VIDEO GAMES
Console games are even better on PC
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
| • | Reviews
'Silent Hill 3' Rated: "M" for mature Price: $39.99 Format: PC and PlayStation2 Score: 4 stars out of 5 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' Rated: "T" for teen Price: $44.99 Format: PC and Xbox Score: 4.5 stars out of 5 |
 |
|
Referred to as "porting" a title, this serves as a treat for those who prefer playing on a computer rather than on a television.
PC versions of ported console games usually offer additional game play features and enhanced graphics (because a computer monitor can display graphics at a higher resolution than a typical television screen).
Two exceptional PC ports are now available. Here's a look at each one:
'Silent Hill 3'
Horror movie fans will likely be drawn to the spooky graphics and game-play found in "Silent Hill 3," the latest adventure in Konami's popular survival horror franchise.
The game places young heroine Heather in eerie locations such as an abandoned amusement park, shopping mall and hospital — each populated by nightmarish creatures that jump out at her.
Through exploration, combat and puzzle solving, you must travel to the town of Silent Hill to uncover its disturbing secrets. The story is slow at first, but patient players will find it ultimately becomes one of the game's stronger features, along with its atmospheric visuals.
"Silent Hill 3" was first available on the PlayStation2, but it looks much better on a PC. Series producer Akira Yamaoka from Konami's Japan studios worked closely to ensure this computer version was optimized to support the latest PC hardware. The result is much higher resolution graphics.
In addition, the PC version of this game lets players save their progress at any time during their quest, opposed to using the "save points" found in the console version.
This PC port includes an extra CD with more than 60 minutes of music taken from the game's soundtrack.
'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic'
"Star Wars" followers who play video games know all too well the titles can be a hit or miss.
That said, LucasArts' "Knights of the Old Republic" — the first role-playing game set in this popular sci-fi universe — is not only one of the best "Star Wars" titles to date, but it is also one of the finest games in recent memory.
The story takes place a few thousand years before the events of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace," a turbulent period where powerful Jedi battle evil Sith fighters.
You begin this 40-hour adventure by creating a character from scratch or by selecting a randomly generated one. Depending on your character's actions throughout the game, he or she will become an upstanding galactic citizen or a heartless one. Players must also travel with a "party" of characters from planet to planet, combating enemies, collecting items and solving puzzles.
Features specific to the PC version include an improved interface and control scheme (utilizing the mouse for character navigation and camera-like movement), enhanced graphics and sound, and a special trading area where users can obtain new weapons, armor and clothing items.
Two other excellent PC ports include Microsoft's "Halo" and Rockstar Games' "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City." Both proved finer on the PC because of game play enhancements not found in the Xbox and PlayStation2 versions, respectively. "Halo" for PC offers multiplayer support via the Internet, along with new maps, vehicles and weapons. "Vice City" allows PC gamers to import MP3 music, create levels and play as new characters.
