We’re going to take a moment to look back and update some of the reports from the last few weeks so first we have…
Fighting games of this generation seem to have followed the same pattern. It's all about 3D and looking great. Some are just stepping foot into the third dimension, while others are just trying to perfect it. Street Fighter 4 opted for 3D graphics while staying fixed on a 2D environment. Soul Caliber 4 kept it's 3D routes and updated the graphics. The King of Fighters XII however is staying in 2D but is that enough to compete in today's graphics obsessed gaming world?
Back in 2002, Studio Liverpool developed Wipeout Fusion for the PS2. It received varied reviews and, although it introduced the popular Zone Challenge mode to proceedings, was often thought to be the game that had marked the end of the series. However, it wasn't bad and was more of a case that the developers had bitten off more than they could chew with the existing technology.
While most other generations covered a certain number of "bits" the fifth couldn't make up its mind. Was it strictly the 32 bit era? 64 bit machines called that into question. The introduction of CD-ROM was certain to make an impact and true 3D made an introduction to consoles with Mario 64 and Tomb Raider being prime examples. With new players on the field, utilising media like never before, gamers were about to experience some very interesting times.
The fourth generation of gaming is something a bittersweet chapter in the history of the industry. While the medium was growing more prominent after the near miss that was the 1983 industry crash, it was a time that would once again see many game developers and hardware manufacturers become a little too confident. After all, it was only a matter of time before games made the jump into the third dimension and no one really knew what to expect. The heralding of 3D gaming effectively killed off many companies, while exciting new names popped up and are still with us today.
Xbox 360