• Mario Kart Wii - 8.94 million
• Wii Fit - 8.31 million
• Grand Theft Auto IV - 7.29 million
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl- 6.32 million
• Call of Duty: World at War- 5.89 million

After facing harsh criticism over the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV's bugginess at launch, Rockstar has put together a second patch that, among other things, offers graphical and crash fixes while correcting errors with the first patch.

You can grab the patch at Rockstar's website or by signing into Games for Windows Live. Follow the link to check out the patch notes.

• Windows XP SP2
• Dual core processor (Intel Pentium D or above)
• 2GB of RAM
• 18GB of hard drive space
• 512MB Direct 3D 10 compatible video card or Direct3D 9 card
• DVD dual-layer drive

• Warhawk Broken Mirror Trailer
• Condemned 2: Bloodshot Making Of The TV Spot
• HAZE Mantel Corporate Vision
• This is Vegas Annoucement Trailer
• GT5 Prologue Friendly Fires Video
• GT5 Prologue Beyond the Apex Trailer

• Pineapple Express

• Warhawk Theme (x2)
• Lair Mokai Theme

• Safety deposit box
• "Special" packaging
• GTAIV art book, "featuring never-before-seen production artwork from GTA IV"
• Selected soundtrack
• Rockstar keychain (for the safety deposit box keys)
• Rockstar duffel bag

"Best European Import" -- Marcel Horn; 2007 Audi TT

"Best Domestic Automobile" -- Gary Cheney; 2007 Factory Five GTM

"Best Hot Rod" -- Jim and Mike Ring; 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback

"Best Japanese Import" -- Michael Chung; 2007 Nissan 350Z

"Best Truck / SUV" -- Mike DeFord; 2007 Dodge Ram

The company today registered the trademark for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. It's not too surprising considering there was an expectation for another game already on the PSP. Of course at this time, Rockstar hasn't officially confirmed anything and we'll have to wait for more details as they come about.

The game according to SPOnG is scheduled to hit retailers April 15th. No other details were given on the game, but what is known about Grand Theft Auto PSP is that it will be based in Liberty City and will be a 3D free-roaming third-person action title.

We'll have more details on GTA PSP when Rockstar releases them.

We will probably hear more news about Gran Turismo at next months Tokyo Game Show.

To go along with all of the other screenshots today, Namco Bandai has released six first screenshots of One Piece: Grand Adventure for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube.

]]> Tue, 02 May 2006 13:56:00 -0500 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gran_turismo_4_dated_for_europeaustralia http://www.gamebump.com/go/gran_turismo_4_dated_for_europeaustralia http://www.gamebump.com/go/gran_turismo_4_dated_for_europeaustralia# Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital confirmed with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe that the highly anticipated racing simulator Gran Turismo 4 will release in Australia and Europe on March 9th, 2005.

The game is set to include over 700 vehicles and 50 tracks along with a new photo option and of course the graphics that Gran Turismo fans are accustomed too. Yamauchi said of the game, "It's more than a sequel, but, in fact, a redefinition of what a video game can be."

This presumably means that Gran Turismo 4 is still on schedule for a North American launch in March as well, currently it is scheduled for March 14th.

Time will tell and we'll have more when Sony Computer Entertainment of America makes their own announcement on Gran Turismo 4.

The site reported that God of War 2 will release in February for the PlayStation 2. The game will feature new magical abilities, better climbing and an ability to fly. Not surprising Eurogamer also reported that God of War will possibly make a transition to the PlayStaton 3 as well.

Meanwhile, Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition is reportedly coming out in the second quarter of 2006. The game will feature six-player online races. Players supposedly will be able to choose from 50 tracks, 700 cars. The game is also rumored to include a single-player challenge mode and many online options.

Finally, one last tidbit of information related to Killzone for the PlayStation Portable. Eurogamer reported that the shooter which will include cooperative and online play will release on November 3rd. The game will allow players to continue the story from the end of the original title on the PlayStation 2.

Of course we at Gaming Horizon must say that none of this information is confirmed. Eurogamer has since pulled down the information and posted a note that Sony has threatened legal action if they didn't comply. This could very well mean that Eurogamer was on to something.

Grandia III, the latest installment in the popular Grandia series developed by Game Arts, isn't exactly one of the most polished RPGs expected to come out of Square Enix's gate this year, but it is one of the more unusual offerings the company has made since its merger, and it is highly anticipated amongst fans. The game features a good amount of "spoof" fun, cheesy dialogue, and lots of quirky - yet entertaining - situations, sort of a la Radiata Stories (as well as past Game Arts titles, obviously), but its gameplay (though irritating at times) at least makes a solid attempt at overriding these presentational flaws. In short: Grandia III isn't perfect; it's also not half bad. Which side you gravitate to depends on your acceptance of the battle system in replace of an epic RPG's plot.



Grandia III boasts a traditional cast of heroes with a slight twist. The two starting characters include Yuki, the game's hero and an ambitious pilot who dreams of flying across the ocean to the mainland someday, and his mother, Miranda, who is a strong-willed and clever woman who spends most of her time either lecturing Yuki, planting herbs, cooking dinner, or courageously slaying viscous monsters (I know - the mother everyone wants). The pair lives in a small village called Anfog, where Yuki strives to build an airplane in his friend's garage so he can escape his boring village life (and mother).

During his evening flight he discovers that he's got a parental stowaway, and he and mommy-Miranda end up crashing and saving the life of a fugitive girl named Alfina. The girl is a "communicator" and serves as a liaison between the worlds of god and men, but deeply wants to escape to Arcriff and see her brother, Emilious. The three team up and set off to cross the ocean, and along the way they meet Alonso, the charming, gambling-addicted sailor, and his old shipmate friend Ulf, the foxy-tailed, spirited boy with a pet dragon. As the plot deepens, it's discovered that Alfina's brother is, of course, insanely evil and must be stopped from killing the world's gods (i.e., the "guardians"), enter Yuki and team. For a slight twist, the standard team that you fall into at the game's start isn't the team you end up with for the bulk of the gameplay, which is a plus if you tire of the same four-five people after ten hours of play. As far as storylines go, Grandia III's is functional and entertaining; the inclusion of Miranda is very unique and adds another level of depth (which, I'm afraid, is sorely needed) that you don't often see in any videogames, let alone RPGs (imagine action/adventure titles where strapping young heroes go in search of glory with their mothers). Whether the plot retains a strong focus, however, is debatable.

The bulk of the plot, and nearly every important visual cue, is presented in sometimes lengthy cutscenes that directly parallel Xenosaga's use of excessive, but beautiful, "events". If it's important, or even vaguely sentimental, you can bet you'll spend at least one minute of cutscene time on it, but the majority of these are presented well and serve to draw you deeper into the storyline. There is also a hell of a lot of cheesy dialogue supported by incredibly cliche moments which will either amuse or annoy you, but yet again, the game still manages to draw you in despite (or perhaps because of?) its unique cheesy-ness. It's almost like playing through a really unbelievable anime.

The game's standard graphics - which are anything but - are just as detailed and exquisite as its cutscenes and CG. Grandia III's 3D world sports gorgeous environments complete with fluffy clouds floating overhead in bright blue skies, birds soaring through the air, leaves floating about village towns, and lots of winding roads and fresh greenery. Even Anfog has a cliff from which you can look out and literally see for miles, and the view is breathtaking. From the churning water round Alonso's ship to the unbelievable sunrises and sunsets as you sail to the mainland, Grandia III is a visual treat, though I starkly believe that some of the character design is a little off; why would anyone who isn't colorblind wear an orange blouse with a blue vest and green shorts?

Gamers spend most of their time in Grandia III wandering about the field dodging enemies (opponents are shown on-screen a la Chrono Cross, Kingdom Hearts, etc.) or slicing enemies with Yuki's sword, which stuns them so players can either retreat or run headlong into them to initiate battle and gain the first move. Some objects in the environment are interactive, and you can push rocks to create bridges, swipe at explosives to clear paths, cut down vegetation, and so forth. Environs are dotted with treasure chests, and nearly every field area has a mini-map with full directions and exit/entrance markings. If you get stuck you can always rely on Yuki's special "examine" ability, which briefly highlights the immediate area and surrounds items of interest in a bright blur aura.

When it's time for a battle, those new to the Grandia series will be treated to an entirely different, more realistic active time battle system that is fresh, fast-paced, and feels extremely natural for anyone who's ever wondered why, during RPG battles, the enemies just stand there and let you whack at them. In Grandia III, opponents are constantly moving about the field and either attacking or preparing to attack. The game's main difference from other RPGs is, in fact, this unique battle system which presents the party's - and enemies' - turn meters in a ring. The ring sports three primary colored segments; there's the blue "wait" area, the yellow "command" bar, and the red "act" area during which players are preparing to attack. All characters and opponents are shown on the ring and move clockwise through their turns. A typical battle opens with the full band of allies and foes cycling toward the command marker, entering actions, speeding through the red act area, and then performing an attack before reentering the blue wait field. Though this is essentially the standard ATB meter displayed at the bottom of the screen, placing everyone on a ring gives the system a much faster pace, which is supported by further battle elements.

Another unique aspect of the battle system is the cancel option, which enables you to actually prevent an opponent from taking its turn (and when you have six-eight foes, this is necessary). The idea is that as opponents elect their commands and then enter the red act field to get into position/cast, you can hit them with a critical attack and cancel their move. The system is a requirement against bosses - as most sport a host of devastating spells - but there's always a catch (in this case, two): it takes time to get into position and perform a cancel, so often an opponent will attack when you're one second away from a swipe; your party members can also be cancelled, which is disastrous when you're preparing to heal. Even with the cancel option, the battles are so fast-paced and intense that you'll occasionally lose to even standard mobs. As you can imagine, this drastically increases the game's difficulty and makes for some rather time-consuming fights (and here I'm talking about normal battles, not bosses), but if you're tired of the standard fare this should prove a treat.

To make the battle aspect more interesting, Game Arts also included standard attack combos, critical hits/cancel attacks, item usage, special moves (these cost SP points), and aerial combos, which are combos and/or critical hits strung together on the same opponent. Aerial combos decimate the bad guys and get them to drop more items and money, which is nice if you're in a financial bind. The special moves are merely character specific attacks that you'll almost always use on bosses along with weapon abilities, which are unique to specific weapons.

Supportive to nearly every RPG battle system in the world is the use of magic and skills, which you purchase and equip from shops (the only other place you can set up your magic/skills from is a save sphere). The mana orbs also reappear and you can extract spells from them at more advanced magic shops or even fuse them together; you can also extract skills from skill books. You can also just opt to equip said eggs and skill books for stat bonuses, which are also handy. Quite possibly the best aspect of magic use in Grandia III is how much faster magic is performed, with only minimal "I summon the fire god to unleash mighty flames upon thine foes and swallow the earth" lines. For additional twists, players will also obtain weapons that are element based, and these provide for free spells (great when you're in an MP bind).

Grandia III's soundtrack is orchestral with a touch of very light, very energetic pop (I'd almost swear the theme song was for an anime), and it's very befitting considering the game's genre and character. Spells get some outstanding audio effects, while voiceovers are mostly mediocre but suffice to get the job done.



The biggest problems in Grandia III are mostly presentational ones, but for an RPG, that's a big concern. The game has some incredibly cheesy dialogue that supports an extremely shallow and unlikely plot (how can a person survive 20 plane crashes without a scratch?), and worst of all, the plot that you do get is often full of strange gaps or - more often the case - really irrational logic. The game also has a plethora of utterly cliche repeat offenders - that is, unbelievably typical motifs, like "only love can save the world". Developers, I beg you: if you're going to use a love motif in an RPG, move it a step beyond "love is the answer", because that's the sort of fluff I expect to hear from Jimmy Carter or hippies. "Love will set us free" has been done a million times over in the genre, and the simplification is really, really ridiculous (not to mention repetitive).

If you can accept that the game is far from an "epic" adventure and love the idea of a fast-paced battle system, then be warned: there's a lot more luck involved in Grandia III's fights than in most RPGs, and while that keeps the action "fresh" it also means that you'll occasionally spend way too long on a typical fight. Sometimes the luck is with you and as the battle starts, you're able to get off some decent spells and stroll your way through the body count. At others, the fight opens with six foes performing their most devastating moves in between calling for back-up. In summary: recover and save often. You will die in Grandia III, and if you tire of spending another two hours in the same spot and hope to run through a dungeon to hit the boss, expect to spend two hours leveling just outside the boss area, because you won't be ready for the fight. Grandia III is not a game you skim through at your leisure. It's fun, but it's demanding, too.

The game's biggest drawback is that, as opponents in a particular dungeon tend to share the same elemental base (and hence, oppositional element), a lot of the same spells get used - over and over and over. This can become especially aggravating during long boss (or even standard) fights that are heavy on the magic of just one element, and more so if you die. I actually spent three hours going through the golems in Yoat's dungeon (there are six) because I needed the experience for an even tougher boss fight, and I play RPGs for a living.

Another flaw that isn't unfamiliar to RPGs is the use of backtracking to obtain key items. Yes, the second trip through an area is always 85% quicker, but it still feels cheap and really negates any sense of returning for a key item anyway. Don't waste my time by forcing me to return to an area I've already spent at least an hour in unless there's a great reason (and there never is).

One last fault before I wrap this up: the camera is difficult to position so you can peer around corners in closed dungeons, which means you'll be blindsided by foes and assaulted in a continuous line. Just remember to swing that sword if a foe is too close for you to run away - better a battle with an advantage than a forced surprise attack.



Grandia III is very refreshing for someone who's tired of the traditional RPG's battle system, and serves as an intense, yet fun introduction to the series for newcomers. It's also got the same cliche events and light-hearted dialogue that fans are used to, though most of us may find the game's style a little too cheesy for our taste. The environs are stunning, and while some of the character designs feel slightly off the mark, the whole package has transitioned nicely into the US. If you've got the patience and don't mind the forgettable plot, give Grandia III a try. You might just be hooked.

More intense battle system with a ring meter and flashy magic. Irksome camera.

Nice imagery and graphical flash. Great CG. Some gorgeous environs.

Decent soundtrack. Voicework could use improvement. Good spell effects.

You'll usually enjoy the battle system, but some fights are especially aggravating.

You'll like it enough to play all the way through.

]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2006 11:21:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_san_andreas_pc http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_san_andreas_pc http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_san_andreas_pc# This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Chuck Landry.

There really isn’t much I can say about GTA San Andreas that you shouldn’t already know.  It’s the one - the game that started it all.  The game that has been cloned so many times unsuccessfully by other developers hoping to recreate its sandbox, do-anything, go-anywhere style.  It’s the game politicians hate, players love, and of course, the home of the infamous “hot-coffee” mod.  The Grand Theft Auto series is, very truly, a cultural icon of our generation.

Let’s not waste anybody’s time here.  If you’re looking for details about the 4,391 different things you can do in San Andreas, go read Aaron’s review of the PS2 version, or maybe John’s review of the Xbox version, or one of the over 13 million (no kidding) pages that Google returns in a “GTA San Andreas review” search query – because I’m not going to tell you what you should already know.  I’m here to tell you whether or not buying the PC version of GTA: San Andreas is a smart move for those of you who have other options in the form of said consoles.

The biggest thing the PC version of GTA: SA has over both the PS2 and Xbox version is the capability for better graphics.  You can turn the resolution way up, making all of the textures sharper than on the consoles.  You’ll also find a sliding bar in the settings that can control draw distance to lessen those annoying draw-ins the series is kind of known for.  With a 3200+ Athlon, Nvidia 6800 and 1.5 GB of RAM, the game can run pretty smoothly with all of the options turned up, and it certainly is a step up from the original PS2 release.  The game really only stutters when you first get into a new vehicle and that only lasts a few seconds.

Not far behind the graphics on the list of improvements for the PC version are load times.  Assuming your machine is up to the task, load times are definitely fastest on a computer – and noticeably so.  Somehow that makes the annoying need to run into the gym for a quick workout slightly less frustrating.

Of course, combat controls (given the fact that only the PC has a keyboard and mouse standard) are infinitesimally better on a PC rig.  All of the auto-targeting in the world can’t match the precision a mouse gives you when you’re shooting on the run.

This leaves us with the sound.  While San Andreas does support the newest EAX effects, I can’t honestly say that the sound effects themselves sound much different than they do with a nice speaker setup in your average living room.  It is worth noting, however, that like the Xbox version, the PC game does include custom soundtrack support so you can create your own in-game radio station with your mp3 files.

Technically speaking, San Andreas is superior on the PC version in almost every way.  The only major gripe I have on the PC is that, even though shooting is hands down a better experience with a mouse, the driving controls (read: the fun part of GTA games) feels much better with a controller in your hands.  True, you can have a joystick hooked up to your PC, but assuming you do would be like assuming everyone who plays Gran Turismo has an optional PS2 steering wheel – it would be nice, but not everybody does.

How important is that gripe?  I’d say it’s of pretty moderate importance.  The best part of GTA games is causing havoc in a vehicle, doing stunts, causing wrecks, and outrunning the law, only getting out of the vehicles to run and hijack another one.

It’s not like you won’t get used to driving on the keyboard, though, so I can’t say I’d rather play the console versions.  Once you get the graphics and load times on the PC (which still aren’t outstanding in today’s standards but are much better than the consoles) it’s tough to swallow the alternative.  The port of San Andreas to the PC may have been uninspired and straightforward, but since it was such a great game to being with, it’s hard to fault Rockstar for that.  If you already own another version, you’d be silly to purchase it again, but if you don’t have any copy of the game yet, you should only opt for a console version if you want to play in the living room with some friends watching.  Otherwise, grab the PC version for the best experience.

Once you get used to driving with WASD, everything is excellent.

Compared to everything else, they suck. Compared to the other versions, they’re great.

I’d have given Vice City a 10 for its soundtrack alone. The 90’s weren’t bad either though.

I don’t know how anyone gets bored with these games.

Even once you’ve done everything, causing general havoc is great fun.

]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:13:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/grandia_3_announced http://www.gamebump.com/go/grandia_3_announced http://www.gamebump.com/go/grandia_3_announced# Reports are coming out of Japan that Square Enix is looking at developing Grandia 3.

The RPG game will be made by Game Arts, the same creator of the Grandia series. Their should be some new changes for the series, but little else is known about the prospective game at this time.

We'll have more if any when Square Enix officially announces the title.

Grandia III is the latest installment in the popular Grandia series developed by Game Arts, and has a devoted following but has never quite reached the high status of its chief competitor, the Final Fantasy series; however, the Grandia series is now being promoted by the Final Fantasy makers themselves, and Grandia III has received top-dollar treatment in its development.

Grandia III boasts a traditional cast of heroes with a slight twist. The two starting characters include Yuki, the game’s hero and an ambitious pilot who dreams of flying across the ocean to the mainland someday, and his mother, Miranda, who is a strong-willed and clever woman who spends most of her time either lecturing Yuki, planting herbs, cooking dinner, or courageously slaying viscous monsters (I know – the mother everyone wants). The pair lives in a small village called Anfog, where Yuki strives to build an airplane in his friend’s garage so he can escape his boring village life (and mother).

During his evening flight he discovers that he’s got a parental stowaway, and he and mommy-Miranda end up crashing and saving the life of a fugitive girl named Alfina. The girl is a “communicator” and serves as a liaison between the worlds of god and men, but deeply wants to escape to Arcriff and see her brother, Emilious. The three team up and set off to cross the ocean, and along the way they meet Alonso, the charming, gambling-addicted sailor, and his old shipmate friend Ulf, the foxy-tailed, spirited boy with a pet dragon. As the plot deepens, it’s discovered that Alfina’s brother is, of course, insanely evil and must be stopped from doing all the things that evil people do, enter Yuki and team. As far as storylines go, Grandia III’s is functional and entertaining; the inclusion of Miranda is very unique and adds another level of depth (which, I’m afraid, is sorely needed) that you don’t often see in any videogames, let alone RPGs (imagine action/adventure titles where strapping young heroes go in search of glory with their mothers).

The bulk of the plot, and nearly every important visual cue, is presented in sometimes lengthy cutscenes that directly parallel Xenosaga’s use of excessive, but beautiful, “events”. If it’s important, or even vaguely sentimental, you can bet you’ll spend at least one minute of cutscene time on it, but the majority of these are presented well and serve to draw you deeper into the storyline. There is also a hell of a lot of cheesy dialogue supported by incredibly cliché moments which will either amuse or annoy you, but yet again, the game still manages to draw you in despite (or perhaps because of?) it’s unique cheesy-ness. It’s almost like playing through an unusual anime.

The game’s standard graphics – which are anything but – are just as detailed and exquisite as its cutscenes and CG. Grandia III’s 3D world sports gorgeous environments complete with fluffy clouds floating overhead in bright blue skies, birds soaring through the air, leaves floating about village towns, and lots of winding roads and fresh greenery. Even Anfog has a cliff from which you can look out and literally see for miles, and the view is breathtaking. From the churning water round Alonso’s ship to the unbelievable sunrises and sunsets as you sail to the mainland, Grandia III is a visual treat, though I starkly believe that some of the character design is a little off; why would anyone who isn’t colorblind wear an orange blouse with a blue vest and green shorts?

Gamers spend most of their time in Grandia III wandering about the field dodging enemies (opponents are shown on-screen a la Chrono Cross, Kingdom Hearts, etc.) or slicing enemies with Yuki’s sword, which stuns them so players can either retreat or run headlong into them to initiate battle and gain the first move. Some objects in the environment are interactive, and you can push rocks to create bridges, swipe at explosives to clear paths, cut down vegetation, and so forth. Environs are dotted with treasure chests, and nearly every field area has a mini-map with full directions and exit/entrance markings. If you get stuck you can always rely on Yuki’s special “examine” ability, which briefly highlights the immediate area and surrounds items of interest in a bright blur aura.

When it’s time for a battle, those new to the Grandia series will be treated to an entirely different, more realistic active time battle system that is fresh, fast-paced, and feels extremely natural for anyone who’s ever wondered why, during RPG battles, the enemies just stand there and let you whack at them. In Grandia III, opponents are constantly moving about the field and either attacking or preparing to attack. The game’s main difference from other RPGs is, in fact, this unique battle system which presents the party’s – and enemies’ – turn meters in a ring. The ring sports three primary colored segments; there’s the blue “wait” area, the yellow “command” bar, and the red “act” area during which players are preparing to attack. All characters and opponents are shown on the ring and move clockwise through their turns.

Another unique aspect of the battle system is the cancel option, which enables you to actually prevent an opponent from taking its turn (and when you have six-eight foes, this is very convenient). The idea is that as opponents elect their commands and then enter the red “act” field to get into position/cast, you can hit them with a critical attack and cancel their move. The system is very handy against bosses, but there’s always a catch (in this case, two): it takes time to get into position and perform a cancel, so often an opponent will attack when you’re one second away from a swipe; your party members can also be cancelled, which is devastating when you’re preparing to heal. Even with the cancel option, the battles are so fast-paced and intense that you’ll occasionally lose to even standard mobs.

To make the battle aspect more interesting, Game Arts also included standard attack combos, critical hits/cancel attacks, item usage, special moves (these cost SP points), and aerial combos, which are combos and/or critical hits strung together on the same opponent. Aerial combos decimate the bad guys and get them to drop more items and money, which is nice if you’re in a financial bind. The special moves are merely character specific attacks that you’ll almost always use on bosses along with weapon abilities, which are unique to specific weapons.

Supportive to nearly every RPG battle system in the world is the use of magic and skills, which you purchase and equip from shops (the only other place you can set up your magic/skills from is a save sphere). The mana orbs also reappear and you can extract spells from them at more advanced magic shops; the same goes for skill books, which you can extract skills from. You can also just opt to equip said eggs and skill books for stat bonuses, which are also handy. Quite possibly the best aspect of magic use in Grandia III is how much faster magic is performed, with only minimal “I summon the fire god to unleash mighty flames upon thine foes and swallow the earth” lines.

After spending close to ten hours with Grandia III, I can dutifully admit that I’m hooked. The ring battle system is very refreshing for someone who only spent five minutes with Grandia II, and will serve as an intense, yet fun introduction to the series for newcomers. It’s also got the same cliché events and light-hearted dialogue that fans are used to, complete with new characters, a new threat, and several gameplay tweaks to keep things fresh. The environs are stunning, and while some of the character designs feel slightly off the mark (I think Ulf is the only exception), the whole package has transitioned nicely into the US. All gamers – even those fearful of RPGs – should give this at least a rental upon its release next month.]]> Sat, 21 Jan 2006 16:29:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/new_grand_raid_offroad_images http://www.gamebump.com/go/new_grand_raid_offroad_images http://www.gamebump.com/go/new_grand_raid_offroad_images# Tue, 20 Dec 2005 13:02:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_liberty_city_stories_psp http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_liberty_city_stories_psp http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_grand_theft_auto_liberty_city_stories_psp# This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Brian Mohr.

Grand Theft Auto has been one of the most successful videogame franchises in history and finally Rockstar is bringing the open-ended gameplay, extreme violence and everything else you’d expect from the series to the streets, literally, with the release of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. The PlayStation Portable exclusive title takes you on a trip back to the haunts of Grand Theft Auto III.

In this story, players assume the role of Toni Cipriani a few years before the events of GTA III. In this version, you again start out at the bottom after being out of town a few years and must kill your way to the top of the mafia underworld.

The entire presentation for Liberty City Stories is amazing. The cutscenes are long, intricate and very well done as it looks like you’re watching a movie. If that’s not enough the game features a full-fledged city with buildings you can go into; a nice variety of vehicles including playable motorcycles, cars and boats; full weather effects; and even some new and interesting characters. Rockstar didn’t just port over GTA III, but instead rebuilt Liberty City from the ground up with a completely new storyline.

The actual in-game graphics are gorgeous too and look even better than our first time to Liberty City on the PlayStation 2. The graphics are smooth, running at a solid 30 frames per second and extremely detailed. An example of this that you wouldn’t expect in the PSP version is completely destructible vehicles. You can literally tear cars apart.

Besides stunning graphics, the game’s audio is wonderful too. The voiceacting is solid, but it doesn’t have the celebrity talent of previous versions. Liberty City Stories also includes radio stations while you drive; there are approximately 10 stations included and each one has about seven songs, a personal DJ and of course the wonderfully comedic commercials that GTA is known for. The radio music spans genres including opera, rock, rap, hip-hop and even boy-bands, all of which are very engaging and keep the game moving. If that isn’t enough already, Liberty City Stories also gives players the option to play their own custom tracks in the game.

A major problem with many PSP games is the awkward controls especially in relation to the analog stick. Thankfully Grand Theft Auto doesn’t suffer at all from these as you can either use the analog or D-pad and both are very reactive. Controls can also be modified slightly if you feel the need. The lock-on targeting system isn’t the best, as it can be difficult to switch between enemies, but works very well on the limited PSP controls. Overall the controls are intuitive and if you’ve played any Grand Theft Auto before you’ll be able to pick this up in no time.

Finally, the actual game is wonderful in every respect as the load times are short; there are plenty of missions and even a multiplayer option. The load times in Stories are approximately 15 seconds long for cutscenes and less than 10 seconds when entering buildings.

As for the missions they are a little shorter as Rockstar wanted to appease those on the go. Missions take approximately five-ten minutes, but there’s plenty to do as the game offers at least 50 hours of gameplay spanning Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. Of course like every GTA game, there is plenty to do just by driving around and causing havoc on your own.

Finally, the multiplayer ad hoc mode is a wonderful feature added to Liberty City Stories. This allows you to play six people in seven games including race, deathmatch, tanks-for-the-memories, hit list and more. Tanks-a-lot has players battling for a tank in the level while hit list has everyone attempting to knockoff one of the players. Surprisingly Rockstar made the multiplayer mode a very deep experience and it certainly gets you excited for what may be offered in the future.

Though Grand Theft Auto certainly is the highest rated game for the PlayStation Portable to date it doesn’t come without a few drawbacks. Probably the most serious problem with Liberty City Stories is the camera. While on foot, the camera can get a bit out of place and to realign it you must press the left trigger. This isn’t as much of a problem if you’re just walking around, but if you’re in a firefight good luck.

Occasional slowdown was another issue present in the game. This happens randomly throughout the game and is only a minor distraction, but is worth mentioning. It seemed to be worst when you would have too much happening on-screen with cars and pedestrians. The battery life also wanes a lot faster for Liberty City Stories. For a fully charged battery you can expect approximately four hours of play.

Finally, one other issue in the game isn’t a problem, but rather a disappointment. As mentioned above Stories features multiplayer ad hoc, but we really wish Rockstar would have included infrastructure mode as well for the multiplayer experience. It’s pretty rare for six players to come together in person, but an online game would have instantly been a hit.

Overall it’s hard to imagine that any game in the next year for the PSP that could get much better than this. We are just over six months after launch and to have a game that looks, sounds and feels as impressive as Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is amazing. I was stunned by how well made this game was. Stories certainly is a wonderful achievement for the PSP, but it does have a few drawbacks with the slowdown, camera issues, battery and a lack of online play, but you still can’t be that disappointed as this is the best game on the PSP.

The controls and game in general are wonderful.

Liberty City Stories looks nearly as good as any version on the consoles.

The soundtrack, voiceacting and sound effects are very impressive.

GTA is just as fun as previous titles in the series.

The game has a good amount of missions. Plenty of unlockables and hidden items.

]]> Sun, 30 Oct 2005 20:24:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_grandia_iii_ps22 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_grandia_iii_ps22 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_grandia_iii_ps22# This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Eric Dayday.

It's everything you expect times a bazillion or so. San Andreas takes GTA and makes it better.

On the Xbox it's merely decent, but has some nice lighting effects; not a huge jump in quality.

Great voiceacting, fantastic line-up of 90's tunes spanning many genres, and the classic DJs.

Once you boot up the game and play your first mission chances are you'll be enthralled.

I can't even begin to fathom what it would take to get 100% completion; now add two-player.

]]> Sat, 09 Jul 2005 02:52:00 -0500 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_gran_turismo_4_ps2 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_gran_turismo_4_ps2 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_gran_turismo_4_ps2# This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Eric Dayday.

Every once in a while there comes a title that defines a genre, whose name comes to be synonymous with it. The instant you hear that name, driving simulations are all you can think of. Many have tried to emulate GT’s formula since its birth in 1998, but nothing has come close to emulating its success (we’ll see if Forza Motorsport can overtake it later this year). The PSone saw one more GT grace its system before it made way for the PS2 and the well-received Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec. Gran Turismo 4 has a lot to live up to following in the footsteps of those critically acclaimed games. Does it succeed in living up to the hype, or is it time to send the franchise to the garage for some overhauling?

I’m sure that by now all of you have seen the numerous screens of Gran Turismo 4 all over the internet, and yes folks, it’s true – this game is beautiful. At first, I didn’t think the game’s graphics differed that much from 2001’s GT3. However, after a side-by-side comparison between the two games, I can assure you that GT4 is an improvement over GT3. The most obvious difference is the models of the crowd members that litter the sides of the track on certain courses. In all previous iterations of the game, they looked like cardboard cutouts, similar to the crowds in the Madden’s of yesteryear. While they aren’t full-blown perfectly modeled citizens, the people are a step up from their older counterparts. There’s also some subtle interaction with some of the extras, particularly on the Grand Canyon rally stage. On certain parts of the road, you’ll see a photographer standing in the middle of the road snapping pictures of the car in action and then dive out of the way just before it approaches their position. It’s a little animation that the developers could have just said to hell with, but they went an extra step and added it in there. So kudos to them for that, and for a lot of the other nuggets of joy spread throughout the game.

The courses themselves are sights to behold and feature a wide variety of areas. With over 50 courses to race on, you’ll also find many different surfaces to traverse. Asphalt is a given, but dirt rally racing makes another triumphant return to the series. It seems like Polyphony Digital gets better on the rally portions with every installment. New to the series, however, is snow driving, and let me tell you something – snow driving is an entirely new experience and somehow, they managed to capture the feeling of driving on snow. You’d be lucky to hit 50 MPH on some of those snow courses.

The locales also show a great variety. Familiar tracks like High-Speed Ring, Tokyo R46, and the infamous Laguna Seca and its corkscrew return along with some brand new tracks like San Francisco’s Infineon Raceway, Hong Kong’s city course, and Germany’s 13-mile long, 176-turn Nurburgring Nordschleife. You read that right, 13 miles and 176 turns. At about 10 minutes a lap, this is one of the most “get your palms sweaty” heart-pounding tracks I have ever played on; I enjoyed every minute of it.



Unfortunately, you may not be able to fully enjoy the luscious backgrounds while you’re driving, but definitely take the time to look during the replays or while a friend races. There is a hefty amount of detail in every course. One that sticks out clearly in my mind is on Citta di Aria – a race through a coastal Italian city. On a stretch that takes place on a narrow bridge, you can see in the distance a beautiful cliffside with rocks and boulders pockmarked all over it. It seems like the only thing missing from the scenery is a wild man trying to climb the face of the monstrous wall. Mind you, this is only one course. The others feature little landmarks of their own that really make you appreciate the effort the developers put into this game. The light effects of the blinding setting sun on Autumn Ring returns. The massive expanse of the Grand Canyon’s gorges really make you think you can fall off the course and plunge hundreds of feet (“unfortunately”, that can’t happen). And the hustle and bustle, and lights and sounds of Las Vegas are perfectly captured, even if it’s just for a quarter-mile drag strip.

Ok, ok enough about the tracks, what about the cars right? One of the complaints about GT3: A-Spec was its small catalogue of cars compared to GT1 and GT2. Well folks, complain no more because there are over 700 cars from more than 80 worldwide manufacturers such as Toyota, Ford, and BMW. How’d they pull off 700 cars? Simple, they brought back the awesomeness that is used cars. So, not only do you have the option of shopping for a new car at one of the dealerships, you can shop at one of the three used car lots to find cars from eras dating all the way back to the late 70s and early 80s. There seems to be some favoritism towards certain cars – over 30 Skyline’s, come on now – but with massive car list, you’ll definitely find the one you want.

The car models are simply amazing. Consisting of over 5,000 polygons each, the details on the cars go all the way down to the miniscule, including the disc brakes behind the tires to the dice hanging on the rear-view mirror. Ok, I’m joking about the dice, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw one on a car in this game. Polyphony also paid close attention to the nuances of car physics such as body roll and how wheel types affect over/understeer which is clearly evident in the replays that follow the races. And cars are not only visually stunning and accurate, they are also audibly accurate. The roars of the engine and exhaust are unique to every car. You would think that would be enough, but the developers went another extra mile by changing the way the car sounds depending on what parts are equipped such as superchargers and different exhaust types.

As for the rest of the sound, the wind flying by a high-speed car not only helps add to the sense of speed, but adds to driving technique and strategy – when drafting behind a car, the wind goes completely silent, reducing the amount of drag on the car and thus increasing your car’s speed and acceleration. The tire screeching is also captured well and helps with technique as hearing the squealing will let you know how your tires are gripping in a turn. The music, however, is a whole other story, which I’ll get to later in this review.

The control scheme remains largely unchanged, which is good, because the control never really needed any tweaking. The only change is that Select now changes your view because R1 has been set aside for NOS. Of course, you could always adjust the buttons as you see fit.

Gran Turismo 4 returns with Arcade Mode and "Gran Turismo" Mode, better known as Simulation Mode. Arcade Mode plays like it does in the previous games, acting more like a quick play option than anything else. "Gran Turismo" Mode is the meat and potatoes of the game, where you'll spend most of your time. The game even auto-loads and starts you out on your map when you boot the game up. The map system also plays the same as previous GT's, but it is far more streamlined and easier to use than GT3's clunky interface. Manufacturers are separated by countries, in which you can buy new cars or auto parts from each country's companies. New to the series, however, is the Tuner Village. Here you can buy after-market parts for your auto if you don't feel like buying parts from the dealer. Performance-wise, I haven't seen any differences between the parts, but the dollar values vary between dealership and after-market parts, so that may play in role in what and where you buy.

The rest of the map consists of icons where you can enter different races and tracks. As I mentioned before, there are three used car lots scattered across the map. And the lists update every week, so it’ll be a good idea to pop your head in every once a while, as rare low-mileage used cars become available at times also. There’s also GT Auto, where you can buy wings and wheels, and have your oil changed and car washed. What makes the oil changing and car washing a little more fun this time around is that they’ve added crew members to the animations. In the oil change, someone gets under the car and does the job. The car wash still has its “rinse cycle” GT fans love to laugh at, but now two guys come out to dry off the car. It’s the little things like this that make you smile and appreciate what the developers have done here.

GT4 introduces a new racing mode called B-Spec Mode. In B-Spec, you don’t directly take control of the car. Instead, you act more like the crew chief, shouting orders to your driver to overtake, drive aggressive, or fall back at the push of a button. You can use this mode in just about any race and it serves as a way to change up the pace a bit when you’ve grown a tad tired from racing after a 20-lap hour and a half humdinger.

Another new feature is the Photo Mode. It is divided into two formats - Photo Drive and Photo Travel. In Photo Drive, you take the car of your choice for a couple of laps on a course of your choice. Then in the replay, you can pause the action and snap a picture. However, snapping the picture isn’t as simple as hitting a button. Well, it is, but you are given options to adjust the zoom, the focus, the panning, etc. You can even adjust the motion blur and shutter speed, turning you instantly into a professional photographer. In Photo Travel, you can take your car to a specific location such as Times Square in New York or the Gion District in Kyoto, Japan and have fun snapping pictures of your car from different angles set against the given backdrop. And wow, the environments in this mode are magnificent. If you thought the race tracks were gorgeous, wait until you set your peepers on these. Because these backgrounds are static, the developers were able to do more with them. While this may all sound like a tacked-on extra, it really is fun to take pictures of your favorite car in exotic locales, and what sweetens the deal further is that you can save the pictures and print them out. Imagine littering your walls with pictures of your triumphs from GT4. Go to http://www.epson.com/GT4 to see if your printer is compatible.

Those of you who still have an old Gran Turismo 3 game save are in luck. You can import up to 100,000 Credits and have the A- and B-Licenses passed. With that you can save yourself a load of time and buy and upgrade a decent car from the start without having to trudge through buying a weak car and entering the small payout races multiple times to build up some cash flow.



No game is perfect, and Gran Turismo 4 is no exception with blemishes of its own. First and foremost is the lack of online capabilities. We were promised this when GT4 was first announced, but after numerous delays, word finally came around that the online function had been dropped. While it does have LAN support for up to six players, it doesn’t heal the wound for those gamers looking to take their skills up with the best drivers across the nation.

GT4 also doesn’t offer up anything new in the gameplay department. If you’ve played one of the GT’s, you’re basically playing a prettier and beefier GT. It’s buy car, race to earn credits, use credits to upgrade car to ungodly HP, and then blow away the competition to earn credits faster and easier.

The A.I. hasn’t improved much over the last game’s either. The computer cars stick to their given line and barring some sort of unforeseen force (i.e. you,) they won’t budge an inch, resulting in some more than frustrating bumps and scrapes. I understand that “rubbin’ is racing”, but bumping and forcing a car off the road definitely ain’t racing. You can, however, use the A.I.’s stubbornness to your advantage by using them as shields to guide you through a turn, thus taking them off their course, while straightening you out into the turn while maintaining speed. There are also a few turns in which you can unrealistically use the wall to turn while losing minimal speed, which is a black eye in a game that prides itself in being ultra-realistic.

Another blow to the realism is the lack of damage models. However, I know that the price to obtain that is a little steep for Sony to pony up, and I really can’t complain too much about it myself. It would add an even greater sense of realism to the game, but it is definitely not a sticking point for me, and it shouldn’t be for anyone else either.

The soundtrack that accompanies each race is mostly unforgettable. The collection seems uninspired and all over the place. My largest gripe about the music is that you can’t even hear it during the races over the droning of the engine and flowing wind, so much in fact, that I fail to realize there is a track playing about 75% of the time I’m racing. A custom soundtrack would have been a nice, but that’s like asking for an oil change at a Toys ‘R’ Us – you just can’t get it here.

The last gripe is the load times. None are overly long, but the number of load times is outrageous. It seems like there is a load time for every new screen you enter. And the bland loading screen with the GT logo and a fast spinning needle aren’t enough to make the wait feel any shorter.



Gran Turismo 4 had a reputation to uphold and in that respect, it’s done a job well done. Despite the fact that it plays just like its previous incarnations, the ballooned number of cars and the sheer amount of things to do easily makes this version the best of the bunch. The new additional tracks are a blast to race on and easy on the eyes; the new snow rally races will satisfy the extremists in all you racers out there; and with 700 cars to choose from it is sure to satisfy car aficionados from the most hardcore collectors to those with just a passing interest. If you’ve been a fan of the series for years, then you probably already have this game in your possession. If you don’t then go get it now, and that goes for those of you “thinking about” getting the game also.

It may not have redefined the genre it helped to create, but GT4 sure as hell cemented its place at the top of the driving sim pedestal – for now at least. Only time will tell if someone can knock it off. Until then, GT4 is king.

Plays like previous versions; stubborn/dumb A.I.

Simply amazing. No detail overlooked.

Music was disappointing but everything else was great.

Racing is the meat of the game, but there’s much to toy with.

50+ courses say it all, with tons of options.

]]> Sat, 05 Mar 2005 11:53:00 -0600 Brian Mohr http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_gran_turismo_4_mobile_psp1 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_gran_turismo_4_mobile_psp1 http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_preview_gran_turismo_4_mobile_psp1# This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.

Perhaps the game with the most buzz for the PlayStation Portable coming out of the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo was Gran Turismo 4 Mobile, this is because Polyphony Digital confirmed that they weren’t bringing a new version of the game but instead transferring the widely popular and graphically amazing fourth game in the series to the upcoming handheld.

From what the media have been told by series producer Kazunori Yamauchi, Polyphony has transferred the fourth installment over completely to the handheld. This hopefully means we’ll see all 500 cars and 50 tracks that’ll be included in the console version. There has been rumor swirling that you’ll be able to connect the two games and perhaps transfer data between them; this would be a tremendous advantage to selling both versions of the game and allow players to continue their game on the road.

Gran Turismo 4 Mobile’s graphics look just as good as the PlayStation 2’s so far and it has already been confirmed that it will do more than its console counterpart by offering WiFi capabilities. This is especially good news for Gran Turismo fans that were disappointed by Polyphony pulling out the online option for the console because finally players can race against another person.

Overall, I think there are two major questions concerning Gran Turismo 4 Mobile. First, is the fact that the game is so graphically impressive that it will wear on the already low battery. From what we know, the more graphically intense games cause the battery to run down faster and this would be an even greater drawback if it sinks below the two hours play time.

Another question and perhaps even more important is the fact that Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation 2 continues to get delayed. Right now the game is confirmed for March close to the PlayStation Portable’s potential launch. The problem with this though is that if the fourth edition of the game continues to get delayed, this will most likely negatively affect the Mobile version and could mean Gran Turismo 4 gets delayed even later. There is still some time and currently both versions are on schedule, so Sony has plenty of time to answer questions as we get closer to the PlayStation Portable launch.

There is no question that Gran Turismo 4 Mobile will be a must-buy when it releases for the PlayStation Portable. Polyphony Digital never lets anything than the highest quality racing title to come out, so you shouldn’t expect anything less with this latest incarnation. The graphics are far superior to almost every other game that is coming out for the handheld and then when you include the addition of WiFi play, Gran Turismo 4 Mobile is certainly setting itself up to be one of the most sought after games for the PlayStation Portable handheld.]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:11:00 -0600