Sega Mania Issue 7 - DIGITAL
Sega Mania Issue 7 - DIGITAL
Sega Mania Issue 7 - DIGITAL
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REVIEWS
VIRTUA FIGHTER……………………………………………………………………….18
CLOCKWORK KNIGHT……………………………………………………………….22
MEGA SWIV………………………………………………………………………………..26
SIMON PIKE
Moonlights on TripleJump
and SimFiction.co.uk. Would
like to marry both Gunstar
Heroes and Streets of Rage
2. Which is worse? Marrying
a game or bigotry? Answers
on a postcard.
ROB KIRKUP
Sega Maniac by day, Ghost
Hunter by night. Loves
podcasts so much he
started his own.
Search “How Haunted?
Podcast” to get spooked by
a Geordie.
STEVE ANDREWS
We’re starting to wonder if
he ever really existed.
Check out his ramblings on
page 74 and try and work
out if they’re written by a
real person or a completely
insane AI.
ALEX ALDRIDGE
Podcast master. When not
editing the Sega Mania
Podcast, he’s hosting his
own: A Winner is You. Check
it out if you need a break
from Sega, but still want
the madness.
TOM ANSON
NOOB. After dabbling in
Issue 6, Tom has gone full
maniac in this issue and is
probably regretting it.
Instagram addict. Check
out @classic_console_wars.
The World in 1995
News
It's hard to imagine a world without the internet but we managed up
until the beginning of 1995. This was the first year that the Internet was
entirely privatised, with the United States government no longer
providing public funding, marking the beginning of the Information
Age. America Online and Prodigy offered access to the World Wide
Web system for the first time this year, releasing browsers that made
it easily accessible to the general public. Up until then we had
endured, or enjoyed, life without it.
On home soil, the year got off to a pretty good start when serial killer
Fred West was found dead in his prison cell. Russian cosmonaut
Valeri Polyakov set the record for the longest amount of time a person
has been in space, completing 366 days. Austria, Finland and
Sweden joined the European Union. What a progressive bunch!
President Bill Clinton extended a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert
financial collapse following the devaluation of the peso in December
1994. Then, for the first time in 20 years (since the Vietnam War), old
Bill announces the restoration of relations between the United States
and Vietnam.
The Queen and Prince Phillip visit Northern Ireland for the first time
since the ceasefire between IRA and Loyalists came into force in '94.
UK investment banking firm, Barings Bank, collapses following losses
made by broker Nick Leeson. Leeson loses $1.4 billion by speculating
on the Tokyo Stock Exchange – nice one buddy, we're sure glad
corrupt idiot bankers are a thing of the past now.
In Japan, the city of Kobe experiences an earthquake with a
magnitude of 6.9. Over $200 billion of damage was caused and 6,434
across the Hanshin region of Japan die, 4,600 of which were from
Kobe.
Defence attorney Johnnie Cochran says the famous phrase, "If it
doesn't fit, you must acquit." Referring to O. J. Simpson trying on the
gloves which were thought to have been worn by the murderer of his
ex-wife and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson tries on the gloves
before the jury during his trial.
Dozens of cities in the United States suffer record high temperatures,
though the phenomenon becomes known as the Chicago Heatwave.
It's estimated 739 people die as a result of temperatures that reached
106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 °C).
NERD.JPG
It looks like you're trying Bill Gates is announced by Forbes Magazine to be the richest man in
to write a '90s style Sega the world with a net worth of approximately $12.9 billion – hey, he
Magazine. Would you didn't get rich by writing a lotta cheques, ehehehehe.
like some help?
Sport
In British football the transfer fee record is broken when Man United
sign a £7 million deal, buying striker Andy Cole from Newcastle
United.
Eric Cantona assaults a spectator during the Manchester United vs
Crystal Palace game. As a result he is banned from playing for eight
months by the FA. Cantona's attack of the Palace fan is dubbed the
"Kung Fu Kick" by press covering the incident. In a few months time,
Croydon Crown Court sentences Cantona to 14 days imprisonment.
LE WANKER.ZIP
Film & TV
07
The 67th Academy Awards are hosted by David Letterman. Forrest
Gump is awarded six gongs including Best Picture and Best Actor for
Tom Hanks. Not exactly like a box of chocolates, we all knew what
we were getting as far as award winners went.
Danny Boyle's directorial debut, Shallow Grave, starring Ewan
McGregor is released in UK cinemas. Die Hard With a Vengeance is
released in theatres and becomes the year's highest-grossing film.
Braveheart is released to critical and commercial success. Directed
by and starring Mel Gibson, it will go on to win five Academy Awards,
including Best Picture and Best Director. At the 49th BAFTA Awards,
Sense and Sensibility is awarded Best Film.
He remains free on bail, pending an appeal which results in his On a beach in Cancún, Mexico, Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson
sentence being reduced to 120 hours of community service. marries drummer Tommy Lee – we sure hope it lasts, they seem like
At the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna AFC Ajax win the UEFA such a sweet couple.
Champions League, defeating A.C. Milan 1–0. Blackburn Rovers Everyone's favourite Superman actor Christopher Reeve falls from
earn their first top division league title since 1914 as they become his horse and is paralysed from the neck down. Joel Schumacher's
Premier League champions, and at Wembley stadium Everton beat Batman Forever is released in the United States. Waterworld starring
Manchester United 1–0 to win the FA Cup. Dennis Bergkamp Kevin Costner is released in the USA. Famous fictional spinster
becomes the most expensive player in British football history so far Bridget Jones first appears in a column published in The Independent
when Arsenal pay a transfer fee of £7,500,000 to Inter Milan – it will The Diary of Bridget Jones. Little do we know we'll be stuck with her
be a few years before we see that goal though. for years to come.
Super Bowl XXIX is won by the San Francisco 49ers who beat the Channel 4 airs the first episode of the Irish sitcom Father Ted starring
San Diego Chargers at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Dermot Morgan and Ardal O'Hanlon. The hugely popular US sitcom
49ers are the first National Football League franchise to win five Friends and the US medical drama ER both make their UK debuts on
Super Bowls. Michael Jordan ends his retirement by announcing he Channel 4.
is returning to the NBA. South Africa host and win the Rugby World
Cup. PROBABLY BEST TO IGNORE THE CREATOR AND JUST ENJOY THIS SHOW FOR WHAT IT IS.PNG
Music
It is absolute pandemonium in the UK as boyband Take That split up
when Robbie Williams announces he is quitting the band. The news
was so shocking that UK charity the Samaritans set up a helpline
dedicated to helping distraught fans.
UNFORTUNATELY THESE TWATS WILL BE BACK.AVI
Hee-hee-hee-hee, Wipeout!
RPG-sus Christ!
Well, if the release of Dragon Quest VI wasn’t enough,
this was also the year Chrono Trigger released on the
SNES and by God did it make an impact. Voted best
RPG by Game Players, GamePro, Electronic Gaming
10
Kombat provided a hollow victory for Sega in fourth
position, having been released on the SNES and the
Mega Drive. We then found ourselves pummelled by
the apes of Donkey Kong with two such titles taking 5th
and 6th positions before the Saturn emerged at number
7 with Virtua Fighter. The rest of the top ten was rounded
off by Derby Stallion III, Killer Instinct and Tekken.
In the UK alone it was FIFA Soccer ‘96 which proved to
be the best seller, followed by, ahem, FIFA Soccer ‘95
and The Lion King. Such a shame that, just like Mufasa,
football never came home. On CD-ROM, Destruction
Derby, Command & Conquer and DiscWorld were the
games we rated the best here in old Blighty.
Platform Shoes
Well not quite rock bottom but enough to be
embarrassed about. The top-selling consoles of this
year were the SNES and the PlayStation with 3.5 million
and 3.1 million respectively. The Saturn came in third
with just over 2 million and the Mega Drive not far
behind with ever so slightly less than that. The Nintendo
GameBoy sold a solid million this year, which means
they beat us in the handheld market too, with the Game
Gear racking up a paltry 180,000.
Best Sellers
It was a similar story in the home video game market. As
previously mentioned, Dragon Quest VI was an absolute
dominator and hot on its heels was Chrono Trigger. In The absence of Sonic in the early part of 1995 really
third was Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s island, which seemed to be emphasised by just how many great
meant Nintendo took all three podium places. Mortal platformers came out on our rival consoles. It was a big
first half of the year for Nintendo with Mega Man 7 and
Kirby’s Dreamland 2 released. While the PlayStation had
Jumping Flash! and later on Rayman. Sega did okay with
Ristar but an iconic blue hedgehog he was not.
11
voice to millions of Sega fans and scream that Sega meant
something to us. That Sega may not have always sold the most
units, but that didn't mean their games weren't incredible and an
important part of history. So, Sega Lord X was born.
How did you get started on YouTube, and how long did you
have to persevere before you started to see success from it?
The start on YouTube in 2016 was rough. My early videos were
basically just me talking at the camera. It was something I had
never done and I was not very good at it. Those early vids were
hour-long ramblings of disjointed ideas and thoughts. I had so
many ideas but I just didn't have the editing or acting skills to
make them work on screen. It was hard seeing the comments
from some of the less impressed viewers. They could be quite
brutal in their critique. I knew I could do better, though, so I kept
at it. After a few months, I started to get a bit better at editing
and found a format that was working better. But as much as I
wanted things to work, the channel’s growth was incredibly slow.
Then I received some bad news from my doctor that my blood
pressure was terrible and a few of my nagging medical
conditions were getting worse. Basically, the stress and long
nights of doing the YouTube gig were weighing heavy on my
health. I decided to quit the channel and walk away in 2017.
Naturally, being huge fans of his work, we were itching to I have 30-50 projects in various states of production at any given
interview him for the mag. Our man Alex got in touch with His time. Some are simple single-game reviews and some are clip
Lordship, who provided a typically candid interview that offers shows covering 10 games or more. I'm always adding new ideas
real insight into the life of a YouTube content creator. Read on, as to the list and I have enough right now to power my show for a
Sega Lord X tells us about his motivations, favourite games, good two years. Most of the stuff I come up with are topics I
rarest collector’s items, what we can expect for the future of his simply want to talk about. Favourite games, bad games, Sega's
channel, and a whole lot more besides. history, there's a ton of stuff still to cover. In fact, I rarely venture
out into post-Dreamcast Sega because I want to leave that until
For our readers who don’t know your work, could you tell us a I exhaust their "retro" systems. I fully expect to switch over to the
bit about yourself and your YouTube channel? 3rd party Sega at some point.
My real name is Mel and I run the Sega Lord X channel on We’re starting our journey into covering Saturn with Issue 7,
YouTube. As someone that grew up during the 8, 16, and 32-bit and you’re probably the biggest Saturn advocate on YouTube.
generations, I have a great amount of nostalgia for those eras. What is it about the console that makes you love it so much?
For years I had preferred Sega's games and systems and as an
adult, I found there was a massive imbalance of coverage with I had been a diehard Genesis fan in the early 90's, but my buying
retro gaming content creators. It was to the point where Sega's power was limited. I played a bunch within those limits, but it was
contributions were either being belittled or outright ignored. the Saturn that was the first Sega console I could get at its
Japanese launch. I was older, had a good-paying job, and had
Many of the channels that did cover Sega, did so with kind of a friends that bought games with me. I was so excited to get a near
"pat-on-the-head" style approach. In other words, it was done in 1-to-1 arcade experience at home, and with the Sega Model 1 and
a way that was saying this was OK, but still nowhere near as good Model 2 burning up the arcades, those were the games I wanted
as its competition. I wanted to change that. I wanted to add my to see. I was also coming off a real low point in my life and the
time I spent with friends just playing games, having fun, and
focusing on the positive things in my life, really rebalanced me
and got me to a much better place.
Are there any Sega opinions you’ve had in the past that you’d
now disagree with? Any top ten rankings where you look at
the number one and think you were mad to choose that?
drive. Even then everyone saw the writing on the wall. DVD was
the future of not just movies, but of games as well. I do not think Sega could coexist in the same space as Nintendo,
Sony, or Microsoft today. Console gaming is major money and
By hitting Japan in 1998, DVD was just too expensive to drop in investment now, and Sega Sammy Holdings just doesn't have
the Dreamcast, so instead, we got GDROM, complete with a fatal the size to offer the big dogs any real competition. But I think
security flaw that allowed customers to pirate until their heart's Sega is sitting on a goldmine of potential with a retro console
content. Of course, further consideration brought me to the that could connect to the internet and buy new games.
conclusion that Sega was screwed either way. Nothing was
gonna save them at that point. Take a reasonably powerful FPGA solution, make it compatible
with many of the home and arcade systems from Sega's past,
Speaking of bad opinions, we have an accompanying podcast and then make the ROMs legally obtainable in an online store
where we’re looking back and ranking every Mega Drive game Sega runs. It would give them an opportunity to sell games that
we’ve covered in the magazine. We currently have Columns have never been available commercially at home before. Not to
ranked above Golden Axe and some of our staff will never let mention they could open the platform up to indie developers to
that go. Are they right to be mad? make new games for it. It would be a way to keep the Sega name
in the hearts and minds of modern gamers while making their
Haha, Sega fans are a strange bunch. It always tickles me to see back catalogue of titles always available to old and new gamers
them stand behind games like Greendog, Batman Returns, alike.
Ichidant-R, and yes, even the likes of Columns. But you know, the
games you had as a kid can have a powerful pull on your Sega helped shape this industry with some incredible software
emotions. When you dedicate the time and effort to play and I think they grossly underestimate how important it was.
something and get good at it, it forever earns a place in your Inside millions of PlayStation and Xbox fans lives a once proud
history with the hobby. Sega kid who is just waiting to get out again.
Whenever I am faced with a comparison like that, I think of a 12- You can check out Sega Lord X’s YouTube channel via
year-old Sega Lord X, sitting there playing Jaws for the NES, youtube.com/c/SegaLordX, and reach him on his socials via
grateful for a new game on the system I loved. Nobody today twitter.com/Sega_Lord_X, facebook.com/segalordx, and
can tell me that's a bad game and doesn't deserve the praise I instagram.com/the_real_segalordx.
give it. Simply take that experience, apply it to others, and it's
pretty easy to understand their viewpoint of games I may think
are terrible. I little empathy goes a long way to understanding
your peers.
I'll take the latter. While I would miss some of my past favourites,
it's always better to have new experiences. Even with the many
games I have played, there are just as many I have not. To cut
myself off from those new journeys for the sake of securing a
single love just isn't my style.
What’s your favourite item in your Sega collection? What’s the
rarest?
If you need your Sega Saturn pride restored then this is the
video for you.
You’ll just have to watch to see what other titles made the
cut, but when we tell you that Decathlete is in there, you
know it’s going to be an interesting video!
The original game has seen a fair few re-releases over the years on various Sonic collections and download services,
which drew the attention of Noah Copeland, a game designer from Austin, Texas. We caught up with him to get the
full low-down on the Triple Trouble remake and the story behind it.
Noah, tell us a little bit I was working on an indie film in the summer of 2017. We
about yourself. had wrapped on location for the day when someone in
the crew pulled out Sonic Gems Collection and started
I’m Noah Copeland. I’m a playing Sonic Triple Trouble. I felt like the game was
game designer/direction, screaming at me for a remake. That little game has so
musician, film maker and many good ideas and it’s trying so hard to push past the
way too many things, limits of the Sega Game Gear. It felt right. So, I went for
frankly. Lately, I’m it. Five years of squeezing in development in my free
focusing on game design time and at weekends, it’s finally done!
because gaming runs
deep for me and my It’s clear to see that is a labour of love and that
history. passion really shines through in the finished product.
Sonic in particular has a big fan-game community,
So, what got you into gaming in the first place? was this an inspiration behind remaking Triple
Trouble?
Seeing Sonic Adventure 2 for the first time is what made
me want to play and make video games. The speed, the Oh yes, I’ve wanted to make a Sonic fan game since
music, the camera work. It was everything I wanted as a 2001. Believe it or not, the Sonic fan game scene goes
ten-year-old kid, but I couldn’t afford a GameCube. I back that far. The community just keeps growing and
found a much cheaper CD-ROM for Windows 95 that growing. A big part of that is Sega's willingness to let it
had Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD in a two-pack all happen, which you have to give them kudos for.
collection. That was the first video game I ever Before going pro, the team behind Sonic Mania cut their
purchased, and I still love it. teeth in the Sonic fan game scene. If they had been
shut down before they had a chance to study Sonic
Awesome! That CD-ROM was a pretty cool package at design in a low-stakes environment, Mania would’ve not
the time. Especially as Sonic CD was harder to come been such a hit. It’s in everyone’s benefit that the Sonic
by back then. So, if that was your first introduction fan game scene flourishes in a healthy way.
2D Sonic, when did your interest in Sonic the
Hedgehog Triple Trouble come into the mix? What’s
the story behind the remake?
Linktr.ee/NoahNCopeland
We couldn’t agree more. Have you been I do have a team working on both a Mac OS and
involved in any other Sonic fan games, or is Android port. I’m very glad to have help on the ports
Triple Trouble your first? because I’m exhausted from the PC version. I’m on the
last round of bug fixes, but I do not plan on any DLC.
I had been involved in several other fan games shortly After five years of working on this for free, I’m ready to
before I started on Triple Trouble but those officially end development, put a pin on the project,
unfortunately fell apart. Part of the inspiration for the and take a much-needed vacation. I set out to make a
Triple Trouble remake was to learn from the mistakes of completed Sonic fan game, something few achieve,
those projects and become one of the few fan games and that’s what I have done.
to actually get finished. That’s the stereotype you are
fighting constantly when making a fan game. Because
these projects are made from passion and done for It certainly sounds like a vacation is well deserved!
free, they dry up quickly. I thought that remaking an Finally, have you got any plans for future Sonic
existing game would be more practical than trying to remakes once you’re done with Triple Trouble?
generate everything from scratch. I wanted to make a
great version of Triple Trouble, I wanted to make a great
Sonic fan game, and most of all, I wanted to finish it. I Absolutely not! Like I said, game development is a
feel that I’ve done that and I’m very happy with how challenging job, and I did it for free for five years. I
positive the reception has been. cannot justify working on someone else's IP for another
few years. It takes about four or five years to get a
Tell us a little bit about the development process. Bachelor’s degree, so the way I see it, I’ve completed
Was it all smooth-sailing or did you have any issues my studies as a student of Sonic games. I’m graduating
along the way? from fan games and am moving to the next step.
Oh man. No game development process is ever I’m now starting development of my own original indie
smooth-sailing and anyone that tells you it’s smooth game with my own characters.
sailing is lying. Half of the time is spent just learning
what’s even going to work. Iteration and irritation. If you liked this game, you’ll love my next game. It will be
Aiming and missing, failing and starting again. in that same wheelhouse. I’d describe it as a cross
between Sonic, TMNT, and Shovel Knight. So, you’ll see
Originally, I thought I could just upscale the graphics some more of that same retro gameplay style. I am
and call it a day. Unfortunately, the level design doesn’t beyond excited to show everyone when it’s ready. I
transfer from Game Gear to Genesis, because the hope y’all stick around!
player physics are so different between the two
systems. Sonic’s jump height and speed are very
different on the 8-bit system.
16
17
These ‘90s style magazine adverts are fantastic, and, coupled with the finely polished and
finished game, could fool anyone into thinking Triple Trouble 16-Bit was the real deal!
This excellent tie-in comic book gives some insight into the game’s
backstory as well as demonstrating how much care and attention has
been given to the whole project.
Picture the scene: Tokyo,
Japan, October 1993. Friday
night, the Akihabara streets
bathed in flashing neon
lights. You’ve just finished
work and want to blow off
some steam. It’s dark, exciting,
and all around you the thrill and
buzz of the 1990s is all-consuming.
This is arcade country and all the big
names are fighting for your attention. Namco, Taito,
Konami, SNK. They’re all here, but you're only here
for one game. You find the cabinet, it's everything
you hoped for. This is the revolution. This is the next
generation. This is the first truly 3D fighting game.
This is fucking Virtua Fighter and on this Friday
night, arcade warrior, you’re going to make this
game your bitch!
fighters.
are…erm…Kung Fu”.
YEAH, WINNER!
Arcade origins
The arcades of Japan in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s have an almost mythical status amongst
gamers, and for good reason. For Sega fans especially, some of our most beloved games of the
16-bit era were born here and Sega’s reputation for pumping out gem after gem is legendary.
It’s no coincidence that they were again at the forefront in 1993 when they released Virtua
Fighter. The hardware, developed jointly by Sega’s legendary studio AM2 and an aerospace
company that would eventually become Lockheed Martin, was revolutionary. This arcade
system would become known as Model 1.
The man behind the game is Yu Suzuki. You may remember him from such arcade hits as Hang-
On, Space Harrier, OutRun and his first foray into the third dimension, Virtua Racing. Virtua Fighter
is widely regarded as the world’s first fully 3D polygonal fighting game and upon release it lit up
the arcades of Japan. Featuring a simplistic control scheme - just three buttons - no special
meters and smooth, fluid fighting, it has become one of the most popular arcade games of all
time, and for good reason.
The game is a visual showcase. Remember, this released in 1993. Games like this just didn’t exist
before. It’s not just the 3D visuals that made this stunning. Full, multi-angle action replays
accompany the action. The camera moves with the fighters fluidly depending on your
character’s location, and the fighting arenas are detailed and fully rendered in 3D. This is state of
the art stuff and its Sega that’s bringing it to you.
Suzuki, commenting on development at the time stated, “3D graphics in games were very
primitive. You could only make models from triangles, which didn't even have textures." He
continued, "There wasn't the opportunity to make graphics that were really beautiful, and
because of that I decided to spend all my efforts to make character movements correct and
realistic. Yes, Street Fighter had nice sprites, but we had the advantage of very smooth
movements.”
The arcade version was lavished with praise upon release with the January 1994 edition of
PLATFORM: Sega Saturn Electronic Games describing it as, “A glimpse of where future development is headed.” As
recently as 1995, Next Generation Magazine were full of praise for its creator Yu Suzuki, stating
the game, “Epitomises his skill of finding the perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology with
solid gameplay.” Put simply, it's been a massive hit and one that has carried over to Sega Saturn.
PUBLISHER: Sega There’s no denying the impact this game has had, and will continue to have, on the future of
game development. Just look at the slew of 3D polygonal games now in development not just
by Sega, but by its rivals Nintendo and Sony too. The leaps made by Sega and Yu Suzuki have
RELEASED: July ‘95 opened the door to a 3D future, and December 1993 will forever be the date looked back upon
as the beginning of the future of video games.
PLAYERS: 1-2
REVIEWED BY: Tom Anson
21
None of us expected this. Sega, the
company synonymous with being the
‘edgy’ and ‘cool’ alternative to Nintendo’s
kiddy-happy-friendly-smiley-funtime
have launched their brand-new console
with a cutesy platformer about toys. Of
course, there’s nothing wrong with having a
family-orientated element to the launch
line-up – and you’re well catered for if you’d
prefer to freely fuck up faces with feet and
fists on your Saturn instead – as it’s clear that
Sega are trying to hit multiple corners of the
market with a diversified catalogue early
doors. Let’s indulge them, then, by playing
with their toys.
23
24
how the idiot savant in me made it
happen. Needless to say, my
attempts were a steaming
pile of rlxybacz so I
eventually read the
manual to find out how.
You hold down A or C
and walk towards an
object. Of course! Fail
to prepare, prepare to
fail, I guess.
heart is to
a princess’ e
The route toher heart out of som in
th a face of carv e anot ned wood
ves back wi le eye-patter ly I
Chelsea waay. After all, this gaggto kind of bullsing a giant key. If on ees
wever, are
creepy abject dism
is the best she has mid-air us ars ago when my kn
Others, ho sed as knights. They s
of gimboid m unless she wants to knew this yestill worked.
ur typical dres r the daily
e toys are yo horn do gs
into view fo choose fro osthetics with an
Some of th ly, bedroom-variety all saunter – desperate to giveu bump pr phic bouncy ball.
or
another cute, cudd pe acoc king ile, if yo anthropom
elsea begins playthings
. a Chelsea sm
Princess Chfrom her cuckoo clock their faces tch my drift.
day singi ng g Toyland ca
her sleepin is
to wake up not sure if the song l
subjec ts. I’m
just an annoying voca
magical or t either way it works.
alarm, bu
Betsy’s Room
Not only is this house unoccupied and full
of magic toys, it’s also only got four
rooms. Two of which are children’s
bedrooms. Betsy’s is the first one, with
pink wallpaper, stuffed elephants, doll
houses and plenty of sharpened pencils
for homework/poking toy knights in the
arse.
Kevin’s Room
Kevin’s your traditional lad. He likes
aeroplanes, robots, monkeys that can
bowl, and train sets. The train level is
probably the most annoying in the whole
game. It serves as an auto-scroller where
you ride the train and have to leap onto
and over numerous obstacles or get
knocked off.
Kitchen
The kitchen has some pretty neat effects
going on. You’ll be hopping across gas
hobs to avoid the flames, and trying not
to drown in the sink as the water rises and
falls. The polygonal model for the tap
gives it the neat effect of appearing to
angle towards the screen.
Attic
The final area sees Pepper skip out
the entire remainder of the house
and go straight to the attic. Up
here are a worrying number of
spikes – far more than your average
family needs to store in their loft and
surely no substitute for proper
insulation.
e,
arduous on
y will be an rns some of
The journe al arm tu
Ginger ride as a rand om of ravenous
Pepper and ’s to a bunch !
To arms, ase former on the worldver the toys in . Good luck, Pepper
and look on forth – th d we ne mentalists
bers of Toyl r rse. Oh, an the way.
As the memPepper and the othethe gumpiest ho again, by
clockwork in ho rror, ise that see Ginger te charlatan.
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STORY
actually predates Buzz and Woody’s movie despite the premise
for both being very similar. We are introduced to the Toyland
and its bizarre denizens through an opening FMV that is,
frankly, more likely to bring children terror than joy.
Enormous, tracked weapons platforms
aren’t uncommon in the world of SWIV.
Some Will Induce Vertigo.
27
PLATFORM: Sega Saturn
PUBLISHER: Sega
RELEASED: July ‘95
PLAYERS: 1
REVIEWED BY: Simon Pike
Apparently real life stock cars can hit 200mph! I’ll stick to
virtual racing, thanks. relief sculpture slowly builds itself directly above the
roof of your ride is a total immersion breaker, but
Daytona USA, Sega's already-iconic arcade racer, is probably not a deal-breaker. The game still looks great
drifting into your living room just in time to join the overall, with bright and bold visuals that do their best to
Saturn's starting grid. The arcade original represents deliver the arcadey excitement right into your home,
Sega at their joyous, fun-loving and technical best. An but the rushed development is revealed in its jagged
absolute blast that dominates any arcade with bright textures and technical hitches. Still, try and force the
colours, screeching tyres and a soundtrack that's pop-up to that shady corner at the back of your mind
impossible to ignore. The Daytona USA where all your negative urges live, and you should
cabinet is a party as much as it is a racing be able to get lost in a land of colourful cars and
game, eschewing concepts like realism over-the-top geographical features.
and simulation for unadulterated, high-
speed thrills. It's in things like handling, difficulty balance
and sense of speed where Daytona USA makes
If you're a bit of a techy and you're its real claim to the console-racer crown. All of
looking at the specs of the Saturn that stuff, despite a major frame-rate drop
compared to the Model 2 arcade from the arcade version, is still best in class,
technology, you might be sceptical of the resulting in edge-of-your-seat gameplay that's
console's power to handle this beast of an a wild ride from the starting line to the home
arcade game. Remember though, that this is straight. As already mentioned, Sega haven't
Sega we're talking about, a company known for concerned themselves too much with realism (did you
technical wizardry and for getting chips and circuit know that real-life racing stock cars don't actually
boards to do things that they have no right being drift?), but who cares when the result is a high-speed,
capable of doing. Have our heroes worked their magic perfectly-balanced thrill-ride that anyone can enjoy.
here? Or is the Saturn port of Daytona USA in desperate Seasoned pros can go for those perfect lap-times on
need of a pit stop? Only Sega Mania can give you the the more complex advanced and expert tracks,
definitive answer.
in for me!
29
Here are the three tracks. One lap on the export
course takes ages…
30
around in a battered, wobbly wreck.
The appeal and quality of Daytona USA didn't just magically of the arcade driving game scene. While Daytona USA arguably
happen, you know. There's a proud racing heritage behind this took the arcade crown back from Namco, the Ridge Racer
one. It was developed by Sega's AM2 division, who are headed home console port is far more technically sound, with our
up by game development legend Yu Suzuki. This talented Sony-centric reviewer friends touting the PlayStation version
fellow was in charge of the teams responsible for Hang-On, as a near-carbon copy of the arcade original. Daytona USA
Enduro Racer, Super Hang-On and OutRun, all of which are Sega unfortunately fails on that front, with clear graphical
arcade classics that made successful transitions onto home discrepancies between cabinet and console.
consoles. He also led development on high-quality 3D racing
dalliance Virtua Racing, released in arcades in 1992 and ported It's a big blow for Sega, as potential customers are going to be
to the Mega Drive in '94. With all that experience making cool looking at the driving games available on each system at
things that go vroom in the second and third dimensions, launch, and comparing the two when deciding which console
Suzuki was clearly the man for the job. to buy. Graphically, Ridge Racer for the PlayStation scores an
easy win. Bright, smooth, attention-grabbing visuals and
As alluded to in the review, Daytona USA represents the tracks featuring lots of cool background features make for a
successful merging of the vibrancy and charm of the likes of crowd-pleasing combination. While pop-in can be spotted in
OutRun with the futuristic, polygonal splendour of Virtua Ridge Racer on the PlayStation, it's far less prominent and
Racing. With a talented enough team behind it, gaming often cleverly hidden, making the Saturn port of Daytona USA
technology is now capable of sending us to 3D worlds that look look dated and clunky in comparison. Things are much closer
like more than a few pointy triangles slapped together, and on the gameplay front, and Daytona USA, in this reviewer's
Daytona USA is the prime example of artistry and technology opinion at least, still wins out in terms of sheer fun, but I can't
mixed to outstanding effect ... in the arcades at least. help but feel that the visual discrepancies are going to hurt the
Saturn in the long run. After all, faced with the tight, colourful
On home consoles, Daytona USA loses ground to its most high- and technically sound visuals of Ridge Racer and the more
profile contender; Namco's street-racing, hard-drifting jagged, messier and pop-up-riddled aesthetics of Daytona
extravaganza Ridge Racer. Released in the arcades in 1993, USA, which one would you choose to spend all of your hard-
Ridge Racer was hugely successful, overshadowing Virtua earned winnings on?
Racing, Sega's previous cockpit-based hit, and becoming king
with a business simulation game called The
Entrepreneur, an MS DOS game released in 1984, but
he thought that a ‘theme park management game’
could be a huge success, providing it was fun to
play.
He came up with a basic concept for a game to
show the team at his development studio; Bullfrog
Productions. Everyone was very enthusiastic about
the proposed title, and they all set off for theme
parks across the world. Riding all the attractions,
speaking to the staff and park visitors, making notes
galore, and even recording audio which was used in
the finished game as sound effects. When speaking
to the theme park owners, it soon became clear
that the layout of the park is crucial, as it is designed
with the sole aim of getting people to spend as
much money as possible while they are inside the
park. They visited theme parks the world over, but
Molyneux was quoted in later years saying that the two
theme parks which were the main sources of inspiration
My life as a theme park tycoon begins. for the game were Alton Towers in England, and Great
America in California over the pond in the US of A.
After 18 months of development Theme Park was
Theme parks are great, aren’t they? I have fond complete, and was published in 1994 by Electronic Arts,
memories from two family holidays when I was in a time before we knew them as just EA, on Amiga and
young, to Disney World in Florida, as well as Universal MS DOS. It was a huge success, and plans were soon
Studios. I love the sights and the smells, the sound of underway to bring it to consoles. In 1995 it was released
laughter, and screaming from the rollercoasters way for the Mega Drive.
overhead. Ah, those rollercoasters, with their terrifying
drops, loops, and the insane speed they race Back when it was released I never played it on
along those rails. the Mega Drive. However, we got our first
PC at home in 1996, and my brother and
And herein lies my only problem with I played Theme Park to death. To this
theme parks. I’m a total pussy. day, I remember the strategy we
I am not a fan of rollercoasters, and by quickly stumbled upon, where you put
“not a fan” I mean “they scare me a balloon shop just after the entrance,
shitless”, and I haven’t been on one at and a one-way system in place,
all since I was about 16. I’m not sure if forcing them past the balloon shop.
it’s entirely cowardice that’s the Pretty soon your park will be full of
problem, or that when I went to visitors, each clutching a newly
Lightwater Valley on a school trip in my purchased balloon.
early teens, Lugless Douglas lost half his But how will the game I spent countless
ear in an accident on the Ultimate (he was hours playing with a mouse and keyboard
just known as “Ian” prior to that day), and that’s translate to the Mega Drive? Time to find out.
always stayed with me. The memory that is, not the
missing part of his ear, I think a seagull flew off with that. Within literally five minutes of popping in the cartridge
So, a video game iteration of a theme park suits me and firing the old girl up, I knew the answer to that
down to the ground. question. Theme Park is still an absolute delight.
Theme Park was the brain child of video game designer Starting a new game, you are given an area of land in
legend Peter Molyneux. Molyneux was the brains the “rainy, yet rich” United Kingdom, upon which to
behind so many classic games back in the ‘90s, build your first theme park. You initially only have a small
predominantly on PC and Amiga, including Syndicate, selection of rides and shops to put into your park, but
reviewed elsewhere in this issue. He got the idea for the once you get paying customers coming to the park,
game after visiting a theme park, and thinking about and you raise more money, you can put that into
how everything behind the scenes must work, and the
planning that went into designing and operating a Occasionally you’ll need to complete a mini game to negotiate things
theme park. He had already dabbled, unsuccessfully, such as the prices of goods, or staff wages. If you fail to reach an
agreement before the biscuits on the plate run out you’ll have a strike
on your hands, or suppliers telling you to do one.
unspecified novelties pushed
Get the price of those
waaaay up.
33
Adjust the chances of winning
prizes down to just 1%, meaning
99 kids out of every 100 leave
your Hook-a-Duck crying and
You can alter the duration and speed whining, but you make more
of rides. One such example is the money.
bouncy castle, although I’m not sure
how you make a bouncy castle go
faster. Your visitors will bounce so
fast, and so high, that they’ll go flying
off to their probable death.
How
a co to be
mple
bast te
ard!
The advisor pops up at the bottom of the screen offering you, well, advice.
research. Research results in additional rides and shops, in the world, and build an even bigger and better
then you can increase your park entrance fee, to put theme park.
even more money into research. Eventually you’ll have
a theme park that will have Walt Disney looking over his The cutesy graphics work perfectly. They are simplified
cryogenically frozen shoulder…with his cryogenically somewhat over the home computer visuals, yet in some
frozen head. You know what I mean anyway, the Disney aspects they are improved. For example, on the Amiga
folk are going to be shitting it. and PC versions, the land you build your park on is
identical, but here you have different terrain depending
Behind the incredibly cute graphical design, there’s on what part of the world you are building your park in.
some really deep and satisfying strategy at play here.
For example, you can increase the amount of salt at The controls and UI work well too, considering the
your ‘Fries’ stall up to “loads”, position it next to a ‘Pokey game was created with a mouse and keyboard in mind.
Cola’ stall, and ramp the prices right up, so those thirsty The only time I had any real challenges was when laying
folk who just ate your salty fries are absolutely gagging down the track for my rollercoaster or water tubing ride.
for a lovely drink of Pokey. While you’re there, lets whack
The music is nice, for about 30 seconds, then it’s an
the amount of ice in those drinks as high as it’ll go too.
earworm that you’ll soon grow to despise. The only
There are opportunities at every turn to maximise the variation is when you listen to the music of your rides
profits from your unwitting park visitors. See the “How to instead, which makes a welcome change.
be a Complete Bastard” feature for some top tips.
My god Theme Park is addictive. I sat down to play an
There is a delicate balancing act needed between hour or so and before I knew what was going on four
maximizing your profits and maintaining the happiness hours had passed. Maintaining your rides, tweaking the
levels of your visitors. Much like running any real-life layout of your park, adjusting the prices of everything,
business. including admittance itself, is a delicate balancing act.
If resource management simulations are your thing, you
Eventually you can auction off your park to the highest aren’t going to find many better examples on the Mega
bidder, and then use that money to buy land elsewhere Drive than Theme Park.
35
the controller.
36
Irritating. End of review. Seriously, I’m not kidding.
37
ENEMIES
Yup, you read that right. Enemies. This game would be pretty
good if it wasn’t for whatever bastard was tied to you via a
magical ring. It is a constant struggle to stop the AI from
messing up your progress. Using springs, irritating. Trying to
spindash, irritating. Opening a door, irritating. Jumping up to
a simple platform, irritating. I think you’re getting it now, this
game is just bloody irritating. Anyway let’s have a run down of
the little fuckers accompanying you on your journey. Not that
anyone cares.
CHARMY BEE
Arguably one of the best characters
in the game as not only does he
have a massively overpowered
flying ability but he’s also the
fastest.
These things combined can get you
through the game pretty damn
quickly and that’s definitely a good After choosing your main character at the start, your
thing. buddy is then selected at random using this irritating
machine. You can switch after each act is completed.
ESPIO
He’s not only a chameleon but a
ninja too. That combination makes
it sound like he’d have some pretty
neat capabilities, but no. He can
walk on walls and ceilings and that’s
about it.
Early prototypes of the game
suggested that Espio was to be the
main character.
MIGHTY
Chaotix is not the first time we’ve
seen this fiesty armadillo with his
super handy wall jump ( he’s second
only to Knuckles in terms of
capabilities in my opinion). He also
appeared in the Segasonic arcade
game (see Issue 4). A hugely popular
character and yet weirdly absent
from the universe until Sonic Mania
in 2017.
VECTOR
A crocodile that cannot stop
listening to music. How do they Oh yeah. Your stage is also selected at random using
come up with this crap? yet another irritating machine. Nothing, absolutely
nothing, is under your control in this game.
Vector can dash through the air
(similar to Hyper Sonic in Sonic 3 &
Knuckles) and climb walls.
He’s probably one of the most
visually interesting characters to
play with.
BOMB
This little bastard not only slows
down your characer (even more
than all the rest do) but also
explodes violently whenever he
gets hit.
This damages the player and really
pushes the irritability factor right
up there.
38
The title cards are probably the least irritating thing The number of colours on screen was a big deal in ‘95
and clearly Sega wanted to show off the 32X’s
in the whole game, and some of my favourite in the capabilities in Chaotix. However, they didn’t need to use
whole Sonic franchise. all 32,768. It’s a pretty game but it irritates the eyes.
Badniks and obstacles in general are rare in this Set pieces, such as this elevator, feature some nice
game. You spend most of your time fighting the special effects but serve no real purpose. They just
irritating controls and the bad level design so their slow your already irritatingly slow progress.
inclusion is superflous.
39
40
not only had I never played
this game before, but prior
to this review I had never
actually experienced the
awesome power of the
32X. I know, I know. I did
own a Mega-CD as a kid,
but the 32X was an add-on
that simply passed me by.
Turning GM: 36GHSFC on,
you’re greeted to a title screen
that includes a little video of Fred himself, greeting you
by saying, “Hello I’m Fred Couples. Welcome to Golf
Magazine’s 36 great holes”. Sure, his lips don’t
quite sync up with the words you hear, but the
audio is crystal clear. This surprises me every
time, as I’m so used to the generally ropey
digitised voice produced by the Mega Drive’s
sound chip.
You’re next treated to a myriad of options, with
six competitive modes – stroke play,
tournament, skins, shoot-out, scramble, match
play, or the choice to resume a saved game.
There are also three practice modes – driving
range, putting and chipping, and practise a
hole.
The game doesn’t include any actual pro golfers
to play as, other than Fred, so you will have to
create and customise your own golfer. You can
tweak and change everything from the way you
look, the clothes that you’re wearing, right down
to the brand of your golf clubs.
Getting into an actual round of golf is a visual joy,
as the golfer you’ve just created is represented in
the form of a glorious digitised character model, which
Here’s Fred, and his crystal clear voice, welcoming you to his game. looks like it was left over from Mortal Kombat. That is if
Mortal Kombat featured fighters decked out in a bright
pink shirt and orange golf trousers. As you tee off you’ll
Holes are brilliant. Especially great holes, and Golf occasionally hear the encouraging words of Fred,
Magazine: 36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples saying things such as, “That’ll fly” and, “That’s the way to
features, as you’d expect from that overly wordy hit it”, or if you land in the water he’ll helpfully point out,
title, 36 of the best golf holes to be found on planet “That’s wet”. I was almost expecting him to say, “Finish
Earth in the year 1995. These holes are taken from 27 him!”, but it never came. Nor did that “Toasty!” fella from
different real-life courses, and were all selected by the Mortal Kombat II pop up in the corner of the screen
titular Fred Couples, a professional golf man who was at when I used my wedge.
the very top of his game when this title was released.
Speaking of the sound, there’s virtually nothing here in
As I said in my review of PGA European Tour back in issue the way of music. There’s a little bit of immediately
5, I love a round of video game-based golf, so I was forgettable menu music, but when you’re playing golf
excited to give this a go. In fact, I was doubly excited as, the only sounds you’ll hear are the
satisfying “thwack” of your club
meeting ball, the occasional
tweeting bird, and
ribbiting frog.
The game itself is
great, and the
mechanics of
playing golf aren’t
dissimilar to any of
the PGA titles over
on the Mega Drive,
but the extra
power of the 32X
helps to just make
it work a little
better. For example,
when putting on the
PGA titles you need to
Watch out Fred, Golfy Rob is here to steal your golfing crown.
go into a sub screen to see the gradients of
the green, simply because the Mega Drive
doesn’t allow the level of graphical detail
required to display it on the green as you play.
That isn’t an issue here; the fantastic level of
detail in all aspects of the game help you to
read the green, and the course in general, far
better than you can when playing PGA.
The main gripe with GM: 36GHSFC is the lack
of variety in the courses and the pro golfers
you can choose to play as. PGA Tour Golf III,
which was released the previous year on
Mega Drive, features eight real life courses to
play, and eleven real-life pro golfers to choose
from. Whereas what is on offer here is 36 holes
from random courses, which equates to the
equivalent of two courses, and one pro to play
as.
This is the best golf game on the 32X, as it’s the
only golf game on the 32X, but any of the later
PGA titles on the Mega Drive are every bit as good.
The game looks beautiful!
41
and for this lonely Sega maniac that’s going to be a
challenge. So, solo play it is. Just as well solo play is my
thing!
Mario what?
Street Racer is where
it’s at!
42
to the classic OutRun games in terms of
gameplay. This can sometimes feel like a you
have a lack of control and are simply chasing
the horizon, but the game makes up for these
shortcomings with excellent gameplay.
Street Racer is a fun title for the Mega Drive. The racing
is solid and there are loads of options to keep you
coming back for more. Graphically, it’s nothing special,
but what makes this a really good game is the addictive
gameplay, tight controls and a healthy number of tracks
to choose from. Add a few friends into the mix and you
have an excellent multiplayer game that will give you
hours of fun. Who needs Mario Kart?
Sometimes violence is the only way!
43
Harry is thrusting in the direction of his
favourite poster.
There really aren’t many games out there like
Snatcher - certainly not on Sega hardware. The
brainchild of Konami’s Hideo Kojima, this is a graphic
adventure game typically more suited to personal
computers rather than video game consoles. Indeed,
the Mega-CD version is a, to paraphrase the user
manual, “powered-up” (and, in some parts, censored)
port for a western audience, with the original releasing
in Japan for PC-8801 and MSX2 back in the late ‘80s.
The game has never been a commercial success, but
it’s clear the development team wanted to
bring it over to us, and we should be very
glad they did.
45
Gillian Seed Jamie Seed Metal Gear Benson c. Mika Slayton
Our amnesiac hero of the Amnesiac estranged wife of A navigator, which is a The Junker Chief. Former Junker HQ Operator. Graduated
story. Crackshot Runner with Gillian and scientist for the personal support robot special forces soldier and Kobe University with a double
the Junkers with a Neo Kobe Pharmaceuticals designed to assist a Junker olympian in judo. Before major in Criminal Psychology
mysterious past and a company. Rejects the with an investigation. becoming chief, Benson and Municipal Data
Management. Formerly worked
hankering for lovely ladies. chance to get back together Doesn’t approve of Gillian’s Cunningham was head of at Neo Kobe Special Criminal
Incapable of correctly or go on a date with Gillian. attempts at wooing ladies. the Anti-Snatcher Task Research Centre. Rejects the
eating Neo Kobe pizza. Somehow adept at correctly Force, so definitely not a chance to go on a date with
eating Neo Kobe pizza. Snatcher. Gillian.
point-and-click
schtick. The biggest
problem with the
game is that
progression is
always locked
behind certain
triggers. You may
well have figured
out what you need
to do next, or even
have a certain item
or clue you were
looking for, but
unless you’ve hit the
trigger that the game
wants you to, you’ll be stuck
The final parting words have been exchanged and it’s
and incapable of moving the story on.
time for Gillian to fly off to his new life as a junker.
These triggers can also sometimes be totally illogical.
The worst instance was when I’d uncovered two
suspected Snatchers, and had the option to travel to
Adventure games, or point-and-click if you prefer, their hideouts. However, once I arrived there, I was
may be a completely new experience for traditional unable to enter and investigate them until I made
Sega gamers, and Snatcher rarely bucks the genre’s Gillian go home and call his estranged wife for a catch
trend of being a much slower and reading-heavy up. There were no hints to do this, and there was
experience. The more measured pace can take some absolutely no need for it to happen as far as I was
getting used to if you’ve previously gorged on a diet of concerned – especially as I’d just gotten a lead in the
blue blurs, raging streets, and bloody kombat, but if case and expected that the only logical next step was
the notion of playing an interactive cyberpunk-tinged to follow that lead. There’s a disappointing lack of
film noir detective story tickles your pickle, you’re in freedom to the game in that sense.
for quite a treat.
I won’t go too far into spoiler territory here, but anyone
‘Gameplay’ takes the form of choosing from a set of who’s experienced a Kojima game before will know
commands as you scour screen after screen of those that some of his games’ endings tend to play out
aforementioned gorgeous static images. You’ll through protracted cut-scenes that are often
typically be using the look and investigate commands something of a chore to sit through. Even in a title
to find clues and important items, alongside doing a where reading and listening is the core gameplay
lot of talking, asking, bribing, and interrogating. It’s all mechanic, having the end of Snatcher play out as a 30-
very standard fare in terms of how it functions, but it’s minute cut-scene was a huge let down. You have no
the adult nature of the story that sets Snatcher apart. agency over the game’s climactic moments. You just
have to sit there and watch it go on, and on, and on.
There are some incredibly gory scenes to pore over in
this game, as well as plenty of seedy, risqué content. Regardless of its slightly self-important ending,
People will get decapitated or shot in the face, and Snatcher is a genuinely ground-breaking and hugely
there’ll be drug addicts and strippers to talk to. Even important title in the adventure
on a structural level the game takes a lot of game genre. Its adult themes,
concentration to follow its narrative and crack its gorgeous cyberpunk
tricky puzzles. This is a story with its hand in historical aesthetic and impeccable
world events, futuristic science, conspiracy and voice acting all combine to
intrigue, relationships and divorce, medicine, death form a truly memorable
and disease. It’s not for kids, alright? experience that is unlike
anything else on Sega
The adventure genre has long been practically consoles. If you’re after
synonymous with obscure puzzle solutions that something different to tax
nobody in their right mind would think to try. Snatcher your brain and take you
largely avoids those annoying tropes, but that doesn’t through a gripping detective
mean it’s completely innocent of some traditional story, do not miss this.
46
Harry Benson Katrina Gibson Random Hajile Napoleon
Junker HQ Engineer. Lost his Daughter of Jean-Jack An enigmatic bounty hunter Jean-Jack Gibson’s
parents in “The Catastrophe.” Gibson, who is Gillian’s who has apparently already informer, who later goes on
Earned Ph.D. in Engineering partner. Does modelling dispatched three Snatchers. to assist Gillian. Loves taking
at 14. Designed Allied work for advertisements on Has a terrible, backwards- bribes. Sneezes a lot. Has a
weapons in WWIII before Hologram Signs. Rejects the looking name. Santa Claus costume for
going on to work at NASA. chance to go on a date with some reason.
Has won the Nobel Prize Gillian.
three times. Drinks.
JUSTIFY THIS
Snatcher isn’t all menus and reading. Sometimes you just have to dish out
some good ol’ fashioned gunishment! Being a Junker, Gillian possesses the
only firearm that can actually kill a Snatcher. It’s a blaster that features
‘neural feedback circuitry’ that adjusts it to the user’s capabilities, and it
has a sensor built into its safety that reads the user’s fingerprint and
temperature to ensure it can only be used by its assigned Junker.
Every so often, an action scene will take place and you’ll need to have
Gillian whip out his blaster to take some of the bad bastards down. It’s a
fairly rudimentary mini game of aiming a crosshair in one of nine pre-set
When I said I wanted to get some head directions at the boxes enemies pop up in, whack-a-mole style. It can get
this isn’t what I meant. pretty hectic at times, especially in the final act of the game, and there are
some really cool moments where the shooting is integrated into the story.
You’ll need to hit a perfect shot to free a hostage, disarm a gun-toting
maniac, or help Gillian break free from an assailant’s choke hold.
Even cooler is that you can actually use Konami’s light gun, The Justifier,
instead of your controller. This is the gun that was previously packaged
with the game Lethal Enforcers, and offers a much more immersive way to
shoot a Snatcher than simply hitting the B button. If you still own a CRT TV
and a Justifier then kudos to you, and you absolutely need to try this
method out tell me how it plays because I own neither. Sad times.
The boss of the musical level is this discordant auk. Turn off that squawk.
48
49
50
51
implants, and most importantly, the
"Persuadertron". This improves your powers
of persuasion, and enables you to recruit
better agents to join your team.
Anyone diving straight in, as I did initially, will
just give up and walk away from Syndicate.
It’s anything but pick up and play. Its biggest
hinderance is unquestionably the controls,
as this is a port of a game designed to be
played with a mouse and keyboard, and it
tells. You can get used to them after several
hours of play, but they never feel right.
The game looks great, although I’m guessing
in the future everyone is from the same
gene pool, a bit like present-day Sunderland,
as everyone looks exactly the same. The
isometric view works well, until you walk just
north of a building and disappear from view.
I enjoyed the music and sound effects of the
game for the first 20 minutes or so, but then you
quickly realise that it never changes. It reached a point The isometric view works really well.
where I could still hear the it hours after I’d turned the
game off.
Syndicate is an enormous
game. There are 50 PLATFORM: Sega Mega Drive
territories that you
can try and take
control of, which
PUBLISHER: Electronic Arts
means 50 missions,
and some of these RELEASED: January ‘95
can take up to an
hour to complete. PLAYERS: 1
However, there is a
lot of repetition in
these missions, as REVIEWED BY: Rob Kirkup
you can expect from a
game dating back,
originally, to 1993 on
Amiga and MS DOS. If you’re
prepared to put in the time to understand the complex
control system, and how to follow the tiny mini-map to
complete your mission without wandering around
aimlessly – which will get you killed every time – there’s
a great, deep, game here. That said, this is a very similar
game to Shadowrun which was released in 1994 (but we
didn’t review last issue because it wasn’t released in
Europe), and Shadowrun is the much better game of the
two.
There's 50 territories to conquer.
52
PLATFORM: Sega Mega Drive
PLAYERS: 1
OF choose four of the
following weapons
to take with you.
REVIEWED BY: Rob Kirkup CHOICE
This weapon select screen will
appear before each stage.
Just walking upside down on
the ceiling, this will be the
norm in 2015
54
Ranger Force – Scatter shot weapon Homing Force – Fires a fire blast that, as Lancer Force – A laser blast, which
that fires in four different directions. the name suggests, homes in on your absolutely tears through bosses, but
Great for clusters of enemies, such as enemy. An added bonus is that if you tears through your precious
the pesky flying baddies. have it equipped when facing a boss, a ammunition just as quickly. This is the
blue target will flash on the enemy most powerful weapon in the game.
showing you it’s weak spot.
55
Julie looks as incredulous that I’m
actually playing this game as I did.
56
57
streets, diving behind cover as enemies pop out to rain all? Flash Film Works actually remastered this
down a hail of gunfire upon him? Corpse Killer is unpolished turd for the PS4 and PC in 2019, which is the
nothing like that. Here, your character appears to be games industry equivalent of reintroducing smallpox. I
standing on a painfully slow conveyor belt that moves wish my curiosity didn’t entice me towards trying
left to right while zombies – by which I mean idiots Corpse Killer. Do not let yours do the same. Press the C
wearing plastic masks that look nothing like zombies – button and abort that mission. Now!
stumble, stagger, gangster walk, and levitate towards
you.
It tries to introduce some strategy partway through, REVIEWED BY: Alex Aldridge
where you need to switch to those stupid plant bullets
for certain enemies, but these bullets are so scarce that
you risk wasting your only method of killing bosses. You
earn the bullets after a level if you choose them over a
health top up, and you have one health bar for the
entire game. The B button switches bullets, but you’ll
rarely be able to tell which ones you’re using. Besides,
it’s almost too risky to even try when one press of the C
button – yes, just the C button by itself – will instantly,
and perhaps mercifully, abort the mission.
There are side missions to take on, but why kick yourself
in the dick much longer than you need to? Why do it at
missions, but I have no idea why you’d
You can check out the map for side
prolong this game.
PLATFORM: Sega Mega Drive
PUBLISHER: Viacom New Media
RELEASED: May ‘95
PLAYERS: 1-2
REVIEWED BY: Tom Anson
amount of animation frames required to execute
them is far too excessive and often lead to you
taking a hit. This would be fine if the enemies took
a couple of blows to defeat, but right off the bat,
they take five or six and there will often be
multiple cops or biker dudes in the way of your
destination. This leads to the initial stages being
unnecessarily hard and punishing until you find a
better weapon.
game. From here, we can select our levels and view our
No tickets, no GWAR.
However, from the start the boys each have one basic
attack; Beavis burps, Butt-Head farts. While these initial
attacks are infinite, they are piss weak. This is where the
developers’ commitment to the source material
backfires. While these attacks are functional, the
59
A major driving force behind Sega's success in the motion captured the player models here but if they did,
European and American markets with the Mega they definitely didn't hire 1995 FIFA World player of the
Drive/Genesis can be attributed to the growing year George Weah, as the faceless player executes what
popularity of sports games and the Sega Sports has to be described as one of the worst bicycle kicks
brand which launched in 1993. The Mega Drive ever seen in the professional game. It's not even
received a number of high-quality titles under the Sega troubling the corner flag! I don't want to rag on the
Sports banner and with the launch of Sega's 32-bit opening FMV too much but if they thought this would
Saturn console, it's time to see what next generation blow the socks off all the new Saturn owners, forget it.
hardware can do for the beautiful game with Sega Some stock real-world footage would have been far
International Victory Goal. more impressive.
Just like the beginning of a new football season, the After this disappointment we are greeted with a
launch of a new console fills gamers with a mixture of particularly bland menu that looks like it was knocked
excitement, hope and sometimes an underlying feeling up in Microsoft Paint. Generic fonts and graphics
of dread. Football games in the 16-bit generation were aplenty, but it's functional. Looking at the menu, you
a mixed bag. Electronic Arts’ FIFA series went for the might get the impression that Sega International Victory
ultra-realistic approach but the gameplay was largely Goal has glut of options. Sadly, this isn't quite the case.
dull and slow. Sensible Soccer, on the other hand, was a The standard exhibition match is present and we have
bare bones presentation but with god-level gameplay a cup competition. There is also a choice of two
and customisation. Sega's take on the sport falls different leagues: World League, which can be played
somewhere in the middle. In footy terms, it's an over 22 or 44 games, and the S-League (shit league?)
entertaining score draw. which is the same thing but shorter and can be played
as 11 games or penalty shoot-outs. If leagues are your
Now, it wouldn't be a CD-based game if we didn't get a thing, this has you covered, but there is one major flaw:
fancy full motion video intro, and an FMV is what we get, the team selection.
albeit an extremely poor one. I'm not sure if Sega
60
Sega International Victory Goal is largely a modified be nice. The replays are also impressive and although
version of Victory Goal, the Japanese football game I've never been a fan of the camera being behind the
featuring official J-league teams. What we get here is 12, goal, there are at least three camera angles to choose
yes 12, International teams. One more than a full footy from: close, medium and far. Special mention has to go
team! To cap off this pathetic selection, they are all to the player radar, that is the most obnoxiously large
non-licensed, so those leagues are going to get awfully radar ever seen! Thankfully this can be turned off.
boring after a couple of playthroughs. Jumping into a Gameplay is incredibly smooth with no slowdown but
game, it's apparent this is very much a first attempt at a you get the feeling that Sega aren't really pushing the
3D football game from Sega. The stadium looks decent, Saturn with this release.
but get used to it as there is only one to choose from.
There’s no commentary and little in the way of sound Lack of ambition aside, this is still an enjoyable game of
effects other than the always fun announcer shouting, football. Up to four players are supported for
“GOOOOAAAALLLL” every time you score. The cut to multiplayer and that’s where the game is going to shine
the scoreboard when you do manage to stick one in the the most. The basic single player game will keep you
old onion bag is fun though. going for a while but there is little to keep you coming
back for more once you’ve exhausted the different
Instead of going for full 3D, the actual match engine is league and cup options. Being able to give your mates
more like 2.5D. The players are not full 3D models and a good drubbing is where it’s at. Sega International
they have all been in a terrible accident at some point Victory Goal does little to push the football game genre
in their lives as none of them have a face. However, forward, and in many ways it’s more limited than games
once the whistle blows, this is a perfectly enjoyable like FIFA and Sensible Soccer on the 16-bit Mega Drive,
football game. The controls are responsive, dribbling is but as a first attempt on new hardware it will do for now.
fun, the AI-controlled opposition has a fair and GOOOAAALLL!
challenging difficulty, and scoring is as satisfying as
ever. The only complaint about the gameplay is that for
the life of me, I couldn't figure out if there was a sprint
button. Not that it made a huge difference but it would PLATFORM: Sega Saturn
PUBLISHER: Sega
RELEASED: July ‘95
PLAYERS: 1-4
REVIEWED BY: Tom Anson
Bagley bearing down on goal. And the award for the biggest
radar goes to…
61
Sega's big, stompy robot simulator is set in a
world where constant war and strife has led to
the formation of something called the World
Federation. These guys employ piloted mechs
as a kind of armoured police force, and they've
proven to be a pretty effective deterrent.
Everything was going well until a sudden
terrorist revolution shook up the status quo.
Not to worry, the super mech-police will put
them down, right? Wrong. It turns out the
terrorists have somehow managed to acquire
mechs of their own, and suddenly the playing
field is a little more even. It's your job to jump
into your big old robot and take the fight to
those pesky revolutionaries. Are they really the
bad guys, though? Or are we the oppressors?
Don't ask questions, pilot. There's no time to
think about the murky political situation when
you're striding around in big metal trousers
unleashing hot lead at everything that moves.
62
Sometimes you have to infiltrate
enemy bases! The gameplay doesn't
change, though.
63
Gem Expo in Gotham,
If you put on a bloody
Dolls all over the world join hands, start a pain train.
The game is primarily a run and gun side- There are boss fights, too, that are will-sapping in
scroller akin to the likes of Probotector. You’ll go their level of challenge. I’ve played a lot of Konami
through screen games for this magazine already, and although I said
after screen of this game plays more like one of their titles than the
overwhelming SNES version Konami actually made, there’s a distinct
enemy numbers, lack of developer experience in making a fair
lobbing Batarangs, challenge that is evident throughout. In particular, the
shuriken, and bolas fight against Mad Hatter feels like some kind of sick
with reckless joke. If it doesn’t cause you to go batshit insane the
abandon. Again, way it did me, then you might want to check that
much like a you’re not actually Batman.
shooter, the three
weapon types can At certain points of the fight, you are dealing with
be upgraded – up trying to attack a giant floating top hat while the Mad
to six times each – Hatter throws multiple electrified enemies that
“Nah ref, that’s a dive, I never by collecting power- bounce around randomly and row after row of giant
65
touched him!”
The backgrounds will
basically stay the same
for an entire level,
enemies have zero
variation outside of two or
three models, and the
music will repeat the same ear-
bothering pounding ad nauseum. That
wonderful orchestral soundtrack from the
cartoon is nowhere to be heard, and we’re
left with muffled thumping reminiscent of
standing outside your town’s most
obnoxious nightclub. It’s a real
disappointment that the overall package
doesn’t evoke enough of a Batman feel to
keep fans interested in struggling through
the overly oppressive difficulty.
PUBLISHER: Sega
RELEASED: June ‘95
I’ve ever played.
PLAYERS: 1-2
REVIEWED BY: Alex Aldridge
In place of the sensory onslaught of Clockwork Tortoise’s effort, Konami’s title is a much slower, more considered affair. Character sprites
take up more of the screen real estate, and enemies generally tend to amble along one-by-one for their bat beatdowns. Each level is
introduced with a splash of backstory, typically through Batman and Alfred in the Batcave planning out how to deal with the latest of the
rogue’s gallery to… well, go rogue.
There’s a higher emphasis on needing to use gadgets, too. Before each level begins, you need to pick which of the bat tools you’ll be taking
with you. The game’s not too helpful in giving you an idea of what will be most useful, or even vital, for your next mission, though. I was
getting constantly blown up in the museum level before realising I needed a torch to see bombs on the ground. You’ll always have the
Batclaw with you for climbing and swinging about, as this game is much more of a platformer, so you’ll be using it a lot.
If you want that coveted ‘feel like Batman’ sensation, the SNES version definitely caters more for series fans and gives you more Batman-
ish things to do, like search a museum and rescue Penguin’s hostages. It’s aimed more towards younger gamers, though, so the Mega
Drive version is confidently the more exciting game. It’s faster-paced, tighter to control, and feels a lot more rewarding to beat. Konami’s
game isn’t a walkover, but can get bogged down with fiddly platforming sections or maze levels. Clockwork Tortoise’s is all action all the
time.
Both of the games go some way to restoring pride to the Batman name in video games after some utter bat shat in the last few years, but
neither one is the complete experience. If there were some middle ground to be had here – the gameplay of the Mega Drive with the
greater reverence to the source material and variety of the SNES, then we’d have something truly special. Instead we just have two decent
games that frustrate as much as they impress.
front grille of an SUV. You will lose.
Do not start an argument with the
There is an aesthetic variety that isn't present in the
other games, with verdant grass, sun-bleached
plains and fields of crisp snow staving off the visual
monotony. Some of the sprites do have a tendency to
The early parts of a race often descend into an outright suffer at a distance. Oncoming vehicles look like a mess
brawl. Make sure you come out on top! of pixels until they get close enough to manifest into a
recognisable form, and it can often be difficult to tell if
Good news for petrol heads who like their racing to that critter running across the road is a deer, a dog, or
come with a side order of grievous bodily harm; some kind of cryptid. The game looks good though,
Electronic Arts' high-speed vehicular violence even if it comes across as more of a side-grade than an
simulator is back, and this time the whole world is upgrade, and the visual variety is definitely appreciated.
your race track. Road Rash 3: Tour de Force kicks off in
Brazil, with a tropical breeze caressing your helmet and The sound effects are a fairly standard mix of yelps,
bright green palm trees whizzing by in the background. thuds and clatters that play out when weapons connect
Don't get too used to the warm weather; you'll with opponents’ or bikes connect with scenery. The
soon be whisked off to good old Blighty for sounds are a bit tinny and
an overcast, coastal jaunt, and will later insubstantial, but the bombastic
find yourself up to your shock absorbers music will be drowning them
in snow in the Bavarian hills. Road Rash is out most of the time anyway.
69
70
striking them just as
they're winding up
to attack. Most of
the weapons are
straightforward
w h a c k i n g
implements, but
more specialised
equipment like
mace spray and oil
cans are available too. It is
possible to cycle through the weapons
you've collected, but the method is
somewhat clunky, and going through the
process at the wrong time will usually see
you surprised by that 4x4 coming up over
the crest in the road.
Fashionable rider Ikira is too cool for Smug, loud-shirted jerk Lucky Luc comes
school. One of only a few racers who won't across like he spends the Road Rash off-
attack you unless provoked, Ikira offers up season at the yacht club. He favours sabotage
an interesting conundrum. Do you attack over direct violence, and will ride just out of
him so that he'll use his nunchucks against reach, dropping patches of oil onto the road.
you, giving you an opportunity to grab the He can be incredibly hard to pass, predicting
best weapon in the game? Or do you stay your overtake attempts with clairvoyant
your hand and avoid retribution later on? accuracy. Use clever manoeuvring to trick him
into colliding with oncoming traffic. That'll
Those 'chucks are pretty tempting... make his luck run out.
your tricky financial situation to use you for
their own ends. It's not exactly dignified, but
these last chance missions can lead to some
nail-biting, Hail Mary moments as you
desperately seek out that elusive rider or
face an untimely game over. It's definitely a
cool new ingredient in the Road Rash recipe.
Always on hand to offer helpful advice, Nina the fiery biker-bitch is very quick to Looking like some kind of outback-
Natasha is like a shining light on a pitch- tell you exactly what she thinks of you, and dwelling swamp-jockey, Walleye decided
black desert backroad. Until you piss her you're not going to like what she has to say. to bring a cattle prod to the party. Just as
off, then you can expect violent retribution Initially wielding a devastating chain, she detrimental to your riding concentration as
and more than a few scathing post-race will later switch up to mace spray, and she's Nina's mace, Walleye's few thousand volts
remarks. Still, resist unseating her mid-race not afraid to use it. There's nothing that'll to the ribs are sure to make you a bit jumpy
and Natasha will be a friend for life. Just a put you off your game quite like some in the saddle. Get zapped and you'll be too
friend, though. Don't fall in love, she's searing pain to the eyes and face. Maybe stunned to steer, likely resulting in a violent
blatantly already got a boyfriend. you should've kept your visor down? encounter with an oncoming truck.
This sitcom has been largely forgotten these Now we’re fecking talking. Father Ted is a Written by and starring stand up maestros
days, never repeated anywhere, and not sitcom that should require absolutely no Stewart Lee and Richard Herring, comedy
available for streaming on any of the usual introduction. If you’ve not seen every episode, I sketch show Fist of Fun began life as a BBC
places. But for a few short years in the 90s, demand that you put down this wonderous Radio 1 series, before being adapted for the
Game On was massively popular, largely helped tome. Yes, I know that parting with your copy of telly in 1995. It had, what would today be
by the sexy Samantha Janus (now Womack) Sega Mania for any length of time is akin to a recognized, as one hell of a support cast,
who was in her early 20s at the time. new mother being parted from her baby but including Ant & Dec, Mel & Sue, Alistair
you MUST watch Father Ted. McGowan, Al Murray, and John Thomson. Kevin
It starred Ben Chaplin as Matthew, whose entire Eldon and Peter Baynham were regular
character arc revolved around the fact he was OK back? Good. I know. Fecking brilliant right? contributors and had some of the best
afraid of the outside world, and wouldn’t leave What did you think was the best episode? The characters, with Eldon playing Simon Quinlank
the flat, Samantha Janus as “man-eater” Mandy, Song for Europe one with My Lovely Horse? The – King of All Hobbies – who would talk about his
and Matthew Cottle as Martin, who was, well, a one where everyone thinks Ted is a massive latest hobby while laughing like a maniac, and
bit of a wet blanket. racist? Speed 3? drinking “weak lemon drink”.
The situation comedy ran for three series, and It’s literally impossible to choose. Fist of Fun ran for two series, but didn’t receive
at the end of the first series Ben Chaplin left to the ratings it no doubt deserved, mostly down
go and follow his dreams in Hollywood, and the Would I say this is the greatest Channel 4 to the BBC not really giving a toss about it, and
role of Matthew was recast with Neil Stuke programme of all time? I think that would be an giving it next to no promotion. However, Lee
taking over. ecumenical matter. and Herring would later create its spiritual
successor This Morning with Richard Not Judy,
When it ended Matthew still wouldn’t leave the which would debut in 1998.
flat. What a pointless character.
When Star Trek: Voyager first aired, Trekkies Say what you want, there were some truly All together now: AIAIAIAIAIAIEEE! With an
must have thought it would be impossible to terrifying stories in the Goosebumps franchise iconic battle cry and more leather armour than
succeed Captains Kirk, Picard and Sisko, but by RL Stine. Ventriloquists’ dummies coming to you can shake your… big stick at, Xena Warrior
we’ll be damned if Captain Janeway and life, a mask you couldn’t take off, a camera Princess made her debut this year to much
company didn’t manage it. Offering a new take whose photos showed its subjects in incredible aplomb. The story saw the titular character
on everyone’s favourite space television pain right before the incident actually travel across the land to help others in order to
franchise, the premise of Voyager saw the crew happened and a mirror that made you atone for her past sins against the innocent.
flung to the other side of the galaxy and the disappear. The books were so vivid that it made
overarching story centred on them trying to get many of us want to sleep with the light on in This was actually a spin-off of Hercules: The
back to the Alpha Quadrant. fear of what lurked in our imaginations after Legendary Journeys. Xena was originally
reading. planned to be a short-lived character in that
This show had an immense wealth of show, but star Lucy Lawless proved immensely
characters to play with, from fearless leader The television series brought these stories to popular and the decision was made to give her
Janeway herself, to the Vulcan head of security life and put faces to the names of Slappy the her own show. This proved to be a very lucrative
Tuvok and the always hilarious Doctor living dummy, Monster Blood and the Mummy. decision by the executives with Xena going on
hologram. Not to mention Seven-of-Nine, am I Even the opening titles with the glowing-eyed to surpass Hercules by an insane amount. It ran
right fellas? dog were enough to start the terror. until 2001 and is still very highly regarded to this
day.
For a show whose motto is to boldly go where Goosebumps ran for four seasons until 1998 and
no man has gone before, Voyager felt like it recently made a resurgence with a movie
really accomplished that, literally and starring Jack Black. What made the TV show so
figuratively. It introduced new species and authentically scary was its use of physical props
planets, while also displaying the terrifying for all of the monsters. A fond favourite best
reach of the Borg. It belongs right alongside its enjoyed with the lights on. Viewer beware,
predecessors in terms of quality. you’re in for a scare.
Rob Kirkup and Sam Forrester channel hop into the past to see what was on the telly in the first half of 1995!
I remember seeing Waterworld in the cinema with There was no way I could resist doing Hackers, the So as its 1995 and as a Kevin Smith fan that has driven
my family at UCI Tower park in Poole. I did not have in tale of Dade Murphy (Jonny Lee Miller) aka Zero Cool over 400 miles in 2 days to go to two back to back live
my head the modern notion of a bad meme movie, aka Crash Override who, at the tender age of 11 shows of his, can I be objective and not write a
the big flop, Kevinsgate (named after the folly of breaks up his family after he is arrested and fined gushing review of at the time mega flop Mallrats?
Heavens Gate) It was not a Morbius style thing in my $45000 after crashing 1507 computers in one night.
world, seen to be mocked. It was the massive new
blockbuster from the guys who made Robin Hood He is banned from using a computer or touch tone No, no I cannot. So, I really like Mallrats, at the age of
that was on Movies, Games and Videos every Saturday phone until he is 18 years of age. We join him on his 15/16 buying the VHS in HMV in Southampton was like
on ITV. I walked out and so did my whole family 18th birthday which he celebrates by hacking a TV a wake up call, to be able to relate to the characters
thinking it was a fun blockbuster ride, and do you station and getting the attention of rival hacker Kate and their interests, it was an amazing discovery that
know what? It still is. Libby aka Acid Burn (an early role for Angelina Jolie
who married Miller soon after). people wrote movies for people like me! We follow
The movie introduces us to the mariner (named the lives of TS Quint, Brodie Bruce (good little Jaws
Ulysses in the amazing extended fan cut) who is This and his introduction into a new school and reference there) and their love lives as they get
roaming the flooded planet after the ice caps have finding new hacker friends (an odd hacker training dumped on the same day, and go to the local mall to
melted. He scavenges and trades with other boats he ground this school is). Sees them embroiled in a heist cry over their lost relationships. We follow the friends
meets and tries to survive like a wet mad max. This by evil hacker The Plage (Fisher Stevens) and hunted as they meet up with Ben Affleck (in an early role) and
leads him to the quest for the fabled Dry Land and a by the FBI.
chance for him to become more human. Jay and Silent Bob from Clerks (Smith and Jason
The film is a product of its time, the visuals of hacking Mewes) who get them in to even more trouble. Smith
All you hear of still, is how much of a flop this was and were always seen by the director as what they were lets the dialog and Jason Lee's (Brodie) natural
how it was a disaster and lost so much money (it seeing in their mind, rather than the boring lines of charmisa carry the movie, as the sidekick to the lead
made money in the end but the budget being £175m code and the almost criminal over use as rollerblades (a poorly cast Jeremy London as TS) steals every
was a bad way to start) I think if you have not seen it, as a cool method of transport. scene he is in and runs away with the movie. It was a
or have not seen the directors cut and the breakout role for the former pro skateboarder that
aforementioned Ulysses cut you owe it to yourself to Couple this with the first showing of a little game
give it another try. All the money is up on screen. A lot called Wipeout (in all CG form), well before it came lead to Smith using him a lot and lead to Enemy of the
of these movies you do not see where the cash went, out on Saturn in 1996. State and 34 Chipmunk movies.
but with Waterworld the stunts and and production
design shines. It has had a re-appraisal in the last few years with It is alwasy funny to see a movie that went from mega
Mark Kermode championing it among others. flop to a cult calssic with a double disc arrow video
This is one of those I owned on Widescreen VHS,
LaserDisc (3 different copies) Blu-ray and now the It is both future looking and dated at the same time, Blu-ray, and a mention in Captain Marvel due to Stan
Arrow disc with the 3 cuts and the (not very good) 4K in kinda the best way ‘90s movies are and always Lee having a part in it playing himself.
release. should be.
So if you ever wanted to hear about superhero sexual
Buy or stream it if you have not seen it, or worse have anatomy being disscussed by Stan and Jason Lee (no
not seen it since 1995. Its a great Sunday afternoon
adventure flick. relation), then dear reader, this is the movie for you.
73
Thompson eye-phones.
The eagle-eyed amongst you, as well as you with less interesting, but more socially acceptable
human eyes, may have noticed that I have been missing from the hallowed pages of Sega Mania
Magazine this issue. It’s time to come clean. I played on a Super Nintendo. It was only once, I didn’t
enjoy it, and I stopped before I started fancying any of my relatives or became inappropriate with a
beloved pet. However, it did lead me onto hard drugs and black market Lambrini. It was there, when
weak, that the Sega Powered crew vanned me to the back of their muffler shop, where I would
remain for many weeks for their sordid entertainment. It was only when someone wheeled in Dean,
their editor, to feed on, that I could make good with my legs. Say what you like about the man, but his
ability to suckle his entire writing staff whilst sniffing the remnants of a bottle of PVA without spilling
a drop of his pint of Bovril is a sight to behold.
I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide. 1995 was a weird time to be a Sega fan. As the 16-bit
wars drew to a close, the Mega Drive was still scoring great victories and commanding a loyal
following. Yet anticipation for their next system was at a decidedly low level in classrooms
throughout the country. Though this was the first mainline console from Sega in half a decade,
lukewarm reception to the Mega Drive’s life support systems (CD/32X) made the launch of the Saturn
feel less of the epoch-making event it should have been. The Nintendo bedwetters were being kept
in suspended prolepsis with promises of their Ultra 64 savior to arrive and conquer all. However, many
legions of them, along with battalions of formally loyal Sega flag carriers, were finding their
attentions drawn to the whore dogs of Sony and their ugly little console with the dodgy name.
The Saturn’s stuttering start in western markets is a nuanced affair, and whilst many of the problems,
undoubtedly of Sega’s own making, will soon be smoothed out – a strong start was vital against the
slickness of the Sony marketing machine. It was, alas, not to be. Sega fans, who at the beginning of
the year stood proud in their gangs, began to cut increasingly isolated figures.
Sega’s remaining dominance in the arcade had been largely maintained through its pioneering leaps
into 3D with the System 1 arcade board, and just as the competition threatened to catch up, with the
incredible System 2. Execs at Sony saw the waves Sega was making in the arcades and tailored their
machine to the exciting future Sega was showing. Yet, from the beginning, the Saturn was designed
to be a 2D powerhouse. It was only when Sega saw Sony’s complete emphasis on 3D for its new
console, that they beefed up the Saturn to compete. The result was a beautiful mess of system.
Insanely powerful, and even harder to program for.
Coupled with a “Surprise!” launch, straight out of Zapp Branigan’s Big Book of War (it’s from the
future, look it up), the chance to build excitement and expectation was forever lost. The launch
games suffering from an all-round lack of polish, and hardly being a roster that would set the world
alight. The Model 1-based Virtua Fighter already looking outdated compared to its sequel on Model 2.
A game that has to be seen in action to be appreciated did not translate well to the static pages of
magazines. Each character looking so much like a relative of Kryten-2X4B-523P, that you expect the
fighter to come with a set of groinal attachments to do battle with.
In Clockwork Knight they had a 2D platformer that did not look like a generational leap on the slick
jump’n’runs being released on the Mega Drive and SNES at the time. Victory Goal was a decent
enough effort for their first football game but was never going to be a system slinger. The real
wounder, though, was the Saturn port of Daytona going head-to-head with PlayStation’s Ridge Racer.
The game was choppy, suffered appalling framerate issues, gnarly textures, and awful clipping. And
there’s an argument to be made that even if these problems had been smoothed out, it would still
have been an unfair comparison. The System 22 arcade hardware Ridge Racer was based on was
nowhere near the level of Sega’s Model 2. The home conversion of Daytona could never hope to be as
close to the arcade as the conversion of Ridge Racer, no matter the console.
On the bright side, previews of Virtua Fighter 2, Sega Rally, and Virtua Cop were really starting to look
the business, and at this point hope remained that they could hit the shelf in time for that all
important Christmas boost. But with the promise of titles that would better show off the system’s
capabilities still way off, it would do little to entice the market at launch. Why would you go for Virtua
Fighter, when the vastly superior sequel was around the corner? Why choose Daytona over a slick
port of Sega Rally? Even Clockwork Knight had a direct sequel only a few months away, which was
already looking a step up. Sega certainly like to make things difficult for themselves.
Brand loyalty that seemed so entrenched and partisan only a year before, was jettisoned surprisingly
quickly when the Sony hype-train rolled into town. Deserters, rats, turncoats, and Judases started to
fill the ranks on both sides. A new battle for hearts and minds had begun, and the lines were
beginning to be redrawn. If, like me, you are here to relive the 32-bit wars standing amongst loyalists,
who appreciated the crazy black box of magic first time round – then welcome back, it’s good to see
you, soldier. If it’s your first time on this journey, then welcome also. You don’t know what you’ve
missed. Better late than never they say, but we really could have used you first-time round.
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