Ok people, this is it, the last list I’m going to make for the old generation of console games. This time it’s going to be the multi platform games, you know, the ones you could play no matter what system you owned? I know that the vast majority of those games were big steaming piles of dung but there are so effing many of them that this list will still be the longest despite all the poop. I’ll list what systems each title is on so’s to avoid any confusion (the ‘Cube got left out quite often in the last gen) about availability. Also this list will be too long for one post so I’m going to break it into three parts: Shooters and half of Action, then the other half of Action and Fighting and lastly I’ll do Racing, RPG’s and Sports. So let’s get started shall we?
These are in no particular order by the way.
-First Person Shooters (FPS)-
Sniper Elite -Let me start by saying that this one won’t be for everyone. This isn’t your typical high octane shooter with lots of nonstop action. It’s a sniping game. WWII sniping to be exact. By today’s standards, Sniper Elite doesn’t look or sound as good as the competition but the gameplay is still top-notch. We’re talking serious snipering here. You need to find good hiding spots to shoot from and when aiming you have to take wind, gravity and even your breathing into account. This title requires patience and skill. Not for shooter virgins. Sniper fans this one is for you. Xbox/PS2/GCN
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War/Operation Resurrection -This one was released on both the Xbox and PS2 but the Xbox version is the one to get (sorry PS2 owners, y’all got the shaft on this one). The single player campaign has an odd story about occult Nazi experiments or some such nonsense, but the online multiplayer via XboxLive is truly a joy to play. You can really see where current hits on the 360 and PS3 got their ideas about online gameplay. There are some real innovations here that make the game a must have for the Xbox set. Xbox/PS2
Brothers in Arms: The Road to Hill 30 - I know I know, it’s another World War 2 shooter! But honest, this one has some real innovations in the gameplay dept. You run around with a gun like you do in every other shooter but here you have up to two squads directly under your command, and you’ll need them. The default setting on the game has no crosshair or aiming reticule so shooting with out manually aiming makes hitting your target nearly impossible. When you do aim, you do it by looking down the sights like you would in real life, this serves to emphasize the need to keep your squad alive, you can’t kill all the bad guys yourself (contrary to what other games would have you believe). So you have to send your squads to do squad things like setting up a base of fire or flanking a target. The online multiplayer is just as fun and provides a welcome change from the standard online deathmatch fare. Xbox/PS2
Star Wars Battlefront I & II - Star Wars shooter goodness! The first battlefront was a huge success both as a single player game and a multiplayer one but the sequel is where the developers really hit their stride. Take sides in all the classic battles you love from the movies! Be a clone trooper fighting the Separatist droid armies or a rebel trooper fighting alongside Ewoks on Endor! You can even be Darth Vader storming Echo Base on Hoth with wave after wave of Stormtroopers behind you. Take the action online for intense 16 player deathmatch and capture the flag missions. If you like Star Wars and shooters this is the game for you. Xbox/PS2
Black - At the time of it’s release, Black was both praised and panned by critics for being an audiovisual feast for the senses but ending far too quickly. Back then I could understand people being pissed about plunking down fifty bucks for a game that only lasts 6 or 7 hours, but nowadays you can get the game off Amazon for like $9 so how can you really bitch? The game looks, sounds and plays great. Like I said, the only gripe here is the length, so give it a shot and see what shooting for shooting’s sake is all about. Xbox/PS2
-Action/Adventure-
Beyond Good and Evil - This game reminded me of Zelda quite a bit with it’s level design and control scheme, but hey nobody said that being compared to Zelda was BAD. Instead of a sword-swingin’ elf kinda guy on a quest to save the princess, you’re a stick-swingin’ asian kinda chick with a camera out to expose government corruption. Confused? Don’t be, it’s all pretty well explained in the game’s first five minutes. Seriously though, give this one a try, you’ll be surprised how much you like it. I was. Xbox/PS2/GCN
Spider-Man: The Movie & Spider-Man 2 - Somehow Activision managed to avoid the curse of the sucky movie game and produced a officially licensed title that not only doesn’t suck, it’s actually pretty good! Swinging around on webline through the concrete jungle of New York City is thrilling to behold and simple to control. Just being able to be Spidey in a game doing what you want when you want is a fanboy dream come true. I loved the sequel even more than the original as the combat controls and camera were improved and besides, who doesn’t want to kick Doc Ock’s ass? There was a game to go with the third movie, but like the flick it was based on, it was weak. Xbox/PS2/GCN
Mercenaries - Dig this: sandbox-style action a la Grand Theft Auto, North Korean nuclear terrorists, fully destructible environments and a heaping helping of gory action all combine in this wonderfully dark game from LucasArts (if you can believe that!). Sound too good to be true? it’s not! You pick from three mercs out to get the job done, as long as the price is right. Do missions for various factions and collect bounties on the numerous bad guys in the terrorist chain-of-command, then spend your hard earned loot on new weapons and vehicles from the Russian Black Market. Awesome. Get this game. Do it. Xbox/Ps2
Max Payne & Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne - Anyone ever see a John Woo flick? How about the Matrix? Then you’re familiar with the concept of “bullet-time” whether you know it or not. Basically “bullet-time” is when the action of a movie, or in this case a game slows waaay down so you can actually see the path of each individual bullet. Now imagine being able to do that with the push of a button within one of the darkest, grittiest games ever released on any system and you have Max Payne. The controls are super tight, the voice work is top-notch and the graphics are sweet (at least on the Xbox), so what more do you want? Oh yeah, they’re both available for less than ten bucks. ‘Nuff said. Xbox/PS2
That’s it for part one of the multi-platform hit list. Next time I’ll cover the rest of the action titles and fighting games. Until then make with the gaming, and for crying out loud put some pants on! Nobody wants to see that.
The Gamer Hero