Return mine to me. No. 30 (versatile-yubisoft December 2003)

Today we go in 2003, in which Valve is going through vague times. Not only did the hacker abducted working files soon output Half-Life 2, in connection with this, by the way, the exit of the game was transferred to 2004, Duck also wants Valve to admit that they are going to release this baggeful version in September 2003 or he threatens to put some other files that he downloaded to the network. By the way, the subsequent story with capture, as Axel Jembe, living in Germany, can later be considered, can be considered almost detective.
Even later, Axel again contacted Gabe Newell, apologized, said that he did not want to cause much harm to the company and asked him to arrange in Valve.
Suddenly Gabe agreed and offered to conduct an interview on the phone. However, it was a trick – so that the hacker confesses to the hack. So it happened. After that, he was already invited to meet in the second interview, this time in Seattle, in the Valve office- he was already planning to detain the hacker.
However, this was not required and on May 7, 2004, Axel woke up armed people in his own bed, charged with the penetration of the American corporation and damage over 250 million. dollars. As a result: in November 2006, a court took place – on which he had a term of two years conditionally.

The date of the exhibition of Ultimate Gamers Expo, a kind of E3 for everyone, for everyone, where any visitor could try out any game brought to the exhibition, she had to go to Los Angeles from August 20 to 22, 2004-however, in the end, not a single event was held, due to the little interest from the developers. And it’s a pity, once again to feel the outgoing games soon a simple layman would be very cool.

Next in line we have a review of December 2003 today. We remind you that in this program we rely, namely, we do not put on the reviews of the Russian press of those years, but only derive the average value for several editions. Also, if you did not see a particular game that you played at that time, do not be upset at that time, in any case, in the next issues we will definitely talk about it, there were many releases, and the transmission format does not allow to cover everything. So be patient.
Well, now stock up with hot tea with cookies and go.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

It seemed that this game would turn out so excellent – no one believed. Especially after a misunderstanding in the form of Prince Persia 3D published in 1999. However, the craftsmen from Ubisoft Montreal were literally a miracle, to build one of the best works of the year on the seemingly doomed topic, and before us the game Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time.

Events take place in the ancient Eastern era, during the assault on the enemy palace, the Sultan Persia sends his son for a magic dagger, who got him and trusted in a vile vizier, opens access to another artifact – the sand clock.
They, in turn, are already filled with sand of the time, which, with the light hand of the prince, scattered around the district – turns almost all the inhabitants of the palace and its environs in sandy monsters. Well, our task is now enlisting the support of the headlight of the headlight, masterfully possessing onions and arrows, to return all the sand and save the kingdom, and at the same time to cram the evil vizier to the very tomatoes.

Acrobatics here is an important element of gameplay and it is simply masterpiece. A quick young man on the run easily overcomes deadly traps, jumps over the abysses, cleverly scatters along the steep walls and all these events follow one after another instantly replacing each other.
One slightest miscalculation in management could ruin everything, but it is filigree -shaped here, at least on consoles and gamepads. It is simple and favorable to the mistakes made by https://misterxcasino.uk/ the players, and to manage the hero surprisingly pleasant.
The prince himself will do everything to get, get to the ledge or losing a balance on a thin beam quickly to cling to her.

It is worth noting that we are jumping for a reason, but we solve such spatial puzzles that will still be continued in a series about the assassins, respectively, it is you who need to find the right path how to get to the upper tier, being somewhere below or how to jump over a huge abyss using the walls and column.
Of course, the animation of all these movements looks simply masterpiece, watching how the prince gracefully does all these almost traced tricks of overcoming obstacles is a pleasure.
However, if the hero breaks down without calculating strength, the ability of a magic dagger comes to the rescue to return the passage of time. So to speak, rewinding time spends one portion of magic sand, which is mined in battles with monsters.

And here we approach the second gameplay component – battle with sand monsters.
True, the combat regime, despite the variety of enemies, is still inferior to acrobatic sketches, especially when you understand that the clamped button of the block makes the prince an insensitive to a one-time attack of even several opponents. The line of vital energy grows briskly, an increasingly powerful weapon is toring to the arm, and the enemies here do not shine with the ingenuity, although this is redeemed by the fact that the monsters here are immortal to some extent and you can only kill them with our magical dagger, and the battles themselves are still not as simple as it might seem to seem initially.

But even if you were still chopped well, then the same rewinding of a series of events comes to the rescue. Although even the death of the prince in case of a lack of magic sand is served in a special way. Since the whole game, in fact, is the story of the protagonist, and he with the exclamation of “not so was all” sends you to the nearest point of conservation, of which there are abundantly.

Game engine-Jade Engine, according to “Gamery” for some reason that has previously lit up in Splinter Cell (although this is not so), perfectly copes with its task and the graphics in the game pleases the eyes of gamers and flaunts very high-quality models of characters, special effects and magnificent lighting.
However, for all this beauty, it was necessary to pay with rather not small system requirements. And the main stumbling block for many players, and for me personally, are the shaders of the new version. Damn, then these fucking shaders were wildly enraged by leaving me without passing another game.
On the prefixes, too, not everything was so smooth and for all the beauty it was necessary to pay FPS with a fall in the version for PS2.
Sound and music in the game also leave exceptionally positive emotions among reviewers noting that the compositions perfectly complement what is happening on the screen.

But in general it is I-I, 5 points.

Even if this game was half good than it is actually, it should already be played. A masterpiece combining excellent levels of levels, excellent acrobatics and magnificent battles – this was exactly one of the best games of that year and a masthead for gamers.

Beyond Good & Evil

The Michel Ansel Heim designer was already then known for the creation of his elaborate Rayman in 1995, intended to conquer the industry again, as it seemed the next three -dimensional platformer. But everything turned out to be much more complicated and before us the brainchild of several Ubisoft studios – Beond Good & Evil.

The plot of the game transfers us to the planet Hilys, constantly subject to attacks of alien invaders Domz. Regular bombing and abduction of people do not stop, although the fighting of infantrymen Alpha Section.
But we are assigned the role of photographer Jade, to which the rebel organization IRIS addresses in order to prove that in fact, brave infantrymen and alien invaders act together and play the vaulted spectral of a truly Hamlet scale before the whole world. Jade living on a remote island, along with children whose vile aliens stole his parents and uncle pig, and he is really lead. Well, okay.

So now she will have to penetrate the secret objects of Alpha Security, scout the situation, take exposing pictures and transfer them to the rebels from Iris.
Strange as it may seem, your main weapon in the game is a camera, and the task of the heroine here is not to break the legs and arms of the enemies, but to click more.
Of course, you will have to act quietly, hide from the patrols, make your way to the enemy bases and all in the same spirit, but sometimes no one gets in the way to give the enemies either. Despite the fact that the battles in the game look good and Jade now and then deftly rolls and somersaults, moving away from the enemy’s blows, and inflicts the response series with his DAI-JO Stick stick with his stick.
But nevertheless, the gameplay here clearly makes it clear that you need to spy, although the stealth explosion is simple and much more arcaden compared to the then Mgs2 and Splinter Cell monsters.

In addition to the actually secret missions – during the game you will also need to ride on Khovercraft and participate in many mini games.
Hovercraft is a kind of floating tank with a powerful gun and strong armor, as well as part -time main means of transportation around the city and world game. The size of the planet is impressive, and in almost every corner of it you can visit.
A sufficient number of inhabitants paces the streets here so that a feeling of a living city is created and with most of them you can spread a pair of phrases, and NPCs that are of great importance for the plot are always textured and charismatic, which are at least rhin-rastamans in the black market.

Quite often you have to join Hovercraft in battles against the invaders, so that he will have to upgrade more than once. Well, the money for its improvement in the form of new powerful guns or a turbo engine and other things, as well as for other useful things, you get here again for pictures of rare monsters and other living creatures or places. More precisely, you spend money on the main currency of the local black market – pearls, and they are already for the rest.

Almost half of the time you will spend solving complex and not very puzzles, hacking digital locks and looking for the right schedules to open the doors. And in many of the tasks – you will need the help of a partner. Most doors here open if you simultaneously stand on two plates and so on. You can choose partners and each of them has its own set of useful skills, for example, uncle, the one that the pig, masterfully hacks the locks and easily knocks strong doors.
Jade’s partners are not only useful from the practical side, but also well worked out and each of them has its own unique character, and skirmishes with an ever -dissatisfied uncle are hilarious here, and indeed the game has a good sense of humor.

Beyond Good & Evil Graphics amazing. Many islands, various scientists and factory complexes, and the city itself are performed at the highest level. The animation of the characters here is just as excellent. Jade movements are smooth and natural, and the feelings that she experiences on her face reflect on her face. The aforementioned in Persia Prince Jade Engine, named, by the way, just in honor of the heroine of this game – here is also on top.

But in general it is 9 points of 10.

An interesting plot, a diverse and very exciting gameplay, a large and damn world of the game, as well as charismatic characters will not let you get bored until the final of the game. Beond Good & Evil is a vivid example of how to make beautiful games on truth.

Something we have some unexpectedly Jubisoft release, and also of different. But, apparently, then they were on horseback. This time before us the first -person shooter Ubisoft France – XIII (thirteen).

The first thing that rushes at the sight of the game is, of course, the visual style, the Sal-shaped, well, or in the common people, looking like painted graphics, at that time the phenomenon was quite frequent on the consoles, but such projects went a lot less often, therefore, the appraisal and enthusiasm of the reviewers are slightly accelerated. But it is worth recognizing that, in any case, the game looks unusual and damn stylish, in the form of a kind of comic book.

By the way, unlike other platforms, the PS2 version with the display of scenes in real time, according to the “country of games”, could not cope, and instead of moving no top -ups, they are made in the form of static illustrations. But, personally, it is quite strange to see that the console in the 3rd year of life does not cope with the videos on the engine, perhaps the idea was something else … well, okay.

The main character wakes up on the beach without memory, a sexy (well, by the standards of local graphics) blonde comes to the rescue, which helps to get to the nearest cottage on the coast, and starts to call the hospital, but the automatic queue interrupts the call, the blonde lies in a pool of blood, and we need to get out in a urgent order.
On the passage of the whole game, an excellent spy story will be saturated with characters and is able to please truly unexpected turns of events. Our hero is to predict to remember who he is and how he got involved in all this spy bustle.

The game is similar to a rapid twelve time bondian. Misses are quickly replaced by one another and, I must say, they are thought out perfectly, in the process of passage we will visit both the bank, and in the military base, and in prison and even in the monastery. Ruthless shootings here are replaced by stealth explosion, where you stun watch chairs or mops.
Gameplay and decoration change are thought out to the last millimeter. But hence the first minus for reviewers pops up – this is almost a total creptor of what is happening. There are no special revelations in Gameplay in principle – a perfectly made, exciting classic shooter.

Also, as they pass, new types of weapons are opened, the total total number has 15 trunks. Not to say that they have the wildest variety, but it is always fun to shoot with two ultrasound. And if you need to act quietly, then a crossbow will come to the rescue of us, which will help you send a well -aimed shot to the forefathers of the adversary. By the way, almost every death of enemies here is accompanied by comic inserts with dying cries or sobs.

Over time, our hero gains abilities, for example, allowing to recognize the whereabouts of the enemy by the sound of steps, or the opportunity to use the first -aid kit with double efficiency and so on.
Still praise the sound and especially stylish musical accompaniment. A whole pile of good actors was engaged in the voice acting of the characters, and the protagonist says David’s voice “Siberian crown” Duties.

Multi -user modes are in abundance, but they are unlikely to extend the impression of the game. Everything is standard and playing them is not particularly fun.

But in general it is 7.5 points of 10.

The magnificent combination of Cel-scenting’s, a dashing plot, a swift classic shooter and a magnificent espionage atmosphere-well, how can you go past such a stylish game?

That we have a lower rank?

Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death – The first -person shooter is the authorship of Rebellion. In general, the British comic strip “Judge Dredd” was not lucky in other hypostases at that time. First, the failed film of the 95th year with Stallon, which, by the way, is not that very straight, but I liked it in due time. Then, on PS1, the activist produces a terrifying shooting range about judges in 1998.
And you can even say that Dredd vs. Death is the best interactive embodiment of the universe at that time.

We play here, of course, for Dredd, a strict, but fair judge in the dying metropolis Mega City. The city appeared in the city, and Dredd does not go out in order to investigate crimes, but to destroy hundreds of identical vampires.

In general, by the way, the judge death comes from a parallel universe. Once considered that since crimes are committed by living beings, then life itself can be considered a crime. Thanks to the supernatural forces, he and several more judges of the so -called “dark judges” have turned into undead and now, traveling between dimensions, began to destroy entire worlds.

In order to perform justice, we are given a Lawgiver pistol, working in six modes, well, as in a movie in general, why burst out again. As an additional weapon, you can choose anyone that you will find from opponents from a sniper rifle to a machine gun.
But there is no sense in all this – and you can go through the whole game without even without changing your cartridges in the trunk and without choosing a single weapon.

There are two types of opponents here-these are vampire monsters with whom everything is clear-I am a simple judge I see a monster shoot. Everything is much more interesting with people – at first, the bandits themselves may not attack you at first until you get to the bottom of them. But they behave here in different ways-someone at the sight of a shooting or the arrest of a companion may surrender, and someone, on the contrary, will rush at you.

You are endowed with the authority to kill everyone who dares to attack, this does not affect reputation, however, if you keep your life and chase adhesive men, the leadership gives you a plusik in karma.
By the way, if you shoot the enemy’s hand, you can force him to drop a weapon. Also, by pressing a certain button, Dredd pronounces something in the style of “on the knees, bastards”, which also reduces the amount of mortality among the local population. Well, then the case is for a small one – to set a deadline and announce the verdict.

The levels here do not shine, and now and then, we have to conduct mass shooting at various kinds of factories and plants, and plot videos look quite clumsy. The graphics in the game also does not shine, but for some reason there is a multiplayer, and for 4 players and with the possibility of a split-scrine, though he does not represent interest to gamers.
As a result, this is a very average shooter that could only like something – only ardent fans of Judge Dredd. 5.5 points.

Medal of Honor: Rising Sun Exclusive for the consoles of the then current generation shooter from electronics arts.
Actually you have already guessed why this game was released.

Here the ea went to a cunning trick – the first level was really impressive. Still, an attack on Pearl Harbor is not a huhra-mukhra for you, but one of the significant battles of the Second World War. Here the developers stood up and looks spectacular and cool, but then everything begins gloomy and shitty.
Firstly, the insanely stupid artificial intelligence of opponents, which is not able to perceive the situation more or less.
Secondly, the levels here are dull corridors, in which we now and then shooting the Japanese run out of either houses or from the jungle. The design of the game is called – almost wretched. It is worth noting that after all, sometimes there are entertaining moments and periodically we find ourselves-now under the shelling, then we become witnesses of the spectacular shootings of Americans and Japanese, but for such a project, this is certainly not enough.

The graphics in the game are not particularly pleased with the eye and will have to taste unless avid lovers of the “Medal for Courage” series. In addition, uncomfortable management in every possible way beats off any desire to go through the game.
But there is a cooperative regime and you can go with a bosom friendly the entire campaign. There are also a multiplayer for 4 players. As a result 5 points.

Armed & Dangerous

In the past, the legendary Lucasarts campaign, which practically intact bad games and the Planet Moon Studios studio composed of SHINY studio, those who are the same for the worm Jim and MDK, made a premature gift to gamers – in the form of a cool and the most unusual action of that year – Armed &Dangerous.

The action takes place in the once prosperous republic, now suffering from the oppression of the tyranny of the local ruler of Fordj. To overthrow which only the powerful magic book The Book of Rule, or make it almost invincible.
But the trouble, someone put a spell on the book-because of which it turned into the instructions for weaving baskets. The best magician magicians are not able to do something with this spell, and this is only for our hero to Roman. The leader of the rebel unit Lionhearts, which, in addition to him, includes an old man, a kind of soothsayer and philosopher-possessing magical power, but not really remembering how to use it correctly, a mole in glasses and a combat robot in a costume of Centurion, who has English manners and does not see his life without a cup of English tea.
Feel? Smell to humor! If you played Jim’s worm and Lucasart quests, then you approximately understand what the level of humor is, if not, I will say – just a great. As the reviewers note, when passing this game, you do not leave your face smile, periodically interrupted by laughter, up to the final credits.

I should notice from myself that all this is true – I don’t remember that I have encouraged me to buy this game at one time, but I remembered it exclusively on the positive side and not least with its humor. Believe me, so funny and funny dialogues, situations and heroes, even now you rarely meet.
However, I still failed to go through it because already at the second or third level, she began to lag so that my PC was capable of fading the pararod regime or completely hang. Well, okay.

Actually, the whole plot here passes in the confrontation between Fordj and the Lionhearts rebels groups.
In addition to machine guns and automatic machines, weapons are not just non -standard here, but to fuck as non -standard, and to this day I personally have never seen anything like this in games.
What is the gun “Akulomet” shooting underground sharks, which subsequently break out under the enemies from under the ground and devour them.
Or here is the Topsy Turvy bomb, literally turning the screen upside down, so that the enemies first fly to the sky, and then returns back and flying to the ground enemies too.

Graphics here is executed at the highest level. Taken from the magnificent previous game of Giants: Citizen Kabuto, a strongly modified engine here gives out a wonderful picture. Special effects, weather phenomena and so on are perfectly performed and create a chic atmosphere. Snow, rain, fluid wind look very convincing for their time. Also, almost all objects here are subject to destruction, a kind of Battlefield: Bad Company from 2003.
I remember this just struck me then that trees, hibars, towers crackled and crumbled under the onslaught of grenades and grenade launchers. Despite the fact that the levels are quite large.

In the course of the game, depending on the style of your passage, on the walls you will come across posters with a promise of remuneration for the heads of group members. Moreover, the higher the amount of the remuneration, the more enemies will be sent to your capture and the higher the difficulty of passing some stages.

Of the minuses, some reviewers complain about the small duration of the game, but they note that after passing you will want to return to it and go again. Also, the monotony of stages are recorded into the disadvantages and only one available hero can be played, as for me – here it is very attracted by the ears, you can say to any third -person shooter if you want to say that it suffers from monotony. About one playable character – without comment.

Gambling generally got to the bottom of everything that was possible to supposedly ugly textures and special effects, and to large spaces on which you can only shoot monsters, while putting 7.5 points and saying – “Well, in general it is worth playing – it is good”.

As a result, this 8-8.5 points of 10.

Great humor here is steeply intertwined with dynamic gameplay and good graphics, raising the game to the category of one of the best actions of that time, leaving behind exclusively positive emotions.

It is time for today to say goodbye to December 2003 and we, of course, will return to him in the future, because there are still many games left about which you need to tell. And now all civilians – to leave the territory, there was an officer Startarev with you. Bye.