CLOCKWORK KNIGHT 2

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hen we first got our Saturn,W

we thought that Virtue Fighter was possibly the best thing ev and we waited with bated breath for Clockwork Knight — the 3D platform game that promised to revolutionise the genre. Well. Cl( proved to be quite a disappointment in the long run, with Its dated lebit gameplay and lock of challenge (it made Sonic 3's challenge akin to successfully scaling Everest). When we heard that the sequel promised to be more of the same we weren't exactly enthralled by the prospect. However, now we've actually soon the game running, our opinion of the project has been lifted just a tad. ft certainly looks as though the original programmers (who, admittedly, ware rushed with the first game) have taken all of the criticism of the first game to heart and have made a concerted Wert to pot it right. One thing that hasto't changed at all is the level of presentation. Just like the first game. CK2 features some absolutely excellent Silicon Graphics-sourced full-motion video sequenc which set the scene really well. The grossly under-used 3D engine for the first game has also been put to good use in the sequel, with intro sections that show the level graphics spinning around the eponymous Clockwork Knight. It really is quite impressive. In terms of challenge, it looks as though the games difficulty has been boosted significantly

1 1I Far East journos gave it. Clockwork knight 2 features eight separate levels now — that's , 100% more than the first game. Let's hope that — it requires something more than an extra 100% p effort to complete it, as we soared through the r game the same day we got it. o So although we're quit. impressed with what b we've soon so far, we're still a bit wary of this a Next month, we'll be carrying the defineb l sO o w . 0 r e e. so look out for that. rev y b

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The clever use of Salting the and perspecti makes a return in sequel. MID

BOSS-TON STRANGLER

Since the days of R-Type. 1t1S1 about every videogame has included "bosses" - enormous. deadly creatures lurking at the end of a level bent on your destruction. Unless they're Sonic game bosses, who allow you to lump on them repeatedly and thus finish the game in less than a day. Clockwork Knight 2 continues the fine tradition started on the prequel by giving you some spec tactular-looking bosses to kill. One of the first you'll meet is this huge snake made up of toy bricks. It zooms around the level in 3D and is a mere taster of the boss-related treats in store for you on later levels. Let's hope they're a bit more difficult to defeat on this game...

SAME AS IT EVER WAS

From what we've seen of Clockwork Knight, it's clear that the game plays quite similarly to the first game, albeit with some pretty major enhancements. We aren't going to give them all away in this here preview (what would we write about in the review then. eh?), but suffice to say that you're given plenty more to be getting on with. One such feature is riding that strange horse-like creature shown on CK1's WV and artwork lbw not in the actual game as such). In this part of the game, the action speeds up significantly and hopefully it's a taster of more exciting things to do later on in the game. Hopefully. 40.5foll•