How are you going to spend the rest of your summer?
Half of the people in Jeddah where I live are either planning to leave for vacation or are coming back from their vacation. As I too am planning a vacation I have to worry little about the upcoming games scheduled for release. But most of you gamers must be eagerly waiting for the new releases. So for this week’s GVM we have a 3 part preview for this summer’s gaming time, and while you are at it take the poll and prove to me that you gamers actually have a life.
Besides playing videogames do you have a life?
(a) Movie watcher
(b) Football player
(c) Basket ball player
(d) Shopper
(e) Car racer
(f) Sky diver
(g) Other
Any Questions, Comment, Praise Mail, or Hate Mail, you can contact me at: [email protected]
Game Preview
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
While Medal of Honor: Allied Assault set a standard for realism-based WWII FPS titles, that standard has been built upon and surpassed by titles like Call of Duty (for single player) and Battlefield 1942 (for multiplayer). This isn’t deterring EA, however, as their next Medal of Honor not only changes the field of action to the Pacific Theater, but improves on almost every part of the original game. The action, for instance, is now squad-based, and advanced AI means you’ll have to be ever-aware of how your actions will be supported by (or cause damage to) your squad-mates. The game engine itself has been rebuilt from scratch to incorporate the new Pacific environs, and now incorporates the detail of the Havok physics engine. Finally, Pacific Assault will include a new objective-based multiplayer mode ready to compete with the likes of Battlefield and UT2004’s Onslaught.
Game Preview
Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Developer: Massive Entertainment
If you’re a fan of real-time strategy titles, well, apart from going back for a little StarCraft or WarCraft III, you probably won’t do better so far this year than Massive’s beautiful sequel. Building on the tactics-based game play of the original title, Ground Control II raises the bar with a slick new visual engine and laudable improvements such as the addition of reinforcements to your key units. While still a little rough, AI has been improved, and at its highest difficulty setting the game should put up a real challenge for RTS veterans.
Game Preview
Call of Duty: United offensive
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Gray Matter Studios
Genre: First Person Shooter
Last year’s Call of Duty had fans of both WWII-themed games and out-and-out shooters glued to their seats (when they weren’t jumping out of them). While the action was largely scripted, no one could deny the finesse with which Infinity Ward designed its high-intensity missions. Now, developer Gray Matter takes over to add a new handful of missions as well as new multiplayer modes. The introduction of player-controlled tanks for multiplayer combat may be worth the price of the expansion alone.