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  •  Nintendo Power (December 1995)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Nintendo Power – Issue Number 79 – December 1995

    At the end of 1995 the Super Nintendo was at its peak. Though it would have a few more good years, it would be mostly downhill from here as the Nintendo 64 would be released the following year. This was the holiday season that the Virtual Boy was around also. It lasted all of about five minutes on the shelves. This was probably Nintendo’s biggest flop…by far. Though I wish I would have bought about a 100 of them when they were put on clearance. Could probably make a fortune today. The December 1995 issue of Nintendo Power includes:

    Full Coverage

    • Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest – A full guide to this blockbuster game. One of the more technically impressive games for the SNES and a very good side-scrolling platform game.
    • Wario Land – While the 3-D graphics were certainly unique on the Virtual Boy, the novelty of the all red display wears thin pretty soon. Also, I don’t think any of the games were really THAT good, including this one.
    • Waterworld – As I recall, this movie was a pretty big flop in that it cost a lot more to produce than it made. This version of the game for the Super NES is a combination of side-scrolling and isometric view adventure/puzzle game. This game ended up being only released in PAL territories. That must have been a late decision given this lengthy look at the game in Nintendo Power. Maybe the movie did better in Europe.
    • Sports Scene – A look at three new sports games for the Super NES, including NBA Give ‘N Go, Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball, and NFL Quarterback Club ’96.
    • WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game – A conversion of the arcade game for the Super NES. I guess it was an ok conversion though it only kept 6 of the 8 characters.
    • Vegas Stakes – For those who like gambling without the gambling part. This game is similar to Vegas Dream for the NES and includes poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and slots. It’s presented here as a Super Game Boy game but I assume it worked on the Game Boy too.
    • Mortal Kombat 3 – Another Game Boy/Super Game Boy game. If I wanted to play it on the Super NES I would play the Super NES version though.

    Take 2 Reviews

    • Mechwarrior 3050 – Not to be confused with the first person Mechwarrior games, this is a continuation of the isometric action series though this one has less plot than the original.
    • Urban Strike – The sequel to Jungle Strike and part of one of the better shooter series for the Super NES (and Genesis for that matter).

    Special Features

    • Shoshinkai Preview – The place where the Nintendo 64 will be officially unveiled (in Japan at least).
    • Earthworm Jim 2 Preview – A look ahead what was to be one of the better platform games for the Super NES.

    Epic Center

    • Epic News – An update on the upcoming Super Mario RPG, screen shot of Tactics Ogre, Square Soft and Enix soon to release Romancing Saga 3 and Dragon Quest VI respectively, and more.
    • Secret of Evermore – The second part of a guide for this RPG, though Nintendo Power insists this is a review.
    • P.T.O. II – Review/guide to this World War II action/strategy game in which you take command of either the U.S. Navy or the Japanese Navy.
    • Epic Strategies – Strategy guide for Civilization on the Super NES.

    Every Issue

    • Player’s Pulse – Readers write in with their ideas for dream games. Some would eventually happen (like a Mario Kart sequel).
    • Power Charts – The Top twenty games for the Super NES this month include Killer Instinct, Chrono Trigger and Donkey Kong Country at the top of the list. The top Game Boy games include The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Donkey Kong Land and Tetris, then there is also a top 10 sports games list and top 5 Virtual Boy games list (probably close to the total catalog).
    • Classified Information – Codes and other tricks for Killer Instinct, Bubsy II, Syndicate, Chrono Trigger, Judge Dredd, Batman Forever, Mega Man VII and more.
    • Counselors’ Corner – Questions answered and problems solved for Doom (Super NES), Yoshi’s Island (Super NES), Mortal Kombat II (SNES), Mortal Kombat II (Game Boy), and more.
    • Arena – Challenges for Yoshi’s Island, Killer Instinct and Doom.
    • Now Playing – A quick look at some of the latest releases including Donkey Kong Country 2, Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball, Kawasaki Super Bike Challenge, Mechwarrior 3050, Mortal Kombat 3, NBA Give ‘N Go, NFL Quarterback Club ’96, P.T.O. II, Porky Pig’s Haunted Holiday, Urban Strike, Vegas Stakes, Wario Land, Waterworld, Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars, and WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game.
    • Pak Watch – Previews of upcoming games including Revolution X (Super NES), Final Fight 3 (Super NES), Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball (Game Boy), PGA Tour ’96 (Super NES), Waterworld (Game Boy), Tetris Blast (Super NES), Toy Story (Super NES), Zoop (Game Boy), and more.
    • Next Issue – Coming next month, coverage of Earthworm Jim 2, the Ultra 64, Revolution X, and more.

    …and more!


    Game Boy Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged

  • Nintendo Power (August 1993)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – Nintendo Power – Issue Number 51 – August 1993

    While I was never a subscriber, there’s no doubt that Nintendo Power was the magazine to have for Nintendo loyalists. August 1993 was just past the peak of my NES/SNES playing days as I was moving on to college (and PC gaming) but I still played from time to time. The August 1993 issue of Nintendo power includes:

    Super NES

    • Street Fighter II Turbo – An overview and strategy guide for Street Fighter II Turbo. I was really excited about the original Street Fighter II coming out on the SNES but I honestly didn’t care much about the subsequent variants.
    • Zombies Ate My Neighbors – Strategy guide for this underrated game that could best be described as comedy/horror. It is an overhead action game reminiscent of Gauntlet.
    • Alien 3 – Guide for this game based on the movie of the same name. Not the best Alien movie…or the best game.
    • Goof Troop – Disney games from Capcom tended to be quite good and this one is no exception.
    • Nigel Mansell’s World Championship – I never played this Grand Prix racing game but it looks reminiscent of Grand Prix Racing from Accolade which I played on the Commodore 64.

    Game Boy

    • Speedy Gonzalez – A side-scrolling platform game from Sunsoft featuring your favorite Looney Tunes mouse.
    • Star Trek: The Next Generation – Take command of the STTNG crew in various missions while on the go.
    • 4-In-1 Funpak Vol. II – Includes Solitaire, Dominoes, Cribbage, and Yacht(zee). Most can be played with either one or two players.

    NES

    • Jurassic Park – The movie was absolutely huge when it came out. It was even a huge deal when it was first shown on network television. Licensed games aren’t generally the best but this one isn’t terrible. This strategy guide will help you through it.
    • King’s Quest V – The King’s Quest series is better known on the PC but this conversion of King’s Quest V for the NES wasn’t too bad if you like this sort of game. This guide can be helpful…and also spoil the game.

    Tips From The Pros

    • Nester’s Adventures – The continuing adventures of Nester. This is an ongoing comic book that puts Nester in the game.
    • Classified Information – Tips, cheats and codes for Double Dragon (unlimited continues), Super Valis IV (easy mode), SimEarth (sound test), Aerobiz (sound test), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV (bonus turtles), Batman Returns (extra man), Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball (all Ripken team), The Combatribes (extra credits, super hard difficulty, one round match), Deadheat Scramble (track select), and more.
    • Counselors’ Corner – Help with Inindo: Way of the Ninja, Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally, Ultima V, and Final Fantasy Adventure.

    The Info Zone

    • Next Issue – Coming next month, coverage of Final Fight 2, Rock ‘N’ Roll Racing, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, Final Fantasy Legend III, and more.

    Video Updates

    • Now Playing – A brief look at soon to be released games including Final Fight 2 (SNES), Super Aquatic Games (SNES), Aliens vs. Predator (SNES), First Samurai (SNES), Dracula (SNES), Goof Troop (SNES), Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES), Nigel Mansell’s World Championship (SNES), Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES), Super Baseball 2020 (SNES), Jurassic Park (NES), Jimmy Connors Tennis (NES), Dracula (NES), Nigen Mansell’s World Championship (NES), Goal! (Game Boy), Spider-Man 3 (Game Boy), Muhammad Ali’s Boxing (Game Boy), Tesserae (Game Boy), and Speedy Gonzales (Game Boy).
    • Pak Watch – Previews of games accessories still in development including Clay Fighter (SNES), F1: Pole Position (SNES), Plok (SNES), Battlecars (SNES), Power Plug (SNES), Star Trek: The Next Generation (SNES), SimAnt (SNES), Mega Man VI (NES), Final Fantasy Legend III (Game Boy), Mega Man IV (Game Boy), and more.

    Player’s Forum

    • Player’s Pulse – Letters from readers about Blaster Master, game achievements, Star Fox, and more.
    • Power Player’s Challenge – High scores and other challenges for various games including Phalanx, F-Zero, Super Black Bass, Track and Field, Wave Race, Asteroids, NES Open Tournament Golf, Yoshi, Duck Tales 2, and more.
    • Player’s Poll Contest – Win a seven foot Alien and Ripley’s cryotube (actual prop from the movie). Other prizes include an Alien 3 video tape, Alien 3 game for the system of your choice and t-shirts.
    • Top 20 – The top games this month include Star Fox for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario Land 2 (Game Boy), and Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES).

    Comics

    • Star Fox – Star Fox in comic book form.

    Special Features

    • The Name of the Game – A look at games with the same name on different systems. Sometimes they are (basically) the same game. Sometimes they are completely different.

    …and more!


    Game Boy Nintendo (NES) Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged

  • Nintendo Power (January 1991)

    Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment

    Source: Nintendo Power – Issue Number 20 – January 1991

    While perhaps not exactly impartial, Nintendo Power was the go-to magazine for all things Nintendo. Early 1991 was really peak NES. The Super Famicom had already been released in Japan but it would be August before the Super NES would arrive in the U.S. Coverage was all NES and Game Boy except for a few previews. The January 1991 issue includes:

    Features

    • Mega Man III – A strategy guide for the latest Mega Man game.
    • The Immortal – A strategy guide for this isometric action/adventure game from Electronic Arts. I really wanted this game but when I got it, it did not work correctly with my TV for some reason (wavy picture) so it ended up being returned. I don’t think later reviews were very good so maybe I dodged a bullet.
    • Deja Vu – Strategy guide for this point and click murder mystery. You shouldn’t really use these guides unless you are completely stuck because they basically ruin the game. Especially this kind of game.
    • Gremlins 2 – Strategy guide for this overhead action/adventure game based on the movie of the same name.

    Video Updates

    • Now Playing – A brief look at recent releases including Conquest of the Crystal Palace, Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu, Silver Surfer, The Adventure or Rad Gravity, Werewolf and Arch Rivals.
    • Pak Watch – Previews of soon to be released games, including G.I. Joe, Metal Storm, Base Wars, Monopoly, Zombie Nation, Uninvited, Galaxy 5000, and Mini-Putt. Plus a look at the first Super Famicom games, Super Mario World, F-Zero, and Pilotwings.

    Game Boy

    • Dragon’s Lair – Dragon’s Lair turned into a platform game.
    • Mercenary Force – Medieval Japanese squad based combat on the Game Boy.
    • Burai Fighter Deluxe – A sci-fi shoot-em-up.
    • F-1 Race – A Pole Position like racing game featuring 4-player action using the Video Link.
    • Super Scrabble – The classic board game playable against another player via the Video Link.

    Player’s Forum

    • Player’s Pulse – Readers write in about Tetris and playing the Game Boy around the world.
    • NES Achievers – High scores and achievements in Adventures in the Magic Kingdom, Captain Skyhawk, Crystalis, Final Fantasy, The Mafat Conspiracy, Ninja Gaiden II, Pinbot, Rescue Rangers, Revenge of the Gator, Rock ‘N Ball, Rollerball, Snake’s Revenge, Solstice, Stealth ATF, Tetris, Tombs & Treasure, and Wall Street Kid.
    • Top 30 – At the top of the list of games this month are Super Mario Bros. 3, Final Fantasy and Crystalis.

    Tips from the Pros

    • Classified Information – Tips, tricks and cheats for Castlevania II, Heavy Shreddin’, Final Fantasy, Dungeon Magic, Dragon Spirit, Alien Asylum, Image Fight, Skate or Die 2, Swords and Serpents, and Thunderbirds.
    • Howard & Nester – A monthly comic from Nintendo Power. Not sure why this is in the ‘Tips From the Pros’ section but that’s where they have it.
    • Counselors’ Corner – Questions answered about Destiny of an Emperor, Dungeon Magic, Crystalis, and Swords and Serpents.

    Special Reports

    • Today’s Technology – A look at some of the upgrade hardware for the NES that was included in game paks (cartridges). These include extra RAM, MMCs (Memory Management Controllers) that added various capabilities. MMC1 = used in many games, allowed scrolling. MMC2 = used in Punch-Out!!. MMC3 = added the ability for split screen scrolling and scrolling at an ange and is used in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Play Action Football. MMC5 = improved battery backup, better color definition, partial screen scrolling, increased max cart size; used in Castlevania III among others.
    • The Miracle Piano Teaching System – A look at a keyboard and cartridge combo for the NES that teaches you how to play the piano.

    The Info Zone

    • Player’s Poll – Answer a few questions for a chance to win various prizes.
    • Celebrity Profile – A feature on New Kids on the Block and their gaming habits.
    • Next Issue – Coverage of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, Startropics, Gremlins II on the Game Boy, and more.

    …and more!


    Game Boy Nintendo (NES) Retro Games 📎and tagged