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July 1994


Nintendo - For SNES
Stunt Race FX
Racing | 8 MB
Release: July 1994
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Perhaps the most-hyped Super Nintendo release since SFII, Stunt Race FX is billed by Nintendo as the next "big thing". Star Fox revealed to players the power of the Super FX chip and the new wave of SNES tech. Now it's time to put the pedal to the metal. Using an all-new and improved FX2 game chip, Stunt Race FX showcases amazing polygonal graphics in enhanced 3-D environments. Select one of four unique modes, pick your vehicle, and race to your heart's content. On the downside, play control is finnicky to get ahold of and the game tends to run on the slow side. Be sure to try out the Stunt Trax mode for extra fun!

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Capcom - For SNES
Super SF2: TNC
Fighter | 32 MB
Release: July 1994
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You didn't think we'd get through 1994 without the latest Street Fighter release, did you? Super SF2 is hitting the shelves via one monstrous 32-MEG gamepak capable of bringing that phenomenal arcade action right to your TV. Capcom brought their A-game as usual, presenting players with an additional four fighters, sharpened graphics, and loads of new attack combos. We did note a handful of moves which were MIA, and sadly this is a port lacks the re-balancing and super-speed of Turbo Edition. Super SF2 is a riot nonetheless, and available now at $70 for Genesis and SNES (Psst, the Sega release has an extra star!).

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Seika - For SNES
Legend
Brawler | 8 MB
Release: July 1994
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Scrolling 16-Bit clashers make yet another return with Legend from Seika. Developed by two fine games designers as an apparent passion project, this brawler tells the tale of dual knights Kaor and Igor in their quest to defeat the despotic conqueror, Clovis. The medieval journey will last a brisk six levels as you tango with baddies and challenging bosses. Legend's core gameplay is so-so, not unlike genre sibling King of Dragons, but this cart's graphical fidelity is astounding. Brilliant thunderstorm effects and rotating backgrounds do liven up the atmosphere. Slasher fans may enjoy it, but Legend is a bit dull.

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Virgin - For GENESIS
The Jungle Book
Action-Platformer | 16 MB
Release: July 1994
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Virgin has returned with a new adaptation of the classic Kipling story, The Jungle Book. Having proven their worth with gems like Cool Spot and Aladdin, Virgin Games acquired a bit of weight to their name and set new platforming standards. JB resembles some of that same spark, utilizing fantastic sprite animation, grade-A play control, and music straight from the film. Levels are huge, so much so that you could get yourself lost! We did agonize over some repetitive sound effects, especially Mowgli's loud yelp, and prepare for "Bear Necessities" to be scarred into your brain. Overall, good Disney fun for players of all ages.

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SEGA - For GENESIS
Streets of Rage 3
Brawler | 24 MB
Release: July 1994
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Our favorite Genesis brawler is here for another go-around, courtesy of some brilliant Sega programmers. It's back to dangerous downtown in Streets of Rage 3. Much like its famed predecessors, Rage 3 espouses superb, addictive gameplay with remarkable character animation. The scenarios are as wacky as ever, from tackling ninjas in a bar to battling a clan of motorcyclists, and with four fighters you can unlock four endings! Your moves will be plentiful (use the 6-Button gamepad!) and much-needed to take down armies of evil thugs. We discovered momentary slowdown, and boy was this soundtrack awful, but otherwise this is on par with 2.

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Data East - For GENESIS
OutRunners
Racing | 16 MB
Release: July 1994
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Move over, Virtua Racing, here comes OutRunners!. We kid, we kid. Sega and Data East have teamed up to release a home port of this sit-down racing hit, complete with a wide selection of cars to choose from with varying statistics. Play solo against the computer or head-to-head in two-player competition in this rubber burnin' funfest. Our only gripe is the forced split-screen visual, a cluttering feature that sticks around even when playing alone. Apart from that, the music is excellent, the races are challenging, and the crash animations are endlessly amusing. Outrun, this iteration included, remains classic zoomin' fun.

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WD - For SEGA-CD
Vay
Role-Playing | CD
Release: July 1994
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Vay deserves a place in the homes of all SEGA-CD owners for one major reason. Its battle system? Not quite. In fact, the fighting is a bit dull and dated - almost 8-Bit. Enemy encounters occur far too frequently, and the text-based inventory interface is a chore. The visuals are fair, but nothing special. What does make Vay worth your time is its spectacular translation by Working Designs, who rewrote this story from the ground-up. The humorous script is rife with satiric pop-culture references, and the voice acted plot bits are engaging as heck. Not Lunar levels whatsoever, but this role-player is a grand time.

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Absolute- For SEGA-CD
Revengers
Adv-Fighter | CD
Release: July 1994
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Aside from its hilarious name, Revengers of Vengeance deserves some notoriety. Fighting game plotlines are too often relegated to the background or forgotten entirely. These devs believed in experimenting with this concept, opting to pack a fighter into an RPG-like narrative. Players will choose one of ten characters in the "Quest to Defeat Venom," then after viewing a customized animated sequence for your hero, you will quest for EXP and Gold to raise your stats. Too bad the core fighting scenes are clumsy and slow as molasses. A marvelous and innovative idea, but not the greatest execution.

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Origin - For 3DO
Wing Commander
Flight Sim | CD
Release: May 1994
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Looking for a space-themed dogfight simulator? Super Wing Commander has you covered! SWC from Origin Systems is an exclusive to the 3DO with a array of improvements to the 1990 MS-DOS original. This disc's graphics have been thoroughly upgraded with a fully decked-out cockpit view and refined enemy ship detail. This 3DO version also adds a bit more immersion to the space combat thanks to an awesome sampling of voice clips, not to mention an introductory sequence with full speech. Wing Commander is great arcade fun packed into an engaging interactive movie. LucasArts should hire these folks!

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Nintendo - For Game Boy
Donkey Kong
Puzzle-Platformer | 4 MB
Release: June 1994
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Back in the dark times of the Reagan years, gamers first learned of this determined, mustachioed man named Jumpman and his quest to topple an angry gorilla named Donkey. Nintendo has reached back to times gone by to revive this long-dormant franchise with a surprisingly refreshing reboot on Game Boy. Donkey Kong is not just a port of the simplistic arcade cab, it's an expanded puzzle-platformer oozing with creative concepts and ingenious level design. DK also takes advantage of the new Super Game Boy, which adds a splash of welcome color to the scene. An excellent time overall for such a tiny cart.

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HT Exp - For Game Boy
Mickey's Challenge
Action-Puzzle | 1 MB
Release: June 1994
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Oh boy! Our old friend Mickey Mouse made his way onto the Game Boy for a new puzzler-adventure courtesy of Hi-Tech Expressions. Mickey's Ultimate Challenge is a mix-and-mash of various puzzles and missions cobbled together into one oddity. As seasoned players know, Mickey games have a rocky history with some absolute treats and other forgettable disasters. Challenge lies somewhere in-between. It demonstrates decent graphics and gameplay for a Disney title, but this game is predictably easy. Its target demographic, very young gamers, may very well be enthused. Us more experienced lads can give this a skip.

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SEGA - For Game Gear
Asterix
Puzzle-Platformer | 4 MB
Release: June 1994
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Your Review Crew took a stern look at the recent Genesis outing of Asterix in our May issue, ultimately granting it a mediocre score for underwhelming and rather unoriginal gameplay. Asterix and the Great Rescue on Game Gear, to our dismay, is much the same. As with its big brother, Asterix emits average action and standard platforming. Controls are a mess due to awful hit detection. The graphics aren't half bad, and we noticed a touch of creativity in the power-up weapon choices (levitation is neat!), but with steep competition from superior platformers on Game Gear, we recommend passing up this no-good Gaul. Sorry, Asterix fans.

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