Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: May 11, 1997

It all dates back many years ago, when man was looking for a way to move around. The idea of riding around in a car is something that many of us take for granted. Electronic Arts has taken something that many of us have only dreamed about doing, and put it right on our PC’s for us to enjoy whenever we feel the urge to. That dream is to get behind the wheel of just one of the most exotic, fastest, and for the most part, out of reach cars. Need For Speed II gives you the chance to drive one of eight of these supercars. ( read more… )

Review by: Brian Pipa
Published: May 6, 1997

Activision brings us the first of their two add-on packs — Scourge of Armagon. You’ve just defeated Shub-Niggurath and you find yourself back at your HQ. One problem — Quake has infiltrated the complex and it has been sealed to prevent Quake and company from marauding the outside world. Now you’re stuck with no way out. Time to kick some more Quake butt. ( read more… )

Review by: Brian Pipa
Published: May 5, 1997

Quiver is a unique game in this day and age of 200 MHZ Pentiums and 3D accelerated graphics cards. Quiver is a 3D action game for those with low-end systems — the minimum CPU required is a 486DX/33! Quiver is the only 3D first-person shooter in recent memory aimed at this virtually untapped market . If you are able to play Duke or Quake on your system, Quiver is not even worth a look for you, but if you’re stuck in the stone ages when it comes to your system specs, read on. ( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: May 4, 1997

The Universal Remnant. That is all that is left of the Universe, which once consisted of a multitude of interconnected bubbles of space/time. In days long ago, a crustacean race called the Sznip and a race of nuclear plasmatoids known as the Fermis decided that nearly infinite space was not big enough for both of them. In the explosions that followed the declaration of war between these two races, not only were both annihilated, but all the bubbles were demolished as well — that is, all except one. Now, a multitude of sentient species are vying for control of the one, remaining Remnant. ( read more… )

Review by: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: May 2, 1997

Note: This is a review of the patched, version 1.05 Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries. Without the patch installed, the game suffers from several bugs, and as such would definitely have resulted in a lower rating.

Overall, you’ve had a pretty satisfying day’s work. Your Thug only lost one arm, you single-handedly took out three enemy ‘Mechs, and you’re still alive to prove it. Okay, so you didn’t accomplish the secondary objective, and you won’t get that bonus. But hey, you get paid to fight, not to die. Besides, tomorrow’s another working day . . . ( 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: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: April 30, 1997

The train chugs along the tracks, gently swaying and rocking as its wheels rolbeneath your feet. You have met many people on this most legendary of trains, The Orient Express. Now, you are crouched in the bathroom of another passenger’s compartment, hiding from the police who are searching the train. Your mind wanders as you recall that telegram you received from your friend, Tyler Whitney. Unfortunately, you were not able to find out what the “something exceptional” was that he wanted to show you, before you found him dead in his sleeping compartment. In order to solve the mystery of this situation, you have been walking from car to car, meeting as many people as possible and listening to private conversations, trying to gather the pieces of this puzzle. ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: April 29, 1997

One of the most classic arcade games of all times is Pinball. Over the past few years we have seen the release of various PC based pinball games, with one even coming with Microsoft Plus! With the release of Full Tilt! 2 Pinball, Maxis tries to take one step further to bringing the thrill of playing pinball onto your desktop. This time around, the pinball table is represented full screen, different from the original Full Tilt that only represented the table in half screen. This version also boasts ball animation effects and floating text messages to give you hints along the way and also to inform you of what is happening around the table. ( read more… )

Review by: Shawn Quigley
Published: April 29, 1997

If you can remember ever being mesmerized by those giant contraptions in the mall that consisted of marbles rolling around different paths, clicking and clanking along the way, then you will love what Maxis has created in their latest puzzle game, Marble Drop. The object of the game is simple. You need to get the right colored marbles lined up in holding bins at the bottom of the puzzle by dropping marbles down the right chutes. If a marble rolls onto a slot that it does not match, it is destroyed. You only have a certain number of marbles to play with, so wasting them is not a good option.

( read more… )

Review by: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: April 24, 1997

“I live . . . again!” So begins Blood, the latest 3D gore-fest from Monolith Studios, and quite simply the best game of its kind since Doom II. Forget the shareware, my friends. This is the real thing — the full, registered, complete Blood, with more weapons, monsters, and effects than you can shake a shotgun at. Get ready to lose some serious sleep. ( read more… )

Review by: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: April 24, 1997

I guess there are people out there who love to drive in real life, but I’m sure not one of them. I consider driving to be life’s single most frightening, frustrating activity. City living will do that to you. That’s why I can appreciate a good driving game. Nothing beats putting the pedal to the metal in the safety and comfort of your own home, free from the hassles of gridlock and angry motorists. It’s really too bad Eidos Interactive’s Power F1 doesn’t offer more of the kind of escape I had hoped for. ( 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.
( read more… )

Review by: Jim Brumbaugh
Published: April 23, 1997

Being a Marshal in the Old West is a dirty, thankless job. Marshal James Anderson decided that the job was not worth the effort, especially after suspicions arose regarding his shooting of a couple of criminals. His law enforcement career had been impressive, and he certainly did not deserve to be second-guessed. So, he suddenly decided to retire and spend more time with his wife Anna and daughter Sara. Ten years later, and quite unknown to the Marshal, his happiness in his retirement was coming to an end. He would not sell his farm to the wealthy robber baron who wants to build a huge, shining city on the open plain, so some refugees from the law came looking for him . They waited until he left his home, and then they moved in. The Marshal returned to find his home burning, his wife at death’s door, and his daughter kidnapped. As Anna died in his arms, he vowed that these outlaws would pay the price for destroying his life.
( read more… )

Review by: Brian Pipa
Published: April 22, 1997

Over one thousand years ago, a colony ship was launched with the hopes of colonizing the galaxy. That ship was dubbed Terrae and carried the orange-blue Earth logo. Unfortunately, after two years had passed, all communication with the ship was lost. Now colonists leave the planet continuously, using technology much more advanced than that used in the Terrae. One day, three ships mysteriously appear in the sky of the Earth. As they begin their attack on Earth, the blue-orange Earth logo is seen on the ships. What happened to the colonists on Terrae? Were they captured by aliens? Why are these ships attacking? Why must you escort a bomb through the oceans? These are just a few of the questions that are answered as you progress through the 20+ levels of Katharsis. ( read more… )