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  • VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (June 1994)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine – June 1994

    Video gaming magazine can have a complicated lineage. One of my favorites, VideoGames & Computer Entertainment morphed into VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine but many of the editors/writers I liked went on to reboot Electronic Games instead. VideoGames spawned Tips and Tricks which, though they overlapped for a while, essentially replaced it. I followed VG&CE but not so much VideoGames and Tips and Tricks… Anyway, the June 1994 issue of VideoGames includes:

    News

    • Input – A discussion of the then new video games rating system.
    • Press Start – More about the ratings system and the political pressure that led to it; Nintendo announces the Super Game Boy; Revolution-X featuring Aerosmith is released in the arcades; an interview with the makers of Way of the Warrior for the 3DO; NovaLogic works on helicopter sim for the Saturn; Philips announces lower priced ($299) CD-i; and more…

    Previews

    • Demolition Man – An action game for the Sega Genesis based on the movie of the same name featuring Sylvester Stalone, Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bulloch.
    • Tennis All-Stars – A tennis game for the Genesis in the new “J-Cart” format. A J-Cart in addition to containing the game also added two additional controller ports for 4-player action. This tennis game allowed 4 players in a doubles game.
    • Psycho Pinball – Another J-Cart, this one featuring video pinball with six tables.
    • Kasumi Ninja – What would turn out to be a pretty decent fighting game for the Atari Jaguar.
    • Doom – A pretty good translation of Doom for the Atari Jaguar (they seemed to keep porting this game to new systems for years and years) but really, no version beats the original PC version.
    • Club Drive – A great example of one of the many games with a rushed development schedule for the Jaguar and it shows. While game play wasn’t terrible, the graphics and music were, especially for a supposedly “64-bit” system.
    • Lawnmower Man – Another movie based game. This one is for the Sega CD and the game/movie heavily featured virtual reality.
    • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – Power Rangers was all the craze at the time so of course there would be games. This side-scrolling beat-em-up was released for the Super Nintendo and Game Boy.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Tempest 2000 – Tips to skip levels and to play bonus levels.
    • NBA Jam – Tricks to enable the special guest players from the arcade version, enable power-ups such as speeding up game play, set your player “on fire” for the whole game, and more.
    • Ground Zero Texas – A mini strategy guide to help get you through this FMV game.
    • Robocop Versus The Terminator – A trick to unlock the MA-17 version of this game for the Genesis.
    • MLBPA Baseball – A bunch of passwords to activate power pitching, power hitting, double throwing speed, double running speed, enable higher bouncing balls, play on ice, and more.
    • Chuck Rock II – Tricks to skip levels or even entire zones.
    • …and lots more!

    Strategy Guides

    • Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions – General tips as well as guides to each level of this side-scrolling action game featuring Marvin the Martian and Daffy Duck for the Super Nintendo.
    • Kether – Strategy guide for a weird sort of 3D shooter that nobody had ever heard of for the CD-i.
    • Tempest 2000 – Make it through all 100 levels of this update to the classic arcade game on the Atari Jaguar.

    Reviews

    • Super Street Fighter II Turbo – This review is for the arcade version of the game which had just been released.
    • Spectre – This game for the Super Nintendo is essentially a 3D battle game in which you are placed in a flying craft in an arena and must battle it out with robots. It’s an ok game but without much variety. The PC version was better for the simple reason that you could play over a network with multiple people.
    • Rocko’s Modern Life – This is a platform/puzzle game for the Super Nintendo based on the Nickelodeon cartoon of he same name. It ends up being pretty good for a kids game based on a license.
    • Super Loopz – A puzzle game for the Super Nintendo in which you must construct polygons. There are various modes including two-player cooperative and competitive modes. It is a pretty good game if you are a fan of puzzle games.
    • Flintstones – This game based on the cartoon for the Super Nintendo mixes a variety of genres including racing, platform, and board game. However, it ends up being too short and easy to provide much value.
    • Jetsons – A fairly unique platform game for the Super Nintendo based on the cartoon. It is an excellent game overall but the challenge level makes it better for older players than for younger kids.
    • Asterix – An average (at best) platform game for the Sega Genesis.
    • Mortal Kombat – The Sega CD version of this game offers a few relatively minor upgrades including some FMV, a soundtrack and a few more frames of animation.
    • Third World War – A strategy game for the Sega CD that the reviewer compared to KOEI’s offerings. The graphics aren’t great, the interface is complicated and the voice acting is pretty awful but as a strategy game it’s not bad.
    • Rise of the Dragon – A cyberpunk themed graphic adventure for the Sega CD sounds like a good idea but unfortunately, this particular implementation is average at best. It was also a conversion of a game that had been around on the PC for a few years already.
    • Super Air Zonk – Overall, a great platform game for the Turbo Duo but at the end of the day it’s much to short, especially for a CD based game.
    • Space Ace – A great conversion of this laser disc based arcade classic for the CD-i. I was never really a big fan though.
    • The Incredible Hulk – An excellent comic book themed game for the Game Gear that this reviewer like even better than the Genesis version. The only downside was the relatively poor and monotonous sound.
    • Ninja Gaiden III – This game for the Atari Lynx looks and plays much like the NES version. And that’s a good thing.
    • The Horde – This game for the 3DO tries to combine, not very successfully, strategy/simulation with fantasy based action.
    • Twisted – An interesting and rather unique board game/game show combo for the 3DO.
    • Micro Reviews – Short reviews of several games including Spider-Man and the X-Men (Game Gear), Aladdin (Game Gear), G2 Rider (Game Gear), and more.

    Other Cool Stuff

    • Alien vs. Predator: Stalking the Jaguar, Burning Up the Arcades – Interview with Atari producer James Hampton about Alien vs. Predator for the Atari Jaguar. Also, a look at the arcade version of AvP which is a completely different game (fighting game vs. FPS).
    • SportsWire: Sports game news, reviews, previews and more – Midway releases NBA Jam TE for the arcade; Sterling Sharpe signs with Jaleco for a Super Nintendo football game called Sterling Sharpe: End to End…but I don’t remember this one; previews include World Cup USA ’94 (Super NES), Mario Andretii Racing (Genesis), Champions World Class Soccer (Genesis), and Suzuka 8 Hours II (arcade); a review of Baseball Tonight for the Super Nintendo; a review of Double Dribble: The Playoff Edition for the Genesis; a review of Jammit for the Genesis; and a review for Soccer Shootout for the Super Nintendo.
    • Hardware: Gaming accessories galore – New items include the Super Link multiplayer adapter for the SNES, the Mega Mouse for the Genesis, the Interactor Virtual Reality Vest, and more.
    • Global Gaming – Featuring Sonic Drift for the Game Gear, Dragon Ball Z 2 for the Super Famicom, and Waka Taka Osumo for the Super Famicom.

    …and more!


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  • Tips & Tricks (January 1997)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – Tips & Tricks – January 1997

    Though descended from my favorite magazine, VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, Tips & Tricks was never a magazine I paid much attention to. Many loved the hints, strategy guides and cheats it provided but I was always more interested in news, reviews and that sort of thing. Tips & Tricks provides a little of that also but it’s emphasis is, as the name would imply, on tips and tricks. The January 1997 issue includes:

    Departments

    • Power Up! – An introduction to the staff which includes Chris Bieniek, Wataru Maruyama, Ione Flores, Nikos Constant, Bett Hallock, Tyrone Rodriguez and Deborah Lockhart.
    • Readers’ Tips – Readers write in with tips on Daytona USA as well as various questions and comments.
    • T&T Select Games – Overviews and previews of recent and upcoming games including:
      • Jet Moto (PlayStation) – A racing game featuring a vehicle something like a Jet Ski.
      • Crime Wave (Sega Saturn) – A vehicle combat game featuring a top-down point of view.
      • Ten Pin Alley (PlayStation) – A bowling game of course.
      • Suikoden (PlayStation) – An RPG that allows not only individual and group combat but full scale wars.
      • Powerslave – A Doom-like game in which you wield magic as well as weapons.
      • NFL ’97 (Sega Saturn) – A football game featuring licensed teams, stadiums and players.
      • NBA Live ’97 (PlayStation) – Because we need a new basketball game every years…
      • FIFA Soccer ’97 (PlayStation) – …and soccer too of course.
      • FIFA Soccer Gold Edition (Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo) – A soccer game for the 16-bit systems.
      • FIFA Soccer ’97 (Game Boy) – Blurry soccer…
      • Madden ’97 (Game Boy) – Blurry football…
      • Burning Road (PlayStation) – A racing game out of France that is somewhat similar to the likes of Daytona USA and Ridge Racer.
      • Toshinden URA (Sega Saturn) – Another tweek to the Toshinden 3D fighting game franchise.
      • Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo) – The pinnacle of Mortal Kombat on 16-bit systems.
      • Destruction Derby 2 (PlayStation) – I loved these games and this one was among the first i had for my PlayStation.
      • King’s Field II (PlayStation) – A fairly well regarded 3D RPG.
      • Amok (Sega Saturn) – Frantic 3D action under the ocean.
      • Sonic 3-D Blast (Sega Saturn) – The first Sonic game for the Saturn.
      • TNN Motor Sports Hardcore 4×4 (PlayStation) – An off-road racing game.
      • Contra: Legacy of War – A 3D sequel to Contra. I still prefer the 2D versions.

    • Game Genie/Game Shark Codes – Game Genie codes for the Genesis games Toy Story, Vectorman and Garfield: Caught in the Act; Game Genie codes for the Super NES games Porky Pig’s Haunted Holiday (I swear I’ve never heard of that one); Game Shark codes for the PlayStation games Bubble Bobble, Crash Bandicoot, Olympic Soccer, Project Horned Owl and Robo-Pit; and Game Shark codes for Sega Saturn games Bubble Bobble, Iron Storm and Shining Wisdom.
    • Letter from Betty – Betty has some tips for Mr. Do (Super NES) and Vectorman 2 (Genesis).

    Strategy

    • X-Men vs. Street Fighter – A detailed strategy guide for this arcade game featuring general moves and how to use them as well as details for each character. Also, how to play as a couple of hidden characters.
    • Kizuna Encounter – Another fighting game strategy guide, this one for the Neo Geo.
    • Wave Race 64 – A detailed guide for this Nintendo 64 racing game featuring Jet Skis. It was a pretty outstanding racer for the time.
    • Tomb Raider – A detailed strategy guide for the classic Tomb Raider on both the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

    The last half of the magazine features tips on dozens if not hundreds of games for the Super NES, Genesis, PlayStation, Saturn, Game Boy, Game Gear, 3DO and arcade. These tips can be anything from passwords to simple strategies to secret button combinations and more. If you are looking for secrets, cheats or strategies to beat a certain game then Tips & Tricks was always a gold mine.


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  • Maximum – Issue Number 1 – 1995

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – Maximum – Issue Number 1 – 1995

    Maximum covered what at the time were “next generation” systems, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, 3DO, Neo Geo, and PC among other systems. Maximum was published in the U.K. but was very similar to Next Generation which was published in the U.S. In fact they were sister magazines and shared some content. The premiere issue of Maximum from 1995 includes:

    Extended Play

    • Wipeout – The cover story this month includes coverage of Wipeout, a futuristic racer for the PlayStation. I remember really wanting this game and did eventually get the PC version. My PC at the time (a 486 DX2/66) met the minimum requirements but really wasn’t fast enough to run it smoothly. I was a bit disappointed with this game. While it was graphically impressive and did a great job of presenting the illusion of speed, I thought games like F-Zero were more fun.
    • Tekken 2 – 3D fighters were all the rage (I STILL prefer 2D) and Tekken 2 was the latest arcade fighter from Namco. Tekken was a PlayStation franchise too so it would find its way there soon.
    • Kabuki Klash – Neo Geo’s latest arcade fighter at the time. They had tons of 2D fighters and while some were better than others, I don’t know that any of them were bad. This one is anime themed. The great thing about the Neo Geo of course is that an arcade version automatically meant a home version…if you had the money.
    • Air Combat – An early air combat simulator for the PlayStation. This was really as much an arcade game as a simulator resembling games like Space Harrier to some degree. I guess it could be thought of as a simplified simulator.
    • Street Fighter Alpha – “The best Street Fighter Yet” claims Maximum. I don’t know if that’s true or not but if you love fighting games you’ll probably love this one. It included additional characters from the original Street Fighter as well as Final Fight.
    • Virtua Fighter – The first in Sega’s 3D fighting series now available for the Saturn. 32-bit systems could get very close to arcade perfection which was a big deal at the time.
    • Fade To Black – A sequel to Flashback, this adventure game for the PC (DOS) transitions the series to 3D while still managing to keep a similar graphical style.
    • Clockwork Knight 2 – A cult classic pseudo-3D platformer for the Sega Saturn. Maximum felt this was a big improvement over the original.
    • Screamer – Maximum describes this as a cross between Ridge Racer and Daytona USA and it certainly resembles those game. They seem pretty excited about it but I don’t even remember this one so I can’t imagine it was as good as what it was imitating.
    • Bug! – A decent 3D platform game for the Sega Saturn. I don’t know that it lived up to the hype that Sega gave it but it is a pretty good game for Saturn owners.
    • King of Fighter ’95 – Classic Neo Geo fighting game and really a must for 2D fighting game fans.

    Maximum Close-Up

    • Daytona USA – A full guide to this racer for the Sega Saturn.
    • Panzer Dragoon – Another cult classic for the Saturn. This was one of the best 3D shooters around at the time. This article provides a guide, codes, cheats, hidden items and more.

    Maximum Regulars

    • New Games… Places… Events – News coverage of Virtua Fighter 3, Sega Saturn criticism, Virtua Fighter 2, Capcom’s fighting game competition, X-Men on the Sega Saturn, a new Battle Arena Toshinden, King’s Field 2 for the PlayStation, Virtua Cop 2 for the Saturn, Sega Rally Championship, Yoshi’s Island and much more.
    • Reviews – The reviews section this month includes reviews of the following games:
      • Virtua Fighter (Sega Saturn)
      • Panzer Dragoon (Sega Saturn)
      • Daytona USA (Sega Saturn)
      • Bug! (Sega Saturn)
      • Wipeout (PlayStation)
      • Ridge Racer (PlayStation)
      • Battle Arena Toshinden (PlayStation)
      • Rapid Reload (PlayStation)
      • Jumping Flash (PlayStation)
      • Kileak The Blood (PlayStation)
      • King of Fighter ’95 (Neo Geo CD)
      • Kabuki Klash (Neo Geo CD)
      • Savage Reign (Neo Geo CD)
      • Space Hulk (3DO)
      • Daedalus Encounter (3DO)
      • Kingdom: The Far Reaches (3DO)
      • Mechwarrior 2 (PC-CDROM)
      • …and more!
    • Correspondence Required – This would be the letters from readers section but since this is the first issue, there are none yet. Instead we just have a request for letters…

    …and even more!


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