• Tag Archives Nintendo 64

  • GamePro (April 1996)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    gamepro-_issue081_april_1996-001

    Source: GamePro – Issue Number 81 – April 1996

    GamePro was one of the two most popular video game magazines of the 1990s (the other being Electronic Gaming Monthly). GamePro wasn’t my personal favorite but it did have a long life and some good content along the way. In 1996 the transition from 16-bit to 32-bit consoles was in full swing so a lot of systems were being covered.

    The April 1996 issue includes the following:

    Features

    • Nintendo 64 Is Coming! – Nintendo sets the release date for the newly renamed Nintendo 64 to September 30, 1996. Specs include a MIPS 64-bit RISC R4000 CPU, SGI Reality Immersion 64-bit RISC processor (for graphics and sound), and 4.5 MB of RAM. Initial release games are supposed to be Super Mario 64, Killer Instinct, Pilotwings 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Cruis’n USA, and Doom 64.
    • LamePro – GamePro parodies itself.
    • Creating Evil Incarnate: The Making of Resident Evil – An interview with Shinji Mikami, leader of the team that created Resident Evil for the PlayStation
    • Resident Evil ProReview – GamePro gives top marks to Resident Evil for the PlayStation.
    • Where Are All the 16-bit Games? – The number of Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis releases are shrinking but the quality, overall, is better than ever. Intriguing upcoming releases include Lufia 2, Killer Instinct 2, Ultimate MK 3, Super Mario RPG, Super Road Rash, Marvel Super Heroes, and more. Of course, there are a number of sequels too. There are also some cancelled games listed including Akira, Comanche FX, Star Fox 2, Time Killers, Super Turrican 2 and Virtual Hamster among others.

    SWATPro Strategy Section

    • The Fighter’s Edge Presents Soul Edge ProStrategy Guide (Arcade) – All you need to know to beat your opponents (the the machine) in Soul Edge.
    • Loaded ProStrategy Guide (PlayStation) – The second part of a strategy guide for Loaded for the PlayStation. This part covers levels 5 through 8.
    • Breath of Fire II ProStrategy Guide, Part 3 (SNES) – The third and last part of a strategy guide for this Super Nintendo RPG, including the three endings.
    • SWATPro – Codes and passwords for tons of games including Loaded (PS1), Vectorman (Genesis), Earthworm Jim 2 (Genesis), Solar Eclipse (Saturn), Eternal Champions (Sega CD), Spawn (SNES), Earthworm Jim 2 (SNES), Sega Rally Championship (Saturn), Donkey Kong Country 2 (SNES), Izzy’s Quest for the Olympic Rings (SNES), Doom (PS1), Blackthorne (32X), Pitfall (Jaguar), Killer Instinct (Game Boy), Toy Story (Genesis), Rayman (Jaguar), The Adventures of Batman and Robin (Sega CD), and Samurai Showdown III (Arcade).
    • Open Ice Codes (Arcade) – Various codes for this arcade hockey game.

    ProReviews

    • PlayStation
      • Resident Evil – The classic survival horror game.
      • Darkstalkers – One of my favorite Capcom fighters. One of the first games I owned for the PS1.
      • Descent – Like Doom only flying a ship through tunnels.
      • Return Fire – Overhead combat mayhem with tanks and jeeps and helicopters and…
      • The Hive – A poor PC conversion of a 3D shooter on rails.
      • Assault Rigs – A futuristic tank combat game that may remind you a bit of Tron. I had this game too but just remember it being fairly average.
      • Road Rash – The classic motorcycle racing game.
      • Revolution X – Arcade conversion featuring Aerosmith.
      • Philosoma – A not so great 2D/3D shooter.
      • In the Hunt – An ok side-scrolling shooter.
      • Space Griffon – A combat/exploration game featuring mechs.
      • A Train – A railroad sim.
      • X-Com – An outstanding strategy classic but better on the PC.
      • Geom Cube – Like Tetris but played from an overhead perspective.
    • Saturn
      • Street Fighter Alpha – Arcade conversion of the latest and greatest in the Street Fighter series.
      • Clockwork Knight 2 – An interesting platformer with outstanding graphics…but not really as fun as it should be. But if you liked the original you’ll like this one.
      • Mortal Kombat II – It seems like there were an infinite number of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter games…
      • Hi-Octane – I had this futuristic racer for the PC and it was a disappointment. Sounds like the Saturn version is no better.
      • D – A sort of horror themed Myst.
      • Skeleton Warriors – Basically an update to games like Golden Axe.
      • Darius Gaiden – Classic 2D side-scrolling shooter.
      • The Horde – This basically plays as a simple real-time strategy game in which you must build up your land then defend it from Hordes.
      • Defcon 5 – A Doom-like FPS in which you are supposed to avoid combat.
      • Revolution X – Arcade conversion featuring Aerosmith.
      • Sim City 2000 – An update to the classic city sim.
    • 3DO
      • Star Fighter – A sort of open areana 3D shooter.
      • Johnny Bazookatone – A humorous platform game that ends up being pretty average.
      • Cyberdillo – Doom but with an Armadillo. Unfortunately, its not a great game.
      • Iron Angel of the Apocalypse: The Return – A second rate sequel to a second rate mech game.
      • Battlesport – A futuristic soccer game with tanks.
    • Neo Geo
      • Real Bout Fatal Fury – One of many great 2D fighting games on the Neo Geo.
      • Puzzle De Pon – Basically Bust-A-Move.
    • Jaguar
      • Defender 2000 – An updated version of the classic arcade game.
      • Atari Karts – Atari’s version of Mario Kart…but without the weapons.
      • Super Cross 3D – A pretty terrible motorcycle racing game.
      • Zoop – The Jaguar version of this fairly simple but addictive puzzle game.
    • Jaguar CD
      • Primal Rage – A fighting game…but with dinosaurs!
      • Myst – The classic atmospheric adventure/puzzle game originally released for the PC.
      • Baldies – A God sim game for the Jaguar.
    • Super NES
      • Frantic Flea – An underwhelming platform game that seems like an odd release this late in the life of the SNES.
    • 32X
      • Spider-Man: Web of Fire – Side-scrolling action game featuring Spider-Man that, while not spectacular, does offer solid game play and better graphics than the Genesis alone could offer.
    • Role-Player’s Realm
      • Death Keep (3DO) – A sort of upgraded Eye of the Beholder style official Dungeons & Dragons games. One of the relative few good games for the 3DO.
      • King’s Field 2 (PlayStation) – Conceptually not all that different from Death Keep above but not as good.
      • Lucienne’s Quest (3DO) – Ultimately, a rather boring RPG for the 3DO.
      • Future Fantasies – Short sneak peeks at upcoming RPG games including Shining Wisdom, Kingomd II: Shadoan and Iron Storm.

    Departments

    • Letter from the GamePros – Commentary about ads that get complaints.
    • The Mail – Readers complain/comment upon ads.
    • GamePro Gallery – Envelope art from reader.
    • Buyers Beware – False rumors of hidden characters in WWF Wrestlemania for the Genesis, reader asks about cross compatibility between 32X, Sega CD and Saturn (there is none), reader complains about Ultimate MK3 being released after he bought MK3, and Blockbuster’s $400 deposit for renting a PlayStation.
    • ProNews – Rumors of Atari’s demise; Psygnosis announces plans for Saturn games including Wipeout, Destruction Derby, 3D Lemmings and Discworld to start with; 16-bit sales for the holiday season (1995) far outpaced those of newer systems and games; Sega lays off people; Final Fantasy VII announced, and more.
    • GamePro Online – A summary of what is available on-line from GamePro, mostly on AOL. This includes game demos, conferences and more.
    • The Cutting Edge – “Network Computers” (computers that get all of their content online vs. via cartridge, CD or other media) predicted to take over electronic entertainment…and I guess that’s largely true though the prediction was a bit premature.
    • GamePro Labs – Two massive analog controllers are tested including “Analog Joystick” (what a creative name) for the PlayStation and “Mission Stick” (not much better) for the Saturn.
    • Overseas ProSpects – A preview of games released overseas including Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (PlayStation), Kirby Super Delux (Super Famicom), Bahamut Lagoon (Super Famicom), Guardian (Saturn), and Lone Soldier (PlayStation).
    • Short ProShots – Previews of upcoming domestic releases including X-Perts (Genesis), Crash Bandicoot (PlayStation), Super Mario RPG (SNES), Magic Carpet (PlayStation, Saturn), Congo the Movie: The Lost City of Zinj (Saturn), Mortal Kombat II (PlayStation), Casper (PlayStation, Saturn, 3DO), Chronicles of the Sword (PlayStation, PC CD), City of the Lost Children (PlayStation, PC CD), Deadly Skies (PlayStation, Saturn, 3DO, PC CD), Floating Runner (PlayStation), Maximum Surge (Saturn, PC CD), Mohawk (SNES), Phoenix 3 (3DO), Sentient (PlayStation, PC CD), Snowjob (3DO), Syndicate Wars (PlayStation, PC CD), The Need for Speed (PlayStation), and Top Gun: Fire at Will (PlayStation).
    • Hot at the Arcades – A look at Time Crisis, a light gun shooter from Namco, and Killer Instinct 2, Rare’s arcade fighter.
    • PC GamePro – A look at Diablo, the famous overhead dungeon crawler; Whiplash, a more modern take on Stunt Driver; Command & Conquer: Red Alert, one of the hottest real-time strategy games of the time; Strife, a game based on an upgraded Doom engine; Z, an overhead action/strategy game from Bitmap Brothers; EarthSiege 2, another mech combat game; Abuse, a side-scrolling action game featuring a unique control system; Wetlands, a first person adventure game; and a trio of sports game including NBA Live ’96, NCAA Championship Basketball, and Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf.

    …and more!


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  • Electronic Gaming Monthly (August 1997)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    egm-issue-097-august-1997-page-000a

    Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly – Issue Number 97 – August 1997

    In August 1997 the Saturn, PS1 and Nintendo 64 were the newest consoles. EGM was still also covering the Super Nintendo and the Genesis which were nearing their last days. Contents of this issue includes:

    Departments

    • Insert Coin – A look back at the last 9 years of EGM as well as upcoming changes.
    • Press Start – The latest news in the video game world. This month, Sega and Bandai cancel plans for a merger; Sega announces price cuts for the Saturn (as low as $149); Ghost in the Shell comes to DVD; rumors of an upcoming Nintendo 64 game featuring characters Banjo and Kazooie; Singletrac, a formerly PlayStation only developer, announces an agreement to develop games for the Nintendo 64; launch of the 64DD disk drive add-on for the Nintendo 64 is delayed until March 1998 (not that it would ever make it to the U.S.); Tobal 2 U.S. release cancelled; Earthworm Jim 3 announced for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and PC; Interact debuts The V3 Racing Wheel; rumors of Resident Evil for the Nintendo 64; and much more.
    • Top 10 – Takin the number one spots this months according to EGM editors… Overall: Air Combat 2; PlayStation: Air Combat 2; Nintendo 64: Star Fox 64; Saturn: Shining The Holy Ark
    • Gaming Gossip – Rumors this month include information about Dural, Sega’s new 64-bit console; Sony’s new dual analog controller coming soon; new games for the PlayStation including Exodus, Messiah, a James Bond game and a new music game; Namco’s new System 33 arcade board which will host a new Ridge Racer game and a new fighting game among other; a new 3D based arcade board from Capcom which will host Street Fighter IV; Rampage for the Nintendo 64; and more.
    • Protos – A look at upcoming but as yet unfinished games including:
        • Aerofighter Assault (Nintendo 64)
        • MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero (PlayStation, Nintendo 64)
        • Resident Evil (Sega Saturn, PlayStation)
        • Dragonball GT (PlayStation<)
        • Youngblood (PlayStation)
        • Reboot (PlayStation)
        • Clock Tower (PlayStation)
        • Felony 11-79 (PlayStation)
        • Beast Wars (PlayStation)
        • Deathtrap Dungeon (PlayStation)
        • Violent Seed (PlayStation)
        • Freakin’ Fast (PlayStation)
        • Ghost in the Shell (PlayStation)
        • Bravo Air Race (PlayStation)
    • Review Crew – Reviews of the following games:
      • Air Combat 2 – This air combat game for the PlayStation gets EGM’s Game of the Month.
      • Shining The Holy Ark – A must have Saturn owners that are RPG fans.
      • Machine Hunter – A scrolling shooter for the PlayStation that fans of Loaded would probably enjoy.
      • Lethal Enforcers 1 & 2 – An arcade accurate translation of an older light gun shooter for the PlayStation. Graphics have not been updated though and it gets old fast.
      • Xevious 3D – A nifty 3D update of an arcade classic for the PlayStation. I prefer the original though.
      • Raystorm – A solid vertical shooter for the PlayStation.
      • Poy Poy – A simply but fun multiplayer action game for the PlayStation.
    • Trick of the Trade – A code that gives you everything you need in Turok: Dinosaur Hunter; how to enable stage select and expert mode in Buster Brothers Collection; hidden cars in Peak Performance; a variety of cheat for Triple Play 98 and Bug Too!; level select and “cheat kill” in Wing Commander IV; free play, invincibility and more in War Gods; easy mode for Brahma Force; a variety of cheat codes for Descent Maximum; a cheat menu for Independence Day; Invincibility in Doom; a cheat menu in Die Hard Trilogy; and much more!
    • Team EGM – Featuring various sports games including Madden NFL ’98 for the PlayStation, Multi Racing Championship for the Nintendo 64, NCAA Football ’98 for the PlayStation, NHL Powerplay ’98 for the PlayStation, Top Gear Rally for the Nintendo 64 and more.
    • Interface – Letters from readers about Nintendo’s Project Atlantis, rent to own PlayStations, Japanese Saturn games, The City of Lost Children, Final Fantasy VII, the 64DD, and more.

    Win Big!

    • Star Fox 64 – All you had to do for this contest was send in a postcard. Prizes included a Nintendo 64, Star Fox 64, Rumble Paks, Nintendo 64 controllers, and more.

    Special Features

    • Peacetime Programmers – The relationship between defense company simulators and the latest games.
    • Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi – A Star Wars fighting game for the PlayStation. It sounded like such a cool idea but the execution was lacking. As fighting games go, it turned out to be pretty lousy.
    • Psygnosis – Featuring the latest games from this developer: G-Police is a pretty good Blade Runner-esque 3D action game; Colony Wars is another solid game featuring Wing Commander like space combat; Formula 1 ’97 is a sequel to their previous Formula 1 game; Overboard is described here as a cross between Gauntlet and Micro Machines; Psybadek is a free roaming 3D adventure game; Rascal is another such game that falls roughly into the same category; finally we have Shadow Master, a first-person 3D shooter in which you pilot a ship through enclosed areas (reminds me at least in concept of Descent).
    • Polygonal Pinup – A biography of Laura Croft.
    • The Year of the Show – An overview of all the video game related shows around the world throughout the year.

    Next Wave

    • Dungeons & Dragons Collection (Saturn) – Includes both Tower of Doom and Storm Over Mystaria. These were originally arcade games and play like a cross between Final Fight and Golden Axe.
    • Sky Target (Saturn) – Ported from Sega’s Model 2 arcade hardware, this game is a bit reminiscent of After Burner II.
    • MDK (PlayStation) – A goofy and violent 3D 3rd person shooter that was originally developed for the PC. MDK was long rumored to stand for “Murder, Death, Kill”.
    • Machine Hunter (PlayStation) – A one or two-player top down action shooter.
    • Poy Poy (PlayStation) – A sort of 3D Bomberman.
    • Resident Evil Director’s Cut – Because you can never have too much Resident Evil…
    • Street Fighter 2 Collection (PlayStation) – A nice collection for Street Fighter II fans including Super Street Fighter II, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold.
    • Lethal Enforcers 1 & 2 (PlayStation) – These lightgun classics are reviewed elsewhere for the Saturn.
    • One (PlayStation) – This 3D action game explores what happens if you wake up full of rage with a metal gun where your arm used to be…
    • Jersey Devil (PlayStation) – A 3D cartoon adventure but the name reminds me of the X-Files episode.

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  • Pokemon Stadium (Nintendo 64)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Pokemon Stadium (Nintendo 64)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/158787256418/pokemon-stadium-nintendo-64

    Pokemon Stadium was released in North America in the Spring of 2000. The sequencing of the Pokemon Stadium games can be a bit confusing because there was a predecessor to this game in Japan called Pokemon Stadium. Pokemon Stadium in the U.S. was really Pokemon Stadium 2 in Japan and Pokemon Stadium 2 in the U.S. was really the third title in the series. I don’t think North American Pokemon fans missed out on much though. Pokemon Stadium was really an improved and expanded version of the original with a slightly lower difficulty level.

    Pokemon Stadium was basically a simple turn-based strategy game in which you battled other Pokemon. It came with a “transfer pak” that allowed you to transfer your Pokemon from the Game Boy Red, Blue and Yellow Pokemon games. This was the games most unique feature and also a clever way to sell more Pokemon games.

    Pokemon Stadium was one of the best selling games for the Nintendo 64 selling nearly 4 million copies in its lifetime. However, reviews were mixed. The graphics were generally praised but the sound was heavily criticized as was the simplicity of the game. Pokemon Stadium was far less complex that the Game Boy based games which were really role-playing games.

    Regardless, if you were a Pokemon fan and had the Game Boy games and a Nintendo 64 this wasn’t a game you wanted to miss. A sequel was released the following year that could use Pokemon from Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal as well as Red/Blue/Yellow.





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