by Tuncer Deniz

NOTE: Screen shots and information presented in this article are based on pre-release versions or recently released games. This article is not a review.

 

Icebreaker is an in-depth, interactive contest against 30,000 strategically placed, highly-intelligent, animated pyramids, each with an evil mind of its own. Each enemy pyramid that the player encounters throughout the game boasts unique, yet deadly personalities. Some pyramids must be shot, while others must be crushed. “Seeker” pyramids must be gathered into a herd and used to clear the level, while “Zombie” seekers take at least three shots to be destroyed. “Lime” seekers are surprisingly clever and “Yellow” seekers are not very intelligent.

As players advance through the games, they are faced with the perpetual challenge of clearing each new level by destroying enemy pyramids as well as natural obstacles such as ice patches, bottomless pits, slime pools, or giant clam shells. Each of the 150 levels touts such intimidating and sometimes humorous names as “The Fire Swamp”, “Woodstock”, and Key Lime Die.” In Icebreaker, you can also take on randomly generated levels or create your own level.

Icebreaker features four difficulty settings from easy to insane, a three-quarter scrolling view, a built-in tutorial, high quality customizable background music, and beautifully rendered cinematic movies. The game will be published by Magnet Interactive (800/966-0011) and will be available in December.

 

A journey that began with securing one of Hollywood’s most treasured licenses, and along the way became one of the most ambitious entertainment software titles to date, will conclude with the arrival of Star Trek: The Next Generation “A Final Unity” Mac CD-ROM. Based on one of the most successful syndicated television series of all time, the title will be available at computer and software retailers nationwide in December.

Star Trek: The Next Generation  “A Final Unity” incorporates several technological achievements, including extremely lifelike 3-D animation, authentic digitized sound effects and music, and the voices of the seven principal actors from the popular series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Each actor, including Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis, individually recorded more than 60 minutes of dialog for the game, allowing for endless turns and directions of the characters and action within the main story line.

Taking the Starship Enterprise to warp speed, whether to respond to a call of distress or determining how best to utilize personnel are just a few of the decisions that rest with players when they embark upon “A Final Unity.” The game is so rich with Star Trek: The Next Generation  detail of space civilizations, the Bridge, the characters and their history that it will provide instant appeal to “Trekkers.” The CD-ROM also offers hints within the game to help guide the gaming novice.

Spectrum HoloByte’s Star Trek: The Next Generation  “A Final Unity” PC CD-ROM is an epic in the grand tradition of graphic adventures with elements of a sophisticated space-flight simulation. Players embark on missions for the Federation and find themselves caught up in an unfolding mystery with the crew of the Starship Enterprise™. Within this intergalactic adventure, the player must maneuver the Starship Enterprise (designated NCC-1701-D) within a 3-D tactical space, beam down Away Teams to investigate alien planets, and use the vast resources of the U.S.S. Enterprise to meet the challenges that await.

 

Sierra On-Line (800/757-7707) has a unique game on the line, it’s called Trophy Bass, a CD-ROM game that challenges all skill levels to a rollicking round of virtual fishing. Trophy Bass, the first release in Sierras Outdoor Sportsman series, promises the most realistic lake fishing simulation available on CD-ROM. Five photo-realistic virtual lakes have been stocked with tournament-winning catches. Varying seasons, weather, fishing conditions, and equipment closely capture the feel of bass fishing and keep the best fishermen interested. Complete modeling of bass habitat and behavior provides the most complete and accurate simulation, from a quick day of fishing to a pro tourney.

Trophy Bass can also raise a players ability level in the real fishing world, too. A multimedia “How To” section hosted by Americas top bass professionals, such as Larry Nixon and Denny Brauer, will help players be more successful on the water. The product includes over 70 professional-tip movies from the pros and allows for handicap play enabling anyone to compete for tournament honors. 

Trophy Bass will be available on CD-ROM for the Macintosh in December. Be sure to check out the demo below!