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Astal Bug! Clockwork Knight Daytona USA Myst Virtua Fighter

SATURN
Astal
Sega   Sega CS2
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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.

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SATURN
Bug!
Sega   Realtime Assoc.
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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.

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SATURN
Myst
Acclaim   Interprog
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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.

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SATURN
Clockwork Knight
Sega   Team Aquila
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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.

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SATURN
Daytona USA
Sega   Sega AM2
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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.

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SATURN
Virtua Fighter
Sega   Sega AM2
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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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