Next Year's Games to Watch

comp0802nextyear_A.jpg Doom III

Doom III (PC)

The next iteration of this venerable shooter title from id Software stole the show at this year's E3 gaming convention, with its gruesomely realistic graphics (courtesy of programming legend John Carmack) and convincingly creepy soundtrack from macabre rocker Trent Reznor.


Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PlayStation 2)
Rockstar Studios, the Scottish team whose original stroll down America's mean streets resulted in the best-selling game of 2001, is hard at work on a retro-themed sequel set in an '80s city that bears more than a passing resemblance to Miami Beach.


Project Ego (Xbox)
In this ambitious new role-playing title, god-game guru Peter Molyneux (of Dungeon Keeper and Black and White fame) lets players create a hero and take him through a virtual lifetime. The reputation you build and the scars you earn last through old age.


Psychonauts (Xbox)
Following the finest, funniest computer adventure game ever (Day of the Tentacle), Tim Shafer's latest effort showcases his knack for storytelling and witty dialogue, as a young would-be psychic hero struggles to build his powers by exploring strange subconscious minds.


Legend of Zelda (GameCube)
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Donkey Kong and Mario) is surprising fans by abandoning realistic textures in favor of anime-style cel-shaded graphics. Our playable demo provided reassurance that his ingenious combination of puzzle solving and action, which made the original Zelda game a classic, remains intact.