Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The kings of cool were noticeably absent at E3 this year, with nary a mention of the next installment in their world-beating Grand Theft Auto series. Rockstar did launch a minimalist site to give fans a taste of what's in store for them when the game hits store shelves in October. You'll take on the role of an ex-gang member who returns from prison to find his family dead; we can only assume that this means it's "payback time". While details are sketchy, what we know for sure is that the game takes place in no fewer than three cities across the state of San Andreas, which certainly means a wealth of new environments and travel options. Players can keep their as-of-yet-unnamed avatar in peak physical shape by working out, or let him put on the pounds by repeatedly visiting the local fast food joint. Other key features include an improved targeting system, bicycle riding and the ability to invade homes for fun and profit. Sounds good to me!

The previous Grand Theft Auto games delivered engrossing gameplay experiences like no other, and San Andreas has a lot to live up to. Still, I'm willing to give Rockstar the benefit of the doubt on this one. Keep checking the official site over the summer for new details.

More:
• Official Site

Resident Evil 4
Capcom's flagship horror series has undergone a major overhaul since last year's show, and to be honest I'm a bit conflicted about the changes. Gone is the story of Leon S. Kennedy's daring raid on the Umbrella Corporation's European headquarters, and with it any hope for closure in the long-running battle against the biohazard-producing bastards. Instead, Resident Evil 4 now finds Leon in an unnamed South American country, fighting off scruffy-looking villagers and chainsaw-wielding maniacs in search of the President's daughter. If you're thinking to yourself "what the fuck?", you're not alone. I can't look at any of the preview material without questioning why Capcom felt the need to scrap what looked like a very tense and creepy game.

But on the plus side, the visuals are as mind-blowing as ever and the distinctly Latin-American setting holds a world of untapped potential for novel atmosphere. Part 4 also looks to be the most explosively violent game in the Resident Evil universe; I've never seen such incredibly-detailed exploding heads before. The game seems to be more action-oriented than ever, with a number of "active time" events (ala Shenmue) incorporated into the core gameplay. At the very least, the improved over-the-shoulder aiming system should make combat a hell of a lot less frustrating. I'm not sure how I feel about shooting living people and giant cave trolls however, and I wish that game companies would cease with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre knockoffs already. Sheesh!

I'm still very excited about Resident Evil 4, and horror fans should definitely keep it at the top of their holiday wish list. Check out the trailer below to see what all the fuss is about.

More:
• Official Site
• E3 Trailer (ZIP, 31MB)

Dead or Alive Ultimate
Dave and I have always been huge fans of the Dead or Alive fighting games, and we're both pretty stoked about playing Dead or Alive Ultimate over Xbox Live. Originally slated for release earlier this year, Team Ninja has instead opted to invest more time and effort in making the game into the definitive online fighter. The inclusion of the original Saturn version of DOA is nothing new, but the refinements to DOA2 are turning out to be pretty damned cool. For starters, the game features a plethora of re-worked environments that boast increased interactivity, which should play well with the outrageous new "slope" maneuvers. DOAU will also include a "virtual cabinet" mode that allows up to six extra players to chat it up while watching a one-on-one match, simulating the huddle at an arcade machine.

The visuals once again possess that typical Dead or Alive quality, and the variety of online modes should keep the game fresh for quite a while. Team Ninja has been tight-lipped about downloadable extras, so the status of DOA3 characters like Christie and Hayate is up in the air at this point. But in case you were worried about a lack of fan service, Itagaki has stated that Dead or Alive Ultimate will offer more character costumes than Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Considering that game has over 300 costumes, I think it's safe to say that we'll never get bored with the appearance of our favorite combatants. Pick up a copy of Dead or Alive Ultimate this September, and keep an eye out for Dave and myself on Xbox Live. It's gonna be fun on the bun!

Be sure to check out IGN's uncensored trailer for a host of jaw-dropping moments and a pinch of anime-style nudity.

Final Fantasy XII
SquareEnix is officially sitting on my "do not buy games from" list after they sodomized their top franchise with the unbearably awful Final Fantasy X-2. The once-revered RPG maker will have to deliver a game that is ten times the equal of Final Fantasy X to win back my affection, and the preview material for Final Fantasy XII is not really doing it at this point. But to be fair, the games' art direction is very appealing, and the fact that it looks like a cross between Tactics and Vagrant Story has me more than a little curious. Its pre-rendered cinematics are breathtaking, and the decision to take the game to the Tactics world of Ivalice should inject some much-needed novelty into the series.

What has me confused though is the games' .hack-like combat system which, quite frankly, looks rather silly. It doesn't look as interactive as Vagrant Story nor as deep as Tactics, and it doesn't seem to recreate the amazing balance of strategy and pacing that characterized Final Fantasy X. Watching your characters jockey for position around an enemy with an "arc" that confirms your attack just doesn't look very interesting. I'll need more hands-on details before I'm sold on what I've seen so far. But despite my doubts, I'm still looking forward to seeing how the game turns out. The character designs and environments are top-notch, and you really can't go wrong when one of your lead characters is a bunny chick dressed in high heels and a thong. I'll have the last word when the game hits our shores sometime next year.

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