• Tag Archives Nintendo 64
  • GamePro (May 1997)

    Source: GamePro – May 1997

    GamePro wasn’t a magazine I read a lot but it was probably the next most popular gaming magazine behind Electronic Gaming Monthly, at least in the U.S. The May 1997 issue includes:

    Cover Feature

    • The Lost World: Jurassic Park – This was about the time the move The Lost World came out and here is a preview of the game that goes along with it for the PlayStation.

    Special Features

    • Final Fantasy VII – Final Fantasy VII was probably the most anticipated Final Fantasy game and the most popular. Here’s an early preview of its release in Japan.
    • GameWorks: Ready for Gameplay – GameWorks was a new mega arcade that was a joint venture between Sega, Universal and Dreamworks. The first opened up in Seattle, Washington in 1997 and there were plans for 100 of them by 2002. I don’t know if that expansion ever happened but as far as I can tell the Seattle GameWorks still exists and there are no others.
    • Mortal Kombat Annihilation! – The Mortal Kombat movie sequel.

    SWATPro Strategy Section

    • Doom 64 Nintendo 64 ProStrategy Guide – A detailed guide for Doom on the Nintendo 64, including maps, secret exits and more.
    • The Fighter’s Edge Soul Blade (Part 2) – Part 2 of a comprehensive guide to Soul Blade on the PlayStation.
    • SWATPro – Hints, tips, tricks and cheats for Andretti Racing (Saturn), WWF: In Your House (PlayStation), The Legend of Oasis (Saturn), Dark Forces (PlayStation), NFL GameDay ’97 (PlayStation), NHL Faceoff ’97 (PlayStation), SlamScape (PlayStation), Vectorman 2 (Genesis), Bubble Bobble (PlayStation), Command & Conquer (Saturn), Crusader: No Remorse (PlayStation), Ten Pin Alley (PlayStation), Impact Racing (PlayStation/Saturn), Pandemonium (PlayStation), and Madden ’97 (Genesis). There’s also a list of the top game rentals and Blockbuster. Top of the list for each platform were Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64), Need for Speed II (PlayStation), Tomb Raider (Saturn), NBA Live ’98 (Genesis), Donkey Kong Country 3 (Super NES).
    • Samurai Showdown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge (Neo Geo) – Special moves for all of the characters and more.
    • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – A survival guide that includes maps, lists of locations, and more.

    ProReviews

    • PC GamePro – Reviews of Ecstatica II and Star Command Revolution, plus previews of Hexen II, Meat Puppet, Redneck Rampage, Comanche 3, X-Com: Apocalypse, Quake Mission Pack #1: Scourge of Armagon, Riven, and Extreme Assault.
    • Nintendo 64 – Review of Blast Corps.
    • PlayStation – Reviews of MechWarrior 2, WCW vs. The World, BattleStations, K-1 The Arena Fighters, Wing Commander IV, Sentient, The Incredible Hulk, Virtual Pool, and League of Pain.
    • Saturn – Reviews of Herc’s Adventures, The Lost Vikings, Lunacy, Contra Legacy of War, Tunnel B1, Dragon Heart, Super Puzzle Fighter II, Hardcore 4×4, and Heir of Zendor.
    • Sports Pages – Reviews of NBA Shootout ’97 (PlayStation), NBA Live ’97 (Saturn), FIFA Soccer 64 (Nintendo 64), VR Baseball ’97 (PlayStation), Rally Cross (PlayStation), and Perfect Striker (Nintendo 64 Japan) plus previews of Triple Play ’98 (PlayStation), All-Star Baseball ’97 (Saturn, PlayStation), NHL Breakaway ’98 (PlayStation, Saturn), NFL Quarterback Club ’98 (PlayStation, Saturn, DOS), HardBall 6 (PlayStation, Win95), and NBA Jam ’98 (Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Win95).
    • Role-Player’s Realm – A review of Vandal Hearts for the PlayStation.

    Departments

    • Head-2-Head: Letter from the GamePros – The evolution of the gaming industry.
    • The Mail – Readers write in about the CD-i, Resident Evil, Twisted Metal 2, and Final Fantasy VII.
    • Art Attack – Envelope art and other reader submitted gaming art.
    • Buyers Beware – Customer complaints about a free XBand modem offer, Tomb Raider ads, fighting in NHL ’97, and more.
    • ProNews – PlayStation price drops to $149, Sega plans merge with Bandai, upcoming games, Final Fantasy VII release plans, and more.
    • NetPro – Internet search tips, using various earch engines (Google didn’t exist yet), using Usenet, and more.
    • Overseas Prospects – A look at recent and upcoming overseas releases including Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation) and Gambare Goemon 5 (Nintendo 64).
    • Sneak Previews – An early look at The Lost World (PlayStation), Duke Nukem 3D (Saturn), Castlevania X (PlayStation), Star Fox 64 (Nintendo 64), Yoshi’s Island 64 (Nintendo 64), Hexen (Nintendo 64), Clayfighter 63 1/3 (Nintendo 64), MDK (PlayStation), Battle Arena Toshinden (PlayStation), Darklight Conflict (PlayStation, Saturn, DOS, Win 95), VMX Racing (PlayStation, Saturn, Win 95), and Motor Mash (PlayStation).
    • Hot at the Arcades – A review of Tekken 3 plus previews of Darkstalkers: Jedah’s Damnation, Sega Super GT, and Rampage World Tour.

    …and more!


  • Electronic Gaming Monthly (April 1998)

    Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly – Issue Number 105 – April 1998

    I would say that by 1998, EGM was already past its peak, however it still seemed to be going strong covering the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Saturn, Super NES, Genesis and the arcades. The April 1998 issue includes:

    Features

    • Tekken Triumphant – A detailed preview of Tekken 3 which was about to be released for the PlayStation, including a comparison to the arcade version.
    • Calling All Poor Losers – A humorous look at sore losers and their tactics.

    Departments

    • Editorial – A look to the future of gaming along with a complaint about there being too many sequels and not enough originality. Not that all sequels are bad (the upcoming Zelda: The Orcarina of Time is mentioned along with others), just that there are no surprises.
    • Letters – Letters from readers regarding female gamers, 2D vs. 3D, “explicit” ads, big chain stores discontinuing Saturn products, and more.
    • News – The big story this month was the impending launch of “Project X” (later called “Nuon”) from VM Labs. VM Labs was made up in part by ex-Atari employees and the idea was to embed 3D capably gaming hardware in DVD players and set top boxes. Hardware was launched but a late launch (after the PS2), poor marketing, and little games support doomed it quickly. In other news, Namco plans bankruptcy for arcades…they owned Aladdin’s Castle at the time…I miss Aladdin’s Castle.
    • Gaming Gossip – Quartermann reports that the 64DD disk drive for the Nintendo 64 might not make it to the U.S. in 1998 (little did he know it never would); he also reports on a satellite gaming service from Nintendo, the Sega Dural/Katana (ultimately to be the Dreamcast), and Sony using a mini-disc format in the next version of the PlayStation.
    • Review Crew – Reviews this month include Mystical Ninja, NBA In The Zone ’98, NHL Breakaway ’98, and Quake 64 for the Nintendo 64; Winter Heat for the Sega Saturn; Gex: Enter the Gecko, March Madness 98, Newman/Haas Racing, Punky Skunk, and Tactics Ogre for the PlayStation; and James Bond 007 for the Game Boy.
    • Jump Start – A strategy guide for NFL Blitz.
    • Tricks of the Trade – Tips and tricks for Jet Moto 2 (PlayStation), Resident Evil 2 (PlayStation), NFL Quarterback Club ’98 (Nintendo 64), Auto Destruct (PlayStation), WCW Nitro (PlayStation), Street Fighter Collection (PlayStation), and more.
    • Get Some! – Toys, gadgets, electronics and other stuff. This month featuring an R2D2 cassette player, Deer Hunter and Wild Turkey Hunt, Gamer’s Web Directory and more.

    …and more!


  • GamePro (April 1999)

    Source: GamePro – April 1999

    GamePro wasn’t my personal favorite gaming magazine but there is no doubt it was one of the most popular. It seemed to be targeted towards a younger or at least less mature audience. Like most others, it didn’t survive the transition into the new millenia very well. The April 1999 issue includes:

    Features

    • Soul Reaver: Kain’s Legacy – A feature on Soul Reaver: Legacy of Kain, and adventure game for the PlayStation that became one of the most popular games on that platform.
    • LamePro! – LamePro was a periodic parody that GamePro did of itself. This issue contains reviews of games like Rouge Squadron and Saddam’s Command and Cower plus parody ads, news and more.

    ProStrategy Section

    • NetPro ProStrategy: The Beginner’s Guide to EverQuest, Part III – For a long time Everquest was, by far, the most popular MMORPG.
    • Role-Player’s Realm ProStrategy: Brave Fencer Musashi, Part 3 – A strategy guide that takes you through the last half of Brave Fencer Musashi for the PlayStation.
    • ProStrategy Guide: Drac’s Back in Castlevania – A strategy guide for Castelvania on the Nintendo 64.
    • The Fighter’s Edge: Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter – A guide to all the moves in one of Capcom’s classic fighters on the PlayStation, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.
    • S.W.A.T. Pro – Codes and tips for a variety of games including Oddworld: Abe’s Exxodus (PlayStation), Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (Nintendo 64), South Park (Nintendo 64), Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside (Nintendo 64), Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (Nintendo 64), BattleTanx (Nintendo 64), Glover (Nintendo 64), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (PlayStation), WCW/NWO Thunder (PlayStation), and many others.

    Sneak Previews & ProReviews

    • Sneak Previews – An early look at games in development including Street Fighter Alpha 3, Quake II, Gauntlet Legends, Beetle Adventure Racing, Driver, Smash Brothers, Soul of the Samurai, Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko, Ace Combat 3 Electrosphere, and Shen Mue.
    • PlayStation ProReviews – Reviews of Silent Hill, Rollcage, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, K-1 Revenge, Street Sk8er, Rush Down, WCW/NWO Thunder, Sports Car GT, and Blast Radius.
    • Nintendo 64 ProReviews – Reviews of Vigilante V8, Mario Party, and California Speed.
    • Dreamcast ProReviews – A review of the Japanese version of Sonic Adventure.
    • PC GamePro – A review of Baldur’s Gate (one of my personal favorites), plus reviews of Tribes and Myth II and a look at the contents of gamepro.com.
    • Sports Pages – A preview of All-Star Baseball 2000 for the Nintendo 64, a review of Triple Play 2000 for the PlayStation, a preview of MLB 2000 for the PlayStation, a review of Baseball 2000 for the PlayStation and a review of Triple Play 2000 for the PlayStation.
    • Role-Player’s Realm – Preview of Legend of Legaia for the PlayStation and a strategy guide for Brave Fencer Musashi.

    Departments

    • Head2Head – Letter from the editor about playing games and having fun plus letters from readers bout Xeongears, Thrill Kill, Parasite Eve’s mature rating, and more.
    • Art Attack – Fan art from readers including subject such as Oddworld, Zelda and more.
    • Buyers Beware – “Chipping” your PlayStation, Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak and heat, and using 3rd party controllers on the PlayStation.
    • ProNews – EA developing Medal of Honor; Tiger Woods ’99 recalled; Midway announces initial line-up of games for the Dreamcast which includes NFL Blitz 2000, Hydro Thunder, a couple of Mortal Kombat games, Paperboy, Smash TV. Satan’s Hollow, Toobin’ and more; Steve Jobs commits to making the Mac a great gaming platform and the new G3 will run Quake 3 and a PlayStation emulator;

    …and more!