Review by: Pete Hines
Published: June 4, 1997

When we last left this trio, they had just finished dispatching of the evil Tomator. Now, those three goofball Vikings from The Lost Vikings are back again in Interplay’s Norse by NorseWest, The Return of The Lost Vikings. Olaf the Stout, Baleog the Fierce, and Eric the Swift have slipped through the fingers of the evil Tomator (again) but are now lost somewhere in time (thanks to Baleog’s bumbling). In this combination action/strategy/puzzle game, you must use the skills of each hero and the help of friends they meet along the way to get them back home. With skill, brains, a little luck, and a good sense of humor, you might just make it. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 26, 1997

3-D Ultra MiniGolf is the latest game from the makers of Sierra’s 3-D Ultra Pinball games. Although it may sound strange to say a minigolf game is similar to a pinball game, the comparison will be clear after a few holes. The game features 18 crazy holes, each with a unique challenge and more than one way to get the ball into the hole. Up to four players can play at once, although network and modem play is not yet available, but is on the way. You have the option of playing either the front nine, the back nine, a single hole, or the entire course. You can choose regular minigolf, hole-by-hole play, or a timed game, which presents a different challenge. If you need to practice your stroke, a practice putting green lets you hone your touch.

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Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 25, 1997

Theme Hospital is the latest venture from Bullfrog and EA. Similar to Theme Park, where players managed the activities in an amusement park, you will be responsible for managing all operations and decisions in a hospital. The game has a light, humorous feel to it and there certainly is not much “blood and guts” (for you who may be squeamish). About the only thing that is predetermined is the size of the buildings. Other than that, you will have to manage every other facet of the game: hiring, firing, building rooms, performing research, and generally ensuring that your patients are happy. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 21, 1997

Struggle for control of the galaxy and attempt to ascend to the throne of Emperor in this turn-based strategy game from SegaSoft. You assume the role of one of the five Noble House leaders, each of whom is jockeying for position in this galactic nightmare. In addition to the four other Houses, you will have to contend with other important groups like the Universal Church, the Merchant League, and rebel groups like the Vau and the dangerous Symbiots. Each plays a role in the battle for supreme power. When you begin the game, you’ll have no real enemies, other than the various rebels that are out to cause trouble for everyone. Forge alliances, start wars, trade, and do whatever else you think it takes to seize control of the galaxy and rise to the throne of Emperor.

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Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 21, 1997

“Goodness reflects the light; and evil, bears the seed of all darkness. These are mirrors of the soul, reflections of the mind. Choose well.”

– Unknown

Realms of the Haunting (ROTH) is a thrilling, challenging, and somewhat disturbing look at the ultimate battle between good and evil. Adam Randall receives a mysterious package and returns to the site of the mysterious death of his father, a clergyman in a remote Cornish country village in England. As he attempts to uncover what happened to his father, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the midst of the ultimate battle between good and evil. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 15, 1997

In Fragile Allegiance, a real-time galactic strategy game from Interplay, you represent the TetraCorp in its effort to colonize the galaxy and mine the valuable resources that are found on asteroids. In the process, you will meet and compete with different alien races who are looking out for their own interests. You decide with whom you wish to trade, who you want attack, and how you want to spend your hard-earned money. All the while, you are also attempting to avoid total financial and political ruin or annihilation. This is big business at its worst (or best) and the fate of TetraCorp is in your hands. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 15, 1997

Shivers II: Harvest of Souls, is the sequel to the highly acclaimed adventure game from Sierra On-Line, called Shivers. The story takes place in a small, distant town, named Cyclone, where your friends have disappeared. Members of a rock band, they were in town writing music and making rock videos when they vanished without a trace. What happened to them, and who is this Darkcloud character that keeps taunting you? It is up to you to solve the puzzles, piece together the clues, and find out where your friends have disappeared to. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: May 2, 1997

Nitro Racers is a racing simulation game from 3DO that was recently released in Europe only. It will be released in the U.S. some time later this year. This fast-paced game puts you in control of a race car as it whips around one of 30 tracks. The game resembles the Off Road game in the arcades, where four trucks battled it out on dirt tracks. Your view of the track is either from high above, where the whole track fits in your screen, or in a split-screen mode. It reminded me of racing the radio-controlled cars around the track in my living room as a kid. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: April 30, 1997

In a remote corner of the galaxy lies a planet called New Haven. A fierce and nasty alien race, called Taurans, has decided that it is going to take this planet for its own. Fourteen of New Haven’s provinces lie essentially helpless in the path of the Taurans. One province, called Haven, is prepared to defend itself to the end and has the resources and ability to do it. In Fallen Haven players can either take the role of the Taurans and try to destroy the other inhabitants of New Haven, including humans of Haven, or play as the Humans and keep the planet in your race’s hands. Either way, it’s going to be one hellish war. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: April 23, 1997

It is the year 2015 and the metropolis of NeoTokyo is under siege by a group of criminals known as Nemesys. Perhaps the only thing that can save this city from the brink of total disaster and collapse is you. Select the pilot and helicopter of your choice and then attempt to put down a number of fiendish plots and make the city safe again in HeliCOPS from 7th Level. This 3D flight and combat simulation game will keep you on the edge of your seat, wide-eyed and feeling the rush of adrenaline.
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Review by: Pete Hines
Published: April 22, 1997

KKnD (Krush Kill ‘n Destroy) is EA/Beam’s entry into the ever-expanding market for real-time strategy games. While this game looks and plays a lot like some of the others (many people say it’s just another C&C:Red Alert), KKnD has features that set it apart from the rest. The game’s scenario is a battle between two types of humans who inhabit what is left of poor Mother Earth after a devastating nuclear war. Basically, everyone who survived either went underground and stayed there for 60 years of so (Survivors), or lived above ground and suffered horrible mutations as a result (Evolved). The Survivors are ready for some sunshine and want to reclaim the Earth for their own. Meanwhile, the Evolved think that humans have done enough damage to the planet already, and will do whatever it takes to keep the Survivors from exploiting it and messing it up again. The result is a lot of crushing, killing, and destroying. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: April 10, 1997

Enter a world where role-playing, action, adventure, and on-line gaming come together to create a whole new experience in 3DO’s Meridian 59. From the moment you enter this world, the sights, sounds, and experiences will thrill and amaze you. You’ll be dropped into a 3D world as a character of your own design and left to your own cunning and skills to survive and improve. When it’s all said and done, Meridian 59 will leave you breathless and ready for more. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: February 13, 1997

In Evolution, you control a clade of species with the intent of evolving into the first intelligent species, and becoming the most dominant clade. In order to be successful, you must ensure that your species are kept safe, in areas where food is abundant and they are able to grow and multiply. You must also choose wisely in how you decide to move up the evolutionary tree. The road to success isn’t always a straight line, and one has to consider changes in the climate and the shifting continents when deciding on what species you want to evolve into next. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: January 14, 1997

Alien Trilogy is a 3D action shooter from Acclaim and is the same type of game as Duke Nukem, Quake, and Doom. It is, of course, based on the original Alien movies and features those dreaded creatures. Your goal in this demo is to clear a landing area by eliminating all of the aliens (plus other enemies) and removing the barrels that you’ll find in several locations. There are three difficulty levels to choose from: Acid Reign, Raging Terror, Xenomania (more on these in the criteria). ( read more… )