PyroPlayers Magazine - PPM Reviews

PLAYSTATION

Wipeout

Psygnosis

Racing Release: September 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

For a racing thrill that is certain to make your stomach turn, try out Wipeout on the PlayStation. Perhaps the greatest come-from-nowhere shock of the E3 Conference, this impressive 3-D racer will leave even seasoned players drenched in sweat. Choose from a vast selection of hovercrafts and six truly unique anti-gravity tracks, each littered with cool bumps, twists, and turns. Look for speed-up stickers to leave your foes in the dust, or slap 'em silly with weapons like explosive missiles and tricky oil slicks. The sense of speed is incredible on this disc, as is the play control. Inertia will be a key ally in controlling your craft. The grueling courses are all well-detailed, from the misty ice worlds to dilapidated city streets. The lack of local multi-player sucks quite a bit, though.

PLAYSTATION

Twisted Metal

Sony Sony ISA

Racing-Combat Release: November 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Screaming down the pit of destruction is none other than Twisted Metal, a fired-up demolition derby where anything goes. Players pick from a swathe of amusing vehicles from Humvees to ice cream trucks, then leap into the arena to cause some serious pain. Take on twelve enemy cars at a time, using multiple views to gauge locations and an array of Doom-esque weaponry like flame throwers to deal some real damage. On the visual front, this title is nothing too special. The modeling is hardly lifelike, and the stages (and rather stiff crowds -Jet) are underwhelming. The true star is the action-packed gameplay, which moves so quickly few will care about graphical detail. Two-mode mode is amazing fun, a party atmosphere unseen since Super Bomberman.

PLAYSTATION

Space Griffon

Atlus Panther Soft

3-D Shooter Release: November 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

One of the first corridor shooters available for the PlayStation in Japan, Space Griffon from Atlus has made its way to U.S. shores. This release claims to feature role-playing elements side-by-side with shooter-based action segments, however we found neither aspect rife with quality. Navigating chambers in the sprawling catwalk-like environments is somewhat tedious and slow, accompanied by gray walls and mechanical noises. Players who do not follow the precise directions from team chatter and the map display will surely lose their way. The lack of music is a sorrowful sight as well. Griffon's storyline is thankfully intriguing, as is your ability to transform into several transport modes. Perhaps worth a try for sci-fi fans, but otherwise a certain skip.

PLAYSTATION

Kileak

Sony Genki

3-D Shooter Release: September 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Hard

Welcome to the Age of Doom-like corridor shooters. Sensing the stunning success of idSoftware's PC smash hit, developers are seeking to jump in on the fun. Kileak is Genki's take on this game type. An exclusive release on PlayStation, this shooter is extremely cinematic and immersive, if perhaps a bit too surreal. The player character explores a series of connected rooms with chrome walls, and the occasional bed or table, firing on weird-o baddies like floating eyeballs. Enemy shots are almost impossible to avoid due to less-than-satisfactory responsiveness and inability to strafe side to side. Despite some well-done special effects and a curious emphasis on puzzle elements, Kileak suffers from a poor interface, semi-decent yet repetitive music, and unfair combat.

PLAYSTATION

Cyber Sled

Sony Namco

3-D Shooter Release: October 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Cyber Sled is a shooting-style game from the perspective of a tank. Choose from an assortment of futuristic tanks, each with their own unique ratings in speed, weapons and shields. Steer the monstrous vehicle around obstacles, hide behind pillars for protection, and seek to blast enemy tanks in a brutal hide-n-seek spree. To win, destroy your foe before you get destroyed! Pick up power-ups and health boosts to keep yourself alive and be careful as enemies sneakily work around your defenses. On the downside of this hectic fun, the graphics are a tad underwhelming for 32-Bit and the score is totally cheesy 80s synth. Still, a combo of thrilling action and addicting gameplay keeps this title a definitive rental, especially in two-player split-screen mode.

PLAYSTATION

Total Eclipse Turbo

Crystal Dynamics

3-D Shooter Release: September 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Hard

Crystal Dynamics has opted to release some of its greatest hits from the 3DO on to the PlayStation and, at some future date, Saturn. Total Eclipse Turbo is an improved iteration of last year's 3-D shooter. To our disappointment, other than some slightly smoother and cleaner graphics, very little development time was spared to fix our main complaints with the original. TE remains a feast for the eyes with plenty of textured polygons to occupy your mind, but its twitchy flight control issues remain unresolved. Navigation is tough as nails, a fact made evident in the tunnel segments when maneuvering your fighter without hitting the walls seems as unlikely as Newt Gingrich on the front page of Esquire. In this fast-changing 32-Bit era, we doubt Turbo will excite as it once did.

PLAYSTATION

Air Combat

Sony Namco

Flight Sim Release: September 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

In our humble view, most flight simulators on the market fail to liven up our lives. Many falter from clunky or sluggish controls, and oftentimes push for realism at the expense of gameplay. Ace Combat is a whole new experience. Putting to the side its glorious graphical feast for the eyes, AC's arcade-quality gameplay exhumes brilliant programming and fun-centered design. The one-player story mode allows for 16 missions with a range of terrains and objectives, from blowing up massive weapon installations to taking out bomber jets. Two-player dogfighting is also a splendid sight which truly pulls you into the game world. Lock-on weapons and precise handling make this a joy to play. Gotta love those unlockable barrel rolls!

PLAYSTATION

Toshinden

Sony Realtime Assoc

Fighter Release: September 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

One look at Battle Arena: Toshinden, and it's easy to see the cause of its mouth-watering appeal. This 3-D fighter with loads of hype behind it is finally available alongside the Sony PlayStation. Choose a fighter and get ready to thrash! Players will be thrust into a huge 3-D area as mayhem ensues. Battling it out is a ton of fun once you've sorted out the slightly awkward joypad controls. It plays much more like SF II than Virtua Fighter, a trait we consider a major plus. Toshinden is a visual force with excellent texture mapping and stage design. Our main complaint centers on the lackluster American voicework compared to its Japanese counterpart, but this otherwise remains an absolute must-play for PS owners looking for a next-gen fighter.

PLAYSTATION

Raiden Project

Sony Team Aquila

Shooter Release: September 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Hard

Shooter fans, rejoice! Upon setting the standard for vertical shooters back in 1990 with its arcade premier, Raiden proved the genre still could pack a huge wallop in a burgeoning era of brawling and fighting games. The quarter stealer, along with its sequel, Raiden II, are both packed into this launch title for the PlayStation. The idea is a bit simple, we admit. Shoot anything and everything in your way, whilst dodging enemy fire and steadily upgrading your meager ship. Use missiles, cannons, and bombs to get the job done, and you'll be home in time for supper! Raiden projects (Get it?) in a vertical viewing format, granting shooter fans a welcome wish. Can this type of game withstand the pressures of 32-Bit expectations? Only time will tell.

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