EXCLUSIVE

MARIO uA YOSHI'S ISLAND £x

73 ELECTRONIC um 2 Garin G

Saturn PlayStation vc < УМ A

Jaguar • CDi» Neo-Geo

Game Boy • Game Gear FR ja e |

ob BIB Sad a6

rm PRSE.

THLY

~

news, reviews secret codes

è fist ; А = = iz We УМА Ai til "KOMBAT-KODE- . f REVEALED = - INSIDE!

||| г i

а; FOR YOUR ure! UN)

ИТ

BEYOND ZERO TOLERANCE A й

е STREET FIGHTER: ANIMATED NY à. SFN

iy FINAL FIGHT 3 ag mm А

2 STREET FIGHTER ALPHA ъ > „==

i: j o, 99 {С Aucusr, 1995 E ۵ «Ё: jj ть ~ $4.99/$6.50 canada а x и әс n p n

Г; ee EE o 70992 37371" 0 2. > a SE Display until August 31, 1995 = EY а ЈА м

What's that smell? Oh; it's your butt.

Sizzling, scorched ETT. smoking. Yos Tera

made the tragic mistake of thinking;

Kirby's new buds were harmless stuffed animals: `

Man, were you burned. This 15 ЕЯ: rA

for Game Boy? and. Super Game Boy$,

in the ЖҮГҮ Kirby's scraped

desk of the animal kingdom and

€ if únder hé?

O ир?

allies. 720,

may look adorable, but. they make kirby ЕГ

than ever. Meet the owl that slings ИА UE

feathers: Shake fins witha, fish that 7

with a handful of down and dirty.

^

Kirby swallow under water. Kneel be fof ју

dU. the hamster that coughs up Я spher

of justice. "Cuddly"? Hardly. So hike up -that

asbestos underwear and watch your language.

У

YOU'VE GOT IT ON YOUR HANDS. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT. YOU'VE GOT IT ON YOUR SIDE. YOU'RE PRESSED FOR IT. YOU SPEND IT. YOU WASTE IT. IT'S IN. IT'S OUT. IT'S NOW. IT'S PAST. IT'S RUNNING OUT. IT'S DRAWING NEAR. CHRONO TRIGGER. IT'S ABOUT TIME.

° азо о SO : т HH 1

нета ИТК ELA

29:2 0 7 15:0 @ © ili

2:74 (у ga? ч E T] Ем

5:92, Pli

:2:00 0 zit

оган 535

77ig ТО #52 T ЧЕ БЕРНЕ а 0 ЧН do X54 = trig 30 HET

LAIOSIAVNOS

89103

publisher. Steve Harris editor in chief. Ed Semrad senior editor. Danyon Carpenter managing Howard Grossman third party liaison. John Stockhausen news editor. Todd Mowatt assistant editors. Sushi-X « Mike Forassiepi Mike Vallas • Terry Minnich

Andrew Baran • А! Manuel

Раш Ojeda • Mark LeFebvre

Dindo Perez • Tim Davis

John Gurka « Jason Streetz

Mark Hain • Mike Desmond

Dave Malec • Carey Wise

Jason Morgan • Dave Ruchala

Scott Augustyn • Ken Badziak

managing copy editor Jennifer Whitesides copy editors. Gayle Schneider -EI M. Damen

Jennifer McGeary

lifestyles editor. Shawn Smith foreign correspondents. Nob Ogasawara David Rider

art director. Juli McMeekin

В president. Steve Harris executive vice president. Mike Riley vp/general counsel. Mark Kaminky editorial director. Joe Funk operations manager. Marc Camron promotions manager. Cindy Kerr promotions coordinator. Kim Schmidt publicity manager. Kate Rogers circulation director. Dave Marshall Contract publishing manager. Ken Williams production manager. Colleen Bastien production assistant. Dave McCracken advertising coordinator. John Born

customer service (NO TIPS!). 708-268-2498 advertising ECG, Inc. inquiries 10820 Wilshire Blvd., 6th Floor contact: Los Angeles, CA 90024

310-824-5297 national ad director. Jeffrey Eisenberg national ad manager. Jon Yoffie account executive. Karen Landon ad coordinator. Suzanne Farrell new york office. (212) 984-0730 account executive. Michele Citrin

/8X) is published monthly by the

1920 Нон; ue, Suite 222, Lombard, Ilinois Paid at Lombard, IL ar

subject to manufactu

for such changes.

Audit Bureau of Circulations EGM and Sendai Media Group are trademarks of Sendai Publishing Group, Inc.

а s giis "а ~ LJ 'e н s © > ^ m е У ds LI x ve 8 % о Я рд ۹ а ä 5 А : By now it is no DEEP DARA SECRET that Ч irem z * @ Sega jumped the gun and brought out their new Saturn game system B x some three months before their "official" launch ~ A date. When asked why, Sega officials gave various See nid - К reasons including beating Sony to the stores, the 2 — „ System was ready, and they wanted to test the i~ - ERR : = — waters to see how well a $400 system would be PUN received by the gaming public. z pe Concentrating on the last reason, one would ii wonder what type of response Sega really expected ў * * to get. They are apparently pleased that the NU FEET 30000 UNITS SOLD OUT виш „+ * “e have been a big surprise because there are 10 times that amount of Ef Semrad о. players that would do anything to get a U.S. Saturn—at any price. Ы Editor in fhiet chairs ENS EMO : These “early adapters" are the ones who have to be the first one on e LI i s { “the block to own the new system. I’m one of them. б

It would seem to be quite difficult to do any type of research that would help Sega form conclusions as to how the system would do

when there are other new machines in the stores selling for less

money. The sample would be EXTREMELY BIASED —towara Sega. Still the statisticians are cranking out

numbers and the suits will probably make marketing decisions based on the test. Bad? Probably not.

Then why test market (albeit nationwide)? Well, it worked quite well for Nintendo back in 1985 when they brought back the concept of home video games. Plus, there is the positive pre-exposure that would help sell the system when it launches in September.

So if it so great, why don’t all the hardware manufacturers do it? ATARI DID IT with their Jaguar. And Sony almost did it with their PlayStation. Almost? A couple of months ago we saw the PlayStation up on the computers at a major retail chain. That is how we knew that the Saturn would come out before their announced September launch date. The problem is, after a week on the store computers, the record for the system disappeared as fast as it appeared. Second thoughts? Perhaps. Also Sony could be looked on as COPYING SEGA. And what about Nintendo? They ла ; just might test market the system this Christmas. Since the system will launch with a couple of titles in Japan in December, Nintendo could surprise everybody and still make some bucks in the. peak Christmas season. Also, since Nintendo mysteriously pulled out of the Winter CES—the time when they would want to finally display

the real system to the retailers, one would wonder what Nintendo is

up to. Only time will tell.

In other news; don't miss the very first coverage of a Y PC GAME IN ЕСМ, вс? Yep, our MRI tells us that у) more than half of our readers own and use a PC and coupled with x 1 tons of letters asking for computer game coverage—you got it. Not : => pages and pages of the hardcore sims, but only the best of the “fun”

. ф : games. Controversial, you bet! Let us know what you think.

15 official seal is your assurance that this product meets the highest quality standards of SEGAT™. Buy games and accessories with this seal 0 be sira inal lithe Sega Satura?" System.

Saddle up. the death pony. And it's gonna be pure neck-snapping, retina-tearing speed! You see, Solar Eclipse" boasts third generation åD technology

'Cause at dawn you ride

for the highest frame rate ever. That means tent-pitching velocity for our latest space combat n'carnage convention. But hey, it's more than some cosmic speed trip. Your mission's to battle a computer gone HAL—with all the high-tech weaponry your top gun wet dream can handle. And where are you dancin! this metallic lambada? On the new nega Saturn, of course. Oh yeah, you'll be But don't bother cracking a window. It's 32-bits of SOLAT windburn out there.

smokin' mister.

Pick from a shiny collection of do-it-yourself death tools. E-Z High Explosive Plasma Guns, convenient Thermal Tracking Missiles, handy Pulse Laser Cannons. (Tool belt not included.)

Choose cockpit or chase plane view while screaming thru 3D texture-mapped worlds. Jagged asteroid fields, fiery planet surfaces, lava filled caverns, and other sunny destinations.

Working around the clock, scientists in our speed lab achieved hyper-realistic Full Motion Graphics. Our secret? Ass-kicking proprietary engine parallel processing with Ed's ‘72 Pinto.

Meet Claudia Christian as the tough Major Kelt—She's nursing an intergalactic grudge against you the size of Uranus. 40 minutes of Full Motion Video let her hone her ball-busting ways.

‘RATING PENDING

ВР Call 1-800-771-3772 for game rating information.

| Crystal Dynamics and Solar Eclipse are trademarks of Crystal Dynamics. Sega and Sega ШШШ Saturn are trademarks of SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD. ©1995 Crystal Dynamics. All rights reserved.

CRYS TAL DYNAMICS

Adv. of Batman & Robin Astal

Ballz

Beyond Zero Tolerance Big Hurt Baseball BloodTies

Bug!

Celtic Tales

Chrono Trigger Comix Zone

Cyber Cycles Daedalus Encounter Dark Forces Darkseed || DarkStalkers

080 Tower of Doom DiscWorld

Eternal Champions Full Throttle

FX Fighter Gargoyles

Gex

Heads-On Soccer Hell

Indiana Jones Jungle Strike

King Arthur. Kingdom O' Magic Kolibri

Madden ‘96

Mortal Kombat 3 NBA Action ‘95 NBA Jam: TE

Need For Speed NHL '96

Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Nosferatu

Ogre Battle

Panzer Dragoon Penn & Teller Power Rangers

QB Club '96

RBI Baseball ‘95 Ristar

‘Samurai Shodown Slam "М Jam ‘95 Space Ace

Space Griffon VFS Street Fighter Alpha Street Fighter Animated Street Fighter the Movie SWAT Kats

Syndicate: CW

Tiny Toons Adv: WSC Virtua Fighter

W. G. 8 the NHLPA All-Stars Wing Commander 3 World Heroes Perfect WWF Raw

X-Men: COTA

X-Men 2: TCW

XS: Shields Up-Fight Back Yoshi's Island

Super NES, Genesis, PlayStation? Which system will have the best translation of Mortal Kombat 3? Check out this issue 5 cover story! STORY BEGINS ON PAGE 56

INSERT COIN

INTERFACE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 14-22

PRESS START REVIEW CREW EGM HOT 50

GAMING GOSSIP

26-30 34-40 44-48

52

SPECIAL FEATURES 56-68

ARCADE ACTION

70-77

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK 80-84

NEXT WAVE

86-93

TRICKS OF THE TRADE 94-102

TEAM EGM LIFESTYLES

ADVERTISING INDEX

FACT- FILES-

SuPeR Nes

Save the kiddies from the baddies

in SWAT Kats!

GeNeSiS

Go on a deadly adventure with Indiana Jones!

SeGa CD

Drive a bus across

106-120 136-137 138

PLaYSTaTioN 132

Wear a cosmic power- suit in the futuristic RPG Space Griffon!

126 Gale GeaR 134

Stop the evil terrorists with the portable game, Jungle Sinke!

128

the desert and back again in Penn & Teller!

300

130

Play as a brain on a

scavenger hunt in

Daedalus Encounter!

ONLY IN EGM DO YOU GET:

* The best tricks on the hottest carts. ° The largest coverage of sports games.

* The first information on new hardware. * The only information on the best PC games. * The first extended coverage of the newest video games.

FEATURES

WHICH SYSTEM WILL BE CROWNED KING OF THE HOME TRANSLATION OF MK3?

The Super NES, Genesis and PlayStation will be battling this holiday season for the best trans- | $ lation of the arcade smash, Mortal Kombat 3. The Genesis version, although a bit grainy, con- tains smooth animation and excellent sound. The Super NES version has everything from the Versus Screen with the secret code on the bottom to the Continued Screen. Don't forget ће PlayStation version with its fantastic graphics, and the game might even be shipped with the System. It's up to gamers now to judge the winner! The story begins on PAGE 56.

“All the graphics and sound have been ported over so well that when you play [the PlayStation version], you may think you should insert some quarters to continue."

IT'S MARIU'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND ЗР; УЗУ) ver ver vo NINTENDO CELEBRATES WITH YOSHI'S ISLAND!

Mario, the famous plumber, is in trouble again and it is up to Yoshi to help his Italian pal out. Super Mario 2: Yoshi's Island will be slamming onto the Super NES. In this issue, we have hot pictures, secrets and a cool two-page map of the game. This cart falls in nicely with the other Mario games and sticks to its genre, with all the Mario secrets, techniques and loads of levels. However, this time the classic look is traded for an almost childlike perspective with crayon style graphics and cuteness at every angle. The story begins on PAGE 60.

"The first thing you notice about this game is the colorful and amusing graphics that look as if a child had drawn them.”

ЕСМ TRAVELS TO THE TOKYO TOY SHOW TO BRING BACK EXCLUSIVE PICTURES!

The Tokyo Toy show is one of the most highly anticipated shows in Japan and ЕСМ was there! Housing tons of video game companies and toy manufacturers, we received exclusive pictures on Rockman 3 (Mega Man X3) and Final Fight 3. Also check out the shots of Mickey Mouse 3, DarkStalkers for the PSX, RayTracers, Zeitgeist, Hat Trick Hero, Darius Gaiden (Darius 3 in the U.S.), Race Drivin’, Clockwork Knight 2, Kabuki Fighting Lore and many more. Also, EGM snuck in and photographed the highly anticipated 3DO M2 unit! The story begins on PAGE 80.

“Final Fight 3 was unveiled, bringing back the stars of FF Guy, and also adding a new character called Maureen.”

Feel the heat ofthe Knight! а У 1 | f д | Madness marches on!

When Mr. Freeze puts Gotham City on ке, \ | ; |, Exploding rabbits, terrorist teacups and killer Batman and Robin answer the all, \ =” ? MATES coffee pots mean Mad Hatter’s cupboard is With a mix of sharp-shooting and QA "Wr i full-and you better watch your back before you

intense action, it's like two games in one! "e get done in by another nasty knickknack!

Co ballistic! Battle huge bosses including Ihe Joker, Enter anew dimension! Awesome original animation Mad Hatter, Two-Face and the chilling Mr. Freeze lets you run a gauntlet of 3-D rotating and scaling sprites... before Gotham City becomes Ice Cube Central! then team up and double the intensity in 2-player mode!

Visit the Sega Worldwide Web Site for more information at http://www.segaoa.com Sega and Sega Genesis are trademarks of SEGA. “Batman and all related elements are the property of DC Comics". ©1995. All rights reserved. ©1995 SEGA. All rights reserved.

|

Start chillin'! з X 1 і Now on Broadway! Mr. Freeze wants Batman iced, but the Я m Й ae E Fly high above the skyscrapers of Dark Knight has his own plans for Gotham City to battle thugs at every tum! turning up the heat in Gotham City! : | ;

Command the airwaves! Take on Tweedledee on Deal a winning hand! Mad Hatter' goons try and the scaffolding of a television studio. Film at Il! stack the deck, but Batman's ready to cut the cards!

Visit the Sega Worldwide Web Site for more information at http://www.segaoa.com

“Sega and Sega Game Gear are trademarks of SEGA “Batman and all related elements eth property of або". 995. AI rights reserved. 01995 SEGA. Al rights reserved.

This is the section where you can open up your mind and let the rest of electronic gaming see what color your brain is. While you're at it, you can also expose

yourself to more than 1 million gamers RE ADER FRUSTR ATED looking for an easy target. Remember, you

have the right to remain silent and any-

thing you say can be used against you in BY ULTR A 64 DEL AYS the magazine. Names have been changed

to protect the innocent.

Dear EGM, thing. Could it be you were planning to First of all, Ра like to congratulate you make it cartridge-based only to realize Get ConNeCTeD! on your excellent work on the maga- that the competition (Sony, 300, zine. Second, l'd like to express my Sega) had the right idea all along? You can reach the editors of EGM feelings about Nintendo regarding Screen shots of some rendered via e-mail at egm@mes.com. You Mi DA к ine EE О КЕ | ded {float a . Here is what | have to say to ! ie, i our joystic саа гис E i Nintendo: What kind of fool do you ports. That's probably the only good : 5 take me for? All you ever do is fill my thing we may or may not know about World Wide Web via the red-hot poor little head with empty the Ultra. Is Sony starting to make you NUKE home page at www.nuke.com. promises. You tell me sweat? They should, they how great your have nothing to lose and System is | | everything to gain. going to They have lots of be. 64-Bit things to fall back Get your letters this, pro- on if their game in to EGM today or we cessing system fails. Kill another editor! You can reach ps that “а П вин, EGM hy writing to: di) | > Ry Interface, Letters to the Editor Why do you get enough to ае : т B 1920 Highland Avenue, #222 to kill everyone? drive anyone > » men , elec- Lombard, IL 60148 К nuts! Talk is , i tronic сотро- | пеуег де! 10 КЇ! cheap, show nents, you name it—they make it. So anybody! me what see ya, Nintendo! Hello, Sega and Can | kill : you've got! The plastic box with the Sony! someone? VA Ultra 64 logo on it just doesn't cut it! Brian Tallingsworth : Where are the games? Is your first New Port Richey, FL time away from the corporate head- quarters in Japan a little too much for Your assumptions about whether or not the you? Bet you're really sweating now Ultra is going to be CD-ROM are wrong. It will that you don't have their help on the he а cartridge-based unit. However, 1 can games, huh? Mmmm, American-made understand why you're upset. All of the delays, video games, yummy! And what's it changes in plans and secrecy surrounding the going to be? CD-ROM? Cartridge? Ultra get a bit old after a while. Your date switch to April 1996 seems like an attempt to rethink the whole Good letter, Brian. Your Acclaim Dual Turbo joysticks are on their way.

рии “ Get connected with video game enthusiasts just like

rA yourself, courtesy of EGM, the number one name in video | games! Send your пате, address, age, sex and three favorite games to: | EGM PEN PALS c/o Sendai Publishing Group, Inc., 1920 Highland Avenue, Suite 222, Lombard, IL 60148. Make friends and share your secrets worldwide!

NUKE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!

Dear EGM,

| just wanted to drop you a line to give you congrats on your new NUKE web site! It’s really everything | thought it would be. | especially like the pictures of games and the tricks that you put in. Keep up the great work!

| John Hooper DELLO! via the Internet

one of the lucky ones in my class. (Actually, | used ту dad's account to get on—he's kind of a computer nut!) Peter Von Hussel via the Internet

Wow. Thanks for all of the positive feedback on NUKE! We're happy that you are enjoying it. Making one of the world's premier weh sites was a lot of hard work, but obviously it was well worth it. It will be interesting to watch NUKE evolve and gain momentum over the course of the next few months. Just remember to check it out often to keep

ГЕТЕ ЕЕГ

e [OT [http://www nuke comm

race ev? voee сеје tantes | Net search f Net Directory | Музу]

Welcome to

Dear EGM,

NUKE is awesome! Way to go! || bet all of the other video game mags will soon have their own site on the Net, but that’s okay, we know who was the first! There is so much information on all of the stuff that | find interesting— movies, video games, computer games, etc. ... | could go on and on. Again, thanks for making my life on the Net just a little more interesting. Blair Harmon via the Internet

Dear EGM,

Yes, yes, yes!!! Well it's about time you guys hopped on the Internet bandwag- on! | explored your NUKE site for the first time the other day, and | must say that | was pretty impressed. | especially liked the Review Crew stuff. Way cool! I'm sure that NUKE was a lot of hard work to put together, but take it from me, your efforts more than paid off. Now everyone will have access to your great gaming info. All of my friends are dying to get Internet accounts just so they can access NUKE. | guess Рт just

Mike Morris

Age: 19 Sex: Undetermined at this time Occupation: Pizza Guy

Glendale Heights, IL

Favorite Games: Final Fantasy Ш, Nobunaga's Ambition, TMNT Tournament Fighter

Current on all of the goings-on in the world of video gaming. If you have any suggestions,

;| comments or even gripes, don't be shy! Let us know what they are so we can con- tinue to bring you all the cool stuff that you have come to

| expect from us! So have fun, explore and most importantly enjoy! We certainly hope NUKE brings you as much pleasure as it does us! We look for-

іс] ward to seeing you get NUKEd!

WHAT IFERS UNITE AGAINST EGM!

Dear EGM,

| have been reading your magazine for about two years now and | have always liked your What If section. Now that it is а new year and you have decided to change your mag’s format a little bit, | have something to say. | think what you have done to us “What If Freaks” is horrible! Don’t get me wrong, the rest of the magazine is still awesome, but me and my fellow “What Ifers” might be forced to cancel our subscriptions! However, we may be able to work something out if you give us our What Ifs back and you hand over the actress who played Sonya in MK3. What Ifers unite!

Dan Stein via the Internet

Okay, okay! Just don't cancel your subscription! Read on, amigo! Оһ yeah, Kerri Hoskins (MK3's Sonya Blade) is on her way over to your house. (I think she kinda likes you!)

Nathan Burns

Age: 14 Sex: Male

Occupation: Teenage Nightmare

Fort Fairfield, ME

Favorite Games: Mortal Kombat Il, Final Fantasy Il, Castlevania IV

Yes, it's back by popular demand! We got so many letters complaining that we took the What из out, we finally caved in and brought them back! Who knows if they'll be back next month, so live it up! Without further ado, here they are.

WHAT IE

.. a fighting game came out with no “cheap” moves in it?

... Johnny Cage split his pants?

.. the World Warriors got stopped at customs?

... blocking actually worked?

.. Dhalsim could spew flames from other bodily openings?

.. Mario and Luigi got into a fight with TMNT over the last piece of pizza?

... they won?

... Kintaro became a pacifist?

.. Mileena lost the Miss Universe pageant and went on a killing Spree?

... she won?

.. Sega finally learned how to program voices and music for the Genesis?

.. Ken shaved his head to join Liu Kang as a monk?

... the Ultra 64 was a hoax?

... Barney fell in love with Reptile?

.. Poppy got rabies and turned on Galford?

.. We found out what the heck Blanka really is?

.. Midway started a school just for learning fatalities?

... there was a final Final Fantasy? .. the Mortal Kombat movie came out and it was rated G? ... Yuri got kidnapped—again? ... Cammy broke a nail? ... Raiden got an electric bill? ... Ryu won а fight and didn't care?

.. Johnny Cage was laid off from his job and had to do beer commer- cials for the rest of his life?

Name and Address Unknown

Got any tricks?

Jeffrey Lindberg

Age:11 Sex: Маје

Occupation: Kid

Milton, MA

Favorite Games: King of Fighters ‘94, Fatal Fury 3, Street Fighter Legends

EA 05

INTERFACE

This is your chance to ask the E GM editors for help with all those persistent personal problems. Remember folks, we're

trained professionals! (In what | don't know.)

О: What kind of people do you have working at EGM? At my job (a pizza joint), we have some of the weirdest people that I have ever met! We have this one guy who mumbles so badly you can t under- stand anything he says! Another guy hums all day long and never talks to anyone! It must be great to be able to play all of the coolest games months before they come out.

Kyle Blanton

Atlanta, GA

А: What kind of person works at EGM? Нттт ... that's a very interesting question, Kyle. Let's examine the case study of a typical ЕСМ editor (Right)

О: Гуе noticed that over the last few months more and more of the letters in your Interface column are coming from the Internet. Is there a specific reason for this? Doesn’t anyone write anymore? Steve Plouick Carbondale, IL

А: Since we got our e-mail address, we have received even more mail than we did before. (Is that possible? Yes!) It's probably easier to send e-mail than it is 10 pen an entire letter and e-mail gets here quicker than “snail mail,” so more and more of our readers are sending us e-mail. It really doesn't matter what form your letters take, though. We still want to hear from you!

16 EM

WILL IMPORT PRICES DROP FOR 16-BITTERS?

Dear EGM,

Hey, how's it going in hardcore gamer's heaven? I just wanted to ask you, now that the 32-Bit and 64-Bit systems are

* Rockman 7 for the Super Famicom m for 84 $20? Probably not, but wouldn't it be nice.

market. Let's not forget that you're charged a premium price for these carts because they're imports from Japan. Who knows, if these carts have been on the shelves long enough, the Petailer might want to get rid of them quickly to make room for the newer, more expensive games. This would be your golden opportunity to buy some good Japanese 16-Bit softs!

SPACE ON STORE SHELVES WILL BE NO ISSUE!

Dear EGM,

While all the new systems are exciting, | wonder where the retailers are going to find space to display all of the sys- tems and their attendant software? Most of the stores in my local malls are fairly small, with much of their stock now displayed up to the ceiling. Something's got to go. Also, as a potential PlayStation buyer, | was

THE EGM EDITOR: A CASE STUDY

SUBJECT NAME: Mark LeFebvre SPECIES: Video Game Magazine Assistant Editor

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Stressdowtis Familiaris

AGE: 25

HABITAT: Wherever he collapses LIFE'S AMBITION: To get up out of his chair and one day rule the world ... or not.

almost all available and with the older 16-Bit game prices dropping, will some of the Japanese carts and CDs go down in price too? | haven't quite given

• Astal will be coming to the Sega Saturn à later this year. Watch for this one.

up on the 16-Bit yet, even though | own a couple of next-generation machines. If the prices of Japanese carts go down, maybe it'll pump some life back into the 16-Bit market. Julio Cruz Allentown, PA

The prices for some Japanese carts will proba- bly go down. However, prices will still be higher (much higher) for the same games in the U.S.

Head: Usually adorned with a baseball hat.

Specialized Mandibular Structure: Optimized for fast food consumption.

Obligatory Star Wars T-shirt. Every good EGM editor has the Star Wars trilogy on laserdisc.

wondering if Sony plans to include a pack-in game or not. If not, the cost of buying a game cuts into the price advantage over the Sega Saturn. Jim Schumeister via the Internet

Retailers will probably begin rotating their stock as soon as the new games from the next-generation systems start pushing the older 16-Bit games off of the shelves. Some of the older 16-Bit softs will he the first to go. | really don't think that shelf overcrowding will be a problem except for the really small stores. As far as the pack-in game for the PlayStation goes, no one is 100 percent certain on this question. If the unit does debut at the expected $299 mark, there will probably be some kind of “teaser” disc (a type of demo disc that is not the fully functional game) included with the sys- tem. Hopefully, Sony will be feeling good and gen- erous and include а game with the system—hut don't hold your breath. But do expect Sony, Sega and 300 to really go head to head price-wise this Christmas. 3D0s are already down to $299 and Sega could bring theirs down some if they don't have a pack-in game.

К>, 2 <>

ПЕТИР М Se О ТТА А ју ен ee

ROAST А РЕМ WEENIES TONIGHT.

So, Њом vo You LIKE ovs. OPPONENTS Мед pone’ LIGHTLY Снаттер? ÉXTEA-cRISPYT Weir, BEFORE YOU ROAST јем, YOU GOTTA GET TO BLOCKBUSTER. We've GOT MORE COPIES OF THE BEST GAMES AROUND. Соме ON IN, GET THE GAMES AND START COOKIN.

THE SOURCE к BEHIND THE FORCE.

BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO name and design are registered trademarks of Blockbuster Entertainment Inc, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 © 1987, 1995 Blockbuster Entertainment Inc.

What are the hottest new games to cross the EGM editors' desks this month? What games do you and your gaming pals think are the best? We have the answers with this exclusive listing of the most incredible softs available for any format—chosen by the edi- tors of EGM and you—the wired- in readers of the biggest and best video game magazine on the face of the planet!

EGM’s

TOP TENS

EGM READERS

H

LET YOUR VOTE BE HEARD! vou can contact EGM directly and

record your vote for the hottest new and upcoming games by logging onto the NUKE Internet Interface at www.nuke.com on the World Wide

Web.

LONG-TIME SUBSCRIBER PROBES INTO THE IDENTITY OF SUSHI-X

Dear EGM,

| have been a subscriber to your maga- zine for a while, and | absolutely love how EGM has changed. Way back in one of your very early issues happens to be a drawing of the Review Crew. Is one of the four people in the picture Sushi-X? Alexander Napoli via America Online

* Is one of these early Review Crew members the elusive Sushi-X? You think?

Boy, that brings back memories, huh? The origi- nal Review Crew graphic miglit have included the elusive Sushi-X unmasked! But guess what, we're not telling! | know, | know, you want to know exactly who Sushi is so you can challenge him at МКЗ, right? Seeing as how his identity is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the history of the world (well, maybe not), we can't really tell you. Let us know who you think Sushi- X is and maybe if you guess, he'll come over to your house and drink all of your beer (I know because he always drinks all of my beer.) Seriously though, he's a nice guy until you start playing games with him. He has a tendency to be very competitive! Here are a few things that you probably didn't know about Sushi-X: 1. He likes to eat his pizza cheese first, crust last. Eeeew! 2. He likes to play the bassoon buck naked.

. Many people are intimidated by his mask and costume.

. Many people are intimidated by his mask and costume because he hasn't washed them in four months! Pheeew!

. He got a nasty case of lead poisoning from walking around the office with pencils up his позе.

6. His favorite color is clear.

7. Mis favorite food is sauerkraut (no joke).

8. He gets gas when he eats green peppers.

9. He uses old Game Boys to hold up his Street Fighter trophies.

10. He has a crush on Martina Navratilova.

11. He likes to sleep in Spider-Man pajamas.

The power of ДУ. в s advanced И ак ШШ technology... |

ON RS)

%егаїптеп

SOMETHING'S ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK!

Dear EGM,

Hi. I’m an avid Doom player and | noticed something the other day while playing Doom 2. While going down a dark hallway with the double-barrel shotgun, | saw something move. | opened fire. The character immediately opened the shotgun with his left hand on the barrel and shoved two shells into the chamber ... with his left hand! Does he have two left hands or what? 15 this a subliminal message saying, 5 "Cut off your right arm and sew it onto Nice face!! the left side of your body"? What's

going on here? Where's his right hand?

And on a sicker note, what is he doing

PSYCHO LETTER OF THE MONTH

light on this.

Dear EGM, [ Е:

! have a very unusual problem. You see, ever since I first played Mortal Kombat 3, | have been madly in

love with Sonya Blade. Her real name is Kerri Hoskins. Ў

I know that | am only 15 years old, but I think of her every day. ! fantasize about marrying her and having a bunch of little Sonya Blades running around in little green tights. | know | would make a good husband. if I didn't, | know she would probably give me the kiss of

death or something. We could grow old together, sit on

the front porch and hold hands while we compare dentures. Life would be wonderful if I could just marry Sonya Blade!

Sincerely,

Larry Marshall

with it? Anyway, | thought that you brainy guys at EGM could shed some

Dusty Trammell via the Internet

Hmm ... you've obviously never had a smoking shotgun in your chubby little hands, Lumpy. A side-by-side has a thumb catch that you toggle

[ па өне Viu га • Does your character in Doom 2 have two left hands? We think not!!!

with the thumb of whichever hand is holding the stock. His right hand is on the stock, since his left hand is on the barrel. He toggles the barrel catch with his right thumb, dumps the old cas- ings while pulling two shells from his ammo belt with his left hand then slams the new shells in and closes the gun.

IN THE MARKET FOR JAPANIMATION

Dear EGM,

l've read about the animated movies for Street Fighter 2, Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown. My question is, can you point me in the direction | need to go to find these movies? How can | get them? Unknown Name Unknown address

Okay, Mr. X, write this down. Try calling World International Trading. They are located in Coral Gables, FL. Their number is (305) 668- 0141. They usually have a pretty good selection of videos, models and anything else that's hard to come by. You could also give Game Express a try at (212) 290-0031. They're located in New York. Happy Hunting!

^ No tricks here!

Where Creativity, Your Favorite Video Game and A Stamp Can Make You Immortal"

Put your creative skills to the test by decking out a plain #10 envelope (you know, the long, business type) with your own unique touch. Send your letter art submission to: EGM Letter Art, 1920 Highland Avenue, Suite 222, Lombard, Illinois 60148.

+ Or at least get you in the magazine and win yourself a groovy G&C joystick for your hard work (First Prize Only)!

ANOTHER DEBATE BEGINS TO HEAT UP

Dear EGM,

| would like to address the bashing of МКЗ in July's issue. | am not going to say that | loooooove МКЗ, but I will say this, MK3 is the best game in the

WINS: 00

• Alot of gamers feel that many of the new aspects of МКЗ give the game a new “feel.”

arcades right now. Derek Koziol won- ders if he plays MK3 because it says МКЗ on the machine. Well, Derek, if you don't like the game, don't play it! About the fatality thing: If you had thou- sands of letters saying that this or that would be cool (like Boon and Tobias

Nik Fournier • Manchester, NH

Anthony Ewing • Brooklyn, NY

Congratulations go out to Daniel Wong of Willowdale, Ontario, for this month's first place Envelope Art entry. Don't

Ben Domingo • Naalehu, HI

Chris Kobluk • St. Cath, Ont.

Ricky Montoya • Roswell, NM

probably do), you would probably have trouble thinking of something original too! Regarding MK3 being the same as MK2, MKS3 has great combos a la Killer Instinct. | especially like this new and

(WINS 08 _ tn Bhai

ү WINS:00 =o

• New characters along with different moves

add exciting strategies to this arcade smash.

awesome feature in MK3. The new characters also bring to the game new strategies and wicked new moves. To sum it all up: /f you don’t like the game, don’t play it! Nobody, | repeat, nobody is forcing you to put quarters into the machine!

Peter Svarzbein

via the Internet Personally, | was kind of shocked by the luke-

Jonathan Hong • p СА

warm reception МКЗ received when it first сате out. Many of the gamers that | have spo- ken with complained that the game was just more of “the same old, same old.” | guess some folks were hoping for something so new and revolutionary that they would forget about the earlier MK games. This being said, many people were a little (or а lot) disappointed. Playing the devil's advocate can be hard in a situation like this. On one hand, you have a game that people have been waiting for for quite a while, that is Pelatively, in many areas, the same as the last. On the other hand, as Peter was so kind to point out, it is pretty hard to come up with new ideas about a game that is limited by its genre. Like the man said, no one is forcing players to dump tokens into this game!