EN Next ConsolelRe veded, MADNESS Reviews & Strategies For Legend oF LOAR HERE ace $3.95 Canada $4.95 UK £2.50 | | /1&86 01864 3 #72 0 April 1999 Vol. IX * Issue 04 EVERYONE www.playstation.com Driving on the ground is so 90’s. PSYGNOSIS lon: www.psygnosis.com | PlayStation | - (es fJ ad un => SC ES EVER' š E Drive any of 6 indestructible vehicles anywhere and everywhere, from the sides of walls to the roofs of tunnels. Blast away at the scenery with 8 innovative weapons to slow down your opponents. Race through 20 different tracks spread over 4 distinct environments. 2-player split-screen, head-to-head racing action with 4 specially designed tracks. MAGAZINE _ Letter from the Editor Apollo Creed Is My Mama Dear Game Informer GI readers from across the globe interact with Game Informer. Envelope Art GI News .. Resident Evil Returns to PlayStation, Visual Concepts . Debuts Dreamcast Product, Official PlayStation 2 Details, and tons of fun with Name That Game! and GI Trivia. Release List Game Informer PC The Game Burrito brings you tons of reviews and previews including Sim City 3000 and Prince of Persia 3D. Arcade Brigade GI drops a few coins into House of the Dead 2, Jojo's Venture, and NBA Showtime. Play To Perfection GI delivers the locations of all 7O Living Toys hidden within Guardian's Crusade. This guide also presents a location to location walkthrough. Mini PTP ` Master Legend of Legaia's combo system with this helpful guide. ` @ Secret Access This newly designed section presents more codes and tips than ever before! (Ü classic Gi Pro-Am, and tons of historic | Pg67 SH codes. Game Informer Magazine" (ISSN 1067-6392) is published monthly at a subscription price of $19.98 per year, or 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. For subscriptions, back issues, or customer se T here ples 6. Periodicals postage paid at Hopkins, MN, and additional mailing offices. address changes Game Informer Magazine®, 10120 West 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN reign ori must be p prepa .S. dollars and must include $20/year additional postage. . not claim any copyright in the screenshots herein. Copyright in all screenshots contained within this publication respective companies. Entire contents copyright 1999. Game Informer Magazine". All rights reserved; reproduction iout permission is prohibited. Game Informer? is a trademark of FUNCO, Inc. Produces named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies. e Game Informer * April '99 A look back at Baseball Stars, ` Blaster Master, Championship ` “Games AE & 165 ii Features Cover Story: Super Smash Brothers | Nintendo's mightiest warriors bang heads in this bizarre and highly addictive multiplayer fighter. Super Smash Brothers marks the debut of Metroid’s Samus Aran on N64, and answers the burning question of who’s stronger: Mario or Luigi? Game Informer tears this game apart limb by limb — including a complete moves list and training section. Feature: What's At Stake? GI interviews Need For Speed: High à Stakes producer Tony Parkes to dig up » the dirt on what new features this classic PlayStation franchise will sport this time around. Pg 10 Reviews & Previews e Nintendo 64 All-Star Baseball 2000, Beetle Adventure Racing, California Speed, Goemon's Great Adventure, Hybrid Heaven, Rampage Universal Tour, adowman, Triple Play 2000, Vigilante 8, inBack: Covert Operations x PlayStation Bloody Roar 2, Ehrgeiz, Evil Zone, Final I Fantasy VIII, Gex: Deep Cover Gecko, Guardian's Crusade, Jade Cocoon, Legend of Legaia, Roll Cage, Shadow Madness, Silent Hill, Street Sk8er, T’ai Fu Dreamcast Sega Rally 2 PlayStation Baseball 2000, Bust-A-Move ‘99, Invasion From Beyond, K-1 Revenge, MLB 2000, Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2, Mortal Kombat 4 Point Blank 2, Rushdown, 3Xtreme Nintendo 64 x Bottom of the 9th ‘99, Bust-A-Move ‘99, NHL Blades of Steel ‘99, Quake II, R/C Re-Volt, V-Rally Edition ‘99 Game Boy x Carrot Crazy, NFL Blitz, NHL Blades of Steel ‘99, . Rampage World Tour, Twouble "Aat wild same, baby. / f E béi D Next party, lose the piñata. New Point Blank™ 2 allows up to 8 of your gun-crazed pals to unload on over 70 wild and wacky shooting scenarios - from fish and fowl to ninjas and gangsters. Blast through an all-new Arcade Mode, Theme Park Mode, Endurance Mode - plus a VS. Mode for the perfect head-to-head (no pun intended) party game. Point Blank 2. Time to get pistol whipped. ëm PlayStation www.namco.com G f kee that dert the G : Point Blank™ 2 & © 1994 1997 1998 Namco Ltd. All Rights Reserved. PlayStation and the PlayStation HPU IGI HOS. Sch Sera Width Uses Wie Buco FA logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of Point Blank™ 2 sold with Guncon and without. the Interactive Digital Software Association. Guncon™ & © 1996 Namco Ltd. All Rights Reserved. GAMESUNDEX: itt [| T [| H H B A DR A ARA —— qasaqa upa 3 Ü U =e d . Dd Ü 2 10OT d Ü April Issue 1999 5 ADOIIO eed ama. D Delleve D D e nave revie OT a ae Volume IX * Number 4 + Issue #72 | Richard A. Cihak j - appe D DE ` : game at are co ` ` and we ` Publisher | dile a e worid o deo game at lea eve a Je quide o heip vou pia a e i j * Alpha Centauri -................. 62 Andrew McNamara D A o E C Editor 1 Uu Q 2 : duo d d IO J tO yO Baseball 20009... 60 Paul Anderson ¿ d atte Ú d ere a GFOUD Ü 5 GIE OTe dood = = = | Baseball Stars .................. 64 Andrew Reiner o : are D np » Beetle Adventure Racing .......... 32 Senior Associate Editors E (id Ur ga J J rid : Y : AIO : : V J i à 9 : Blackstone Chronicles ............ 62 Paul Bergren aro ü d Q ong, Q g nO DIO Desig d d S : d . Robert Stoute 1 | Blaster Master .................. 64 ^ Jay Bac VIUEU He Ompa ale VEC d UPR d TUITI IO š 9 Bloody Roar2................... 55 ssociate Editors Th Blast UU JIVE : Š : Jit Ua UI ga g NIMe-Dased drt arg Bottom of the 9th ‘99 ............. 58 omas Blustin x Art Director 1 e e companie ave done eir pa Ü D apanese a atio ` S S Bust-A-Move '99 .............. 57, 59 Curtis Fung as A A ac broud ardia Ocea o acond n ave o 1 California Speed ................. 38 s ii | ^ n " do , E Carrot Crazy... ise e tre 61 eb/Graphic Design ? aqe d ered eqe ano S game aevelopme aqe Y ^ a V : |! Championship Pro-Am ............ 64 Rachel Gilles ! Legala, and ave B Oe ered 0COO ë ` ` amama a | ; Production Assistant WA Qe BOAT TTD 46 Ryan MacDonald auu au ` ü J Ü J q ü Ü ava u Up 1 EV LONO EE ee 2 ed 48 West Coast Correspondent : a C ade Cocoo 00 ^ro q. and e B Final Fantasy VIII ................ 50 Chet Barber 1 " ^ ^ " a DD " ^ "EM Gex: Deep Cover Gecko ......... , A8 Japan Correspondent 1 ANG M JUrte V J o - H Ü He H 5 | Goemon's Great Adventure ........ 37 i companie are pup . ese qame d 7 D e a al O a other OT a e coe | Guardian's Crusade ........... 41, 64 - - - D eis 1 0 De COO dl O Me C al Fante ANG o KNO House of the Dead 2 .............. 67 Advertising Sales ! and AO ^ a ca ` e to ae e ` are ay he eve Ore - 7 Kimberley Thompson Bernie d * Hyb “i REH 36 National Advertising Sales Director RP ere : ate ` da : 0 come Invasion From Beyond ............ 61 10120 W. 76th Street 4 Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728 ] e ev are released. No ot saying ope you're ready RPG fans, because if ele a AAA: 2 (612) 946-8159 ] | Jojo's Revenge .................. 67 Fax (612) 946-8155 1 d Ü ave tO GO and D d ee QO E Ü DO qe Ü ere ang DDO e ; K-1 Revenge 59 , Vicky Valley games o ere, b 0 ant RP 0 American AF arKe ay have to get SP TDI RE 45, 67 Circulation / Marketing Manager 1 i (612) 946-7274 ' petter D at lea one a e TO ` ama to do O ere and Ü D MechWarrlor I ........ ene 62 Customer Service Manager EAR 7 EE 61 (612) 946-7266 1 l ' Customer Service Department Bergren Brothers (L to R): Clem (Paul), Cletus (Andy), Homer (Reiner), Lemuel (Bergren), Cecil (Robert), Houndawg (Arthur), and Orville (Jay). Monaco Grand Prix For change of address 1 sua , Ee JEU x Racing Simulation 2 ............. 60 or subscription inquiry only: 1 ATE T f t Mortal Kombat4 ................. 61 (612) 946-7266 Fax (612) 946-8155 P 3 . or send correspondance to : *: NBA Showtime .................. 67 10120 W. 76th Street š ` Need for Speed 4 ................ 16 Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728 d Attn: CIS Dept NEL BIZ 7 2 oce yasa 61 Manufactured and printed 1 " NHL Blades of Steel '99 ........ 57, 61 in the United States of America | Point Blank 2 ................... 60 The Editor welcomes company product information Power Slide .......... ss. PSOE 62 for all video games. Such materials. should be Eg . A 3 ” addressed to: Editor, Game Informer Magazine, 10120 a w Prince of Persia 3D ...............62 W. 76th Street. Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Editorial : s phone and FAX numbers are noted above. Unsolicited b: PQ Quake Il... Lecce eee 57 deeg d be beta Ed einig o d d Fe * FC Ho:Volt cscs Toy z AE 58 ntire contents copyright 1999, Game Informer A ° > Magazine. All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or BE nare _ Rampage Universal Tour .......... 38 in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer ` M. d is a trademark of FUNCO, Inc. 4 fi: 1 Rampage World TOUN ,............ 61 Products named in these pages are trade names, or i e E Rival Realms 62 trademarks. of their respective companies. o à Roll. Gage ioo c xr n 43 PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or : EE ee giles eam RERO € 59 typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an " Sega Rally 2 .......... Li ice 56 advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors or omissions-in connection with an advertisement is Shadow Madness ........ 1.000044 40 limited to republication of the advertisement in any Shadowman 39 subsequent issue. or the refund of any monies paid for — SN 25 Se "Dën NOI d Sc i ato cai luum —— uoc MUN. oT Oo o eoi oos oum i TT rer NM EE the advertisement. SIIeBt HII 22. ees vas 42 "eebe | Sim City 2000... 62 The advertiser and/or Advertising Agency agrees to e defend and indemnify the publisher against any and all SCANS stain miata EE 62 liability, loss, or expense arising from claims of libel $ S unfair competition. unfair trade practices. infringement | Street Sk8er .................... 54 of trademarks, copyrights, trade names. patents, or j Super Smash Brothers... 10 proprietary rights or violation of rights of privacy "e am. d ] GR e resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's ne - gen rk Tal PU REP ion oR Kew OR ICE 44 statement w " Š ë s Ce? Triple Play 2000 ............ pa 34 The bergrén Brothers Twoüble. 2. sisscacevinieie esse neler orale s 61 ^ : V-Rally Edition 99 ............... 58 p B. Vigilante 8... eret E ^ | , p I. E Wargasm e, iier 62 | me Bg A [ WInBackK: oie os nies intere 39 Audit Bureau of Circulations time | q Member í - A : M ius Ano š | ombre x 3 e PrOTesso Heine naging | pergre 3 B 0 HobDe > e ano b Gonzo 2 andy gameinftormer.co paui@gameintormer.co piner@gameintormer.co bergren@gameintormer.co opent@gameinormer.co ay@gameinformer.co ave once again bee ected o real la of the PlayStatio e a oi g a eg e were gata e pace ever thoug ould see the A a 0 eq ole D e bug 0 a a are fina 0 g do 0 Old Yeller dead ept profuse G ee RP ansacked the da a ee good RP e playing games; a DJe e anta e og pla e 0 9 p = en bane broke batma ba oftice and le a 0 0 ed States at one e. B ose to D6 rolling hea apanese version o e game 0 are going to be ve essed up log S aeaa at ao we have to sho 00 e tha at happenea Perhaps ironica a e and eve ear | pro e e ere g, especia apa 0 a O cares abo a O Baggy eyes and a couple o Betwee a e impo ame to a close, so aia the live à ot ever going to do tha Are Japanese gamers going to D aog a a e were ateg guide arala being played e office rig 0 o D&D characte pla aga Ana Jo ana benoid, here abanao e Dreamca D pup, 10 ce ana alice ade 100 e a 0 0 ana the anno ement o 0 aa 0 A moment 0 a playing e game, and a new Pla atio a eo Qe o à ae 0 0 Delween Legos ana the ppe al Fanta qd 0l00 a ence please for Serpigoat ana aking up the story as | go along e horizo at aoe ega eak ainne 0 0 at balma D pla a lot loughe Q ea e ed. No e could Burke Dreame e eve a rather enterta g and oaa ave to counte : 9 an D a ell! AR o enemies are at d D 0 get Square to release loba did get o 0 at allernale 0 ght aaa ating eamroller of So arketing ch... ang o ma crapp aing a 0 to e rea e 0 H aimension. Also e Staying up D an o a a And 0 e = 0 games tf onti ave fo... t allenge. Some are ea D p abo , ould De ale egena o egala anta one o e PlayStatio affe S 94 H atale Portma ome eep you up Way pa pretty excellent. Doe anyone became 9 0 eep greate eries of a š a of the Dreamca a e... champagne... hot tub apet our bed Ə on your o else o ere wa game overnight o e 0 Q Q e ave a È e e e... champagne D OU ge e et me kno o 0 g, everyone informed 0 g mo our PIP e they naq ed o e 6 Game Informer * April 09 — and NWO superstars! All vour favorite signature moves, finishing moves, and taunts: ues | WINDOWS (Re i g5 S WCW Nitro © 1998 World Championship Wrestling, Inc. A Tune We ner Company All rights reserved WCW" and NV aly tadema š mm Wrestling, Inc. All characters depicted, are trademarks of or used under License to World Championship Wrestling. Inc All rights reserved THO TM 1998 THO INC [nd Emulators: Duplicating Game Systems on Your PC You may have come across them and | dealt with their websites almost | every time you go online. Or you have | no idea what they are. I'm talking about | emulation of all the consoles and arcades on PCs. If you want to talk about classic gaming, emulation is the only way to go. What's weird is how free and | accessible they are! They say,“You may only download ROMS [games] if you own the actual game. These are for | backup purposes only" Please, that would | make me as illegal as they come and all my friends too! Now they have a PS-X emulator available for 50 bucks | — that's a PS-X system for 50 bucks! | think emulation is great. Now | can stock up on games and enjoy all the classics, and find new ones | never found | before.The only losers in this are those | people who actually spent 50+ dollars for the same games Um downloading (for free!) almost everyday. All the | emulated games available are not available on the market anymore. Do you think emulators enhance the industry or do you believe it is one of the biggest piracy operations in the world | hurting the industry? Pm curious about your stance on emulation. i Herman Waterford via msn.com | There is no doubt that emulation is | a huge part of the Internet gaming scene, | and we do agree that emulation | provides a window to long, lost | games of the past. Computer emulation | of ancient platforms like the Apple II, What About Reiner? | 1) Is Reiner really the best gamer in | the world? I Phil “the gaming beasant” Kalata via centuryinter.net | 2) Why is Reiner so much cooler than the rest of you? Brian L. via aol.com 3) Is it just me or is Reiner a dork? Sabin X via aol.com Concerns About Dreamcast? | am writing concerning the Dreamcast. In the past, Sega has come out with these really cool systems with modem | ports and all sorts of other bells and whistles, but they don't ever seem to make good games for them! Sonic the Hedgehog was put in a blender and made | into a new game enough times to purify the Grand Canyon. | know that you haven't seen any English games but please | give us the low-down, is the Dreamcast all good hardware and no good games? Walter Coots Dallas, TX Colecovision, and Intellivision preserves | games that would otherwise be lost. | In that way, emulation is great for the | industry. It may spawn new ideas or? resurrect games from the past and turn them of concerns with emulation. First, emulation does hurt the industry because, plain and simple, it | is both software and hardware piracy. | Second, the growing user base of} emulators is creating a larger and larger group of idiots. People have come out of the woodwork wanting everything for nothing. These people have no regard for preserving the industry and, like you, think that the losers are the guys | who pay full retail for their games. | Do what you want with the emulators because we can't say that we haven't f tried some of them, but remember the | legal issues. Companies like Sony | and Nintendo have a group of lawyers just itchin’ to put the hurt on some unsuspecting emulation user. Clearly, Reiner is not the best gamer in the world. (We just keep telling him that to satiate his fragile ego.) We | think he’s probably the best video game | editor in world. (We tell him that in lieu of actually paying him to work for | us.) Cooler? If you call hanging out at | the comic shops, fast food joints, the | DVD isle at Best Buy, and the toy aisles | at Wal Mart cool, then yeah...he's a lot | cooler than the rest of us. (We tell him | that because we think he's a dork.) Well, after putting in quite some time on Sega Rally and Sonic Adventure, all is not lost for the Dreamcast. If the problems in these games are fixed before | the U.S. release (which they ought to be), then the Dreamcast will have at | least two wonderful launch titles. As long as some other companies produce | some quality titles (with Capcom, | Midway, Game Arts, and more already | doing so), the Dreamcast should have no problem on the software side of deliverance. Just hope that Sega gets off its duff and gets some good | distribution going, as well as some | positive mainstream coverage (i.e., Newsweek, USA Today, etc.). A few | commercials wouldn't hurt, either. into new software for the | future. However, we do have a couple | Mir a LA M rs ai Reader Writes Nonsense — GI Responds | just read your new issue GI [Feb. 99], and I have to say that it has to be | the most biased issue | have ever read! | | am talking about the Sega Dreamcast | section of your mag.First off, how in | the world do you give July (a game that | you stated you couldn't even play because | you do not understand the Japanese | language) a 6 and then give Godzilla | Generations a 3? Did you even play GG? This kind of crap is the reason that your | CHEAP mag will only sell in stores like | Funcoland. Until you get some REAL GAMERS to do your mag, you will never | have a REAL following. also just wanted | to say that if you took Sony's hand out of your a__ for just a little while you RPGs? Action/Adventure? l) Why did Zelda win Best Action/Adventure game of the year? sn't it an RPG? William Colby via aol.com 2) What are the guidelines for a game to be considered an RPG? Is it simply the fact that you can name your | character? If so, then Mario RPG (that old SNES beast) cannot be considered | a true RPG. Dan "Geshtar" Malo via aol.com As role-playing elements continue | to infiltrate other genres, it will | become more and more difficult to point {out the “true” role-playing game (RPG). However, we will try to define Interesting Rumble Pak Development What | think sucks about the Rumble Pak is the batteries. Couldn't Nintendo create a 64 control with a built-in force feedback feature that is powered by the system? Jeremy "Deadpool" Montoya via juno.com Check this out. Last month we were visited by an official member of Team Nintendo. He came sporting Mario Party and some N64 controllers The E3 — I Want In I’m wondering if E3 admits people under 18.1 would love to go there, but I’m not sure if there's an age limit. | hear it's limited to people over 18.Is this true? Michael via msn.com The organizers of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo, which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on May 13,14,and 15,1999) loosely enforce an age restriction for those ge Aë might just like the Sega Dreamcast a | little bit. Since you guys state that you are REAL GAMERS, you should learn to make your own REAL opinions and not the opinions of the company! | Craig Ravitch | via webtv.net Of course we played Godzilla and we were generous WITH a three. We gave July THE benefit of the doubt as you can't score a game down for BEING in Japanese. At LEAST our readers know that this is a poor import GAME if they can't read Japanese. "Real" Gamers? "Real" Following? Your definition of “real” is giving good scores to games that really stink. Here's a real | opinion for you: Get a friggin' clue and stop bothering us with your ill-logic. it, without painting ourselves into a corner. A number of things come into | play, all of which need to be intact. A | storyline, acquiring experience, statistics, menu-based battles, and exploration are all parts of a good RPG. Recently, however, fewer and fewer games are pure RPGs, while more and E more games have RPG elements thrown in. Many are action-RPG (Alundra), and some are platform-RPG | (Tomba!), and others are strategy-RPG (Final Fantasy Tactics). Mario RPG is E more of a “pure” RPG than any of the | above-mentioned games. Naming your character, though, is merely cosmetic. equipped with Rumble Paks. Not S that this is an uncommon occurrence, | but the Rumble Paks were hard- wired into the controller. In other words, they used no batteries and were | powered through the machine.This was cool and we wanted to keep those bad § boys because, just like you, we go through plenty of batteries. The only drawback | to this setup is that the Rumble Pak IE. could not be removed.This makes it hard for games that use the Controller Pak. under 18 years of age. However, there are always some exceptions to the rule. For example, there are a number of teenage journalists and TV personalities who are permitted to enter. Remember, the show is not open to E the public. You'll have to produce credentials that prove you are involved in the gaming industry. Final Fantasy Collection | was just surfing the web and | went | to http://www.squaresoft.co.jp to see what Square was up to in Japan. | | noticed something about the Final | Fantasy Collection — that it had the logos | for FF4, FF5, and FF6. Is this a PS game? | If so, is it coming to the USA? I think that Square would be STUPID not to | release this game here. | Mike Kenner via erols.com The War Is Over 128-Bit Us. 64-Bit Vs. 32-Bit | [Regarding the Feb.'99 issue], how | can you make a blanket statement that | "bits don't matter"? Of course they | matter. Systems are not measured by | processor speed alone. A 400MHz PC | running a 32-bit video card won't get | anywhere in the gaming world. The 128- | bit video cards have taken over as the | video cards of choice. All 128-bit video | cards are not the same. Some work best | when the CPU is faster, some do not. | One must never judge systems by numbers alone. A combination of bits, bytes, and MHz make up a good PC and/or console gaming system. | Tom Rogers Red Oak, TX You missed our point, but you support our argument. First off, our article was referring to console systems, not PCs. Until you can get a kick butt gaming PC for under $200, A Wrestling Refresher Course l am a really big wrestling fan, and | | heard THQ is losing its license with | WCW and is going to have a license | with WWE. If this happens, are any of | the new WWF games that they | produce going to use the same engine as World Tour and Revenge? Who's going | to make the WCW games? Are there | any ECW games coming out soon? That | would be phat. Anyway thanks for listening and keep up the good | work. Martin Perez via hotmail.com | You've got to keep up on the | wrestling scene otherwise Goldberg | and Stone Cold are gonna have to | get day jobs selling steaks out of their | trunks. THQ is indeed losing the | WCW license, but is taking over the | WWF games.So far we are unsure if THQ will keep porting Asmik (the | developers of Revenge and World | Tour) games and using them with the WWF.What we do know is THQ is | already working with Tomy's Toukon Retsuden 3 engine for the first WWF PlayStation title. This engine is | considered to be the best wrestling | And poof...the Vikes’ season came to an end. Have we got some information fo you. A Square rep dropped by recentl and told us it will release the collection in the States, called Final Fantas Anthology. (Begin dancing! Unfortunately, Final Fantasy IV will no be included. (Pause...then resum dancing!) See GI News (page 24) fo the complete details. Now, if w N .. an EVERY) um "d convince them to give u Here's a ` sneak peek at Pamela Anderson in Baywatch 2020. we won't go there. Second, you are righ that systems should not be judged by processor speed alone, but it is a much better benchmark than is the data bus size (measured in bits). The firs thing a console gamer usually asks abou a new system is, “How many bits is it?’ Bits have been used by console manufacturers as a marketing term and reflect little on the performance of the machine. Take the Jaguar as a perfec example.Atari marketed the thing a a 64-bit machine. Compare the Jagua to the Nintendo 64 and then tell u how much bits matter. Console gamers should strike any reference to bits from their vocabulary and thin MHz and RAM. But finally, you are wrong. Th combination of bits, bytes, and MH DO NOT make up a good PC and/o console gaming system. Only high quality games make a gaming system good This is Metal Gear Solid in a nutshell. It’s crazy, baby!!! it game ever, so we expect a great | game. Tomy also has an N64 engine that | we've heard good things about. Look | for THQ's first WWF games in late November. The WCW license goes to EA Sports, and they have enlisted the help of Kodiak Interactive. Lastly, we haven't heard anything about an ECW game, but Acclaim would be a likely | candidate to get something going with this band of renegade wrestlers. Ah yes...the dreaded Mozazo gang from Connecticut. Lr CAN HEAD Yuly Mbl- \ - To Gare Iter KA à enga mue ART SL, x i > my Ca After breaking up with Zelda, Link decided to charm snakes. Game Informer * April 99 gy Where’s Wesley Snipes when you need him? “This may not be the way | wanted to play Samus on the N64, but it is pretty darn close. Super Smash Bros. is a unique twist on the fighting genre that ends up giving more than it takes. Controlling the fighters using the analog stick is well...sticky at times. But this can easily be forgiven, as it adds to the frantic action. The 1-player game is fairly deep, but as with any fighter, the multiplayer battles are where it’s at. Get three of your friends and this game quickly becomes a bash fest with few equals. The inventive level designs, which force you to master both fighting and platforming techniques, and the wacky power-ups are definitely the highlights of this fighter. About my only complaint is that there are so few characters to choose from (Toad where are you?), but that’s just nitpicking.” "| think if Mario was going to throw a party, this is the one I'd want him to invite me to. Tons of familiar Nintendo characters going toe-to-toe and kicking some serious behind -now that's a video game party. Like Mario Party, the one player game is rather mundane, but there are some challenges to acquiring the secret characters. Obviously, the best part about Smash Bros. are the multiplayer melees. We got into some excellent battles at the office — complete with the obligatory trash talking. Some characters seem a lot stronger than others, but it's nothing a good Pokéball can't handle. Nintendo enthusiasts who have tired of Mario Party (and | know many of you have), should definitely go after Smash Bros." "That unmistakable taste of a Nintendo classic oozes from this finely crafted fighter. As always, Nintendo plays the role of innovator, bringing forth a unique release to an optionless fighting market. Don't think KI or MK with this one. Its play is revolutionary and capitalizes on addictive multiplayer action. | especially like the attention to detail for each of the characters. Their look, moves, and sounds are just like those in their last games. The most praise goes to its gameplay. Smash Brothers really lights up the screen with its crazy action and diversity. Do | have any gripes? Well, the multiplayer camera is a little frustrating (demanding a large TV), and | would have liked different characters other than Purin and Ness. But other than this (and decapitations), the game is tight. I'm sold." THE GAME HOMBRE Concept 9 Graphics 8.75 Sound 8.5 Playability 8.5 Entertainment 9 OVERALL PAUL THE GAME PROFESSOR Concept 9 Graphics 8 Sound 8 Playability 8.5 Entertainment 8 EE OVERALL REINER THE RAGING GAMER Concept 8.25 Graphics 8.5 Sound 8.75 Playability 9.25 Entertainment 9 EXD OVERALL Pikachu stand for liberty, justice, and butt kicking. intendo has always provided a plethora of surprise games throughout the course of a year, and most of these secrets turn out to be worthy of play and praise. Nintendo started 1999 with a bang and snuck out Mario Party; a second- party venture that had good intentions, but actually bored the heck out of us. Its repetitious boardgame tactics and poorly developed play landed a ghastly 3.5 rating from the Game Informer reviewers. On the not so distant horizon, rumors of another party game whistled through the air, and the ever ready and waiting Gl reviewers loaded their guns.This time around, the party would include the entire Nintendo universe (not just Mario and friends), and instead of presenting wacky, zany dice-shakin' fun, it would come forth and revolutionize the Samus is Game Informer's go to girl. fighting game genre with its first-of-a-kind 4-player fighting/platform play. We almost shot this game before we played it. Mario Party scarred many of us for life and made us a little wary as to what Nintendo had planned for the EN nd Fox McCloud plummet to their doom. remainder of the year. Thankfully, Nintendo entrusted this product with a dynamic developer. Super Smash Brothers was developed by Hal Laboratories, the think tank behind Kirby and his wacky adventures. Hal has always been renowned for its inventive techniques and gameplay obscurities, and it worked some magic with this product as well. Hal extracted the best themes and characters available in the Nintendo universe and mixed them all together to fill the belly of a superbly designed combat engine. The characters don't really seem like they should have the ability to interact with one another, yet manage to do so with perfect compatibility and Nintendo 64 ` over Story e Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4-Player Fighting * Special Features: 12 Popular Nintendo Characters; Multi-Tiered Stages; Bonus Games; Combos & Juggles; 4-Player Battles; Several Multi-Player Modes; Rumble Pak Compatible * Replay Value: High e Created by: Hal Laboratories for Nintendo * Available: April 26 for Nintendo 64 Bottom Lire: m balance. Did you ever think that you would see a fighter that pits Pokémon against F-Zero X? No, and neither did we. Yet it’s here and it works. The combat chemistry is where this title truly shines. A 4-player fighter has been attempted, but none have ever worked. Super Smash Brothers does a fine job of proving that the more characters onscreen, the better. Through 2D play, four of Nintendo's finest roam multi-tiered environments as they unleash authentic attacks against their fellow mascot pals. The goal of this fighter is essentially the same in theory as all the other fighters out there, but the final blow is delivered differently. Instead of knocking an opponent out, you want to knock them off the screen. This opens many doors for a fighting game and allows several new strategies to be created. Of course, senselessly beating on an opponent is still a requirement, but craftier techniques, double crosses, and traps are all options as well. All 12 of Super Smash Brothers’ characters fight valiantly in his or her own way. All of the characters appear as though they just stepped out of their last adventure, coming to the playing field with authentic moves and animation. Even the stage designs and accompanying music are familiar and often times identical rehashes. As you probably guessed, Super Smash Brothers is best played by four players. However, the single player game is exceptional. For this mode, a tournament ladder must be conquered. This ladder throws a ton of variety at the player. Some of the battles are |-on-l, some 2-on-2, and a few bouts toss over 20 enemies at the player in a battle royalesque 3-on-| melee. Mario Party fell on its face, but Super Smash Brothers lives up to the hype. It’s a great addition to any library, especially those specializing in multiplayer games. eer? `. n. m - dme auer « Api do | 11 ne screen and hop that they don't cc comeback. x Accomplishing this feat isn't as easy as it sounds. Wilh Double and Triple Jumps, combatants can more or fly great lengths back to the battlefield. To keep them and out, you'll need to deal sufficient damage to the eter located at the bottom of the screen. This presents a combatants’ health. The meter starts at 0% d can reach as high as 999%. As the meter goes up, so joes the opponents. weariness to certain attacks. The damage you deal, the furth forward as they topple head over heels. At 100% the opponent will launch off screen at great length and speed, x and will need to utilize the d HR? to get back tothe ' into the air the. opposition reels after each blow. At 5% the opponent is. uick to the feet. At 50% signs of fatigue begin to rear - How far a character reels is based on the percentage meter. . The more damage | added...the further they fly. Rack up enough damage and give *em one last kiss goodbye. Jump...Double joni Bnd Triple Jump out of any crucial - situation. Mastering these acrobatic maneuvers will save your life and add a wider See to your be d Game Informer * ADAI P The Star of Invincibility is the most sought after item. allowing a combatant to score | with long range attacks. And several different Pokemon like Beedrills, Charmanders, and Snorlax may appear and disrupt any battle plan. The items fall into the ‘you gotta love ‘em’ and Jr gotta hate ‘em’ le The inclusion of randomly placed items can change the outcome of a battle in a heartbeat. A Heart Container could float down from the heavens and completely heal a troubled contestant with over 100% damage. A well placed Turtle Shell could knock an unknowing opponent off a platform. A Laser Gun could fall into play Most items land a killing blow. The unique level designs have much more meaning than just looking cool and tying into the Nintendo universe. Wall angles, level obstacles, and platform placement are all crucial combat pieces. Instead of looking for a weakness on an opponent, you can try luring them into traps. Pinning the enemy in corners will allow some characters to perform continuous combos. Keeping an opponent at bay and near a pit can often frustrate and disrupt even the most seasoned players. Furthermore, knowing an area and its timed obstacles and items can create unbearable scenarios for the opposition. Super Smash Brothers grants the player the chance to not only master the game, but create new fighting styles as well. It's possible that friends will play completely different than you. Some players will even create strategies and combos for 2, 3, and 4-player matches. dd dd db KA? Qg5 a ae Level I - Hyrule Castle | e ier MU 5 Level 2 — Yoshi's Island 0:52 After learning all your desired character has to offer in the Training mode, slide on over to the 1P Game and challenge the CPU. No matter how much you train, you'll never truly have what it takes to march through all of the battles flawlessly. Level | — Link As cool as he is, Link poses no challenge. Stay away from the tornado and don't let Link get too close to any powerups. Level 2 — Tribe of Yoshi Simply stand in one place and use a powerful attack to eliminate all of the Yoshi invaders. One hit will kill. Level 3 — Fox McCloud This is a great battle. Fox doesn't have the best recovery techniques so go at him hard and try to knock him off the side ‘See, Wem "ës, “ow. | he with every hit. Keeping all of the enemies at bay is a good strategy. Tevel 3 Sector Z Bonus Game - Targets Link shows off a (aboard Great Fox) continuous combo.These work well against the CPU Any opponent can be slugged from this Super Smash Brothers comes equipped with several interesting multiplayer modes. Team up or compete in an all out battle royal. Most of Super Smash Brothers play will come through this mode. Even without friends, computer enemies (with adjustable Al) can take you on. to level-based events. Classic Mushroom Kingdom - Beat the game on Normal with every character. Sound Test — Conquer all of the Bonus 1 and 2 challenges. Steal A Life — |f you lose all of your lives in a multiplayer match, simply press Start to steal a life from a teammate (who is hopefully a good friend). A little bit of the classic vibe is hidden in Smash Brothers. Alternate costumes can be accessed by pressing the C Buttons. Wr Me NEC U T9 359 Level 5 - Yamabuki City 01315 Bonus 2 - Platforms Level 8 - Planet Zebes & em Destroy all the targets in one fell swoop to receive bonus points! Level 4 — Mario Brothers This fight can be disastrous, as the outcome often lies in the hands of a random partner. Mario and Luigi share the same moves and agility, and yes, they can easily overpower any character. Try to keep them separated. Level 5 — Pikachu The tiny platforms will work for and against you. Keep on him and don't let the surprise guests hidden behind the door destroy a good run against Pika. Level 6 - Giant Donkey Kong You'll need to rack up over 300% on this guy if you want to get rid of him. Luckily, you have two helpers and a ton of items to do it with. Bonus Game - Platforms Bounce on all of the platforms to get points. Level 7 — Kirby Team These guys never let up. Hit them with long range attacks, keeping them off your back. Level 8 - Samus Aran Again, long range attack will hurt Samus early. She's also very vulnerable to the rising lava pit. Keep her off balance and she's toast. Level 9 - Bonus Game - Obstacles Run to the finish and you'll get...points!!! Level 10 — Clone Team Use the same technique you did with the many faces of Yoshi. Stand in one place and destroy 'em all. Level I! -The Hand Relax and let this enemy attack for a chance. After each attack, hit the glove with an attack. Repeat this process. Note: After the glove's hit points drop below 100, some attacks will change. Counter with caution! C H A HA CIE Rn S ELE C T The beast is back, and he's marked his territory as the ! | biggest and strongest character in Super Smash Brothers. | Donkey Kong is aggressive and agile. Many of his moves | lead to fabulous juggles (like the Coconut Shaker to the | Tornado Kong). The only weakness you'll encounter with 4 this goliath is staying on solid ground. Some of DK's moves will send him flying. You gotta be on the ball with this chimperific donkey ape. Ah yes. The mighty Ganon slayer. Link comes equipped ff | with several moves from Ocarina of Time. Oddly though, in | his adult form, Link can throw the Boomerang, where he | couldn't in his latest N64 adventure. Even with this f inconsistency, Link is Game Informer's most admired 1 Super Smash Brother character. Heel Kick — (air) A x Ankle Swipe ~ Down, A Slice & Dice ~ A, A, A Death Stab ~ (air) Down, A Unlimited Swipes ~ A, A, A, A (rapidly ` Your Mamma ~ (air) Back, A Super Overhead Chop - Forward A ` Boomerang - B (can be directed H + L) Helicopter Spin ~ (air) A Airplane Kick ~ (air) Back, A . Smash Bash - A, A Banana Kick ~ Dash + A . Ape Slap ~ Forward + A (can be directed Windup Punch ~ B, B or A H +L) Super Windup Punch ~ B (charge Double Fist - (air) Forward + A 9 seconds), B Overhead Chop ~ Forward, A .. Boomerang Chuck - Forward + B Hook Punch ~ Forward, A Quick Evade - B, Left or Right Spinning Slice - (air) Forward, A | Fire Spin a Up +B Earthquake Clap ~ Up + A Air Windup - (air) B, B or A Lunging Stab ~ Dash+A ` -Rising Fire Spin — (air) Up + B Big Wave - Up, A Coconut Shaker - Down B Sword Juggle - Up +A Bombs ~ Down + B Air Wave ~ (air) Up, A Tornado Kong - Up + B Uppercut Stab ~ (air) Up + A Hook & Knee - Right Button +Any Breakdance Kick - Down +A Air Tornado Kong - (air) Up + B Underhand Chop ~ Up, A Button ` Ankle Slap ~ Down, A A Monkey Thang Toss ~ Right Button + Heel Kick ~ (air) Down, A Any Button : Super Heel Kick — (air) Down, Down, A Home Run Toss ~ Right Button + Back Falling Uppercut Stab ~ (air) Up, A . Hook & Kick ~ Right Button + Back Fury Swipe ~ Down +A Fake Slash ~ Left Button Mr. Flabby Wabby proves that he’s not just the platform king, but a masterful combatant as well. Mario blends his acquired skills from the original Super Mario and the latest | adventure, Mario 64, into a new martial arts style — Mario | Mantis. His hypnotic sideburns and annoying voice can à intimidate the strong willed Samus and even the absent ` There can be only one. Fox McCloud presents the best | composition on the battle field, but his fox fu could use - Some work. Without his Arwing, Fox relies on basic martial | arts, a mysterious butt flame, and a laser gun to guide him | to victory. | Karate Fox - (air) A Tall Sweep — minded Kong. Left to Right - A, A Down, A Heel Kick = (air) A Power Sweep ~ Down +A Chun-Li Assault = A, A, A (rapidly) Helicopter — (air) Down, A Mario 64 Combo ~ A, A, A Low Spin Kick ~ (air) Down +A Double Twirl — Forward + A Double Back - (air) Back, A Power Punch - Forward +A (canbe Sweep ~ Down, A Straight Kick ~ Forward, A (can be Pink Laser ~ B directed H + L) Hind Kick ~ (air) Back, A directed H or L) Force Field -- Down + B (can be used as Spin Kick ~ (air) Forward +A Fireball ~ B Air Twirl ~ (air) Forward, A short range blast) Round House - Forward, A Coin Uppercut ~ Up + B Slide ~ Dash + A Flame Launch ~ Up + B Slide Kick ~ Dash +A Mini Coin Punch ~ (air) Up + B Flip Kick ~ Up +A Directional Flame Launch - (air) Up + B, Headbutt-Up+A Tornado Punch - Down + B Overhead Kick - Up, A Any CUR Flip Kick - (air) Up + A Toss - Right Button + Any Button Rising Kick = (air) Up, A Dee hen r) Uppercut - Up, A | Spinning Toss - Right Button, Back Double Splits - Down +A Roll Throw — Right Button + Back Se Í Suck it up fuzzball. Kirby (aka Sir Creamadelic) loves to get [| his lips (and entire mouth) around the opposition. His | EX suspiciously pink body shouldn't be underestimated. Kirby | is really one mean sucka. His moves are lethal. His instincts | EM are fast. And his attitude rotten. But most impressive of all, A" if he gobbles you up, then prepare to be assaulted by a insieme familiar move, as Kirby can mimic one move from a digested - Pikachu is easy to love, but hard to kill. His electrical assault of moves can startle and overtake every opponent in the game. He lacks the ability to land fast hits at close range, | but Pikachu's Teleport can grant a safe firing distance. He's | one tough little cookie that has the ability to charm and warm your heart. Then, he'll turn around and stab you in the back, poke out your eyes, then eat them for lunch. opponent. Flat Toe = (air) A Ground Hell - Down + A Pokekick = (air) A Sweep ~ Down, A Punchy Wunchy = A, A Toe Poke ~ Down, A Headbutt ~ A Downward Spark Twirl — (air) Down, A Unlimited Punch — A, A, A (rapidly) Twirly Whirly ~ (air) Down, A Upchuck Spark ~ Forward +A Yellow Foot ~ (air) Back, A Lunge Kick ~ Forward +A Stretch Kick ~ (air) Back, A Hind Kick — Forward, A Electric Spit - B Spin Kick = Forward, A Suck & Release ~ B, A Spark Twirl ~ (air) Forward, A Electric Blast ~ Down + B Side Twirl ~ (air) Forward, A Suck & Absorb ~ B, Down or B Awkward Lunge ~ Dash + A Teleport ~ Up + B (can be directed in two Slide ~ Dash +A Block Maneuver ~ Down + B Tail Spin ~ Up +A directions) Flip Kick - Up + A Rising Energy Slash — Up + B TallSwipe-Up A Flip Toss — Right Button + Any Button Overshoulder Kick ~ Up, A Pile Driver ~ Right Button + Any Button Tail Around ~ (air) Up, A Shock Toss ~ Right Button + Back Spinner ~ (air) Up, A Overhead Slam ~ Right Button + Back Power Sweep ~ Down +A x 14 Samus shows why she deserves her own N64 game. Her attacks are unique, loaded with variety, and her powered armor looks even more stunning in 3D. Her Bombs, Energy Blasts, and evasive maneuvers make her a real pain to fight and a joy to play as. Metroid fans will play as no one other than Ms. Aran. Overhead Kick ~ (air) A Metal Punches - A, A Rising Barrel — (air) Down, A Power Kick - (air) Back, A Barrel Smash — Forward + A (can be Energy Ball — B, Bor A directed H + L) Mega Energy Ball — B (charge for 6 Roundhouse Kick - Forward, A (canbe ^ seconds), B directed L) Fake Energy Ball - B, Back Air Flame - (air) Forward, A Tuck & Kill - Up + B Shoulder - Dash + A Mini Tuck + Kill ~ (air) Up + B Flame On - Up +A Bombs ~ Down + B (2 on-screen at once) Rising Twist Kick — (air) Up + A Grapple & Toss - Right Button + Any Heel Pound - Up, A Button Twist Kick - (air) Up, A Grapple & No Look - Right Button + Lightning Sweep - Down + A Back Sweep -- Down, A (Simply beat the game to get this stud.) We expected this character to be a real loser (like Jeff Gordon) and an even bigger wuss in combat (also like Jeff Gordon). But nothing could be further from the truth. Captain Falcon conducts fire as well as Darth Vader does the Force. Captain Falcon commands several powerful attacks and shows no real signs of weakness. He's a trooper. Heel — (air) A Power Sweep ~ Down +A Racing Fists ~ A, A, A Toe Tap - Down, A Bucket O' Punches — A, A, A, A (rapidly) Heel Slam ~ (air) Down, A Flame Kick — Forward + A Backhand - (air) Back, A Kick — Forward, A Falcon Punch - B or Forward + B Double Kicks — (air) Forward, A Flip Grab — Up + B Cold Shoulder — Dash + A Falcon Kick — Down + B Elbow Spin - Up +A Diagonal Falcon Kick ~ (air) Down + B Overhead Kick ~ Up, A Face Slam — Right Button + Any Button Flip Kick ~ (air) Up, A Grab & Kick ~ Right Button + Back (Simply beat the game to add her to the list.) There are over 150 Pokemon, and Nintendo picks Purin as a playable character. Oh man, we want to trade her (we hope it's a she) for a Squirtle. Oh mammal!!! Purin really doesn’t do a darn thing. She sings, sleeps, and occasionally lands a hit. Most of the time though, she’s the one taking a beating. Flat Foot — (air) A Slap Slap - A, A Body Lunge ~ Forward +A Kick ~ Forward, A Two Foot Kick ~ (air) Forward, A Rambutt ~ Dash + A Face Lunge ~ Up +A Back Kick ~ Up, A Slow Slap - (air) Up, A Blowing Steam - Down A Ducking Kick - Down, A Cute Twirl Thing — (air) Down, A Spin Kick ~ (air) Back, A Boom Punch ~ B Sleep ~ Down + B (serves no purpose) Sing To Sleep ~ Up + B Toss ~ Right Button + Any Button Reverse Slam ~ Right Button + Back A huge arse tongue is always fun to play with, and as always, Yoshi delivers the best tongue control on the N64. With what has been measured to be a three foot tongue (wow!!!), Yoshi can lick, suck, and swallow every opponent in the game. What for? The upper hand. Opponents who gestate in the green gut will surely take a beating shortly after as they return to the battle field in an egg, holding them for four seconds. In that time, Yoshi can beat away. Toe To Toe - A, A Sweep — Down, A Headbutt — Forward + A (can be directed Million Billion Kicks — (air) Down, A H +L) Swoosh - (air) Back, A Da Boot ~ Forward, A (can be directed H Tongue Action ~ B (egg can be attacked) + L) Egg Sacrifice ~ Up + B (charge for longer Headbuttsault ~ (air) Forward, A pio por | Raptor Charge ~ Dash + A Green Crush — Down + B Whoa! Butt — Up +A Accurate Green Crush - (air) Down + B Underheadbutt — Up, A Saliva Toss — Right Button + Any Button Up & Over - (air) Up, A Saliva Heave — Right Button + Back Vacinity Sweep - Down +A Hidden Characters To add each of these characters to the selectable list, you will first need to show your skills and beat them in one round of combat. Simply follow the instructions for each character to make it to these important encounters. (Beat the Bonus 1 challenge with each character. This feat can be accomplished through the training mode.) Except for two slight differences, Luigi's move list is exactly the same as Mario’s. Luigi has always stepped lightly and far behind his brother footsteps. Super Smash Brothers allows Luigi to take the initiative and seek revenge. Pit him against Mario for a good ol’ beat on the brother game of death. Go get ‘im Luigi, we always wanted you to end up with Toadstool...er...the Princess. Afraid Yet Brave ~ Dash A Low G Fireball - B (Beat the game on Normal with three lives and without continuing.) He stars in one off the wall SNES RPG, then he ends up as only one of twelve Nintendo characters selected for this fighter. Go figure! He beat out Bowser, Toadstool, Ganon, Wario, Princess, that annoying fairy from Zelda 64, Robby the Robot, and Ken Griffey, Jr. But after stepping into his shoes for a few rounds you understand why he made it. He’s one tough little kid with some awesome firepower under his belt. Two Legged ~ (air) A Triple Combo ~ A, A, A Toe Kick — Down, A Bat Attack ~ Forward + A Vertical Toe — (air) Down, A Lunge Kick — Forward, A (can be directed Reverse Kick - (air) Back, A H +L) PK Fire - B Flying Uppercut - (air) Forward, A Angle PK Fire ~ (air) B Das Hand —- Dash + A Shield ~ Down + B Yo-Yo Fling - Up +A PK Thunder ~ Up + B (controlled with Jubilation Jump — Up, A directions) Airborne Headbutt ~ (air) Up, A Spin Throw ~ Right Button + Any Button Around the World - Down + A c Arts’ Need series Keeps on truckin' for the Electroni but PlayStation. Each title i mm also expanded upo have come before look like roa arison. igh Stakes is simu eased in the Un still further on Game Informer: what improvements and additions have been put into Need For Speed: High Stakes? Tony Parkes: what we do with every product in a series !S look at press and ^ — U public reaction, listening to the b Y . criticisms that everyone has. One of the complaints about NFS I! EE NM was that the depth of play Aston Martin m m e, wasn't massive, especially com- Dngz "* m pared to the other products out there. People wanted more cars, realistic physics, and basically a lot more tun features. This year, We totally overhauled the visuals and the physics engine. We know there are a lot of people out there who just want to have a quick race, aS well as those who want to earn all the available cars, so We looked at the game in two forms- On one side, there are the more arcade-type modes, like Test Drive and Hot Pursuit. Test Drive has more limited options and tracks, put all the s are available to try out. On the deeper side is the career mo car where each race earns you money to repair your car 0 economy, features and better cars. We wanted to add consequences for bad driving, and having to pay for repairs makes a person learn pretty quick. Gi: Will players still be able to choose the easier arcade driving, model to avoid taking S° much damage? TP: No, we put a lot of effort into one physics model for all modes. It’s pretty easy to drive, but very realistic. But if someone wants to just have some fun without aftermath, damage can be switched off in the single Race mode. Gi: With the money you earn, what will you be able to do besides repait damage and buy new cars? TP: A lot. we really W ( 16 A t * April '99 i anted to give players a feeling of not only consequences; eature u off with just From there . You buy another cat, and race the car add engine upgrades, improve and mess around with the han cars in different ways. e upgrade for a i you see an engine upgrade in isible, too. When you adjust the sus example, Corvette. All the modifications are vi the car lower in the showroom window. if we were poth racing Mercedes d, Vd be able to see the difference. a dent? was upgrade uring, a race besides making a car. We could have done it, having to drive a heap ormance lowered where the car is damaged. W you nt end, your acceleration and top -tail around cor- hit, it might fish e to compensate for Gi: What will damage do to your car d 0% from collisions, hav ine car and sm speed get lowered. But if the bac ners. W a player is using analog © the pull that side damage causes. ash in the fro k were to get ontrols, then they'll hav player? wrecking my cal with Knockout expert. | was racin the entry fee an show for it. Gi: Are there some easier races where you could slowly but surely e TP: Oh yeah. One is a world-wide open race tour. It’s low r pair and an easy race There are six tournaments and seven special events, like roadster clas ly. What's really ` meat about the special events is you can Win tricked out, T some “ We zm : | > the crowning jewels '. totally e which cars to nclude as options? overhauled on having 4 proader range of € s t he visuals CRW this time aroun whi TP: We tried to focus i. We d and the physics engine. »» yao um m ja = | Jaguar™ XKR™ = * š Eo 1 decided it was better to spend our Bou o rebira™ m “m PW tine having incredibly detai ' Pontiac" Firebird features instead. We could have done it, but all the Consumer Would have Sotten was NFS III With cool dashboards. Users that the cars are being taken off the memory Cards. At the end of the race, the Winner Bets a Congratulation SCreen, displaying the loser’s Car he’s d uU =“ McLaren FI GTR = ` all and then blowing Fe eces, because that rably on their doing if you know how to listen, ) SR : * Ferrari F50™ E: insi v > ~ o Ct , m. 8 = i i N 2 Ë 2 T WHAT'S HOT * TECH TALK + MUTATION NASHUN « COMIC WATCH + TOP TEN * TRIVIA + NAME THAT GAME! WHAT'S HOT * TECH TALK * MUTA FS AP - i BAL 3 pe oa £ Y Taani After DE debuted Resident Evil: Codename Veronica for the Dreamcast, (N PlayStation owners went nuts and demanded that a sequel be developed for their console SE of choice. Word out of Capcom Japan is that a new Resident Evil is in fact on the way for the PlayStation. But don't expect this new adventure to be the third installment in the best-selling series. Instead, the next installment lined up for the PlayStation is a surprising prequel that takes place just 24 hours before Resident Evil 2. Resident Evil X (working title) is rumored to utilize the same engine from RE 2 and will likely release in Japan this November. No other information has been issued yet, but don't be surprised if this adventure delivers multiple characters and quests like the other two before it. Existing survival horror experts like Barry, Rebecca, Chris, Jill, and Brad are likely candidates for the starring roles. Resident Evil X could possibly draw plot points from the novel Resident Evil Caliban Cove, which is set between the two existing Resident Evil games. To be sure, the heroes of Resident Evil X will do battle against the depraved Umbrella Corporation. Ó Game Informer * April '99 : NAME THAT GAME! + WHAT'S HOT * e COMIC WATCH * T us unguis” Sony Dishes Up the Next PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI) served up an international appetizer for the company's next home console system and will present the second course in Japan weeks after this publication goes to press. News of the next PlayStation has been circulating for many months, but concrete chip specifications were presented by SCEI at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference. Although SCEI and subsidiary Sony Computer Entertainment America futilely attempted to mask the fact, they just dished up the inner workings of what many at Sony are calling "PlayStation 2." The chipset of the next PlayStation, a joint collaboration between SCEI and Toshiba Corporation code-named the Emotion Engine, is actually a series of microprocessors. At the core of the Emotion Engine is a 128-bit CPU that clocks in at 250Mhz and also includes an MPEG2 decoder. SCEI executives have hinted at DVD compatibility for the PlayStation 2, and the MPEG2 capabilities found within the main CPU can serve the DVD function. To put this in perspective, Sega's new Dreamcast has a 64- bit CPU that clocks in at 200Mhz. Of course, specs mean little without a solid lineup of software — Sega has the head start in that department, but Sony will unveil more in the near future. Sony is just getting the stove hot and will serve a more substantial (and offi- cial) PlayStation 2 meal in Japan. Early in March, Sony is scheduled to uncover many more details concerning the PlayStation 2. The com- pany is planning a huge media event in Tokyo, where development footage will be revealed. Whether the footage is of actual gameplay or just some computer generated fluff remains to be seen. At press time, Sony neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the PlayStation 2, but Game Informer will have a representative at Sony's Tokyo event when the lid (a very transparent one) is blown off Sony's PlayStation 2 crockpot. Stay tuned, as next issue will have even more information on the next system from Sony. e 128-bit Microprocessor e 250 MHz microprocessor with 128b multimedia extensions e 10 floating-point multiplier accu- mulators e Four floating-point dividers * An MPEG2 decoder e Contains 10.5 million transistors PlayStation Prehistoric Evil At this year’s annual Tokyo Game Show, Capcom Entertalnment debuted Dino Crisis, a free-roaming adventure of prehis- toric proportions for PlayStation. Dino Crisis is the next Survival Horror game developed by Resident Evil mastermind, Shinji Mikami. This adventure toys with gamers’ emotions in the same manner as Resident Evil. But don’t expect to be startled by a zombie in the piano room. Think more along the lines of raptors jumping out of bushes and tyrannosaurs streaking across valleys. Dino Crisis inspires fear and introduces gamers to the next female video game star, Regina, a government agent and all around good-looking muffin. The story is set in the not-so distant future and takes place on the supposedly uninhab- ited Ibis Island. Here, secret experiments have been taking place for years. One night though, something goes wrong, unlocking a dimensional portal to the prehistoric world. Now, Regina has been issued the greatest of assignments: travel to the island and find out what went wrong. As expected, the dinosaurs aren't the best of hosts. They’ll toy with you, disarm you, and even follow your trails of blood. Dino Crisis’ gameplay is ferocious and loaded with action. Throw switches, sneak with caution, and blow those dinosaur aliens back to the stone age. Capcom says that Dino Crisis will be playable at this year’s E3, and should hit retail shelves in the fall. Stay tuned. Visual Concepts’ Dreamcast Lineup Clothes may not necessarily make the man, but software always makes (or breaks) a new console system. Knowing this, Sega is doing everything in its power to make sure that the Dreamcast will have many a gaming gem for its U.S. launch. One fortunate Gl reporter had the opportunity to see what Visual Concepts has cooking for Sega and brought back the dirt on a few of its Dreamcast titles that will hit America come kick off. x Floigin Bros. is a 1-player adventure /mystery title set in the 1920's jazz era. The main characters are the two Floigin brothers — one strong and stupid, the other short and smart. The game was heavy on animations, many of them amusing, and all fantastic looking. For example, when the smaller brother tries to force open a door, the player watches him grow exasperated in a dozen positions rather than opening the door in the same way over and over. At only 30%, this title was graphically second only to Sonic Adventure, and should be amazing upon completion. On the inevitable sports side of things come NFL Football and NBA Basketball (working titles), both currently 15% completed. The spectators and sideline crowd in both were incredible. Each person is individually animated, rather than just part of a painted backdrop. Camera crew, bench warmers, and crazed fans can all be seen doing their thing. Collision on the football title was also impressive, to say the least. The game not only takes into consideration at what height a player is being struck (high, middle, or low), but also from which of eight directions and at what depth a tackle is made. A close-diving tackle to the mid-section will fold a player in half, but a long and low dive will be easily skipped away from. If these titles deliver in their final form, and if other developers are working as hard as Visual Concepts, the future of Sega's Dreamcast looks like a profitable one. Game Informer * April '99 Games for April @ Beetle Adventure Racing - N64 @ Tenchu - PS-X @ Street Fighter Alpha 3 - PS-X @ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64 @ Legend of Legaia - PS-X @ Sega Rally 2 - DC @ Syphon Filler - PS-X © Guardian e Crusade - PS-X @ Super Smash Bros. - N64 @ Final Fantasy VIII - PS-X Games for April © MediEvil - PS-X @ Pokemon - GB € Tomb Raider Ill: The Adventures of Lara Croft - PS-X @ Crash Bandicoot: Warped - PS-X @ Turok 2: Seeds of Evil - N64 € Rogue Squadron - N64 @ Metal Gear Solid - PS-X @ GoldenEye 007 - N64 @ Gran Turismo ~ PS-X @ The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — N64 Top Ten Job Openings at Game Informer @ Plastic surgeon specializing in pectoral implants. © Boot licker. @ Cartridge and disc maintenance engineer (someone to blow on ‘em). @ Swedish Masseuse. @ A bartender specializing in sloe gin mixes and other fruity libations. @ Pokemon wrangler (strangler position also available). @ Someone to witch-slap the Game Hombre when he whines about not understanding Japanese again. @ Joystick technician. @ Linguist specializing in the various forms of, “kiss off". Q Reviewer (of crappy games). Game Informer is looking for your Top Ten favorite games. Please send your Top Tens to: Game Informer Magazine Attn: Top Ten 10120 West 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Everyone that enters every month will be entered in a drawing to win a GI Secret Access T-Shirt! So get writing! eo Game Informer * April '99 * TOP TEN + TRIVIA + NAME T GAME! > Gran Turismo 2 Unveiled! Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that Gran Turismo 2 will launch worldwide this summer. Its PlayStation predeces- sor, Gran Turismo, has the distinction of being the best-selling racing game of all time. As of December 1998, 6.2 million Gran Turismos have been shipped, and it's still selling well. Heck, even Gl is on the Turismo bandwagon, calling it the best racing game of 1998 and the 4th best PlayStation game of all time. What will the second in the series do to measure up? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sony is having Gran Turismo 2 developed and produced by Polyphony Digital, the creators of the original. The plan is to build upon the original, adding around 250 more cars and 9 more tracks. That's going to bring the grand total to almost 400 vehicles (with more European and American models getting in there) and 20 racing courses. Automotive authenticity will be aided by recorded audio of actual cars and Dual Shock compatibility. Game Informer will definitely have more on this highly anticipated sequel. Countdown to 2001 - Final Fantasy: The Movie In the year 2065, science has analyzed life and death, deciding that life is expressed as a form of energy. But what does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to die? In life, all things and all people die; therefore, we must all live with the knowledge that we will one day be separated from our loved ones. This is the heart-warming message that the director of Final Fantasy: The Movie, Hironobu Sakaguchi, wants to convey in his soon-to-be released, feel- good movie of the year. Being created at Square USA’s Honolulu studio, Sakaguchi hopes that his fully digitized film conglomerate, which unites console gaming with the big screen, will touch the imagination of many generations and set the viewer on an exciting voyage of personal discovery. Backing up Sakaguchi’s emotional aspirations is a power- house of a team. The scriptwriter, Al Reinert, was nominated for an academy award for his writing work on Apollo 13. Michael Gibson, associate director, was the graphics supervisor of Tron (the first movie with digital computer graphics) and Alien 3. Between them, producers Akio Sakai and Jun Aida have had their hands in numerous arcade hits and over 80 home game titles, including Street Fighter and MegaMan. They have also produced the Street Fighter movie and the animated TV series Street Fighter, MegaMan, and DarkStalkers for the U.S. market. All this sounds nice on paper, but will it deliver on the screen? G/ was lucky enough to have Square reps show us a short clip from the film (not the one circulating the net), and we must say that it was impressive. In fact, considering that we were told that things have been improved from what we saw, it was quite awe-inspiring. Final Fantasy: The Movie will be released first in the United States sometime in the year 2001. Prepare to dream digitally. WHAT'S H OT + TECH L mis r = Game Informer's HUN + COMIC WATCH . TOP TEN + TRIVIA + NAME CERA GAME! + i » TECH TALK + MUTA te 0’ The Mon h Nintendo Revises — First-Half Lineup e Nintendo has revised and revamped its | g^. x —— first-half game lineup. As reported last month, the | - T j big N is ramping up an impressive list of games for NI both the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. Speaking of Game Boy Color, Nintendo has unveiled four new colors that will accompany the already released purple and translucent purple GBCs. Also worth noting are Pokémon Pinball and Bass Fishing. These two titles will be the first to include the Game Boy Color rumble feature that is built into the game cartridge. Additionally, Pokémon fanatics will be treated with a game for N64, Pokémon Snap. In the game, players scour the world in search of the extremely elusive Pokémon creatures. Armed with a camera, a player will attempt to snap a picture of every monster in the game. Pokémon Snap Uu pt nou Gaming Intelligence Agency http://www.gaming-intelligence.com/ This new upstart gaming site, run by Brian Glick, Game Boy Color Game Boy Color units: I ; ; N 64 " it Bros. — April 26 e Conker’s Pocket Tales - March 22 e Berry, Kiwi, gg z We TE gh an iech ° Tetris 64 — April 26 ° Griffey Baseball 2 — May 10 Dandelion, Win an OMENS ET strategy. ana EUR ° Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball 2 — May 10 e Pokémon Pinball — May 10 Teal — May 10 games, ° Star Wars: Eplsode 1 — May 24 * Super Mario Bros. — May 10 e Jet Force Gemini — June 14 ° Bass Fishing — June 28 e° Command & Conquer — June 28 ° R-Type DX - June 28 e Pokémon Snap — June 28 Sony To Publish Enix RPG Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that it will be publishing Enix's critically acclaimed RPG, Star Ocean: The Second Story in the United States. This @ What vector arcade classic is being revised by Activision for Game Boy Color? ® In millions, how many copies of Final Fantasy VIII were sold on its first day of PlayStation RPG, which is similar in art style to Saga Frontier 2, stars two main characters: Crawd C. us release in Japan? and Lena Lanford. Depending on which is chosen as the player's primary character, subplots, character @ What snazzy new case colors will the encounters, and special events will all be different. Action-based fighting sequences round out this deep Game Boy Color sport come May 10? title. Star Ocean: The Second Story will release this June. @ What is the name of Take Two's new subsidiary that will handle all their “cutting edge” games. Hint: think Kip Winger and Sebastian Bach. Tidbits on WWF Attitude WWF Attitude for the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation is looking at a late spring release. There will be over 55 wrestlers to choose from, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, all of D-Generation X, and The Rock (sending you to Smack Down Hotel). New specialty matches will include Lumberjack, King of the Ring, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble, all in new arena environments. New entrances, music, select and save sets of moves, and fighting on the way back to the dressing rooms will also be added. df ARENT ere Other things to look forward to: An expanded Create-a- | — Wrestler with customizable gender, strength, endurance, costume, body type, entrances, and taunts. Plus, there are over 400 moves, including trademark finishing moves (such as Rock Bottom and the Corporate Elbow). Then, there is two-man commentary featuring Jerry “The King" Lawler and Shane McMahon, an improved Training mode, multiple camera angles, and special cheats and codes. @ What game line did Magnavox release for the now ancient Odyssey 2 that came packaged with both a board game and a cartridge that could be played together? [Answers on the bottom of page 28] *| Neo-Geo Pocket Color Coming to U.S. e | SNK has plans to bring the Neo-Geo Pocket Color system to the good ole U.S. of A. With a summer release date in mind, SNK hopes to eventually release all of its Japanese titles for the system through SNK U.S. The color unit will look essentially the same as the black This horrific gem was developed by and white Neo-Geo Pocket, the main difference being a 2.6 NEC for its Turbobrafx-16 Entertainment inch color screen. Using two AA batteries, the Neo-Geo SuperSystem and released in 1990. It quickly se Pocket Color will be able to play all games that the black new standards in gaming gore quotients, Playing 2 and white can and vice versa. The only non-compatibility hockey-masked Jason wannabe, you wander ec issue is that some color games will not link with players on the West Mansion in search of your girlfriend a black and white. killing zombies and whatnot with your trusty two The Neo-Geo Pocket Color will be released in Japan on by four along the way. What game is it? March 19th, with a summer U.S. release to follow. [Answer on the bottom of page 28] King of Fighters R-2 Game Informer * April "99 © fa G HAT'S HOT + TECH TALK + Data File: , et | te toner is currently Morin NFL Xtreme 2 and Jet Moto 3. No official release dates were announced for these two sequels, but they are both likely to appear on the PlayStation this fall. » Sega executive vice-president Sadahlko Hirose stated that current Dreamcast sales projections should have the machine at the one million mark for the end of March. Hirose also states that by June there will have been two million DC units sold in Japan. The company hopes to sell over four million Dreamcast machines by the end of March 2000. »- Mortal Kombat: Special Forces will be a PlayStation and Nintendo 64 title that should see the light of day some time in November. It will be a Tomb Ralderesque game during explo- ration, but will switch to a fighting mode for melees. » GT interactive has filed a civil complaint against Midway Games, Inc. to the tune of at least $35 million. »- Ubi Soft Entertainment and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment inked a licensing agreement to create con- sole adventures for DC Comics’ dark icon, Batman. Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation owners can all look forward to some kind of Batman title for their system from this dynamic software duo. Bruce Wayne was unavailable for comment. » Eidos Interactive, publishers of the Tomb Ralder series, has announced that it has signed a three-year deal with Video System to allow Eidos to distrib- ute a PlayStatlon and PC CD-ROM Formula One game based on the FIA Formula One World Champlonshlp. » Pokémaniacs will now be able to get a Saturday morning chunk of Pokémon on Kids’ WBI In the fall, Pokémon moves to six days a week on WB. » Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that 17 million PlayStations have sold in North America and the company had a record- breaking holiday season with over 4 million systems sold. To date, over 50 million PlayStations have been shipped worldwide. Now that's a lotta PlayStations! »- Hasbro Interactive announced it signed a non-exclusive agreement with NASCAR to develop family and chil- dren's software for all platforms. »- Crave Entertalnment has acquired the publishing rights to Eldos Interactive's Fighting Force 64. Ó Game Informer * April '99 MUTATION NASHUN A (N WS Me » ee a 7 e iN: * NAME THAT GAME! « Ze." E WHAT'S HOT * ea, * COMIC WATCH P4 y TECH TALK * MUTA * TOP TEN * TRIVIA w Things are quickly getting out of control. Turning video game characters into tangible figures is not a new concept, but recently the practice has blossomed into a full-fledged consumer onslaught. Last February at the annual Toy Fair in New York City, many of the new toys were unveiled. Take a look to see what’s cool and what deserves to be tossed in a toxic dump. The Turok line is the last one we'd like to look at. But let's make it brief. These are some of the lamest figures we have ever seen. Is that lipstick on that T-Rex? Turok 2: Seeds of Evil was chock-full of excellent looking enemies, which for some reason weren't transformed into plastic, while that dinosaur -. in drag was. ReSaurus, one of the best, is the company behind Crash Bandicoot Series 2. Featuring characters from Crash Bandicoot: Warped, it includes personalities like Roman Tiny, N. Tropy, Dead Crash, High Flying Crash, Deep Dive , Crash, Moto Crash, Wave Runner Coco, Dingodile (a.k.a. The Rubinagavinasaurus), and N. Gin. In addition to these plastic Crash toys, there will also be a series of 4 plush, bean bag toys. Tiny, yet huggable, these toys pale in comparison to their plastic brethren. Look for both lines of toys to emerge this summer. The talented hands of ReSaurus are responsible for sculpting another series. The cool thing about the Gex line is that the figures are sold in pairs with a number of accessories. There are four sets, each with Gex and one of his enemies. One features Moo Shoo Pork and Grandmaster Gex along with a Chinese take-out box, nunchucks, and a cattle prod. Next is The Sarge and Private Gex along with an M1 rifle, grenade, first-aid F4. kit, and pistol. The third pair is a skeleton pirate Wa and Long John Gex along with a saber, treasure chest, and a cutlass. The last set is Gex’s long time enemy, Rez, and Secret Agent Gex along with a Walther PPK and sunglasses. Look for these gems in the mam second quarter. Toy B Biz | is making a line of figures featuring Diddy Kong, Banjo, and Wiz Pig in the first launch. Each will come packaged with a weapon or action accessory. Rumor has it that a few more characters from the Diddy Kong and Mario Kart lines will appear this winter. Toy Biz is also working on a Resldent Evil line. Leon and Claire are already available, but look for more this summer. Like the Gex line, these figures are sold in pairs: Ada Wong and Ivy, Sherry and William Birkin, Mr. X and Tyrant Transformation Mr. X, and Hunk and Zombie. The Tomb Raider line of toys is brought to us by Playmates. In all, there are eight figures in three sizes: six, nine, and twelve inches. All of the six inch figures should be out this June. Three of them will go for around $10 including Lara facing a Bengal in an ancient ruin, Lara encountering a great white in a sunken ship, and Lara escaping a yeti while rapelling down a cliff. The other six inch figure will £o for about $20 and features Lara in a bomber jacket, atop a motorbike, cruis- ing down a London street. There are three nine inch figures that will retail for about $20. Lara in her wet suit is already da available. April will see Lara in her classic jungle outfit = and in July, Lara will bust out of the Area 51 prison. : Also in July will be the Ila. debut of a 12 inch talking * Kä Lara figure featuring fabric $ clothing, rooted hair, and hundreds of phrgmes. f= Long "d LADY e / le d WL onana pƏA18S81 sSluBu jy "uoneroossy asemyos EI eAnoeiejul əy} JO »xyeujepej e SI uoo! sunei au | `dioO HOSO Jo Muppen palasia e sı S6 GjewopurA “uj jueuureueju3 sajndwog Auos jo syew app pə1əlsI6ə1 ase sofo| uorejsAe|g ay} pue uoneisÁelgd `diusiguueq paw 26 93d pue diusieuued pawi 93d 9664 © 9U) Ae1-01u4 Áq pesn yewapesy pə1əlsI6ə1 e si @ SOLIHA 8661 OU] ‘ODISdeaq © 'suodg [eed Aq padojanaq ‘ouj suodsioloW OF 8661 @ souge) osy jo xreuiepen P SI w,Huloey SX @uopios por "uoneiodio2 sHIOMYOS ueonawy 8661 © ‘UOHeIOdIOD syiomyog ueoueuly jo xJeuiepe pexejsiBaJ e si @soweg 0SV WODBUJIeISKUOPUOH Jal MMM + ug3'saugtiasg MMM > uoneisÁeld WL WO-09 Jd : S6 gSMOPUIM A8 qado13A3q Hd ODE J0 ssaaxa ui spaads je Sued Aq Builj jo ugijeJepnpxa Guipunod-asind ay} pue U01103 awosame ‘paads sy 200 TUM io aiit a, uw. E ui i á AT'S HOT + TECH TALK + MUTATION NASHUN + COMIC WATCH + TOP TEN * TRIVIA * NAME THAT GAM i Bn £ Fer . ifm MGR OMM AW: ASLII Gets New Name, Facelift ASCII Entertainment Software (AES) announced that it is creating a wholly owned subsidiary, called AGETEC. AGETEC, an acronym for ASCII Game Entertainment Technology, will basically handle all of the games that ASCII used to do, allowing ASCII to go fishing and catch up on the housework. "Under the AGETEC banner we'll continue to focus on creating the best game experience possible for our customers," said Hide ire, president of both companies. "We have our finger on the pulse of the gaming market, and AES' successful hard- ware and software track record is the perfect springboard for AGETEC as we head into 1999 with the strongest line-up in our history." The AGETEC lineup is as follows: R-Types, Echo Night, Shadow Tower, Clock Tower Il: The Struggle Within, Fighter Maker, and Rising Zan, all for PlayStation, and AlrBoardin’ USA for Nintendo 64. it should be an interesting year indeed for the AGETEC guys. Let's hope they drop some great goods on us in 1999. UGLY! Midway Unveils Ready 2 Rumble! Midway announced the upcoming release of its first officially announced Dreamcast game, Ready 2 Rumble. This boxing extravaganza, Di which will also appear on PlayStation and gett Nintendo 64, features wacky boxers, from original m characters to full-blown caricatures. Twenty boxers are available to play, each with his or her own fighting style. Four modes of play are anticipated: Arcade, head-to-head, modem head-to-head, and Championship mode. It is not known whether or not the modem play is point-to-point or server- based. In Championship mode, players assume the role of boxer and manager, saving money the fighter wins to buy equipment for training. Players use the equipment to train and build key attributes: power, speed, stamina, punches, and durability. "We are excited to be one of the first develop- ers to show off the technology of Sega's Dreamcast game console and allow players to take advantage of the system's Internet play capabilities," said Paula Cook, director of marketing at Midway Home Entertainment. "With Blitzstyle, over-the-top gameplay, Ready 2 Rumble showcases the stunning 128-bit graphics capabili- ties of the Dreamcast..." Bit-warfare aside, this game is kickin' with eye candy. Excessive details are the toy of the day, as players knock the crapola out of their opponents. Another interesting feature is that Michael "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" Buffer has signed on his one-sentence rrrolling talent to the game, which, according to Cook, "makes gamers feel like they're ringside." Prepare for Ready 2 Rumble, which should release this fall. © Game Informer * April '99 FOR 3,000 YEARS, THE DRAGON OF TILES HAS CHALLENEGED THE ORIENT. NOW CHALLENGE YOUR SKILLS IN 3 DIFFERENT GAMES! Su — NSOFT ` ` “TAKE BUGS BUNNY, ON AN A — AIRPLANE, PORKY PIG TO, SCHOOL, W DAFFY DUCK FOR A DRIVE YES YOU N CAN, WITH LOONEY TUNES; FOR GUESS WHO'S COMING N NO PLAY? EVERYONE respective companies. Www.ele&trosourceinc.com ‘MATS HOT + a ae COMIC WATCH r á qe * TRIVIA A P nuit TECH TALK + MUTATION “NASHUN . s TOP TEN . [All dates subject to change. ` Cal your local ear for moro dta] - Publisher/Distributor New Releases ` System EM Mu Wome ee QN. e 3Xtreme 04/20/99 - PS-X ciu I DEE TT e e CAE REES EE ES E EES SS CET Tom & Jerry — ..Lode Runner .. Star Shot. TE e Dee UY ccc EE niogrames Wooo N64 iiegiames E Psygnosis - _ 4r SEET PS-X oa Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko... ice ee EE PSX ON NHL Blades of Steel 99 cn EE „Micro Machines 64 TUDO _.............................. Midway u a See Ve MEBPA Bottom of the 9th 99... EE NEE GE Attack Of Ihe Saucermen .....................................PsygnosIs Metrum RN NM D Dee PS-X Pee n. Need For Speed: High Stakes GEET Ge a EE PS-X < GT interactive 2... oos... GB ..Beetle Adventure Racing Electone As EE N64 EE Electronio Arts coe icc NGA Electone Ans =: PS-X ..Baseball 2000............ c cn e RT Interplay, v a PSX Las Ke EE -GBC M LANBA In the Zone EE Konami T T m eu GBC ence Esa oe a Conker S Pocket " 04/26/99 — GBC Asteroids Spring — GBC Cee eee eee eee coe EEN SEENEN EE ET TTT a EU OCT Ee ES 2 + s s s s as s ses rs e t ng Rampage 2: Universal Tour ENEE Midway .. RE N64 LUNAR: Silver Star Story oues Working Designs ........ uu PS-X Lo a a 989: Studios ss .... -PSX WI EE RM AO ASEE ENN e E E 3/30/99.. 3/30/99.. 3/30/99.. DLE OTT Phen nent bene SEENEN EELER ER ENER Bomberman Fantasy Race ..................................... LU PS-X WAIL Star Baseball 2000... a ACC Oe c NS GBC All Star Baseball 2000........................................ ACC 2... Ne N64 4⁄6/899............ Warzone 2100................ u... ....................... Fidos EE PSX Rugrats: The Movie .................. EEN THO aU a GBC ee Yoda Stores a o ui THO GBC EE Aa EE GBC Ç pu a ue E Accel). N64 oo ENEE EE l (Bau High Heat Baseball 2000 En SE E EE 445690... Deer Hunter .. a. E GBC 4/15799, RIDE laten EE GB MC uere Nome cet eet Htogsames............... GRO EE Mt Lego Racers July — PS-X Ridge Racer Type 4 05/04/99 — PS. Wo» e e s a pon RN hiw E sia F -Chanie Blasts lernory............... —...................... a H Fighting Force 64 o Perr eee Oe ee Ree ae ere Mt eres » A» E." *. "jn Triple Play 2000 03/26/99 -PSX — Street Fighter Alpha 3...................................... Capcom l.. n. wur . esdee Conker's Packet Tales... os ................. Nintendo `. . .. i a LEET -Nintendo -n a. 4/27/99... © Game Informer e April '99 TBA - GBC Game Inf. ormer '* Address Book To reach Dear Gl or the Editors of Gl send correspondence to: Snail Mail ` Be Game Informer Magazine Attn: Dear GI f 10120 West 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344 E-Mail deargi@gameinformer.com | WWW Home Page www.gameinformer.com Secret Access To contact Secret Access or Access & Allies please send correspondence to: Snail Mail Game Informer Magazine Attn: Secret Access 10120 West 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344 E-Mail codes@gameinformer.com To contact Swap Shop or A.P.B. pleas send correspondence to: Snail Mail 3 Game Informer Magazine Attn: Swap Shop : 10120 West 76th Street i d Prairie, MN 5534 : Customer Service 10120 West 76th Street Eden erre, MN 55344 Customer service hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am —4:00 pm (Central Time (612) 946-7266 Outside Minnesota make sure to dial area code (this i is a toll call). To Subscribe please send a check or money order for $19.98 to: Game Informer Magazine Attn: Circulation Dept. 7 10120 West 76th Street j Eden Prairie, MN 55344 www.gameinformer.com/sub.html f. Asteroids. E 222 3. Dandelion, teal, berry, and kiwi. Splatterhouse M "Professor Howard’s been Mapped om held imeem Detective B SUTTIS is hot on the case, but'so is the Tactical Rescue AsSatfit' Group (T.R.A.G.). As they fight for the limelight, the Pr'oféssor"s only hope fid be his scientifically enhariced daughter Rachel, with her Artificial Intelligence implant. When the kidnappers demand a ransom, there'll be more than just egos flying, there'll be bullets... O S Gather Your He’s Baaack... ^ EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY: © | = Monster Eggs, > This Time With A —— ae Mts ICONE Incubate Them, | Parachute! And, = 5 "AN KSE a Edna Wait Til You See eus aa at | «| -—" |MIToFightYour What He Can Do £/ECTRO SOURCE LLC. = ie mmm Enemies! SOFT —— di With It! www.electrosourceinc.com ° MONSTER SEED CHAMELEON TWIST 2 All names and logos are the registered trademarks of their respective companies. ° Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4-Player Action * Special Features: 13 Vehicles; 11 Arenas; Vehicle Damage; Tons of Power-Ups & Weapons; 1 or 2-Player Quest Mode; Several Multiplayer Modes; Password Save; Rumble, b. Controller, & Expansion Pak Compatible : * Replay Value: Moderately High * Created by: Luxoflux for Activision * Available: Now for Nintendo 64 Bottom Lire: 8.5 I “Compared to its PlayStation brother, Vig 8 T C idi ANDY ` vu Mi a completely different monster. - GPrGGils š T | I —THEGAMEHOMBRE First, it doesn't have to compete with The Nintendo 64 has established multiplayer dominance within the Qo m | | Ge Hae sans l Masel md video game industry. As competitive as this industry is, it didn't take : combat). And second, it has a number of much for this 64-bit powerhouse to climb to the top. Rares brilliant P. 7A w nm pon improved graphic effects and 4-player release, GoldenEye 007, is the number one reason why gamers flock to | ` | _ 952 gaming that were missing from the the N64 for multiplayer competition. GoldenEye’s 4-player split-screen, à Sound PlayStation version. Throw in the numerous game modes, skillful gameplay, and wicked graphics collide : | : ps for N64 is imprese Sn Mel | to create an irresistible TKO punch that cannot be found on any other ; mu : Playability — he Quest mode is too short, and the console machine. GoldenEye alone may have been enough to crown » : 7 action isn’t as insane as Twisted Metal 2, Nintendo king of the split-screens, but such releases as Mario Kart, k Entertainment but | don't think any of that matters once Turok 2, Diddy Kong, and Star Fox add extra proof to make the case. P: Tre 8.5 you start playing multiplayer. A good | Presently, Activision is throwing its ten cents into the multiplayer m : U (8.25. oa gaming will beat the SECT monta, A eer : : x š | but you can play multiplayer forever. pool with the port of Vigilante 8. This vehicular combat title falls into s ; Nintendo 64 owners should definitely a newborn genre, a kind of game not yet experienced on the N64. If oe Pine a "x OVERALL check this one out." you're unfamiliar with Twisted Metal and Rogue Trip, then think of a The acti Pap | scenario similar to the one in Mad Max. Remove all the drama and P. replace it with a ballistic, blood-thirsty, “only one survivor" attitude. 7 | "NE PAUL ` "The Ni was in dire need of some hard- The goal of Vigilante 8 is to pilot a 70's automobile maxed out with the e | THE GAME PROFESSOR COfe Vehicular combat. Sure, it has been i A ini. i a out for the PS-X for almost a year, but you latest and greatest firepower, and use this hood-mounted militia to € u á | m .. Concept should consider this version 1.5. It has a obliterate everything in sight. It doesn't matter if it moves or not, just : | | 8.75 new environment and the graphics are | blow it to hell and back. If you're still alive and everything else is dead, S Graphics excellent with the help of the Expansion pue | d E ade | < | E — . Equally impressive is und. In EEN uud TUNES 6 e = Sound terms of the HE aerated what's there makes such a great multiplayer game. “(a a SC d — 93 is solid and the variety of missions in the Gamers love to blow stuff up, and F Playability — Quest mode kept me interested. It would Vigilante 8 delivers this thrill in truck loads. With its lush and ultra- 9 have been nice to have a few more stages realistic graphics (which can be enhanced even further with the Entertainment DÉI character as four missions per Expansion Pak) blowing away small towns, power plants, farms, and other 9.25 dae le Be AE pt evildoers-is-an-absolute riot. This multiplayer extravaganza comes to life GU for me. Give V8 a serious look if you like in several different gameplay modes. Go all out and smear one another to see who is the king of the hill. Or team up for an insane two-on-two duel. Vigilante 8's play is skillful and mostly dependent on the weapons. If you don't scavenge the land for weapons and power-ups, then you might as well drive your vehicle into the junkyard and do yourself in, because the REINER . PlayStation version, and don't necessarily competition is going to run you down and tear you to shreds. The weapons THE RAGING GAMER _ crave any multiplayer action, then this port range from heat-seeking missiles and mines, to oddities like earthquakes Concept is worthless. On the other hand, if you and killer bees. The play is presented through two views (chase and | 8.25 haven't had the pleasure of getting third-person) and a rear view button is available to see who's on your tail. - Graphics ` acquainted with this title, and seek | There are 13 different characters to get acquainted with, each delivering 9.95 something a little different, then dancing different pros and cons, and 11 different landscapes to call home. Sound ^ we he ise iat z Ger än, P combat of the vehicular variety.” OVERALL "If you've already sucked up the If you like to game by yourself in the dark, then the 1-player modes will 1.25 feet. Vigilante 8 may look fabulous (and | have more appeal. The Quest mode is the most dynamic of the bunch. In COBRAR incredibly crisp with the Expansion Pak), MEE this mode four stages must be conquered, and an objective must be met 196 H but the gameplay lacks polish. The Al is crude and easy to fool, and the single- Entertainment player game is way too short. If you're - 8 going to play for more than a week it's | going to come through the multiplayer | e m modes. And even though the 4-player | suffers from a choppy framerate, it's a OVERALL serious blast." on each. Vigilante 8 lacked polish when it debuted last summer on the PlayStation, but hopefully this version's improved controls and new 4-player mode are enough to make it yet another N64 multiplayer classic. - Play by play colled $a ‘ et Sharks u Randy H newest superstar inthe Konami line- . With NHL players, stats and action. Could you stand up to the 225 Ib. defenseman on your —— pepe baCk like d sweater? x ee yov StOP blowing kisses to the pr ËttV girs in the arena? PlayStation” P CONTENT RATED BY ' -— , @ ES ; Blades of Steel is o registered tradendi nar onami Spo ded merico, Inc. AL NHL logos ond mon eee thet marks depicted herein ore the Poe of the NHL Ghd the b LP. ©1999 NHL. All rigiri A EOT demork of the Interd fe Assocation. PlayStation and the PluySiation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Compute grtainment Inc. Nintendo 64, Gameboy Colo America, Inc is a registered frd emet ee Nene Qo. Lid. ©1999 Konami of An WI right ied. Nofionol Hockey League Players: Association, NHLPA ond the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA ond are used, under licensa, Wy Review * Size: 128 Megabit e Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing (2 to 4-Player Battle) * Special Features: 6 Tracks; 9 Multiplayer Arenas; Several Slightly Different Bug Designs; Tons of Secrets; Nitros; Controller & Rumble Pak Compatible ° Replay Value: Moderately High e Created by: Paradigm Entertainment/Electronic Arts * Available: Late March for Nintendo 64 Bottom Line: 8 he Nintendo 64 has already been shackled into submission by the wretched single license racer. Titus Software’s ghastly racing simulation, Automobili Lamborghini, had gamers clinging to the edge of the porcelain god barfing up luncharini. It was a pathetic game to begin ` with, but the fact that it only featured one car made Automobili even more hideous. The only good that came out of Automobili's release was its inability to move off retail shelves. This set a good example for the rest of the industry. Never, ever, release a game with a single license. Yet here we stand, voiceless, against unfolding events. A full year has passed since the great Automobili catastrophe, and the industry didn't seem to learn a thing. It's like watching those adorable little lemmings leap off a cliff, one after the other. Paradigm Entertainment, of PilotWings fame, K and Electronic Arts, developer of nearly everything, have teamed up to bring another single license racer to the N64. This time around, throw out the prestigious vehicle and insert the new Volkswagen Beetle. Chills of horror ran through the bodies of the Game Informer staff when it came time to review the single license racer known as Beetle J! Adventure Racing. Think of the most horrifying scenario known to man, e then double it. Nobody wanted to play it. Nobody wanted to see it. But we had a duty to do — a service that we hope you don't take for granted. Three of Game Informers mightiest warriors inserted Beetle into their N64s and played it from start to finish. Despite our fears, no reviewer left the room screaming that he had been struck blind or that Satan had infested his N64. There were no moans of pain at all. In fact, much to our surprise, this single license 4 racer actually received a thumbs up or two. Predictably, its downfall is that it only features one car with variations in attributes and decals. However, unlike Automobili, this game actually delivers a gaming experi- ence that is fun, challenging, and addictive. And as Beetle’s name implies, it’s not just racing, but an adventure too. All six of Beetle’s tracks are brilliant in design, dishing out everything from raging volcanoes to movie parodies. Each track is long, jump-heavy, and averaging about three minutes per lap. And each of these tracks delivers a ton of shortcuts as well. Exploring these tracks takes some time, but it can be done in one sitting. However, Beetle challenges the player to do more than just place first. If you want to unlock all the secrets (and there are a ton of them), you'll need to collect 100 Bonus Points on each level. To do this, you have to locate Bonus Boxes hidden across the track, featuring 2, 5, and 10 Points. These Boxes are well hidden; and to snag em all and still finish the race in the top three, you'll need to memorize the tracks, and use each shortcut in planned sequences. Besides racing (in 1 or 2-player), Beetle also presents a Battle mode for 2 to 4-players. Here, missiles and bombs blast forth as the combatants race to collect six bug icons and reach the finish line first. From Slug Bug The 4-player Beetle Battle mode is loaded with firepower. The ol' in and out. 00:29.31 e 1/3 *e Smash Bonus Boxes to unlock secrets. The "Adventure" comes within the track designs. Here's a parody of Jurassic Park. Hit the Nitro Boxes to 2 accelerate into the lead. ANDY THE GAME HOMBRE Concept 8 Graphics 8.75 Sound 1.5 Playability 7.5 Entertainment 8 OVERALL PAUL THE GAME PROFESSOR Concept 7 Graphics 9.25 Sound 9 Playability 8.75 Entertainment OVERALL REINER THE RAGING GAMER Concept 7.5 Graphics 9 Sound 8 Playability 7.5 Entertainment 7.5 OVERALL Top of the Line Racer “In the world of single car license racing games, Beetle Adventure Racing is king. But what does that mean: it can beat up Automobili Lamborghini? Jokes aside, there are a number of good things about this game. The racing is solid, and the long tracks add a unique twist. There is also always something interesting to look at as you cruise around the long (though sometimes boring) levels in search of shortcuts. Find them, and you'll uncover all the bonus points (which is a lot like collecting rings in Sonic), and one of the more original aspects of this game. While the 1-player adventure is fun, the only multiplayer gaming that is any good is the Beetle Battle, as the 2-player split-screen is somewhat boring. Beetle Adventure is one of the better racing options on the N64, definitely worth a rental.” “This game borrows a lot from San Francisco Rush. Multiple paths, hidden Stuff to collect, and some big air make me think that Paradigm played a lot of the Midway game. This game blows the doors off Rush in many departments - especially graphics. It looks fantastic. It also has great control and respectable replay value. Personally, | didn't find much challenge in the first two championship circuits, and | think the multiplayer battle is dull. Going for the points is a different story, but | could care less about unlocking some new cars. And who needs continues? If racing games are your favorite, you have to take a look at this one. But since racing games are a dime a dozen, | would first make this a rental.” “| had my shotgun loaded and ready for this review, but EA and Paradigm proved me wrong. Beetle Adventure Racing is actually an entertaining package that stands out graphically and conceptually. The play is fast and challenging. All of the tracks are enormous, and feature tons of shortcuts and breathtaking scenery. But most impressive of all is Beetle’s gameplay. This licensed racer isn't afraid to get banged up as the cars launch, flip, wreck, and explode. The concept of smashing all of the Bonus Boxes (a la C. Bandicoot) delivers a sense of urgency and great longevity. The multiplayer delivers split thrills. The Beetle Battle mode is fun and unique, but the 2-player split-screen is rather uneventful.” cei tara sss Who covers Ai | n etrategy for these Eidos Interactive titles? poa MEDO- emt. 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M i WWW.primagames.com www.eidosinteractive.com www.funcoland.com ‘Nintendo gt | — Review * Size: 96 Megabit * Style: 1 or 2-Player Sports * Special Features: All 30 MLB Teams & Stadiums; Varied Swing Levels; Open & Closed Batting Stances; Create Player; Team Management; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible; Customizable Difficulty Level; Play-by-Play by Jim Hughson * Replay Value: Moderate ë e Created by: Trey Arch for EA Sports Over the years, EA Sports has led the way in sports- ? NHL). But things are slightly different with baseball on the Bottom Line: Nintendo 64. Companies like Acclaim and Nintendo have ^ e already released baseball titles for this console, while EA has not. Since MLB is doing its best to ruin oursnational pastime, perhaps EA is right to take it slow, But for N64 ANDY among 15, 30, 60, or a 162 game season. Game and play-off lengths can | normally used to. Remember the old-school home run challenge that Beautiful Fenway on an ugly — afternoon. That's the format in TP 2000. Anytime you get a strike or hit somewhere other than out of the park, it's an out. Once you get the groove down, you 7] can stay at the plate for a long time and score a lot of points. | As with any legitimate baseball game, TP 2000 comes with ample fantasy options. You can create players and adjust their appearances as well as abilities. Like with other EA ier there is no point bank to deal with when determining player 3 PAUL cl attributes, so you can make him | as good as you want. In addition to creating players, you can also trade and sign free agents. Trading is another good way to Stack your team because the | computer will allow most | anything. For instance, we were Lë | able to trade Matt Lawton for | =i | Sammy Sosa, Dan Serafini for Greg Maddux, and Melvin Nieves for Bernie Williams. | Once you get to the plate in | TP 2000, you'll notice hi-res | | graphics and plenty of options | | to ready yourself for the pitch. | The hi-res graphics look sharp, . but unfortuantely the framerate | is lacking, creating significant | === chop. But the control in the | 7} batter's box help make up L. | Sf for it. Not only can you | ———m 15 ] slide back and forth in the | [22] 1 : | box, you can also pivot to 1- open your stance. There is Concept | 1 8.5 Sound 5 | The Rookie difficulty offers this E ? batting view. | REINER THE RAGING GAMER 6.25 | normal swing along with | grounder. Track down the ball with — helpful arrows. | owners troubled by-EAs lack of activity, your worries are over. Triple Kuu Play 2000 (TP 2000) marks EA's first baseball offering on the N64, and as Concept | expected, itis complete with most of the standard features baseball fans 5 | have come to expect in the genre. _ Graphics | TP 2000 is packed with four game modes: Single Game, Season, | 99 _ | Home Run Challenge, and PlayOffs. In the Season mode you can choose = | also be adjusted. The Home Run Challenge is different than what we're -Playability ) i 3 ... well before they reach the plate. Even the | used an inning format instead of a set number of pitches for each batter? Entertainment . THE GAME PROFESSOR Graphics . PlayStation). Additionally, the fielding | perspective is a little suspect at times and Playability 5 Entertainment 5 .. Concept d i Graphics . Sound look great, but the pitching stinks as it also a power swing and a f : ERSTES = “| ES | the abilty to hit a pop up or | sett z | | —Ç Entertainment ° Avallable: April 5 for Nintenda 64 related interactive entertainment on many fronts (Madden, Old Game, New System “Pl be the first to tell you, | don't play video baseball any more. But since we don’t have another reviewer yet, I’m the designated hitter. Of course, in the olden days before | was soured on the boys of summer, | played plenty of vid baseball. And for some strange reason, | thought the games were getting better during my time away. Apparently, | was wrong, as this game is horrible. Especially the pitching interface, as you can see balls and strikes running is off, as you can throw a guy out who is halfway between third and home from left field. On a positive note, the batting is pretty good, but that’s about it. If slow and unrealistic baseball is what your after, Triple Play 2000 delivers.” “Just because this game has the Triple Play name, don't expect the graphics to be as flashy as the game that EA is pushing in advertisements. The look of the players is decent, but the models lack the extra detail you'll find in the PC (and even the it made me feel like | was fighting the game. | also found the pitching interface to slow the game down. The batting interface is solid enough, but the hard setting just seems to be thrown in at the last minute. And when the heck is the announcer going to get a call right? Triple Play 2000 is pretty average and | would hold off on a purchase until Acclaim and Nintendo _ show off their baseball offerings.” “The Triple Play franchise has always come through with comprehensive stats and simulation options, but its definitely been hit or miss with gameplay. This first N64 version delivers more than enough to keep fantasy leaguers happy, but the gameplay is dreadfully slow and often too choppy to play. The batting interface and animations doesn't grant any sort of accuracy in pitch location. The fielding is the most troubled part of this game. It’s hard to pickup grounders and if a ball is hit sharply, you only have about a fraction of a second to take action since the view change from batting to fielding is sluggish. Triple Play 2000 is for simulator fans only. Let's hope that Griffey and All-Star show better designs.” Last year, Acclaim Sports had the head start with All-Star Baseball ‘99, but it quickly became a two-horse race with the emergence of Ken Griffey Jr. (Mike Piazza was never in contention). Both games have a decent following, and both are back as new games for the year 2000 video game season. All-Star Baseball 2000 will not only have to go to the Kë versus a new Ge game, but will have to battle against games from p E19 EA Sports and Konami. The iiu SÉ N64 baseball diamond is crowded with players this year, but ASB 2000 may again be the baseball benchmark on N64. Batting Stances and Swings If you played last year’s version, you might have noticed the poor batting animation. Players looked as though they had never swung a bat. In ASB 2000, a great deal of attention has been paid to the appearance of the guy in the battere box. The game boasts close to 100 batting stances and a variety of different follow-throughs. There : == are signature stances for most of the Major League's top players including Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, and Ken Griffey Jr. ASB 2000 also has the home run swings for some of these players. Playcontrol and 3D Batting interface Most of the playcontrol remains intact from the previous version, but a number of elements have been modified. Pitching allows more variation in pitch speed. By holding down the A button, the pitch speed will slow the longer it is held. Pitch location can also be adjusted slightly after the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. On the other side of the plate, the batting interface is improved with the ability to guess both the pitch and the location. The 3D Batting Interface is a cursor-driven batting system where the user has the ability to change the angle of the swing. This interface will allow you to hit the sacrifice fly or keep the ball on the ground which is crucial in many situations. Nintendo 64 Preview * Size: 128 Megabit e Style: 1 to 4-Player Sports * Special Features: New 3D Batting Interface; 30 MLB Ballparks; Create Player; Player Trades; Two Man Play-by- Play; Can Bring Players up From Minor Leagues; Rumble & Expansion Pak Compatible e Created by: Iguana Entertainment (Austin) for Acclaim * Available: April for Nintendo 64 90% Complete Player Create and Fantasy Draft For all the baseball stats fanatics, these two modes have been revamped and modified. The Fantasy Draft in last year’s game was somewhat flawed because the computer could not make the distinction between key positions. Thus, high ranking relief pitchers always ended up on the computer's roster before it picked important positions like a good shortstop. The — f GREATEAPLAVER ~) Player Create gets minor updates in various cate- gories including facial hair. sock height, sunglasses, and (as mentioned) batting stances. On a side note, each team has a minor league club where you can call up prospects to try their luck in the big show. & PIAYER "T d CATCHER y Ri a Computer Al This is always a tough subject to judge in early versions of software. Last year's game had some rough spots with base running, and you could exploit the computer's stupid tendencies. Acclaim has said it made some modifications and added variables to account for players' performances in different conditions such as night vs. day, turf vs. grass, and home vs. away. New Graphics and Animation Sporting Acclaim’s trademark Hi-Rez graphics, the players are again displayed in high resolution. Acclaim also states that there are over 400 new motions in the game including over-the-shoulder catches, off-balance throws, hook slides, swipe tags, and home run celebrations. Weather delays, from rain to early season snow, will also be included. ASB 2000 also gets a sorely needed Instant Replay mode, a feature that was absent in last year's game. HOME. RUN. ° Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1-Player Action/Role-Playing * Special Features: Unique Battle Interface; j Learn Moves & Combos; Some Shooting Sequences; Pick Up Items & Weapons To Use; Lots of Speech; Stamina & Power Gauges Appear During Battle e Created by: Konami * Available: May for Nintendo 64 60% Complete Beware of the moving mines. They'll get ya! I Hey, pal, could you move? | dropped | | some coins under the fridge here. RPG + NG4 Hybrid Heaven. Doesn’t sound too familiar, does it? Well, it's a new Konami game that has no history and nothing to live up to. The game opens in the year 2000, where you have discovered that underneath New York a secret laboratory is turning undesirables into mutated creatures. Of these misfits, you, Diaz, are the crowning jewel, a man with extraordinary abilities who still looks human. How will you use this unique combination? The Nintendo 64 has never been the RPG-lover’s system of choice, forsaking a position it held during the 16-bit days and before. Barring THQ’s Quest 64, there has been no actual role-playing game for the system. But now, Konami wants to rectify that situation and create a game that will draw RPGers out of the woodwork. Hybrid Heaven is its name, and RPG-loving N64 owners everywhere should keep an eye on it. The main character, Diaz, interacts with almost everyone and discovers items and weapons along the way, as well as d POWE enemies to use them on. While © . exploring, Diaz will have to shoot SSES ee . Hp Pun, Sun j y uU E — up 132; 240 = "HA ar. e MEE Arm drag takedown by Diaz. e 23 RT 1307 1350 Dee s store?. Finali! down menacing robot sentries, who can eas- ily be handled with a pea-shooter used exclu- sively for these situations. When fighting hand-to-hand, however, he cannot draw his gun. But he doesn’t need the gun. Diaz has limbs of steel and can rock most anyone who comes his way, using an ever-expanding arsenal of kicks, punches, throws, and combinations. The battles are part real-time, part menu-based, with the player moving Diaz around the screen and then hitting the attack button at just the right time to bring up a menu containing choices on how to attack. When defending, three choices are available. Each has a rate of success depending on the move chosen both by the enemy and by you. Items can also be used during battles for a number of abilities, including healing, short-term power-ups, and more. As with any role-playing game, the story has to be interesting to keep you playing through it, and Hybrid Heaven offers up a quality story that keeps you intrigued. The premise revolves around Diaz, who has been used as some sort of scientific experiment by geneticists located deep under the ground in New York City. Diaz has to escape from this strange lair and discover the secrets of the scientific compound, meeting mutants, scientists, and innocent victims along the way. So far, Konami has not really impressed us with its Nintendo 64 games, save Mystical Ninja 64. Everything else has been, at best, mediocre. Let’s hope Hybrid Heaven gets Konami out of this rut and brings fun to RPG lovers everywhere. | Previe ° Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1 or 2-Player Action/RPG * Special Features: 2-Player Simultaneous Play; 4 Playable Characters (Goemon, Ebisumaru, Sasuke, & Yae); Day & Night Encounters; Huge Robot Combat; Coin Throwing; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible * Created by: Konami * Available: May for Nintendo 64 85% Complete ^ The Mystical I'm a traveling DJ, «Best Mania>’s the name. Armer stage | wy stil 5 3 Q7 056" * Size: 96 Megabit * Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing * Special Features: 3 Gameplay Modes; Mirror Mode; Alternate Paths; 11 Tracks Plus 5 Hidden; 10 Cars Plus 11 Hidden; 2-Player Split-Screen; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible; 3 Views * Replay Value: Moderately Low * Created by: Midway * Available: Now for Nintendo Bottom Line: d 25 : PAUL | REINER Concept: 2 1 15 Graphics: 3 1 3.25 Sound: 2 5 KC Playability: 4 1 2.15 Entertainment: 2 1 3 Overall: 2.5 2 2.25 The Ease of Speed California Speed was a very fun arcade game, but this game took a turn for the worse on its way to the Nintendo 64. First | off, the music is terrible, sounding like it was composed by the part-time help at Guitar Center. Second, the graphics are laughable. The drivers are barely dis- i cernible and look like they were scribbled in. Also, the game is not very challenging. The control is too forgiving and there is only one difficulty level. Still, not everything about this game is bad. For instance, the tracks are good and demonstrate a great deal of variety from =) aircraft carriers in San Diego to a flying Andy, The Game Hombre “The sad thing about this port is that the arcade version is pretty fun. The N64 version, however, not only looks bad, but plays bad as well. Whew...did somebody forget to flush?" Paul, The Game Professor “If you have any inkling to take a look at this game, RESIST IT! This is one of the crappiest games l've seen in many years." Reiner, The Raging Gamer “Take San Francisco Rush and beat the living tar out of it. Then blend in the most obnoxious music and track designs you can think of. The result is one seriously ugly racer that goes by the name California Speed. From its look to its play this racing £ame hits a new low on the N64." | saucer in the Mojave Desert, from a roller coaster in Santa Cruz to the mountain switchbacks of Yosemite National Park. There are also 21 cars contributing to the variety, 11 of which are hidden. There are some muscle cars, a classic roadster, a big Cadillac convertible, and even a high-speed golf cart. One of the hidden vehicles is a tractor that exceeds 200 m.p.h. California Speed has three modes: Single, Practice, and Series. The meat of this game is in the Series mode, which con- tains five events: the Light, Sport, Heavy, State, and Cup series. Except for the State series, each one occurs over a period of weeks. If you place in the top three for a given week, you are allowed to continue on. Series lengths vary from three to six weeks. The Light, Sport, and Heavy series differ only in the cars available. The Cup series uses all cars, but takes six weeks. While California Speed sports ample variety in terms of tracks and cars, it falls short in graphics and difficulty. * Size: 96 Megabit e Style: 1 to 3-Player Action * Special Features: 7 Playable Characters (4 New); 130 Levels Throughout the Universe; Special Move for Each Character; Bonus Levels; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible; Level Specific Art; Interactive Objects * Replay Value: Moderately Low * Created by: Game Refuge Inc. for Midway * Available: Now for Nintendo 64 Bottom Line: b ANDY PAUL | REINER Concept: 4 1 4 Graphics: 7 7.5 7.75 Sound: 5 8 7 Playability: 5 3 3.25 Entertainment: 3 1 3 Overall: 4.75 5 5 Hangind at the Smash & Snack | Once again, it's snack time. If you have R a penchant for nibbling on finger food, then Rampage might tantalize your gaming taste buds. After all, Rampage is mostly | * about eating (humans) and has been a staple of the Midway menu for years. Players take on the role of gargantuan monsters and feast on large cities and their inhabitants. Some of our fondest memories are of multiplayer battles where three beasts share the screen, duking it out amongst themselves while munching on tiny humans and smashing buildings when- i ever possible. Andy, The.Game Hombre “New characters...neat. New lev- els...nifty! Crazy, out-of-this-world story...well, all right! If you dig bashing buildings over and over in an endless boring cycle then this sequel is for you.” Paul, The Game Professor “If you really liked the first game, this one will give you more of the same. Even more plainly, all the new stuff could have been in the prior version. In other words, a worthless sequel.” Reiner, The Raging Gamer “After you've destroyed a city or two, Rampage’s fascination is trampled to death by redundancy. The new monsters and locations are great additions, yet the mundane play still hasn't been fixed." For those familiar with the series, it may seem that Midway couldn't do much more 7" with Rampage, but the new edition actual- | ly comes with a couple more morsels. Most notably, there are four new characters — Myukus, Ruby, Curtis, and Boris — in addi- tion to Lizzie, George, and Ralph. Each character also has a special move that can be unleashed once enough food is eaten. Like Rampage: World Tour, this latest installment features cities from around the world. With sites from Asia and Europe to the Americas, there are more cities in this game than a good spy novel. But the game has expanded to include even more real estate. As the name suggests, Universal Tour has galactic levels where players get to visit and destroy such locations as Venus, Mars, Phobos, Saturn, and more. Rampage 2 has come up with some decent new features, but overall this game has lost its luster and may need to think about retirement. Rampage 2 is fine for novice gamers and the multiplayer battles can be entertaining, but otherwise it's too simple and repetitive. As Hawkeye Pierce used to chant, “We want something else, we want something else." Nintendo 64 Preview * Size: 96 Megabit * Style: 1 or 2-Player Action D revieu * Special Features: 3rd-Person Perspective; 4 Versus Modes; Rumble & OL te en Controller Pak Compatible; Laser a > m. S Sighting; Stealth; Cutscenes; 4 Main Stages; Save Points; 3 Difficulties; Automatic Targeting * Created by: Omega Force for Koei X * Available: September for Nintendo 64 ` di ` 65% Complete ANOTHER WORLD (TO SAVE) Yes, Shadow Man can swing and hang from ledges, ropes, and more, OPERATIONS j V ñ É WinBack is following in the footsteps of Syphon Filter and Metal Gear Solid. It's filled with terrorists, mission objectives, cutscenes, and even a little bit of stealth. However, unlike those two games, this one | has four two-player options. First, there is the COME OM QUT AND PLAY... FILL YOU FULL) OF LEAD! A Gei E a SO I CAN | sneaking up on the bad guys with your back ` Stay clear of his flame-thrower. standard Deathmatch mode found in every game craving the profits of Golden Eye. The second is the Lethal Tag mode, where if you hit your opponent, or are able to avoid being hit, you earn a point. The first to get seven points wins. The third is the Cube Hunt, where you and your opponent race to collect seven types of cubes. Lastly, the Quick Draw is a race to shoot seven cubes in a set order. WinBack's control is pretty basic. There's a stealth button that allows you to sneak up ie on enemies and hide behind crates. While EK Expl loding bodies a e par to the wall, you can approach a corner, quick- for the course. ly swing out, take a couple of shots, and then retreat back. It’s pretty smooth and makes killing enemies almost second nature. To make shooting even easier, there is an aim button that is similar to Resident Evil’s except it uses a laser sighting. Koei originally planned to release this game earlier than September, but was encour- aged by Nintendo to improve the story and generally make the game bigger with things | like more mission objectives. As it stands, the level designs hold the player's. hand, never really offering a choice of where to go next. Plus, many of the environments are | repetitive and contain an abundance of corri- dors. But WinBack could turn out decently, H especially if the levels can be spiced up with A little stealth is required. — a little variety to compliment its other solid Y - ' aspects. The Darkside landscapes are impressive. ° Size: 256 Megabit * Style: 1-Player Action * Special Features: Dual “Zones” for Each Area; Based on the Comic Book; Full Voice; Pick Up Items To Use Against Enemies; Cutscenes; Expansion Pak Compatible; Non-Linear Story; Tons of Weapons * Created by: Iguana UK for Acclaim * Available: August for Nintendo 64 60% Complete There comes a time in every man's life when he has to face the evil that threatens him every day and beat it down. Well, in August it will be Shadow Man's turn, as he sl seeks to prevent the great Evil from taking over the Dead Souls. These souls are immor- : : tal, and rumored to be the source of all power throughout the universe. Shadow Man must H get to these souls first, before an army of serial killers and: corpses overtake the land, § delivering the world into Armageddon. As you play, you quickly realize that d Shadow Man will definitely challenge you in, multiple ways - from tough puzzles to enemies that seem to have their own little brains. Shadow Man has to cross dimensions, = heading from Liveside (the land of the living) to Deadside. Although Shadow Man cannot | die, he can certainly be hurt, and even placed in areas that are tough as heck to avoid damage. In most instances, Shadow Man is stalking an already-dead serial killer who must be put to rest. But often, it seems that you are the one being stalked instead! Killers will use each area to their advantage; hiding M in dark places, climbing into cubbyholes, and other shady maneuvers are done by these M killers. But Shadowman can always bring his man down with a trusty weapon or two, some of which can only be used on Liveside or vice versa. The weapons include the .50 Desert Eagle, the Violator, the Shadowgun, the Flambeau, the Calabash, the Asson, and more. Readers should know that Shadow Man is definitely an. adult-oriented title. Voodoo sacrifices, exploding bodies, and a few choice words are all part of the Shadow Man world. But this isn't a bad thing. Actually, it creates an ambiance that few other games achieve. Even without music, this game definitely feels creepy. Game informer * April '09 39 | * Size: 2 CD-ROMs * Style: 1-Player Role-Playing Game * Special Features: Battle Avoidance System; Over 100 Monsters; 6 Different Characters; Memory Card, Dual Shock, & Analog Compatible; Submarine & 1st-Person Mini-Games * Replay Value: Low * Created by: Craveyard for Crave Entertainment * Available: March 31 for PlayStation Bottom Line: Deep within Crave Entertainment's Seattle based headquarters, an internal development group known as Craveyard has imbedded several years worth of effort into this highly anticipated RPG. Headed by RPG veteran Ted Woolsey, the man who penned the translation of Final Fantasy Ill and the story in Secret of Evermore, Shadow Madness lands on the PlayStation as the first U.S. developed role-playing game since Parasite Eve. Early speculation and hands-on impressions pointed a finger of com- parison toward Square Soft's king of the hill, Final Fantasy VII. Yet there was a certain degree of uncertainty contaminating this early analysis. In many ways, Crave's Shadow Madness stands as an apostle to the FF dynasty, mimicking its look and play. At the same time, however, it deviates from this synopsis and finds success by generating imaginative concepts and innovative techniques. In addition to this, Ted's storytelling neither dares to compare nor strives to be different. It just flows forth with a dark message shrouded under a playful sense of humor. Shadow Madness’ lead character, Stinger, is a teenager who lost his family and his way of life when an unknown epidemic obliterated his homeland. Together with the help of two drifters, Windleaf, a magic-using archer and possible love interest, and Harv-5, a scythe-armed farming robot, Stinger will work the world over as he seeks revenge for the death of his family. In traditional console fashion, this RPG holds your hand through most of the journey, bringing the key events forward one after the other. Shadow Madness' story unfolds rather quickly, but hides its true nature until nearly the end, creating a mystery of galactic proportions. From the dramatic camera angles to the high-tech fantasy design, Shadow Madness' appearance is similar to that of Final Fantasy VII. On the other hand, the gameplay is quite the opposite. Shadow Madness utilizes random battles, but delivers an opportunity to evade such attacks through a battle avoidance system. By pressing L2 and R2 $5 340 The combat doesn't embody the ZS | same definition and realism as ` _ the rest of the game. du At the root of all madness, Stinger steps forward as a savior. = Like FF Vil, Shadow Madness features dramatic camera angles and detailed painted backdrops. simultaneously, Stinger will duck, and if timed according to a background monster roar, combat can be avoided. The battle system is completely polygonal, featuring a wide array of camera views. Some of the characters wield the ability to perform twitch attacks, which deliver double damage if the attack button is pressed at precisely the right time. Other characters have the endowment to unleash magic. The spells range from healing to magnificent blasts accompanied by FMV animation sequences (shown in the bar below). These sequences were animated by Annabella Serra, formerly of ILM. Annabella's crowning achievement (before Shadow Madness, of course) was the melting liquid man (T-1000) from Terminator Il. Not unlike other RPGs, this adventure has the tendency to become monotonous. To break up the lulls, Crave has implemented two finely crafted mini-games, both featuring a first-person perspective. The first mini-game takes place in a submarine, pushing the character to navigate an enemy infested maze. The other is a Doom-like game that features several weapons and shares purposeful comparisons to Lobotomy Software's Powerslave. Shadow Madness didn't have as large a team as FF VII, and in such, the look lacks intricate detail and the play misses precision; however, for a first venture and newcomer to the RPG realm, Crave should be commended for such a finely crafted release. - You enjoy fleece underwea adorned with cuddly animal designs. FMV cutscenes deliver intricate detail in crucial moments and ferocious spells. The story is intelligent, clever, and often times hilarious. E Overworld exploration enee? Ai differs from any other RPG. ANDY THE GAME HOMBRE Concept 9 Graphics 6.75 Sound 7 Playability 4 Entertainment 4.5 Go PAUL THE GAME PROFESSOR Concept 5 Graphics 4 Sound 8 Playability 3 Entertainment 5 OVERALL REINER THE RAGING GAMER Concept 6.5 Graphics 6.5 Sound 8.5 Playability 4.5 Entertainment 6.75 “There are so many reasons why | wanted to like this game. First of all, its an American company trying to make RPGs, which is something that has needed to happen in gaming for a long time. The only problem is, | don’t think an American company is ready to invest the kind of money it needs to create a product that can compete with the Japanese market — the FMVs just aren't as good, and the textures are inferior. But even if you put all the graphics aside, Shadow Madness still has problems. The battle system is...well, lame. Maybe not so much in theory, but definitely in execution. | think Shadow Madness is a valiant attempt at an American RPG, but the end result is sub-par. Which is a shame, because the story in this game is great." "Yikes. Shadow Madness tries hard to be like FF VII and | think that may be it's downfall. The graphics are mediocre at best. The character renders, FMVs, and environments are extremely rough around the edges. Even worse are the battles. The mix of poor interface and horrible camera perspective make the fighting a frustrating waste of time. It is extremely hard to figure out what enemy you are targeting. On the other hand, the story is elaborate and the game is filled with tons of objects and crazy characters. If you take the time to read all the stuff, you may be pleasantly entertained, but | found much of it slowed the game down to a snail's pace. Overall, | think SM is rather disjointed and | was not compelled to play this game more than about five hours.” “Shadow Madness is a butchered piece of software that courageously lashes out and grabs at you in an attempt to keep you hooked, yet slips and falls short by delivering troubled gameplay. It’s biggest setback is combat. In battle there really is no need for strategy, as every enemy fights alike and never steps forward as a threat. Equally disfigured are the graphics within these sequences. The effects, textures, and animations share the same catastrophic likenesses. In defiance of its many imperfections, Shadow Madness reveals an engrossing story that is as intelligent as it is whimsical. This RPG is written extremely well, and actually has enough power in its words to overwhelm the evil, creating a tasty meal for an adventurous soul.” PlayStation Review * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1-Player Role-Playing Game * Special Features: 360? Camera Movement; Virtual Pet-Like Companion; 50+ Living Toys; 15 Minutes of FMV; 100+ Enemies; No Random Encounters; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible * Replay Value: Moderately Low * Created by: Tamsoft for Activision * Available: Now for PlayStation Little...Pink...Different |Bottom Line: § “Now if | were OU, and | saw the ictures this game. ) the magazine | woul be ANDY — C e to myself, ‘You have got to be "ESAME nomere RIT Z p j 1 4 ic ap kidding — this game looks like a pile.’ But Concept | 4 RAD Ft Se children’s television series. But when you break through the 74 believe it or not, Guardian's Crusade is 8.75 : | `... EE “S.J lovable exterior, a complicated network of classic role-playing actually an excellent RPG. The story is ` Graphics Lat 711 attributes and unique concepts comes forth, revealing this RPG’s true face. good, the baby is hilarious, and the 8 LAAN | F # A Guardian's Crusade may look like something derived from the sick minds that SC SS SC Ca — twi ` ANN “Z present Barney and the Teletubbies each and every day, but if you take the ali lee feature tele 7.75 R : ef) time to get acquainted with it, you'll see that Guardian's Crusade is actually a encounters. All enemies are shown —Piayability > wt LX Powerful piece of software that packs a mighty punch. onscreen, but the weaker baddies run 85 Tamsoft, the mastermind behind the Toshinden series, labored long and away and the stronger ones hunt you down. — — —— ——— - " hard to make this RPG as diverse as could be. Even the storyline hits you at -At first, | did feel rather lonely with such a Entertainment ` === an awkward angle and delivers a tale of unique proportion. In Guardian's small party, but as the game progresses 8.25 ` GR Crusade you're not just summoned to save the world from a deadly curse or | (and you collect more toys) it's not as i | slay a new demonic powerhouse. The goal is to return a lost baby to its esate ba S ae i niin B e 190150 mother. The journey to mother's location is a long one, and one that is often | seen a game quite like it before.” — — “DVERALL- obstructed by side quests, but it allows the brave knight (portrayed by you) — ai to nurture and care for the child. By the end of the quest, if you took good ; T - S | care of the wee one, you won't want to part with your adopted companion. : "Looks « are very decenie This gane | is PAUL \ ^^ 1 The relationship between the knight and baby is rendered brilliantly. really primitive looking, but it is extremely rug came PROFESSOR - | Virtual pet-like concepts establish the parent-to-child link. You'll need to feed entertaining for a couple of reasons. First, ~ Concept | Á ; b the child and praise it periodically to keep it happy. However, if you don't the raising of the. baby monster is a cross 8 "m P pay constant attention, the baby will become irritated, and may even turn Poean Tamen and Poem a emm | on you during a crucial combat sequence. If you're a good parent and raise ert your friend on your side is raphics | ne child properly, the baby will show its true form. As you progress through g out ven Pewar dng oed T x Wi the game, you'll see that the child is actuall h ble of trans- starts kicking butt. The accumulation of "sound W 4 | the game, you'll see that the child is actually amorphous, capable of tran Living Toys is sort of like collecting 6 ~ | forming into many different creatures. These forms will aid in | Pokémon - even though many of them are ___? _ i Ë 4. d | combat and even in the overworld. useless. Second, the story is well written Playability | EUTI Ce | As for the knight? He's not completely helpless. With sword in hand, and funny. Additionally, it is great that there 8.5 V^ du | he's capable of eliminating any foe. He's bashful, so he relies on the help | are no random battles. This allows you to “Entertainment Lë | of his pixie friend, Nehani, to do all the talking. The knight isn't a magic — S nee ee ee 8.5 M user either, so he must take advantage of strange creations known as | m vou- x I P Living Toys to produce the big hits and defensive strategies uud Za 75 B ac" cont The LU o G treed may do the same to you." geg | game, each one possessing a different and valuable abil- | _ : OVERALL ity ranging from healing to fire showers. If you don't] explore every corner, you may miss a much needed Toy. | “Guardian's cute appearance and adorable There are 70 of these wind-up gadgets to fin cast of characters, will hold it back from REINER and collect. -o achieving the fame it truly deserves. From _THE RAGING GAMER _ Guardian’s Crusade also takes advantage of many | UN o HDI a i e Concept necessities that are often neglected in the RPG realm. First | However, if you set your fears aside, —— CHA WM off, this RPG comes packed with complete camera move- Guardian's delivers gameplay brilliance as Graphics S ' à ment. If your character magically unde behind play the role of magic it combines virtual pet and Pokémonike — 8.5 ` ` ; house, don't panic and hastily move to _ m concepts into an addictive RPG shell. As Sound U : the other side; simply pan the camera to | the game creeps forward, the cute little 7.5 the other side. Guardian's also delven the mother of all features — no ran- | pink critter will grow and establish a link —>—*——— Ë dom battles. You won't know whom you're fighting every time, but you'll | Playabili A A ach d ues d have the opportunity to escape a combat confrontation before it begins as | ee oe ae the enemy is always shown within the overworld. eda 5 SH Geer T Guardian’s Crusade may not be the next Final Fantasy, dazzling us with | Raising this kid is a blast in itself. Throw " intense storytelling and drop dead graphics, but it doesn't need to be. This | in Living (Pokémon) Toy collecting...and EX» is one of those RPGs that tries to be as different as it possibly can be, and | BAM!!! Forget about it! You're hooked succeeds in doing so on a highly entertaining level. Øi until the end!!!” I OVERALL Gs kial weve FOL to a j^ S oe T š: AAC. veal S A y E. araartien Deal Mame wer ç i r x Sc E | Wine produces a saat Hm Ld Habib mamam (Ire rien PlayStation Review e Size: 1 CD-ROM e Style: 1-Player Action ° Special Features: Violence & Disturbing Images; Resident Evil-Like Combat; Puzzles; Handy Dandy Map; Red Ink To Mark Map; Memory Card Save; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible * Replay Value: Moderately Low * Created by: KCET for Konami * Available: Now for PlayStation Bottom tine: 7.25 Chris. E found a valuable tool. Mel Gibson screamed, “Give me back my dont”? in Ransom. Sally Field pleaded, "Give me back my baby!” in Not Without My Daughter. And now, you have the chance to yell out, “Give me back my daughter!” in Konami’s copycat horror title, Silent Hill. In this action-packed release, you assume the role of Harry Mason, a mild-mannered, leather jacket wearin’, gun wielding, concerned parent. Harry’s had a rough night...a really rough night. And no, he didn’t make a wrong turn into Bubba’s Biker Bar & Spa. Harry’s daughter, Cheryl, disappeared before his eyes and never reappeared. To make matters worse (if they could be any more so) Harry has also been assaulted by babies who abuse knives. He’s stumbled upon a fleshless being or two. He’s slipped on sidewalks splattered with guts. And to top it off, he’s been trapped inside an annoying blanket of fog ever since he set foot in the small American town of Silent Hill. Its current population? El zippo. Harry can’t call upon anyone for help...except you. So are you gonna help the poor chap or what? Harry’s reaching out here, and if you think your gaming skills are highly toned, then step up to the controller and give Silent Hill a whack. If you’ve played through the Resident Evil games, then you’ve already played through a majority of Silent Hill. No, no silly! Silent Hill isn’t a Resident Evil side quest or anything cool like that. It’s a new product developed by KCET (Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo) that looks, plays, and feels exactly like Resident Evil. Even from the screen shots, Silent Hill could be confused with a future Resident Evil release.There's no denying the fact that KCET wanted to become a presence in the video game horror scene, and what better way is there than sucking directly at Capcom’s neck? The controls, combat interface, suspense techniques — and even the text color and font look — appear as though they were taken directly from Resident Evil. The one key aspect that separates Silent Hill from Resident Evil is the way that the environments are constructed. Resident Evil used painted backdrops to evoke horror. Silent Hill does it with polygons, and in doing so, KCET has eliminated one of Resident Evil's biggest setbacks. In Silent Hill, all of the environments are completely three-dimensional. If a camera angle is a nuisance, then change it. You really never need to worry about where the camera is. KCET did a remarkable job pre-setting the camera positions so you don't need to fuss about them, and get this, complete 3D also spells zero loading. Excellent! Another Evil complaint has been toppled as well. In Silent Hill, you have the freedom to explore the entire city, not just the house or police station. So, has Konami leap-frogged Capcom and introduced a game more amenable with gamers? Or has it gone too far, stomping on all who pay the price expecting another banner release from the company behind Metal Gear Solid? "n * dë SZ Yt it approached carelessly, ] may be sucked) ‘be. i 42 | Game Informer e April '99 This fog’s making visibility poor. If you don’t land, I’m gonna have to shoot ya down. Exclusiv screen!!! ...We're just kidding. It’s that wacky Silent Hill game again. Just like in Resident Evil, enemies launch through windows without warning. BOTS > iruck, . but mati right, | guess. ` ANDY THE GAME HOMBRE Concept 7 Graphics 9 Sound 8.25 Playability 7 Entertainment 7 OVERALL PAUL THE GAME PROFESSOR Concept 5 Graphics 7.25 Sound 8 Playability 8 Entertainment 8 OVERALL REINER THE RAGING GAMER Concept 5 Graphics 8.5 Sound 7 Playability 7 Entertainment 7 OVERALL “As far as presentation is concerned, Silent Hill is extremely well done. The graphics are sharp, the loading is quick, and the overall design is very good. Certainly, it is annoying that your view is often limited by either fog or the dim glow of your flashlight, but these things can be forgiven and attributed to mood. However, | cannot forgive the somewhat annoying gameplay. It seems Konami went out of its way to rip-off Resident Evil, but forgot some of the more important features like variety and fun. The enemies in Silent Hill are annoying, and the puzzles are a little weird. But in the end, Silent Hill is a decent Resident Evil rip-off. It won’t blow you away, but it will certainly keep you playing.” "| can imagine the meeting that took place when this game was in the early design stages at Konami. Some guys just sat down and copied the design of Resident Evil 2. They did a pretty good job of ripping- off almost every aspect of the game. From items, puzzles, and playcontrol to the cheesy voice acting, Silent Hill tries its hardest to imitate the Evil that Capcom created. This game does succeed in creating some fairly scary and nerve- rackin moments, but it doesn't come close to rivaling the look of Resident Evil 2. Silent Hill's graphics are mediocre and the game's use of the dark settings and fog is clearly designed to mask the inadequacies of the graphics engine. If you can accept Silent Hill as a cheap imitation, you may find you can enjoy this game.” “Silent Hill cut deep into the body of Resident Evil and extracted the skeleton for its own sadistic use. As such, Silent Hill is nothing more than RE with new skin. The graphics, animation, voice acting, and battle engine are almost identical to what RE has to offer. However, Konami’s cloning process was far from perfect. The plot moves at a snails pace delivering hours upon hours of pure boredom, and the enemies are easy to fool showing poor design. To its benefit though, Silent Hill succeeds in delivering fluid 3D play. But I'd rather stick with painted backdrops than 3D that is always shrouded in a blanket of fog like it is in Silent Hill. It's seriously frustrating not knowing what lurks ten feet in front of you. This RE wannabe pushed for praise, and even adopted a popular shell to do so, but it comes up short." “Rollcage has so many things going for it, that | want to love this game. From the blazing fast graphics to the awesome arsenal of effect-heavy weapons to the ingeniously designed tracks, Rollcage shines like few racers. The dual-sided car is a great concept, and you can really see where this game was going. It was going to be cool. It was going to be the next Wipeout. But somewhere along the way, somebody screwed up, and this game fell flat on its face. For instance, the control is tight, but almost too tight. You find yourself gingerly working your way through the tracks, rather than going balls-out, as one mistake will send you spinning out of control not knowing which way is up. This game is worth a look, because it's almost there. But in the end, | don't like it, even though | really wanted to.” “It isn’t all that exciting to see another combat racing game. Everyone has taken a stab at this genre and Um getting pretty tired of it. Leave it to Psygnosis to shake me out of this sleep-inducing boredom. Rollcage shares a lot with Wipeout. Both have excellent track design and killer weapon effects, but Rollcage takes the mayhem a step further with destructible environments and the two-sided cars. | like the idea of blowing up rock formations, buildings, and other structures to hamper my opponents. The design of the vehicles also creates some spectacular air time. Rollcage is intense and will please anyone who enjoyed Wipeout, but if you're easily frustrated, watch out. This game will tick you off. Veterans will find some challenge once the easy mode is taken care of.” “| truly appreciate the physics and graphics, but unlike beer, this title cannot be praised for its less-filling offering. If the CPU was more of a competitor, and if the tracks actually forced you to use the unique flip onto the hood concept, Rollcage would have been a hit. Without these features, Rollcage's excitement ends within minutes. To beat this game you simply need to stay on the track, avoiding the flipping, spinning, and all the fun stuff that makes this title unique. | was duped at first, and hooked beyond belief, but | soon found out that Rollcage was nothing more than a video game quickie rather than an al-nighter. What a shame." ANDY THE GAME HOMBRE Concept 8 Graphics 9.25 Sound 9 Playability 5 Entertainment 5 OVERALL PAUL THE GAME PROFESSOR Concept 7 Graphics 9 Sound 9 Playability 8 Entertainment 7.5 OVERALL REINER THE RAGING GAMER Concept 5 Graphics 8.75 Sound 8.5 Playability KC Entertainment 4.25 OVERALL Review * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing * Special Features: 4 Modes (League, Time, Practice, & Deathmatch); 6 Characters/Vehicles; 10+ Tracks; Weapons; Memory Card & Password Save; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible ° Replay Value: Moderate * Created by: Attention to Detail for Psygnosis e Available: Now for PlayStation Bottom Line: hen the PlayStation debuted, Psygnosis and its plethora of games drew respect and praise. Each of its releases was touted as “the one to watch.” But as the years flew by, Psygnosis’ graceful glide transformed into a clumsy shuffle. Now, instead of receiving accolades, its games are labeled “play at your own risk.” What went wrong is obvious. Psygnosis bit off more than it could chew, especially with last year’s lineup. Along with Wipeout 64 and Colony Wars: Vengeance, Psygnosis released some of the most hideous titles ever to grace the PS-X. Spice World, Rosco McQueen, Psybadek, Sentinel Returns, and ODT had retailers hollering, “Oh No! More Psygnosis!” as these titles never moved off the shelves. If you've tracked the industry, then you know this company is in trouble. Psygnosis is drowning in its own filth, and if drastic change doesn't come soon, then it will sink to Wi its demise. | So far, 1999 hasn't exactly been a banner year for Psygnosis. Its first release, Pro 18: World Tour Golf, is a real stinker (rated 1 out of 10 by Game Informer). To make matters worse, the company has been shaken up by layoffs and a change in its distributor (now Activision). However, its next release, Rollcage, has serious potential. Take the look, the feel, and the sound of Wipeout XL, then nail it to the ground. This is the basic design of Rollcage. When you first sit down with this product, you instantly think Wipeout. It's extremely fast, pounding out speeds of over 400 kph. It's loaded with great visual effects, like trippy streaks and in-your-face explosions. And to top it off, the jungle soundtrack is insanely mad phat. Bang, baby! Even if it was a mere XL knock-off, Rollcage would be immensely entertaining. But then, it has its own personality as well. As the title so accurately implies, the cars have the ability P to roll, but not just to protect the - i: hull. When a car flips onto its | Even if you're fast enough, the hood, it doesn’t stop. It keeps p n SO eier going. That's right, both sides are i | B ——— the right side up. If you hit a lip " the wrong way, launch off a jump — a at a weird angle, or hit a turn too (Dynamic lighting. ) fast, then there really isn’t much to fear. You'll simply keep going. However, you do need to keep your ride heading in the correct direction. Even if you launch off a jump perfectly, there’s a chance that you may be struck by an opponent's missile shower, bounce oddly, or what not. At the highest of speeds, even the greatest landings or turns can spell disaster. To excel and place at the top of the league, you'll need to keep your bearings and outmaneuver and out-gun all five of your competitors. All of the weapons and power-ups can seriously mess with your opponent's racing abilities. The weapons range from simple swarmers, to missiles that target the vehicle at the front of the pack. You'll also stumble upon a teleportation device that moves the car in front of you to your tail lights. Two weapons can be stored at once, and as always, you can find protection within the shield power-up. Firepower definitely plays a huge role in this racer, but not nearly as much as the track designs do. Each track is harrowing, filled with uneven surfaces, jumps, half pipes, and tunnels. All of these terrain variations will throw your skills for a curve and make each race a nail-biter. Two players can compete in races or ] deathmatch battles. | Neck-and-neck with disaster ahead. | Effect-heavy. Ben 205 Don't worry about landing upside down; your ride works both ways. A dic ‘PlayStation — Review * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1-Player Action/Fighting * Special Features: 20 Levels; Mantis, Crane, Monkey, Tiger, & Leopard Fighting Styles; Real-Time Cutscenes; Memory Card & Dual Shock Compatible * Replay Value: Low * Created by: Dreamworks Interactive for Activision * Available: Now for PlayStation he dream of a side-scrolling fighter that Bottom Line: A matches the prowess of a street fighter has * ° been on the minds of gamers and developers for years. Just imagine it...feet and /———— — fists flying everywhere...enemies attacking from ANDY sare et cu te Mi a E cof | all directions...dogs and cats living together...ahem, THE GAME HOMBRE — Clearer minds prevailed and | dove head x — | excuse us, different dream. Unfortunately, this is a very Concept — first into this brawler. After laughing out | difficult task as fighting games work best when the — Geh qp Mp. ub. a i rapnics Sei? d | combatants are kept face-to-face on a single plane. But as Ban T'ai Fu. And after fumbling with the control | video games have evolved over the years the dream has — — —_ for awhile, | was soon kicking butt with the | gotten closer and closer to becoming reality. Sound best of them. But as | progressed, | Mortal Kombat Annihilation wasn't it. Fighting Force -EI L Ka GE er NT 3 Gei Ñ i , i ayabilit ; | wasn't it. Tobal 2's quest was close, but that wasn't it e y personality, the one | like, has some great 1| either. Enter Dreamworks Interactive, the self- — —— — — — button-mashing action, and the new ..lightning. Fu ie fi ie crazy T'ai p proclaimed weaver of dreams. Led by two fightin’ fanatics iplo a moves you learn throughout the game help ms { inspired by a story-seeking Spielberg, T'ai Fu has been E Sege EEN long in development as the team worked to attain action- 6.5 | is ugly and plagued with bad camera fighting Zen. While T'ai Fu may not have reached the angles. This game is entertaining, and perfect Yin and Yang of side-scrolling fighting, it has OVERALL easy, but it's just a rental." moved us one step closer to the dream. Using animals as characters, T'ai Fu is like Wild PAUL "What you have here is a tiger who can Kingdom meets Enter the Dragon. As T'ai Fu, the lone THE GAME PROFESSOR Kick some serious butt and a game that survivor of the Tiger clan, you are on a mission of revenge ~ Concept — tries to impair his skills at every turn. Like and redemption. But the only way to reach your goal is to 6.75 many games, this one has some issues dl EB noves from the various Kung-Eu —— with the camera and perspectives. This EE seek out and leari g Graphics — makes it extremely hard to execute jumps =|| masters scattered across the land. For only when you 1.15 and stay on the path. It is very reminiscent | | have mastered all the animal styles can you hope to Sound 9f another Dreamworks clunker, Jurassic Park - but at least T'ai Fu has some defeat the vile Dragon Master. 8.75 l kily, Kung Fu is not T’ai’s only power, as he will also ~ !eshectabie combar, Ta py on = Luckily, Kung Fu y Power as ne v Playability — very repetitive, but 1 didn't find anything | learn mystical Chi powers to help him on his journey 7 wrong with some serious button mashing. zë || through 20 different levels of platforming and fighting Entertainment WEE Ge is SC me d L—.. D mayhem. As T’ai progresses, he will learn more about his 5 pay GGL Ell BI "s S. | T š : action. If you like games like Fighting Force E i y T ` | mysterious past and who is responsible for it through or the classic Double Dragon, you might A 1 e wacky real-time cutscenes, complete with cheesy enjoy some time, albeit brief, with this | voice-overs. ERAI, title." Overall, T'ai Fu has some problems with its || platforming aspects, but the fighting is non-stop. Once "77]|| you learn all the animal styles, you'll be pulling off huge REINER “Tory the Tiger was a lame cat to begin | S ; ; : THE RAGING GAMER Wilh, but man oh man, this T'ai Fu guy is mW 4 no time, and ultimately putting the F-U back — e the most heinous pussy I've ever seen. | in Kung Fu. ! 5 really wouldn't be surprised if Bruce Lee — “— _ jumped out of his grave and smacked up Graphics the development team responsible for this 6.5 martial arts disaster. Heck...l'd be right ao e behind him kicking ‘em while they're 7.75 down. Dreamworks tried to be inventive —— M, and cutting edge, but in, the end, this Playability — product is so disjointed and messed up 4.75 that it hurts to sit and play it. The horrible Entartainmant Collision, mysterious graphical flickers, Entertainment occasional moments of slowdown, lame concept, and monotonous combat pound x 5.75 this title six feet under.” Flip the switch and move ` | 1 e | OVERALL tho bridgo. E us Use the Leopard Leap to clear largo ET" “Legaia starts out a little slow, but it quickly became my favorite of the RPGs GI reviewed this month. | will admit that THE GAME HOMBRE that the combat is slow moving and button Concept intensive, but | really got into the whole 8.75 interface. Strategically taking apart your —— — opponent, choosing from hundreds of Graphics different combos and magic spells is just 8.5 ee * , the kind of thing that keeps me up into the Sound Discovering a new combo wee hours of the morning. The story isn’t 8 won't be missed. great, but it's interesting enough to keep ———— you playing (though finding what to do next Playability isn't terribly difficult as Legaia is very 8.5 linear). Though not as innovative as Entertainment Guardian's Crusade, Legaia delivers on just about everything else. Play this, then z play Crusade.” EX OVERALL “Initially, | thought Legaia's battle interface was fantastic, offering a lot of choices. For PAUL the most part, this holds true as you Can THE GAME PROFESSOR pick a number of cool combo attacks and Concept the magic system is innovative. After a few 8 hours, battles became monotonous and : the dozen or so button presses it takes for Graphics auto battle is just stupid. However, upon 8.5 watching Andy play, | found that Legaia Sound combat offers tons of different paths to 7 the same goal. He was more conservative — — — — — — and used more magic, while | blazed a trail Playability and used the standard attacks. Overall, | 8.25 found the story to be solid, albeit generic. Entertainment Other than the battle system, | found the 8.5 Save the world, get the girl. Review * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1-Player Role-Playing Game * Special Features: 3 Character Party; Magic Acquired From Enemies; "Tactical Arts" Combat; Arts Combo Lock; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible * Replay Value: Moderately Low e Created by: SCEI/Contrail for SCEA * Available: Now for PlayStation Bottom Line: H 25 Vahn and his Ra-Seru have to save the - world by activating all the Genesis Trees to stop the Mist that's driving the formerly friendly Seru nuts. Nothing new going on here; but what Legend of Legaia lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in style. The standard RPG elements are all here, but with a "Tactical Arts" battle system to spice things up — way up. At the start of each turn-based combat round, attacking characters choose how to hit their enemies (high, low, on the left, or the right) and in what order, as many times as their Spirit Meter will allow. Early on in their Seru-fighting careers, there might only be room for three moves, but as levels rack up, so does space on the meter. Certain hit combinations will bring about different damaging maneuvers, or Arts, for each of the characters. Fortunately, once an Art is stumbled upon, its secret is recorded in an on-screen battle menu. The Arts certainly deliver the damage, but they don't come free. Each one has an Art Point (AP) cost, and characters have to manage their slow-to-regenerate AP bar during combat. When your AP gets a little low, or you need extra Spirit Meter space to pull off the Electro Thrash, a turn may be spent replenishing Spirit. Doing this gives a large return of AP and extends that characters Spirit Meter by two moves for the next attack. As if that didn't cause enough combat accounting, your Ra-Seru will always be on the lookout to swipe whole game to be pretty ordinary. | also found it to be pretty addictive, but it surely doesn't match the standards set by games like FFVII and Xenogears." OVERALL "Legaia won't knock you off your feet, but it'll. keep you thoroughly entertained for REINER 30-plus hours. This is the kind of RPG that THE RAGING GAMER needs to be played in moderate doses. Concept Four hours here, four hours there. The 8 predictable story and linear play are ^5 s definite turn-offs. Interwoven within Graphics this systematic paint by numbers shell is 8.75 a complex combat chemistry which Sound surprisingly is this RPGs strongest hand. In 8.25 most RPGs, combat is dreaded. In Legaia you live for it. The inventive combo-based play opens a new book on RPG tactics, and the combat graphics (most notably the Entertainment animation) are at the top of the role-playing 8.5 food chain. | recommend this adventure to those who saw the light in Wild Arms and Suikoden. It’s not great, but worth the time anyway.” OVERALL Playability 8 up defeated Seru’s magic. Depending on the Ra-Seru’s level (which goes up for every Genesis Tree brought to fruition), different amounts and types of magics can be stored. Each magic not only has a certain Magic Point (MP) cost, but also a level of power ranging from one to nine. The more you use a certain magic, the more powerful and use- ful it becomes. Every combat round in Legend of Legaia finds the player asking himself things like: Is it worth it for Vahn to spend 30 AP for a Tornado Flame attack, or should he increase his Spirit to pull off something better in the next round? Should Noa spend the 28 MP for her level 4 Gizam Bubble Crush magic or try to charm an enemy with her Tough Love maneuver? Gala could spend his last 13 MP on Nighto’s Hell Music, but will he need a couple Vera Mystic Cares later on? As the adventure continues to unfold, the options for characters keeps growing, keeping players interested to see what they can pull off when they go up another level. If the goal of a role-playing game developer is to have players immersed in the protagonists’ progres- sion, then Legend of Legaia is a complete success. Soon (BF xe 532 bdo hat Caruban’s Egads! coming right at me! LL MEN D, Over 50 artists were put to task on Legaia. Playstation Preview ° Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Fighting (Including 6 From FF VII); Multi-Tiered Arenas; Wall Moves & Juggles; Mini * Created by: Dream Factory for Square Soft Ehrgeiz is a new venture in fighting, yet the cast is quite recognizable. Out ofthe | ^" 16 playable characters, six originally |- 3 found success in a little PlayStation | d RPG known as Final Fantasy VII. You | x 4 heard correctly FF aficionados! Ehrgeiz pa & features an all-star lineup. If you want to | S choose Sephiroth. For bloodlust, step a world of confusion, then choose Cloud | or Zax. For pilfers, Yuffie is your girl. And last but not least, if you seek creativity, then choose one of the other ten characters who, surprisingly, could all | fit into the FF VII universe. In a nutshell, | all the characters are well balanced with | > regards to one another, and all (except | Cloud and Zax) feature unique moves | LS and techniques. | Tifa even comes with her . jump. Most unique of all is the special attack. By tapping (or cowboy guise. ^ | holding) @, the character will unleash his or her own special. For d This fascinating mode is the staple in all of Dream Factory’s PlayStation releases. Tobal No. 1, Tobal 2, and now Ehrgeiz are all equipped with this incredibly deep mode. Tobal No. 1's >| was too short. Tobal 2 was too hard, but Ehrgeiz's is just right. j It's kind of disappointing that it features only two characters, ez) Clair Andrews and Masuda Koji, but the gameplay is definitely an improvement over what Dream Factory previously threw our way. You no longer need to worry about picking and choosing potions, fearing poison. Ehrgeiz is more like an RPG than ever. The inventory is easy to follow and use. The characters can acquire weapons and armor (that show cosmetically), 1 and battles with multiple “1 enemies feature better “| odds. However, unlike Tobal 2, none of the enemies from the Quest mode can be accessed in the Arcade mode. Bummer. "Se a San Ehrgeizs quest is lengthy and complex. Game Informer e April '99 bring Tobal 2 to U.S. shores. Tobal 2 is without question (we think you'd agree), one of the best, if not the best, PlayStation fighters on the market. But many will never know this, since the product basically doesn't exist for most of us. Tobal Ze developer, Dream Factory, just | kaft tM command an arrogant character, then | P am 2 = KI choose Sep P H Instead of Red XIII, Barrett, or | into Vincent's pants. If you're always in | Cid, Square implemented Zax. ° Special Features: 60 FPS; 16 Characters NO Games; Giant Quest Mode; Memory Card 1 L m | ans Losch K - em Save; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible " "eode en Ú * Available: May for PlayStation NE GLECTED 715% Com plete oa or the clan of hard-core fighting game junkies out there, the ne Square Soft are Ai rarely uttered. When they are, the sound is more scornful than satisfied. Why? | ^^ Because Square Soft messed up. It neglected an entire audience by failing to | ` finished the PlayStation version of its new fighter Ehrgeiz; and for a while there, it didn't seem like we'd see this port either. But the nail | preci i eren biting can now cease. A decision on its availability has been SE made...and (drum roll, please)...Square Soft has set a U.S. release date eS e asa aE for May. Yippee!!! Let's hope Square adds Final Fantasy Collection to its list of upcoming U.S. releases. For now, take a gander below at the booty definitely comin’ our way. A d "71 Ehrgeiz is a sophisticated fighter that delivers a ton of different "| techniques within an agile 3D engine. Air juggles, combos, and special attacks play the biggest role in Ehrgeiz, unlike Tobal that relied heavily upon a complex grappling system. Ehrgeiz's combat is different, yet incredibly intense...and fast! At 60 frames per | second the characters glide across the screen at the greatest | speeds. The controls are broken down into a high, medium, and | | low system. Complete freedom of movement is delivered through | the directional pad, and the shoulders unleash the block and this, some characters draw a weapon, and others direct a projectile. AII of the I arenas are multi-tiered yet reasonably small. The characters can jump from | , six WP ledge to ledge, propel themselves off walls to attack with great force, and trap || Combos s opponents in corners. If you become a master of this combat, you'll find that || positioning and combo use are the most effective means of victory. trengthen the chance | of victory. Bounce off the ropes to land big hits. saia by delivering a Beach Ball Battle mode, then wait until you hear what Ehrgeiz is equipped with. Everything from races on the beach to an Othello-style board game are here to challenge fighting =] fanatics in a completely different way. The beach races are a challenge of . | timing and speed, where quick button pressing propels characters through the fine sand to the finish line. The Othello game (entitled Battle Panel) tests the | IQ. The goal in this game is to conquer as many squares as possible. Once all | thesquares are filled, the player with the most squares in his or her color wins. Ehrgeiz also features a Survival mode and another racing mini-game entitled Battle Runner. This race is quite different than anything you know. Basically, power-ups rule the roost as characters race around one of three different rings. The first character to finish all of the laps is the victor. | The minig mes are obscure but i highly competitive. FCCLA ANVSNI LSOW "uoneioossy VEMYOS [eyig aAnoesa}U] ay} Jo YUPLUƏDE) e SI uoo sDureJ ay "ou| jueuumyueju3 Jə]nduio9 Áuog Jo ssureurepe] paJejsiDaJ ee sofoj uoneisÁeld uoneisfe|g eu; pue UOREISÁEId 'ejosuoo eureb uoneis/eld aut uim asn 104 eoueuuy Wa Eau? 1eynduio?) Auge Aq pesueor] 'NOANVO AN0d/0A301 AL 6661 © `011 “09 IWW09dV9 Jo xeuepen =+ NESE NO Let MIN SWEDE kV SI P SI 66, NIQHV08 314193383 0 “09 WO9dVO Jo SHeWapeN parersibeJ ae 0901 WOIdYI IU} pue W09dV9 "O3^H3S3H S1H9IH TIY 6661 “ON! “W'S WOIdYI © 666! `011 “09 WO9dV9 © 66, NIiCcCT>r F TL bdn wp Lema CNY Fald -rY FHL =O NOILD Y TEEN Wolds E MIPIEOG! FHL OL ANODI DYA EL wOMi 66 Ə|A1səə1) o p d TS eft LINTI JHI Je1sÁAeld uol FEW LL “HH SNOIAAW HED LEE TE yp AO SICON p KOSTAS A004 dh AT Tina Elsa EE PlayStation Preview * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Fighting * Special Features: 10 Playable Characters (Plus More Hidden); Multiple Color Palettes; 5 Modes of Play (Story, Vs., 1- Player, Survival, Practice); Cinematic Camera Angles; Simple Interface * Created by: Yukes for Titus * Available: Late April/Early May for PlayStation 75% Complete MIDORIS— To the moon, Alice! C'IBnET d 48 Game Informer e April ‘99 [rhe plague. | [ “Stunning spell effects” —EGM | [ “Deep, involving storyline...beautiful graphics” —GamePro | [ www.shadowmadness.com ] [ “Beautifully rendered” —Next Generation | [ “Loaded with exquisite music." —Gamer's Republic | š Ë š š = [ “Unravels like a good mystery...epic" —PSM ] ke pem [ “A highly interactive world." —PSExtreme:] J dad un » M ^ E. | = = | Re Shadow Madness, Craveyard and Crave are trademarks of Crave Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. © 1999 Crave Entertainment, Inc. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. „The Legend JUNCTION, WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION? The interface in Final Fantasy Vill is based on three new, but familiar premises. The summon beasts that were the main attraction of FFVII are now evolved like characters through an interface known as Guardian Force. The magic, which used to be | found in magic shops everywhere, is now acquired through the command called Draw. These pieces and the abilities that they give Ü all fall into FFVIII’s inventive new system called Junction. | The definition Square gives is as such: Junction = Equipping objects other than weapons and armor. In previous games, the player’s powers were customized by giving him or her better magical armor or flaming swords. This is not the case in FFVIII. As a matter of fact, weapon upgrades are few and far between, and you can’t buy armor. Powers are granted to the characters by choices made using the Junction interface. ` d d A | 3 PlayStation Preview * Size: 4 CD-ROMs e Style: 1-Player Role-Playing Gate * Special Features: Lots of Gorgeous CG Movies; 16 Guardian Force Creatures; Collectible Card Mini-Game; Unique Junction System; 8 Characters; Mini- Games; PocketStation, Memory Card, Dual Shock, & Analog Compatible * Created by: Square Soft * Available: Now in Japan (Late September U.S. Release) Translation Difficult — Numerous options and ET ENG a complex quest will leave most gamers lost and frustrated. o Dp: Diaboros E Diaboros M Diaboros B Diaboros LU Diaboros UH Zadoll OLE OTST TT RRE RRRRRRRR REES SS RRRR RER SRER RRE RSR RER RS SS RSR PlayStation Preview ra p n (2y7VER^ AES j X x Saer OoOo FIRINN OAT LERLE TI ° Size: 1 CD-ROM * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Action * Style: 1-Player Role-Playing * Special Features: 3 Play Modes; 4 * Special Features: Storyline by Katsuya Characters (4 More Hidden); Upgradeable < Kondoh; Capture, Raise, & Breed Character Attributes; 3 Street Courses : Monsters; Over 160 Monsters; 2-Player With Alternate Paths; 2 Halfpipes; 1 Pool; i K 1 Battle Mode; Over 600 Pre-Rendered Dual Shock Compatible; Mirror Mode y A Backgrounds * Replay Value: Moderately Low TEAM ages ^ * Created by: Genki for Crave e Created by: Micro Cabin for Electronic Arts Nl COL) A * Available: Summer for PlayStation * Available: Now for PlayStation P ; Bottom Line: [],5 "E Lem, complete Concept: 5 3 j Graphics: 75 | 6 6.75 Heartwarming RPG Sound: 5 8 4.5 Playability: La 2.75 Gooden Entertainment: 2 1 1 Overall: 4.5 5.5 3.25 With its new RPG, Jade Cocoon, Crave hopes to offer us a heartwarming game that will keep us occupied until the imminent release of Final Fantasy VIII. Hitting at almost the perfect time in RPG terms, this game has a lot of potential. Combining the graphic quality of high-end RPGs with the addictive collectability of Pokémon, Jade Cocoon is a glimpse into the future of RPGs. The main character is Levan, who raises "594 and trains monsters with his wife, Mavoo. A As Levan explores, he encounters over 3 160 different monsters, which could become BR friends or foes. In battle, Levan can capture monsters and then take them home I for Mavoo to raise, or he can take them 3 adventuring. Levan can also breed them in an unlimited environment. Therefore, billions of combinations are possible, and everyone will have mostly unique monsters. Hidden within {the game are a few monsters that are extremely rare. The graphics so far look pretty amazing. Katsuya Kondoh, director of the famous j anime films Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke, created the art for Jade Cocoon. six-hundred different backdrops were created for the game, making the environments look beautiful and alive. The game doesn't end with impressive graphics. Extras include a 2-player Arena mode, where players bring their creatures to the arena to fight each other. No monster trading options have been announced yet. Another great extra is the support of the | PocketStation, which allows players to ] continue unlocking new monsters on the road. In fact, some of the monsters are only Beneath this game's lame name is a product that has been a long time in com- | ing. The PlayStation has yet to experience ‘| a game solely dedicated to skateboarding. | Many of us at GI come from an era when "| skateboards were wide and flip tricks were ^ for wussy free-stylers like Rodney Mullen. b. Well, the sport has evolved again, and we ~ old-timers are amazed by the feats today's experts accomplish. D These feats are what Street Sk8er is all | about. Some of the tricks in this game are | extremely unrealistic, but they sure look impressive. For instance, one of the characters can launch into the air and do about eight flips while the board spins like wee ll Ges a blender blade beneath him. Andy, The Game Hombre In Street Sk8er, you must master the “You'd think that after all this time, at Street Tour mode in order to unlock alter- least the first skateboarding game for mate paths, hidden characters, and the two PS-X would be good. well, think again. halfpipes and pool in the Free Skate mode. This game, like its name, is horrible. The Street Tour mode has three street You don't really control anything, you courses filled with opportunities to grind ien DUM ice a and catch air. The courses are designed tala atheniige aucidthis piece of...” extremely well and are similar in style to Paul, The Game Professor those in Top Skater for the arcade. The “You get all stoked about a new skate- bigger the tricks you pull off, the more boarding game and EA comes up with points you'll earn. Earn enough points and some crap game from Japan. This you can continue on to bonus rounds and game is boring and does the Sport à the following street course. As you SE TN progress, you can upgrade your skater’s “when | board, Visti ma contro! attributes in jumping, acceleration, max in performing tricks. Street Sk8er Speed, and cornering. ; : allows you to catch big air, but takes While the tricks are mind-blowing, away all control in grabs, spins, and they're incredibly easy to perform. landings. Basically, you just press the Therefore, except for the time limit in the button and watch. Lame.” Street Tour mode, the challenge that rie __] available through the PocketStation, creating Street Sk8er offers is limited. Before you an incentive. know it, you'll have all four hidden charac- So will this game work for Crave and the ters unlocked. Does this low degree of gang? Only time will tell, but it certainly looks o difficulty reduce Street Sk8er's value? like a lot of fun. Check out the bottom line. * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Fighting * Special Features: 8 Characters Plus More Hidden; 6 Modes: Arcade, Vs., Story, Survival, Watch, & Custom; Beast Morphing; Adjustable Difficulty & Time Level; Dual Shock Compatible e Created by: Hudson Soft for SCEA * Available: May 25 for PlayStation * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1-Player Action/Platform * Special Features: New Character Abilities Like SCUBA Diving, Gliding, & Snowboarding; 2 Secret Characters; 1,000 New Voice-Overs by Dana Gould; Over 25 New Costumes Including Sherlock Gex & Anime Gex; Bonus Rounds & Mini-Games ie * Created by: Crystal Dynamics for Eidos " i * Available: March for PlayStation a (& Nintendo 64) 85% Complete Sgt. Slaughter chases Gex. 90% Complete The Sharp-Tongued Lizard Mecha Gex dodges an attack. M po me ge £ $444, É” We like to poke fun at Hudson for the lack of variety in its software library: will the next title be Bomberman or...Bomberman? But e this year, Hudson is sporting more variety i than a vaudeville show. In addition to the token Bomberman title, Hudson released the horrid Mario Party and, coming this May, it will release the second Bloody Roar title, Bringer of the New Age. Bloody Roar sets itself apart from most other fighters with its use of beast morphing. It was this relatively unique feature that made Bloody Roar one of the most entertain- ing fighters on the PlayStation last year. Beast morphing changes the fighter into an animal once the beast meter reaches a certain level, increasing the character’s power and ability. However, in the first Bloody Roar, morphing refilled the health bar, while in Bloody Roar 2, that luxury has been denied. The regenerating health bar is not the only i omission. Big head and kid character types, as well as the blood toggle, have been left S out. However, some new additions have been made, Of the eight initial characters, five are new: Stun the Insect, Marvel the Leopard, Uriko the Half Beast, Busuzima the Chameleon, and Jenny the Bat. Each has ~ unique specials and combos. One of our favorites is Jenny’s ability to walk up her opponent’s back, plant her foot on the enemy’s head, and drive it down into the cold | hard ground. Overall, Bloody 2 seems to be improving, with better graphics, a couple new game modes, and new characters. But will that be enough to garner the kudos it received last year now that the novelty of morphing has ] somewhat worn off? p «c Sherlock Gex avoids an angry stove. The lizard known as Gex returns for more action/platform mayhem, which also means more tongue-in-cheek commentary on today's pop culture. The man that helped create Gex's identity and attitude, comedian Dana Gould, is back with over 1,000 new quips that are sure to bust your gut. But Gould is not the only voice talent this time around. Bay Watch star, Marliece Andrada, stars as the sultry Agent Xtra. But really, Gould is da man. Andrada won't be as funny, and we suspect Crystal Dynamics hired her just to sucker people into buying the game in hopes of dis- covering some nude codes that don't exist. Gex, an international super-spy, is on a mission to rescue Agent Xtra who has been kidnapped by Gex's arch-nemesis, Rez. There are over 60 new enemies standing between Gex and his sexy counterpart, but Gex has a few new tricks up his sleeve. First off, Gex has been doing some serious training in the off season. He has received his SCUBA certi- fication and can also hang glide and snow- board. Plus, Gex has learned to ride a number of creatures and vehicles like burros, croco- diles, camels, and army tanks. Gex has been busy, but not nearly as busy el as his tailor. With more outfits than the The Burro is needed to travel rough terrain. Village People, Gex spends a lot of time in the dressing room. Most every level has a theme and Gex sports the appropriate garb. Some of Él Gex's different outfits include fatigues, a mecha-style anime suit, a Sherlock Holmes d costume, ski wear, cowboy duds, a pirate get- up, and more. All that made Gex 2 a stellar action/plat- former is back in Deep Cover Gecko. That, coupled with the hefty list of new features, make Gex’s newest adventure one to watch. * Size: 1 GD-ROM e Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing * Special Features: 19 Fully Licensed Cars; 4 Modes of Play (Arcade, Time Attack, 10- Year Championship, Time Trial); 17 Tracks Over 4 Locales; Full Car Customization * Created by: Sega * Available: Fall in U.S. (Now in Japan) Translation nslat Playable — All of the menus and Analysis options are in English. RI : Before Gran Turismo, there were many debates about which GA : mo'ó4"oi6 — . TR Am] racer was the best. One of the front-runners in these debates was 004996 ; i SS always Sega Rally. Even Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of Gran Turismo, has given Sega Rally props and considered the Sega AM team the one t beat in terms of realism and the overall bar. Now, racing game ive and abundant (especially on the Nintendo 64), and Gran Turismo has forever raised the | expectations to phenome i ‘What can Sega Rally 2 do to impress us? d Simple - Give us whe ega Rally so great in the first place, and then add . as done this, offering up an | excellent game > fori Rally 2. The 19 fully licensed . cars and 17: ot be quite up to Gran Turismo, but here the license is mited to rally cars only. Each car is fully | customizable from b ing, allowing for adjustment. to the . perfect ride. Is your Toyota Celica a little bouncy? Tighten up those springs a bit. Need a little more uphill oomph in your Ford Escort? Add some torque to the bottom end. As with its predecessor, Sega Rally 2 has superb control, detecting each subtle thumb movement and transferring it to wild action onscreen.You can tell if the road is simply soft or downright muddy by the way the car responds. When on two different surfaces (like asphalt and grass), each tire will respond according to what's underneath, making for som realistic control. Analog shoulder buttons give the driver even more control, as feathering the gas or the brake is certainly much easier when it is degree based. We were exceptionally pleased with how Sega Rally 2 turned out, especially after seeing the hideous beast that reared its head at the Tokyo Game Show. Now, the game is very similar to Model 3 technology, although there are some sobering complications. If there are any cars on the screen, the whole game slows down a bit. This isn't enough to write the whole game off, but the frame drop |... ocam n E is very obvious. am 8. e a ^ ^ M BO creo) | _ Network functions are also included, but it is not known how | Ze u =- | many users can play together. Unfortunately, the regular mode | only allows two players at a time on split-screen, instead of four. It’s shortcomings like this one (and the frame problem) that are going to have to be remedied before the release of the Dreamcast in the States. September’s headed this way quickly; will the Dreamcast «mew wc] fly? Only time will tell, but Sega Rally 2 helps to add some clarity to the cloudy crystal ball. 1 MATER they SCORE $1 uu $3 ISS itd dng von vilem. enc än rii th n citi vict s LARV Li DS CO Li NAA rot ` LES] S na = -m0-4 465520 AROUND” PULL Lee Bust-A-Move ‘99 Been sleeping too much lately? Well, nap time's over because Bust-A-Move has finally come to the N64. You know the story on this one — match three or more of the same colored bubbles and t they pop. When they're all gone, you go to the next stage to pop some more. This game is such a classic, in fact, many out there are groaning, "Bust-A-Move again?" Be not so fast to nay-say, as the N64 version could be considered the authoritative word on Bust-A-Move. Not only are the graphics the sharpest and most vibrant they've ever been, but there are enough modes and puzzles to keep you busy until doomsday. Seriously, without even considering either the 2, 3, and 4-player games (get a 72 inch screen for 4- player) or the Edit mode, by the time you complete Bust-A-Move ‘99, people will be living on Mars. NHL Blades of Steel '99 A decade has passed since Konami electrified the NES with Blades of Steel. Now, the "hit the e pass" action returns to dazzle the 64-bit arena. Unfortunately, with an increase in power comes a change in play. This new Blades offering is less _ an arcade game and more a simulator. ` Everything that made the original the classic it is today has been trashed, replaced with all of the NHL properties and a poorly developed engine. Blades '99 is designed nicely, and is up-to-date with what EA offers, but the choppy play creates more frustration than entertainment. Blades '99 isn't horrible, but EA's NHL '99 is far greater. Quake Il ES It would have been a lot easier for Rastor Productions to make their Quake I! port for the Nintendo 64 as similar as possible to the PC or upcoming PlayStation version, but noooo! They had to go and add on a bunch of enticing extras. o An exclusive multiplayer arena lets up to four players shoot each other, team up and shoot each other, try to capture the other team's flag while shooting each other, and about a million other variations on shooting each other. New | mission-based levels, increased difficulty, and enhanced lighting effects also combine to make Quake II not just a port, but an improved version E its own right. e Size: 32 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4-Player Puzzle * Special Features: Arcade, Multiplayer, Challenge, Contest, Collection, & Create Modes; Rumble Pak Compatible; New Bubbles; 8 Playable Characters; Literally Thousands of Puzzles * Replay Value: High * Created by: Taito for Acclaim * Available: April for Nintendo 64 Bottom Lire: Review * Size: 96 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4-Player Sports * Special Features: NHL & NHLPA Licenses; Custom Rules; Stat Tracking, Drop Passes, Wrist Shots, & One- Timers; Offensive & Defensive Formations; Controller & Rumble Pak Compatible * Replay Value: Moderate * Created by: KCEO for Konami Sports Series * Available: Now for Nintendo 64 Bottom Line: * Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4-Player Action/Shooter * Special Features: Redesigned Levels; Fully Customizable Controls; Exclusive Deathmatch Arenas; Many Multiplayer Games; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible * Created by: Rastor Productions for Activision * Available: March for Nintendo 64 90% Complete Game Informer e April '99 Q GLANCE * Size: Unknown * Style: 1 to 4-Player Racing * Special Features: 28 Cars To Find & Control; 14 Single-Player Tracks in 7 Different Environments; 5 Game Modes; 4 Multiplayer Arenas; Track Editor * Created by: Probe for Acclaim Entertainment * Available: July for Nintendo 64 35% Complete * Size: 64 Megabit * Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing * Special Features: 3 Modes; 50 Tracks; 11 Cars Plus More Hidden; Horizontal & Vertical Split-Screen; Short Cuts; Rumble & Controller Pak Compatible; Variable Weather; 3 Difficulty Levels; Co-Pilot Assistance; Car Settings * Created by: Eden Studios for Infogrames * Available: Late April for Nintendo 64 90% Complete * Size: 128 Megabit * Style: 1 to 4Player Sports * Special Features: Create Player; Full MLBPA License; Pitching, Batting, & Fielding Practice; 6 Modes of Play: Scenario, Exhibition, Statistics, Season, Training, & Trade; Controller Pak Compatible * Created by: Konami * Available: May for Nintendo 64 75% Complete Ó Game Informer © April '99 R/C Re-Volt Ahhh...how we love a racing game with a story. Especially a hairbrained tale that involves remote control (RC) cars coming to life and revolting against their evil toy masters. Stupid story aside, Re-Volt just may have something here. Employing physics created by some wacky European brain-boys, Re-Volt promises to have the most realistic control ever. On the version we played it wasn't quite there, but it's definitely headed in the right direction. Besides realistic physics, Re-Volt will also feature Mario Kart-esque weapons and pickups to keep racers on their toes as they master 14 tracks set in seven different environments. But the best part of this game may be its huge jumps and multiplayer arenas, where the true insanity that is RC car racing comes to life. V-Rally Edition '99 With Infogrames' V-Rally Edition '99, players will get to experience 50 tracks from eight different regions including Indonesia, Spain, Sweden, the 1€ Alps, and New Zealand. The tracks in this game demonstrate excellent variety and a number of ! challenging turns to master. In all, there are 15 ` cars from manufacturers such as Subaru, § Nissan, Skoda, and Renault to get you to the finish line. Some are designed for the asphalt, while others are geared for off-roading. Plus, each car can be set up according to the driver's personal tastes in terms of transmission, | suspension, sensitivity, and more. However, if you like, the computer recommends a setup for each specific race. Expect to see V-Rally 99 at M the end of April. Bottom of the 9th '99 Yippee! Konami's newest N64 sports game is Bottom of the 9th. There is no team license, but | there is a full MLBPA license. So, although you cannot see McGwire bat for the St. Louis Cardinals, you can see McGwire bat for St. Louis. In spite of the unlicensed stadiums, Konami does a fine job of coming up with unique ways to make = ` each stadium stand out. Konami's famous Scenario mode is included, which puts players in a position and a scenario and has them win the game. There are no Dynasty or Career modes here, but a decent Create Player adds a little more life to this title. [Ctidred J> GLANCE Rushdown Rushdown takes three "extreme" sports — cem 8 e Ca * Size: 1 CD-ROM kayaking, snowboarding, and mountain biking — IESSE TEE and blends them into one game. In the IN Championship mode, you must demonstrate IN vae eger eg excellence by beating a single computer Snowboarding; 4 opponent in all three events before moving on to Characters; Horizontal & the next exotic location. Each event is held in six IKEA à e n Dual Shock & Analog locations — Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, | waman Japan, North and South America. The graphics WEIT TITRES of Rushdown are great, but the gameplay is dde ed | š SE * Created by: Cana boring. The mountain biking can be fun, as the Multimedia tor speed is decent, but the other two competitions Electronic Arts are uneventful. Rushdown's control is IM cumbersome, and you can't accelerate and Jade) make hard turns at the same time. This is (MDAC LL SUL especially annoying while trying to pedal up a 5 trail with a turn in it. Rushdown is a rental at best. K-1 Revenge K-1 Revenge, Xing's sequel to K-1 The Arena Im SÉ EE Fighters, attempts to capture the pace and IESSE | brutality of K-1 — a full contact sport that allows INS | martial artists of all styles to compete under a IM common banner of regulations. K-1 comes off as Iesele AMEN Ñ j à Hidden); Signature | a good halfway point between boxing and Street | ove: Tournament, | Fighter. At higher difficulties, the Al won't fall for ICT the same trick over and over again, so learning IRCH EEN to mix up moves with good timing is essential for Í BWA aa Gees Improvement Ñ winning matches. For some, though, the ° Replay Value: Moderate | dedication required to learn these techniques will (DTD | prove too much. Defense can also be frustrating f Wsuugounmuoq qaa as dodging usually fails. Rent K-1 Revenge, play f lees e ° ig PlayStation t with a friend, and see if it's your cup of blood. ; ias Bottom Line: 6.5 | Bust-A-Move '99 | The people of Bubble World have only 48 hours fe Sp sana to raise $10,000 or their evil landlord is going to BIN Style: 1 or Player foreclose on their car wash. Desperate, they Puzzle decide to dress in sexy bikinis when they wash IM vehicles. Hilarity ensues. Of course, that's not IB : ; Contest, Vs., Collection, what happens in this game at all, but you try | wae Modes; 8 Mi writing two reviews in one issue for what is E Runapas , essentially the same game. If you don't already UNSECH own a previous version of Bust-A-Move, and IR eeltc? T mn nabbing the superior N64 Bust-A-Move ‘99 (with BI RAIL TOME fo its sharper graphics and more varied modes) BST isn't an option, then by all means pick up this SANTEE ERO always addictive game — you'll love it. Otherwise, Ia your money might be better spent paying off that Te scheming landlord and staying out of a bikini. re Game Informer e April '99 © CLANCE * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Shooting * Special Features: GunCon Compatible; 4 Modes of Play; Over 20 Mini-Games; Memory Card Compatible; New Theme Park Mode * Replay Value: Moderately High * Created by: Namco * Available: May for PlayStation Bottom Line: Preview * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Racing * Special Features: 13 Teams With 2 Drivers Each; 4 Modes of Play (Arcade, Single Race, Championship, & Time Attack); 16 Internationally Known Tracks; Car Customization; Create Driver; Created With Help From Automobile Club of Monaco * Created by: Ubi Soft * Available: Spring for PlayStation 80% Complete * Size: 1 CD-ROM * Style: 1 or 2-Player Sports * Special Features: Signature Batting & Pitching Motions; Play-by-Play Announcing; Create Player Mode; Home Run Derby; Over 750 Actual Players; 31 Stadiums; Analog & Dual Shock Compatible * Created by: Interplay Sports * Available: Late March for PlayStation 80% Complete © Game Informer * April ‘99 Point Blank 2 Namco has done it again. Point Blank 2 captures | the feel of the original, yet adds many games and modes to make it seem completely new. Over 20 different mini-games await the player, from § Galaga-style shooting matches to saving the | Earth from invading UFOs. Unfortunately, the Le Quest mode was replaced with a Theme Park mode, which is entertaining, but not nearly as compelling as the earlier Quest mode. For gamers who have completely worn out their first Point Blank and need new challenges, then look no further. Point Blank 2 is an exceptional shooting game. Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 Monaco Grand Prix is the newest contender in the open-wheel racing niche for the PlayStation. Featuring 16 international tracks, four modes of play, and authentic touches thanks to the Automobile Club of Monaco, Monaco Grand Prix has all the bells and whistles an F1 fan could desire. Complete options for car customization are available as well, except for the ability to create vehicles and teams. However, players can create drivers and place themselves on an already furnished team. The tracks are well done, but some minor frame and camera issues should be addressed before this game releases. With a little more tweaking and Al thrown in, we'll have ourselves a decent racing game! Baseball 2000 Baseball — it's American as apple pie, and soon there are going to be enough PlayStation slices to gorge yourself on. All the upcoming baseball titles will have to rely on innovation to set gà themselves apart from the competition. Interplay's foray into the market, Baseball 2000, hopes to score with a Create Player mode and an all-star team draft option. Adding these now- standard features to a brutally smart Al and over 200 unique signature motions just might raise Baseball 2000 to the top of the heap. The seats are even half empty for most games. How's that | for realism? l KR N CE UMT OR CLR CE NEE Ten ot DK) 3Xtreme | 3Xtreme hopes to capitalize on the continued success of the "extreme" games format. P IN esimin "ge : g š * Style: 1 or 2-Player | Continuing on its predecessors' path, the game Racing SS wll be about getting through gates, coming in IM PM | first, and scoring points off tricks. Ten basic tricks IA s $ (Plus More Hidden); 3 are available for each of the three vehicles 8 Mrs (skateboard, inline, and BMX), which all ride Skateboard, & Inline); together in races like the first Xtreme Games. oe Les dns , š : ehicle Type; odes $ Race against five other competitors over 27 | oF Play: Real Licenses = different courses in five locales to secure victory. INS d Motion capture for the game was done by three f Emz Tur | athletes currently on the Xtreme Games tour. For BBBNeMnE SUNL Vu x | Shock Compatible | fans of the series, it looks to be great. 989 plans | . Geste bur oep to put some serious PR behind this one, so keep IRCH your eyes peeled. * Available: May for PlayStation 40% Complete . Invasion From ay , but playing the rest of Cal them will make you wi h ana MLB 2000 MLB 2000 is gearing up for one of the most : important seasons in baseball history. Will B St eae McGwire continue where he left off? Will he | WS actually get some credit this time? 989 hopes to E Gi rarer e a make it a little tougher for the batters by adding RAUEN Total Control Pitching to the game. Other major (Aer dit improvements are an expanded Spring Training — Pitching: mode, with scouting reports and more; a GM or B BST SS: Dynasty mode, where you take one team f EURE through multiple seasons, handling all lie Miis managerial issues; and two-man commentary || yaoa am returns, courtesy of Vin Scully and Dave IDETTE Campbell. Seek out MLB 2000, baseball fans, IER and prepare for the yearly comparison to Triple | WaWawwkaauaaqaiq : ayStation I Play. Who will come out on top? í 4 — | maneuvers tricky to 70% Complete ‘not yet tired of the MK ne, ( . Rampage World Tour —< _ — Game Boy Color Bottom Line: 2.. Theres somethin . punching down bui and eating bysta Game Boy Color Review 2 NHL Blades of Steel ‘99 | Many gamers honed their hockey chops on ees ; f| Blades of Steel for the NES. Now, while the new BB: M Blades of Steel games for Nintendo 64 and Sports PlayStation are pretty nifty, the Game Boy Color HM Cor CENT is where it's at. Prepare to weep nostalgically Mis E EL. Te while playing this reincarnation of the great NES Modes of Play (Practice, hockey game. All teams are up to date, and the Exhibition, NHL Season, en game features the classic fighting and shootout Random Season, & M segments. Players can also link up and go IMN BI head-to-head. All that's needed are two people | Ipsam M ready for some trash talking, and you've got Ë PPA yourself a game. Get Blades of Steel '99 and Game Boy Color 4 show the young 'uns a classic in its own right. Bottom Line: 7.5 x Game Informer * Aptil lit SS se DUS er Cae LEUL L.I S — SimCity 3000 uses the same concept that has reaped a fortune, but adds new features to tempt the SimCity veteran. Now, you can see people and vehi- cles travel about your ad home-grown city. You'll also have to focus an eye on waste management and water pollution to keep your citizens happy. In addition, SimCity 3000 offers new ways to make money with special business opportunities like mega malls, amusement parks, and military bases. You'll also be able to sell excess water, electricity, and landfill space to neighboring cities. There's so much going on that it's impos- Sible not to be completely immersed. And even though the game is remarkably detailed and thorough, it's relatively easy to jump in and play. SimCity is a game without end, especially with the Building Architect Tool that can be down- loaded at simcity.com, allowing you to create buildings and import them into the game. SimCity 3000 is pure joy and should be experienced by one and all. Having taken a gan- der at many first-per- son shooters lately, | can say that Sin is right up there with the best of them. As with most games in this genre, you'll want a x : graphics accelerator to truly appreciate it Sin is xcoptlonal: ly violent and contains plenty of profanity. The level designs are slightly above average, even though there is an over- dependence on corridor environments. Sin even delves into the recent stealth fad, though it doesn't play a huge part in the game. While it isn’t done all that well, it does provide needed variety. What | like best about Sin is the story and how it's implemented with the help of cutscenes and mission objectives. If it weren't for these, | would have been pretty bored. One pet peeve | have is that although enemies have specific hit zones, it sometimes takes two or three shots to an enemy's bare skull to bring him down. MW3, at about 70%, is | coming along quite | nicely. Unfortunately, = the Mech Lab where you customize the mechs isn't fully oper- B ational yet. And in my SS mind, if | can't build my own Mech, there's little point in playing. But | was qe to explore the Lab a little bit, and it's simple to use. However, you can' easily find out the function of each item. Using my mouse and keyboard, the control is pretty solid, although it took me a while to get used to running with a pivoting torso. Fortunately, the HUD helps you keep your bearings with a tiny image of your mech. The HUD also displays a compass, radar or map, an image of your target that shows its level of damage, and a weapon select screen. Now, when selecting a weapon in battle, you no longer have to worry about choos- ing a weapon that's out of ammo. So far I’m pleased with MW3, and when the Mech Lab is working I'll like it even more. Look for it this May. Ó Game Informer ¢ April '99 TET (M by Bergren, The Game Burrito It's a nice balance of good and bad this month, but SimCity 3000, Sin, and Alpha Centauri more than make up for slackers like Wargasm. So strategy gurus, get ready to have your life swallowed up by SimCity and Alpha Centauri. And if you're looking for an excellent shooter, Sin won't let you down. tml" a PE wat nn This real-time strategy | game was a pleasant 4 surprise. Fans of Be WarCraft may want to > check out Rival fes Realms (RR), with its fantasy ^ elements, especially if looking for less of a challenge. A ee things make RR really easy. First, you can shoot projectiles through walls. Second, and most important, hit points and mana points regenerate automatically. RR features three races: elves, humans, and greenskins. Naturally, each has its own strengths and weak- nesses. Elves, for example, specialize in magic where greenskins are masters of close combat. There is an RPG angle to RR as well. Characters have a four-slot inventory and the ability to gain experience points. Plus, you can save any character to a library and use him or her in a later campaign. Unfortunately, you have to hire them back as mercenaries, and the better they are the more they cost. While not perfect, Rival Realms offers up some decent real-time strategy moments. In this action/strategy | game you have the option of taking charge of an entire platoon or controlling individual tanks, heli- copters, or soldiers. A worthy concept - : unfortunately the developer, Digital Image Design, didn't pull it off. The action portion of the game wasn't so bad, if only the control was better. | am particularly annoyed that you can't reconfigure the control. But the strategy aspect of Wargasm is far worse. You control multiple units from a boring over- head map view that offers little detail, and your powers of command are limited. Select a unit and a target or destina- tion. That's about it. The flexibility that is standard in most real-time strategy games is nowhere to be seen in Wargasm. You can't group units together, you can't patrol, and it's near- ly impossible to keep track of everything going on. A good hybrid concept, but it's poorly executed. This graphic adven- M ture is based on John 3 Saul’s novels of the 7 same name. The graphics are decent and BC's interface is easy to use, making managing the invento- Š " ry a breeze. BC's billed as an adventure in terror, but | was never the slightest bit scared. Although it's derived from a series of novels, | wasn't impressed with the story at all. You begin trapped in a restored insane asylum that is soon to open as a museum. You are there to rescue your son who has been taken captive by the ghost of your father and hid- den away somewhere in the bowels of Blackstone. Whatever. | couldn't get into the story; every time “my son” spoke to me via some cheesy still photo, | wanted to stran- gle him instead of rescue him. There are a bunch of puzzles, of course, and you'll meet the ghosts of former inmates to help you along. My final gripe with BC is that navigating is very slow and interrupted by too much load time. — j < WHERE OOS EB S LITTLE T rit. L. Im =E This futuristic racing game lulled me into a |: deep sleep. There’s a token story assigned to this arcade-style racer, but it doesn't really enter into the jg game —it merely takes | up a page and a half of the manual. The only decent thing about Power Slide is the orchestral soundtrack. Mixed with the widescreen format, it's almost like you're participating in a Star Wars flick. Unfortunately, the short length of the tracks and their limited variety are quickly outclassed by the sci-fi classic. The problem with the widescreen format is that it's the only option. Therefore, if you have a small screen, it severely limits your point of view. Everything else about Power Slide is fairly typical. There are a number of characters, a few different automobiles, and a decent tournament mode; but really, you don’t need to waste your time with this one. Many are calling this à game Civilization Il, and they aren't far off. One difference is that the setting is not earth. Instead, a large » group of humans, divided into seven fac- I tions, have journeyed to another planet. A Gett of options have been added to Alpha Centauri, giving it wider appeal. If you like strategy games that cover the military, technology, politics, and the like, Alpha Centauri will not fail you. But you can also customize the game to satisfy your particular tastes. If you want to focus on warfare, go for it. This wider appeal is further enhanced with Auto-Run and Auto-Produce fea- tures. Auto-Run allows your home base or entire civilization to be managed automatically. Governors of specific cities can be set to Auto-Produce improvements and units. Of course, if you don't like what they do, you can change it. You'll also have more freedom in creating military units for specific applications and making upgrades. Alpha Centauri may be too involved for some, but fans of strategy — Civilization in particular — should love this game. In Prince of Persia 3D (POP3D), most of ` the characters are | back as are many of the classic traps. According to develop- ers, 30% of the traps | will be classic Prince of Persia traps like spikes, slicer blades, and darts. But about 7096 of the traps will be completely new items, like catapults and angle blades that progressively chop the victim starting at the shins. This action/adventure title will be about 75% adventure and 25% action. That means lots of exploration. This is a good thing because the 15 levels should prove to be varied and quite large. Players will visit huge palaces, labyrinthine caverns, mystical ruins, and bizarre fortresses to name a few. But there will be combat as well and the developers have taken steps to make sure it's not just button mashing. Each weapon will have distinct attributes concerning range, power, and speed of use. Look for POP3D this September. Gad H. :: Standard 29”, Sit-Down 50”, or Deluxe 52” Cabinet d or E a layer Shooting : Model 3 Architecture; Accuracy, Speed, à Distance Bonuses for Hits; 5 Different Playable Characters | (Plus d More Hidden); Unique Bosses pes ed by: Sega Unknown SM EESP 4 on Eee dÉ or 2- ig Fighting | , TIT n 1 Es í : 11 Playable Characters; Based on Anime Series ^ Same Name; Runs on CPS III Chip; 4-Button Interface d by: Capcom ble: Spring 1999 in Arcades Everywhere Now in Arcades Everywhere 3 : UN C JE G : z PA dt Dpcl-————— q ` ; 50% complete . ° : od x We really wanted to review House of the Dead 2, but haven't logged enough gameplay yet. However, we can impart some information about the game itself. House of the Dead 2 is the E to 1997's wildly popular light gun shooter of the same name. Similar to the first, players take on the roles of detectives loyal, and will plunk money into a machine non-stop. Since Pane has gel a great ea of arcade titles, it d able to seeking out clues in order to discover the truth behind an old : abandoned mansion. All of your favorite enemies from the first try some interesting and daring ideas in the arcade arena. Sen) 3 » . à e L q Capcom fighting fans are some of the hardest-to-please arcade goers out there. However, once impressed, they are JoJo's Venture is definitely one of these. Utilizing the CPS III , House of the Dead are here as well, like the guy with two hatchets, chip made famous by Street Fighter III for its amazing anima- x and the chain-saw-wielding Ec sus Comp iota tion abilities, JoJo’s Venture catapults the player into the : annoying EC e E s üben are pretty TEHE c world made famous by the anime and manga series of the ` well, with subtle weak points and impressive attacks. If you were same name. A four-button layout gives players the moves they b. en omg a fan of ae p s you are a light gun shooter nut, ; need to take on this world. en this game is most definitely As usual with Capcom, the fighter will be 2D. However, I for you. Find one close by, then go unlike most other fighters from this esteemed company, it will x on out there and play, neither feature any of the characters we are used to nor use the same old super attack meter. Instead, every character will have an innate ability, called the Stand persona. This per- sona allows for special abilities unheard of in other fighters. For example, one of the characters can use his Stand persona to render useless any attack already waged against him. Another character can use his Stand to increase his attack power at close quarters. These special abilities help a player to understand how to play the character, employing moves easy enough for a beginner. Let’s hope that this ease of play still allows for exceptional depth and mastery. While an exact release date for this fighter is still unknown, JoJo’s Venture should be hitting arcades sometime this spring. :; Standard 29” Cabinet or Deluxe 36" 2: :1 fo. T 2 Sports ji 3; From the Creators of NFL Blitz; Full NBA ñ NBC Ce Full Rosters, Updated to the E oun Last Second; Highly Detailed & Realistic Character MAY (4. MID) Models; Huge Dunks; Play-by-Play Commentary by I Sportscasters; Signature Moves; Create Player T by: Midway March in Arcades Everywhere 80% complete Ever since the Jam license got snagged by Acclaim, not much has come of it; and arcade basketball took a back seat to arcade football, thanks in part to NFL Blitz. But now, Midway has picked up a new license, and has started on a new basketball game with full NBA and NBC licenses. Called NBA Showtime, this game looks awesome thanks to highly-detailed 3D characters. Instead of simply texture-mapping players’ faces onto the models, the players have all been rendered down to the smallest detail. Pippen looks like Pippen, Garnett looks like Garnett, and so on. Four players can get together and play with NBA Jam-style rules, complete with high-flying dunks, signature moves, and 3-point fall-aways. All the actual arenas are in as well, with each stadium fully rendered. As with Blitz, there will be full commentary from the broadcasters at NBC including Bob Costas and the rest of the crew (but no Marv, heh). As usual with Midway sports games, expect many crazy extras; including off-color remarks, unrealistic abilities, tons of secret characters, codes out the wazoo, and more. Midway also promises exceptionally up to date rosters as they plan to wait until the last possible minute to move players around and add rookies, making the game as current as possible. Plus, there is a Create Player feature, so you'll never be left without the (real or imagined) rookie star. So for those of you who have been seeking your fix of basketball gaming in the arcades, you'll have to look no further than NBA Showtime. Although we haven’t played it yet, it certainly looks to be a serious contender for Arcade Game of the Year. Game Informer e April '99 © Part | Orgo Enter the mayor’s house (red roof) and talk to him for a letter and instructions. He'll give you an Angel’s Tear. Go through the empty bedroom to the patio. A flower bed holds a Mind Berry. Leave the Mayor's and find Mary for a Candy Bar. The house NW of the well contains a Dusty Toy and a Rusty Toy. Follow the river south and enter the building by the farmer's field. In the SW corner is a Cute Toy. Cross the bridge and follow the trail to San Claria. San Claria Go to the second floor of the mayor's house and give him the letter. In San Claria, there is an item shop and an Inn where you can save. Go to the beach with the fisher- man and the nets. Enter the door to the east and get the Wind-Up Toy. Return to Orgo. f You must deliver thig | baby to it’s mother. The Baby Take the Baby under your wing and follow the trail towards San Claria, but this time follow the Grave Road. Off to the left is a trail to a wooden bridge. Cross it and go to the cave. Drop Baby at the entrance and return to Orgo and your bed for some sleep, you heartless jerk. Cave of Fear Awake, head to the Cave of Fear to retrieve the baby. Enter the cave and follow the passage. The Cave will take some exploring on your part. Before you pass the Kellian guards, you should be able to find a Cool Toy, Bronze Shield, and Mysterious Toy. Talk to the Kellian guards and then the Elder to find the Baby. Storage Room In the village area, check the tents and wells. Enter the Storage Room up the stairs in the NE corner. Try paralyzing the mon- ster with a Toadstool before attacking him. Kill him and get an Iron Sword. Talk to the Elder. Before using the new passage, go back to the Storage Room for Da Bomb. ee new passage behind the Elder's esk. Back to the Caves At the “machine of some kind,” exit through the west wall. Pass through the next area and in the following area, enter © Game Informer e April ‘99 the passage for Phoenix. Go back to the previous area and exit to the west. Near the waterfall is Walkbomb. Continue to the large nest and the Baby. Defeat Gailbinder and receive a Heavy Stone and Timeout. Coastal Inn After Martha and Amos leave, go next door and buy something from Bonik. He'll give you it, and other items, gratis. Sleep and then talk to Amos. He'll give you Mapster. Talk to the woman to name the Baby. The blue cat blocks the chest so you must come back later (See Strategy Extra). Exit the inn. Isten Follow the shore east over the bridge. Follow the trail to the sign and go to Isten. Talk to Richten and explore the town before you rest at the Inn. Descend the stairs south of the big yellow monster and turn right for the Buccaneer Mail. Behind the logs in the SW corner of town is Kimono. k. 7] After a good night's sleep, enter the fight, but don't win. Go to Richten's house and you'll find a chest with Contributor. Talk to Marco at his house for 500 Rubies. Exit Isten by the east bridge and go to Zed Harbor. Zed Harbor Once in town, go to the NE corner, find the Forecaster, and enter the north door. Upstairs, a woman will give you Vampire. Exit this place and enter the door immedi- ately to the east. Search a bookshelf for Heal Bat. By the south dock, near some crates, is Minicar. Enter the Ticket Office to buy a ticket. Too bad for you. Go to the gov- ernor's house near the center of town. Upstairs, at the end of the hall, is Baron (it should open around the fourth try). The gov- ernor is on the main floor, behind the south door. Search the hot pink vase for a Buccaneer Sword. Talk to the gov for a ticket. Return to the docks and talk to the foreigners. Leave town and follow the trail west, towards the desert. Desert and Rogo's Cave Head to the desert and follow the right Green = Toys WARNIN6: Blue = Items wall until you reach a cave. Enter, talk to Rogo, and get the Stone Slate to deliver to Galik. Exit through the other side and go to Carmarthen. Carmarthen Enter Carmarthen, enter the mine in the east, and follow the south tracks to Miner. Follow the north tracks and search the mine cart for a Bone Shield. At the end of the track, use Miner where the hatless miner is. Exit the mine and go to the SW corner of town. Follow the trail SW to Galik’s house. Whoops. No one home. Exit the town and follow the path SW to the swamp. On the far side are the Kuldo Ruins (visible on the map). Navigate the maze-like swamp until you reach the Ruin entrance. Talk to the merchant and get in there. Kuldo Ruins When you come to an intersection of sorts, go right. You'll reach a large room with three chests: Candy Bars in two cor- ners and Foreman in the middle. Exit through the SW corner. Climb the stairs and note the two passages to the north and south. Go south for the Kuldian Armor. Then, go north and follow the walkway around to Freud and Clericy. Return to the large room where you found Foreman. Go back through the NW passage and get Psychodoc. Continue to the intersection and go east. Descend the stairs to a large under- ground cavern. Exit through the south wall. Do the same in the next room to get Angel. Go back and follow the strip of land to the west. Turn right for a Cheeseburger. Continue west. Cross the narrow stone bridge. Eventually, you'll come to another set of two stone bridges. Cross them, get the Cheeseburger, and use the passage. Get the Cheeseburger against the west wall. Continue until you reach the White Lion. If you want to fight, approach the fall- en lion. Defeat him, leave the Ruins, and return to Granik’s house. Return to Zed Harbor At Granik’s house, give him the Stone Slab, and go upstairs for the Spinach Snack. Make the trek back to Zed Harbor and go talk to the Governor. Give Kalkanor the Heavy Stone you received from Gailbinder at the bird’s nest, in the Cave of Fear. Go to the dock and get on the ship. Search the ship for a Toadstool and a Peach Potion. Jungo Find Darkbeats house near the dock. Find the yellow bird boy named Pengie for Ringsider. Past Pengie, see the couple reunite. Enter their home, name their baby, and get Ditchmobile. Past the fountain, talk to the lighthouse operator. Take the left This guide reveals elements of the game you may want to discover by yourself, thereby possibly reducing you enjoyment of the game. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! path, head up the wood ramp, and climb the light house for Mi Armour. When ready, get back on the ship. Kerple Back on board, go up top for Terroroid. After you fall overboard, you'll awake on a beach. Find the tribal village and the Baby ready for sacrifice. Enter the Chief's hut for Mudsy. Talk to the Chief. Go defeat the evil god in the temple north of the village. Yugonga m» g Shkree shkreel ` Defeat the evil god Yugonga Get Pippanic. Further down is the Crystal Armor and a Cheeseburger. Cross the long narrow bridge, get the Peach Potion, and enter the next passage. Defeat the evil god, then go up the ramp and enter the east passage for a Crystal Shield and Hobo Joe. Return to the temple entrance and retrieve the Baby and the Chester Flute. A hut in the NE corner of the village holds Samurai. Go to the beach and use the Chester Flute. Get on Chester and ride him NW to Den Heldar. Den Hedlar & North Tower Talk to the mayor's daughter in her home and agree to help her. Knock on the door next to the armory for Insectorfly. Leave town and go to the north tower, visible on the map. Enter it, and in the first large room, go through the west entrance to a smaller room containing Douwner. Exit and enter the east door for a Crystal Sword. There are three more passages along the south end of the room. Through the west-most opening is a Devil's Shield. In the east is Toughwall. Leave the large room through the center passage and climb the stairs. Get the Spring Mail and Vegas. Go down the stairs and follow the monster through the secret passage. Before you follow e get Mossman against the west wall. Defeat the Blue Monster and get the Spinach Snack in the SE corner. Then, head through the north passage and into the teleporter to face the Guardian. Beat him, and receive Solomon’s Ring. Return to Den Hedlar. The mayor will give you Windmeister. Go to the beach and ride Chester to Trisken in the Eastern Continent. š Nobody interferes with ` ? Master Karsine's plans ^ and survives. Die Get the one on the left. Trisken Trisken is the city in the SW, at the end of the long water channel. Land at a beach and visit the house just SW of Trisken for Stare. Go to Trisken's west entrance, talk to the recruiter, and sign up. After you pass the test (you may want to save first), you'll get Dr. Snooze. Continue down the main street and enter the watchmaker’s house near the foun- tain. He'll give you Tarantula. Talk to a man near the fountain and take the lost wallet. Return it to the man near the west entrance and receive 1000 Rubies. Enter the bell tower on the north wall. Upstairs is Sacribat. There is a monster training cen- ter just east of the fountain. Lastly, enter the castle at the south end of town. Once inside the walls, talk to the couple for 500 Rubies. Enter the castle and find the thief. Kill him and then run after the Baby out the east gate. Go north through the gate to Garam. Garam & Denvarado Follow the trail east to Garam. There's a Hamburger in the Knoygn stable. Talk to Ann's father on the east side of town, then follow the path to the cave and fight Ruval the Giant. Inside the cave is Sumode. Fight Ruval and start to leave. Don't waste items fighting Kalkanor. After he defeats you, go back to Garam and make sure Ann gets back to her mom. Enter the Artema Temple. The chest is jammed (you'll have to come back to it), but hidden in the star-like sculpture is a Spinach Snack. Head north for Denavrado. Once there, talk to singer and buy his record. He'll give you Hornet. Leave through the west gate for God's Tower. God's Tower On the way to the Tower, stop at Aruvin's Shrine to save. God's Tower is NW of the Shrine (visible on the map). Go there, watch the fights, and then take your shot at Glor. Go back to the Shrine to get Aruvin to heal Kalkanor and Ramal. Aruvin will give you Gabriel. Return to God's Tower. Take the east stairs to battle Anzo and Lanzo CART RD MESES ED LATE RG Enter the main chamber and check the three rooms on the outer wall that sur- round the colored helix. After you get the goods, head up the west stairs for a Spinach Snack. Next, go up the east stairs. When you see a path of large blue blocks protruding from the stairs, follow the blocks to save, and then continue up the stairs to fight Anzo. Defeat Anzo and receive Dark Cross. Go back and save if you like, then jump in the portal behind where Anzo stood. Climb the stairs to reach Lanzo. Defeat him and receive Holy Cross. Jump in the portal and power up for a tough battle with Karmine. Picardo After you defeat Karmine, you'll end up in Picardo. Get Verseus in the first room and then talk to the Picardian. Exit to the room with the colored passages. Enter the first purple door on the right and talk to Darkbeat. Explore all the passages until you find your companions. Go to the library. Find the four required books and go back to Darkbeat and receive the Warp Gate Key. Go back out and climb the stairs in the center. Search the east and north passages below for some goods. Go back to the Warp Room and get outta here. Warp Room The list below provides a quick refer- gie? of the Warp Gates and where they ead to. NE - Carmarthen (Galik’s House) E - An isolated area west of Denvrado SE - God's Tower S - Jungo SW - Den Hedlar W - Trisken NW - Kell Part Your quest for the Holy Armor marks the second part of the journey. While you don't need to revisit every location, return visits often unearth new adventures and new booty. Consult our Strategy Extra at the end of this guide for additional things to do. Remember, if you get all the Living Toys, you can then visit Zeppetto’s and ro respectively, for additional Living oys. Pengui To get to Pengui, ride Chester north of the Eastern Continent to the large icy island. In Pengui, talk to the fisherman to get Mermaid. Search the snowman to find Frooze. Head north to the Nord Temple. Nord Temple Enter the cave and, on the second screen, enter the SW passage to find Draken. Head back to the main room and take the central path. Grab the Obro Armor, go under the arch, and get the Wind Ring. H you want the Obro Shield, continue on north. Otherwise return south and exit through the east pas- sage. You'll come to a room with tons of ice slides. Once you go down, you can’t get back up. Go down the single slide, then take the middle option. At your next choice, go right. Continue down (but not all the way) and enter the cave to get Frostall. Exit, slide to the bot- tom, and enter the cave. Save with Jengie and continue until you're back at the top of the ice slides. Again, go down the single slide, then take the mid- dle one. At your next choice, go left. Continue down (but not the all the way) and enter the cave with the teleport. Jump in and then defeat the Guardian for the Holy Shield. Go back through the teleport and get to the top of the the Holy Helmet. Now, get to a Warp slides. Head down the single slide and enter the cave on the right. Leave the Nord Temple and head to the south beach and call Chester. Castle Ryan For the next piece of Holy Armor, go to Castle Ryan located in the SE corner of the West Continent. However, to reach it, land on the beach south of Orgo and fol- low the river to the SE. Enter the Castle and look at the left-hand painting. Follow the hallway behind the painting until you reach a Spinach Snack. Head down the Stairs opposite of it. Look for items in the rooms off the passage, then go down more stairs until you find Know Owl and Assassin. Talk to Owl again to save. Go back up to the entry level and enter the lobby at the center of the castle where the Dark Plate armor lies. The stairs in each of the four corners lead to the four Red Switches and four Living Toys. After the fourth button has been pressed, go back to the lobby area and find the newly opened passage. Jump in the teleport and defeat the Guardian for the Holy Sword. Leave the castle and make way for the Denime Plains, near the town of Isten. Denime Tree To easily find the Denime Plains, go back to Isten and read the sign outside of the west entrance. Then, simply follow the signs. Locate the main tree (see map) and enter. Check the south and west pas- sages for the Quilted Armor and Resetter. Go down via the North opening, grabbing the Spinach Snack and Twisted Shield. Enter the tree and jump in the teleport to defeat the Guardian and receive the Holy Armor. Blow this over- sized toothpick and head for Kerple. SG pu iia Pp/max 92 / 92 Behold Xizan. erg See ee Kerple Go to the tribe’s village and enter the shrine to the north. Find the teleport below and jump in it to defeat the Guardian for Portal and return to Picardo and talk to Darkbeat. Defeat Darwin to prove your worthiness. Then prepare for the ultimate battle against Xizan. This is it boys and girls, the final boss. Make sure you're stocked and ready for this one (i.e. full health, full psychic points, and lots of Toys). We highly recommend collecting all the toys so you can visit Zeppetto and acquire his final masterpiece, the powerful Legend. Beat Xizan, and you are da man!! STRATEGY EXTRA The following is a list of other things to do during your visit. Most can’t be accom- plished until after Karmine has been defeated. While these tasks aren't neces- sary to defeat the game, they can drasti- cally improve your arsenal. * Go to Jungo and visit Bonik’s awesome weapon shop for some sweet Platinum armor and weaponry. * Go to Zed Harbor, kill the monsters, and get the Cheergirl from the mayor. * Go to Coastal Inn and get Whyme. * Go to Isten (after Denime Tree) and go to the Artema Temple to rescue Marco. After the wedding, go to Carmen and Marco's to get Marilyn. * After Carmen and Marco's wedding, go to the Artema Temple in Garam for Championo. * Go to Den Hedlar and talk to detective Long Nose for Sermone. * Go to Kisa Canyon Cave, in the north part of the Eastern Continent, for Ninja and D'Artagnan. * Go to Trisken and defeat all the mon- sters and the Sorcerer. Go see the King and he'll give you Generosity. * After getting four pieces of Holy Armor, visit Rojo in his cave south of Carmarthen for Avalanche. * Once you have all of the Toys, except Peacemaker, go to Zeppetto's house for * Lastly, return to Orgo and sleep in your own bed. When you wake up, you'll be offered Peacemaker. Game Informer * April '99 © Living Toy List Look below as we reveal descriptions and locations of all 70 Living Toys. A few Toys cannot be acquired until after a return visit during Part Il of the game. Miner — Pickaxe attack or finds gold. Location: Chest in coal mine. Voodoo Doll - Eliminates enemy. Location: Given in coal mine (Part Il). Assassin - Fires after 3 turns. Location: Near Owl. Classique — Sleep Spell. Location: By the button up the SE stairs. Confuso - Confusion Spell. Location: By the button up the NE stairs. Dr. Gas - Poison Spell. Location: By the button up the NW stairs. Freakz — Scares enemy. Location: By the button up the SW stairs. Cupid (A.K.A. Mysterious Toy) - Heals with Light Arrow. Location: Before passing the Kellian guards. Phoenix - Casts Normal Spell. Location: After leaving Kell. Timeout - No damage 3 turns. Location: After beating Galenbinder Viper (A.K.A. Cool Toy) - Paralysis Spell Location: Before passing the Kellian guards. Walkbomb - Damage Based on dis- tance walked. Location: After visiting Kell, near a waterfall. Ee Ki Mapster — Map/Spin attack. Location: Talk to Amos. Whyme - Draws Enemy Fire. Location: Where blue cat used to be (Part II). Insectorfly — Lowers defense. Location: From resident next to weapon shop. Sermone - Revives after TKO. Location: ^ Given by detective Longnose (Part Il). Windmeister — Wind Spell. Location: Gift from mayor after saving him in North Tower. Resetter — Rewinds combat. Location: South passage, entry level. © Game Informer April ‘99 Hornet - Poison Spell. > Location: After buying record from singer. Championo - Takes half PP inflicts PP x10 damage. Location: Cult Shrine after Marco & Carmen’s wedding (Part Il). Sumode - KOs all enemies. Location: Ruval's cave. Dark Cross - Eliminates all light. Location: After beating Anzo. Holy Cross - Eliminates darkness. Location: After beating Lanzo. Gabriel - Fully heals party. Location: Gift from Aruvin after battle with Glor. ef Contributor — Inflicts damage for 20 Rubies. Location: In Richten's house after fight- ing Darkbeat. Kimoni - Restores some HPs. Location: SW corner behind logs. Marilyn — Fully restores HPs. Location: Given by Marco & Carmen after wedding (Part Il). Ditchmobile — Raises agility. Location: Given after naming the couple's baby. Mi Armour - Adds defensive power. Location: Atop lighthouse. Ringsider — Play-by-play commentary. Location: Given by Pengie. Da Bomb - Explodes in 3 turns. Location: In storage room after beating Mushmare and talking with Elder. Mr. O'Neal - Baton attack. Location: After beating Mushmare. Mudsy - Lowers dexterity. Location: Behind Chief. Samurai - Returns Toys and joins battle. Location: In storage room after defeat- ing evil god. Hobo Joe - Steals items from enemy. Location: After boss. Pippanic - Confuses target with annoying siren. Location: Before boss. Ninja- Uses secret ninja moves. Location: Beneath a waterfall and stairs. D'Artagnan - Silver spear attack. Location: Defeating the Holy Dragon after getting Solomon's Ring. Angel - Heals party greatly. Clericy — Refreshes HPs (repeats). Foreman - Hand Drill attack Psychodoc - Turns 20 HP to PP. Freud - Hypnotizes enemy. NordTempe |^ Draken - Steals half HPs of both sides. Location: Down first SW passage. Frostall — Freezes everyone. Location: Down the ice slides. Douwner - Reduces offensive and defensive power. Location: Go west at first intersection. Mossman - Lowers offense. Location: In room where you meet Darkbear. Toughwall — Shield protection. Location: Go east at first intersection. Vegas - Press your luck with three attacks. Location: On top of the tower. Dark Postle (A.K.A. Dusty Toy) - Darkness Spell. Location: Wooden box at Algo's house. Jupiter (A.K.A. Rusty Toy) - Light damage. Location: Barrel at Algo's house. Nurse (A.K.A. Cute Toy) - Revives HPs. Location: In grain mill by farmers. Peacemaker - Try it...after saving. Location: In your house after getting Legend and sleeping. Frooze - Turns enemy into ice block. Location: In snowman. Mermaid - Water Spell. Location: Given by fisherman. Versus - Double damage (both sides). Location: In initial room. Avalanche - Earth attack. Location: Given by Rogo after you acquire all 4 pieces of Holy Armor (near Carmarthen). Pyro (A.K.A. Wind-Up Toy) - | x Fire Spell. Location: Storage room by beach. Dr. Snooze - Sleep Spell. Location: After passing recruiter's test. D’Artagnan - Silver spear attack. Location: Given by Kalkanor only if you beat the Holy Dragon in Kisa Canyon before getting Solomon's Ring. Generosity — Offers surprise gifts. Location: Given by King (Part Il). Sacribat — Sacrifices one Toy to attack all enemies. Location: Bell tower. Stare — Bird's-eye view or ray attack. Location: In house SW of town. Tarantula — Poison Spell. Location: Jadik the watchmaker’s house, after defeating North Tower. .... i, Baron - Gives gold. Location: Top floor, Governor's house (search chest 4 times). Cheergirl — Boosts offensive power. Location: Given as reward by Governor after death of Wartusk (Part ll). Heal Bat - Sucks enemy HPs and transfers to you. Location: Bookshelf in Cult Temple. Minicar - Rams enemy out of combat. Location: In crates by the dock. Vampire — 10% of HP to attack. Location: Given by cult member on 2nd story of cult shrine. Terroroid — Terrifies enemy. Location: Deck of boat after visiting Jungo. Legend — What you've been waiting for. Location: Upstairs at Zeppetto's (must have all toys except Peacemaker). Hyper Elbow... ee — jo. ee Charging Scorch ...... IB Cur Body 1 Hit 444 uaa. Se ena eee ERC Legs 1 Hit 44e eer Slash Kick use |. ENS Legs 1 Hit | Seb o v Power Punch .....+++> IS oss Arms 1 Hit x à Ak s Cross-Kick ........:.: IA Legs 2 Hits m. w m ete ong o c pyro Punime NE ^ vu EGE sn Spin Combo ........: d npn s Arms/Legs 2 Hits btte PK Combo ........:- IA Arms/Legs 2 Hits ie of Legaia is a role-playing game that’s all about PEGG once M mo E EE ^ ouod ee Sr earning how to properly pummel people. 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Ost Breath ENEE : re a t 1 fg o0 Vulture Blade S NN us 4 — no dide lee MEER SS ; aveln EH : m AE 5447574 "ON Dragon Pus SEL gu a yu Pa € = Mid With Left Attack o lesett. e Lad H Mn Legs 4 Hits > = Mid With Right Attack Luc HYS + + n ° E uper Te AERA d A ERA Cites ection . Š MA .. Salt te i ....Love nha eevee a Dee ^ Fia) | HA = Hyper Arts* „z= MoarSpesial l7 " eee jute Body 4 i flin = = Super Arts* UU MORS A = Miracle Arts WW WAQ Q Rando . m 16 Hit S AP = Attack Points Needed * Hyper Arts must be found to be unlocked. Super Arts cannot have any moves before or after them. Move Xe - evan Flying Knee Attack . . . Bo Coen Battering Ram .......- 185517 Body 1 Hit a e Iróühead ....... JS... Body 1 Hit ru T MM Back Punch........-- IB ULT. Arms 1 Hit OTe sl Guillotine .........-- )ES 20s Arms 1 Hit &€ T$ i v Vv v od pss Head-Splitter . .. .....- TEE Arms | Hu ` $54 TT, uoces Side Wicks isses 24 ... Legs 2 Hits "s tett | ` ``... Black Rain oles e DEE Body 2 Hits D Ce OTE] ........... Neo Raising .....-.-- 3)... Arms 3 Hits | een i *e5435460... Electro Thrash . ......- ac rura Arms 3 Hits . ass, 1 j we 2 etate... Bull Homs 2... 20 2... Arms/Legs 3 Hits , II E a o Ww HA ae o uy Thunder Punch ....... 20 AE Arms 2 Hits HA sste eet es Lightning Storm ...... EE Arms/Legs 3 Hits | HA 2266€... Explosive Fist ..... 40 ... Arms 4 Hits : SA esitet `... Rushing Crush ....... B. Arms 1 Hit E SA $tTettTb ........ Super Ironhead .......54....-- Body 1 Hit i SA 2*4++?*%€> € ....... Back Punch x2 ....... s PESE Arms 3 Hits : 5o SA tette ...... Heaven Drop ....--- DES Arms 4 Hits Qin a T3207 ass 2 11 3! — SA ec2e€tece2te.. Neo Raising x2 .....-- 00 ios. Arms 7 Hits s x x MA aattetyee ....Gala Combo ......... 90...... Random 11 Hits Enter all of these level codes at the Password screen. The Tunnel - FRHBMCTNTK Times Square - LHTSPMFRGS Stranglehold Bridge — NGLFFPTTFP Bonus - SHPPNRVWGB Lake Shore Drive - LPGCVBBJCF State Street - GLWHJCRNLK Bonus 2 - KMKJTMHRNS Armageddon Highway - FLWWFCWNRK Area 51 - WSMBCPVRWS Freemont Street - CGJWVRGLNM Bonus 3 - KVVLHFHWTB Crimson Gate - FCLPJRWTMP The Wharf - TMFNJMKJGF Bonus 4 - PPJLUHRCVV Q-Zone - LNKNSWKGTH Enter all of these cheats at the Password screen. Storm Ravens - WMNRSMRTR All Gangs - LTSLTSGNGS Invincibility - MSTSRVV Invisibility - CRSTLCLR Frog Storm - FRGZ Toad Gang - TDZ Super Power - First, collect three identical power-ups. Now, select the power-up and simultaneously press A and B. "The Rhino" Toledo, OH Input these codes at the "Pause" menu. Massive Dunks - Left Button x2, Down C, Left Button x2, Down C, Left Button x2, Down C, Z Perfect Shot — Left Button x2, Up C, Left Button x2, Up C, Left Button x2, UpC,Z Giant Players — Left Button x2, Right C, Left Button x2, Right C, Left Button x2, Right C, Z Tiny Players — Left Button x2, Left C, Left Button x2, Left C, Left Button x2, Left C, Z Ó Game Informer e April '99 Tino Donabouchi New York, NY © Enter all of these codes at the “Title Screen”. All Wrestlers - Right C x4, Left C x4, Right Button x 4, Left Button x4, Z All Rings — Left C, Left Button, Right C, Right Button, Left C, Left Button, Right C, Right Button, Z Ring Select - Right C, Right Button, Right C, Right Button Z Pulsating Heads - Left C x 7, Left Button, Z Big Heads - Right C x 7, Right Button, Z Big Everything — Right Button x 7, Right C, Z Johnny Dangerous Little Rock, AR Hard Difficulty — To unlock this first secret, head to the forest stage and locate the torch floating on a platform. Grab the Green Jewel from the torch (which enables this extra difficulty) and head to the end of the game. After beating the last boss, save, then start anew. The Hard Difficulty awaits at the Main menu. Carrie's Alternate Guise — To unlock this outfit, scale to the top of the Tower of Sorcery and stop to look out the window (just before the exit). Outside a torch awaits. Use Holy Water to discern the invisible path that leads to the torch and the Purple Jewel (which enables this costume). Now, finish the game and the new outfit awaits!!! Reinhardt's Alternate Costume - To snag this guise, head to the Tower of Execution and ascend to the third level. Slash one of the nearby iron maidens to reveal the Execution Key. Bring it back down to the second level and pass through the iron gate. Walk into the hallway and a floating platform awaits. Smash the iron maiden atop this platform to snag the Purple Jewel. Now, finish the game to unlock the costume. Anna Nicole Smith Twoton Towers, KY * Strategies Enter this bad mother of a code at the Cheats menu. The Yeah, Baby!!! Code - BEWAREOBLIVIONISATHAND Brandon Shipe Enter this code at the Title screen. Level Select - Hold Z and press Right, Down, Down, Right. Release Z then press Right, Up, Down, Left, Left, Up, Right, Right. All Weapons, Full Health, & Ammo - At the Title screen, press Left, Right, Up, Down, then hold Z and press Right, Right, Left, Left. A verification jingle should sound. During gameplay, simultaneously slam A, B, and the Right Button to get a recharge. Reik Metasu Washington, DC Enter all of these codes when the "Character Bios" screen appears during the intro. Gargos will laugh when a code is entered properly. Play as Gargos -Z, A, Right Button, Z,A,B Tons of Character Colors - Z, B, A, Z, A, Left Button More Options - Z, B, A, Left Button, A,Z See Ending - Z, Left Button, A, Z, A, Right Button T.J. Kniazewycz Webville, COM Webville, COM Color Change - Highlight any helpful hints + Enter all of these codes at the Password screen. Dev Photo - BLAMEUS All Levels & Ships - DEADDACK Pilot a Car - KOELSCH Cookie Monroe Los America, MA character and hold Up on the analog stick until the character changes color. Dolphin Ride - Enter the "Stunt Mode" and pick Dolphin Park as your track. Now you'll need to go through every ring and perform every stunt. Here's what you'll need to do: Handstand, Spin, Stand, Flip, Dive, Roll, and a Helicopter (do a Roll off the ramp and hit Up then Down in the air). Once done correctly, the dolphin will squeal. Leave the Stunt mode and choose Practice in the Championship mode. When selecting your character hold Down on the analog control and press Start. You can only use the dolphin in Dolphin Park. Karen Sith St. Petersburg, FL Input these codes at the "Enter Cheat" screen. Infinite Lives - FRTHSTHTTRLSCK Pen and Ink - DLKTDR Disco Dancing - SNFFRR Gallery - THBST Show Credits - FDTHMGS Spirit Mode - THSSLKSCL All Weapons - CMGTSMMGGTS Unlimited Ammo - BLLTSRRFRND Fancy Colors - LLTHCLRSFTHRNB Quack Mode - CLLTHTNMTN Show All Enemies - NSTHMNDNT Dana Mode - DNCHN Greg Mode - GRGCHN Robin Mode - RBNSMTH Ultimate Cheat - NTHGTHDGDCRTDTRK. Marcus Johnson Sunnyvale, CA Enter all of these codes at the Password screen. Note: Reverse any one of the codes below to unlock a hidden stage. Example: Input RANDAL for Campaign L1. Input LADNAR for Hidden Campaign L 1. Main Campaign Level 1 - RANDAL Level 2 - HUNDRA Level 3 — CINBER Level 4 — MARLIN Level 5 - BAYARD Level 6 - WEBLEY Level 7 — PAPKER Level 8 - MERKEL Level 9 — ITHACA Level 10 — BAIKAL Level 11 — SAVAGE Level 12 - VALMET Level 13 - MAUSER Level 14 — KIMBER Level 15 — BISLEY Level 16 - MEANEC Original Campaign Level 1 - REVOLT Level 2 - ICARUS Level 3 - CYRANO Level 4 - RAMSEY Level 5 - NEWTON Level 6 - SENECA Level 7 - SABINE Level 8 - ARATUS Level 9 - GALOIS Level 10 - DARWIN Level 11 — PASCAL Level 12 — HALLEY Level 13 - BORMAN Level 14 — APPOLO Level 15 — KAISER Level 16 - NECTOR Extra Goodies Battle Test — Clear all levels of Main and Original modes, then input the word BATTLE at the Password screen. Single Scenario — Clear all levels in Main and Original modes to unlock this tough mode at the Main menu. Xenon Unit (Single Only) — At the Map Selection screen press and hold L1, L2, and @, then press 3. 2P Verses Mode (Single Only) — At the Map Selection screen press and hold L1, L2, and W, then press 3€. Double Attack Power (Single Only) - Clear all 64 stages (normal and hidden), then head to the Map Selection screen. From here, press and hold R1, then tap %. Jesper “Stinky” Underarm Pittsburgh, PA . reveal the Hard Difficulty level. Enter all of these codes at the Main menu. Play as Bear — Right and W, Right and A, Right and 6, Right and % Big Heads -Left and @, Left and A, Left and W, Left and 3€ Enter this code during gameplay. Energy Regain — When the option appears to hit the heavy or speed bag between bouts, simultaneously press and hold L1, L2, R1, and R2 to regain two to eight points of energy. The amount regained is based on how long you hold the buttons. John Richards Zap, ND Enter all of these codes at the "Main Menu". Play as Sophia — L1, L2, R2, R1 Play as Karma — R1, R2, L2, L1 Enter these codes from the "Pause Menu". Spell Upgrade — Down, A, Select, L1, R1, Select Weapon Upgrade — R1, L1, R2, L2, Left, Right, Up, Down Nitron Maximal Webville, COM Super Ammo - Enter the Weapons menu and highlight Silenced 9mm. From here simultaneously press Left, L1, R2, Wi. % to unlock tons of ammunition. Movie Theater — On the first level Georgia Street enter the Main menu and highlight Maps. From here simultaneously press Right, L2, R1, and x to unlock all of the movies. Hard Difficulty — At the Title screen helpful hints + Enter all of these codes in the Options menu. View FMV Sequences - R1, R1, R1, R1, L1, L1, L1, L1, Select (Press Left and 3€ to advance. Press Right and 3€ to step back. Press Start, Start to exit.) Cage Matches - R1, R2, R1, R2, Select Ring Select — R1, R2, R1, R2, Select (Every time this code is entered, the ring will advance by one.) To move, scroll backwards through the list, press L1, L2, L1, L2, Select. Box Ring - L1, L2, L1, L2, Select Dancing Wrestlers — Enable the Ring Select code, then choose the USO ring. To make the wrestlers dance, perform any generic move or press L2 for a small dance. Mark Westingham Orange Arbor, FL Enter all of these codes at the Name Entry (Controller Setup) screen. Alien Team - ROSWELL Classic Teams - OLDTIME Tiny Players - OOMPA Huge Players — FATTONY "The Boy Wonder" Dallas, TX highlight New Game and simultaneously press Left, L1, R2, Select, W, 6, % to Kyle Anderson New York, NY ` passwords + Illegal South Park Episode — Tiger Woods isn't the biggest license on this golf simulator. If you purchased a copy of Tiger Woods '99 before it was pulled from retail, and if you have access to a PC CD-ROM drive, then you have access to view the biggest mistake of 1998. Hidden illegally on this disc is the first South Park cartoon pitting Santa Claus against Jesus. To view it, place the Tiger Woods game into a PC and use the ActiveMovie application to play the Zzdummy.dat file. Note: This video is for audiences of 18 years of age or older, and it also contains some of the most sadistic material known to man. View at your own risk!!! “GI Droid” (location unknown — last seen enjoying a lube job) Enter both of these codes at the Main menu. Level Select — Hold R1 then press Down, Up, Left, Right, A, Bl, 6, A, Bi, €, Down, Up, Left, Right. View FMV - Hold R1 then press Up, Down, Left, Right, Bl, @ A, ©, E, @, Up, Down, Left, Right. Enter both of these codes during gameplay. Invincibility — Hold R1 and press 6, A, Wi, %, Down, Down, Down, 6, A, B, x. Segment Skip — Hold R1 and press ©, e x x B. E. “The Rhino” Toledo, OH ENTER TO WIN! Send in your codes and passwords, and if we choose your entry as Code of the Month you'll win a wonderful prize from the Game Informer Vault! All other entries printed within these hallowed pages will receive a Secret Access T-shirt. - SendTo: ` Secret Access ` Game Informer Magazine 10120 W. 76th Street. Eden Prairie, MN 55344 E-Mail: secretaccess@gameinformer.com Game Informer e April '99 © Enter both of these codes at the Press Start screen. Level Select - L1, R1, L2, R2, A, %, @ m m @ x. À All Ships & Weapons - L1, R1, L2, R2, Up, Down, Right, Left, Left, Right, Down, Up Ziggy Toon Town, NV Enter this code at the "Password" Screen. Everything Unlocked - Toledo, OH To activate both of these codes, all of the hidden characters must be unlocked. To accomplish this feat, simply beat the game with every standard character. Big Head Mode - Hold Select and pick your character in the Arcade Mode. To make the head even bigger, wait until the round has ended and hold Select again while the character goes through their victory dance. Wire Frame Boxing - Enter the Arcade Mode and hold L1 and L2 when selecting a character. "Da Cheeze Master" Minneapolis, MN Q Game Informer e April '99 Enter all of these codes at the *Name "The Rhino" helpful hints * Hidden Teams - Enter the Rosters menu and select the Create Custom Team option. To activate the hidden teams, simply enter one of the following locations and its team name. Location Team Name Hitmen Coders Hitmen Earplugs Hitmen Idlers Hitmen Pixels Unlock Phoenix Gorilla — Enter the Create Player menu and input the players name as BIG BOY. Now, enter in Charles Barkley’s attributes to unlock this beast within the Free Agent List. Tyler Francis Green Bay, WI Enter these codes at the “Name Entry” screen. Invincibility - DAMAGE! Number of Cars On Track - NPLAYERS (Quit tournament to activate code.) New Track - REFLECT! REB Nashua, NH New Season” screen. Note: Leave a space between codes with two words. Wide Tires — fat tires Wheel Racing — wheels Hover Mode - no wheels No Slowing Effects — noviscous No Collision With Cars — banzai 3/4 Gravity — feather 1/2 Gravity — float Double Gravity — stone Realistic Gravity — radbrad Wheels Turn 90 Degrees - spinner Win the Rookie Season - vet me Win the Veteran Season — in a pro The Weeoo Code — weeoo "Buggie Meister" Foster City, CA Tiny Cars - Input "mjcim.rc" at the "High Score" screen. John Williams Composington, CA eve passwords Play as Esgares Empire - At the General Select screen, simultaneously press Start, L2, and R1. Doing this will bring up the Difficulty Selection screen without a general being selected. Now, simply begin a game to control this fearsome empire. Kelly Eligus Timonium, MD 300 Game Mode - Zoom down to the sixth saved game slot and input your name as Vilooma. Now, start a tournament to bowl off for a perfect score. “The Vidman" Uptown, MN Enter all of these codes at the “Password” screen. Unlimited Lives — ELVISLIVES Infinite Armor - IAMWOMAN 4 Attempts — SADISSA 7 Attempts - NOSFERATU Double Damage - DRBENWAY Infinite Ammo - STRANGELUV Infinite Fuel - EARTHFIRST Infinite Attempts — ELVISLIVES Invincibility - I/AMWOMAN Double Fuel Mileage - VULTURE Infinite Ammo, Fuel, Attempts - FUGAZI A Lotta Stuff - THEBIGBOYS A Lotta Stuff 2 - MIDNIGHOIL Worship the Chopper - GHANDI Lynch the Chopper - ANGRYLOCAL Peaceful World - QUAKER Level Codes Level 1- WORSTCASE Level 2 - GRANDTHEFT Level 3 - GROZNEY Level 4 - CHERNOBYL Level 5 - CIVILWAR "The Human Torch" New York, NY Enter all these codes at the map screen (use L2 to bring up the map). Refill Blood — Press Up, Right, Bl , @, Up, Down, Right, Left Refill Magic — Press Right, Right, @, @, Up, Down, Right, Left Show FMV -Press Left, Right, We Up, Down, Right, Left ‘Little Red Eat Your Dog Hood” Kibbles, ID All of these codes can only be entered helpful hints + Piano Sequence - How long have you been stuck on this annoying puzzle? Well, fear not. We have the answer. Simply press the keys in the game as they are numbered below. 5 3 “The Kramer Gamer" Seattle, WA after all the tracks are unlocked and the game is beaten. Enter them at the Bubble Menu on the Title screen. Super Agility - Down, @ , Left, L1, Left, Right, Left, Right Zero Resistance -W , L1, A, Right, L1, Down, R2, À Double Stunt Points — Right, Up, @ , L2, A , 0, R1, R2 Show Off Camera Enabled - A , Down, W , L1, L1, R1, R1 Air Brakes — R1, R2, Right, L2, Up, e, Up, 6 Rocket Racer — À , Up, Up, L2, L2, Up, Up, Up Unlimited Turbos - A , @ , Right, R2, Up, B, Up, A Ice Racing — Up, R2, R1, Right, L1, B, Right, Right Computer Al Code - 6€ , B, R2, 6 , A, L2, Right, Up Shaun Ahuja Plano, TX Enter both of these codes at the first Option screen (where Abe greets you). Hold R1, then enter the code below. Level Select - Down, Right, Left, Right, W, 6, Ii, A, 6, E, Right, Left View FMVs - Up, Left, Right, We A, E, Right, Left, Up, Right Keg Powder Blowington, TN helpful hints + passwords ° Enter both of these codes at the Password screen. Level Skip - 2409 (Pause game, then press Select to advance.) Flying Mode - 0601 (Press Select and any directional movement to fly.) Monica "Close But No Cigar" Lewinski Enter these Kombat Kodes at the Verses screen. Note: The numbers indicate the amount of times the buttons must be pressed. Play as Reptile — 192-234 Fight Reptile — 205-205 Disable Throws — 100-100 The codes below only work with InterAct's GameShark enhancer attachment. — Switch Around - 460-460 Austin, De Infinite Health — Dark Kombat - 688-422 81389c3e 0064 Psycho Kombat - 985-125 Infinite Throwing Weapon - Disable Blocking — 020-020 81389c48 000a Message 1 - 987-666 Message 2 - 123-926 CPU 1/4 Life — 000-707 Tommy "The Game Star" Headworth San Jose, CA Use the Force - To move the blocks upward hold a piece on the left or left wall then repeatedly tap the A Button. Or hold the block on the Right and tap B repeatedly. This works for any Star Soldier Infinite Lives — piece except the straight bar. 800a3648 0003 Confetti Screen Saver — After the Infinite Specials — demo begins, tap Start to bring forth a 80023649 0003 nifty Nintendo screen saver. Extra Armor - Enter all of these level codes at the Fish Screen Saver - After the demo 800a362f 0001 Password screen. Level 2 - JCBCM Level 3 - JMBCC Level 4 - JMCCB begins, tap A to bring forth a fish tank Screen saver. Jar Jar Binks Naboo, NX Level 5 - JPCCD Extra Spell Ammo - Level 6— JTCCJ 80091c24 0001 Level 7 - STCCS 3 Extra Health - Level 8 - SBCCT cii these level codes at the 80069816 2400 Level 9 - TBFCQ asena ir i. All Levels - Level 10 — TBKCL eve T] 800c4704 000f Level 11 - TBTCB j | — Level 12 - TBTDC [ Civilization H unch Kinsley d m 80119764 7530 A Bp Dd [ ] [ë]Ë i e Contender Level 4 i EG Infinite Health & Stamina - Enter these codes at the Exhibition d PS A eran H Match-Up screen. Start toggles the 00669 first digit, B the second, and A the Level 5 d00669d6 0000 ; : Fx ; 2 T 800669d6 3241 third. Once the digits match the code, vd | Bë press the directional command. zz [ë] Po ue m. SEA ER SS redator Mode - 5, 5, 1, Up ale Start in OT - 0, 0, 6, Up [05] $ die EN Enter both of these hidden teams' NCAA Final Four 99 codes at the Password screen. : Bonus s Emerysville Eclipse - 00606744 $ Ei E Home Team Score 0 — Midway Blitzers — 06267545. u i 800b7054 0000 “The VidMan” Super Light x Away Team Score 0 - Uptown, MN aa) s [üg [22] š 800b7518 0000 : | EI Home Team Score 150 - "Teddy, The Cuddly Gamer" 800b7054 0096 Los Gatos, CA Away Team Score 150 - 800b7518 0096 ants ° passwords * Codes found in this issue: Akuji the Heartless .............................. + Animaniacs: Ten Pin Alley .................... + LE in Brigandine: Legend of Forsena ............ + Buck Rum ay EI EE oy Castlevania Legends ............................ B Civilization RE + Crash Bandieoot.......... senes + Gontendder EE dE + Destruction Derby ................................ + Invasion From Beyond .......................... + Jet MOO n ee res + Killer Instinct Gold................................ E Knockout KIngs... useine ona +£ Legacy ol Kain e + March Madness 99.......................... + Men Black oa a B Mortal Kombat 4................. a E NBA Jam IO Ee iN NBA Live EE + NCAA Final Four 99............................... + Nectaris:Military Madness .................... Ñ+ NEE B Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus .................... A Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee .................... p Oddworld Adventures............................. a lee + EI + s 6 f s 0 ess + SOVIGE C E a + Star El EI Star Wars: Rogue Squadron ................ iW SVONON FIOT l u Sasa + TakKahia esee Ee + Test DIVE EE Ñ+ TUG OK eee o ied H Tiger Woods 99 .................................... + Turok: Dinosaur Hunter ....................... EN Turok 2: Seeds of Evil .......................... r^ Wave: Keren En VI dn e GE i WCW/NWO Thunder ............................ + Cun xe These lines may not have information for all titles. If you're under 18 be sure to get your parent's permission. All calls cost between $.95 and $1.25 per minute. Acclaim 516-759-7800 Capcom 900-976-3343 Electronic Arts 900-288-4468 GT Interactive 900-225-5248 Konami 900-896-4468 LucasArts 900-740-5334 Midway 903-874-5092 Nintendo 900-288-0707 (Game Counseling) 425-885-7529 (Automated) Sony 900-933-7669 THQ 900-370-4468 Game Informer * April '99 pn gaming From the past to the present Baseball Stars - NES Super Team - On the Main screen, choose Make Team, then move your controller Down, Right, Left, Down, Down, Right, Up, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up. Your cursor should be on Veterans. Press A and the mes- sage should read, “WHAT IS A WREN?” Erase this message and enter on the top line, “A BIRD.” Be sure to include the period. The next message that appears should read, “WHEN ISN'T IT.” Change this to, “WHEN IT IS.” (Be sure to include the period.) Blaster Master - NES Grenade Boss Cheat - To destroy the bosses for stages 2, 4, 6, and 7, attack each with your grenades. As you do this, notice how its body flashes white when you damage it. Pause the game to freeze the boss while it is white. Wait for a minute or so and then Un-pause the game. If done correctly, the boss will be easily defeated. classic codes Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, A, B, A, B, Start. To use it in a two-player game, hit Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, A, B, A, B, Select, Select, Start. (Both are derivations of the classic Konami code.) Mario Brothers - ! NES Continues — At the Game Over screen, hold A. When the 1 or 2-player screen appears, press START. The Lion King - Genesis/SNES Level Select and Cheat Mode — Go to the Options screen and enter the code desig- nated for your system. Genesis - Right, A, A, B, Start SNES- B, AR, R, Y Mickey Mania - SNES Level Skip — Go to the Options Screen. Select sound test and set music to Beanstalk 1. Select sound fx to Extra Try. Go to exit and hold the L button for seven seconds. A sound fx will happen and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Genesis Level Select - When you hear the "SEGA," press Up, Up, Down, Down, Up, Up, Up before the Title screen appears. If you do this cor- rectly, you will hear a ring. Then go past the Competition mode and you Will see a Sound Test. Enter the Sound Test and you should get a screen that allows you to select any level. Debug — Once you get to the Level Select, highlight a level and press and hold the A, then press Start to get the Debug. When in the Debug, press the A button to change objects, B button to be an object, and C but- ton to place the object. True Lies - SNES/Genesis Level 2: QMMKNMD Level 3: FNYHHLX Level 4: DBZJJMY Level 5: KZDKFCK Level 6: JWLNDBN Level 7: LVMBQMF Level 8: FLDJYLF Level 9: ZIDGBJC Availability: Uncommon Replay Value: High Similar Games: Pro-Am Racing (NES), Pro-Am Racing II (NES), Rock N Roll Racing (SG, SNES) Created by: Rare for Midway Access Tip: Save your supply of weapons until the final lap. Overall: 8 The story of this game’s journey to the Genesis is actually more interesting than the game itself. The original game code began its life as a fledgling NES title coded by a little-known company named Rare. Nintendo took notice and published this game as R.C. Pro-Am Racing in 1988. To say the least, it was a very popular NES title. Subsequently, Tradewest (now Midway) buddied up with Rare on the BattleToads games and acquired the rights to an NES sequel aptly entitled Pro-Am Racing |l. In the spring of 1993, Tradewest released Pro-Am Racing Il for the NES and also released Championship Pro-Am for the Genesis. Essentially the games are one and the same, but the Genesis version has better graphics and sound. All of the Pro-Am games stand the test of time and continue to offer challenging gameplay and excellent control. In recent years, the game has been re-released under the Midway Home Entertainment brand. Though this title doesn’t surpass the NES original, Championship Pro-Am Racing is an interest- ing piece of video game history. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - NES Editor Mode - At the Title the level select will appear on the Main Game screen. screen, hit Up, Up, Down, Gloster Master Availability: Common Replay Value: Moderate Similar Games: Blaster Master 2 (SG), Blaster Master Boy (GB), Metal Warriors (SNES), Cybernator (SNES) Created by: Sunsoft Access Tip: See Classic Codes Overall: 9 Baseball Stars Availability: Common Replay Value: High Similar Games: Baseball Stars II (NES), Baseball Simulator 1.000 (NES), Bases Loaded Series (NES) Created by: SNK Access Tip: See Classic Codes Overall: 9.5 At first sight, what appears to be a side- scrolling shooter turns out to be one of the best (and most original) action/adventures for the NES. Blaster Master, which debuted in 1988, starts you in a small, tank-styled craft. The tank has a moveable gun and can also jump over obstacles and enemies. After a lit- tle blasting, you'll find some of the first power-ups that will increase your weapons or other attributes. The part that makes these acquisitions really cool is that you can have the pilot exit the ship. A little guy hops out of the protective vehicle to collect the power- ups. This also gives the player access to other areas of the game that the larger ship cannot reach. Inside these portals the style of the game changes to an overhead view, and the player tackles the pitfalls and enemies in a quest to open new areas and defeat nasty bosses. Blaster Master requires patience and plenty of skill to defeat. It is a long, memorable adventure that is an essential game in the NES library. Q Game Informer * April '99 With the baseball season looming, it is time to recall what many in the Gl office consider to be the best console baseball game ever created. Before the days of polygons and commentary came this SNK masterpiece. The year was 1989 and Baseball Stars became a most sought after baseball title. This £ame is without any real teams or play- ers, but it more than makes up for that in many ways. The control is standard, but climbing the fence to take away a home run is a memorable and original part of the play- control. Baseball Stars' model of roster man- agement allows you to earn money via ticket sales and then use that cash to modify play- er attributes or hire other players. Building a dynasty team with sluggers named after your favorite wrestlers or co-workers. is common- place in today's sports games, but there are Still a number of current baseball games that can't get the formula right. Baseball Stars got it right back in ‘89 and still has. it right. Baseball Stars kicks baseball butt. This iS you h game. ` EXTENDED TIME | This i5 Your Same on Ths blink. ANY QUESTIONS? Dust and dirt can damage your game system. The result? Poor picture quality, fuzzy sound and slow or "buggy" game play. Cleaning your system and games regularly will maintain high quality gaming and ensure a longer product life. Player's Edge cleaning kits will keep you and your system in the game. VOA Game maintenance products available from Player’s Edge: Available at Funcoland Cleaning Kits for: NINTENDO? 64 e SUPER NINTENDO? ° NINTENDO” e SEGA" GENESIS" e GAME BOY? ° GAME GEAR" e MULTIMEDIA & GAME CDs PLAvEgEmR'S O 1997 Player's Edge. Player's Edge is a trademark of InterAct Accessories, Inc. InterAct Accessories is a trademark of STD Manufacturing LTD. [zz] SS = Wipeout, Wipeout XL and Psygnosis are trademarks of Psygnosis. © 1996 Psygnosis Ltd. Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Nintendo and Game Boy = Æ| are trademarks of Nintendo of America, Inc. Sega Genesis and Game Gear are trademarks of Sega Enterprises Ltd. oon PlayStation Please read all directions completely. Incomplete orders will be returned. We can only ship your free game when the following items are received: * This coupon, with all information filled in completely. * Original dated sales receipts(s) for the two Capcom Fighters Edge games you have purchased between February 1, 1999 and April 30, 1999. , a * Proof-of-Purchase barcodes | , à | | located on the back of game I 1 | packages. Note: you will 3 S Uu P ER. H ERAES need to pop the jewel case j 1 uem t ae LKE oe il j E à š oy apart and cut out each j — -— 1 — | e , barcode. Tape them to a sheet of paper. *Check or Money Order for $5.00 shipping and handling per order. Requests are filled in the order in which they are received. Choice of free game subject to availability. Free game choice is limited to titles listed. No substitutions allowed. Order must be postmarked by May 31, 1999. Orders after May 31, 1999 cannot be honored. Limit one order per household. Offer does not apply to used goods d AV aw V ds pe a ay > purchases. | \ IA) d ALD WWWw,.Capcc vv" Y v M PLEASE MARK THE TWO FIGHTERS EDGE GAMES YOU HAVE PURCHASED FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST: Please include appropriate proof-of-purchase barcodes located on the back of the box and the original dated sales receipts + Check or c c c Money Order for $5.00 shipping and handling per order. Limit one order per household. 2 2 = — Darkstalkers 3 — Rival Schools — Street Fighter EX z 2 2 — MSH vs. Street Fighter — Street Fighter Alpha 3“ — X-Men vs. Street Fighter I3 I3 = Pocket Fighter __ Street Fighter Collection 2 = Sch a ai S E. SELECT YOUR FREE GAME: — Breath of Fire III __ Resident Evil Director's Cut — Street Fighter Collection 2 _ Buster Bros. . Star Gladiator — Street Fighter EX _ Darkstalkers _ Street Fighter Alpha __ Super Puzzle Fighter c E = = E __ Darkstalkers 3 —_ Street Fighter Alpha 2 __ X-Men vs. Street Fighter [-] S E E Ri __ Marvel Super Heroes __ Street Fighter Collection __ 20 Fighters Edge Points S 8 S S SE A 5 Lj Lj SI Name = = c E E : ai e il & B Address i City State Zip 2 Bing — l'M ALREADY SIGNED UP AS A FIGHTERS EDGE MEMBER S BI £ £ S G SUN __. PLEASE SIGN ME UP AS A MEMBER OF CAPCOM'S FIGHTERS EDGE. (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY) a s 5 4 = š M un > ba Ra vi W MAIL ALL ORDERS TO: CAPCOM FIGHTERS EDGE 2 FOR 1 OFFER 475 OAKMEAD PARKWAY, SUNNYVALE, CA 94086 L3 a Ce E3 T Ca ' Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid only in US and Canada. Offer void where prohibited by law = E- LC = É T E. Recipient is responsible for any taxes or duties that may apply. Incomplete orders will be returned. Capcom is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. Sales @ fel” & ep p receipts will not be returned unless recipient includes a self addressed, stamped envelope. Sony Computer Entertainment America takes no responsibility for this offer. *Street Fighter Alpha 3 subject to game release Made with) love’ by, Our goal is to presejvelclassi¢ video game magazines soi that they are not lost/permanently: People interested) in helping outiinjany capacity; please visit us at retromags.com: No profitis made) from these/scans, nor do we offer anything available from| the publishers themselves: If: you come across anyone selling releases from this site) please/do not support them and do letius) know: Thank you!