PC games reviews

Rockman X6/X7
Designer: Capcom
Distributor: EA Taiwan
Platforms: X6 in Chinese for PC, X7 in Japanese for PS2
Taiwan release: X6 currently available, X7 out this month
In the 15 years since the first Rockman game was released, it has established itself as one of the most popular games in Taiwan and Japan, spanning computer and console platforms. It is a simple game, very much like the early Nintendo game Super Mario, although cuter. "It's really a matter of dexterity," said EA Taiwan manager Jack Lin (林守杰). "It is simply a matter of controlling your character, making it run, jump or duck."

With X6, EA has adapted Rockman into a Chinese-language PC platform, and with X7 it is seeking to make an impact on the Japanese PS2 market. In X7, the program has been modified to incorporate 3D graphics for the first time, making the game more complex.

"This changes the game substantially," said Lin, "Now there are three points of perspective, rather than one, as before. The player must keep switching perspective if he is to get through all the stages."

The story lines of X6 and X7 both involve robots run amok, though X7 develops that scenario into a more complex three-sided relationship, giving the story a little more depth.

Day of Defeat
International distributor: Activision
Local distributor: Unalis Technology
Platforms: English for PC
Taiwan release: Next week
Day of Defeat, like Counter-Strike, is based on the game engine first developed for Half-Life. Set during WWII, it seeks to create the conflicts of that period through small unit actions, and with its 3D graphics, surround sound and Internet playability, it offers a very realistic experience.

Eight basic character types are available, from the infantryman common to all game maps, NCO specialists, support troopers, machine gunners, snipers and paratroopers. In addition to character-specific skills, there are also 21 types of weapons to select from. Fifteen detailed game maps provide excellent playability.

"There is a great need for additional realism in the games coming out at the moment," said John Chiang (蔣鏡明), chief editor of Netgame. "So many regular players have become very expert and only by providing more detail can we keep them playing."

In Day of Defeat this can be seen in the factoring in of recoil and the effects of movement on aim, fatigue that follows periods of prolonged action and other details. Greater detail for snipers, the movements made when using a weapon and hand signals are all more detailed than in earlier games. The usual play modes, such as storming a beachhead, capturing the flag and taking a building are all available, and the map allows gamers to play the battle at the end of the movie Saving Private Ryan.

Unlike Counter Strike, which emphasized individual skills, Day of Defeat requires a high level of cooperation between players in order to complete missions.

Pirates of the Caribbean
International distributor: Bethesda
Local distributor: Interwise Multimedia
Platform: English for PC and Xbox
Taiwan release: October
In Sea Dog, released last year by design house Bethesda, the realism of its ocean scenes and the re-creation of the effects of waves and wind during combat achieved by its 3D graphics engine won praise from gamers round the world. The company has built on this basis with Sea Dog 2, which has strengthened the role that trade and the creation of trade routes play in the game. The game, long awaited by Taiwanese afficionados, is, after numerous delays, scheduled for release in Taiwan under the name Pirates of the Caribbean this October.

In Pirates of the Caribbean, the player takes charge of a ship and crew that roams the high seas in search of adventure, and by playing off the colonial powers, chasing up rumors of buried treasure, and battling other captains, either ship-to-ship or man-to-man, to accumulate more power than even the toughest captains of history ever dreamed of.

You will be able to customize your captain, crew, skills, and attributes to your liking. During shore leave on the many beautiful islands, players can interact with townspeople and shopkeepers to replenish stores of ammo and crew -- and explore the wilderness in search of adventure and treasure. You will also be able to form small fleets of ships to take control of your destiny.

The game is already available overseas, the creation of a Chinese-language edition is currently being discussed.

Restaurant Empire
International distributor: Enlight Software, Activision Value
Local distributor: T-Time Technology
Platform: Chinese and English for PC
Taiwan release: This month
With classic strategy games such as Capitalism and Seven Kingdoms behind him, Trevor Chan has already established himself as a leading force in game design. Following on the success of Hotel Giant last year, Chan is now leading a team from Enlight Software to develop what he describes as "the Rolls Royce of sim games" -- Restaurant Empire.

In the game you play a young chef just graduated from college. Taking over a defunct business from an uncle, you must find a way to get the restaurant back on its feet and then turn it into a profitable venue. You are responsible for everything, from finding the right location decorating the establishment, to designing a menu and managing costs. The game includes role-playing elements that allow the gamer to interact with other international chefs or take part in cooking competitions to raise the profile of the enterprise.

Getting the right team together is important, so you must make sure that you have people with the correct experience for the theme of your restaurant. Your decisions will affect the type and number of customers, and will ultimately decide your success. You can select from 180 different dishes for your restaurant menu, all of them collated from well-known restaurants across the US.