Super Mario Sunshine
© 2002 Nintendo

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Top 5 Most Anticipated Games

It seems incredible to us that we're already in April. It only seemed like a few weeks ago we were booting up an Xbox or GameCube for the first time, and now we're deep into the planning stages of our coverage of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

The next year is going to be incredible. Giant releases at such regular intervals that we can barely keep up at times. E3 will only raise expectations and likely give us a whole new set of games to get excited about. But for the moment (and our first edition of Gamers' Thumb), we take a look at our most anticpated games before we hit the Los Angeles Convention Center. After the show, we'll post an update list to see what's changed!

Without further ado, the list.

Troy's list:

SHENMUE II (XBOX)

The sequel

Eternal Darkness

© 2001 Nintendo

WARCRAFT III

While it's not COMMAND AND CONQUER, WARCRAFT is a great series. The battle between orcs and humans wages on, but tons of surprises are in store. It's good to go back to classic medieval lore sometimes, instead of always being an apocolyptic future, and that's what WARCRAFT does. This will possibly be a contender for PC game of the year.

No surprise here. Bruce Lee is one of my heroes, and him starring in a beat-em up game is just what the doctor ordered. From what I've seen, it's like a 3D FINAL FIGHT game, comparable to the fighting in SHENMUE. It looks great so far, so I'm hoping it'll be a blast to play.

SOUL CALIBUR II

SOUL CALIBUR is, without a doubt, the best fighting game released in years. Now that it's been out a few years, fans are begging for a sequel. With most of the original characters returning, and a lot of new faces, SOUL CALIBUR II looks like the best fighting game since its predecessor.

RESIDENT EVIL (GC)

The classic

STAR FOX ADVENTURES

© 2002 Rare

That other guy's list:

1. SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE



Ever since the release date was announced (I was expecting November), I've been growing more and more excited for the next game in the Mario Bros. series. All of the nostalgia, likely some incredible gameplay and I'm going to bet that when it comes out we all think that the graphics look great. It's Mario, it's Miyamoto, it's going to rock.



2. MEDAL OF HONOR: FRONTLINE



I've always liked the MEDAL OF HONOR games, and FRONTLINE is looking to push the series in new directions. I recently talked to the game's producer, Scott Langteau, and he said it has everything you love about MEDAL OF HONOR except that it's on steroids. There aren't many first-person shooters that have caught my attention, but this one is going to rock.



3. TEKKI



Not many people have heard of TEKKI, but you soon will. TEKKI is really the first game on the Xbox that has had me seriously considering dropping the dough for one (yes, I'm living quite happily without HALO thank you very much). You're a mech pilot, but the big twist is that you'll have to plunk down around $150 for the specialized controller (which looks like the control panel from a virtual reality arcade). The game is very realistic and I'm just drooling at the prospect of playing it. Course, with that high a price, we may never see it in the States.



4. STAR FOX ADVENTURES



Every time



Shenmue II

© 2001 Sega

I see this game my mouth drops... I was ready to be blown away with a June release, and now we're talking Fall. What else can Rare do to make this game any better? If there are enough flying sequences and the gameplay isn't too repetitive when you're on the ground, this may even eclipse SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE. All will be known at E3.


5. 
   

   ETERNAL DARKNESS: SANITY'S REQUIEM

   
   

   This psychological

   

   Super Mario Sunshine

   © 2002 Nintendo

   thriller hasn't looked too great in all of the previews, but reports from Nintendo's latest showing are very positive. I really like the concept of playing as multiple characters and having your characters slowly go insane. Should tide me over until SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE.

The contrast in the lists just proves the giant variety of great titles that are soon to be hitting the gaming world. We'll give you another update once E3 rolls around.

Gamers' Thumb is our weekly Videogame column.