Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 29, 1997

A menacing and ancient evil is threatening worlds that are protected by Starfleet. A scientist of El Aurian descent, one Doctor Tolian Soran, is searching for something that he has lost. 78 years earlier, the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-B rescued a small contingent of 47 passengers and crew of the vessel Lakul, and Soran was one of those rescued. The Lakul was threatened with destruction by a mysterious energy ribbon which passes through our galaxy every 39 years. Also known as the Nexus, this energy ribbon was responsible for causing the supposed death of one of Starfleet’s greatest heroes, Captain James T. Kirk. Soran was in the Nexus at one time, and the Enterprise-B’s rescue interrupted his effort to return there.

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Review by: Brian Pipa
Published: May 28, 1997

Quake and Activision are back in their second id-approved mission pack — Dissolution of Eternity (DoE) — and this time the gang at Rogue Entertainment are the ones responsible for the new death and destruction you’ll see at every turn. In this pack you get 2 new episodes with a total of 16 new levels, 8 new monsters, 4 new weapons, 4 new powerups, 5 new elemental dangers, and new multiplayer features.

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Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 27, 1997

There can be only one master of the Arena. Many have tried, and many have died. Now, tooling around the landscape in your Raider, you are trying to do the same thing — survive, while destroying anything that gets in your way. With a little luck and a lot of skill, you too may earn your survival as well as the right to battle another day. ( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 27, 1997

Your lightsaber is slashing through Stormtroopers like a knife through butter. As another dead one hits the frozen, snow-covered ground of the planet Hoth, you notice that his blaster pops out and lands nearly at your feet. You quickly grab it because you would prefer to use a ranged attack against the remaining troops, hoping to avoid yet another trip to see the spaceport’s Medical Droid. As the last remaining Stormtrooper is struck by the awesome power of the blaster and dropped to the tundra, you ponder exactly how it was that you got here….

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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: Shawn Quigley
Published: May 23, 1997

M …other’s ?

D …ay ?

K …isses ?

It all starts in the year 1999. The world as we know it today has ceased to exist. The universe is now made of streams. These streams, giant electrical tubes, span across the universe. The people that are left on earth have been forced into slavery by evil beings known as “Stream Riders.” ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley

Published: May 22, 1997

It all began before our time, at the 12-hole Prestwick Links on the west coast of  Scotland in 1860. The British Open, the oldest and longest running tournament in  professional golf. Never before has a golfing simulation taken on the task or re-creating a “live” tournament until Looking Glass Technologies British Open  Championship Golf.

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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: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 18, 1997

The depths of outer space can be a cold, dark, and lonely place. Of course, that is until a half-dozen enemy fighters appear in your craft’s sensors. At that point, it is your mission to either destroy or be destroyed in LucasArts’ latest Star Wars combat simulation, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. ( 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: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: may 12, 1997

They say the best things in life are free. If you play Duke Nukem 3D, you’re about to find out just how true this is. BDP, a group of hardcore gamers and Duke 3D fanatics, has just completed a project so cool, it will make your holoduke’s head spin. It’s called The Gate, and it’s now available at the best price imaginable — absolutely free of charge. ( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 12, 1997

. . . for conflict is the great teacher, and pain, the perfect educator.
              - NagaRom

The fate of the distant world of Yavaun is no longer in NagaRom’s hands. Now, his children are fighting for control of this mystical jewel in the galactic firmament. Each of the four races which populate Yavaun has its own distinct strengths and weaknesses; strengths must be realized and weaknesses must be exploited in order for any one race to exert its will upon the others. ( read more… )