PyroPlayers Magazine - PPM Reviews

SATURN

Skeleton Warriors

Playmates Neversoft

Act-Platformer Release: May 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Bring down the sinister Baron Dark and regain control of a sacred crystal as the righteous Prince Lightstar in Playmates' Skeleton Warriors. Think Rastan for the next generation. Roam across a slew of gloomy stages in this sword-slashing platformer, strolling atop sloping landscapes while fending off scores of undead creatures. Neversoft programmed stunning graphics with scaling sprites and eye-boggling, faux 3-D backgrounds reminiscent of Rare Ltd's finest work. On the play mechanics side, Lightstar wields a mighty blade with forward slashes, downward strikes, and crystal projectiles all at your beckon call. Occasional polygon-littered sledding segments do help break up the side-scrolling segments. Above all else is the spectacular soundtrack straight out of Conan! A great mood setter but prepare to enjoy it solo. Sadly, no 2-player mode is present.

SATURN

Iron Storm

Working Designs Sega CS2

Strategy Release: May 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Hard

The world is at war. Your wisdom as a military strategist is all that stands between victory and total devastation. Brought to our shores by Working Designs, Iron Storm is a WWII simulation that seeks to broaden the appeal of realistic strategy by taking full advantage of the Sega Saturn's capabilities. Enjoy superb, rendered animations that accompany combat, complete with texture-mapped environments and detailed polygonal graphics. Move your units along a flat hexagonal grid, gain experience, and challenge the hardcore computer AI in a hefty and diverse set of campaigns. The visual payoff to your decision making is rewarding, especially in a genre that oftentimes lacks such player engagement. Having the option to control any major power in over fifty strenuous battles means endless replayability. If any wartime sim hooks you in, it's undoubtedly Iron Storm.

SATURN

Earthworm Jim 2

Playmates Shiny/SP

Act-Platformer Release: May 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Earthworm Jim 2 lands on the Saturn with a fresh coat of paint thanks to the handiwork of the devs at Screaming Pink. Whether it be your first romp with the superpowered invertebrate or your hundredth trip around the wacky stars, this version of EJ2 is superior enough to warrant the purchase. Its boost in the graphical department is significant - Richer colors, more animations, compounded layers of background parallax, and stellar lighting effects. An arranged soundtrack and top-shelf sound fx, including more hilarious one-liners from Jim, are exclusive to this disc iteration, too. The core gameplay of the original remains 99% intact with a minor uptick in difficulty. One huge detriment here is the finnicky control on the Puppy Love stage that makes completing it a chore. Otherwise, your standard play mechanics and abilities are solid as ever.

SATURN

Congo The Movie

Sega Jumpin' Jack

3-D Shooter Release: March 1996
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Last year's sci-fi film Congo may have been lackluster at the theater, but can the home game revitalize interest? This Saturn disc is a first-person shooter set into the African Congo. Albeit a welcome change of scenery from the typical claustrophobic space setting, the 360-degree jungle environment may become rather monotonous after only a brief excursion. As the story goes, you are stranded in the unforgiving greenery infected with a tropical ailment. Find the antidote, then traverse city ruins and its underground catacombs. Giant insects and chest-thumping gorillas will stand in your way, but the over-powered guns you collect (Particularly the phasic laser) will make mincemeat of them. Sprite-based foes are also poorly animated, and in-game cinemas are ugly and grainy. A rushed product on the borderline of awfulness.

SATURN

Night Warriors

Capcom

Fighter Release: March 1996
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge is Capcom's best arcade translation since SF Alpha 2. An exhilarating versus fighting game, this new version of Darkstalkers is a worthwhile improvement over the initial run. The Capcom development studio continues to prove their tireless nature in converting their coin-op favorites to home console. Nearly all frames of animation, sound effects, and gameplay elements made the trip unscathed. Players have twelve ultra cool characters to choose from in the opening screen to duke it out with. Two new vampire hunters join the fray with the well-designed Donovan Baine and Hsien-Ko. All fighters control splendidly on the Saturn gamepad. A lack of arranged music and the absence of any sort of training mode to familiarize yourself with moves and combos are notable downsides.

SATURN

X-Men: Atom

Acclaim Rutubo

Fighter Release: April 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

X-Men: Children of the Atom landed on the Saturn at long last. For those unfamiliar with the current generation of hit arcade fighters, X-Men is a traditional 2-D one-vs.-one with a superpowered, yet balanced, roster and a huge range of special moves to go around. It performed splendidly in coin-op form likely due to familiarity with the characters themselves, but the game itself does well to stand-out from the glut of fighting games flooding the market. An eye-catching combination of bright-colored graphics and smooth animations, juxtaposed with clever additions like the specialized "Hyper-X" mutant power move, will entice SF2 veterans and fighting fans of all sorts. Drawbacks here include far fewer frames than the arcade cab and the insane strength of Magneto versus any other fighter. Besides that, fully recommended!

SATURN

Darius Gaiden

Acclaim Aisystem Tokyo

Shooter Release: January 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Enjoy arcade-shooting excellence with Darius Gaiden on Saturn, a most favorable return to the classic style of yesteryear. All that fans of this genre rave about are here in spades. You will encounter smooth scrolling areas without much of any slowdown, and zippy action rife with some of the most original enemy designs we have seen in a long while. Your ship can take advantage of an expansive power-up system: Four levels per weapon type and upgradability beyond that, not to mention loads of bombs to play around with. DG's water-centric atmosphere is a swell shift from the glut of space settings nowadays. Blast away giant robotic fish through over twenty-five levels of increasing challenge, all accompanied by beautiful backgrounds and a great, ambiant soundtrack. No real graphical prowess to speak of, but a solid game is a solid game.

SATURN

Acclaim Warp

Adventure Release: March 1996
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

FMV games never seem to go away, do they? D, an interactive adventure/mystery from Warp and Acclaim, is a two-hour, fully-rendered experience that will either ensnare you in its grip or fail to entice the slightest interest. Horror is the name of the game, here, so fright fans take heed! Laura, D's infallable heroine, discovers a dismal hospital littered with mutilated corpses and a bloodthirsty doctor at its helm. That doctor just so happens to be Laura's father, and she is determined to salvage what remains of his humanity. Visually, there is plenty to enjoy. It could certainly be argued a videotape of this adventure may be more fun than playing it yourself. Alas, without such technology, you will need to trouble yourself with D's poor navigation system and annoying puzzles. Fantastic moodiness and storytelling, but a rental will serve you best.

SATURN

Hang-On GP

Sega Sega CS

Racing Release: January 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

The next evolution in Sega's Hang-On motorcycle arcade series is revving up on the Saturn. It fulfills its mission statement to bring about a faithful moto-simulator that realistically emulates the look and feel of a two-wheeled race, but a superb simulator does not necessarily equate to a solid video game. Players have the option to select from 10 various bikes, three courses with two variations each, and an unlockable time trial with Endurance Mode. Each track presents 19 other racers with which to contend, although their impact is far less substantive than, say, Road Rash. The highlights are are undoubtedly the spectacular physics engine and decent texture mapping. A lack of depth and ingenuity ultimately keep us from granting a recommendation. Fun for a short thrill, and one to use with the Arcade Racer controller (sold seperately).

SATURN

Clockwork Knight 2

Sega Team Aquila

Act-Platformer Release: February 1996
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

Following in the footsteps of the premier platforming adventure on Saturn, Clockwork Knight 2 looks to improve on the original's success whilst using much of the same formula as before. It invokes a feast for the eyes with an array of bright pastels and impressive special effects. Graphical design blends seamlessly with level design as one enjoys the most obvious upgrade to CK 2, that being Pepperouchau's splendid journey from foreground to background, and back again. Traversal by means of cannon unlocks this exciting feature, significantly enlarging the scope of each stage. Much of the criticism of the original targeted its short levels and simplistic gameplay. Thankfully, nearly all of these complaints were addressed by this far-better sequel. More stages would have been even better, though!

SATURN

Virtua Cop

Sega Sega AM2

Shooter Release: November 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Sega AM2 brought to its home console yet another excellent port of a coin-op smash. Virtua Cop is now on Saturn! For those who have somehow not witnessed in the arcades, this title is a polygon-based light-gun shooter. Simply put, shoot the bad guys, avoid killing any hostages, and try not to take on any hits yourself. The 3-D graphics here are quite dazzling with lifelike animations and on-the-fly rendering techniques. Enemies will react to being struck down differently depending on where you've chosen to aim. Shoot 'em in the arm and they will realistically animate in response. Virtua Cop requires adrenaline and a keen eye to truly master. New baddies constantly pop-up and must be taken out fast. The admission price is rather high when purchasing the disc with the "Stunner" gun accessory, but gamepad control is just plain pathetic.

SATURN

Gex

Crystal Dynamics

Act-Platformer Release: December 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Everyone's favorite smooth-talking lizard returns to consoles with rekindled iterations on Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. As in the 3DO original, Gex finds himself sucked into the Media Dimension, a scary world filled with awful 1970s-themed films. Guide our insect-munching hero across an assortment of stages, using unique abilities like tail whipping and gecko-climbing to outsmart and outmaneuver any opponents. Although some of us have heard the jokes before, the smart-alec protagonist is no less witty than before. With the advantage of superior hardware at its disposal (Sorry, Trip Hawkins), Gex on Saturn and PS-X encompasses the exact type of fixes we all hoped for. Its sound design is cleaned-up, the opening cinematic is less pixelated, and the gameplay is notably smoother as well. Still a worthwhile get.

SATURN

High Velocity

Atlus Cave

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

High Velocity, an Atlas-published title for the Saturn, is a rather fun car racing simulator with several key elements which separate it from the pack. Dissimilar from the Dayonta USA styled circuit racer, HV promotes a competitive touring scene. Think steep, real steep. This disc features well-developed simultaneous racing in an extraordinary mountainous, alpine setting. Drive through picturesque landscapes with a powerful degree of verticality, winding roads, sudden tunnels, and much more. Our favorite bit here the dynamic split-screen - Screens will merge once players begin driving close to one another. To our dismay, the play control here just is not implemented all that well, which in a steering-sensitive genre may be a real deal-breaker. Decent graphics and the lack of redraw brings HV up a notch.

SATURN

Sega Rally

Sega Sega AM3

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

Replicating the splendid job Sega managed with their conversion of Virtual Fighter 2, AM3 skillfully ported the brilliant arcade racer Sega Rally to the Saturn. Sega Rally Championship sports gorgeous, arcade-like graphics, stunning and fast gameplay, and a hefty dose of challenge to keep any interested party occupied for hours (Which you may need, if you want to earnestly improve performance. -Jet). Race on the three tracks, Forest, Mountain, and Desert, either in a circuit format or individually. Play control is extremely close to the arcade iteration, minus the steering wheel accessory - unless you go out and purchase one separately. Tracks will save your best time and allow you to race against a semi-transparent version of yourself to practice as you play. Split-screen multi-player is available as well. Nice!

SATURN

Thunderstrike 2

U.S. Gold Core Design

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

Core Design is a studio that has churned out a selection of high-quality hits on Genesis, Sega CD, and PC, consistently raising the bar in all of the genres it takes on. This entry on Saturn and Playstation, a true sequel to the original Thunderstrike, aka Thunderhawk, may underperform expectations a tad. This disc is a 3-D helicopter shooter with a dose of strategy mixed in. "Simulator" may be a bit too generous. Your vehicle carries its own health bar which will gradually decrease as you hit trees, enemy missiles, and when you accidentally crash - er, bounce - into the ground. Play control is not too shabby, thanks to Core allowing each toggle like weapon selection and camera rotation to have its own dedicated button. The biggest drawback here is too much redraw. Polygons will pop in endlessly.

SATURN

Ghen War

Sega Jumpin' Jack

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

An intelligent alien race known as the Ghen, a refugee species once granted sanctuary on earth, have suddenly turned violent and assumed control of Saturn's moon, Titan. Mankind's sole cause for hope is an oddly well-armed mining clan and your advanced mech suit. For, erm, mining purposes, the hypersuit is equipped with missiles, rockets, lasers, and much more. But, be careful, the Ghen have tanks, turrets, and soldiers to spare. Jumpin' Jack Software did well in modeling 3-D terrain and character animations in Ghen War, yet dropped the ball on the playability front. The elements of free-roam and open movement means constantly rotating your perspective every which way, all but requiring players to perfect the control scheme to coordinate attacks effectively. High difficulty may turn off impatient players as well.

SATURN

Galactic Attack

Taito

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

Ah, we miss games like this. Taito brings out the big guns with Galactic Attack, or Layer Section as it is known in Japan, a vertically scrolling, top-down shooter with blazing cool color, phenomenal parallax effects, and dazzling "2.5-D" imagery. Blast foes on multiple planes, meticulously navigating around dangerous enemy fire and dealing a wallop with your R-Type-inspired upgradable lock-on laser. GA sorely lacks much weapon diversity, but thankfully the fully powered laser does pack a real punch. This title includes seven challenging levels - each increasing significantly in difficulty from the last. It may not be as revolutionary as Panzer Dragoon, but Taito's high-quality release demands respect, nonetheless. Do be sure to try out two-player co-op mode to double your attack effectiveness.

SATURN

Solar Eclipse

Crystal Dynamics

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

Crystal Dynamics delivers up the successor to their 3DO-turned-PSX showpiece Total Eclipse with a Saturn entry cleverly titled Solar Eclipse. In this adventure, players will take on the role of a space jockey called Stuntman, who, along with a squad of seasoned vets, is sent on a space quest to the moons of Saturn. Solar is a much-improved shooter/flight sim from its predecessor. Stages are just as difficult as ever, but control responsiveness is markedly better. The graphics leveled-up as well. Texture-mapping on the enemies and environments are way cool. It will be vital to study enemy attacks to learn the various strategies to overcome them - the type of tactic unheard of in TE. Our favorite element here is knowing the squad commander is played by Babylon 5's Claudia Christian. Unreal!

SATURN

Black Fire

Sega NovaLogic

Flight Sim Release: October 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Hard

Helicopter enthusiasts on the hunt for a worthwhile Saturn release to invest in may have found their salvation in Black Fire. That is, if they can excuse some serious flaws. Your chopper and the texture-mapped worlds are occasionally pretty, as are the opening and interim cinemas. Fighting through an assortment of missions in this simulator will be enjoyable for a select cadre of players. Learning the controls and prompts can be a real challenge, and needless to say it's no fun until this factor is mastered. Lacking in Black Fire is realistic heli-mobility. The copter cannot gain altitude nor have its nose tipped up or down. No alternate camera angles have been provided, either. Nova developed a solid game engine, but this title sorely misses the mark. Skip unless you're a desperate sod.

SATURN

OWI Extreme

Crystal Dynamics

Racing Release: October 1995
Age Rating: Mature Challenge: Hard

Off-World Interceptor, originally released by Crystal Dynamics for 3DO, is now available for both Saturn and PlayStation. Per the devs, this title was reworked to take advantage of the heightened power of the super consoles. There is truth in this assertion, although perhaps not as much as we would have liked. OFW is a far prettier sight than the premier iteration, and the game speed feels faster, too. Dart across giant, turbulent tracks in your ATV, snatching up power-ups and cash whilst taking out unyielding swarms of enemies. Multiple play modes are available, including a story mode, arcade mode, and mostly fun competitive multi-player. The Mystery Science Theater 3000-esque cinemas are a hilarious addition as well. Certain weekend fun to be had.

SATURN

Cyber Speedway

Sega NexTech

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

For a racing thrill that is certain to make your stomach turn (On Saturn, this time! -Jet), try out Cyber Speedway from NexTech. Not unlike Wipeout, Speedway encompasses exhilarating anti-gravity races with a selection of crafts and racetracks to take part in. Albeit imaginative and fresh for a 3-D racer, this release sadly pales in comparison to the aforementioned PlayStation entry. Beyond subpar graphics and mediocre sound effects, the play control in Speedyway suffers from poor handling. All vehicles feel the same: Floaty, traction-less, and unpredictable. For racing games like this one, an unimpressive control scheme is a death sentence. On the upside, contests against the computer-controlled competitors prove a fierce challenge. Hardly worth a rental.

SATURN

Virtual Hydlide

Sega T&E Soft

Action-RPG Release: September 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Our hero must save the kingdom of an evil spirit. Generic, we know. Virtual Hydlide is a bottom-up recreation of the original 1984 Sega release. This one is a brave attempt to re-invent role-playing games for the 32-Bit generation as well as make up for a serious lack of RPGs on Saturn. Players control a character in a 360-degree environment, and fight monsters in real-time. Block enemy strikes with your shield, and utilize two sword attacks to get damage in. The player will discover various gear and magical items to help gain some power. There is no experience meter that boosts your abilities after killing baddies, but rather general stat increases when you complete tasks. Albeit visually fair to look at, the gameplay is awkward, tedious, and slow as molasses. This simple world is an empty snoozefest as well.

SATURN

Virtua Fighter RX

Sega Sega AM1

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

Sega, have you been holding out on us? Virtua Fighter Remix is a graphically enhanced version of the original VF with some rockin' textures that almost feel like VF2 in the arcade! It plainly smokes the pack-in with quality texture mapping that adds some personality to the blocky fighters. It reduces any painful flickering, too. The gameplay is otherwise completely unchanged, so players hoping for a total overhaul will need to stay patient. Sega reports that anyone who purchased the Saturn prior to Sept. 30 will receive a free copy of this disc, so be sure to jump on that if you can. Our crew presented our review of VR back in July (seen here), and our take on the game is generally the same despite the graphical evolution. Definitely recommended to fans of polygonal fighters.

SATURN

Robotica

Acclaim Micronet

3-D Shooter Release: August 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Otherwise known as The Daedalus Encounter, Robotica is a first-person action game exclusive to the Sega Saturn. Upon turning this disc on, players will notice the excellent cinemas that immediately draw one into the story. The core gameplay of Robotica is along the lines of Doom, that is, a corridor-based shooter. However, the scrolling is wonderfully smooth, and the 3-D graphics showcased here are very nice. Players can discover an array of secret passages and traps, as well as usable objects littered throughout the Aliens-esque space station, intermingled with pre-rendered FMV footage to enhance the blaring action. Keep an eye on your radar and search out those keys as fast as you can! Each stage objective is the same, which can certainly get monotonous after a while.

SATURN

Astal

Sega Sega CS2

Action-Platformer Release: August 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

Astal, simply stated, is the most gorgeous-looking game yet seen on 32-Bit. The art direction behind this side-scroller deserves an Academy Award for presenting a visual treat that puts most TV cartoons nowadays to shame. Joyfully warm and Disney-like spritework accompanies the player character and each type of foe, thus giving our eyes a break from the abundance of jagged computer animation on the scene. Vibrant backgrounds are integrated perfectly with each stage, and a plethora of neat-o zooming effects keep the action interesting. The core gameplay in Astal is familiar to any games player: Run-and-jump platforming. It is also far too short. Some may beat this one in under an hour. Still, the artistry is worth the admission price.

SATURN

Bug!

Sega Realtime Assoc.

Action-Platformer Release: July 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

Bug is trying to make it big as a Hollywood actor in an unforgiving world. Having finally signed a lead role in an action film, the titular character (Yes, his name is actually "Bug") must navigate a plethora of platforming scenes to rescue his fictional family from the evil Queen Cadavra. Now, here we have a game with a splash of innovation. Bug can travel side-to-side like a traditional platformer, but also vertically and upside-down in stunning 3-D geometrical fashion. Once you've conquered some risky leaps, taken out enemy insects, and completed each level, a nice-looking rendered cutscene will tell the next story bit. These high-tech graphics show off what is capable on Saturn. Nitpick: Bug's Gex-like one-liners suck.

SATURN

Myst

Acclaim Interprog

Adventure Release: August 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Look out for the Myst! The critically acclaimed Macintosh adventure game from Cyan has been repackaged by Sunsoft for a summertime release on Saturn. Be transported to a wonderous and weird plane rife with oddities and mystery. You, the first-person traveler, must rely on your wits to solve an assortment of puzzles to learn more of the world and how to escape it. Keep close attention to every clue, you'll need it! Myst on Saturn, like on home computer, is a point-and-click game with a sequence of rendered pictures to move through. Each environmental shot is graphically rendered with tip-top realism in mind. Saturn owners should try this out, if anything to catch a glimpse at one of the prettiest adventure games made yet.

SATURN

Clockwork Knight

Sega Team Aquila

Action-Platformer Release: May 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Easy

Clockwork Knight is the premier platforming game for the Sega Saturn. By taking the stage as the first true, 32-Bit Sega platformer, CK may raise some expectations. Best lower those, now. On the positive end, this title certainly has loads of heart. Its main character, a love-crazed mechanical toy named Pepperouchau, is in search of an abducted princess. Guiding him through a plethora of stages with impressive scaling effects, 3-D visuals, and realistic background objects is indeed a joy. But we must say this one plays it too straight. Aside from the glorious eye candy, the core of CK has been done before. In essence, this is a Mario-like coated in false depth and shallow gameplay. Enjoyable, but best as a rental only.

SATURN

Daytona USA

Sega Sega AM2

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

Racing in from the arcade scene is Daytona USA, a spectacular and realistic experience for the Saturn. If not for the shining beacon that is Ridge Racer, we at PPM could easily dub Daytona the king next-gen racers. Now, although the graphical presentation may lose a bit of resolution and color array compared to the arcade, there is no doubt this disc will blow gamers away. Its gameplay is spectacular, retaining nearly all features that made the original such a success. Collisions are here, as are swerving competitors, powerslides, and an easy-to-learn control scheme which will prove rewarding with practice. Not to mention, the famous and uber catchy tunes also grace this iteration.

SATURN

Virtua Fighter

Sega Sega AM2

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

Sega's groundbreaking 3-D game, Virtua Fighter, is now available for home console play courtesy of the supercharged Sega Saturn. The developers behind this portover sought out to generate the most faithful adaptation possible to broadcast the prowess of Saturn, and, to their credit, the final product is pretty good. All of the fighters made the transition intact, as did all moves and combos. Button entry for combo attacks are (mostly) faithfully translated, meaning arcade die-hards will have no issues. The music is phenomenal as well. Otherwise, the graphics are a clear step-down from the cab and movement fluidity is sorely lacking. You can tell some earnest effort was put in, though.

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