Quest 64
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Imagineer
Release Date: June 1998
Best Feature: It's An RPG On N64
An ancient and mystical tomb has been stolen by an evil force threatening to plunge the world into war! What's this, an RPG? On Nintendo 64? Hell hath frozen over! Indeed, this epic adventure is finally available, and it is much less so a standard role-player than an action-adventure with some strategy elements thrown in. No treasures to discover, no mass caverns of gold, and certainly no rich storylines resembling FF VII or Panzer Saga. Battles are, however, turn-based with level-up mechanics to increase your character's hit points and magical abilities. Joy! Imagineer did do fine work on the visual front with imaginative monster designs and detailed environments aplenty. This entire package, from simplistic gameplay to a so-so plot, is tailor made to be a "Beginner's RPG" for those just starting out in the genre. Spell mana even regenerates as you move around the overworld! No challenge, whatsoever, but loads of repetition and grinding. Looks like we have this generation's Mystic Quest.
Mission: Impossible
Publisher: Ocean
Developer: Infogrames
Release Date: July 1998
Best Feature: Cinematic Sequences
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to realize that Mission: Impossible is not Goldeneye 007. Originally conceived in '96 as a cart, then a 64DD title, then a cart again, Ocean's M:I project had to prove that its prolonged development time was necessary. Sadly, we cannot make that claim. Now, this offering does have its quirky upsides. Rather than tackling mindless gunplay, missions are meant to be based around puzzle-solving, thus speaking to the spy-action formula. Devs ambitiously sought to reward stealth over slaughter and impose consequences to solving matters clumsily. Yet any effort to strategize is thwarted by incomprehensible and unreactive enemy AI, awkward weapon selection, and poor framerate issues. Those who enjoy trial-and-error style gameplay may appreciate this title regardless, but all too often missions end in failure for absurd reasons or technical glitches. Just too tedious. No multi-player modes to speak of, either. Avoid this one, unless you are a major fan of the series.
Forsaken 64
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Iguana UK
Release Date: May 1998
Best Feature: Accurate Controls
Imagine the 3-D corridor shooter Descent leveled-up to next-gen standards with realtime special effects and detailed areas, plus a nifty split-screen multi-player mode. That, in essence, is Forsaken, the latest sci-fi adventure from Iguana UK for both N64 and PS-X. Ignore the story in this one and move right to the gameplay, trust us. Players must complete 22 missions, each based within in twisting tunnels and mazes filled with enemy encounters. Exploration requires skill and patience (And a resistance to motion sickness! -Jet) to ensure safe passage. Thankfully, the array of baddies can be dispelled through the use of dozens of weapon tech - each exhibiting a shinier lighting effect than the last. Long-range sound effects will also warn of incoming enemy fire, a helpful and realistic addition. The control scheme is solid thanks to analog-driven precision aiming and maneuverability. Forsaken's lack of a UI mini-map can leave players a touch confused at certain spots, though.
Vigilante 8
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Luxoflux
Release Date: June 1998
Best Feature: Hectic Gameplay
Joining the ranks of Twisted Metal, Vigilante 8 is the latest vehicle-combat game seeking to be the next king of carnage. An explosive rally is inevitable as scores of weapon-filled cars blow each other to bits in spectacular fashion. Specialty attacks range from napalm launchers and sky hammer mortars to radioactive bees and roadkill mines, all complete with joyously silly animations. Different button combinations will also lead to variations in how the weapon fires. A quick combo can turn standard mines into gravity-sucking black holes! The physics engine is gloriously realistic, proven when vehicles react to weapon impacts and look worse for wear. Free-for-all arcade mode is the star of the show, but the single-player Quest mode - essentially a series of increasingly tough missions - is worthy of mention. Whereas presentation and graphics are a plus, the controls can be a chore to work out. We recommend using the Dual Analog/Shock controller for better customization and steering options.
Grand Theft Auto
Publisher: BMG Interactive
Developer: Visual Sciences
Release Date: June 1998
Best Feature: Senseless Violence
Grand Theft Auto places you in the role of a new mafia recruit determined to make name for himself by any means necessary. Roam the mean streets of Liberty City (New York) from a top-down perspective and start working through the 200+ missions to ruffle some feathers. Need transportation? Walk up to a parked car and break-in or stop a car on the road and hijack it. There are 30 different vehicles within the city, from high-end sports cars to motorcycles, and you have free-range to give 'em all a try. Now, the real controversial bit is what comes next. GTA is rife with violence, swearing, and gore up the wazoo! Even the in-game radio stations have four-letter words! If you choose to drive recklessly and mow down pedestrians at will, the police will take notice and look to put a quick end to it (and you!). Avoid barricades and swap your license plates or give your car a fresh paint job to evade detection. Compared to the PC version, the framerate is a touch slower and the graphics are too grainy for our taste.
Jersey Devil
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Megatoon Studios
Release Date: June 1998
Best Feature: A Promising Start
With the hope of granting the PlayStation a worthwhile free-roaming 3-D platformer, Megatoon Studios crafted the delightfully odd Jersey Devil as a console exclusive. You play as the mythical devil dead set on stopping a crazy scientist and his army of mutant vegetable creatures. Borrowing heavily from familiar platform games, the title character is easily controlled to run, jump, spin-punch, and even glide his way across each stage. No ledge-grabbing mechanic, though, which is a tad unforgiving for a non-violent game aimed at younger players. The devil himself exhibits less personality on-screen than implied on the box art, which is odd compared to the imaginative and amusing cartoonish baddies. Environments are crisp with a lovely gothic aesthetic, yet level designs are mostly subpar with your formulaic platform-leaping and bottomless pits of death. Great sound effects and a catchy soundtrack round this one out. It's an admirable effort all around, and worth it for those tired of Gex.
House of the Dead
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega AM1
Release Date: May 1998
Best Feature: Alternate Routes
A scientific experiment gone awry created a home filled with bloodthirsty ghouls! It's a problem that can only be resolved by blasting those zombies to bits. No doubt encouraged by the monstrous success of recent horror delights like Resident Evil, Sega wasted no time in converting the arcade lightgun game House of the Dead to the Saturn. Controlling a special agent searching for a lost colleague in this dreary manor, your mission is to clear out the monsters. Foes vary from standard flesh-eaters to wacked-out apes, and everything in-between. Your accuracy is critical and the game rewards you for striking pinpoint shots. Aim just right to blast off heads for insta-kills or blow away limbs to slow attacks down. Remember to reserve your ammo, you'll thank yourself later. Branching paths keep replayability a factor, unlike most other lightgun shooters on the scene. Rescuing scientists will open these new routes - totally optional but nice to see. Rank graphics, sadly.
Burning Rangers
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Release Date: May 1998
Best Feature: Pyro Effects
Sonic Team presents a bold foray into an experimental action-adventure title with Burning Rangers, their final project for Saturn. As a member of a core elite squad of futuristic rescue workers, you will be catapulted into disaster on a mission to save stranded civilians and put out fires. Run through the maze-like environments as fast as a greyhound, keeping an ear tuned in to the incredibly acted radio chatter for helpful navigation. These tidbits help tremendously, though do be careful to explore on your own as well to catch any hidden survivors. Each stage ends with a receipt of a graded score based on the amount of folk saved. One look at this disc shows the high-production value that went into it, from the splendid animated opening sequence to the jazz-pop soundtrack. BR's gameplay visuals are a mixed bag. Flames and explosions shimmer beautifully, and each level is unique, but clipping problems and poor draw-distance lessen the experience. We look forward to Sonic Team's future work on Dreamcast.
Quake
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Lobotomy Software
Release Date: December 1997
Best Feature: Killer Shooting Fun
If you own a Saturn and have yet to play Quake, it is about time you get with the program. This recreation of the highly acclaimed PC shooter is now available on Sega's 32-Bit machine. Battle through maze-like environments, defeating all enemies in your path before reaching the next slipgate. Foes vary greatly with thirteen types in all, not to mention giant bosses to face down and eight weapons with which to crush them. This Saturn port leaves everything intact from the manic stage layouts to the lovely, dynamic lighting effects. Textures are nicely detailed and the gloomy atmosphere invokes the same unnerving vibe as the original. Even the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack is here! Lacking is the signature feature of its PC counterpart: Multi-player. Yup, no deathmatch mode in sight. With this iconic piece of the puzzle completely absent from the equation, we do struggle to give this more than a so-so recommendation. Give it a rental first to judge for yourself. Or just play it on PC. Yeah, do that instead.
River King
Publisher: Natsume
Developer: Victor Interactive
Release Date: August 1998
Best Feature: Fish Catching Mechanic
Fresh off the line for your nautical pleasure comes Legend of the River King, an unlikely yet extraordinary combination of role-playing and fishing. This treat was brought abroad by Natsume, a publisher with an eye for the usual (see Harvest Moon). Your adventure will range across four watery worlds in the search for the Guardian, a legendary fish with magical healing powers. Do so by becoming a master angler, replenishing your tools at the local bait shop and upgrading your fishing pole to achieve that goal. Cast your line to a specific spot in the stream then let your lure drift to the locations of nearby fish. Trek off into the wilderness to encounter woodland critters - battle them into submission and level-up! River King also includes a Tamagotchi-style mode that allows players to hatch and raise their own aquatic companion - a bit shoehorned, to be sure. The overworld is highly detailed as well with dense pixel graphics, plus a vibrant color palette viewable when played on Super Game Boy.
GB Camera & Printer
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: June 1998
Best Feature: Photo Editing Tools
Nintendo expands the capabilities of Game Boy with an ingenious peripheral combo: Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer. These accessories transform the portable games player into a brilliant, mini digital camera with an integrated editing studio. Attach the camera to either a Game Boy or Game Boy Pocket, then go ahead and snap up to 30 decent-looking black-and-white digital photos. It is easy to compose the shot how you prefer, then save or discard photos as desired. Next, you can customize your photographic artistry with an assortment of nifty tricks including goofy stamps, cartoonish frames, and lens alterations. You can even link a few dozen frames together to produce a quick animation sequence! The optional GB Printer completes the package by allowing you to save your photos to hard copy. Print out your shots on specialized paper (one roll included, only), which when peeled back turns your photos into stickers! The Camera will run at $50 MSRP, with the Printer going for $60.
James Bond 007
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Saffire
Release Date: February 1998
Best Feature: Faithful Music
The iconic superspy stirs onto Game Boy with James Bond 007. Fresh off of last year's success with Goldeneye, the famed MI6 is back with an original and exclusive storyline. Achieve various objectives from Russia to Morrocco and take down a dangerous general and uncover the fate of Agent 008. This adventure trades straightforward action for top-down exploration and international intrigue. Each story-driven mission starts with a cinematic-like briefing before Bond is unleashed onto the world. Navigate a series of areas, interact with friendly characters (including a few fan-favorites), and use items and gadgets to solve brainteasers. Combat does arise at moments, and it is a bit dull. Enemy fighting patterns are very rudimentary and repetitive. More so, weapons and shields, both acquired frequently in the course of any given mission, make conflict a breeze. Presentation-wise, 007 does a fair job with the hardware limitations. Plus, the all-important Bond theme is there.
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