say?
The answer is yes, and it may even be better than they say. You will notice that I didn’t write “YES!” or “YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” or anything super-hyped like that. I simply wrote, “yes.” That’s because by now you are probably tired of all the hype about the system. If you have one, then you are probably playing it and know some of the stuff it can do. If you are going to get one, then you don’t need someone else yelling at you about how great PS2 is or isn’t. Well, it’s pretty great, but before we go into all of the features, here’s a history lesson.…
The History Lesson You Won’t Learn in School
Just after the Civil War and French Revolution, someone invented video games. Okay, video games were invented way, way after the Civil War and French Revolution. They were invented in the late 1960s and early 1970s—where they were played on big computers. Then came coin-operated arcade games, like Pong and Space Invaders. All of this is ancient history, except that with arcade games, the manufacturers learned something.
They learned that players wanted more … Players wanted better graphics. They wanted more themes. And they wanted more action. All of this “more” was made possible by better computer chips. New chips meant better graphics, better game play, and most of all, more stuff that the designers could do on the screen.
When home console games came out, the rules pretty much stayed the same. Nintendo would come out with a system. Then Sega would come out with a system that had more computer horsepower. Then Nintendo would top that and Sega would top what Nintendo had done. And so on and so forth …
Everything would have probably stayed the same forever, except in 1995 Sony came out with the PlayStation. The first time I saw a PlayStation system I was with my friend Nick in a Sony movie theater. The system was in a glass case in the lobby.
“Hey, Nick, look at this,” I said.
“Oh yeah, I heard about that,” he said. “Pretty cool.”
“No cartridge?”
“It plays CDs,” Nick said.
Everybody has a friend like Nick, the guy who knows about everything before everyone else. But I remember that, mostly because we saw it in a movie theater. Video games, movie theater, Sony makes music disks, too. Mmmmm. Plus, there were adults lined up to play the game. Adults! Playing video games!
Anyway, Sony changed everything. They hadn’t been around forever like Sega or Nintendo. Plus, Sega still made arcade games. Nintendo used to make arcade games. Sony, well, they made electronics. Sony made Walkmans and TV sets and stereo equipment. What did they know about video games?
As it turns out, they didn’t have to know that much. They had to know some, but they didn’t need years and years and years of making games to get great games for the system. All they had to do was make a great system (hardware) and the video game designers would do the rest with great games (software).
The first weekend that PlayStation was introduced, Sony sold 100,000 of them. Way back in 1995, that was pretty big news. 100,000? Gee, that’s a lot. Well, when PS2 went on sale in Japan, they sold almost a million the first weekend. Originally the company was supposed to send a million consoles to the U.S., but they ran out of chips and only sent 500,000 (only 500,000!) and they sold out immediately. You had to get on a waiting list to buy one. More PS2 consoles followed and the rest is history.
What Makes PS2 So Great, Anyway?
First of all, what makes the system so great is the hardware. Sony doesn’t even call it a “game console,” they call it a “computer entertainment system.” There’s two reasons for that name. The first reason is, Sony loaded the system with a super-big, custom-made 128-bit chip that clocks in at almost 300 MHz (for those who want to know exactly, it’s 294.912 MHz). Plus, there’s 32 megabytes of Dynamic Access Memory (DRAM).
What all of this means is that the sucker is fast—very fast. Just a few years ago, the computing specs for the PS2 would have been a top-of-the-line computer. For those of you out there who play video games on your computer, this may not sound like a lot, but in the world of video games, it’s a very, very big deal.
There are a lot of other specs, like the 20 million polygons the system can handle and stuff like that … but the important thing—the truly important thing to know about the system is the computing horsepower the thing has—it’s loaded with speed and memory.
So, the console is a step ahead of the competition, big deal. Isn’t that what console manufacturers do all the time, beat out the competition?
Well, that’s true. Console manufacturers do beat out the competition and then wait for the competition to beat them out, so that they can come out with the next console to get on top again. Except, with PS2, something is different …
Sony didn’t pack the PS2 with circuit boards and memory and speed just to impress people. Heck, nobody ever sees it anyway, right?
DVD Player:
As you already know, the PS2 plays DVDs and CDs. This is pretty cool, but it’s also a very big deal. Maybe your parents already have a DVD player hooked up to the family TV set in the living room. Well, the PS2 gives you a DVD player in your bedroom. It also gives you a CD player in your bedroom. And, if you don’t have a DVD player in the living room, well, here’s your chance, right?
The PS2 DVD player is kind of an amazing thing for a video game console. First and foremost, it lets you play all of your original PlayStation games. This means you are still going to be able to play the games you had for your original system or your favorite rental games. The technical word for this is “backward compatible” and believe me, a lot of technology in this world is not “backward compatible,” but the PS2 console system most definitely is.
So, with the PS2 you get to play:
MUSIC CDS: Your favorite music from a video game. This is an added bonus if you need another CD player.
DVD MOVIES: If you’ve been putting off buying the DVD player for months and months, here’s your chance to get one.
PLAYSTATION CDS: What’s that you say, you’ve got 9,000 PS games from the original system and still like them? No problem, the PS2 can play them with ease.
PLAYSTATION 2 GAMES: Better, brighter, and a lot more realistic. There are literally hundreds of games in the works for the new system.
All of that is pretty cool. It’s like getting three—count ’em, three!—pieces of electronics for the price of one. But suppose you already have all the electronic toys, like a fancy TV and stereo system and all the rest of it. Then the PS2 is just going to waste all that extra stuff? Well, don’t bet on it, and here’s why …
The PS2 has a high-end optical port in it. What this means is that you can plug it into stereos and home theater amps. And what that means is that you can get sound like you’ve never heard it before on a video game. We’re talking high-end stereo-quality sound here for video games.
Also, the PS2 has two Universal Serial Bus expansion ports (USBs), the same kind that you have on newer models of computers that connect keyboards or a mouse. And, lastly, there is an iLink IEEE 1394 port, also called FireWire, that gives users very, very high-speed connections. How fast are these connections? They’re blazing fast, like 400 megabits a second. This kind of speed usually means images of some kind, but who knows what Sony has in store for the system.
Now, here’s the deal with the three mystery connections. Sony is asking you to buy a system that isn’t complete. Up until now, when you bought a home console system the thing was complete. Maybe you had to buy extra controllers or something, but the system was pretty much complete. Everything had a function. When the company wanted to add more functions, they introduced a new console.
What Sony is saying with these ports is that:
A) This system is going to be around a long time. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s going to be in your living room or bedroom for years.
B) They’re saying, “We ain’t gonna be playing that ‘we beat their system and then they beat our system and then we beat their system’ game anymore. We’ll be able to beat whatever the other guys come up with by adding new features that plug into the ‘mystery ports.’”
Guess What? I Don’t Know, Either!
There’s been a lot of guessing going on about what Sony can and might plug into the two USB and the FireWire connections. The best way to guess at this is to look at the other products Sony makes. After all, if they are already making a ton of home electronics products—and know how to make them well—then how hard could it be to manufacture a couple of those items with hookups and software for the PS2?
Think about it. You can now go to a Sony movie theater and watch a movie that Sony produced, then go home listening to your personal stereo system while listening to a CD that Sony made. Once you get home, you can listen to the same CD on a large stereo system, playing your PS2 while you wait for the movie you saw in the theater to come out on DVD, so you can watch it at home on your PS2.
You get the idea … Sony makes both the hardware and the software for entertainment!
So, I’ll be like everyone else and do a little guessing about what’s in store for the PS2. Remember, this is only guessing. I don’t know for sure.
For one thing, there isn’t an Internet connection on the PS2. A lot of people have commented on this and it is kind of weird that they would leave that out. After all, a lot—I mean A LOT—of people who play video games also go on the Internet. Did Sony forget about them? I wouldn’t count on it. It would be pretty easy to plug in a modem into one of the USBs and a keyboard/mouse arrangement into the other one. Remember, Sony makes computers and knows how to make this kind of stuff work.
Other guessing that is going around is about the FireWire connection. FireWire is really, really hot stuff. I have a friend who uses one to edit his home movies. He connects his home video camera to his computer with a FireWire cable and edits right on the screen. FireWire is great for images because it’s really fast.
So, maybe Sony has something planned where you’ll be able to download images from another piece of equipment—like a camcorder—into the video game. Remember, Sony makes camcorders, so they could probably do this pretty easily. A lot of the so-called experts have said that maybe—maybe—Sony will design a game where you could take an image of yourself with a camcorder and put it into the game. Whether this would be a full-body image or just a face, they didn’t say. But it would be cool to be able to put yourself right in the game.
Anyway, whatever Sony does have planned for these extra ports, it is probably going to be great.
CONTROLLER: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it looks like the old controller you’ve used with your original PlayStation, but you’ll see the difference the first time you use it. The controllers have been seriously upgraded. Called the Dual Shock 2, the controller has the same button layout, so you don’t have to learn a bunch of new stuff. If you’re a serious PlayStation fan, you won’t have a problem since you are probably working the buttons on instinct by this time, right? So, no need to worry about different button positions. That’s a big plus.
On the other hand, the response system built into the controller is much improved. Push a button hard and the system records that precisely. So, when you give it the gas in a racing game, you’ll get what you input. The techies call this analog input. I call it cool. The first time you sit down and play, you’ll notice the improved controller performance.
So, here’s the bad part, the system only comes with one controller. You have to go out and buy a second or third or fourth. That is, you have to buy the extra ones unless you only play single-player games.
MULTITAP: This is kind of a bummer. The PS2 only has two ports for controllers. So, you need this multitap thing to expand PS2 to a four-player system. However, there is an upside. The multitap also has memory card slots, too. That means that you’re not just paying for access for two extra controllers.
MEMORY CARDS: If you know about the old PS memory cards, then you already know how these little babies work. They’re like floppy disks for a video game where you can save files like stats, character features, or games in progress. Here Sony has really thought of the gamer. The cards on the PS2 are much larger and faster. Each card contains eight megabytes of data, more than enough for your typical and even heavy video game fan.
What’s that you say? You can’t wait for Sony to start introducing new accessories for the system. You want to trick out your PS2 now—as in NOW!
No problem.
First of all, there’s all of the really, really expensive stuff. How about spending $3,000 to see the games on a big-screen TV? Or, how about another couple of thousand for a state-of-the-art sound system so that a sub-woofer bass on a sports game can blast you through the wall?
If you want to know the truth, you can spend $10,000 or more on components that will give you the ultimate home video game experience. You’d be completely out of your mind, but you could do it. Or, you could buy some very basic gear that will help you enjoy the games more without busting your budget.
How about a vertical stand for the console that secures it upright so that it looks like something out of the opening scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
Then there’s a FireWire hub that lets you link multiple PS2s together for action. Right now there is a limited number of games available to support the FireWire hub for multi-system play, but no doubt there will be more on the way.
Then there’s the PS2 DVD remote that lets you use a remote when watching DVD movies. The infrared receptor goes into the controller port and the remote goes into your hand. If you already have a DVD player, then you know that remotes are a must!
Lastly comes sound. NOW LISTEN CLOSELY! You don’t have to spend a fortune on a fancy stereo system. As I said earlier, you can hook up your PS2 to the current system in your home. However, there are a number of amps and speakers available that were created just for video games. There are also a number of sub-woofers and speakers that are intended as add-ons to current systems that will work with your home stereo and PS2.
So, what’s the trick?
The trick to the sound dilemma, if you intend to upgrade, is to shop around. Spend some time on the Internet checking out the different makes and models. Spend some time researching the type of sound equipment you think you want to buy. And then, buy what you need. Don’t over-buy, which is a common mistake. And, buy for the sound quality, not the look or the name.
One of the more interesting things about the PS2 is not what it has, but what it doesn’t have. The system does not include an Internet connection.
Long before the system was introduced, there were tons of rumors flying around about what PS2 would and would not be able to do. A lot of the rumors were about the Internet. A lot of people assumed that there would be some immediate net connection included in the package.
Does the fact that an Internet connection hook-up was not included mean that Sony goofed? I don’t think so. I think the company launched the system thinking that the DVD, CD, and video game abilities were enough stuff for the average player … for the moment. Think about it. The disks—DVDs, CDs, and the tons of video games, both old and new—are basically just software. Sure, an Internet connection would let you surf the Net looking at cool websites, but the real fancy work of a Net hook-up for a video game is downloading games and playing against other players over the Net.
So, if there’s already enough software, then why overload the players? Certainly the system, which is basically a powerful computer, can handle an Internet connection. And, the ports able to support a connection are already built into the console.
But why introduce one immediately? With all the hoopla and noise about DVDs, CDs, and backward compatibility, the Internet function—even a really great one—could get lost amid a ton of already interesting features. Isn’t it better to wait until everyone with a system has pretty much explored everything they can on it before introducing new stuff?
Question: There’s a rumor that the PlayStation 2 won’t play all DVDs. Is that true?
Answer: No, the PS2 DVD player works exactly like any other DVD player. However, not all DVDs play on all players. For instance, DVDs made for sale in Europe or Asia will not play on DVD players sold in the U.S. They contain what is called Regional Coding or Region Code. So, if you buy a movie in France and bring it home, your player won’t play it. And, if you go to France with your PS2, you should bring your own DVDs, because you won’t be able to play them. In all, there are eight different codes. Each of them assigned to a different part of the world.
Question: When they say that PS2 has “better physics” what exactly do they mean?
Answer: The term “physics” is a general video game term. It roughly means that stuff in a video game acts like stuff in real life. To be more technical, in a video pool game, for instance, if you hit a ball against the side of the table at a 45-degree angle, then it should bounce away from the table at a 45-degree angle. This sounds pretty easy, but it isn’t. Because in driving games, for instance, the physics involved are very complex. A car spinning out of control at 40 miles per hour reacts differently than a car spinning out of control at 140 miles per hour. Physics is one of the things that make video games realistic and more fun. So, enjoy the physics.
Question: Can I use the PlayStation 2 with a high-definition TV?
Answer: Absolutely. In fact, like everything else, the picture will look much better than on a regular TV. One of the best reasons to get a HDTV today is to work in conjunction with a DVD player or … PS2. But be warned, they still have a hefty price tag.
Question: Can you copy DVDs?
Answer: Nope. Sorry. You’re out of luck. DVDs are protected with special software that prevents them from being copied … even a little bit. In truth, that’s one of the main reasons why movie studios like them so much. On the other hand—for you, the consumer—DVDs will last a lot longer than the old-fashioned tapes.
Question: Is the quality of the old games any better on the PS2 than the original PS?
Answer: Not that I could tell. The full-motion video that you find in some original PlayStation games plays a little smoother and the loading time between scenes is faster. There’s probably someone, somewhere who will argue this point with me about rough edges in some of the games, but I couldn’t tell the difference. However, the backward compatibility that lets you play older PS games on the PS2 is terrific for a couple of reasons. For one thing, you don’t have to toss out your favorite PS games and start collecting all over again. You don’t have to maintain two separate systems in order to go back to the PS games. And, lastly, I think you’ll be able to get some very good deals on PS games in the future as stores upgrade their merchandise and people start to weed out their collections. Note: Old games can’t be saved to the new memory cards.
Question: Is there an advantage to using the PS2 as my CD or DVD player instead of the units that I already have?
Answer: No, there’s no advantage, but you should look at the PS2 as an opportunity to bring a multi-use system to another location in the house. If you already have a DVD and CD player in the living room, then use the PS2 as an entertainment system in a bedroom or den.
Question: Will there be enough video games for the PS2 in the future?
Answer: The PS2 launched with more than twenty games. According to reliable sources, there are now over 200 games in development and scheduled for release over the next year or two. Plus—and I’m only guessing here—I would say that we will be seeing more E-rated games for the PS2 than for the original PS. See the next chapter for my explanation.
If you’re a kid with an old PlayStation, then you know that a lot of games for the system are rated T and M. That’s T for Teen and M for Mature. It can be tough finding games for kids.
From the very beginning PS had a lot of adult and teen players. That’s not to say that kids didn’t like the system, too, but when compared to other systems, like Nintendo 64, there were just more adults and teens into the PS console. So, naturally, there were more games for them. Were there more games for them because they liked the PS console or did they like the PS console because there were more games for them? Who knows?
However, I have a feeling that the new system will have a lot more E-rated games available. That’s E for Everyone.
How do I know this? Well, for one thing, I don’t know it for a fact. I’m just guessing! For another thing, you can already play all of the old E-rated games on the PS2. Remember, it’s backward compatible! Another reason is that there are currently almost 300 games either already out or being made for the system. Common sense tells you that out of nearly 300 games, there’s bound to be a lot that are for kids.
And, lastly, PlayStation has always done well with sports and racing games. Not only are PlayStation sports and racing games some of the best games out there, but they can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Plus, a lot of the games they’ve already introduced for the PS2, like Madden 2001 and Ridge Racer V, are fun for kids and adults.
GAME NAME: RIDGE RACER V
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Racing
PLAYERS: 1 or 2
DEVELOPED BY: Namco
PUBLISHED BY: Namco
COMMENTS: Is it any wonder that Ridge Racer V was in with the PS2 launch games? A launch game is a game that is available as soon as the system is offered for sale. A launch game is also a game that should get players to say, “Wow! Now I gotta buy the system! Just look at what it plays!”
So, let me say this about Ridge Racer V: “Wow! Now I gotta buy the system! Just look at what it plays!”
The Ridge Racer games have been around for five years or so. What makes them spectacular, of course, is their quality. The first games raised the standards for all racing games. In fact, those first Ridge Racer games are not only classics, but they are still a lot of fun. Play them in order and you can see how they started off good in the first Ridge Racer and then got better and better all the way up to Ridge Racer V, or RRV as some people call it.
If you’ve played previous titles in the Ridge Racer series, then you’ll be on familiar territory with this installment. There is the Time Attack and Duel Modes, as well as championship drives. Some people have taken exception with the two-player mode, calling the display ugly. It’s fine, don’t worry about it. What really makes this game fly, though, is the terrifyingly realistic presentation of the cars, right down to reflections of passing landscapes on the glass and tire smoke drifting up from the road.
If you need proof of the added level of control the new controllers offer, this is an excellent game in which to find it.
Game play is fairly simple. You can play against the computer or friends. Additional cars and features are unlocked as you win races. Some of these cars are high-performance monsters and some of them, are, well, silly cartoon characters.
Tips:
Practice Up: Use the Free Run Mode to practice before competing. Practice is necessary in this game since a big part of the game is control and not just pedal-to-the-metal speed. Also, this non-competitive mode will give you a chance to work on your power slides and drifts, which are a necessary part of the game.
Go Manual: I know that for a lot of racing game fans, driving with a manual transmission is a pain. However, the super-tight controls and realism in this game give the player who masters the manual transmission a real edge.
Options: Like previous versions of the Ridge Racer series, you have to earn additional cars and upgrades by winning races. Some of the upgrades are mechanical, like a new engine, though some of the upgrades are different tracks and cars. To get:
Pac-Man: Just in case you’re too young to remember, Pac-Man was a famous video game character back in ancient times. To unlock the Pac-Man car you have to get 1,500 miles (3,000 km). This isn’t as easy as it sounds. It takes a bunch of racing to get your miles up there.
McLaren: To get the super-sporty McLaren racer you have to finish first in the Kamata Angelus race in Duel Mode. Then you can use the car in Free Run, Time Attack and all Duel Modes.
BeetleMania: To get a super-speed and super-grip VW Beetle you have to finish first in the Solort Rumeur race in duel mode. The little Bug will then be available in Free Run, Time Attack, and Duel Modes.
99 Laps: Go to the Time Attack Extra Mode and finish in first place to get through the Battle Royal. This will set you up for a marathon race of 99 laps.
GAME NAME: MADDEN NFL 2001
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Football
PLAYERS: 1 to 4
DEVELOPED BY: EA Sports
PUBLISHED BY: EA Sports
COMMENTS: Fans of the previous Madden games won’t be disappointed by this one. In fact, they should be outright thrilled. This is possibly the best video football out on the market. Maybe it’s so good because of the extra horsepower under the PS2 hood or maybe the designers knew they had a tough act to follow with previous Madden games. And maybe it’s a combination of both. I don’t care. I just like playing this game. It’s great.
This game has everything a fan and player would want in a football game. The graphics are so outstanding that you will find yourself going to instant replay just to check out the small details of every tackle and pass. And the gameplay is so exciting that you’ll find yourself playing better than in previous games.
The Madden franchise has been going strong for years and years. And each year they manage to improve and build on what came before. This new addition to the lineup is no exception. Astute players will see and feel the difference immediately. Player body types and equipment are outstanding. The physics of movement and ball control are also seemingly improved. Plus, with this new addition, there are coaches on the sidelines barking orders and encouragement.
The Madden games have always been a fan’s football video game, and this version is no exception. The stats are there—oh boy, are the stats there—and so are some of the classic teams. But there are also a lot of options that let you choose the level play you want, need, and crave.
These different modes vary in game time, giving you an option depending on your busy schedule. For instance, if you just have a couple minutes, then go to Exhibition for a quick game. Tournament is a longer game, and Season is the longest play yet.
However, there is another feature included that will help you whittle away those short free minutes you may have and help you sharpen your skills at the same time. This is the Two-Minute Drill or Practice Mode. This mode gives you a chance to practice the basics and brush up on more advanced plays.
Another new feature is the trading cards. Yeah, electronic trading cards. You earn the cards with on-field performance during the game. Actually, you don’t earn the cards, you earn tokens that allow you to “buy” the cards. Each pack of cards contains both current and classic players. There are nearly 300 cards in all.
Tips:
Practice, Practice, Practice: The name of the game in this game is practice. That short drill mode wasn’t put in the game for nothing. Not only will beginning players benefit from spending time in the practice mode, but experienced Madden veterans will become better by using the practice mode. The new and improved physics of this video over past Madden games requires extra practice sessions before even the most advanced player can take full advantage of the game’s offensive and defensive abilities.
Tricks:
In Your Face: What’s a football game without touchdown celebrations? Well, it’s a football game without touchdown celebrations. That means a little less colorful. To perform the following celebrations, press the indicated combinations right after a touchdown.
Option |
|
Code |
|
||
Standard Ball Spike: |
|
Hold both Left 1 + X |
Jump Spike: |
|
Hold both Left 1 + Circle |
Hip Thrust: |
|
Hold both Left 1 + Square |
Slam Dunk: |
|
Hold both Left 1 + Right 2 |
Shoulder Shake: |
|
Hold both Left 1 + Right 1 |
Classic Teams: What’s football these days without the option for classic team play? The following teams are just a few of the classics available in Madden NFL 2001.
Enter one of the following at the code entry area on the Options screen.
Team |
|
Code |
|
||
1957 49ers |
|
GOLDRUSH |
1962 Oilers |
|
THEREWASAMAN |
1968 Jets |
|
TVTIMEOUT |
1966 Chiefs |
|
MEGIVEYOU |
1966 Packers |
|
CHAMPS |
1967 Packers |
|
SNOWPLOW |
1966 Cowboys |
|
WHOSHOTJR |
1967 Rams |
|
BLITZER |
1968 Colts |
|
SHOCKER |
1967 Cowboys |
|
TUNDRA |
1968 Raiders |
|
HEIDI |
1969 Chiefs |
|
NOFLUKE |
1970 Browns |
|
MNF |
1971 Chiefs |
|
OVERTIME |
1972 Dolphins |
|
PERFECT |
1972 Steelers |
|
LUCKY |
1957 Lions |
|
LIONPOWER |
1958 Colts |
|
STABLES |
1962 Texans |
|
GETEM |
GAME NAME: FANTAVISION
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Puzzle
PLAYERS: 1
DEVELOPED BY: Sony Computer Entertainment/989 Studios
PUBLISHED BY: Sony Computer Entertainment
COMMENTS: Right now this game is only available as an import, but with any luck Sony will be bringing it out in the American market soon. It’s one of the weirdest, most unique puzzle games to hit the screen in a long time. If you have a high-def or large-screen TV, then this colorful gem of a video game is an absolute must for your collection.
According to video game legend, Fantavision was not even a real game, but a demo to show the effects of the PS2. However, it was such a hit among those who saw it, that the company decided to release it.
Okay, so you want to know what Fantavision is about, right? Well, that’s kind of hard to explain. Picture a fireworks kind of puzzle game. It works like this: You move along a night-sky portion of screen set in different types of locations—and the system brings up a fireworks missile, then another and another. You must then link the different color-coded missiles up to score points. Once the displays are linked, you press a controller button to set them off. In addition to the regular-looking fireworks that appear, there are also flower-shaped displays and letters. These are bonuses.
The more fireworks missiles that get by you, the more points you lose. The more links and detonations you make, the more points you gain.
Also, there is a very nifty replay feature that lets you review the displays. This, believe me, is a lot of fun.
Since this is a puzzle game, there really aren’t a lot of cheats. In fact, just playing it and seeing the different displays without getting competitive with the machine is a lot of fun.
This is also the type of game you can sit your five-year-old brother and sister down in front of and watch them go “Ooooh” and “Ahhhh.”
Will Fantavision set the video gaming world on fire? No, probably not, but it’s an excellent game to have in your collection if you can find a copy of it.
GAME NAME: MOTO GP
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Motorcycle Racing
PLAYERS: 1 or 2
DEVELOPED BY: Namco
PUBLISHED BY: Namco
COMMENTS: Just as Ridge Racer is probably the best car-racing game in the new PS2 lineup, Moto GP is perhaps the best motorcycle racing game. I say “probably” and “perhaps” because it’s all a matter of opinion, right? But for my money, Moto GP rocks.
What does it take to make a good motorcycle racing game? Well, let’s go down the list and see if Moto GP qualifies.
Realistic Details: Oh yeah, Moto GP has tons of realism. Not only are the tracks rendered in hair-racing precision, but the racing action is authentic. Thank PS2’s horsepower for this. I haven’t seen a more realistic motorcycle racing game. In my opinion, this is as good—better!—as anything you’ll find in an arcade. The realism goes right down to the sponsor stickers you can actually read and the skid-marks on the asphalt.
Challenging Course: There are five super-realistic courses in the game and they are good. Each one comes with its own unique style, like long high-speed straightaways and tight turns.
Good Physics: Look, you don’t have to be Albert Einstein to know when a game’s physics aren’t any good. Sometimes these glitches in physics help you—“Hey look, I’m doing a four-mile power slide!”—and sometimes they hinder you. But they always kind of reduce the fun factor of the game. After all, you do want realism, especially in a racing game, right? Well, Moto GP pays off in this department. The physics and realistic racing are all there on the screen. Hey, this is the game that lets you do a knee-slide!
Cool Bikes: Are the dozen bikes you start the game with cool? Oh yeah, you bet they are—500cc monsters based on actual racing teams like Honda. These bikes are the real deal complete with speed and braking stats.
And There’s More: Some people have complained that there are not enough tracks in this game. Five tracks based on an actual motorcycle racing circuit may not seem like enough, but in the different modes, like Full Season and Time Attack, this game has plenty of lasting power. There are also a huge number of challenges, something like fifty, that unlock more bikes and riders and other features.
TIPS:
Knee-Slides: Okay, this is the cool part of the game, but to win it’s also a necessary part. And it isn’t easy. It may take a while to master the knee-slide in those tight turns, but once you have the skill it will be a major advantage when you play your friends. When you get really good at the knee-slide you’ll be able to do incredible things in those sharp turns.
Dual Shock Controller: Just like in real life, there’s less margin for error when riding a motorcycle compared to a car. You should remember this. These 500cc monsters are fast, but they are also a lot easier to crash than cars. This is where feedback from the controller comes in. When you start to lose control you’ll feel a slight vibration from the controller. Pay attention to it. This is not to say that Moto GP is a fussy game where the slightest wrong twitch of your finger will send you slamming against the wall, but you do have to pay attention. Plus, the added sensitivity of the controller is perfect for motorcycle racing!
GAME NAME: SSX
ERSB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Snowboarding
PLAYERS: 1 or 2
DEVELOPED BY: Electronic Arts
PUBLISHED BY: Electronic Arts
COMMENTS: If Cool Boarders or Snowboard Kids are among your favorite games, then SSX is a must-have game for you. This is all the action of previous snowboard video games, but much more realism than you’ve ever seen before. Maybe even more action, too.
First off, SSX means Snowboard Supercross … well, okay, snowboarders aren’t known for their grammar, now are they?
There are just eight courses, but the low number doesn’t give you a real feel for the game. Each of the tracks are very, very long and filled with jumps, turns, and unbelievable banking curves. Plus, each track contains a ton of shortcuts. So, if you wanted to get technical about it, there aren’t just eight tracks, but something like thirty or more potential courses to explore. There’s also a lot of weirdness in the tracks, like an urban track and one in Hawaii, so we’re talking about some real unique rides here.
TIPS:
Adrenaline Counts: If you’ve played some lame snowboarding games in the past, then you know that some of them are nothing more than glorified plunges into snow that draw you into impossible tricks or reward you for playing it safe. The control and response of this game cries out for tricks, and the adrenaline boost you get from the tricks improves your game performance.
Speed Counts More: When you start adding to stats with Experience, begin with speed. The extra speed will help you gain more points.
Contact Sport: Don’t be afraid to bump competitors into walls. It works.
Square Button: It’ll add speed to your ride, but drain your meter. Use it only when needed.
Free Ride: Use this Mode to search out the short cuts. Hint: Look for the SSX markers.
CHEATS:
Training Cheat: A great training cheat is the All Hints Code. To enable the code go to the Options screen before a race and hold down Left 1 + Left 2 + Right 1 + Right 2. Then press Circle, X, Circle, X, Circle, X, Circle, X. (That’s Circle, X four times). This will unlock all of thne hints for the entire course. It’s a handy training device. To eliminate the cheat, simply re-enter the code.
Running Man Mode: Go to the Options screen and hold Left 1 + Left 2 + Right 1 + Right 2. Then press Square, Triangle, Circle, X, Square, Triangle, Circle, X. To disable this mode, just repeat the code.
GAME NAME: ESPN INTERNATIONAL TRACK & FIELD
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Running, throwing, swimming, and gymnastic dancing
PLAYERS: 1 to 4
DEVELOPED BY: Konami
PUBLISHED BY: Konami
COMMENTS: Let’s face it, when you think of building a kick-butt library of video games for a new system, a track-and-field-themed game doesn’t immediately come to mind. Sure, you need your driving game. You need a solid football game. Maybe a puzzle game and certainly a snowboarding or water racer. But track and field? No way! Track and field is something your Aunt Mabel would send fourth-class mail for your birthday, right? You know what happens. It ends up arriving about three months after your birthday and you kind of throw it into a stack without a second thought. Maybe six months later you might crack open the box and play for a little while, then throw it back in the stack. So whatever I say about this game you probably aren’t going to listen to, anyway.
But, hey, listen up, ’cause I ain’t your Aunt Mabel! So, I’m only going to say this once: ESPN International Track & Field is a great game!
If you’ve been avoiding track and field games because they’re corny or something, then you have a surprise coming with this one. First of all, although Konami has been sending out a steady stream of track and field games for years, there’s never been a game with this kind of realism. The PS2 power really does a job with the graphics. Secondly, there’s a lot of game packed into one disk. Hey, there’s a dozen or more events, each one of them a winner—stuff like pole vaulting, hundred-meter dash, swimming, weight-lifting, and more.
Now traditionally, track and field games have been called “button mashers,” which means that everything depends on how fast you can press the button to make your guy go. And, to tell you the truth, much of the game is button mashing, but not all of it.
This game has great practice and competition modes, plus bonus features that offer additional events, like the hammer throw. And hey, where else do you get to throw around hammers, huh?
From some of the people I’ve talked to, this version is the best yet. Better even than the one offered for the Dream-cast system. Plus, there’s some really cool camera angles that you’ll want to take advantage of and a replay system.
Another cool thing about this game is the gymnastic dancing offered as an event—yeah, yeah, yeah, I can just picture what a few of you jokers out there will do with that competition. And, there’s a skeet-shooting competition which is very, very good.
Here’s the real deal with this game. It’s a well-planned and well-designed game. If you’ve been avoiding track and field because it seems boring, then don’t think of it as just one game. Think of track and field themes as getting a bunch of games on one disk. Is this the type of game that you’ll play and play and play for hours and hours at a time for weeks? Absolutely not. Is it a game that you’ll keep coming back to for years and years, absolutely yes!
GAME NAME: WILD WILD RACING
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone. Content suitable for those 6 years or older.
THEME: Off-road racing
PLAYERS: 1 to 2
DEVELOPED BY: Rage Software
PUBLISHED BY: Interplay
COMMENTS: This off-road racing game is getting a lot of praise from the video game know-it-alls. And I have to say that I agree. Here’s the secret to a great off-road racing game—the physics. If your video game car doesn’t react realistically in the different off-road conditions, then what’s the point, right? Well, this game has great physics. Every bump and clump and slump in the road comes through loud and clear.
Added to great physics is the multitude of play conditions. At first glance, the choices may look limited, but that’s not the case at all. Let me explain. Wild Wild Racing features five different race tracks—uh—make that non-tracks. They’re in the USA, India, Mexico, Iceland, and Australia. Needless to say, the routes are modeled on the worst driving terrain these countries have to offer. Add a host of different weather conditions to those five courses, plus day and night driving. Then, add on top of that, piles of different modes, like Single Race, Time Attack, Challenge, and Championship. Oh yes, then add on different levels on top of those modes, like uphill and downhill. There are also challenges and weird tasks you have to accomplish. And, when you beat all the challenges, even more tracks and special races open to you. Now, you have some idea of the different types of driving conditions you’ll be facing in this game. All of this equals a ton of different tracks and conditions.
But that is not all. Not by a long shot. The basic setup features nine distinct cars, ranging from a musclebound pickup to an agile dune buggy, each with its own handling and performance capabilities. However, all of the cars can be upgraded and customized to one degree or another. Some have three stages of upgradeable features and others have just two stages. This brings the total number of possible cars to more than twenty.
Tip:
Test Drive: Spend time in Single Race Mode with every possible car. That way you can see which car performs best under different conditions. Think of these single race events as test drives.
FIFA 2001 Major League Soccer:
You know the score with this game if you’ve played the others in the series. Serious soccer competition and a ton of different teams and leagues. In this case, 50 national teams and 17 different leagues. And, like other games which continue their proud tradition with PS2, FIFA 2001 features more detail, better control, and overall better play on the PS2 system. A winner for sure.
Swing Away Golf:
Okay, not too many kids are waiting impatiently for the next golf game to hit the store shelves. But, look at it this way, it’s a great present for your father or uncle when the next birthday rolls around. There’s some solid courses and players can control club, stance, aim, and all the rest. And there’s a little bit of a racing game thinking here because you get more items as you complete each challenge. You can also design your own courses and store them on the memory card.
NBA Hoopz Hands-On:
Fans of Showtime will enjoy this more-than-solid basketball game. Featuring 3-on-3 action and full-motion video clips, Hoopz features real teams and real players—as opposed to imaginary teams and players. The NBA action is very good and, judging from advanced word and previews, will be a hit for PS2 and its creators at Bally.
NHL 2001:
It’s hockey from EA Sports, so what more is there to say, right? It’s great. You know it’s great. I know it’s great. And about ten billion other people know it’s great. Features? You want to know about features? How about attitude built into the players? A bunch of different play modes with variable times, including Season, Playoffs, and Tournament? And how about 30 National League teams and 20 international teams? This is all stuff you’d expect, and built on top of that are the stunning graphics and fast gameplay that will keep you surprised. I’d go so far as to say, in my humble opinion, this is the hockey game. You don’t need another and you won’t want another. This is the one.
Sky Odyssey:
This flying game by Activision promises to be a great flying game. As you know, good flyers are few and far between and this one has it all. Copying some of the features of the best driving games, this flyer offers players a choice of modern and classic aircraft. There are ten aircraft in all, five play modes, and 40 missions. Plus there are a variety of road—uh, sky conditions—just to keep things interesting. If you’ve ever wanted to fly one of those classic biplanes or a jet, then this is a great game. Maybe there’s not the razzle or the dazzle of the big blockbuster extravaganzas, but Sky Odyssey is definitely solid gameplaying fun.
Rayman 2 Revolution:
Look, you either like the Rayman games or you don’t like them. I think they’re kind of fun. As I’m writing this, Rayman 2 Revolution hasn’t yet been released for the PS2; however, I have high hopes for the game. Advanced word has it that the new game is a much-enhanced version of Rayman 2.
Here’s 10 Guesses
It would be great if all the games for a new system came out at the same time that the system was introduced. But life doesn’t work that way. Over the next year or so more than 200 new games for the PS2 will become available. Right now, as I’m writing, designers around the world are putting the finishing touches on their latest and (hopefully) greatest games for the PS2.
So, what are these games? Well, some of them have been announced. Some of them have already been previewed at video game conventions. And some of them are just rumors about imports that may never make it to the U.S.
Keeping all that in mind, I’ve made up a list of likely winners for the coming year. This list is based on past performance of similar games in the series; the reputation of the company; and what types of graphics and play are likely because of the PS2’s impressive computing power. So, here’s my Top Ten Picks for Future Great PS2 Games.
1) High Heat Baseball (3DO):
Should be a realistic and exciting baseball game.
2) Championship Motorcross 2002 (Konami of America):
Could shape up to be a serious contender for motorcross champ. Konami is a solid company that produces solid games.
3) F1 Racing Championship (Ubi Soft):
Apparently the first Formula 1 racer for PS2.
4) Theme Park Roller Coaster (EA):
Design your own theme park and coasters. Cool!
5) Gran Turismo 2000, also called Gran Turismo 3 (Sony Electronics):
Don’t know much about this title, but it looks to be a solid ride.
6) ESPN Winter X-Games: Snowboarding (Konami of America):
Serious snowboarding in the ESPN license. Perhaps a solid alternative to SSX.
7) ESPN NBA 2Night (Konami of America):
Based on rep, it’s gotta be up in the top three of best B-ball games for the new system.
8) Knockout Kings 2001 (EA Sports):
Featuring new boxers, new styles, and better graphics, this game picks up where the previous title in the series left off.
9) NASCAR 2001 (EA Sports):
A solid racing game based on EA’s rep and NASCAR’s excitement.
10) NBA Live 2001 (EA Sports):
Could be the top NBA game for the PS2. Why? Because it’s EA, that’s why!
I’ve been writing these books for a while and I’ve been playing the games even longer. And I hate to say one company is better than all the others. But this time I have to say it, Electronic Arts and its division EA Sports have stolen the PS2 show. What can I say, the games this company has come out with for the system are just all-around great. No doubt there will be other games from other companies that are also great, but EA has the best PS2 games right now. Check out their games. Check out their website. Send these people love letters and homemade cookies. They deserve it.
A lot of stuff has been said about what movies are best on a DVD system. Most people say that the action-adventure movies play best. All those explosions and breaking glass really come out at you with DVD. That’s pretty true …
However, if you’re going to spend the rest of your life just renting or buying action movies for the DVD player, then you’re missing the point. First of all, a lot of older movies—from way back in ancient history—are out on DVD. Movies like Ghostbusters, which include a lot of added features. Also, animation, like Toy Story and Little Mermaid really pop out at you. In fact, anything with music in it really comes alive if you have your PS2 player hooked up to the family stereo. It’s like listening to a concert or something because of the improved sound quality.
Lastly, read the boxes. A lot of new stuff has been added to older movies. You’ll be surprised how much stuff. And this is a huge, huge bonus.
Classic, Original PlayStation Games
The real bonus—as everyone has said—about the PS2 is that you don’t have to chuck your old games when you get the system. The PS2’s backward compatibility is more than just a great design feature, it’s almost a public service. Some of the greatest games in home console history were written for the first PlayStation … real landmark games. And now they don’t have to be lost. In fact, I believe that as good as the PS2 games are and will be, dedicated gamers will keep going back to the classic PS games.
So, here’s a bunch—a lot actually—of original PS game reviews and codes. Many of these games you’ll recognize from the first PS book. Some of the games originally included have been left out to make room for the PS2 stuff. It was a tough decision deciding what to keep in and what to leave out, but we thought about it for a long time. Hopefully we made the right choices. Enjoy!