Hacks & Cracks/Hacks_and_Cracks.iso/hackersguides-&-software/newgen8.txt

Text File | 1996-04-15 | 24KB | 454 lines

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         SEGA FIRST OFF THE MARK...BUT IS IT RUNNING SCARED?
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To the uninitiated, Sega's suprise early launch of the Saturn in the US
- and now in Europe - looks like a company getting its act together.The
usual 18-month wait for new hardware was first slashed to ten months and
then just over eight.  Sega must really be on the case.......
   But to Edge it smacks of a company grasping at straws.
It is slowly becoming clear that, on a strightforward performance
basis,Sony'ssystem has the Saturn outclassed.
 And the first wave of software combatants has merely served to reinforce
that view: for Virtua Fighter you have Tekken ;for Daytona USA you have
Ridge Racer, for Gran Chaser you have Wipeout.
In every case the Playstation arguably emerges the victor.
Given that Sony undoubtedly has the greater marketing muscle,Sega has
instead relied on guerrilla tactics to shift Saturns, concentrating on
simply getting units into retail before the competition.
Whether this approach will work in Sega's favour is another matter.
The general public appears to be treating the new wave of videogame
hardware with caution bordering on indifference. Jaguar and 3DO have
hardly been roring successes - irrespective of the minimal amount of
advertising each has recieved. Of course advertising is something that
Sega will be counting heavily on, but great software will be what makes
the Saturn a success, not clever slogans.
  Sega may well have drawn first in the next-generation shoot-out.
But has it got enough ammunition?



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            SONY VERSUS SEGA: THE BIG PUSH BEGINS
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First Japan, now America,tomorrow (or within weeks at least) the world.
Sony and Sega's head-to-head has been a relatively sedate Japanese only
affair so far, but as the 32bit conflict gets set to go global, things
are starting to become a little more intense.
  The battle for American hearts and minds started early. Sega stole a
march over Sony with its shock launch of the Saturn in the US on 10th
May-nearly four months ahead of the September 2 "Saturnday" decoy date.
  The launch is a limited (60,000 units) affair, but it does give Sega a
head start in the USA. However come September 9 it will have to face
the Playstation and a price difference of $100. The Saturns price of
$399 ($449 with Virtua Fighter) doesn't compare well with the
Playstation's $200 tag - and its expected that the $299 Playsttion will
be bundled with a game, possibly Ridge Racer.
  The 32bit war is also hotting up in Japan. On July 21 Sony will
introduce a new Playstation - the SCPH 3000 - priced at 29,800 yen (ú220)
Designed as a "popular" model ,it lacks the S-Video output of the
original (thereby reducing production costs) but otherwise its
identical to the original.
  But before the "popular" Playstation hits the streets,Sega's cheaper
Saturn will be released. As of June 16,the Saturn will be onsale for
just 34,800 yen (10,000 yen less than the original price)
Although still ú50 more expensive than the Playstation, the new Saturn
pack comes bundled with a (nearly) new game; the curiously low key
Virtua Fighter Remix.
  Potentially more significant than any of the price tinkering by Sony
or Sega was the recent announcement of a longterm strategic alliance
between Sony Computer Entertainment and Namco. As a result of that deal
- estimated to be worth around $100 million - Namco has given SCE
exclusive rights to all its Playstation software in Europe, and the
arcade giant will continue to furnish Sony with Playstation originals
and conversions of its future coin-ops.
Another brand strengthening move from Sony is the Playstation Club, due
to start this September in Japan. For an annual fee of 5,800 yen (ú45)
members will recieve regular "Playstation Preview" 8cm black discs
featuring previews, playable demos and other news.
Current Japanese Playstation owners can apply for free preview discs
for a limited period "to express thanks to those consumers who have
purchased Playstations in the last six months"


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                     PHILOSOMA PREVIEW
                ------------------------------
Format:Playstation
Publisher:SCE
Developer:In house
Release Date:July(Japan)
Origin:Japan

With consoles like the Playstation offering unprecendated power and
versatility,many developers are finding themselves caught in a
dilema  when it comes to updating existing gamestyles. Do they totally
re-invent a genre,in the way that Jumping Flash dragged a flagging theme
into the mid 1990's?. Or,with all the extra processing muscle at their
disposal, do they strive to recreate existing coin-ops almost to the
letter like Raiden Project?
  Sony Computer Entertainment obviously subscribes to both
philosophies, because Philosoma does it all, offering both classically
styled horizontally and vertically scrolling sections and some very
impressive 3D.
  The game takes place on a planet called ORA-194-220 ,where a colonial
installation has been attacked by an alien species - the Philosoma of
the title. As Team 29, the only group in the vicinity equipped to
intervene, you respond to an SOS signal and embark on a clean up
operation.
  Philosoma is an unashamed shoot-em-up but its extravagent
presentation and numerous extras make it feel like no other game of its
genre. Although play conforms to the classic attack waves/miniboss/
attackwaves/boss format, each level adopts one of three viewpoints,
and the transition between different styles of level is effected via
cinematic pre-rendered sequences which seamlessly cut away from your
craft and swing around it before settling on the next view.
  Taking its cue from Konami's influential SFC blaster Axelay, Philosoma
offers four switchable weapons; Vulcan,Laser,A-Break and Rav-B,each of
which has its own strength and range.
Supplementing these standard arms are collectables such as homing
missiles, which ideally,should be stockpiled for end of level encounters.
  During play,a valuable status panel reveals your energy reserves.
It also provides brief damage reports (highlighting the afflicted areas
of your craft) ,informs you of the status of your "sub-system"
( a device which controls your camouflaging ability) and offers some
sketchy advice about fighting strategies.
  Philosoma is one of the most long-awaited games for the Playstation
- it was unveiled (in the form of pre-rendered animated sequences) when
Sony announced the existence of the machine. Now with frenetic vertical
scroller Raiden Project the only blaster to recieve any critical
aclaim, Philosoma has an obvious gap in the market to fill.
Its combination of varied playing styles,relentlessly impressive
graphics and sound gameplay could well se it plug that hole convincingly.

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                      GRAN CHASER REVIEW
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Format:Saturn
Publisher:Sega
Developer:Nextech
Price:6,800 yen (ú50)
Release:Out now (Japan)


Racing games seem to be the benchmark of choice right now -which should
have put Sega,old hand at creating arcade racers,in the,ahem,driving
seat. But the Saturn conversion of Daytona was less accomplished than
Namco's excellent job on Playstation Ridge Racer.
At first glance Gran Chaser seems to have fixed Daytona's
faults,boasting sharper graphics,10 outlandish circuits in five
settings and a split-screen head-to-head mode.
Everything moves at a breakneck speed,most of the courses have at least
one breathtaking section and the detailed texture mapped tracks provide
a convincing ground rush.
  But problems abound elsewhere.The fact that the racing sleds float
above the surface seems less a result of the futuristic scenario than
an excuse for their unpredictable and unrealistic handling.
Like Ridge Racer,the external views make for nice pictures but its
tough to play a good game using them.Things are definitely better from
the cockpit view,but the wooly handling still leaves you floundering
about the course and careening of the sides of the track.Different play
options are available -time trials,races against computer rival and a
convoluted story mode-but they fail to inject the required excitement.
The split screen mode is similarly flawed.More than half of each
players view consists of just the tracks surface,leaving a tiny sliver
of screen to show the sides of the track and other obstacles.And unlike
the one player mode,theres no radar.
Gran chaser is yet another dissapointing Saturn title,which could be
shamed further by Psygnosis' markedly more impressive Playstation game,
Wipeout

Edge Rating: Four out of Ten


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                    VIRTUA COP PREVIEW
                -----------------------------
Format:Saturn
Publisher:Sega
Developer:AM2
Release Date:TBA
Origin:Japan

Sega's last but one Virtua title gave the gun game genre the 3D polygon
treatment but left the gameplay firmly in the mode of Lethal
Enforcers,Mad Dog McCree and Operation Wolf.The two gun arcade machine
certainly retained the high graphical standards of the previous Virtua
games and the Saturn version in development looks as faithful as that
of Virtua Fighter.
Although Saturn Virtua Cop is only 20% complete almost all of the
polygon data models for the levels and the first level characters are
finished.In these shots (which you cant see...hehe) 70-80% of the
textures have been applied to characters faces and like Virtua Fighter
and Daytona logos and other details have been mapped onto the
backgrounds.
  The first level of the version shown here would be fully playable
were it not for the fact that it's missing the boss character.The main
problem facing developer AM2 right now is speed -the game suffers from
slowdown at several points.However AM2 is promising that the Saturn
version will feature the same number of enemies as the coin-op.
What AM2 and Sega can't promise is anything more substantial than a few
hours target practice.Alightgun is planned for release at the same time
as the game,but the addon only raises another question about Virtua
Cops value for money.Even the best of this sort of coin-op translates
badly to the home and Virtua Cop is unlikely to draw the crowds that
Sega needs to attract to the Saturn.

            -----------------------------------------
            PRO UNIVERSAL ADAPTOR FOR THE SEGA SATURN
             -------------------------------------------

-Now you can play US,Japanese & European CD games on ANY Saturn!
-Simple plug in cartridge allows all combinations of CD's and
consoles.
-No need to wait for the release for your console - now you can play
games from any country

SATURN UNIVERSAL ADAPTOR: ú32.99 Plus ú2.00 P&P
FROM :DATEL DIRECT LIMITED
GOVAN ROAD,
FENTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
FENTON,STOKE-ON-TRENT,
ST4 2RS,ENGLAND.
[phone]



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                 RELEASES COMING TO THE SONY PLAYSTATION
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FIGHTING:
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STREETFIGHTER:THE MOVIE <CAPCOM> [EURO]- NOVEMBER-
    Using the digitised characters out of the movie
    -its a pity its based on a poor film
PRIMAL RAGE <TWI> [EURO] - NOVEMBER-
    Dinosaurs kicking the crap outta each other
BATMAN FOREVER <ACCLAIM>  [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
    A scrolling beatem up where you can be either Batman or Robin.
    The film also uses the games motion capture system
DALKSTALKERS <CAPCOM> [EURO]   -OCTOBER-
DARK LEGEND <DATA EAST>[US]   -SUMMER-
X MEN       <CAPCOM>  [EURO]  -SEPTEMBER-
MK II/III   <ACCLAIM> [EURO]  -SEPTEMBER-
RISE 2:RESURRECTION<MIRAGE>[EURO]-DECEMBER-
TOSHINDEN    <SONY>   [EURO]  -SEPTEMBER-

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DRIVING:
---------
OFFWORLD INTERCEPTOR  <CRYSTAL DYNA> [EURO]  - TBA-
     The redevelopment of the classic 4x4 bash n chase game as seen on
     the 3do Extra features include new grill cam,extra voice overs and
     spectacular fmv sequences
DESTRUCTION DERBY <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
     This game has the potential to be the most fun two players have
     experienced on the Playstation.Simply link up two psx's,switch on two
     televisions and crash headlong into one another.Complete and utter car
     bashing mayhem.Yes.Also incorporates a stock-car race.
WIPEOUT  <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
     Hovercars racing each other over some of the smoothest race tracks ever
     seen on a home system.This is going to be very,very popular.
     Theres even going to be a soundtrack CD.
ROAD RASH <ELECTRONIC ARTS> [EURO] -DECEMBER-
     Oh yes the popular 16bit bike racer with fists and mallets.The 3DO
     version was brilliant and they've added 25 minutes of live action,so
     that should bring a special novelty value to it
RIDGE RACER  <NAMCO>  [EURO] -SEPTEMBER-
     The smoothest racing game seen yet on the psx,even though Wipeout might
     just take that title once its completed.A few months after the arrival
     of RR in Europe though the Japanese will be able to enjoy RR2
TWISTED METAL <SONY>  [EURO]  -DECEMBER-
     Racing with fast action combat vehicles.Sounds like fun.Choose from 12
     types of vehicles (from small cars to huge trucks) all loaded with top
     weaponry.You have to avoid oil slicks and mines on the roads,and to win
     you have to destroy all the other racers,ultimately ending up as the
     last moving vehicle.
SCREAMING WHEELS <JVC> [US] -DECEMBER-
     The idea behind this one sounds like Rock n Roll Racing-you dont have
     to be first to finish,but you also have to avoid being destroyed by all
     the other cars that are out to get you.Once you get through certain
     levels,you have to face up to the boss car.
ACE DRIVER <NAMCO> [JAP] -DECEMBER-
     The next generation consoles are already saturated with quality racing
     games.but you would be a fool not to be eager to see the home version
     of Namco's Formula One racer

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SPORTS
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SHREDFAST <EA> [US] -WINTER-
     This is what American gaming is all about.You compete in various
     snowboarding events over six levels,and seven different types of
     races.You travel all over the ski resorts through the season to compete
     in the events and to qualify for the championship.As with all CD games
     these days heres loads of video footage of pros doing their stuff.
BOXERS ROAD <NEW> [JAP] -LATE SUMMER-
     So far the best looking and most playable boxing sim we've played.The
     multiple views are a bit of a gimmick tho,because you end up using the
     one to demolish your opponent.Has been delayed so may not be released
     in Japan until early September.
FIFA SOCCER '96 <EA> [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
     Now theres a suprise.EA Sports were obviously going to release all
     their classic 16bit titles on PSX and FIFA is going to go down a storm
     over here in the UK.
     Especially after the 3DO version -Speed is enhanced,Dolby Surround
     added and the sprites are bigger with added frames of animation
GOAL STORM <KONAMI> [EURO] -TBA-
     In Japan its called J-League Winning Eleven and is an arcadey
     football sim designed along the lines of Victory Goal.
CONVERSE HARDCORE HOOPS  <VIRGIN>[US] -DECEMBER-
     Theres court basketball and then theres street basketball.This one is
     very much on the street level.Each player has his/her own distinctive
     style of play and they jurney to ten cities to comete in three-on-three
     half court games
3D DECATHLON <VIRGIN>[US] -NOVEMBER-
     Track and field makes it onto the PSX-But in 3D rendered graphics.It
     features all ten Decathlon events and up to eight players can compete
     at the same time
ACTUA SOCCER <GREMLIN> [EURO]  -SEPTEMBER-
     Stunning motion capture features the actual movements of England
     Internationals Chris Woods and Andy Stinton with a slick 3D viewpoint
ESPN EXTREME GAMES <SONY>[US] -DECEMBER-
     Racing with mountain bikes,skateboards,luges and the like.Theres a
     split screen mode for head-to-head challenges and you can take part in
     a complete season.The Road Rash/Skitchin idea is also prominent,as you
     can kick and punch while racing to the front of the pack.
NHL '96 <EA> [EURO]-DECEMBER-
     EAs NHL series on the 16bits was brilliant so were expecting a very
     high standard.Motion captured players ,rink side camera angles and
     that oh so neccessary CD quality sound
MADDEN NFL '96 <EA> [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
FRANK THOMAS 'BIG HURT' BASEBALL <ACCLAIM> [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
NFL QUARTERBACK '96 <ACCLAIM> [US] -AUTUMN-


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SHOOT-EM-UPS
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LOADED <GREMLIN> [EURO] -AUTUMN-
     Top down isometric shooter taking over from where Gauntlet and
     Chaos Engine left off.
     Superbly rendered sprites and 3D tomfooolery aplenty
      Huge explosions,user definable scaling in and out,recoil
      increasing the more powerful your weapon becomes,lighting effects
AGILE WARRIOR:F111X <VIRGIN> [US] -WINTER-
     Strap yourself into the ultimate aircraft and thrust yourself into
     combat.You get sent to various hotspots around the world and youhave to
     sort out any problems there might be.
ASSAULT RIGS <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -WINTER-
     Classic gameplay potential in a cyberspace environment.Full link-up
     mode with other psx's.Completely non linear structure,multiple views
     plus 50 levels over ten different environments
WARHAWK <SONY> [EURO] -DECEMBER-
     Six missions of air-to-air and air-to-ground action.This game was
     designed by the same team behind NASA's space shuttle and space station
     simulators.To survive you have to destroy some of the most powerful
     weapons ever seen.
KRAZY IVAN <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
     Head-to-head action against loads of metallic aliens.Kill them all
     with one of the meanest arsenals of weaponry seen on the PSX.
VIRUS <SONY> [US] -WINTER
     An alien virus infects a battleship by fusing everything it
     infects into flesh and metal monsters-even helicopters grow legs
SHOCK WAVE 2 <EA> [EURO] -DECEMBER-
     Well if EA are releasing the first one on the Playstation they may
     as well put the sequel out.This version is going to have six new
     worlds with battlefields allegedly 400% larger than the original
MAGIC CARPET <EA> [EURO] -WINTER-
     One of Bullfrogs most intense games ever.Fly around on a heavily
     armed flying carpet at very high speeds and shoot everything in
     your sights
WING COMMANDER III <EA> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
     Everybody knows this is one of the best computer games ever
     combining top shooting action with an interactive element.
     All th best PC games are being ported over to the PSX.
     As long as there are original games as well this can only be
     a good thing.
ACE COMBAT <NAMCO> [EURO] -DECEMBER-
     Namco take the PC flight sim experience into the excitement of the
     next-gen world adding thoroughly useable controls and a mad
     wingman to boot.The demo version we have seen of the game is
     enough to convince us as to the potential of this game.
     Speed,graphics and sound come together in one hell of a shooter
VMAX <MINDSCAPE> [EURO] -NOVEMBER-
CYBERSLED <NAMCO> [EURO] -SEPTEMBER-
THE RAVEN PROJECT <EA> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
PANZER GENERAL <SSI> [EURO] -SEPTEMBER-
PROJECT OVERKILL <KONAMI> [EURO] -NOVEMBER

-------------------------------
ROLE PLAYING GAMES....etc....
--------------------------------

BLAZING DRAGONS <CRYSTAL DYNAMICS> [EURO] -WINTER-
     King Arthur meets Monty Python.Created by Terry Jones from Monty
    Python ,the game turns the classic tale of Knights of the Round Table
    upside down -basically the dragons are the noble knights and the people
    are evil.This is an extremely original interactive cartoon adventure
    and is certainly very colourful.Sutable for adults,hmmmm....
PSYCHIC DETECTIVE <EA> [US] -NOVEMBER-
     Murder,mystery,mayhem with an allegedly huge storyline
SPLIT REALITIES <JVC> [US] -DECEMBER-
     Platform RPG,beat-em-up.You are Solo Axelrod and you have the
     amazing ability to slip from one world to another and are the only
     person who can stop all the evil destroying both worlds
JOHNNY MNEMONIC :INTERACTIVE ACTION MOVIE<SONY> [US] -AUTUMN-
     William Gibson's cyberpunk world is coming to the PSX.
     In the game Johnny is a futuristic data courier who carries
     information on chips implanted in his brain.He ends up with too
     much data in his mind and he needs to find the codes that'll enable him
     to download it all before he overloads.Graphic adventure.
     NOTE: Dont get too excited over this one...the PC version comes
     on two discs :Disc One contins a huge 646 MNEMONIC.CIN file
     while Disc Two has a 452 Mb MNEMONIC.CIN,some files for installing
     the game and Quicktime for Windows V2 .Anything else? Oh yes the game
     engine -a massive 760k Thats about 99.93% movie and 0.07% Game!
     Interactive movie anyone?
THE ELEVENTH HOUR <VIRGIN> [EURO] -DECEMBER
3D LEMMINGS <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
     Very advanced version of the more than famous
     puzzle-em-up.
     Consists of two methods of control-either using cursor or camera mode
     Its not really a role player at all but hey we didnt have enough room
     for a seperate section
CREATURE SHOCK <DATA EAST> [US] -OCTOBER-
     The game takes place in 2123.Overpopulation has forced Earth to
     look elsewhere for living space (lebensraum) Three tribal ships are
     despatched.One of them seems to be destroyed by an unknown force -its
     your job to find out what the hell happened.Stunning 3D graphics in
     this classic PC adveture shooter
DISCWORLD <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -SEPTEMBER
     Humourous and compelling graphic adventure based on Terry
     Pratchetts science fantasy novels
WARHAMMER <MINDSCAPE> [EURO] -WINTER-
     Intensely complex strategy gme combining a strong plot with next
     gen graphics and a unique interface
SENTIENT <PSYGNOSIS> [EURO] -DECEMBER-
     Construct sentences picking from a choice of words to communicate
     with the crew of a space station. They're all dying kind of
    quickly and you have to find out how to stop the decay.
     Needs the psx mouse
MYST <SUNSOFT> [EURO] -OCTOBER-
      The classic game goes on and on Lush graphics and complex
      storyline.


+---------------------------------------+
| Typed:PRoToCoL                        |
| Date:30-06-95                         |
| Source:Edge(Issue23) and UFG(Issue9)  |
+---------------------------------------+

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