E3 2004: Vivendi Universal Booth

The Chronicles of Riddick (Xbox)
As a prequel to the Pitch Black series, The Chronicles of Riddick follow Еwho else but Vin Diesel's character Riddick, as he escapes from prison. The graphics on this game are astounding, especially the lighting elements, which plays a big role for players who will prefer stealth to brainless fighting. Riddick controls well, with first person fighting reminiscent of Breakdown, though not quite as deep but simpler to master. Riddick can sneak up on foes and break their necks, or brutally shiv them to death. Riddick does get access to guns like a traditional FPS, although the game never seems to want to stay strictly traditional. I was impressed by the graphically impressive and claustrophobic environments that make you actually feel as if you're in prison.

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (PS2, Xbox)
Fans of the incredibly popular Leisure Suit Larry series for PC can rejoice at the return of the PC's original playa. Leisure Suit Larry will begin anew, following the original Larry's nephew, Larry Loveage, as he tries to prove his romantic acumen so that he can appear on a dating reality show, Swingles. The game will consist of a number of mini-games Larry must excel in to impress the various amazingly nubile young females that he encounters. One example is in Larry's conversation. Although you don't exactly control what Larry says, you do influence his "smoothness" by controlling an onscreen icon that bears a remarkable resemblance toЕ uh a Еcertain male reproductive Еcell. ThisЕ cell swims through a sea of good remarks, bad choices, and body functions, and you must attempt to keep him swimming through the good remarks to impress whomever he's talking to. Leisure Suit Larry certainly does seem interesting, and will definitely appeal to PC gamers who fondly remember the original Larry's wild antics and male gamers old enough to purchase despite its aimed for Mature rating.

Fight Club (PS2, Xbox)
Fight Club will obviously be a fighting game based around the movie of the same name. Featuring characters and locations from the movie, Fight Club seems surprisingly well put together, especially for a game based on a license. The character models are well crafted and animated, and the fighting engine seems well done and very brutal. Characters can break limbs, which is shown clearly by a x-ray close-up that actually shows the bone snapping. This affects gameplay, since a player obviously can no longer fight with a broken arm or walk with a broken leg. True to the movie there are also tap outs to preserve your character's health.

Crash Twinsanity (PS2, Xbox)
Crash Twinsanity is a departure from the previous Crashes in that now Crash fights alongside his arch nemesis, Cortex. This promises to be the funniest Crash adventure yet, especially because of the animosity created by the uneasy alliance. One particular example comes in a rolling stage, where Crash and Cortex begin to wrestle and form a cartoonish battle cloud you must navigate through obstacles while the two continue to fight, oblivious to the danger they're in. Another example shows when Crash uses Cortex as a snowboard or a hammer to attack enemies. Yet another stage has Cortex beset by bees and Crash going in front of his nemesis, clearing obstacles out of his way to make safe passage. Crash: Twinsanity definitely promises to be one of the more unique and innovative of the already popular series.

Spyro: A Hero's Tale (PS2, Xbox, GameCube)
Two years ago, Vivendi Universal left gamers' sick to their stomachs when it relinquished its bland flavor of Spyro upon the world. This fall, the company's trying to make things right in a new effort of Spyro: A Hero's Tail. With a terrible red dragon having planted Dark Gems across the land, it'll be up to Spyro to undo this evil magic and defeat the foe causing the crystals to suck the world's energy up dry. Using different breath attacks as before, Spyro's change in gameplay happens with the inclusion of not just one new character, but several. Six different animal personas in all will be available for levels tailored specifically to their attributes throughout Spyro's latest adventure. Of these additions will include such faces as Hunter, a cheetah with the ability to enter a first person view to aim his bow weapon, and Sgt. Bird, a penguin with some rocket powered flight capabilities. Spyro's new tale is set to unfold by the end of the year.

Fahrenheit (PS2)
Probably, not many remember when Eidos announced early in the life of the PlayStation 2 that they were going to release an episodic series of game disks dubbed Fahrenheit. Whatever became of that idea is anyone's guess. Now, Vivendi has come out of the woodwork at this year's E3 to present gamers with a different game under the same name. Though Eidos' Fahrenheit was to be a series of murder mysteries, Vivendi's version is to be just one game. Perhaps it's the same one, just compiled. What this actual version of Fahrenheit is about though, follows an unexplainable line of murders that have no connection whatsoever, and are all committed by regular people in the same fashion. You'll play as Lucas Kane, a man on the run from police after his grisly fate becomes a reality. After witnessing a hallucinatory and ritualistic spell, then knifing a man in a bathroom stall, Lucas comes to, to realize what he's done. The gameplay system here will pursue a line of events that will have you not only have Lucas interacting with otherworldly figures (such as one segment where by pressing a series of buttons has Lucas escape from twin angel statues that came to life), but also you'll be able to play as other characters who will go through similar events. Fahrenheit's premise is an unusual one, but an interesting one nevertheless. Look for it on shelves in November.

Men of Valor (Xbox)
Vietnam is history's most controversial war -- which is possibly the reason why there are so few games that have been based on it. That's about to change soon, as Vivendi is preparing to march onto the battlefields decorated like a Vietnam vet later this fall. In Men of Valor, the game won't be just about you, but the men around you too. You'll work with computer AI to move from one cover zone to the next (i.e., trees, tall grass, etc.) to eliminate incoming Vietnamese forces. Some of the interesting features in Men of Valor will be that the enemy can take cover in or behind many of a level's overwhelming plant surroundings. The game's thicket element will also provide hidden dangers, such as tripwire linked to explosives. With intelligent AI that operates on its own course though, the computer can disarm these traps for you. In fact, the AI is to be so enhanced that it will literally drag differentiating teammates to safety in order to heal them or itself. Players will also find that they can pick up enemy weapons and health items from slain bodies. Packaging with the single player campaign is a multiplayer portion that will allow for up to 16 players online or via LAN, so Xbox owners should find something to be very pleased about when Men of Valor's initial launch is heading to shelves in October.

StarCraft: Ghost (PS2, Xbox, GameCube)
This long-awaited addition to the Starcraft series has players taking the popular strategy series up close and personal. Fans of Starcraft will be able to see many of the aliens of the series in a much more intimate way as they take control of Nova, who is a distaff version of Sam Fisher or Solid Snake. Nova has a multitude of cool abilities, including a cloaking power, the ability to fire while suspended, tightrope walking, and a number of deadly acrobatic skills. And while stealth is the preferred and method of dispatching enemies, Nova will come equipped a large number of weapons and psychic abilities. Although the controls do take a moment to get used to, the game is shaping up nicely, with very impressive graphics and extensive character versatility.