E3 - Hands On Impressions - Sega 21
Slashdot Games is still camped out at E3 in Los Angeles, and having finished hands-on reports on the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo booths, we're going on to look at some of the other major exhibitors. Next up is Sega, so read on for more info about new Phantasy Star Online, Sonic, Worms, and Virtual On titles, plus the rather smart Billy Hatcher with his Giant Egg.
- Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg, the newest Sonic Team title for Gamecube, was the surprise game of the stand. Although screenshots had started leaking before the show, it wasn't that clear what was going on, but seeing the game playable made all the difference. Basically, you're a boy called Billy Hatcher who has a rooster hat on (!), and you help out a giant chicken by rolling massive eggs around the levels, down hills, knocking over enemies, and generally causing havoc. The game sports what looks like an updated Sonic Adventure graphics engine, you can pick up floating PacMan-style fruit goodies, and you can even run around on your own and switch to different eggs, which presumably have different properties. The game looks like a whole heap of fun, and we're really looking forward to seeing more of it.- Worms 3D, the Team 17 multiformat update of their classic multiplayer title, was recently signed by Sega Europe, so was showing on the stand. Although many 3D updates of classic 2D-based titles don't necessarily turn out for the best (anyone remember Lemmings 3D?), this one looks a lot more promising, with great cartoony 3D graphics, cool targeting for overhead airstrikes, and the same super-fun weapons lists.
- Headhunter: Redemption, being shown for PS2, looked like a pretty competent action game, with plenty of stealth elements as well as action, and a heavily tattooed female lead character for at least some of the game. There were also some very Metal Gear Solid moments in the demo, peeking round corners and pivoting to shoot guards at the right moments, and the title looked accomplished, if not breathtaking.
- Otogi for the Xbox was one of the more interesting games on the stand, a really nice looking action beat-em-up featuring ghostly ninja attacks and a 'rush mode' that was somewhat reminiscent of Shinobi. Actually, it also reminds us of Gun Valkyrie, with the frenetic action and deep valleys filled with enemies. But overall, promising.
- Phantasy Star Online Episode III: CARD Revolution was showing for Gamecube with a playable battle demo, and this turn-based card RPG looked very interesting, if very different from previous PSO games. You could play cards like the 'Chain Sawd' weapon for attacks, and there seemed to be block/hex based movement involved, too, but overall, learning the game will take a lot longer than the brief look at it we got. The graphics were neat, though, with PSO's characteristically swaying enemy animations, so if you can stand the change of pace, this title may be worth checking out.
- Sonic Heroes, due out for multiple formats, was looking like the best 3D Sonic game so far, with much bigger and wider-ranging courses, so less of the constrained platform action that played havoc with the camera in earlier Sonic titles. The unique feature of this Sonic game is that you're controlling three Sonic characters at once, and can switch between them to use their different powers - somewhat like Kameo for Xbox in terms of gameplay mechanism. The version we saw had Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as the three characters, and each was better suited for different challenges - for example, Tails can fly, so he's great for bridging long distances while carrying the other two characters.
- Altered Beast was being shown on video only, sadly, but looked promising. There were a bunch of cool transformation effects shown for this 3D beat-em-up remake of the classic 2D Sega game, and it's clear you can even transform into different beasts, including a fire-breathing one and a flying animal that can unleash a spectacular-looking energy attack.
- as for the other titles, Virtual On Marz for PS2 had some excellent multiplayer action, looking slightly basic graphically but very smooth, Virtua Fighter 4:Evolution looked even better than Virtua Fighter 4, although the gameplay is as involved as ever, and there were other appearances from a Vectorman PS2 demo and a neat Sonic Pinball Gameboy Advance title.
For further impressions, screenshots, and media try IGN.com, Gamespot, Gamers.com, Gamerfeed, or all the other usual suspects. More hands-on impressions soon.
E3 - Hands on Impression @ EA (Score:1)
Re:E3 - Hands on Impression @ EA (Score:1)
(Incidentally, I saw a video of Gradius V on IGN, that game looks to be DAMN fun! Classic 2d Gradius action, with stunning graphics, very arcadelike to the ex
Umm.. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Umm.. (Score:1)
>"More hands-on impressions soon.."
Sonic Heroes sounds like the lost vikings (Score:3, Interesting)
Can any of you remember the classic "head over heels" for the C64/Spectrum/Amstrad? Head could jump and shoot, heels could run and carry stuff. They started the game apart, and once you got them together they'd move as one unit until you had to take them apart again. At one point, the game had been tentatively titled "foot and mouth".
Good times.
Does anybody have any favorite games with a similar mechanism?
Sega Sports???? (Score:1)
I want my NFL2k4, and I want it NOW!
Re:Sega Sports???? (Score:1)
Re:Sega Sports???? (Score:1)
I curious to see what the PS2 will have to combat XSN Sports on the Xbox... should be interesting.
Worms 3D... (Score:2, Funny)
yay more Sonic... (Score:1)
Finally (Score:1)
re: anyone remember Lemmings 3D? (Score:1)