Gamepressure.com Staff Picks 2002

Akcji 21 May 2002

Another installment in the controversial series of action games started in 1997. Grand Theft Auto III was developed by the authors of the original game, the DMA Design studio, this time under the wings of Rockstar. The third entry revolutionized the series by unleashing the players into an open, fully three-dimensional world brimming with virtual life. This was possible thanks to the RenderWare technology. The game takes place in Liberty City, a virtual adaptation of New York. The main protagonist is a young man named Claude who dreams about becoming the boss of the underworld and taking revenge on people who almost sent him to prison. The story of the game is non-linear and develops as the player completes dozens of assignments from various mafia bosses. A large arsenal of weapons can be useful in completing these tasks. The game also contains dozens of vehicles which – similarly as in the previous installments of the series – can be used with no limitations.

PC

Akcji 29 August 2002

A 3D action game that takes the players to the 1930’s USA, the time when criminal underground flourished. The game was created by Czech developer Illusion Softworks, mainly known for the highly acclaimed tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous. The story focuses on a rookie gangster named Tommy, who takes his first steps on the path of criminal life by doing jobs for an influential mafia family. Gameplay comes down to exploration of a virtual city and completing a string of story missions, featuring many subplots. While playing, you will engage in street shootouts, bank heists, car pursuits, and assassinations. The creators did their best to recreate the evocative atmosphere of the USA in the 1930s, and implemented weapons and cars from that period. Insanity 2 game engine made it possible to generate interactive, bustling city with road traffic and changing seasons.

PC

RPG 01 May 2002

The third installment in a legendary action RPG series developed by Bethesda since 1994. The story once again takes the player to the realm of Tamriel, this time to the east, to the Morrowind province. The player assumes the role of a prisoner released from imprisonment by the Emperor and given a secret mission. As it turns out, the protagonist may be the reincarnation of the legendary, treacherously murdered hero by the name of Nerevar, and his mission is to stop the reemerging evil that his previous self had once defeated. The player can chooses from ten available races and twenty-one character classes - thanks to the game's flexible character progression system the character development is influenced mainly by the player's preferred gameplay style. The player can freely choose which quests to complete and when. The game's fully 3D visuals are a big step forward in comparison to the previous installments in the franchise. Additionally, a special editor allows the player to modify the game world to a very large degree.

PC

Akcji 22 January 2002

A tactical first-person shooter developed by 2015 and the first PC installment of the series which was launched on PlayStation in 1999. The action takes place between years 1942 and 1945, and the players assume the role of an American ranger Mike Powell who, being an operator of the OSS intelligence service, takes part in the most famous campaigns of the World War II. In the game, there are 20 diversified missions to perform. They involve not only subtle tasks behind enemy lines but also large-scale military operations such as the famous landing in Normandy. Our arsenal includes over 20 faithfully recreated weapons of the World War II period as well as stationary guns and over a dozen different vehicles. The title's visuals are powered by the Quake III engine. The production features an orchestrated soundtrack composed by Michael Giacchino who is known for such movie hits as Star Trek and Lost.

PC

Akcji 03 October 2002

The sequel to Io-Interactive's well-received stealth action game from 2000. The game’s story starts in a Sicilian monastery, where the protagonist of the first game, Agent 47, tries to forget about his former deeds by seeking atonement in peaceful life and prayer. Unfortunately, he is soon tracked down by the Russian mafia and forced to get back to work. He quickly learns that he is being manipulated and eventually becomes a target himself, hunted by highly-trained ex-Spetsnaz operatives. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a set of 21 new missions set in six main locations all over the world. As you play, you make use of the protagonist’s talents, such as reconnaissance, camouflage, sneaking, and covering his tracks. The game offers a selection of more than 30 diverse weapons, including brand new tools, such as crossbows, poisonous darts, stun ammo, and even chloroform.

PC

RPG 29 November 2002

A direct sequel to the 2001's bestselling RPG developed by Piranha Bytes. The sequel continues the story of the original game set in Myrtana, where good and evil forces are constantly fighting each other. This time, the Nameless Hero faces the Army of Darkness led by dragons, creatures summoned by the main antagonist of the original game, a demon known as Sleeper. In order to recover and restore his skills, the protagonist has to join one of the three main factions and find lord Hagen, a man whose help is crucial for the victory over the forces of evil. In comparison to the original game, the story in Gothic II is set in a substantially larger and more diverse environment. As for the story itself, it is less linear and features a set of additional quests given by members of different guilds. There are plenty of new weapons, equipment, and monsters to be dealt with. What is more, both the graphics and artificial intelligence of NPCs were greatly improved.

PC

Strategiczne 31 October 2002

A strategy taking place in antiquity permeated with Greek mythology. We play the role of the leader of one of several civilizations and we take care of its development. The specificity of the game means that we often fight against mythological creatures and enter into deals with gods. In terms of gameplay, the title has all the features of the Age of Empires series - economic, military or even technological.

PC

Akcji 11 September 2002

Set in WWII realities, an multiplayer-focused FPS by Swedish studio DICE – though it includes a single player mode with bots as well. In Battlefield 1942 you take control of soldiers from one of the five countries fighting in the war. The character you control can assume one of five classes – Scout, Assault, Anti-Tank, Medic, and Engineer. The game offers 35 vehicles – starting with armored vehicles and tanks, through fighters and bombers, ending with different kinds of warships. The action takes place on 16 extensive maps modeled after real WWII battlefields. During gameplay you will visit the European, African, and Pacific theaters. Players are divided into two teams and try to hold control points – the key to success is cooperation.

PC

Strategiczne 03 July 2002

Third part of a classic real-time strategy series set in fantasy world started in 1994 by Blizzard studio. It takes us once again to the land of Azeroth known from previous games, where forces of humans, orcs, and night elves face invasion of undead known as Plague. Gameplay features mechanics typical of the series, but there are still some novelties. The most important is the introduction of heroes for every race, who gain experience and new special abilities that help us during battles. Additionally, third entry in the series features a cutscene-driven narrative. Warcraft III also has complex multiplayer, offering several modes through Battle.net network. Another attraction comes in the form of expanded editor, enabling us to modify almost every element of the game.

PC

Strategiczne 29 March 2002

The fourth installment in a best-selling series of strategy games initiated in 1995 by New World Computing. The game is set in Jadame - a fantasy world the players can associate with Might & Magic VIII. Six factions were included here and each of those has their own towns, different units and technologies. Each of them also has a dedicated school of magic and can hire characters belonging to one race only (Strongholds are the only exception). The mechanics went through many modifications and simplifications. The creators got rid of recruitment on a weekly basis, modified the combat system, and erased the necessity to have a character within an army - the characters were turned into units that participate directly in combat sequences. This however, brought many restrictions that made the experience both more difficult and entertaining. The game engine was significantly modified as well, which influenced the size of the maps and brought improvements to the visuals. For the first time in the series, the game is played from an isometric view.

PC

Sportowe 29 March 2002

Another part of the already known series of sports games about incredible feats and evolution with skateboarding. It introduces a lot of improvements and innovations both in terms of the audiovisual side of the game and new gameplay possibilities.

PC

RPG 05 April 2002

An interesting hack'n'slash RPG based on fantasy reality and created by Gas Powered Games. Our hero sets off on a journey through a fantastic world, performing numerous tasks, developing his skills and gaining allies. Great audio-video setting, refined gameplay mechanisms, as well as a developed multi-player mode make this title a must for every RPG action fan.

PC

Akcji 11 October 2002

Tactical action game created for the American army. The production focuses primarily on multiplayer gameplay, although it also includes several introductory (training) missions. Up to 32 players, divided into different classes, take part in the fights. The developers of the game tried to render the struggle of soldiers in a quite realistic way, which can be an advantage for many players.

PC

Przygodowe 21 August 2002

Tactical action game based on John Carpenter's film "The Thing", in which we lead a unit of specialized commandos to fight against a dangerous form of life found at the polar pole.

PC

Wyścigi 28 July 2002

Crazy Taxi is a conversion of a racing hit prepared by Strangelite studio, originally released on the Sega Dreamcast console. The player plays the role of a taxi driver, and his task is to transport as many clients as possible within the set time limit. The game is distinguished by a very colorful visual setting and a strictly arcade driving model.

PC

Przygodowe 18 June 2002

An adventure game designed by Benoit Sokal, the famous Belgian comic writer, in cooperation with studio Microids. Syberia is the first chapter of the adventures of Kate Walker, an American lawyer hired by the company that produces automatons – mechanical toys. She is tasked with finishing the formalities related to taking over a factory located in a small city in Europe. The game begins when the protagonist arrives at the factory and learns that its owner, Anna Voralberg, is dead. In order to complete her mission, Kate must find her heir. The task pushes her to embark on the greatest adventure of her life. During the journey she will visit various climatic and mysterious places located in the Eastern Europe and she will meet many interesting people. Since it's a typical point-and-click adventure game, the gameplay consists mostly of exploring locations, solving riddles and speaking with non-playable characters. Syberia is famous for its climatic graphics with pre-rendered, hand-drawn backgrounds.

PC

RPG 18 June 2002

A role-playing game developed by BioWare (the creators of Baldur's Gate), based on the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons system. The plot takes place in the fictional world of the Forgotten Realms and is centered on a mysterious plague sweeping the eponymous city of Neverwinter. The protagonist's task is to discover who is behind the illness and why did they start it. The story is divided into a prologue and four chapters, every one of them taking place in a different area (and you cannot return to a previously visited location). During the gameplay you do the respective missions, gather gold and items, level up your character, and, of course, fight enemies. The characters act in turns but the combat itself takes place in real time, though featuring active pause, and—like in D&D—the results of most actions are calculated based on dice throws. The game's strong point is the multiplayer mode, which features several types of gameplay, from simple duels to complex epics.

PC

Sportowe 24 April 2002

Special edition of one of the best football games prepared by EA Sports for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea. The main changes that have been introduced in relation to the basic version are the inclusion of real places (stadiums) where matches will be played, the improvement in control and the introduction of public reaction to the successes achieved by our team.

PC

RPG 27 August 2002

Continuation of Icewind Dale, the hit cRPG created by Black Isle Studios. The plot once again takes players to the freezing northern lands of the world of Forgotten Realms. This time we will have to face the Goblinoids who, united under one banner, decided to take over the civilized Ten Towns. The mechanism of the game is based on the solutions of the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons system.

PC

Strategiczne 21 August 2002

A continuation of the popular strategy game, released by Creative Assembly in 2000. Medieval: Total War brings us from the Far East to a more familiar setting of medieval Europe, where we need to take control of one of the twelve most powerful countries of that time. Similarly to its predecessor, the game connects military elements with trade, diplomacy and resource management. The kingdom management part plays out in a turn-based system, in which we expand our empire, building castles, creating alliances, setting trade routes, discovering new technologies, and developing our military. The battles take place in real time, in a fully 3D environment, with up to 10 thousand troops taking part in the encounters. The campaigns available in the game are based on historical events, and separated into three parts, taking place in early, high, and late Middle Ages.

PC

Przygodowe 01 November 2002

A two-dimensional adventure relating to the classic positions of this genre, in which, as a private detective, who has been employed by Wallen & Wallen Investigations agency for ten years, we finally get a real task to perform.

PC

Zręcznościowe 15 November 2002

Arcade adventure game with logical elements, designed for younger and older audiences. The whole is characterized by a high dynamics of action, extensive game world and carefully worked out graphics, which will reflect the fairy tale (from legends and legends of Scandinavian peoples) and the magical side of the environment.

PC

Akcji 12 November 2002

The I of the Dragon is an action game with cRPG elements. The player directs the actions of a young dragon who defends humanity against hordes of bloodthirsty beasts. A mythical reptile is not only able to fly, but also wields various magical spells. Developers from Primal Software studio have prepared a vast, 12-territory world full of challenges and opponents. took care of the high quality of the visual setting and

PC

RPG 10 May 2002

Set during World War II cRPG, telling the story of an adventurer and adventurer entangled in a bloody intrigue between the fighting powers. The game offers rendered 2D graphics in isometric projection and an extensive system of combat and character development.

PC

Wyścigi 22 November 2002

Hover Ace is a futuristic race produced by the GSC Game World development team. The action of the game was set in the future. Players steer extremely fast cushions, racing against rivals who often use unclean gameplay. The creators anticipated several fun options, including Energy Cell, Time Limit Checkpoint Race, and Last Man Standing modes.

PC

Logiczne 28 August 2002

The latest edition of one of the most popular chess programs, with full three-dimensional graphics, a detailed guide that makes it easier for us to play and significantly improved intelligence of the computer opponent.

PC

Strategiczne 14 June 2002

A strategy that takes players to the Caribbean until the peak of piracy, i.e. from the 16th to the 17th century. It combines the qualities of Patrician II and the former hit Pirates, with a focus on adventure, sea battles and combat.

PC

Logiczne 17 December 2002

Educational game for the youngest players. By following an interesting plot, the child solves mathematical tasks and various logical puzzles and exercises perceptiveness.

PC

Strategiczne 28 June 2002

The successor to the well-known economic simulation allowed us to create a global economic empire from scratch, starting with the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century up to the modern technologies of the late 20th century.

PC

Sportowe 22 March 2002

Virtua Tennis is an arcade simulation of tennis, which is a conversion of the hit known from the Sega Dream Cast console. Players have the opportunity to test their skills on virtual courts, playing duels with the stars of this sport, such as Sampras, Moya or Henman. Developers from Rowan Software studio prepared several variants of the game, including multiplayer mode.

PC

Sportowe 22 January 2002

Expanded economic and construction strategy, in which we design, build and manage a golf course, additionally combined with elements of development of the golfer's own character.

PC

Zręcznościowe 04 December 2002

The second part of Topware's best-selling arcade. The rules of the game are simple - the mouse cursor is the weapon viewfinder and the player's task is to shoot down as many cocks as possible that appear on the screen. There are three types of weapons and multiplayer mode.

PC

RPG 03 December 2002

Add-on to one of the most popular MMOcRPGs that currently exist. Introduces three new areas, three new races, six new character classes and a new graphics engine.

PC

Strategiczne 20 September 2002

Another part of the great Combat Mission strategy game: Beyond Overlord. It moves the action from the western front to the eastern front, where we can command the troops of the fighting parties in a series of battles and duels, which took place in the period from Barbaross's operation (June 1941) until the end of the war (conquest of Berlin).

PC

Strategiczne 12 March 2002

Warlords: Battlecry II is a continuation of the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) with cRPG elements released in 2000, developed by the Strategic Studies Group development team. The action of the game was set in the fantastic world of Etheria, torn apart by conflict, in which 12 races participate. The player chooses the faction, which will be controlled by the character of the main character.

PC

Strategiczne 09 January 2002

Official supplement to Tropico - an economic strategy game released in the spring of 2001 by PopTop Software. During the game we once again have the opportunity to take on the role of a dictator of a small Caribbean island and, using various strategies, lead it to prosperity. The expansion, Paradise Island, introduces over 20 brand new scenarios, a number of previously unavailable buildings, new attractions for visitors and unprecedented types of tourists.

PC