I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the following 10 PC Games in 2003.
1. DOOM III:- Does anyone need to say much about this most awaited game by millions of gamers? Its the first PC game that will be using DirectX 9.0. A game that already won many awards on basis of just its demo at the LA game convention. A game which the lucky few who played it at LA called’The scariest PC game ever’. Driven by out-of-this-world graphics, most realistic sound effects, this game is going to be’The’ game of the year. A must buy.
Release date: 31st July.
Con: Will need a good high end system to play.
2. Grand Theft Auto - Vice City:- GTA III is the most controversial and most successful PC game till date. Despite its violence laden levels, the game was played by millions. The PS2 version of Vice City, the successor to GTA III, sold 250, 000 copies in just 2 days in the UK. PC players are most delighted with this series because the graphics look better on the PC. Vice City is cooler with beach babes on skates and we are able to ride cool motorbikes.;-)
Release Date: May 15.
Con: Keep away from youngsters.
3. Enter the Matrix:- Scheduled to release on par with the movie release of Matrix II, this game has been developed with the collaboration of Hollywood & Gaming industry gurus. So even the cutscenes of this game have been designed using a martial arts fight choreographer from the Orient. Talk about details.
Release date: May 15.
Con: Too much hyped. Hope it delivers unlike 007 Nightfire which was hyped but is trash.
4. Star Wars Galaxies - An Empire Divided:- Imagine a virtual world where you can interact with thousands of players as well as characters from the movie series. Imagine been able to ride awesome space machines and fight using the light sabre. This game has been touted as the game that shall be played for years to come.
Release date: June 24.
Con: Can only be played online. Thereby you’ll have to
pay a monthly fee too.
5. Rise of Nations:- Another massive game with awesome graphics. You can build whole cites, fight other nations, provide infrastructure et al. Everything necessary to make your nation the leader. 6000 years of history to be played out.
Release date: May 20.
Con: A Microsoft product. Need I say more;-)
6. Flight Simulator 2004:- Latest game amongst a series which is the most successful Flight Sim game series ever. There are many other flight sim games from other developers but this series from Microsoft leads the pack. Awesome graphics, airports & aircrafts created with the most attention to details & facts, this game is a must buy.
Release date: July 29.
Con: Planning to fly the planes without a Joystick? you
must be crazy.
7. Everquest II:- Its predecessor, Everquest has been one of the most successful money making online game ever. Millions of players even now spend nights playing the game and everyone pays a monthly fee. So you do the maths.
Everquest II is coming with more features, enhanced graphics engine, more characters and better gameplay. Expect the best.
Release date: 14 November.
Con: Star Wars Galaxies is its stiffest competitor. So choose only the best.
8. Dragon’s lair 2 - Time Warp:- A spinoff of one of the oldest yet very popular Dragon’s lair game. Its basic premise is simple. You control a quirky, fumbling, idiotic knight who has to rescue a princess from a dragon. Its a modern day version of an arcade game with puzzles to solve and fight funny monsters. All in all good fun.
Release date: 31st December.
Con: Hope some of its levels are not as frustrating as the second game.Dragon’s lair IIID.
9. Planetside:- Another multi-player online game. Its a first person shooter game and should be great fun. You have to fight alongside others for control of planetary regions. Intense fights, great graphics and wonderful weapons shall make this a great gaming experience.
Release date: May 19.
Con: Online game, hence monthly fee to be paid.
10. This I leave for no specific game. It can be any game which suddenly becomes a hit. No one expected GTA to be such a success. So expect any game amongst the scores of games to be released this year to occupy this slot. Warcraft III almost occupied this place but its scheduled to release on 1st Jan 2004. So missed this list.
Hope you like my review. Time for me to pick up a multibarrel galactic bazooka and hit that alien on my screen. Ciao.
Shailesh