Blood Bowl

Andrew Okushko
Source: Country Games № 16 2009	24-08-2009

Map of the campaign - there is still a lot of battles and glorious victories. But sooner or later all the cups will be in our pocket! Stadiums here were great fun. This, incidentally, is clearly situated in the lands of the orcs, judging by the style and hung round characters. 1987 - date of birth of Blood Bowl, a mixture of desktop Warhammer and American football. Since then, repeatedly changed the rules (now in action fifth edition), but the bloody (yes, here players may die during the match!) Sport is still popular. And impressive even on the screen.

NHL 2k2

Tomba
	29.03.2002

Title: NHL2k2 Platform: Dreamcast Genre: Sports Developer: Visual Concepts Publisher: Sega of America Website: http://www.segasports.com Life, friends, an interesting thing: I recently actively hovering your brain about the "superiority of arcade sports games on the same sports simulators," and suddenly gets assignment to write a review just yet itself that neither is a sports simulator - NHL 2k2, who saw not so long ago light, and, as already guessed the most intelligent, not at some there or GameCube Xbox, and the good old Dreamcast. Here, logically, I should make a sad song on the untimely defunct console, telling all progressive mankind that NHL 2k2 is almost the last game for DC, to put away a tear and sprinkle his ashes on your heads. In short, to observe all the rituals of relying, as much oposlya proceed directly to the story about the game. But, my dear, I will not do that, so as not to spoil his mood, live in the role of the undertaker, advertise their sad good, so that no unnecessary pathos get down to business, I mean a story about the game NHL 2k2. As you have probably guessed, if the title is the number 2, it must necessarily be "something" that has, relatively speaking, the number 1. So it is: in the quite distant year 2000, Sega Sports has released for quite alive then Dreamcast game called NHL2k. Moreover, the significance of the product as the only hockey simulation for the console is difficult to overestimate, because Electronic Arts new console from Sega in emphasis have not seen and, accordingly, games for it are not produced. Fans of the genre, and your humble servant, too, among them, were looking forward to NHL 2k2 and still waiting. If we express the impression of playing in a few words, then they will be extremely enthusiastic epithets, equipped with exclamation marks. Like this: Be realistic! Beautiful! Insanely fun! And now a little more about all this. First of all, on the schedule. In this respect, I tell you, Sega Sports has made a fantastic breakthrough! Movement of players up to realistic impossibility, and it will not be some hyperbole, but a real fact. Already at the time of departure teams on the ice with joy notice of their incredibly smooth glide, was surprised to behold the only plausible warm-up goalkeeper at the gates, and notes with satisfaction that the players waving in greeting viewers spent just a bunch of polygons that are so bulky and they turned out real . But the real shock is waiting for you immediately after the first throw. When players start to wear on the field, gracefully circling the defenders to hook or by crook to get through to the gate, a tear rolls admiration for professional red and swollen eyes mossy gamer, so here are all thought out. And nimble pirouettes around a defender of the enemy, and a cloud of cold dust, cock out of skates forward with a sharp turn, and dazzle the hockey field, which, as expected, fading to the middle period. All these moments so vividly creates a sense of reality that simply amazed.Paint graphic charms NHL2k2 can still very long, but the trumpet summons to flee ahead! Every word of praise deserves AI computer players. Where there with his EA NHL2002, where I was even at the highest level of scoring at least 5 goals, almost without meeting any resistance! Here the computer is already on a normal Level sets of the heat that will not find it! Powerful clicks your opponents to sleep gate just a barrage of pucks, perepasovki skillful, deft passes one on one with the goalkeeper, well-coordinated team play, all in full you will experience the hard way, or rather, the goal at which well-aimed hand computer opponent zasandalit a lot of pucks . So, get your lazy waving a curved stick called stick and sybaritic sliding on surface of ice! We'll have to think about defense, already in the middle zone to intercept the attackers, press and put pressure on the entire field, in every way trying to take away the puck, and only then manage to hold sensible attack using tactical thinking. All this, coupled with workshops perepasovkami and well-aimed shots on goal, might allow you to finally score a one (1) goal against an opponent. Perhaps this is the first hockey simulator (and I've seen them in my time a lot), in which the main thing - do not manipulate a single player and crazy shots "at random", but a sensible team game, where equally important and the strikers and defenders. Significant role in this matter is believable physics players: you no zhist fail to score a goal out of the situation with his back to goal. And even if you get hit, it will be weak and may lead to nothing. Again, in order to carry out a powerful shot in one touch, you must first "reeling out" in the zone of the enemy, and the player receiving the pass must be ready. And this, believe me, it is not easy. Plays a significant role, and "dimensions" to an ice-making fight for the puck in the border just as desperate as it really is. In general, paint all advantages HL2k2 no space or time. It is better to get a drive and experience all the vicissitudes of ice battles personally. With regard to the sound of the game, it is simply gorgeous: the impacts of clubs, the rustling blades players rushing at full speed, the crackling of broken glass with a powerful hit by puck, it's all pretty aggravated the atmosphere of a true hockey reigns on TV. Throw in a couple of lively commentators cheerfully telling us about the situation on the ice, and we get a true hockey, not worse, but thanks to interactivity, even better than the present. Well, have trumpeted the retreat, but I'm still not told, and half of what it conceals our new product, not told about the repeats, which are now (at last) show not only the goals or the breach, but also all acute game moments like a dangerous shot on goal or successfully held the power of reception. And that's what I say at last: those who are armed with DC, must buy NHL2k2, this is one of the best if not the best racing simulator for consoles. It has long been known that "a coward is not playing hockey, and I believe that among us there is no panties! So, lucky you ice and a beautiful head! Whereupon all.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № 18 2009	18.09.2009

One of the most anticipated games this summer should be familiar to anyone who enjoys comics and played the Dreamcast or PS one. This is a crossover fighting game, in which the heroes fight with Marvel characters, Capcom, and are not necessarily trained fighters. For example, in the number of available characters is Jill Valentine, seemingly fit only for the punishment of starving zombies. But no. Jill, as well as Megamen, serves a master of martial arts and strength is Wolverine, Colossus and Storm. Of course, adjusted for the relative simplicity of the combat system that allows beginners to quickly find and organize spectacular duels experienced gamers. The first of the game need a little more popular and not superheroes, and that they can be changed on the fly, and even methods of colorful, with bright flashes of what "serious" fighting games do not indulge. All this here is. Passionate same Fighter, by contrast, are interesting long muvlisty with combo bundles of ten actions and grand finale - an explosion, for example - so you can brag to your friends, they say, looks like I can. Without this in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is also not done.

Fate / Unlimited Codes

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № 21 2009	25.11.2009

Dawn of Mana

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № 14 2007	17.08.2007

Numerous fans Seiken Densetsu certainly with bated breath waiting for a new, fully three-dimensional extension of the series. Colorful screenshots and trailers seemed to add fuel to the fire, exposing the Dawn of Mana almost the main ideological successor of the genre. The first ten minutes of acquaintance with it just leave the same impression - the same incredibly beautiful videos captivate and prepare for the better ... but better you will not see. To continue the acquaintance, and even more so get pleasure from it, will only a few.

Mortal Kombat Advance

Crazy G0D
	01.04.2002

Mortal Kombat Advance Platform: GBA Genre: Fighting Developer / Publisher: Midway GameBoy Advance bought up many thousands of copies amateurs to play in transport or under the desk at school. And now almost every software company is trying to make money in the field of people's love for all small and buttons. All more or less successful projects past hastily ported to nintendovskuyu "miracle console or gain her direct extension, among them-Sonic, Tekken, King of Fighters, Guilty Gear, rumored even the imminent Soul Calibur. GBA become hateful vseigrovoy dump (I apologize for the rude word, but another was found, not "encyclopedia" as its called, I swear!) Where to send all even slightly notable projects and experience there, "second birth". I do not know about you, but I find it very sad to contemplate a simplified, cut, turned inside out favorite games. No, no, there are, of course, quality products, the same Tekken, KOF same, but ... There is also the Mortal Kombat Advance, and it is about him and will present my story. Mortal Kombat, I hope, knows and remembers everything. And this fame deserved! Granted, there is much to argue for some moments, but overall it MK long defined the face of the genre. Time passed, and in the camp of developers crises were happening one after the other, yes, we're not in the ... We have that same represents the ICA. Certainly. For a start - a list of characters: Cyrax, Jade, Kabal, Ermac, Jax, Kano, Kitana, Liu Kang, Nightwolf, Kung Lao, Mileena, Noob Saibot, Rain, Scorpion, Sindel, Reptile, Sektor, Smoke, Shang Tsung, Sonya Blade , Stryker, Classic Sub-Zero, Sub-Zero, Human Smoke (secret character), plus two bosses: Motaro, Shao Kahn. Considered? No? And rightly so, since I already thought for you - just 26 people. That is full of players of the game "Ultimate MK3" minus Shiva. Sound familiar? I'll tell - that this composition had a 16-bit implementation of UMK3. The one that famous "cut down" Animality, Shiva, and candles in the church. But that was many years ago, and on everyone there MD2 and SNES ', and now in the court of the third millennium, and in his hands - GBA, where there should be no such problems with the volume of the game. But despite this, the game has not improved - it has gotten worse! No, the graphics all right (although the characters look like, according to one American reviewer as carved figurines made ​​of paper, pasted on the background), with the music - even more so, but that's not all. Frankly, I myself did not initially understand what the game scold? It's still the same good-old "Ultimeyt? But no. We believe: No, not only Animality, and Mercy, Brutality, "second" Fatality and Babality - again, classic shestiknopochnoe management simply pathetic is realized by two buttons and two Shift GBA - and two totally wild game abounds glitches - three, the number of special moves and combos severely reduced - four.Add to this the fact that you can only play together through the cable, the second console and a second license cartridge (hands and one - optional), and the computer opponents at all skill levels are subject to the same script (which is the same Motaro whenever hard jump magic, unable to cause him any harm!), resulting in a single player game becomes not to exercise the spinal cord and finger, and blunt perebiranie options that are "caught" opponents (by the way, what comes to one hundred percent fit and to another). As a result of playing just is not interesting! Shao Kahn quite awful, even at the lowest level of complexity: there is "substitute" him only once - and your character is packed in white sneakers and the coffin, and someone tell me, often turns out to make bosses with flawless?! Well, good luck to you. Pass the game - will show the picture, familiar to the pain since the mid-nineties win-screen. With the same text. Nostalgia, however ... In general, to indulge in decadence and scold fans of light (ie, ticky-tacky), money can be interminably long time, finding a list of mistakes, complaining about the lack of some details and tripping over all the new disadvantages in boevki. But here is it worth it? Hard-nosed, seasoned veterans of battles with hundreds of deaths MK (koim to honor and include myself) would get the game anyway, and will, and everything else and so must already be self-explanatory. What word? Oops! And I did not say a word about the story? Miles sorry, listen: Thousands of years ago in order of a shaolin monks ... PS. And with all this, even in the booklet accompanying the licensed copy of the game were errors! Who had to fix fans FAQ'ov on the Internet:) PPS. Keep track of the "secrets": to "get it" Smoke-man, you beat the game on the level of "Warrior", Motaro - on the "Master", Shao Kahn - on the "Supreme Master". Very unusual for the MC, is not it? And when you consider that you can not save? Not for nothing, apparently, the developers have expressed in the closing credits special thanks to those people who "did for them coffee."

Heroes of M & M IV

Wilson
	02.04.2002

Heroes of Might & Magic IV Platform: PC Genre: Turn Based Strategy Developer: New World Computing Publisher: 3DO Russian publisher: Buka Entertainment The official system requirements: Windows (r) 95/98/ME/XP/2000 CPU: Pentium (r) II 300MHz 128MB RAM 4X CD-ROM Drive 750MB HDD 4MB 3D video card. Official site: http://www.3do.com/mightandmagic/heroes4/intro.html Living legend "Heroes" from the very beginning were not just a game, and the phenomenon. The fact that only they have achieved the whole people of love, remaining within a separate genre, as a turn-based strategy. The majority of gamers simply do not recognize the other TBS: vorgeymy (wargame) - lot of units, but more understandable to the people HoMM competitors are weak and few in number. The next sequel to "Heroes", Heroes of Might & Magic IV, was an event long before the game on the shelves. From a marketing standpoint everything was done perfectly: playing reporters on particles were fed all the new details - the new screenshot will show something about the new secondary skill will tell. In short, interest in the sequel warmed up constantly during development and beta testing. And then, finally, came a day long awaited release. It was kind of a new birth of "Heroes", because for the first time to the public exhibited a game, not quite similar to its successful predecessors, which, naturally, involves risks. So that's what he's like, reindeer ... That's my hands got a treasured box. Installation, splash, menu ... and, finally, I'm in the game. First time seeing the new "Heroes", I honestly felt a little disappointed, I imagined HoMM4 somewhat differently. Ridiculous large pseudo-objects, all the glitters, shimmers, much in the eyes dazzled. Bulky city unthinkable stone walls ... The first battle. All units are vying with each other remind me that they are alive: a scratch behind the ear, the other topnet, a third something else uchudit. And how do they go: as if he smote the ridge, they have suffered complicated operation on the spine and is now taking the first steps after rehabilitation. Distance, which HoMM3 overcome one, here are overcome in two, and then for three moves! Yes, get used to this! But should only play a bit and start to be pleased to note the original beauty of this magical world. By the way, the characters moved to a new graphics engine that affected the game requirements to resources. Of the benefits of this relief I note cards (which, however, only really visible in the map editor), the richness of the animation units during the battle (some swatches look strange), and finally, the ability to change the resolution, and for the benefit of the interface. Yet graphic design mixed feelings, and feel it will still be subject to dispute. But the music in this part of the "Heroes" has reached a new level, both in terms of quality and in terms of diversity, the game can be heard, and Celtic tunes and opera arias.But the "magic" Heroes of Might & Magic is still not in the visual and sound effects, and in the richness of the gameplay. And the truth is that "Heroes"? That changes at this time affected not only the exterior (ie, graphic and sound design) and a variety of swords and magic:), it was already clear on the original application developers. Canonical gameplay of "Heroes", which was formed in the first part of the series, has been completely revised. From now on, the characters personally take part in the battle with the risk to lie with the bones on the battlefield, and the monsters gained independence in and of themselves exploring the map, collecting resources and artifacts. Of course, something has remained the same, there are enduring values. For example, in the fourth part can meet old friends: many of the characters moved from the previous game (Sir Mullich, Ajit, Crag Hack and others), and mythical creatures that inhabit the world HoMM, almost all the same (new can be counted on the fingers) only a few changed their image or their place of residence, moving from one city to another or even in a settlement "in nature." City, which HoMM4 six, cause proof an association with them as a third "Heroes," but it is only at first glance, in fact, undergone profound changes and they are. Magic revolution in the large "heroic" world Now about those notorious innovations, of which there are not so little. Developers from New World Computing have the courage to touch has been successfully operating for over three parts of a game system, for which they honor and praise, of course, but here's how it will affect gameplay, time will tell. From now on, every lock has its own school of magic, the exception is only barbarous Stronghold, where preference was given to brute force. The human Haven - the magic of life, wizards of the Academy - the magic of order, in infernal Asylum - Chaos Magick, in Elvish Preserve - the magic of nature, and, finally, in the city of the dead, Necropolis - yes, the magic of Death. Spells at different schools almost never repeated, so that the heroes with the magic of books, where there is Chain Lightning, and Mass Slow, yes even Summon Fire Elemental in the bargain - a great rarity. Not only do you want to find the magic guild, where you learn these spells, so more and get on spetsskillu for each school of magic. But, fortunately, is not so hopeless. Say, in the Castle Haven with Life Magic, you can also learn how two closely related species of magic - Nature and the Order Magic and recruit heroes, respectively, of the Preserve and the Academy. Heroes of the occasion And what about the heroes themselves? They sacked gods, when they were combined squads under its banner, send them to mortal combat, and rarely cast spells that somehow prove his value. Now the characters - creatures of earth and subjected to the same danger of being crushed by a herd of angry hippos, as well as their vassals. They continue to influence the course of the battle, raising the performance of his army, but now are involved in the battle to help his army sword, bow or magic. The hero now - the usual unit with a limited number of hit points, and therefore can be killed, and even (Warning) is jailed. Yes, you heard right - defeated foe and his army, you can throw him behind bars in his castle in order to cool his ardor. What to be? The system of primary and secondary skills was also revised. Heroes in addition to general to all units in the game indicators have five slots for basic skills, each of which has three slots for the secondary. Basic skills only nine: Tactics, Nobility, Combat, Scouting and five magic, the number of schools. Everyone, and primary and secondary, there are six levels of development. Simultaneously, the heroes defeat characteristics such as Spell Power and Knowledge.Now the power of your Fireball, and the number of times that you can throw it, determine the level of the hero and the degree of ownership of primary and secondary magical skills. Originally, the hero belongs to one of the 11 basic classes: two classes (warrior / magician) in each city, except Stronghold, where there is only a warrior. Here lies one interesting thing: reaching the high level of development in two primary skills, the hero moves into a new class with a unique bonus. It was then, and there is great scope for creativity, because you can not only combine the skills, but also the characters, as in the Army can now be up to three characters. So the question is, who better to choose: mage, warrior or hero-rounder was dropped by itself - with fun;)! Each creature a pair of Once the focus now is on the use of the heroes, it was agreed, in general, ambiguous solution slightly reduce the amount of the remaining fighters. In the army, because still seven slots, and if three of them occupied by the heroes ... In general, these pundits from New World Computing decided that each city will be on two units at each level, of whom only four (instead of the seven already in HoMM3), and, starting from the second level, you must choose one of two types of creatures (both at the same time can not be built). Yes, and they took, but upgrades are eliminated, ie improve the unit any longer. Here's a, you know, compromise ... or rather skewed towards the RPG. In their justification can only say that every being forcibly received one or more skills. Battlefield Battles also look different. The field of battle we do not see the side, as before, but from above, at 45 degrees to the surface. The location of the warring parties are also unusual: the enemy army on the screen - top, and friendly - from the bottom. Hexagons, which was divided into the battlefield, have sunk into oblivion. May, of course, and it's time to get rid of this attribute is turn-based strategy, but it seemed that they were more comfortable - though it was clear, which corresponds to the figure in the statistics of each unit. The land on which the battle has not become more (and it would be nice), just now it began to move slowly - even all there dragons can not cover the distance from one end to another in one move, what to say about dwarfs or Golems! By the way, are now responsible for the rate of two characteristics: Speed ​​- behind the next turn (someone above - and the first one), and Movement - a distance traveled by the unit in one turn. Indicators of attack and defense were divided into remote and melee. Another innovation: the arrow can not attack an enemy unit, if the line of fire is another (necessarily the same enemy, which is strange), this new tactic - to close a hero or just a weak unit of deadly arrows. Obvious incredible. A castle siege from developers appeared very fresh look. Siege weapons canceled altogether. Well, if so, all our "runners" gleefully running to the gate, so as to break stabbing-cutting weapon stone walls is not possible. Defenders, trying to somehow cheer our heroes - not everyone can have enough seats at the gate, releasing hundreds of arrows on the sad men. Other defenders, being unable to resist the temptation to enjoy the spectacle of fully suited to the walls closer.This is where it begins and inexplicable: the attackers decide to fight right through the wall of defenders. Logical explanation for this extraordinary phenomenon could not be found. To Be or Not To Be? Despite some flaws and absurdities, the game certainly deserves attention. The game has no multiplayer part, but its potential can be seen now. So, the play is, without question. In the next few months we all have to re-look victorious tactics, learn spells, getting artifacts, open area to the exit network patch to be ready to fight with other gamers. And there, staring, and obvious bug fix ... What, are you still here? Run to the nearest store!