• Tag Archives Super Nintendo
  •  Nintendo Power (December 1995)

    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!


  • Nintendo Power (August 1993)

    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!


  • Super Play (August 1993)

    Source: Super Play – Issue Number 10 – August 1993

    Super Play was a U.K published magazine dedicated to the Super Nintendo. I know we had at least once such magazine in the U.S. but it really only had a handful of pages and was published bi-monthly. Nintendo Power was probably a better option though it would have covered the NES and Game Boy to depending on what time period we are talking about. Issue number 10 of Super Play from August 1993 (100 pages!) includes the following:

    Features

    • Different Strokes – A look at how advertisements and cover art for the same games differ between Japan, the U.K. and the U.S.
    • Troubleshooter – How to easily and cheaply fix a Super NES that has been damaged by adaptor (mis)use.
    • CES! – A look at the Summer CES in Chicago on June 3-6, 1993. Super Nintendo highlights included Arcus Odyssey, Beast Ball, a new version of the NES, Brawl Brothers, Beauty and the Beast, Dream Probe, Super Battletank 2, Crash Dummies, Caribbean Kawasaki Challenge, Ultima: The False Prophet, Rabbit Rampage, T2, Monday Night Football, Legend, Yoshi’s Cookie, Aladdin, Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing, River Raid, Super Mario All-Stars, Street Fighter II Turbo, Side Pocket, Pac-Man 2, Jurassic Park, Super Brawl, Utopia, Last Action Hero, Family Feud, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Inspector Gadget, and tons more.

    Import Reviews

    • American Gladiators – A game based on the T.V. show of the same name involving the same challenges.
    • Bubsy – A great side-scrolling platform game.
    • Doraemon – A sort of combination action/RPG featuring a cat.
    • Dracula Kid – A Zelda-like RPG featuring Dracula as a kid.
    • Final Fight 2 – Featuring a two-player mode and upgraded graphics for the SNES.
    • GP-1 – A motorcycle racing game with average reviews.
    • International Tennis Tour – An Ok tennis game.
    • Run Saber – Basically a wannabe Strider but Strider is much better.
    • Shadowrun – A SNES version of the classic tabletop cyberpunk themed RPG. It’s set in 2050…we are already more than halfway there from when this game was released.
    • Septentrion – An action adventure game set on a sinking ship.
    • Super Black Bass – A pretty good fishing game if you like fishing games.
    • Super Turrican – Thirteen levels of sci-fi platform action.

    Super Player’s Guide

    • Legend of the Mystical Ninja – A complete strategy guide for this action RPG that received no official UK release.

    UK Reviews

    • Striker – One of many soccer games released in the U.K. though this one seems to be a pretty good one.
    • WWF Royal Rumble – A pretty good wrestling game featuring the WWF.

    Regulars

    • Super Express – The latest Super NES related news including the latest on the Super NES CD, info on upcoming U.K. releases, Mega Man X, some new SNES controllers and other peripherals, a look at recent fantasy games including Ogre Battle and Neugier, more on the Summer CES in Chicago, and much more.
    • Gamefreak – Questions answered about Pop ‘n Twinbee, Street Fighter II Turbo, PAL vs. NTSC, upcoming RPGs, Actraiser vs. Soul Blazer, Sensible Soccer, and much more.
    • Playback – Feedback from readers about downbeat reviews, extra speed in U.K. games, upgrading Street Fighter II, violence in games, and more.
    • What Cart? – A brief summary of reviews of older games.
    • Next Month – Coming in the next issue, tons of game designer interviews, Final Fight 2 and Dragon Ball Z coverage, a look at the Japanese games industry, reviews of Troddlers, First Samurai, Super Back to the Future 2, World Soccer, and more.

    …and more!