• Tag Archives PSX
  • Alien: Resurrection (PlayStation)

    gamepro_issue118_july_1998_115

    Source: Alien Resurrection (PlayStation)

    Ad for Alien: Resurrection from the July 1998 issue of GamePro.





  • Tomb Raider

    Tomb Raider was originally released in 1996 for Sega Saturn, PlayStation and MS-DOS.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/156803344259/nostalgianation-tomb-raider-was-originally

    Tomb Raider is one of those games virtually everyone has heard of. It is a 3D action adventure game that was originally released for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS based computers in 1996. It looks and plays somewhat similar to games like Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 but development was started well before that game was released.

    The game centers around Lara Croft, an English archaeologist, who searches for ancient treasures. The story involves locating three mysterious artifacts linked to Atlantis. To make things more interesting, she has some nefarious competition. Gameplay is in line with a typical platform game. There is plenty of action but the focus is on solving various puzzles.


    DOS

    All three of the original versions of the game are very similar. Differences between the Sega Saturn version and PlayStation version are minimal. The PC version does have a couple of advantages though. First, it can be played in higher resolution than the console version. Secondly, unlike the console versions, you can save anywhere. This greatly reduces frustration levels as the console version had fixed save checkpoints that were pretty far apart and dying in between meant you had to redo the level.


    PS1

    Tomb Raider is one of the defining games of the 3D platform genre. It got very good reviews, was commercially very successful, and has influenced countless games since. There have been a large number of sequels, remakes and re-releases. Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III were released in 1997 and 1998 respectively. These were released exclusively on the PlayStation and Windows based PCs. While there were graphics and gameplay improvements and changes, they were mostly more of the same successful formula. In 1998, shortly after Tomb Raider II was released, Tomb Raider was re-released on the PC as Tomb Raider Gold with additional episodes. There were a number of sequels in subsequent years, not all of which were as successful. In 2006, the series was rebooted starting a new timeline with a new incarnation of Croft. In 2007, Tomb Raider: Anniversary was released which was a remake/reimagining of the original game. It was released for the PlayStation 2, Windows based PCs and the Wii. After a few sequels, the series was rebooted again in 2013 initially for the PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360, with a much younger Lara Croft. One sequel has been released for this incarnation in 2015 for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows. There have also been a few spinoffs.


    Saturn

    If you want to play the original Tomb Raider, your best bet is probably an original copy for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn or PC. I prefer the PC version but that one will have a little added complexity to get it to work with a modern system. If you don’t want to go that route, then downloadable versions are available for the PS3 and PS4 and a DRM free version is available for the PC at gog.com.





  • Alien Trilogy (1996)

    Advertisement for Alien Trilogy by Acclaim for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS computers.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/155813677989/vgjunk-advert-for-alien-trilogy

    Advertisement for Alien Trilogy by Acclaim for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS computers.

    Released in 1996, Alien Trilogy was one of a vast ocean of Doom and Quake clones released throughout the mid to late 1990s. Despite being a lesser known title (the game, not the movies which are obviously well known), this one was really of above average quality. It was often praised for its frightening atmosphere, sound and above average graphics. Unlike most FPS type games of the time it was also released first on consoles (the PlayStation and Sega Saturn) before being released on the PC. At the time, PCs were generally far superior for this sort of game but Alien Trilogy was quite good on the consoles as well.

    While excellent on the Sega Saturn and PlayStation (or PS2), it is still probably best played on a computer. However, the game systems are an easier choice if you happen to have one. Alien Trilogy was re-released only briefly via Throwback Entertainment (who bought the right to all Acclaim games as I understand it) on their Zoom platform (which I had never heard of but it appears to be a GoG like place for downloading DRM free older games fixed for new systems at a low cost) a year or so ago but was only there briefly. I suspect licensing issues given the involvement of the Alien franchise. You might be able to find that version floating out on the internet somewhere obtainable in questionably legal ways…otherwise you would have to have a period DOS computer set up or perhaps DOS Box configured to get the PC experience.

    Screen shots above are from the DOS version of the game.