Source: Electronic Gaming Monthly – Issue Number 80 – March 1996
In early 1996, EGM was covering the PlayStation, Saturn, Super NES, Genesis, 32X, 3DO, Atari Jaguar, CDi, Neo Geo, Game Boy, Game Gear, and the yet to be released Ultra 64. It was definitely a much more varied era of videogaming. The March 1996 issue includes:
- Insert Coin – An editorial on the high price of games…generally $60-$70 for new releases at the time.
- Press Start – Konami releases Hyper Blaster light gun for the PlayStation in Japan; SNK releases Neo Geo CDX with double speed CD-ROM drive; Namco releases new controllers, Goldstar to cease producing 3DO consoles; Atari plans 16 new CD-ROM PC titles; Infinity Multimedia working on new 3D display; ZON sensor eliminates need for controllers; and more.
- Review Crew
- Real Bout Fatal Fury (Neo Geo) – The latest Fatal Fury fighting game.
- Pocahontas (Genesis) – Disney action platformer with puzzle elements.
- Darius Gaiden (Saturn) – Decent side-scrolling shooter.
- Mortal Kombat II (Saturn) – The best MKII home translation so far.
- Zero Divide (PlayStation) – A somewhat unique polygon fighter.
- A-Train (PlayStation) – Another city simulator from Maxis.
- Descent (PlayStation) – PC port of the classic.
- Star Fighter (3DO) – A good but difficult shooter reminiscent of Star Fox.
- Gaming Gossip – Atari to get out of video games but produce PC games; Sony adjust release schedule to better compete with Ultra 64’s pending release; Nintendo predicts selling 3 million Ultra 64s during the first year, rumored prices include $250 for the console and $100 to $150 for the games; disk drive for Ultra 64 to use disks that contain up to 64 MB of data with 20 MB being re-writeable.
- Tricks of the Trade – Tricks, tips, strategies and codes for Loaded (PlayStation), Earthworm Jim 2 (Super NES), Zero Divide (PlayStation), Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (arcade), Doom Troopers (Genesis), Earthworm Jim 2 (Super NES), The Raiden Project (PlayStation), Sega Rally Championship (Saturn), Toshinden 2 (PlayStation), Destruction Derby (PlayStation) – one of my favorites!, and much more.
- Special Features
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- First Look at the Games of CES – Previews of some of the games shown at the Winter CES including Pocahontas and Maui Mallard by Disney Interactive for the Genesis, Casper for the PlayStation, VR Golf and VR Soccer for the PlayStation and Saturn, Bubsy 3D from Accolade for the PlayStation, Star Control 3 from Accolade for the PC (DOS), Power Rangers for the PlayStation and Saturn, Independence Day, Planet of the Apes, Hell Raiser, NCAA Basketball, Time Lapse, Alone in the Dark 2, Metalwerks, Orion Burger, and more.
- The Developers of Resident Evil Spill Their Guts – An interview with Mr. Shinji Mikami, director of Capcom’s Resident Evil for the PlayStation.
- Cover Story: Tekken 2 – A first look (with screen shots) of the Tekken 2 arcade conversion for the PlayStation.
- Killer Instict 2 – A look at the Killer Instinct sequel in the arcades, including a list of combos and how to perform them.
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- Next Wave
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- Maui Mallard (Genesis) – A platform game featuring a Donald Duck look alike (85% done).
- Pocahontas (Genesis) – An action/puzzle game from Disney (100% done).
- Mortal Kombat II (Saturn) – Closest version to the arcade original (100% done).
- Darius Gaiden (Saturn) – Destroy the mechanical fish armada (100% done).
- D (Saturn) – A horror/adventure game (100% done).
- Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (PlayStation) – Classic 3D fighter (80% done).
- Descent (PlayStation) – Port of the classic PC sim (100% done).
- Zero Divide (PlayStation) – A more obscure 3D fighter (100% done).
- Krazy Ivan (PlayStation) – Sounds like it should be a submarine game but it’s a mech game (100% done).
- A-Train (PlayStation) – Another city sim from Maxis (100% done).
- Casper (3DO) – An adventure game featuring the friendly ghost (80% done).
- Real Bout Fatal Fury (Neo Geo) – The latest Neo Geo fighting game (100% done).
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- Next Wave Protos
- Magic Carpet – An early look at this PC game.
- Dungeons and Dragons: Tower of Doom (PlayStation/Saturn) – Action/adventure game that might remind you of something like Golden Axe (10% done).
- Earthworm Jim 2 (Saturn) – Sequel to the popular 16-bit game (70% done).
- Dirt Race Extreme (PlayStation) – Off-road racing game.
- Shining Wisdom (PlayStation) – An RPG from Working Designs.
- D (PlayStation) – Horror themed puzzle/adventure game.
- Team EGM – An interview with Magic and Kareem in regards to Slam ‘n Jam ’96. Reviews of various other sports games including VR Soccer ’96 (PlayStation), F-1 World Championship (PlayStation), F-1 Live Information (Saturn), Bottom of the 9th (PlayStation), VR Golf ’96 (PlayStation), and Valora Valley Golf (Saturn). Previews of Hang On GP ’95 (Saturn), Goal Storm (PlayStation), Road Rash (PlayStation), and Atari Karts (Jaguar).
- Contest – Simply complete the entry form for your chance to win a Run N’ Gun arcade machine, In the Zone video game, or a Konami T-Shirt.
- Interface: Letters to the Editor – PlayStation vs. Saturn, next-gen RPGs, FMV games, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and more.
…and more!
