... - , .....
A = instant classic B = a cut above C = average
D = don't buy it F = burn in effigy
X
om his cal
jutcomefl
Command
and Conquer:
Tiberian Sun
Developer:
Westwood Studios
Genre: Strategy
System: Windows PC
Westwood took its sweet time
lling out the next installment of
e conflict between the Global
Defense Force and the Brother
hood of Nod, but the endproduct
is more than worth the wait.
J As is the custom, the rules are
Imple — players build a base
fith money gleaned from a min-
g process (like harvesting
heat, but with guns), then go
and stomp a mudhole in
eir enemies.
The aforementioned is easier
id than done. Westwood re-
iVJmped the artificial-intelligence
gine, making computer-con-
olled enemies smarter and
ore tenacious than ever. On the
ighest difficulty setting, the
iomputer could almost replace a
uman opponent.
The AI is not the only thing
f estwood seriously monkeyed
ith. The graphics, still essential-
two-dimensional, are superb,
ith well-drawn unit animations
nd faithfully reproduced lighting
nd shading. Shoot out a street
|amp, and it gets dark — at least
ntil the next building gets con-
erted to slag. Ion storms, meteor
towers and other assorted pixel-
fas are mind-blowing.
The quality of Tiberian Sun,
otvever, is more than the sum of
ts individual parts. The cerebral
atisfaction of a well-timed flank
ing maneuver is tempered by the
less noble pleasure of making the
bad guys suffer terribly.
If players say it with sabots to
an infantry division, they are re
warded with screams for a medic.
Blow up a building, and the ex
plosion hurts nearby enemies,
who must flee the flying shrapnel.
While the game’s central con
cept, killing thine enemies, is rela
tively straightforward, both sides
differ greatly in their approaches
to conducting campaigns. Learn
ing to play well as both sides is its
own unique challenge.
Finally, computer-strategy
buffs can put away their aged
copy of Starcraft, because Com
mand and Conquer: Tiberian Sun
is the new king of the heap.
(Grade: A)
— Stephen Wells
Super Puzzle
Fighter 2 Turbo
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Puzzle
System: Playstation
At first glance, it looks like
any other puzzle game. Drop the
gems and break them with orbs.
Kind of a cross between Tetris
and Columns. No big thing, just
a fun little game. But then play
ing it turns from minutes to
hours. People drop by and keep
playing, and they do not leave.
Suddenly, dawn breaks, and
madness turns into hysteria. No
sleep. No food. And that look in
the eyes of the roommate who
has been winning for the past
hour and a half!!
For those who dismiss this
game as cute or simple, be fore
warned — This is a dangerous
and addictive game, conceived
in the very bowels of hell and
the insanity of popular Japanese
culture. This game is the Ninten
do Antichrist.
The characters of Street Fight
er and Darkstalkers, shrunk to
“cute” size, scream out wacky
Japanese phrases. The colors are
bright, wild and wacky, and the
screen flashes enough to put a
three-toed tree sloth into an
epileptic seizure.
Everything insane in Japanese
pop culture except Pokemon is
represented in this game.
But all this only adds to the
quality and surreality that makes
Puzzle Fighter so appealing.
Playing the game is like being in
an arcade, but without the pim
ply-faced kid whose claim to
fame is performing Ryu’s ulti
mate death-karate eyepoke with
his eyes closed.
Each time a player destroys
blocks (by lining them up into
rows), more blocks are dropped
onto the opposing player’s side of
the screen. But those blocks,
known as temporary blocks, do
not become real until the player
drops five subsequent sets of
blocks. Each character drops a
different color pattern of blocks,
and hidden characters can be
found for even more unusual
drop patterns.
This game is easy to learn and
provides hours of entertainment.
Puzzle Fighter is probably the
best party game to come along
since Mario Kart and Goldeneye.
(Grade: A + )
— Kyle Whitacre
:k, and tfc
e Field,"fea
r, and tM
cleanup;.
They wetf
the fields*
time.
y to do
in all anil
me need;*
-e going t’ 1
)
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ABROAD
MSC L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness
Informational
September 28 7:00 pm Rudder 410
October 4 8:30 pm Rudder 404 October 20 7:00 pm Rudder 401
October 13 5:30 pm Rudder 402 October 28 8:30 pm Rudder 402
Come see us online at http://ltjordan.tamu.edu
* For mors information or to inform us of your special needs,
please call the Jordan Office at 645-8770 or come visit us at MSC 223-1
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Student Travel
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London
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From Dallas each w:
based on a rt purchase.
Fares do not include
taxes, are
valid for departures
in November and are
subject to change.
Restrictions apply.
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plfMJM
PROPHECY
DON’T MISS THE OPENING NIGHT!
“The Millennial Man”
STARTS:
Friday, October 22
7:00 PM
At Texas A&M
Koldus Building, Room 111
Continuing Nightly except Mondays and Thursdays
through November 20. 1999
For Information:
email: matus@math.tamii.edii
phone: 775-5122
A continuing multi-media series • All seats are FREE
FREE study materials • Designed for busy people
Relaxed atmosphere • Come as you are
COME AND GET IT!
1999 AGGIELAND
P ICKING UP your 1999 Aggieland is easy. If you ordered a book, go to the basement of
the Reed McDonald Building, and show your Student ID. If you did not order last year's
Texas A&M yearbook (the 1998-99 school year), you may purchase one for $35 plus tax in
015 Reed McDonald. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cash, checks,
VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.
http://aggieland-web.tamu.edu