ZOE and Castlevania
Zone of the Enders 2: The 2nd Runner
The original ZOE sold pretty well because it had a demo of Metal Gear Solid 2 on the disc. This was a lot less than the game deserved, as it was actually pretty engaging. A Mech game, it saw your mech flying about shooting stuff, but you'd have to consider details like how many houses would be leveled if you missed with a large rocket. The game tries to maintain this, but also adds to it with battles against multiple foes (rather than the 1-on-1 of the original). Graphically, it's the business with an absolutely perfect Manga-style look. I await progress with baited breath.
PS2 Screenshot
PS2 Screenshots: Screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
The Castlevania franchise has been going strong since its launch on the NES, and little has changed in the formula ever since. Your character must go through a series of platform levels, armed with a whip, killing all who stand between him and the final boss Dracula. This game stars Juste Belmont, son of Simon who starred i the early games. The game plays much like the earlier titles (with the additon of a more complex spellcasting system), but most importantly now features a quicksave to avoid the starting again from the beginning that the early games were so frustrating for.
GBA Screenshot
On the other hand, this game is not particularly pretty. The graphics are nowhere near the standard of games usch as Castlevania V on the SNES, and stand somewhere near the first three on the NES. A pity.
GBA Screenshots: Screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen screen
There were, of course, a couple of other games shown on the press CD. But to be honest, I have better things to do than upload pictures of Yu-Gi-Oh and DIsney games on a dial-up modem. Think of these as the pick of the bunch. I'll get any proper reviews done as soon as I can.
