Review by: Pete Hines
Published: December 25, 1997

From the folks at Impressions Software and Sierra, who brought you the Lord of the Realms games, comes a new strategy title in the same vein, but set in a magical and mystical world threatened by an evil lord. This dark lord, Balkoth, seeks to expand his kingdom until it reaches the four corners of the known world, enslaving all of its inhabitants under his rule. In Lords of Magic, you can either play one of the seven faiths that exists in this world and attempt to defeat Balkoth, or play as Balkoth himself and see if you can lead the minions of death to ultimate victory. ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: December 23, 1997

When Twisted Metal came out for the Playstation a year ago, it became one of the most successful titles for the platform. This fall Twisted Metal 2 was released and picks up where the last title left off. The story revolves around a battle or a contest to see who can be the last one standing. In the original Twisted Metal, the contest took place in LA, but this time around the action has moved to a worldwide venue. So, the contest begins to see who can win and survive the battle. ( read more… )

Review by: Jordan Thomas
Published: December 22, 1997

Ten thousand Orks stream through an Imperial city, wreaking massive havoc with their bizarre Tek weaponry and berserk battle tactics. Elite space marines appear from everywhere, and a pitched battle ensues. Tanks crush citizens and enemies alike in an effort to quell the impending chaos. The Orks take over. In response, mystic Astropaths weave trans-dimensional offensive attacks through sheer force of will. The Army of the Imperium unites, and explosive mortar shells send invading Orks flying into walls, flailing about like crushed fish. Welcome to the world of Warhammer.

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Review by: Jordan Thomas
Published: December 21, 1997

Night. A starlit field, once a calming and peaceful sight, seems to exude an aura of menace. A low, rumbling din becomes audible, like an all-enveloping rhythm of strife. As we move across the pallid dunes of grass, we begin to discover that the low, steady sound has changed, perverted into something much more terrifying. The now discernible thunder of a thousand running feet is joined by a high-pitched wail of steel-screech and death cries. ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: December 17, 1997

Sony Entertainment of America is starting to bring hit titles over from the Playstation platform to the PC. One of Sony’s hottest games this past year has been the wildly successful Jet Moto. Jet Moto was developed by Sony as competition for the Nintendo 64′s Waverace jetski game. Even though both titles are similar in nature, Jet Moto offered greater gameplay and a more varied level of difficulty, thanks to the multitude of opponents and varied terrain that you race over. Can Sony successfully take this hit Playstation title and sell it to the PC gaming world? ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: December 16, 1997

It was a long time ago since the first screenshots appeared for VR Baseball HWA (Hardware Accelerated). If you can remember back that far, the screenshots blew away anything that was out or coming out on the market. With the promise of being the best looking and playing baseball title ever, VR Sports Baseball was setting a high mark to achieve for itself. Well the time has come when the game has finally been released. The Adrenaline Vault has taken a look to see if VR Baseball has met up to the hype it set a long time ago. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: December 15, 1997

A furious battle between the three furies — Wind, Rain, and Thunder — has devastated the lands and forced the tribes of Nimbus to take refuge on islands in the sky. Harnessing the power of Sun, Wind, Rain, and Thunder, these tribes are struggling to claim valuable resources and eventually reunite the tribes of Nimbus, with you at the helm (of course). Take your place as the head priest of a tribe and lead your people to victory in Activision’s NetStorm. ( read more… )

Review by: Jordan Thomas
Published: December 14, 1997

I’ve seen a pack of gargoyles chased off by a lone squire with a broken sword. I’ve watched magewars rain liquid fire across the ruins of an ancient castle. I’ve even seen dragons give up their precious gold for the love of a human. Nothing, however, could prepare me for the painful disappointment I was to fall prey to in Bethesda’s Battlespire. I have been extremely enthusiastic about this project since the concept’s release to the public, and after playing it, I have much to say, so prepare yourselves, and bear with me. And I am not alone in this, for there are countless fanatics like myself who have eagerly anticipated this game. With the fabulous Xngine jacked up to brilliant SVGA, and the world of Tamriel finally brought to lovely multiplayer capability, this title promised some great things for fans of the Elder Scrolls series. ( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: December 12, 1997

The Monopoly board game and the Star Wars Trilogy: each one is a classic in its own right, with millions upon millions of fans devoted to them. It makes a lot of sense to marry one of the most popular entertainment series of all time with one of the most popular board games of all time. So what do you get when you merge films that deal with the conquest of the universe with a game that is based upon the acquisition of real estate? You get Monopoly Star Wars, in which the objective is to own the entire Star Wars universe. ( read more… )

Review by: Pete Hines
Published: December 10, 1997

In Byzantine: The Betrayal, you play the role of a journalist summoned to the city of Istanbul, Turkey by an old college roommate and friend, named Emre. He claims to have a great story for you to uncover and you decide you can’t pass up the opportunity. Once there, things go from you not knowing a whole lot, to you not knowing a whole lot and having your “host” disappear. To find out what’s going on you’ll have to trust your instincts, piece together the clues, and try to solve the mystery and get out in one piece. ( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: December 10, 1997

World War II has been examined in many war games throughout the history of computer gaming. When a new game covering the WWII era is released, one might wonder exactly what the attraction to such a product might be. Perhaps it is a sequel to a game that that was popular in the past. Perhaps it is a game that is being created by a company that has a historical track record in producing successful wargames. It might be a product that incorporates new features and new technologies in order to produce a superior product. In the case of SSI’s Panzer General II, all of the above are true. ( read more… )

Review by: Jordan Thomas
Published: December 10, 1997

You’re suspended in the dark above a deep, endless chasm. Bizarre shapes surround you, artificial and shiny. Cold metal brackets hold you in place, and despite your struggles, you cannot move. Time passes seemingly without any reprieve, and your mind wanders. But that’s nothing new. Today though, something changes. You hear footsteps, getting louder and louder. Suddenly, they stop. The telltale jingling of coins rattles throughout the blackness. All around you, the whine of machinery resounds. Without any warning, your supporting bars disappear, and you plummet face first down past the other objects. Your head hits an unyielding metal tray. Seconds later, you are brought into the light. That’s right, you have just been purchased…from a vending machine.

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Review by: Brian Clair
Published: December 9, 1997

“Location updated…location updated…” sputters your field computer in its cold mechanical voice as you unholster your blaster. Strogg bodies lay scattered on the floor nearby, their blood inking the walls — saving you the trouble. Explosions rock the compound as your bombers fly overhead and you mutter, “It’s a shame the rest of the marines got pasted on the way in, but that leaves more for me!”

If you thought Quake II was going to be a pale shadow of the original based on the public test demo, think again. This game delivers and not just graphically but on every level that makes a game outstanding. Quake II begins with something unusual, no not screaming demons or semi-naked women, a story. That’s right, for the first time that I can remember someone has finally taken the time to create an actual storyline for a 3D shooter and integrate it fully in the game. I’m not talking about something written in a manual either (although you can read about it there too), I’m talking about a richly detailed, explicit, full motion video sequence that not only relays the story but does it perfectly. According to id Software, Quake II originally wasn’t going to include any FMV, but I’m glad they changed their minds because it makes the game that much more real. ( read more… )

Review by: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: December 7, 1997

When Mechwarrior 2 was finally released after countless delays, Activision instantly established itself as the undisputed king of the giant robot genre, essentially leaving Sierra and their Earthsiege series in the dust. All of that came crashing down, however, when FASA (in a move that surprised just about everyone) stripped Activision of control of the franchise and announced that Mechwarrior 3 would be developed in-house. They may have been shocked, and maybe even a little offended, but the developers at Activision weren’t about to take the news lying down. On the contrary, they responded in a way that was no less surprising than FASA’s bombshell — they vowed to make their own giant robot game, one that would be bigger and better than anything the Mechwarrior universe could ever produce. They would give the world Heavy Gear. ( read more… )

Review by: Jordan Thomas
Published: December 7, 1997

Your computer, that unassuming beige testament to addiction and entertainment, has become a grim battleground. The Virus has made its assault, and all your precious system files have become potential victims. One by one, the most integral parts of your hard drive are over-run. If only there were something you could do. If you could rush about the hallowed digital halls, and eliminate the viral code yourself, then at least your system would have a fighting chance. Viruses are irritating, confounding, and they can destroy months of work if you are not prepared to fight them off. Wouldn’t it be great to fight them face to face?

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