GAME OF THE WEEK
'Resident Evil 4'
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From: Capcom
Price: $49.99
Platform: GameCube
As anyone who has ever played anything in the survivor-horror genre of video games knows, regardless of the video-gamemaker or the title, there are three things that are certain: the game will contain at least one or two "jump out of your seat" moments, a creature or two will show up later in one of your own nightmares, and the game's control schemes will be more horrific than anything in the game.
In the case of the "Resident Evil" franchise, that usually meant the control of your character was as slow and lumbering as the undead zombies that inhabited the game.
Well, it's a new day at Capcom. The only thing "Resident Evil 4" shares with its predecessors (beyond the namesake title) is a single character from the franchise, Leon S. Kennedy.
Leon now moves with agile speed. It's a good thing because you'll need quick reflexes to avoid dying in this game, which happens to be the best game in the series.
With Raccoon City no longer a setting for the franchise (it was blown up in "Resident Evil: Apocalypse"), things shift to a remote European village. In the six years that have passed since we last saw the rookie cop, he's found employment in the Secret Service. The game begins as Leon is dispatched to a remote town, with a mission to find the president's kidnapped daughter, Ashley.
While the residents of the farming hamlet aren't zombies, they all appear too crazy, murderous and hell-bent on your demise. They also move just as quick as you can, making the game intense. Find Ashley or die trying.
One other innovation: Forget about passively watching the cut- scenes between levels. In addition to advancing the story line, many now require you to take "button mashing" action or perish. "Resident Evil 4" is frighteningly good fun. (Rated M for blood, gore and intense violence)
--Misha Davenport
CAPSULE REVIEWS
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Pocket Kingdom
(Sega; N-Gage; $34.99)
Perhaps more detrimental to Nokia's phone/handheld game console than its initially poor design and disastrous marketing campaign was its lack of the one killer app at its launch well over a year ago. Ports of games already available on the Game Boy Advance weren't going to drive up sales, and games exclusive to the unit left much to be desired.
That all changes with Sega's "Pocket Kingdom," a persistent, online role-playing game. Build and equip your battalions and send them into battle. The initial hour of the game is spent proving you're worthy of online play. Once online play is unlocked, you'll be able to kick butt or be butt-kicked by anyone playing the game in the N-Gage Arena. And therein lies the game's major fault. Given sales of the N-Gage have been less than stellar, you might be hard pressed to find an opponent. Still, it's a lot of fun if and when you do. (Rated T for language, mild fantasy violence and suggestive themes. Content may change during online play)
--Misha Davenport
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WORLD POKER TOUR TV GAMES
(JAKKS Pacific's TV Games; Plug and Play; $24.99)
It's not the graphics that get you hooked on World Poker Tour TV Games (those are pretty weak), it's the need to break that smug- looking Raul.
The addictive poker game is the latest in the "Plug and Play" series by Jakks Pacific. Four play modes simulate a World Poker Tour season from a low-stakes poker night to a full-fledged tournament.
The controller has a built-in LCD-screen that lets six gamblers play without seeing the others' cards. (Rated E)
--Lucio Guerrero
CHICAGO'S TOP TEN
1. The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap GBA
2. Mercenaries PS2
3. Resident Evil 4 GC
4. Animal Crossing GC
5. Mercenaries Xbox
6. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories GBA
7. Mr. Driller DS
8. Mario Party 6 GC
9. Polly!: Super Splash Island GBA
10. Yoshi's Island GBA
UPCOMING RELEASES
Blades of Thunder (GBA): Feb. 1
Crushed Baseball (GBA): Feb. 1
CSI Double Pack (PC): Feb. 1
Scrapland (Xbox): Feb. 1
Will of Steel (PC): Feb. 1
Winning Eleven 8 (PS2 and Xbox): Feb. 1
Courtesy of Gamefly.com
BIZ BYTES
REality could soon reflect fantasy game
It would be the ultimate in reality television -- characters that viewers would control.
Sound familiar? Like "The Sims" perhaps? That's not a coincidence. Electronic Arts, makers of the wildly popular "Sims" series, is reportedly considering partnering with a television studio to make a series based on the game.
"One idea could be that you're controlling a family, telling them when to go to the kitchen and when to go to the bedroom, and with this mechanism you have gamers all over the world 'playing the show,' " Jan Bolz, vice president of marketing and sales for EA Europe told Reuters.
The company refused to give any other details but confirmed it is in talks with several TV production companies. No release date has been set. --Lucio Guerrero
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