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RESIDENT

7 Get Ready For A Bloody New Year

Plus:

Final Fantasy Tactics 7 Quest 64 Alundra 7 Skullme R j ning Rangers Blitz © Automobili Lamborghini e March Madne Te liiortal Katbat t

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January 1998 Vol. VIII: Issue 01 + #57

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10 TOTALLY DIFFERENT ` HULL-CRUSHING ENVIRONMENTS.

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.

This is what they really mean when they talk

LOCKJAW

about totally immersive gameplay. Take a dip in

these sub-infested waters for a spot of nuclear

ARMAGEDDON

fishin’. 12 subaquatic psychos want to send you

STALINGRAD

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ARCHIMEDES

lon

PlayStat

LA GRIFFE

GT Interactive SINGLETRAC Software ESRB Playa „ Www.singletrac.com www.gtinteractive.com

, Inc. Twisted Metal, Warhawk and Jet Moto aré trademarks of Sony Interactive oto were published by Sony Computer Entertainment America). Critical

©1997 SINGLETRAC Entertainment Technolog Entertainment Inc. (Twisted Metal,- Depth. SINGLETRAC and the SI the “PlayStation” logo are trader ainment, Inc. Published and distributed by GT Interactive Software Corp. The GT and the GTGáMe iT logo is a registered trademark of GT Interactive Software Corp. All other trademarks are: T

Watch out for these HOT TITLES

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SR Koch Ss

‘ee! tay; Resident t Evil

uke Nukem 64, Quest Lamborghini, Nagano Wit

Sega Touring Car, Sonic R Gm

Legion as well as from the Matrix.

Secret Access Tips from our reade and exclusive codes Game Shark.

Classic GI | looks at classic games on the Super NES, Genesis and replays some codes the vault.

n aro fe owned by their re ithout | eon is prohibited. Game Informer? is a tra

Game Informer : ; S S www.gamein former.

Letter From The Editor že.

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

ith the talk of Sega’s new machine being the

number one topic among gamers lately, | find myself listening to a lot of gibberish about how “cool”

and “hip” and “awesome” this new machine is going

to be.

While I realize there are a number of Saturn fans out there, there certainly isn’t a lot of software selling on the unit, which raises some questions about Sega’s new machine - if itis in fact based off a Windows operating system. One perspective says that this will enable Sega to bring lots of software to the market quickly (which they failed to do

Of course, | could be wrong — speculation usually is. For instance, | would have never guessed that Sega’s software would start a resurgence in quality just as Sega cut down their number of retail outlets and brought the manufacturing

of units almost to a halt.

„with the Saturn. I, however, find this difficult to believe. At the rate that PC software moves forward, due to the _introduction of newer and faster hardware, | believe that culations) any machine based on a Windows OS will quickly getting better, even though the system is getting buried

become too slow for the fast-paced PC world.

S “Cheerleaders

Bergren, The Game Burrito

| "Winter is here in full force with an onslaught of...

| obnoxiously frigid weather to drive many of us

| northerners indoors. If Minnesota had any mountains to speak of, | would be out on the slopes looking for ` powder, but as it is, | find myself torn between viddin out or watching my beloved Timberwolves. It's a tough call because the Wolves are shaking up the Midwest conference, but on the other hanad, there are also tons of cool console and PC games being churned out. Hexen ll and Fallout are tops on my PC ` list and | even got hooked on Zork: Grand Inquisitor. `

Reiner, The Raging Gamer

“I could quite possibly be the most spiteful creation to ever grace this wondrous planet. Sure, | have much to be thankful for — like

being a playable character in Dragon Force, `

and my name being in the credits of Crash 2 (Japanese version), Spawn: The Eternal, and an issue of The Curse of Spawn, but for some reason l'm not happy at all. Maybe it's because the three way system battle is now Sony battling against themselves. | hate to admit it but Sega and Nintendo are getting

creamed. How much longer do we need to

think about not having a new game to play

If | was in charge, Nintendo would already |

have two 64-bit versions of Metroid, and | would port all of the Japanese RPGs to the Saturn. Let's hope things turn around in 98."

Andy, The Game Hombre “Is it just me, or is everyone else getting `

sick and tired of almost every single *

Nintendo game having that stupid 64 jp. tagged on the end. At first, it was - understandable, but now | think pretty ` much everybody knows its 64-bit. Can't

a company other than Nintendo market and sell an N64 game without that © stupid moniker? I'd sure like to see it. But l digress...make sure you check out

| Resident Evil 2, the game is

unbelievable. Play vids and live on.”

One thing that is certain about this new machine is there are a lot of rumors surrouding it. Sega is certainly excited about the dawn of the machines, but the real question will come down to not how powerful the machine is, but how well Sega launches the product. Another horrific launch, like that of the Sega Saturn, will certainly devastate Sega.

nch is at least a year off (two if you go by my

s). What matters now is that Sega's games are

` atretail. Hey, at least they didn’t abandon their clientele — like Atari did. -

Robert, The Game Cassanova

` “Well, | have made it into the © hallowed halls of GI and infiltrated © their top secret ranks. Its too bad ©

` Tobal 2 isn't coming over here, ©

because it's the best 3D fighter EVER. Shout outs to Sharon, Dan, Dawson, Michelle, my family, my ex- boss (Rob), the Jedi Knights | hang with in Houston, and all my regulars. My favorite games this month are Burning Rangers, Panzer Saga, and Resident Evil 2. And remember, Brak should be President, or at least have his own show.”

Jon, The Greedy Gamer

“The staff is now complete. We've got a Bergren, and now we've got a Robert. Actually, his friends call him Bob, but you can * call him dim. Hes from ` Texas...and guess what — he's really into light gun games. Actually, I'm kidding, they're not his favorite, but he is into just about every video game ever made. Thus, with the staff now complete, and the recent office expansion (that tied up our entire Thanksgiving holiday),

Game Informer is going to rule M

the world. The only thing left is to

finally decide which city to focus || our sports articles around f

-Minneapolis (boo), Houston (lame), or Buffalo (yeahl).”

Paul, The Game Professor

‘I've been gaming for nearly 20 years and my five year tenure at GI has obviously been an unbelievable trip to gaming nirvana. Even with the memorable releases of games and systems over the years, | don't think I've ever been more excited for a release than | am for Capcom's Resident Evil 2. It has been a long time in coming, but I hope Capcom will continue with the series and give it the serious Street Fighter “treatment.” | can handie all the director's cuts, turbos, and alpha versions of RE they can muster'

g Camas I Iniversity Yea pt Papur (elekuisə irom bit: Pam hae Hobart Jon, Andy, Bargran

January Issue 1998 Volume VIII: Number 01 - Issue #57

Richard A. Cihak Publisher

Andrew McNamara Editor

Paul Anderson Senior Associate Editor

Andrew Reiner Jon Storm Paul Bergren Robert Stoute Associate Editors

Thomas Blustin Art Director Graphic Design

Curtis Fung Production Director Web/Graphic Design

Ryan MacDonald West Coast Correspondent

Terri Mineau Copy Editor

Terrie Maley Circulation / Marketing Manager (612) 946-7274

Advertising Sales

Kimberley Thompson-Benike National Advertising Sales Director 10120 W. 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728 (612) 946-8159 Fax (612) 946-8155

Manufactured and printed in the United States of America

Game informer’ Magazine (ISSN 1057-6392) is published monthly at a subscription price of $19.98 per year, five trial issues for $9.98 by Sunrise Publications’, 10120 West 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, (612) 946-7245 or FAX (612) 946-8155. Periodicals postage paid at Hopkins, MN, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIBERS/POSTMASTER: Send addre:

a

s changes to Game Informer Magazine, 10120 West 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728. Foreign or Canadian orders must be prepaid in U.S. dollars and must include $20/year additional postage.

The Editor welcomes company product information for all video games. Such materials should be addressed to: Editor, Game Informer Magazine, 10120 W. 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, Editorial phone and FAX numbers are noted above. Unsolicited manuscripts cannol be returned or acknowledged.

Entire contents copyright 1997. Game Informer Magazine. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer is a trademark of FUNCO, inc.

Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies.

For subscription inquiries please write or call:

Game Informer Magazine 10120 West 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612)946-7266

Attn: Customer Service

PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR

The publisher shall nol be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher s liability tor other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is limited to tepublication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement

INDEMNIFICATION

The advertiser and/or Advertising Agency agrees to defend and indemnify the publisher against any and all liability, toss, or expense arising from claims of libel, unfair competition, untair trade practices, infringement of trademarks, copyrights, trade names. patents, or proprietary rights of violation of rights of privacy. resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's statement.

Audit Bureau of Circulations Member

Game Informer = January '98

ag?

RATING PENDING

hon,

™

com, e Playstation

I have been a subscriber to your magazine for three years and if I had sent you this letter back then it would have been filled with praise and thanks, but it is not. First off, I want to condemn your magazine for scoring a game almost solely on its graphics. To prove this I request that you do a review on a game for the PC called Tigers on the Prowl 2.0. This game may not have the graphics of Mario 64 but it has the best strategic realism of any game. Next, I ask that you stop trying to be funny. As more proof I submit your section in which you make a poor attempt at introducing your staff with those corny pictures. Another thing is your unfairness towards PC games. I can prove this by asking why Civilization II didn't receive a perfect score? Also by showing you that your hall of fame has had no PC games in it. My final gripe is the way you constantly give out 7-9.75's. How is this going to help us decide what games to buy with such close scores? I realize that you have had many other complaints and I would like to say that you can't ignore them forever.

“One Very Angry Gamer” Dallas, TX

No, we have not received any other complaints

i about our scoring, sorry. Our scoring system is © very similar to a standard school grading system. | Students that excel will get As. Those who are good | but not great find themselves receiving De Those who fall right into the middle land (s. If you dont care but push yourself enough to pass, Ds are your reward. And if you are without a clue and don't know what class you are in, Fs are inevitable. Now compare this to our scoring system. 10-9 equals

| an A, 9-8 is a B, 8-7 is a C, 7-6 is equivalent to the fearful D, and 6-below is the horrendous F And your comment about us scoring all of the games as 9.75-7 is way off the mark. In this issue alone a good portion of the late December-January releases

the grocery store to get some milk, but there is only two cartons left, and you must buy one. One container is ninety percent full, and the other is seventy-five percent full. Which one do you buy?

As for PC games? We mainly cover console games, and when scoring them, we only score PC games against PC games, and console games against console games. Or at least we try to. Sometimes dual PC/console releases of the same game happen, and it is our duty to point out differences. Other than this, we keep the PC and console universes separate.

I have been reading your magazine for years now. And I have sent in passwords and secrets for many games over the years. I respect and admire your magazine's writing and accuracy to the a of the video game world.

I have been wondering for around two years how Andy, The Game Hombre and Reiner, The Raging Gamer have gotten to be on your staff of video game reviewers. I was also wondering if you could send me some information on how to become one of your video game reviewers. I would very much appreciate your help and time in sending me this information. I have many ideas on how you could upgrade your magazine.

Sincerely, James Alberghine

The mystery of how each of us landed this sweet gig is one of our best kept secrets. Andy, The Game Hombre is basically the father of this great publication. Hes been here since day one, and has earned the ranking of one of the longest running editors in the history of gaming. Hes turned this magazine from rags to riches and has been known to be one of the smartest men in the industry (snicker). Reiner, The Raging Gamer came out of nowhere, and kicked and punched his way into GI. Hes been called the greatest gamer of all-time by many big industry names, and is also one of the biggest freaks in the world (snicker). As for the rest of the staff? They're losers and need no recognition. We feed them, clean them, and make sure they know how to hold a controller.

The bottom line is as such. We try and recruit gamers with unique personalities who know the ins and outs of the video game industry — past and present. Writing skills are required and computer competence is a must. Since this is obviously a cool job, position openings don't come by too often. However, when an opening does come along the only way to get hired is to apply. If you're interested please send your resume to the address in the masthead. But we'll tell you this, gamers don't get paid well unless your last name is Perry.

LARUE Nea a ERAS ŽO SRO A OV

You guys have got to be joking in your review on Quarterback Club!! Did EA SPORTS pay you guys? The other web sites are raving about this

game. I had high hopes for this title, but now they are shattered by this news that you brought upon me. I have Madden 64 and it's a solid game. I guess I will just buy both because I like them both. Well

'MLittla'

aol.com

You don't always have to agree with our opinion, but it is our job to give it. If you dont like what we have to say, that's fine, but don't persecute us for saying it. We're still debating which is better,

© Quarterback Club ‘98 or that electric football game

that makes the players vibrate down the field. It's a toss up. Both of the games play almost identically. In our opinion, stick with Madden 64, it's definitely

Í the best pigskin game on the N64.

I have a ge regarding your coe and

© November issues. In the August issue you guys _rated Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee a 9.25, and in the November issue you guys rated Crash 2: Cortex Strikes Back a 9, but you guys said, © Cortex Strikes Back] is the action/platform to beat con PS-X' Why would you guys contradict | yourselves by giving Abe's Oddysee a higher rating ' than Crash 2?

“Crash 2:

Sincerely, Michael Maurice Collins webtv.net

That's a good question Michael, but we have an

even better answer. Abe's Oddysee is not an _action/platform game. It's an action/adventure.

Action/platformers are usually games that don't

require too much brains. On the other hand, _action/adventures like Abe's and Tomb Raider

require solutions to problems. If Abe's was nothing but a game that made you jump and kill, then wed call it a platformer, but it's more than that. You need

to talk, save friends, and so on and so on.

Is Sega Saturn gonna die? What's Sega's 64-bit

system gonna be like? Disk-based or cartridge?

| 360-degree perspective? Smoother animation

when the action gets heavy? Fewer fogs? Inquiring minds like mine wanna know!

Peter Brand

| Game Informer 6 January '98

Astor the new machine, there are no solid specs

yet. We know they are working on one, but things change day to day. We believe it will be 128-bit (as we reported in the November GI, Sega is working with Microsoft on just such a machine). It only makes sense. We won't believe it until we see it. The Saturn is obviously losing the high-end console race, so why not spit some words about another machine to keep people thinking Sega? If we were Sega that's what wed do. Wait until you see it, and — don't believe in the new system rumors. Did you _hear Nintendo has a new 128 coming out as well? Kidding, but we made you think didn't we? Be cool and game in the now.

o Have you poopie heard of any news ahot : a Shadowrun game coming out for any system? Shadowrun for the Super NES was (and still is) one

_ of my favorite games. Do you know if a Breath of

= "Game INFORMER l 10120 W. 76" STRE

Rorey Dahle Eoen PRATRIE, AN |

Oregon City, OR

Fire m will be aming out for any SE And do l

you guys know about a new Secret of Mana or Evermore? One last question..l am planning on

_ buying Final Fantasy VII and I have heard all the

good things about it, and would like to know if

there are any bad qualities to it. I doubt there are,

but I would still like to know if you can tell me. Please answer my questions. Thank you.

Matt Studivan

aol.com

We'd love to see all of these games hit the consoles, but as it stands now, Capcom is the only company bringing back one of the games you crave. Breath of Fire III should be coming to the PlayStation around March of this year. Its already out in Japan, and about a year and a half ago, Capcom sent us an early build of an American

version (see October '96). Hopefully it will be out

soon. We can't see why it wouldn't be ported over. It

` looks good. As for FF VII? It has one bad quality. It

ends.

Sad to see the loss of the coolest never-before- seen in a movie Jedi master. But let's face it, the chubby guy with the poofy hair will probably turn out (hopefully) just as strong a critic and player.

The Chaos Tiger Kung-Fu Master “Unknown”

Dont count your Chocobos until they are hatched. Bergren, The Game Burrito has guite the

attitude. Fo his b a ehavi we had to hook him

up with a shock collar. Whenever he's trying to be |

evil, like kicking Andy in the back of the head, we

simply shock him. Sometimes we let him beat on Andy for a good laugh, but if were going to set him straight we'll have ta keep hurting him. Sooner or later he'll come around. Now we have to think of a way to hurt..er..help our newest stali ob | Robert Stoute.

Hey look, it’s Game Informer...on a stick.

Vince Warner Philadelphia, PA l . Vou talkin' to me2 Daniel Ruiz

Chicago, IL Turok does his Saturdav Night

Fever imper-

sonation.

Max Kraftt Canton, MA Nice painting...but what's wrong with his nose2

Nathan Norcome Philadelphia, PA

Is he doing what we think he’s doing?

@ short while after Chris Redfield, Jill,”

and the rest of the S-TSA:R.S. team into the Raccoon Forest. ered Umbrella Corporation's et genetics lab, and bleu the 9 sky high, the“smali town of -coon City started to “feel the

Tage

Anhabitants of the Raccoon Forest

Mansion. citizens of this quaint tow

Northwest have been overcome by a f 1

The source of the disease is uncertain, 'but. the effects are deadly. Slowly developing as a skin rash+ the disease quickly takes over the central nervous system to snuff the life out of its victim. Even though the victims actually lose all pulmonary and

a

ja

$ P

o brain functions, the disease seems to be s d of living form that takes controI“of"the dead. = Size: 2 CD-ROMs transforming them. into horrendous zombie: m Style: 1-Player Action/Adventure "Enter, Leon Kennedy, a young and bras

jal Features: Play as Claire or Leon; Character- Ga e a 5 Se WWaapon. Minl-Quests Using Different Characters; d Claire Redfield, sister to fo

2 Difficulty Levels; Zombies & Other Mutant Foes; New ie-killer Chris Redfiel d. Thró Bosses & Story After Completing First Adventure Le

m Created by: Capcom m Available: January 17 for Sony PlayStation

> THE Borrom Line H b

A die kid da d wl V ii for one of the most anticipated PlayStation sequels ever. Gapco s Resident Evil 2 is on its s way to PS-X gamers around the world. After the original game was released back in March of 1996, Resident Evil quickly became one of the best selling PS-X titles ever — racking up nearly 3 million copies in worlwide sales. A sequel was inevitable, but most gamers didn’t think it would have taken this long. ‘ Capcom originally announced the release of Resident Evil 2 to be March of last year. To ' the dismay of nearly every PS-X fan, the release moved, moved again, and ultimately culminate ed ir int this months lib Hunch. ly constant updates from Ca geet

' dm

rece aned nearly a year a as o scrapped the original desi ign and wor : sably, one of the main characters, the female protagonist, was first introduced

as a college student with an interest in motorcycle racing. She was then completely

redesigned to become Claire Redfield, sister to original RE character Chris Redfield. Other

changes | have occurred with relation to the environments, enemies, and weapons. It’s not

that every game doesn't B ) through these types of changes during its development cycle, `

but a high profile game like Resident E Fu il 2 makes us take notice. Even though the long m wait and anticipation has sent us into a fervor of comparison and reflection, Resident Evil 2 is now here, anda a

ny similarities to the first installment. The control, menu screens, and other item features are o the original. The typewriter and ribbon allow for saves, chests can be used to store items, and and a lue pl piante „o health are just a » of the parallels pet new a d old. a smo) Resident

Even with the minor likenesses to the first game, Resident Evil 2 (like any » worthy sequel) has a lot of killer new additions. Most noticeably, the overall | appearance has been drastically improved. Everything is more colorful, detailed, and vivid. The main characters, Leon and Claire, have head-tracking | animations that give them new life. Their heads swivel and tilt as they walk, or (in most cases) run through the game. Leon 7 and Claire will also show signs of injury. A strapping young rookie cop goes from a confident stride, to holding his side, to moving with a severe limp after several bites from a zombie. Speaking of zombies, Resident Evil 2’s anions detail carries over to the enemies as well. Zombies with varying looks, acid-spitting plants, ferocious dogs, wall Il crawling hose and some of the nastiest looking bosses you'll ever see in a video game come alive in Resident Evil 2. With the satiable appetite of these mutant zombies also comes the need to dispose of them. The death and carnage — both saci wks of Resident Evil ~ are exceptionally gory in Resident Evil 2. Body parts explode, flesh rips, and the blood flows | in extreme graphic detail. For example, when Claire is grabbed by a zombie around her ankle, she will give a swift kick to its head, sending it across the room like a soccer ball.

Graphically, there is no doubt that the first game pales in comparison to the second, and many will be glad to hear that the acting is far improved as well. We admit that some of the GI staff have a soft spot in their hearts for the cheesy and memorable lines from the first | game, yet the real-time animations were stiff and uninteresting. l Deacon Evil 2 is loaded with varying cut- ‘Scenes s that heighten

into ta new ear of surv vival

ANDY, THE GAME HOMBRE

4 liked Resident Evil, but I tho R.. "As far as innovative tec ique 9.25 action was a little disjo n E ~ that much is new, but t “adv i mer. " where the ente : Graphics: „9% Beavis, | like.to kil, kill, Kill! Fortunately, i emm (96 quest goes above and beyond ene Sount: Jent Evil 2 is filled with more fodder, (Sot -© 925 thought | apcom

PAUL, THE GAME PROFESSOR

„Playability: Tor porti 1e game), and BB Playability:

r ime from WA Entertainment: 95 $ t that ‘this game h : inment: 1 ta ghoul

© room to room. The way RE 2 inte characters that follow different sides of will scare the #%*! out of you. The

-the two adventures will keep everyone the same story, making it a necessity | S B incorporation of character side ques (interested. Also, the second time 7 OVERALL: finish the game with both character L greater numbers of enemies, and new. through is filled with new.bosses and | And then to top it off, e E -~ weapons are also petouches. areas. The first j guest. Woo-hoo is viole Resident Evi tior. m but Ve definit b

rid of survival horror. A great, ~ i A o one made me laugh, this one frighte quel and a must ro game’ | 7 7 U , and the next one we 3

THE CAST

THE WEAPONS

+ s

ZOMBIE KILLERS

SHERRY BIRKIN

The daughter of two of Umbrella’s most brilliant scientists, Sherry seeks out the protection of the Raccoon City Police Department at the direction of her parents. Realizing that even the police cannot protect her from the evils lurking through- out, Sherry is forced to fend for | herself. Small yet agile, her _ intelligence and cunning should not be underestimated.

CLAIRE REDFIELD

Don’t let her girlish figure fool you, Claire is the sister to S.T.A.R.S. team member (and original Resident Evil star) Chris Redfield. Her tenacity, coupled with her bloodline, make her a serious force against the undead who stray across her path. After hearing of the dastardly events that have befallen the town, Claire travels to Raccoon City in search of her brother.

IAN IRONS BERTOLUCCI ge the title of Chief of — sel jaded, vet persistent

Like the first game. various weapons can only be ac uired

Pistol > The standard arm for both Leon and Claire, a trusty piece should almost always beat ` ` your side.

Bazooká Taser | TCP OS e E

This side arm can hold three types of Beware of high-voltage! Claire can acquire Claire wields this accurate weapon that rounds. Claire will find it very useful in this deadly weapon that shoots a bolt of packs three arrows per shot. extreme situations. electricity into enemies. It requires two free

inventory slots to carry.

10 www. gameinformer.com Game Informer a January ‘98

LEON

This appears to be one of the only weapons that can be used by either character and is especially useful against bosses. Keep the inventory open as this weapon will also

Knife

KENNEDY

This brash young cop is fresh

from the police academy with the phrase “to protect and serve” still echoing in his mind. He soon realizes, however, that the only one in town that may be safeguarded by his constabulary duties is himself. Even with the odds against him, Leon is loyal to his duty. He has no choice

but to search Raccoon

City for survivors.

TTE BIRKIN

nd calculating, Annette

bitter about the tragedy destroyed the research in coon Forest. As an gent scientist working y-side with her husband,

liam, her work takes priority over even her daughter, the innocent 12 year old Sherry.

Submachine Gun

require two slots.

bok the most cunning and | bold players will use this

veapol akes a lot of + from dispose of an enemy. Most

players should store it

immediately

Game Informer ù

Custom Pistol Leon can find a special modification kit that

will turn his pistol into an automatic weapon complete with shoulder stock.

January ‘98

ADA

WONG

The sultry and mysterious lady is drawn to Raccoon City in search of her boyfriend, a

scientist

for Corporation.

the Umbrella Ada seeks the

answers to his whereabouts after he was transferred from Chicago to an undisclosed

location in ` Forest.

-LIAM BIRKIN

brains behind the work that created the T- and other strains, William struggles antly with his employer, the Umbrella ration. Genuinelv concerned about the nifications of his work, William is distraught it Umbrella using his research for mane purposes. Constantly consumed by is work, he is feared to be one of the first

ictims of the Raccoon City disaster.

Shotgun Leon’s preferred weapon is standard police issue.

‘the

` Leon can holster this arm that packs almost — the same power as the shotgun.

Custom Shotgun A kit turns Leon's standard shotgun into an arm of unbelievable power that rips zombies

Raccoon

The ultimate Zombie killer is back in a | modified form. Find it if you can.

in half.

www.gameinformer.com | 11

RESIDENT EVIL g MINIL- GU ED E

BASIC TRAINING

w- Running can get you out of sticky situations. Avoiding conflict in the early stages of the game can set the player up for serious advantages later in the game.

« Items are sometimes not visible in a room. Search each room thoroughly by checking desks, cabinets, and shelves.

« Storage Boxes should be used to hoard everything possible. Picking up and storing health items (including spray bottles and plants) is a must. Even though this may mean extra trips to and from a room, the need for these items will come in handy later.

« Zombies in groups of three or less are easily handled with the standard pistol.

« The crows in this game are much easier to kill. Stand in one area and pick them off.

« A gun is never used to open a door or access a new area, so do not shoot at inanimate objects. |

« The solution to many of the puzzles is usually face. Searching files or surrounding areas wi Trial and error is often the best solution.

« Get rid of the knife as soon as possible. The knife is worthless and should be stored immediately. `

Tap d-pad and other buttons to quickly pe from rombie's grasp.

THE CLEY SINEETÀ

Speed is of the essence in the streets. Stay on the move and try to conserve ammo by outrunning the zombies.

RACCOON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Like the mansion in the first game, the Raccoon City Police Department is where much of the game takes place. The goal in the police department is to get four pieces of a puzzle that will unlock a passage into the sewer system. To do this, the player must also find access to the basement of the police department. The basement will lead either Leon or Claire to a key that opens one of the last doors on the first floor. Ultimately, a gear will be found to repair the city hall clock at the very top of the police station.

; t ve ntral hall in is Douse the flames (via the roof) to m(s). Note: Leon cannot access the

Third Floor

The third floor is accessed through the library catwalk on the west (left) side of the second floor. A gold gear must be found to repair the clock at the top-most area of the police department.

Basement (B1)

Claire and Leon’s paths make a dramatic split in this area. Claire will have no access to the holding cells and kennel area found on the west (left) side. However, your goal with either character is to find access to the Sewage Treatment Plant with the help of either Ada or Sherry.

AGE DISPOSAL PLANT

This area is incorporated into the basement of the RPD. Leon and Ada will have access to far more of this area, but the primary goal is to solve a puzzle found at the NE (top right) corner of the area. The Sewage Disposal Plant is also where both characters will encounter the.first of Resident Evil 2’s gruesome bosses.

RACCOON CITY SEWERS

A door that leads out of the intricate sewage disposal system of Raccoon City is

the goal, but it is blocked by a rage of water. Finding two medallions will allow access to the corridor that leads to the Vacant Factory and beyond. Both

characters will again have to call upon their sidekicks for assistance in

conquering this area. A fairly simple area to navigate, but the real challenge is to

avoid the venomous spiders that lurk in the sewer channels. This area will

culminate in a fierce stand-off with an alligator of gigantic proportions.

= THE VACANT FACTORY

Basically a passageway that leads to the Umbrella Lab, the factory is extremely easy to navigate. However, keep on the lookout for some good weapons and ammo because once the exit has been discovered, another disgustingly horrid boss will mount a challenge.

The questions and mysteries will come to a climactic closure as the player explores the confines of this corrupt lab deep beneath Raccoon City.

| Size: 1 CD-ROM „1 Style: 1-Player Role-Playing Game

| Special Features: Two Fighting Forms To Choose From; Cool Spells And Special Moves; Complex Storyline; Turn-Based Combat; Some Action Sequences | Created By: Square Co., Ltd. Available: First Quarter 1998 For Sony

CN „| Style: 1-Player Shooter ` «| Special Features: Multiple Camera Angles; Role-Playing Features; Robot | Can Change Into Various Forms;

a Varying Story Paths

F ká Created By: Sguare Co., Ltd. a | Available: First Quarter ‘98 For Sony

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PlayStation (Japan); U.S. Release i

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PlayStation (Japan); U.S. Release v + 2) is Uncertain

| is Uncertain D Ce | Einhander is a game that takes the In the long standing tradition of, -| Classic shooter formula and mixes it up

Square RPGs, Xenogears is shaping 7 y

; i _.| Square Soft style with awesome 3D =. | terrain, light sourcing, and beautiful

| motion. Players take on the role of the Einhander, an attack robot that can "| transform into various styles, each | with strengths and weaknesses. Terrain varies from cityscapes to deep forestry. A | We have not seen much of the game yet, but the story looks as complex and cool

id) as any Square game to date.

up to be another great adventure. | Surrounded by a futuristic setting, the „| game's premise and control look to be | taking a new step forward in the world of RPGs. Androids, robots, and good | old cybernetic implants are the tune of | the day, as players try to prevent the | world from being destroyed by a mad | villain bent on widespread panic and | annihilation. Nobody does RPGs on the tube better than Square, and this game stays true to that philosophy. When this game hits the Japanese shelves, another landmark in Square’s groundbreaking history will arrive.

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September 1983 May 1986 December 1987 March 1989 July 1990 Square begins software devel- | Square Co., Ltd. is established, | The first Final Fantasy is Square Soft, Inc. is established in | The first Final Fantasy is opment for video games as a and a tight-knit relationship released for the Famicom. Redmond, WA. to ensure that an | released for the NES.

division of Denyu Co. in Tokyo. | with Nintendo is born. Qe © international presence and close va RB relationship with Nintendo is kept.

18 www.gameinformer.com Game Informer 8 January ‘98

Square Soft is one of the biggest success stories in the entertainment business. Their multi-million selling games are a sight to behold, and even the casual gamer bows down in respect to their vision and artistry. No one dares question e Square’s position as one of the most influential game makers of the decade. They have shaped the lives of millions of fans that are lucky vu enough to have seen their unimaginable brilliance. Hopefully, we have witnessed only the beginning of a revolution.

|

In the United States, Square has done little more than fill a niche market inside the gaming industry. In Japan, however, = Sauare rules the roost. With well over fifty games released in Japan, Sguare enjoys enormous success — often determining the future of primary platforms. They are probably the most important third-party a hardware company could hope to ` snag. For example, in September 1996, Square announced plans to develop Final -Fantasy VII (which sold over 2.5 million copies in three days) exclusively for Sony, = instead of their longtime system buddy, Nintendo. After the announcement, Sony's stock rose on the Nikkei index, while Nintendo’s fell. Also, Sony’s RPG lineup (which before that moment was behind in performance compared to Sega of Japan’s) exploded, getting offers from Sunsoft, Enix, and others to do new RPGs. The move put Sony in first place for sales in Japan, leaving Sega and Nintendo in the dust.