OPM 100th Anniversary i(zzz)ue...

[RJ]

Anybody get this yet? It's the January '06 issue, & a bit dull for a 100th anniversary issue IMO. The only items that come close to anniversary content are a 10-year history/recap of 100 prominent "must-play" PS/PS2 games (only a handful per year, though), & a jam-packed demo disc w/ a dozen current-gen demos. Oh, & a contest to win said 100 games.

I think a good idea wouldve been several demos of the prominent games they had on their list. I wouldnt mind a demo of Jumping Flash, Soul Blade, Parappa, Klonoa: DtP or any of the other "dont miss" games.

Strangely, they also featured a multi-page interview w/ XBOX honcho (!!!) J. Allard. It's an interesting read, but I wonder how much backlash the PS fanboys are going to give them for that!

Speaking of which, there's no reason to start a console-bashfest in this thread, please. Thanky!

[Joker T]

What Demos are on it? That determines if I pick up the mag. I don't like the magazine that much.

[Snapple]

Honestly, I haven't liked the magazine since it became the "Official Playstation Magazine." Back when it was just good old PSX Magazine, the format was a lot better, I thought. Less pop-culture clutter that has nothing to do with games, no Sony ass-kissing, no celebrity interviews or anything of that nature. And I liked the reviews a lot more. They had each game reviewed by multiple people who had different personal tastes, instead of the cut-and-dry unwitty reviews that've had since.

That being said, I continued to subscribe to the magazine for about three years just because of the demo discs, but I haven't been a fan of the magazine itself for a long time.

[GrayFox]

Honestly, I haven't liked the magazine since it became the "Official Playstation Magazine." Back when it was just good old PSX Magazine, the format was a lot better, I thought. Less pop-culture clutter that has nothing to do with games, no Sony ass-kissing, no celebrity interviews or anything of that nature. And I liked the reviews a lot more. They had each game reviewed by multiple people who had different personal tastes, instead of the cut-and-dry unwitty reviews that've had since.

That being said, I continued to subscribe to the magazine for about three years just because of the demo discs, but I haven't been a fan of the magazine itself for a long time.

Yeah, I completely agree. Though, for a few months or so, OPM was solid, just not as good as PSX magazine.

At that time though, I went with PSM then. PSM was fantastic back in the day, now, they just suck

Yet, my love for the Slate still remains. Gotta love that guy. Nintendo fan for life, writing for a Sony mag, beautiful.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

got the issue too and I agree that it's also pretty dull for a 100th issue. I also think it would've been cool to include a few of the demos of games on the top 100 list. Don't like the mag either, I just get it for the demo discs now...which many times are also lackluster. Here's this issue's demo breakdown:

Playable:
The Matrix: Path of Neo
From Russis with Love
Castlevania: CoD
We Love Katamari
Spartan
The Sims 2
Shrek Superslam
Conflict: Global Terror
Pac-Man World 3
The Incredibles
NHL 2006
Neopets

Videos:
Gun
True Crime: NYC

[Rogmeister]

I got this but haven't had time to get into it too much. The big article is actually cover-billed as "The Essential 100: The Playstation 1, Playstation 2 and PSP Games You Must Play Before You Die". The funny thing, of course, is that they only saw fit to include two (2!) PSP games, not a glowing recommendation for the system. I guess I won't have to buy one after all.

[briskbc]

It would have been really cool if they had included a full game on the disc similar to what PC Gamer has done. Oh well.

The last time I bought the mag was when GTA Vice City was released. Now I just wait and try to pick up the demos later in lots. I have a soft spot for collecting demos.

[Rogmeister]

I haven't bought it in awhile either. I currently have a free 6-issue subscription...someone posted here earlier in the year how to get that. I have one more issue to go so I was glad it lasted long enough to get this "special" issue. The PSM 100th issue wasn't very good either...

By the way, 1Up.com has a current contest going on where you can win all of the 100 games that made that list.

[jdc]

When it comes to ass-kissing fanboys, The Official Xbox Magazine takes the cake. I'm an Xbox fan, but their "Xbox is the best system in the known universe and Halo is the best game EVAH!" shit makes me want to hurl.

I've found that OPM is consistently the best read of them all, sad or not. I haven't checked out Nintendo Power in a year or so, but now that I'm a happy DS owner, that might have to change.

I used to love Dave Halverson's incredible Gamer's Republic Magazine and own every issue. THAT was a mag that was worth way more than what you paid for it.

[swlovinist]

OPM's 100th issue is just another example of how hard it is to really be pumped about the current state of the game industry. I think all mags right now are trying very hard to have a good read, and sadly there isnt alot of new info right now to report that hasnt been spilled already. The one thing that I like about OPM is the demos that they always have with the mag. They seem to always have one or two demos that are worth checking out. I can honestly and 100% agree with the Offical Xbox mag being the worst piece of shit to ever exist. I thought Nintnedo Power was bad x_x.

[PentiumMMX]

Honestly, I haven't liked the magazine since it became the "Official Playstation Magazine." Back when it was just good old PSX Magazine, the format was a lot better, I thought. Less pop-culture clutter that has nothing to do with games, no Sony ass-kissing, no celebrity interviews or anything of that nature. And I liked the reviews a lot more. They had each game reviewed by multiple people who had different personal tastes, instead of the cut-and-dry unwitty reviews that've had since.

That being said, I continued to subscribe to the magazine for about three years just because of the demo discs, but I haven't been a fan of the magazine itself for a long time.

I tried OPM, but hated the layout! One minute I'm reading a review for "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" (Which they hated), then I see a Freaking HUGE ad for Madden! Also, they basicly love anything with "Madden" or "Crash Bandicoot" in the title, which gets annoying seeing them say over and over "Buy Crash Team Racing!"

If you want a good Offical magazine, then go with eather Offical Dreamcast Magizine (Not in Print anymore, check eBay) or Nintendo Power, or just get EGM or Game Informer.

BTW, how many Crash Bandicoot and Madden games made the list? Did "Final Fantasy 7" or "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" even get on it?

[Rogmeister]

Okay, here's the complete list of the 100 games, arranged by system...

Playstation 1
Jumping Flash!
Raiden Project
Ridge Racer
Wipeout
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
Twisted Metal 2
Bushidol Blade
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Colony Wars
Final Fantasy VII
PaRappa the Rapper
Rage Racer
Resident Evil 2
Soul Blade
Tomb Raider II
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Final Fantasy Tactics
Gran Turismo
Hot Shots Golf
Klonoa
Metal Gear Sollid
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
Spyro the Dragon
Suikoden 2
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Tomba!
Xenogears
Ape Escape
Crash Team Racing
Medal of Honor
R-Type Delta
Silent Hill
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Syphon Filter
Chrono Cross
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Spider-Man
Vagrant Story

Playstation 2
Smuggler's Run
ATV Offroad Fury
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Dance Dance Revolution
Devil May Cry
Final Fantasy X
Grand Theft Auto III
Ico
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
NBA Street
Red Faction
SSX Tricky
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Fatal Frame
Kingdom Hearts
The Mark of Kri
Medal of Honor: Frontline
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Rez
.hack//Infection
Amplitude
Beyond Good & Evil
Dark Cloud 2
Freedom Fighters
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
High Heat Major League Baseball 2004
Madden NFL 2004
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Soul Calibur II
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
World Soccer Winning Eleven 7
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Burnout 3: Takedown
Final Fantasyu XI
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Katamari Damacy
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Dynasty Warriors 5
EyeToy: Kinetic
God of War
Gran Turismo 4
Lego Star Wars
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Resident Evil 4
Shadow of the Colossus
SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs
Star Wars Battlefront II
Tekken 5
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

PSP
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Lumines

Note: The magazine listed them by year which will explain the odd order above. For instance, the first 4 are from 1995 and then the next 3 are from 1996...

And you can see two Crash games made it (one adventure, one racing), one Madden game, and Final Fantasy VII and Castlevania did indeed make the list.

[youruglyclone]

At that time though, I went with PSM then. PSM was fantastic back in the day, now, they just suck :-/

yeah I kinda feel the same sentiement...stupid minor things like their new recommendation system "Buy or Die", just seems like shameless attempts to be hip. they also lost the "artists" cover going for pre-rendered stuff.

but still 12 bucks a year for a sub isn't too bad and I need something to occupy my time during my daily commute