N-Query

Resident Evil 4 enemy attacks.

Coverage

Hi. All of this new information on Resident Evil 4 is great! The pictures look better then i thought they would and the description of the demo level sounds amazing. But what i want to know is if we can expect a slow but fluid amount of new info on the game or will we have to wait for a few months? I really just can't wait for this game to be released.

Also, it has been quite a while since any information on Metroid Prime 2 has been released. Are the creators planning on showing any new footage soon? Metroid Prime 2 looks like it will be another must own video game.

Thank You.

Matt responds: I think the plan is to release snippets of new Resident Evil 4 related information and media over the next couple of months and then lead into real hands-on coverage where we can go a lot more in-depth. Capcom obviously unveiled new screenshots a week or so ago. Next on the list is the teaser trailer, which is dazzling. That should show up either in the next couple of days depending on whether or not it releases in Japan as rumored or by the middle of the month.

As for Metroid Prime 2, information is coming. The game is progressing like mad and a full level will be playable at the Electronics Entertainment Expo in May. I expect some info, possibly new screens and details, might surface well before that in a print magazine.

When Villagers Attack

Okay, in every Resident Evil game to date, when the zombies get in close range, they grab you and give you gnaw-hickies.

If the legions of doom in RE4 aren't zombies, how do they inflict melee damage (do they still have neck fetishes)?

P.S. Matt wears a calculator watch!

Matt responds: In the demo I played, the villagers would execute a variety of different moves depending on their distance from Leon and the type of character attacking. Some of the enemies would hurl projectiles -- knives, axes, pitchforks -- at Kennedy if they were too far away to attack up close. If they managed to get into the character's range, they might try to stab him with these same weapons. Meanwhile, there was Mr. Chainsaw Man, who plunged his saw into Kennedy's neck, splattered blood and caused the screen to waver. And then there were the standard attackers, who would grab Leon by the neck, swing him around and pound him to the ground.

Bear in mind that the single-level demo gave me no idea of what to expect from the other enemies in the game, like that crazy ogre monster or the sea beast.

Retro

Hi Cube fellas!

To business. Once and for all: is Retro Studios a second party company for Nintendo or is it now fully owned by Nintendo? There's a lot of confusion in the Net about the matter so I'd like to know the answer.

Furthermore, is there any kind of truth what so ever in the rumours that sepculate Zoonami becomming a Nintendo second party?

And though I'm not going to write anything neat about Fran, I'd really like you to answer my questions.

Matt responds: Retro Studios was founded by Jeff Spangenberg as a Nintendo second-party. However, after some stumbles in development, some layoffs, and the cancellation of at least three internal projects, Nintendo purchased the company in full back in May of 2002. You can read about it here. Because Nintendo wholly owns Retro, it is now considered a first-party, just like Nintendo Software Technology (NST).

As for Zoonami and Nintendo, I can't say for sure. I merely know that the two have been working together, confirmed by high-ranking Nintendo execs, for several years. I expect that a very close relationship exists and I would not at all be surprised if Zoonami was entirely funded by Nintendo with the aim being to produce software exclusively for Nintendo consoles.

Impossible

The release date for mission impossible has come and gone. Where is it?

Matt responds: You're correct. The title just shipped for GameCube and is available now at select retailers. We just got our copy and will have the review up in the next couple of days.

BlowOut

I've been looking forward to the GameCube release of BlowOut, particularly due it its resemblance to the incredible (and overlooked) PC game "Abuse". But when I call my local gaming outlets, it doesn't appear to be in their systems. In fact the ONLY place I found to even mention its existence was Amazon.com. What's the deal?

Matt responds: Yeah, not everybody carries the game, but I assure you that it is indeed out. I walked into a local Fry's Electronics the other day and the store had an entire shelf of BlowOut for GameCube.