Midway have announced that two of their most eagerly anticipated titles, Area 51 and NARC are on track to be released in 2004. the Area 51 is described as the only first-person shooter that allows gamers to infiltrate the U.S. government's most Top-Secret and heavily
guarded military institution and includes online capabilities for PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live. NARC will drop gamers into the middle of a drug war.
Area 51
Featuring online play for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live, Area 51 is set in the U.S. government's most top-secret and secure facility located in the Nevada desert. Players take on the role of Lt. Nick Cross, a hazardous biological waste specialist sent to investigate. During his investigation, Lt. Cross stumbles across alien creatures and becomes infected with a biological mutagen that eventually transforms him into something not quite human. To save the earth and himself, Lt. Cross must fight to solve the enigma of Area 51.
The intrigue and rumors that surround the top-secret facility add a unique intensity and all-new dimension to this first-person shooter, said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway.
Area 51 takes the player through eight massive levels within a clandestine government complex. Combining intense combat, exploration, adventure, discovery, and puzzle solving, the game blends graphic violence with science fiction. As Lt. Cross, the player will discover secret areas and items, including the answers to this rumored government conspiracy.
Stan Winston, renowned creature designer, contributed to Area 51's intrigue by creating artwork of some of the disturbing alien characters and mutations featured in the game. For more than 30 years Stan Winston has developed characters, creatures and monsters for motion pictures and television. The four-time Academy Award winner is responsible for designing many of the most enduring creatures of the big screen, including the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, the extraterrestrial monstrosities of Aliens and the fanciful character of Edward Scissorhands. Nominated for an Academy Award for A.I., Stan Winston worked on the newly released T3 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Area 51 Key Features:
-Extensive Single-Player Campaign - Battle through corridors of Area 51 and attempt to discover the secrets of the extraterrestrial menace before it is too late.
-Story-Driven Epic Adventure - Engage in an epic adventure through eight massive sections of a secretive complex.
-Fearsome Weaponry - Equip yourself with more than 15 types of human and alien weapons and other equipment as you explore dark corridors.
-Evolving Gameplay - An infectious mutagen gives Lt. Nick Cross alien-enhanced physical abilities but is also slowly transforming him into an alien. Find the cure before it's too
late and humanity is lost.
-Alien Menace - Battle fierce, horrific creatures designed by Stan Winston Studios, famed creature designer for such films as Aliens, Jurassic Park and Predator.
-Government Conspiracies - Explore and discover a multitude of secret items and areas, including the real answers behind such conspiracy theories.
-Multiplayer Combat - Compete against your friends via a four-player split screen and system link through numerous multiplayer game modes including Death Match.
-Online Combat - Battle online with your PlayStation 2 or via Xbox Live where you can easily access the many systems allowing you to find your friends and set up your own matches.
NARC
NARC, to be released on all 3 Next-Gen consoles, is an all-new remake of the 1988 cult arcade classic of the same name, which was the first action/shooter videogame to put players in the middle of the war on drugs. Assuming the role of Hitman and Max Force, ex-partners reluctantly reunited as members of the elite NARC squad, gamers must rid the world of the powerful international drug cartel, K.R.A.K., which is run by the evil drug lord, Mr. Big. To stop the spread of the new ultra-powerful designer street drug, Liquid Soul, gamers must use street-style, hand-to-hand combat and a large array of weapons against enemies.
Following a deep and twisting story that drives the character players control, NARC challenges gamers to bust and kill ruthless thugs and criminals in order to bring justice to the drug-infested streets, said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway.
Hitman and Max Force embark on an authentic, drug-busting mission around the globe, from the United States to Asia and Eastern Europe, and finally to Mr. Big's private island hideout. To accomplish their goal, gamers can choose from an arsenal of weapons to use as well as down-and-dirty street-fighting skills. The armed combat features third-person shooting, plus a zoomed-in third-person view for the perfect shot, while the unarmed combat features roughhouse action with an authentic street-fighting style, including wild punches, head-butts, knee-strikes, grappling and throwing.
NARC also features sub-missions that occur outside of the main missions. Gamers can hone their skills in the sub-missions and build their reputation by choosing to stop the many random crimes ranging from purse snatching to bank robberies. And, the licensed music in NARC features a collection of the best drug songs of all time.
NARC Key Features:
-Nonstop, Action-Packed, Drug-Busting Mayhem -- As Hitman and Max Force, players must rid the world of drug-infested corruption:
-Play as either Max Force or Hitman in each of the levels; the game's storyline drives which character players control.
-Some missions are solo while other missions allow the computer-controlled AI to fight along.
-Be a good cop or a bad cap -- its up to you how you play the game.
-Bust Criminals -- Arresting and busting criminals: -- The arrest procedure will be fast, arcade-like and will feel like a real tussle.
-Ease of arrest will depend upon the criminal's health, criminal rating and drug use.
-Combat -- Both unarmed and armed combat: -- Unarmed Combat -- The style will be a roughhouse, authentic street-fighting style with big, wild punches, head-butts, knee-strikes, grappling and throwing.
-Armed Combat -- Using an intuitive combat mechanic, players will use a wide arsenal of weapons, ranging from a crowbar to a rocket launcher and flame-thrower.
-Worldwide Drug Locales -- Players embark on an over-the-top adventure that will take them around the globe in pursuit of the evil drug lord, Mr. Big. The five game locations are:
-USA: Based around a crime-ridden district of an East Coast American city.
-Asia: Set on the dock and downtown areas. -- Eastern Europe: An industrial complex and drug lab.
-Private Island: The private island of the evil drug lord, Mr. Big.
-Ambient Crime -- The world found in NARC is extremely violent and crime-ridden. Occurring outside of the main missions, gamers can hone their skills and build their reputation by
choosing to stop the many random crimes ranging from purse snatching to bank robberies.
-Soundtrack -- Eclectic soundtrack spanning a wide variety of musical genres add to the drug-ridden street flavor of the game.