| E3 Impressions: Best of Show
by Leonard "Viking1" Hjalmarson |
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Jet and prop sims, shooters, strategy, video boards, hardware and "other." Even after dividing the products into categories it's still a tough choice. With sims that are still unfinished, choosing a "best of show" has a lot more to do with intuition and atmosphere than with a particular feature set, or even the graphics engine that powers the game off the ground. With that disclaimer behind me, let's go to it! Best of Show: Prop Sims B17 II wasn't an easy choice, but the additional atmosphere and involvement provided by a virtual crew tipped the hat in favor of this one over Flight Combat. True, the graphics engine makes the aircraft and scenery drop dead gorgeous, but Flight Combat still had a lot going for it. Since we've already completed an interview and a preview and posted nearly a gazillion screen shots, I won't say any more about B17 II. I can't wait to get my mitts on this one. Best of Show: Jet Sims I chose DI's Super Hornet over stiff competition like MiG Alley for personal reasons: I liked it better! Seriously, it was a toss up between the two, but the carrier ops are fantastic and like MiG Alley it sports a fully dynamic campaign. With the addition of a new graphics engine twelve months ago DI is set to pull off a coup with this one. (Note: We are seeking DI for clarification, but my understanding is that the campaign is dynamic.) Best of Show: Hidden and Dangerous First person shooters are a growth medium. Rainbow Six broke the ice, and Rogue Spear looks set to take the genre to a new height. So why choose Hidden and Dangerous for Best of Show? The WWII setting captures something for me.. that oh, "Je ne sais qua?" The variety and setting of the missions, the integration of map control, the historical element... I like it all. Besides, there don't seem to be any resolution limitations: can you say "TNT2 Ultra" and "Matrox G400 Max?"
 Team Alligator I'm going to fudge this one between Gunship III and Ka52 Team Alligator. It's too early to make a choice and both look excellent. |
 Best of Show: Military Strategy Harpoon4 looks incredible, far surpassing Janes' Fleet Command in scope and certain to please every Harpoon fan out there. The addition of a real time 3d world view makes this product another cross over, sim/strat title in the new breed.
Best of Show: Other Game Software How to describe Star Trek: New Worlds? Hmm, kind of Caesar III in the 23rd century, but the graphics and effects, whew! Officially, the press release says that this is the first strategy-action game to be created in real 3D. You can choose to play as an officer in the Federation, as an honorable Klingon warrior or a centurion of the Romulan Empire. As one of these races you develop or destroy the frontier in twenty five unique missions.
 ST New Worlds  ST New Worlds This is an ultra realistic looking 3d world, yet not sterile. The game is very atmospheric, with the most incredible effects and reflections that I have yet seen. We'll do a full report when we get hands on in a few weeks. Go to Page Two
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