Source: GamePro – Issue Number 93 – June 1996
GamePro was one of the most popular gaming magazines of the 1990s. I didn’t pick up GamePro very often because there were other magazines I preferred (e.g. Electronic Gaming Monthly) and I didn’t have unlimited funds for magazines. GamePro always felt like it had a slightly younger target audience but it was still a solid magazine. The June 1996 issue includes:
FeatureS
- GamePro Readers’ Choice Awards – The best games and systems of the year as determined by readers. Some of the highlights include Myst (Saturn) for best strategy game, Chrono Trigger (SNES) for best role-playing game, Zoop for best puzzle game, PlayStation for best overall system, Ultimate Mortal Kombat for best arcade game, Road Rash 3 (Genesis) for best 16-bit racing sim, Donkey Kong Land (Game Boy) for best handheld game, Destruction Derby (PlayStation) for best next-gen racing game, and Doom (PlayStation) for best next-gen corridor shooter (I guess “first person shooter” wasn’t as universal of a term as it would become?). There are a bunch of other categories with each category having several entries.
- Electronic Entertainment Expo Sneak Previews – Better known as E3, this used to be an important event in the gaming industry. Some new things shown (most still under development at the time) include Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire (Nintendo 64), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Turok Dinosaur Hunter (Nintendo 64), Shredfest (PlayStation, Saturn), Tigershark (PlayStation, PC CD), Pandemonium (PlayStation), Bogey: Dead 6 (PlayStation), Jumping Flash 2 (PlayStation), Dark Forces (PlayStation), Rebel Assault II (PlayStation), Bubsy 3D (PlayStation, Saturn), Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Saturn), Tomb Raider (Saturn), Gun Griffon (Saturn), X-Perts (Genesis), Vectorman 2 (Genesis), and lots more.
- War Gods: First Look from the ACME Show – A first look at the War Gods arcade game. This was a new 3D fighter from Midway.
- Watch Out for War Gods: A Fighter’s Edge Special Report – A detailed look into Midway’s new 3D fighting game.
- 16-Bit Gamer’s Survival Guide – 32-bit consoles had been around for about a year at this point but 16-bit consoles were still going strong. This is a look at some of the latest games for 16-bit systems including Bass Masters Classic ’96 (SNES), Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (Genesis), Ken Griffy Jr’s Winning Run (SNES), Lobo (Genesis) Marsupilami (Genesis), Maui Mallard (SNES), Mo Hawk and Headphone Jack (SNES), Time Killers (Genesis), and more plus a couple of best of lists.
SWATPro Strategy Section
- Resident Evil PlayStation ProStrategy Guide – A detailed strategy guide for the game that popularized the survival horror genre.
- Super Mario RPG Super NES ProStrategy Guide – A strategy guide for Super Mario RPG. These guides aren’t something you want to use unless you are really stuck. Otherwise, I think they spoil the game.
- SWATPro – Hints, tips, cheats and more for Bases Loaded ’96 (PlayStation), NHL All-Star Hockey (Saturn), Earthworm Jim: Special Edition (Sega CD), Return Fire (3DO), PO’ed (PlayStation), Doom (3DO), ViewPoint (PlayStation), Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball (Saturn), Raiden Project (PlayStation), Shinobi Legends (Saturn), Sega Rally Championship (Saturn), Darius Gaiden (Saturn), Toy Story (Super NES), and more.
- Lunar II: Eternal Blue (Sega CD) – A guide to reaching both endings in this RPG. I always wanted this (and its predecessor) for the TG-16 CD-ROM but for some reason never got around to playing them.
- Return Fire (PlayStation) – Tips for this overhead helicopter combat game. It reminds me a bit of the Strike series (Desert Strike, Urban Strike, etc.).
- Zero Divide – Special moves and combos for this robot fighting game.
- Samurai Showdown III (Neo Geo) – A move list for this classic fighting game on the Neo Geo.
Departments
- Letter from the GamePros – A look at some of the latest changes to the magazine.
- The Mail – Letters from readers about “palette swap” characters in games, NBA in the Zone, AC adapters for the Sega Nomad, and more.
- GamePro Gallery – Video game related artwork from readers.
- Buyers Beware – Questions answered about the shareware version of Duke Nukem 3D, the price of Killer Instinct 2, Squaresoft, XBand keyboard repair, playing old games on new systems, and more.
- ProNews – Angry mom gets Primal Rage removed from store shelves; Sega, Sony and Nintendo cut console prices; PlayStation sales go over the 1 million mark; new VR baseball game; and more.
- GamePro Online – Some of the GamePro content you can find on America Online, various web sites, and more.
- The Cutting Edge – A look at the $150 28.8bps modem for the Sega Saturn.
- GamePro Labs – A look at a new disc called The Game Guru for the 3DO that provides cheats by altering saved games.
- PC GamePro – PC coverage was a bit of an afterthought with GamePro. This section has brief looks at HyperBlade (PlayStation, Saturn, PC CD), Vikings: The Strategy of Conquest (PC CD, Mac CD), and Kingdom O’ Magic (PC CD).
- Hot at the Arcades – A look at some of the latest arcade games including Virtua Fighter 3, War Gods, Tokyo Wars, Ace Driver Victory Lap, Dirt Dash, NBA Hang Time, Dunk Mania, Batman Forever, NBA Jam Extreme, Run and Gun 2, Midnight Run, Crypt Killer, Metal Slug, Dungeons & Dragons, Art of Fighting 3, and Street Fighter Alpha 2.
- Overseas ProSpects – A look at new and upcoming arcade games in Japan including Virtua Fighter Kids, Prop Cycle, Sonic the Fighter, and Star Gladiator.
…and more!
