nji iUtMMi m\M '$3.95 • 4.95 CANADAl 0 14302 74874 A EGM SHOWS QFFjMOREM THAN 100 NEWlG AMESiM SUPER-C NINJA GAIDEN *« SNAKE'S REVENGE LSjjG'AWBIT: RO RTABLE GOLGO$13lBART 2 It's a brand new decadcl Tengen's got 19 different ways you can start it off right. All of 'em are the hottest arcade games and movie titles — now ready for play on your Nintendo. They've got everything you want in action games: stunning graphics, dynamite sound effects and sizzling game play. That's the kind of stuff you need to really start off the '90s with a big bang! Look for Tengen games at your favorite store. To find the name of your nearest dealer or to order direct using VISA or MASTERCARD, call: 1-800-2-TENGEN (1-800-283-6436). Super Sprint, Vac-Man, RBI Baseball and Gauntlet are TENGEN CLASSICS — our greatest hits at the |fiFTFi? nrii?NFF> tart the 90s bang. ARCADE HITS THAT HIT HOME 1623 Buckeye I)r., Milpitas, CA 95035 408/473-9400 'video AFTER BURNER. SHINOBI. ALIEN SYNDROME FANTASY ZONE TM & , 1987.1989 Sega Eilterpiises. Ltd Manufac- in't’tl utxJet license from Sega Enterprises Ltd GAUNTLET: ©Alan Games; ,71938 Tengen. Inc. HARD DRIVIN TM Tames: licensed to Tengen Inc ©1989 Atari Games. LICENCE TO KILL TM & ©1983 Daniaq S.A and Untied Ail rights reserved MS PAC-MAN TM Namco, Ltd licensed to Tengen. Inc ©1990 Tengen. Inc: ©1982 :d PAC-MAN ©and ©1980 1984 Namco Lid. POLICE ACADEMY: TM and ©1988 Warnet Bios, Inc Used tv. V under license. R.B! BASEBALL ©Ataritames ©1989 Tengen. Inc D1986.1987, Namco. Ltd. RBI BASEBALL 7 TM Alan Games: licensed to Tengen. Inr . 1990 Tengen. inc ROAD RUNNER. TM 8, 1989 Warnei Bros anti Atan Games All rights reserved Used by Atari Games under license. ROLLING THUNDER. TM and ©1986 1989 Namco Lid SKULL & CROSSBONES: TM Atari Games: licensed to Tengen Inc ©1989 Atari Games SUPER SPRINT, Atai Games; ©1989 Tengen Inc TOOBIN © Atari Games. ©1989 Tengen. Inc. VINDICATORS: © Atari Games: ©197/ Tengen. Inc XYBOTS © Atari Games: ©1989 Tengen. Inc. .Skull & .ROSSBONES Tengen's products arc designed and manufactured in USA by Tengen. They are not designed, manufac¬ tured, sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo. Nintendo and Nintendo Entertainment System are trademarks o! Nintendo ol Ameiica. Inc. ' 26 The latest chapter in the Castlevania saga! 38 Complete info on the new genera¬ tion of hand-held game machines. 44 Brand new tricks, codes, and strategies for the latest games! 49 Previews, previews, previews! CONTENTS CCVEP ST€Cr - CASTLEVANIA 3_26 If you thought Simon Belmont’s adventures had ended at the conclusion of Castlevania Part 2, think again! Simon’s back on the Japanese Nintendo Famicom system with an all-new quest to conquer! The latest installment in the Castlevania saga blends the adventure overtones of the second game with the high-action arcade-style game play of the first to create an exciting and uni¬ que sequel to one of the greatest NES games ever made. Find out more about this hot new title and when it may be available on these shores. ELECTPCNIC CVHINC EXPRESS_38 We introduce a new regular feature to the pages of EGM this month called Electronic Gaming Express. This section will keep you up-to-date on the latest developments within the gaming industry, and bring you the first pictures of hot new hardware and software. This issue focuses on the new generation of hand-held game systems from NEC and Sega that are waiting just over the horizon. BCNUS SUPPLEMENT IN TEIS ISSUE CE EGM!!! Electronic Gaming Preview - TTe Ultimate Video Came Preview Guide Grab your VIP pass and get the complete story from the 1990 Winter Con¬ sumer Electronics Show. This gala event showcases the latest wonders from the video game world and EGM takes you there for complete previews of near¬ ly every game shown (and some that weren’t shown) to convention attendees. Look for photos and reviews of over 100 different games for play on the Nin¬ tendo, Sega, Genesis, and TurboGrafx game systems in this blockbuster New Soft special! TRICES CE Tit TRACE_ 44 Get ready for a brand new batch of super secret game tips guaranteed to power your scores higher, and make you play further, no matter what system you own! Sizzling secrets from the EGM super-stars, the U.S. National Video Game Team, join your best finds in another "Tricks of the Trade" video game secrets spectacular! Also ir ttis Issue: Insert Coin 6 Nintendo Player 52 Interface - Letters 8 Turbo Champ 71 Review Crew 10 Outpost Genesis 73 International Outlook 26 Sega Masters 78 Gaming Gossip 28 High Score Club 82 4 A POWER BEYOND YOUR FINGERTIPS 1-QQO-NIN-1ODO CALL AND HEAR HOW THE PROS BATTLE THEIR WAY TO VICTORY!!! We will tell you about the special tricks, secret strategies and hidden power-ups to the hottest Nintendo*" video games. Simply call the Hot Tips Hotline at 1 -900-646-1036 from your touch-tone phone and you pick the category you want to hear -- like Action, Adventure, Sports and The Classics. Plus you also get info on the following categories: HOT NEW RELEASES: Stay informed on up-coming game releases for the Nintendo Entertainment System. We update our information constantly to keep you informed! KILLER CONTESTS: Win your choice of the newest Nintendo video games! All callers are eligible, call for details of the game cartridge giveaway! FREE NEWSLETTER: All callers can receive a complimentary newsletter featuring detailed video gaming information for the NES, previews and reviews of the latest games, interviews with contest winners, information on discounted game cartridges and much more! HI-SCORERS CLUB: If you're an awesome game player who has what it takes to enter this club, we ll give you a HI-SCORERS CLUB tee shirt! Call to find out what games are sponsored! The Hot Tips Hotline costs S2.00 for the first minute and 75 cents every minute thereafter. Don't forget to get your parent s permission. Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System and NES are registered trademarks of Nintendo of America tec. The Hot Tips Hotline is not endorsed or affikated n any way by Nintendo of America. Write to us at PLAY-4-FUN 644 N. Santa Crui Are. Suite 12-215, Los Gatos CA. 95030 NUMBER 9 Editorial Offices: 1920 Highland Avenue, Suite 300, Lombard, Illinois 60148 A SENDAI PUBLICATION oin THE FIRST WORD ON VIDEO DAMES. Publisher, Editor Steve Hams Associate Editors David White Edward J. Semrad Martin Alessi Brian Belanger Nintendo, Sega, Atari TurboGratx, Genesis, GameBoy Game Reviewers Martin Alessi Jim Stockhausen Ed Semrad Steve Harris Strategy Consultants U.S. National Video Game Team Layout and Production Ken Cunningham Foreign Correspondent TonyTakoushi Subscription Manager Sherri Harris Customer Service Questions (312)916-3133 National Advertising Director David Siller 6828 Platt West Hills, CA 91307 Advertising Inquiries Only Call (818)7160588 Electronic Gaming Monthly is published 12 times a year by Sendai Publications, Inc. Electronic Gaming Monthly sub¬ scription rates tor U.S.: $19.95 - Canada, Mexico: $29.95, and all others by air mail only: $80.00. Single issue rate: $3.95. All subs go to 1920 Highland, Suite 300, Lombard, IL 60148. The editors and the publishers welcome, but are not responsible for unsolicited material. No part of this pub¬ lication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of Sendai Publications, Inc Copyright 1989, Sendai Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. All materials listed in this magazine are subject to manufacturers change and publisher assumes no responsibility for such changes. Printed in the USA. Printed with pride! One of the most frequent questions we receive from industry insiders and readers alike concerns our ability to track down new information and provide a complete story on all the latest video game hardware and new games. As veteran readers know, EGM was the first magazine to break the story on Nintendo’s upcoming 16-Bit Super Famicom, the NEC Super Grafx, Konix’s Multi-System, the Nintendo hand-held GameBoy, the color Lynx, and the Japanese Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 to name but a few. Over the months EGM also brought the first newsstand photos of games such as Gradius 2, Batman, Phantasy Star 2, and many, many more. How do we do it? Well, it’s not easy! Our staff maintains a constant relationship with dozens of contacts around the world. Not only do we trade news and information with the leading magazines of Europe and Japan, we also stay in touch with top executives at some of the leading manufacturers and development houses throughout the same countries. Over the past six months EGM ambassadors have traveled to Japan and Europe a number of times to visit important trade shows and meet privately with some of the lead¬ ing video game super-powers. Why do we go to so much trouble just to get a story? Because, as game players, we know that the most important role a video game magazine can play is in providing new information. Whether it’s honest reviews with an opinion, previews of upcoming softs, or the latest developments from over¬ seas, EGM is the magazine that will be their first - with all the facts. Sometimes other stumbling blocks will make it difficult to bring you info through normal channels. Some companies unjustly award private exclusives to competing publications, unfairly penalizing game players like you if you don’t read a particular gaming magazine. We never demand exclusives be¬ cause EGM feels it is your right to know as much as you want about all the new products on the horizon. For a company to hold a private showing of a new hand-held or provide an exclusive and thereby lock out your desire to know the complete story, good or bad, is just plain wrong. That’s why we’re introducing a new column in this issue of EGM! Electronic Gaming Express is your ticket to the latest developments in the world of video games. This issue we continue our edge on the forefront of technology with the total coverage and the first photos of the new Nintendo Express hand-held, NEC hand-held, and new info on the Sega 8-Bit hand¬ held. You’ll also find the first news and pictures of SNK’s new video game console, the NEO GEO! This is hard-hitting editorial you won’t find anywhere else! Combined with our regular International Outlook and Next Wave features, you’ve got the best ticket to the ever-changing video game world right in your hands! Steve Harris Editor IgrarJEPMtimgiHMI Official ^ Nintendo^, Seal of Quality In 1990 Tecnu 3 ® Brings \bu » Outrageous F few Hit Games miiiiH/rau _\__ \ 'U— — ' _/ TECM< GA 1 DEI i> WORLD k —/- Got a problem? Riled with praise? Open up your mind and be¬ come a star in the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly! If your letter impresses us enough we’ll put your name in lights (well, ac¬ tually in black ink) for thousands to see! Send your video gaming escapades to us at Sendai Publications, Interface-Letters to the Editor, 1920 Highland Avenue, Suite 300, Lombard, IL 60148. Saving Quarters... I’m a coin-op game fan and I’ve searched the country for a coin¬ op game magazine. I was reading EGM and I saw that a source for ratings was Re¬ play magazine - the in¬ dustry’s leading trade magazine. Can you help!?! Jonathan Johnson Danville, KY What’s in a name? I read your third issue of EGM and found that you made a few mistakes in your article about the Atari Lynx. First, on page 71, you had a picture showing a game called Impossible Mis¬ sion. The game is really named Electrocop -1 know because I own the Lynx and this game. The next flaw is on the following page where you stated that the Lynx comes with a sun shield and carrying case which it does not. Try to be more careful in what you write from now on. Sean Madnani & Sameer Samat (ed. - Quite observant, guys! Actually, when we prepare feature articles on new products and hardware, we try to dig a lit¬ tle deeper in order to come up with the behind the scenes info we know you want. What often happens when report¬ ing on pre-released games and systems are the inevitable changes that take place after we’ve gone to press. In this case, the game called Impossible Mission in the Atari press kits became Electrocop and the Lynx peripherals were passed over to save on costs. In fact, Electrocop used to be the name of a different game that was to feature a Tazer-toting law enfor¬ cement officer. Ultimately, the project was cancelled, but the name now lives on in a completely different cart. We feel it’s better to report all the important news and upcoming gaming developments The illusive Lynx Color System (ed. - While RePlay and similar trade publications do indeed offer the most up-to-date info on the hot new arcade games, they are written primarily for the manufacturers, distributors, and opera¬ tors of the games and not the players. A coin-op game magazine may not be a bad idea, however, or maybe as an EGM supplement. What do you think?) Looking for LYNX... I’m writing to say how much I liked your article on the Atari Lynx game system. The article was very informative and after reading it I went out and pur¬ chased not one, but two of the units. I must say that it is the most amazing sys¬ tem on the market. I just hope that Atari puts out more software. If they do put out more arcade style games it will blow GameBoy away. Steven Fields I wrote you awhile ago expressing my disappointment in the extremely limit¬ ed availablity of Atari’s Lynx game sys¬ tem during the Christmas season. I live in Michigan and they’re not available in stores here and it looked like I wouldn’t be able to buy one until sometime in 1990. I was so disappointed I didn’t know if I’d buy one at all. After reading the good reviews the Lynx received, I decided to order one from the Ultimate Game Club that ad¬ vertises in your magazine. My Lynx came by Federal Express on December 22nd, just in time for Christmas! I love the advanced graphics, game play, sounds, and full color. GameBoy doesn’t rate by com¬ parison - Lynx blows it out of the water! Ronald Coif Belleville, MI (ed. - Everyone who has been able to get the ahold of an Atari Lynx has raved about the system's advanced capabilities. The main problem for most people has been simply in finding a retail outlet that carries them. In addition to the Ultimate Game Club (see ad in this issue), the Sears catalog outlet should be able to accommodate Lynx fans with systems and game cards if you act fast. Nationwide distribution of the first color portable will probably be delayed until Spring.) Coming Out of Your Shell... I really like the game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the arcades. I don’t like the 8-Bit home version, and I’m hoping that is a 16-Bit version came out it would be better like the arcades. Do you know if a version of the game will be available on the Sega Genesis? Michael Ardisson Plainview, New York. 8 Rating the Review Crew First of all, I would like to say how much I love your magazine. I’ve been playing video games for two years now but have only recently started to read video game magazines. On the first day I ever bought them, I purchased four. Your publication was head and shoulders above the competition. My favorite part of your mag is the "Review Crew". Though I don’t agree with everything that is said, it is an awsome idea (and very helpful) to give numeri¬ cal grades instead of idiotic reviews that are always saccarine sweet. Asif Rahman Rockville, MD (ed. - We’re glad to hear that you and others value the information in the Re¬ view Crew segment of the magazine. With game prices rising into the strato¬ sphere, we realize how important it is to get honest appraisals of upcoming titles. Giving you four separate opinions from four top-notch game players (not writers who play games once in awhile) is the best way to give you an honest and un¬ biased review of a new game. Beginning with this issue, we’ll begin to increase the number of reviews we feature, in an ef¬ fort to critique as many games as we can.) Where’s the Team? Completely on impulse I picked up one of your magazines the other day. As an avid game player I was impressed by your informative articles and equal¬ ly well-organized visuals - especially your four-man Review Crew. I do have one question, however. How the heck do you get on the U.S. National Video Game Team? I believe I may have the credentials necessary to join. Please help! Christopher Lewis Houston, TX (ed. - Pick up the next issue of EGM for complete details on how YOU can join the gaming elite on the USNVGT.) Turbo vs. Genesis Debate I subscribe to four video game magazines, but next year I will sub¬ scribe to just one-EGM. You have the best reviews, by far the best rating sys¬ tem, and when there are new develop¬ ments in the video game industry, I al¬ ways read about them in EGM one to two months ahead of the other maga¬ zines. You’re the only magazine that would rate the new game systems, as I did before purchasing one. I tried out NEC’s Turbo and Sega’s Genesis and found the NEC to be a good system, but the Genesis proved to be the best! Ken Iler Defiance, OH I purchased my Sega Genesis two months earlier than my TurboGrafx- 16, so I have more games for it (11 for Genesis versus seven for the Turbo). However, my brother, my best friend and I enjoy the games on the Turbo more. The Sega games seem to have fancier graphics, but the Turbo games play better. Keep up the 16-Bit cover¬ age! Jeff Kramer Pembroke Pines, FL While the Sega Genesis is more pow¬ erful than the NECTurboGrafx-16, the Turbo has a lot more games coming out. At the local Toys ’R’ Us store they have only 9 Genesis games, compared to 18 TurboGrafx games. The Turbo- Grafx is pulling ahead fast. Robert Benjamin Wysox, PA I recently purchased a Sega Genesis and it is a truly awesome machine. Tur- boGrafx-16 is better than Nintendo, but the differences between Genesis and Turbo are obvious. 1 don’t know who would want a system that retails for $199.00 and still needs a $35.00 Booster for sound and stereo quality that’s not as good as Genesis’. Kevin McGaffey Alvin, TX I don’t agree with your awarding the Sega Genesis the honor of "Best New System of 1989". While the hardware maybe more advanced than the Turbo¬ Grafx-16, the majority of the Genesis games are no where near as good as those available for the Turbo. 1 know because I owned the Sega Genesis and traded it in for the TurboGrafx. Even the better Sega games, like Ghouls and Ghosts, are ruined because of annoying flicker problems that are so bad in some areas you can’t even see your character! Is this 16-Bit power? If it is than I’d rather have the inferior system; especially when it plays more games of better quality Mark Payne Little Rock, AR (ed. - Ever since we proclaimed the Genesis "System of the Year" in our an¬ nual Buyer’s Guide, we’ve received a flood of mail from die-hard fans of both systems. Since this is becoming an issue ofgreat debate, we urge users of both sys¬ tems to respond with their feelings about the consoles and the games they play.) We Buy-Sell Used NINTENDO SEGA - GENESIS - TURBO GAMES HIGHEST PRICES PAID! Send For A Price List With A Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope To: U.v.T., inc. Olympia Plaza Route 22 East Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 ( 201 ) 232-3222 CALL FOR NEW GAME PRICES! ELECTRONIC GAMING REVIEW CREW NES - Nintendo Super Mario Bros. 3 Type: Action Release: 2/15/90 Levels of Play: 8 Difficulty: Avg. The long-awaited sequel and latest chapter in the Super Mario saga continues the running/jumping/block-breaking of the Italian duo of Mario and Luigi. In this expanded update, you control a new Super Mario who must explore rounds of play that are scattered across landscapes. Claim areas and fight for control by playing a derivitive of Mario Bros.! New power-up items, special cos¬ tumes that broaden Mario and Luigi’s ac¬ tions, and even nastier enemies make this the most challenging Super Mario yet. NES-Sunsoft Batman Type: Action Release: 2/15/90 Levels of Play: 5 Difficulty: Avg. The Caped Crusader comes to the video game screen courtesy of Sunsoft! In this NES adaptation of the comic book super hero and blockbuster movie, you must traverse multiple levels of vertical and hori¬ zontal scrolling to reach the Boss charac¬ ters that guard the Joker. Pick up the power-up capsules that are left behind by certain enemies to increase your available weapons. Detailed intermissions which follow the storyline of the movie help ex¬ plain the story and keep the action moving along at a fast pace. $ T E V E E D M A R T I N J I M Having survived the CES in Las Vegas, Steve is now looking for¬ ward to his newest Genesis fav¬ orites Thunder Force 3 and Atomic Robo-Kid! The head- honcho at EGM has also com¬ pleted Bonk’s Adventure and Neutopia for the Turbo! Some of Ed's favorite carts at the CES included Shinobi Kidd and Moonwalker for the Sega 8 and 16-Bitters, Super C and Mario 3 for Nintendo, and Bonk’s Adven¬ ture on the Turbo. Phantasy Star 2 continues to be high on Ed’s list of top games however. Martin has concentrated his game playing on the new Lynx games and an assortment of im¬ ported titles like Castlevania 3 for Famicom, Curse for the Mega Drive, Bloody Wolf on PC Engine and Red Alert for the PC Engine CD-ROM. Jim is in video game heaven now that he’s gotten ahold of Castle¬ vania 3, Batman, Bonk, and oth¬ er side-scrolling action adven¬ tures. Astyanax and Super Mario 3 are also high on Jim’s list this month. Super Mario Bros. 3 is the largest, most detailed, graphic^fl^iperb, audio en¬ hanced, three-metf)a«;piece loaded with perfect power-ups and extraordinary execu¬ tion, most fun-to-p^aRe I’ve seen on the Nintendo. This is oWRthe few games that comes close to a perfect “10" rating! Batman consists of spledid game play that is coupled with d^l^aphics and back¬ grounds. I’m sureR^Rone to capture the mood of the mov«MBf does detract a bit from the overall cfte^Vf the title. The in¬ termissions are w^^e and there’s plen¬ ty of challenge and play value here. Nintendo has done the impossible. They have created a gam#*® close to perfection as you can get. "Re^ best from SMB, add the changing^^^Halities of SMB 2, and beef it up wit^^^Rg of power, hun¬ dreds of secrets, ancProaen items, and you get the best game ever made for the NES! Combine the climbing action from Ninja Gaiden and the acti^^n Castlevania and you get the best aftnMme of the season. The dark backgJI^^jraphics parallel those in the movi^LidRd to the visual ef¬ fect. Excellent inte^Rions and merciless Bosses will wear down even top players! Super Mario Bros. 3 is awesome! It has so much to do and sc^flfctthings to see, that it's hard to believRo\*iey did it! Mario must now find new secreft while using pow¬ er-up suits that allt^iiAo change shapes in order to swim, fl^ma do more! One of the best Nintendo games ever made! The Dark Knight has arrived! Finally a game that does the BatoBBfcstice. This game has amazing grdKi^Vand game play. Cinema display swl^^e cool but could have been longeiR’dRally have liked to have cruised in the^^obile or flew in the Batwing, but all in all this is great gaming. This is the best Nintendo game ever made. All new worlds, fill^B^multiple stages to conquer, huge sciRncR'aphics, challeng¬ ing new opponent^^pHdden items every¬ where along the wM^^Rine to make SMB 3 a thrilling game^m near 16-Bit looks! You have to see it to believe it! Batman is without a doubt one of the best action games to aflBBpa long while. The graphics are detailed ^RETt a little dark, and the different weaponBower-ups are a nice touch that increase jBolvement. The game gets repetitive, hoRver, with new back¬ grounds the only real change in each round. 10 ,ys >A//fo FREE OFFER FROM TAITO A free subscription to Taito's white-hot newsletter, Taito Times, sounds too good to be true. I'm a power-playing maniac and I'm into high-level winning strategies, the in¬ side scoop on new Taito releases, and puzzles that will tweak my brain cells! Rush out my first copy ASAP. /S'/W// Mnu City state Zip I Ilk* •• play Taita janti mi ISM/TanAy/Caaipatlklef Aailfa Caanaaelere *4/12* Apple II Apple lie* Atari ST Nlataada Oaa* Bay NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES / BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 94 ROTHELL,WA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE / Taito Times Taito Software, Inc. P 0 Box 1439 Bothell, WA 98041-9926 / 11 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 11 1111 1 11 1 111 111 ■ 1 11 1 1 1 11M 1 1 1 1 11 1111 1 1 11 In a Land of Impossible Evils ... the classic struggle between good and evil comes to life. Mixed with magic and the latest computer technology, a spell-binding game for your Nintendo Entertainment System® is born! As the hero warrior Victar, you will battle Wizards, Troglodytes, and Undead Souls. Master 7 levels and 3 worlds in your quest to conquer the demons of the Dark Lord. Traverse chasms of fire and mountains of doom to confront the fiendish Gatekeeper. Risk It All With cunning and skill you wield the ancient and broken Demon Sword™ To defeat the evil forces ruling the land, you must recover the Sword’s missing pieces and restore its mystical power. The journey is long and the way is hard. Gather your courage, grasp your blade, and release the power that is yours to control! Actual Nintendo Entertainment System Screens Beware the wrath of the Old Wizard of Cedar Mountain. Brave the broken bridges and terrify¬ ing chasms of Bamboo Forest. The magic of the Phoenix can save your life! TAITO (Nintendo) has evaluated the quality of this product. Licensed by Nintendo® for play on the Nintendo Entertainment System.® Nintendo® and Nintendo Entertainment System® are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. Taito® and Demon Sword™ are trademarks of Taito America Corporation. Copyright ©1989 Taito America Corporation. All Rights Reserved. NES - Jaleco Bases Loaded 2 Type: Sports Release: 4/15 Levels of Play: N/A Difficulty: Avg. NES-HALAmerica Adventures of Lolo 2 Type: Act./Puzzle Release: 4/01 Levels of Play: 50 Difficulty: Hard NES - Culture Brain Baseball Simulator Type: Sports Release: 4/1 Levels of Play: N/A Difficulty: Avg. The follow-up to one of the first and best Nintendo baseball games, Bases Loaded 2 - The Second Season, expands upon the proven play concepts pioneered by the original and throws in all-new features like player Bio-rythem charts, new angles of action, and a whole new season of com¬ petition. You can select your players and take to the field or go up against a com¬ puter opponent or friend in an impressive pitcher/batter duel. Saving Princess Lala is once again the duty of the wobbling and loveable fur-ball super-hero Lolo in this sequel to the ac¬ tion/strategy sleeper hit of '89. Lolo must once again find his way through multiple numbers of mazes, avoiding the enemy attacks that can be triggered around every corner. Uncover items and proceed from one land to the next to reach your love and complete your quest. Baseball Simulator 1.000 is a baseball game with a twist. Not only are you given complete control over the teams, line-ups, pitchers and other important aspects of play, you also have the option of selecting from a menu of different stadiums and special leagues where anything can hap¬ pen! Add to these features a number of other play settings and you get a very dif¬ ferent kind of baseball game for your NES! Bases Loaded 2 may not be that different from the original, ■jl^piproves on some of the qualities that ^ffund lacking. The player bio-rythem cl^s are a good visual way of showing perSmance, and the mul¬ tiple angles used trrollow the ball make it feel like you’re part of a real game! This game is extremely similar to the first Lolo title, but a ^■■■tions have been made to the theme toMake it play slightly different. To me, L^Fnever achieved the recognition it desefled, and this second entry should provic^Dlayers with a second chance to experience a truly fine game. Simulator does something that no other cart has done and thaflHBA'ond your typical sports rulebook. This^Pme lets you throw firey fastballs that Ivn through player's bats, and take advsage of other special functions. It plays a^eat game of standard ball as well with good control. How do you improve on the best NES baseball game? Don't get me wrong, changes haveJ^n made, but they revolve more aroundffrategy as opposed to game play. Yo«an now judge player biorythems amonc^ther things. Other¬ wise, the graphics are similar as well as ■sounds: Lolo 2 is almost exactly like the original Lolo game - a cart thatJg^d to be particularly enjoyable. What iKuK essentially given us is a whole new^lKmazes, along with a couple of origirflfeA’es, in a package that looks and feel^l^much like the first. I'll rate them the same in my book. At first this game looks like another me-too baseball game. game offers a simulation which ^triSTTV average and no where near as gcl^^Bases Loaded. If you want to haveWnBj do some really wild things, BS hai^Poption which turns players into super-humans. It's not real, but A good baseball game with tons of features and special gameHPftmations. Batting, however, is slop^^^td the control of fielders is awkwail^^^ music is slightly annoying, but the^dBs are pretty good. Despite some rou^^rcjes, Bases Loaded 2 is O.K. If you played the first Lolo, you’ve essential¬ ly played the seco^^v. Lolo 2 has the same game play a^^^zzler maze-type ac¬ tion of its predeceB^^tti some minor en¬ hancements thro^M ir^The game opens with some great anWI^n scenes, and ad¬ dictive game play rounds out the cart. Forget realism, forget statistics, this game was designed for ^^Bfc'HJN! Baseball Simulator has got to 1 W the most unique sports game ever m«l. I love the special pitches and hits lik^ie fireball and Ninja pitches which caM hilarious reactions. Loads of fun! Bases Loaded 2 g oes to some new p'aces that the original ^■■reached, but the game doesn’t feel U^^s good as the first. The fielders react ^^gfcly, and I still favor a behind the plate*E^Bbtive when hitting, instead of judgin^rones from over the pitcher’s shoulder. An average update. Lolo 2 continues the unique game play of the first game. ThjPPuzzlers for the NES do have some ad^tjv^jualities, but they are not exactly oH^^ning in any area (graphics, game Ky^Mjsic, etc.). If you liked the first, than^Hrlike this one. If you don’t like puzzle games than stay away. Baseball Simulator plays a good game of standard ball, as m^^aking advantage of a special Ieaguefill3with power-players who possess the mo^extraordinary base¬ ball skills. The gaflb really excels here, taking advantage JFthe creative medium that video games are. A very nice game! 12 TOSS ONE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. A Trampoline... A Vitablaster... Blob has come from the distant planet Blobolonia™ in search of an earth boy to help him save his world. Discover his amazing appetite for jellybeans, and watch as he changes shape with every flavor. Learn to use this special power to overcome even the most outrageous obstacles. Join the Blob on his famous adventure filled with constant surprises and humorous characters. A BOY AND HIS BLOB.™ New for the NES. Published by: Absolute Entertainment, Inc., 251 Rock Rd., Glen Rock, NJ 07542 (201) 652-1227. Absolute Entertainment* is a registered trademark ot Absolute Entertainment, Inc A Boy and His Blob,™ Trouble in Blobolonia™ and Blobolonia™ are trademarks of Absolute Entertainment, Inc. Nintendo* and Nintendo* Entertainment System™ and Nintendo* Power™ are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. © 1989 Absolute Entertainment, Inc. NES - JaJeco Astyanax Type: Action Release: 4/01 Levels of Play: 6 Difficulty: Avg. THEY MILL NOT MHKE IT RHY FURTHER. At one moment you’re a student at Greenville High School when suddenly you’re wisked away to a violent world filled with monsters and beasts beyond imagi¬ nation. With a fairy as a guide, you must battle your way through these deadly lands to reach the Boss guardians who stand between you and an evil Lord out to capture the powers of the beautiful Prin¬ cess he has imprisoned. A variety of scrol¬ ling backgrounds, weapons, power-ups and more await you during your journey. NES-Fa Phantom Fighter Type: Act./Adv. Release: 4/1/90 Levels of Play: 8 Difficulty: Avg. You control Kenchi, the well-known Phan¬ tom Fighter, in a battle against the evil Chinese phantoms known as Kyonshies. You must traverse eight peaceful villages, battling the ghosts with your superior mar¬ tial arts skills Phantom Fighter is supported with de¬ tailed scrolling backgrounds, extremely fluid animation in all the game characters, and a number of puzzle-filled quests to solve in between Kyonshie attacks. NES-Hudson Soft XEXYZ Type: Act./Adv. Release: 3/15 Levels of Play: 6 Difficulty: Avg. Xexyz stars out as a standard action/ad¬ venture with rooms to explore and people to communicate with, and then expands its theme by taking players on a trip through all kinds of worlds in outer space and under the sea. Each round of play cul¬ minates in a battle with a Boss creature who possesses even more powerful abilities. All types of power-ups are at¬ tainable along the way, in all of the dif¬ ferent play environments that are visited. m Astyanax seems to be inspired by the Turbo title, The LegendaflHfe, but comes no where near as clo»^ts namesake in the areas of control arwre!^kition. Well drawn backgrounds and^eJssions add to the game, but the p^^ovement detracts from the well-intentioned play concepts. Phantom Fighter is not an incredibly intense game, but it doesA^toood job of taking your typical kung^^^on game one step further by addifl^Bhic/text screens, scrolling playfielc^UnMery well animated fighting technique^Wothing new, but a proven theme has been enhanced. What begins as a slightly below-average ad¬ venture game bec^^^Hmuch more com¬ plex and intriguing ao^n title loaded with multiple environme^E After getting into the game I becameM>oked. The graphics aren’t great, but thWexecution is well laid out and slightly addictive. Astyanax didn’t impress me much at all. While its heart is in theJBht place, the game just doesn’t play orJrMe well. The back¬ grounds are detai^irMome areas and the cinemascope int^W^Wis are O.K., but that doesn’t make up fffthe game’s lack of appeal or fun. Not a good game at all. While the back¬ ground graphics atfKmong the best, the game plays like eM st J neration NES cart. The enemies in the(fc rooms jump and punch. You pun<^ton®ick. No fancy kick spins or slick mo\^WPe, just the very bas¬ ics. PF is boring and unsatisfying. The name has to go - no one can pronounce it! Otherwise we'HHh a very good ad¬ venture/quest game^pilar in concept to Blaster Master. Xew^offers a wide variety of challenging acticMn both character and shooter scenarios, bidden rooms, shops, and variety in game play make this work. This game tries to incorp orate the Legen¬ dary Axe style of pMHPand powering-up into an NES gameBj^nly succeeds mar¬ ginally. The gr^ffncApre decent, and there’s a lot of diff^tegWsapons and pow¬ er-ups to retrieve,!^! the game simply doesn’t capture the same appeal. What I though would be a shoot-em-up rip- off instead turns one of the best kung-fu games NES. Extremely smooth animatioHmc»ickly scrolling de¬ tailed backgroun&brfl this game to life. Questions are thr^Wi to challenge your mind and a password rounds it out. A side-scrolling action/shooting game which borrows som^Mte play themes from games like Meg^^^Tand Castlevania. The side sequen