Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Eve of Extinction

Written by Kyle Williams on June 22, 2001

First Impressions: Not even the future is safe on the PS2.

This fall Eidos will try their hand at bringing third person action to the Playstation 2 and no, it won't be starring Lara Croft. This time around, Eidos is teaming with YUKE's Co., Ltd., the developer of Playstation's WWF: Smackdown, to bring EOE: Eve of Extinction to Sony's next generation console.

In EOE: Eve of Extinction, you take the role of Josh Calloway, an employee of Wisdom Incorporated, a distinguished member of the genetics industry. Josh willingly subjects himself to his employers testing in a hope to better mankind. Unfortunately for Josh, he finds that Wisdom is in fact designing the worlds most deadly close-range weapon, Legacy. Legacy is a combination of a rare metal and a human soul and EOE, from which the game takes its name, is a Legacy that contains the soul of Josh's girlfriend Eliel.

Eve of Extinction is being put together using YUKE's internally developed 3D graphical engine. It is being promised that this engine is going to provide a very fast and fluid action experience with the intent of providing an "adreneline rush unlike any other." Dozens of unique enemies with their own fighting styles, strengths and weaknesses will drive you to learn how best to use your weapons and the power crystals that you can combine with Legacy. From the initial screen shots, the game could most easily be compared to Oni, with a similar looking combat engine, sans the ballistic weapons.

According to Kevin Gill, Senior Product Managerat Eidos Interactive, "With an innovative combat and weapons system, theatrical cinematics, and breathtaking graphics, EOE is poised to establish itself as a gaming force to be reckoned with." When the game hits shelves in November, we'll see if EOE has what it takes to live up to Mr. Gill's aspirations, but for now, it's looking mighty good.