Volume

A Signal Research Publication

lAIVIE $14.95 $19.95 CANADA

Four

GAME

PLAYER'S

ENCYCLOPEDIA

of
Dozens or
Nintendo
MES Games.
Dragon V
1 Double

Games [
Monopoly
\
Robocop 2
\ The Simpsons
StarTropics °

A \
super Wario
\ and Wore'. _
Signal

Research

Publication
 m video game to match the movie
‘
hit!. ..It's almost like you’re in the

movie!" NINTENDO POWEffiBR

IYou'll rob from the rich and give to
poor in this extremely detailed
rrMepiaying adventure." GAMERR

jlive the Adventure! Become Robin

Hood in thefantasy role-playing
h adventure of yojur life in a game that

W brings all the action of the block-

. buster movie to your very own NES™
Lead your band of merry men through
'
one dangerous mission after another as
you search for the evil Sheriff of

Nottingham through the ancient castles and

treacherous forests of medieval Britain.

ow your courage and cunning as you

rescue the lovely Maid Marian and
free England from, tyranny!

dicia art trademarks of Morgan t

cred trademark of Virgin Hnterpr

marks of Nintendtsof America In

MUD
AND
GUTS.
Get in. Fire it up. And then
hang on. You’re in control
of the ride of your life!
Engines scream as the monster truck flies into the And the race has just begun!

lead. All four racers spill over the dirt hill and slam Interplay Productions introduces super high
onto the asphalt surface. Pushing past the pack in true resolution graphics in a radical racing action game.

dune buggy style, the Sandrail hits an ice patch and Players zoom over asphalt, dirt and ice as they make

skids off the track. The Eurocar crashes through the their way through 24 levels of track difficulty-or they

open hole, but not before dropping off a few mines to can build and save their own exciting track designs!

slow down any slip-streamers. And racers use their winnings to buy bigger and better
equipment, or arm themselves with mines and oil slicks

Customize your own to sabotage the opposition.

cars with bombs, oil, The challenge is on.
armor and much more It’s machine vs. machine
in the ultimate race for
Work your way
the checkered flag!
through a circuit of
over 120 tracks or
create your own
raceway complete with
ice, dirt, pavement and
multi'level jumps

Special split screen

allows for one or

two players

4 times normal
resolution

Real car sounds

Super NES Screens Pictured.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I

Gauntlet II

The Hunt Red October

for
Ikari WarriorsIII: The Rescue

Kabuki Quantum Fighter

The Krion Conquest
The Last Ninja
Little Ninja Brothers
MetalStorm
Nobunaga’s Ambition II.

S.C.A.T. —Special Cybernetics

Attack Team_
Silver Surfer. Kabuki Quantum
The Simpsons: Bart vs.
Fighter — page 1

the Space Mutants.

& Crossbones
Skull
Snake Rattle N Roll
Sword Master
Whomp ‘Em

Snake Rattle NRoil —

page 165
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Adventure Island II 180

Base Wars 182
The Black Bass 184
Castelian 186
Harlem Globetrotters 188
Hollywood Squares 190
Jim Henson’s Muppet
Adventure: Chaos
at the Carnival 192
KlashBall 194
Mendel Palace 196
Metal Mech 198
Monopoly 200
Moon Ranger 202
M.U.L.E. 204
NES Play Action Football 206
Ninja Crusaders 208
Orb 3-D 210
The Punisher 212
RollerGames 214
Streetfight 2010:
The Final Fight 216
Totally Rad 218
Touchdown Fever 220
Streetfight 2010: War on Wheels 222
The Final Fight
— page 216
 EDITOR'S
Robert C. Lock, Editor-In-Chief
Amy L. Pruette, Senior Art & Design Director
NOTES
Richard T. Mansfield, Executive Vice President, Editorial So you missed our coverage of Bart vs. the Space Mu-
Selby Bateman, Executive Editor
Lance Elko, Editorial Director tants, mdyou'vebeenaymgyoursdftosleepoveritfor
Tom R. Halfhill, Senior Editor months. And your dog ripped up the vital third page
Leslie Mizell, Associate Editor
Noreen Lovoi, West Coast Editor of your StarTropics guide, and you've been stuck ever
William R. Trotter, Senior Writer
Stephen Poole, Associate Editor since. Or maybe you're waiting to see the 16-bit games
Phill Powell, Associate Editor
before you buy a Super NES machine. Have no fear!
Lisa Bouchey, Assistant Editor
Brian Carroll, Assistant Editor Our encyclopedia is here!
Richard Lashley, Assistant Editor
Jeff Lundrigan, Assistant Editor
This fourth volume of the Game Player's Ency-
Gary M. Meredith, Technical Editor clopedia contains the hottest games of 1991 : Dick Tracy
Vince Matthews, Director of Game Testing E)^teE)ragpnM,ManiacMansion, Monopoly,NESPlay-
Melanie Poloff, Editorial Assistant
Margaret Ramsey, Copy Editor
Action Football, and Solstice. We've got the hints, the
pictures, and the secrets to help you beat these
Irma Swain, Production Director
Edwin C. Malstrom, Art Director games —
and dozens more. For Super NES players,
Laura C. Morris, Senior Graphic Artist we'vegotthescooponthefirstl8gamesreleasedforthe
Scotty L. Billings, Graphic Artist
Kelly E. Pinter, Graphic Artist 1 6-bit machine, as well as reviews and strategy tor Final
Jan J. Sebastian, Graphic Artist
Fight and Ultraman.
James A. Casella, Publisher Nintendo's still on top, despite attempts to
Lawrence A. Fomasieri, Senior Vice President, Finance
Tom Valentino, Vice President, Controller displace it from the peak of the videogame mountain.
Andrew Eisenberg, Vice President, Advertising Sales
Dominic Mustello, Vice President, Circulation
But the NES may be facing its toughest battle from
Cindy Stump, Circulation Director within own, ranks: the Super NES 16-bit machine,
its
Tracy DeAlesandro, Circulation Manager
John G. McMahon, National Sales Manager with its amazing graphic and memory capabilities,
Kathleen H. Ingram, Marketing Manager went on sale in September. The next year should be an
William H. Lock, Operations Manager
Pamela Lambert, Dealer/Customer Service & Production Coordinator exciting one — and the Game Player's Strategy Guide to

The Game Player's Encyclopedia of Nintendo Games (ISSN-1041-0376) is

Nintendo Games and the Game Player's Encyclopedia
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James A. Casella, President; Richard T. Mansfield, Executive Vice President; Midwest: Burlingame, CA 94010
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Entire contents copyright 1991, Signal Research, Inc. All rights reserved; 676 St. Clair Street Marketplace Advertising:
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Products named in these pages are tradenames, or trademarks, of their (201) 703-9500
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Nintendo is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc. m Please send all advertising materials to Pamela Lambert, Production Co-
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NC
 WvSackpq

Richard Lashley

Acclaim Entertainment, 71 Audrey

Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 1 1771.
 T he brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee have geance ended the attacks on Marion and the
fought countless battles defending Shadow Boss's deranged plot to conquer the world
their beautiful friend Marion against But just when Marion thinks it's safe to go back
various enemies. The hapless Marion outside, trouble strikes. In Double Dragon III: The
has been hunted down by huge mutant Sacred Stones, Billy and Jimmy grab their nunchucks
killers, nunchuck-toting ninjas, and even helicop- one more time for yet another rescue of their
ter gunships. For the Lees, protecting Marion has trouble-prone friend.
become a full-time job. J oin the Lee brothers in bruising tests of strength

In the original Double Dragon, the Lee brothers as they pursue a quest for five sacred stones that
freed Marion after she was kidnapped by the lead to Marion. Five levels of action begin in the
Black Shadow Warriors. Obviously, the Warriors back-stabbing alleyways of America and conclude
weren't counting on the two-fisted cavalry that in a final showdown among the sand-blown pyra-
came to her rescue. mids of Egypt.
In the much-awaited sequel. Double Dragon II, As in Double Dragon II, you can either play the
Marion was the target of the Supreme Black game alone or with a friend. The two-player mode
Shadow Sensei's ninja assassins. The Lee brothers is much easier, because you can defend each other
interceded again and completely humiliated the against the swarms of enemies that attack you.
maniacal Shadow empire. The Lees' savage ven-

In stage 1-

1, you dis-

cover a
wounded
comrade
MISSION 1 (lower left)
who has
bitly mmmii informa-
Billy (misspelled "Bimmy” on
preliminary screen) and
this
Jimmy Lee are once again
Billy
all
five
and Jimmy must travel
over the world in search of
sacred stones that lead
BARE HANDS
But first
hhk jimmy numuv.
BARE HANDS t'° n ObOUt
your quest.
you must fight a few goons. To flip an opponent,
called into action to rescue to Marion’s location. The quest push the directional pad left or right while repeatedly
their friendMarion. begins in the United States. pressing the A and B buttons.

After consulting with your dy- Bottle-swinging punks ap-

ing friend, sprint to the door pear in stage 2-2. When they
and start kicking. A horde of run toward you, sidestep their
enemies comes crashing in, attacks, then kick.
but they're easily defeated if

you simply stay put and kick.

 In stage 1-2, move one brother
to the right side of the screen
while the other follows behind.
With this strategy, most of your
enemies won’t even make it
on-screen, because the lead
man’s first strikes take them
out. Be careful, though —
if the
When you exit the elevator onto this
rear man moves forward be- second-story ledge, repeat the
fore all the thugs are gone, strategy you used in stage 1 -2. Rush
more will appear one brother all the way to the right to
spearhead the attack, while holding
the second brother back to anchor
the rear.

lr^
-
f I,

It takes six hits with the nunchucks to

defeat this boss, but each brother
can strike with the nunchucks only
five times. Finishing him off requires
teamwork.

Repeat the strategy of using one

brother to attack all the way to the
right while the other guards the rear.
Most enemies will never make it onto
the screen.
 /

This cozy room in stage 2-2 is bathed

in the flickering light of a fireplace.
Things quickly get hot, though. Stand
by the door and start kicking the
bottle-slinging creeps who are about
to pay a visit.

he boss of stage 2-2, Iron Claw mas- Some enemies in Double Dragon III
The Lees’ patented cyclone kick
Chin Seimei, much more pow- follow ancient Chinese codes of honor
works wonders in tight locations like
this doorway.
er
erful
is

than Billy and Jimmy. But tech-

jand duty. instance, Chin and some
For
nique and speed can win this contest. of the later bosses — awed by your
Use the cyclone kick, then move out martial-arts prowess — eventually join

In stage 3-1, you’ll

journey into the mys-
tic mountains of Ja-
pan The second stone
.

ishidden deep inside

a Buddhist temple on
a mountaintop. These ninjas will really test your skills.
They have an incredible talent for
jumping, and they deliver powerful
blows with their fists, shuriken, and
katana swords.

W .

WV
‘'IS#/
|

jj mi mi ftj?0 ™ an
After the dust settles, climb to stage 3-3 on a
ladder that mysteriously drops from the ceiling.

Yagyu Ranzou, the boss of stage

PLAYER SELECT 3, is a mighty ninja. Switch to the
menu screen and select Chin for
this battle. His immense

valuable
resource.
 The ancient deserts of Egypt form the
backdrop in stage 5. It’s tricky climb-
ing on these monuments polished
smooth by centuries of sandstorms.
The sweeping blows of Ranzou’s ninja
The stage 4 boss is quick to the
strike blade clear the path ahead while
Use the B button to pick up and throw first blow. His speed and strength Chin guards the rear.
weapons dropped by your enemies. make it critical to keep him off bal-
Hurling knives at opponents is a good
ance. Luckily, Ranzou's ninja blade
way to escape a sticky situation. will slice-and-dice him like a
Cuisinart. Although this boss won’t
joinyour band, you still must defeat
him to continue your rescue mission.
 jp€
=-— =— -
1
|—
Tj— Tf
— —j

The doorway in this pyramid isn’t just Inside the pyramid, a bed of nails Everyone on your team must leap
an entrance to another stage or room awaits careless explorers. Use onto this elevator platform at the same
— it takes you to another world where Ranzou’s ninja blade to defeat the time. If someone gets left behind,
mummies walk among the living, and guards, then jump over the gap in the he’ll be lost forever in this spooky
ancient Egyptian curses and spirits floor. Egyptian tomb.
abound. Enter, if you dare.

Jump onto the first ledge you see.

The stone platform will plummet
to the bottom of the shaft after

You must defeat three mummies

before facing the final boss. These
guys have been saving up their
energy for thousands of years and
are difficult to overcome. If you
want to make it out of this tomb
alive, you’d better use all four of
 Richard Lashley

The legend of Robin Hood has been the inspiration for

books, movies —and now for a videogame. In Arcadia's
action adventure, Robin Hood: Prince ofThieves , you
don Robin's medieval togs and assume his philosophy
of robbing the rich to give to the poor.
With King Richard away fighting in the Crusades,

the law of England has fallen into the hands of his less
capable brother, John. The temporary monarch and the
corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham are ruling like tyrants,
using terror to enforce outrageous laws and unfair
taxes throughout England.
However, one man who refuses to be daunted is
Robin Hood of Locksley. Famous for his skill with a
longbow, Robin leads a group of clever bandits in a
constant hit-and-run assault on the king's and sheriff's
attempts to control the country.
 Now you can take the part of the gallant archer. Here's
the scene:The chinking of chain mail and the clomping of
horses' hooves announce the arrival of the tax collector and
his armed escorts. Throughout the land, he extorts money
in thename of the king from the hapless peasants. As the
oppressors ride through the forest, an arrow streaks through
the air thunk — and the
first soldier topples to the ground.

A hail of arrows now falls from the trees onto the panicking
convoy. Robin Hood and his Merry Men have struck again.
To the cheers of the villagers, Robin emerges from Sherwood
Forest with their "tax returns."

/
t
i

Trapped an

m
in
Arabian prison,
you need all the
help you can
get. Listen to
Azeem — he
knows
about
much
many
things. With his
advice,
should be able
to escape and
you
mm H5«
-z-i- r-
8$
||
reach England. After you defeat the torture expert in the
Arabian prison, you find a secret passage
in the southeast corner.
•rner.
1

hi

§ :
ROBIN? : *V
I HEAF -
NOISES TO
.

Pressing the Select button opens NORTH’ By the time you rdpch the shores of
the menu screen, where you’re England, Peter has died and left
able to choose the player option. Azeem has a sense about
sixth you a ring to giVe Maid Marion.
Now you can examine the items where the Nottingham’s
Sheriff of —
There’s no time foij tears Guy of
you’ve collected and distribute troops are located. It’s always wise Gisborne and his Soldiers ambush
them among Robin and his fellow to listen to him. you in Sherwood Forest. Special
fugitives. items, including a longbow, await
the victor.

%
 as important to be on your guard in this videogame as it
It's

isin the story of Robin Hood. Prince of Thieves includes just

enough action to coax arcade fans through its tough mazes,
while role-playing fans will probably enjoy the mental
challenge. The game consists of a series of mini-quests, each
one of which must be completed before you continue to the
next objective. You must save England from ruin, rescue the
beautiful Maid Marion, avenge the -death of your father —
and stay alive, which may be the toughest challenge of them

the colorful, often deadly, mazes. The people you bump into
might offer information, try to kill you, or ask to join your
group. But you never know which option they'll choose.

YCtF FATHEFS
MEI-ALLICN.T!
YJTECL CF
•i

The Sheriff of Nottingham has Explore outside the crumbled ruins From the player screen, wrap the
sacked Locksley Castle, leaving of the castle to find some crucial Medallion of Locksley around
Robin's father nailed to the front items. Behind one of these briery Robin’s neck before you reach the
door. But Duncan, Robin’s faithful shrubs, for example, you can un- Castle of DuBoii That medallion
servant, is hiding in the back of the cover a life potion that fully restores gets you past thi^guard and into
castle — and he’s got the Medal- your health. the castle, where; Maid Marion is
lion of Locksley. hiding from the sferiff.

Little John is a valuable asset

When Marion receives Peter’s ring, once you defeat him. To beat John, Nobody said being Robin Hood
she gives you helpful information stand by the roots of this fallen tree was easy. Your duties include res-
— and she also offers saddles and and slash his shins. cuing Maid Marion from unholy
horses so your band can escape matrimony with the sinister baron.
the guards storming the castle.
 Keep an eye on the map indicator to the left. It's easy to get
lost in the forest, where about 80 percent of the action takes
place. And if you get lost, you risk losing valuable life
points.
But whether you're in the forest or some other area, you
must search for specific items. Obtaining the objects isn't half
as hard as figuring out which members of your band should
receive them. For example, when you approach the Castle of
DuBois where Maid Marion is hiding, don't be so quick to
string arrows and draw swords to get inside. The guard at
the front gate lets you by without a fight —
but only if Robin
Hood is wearing his Medallion of Locksley. You must also

be careful to distribute the items evenly, especially near the '*

end of the game.

KriPn

This unfortunate woodsman got lost

in the Sherwood Forest and died.
Robin’s enemies aren’t all sheriffs You may be tempted togo down There’sa small country chapel just
—
and tax collectors some are wild the well beside him, but its damp south of your camp where Maid
boars. After you get rid of these darkness conceals an evil witch, Marion waits for you. She gives you
crazed pigs, go into that cave and Mortianna, and her skeleton war- a Druid Dagger that can deliver
grab the powerful Locksley bow. rior. And your weapons can’t hurt blows even Mortianna’s magic
But be careful: A nightmarish sur- them.
prise lurks inside the cave.

'i I
V-: ,
i V.V-.
* *V .

To keep thelocal peasants on your After the village brawl, you fight the By mistake, Duncan leads a band
side, proteat their villages from the baron for the final time. Trap him in of vicious Celt^ back to the
attacks of the sheriff’s thugs. If you the left corner, then slash his knees Sherwood hideout, and ten of your
win, there’s a lot of booty to be when he leaps at you. men are captured and sentenced
collected from the fallen soldiers. to hang. It’s Robin to the rescue!
Search for special items in the huts, This battle around the gallows con-
too. tinues through the front gate of the
sheriff’s castle.
 GO NINTENDO

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 You equip your characters with charms, weap-
ons, or potions from the menu screen. Don't give a PRINCE OF THIEVES
—
bow to Little John he carries the staff. Friar Tuck Steals Summer Audiences
can carry the most weight, so give him the life
potions. Work on raising your characters' load ca-
pacity and hit points. To tailor a character for certain
situations, you can switch items
inventory' to another's.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
from one character's

lets you enjoy both

^^ '
/
\ He's been played by everyone from Errol
Flynn to Daffy Duck. Now Kevin Costner
takes up Robin Hood's bow in Warner
Brothers' Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
When the film opened last June, critics
role-playing and arcade-style game play. Colorful had mixed opinions about Costner's portrayal. His ear-
graphics and a complex plot combine effectively in such films as Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and
lier roles in

a game that whisks you back to a romantic era. Dances zvith Wolves didn' t require the intensity Robin needs
to lead a ragtag bunch of woodsmen. Without a take-
charge attitude, Costner misses the mark. But Costner has
taken the bad reviews in stride and is currently filming
There are many se- director Oliver Stone's JFK.
cret rooms inside the With the exception of Costner's performance, how-
castle. And in a lot of ever, Prince of Thieves drew acclaim. The supporting cast
those rooms, you’ll was excellent, the set elaborate and imaginative, the
findlife potions that action fierce and involving.
come in handy as Heading up the supporting cast was Morgan Free-
you push farther into man, who played the Turkish Moor Azeem. Freeman,
the stone fortress. who is known to two generations of kids as Easy Reader
on "The Electric Company," is an accomplished stage and
movie actor. Most recently, he was nominated for an
Oscar for his role in Driving Miss Daisy.
To reach the final
battle with the sher-
The character of Azeem is new to the Robin Hood
legend, but adds an interesting touch to the movie. Al-
iff, you must get past
though many of Robin Hood's men look down on Azeem
Mortianna and her
because he doesn't believe in God, Azeem has scientific
skeleton warrior.
Drink some life po-
knowledge beyond their own. For example, his telescope
mystifies them all, and he saves the life of Little John's son
tion, then use your
with his knowledge of childbirth.
Druid Dagger to
bash the sack of Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has been called a Maid
Marian for the 1990s. Typically, the only female in the
bones. Mortianna is
male-oriented Robin Hood tales has been portrayed as
next, but without her
demented pet, she’s weak and in need of protection. But the very first time she
no problem appears in Prince of Thieves, Maid Marian attacks Robin
for you.
and almost bests him in a sword fight.
You and your arch-
enemy, the Sheriff of
Nottingham, hurl the
last insults and
square off with
drawn swords. This
battle quickly be-
comes the most in-
tense ever. The fate
of England shifts with
each clash of your
Swords.

Robin and Azeem (Morgan Freeman) have an

interesting relationship —
Robin once saved Azeem's
life, and now the Moor must stay with Robin until the
favor can be returned.
 was already in London
working on a British tele-
vision production, and she
simply got a telephone call
offering her the role.
Never has the Sheriff
of Nottingham been
played so campily as by
Alan Rickman. This En-
glish actor began his career
on the stage, but has found
time to appear as such
movie characters as a
German terrorist in Die
Hard, an eccentric artist in

The January Man, and a

ghost in the recently re-
leased Truly, Madly,
Deeply.
Rickman's sheriff is
but his wickedness is
evil,
played in such a broad way
("No more merciful be- The tie between Robin and Will Scarlett (Christian
headings!" he shrieks. Slater) is explained in one of the movie's most
"And call off Christmas!") climactic scenes.
that he's not at all scary. In
fact, Rickman's part was cut down in actor, but Slater definitely has the same

the final edit of the film —

and many intensity as Nicholson. In Prince of

say it was because the studio was afraid Thieves, he plays Will Scarlett, a char-

that Rickman would steal the movie acter who's initially resentful of Robin
from Costner. A subplot involving the Hood, but who joins the fight when a
identity of the sheriff's parents is now secret tie between the two of them is

missing from Prince of Thieves. explained.

Christian Slater may be young. All the production values in Prince
of Thieves are striking, butone of the
most memorable images comes when
Robin shoots an arrow that splits an-
other arrow down the middle. Sur-
prisingly, that shot wasn't originally
planned for the movie. An agency was
hired last year to put together an ad-
The Sheriff of Nottingham vertisement to spark interest in the
(Alan Rickman) finally gets movie, but at the time, little of the film
his hands on Marian (Mary had been shot. So the agency came up
Elizabeth Mastrantonio) in with the split-arrow idea, built a large-
the final scenes of the scale model, mounted a camera on the

movie. Don't worry it's— arrow, and shot the footage. In the
Robin to the rescue! end, the advertisement proved so
popular that the footage was added to
Mastrantonio has made a career but he has more film credits than many the final film.
Because of the cast, sets, images,
out of playing strong women, in films actors twice his age. He's played a
such as The Color of Money, The January wide variety of characters in movies and 800-year-old legend. Prince of
ranging from The Legend of Billy Jean to Thieves was one of the top films of the
Man, The Abyss, and Class Action. In-
terestinglyenough, she won the part Heathers to Pump Up the Volume to the summer. It's sure to do just as well
of Maid Marian quite by accident. The recently released Mobsters. when the video is released in the next
actress originally hired for the part He says he's tired of being called few months.
had to drop out just as shooting was "the young Jack Nicholson," because
beginning in England. Mastrantonio of his resemblance to that acclaimed
GF>
19
NINTENDO GAME
OF THE

Jeff Lundrigan

I ndiana Jones, professor of archeology,

was taking a break from his classes when
a strange package, apparently from his
father, arrived in the mail. Indy hadn't
seen his dad for some years, and getting
package from the elder Dr. Jones
than a little unusual.
Things got even more unusual when
Indy opened the package. Inside was Dad's
Grail diary, a record of every scrap of
information his father had collected in his
lifelong search for the Holy Grail. Mo-
ments later. Indy received word that his
dad had in fact been taken prisoner by the
Nazis. Indy then realized that his father
had sent him the diary for safekeeping.
Indy dropped everything, including
his own personal quest to recover the
fabled Cross of Coronado, and left for
Castle Brunwald to rescue his dad.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is
closely patterned after the events of the hit
movie. A unique feature of the game,
however, is that you can play through the
events in any order — you can even go
straight for the Grail if you want to. You're
better off doing a few things first though,
like rescuing Dad and going to Venice for
some important clues.
Indiana Jones combines this unique
approach with challenging game play.
Excellent graphics and smooth, no-flicker

mm
animation top off this genuinely interest- Taito, 390 Holbrook Drive, Wheeling,
ing and worthwhile gaming experience. I L 60090.

and the
LAST CRUSAD
 In Venice, indy
finds the first piece
of the puzzle on—
ancient parch-
ment with a picture
of the Grail, but the
picture has been
damaged by the
passoge of time.

Indy takes a break from teaching ar-

cheology to discover a mysterious
package. If this is Dad’s diary, what

happened to Dod? Better go to Venice

and find out.

Another good technique is to get an enemy to chase you by running away,

then do a flying kick agoinst the well— you’ll bounce, spin around, ond knock
the enemy flat.

Si
 All you have to do is

beat up a few sailors,

kill the ship’s captain,
and finally, after a 20-
year search, Indy has
recovered the Cross
of Coronado!

'

: jf
'
•
Tv
'
.

1 Once you’ve obtained the cross, Indy 1

will jump ship — and it’s a good thing

he does, too.
The castle is a maze, but it s not that

large, and each level has a different

marker on the wall —
so be systematic
in your search. Any tricks you used to
fight the sailors will work against the
guards as well.

the good news: Sallah found out

First,

where Indy’s dad is. Now the bad

news: He’s being held by the Nazis in
the castle Brunwald.

Junior! Xhat are you

doing here? It s good
*

• to see you.

Dad is being held in a secret room

behind the fireplace. Once you’ve
found him, getting out of the castle is

automatic.
 The soldiers will
come out of the
tank one at a time,
and they always
hop off the left side
of the turret. Stand
just to the right and
hitthem with a fly-
ing kick as they
land on the treads.

In the desert of Iskenderun, Marcus is

also being held by the Nazis — inside ‘
a tank If Indy is knocked off the treads,
. 4*5
he gets right back on, but it will cost
you a life.

t-ooo itftmens, liwiy*

If ijou hadn't pulled
Iron that tank. I c
iwacine. .

Once all the soldiers in the tank have

been defeated, Marcus will come out
and hop off the back of the tank. He’s
glad to be rescued, but you’ve still got
work to do.

If you fail during any stage, you’ll lose

Dad’s diary and you’ll have to go to
Berlin. Getting the diary is easy, but
escaping with it is probably the most .

difficult part of the game.

mMMMf 05

The road forks eight times. One path usually leads to a chasm that must be
jumped; the other leads to the same chasm but has no place to land on the
other side — certain doom. The safe paths are (in order): left, right, right, right,

left, right, right, left.

 Enemy motorcycles
will try to run you off
the road. You can
bump them back,
flail at them with your
whip, or, most satis-
fying of all, jump and
land on them.

The road occasionally starts to zigzag,

with gun turrets on the zags. If you slow
down for the curves, they're likely to
blast you, so run the zigzag at top
Made it! Now you’ve got Dad’s diary
speed and jump over them. again — time to go after the Grail.
Toward the end of the stage, you’ll
find tanks parked in the road, flanked
by a pair of machine guns. They’re
easy to jump though, and their fire
pattern is the same as a roadblock’s.

The Grail lies deep in the heart of a

hidden temple, guarded by three
deadly challenges.

Thisis why Dad’s diary is so important: The only catch to the Footsteps of
Itshows the safe path across the God is that you have to be quick if —
"Footsteps of God," and also gives the your torch burns out, you’ll be in total
proper symbol for the “Leap from the darkness. When it’s dark, you might
Lion's Head." still make it, if you're really lucky.
 Leap from tile to tile and spell Jeho-
vah” (which starts with a J, not an as I

in the film) —you forget how to spell,

if

you’ll go right through the floor and

the game will be over.

sjjj? w#
A A. _ I
The Grail’sshape depends on four
things: the bowl (round or V-shaped),
the handles (curved or S-shaped), the
lip (fluted or smooth), and the base /—
t (which comes in three different styles).

Assuming you survive, you’ll be met

by the knight who guards the Grail,
and he’ll present you with the final
challenge — choosing the right Grail. Here’s where the sketch you got in
is handy — it shows the shape
Venice
'
of the Grail.If the sketch is only partial,

you can try to remember details from

the original puzzle.

Holy
spldl)W

Choose the right Grail, and you’ll be

hailed as a hero and become part of
the Grail legend. Choose poorly, and
you’ll be dust on the floor.
 SUPER NES

Born of the Japanese fondness

for monster movies such as
Godzilla and Rodan, Ultraman was
the ultimate warrior. Transformed
by his power crystal into a tower-
ing giant capable of hypersonic
flight. Ultraman was ready to
combat the nearly endless parade
of monsters that seemed to plague
Japan in the 1960s. There aren't
many baby boomers who haven't
thrilled (or laughed) at the exploits
of Ultraman and his buddies, the
Science Patrol.
In the Super NES version of Gudis, like the virus that created him,
Ultraman, the Science Patrol is is one tough customer. Unfortunately,
gone, but the monsters are still he’s also the first monster on your list.
there — and so is mighty Ultraman.
This is the simplest of games —
there are no puzzles to solve,
storylines to follow, or items to
acquire. You just stand toe-to-toe
(or toe-to-claw) with each monster enemy must still be finished off
and go at it. The monsters respond with a blast of Burning Plasma. Normally,
differently to your different you use the blast only at the end of a
weapons and moves, so there's stage because it dramatically drains your
some experimentation involved.
90701
But in the end, the victor is the one
who lands the most blows.
CA

Cerritos,

Street;

166th

East

12851

By tapping the power of the Delta Plasma

Don’t try any body slams with Bogun — getting to
close to him can be fatal. Use spin-kicks and ultra-high
Pendant, ordinary Jack Shindo is trans-
Bandai formed into Ultraman — but for only
jump-kicks instead.

three minutes at a time.

26
 Degola rolls up like an armadillo, Gudis II is tougher than his

then attacks. Protect yourself with predecessor, but he does

Barrangas's breath is a deadly gas, so
the Ultra Shield and let Degola roll leave himself open to attack
an ultra-high jump-kick serves two pur- when he charges his prey.
right into your kick or arrow-beam.
poses: It’s not only an effective weapon, magnum-
Try the knuckle- or
but it keeps you away from the gas as
shooter.
well.

Although you can run away

from most of the other mon- '
Majaba’s lasers are easy to duck,
sters to buy time while building
but you won’t find a quicker monster
your energy, that tactic doesn’t
anywhere. Anticipating his moves is
work with Zebokon. Attack him
head-on.
key to victory.

GP
Although a boss of one of the later stages, Kodalar

is relatively easy to defeat. Use ultra-high jump-kicks

to avoid his low-trajectory laser.

Kilazee, perhaps the toughest monster, packs two

watch your
front lasers. Don’t try a frontal assault,
landings, and use the Burning Plasma to soften him

27
 ill ow that the 16-bit Super
Nintendo is available in This "First Wave" of Super I

I stores across the country, game NES includes everything from

developers are rushing to arcade-sty le shooters to intricate
produce new titles for the role-playing adventures. So to
system. Of course, it takes a 1 help you decide which games
while to move a game from I might be best for you, we've
the planning stages to your put together some brief re- I

|
local videogame store. And views and plenty of screen
as it did with the eight-bit shots of all eighteen games.
system, Nintendo will As this issue went to
review each new press, Nintendo hadn't of-
|
game, approving ficially announced which
only those it thinks of the many games
planned would be ;

included in the First j

Wave. As a result, a I

few of the titles we

mention might not
make it to the stores |

until early 1992.

Mario is back, and than the other eight-bit games,

ful everything the Super NES is ca-
he’s busierthan ever. and the graphics are snappier. But pable of doing. The result is super- I

You’ve got to hand it it doesn’t lookaW that different. A lot slick play control, super-smooth
to the designers at of this is probably a deliberate at- animation, and enough hidden bo-
Nintendo — the tempt by Nintendo to remain faith- nus worlds and warp zones to keep
]

Mario Bros, series of ful to the look and feel of the past you busy for ages. You’ll play this
games just keeps three Mario adventures. As you one again and again.
getting better and play Super Mario World,
better. though, the real wonder
At first glance starts to sink in.

you’re liable to be The game seems to

fooled:Super Mario have been designed to
World is more color- take advantage of nearly

J1
W f
Tl
ir
1
1) mT
mm

Nintendo
 Well probably see a lot
j

of racing games for the Choose

i
Super
machine's
ing
NES. The
built-in

and rotation make

scal-
it
1 from four
different fu-
turistic
I relatively

game where
easy to design hovercars, mx
a the Ufa then hit the
I
scenery just zips by. circuit. The
And as racing tracks are
games go, F-Zero is wicked,
pretty exciting. There’s not a lotto it, curving things scattered with ramps racing games, F-Zero will hold your
butthat’sa plus, nota minus. Stripped and mines. Your opponents are un- attention. ... ,
,

game derhanded, and the pace is awfully Nintendo

to its essentials, the is all

reflexes and speed. fast. Even if you don't especially like

a little more laid back, requiring

steady control and fine-tuned skills
j

rather than quick reactions.

You get to pilot all kinds of air- I

ers. Although its third-

craft, but the game's lasting appeal j

Pilotwings makes excellent use of person perspective and

lies in the unexpected: if you're good
Super NES scaling and rotation — limited maneuvers keep
you’ll land in a bonus stage, where
j

nothing short of breathtaking, Pilotwings from being a j

it’s you get a chance to handle off-the-

and one of the best-looking games true flight simulator, it
wall craft like a birdman suit, an
we’ve seen so far. Basically, you are comes pretty close.
albatross, and even a sky diving
an aspiring pilot, learning to fly ev- Look elsewhere for penguin!
erything from biplanes to hang glid- breakneck action. The pace here is
Nintendo j

Originally an awarckvinning computer game,

Sim City shows that Nintendo is interested *

in more than just 1 6-bit shooters. Sim City, WH

h _ Another “super” version of a popular
NES game, Super Play Action Foot-
a simulator of urban planning, puts you in
charge of a town or city and makes you
Sii
alj
ba//letsyou choose from 28 profes- growth and develop-
responsible for its
sional teams, plus a few from the ment.
college and Pee-Wee leagues. You fixtax rates, decide where to locate
You not only get a close-up view of police and fire departments, and affectthe pH1
the action but a graphic overview of
,

the entire field in one corner of the

lives of millions of citizens. You also have to
j
aj
put up with the occasional unforseen acci- IfiJ
screen. As an added attraction, the dent, ranging from fires and earthquakesto
players do a lot of strange things, monsters!
giant, city-eating
like moonwalking in the end zone.
The PC version was a challenging game
Nintendo
filled with off-center humor, and the Super NES version is
j

identical in nearly every respect. A terrific game!

Nintendo !

[
29
 The further adventures it should be released by Christmas. designers have promised thatthis will
of Link in the land of The screen shots we have seen be the biggest Zelda adventure yet. In

Hyrule. At press time, show that Nintendo has returned to any case, Zelda fans should get their
not much else is known the top-down, three-dimensional per- money’s worth.
about the game except spective of the original Zelda, and the Nintendo

The over-
used "rescue
your girlfriend”
storyline getsyou
started, but once repetitive after a while, the glossy Kfc
you’re fighting graphics and touches of humor are B|
This kind of hancko-hand combat game through the streets
•

more than enough to keep you inter- pB

can best be judged by the variety of it really doesn’t mat- ested. And the game is always chal- fjju
moves available to you, and how im- termuch. Soon you’re attacked by A real winner.
pressive those moves make you look.
By that score, Final Fight is a great
hordes of enemies, and the fighting
doesn’t let up until the game is over.
lenging.
Capcom H
game. It's got large, detailed charac- Although the action gets a little

HU
U.N. Squadron is one of the first which weapon systems the plane will SNES shooters.
shooters for the SNES. As a United carry, as well as the order of your This is probably the
Nations pilot, you get to fly a number missions, and your own strengths best game of its
of different types of aircraft against
an incredibly well-equipped
terrorists. Ultimately,
army of
you'll have
as a
is
pilot.

unusual
This wide variety of choices
in a shooter, and
a strategy element that you don’t
it adds
type to
for the
come along
Super NES. 3
to locate and destroy a high-tech usually find. Capcom
fortress hidden in a remote forest. The graphics are sharp, and the
Each craft has its own game doesn’t suffer from the
capabilities, and you get to choose slowdown we’ve seen in a few other
 CALL NOW
TO GET INSTANT
 In fact, it's a lot more colorful, and
This is a totally new adventure featuring
featuressome great, unique stages that
Sir Arthur, and not a Super NES version
use scaling and rotation.
of the Genesis game Ghouls and Ghosts.
All the action you’ve come to expect
from this series is here, and it's even
better — although you do have to rescue
a princess again.
Capcom

JJI ~ Jlf

John Madden Football was a big hit when excellent, and it’s loaded with interesting
it was released on the Sega Genesis last features like variable weather, instant
year. There’s no reason to believe the replays, and individualized player stats.
j
Super NES version will be any different. Best of all, it should be released in

The game’s multi-window displays and time for the ’91 football season.
diagrammed play calls make it easy to get Electronic Arts
to the heart of the action. The graphics are i

I I
1

""i r T

Mi

previews of every hole and

multiple camera angles of the ball in
flight give PGA Tour Golf the look of
a televised golf tournament.
You’ll have to hold your own
against 60 of the world's best golf-
ers, on four of the world's toughest
courses. The SNES version will fea-
ture better graphics and some neat
scaling and rotation effects that
weren’t in the Genesis version.
Electronic Arts

[
32]
 Lakers vs. Celtics is a remarkably
ambitious game. Not only are all

sixteen '91 NBA playoff teams rep-

resented, but their stats, jersey down on fatigue, and pull your start- hd
numbers, and even the appearance ers if they get into foul trouble. R
of the individual players are all au- Watch out for the refs, because JM
j
thentic. And best of the game they will call those violations. Elec- Sfl
I
all,

play is terrific! tronic Arts designs some good

You not only control the action, sports games, and this is one of the H
but you have to coach as
bench players occasionally to cut
well. You'll best.
Electronic Arts
^
•

A vertically scrolling easily the worst “slow-

"
shooter, D-Force puts
1

down" we've seen.

you in the cockpit of an There's really very little
‘

g
attack helicopter, flying to make />Forcestand
into enemy territory to above any of the eight-
thwart the schemes of *. bit shooters we've
an “oil-rich dictator."
'
Sound fan# But this scaling seems to have been seen. pSjj
iar? In a lot of ways, it is. added as an afterthought, and really All things consid-
The game includes a “technical doesn’t enhance the game much. ered, this is probably
mode,” which uses Super NES scal- Worst of all, the action slows down the least impressive game we’ve I

ing to make it appear that you and the characters flicker with only a come across yet for the Super NES. I

change altitude in your chopper. few enemies onscreen at a time —

Asmik

First the good news:

demons and aid the develop-
land of Gradius III has an excellent
ment of civilization. The game alter- soundtrack and it really
nates between side-scrolling action looks great. Now the bad
stages while fighting the demons, news: the action really
then switches to a sort of godlike slows down when there’s a
Sim City. lot happening on screen,
Looking down from your home in even to the point at which
the clouds, you listen to the people’s characters begin to shred
prayers and help them along with like they would in an 8-bit

timely miracles. In return, they offer game.

gifts which you can use during the So what’s the bottom
arcade sequences. line? Well, if you're only interested in a fast,
This is one of the most interesting and well- smooth game you should probably skip this one.
,

designed games you'll see this fall. The action is On the other hand, if you own a Super NES and
exciting, and the “simulation" is enjoyable. you just can't wait to buy a shooter, Gradius III is

Icing on the Cake Dept. —Actra/'ser features actuallyone of the better ones — you won’t find

one of the best soundtracks we've heard on any one that looks as good.
game on any system. Konami
Enix !
 game play. The inset

ofthe diamond now

shows not only the
base runners and
location of the ball,

but also the fielder

currently under the
player’s control (a

welcome addition).
The base runners can slide and the
home run sequence is a little more
play. In other words, it’s a rock-solid exciting.

baseball game, with all the realism If you liked Bases Loaded or I, II,

^This is the latest in a popular line of and sophistication you might expect for NES, you'll love Super Bases
III

<2 baseball games from Jaleco. It looks from a 1 6-bit system. Loaded for Super NES.
Hand plays like you’d expect a 16-bit A few things have been added to Jaleco
^version of Bases Loaded to look and this new version that really enhance

"good,” you must pro-

vide your people with
level, fertile land and di-

rect them along the path

to civilization. At the
same time you’re al-

lowed (and encouraged) used a point-and-click interface, j

to heap earthquakes and Somehow, the “shortcuts” make the

j
other disasters on the game feel more awkward than other I

people who follow “evil.” versions. But if you haven't played the I

PC and Sega Genesis for some time, The Super NES ver- game on some other system, you
j
and the Super NES version presents sion provides control pad probably won't notice this.

much the same challenge. As an “shortcuts” for all the different game Acclaim j

overseeing deity on the side of the actions, where the other versions

Fans of Final Fan-

tasy for NES re-

joice! Final Fan-

tasy II for Super
NES is .
coming,
and it's not only
bigger and
brighter, it has a
great sound-
track, nasty-look-
creatures,
ing
and a really intri- Fantasy RPG’s have been rela-
cate storyline. rare for the NES, but several
tively

# The introduction such titles have already been an-

sequence alone runs the gamut from nounced for the Super NES, and
high adventure to soap opera. many more will probably follow. If
I
they're all as good as this one, RPG Square Soft
 llltuu Mad Gears. (However, there's no two-
world — at least since the Mad Gears of the police on the Mad Gear payroll, player mode in which Haggar and
. moved in. The ultimate in organized Haggar could think of only one solu- Cody fight side by side, as Billy and
\
crime, the Mad Gears will stop at noth- tion:Go into the sheets and clean them Jimmy do in Double Dragon II.)
ing to further their ill-gotten gains. up himself. It's do or die. Final Fight is a great game, com-
y
Mike Haggar, former pro
Enter Luckily, Haggar isn' t the only per- bining mindless over-the-top action
I fighter and newly elected mayor. son who arrives at that conclusion. with just a dash of strategy. The 16-bit
I Haggar was determined to drive the Jessica's boyfriend, Cody, another graphics are excellent, with large on-
Mad Gears out of Metro City. But his martial-arts expert, also decides to screen characters and lots of outra-
plans hit a snag when the Mad Gears embark on a one-man resale mission. geous moves. If you enjoy this kind of
^ kidnapped his daughter Jessica and In Final Fight, you can play as either punch-and-kick action, or if you're
I held her hostage. Resolved not to give Haggar or Cody in an all-out battle simply tired of aite peaceniks like

I in, but with time running out and most against every last tooth and cog of the Mario, Final Fight is the game for you.

35
 Qoiy ]s fiuipcheis arei viryi fast.iabd jfyotji pre?s iiojv
The decision between body ancl Haggar'is simple:' I
on the directional pad while atfackiha, He'll flip t
Dp you want speed or strength? While Wap^arj is
1

(
1

opponent. Upe tpe flip to tjhrPvy dnpmie? imp dr

very powerful:, Cody is quicker and slightly easier toi ~j
i

dnothdr.

36
 Each fighter has a breakaway Whether you’re fighting as Cody or
move you can use when you’re Haggar, you can dish out extreme
getting pounded, like Haggar’ punishment by using combination
standing spin-punch. This mow moves. Try two punches followed
drains your life meter, though, s< by two head-butts, then pile-drive
use it only when you have to. the bad guy back info the crowd!

The boss of the slums is a guy named Thrasher. Nearly

all the stage bosses can be defeated the same way.
Don’t approach them head-on, where they can hit
you; come at them from the side.

Once you’ve grappled with Thrasher, let him have it. On the subway you’ll meet the Andore family. They’re
,

You can pull any move on a boss that you could on the worst opponents. you’ll face, other than bosses.
a lesser thug. The only difference is that bosses can Don’t let them get near enough to grab you, or you’ll
take a lot more damage. _ __ learn what a pile driver feels like yourself!

3 ',
i

WBk£ \\

1 il
W-i H

Jow you have to fight Andore and his bigger, meaner brother. Flip or slam]
>ne of them so they're both on the same side of the screen. Haggar can-
jrab the sword or pipe and finish them off easily, but Cody doesn’t quite
lave the reach to keep them from charging — use his flying kick instead.
iThb pmprdtpers pan take, more-
damage than lanyone ;buf the:
'Apdbrps.'Stpy in trie middle ol trie-]
1 1

iscreen sa you have time fa reacH

^riep thpy chprpp.

watch out for The Hdlly Woods tpss firebombs. Try to grab or punch
ing barrels, Slay iri the cepter pf thp serpen and 1
at least one of these guys before he throws his bomb;
the breakaway imove. i
i
i
then stay in that part ot the screen until the fires die

Abigdil is probdbl.y the.to'ughest boss in the garpe. (You’d be mean, too, if you were a huge man in clown maker
vyith q name (ike Abigail.) There’s almost no way to beat him without taking a lot ot abuse and dying a few tim«
Agdin, Stay dlosei, buhdont getidirettly in front of him dr he’ll grab you. It he turns red, he’s going to charge
lisp trie ^reqkawqy'toi stop hrrrp
During this bonus stage, be sure to hit each pane of glass right
in the center. If there’s more than one pane in a line, get as
close as possible and smash 'em all at once to save time.

Head uptown, where you’ll come 1

As you enter the hotel, watch oufl One good trick you can use]
to the longest section of the gameU for chandeliers falling from the- throughout the game is to force]
You’d better get used to the idea of, ceiling— you can see their shad-I the enemies off the screen. Eveir
being attacked by swarm after ows on the floor. They hold bonus- though you can’t always see them^
swarm of enemies, like these] items.and the first one contains you can still hit them if you kee£]
cartwheeling punks. barbecue. punching — and they usually won’t-,
hit back!

Watch out for the Holly Woods and-

El Gados falling from the sky. Theyj
do this occasionally during other]
stages, but they make it a regular
habit here. Be alert for their shad^

40
NINTENDO GAME
OF THE

Richard Lashley

In the not-so-distant future, a highly

addictive drug called Nuke is poi-
jpning Detroit. People addicted to
uke will do anything — evenkill — j
"t A Support their habit.
Because of Nuke, a crime wavJ
lering on anarchy is sweeping
city. To make matters worse, thT
police;are on strike. Detroit is teariia
itself apart.
Enter Robocop, an armor-platcf
law enforcer. Originally a humaj
policeman named Alex Murphy, 1
was severely wounded by criminals
and was rebuilt as a cyborg (cybernetic
organism) —
part human, part ma-
chine. Robocop is the high-tech an-
swer to Detroit's high crime rate.

In his first adventure, Robocop

thwarted a criminal conspiracy
headed by Dick Jones, an executive
of the O.C.P. corporation. O.C.P.
wanted to build a whole police force
of robotic cops that would eventu-
ally take over the city. Robocop
fought his way to O.C.P. headquar-
and defeated Jones.
Now Robocop faces a new en-
emy: Cain, the psychopathic master-
mind behind the development of
Nuke. Cain revels in the chaos he's
wreaking on Detroit. Like a wildfire,
Cain's drug is consuming countless
lives.
In Robocop 2, you stomp on cyl-
inders of Nuke and arrest criminals
in 16 stages of armor-piercing action.
You must destroy a lot of Nuke and
meet your arrest quotas (and survive)
before facing the elusive Cain for a
final showdown.
But Cain didn't become a master
He won't
criminal by being careless.
be an easy prey. Each stage has metal
crushers, magnetic booby traps, and
that stand be-
roasMfl m These barrels on the banks
of the River Rouge are
slippery. Be careful, be-
cause Robocop’s im-
mense weight makes him
slide after he lands from a
jump. Learn to gauge how
much force to use when
jumping.

| <WiiI; f t Before each stage begins,

To finish each stage, you must
stomp on at least 60 percent of a “Zone Report” tells if
there's a bonus area hid-
the Nuke and arrest 60 percent
of the “arrestable” bad guys
den in the stage —
but it
doesn’t reveal the loca-
(theirfaces blink and a whistle
tion. Instage 1, enter the
sounds). In stage 1, jump on
these barrels to reach more
bonus area in front of the
The only easy thing in this game eighth building complex.
and Nuke
criminals canisters.
is getting rid of Nuke — just step
on it.

The bonus section in stage

1 is in the sewers of Detroit.

The slime down there is

very slippery, so be care-
ful when you jump.

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If Robocop falls victim to one of Cain's

traps, he's sent back to the shop for repairs.
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These rail-riding platforms take
83

In stage 6, your energized pis TmriTtTftw

tol becomes much more pow
erful. firing a spread of four shots
enemies above and
that hits
below you.

Jump down here to stomp on the Nuke ond

grab the invincibility power up For a short
period of time no weapon or enemy can
harm you. (But you can still fall off a ledge )
Be extra cautious through here The gush
ing fire hydrant at the far right causes
Robocop to slide a lot.
 yM
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Grab this weapon power-up on iisL

ilrtBiSP ,inS?
the first floor of the Civic Cen
trum. You’re going to need lots ittasaah
of power — on the roof is an evil it’s a long battle up to the Civic
robocop named Robocop 2, Centrum's roof This laser fires a
and it's controlled by Cain's devastating energy bolt that
brain It has powerful weapons can fry you with one hit
and the latest composite armor
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 NINTENDO GAME

"MONTH

Jeff Lundrigan

ike wasn't looking for a dan- they could say was that he'd been Uncle Steve. To help Mike defend
gerous adventure. All he wanted looking for some lost ruins out in himself, the chief and the shaman

was to spend some time with his the Coral Sea. gave him Coralcola's only weapon:
Uncle Steve on C-Island. Steve Then the village chief told Mike the Island Yo-Yo. Thus armed, and
Jones was a great archaeologist, the bad news —Uncle Steve had protected by the magic of the
and Mike didn't get to see him very been abducted! The chief and his Southern Cross, Mike set out to
often.But when Mike got off the sister, the village shaman, also told find his uncle and solve the mys-
helicopter on C-Island, his uncle Mike a strange tale of weird lights tery of the Coral Sea.
wasn't there to greet him. in the sky and dangerous new
At the island's only village, creatures that had suddenly ap- Nintendo of America
Coralcola, none of the people knew peared in the ocean. P.O. Box 957
where Uncle Steve was, either. All Mike decided to rescue his Redmond, WA 98073

You'll have to talk to everyone in

Coralcola before going to see the
chief. Luckily, the chief is a good friend
of Uncle Steve, and he'll get you started
on your journey.
After setting out in Uncle Steve's sub- There are passages in the underground
marine, the Sub-C, you'll hear a plea There are a lot of secret passages on tunnels, too. If you look closely, some-
forhelp from a very worried dolphin. If Lighthouse Island, both in the water times you'll see a faint shadow where
you help her, she'll help you In return and through the mountains. Push the passages are. Push against the
more than once. against every barrier until you find a new room you might
walls in every —
way through. You'll find passages on be surprised.
most of the islands this way,

The young dolphin is being The dolphins will lead you to Boneheads can jump over Magma the Fierce is invul-
held prisoner by Octo the Miracola Island. The tunnel water, but they stop for a nerable to attack, but you
Huge. Jump over the to the village contains tiles second before leaping. Hit can douse his fire by sinking
deadly ink he spits at you that rise and sink. Be sure to one a few times, then jump the platform beneath him.
and wait for him to charge hit both of these tiles on ei- out of the way; always All you have to do is step on
into range. Freeze him there ther side— you'll be re- keeping the water be- two trigger tiles and two
with the magic snowman, warded with a pair of tween you and the switches — while avoiding
then pound him with the double hearts. Bonehead. Then turn and his deadly fireballs.
bat or yo-yo. hit it again.

The fortuneteller The Ghost Tunnels

wants her crystal are filled with invisible
ball back, and monsters called
you'll have to Minies. You can't
brave the dangers hurt a Minie unless
of Ghost Village to you can see it, so if a
find it. The way lies
door won't open or
underground, and you're being at-
you'll find the en-
tacked by some-
trance beneath thing you can't see.
this tombstone. use the Rod of Sight.

You can find your way

There's a switch to open the
across this dark room without
much trouble. Be sure to hit
thisswitch and go south —
door to this room, but use
the Rod of Sight anyway, Kill-
pilCirt
ing this Minie will open a door
you'll find the lamp in that a to a room with a pair of
direction. Then come back double
and head east.
m a cij aJrZZ
hearts.
One last Rod of Sight will reveal a
boss This geyser is your ticket to Hermit's
named Maxie. He's big, but not very The fortuneteller will provide help and Mountain. Notice that this side of the
tough. Dodge the fireballs from the send you to the hermit's cave. The room has no door, but you can get in
mini-volcanoes and give Maxie a seri- entrance tunnel contains this appar- through a secret passage in the room
ous thrashing with your bolas. ently unreachable chest, but if you to the immediate right.
jump for it, you will make it — trust me.

On Bellcola island, Pete the Parrot

knows the tune that opens the un-
derground passage. The message
he gives you is really a set of musical
notes. If you can remember your do-
re-mi's, you can play the tune.

After leaving Miracola, you'll promptly

get swallowed by a whale! Getting out
of the whale is a mazelike journey. Just
remember that the Sub-C can sub-
merge in the "tunnels" inside the whale.

In the room above, you'll The Red Megaton the

Ball is

Halfway across this room, Falling through the floor find a passage that links fastest and deadliest of
you trigger an earthquake
' II from the room above is these two "notches." Look Captain Bell's three bowl-
that begins crumbling the actually a good thing. closely along the left-hand ing balls. Your shooting star
tiles. Leap over this gap to Avoid the pencil traps and wall for the shadow of a can stop it for a second, so

give yourself enough time head for the lower-right set passage to the next room. use that precious time to
to exit. And don't forget to of stairs. This roundabout route is the get out of the way.
grab all three hearts! only way to continue.

Once off Bellcola Is- The Lost Ruins are

land, you'll have to guarded by the Giant
pilot the Sub-C Turboss. His attack
through a series of pattern is almost ex-
passages both un- actly like that of Octo
derwater and the Huge except you
,

through the islands. can't freeze the

Search all the islands: Turboss. But don't
There's a big heart- —
despair yourshoot-
hidden on one, and ing star makes it a fair
the natives have fight.
clues.
This roomful of Muumus Is the ideal The entrance in the tunnel past the Big
place to use your spikes. Spikes are Broken Joe is vulnerable in only one Rock is a decoy. Don't go north unless
probably the most spectacular weap- place —
his open mouth. Throw Horse you like wasting time. The true path lies
ons you'll find in the whole game, so Hide Baseballs as fast as you can, but through a passage in the lower right
don't pass up a chance to use them! don'tforgetto jump overthe snakes he corner of the entrance room.
spits at you. His touch is deadly, so
don't get too close.

Don't even try to The Twin Sumocho

fightthe enemies in statues can be
thisroom — the beaten with Aster-
combination of the isks. Stay on one of

Rockys and the the center tiles and

power-sapping jump in place over
Fuzz too much to
is the Twins' shots.
handle. There's a Beating them is
passage in the partly a matter of
center of the left luck — sometimes
wall, so head their shots are out of
straight for it. sync,

You've finally found

Uncle Steve, but
you're not finished
The first room in the
yet! Your uncle tells
spaceship is a bit of
you about the space
a maze. Grab those
aliens who kid- hearts and head
napped him, and he north.
sends you into their
spaceship to find the
three magic crystals.

Continue north and

If you continue east
wind up here,
you'll
over these tiles,
ready for your first you'll find both a
taste of the mysteri-
ray gun and a
ous Vitamin X. (You'll
dead end. Grab
like it a Ignore
lot.)
the gun and come
the teleport tile .grab
back here, then go
the capsule, and south.
head east.
 When you get
here, go east Destroying these
again over the robots is mostly a
Use the tele-
tiles. matter of patience.
port at the far
tile Do what damage
end. It leads to a you can and con-
teleport cross- centrate on staying
roads, which then alive,
leads toa walkway
that goes south.

You can damage

these turrets only
Any sections of the
when they open up
spaceship's walls to fire. Jump over
that are cracked can
their shots to avoid
be destroyed. They being hit, and de-
lead to side rooms
stroy them one at a
containing special time.
items.

The white satellites act like the Noctos As you make your way across these
you fought underground, but watch This big robot has a habit of charging you'll be attacked by a swarm of
tiles,

out for the red satellites — they shoot all the way down to the south end of red satellites, The Wide-Beam Gun is
back. the room and its touch is instantly fatal
, your best bet here. It doesn't have
Keep out of Its way, and shoot it with much range, but it covers a lot of area.
eitherthe Wide-Beam Gun or the Super
Nova.

Although this robot

You'llhave to hop flashes when hit, it

between the walk- doesn't suffer dam-

ways here, since age. Jump over its
you can't jump for- shots and keep firing
ward. Hop, step for- forcing backward
it

until you can hit both

ward, then hop
again, and keep switches. When the
going until you end of the walkway
reach the other disappears, push the
side. robot back again
until it falls off.
 Now you're almost ready for your first encounter with
the evil Zoda, the dark and dangerous leader of the
alien invaders.
As soon as you appear, grab the gun you'll find on this
platform. When Zoda's head shows up, stand to the
side and shoot it. Be ready to dodge when he throws
his eyes at you.

When Zoda's head

disappears, quickly - rfi *«•* ;,i It'snotoveryet! Fight

move to the center of mm

:
w .-wsSy- Ft your way past Zo-
the platform. If a hand
appears, immediately
gp$ ;
i

1 " da's guard-bots un-

til you reach the re-

run away from it, then

go back to the center,
Continue shooting
- — 1
nayuBM actor core. Hop
onto the center
platform and blast
away at the core,
Zoda's head and ” —
but watch out the
dodging his hands un- is qjp cafe s gws«*ws '‘,i
‘ °

platform opens.
he's defeated. (< Igl r-J
til
i
; s»j.*««5W

If you fall through the platform, you'll Now begins the final battle with Zoda
wind up here. This room isn't as dan- — in his true form! Keep your distance
gerous as it looks, but don't hang With the reactor destroyed, the ship and use the Super Nova, which can
around. Grab the Vitamin X and run will begin to crack up. Run to the far reach across the room. If you get too
forthe exit. In fact, if you get low on end of this platform and wait for these low on hearts to use the Super Nova
energy, you can drop down here on
purpose.
jumping blobs to attack you. When
killed, they give up hearts and stars.
use the gun. When Zoda
throws more blobs atyou,
^
Stay there until your energy meter is full destroy them as
quickly as you
can. Good luck!

GP
 Richard Lashley and Chris Slate

You walk up to a magazine rack, them. And, with each new game, colorful realm of the Mushroom
and what do you see? Sure, there's the brothers continue to intrigue World. And you can count on
the usual assortment of car and audiences everywhere. Bowser and his delinquent kids to
fashion magazines, but what's a Everyone's looking forward to be there, spreading their own
funny little Italian plumber doing Super Mario 4 on the Super NES special brand of mayhem.
next to New York's latest fashion when it's introduced in just a few Here's our collection of the 30
model? It looks like Mario may months — but let's not get too far best hints we've ever offered. We'll
have reached superstar status. ahead of ourselves. Right now. show you some of the game's most
Mario Bros, games demand cover- Super Mario Bros. 3 remains the secret locations of warp whistles,
age like no other titles many — single best-selling NES videogame hidden coin rooms, and many more
game players gobble up any in- In response to your constant tips Mario can use on his journey.
formation they can find about requests, we' re revisiting the crazy. Happy hunting!

9QQ
GX30OEX]

Near the beginning of World 1 you'll discover a Super Leaf inside this brick. Catch the leaf, and it transforms
,

you into Raccoon Mario. Now, take a running start to charge up your P-meter (which enables you to fly short
distances), and follow this trail of coins into the clouds.

In the magical Mushroom World, many valuable objects are under mounds of brick. As you approach the
exit to World 1, use Koopa turtles to shatter these bricks and uncover a small treasure of coins.

53
 To reach the secret room at the bottom of this pipe in World 1-2, hit the switch
block (marked by a P) to change the coins into stairs. Now you can easily slip into
the narrow pipe.

Mario isn't just an expert plumber —

he's also a pretty slick cardplayer. After
you score 80,000 points, the map screen
displays an N-marked spade panel. It's
your chance to play a matching game
At the end of each world, a vertical, jagged edge scrolls for extra men.
onto the screen. When you see it, start running to
charge up your P-meter, and launch yourself into the
lower left comer of the goal box. Often this gives you
a star, and after you collect three consecutive stars,
you'll get five extra men.

The hidden coin rooms in World 1 are just a preview of the complex, sprawling paths in this game. At the beginning of World 1-3, use
a Koopa turtle to slam through these bricks. Jump around on this newly excavated ground, and you'll discover an invisible Jump Block
that tosses you into a small fortune.

After you enter World 1-3, your pulse suddenly starts to race, the tension builds,
and your cute moustache starts to twitch nervously — the first warp whistle
must be near. Squat on this block (it takes a few seconds) until you fall through,
behind the scenery. Run to the right. You'll wind up in the Toad's house, where
the mysterious whistle room is located.

What better place to hide the second warp whistle than in the fortress of World 1? As you approach the exit
of the fort, be sure you're Raccoon Mario. With a running start, fly offscreen to the right until the screen stops
scrolling. Press up to enter the hidden room where the second warp whistle is located.

54
 With your two warp whistles, you can skip all the way
ahead to World 8. On the map screen, blow the first World 2-1, releases a Super Leaf when you bump the
whistle; a tornado will twist you into the Warp Zone. side of the stone with your hips.
Next, blow the second whistle, and you enter the Dark
Land of World 8 —
now that's moving.

Surrounded by a hot, choking desert, this oasis

in World 2-2 offers a cooling dip in a pool.
Between these coins is an invisible block con-
taining a one-up mushroom.

Use a Koopa to crumble the blocks surround-

ing this pipe. It leads to the end of World 2-3,
and you'll score hundreds of points in the
process.

Being Raccoon Mario has its advantages. In

World 2-4, use your swishing tail to propel
yourself up to this pipe. Squirm into it, and
you'll find a room brimming with coins.

Eating (or, in this case, climbing) vegetables keeps you healthy and rich in World 2-5. Stomp the Koopa, and
ram it into these bricks. Then a secret vine climbs into the sky, where you'll find clouds of coins.

55
 In World 2, it helps to be Raccoon Mario inside the
dusty chambers of the pyramid. If you're not Rac-
coon Mario, destroy one of the Buzzy Beetles
crawling around and use its shiny shell to blast
through the stone walls.

Occasionally, you'll encounter a Hammer Brother on the map screen. This Hammer dude looks tough. However, he's easily defeated
ifyou slide underneath and attack from below. Plus, the special items a Hammer Brother leaves behind are a big help.

Finding extra men is essential in a huge game like

Super Mario Bros. 3. When you visit the fortress in
World 2, enter the fifth door to the right. In this room,
you'll find a one-up mushroom.

*
3
3
3
V3
” a
3
3
* ° a Q q a3
s 3 3 3
3 3 a, 3 3
S® a g 3^15 g j

If time allows and Bowser's

crazy creatures aren't ha-
In this game, the slide technique is a helpful move you can Use it here to
try. rassing you, chip away at
reveal a treasure of silver coins hanging in the sky. Remember: Tp get an extra these blocks in World 3-7.
Mario, you must collect 100 coins —
and this is a real good start. You'll uncover an extra
Mario.

Spike is one of Bowser's ruder pets. He throws things, like deadly spiked maces, at you. A couple of stomps
gets rid of this pest, though. Then climb the vine you've unearthed to find a surprise floating over
Mushroom World.

56
 J _
§f§
h c
_ f J7 .|

8 8 ^ iny.

Mario can transform into several animal forms, and then use their accompanying powers. To find the frog
World 3-9, slide down this pipe and you'll splash into an underground lake. Swim to the third pipe
suit in
and enter this secret room for coins and the frog suit.

Check your money and score before you leave a level. For a chance at extra coins
in some worlds, you must have a double digit match for your money (i.e. 11, 22,
33) that matches the tens' position (second number from the far right) in your
score. The right combination sends you to the pirate ship and its glittering
treasure. Before you abandon ship, though, you'll face a Hammer Brother.

The fortress of World 4 is a complex maze laced with booby traps. As you crumble the Dry Bone turtles patrolling this basement path,
slam into the block to the far right. Next, step on the switch block that appears. A doorway of coins will materialize, and it leads to
a vast room rich in power-ups.

At the entrance to World 4-5, fully charge your P-meter and fly to the pipe at the top right corner of the screen.
a Tanooki suit. This gives Mario the power of flight and the ability to become
for a brief time.

57
 Mario's accelerated run is The Mushroom World is littered with Bowser's hulking, stone-walled fortresses.
another neat trick to use in At the entrance to the World 7 fortress, hit these bricks to uncover a switch block
this game. Rather than at- that turns these slick stones into a wall of coins. Also, a Tanooki suit lies behind
tempting risky leaps across the secret door. Later, you can repeat this process with the same results.
narrow pits, you can simply
run across them.

At the start of World 8-1, you must be Raccoon Mario to reach this pipe in the top right comer of the screen.
On the other side of the pipe, slip out and kick this Question Block for three extra Marios.

At the beginning of World 8-2, the hypnotic hiss of a quicksand waterfall lures you into its gritty snare. But don't panic: You'll fall
out of it at the bottom. And there's a pipe to the right that leads to a coin room. You'll be near the end of the stage when you leave
this room.

This Starman renders you invincible. Grab it, then dive into the pit. Jump to the right to strike an invisible
block that contains a one-up mushroom. Then stop jumping and wait for the mushroom to come to you.
Otherwise, you'll seal yourself underneath a row of invisible blocks hanging over the pit.

i, leap around the electric Rotodisc and land on this narrow

ledge, to the far right of the screen. There's an invisible block here that has a one-
up mushroom. That extra man will come in handy as your strange, dreamlike
journey into Mushroom World ends at the doors of Bowser's hideout.
OP
58
!
CSG Imagesoft 9200 Sunset Blvd.; Suite 820; Los Angeles, CA 90069
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Jour path to fMor6ius!

(C)
 Stephen Poole Vince Matthews
Mm tadistance, the sprawling about six months, but it still generates difficult puzzles— how to mail
aBnjm mansion where Dr. Fred more reader mail to Game Player's a letter from the mansion. We
Bp and his family live may than almost any other Nintendo game. chose that particular puzzle
BH not look much different We receive all sorts of questions, from because it's crucial to two of the y
from any other big how to play the videogames in the game's four solutions.
l^^^^^house. Once you step mansion's arcade room to what kind Finally, we've included a list
’
pastthefront gate, though, you'll ofafter-dinnerdrinktheGreenTentacle of several things you should
soon realize you've entered a prefers. definitely avoid, unless you want to
topsy-turvy world where weirdness Why are so many players puzzled? see one or more of your kids pushing
abounds and danger lurks behind For one thing. Maniac Mansion is a up daisies in Dr. Fred's front lawn.
every door. fiendishly clever game that's difficult (Incidentally, almost all of these hints
Somewhere in that crazy to solve.And unlike most games. and clues also apply to the
mansion is Sandy, a young college Maniac Mansion has more than one computer versions of Maniac
student. Sandy disappeared a few solution. In fact, there are fourdifferent Mansion .)
days ago, and her boyfriend, Dave, ways to prevent Dr. Fred from carrying Good luck, and don't forget to
strongly suspects that Dr. Fred out his brain-suction give our regards to Nurse Edna!
kidnapped her for one of his operation on Sandy.
1

diabolical brain-siphoning exper- In the next few pages,

, iments. So Dave, accompanied you'll find a detailed map
by his friends, sneaks into Dr. Fred's of the mansion that will help fl|
mansion to carry out a dangerous you find the items you need
\ rescue mission. to save Sandy. You'll also 9
Maniac Mansion for Nin- find a step-by-step guide
tendo has been available for to one of the game's most

stairs to second floor

64
 ~

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JSiiftt.VS.
1 Key to front door under 23. Grab all the items on the
doormat. shelves.
2 Grate behind bushes — remove 24. Drain pool
to get under house. to get radio
3. Ed's undeveloped film. (It won't in pool
show up until he. mentions it.) chair
4. Package with uncanceled (batteries
stamps. for flashlight
5. Grate in pantry floor; film are in radio)
developer will spill onto floor and a key
directly below it. to secret
6. Water valve to drain or fill lab's outer
swimming pool. door.
7. Loose brick that opens 25. Tools in
dungeon door. trunk of
8. Push the gargoyle to open Edsel.
basement door. 26. faucet
This
9. Vacuum tube from radio can handle fits
I'wst
be used to fix shortwave radio. the
1 0. Cassette player use to play — bathroom
high-pitched noise, breaking shower.
chandelier. 27. Move cement slab to reveal fir'
1 1 . Key to dungeon door is a one-way passage to the
hidden in chandelier. meteor.
1 2. Shed some light on the 28. Wax fruit; feed to the
subject with this lamp. Green Tentacle.
1 3. Chuck the
Plant can't be — 29. Use this paint remover on
used to solve any problems. wall in den.
1 4. Open loose panel to find a 30. Syd or Razor can play piano.
blank cassette. Record a tune
1 5. Broken phone —
repair it with and impress the Green
tools from Edsel. Tentacle.
1 6. Light switch. 31 . Use the Victrola to play the
1 7. Silver key, opens door inside record of high-pitched noise.
pantry. 32. Cassette recorder; make a
1 8. Fuse box turns the power to tape of Syd and Razor, as well
the house on and off. as high-pitched noise.
1 9. Use flashlight while fixing wires 33. Watch TV to get mailing
in attic with the power address.
turned off. 34. Manuscript in desk is vital to an
20. Use the microwave to steam adventure involving Wendy.
open the envelope. 35. After Dr. Fred plays Meteor
21 Raid the fridge and grab Mess videogame, high score
everything you can. will be combination to inner
22. Grate through door of secret lab.
which the film developer 36. Use key from Edna's room to
leaks. open Meteor Mess videogame

“
 and retrieve your quarter (if you and combination to safe. 56 . Fix wires in attic to make
need to play again). 47 . Card key behind hamster is videogames work. Make sure
37 . Give the Green Tentacle wax essential to winning the game. power is off to avoid a shocking
and fruit drink, and he'll let
fruit Grab the key — and the furbail, experience.
you pass. if you like. 57 . Turn telescope twice to the right
38 . Darkroom. Michael isn't
If 48 Open piggy bank to find
. more to see combination to safe.
involved in your adventure, this dimes for telescope. 58 . If you've made friends with

room can be ignored. 49 . Use the Hunk-O-Matic so you either Ed or the Green Tentacle
39 . Grab dime on floor to use in can open objects like grates (and to get this far you must
telescope. and garage doors. have), they should come down
40 . Only Bernard can fix the 50 . Turn on shower to move Cousin and move the pesky Purple
shortwave radio and call the Ted. Tentacle.
meteor police. 51 . Edna's phone number. 59 . Take radiation suit from locker
4 1 Check the wanted poster to get
. 52 . Thissponge is awfully handy for and move quickly to next room.
number for meteor police. cleaning up spills. 60 . Throw this switch to bring the
42 . Record of high-pitched noises. 53 . Use typewriter to address a letter mad doctor to his senses.
43 . Cassette recorder —
play Syd or or edit a manuscript. 6 1 Grab meteor (or have
. Bernard
Razor's demo tape for the 54 . Man-eating plant; give it pool callthe meteor police).
Green Tentacle. water and Pepsi to safely reach Disposing of meteor in the old
44 Key to Weird Edsel.
. hatch in ceiling. Edsel outside sounds like a good
45 Key to videogames.
. 55 . Use paint remover here to reveal idea. The door to the right leads
46 Move painting to reveal a safe
. a secret door. to the Edsel,
 CRAVE MISTAKES:
THREE WAYS
TO BITE THE DUST

Each kid in Maniac Mansion can the pool is radioactive, and if you cook
perform special duties or tasks, and it in the microwave, the radioactive

that affects the way you approach steam will spell doom for one of your
the many puzzles in the game. No kids.
matter which kids you choose, you'll Anotherfatal mistake also involves
always make minor mistakes that'll the swimming pool. You'll have to send
get you tossed into the dungeon. Keep one kid under the house to drain the
this in mind when playing, and save the pool so another kid can collect
game at any point where you might valuable items. But you can't leave
be venturing into the unknown. the pool drained indefinitely without
Some mistakes, however, can causing a nuclear meltdown. So when
mean more than the inconvenience the alarm sirens start going off, don't
of a trip to the dungeon, They can cost panic and turn the water back on
you a kid — instantly! without first getting the kid out of the
For example, when you steam pool. None of the kids can swim — and
open the envelope you found in the even if they could, the water is too
wall safe, be careful where you get the radioactive for a dip.
water to fill the glass jar. You might think A third fatal mistake involves Weird
the swimming pool is a nifty place to Ed's pet hamster. If you happen to be
Ifyou use swimming pool water to find water, but think again The water in
. one of the first people who bought the
steam open the envelope, you can
say goodbye to one member of your
team.
LUG! GLUG! GLUG ! SLUG
SIGNED, SEALED,
AND DELIVERED

One of the most complex problems in room and get an-

Maniac Mansion is mailing a package other dime from the ^ninnr:ritniiiiTnrn‘nn
from the mansion. You've got to find piggy bank.
an envelope, a stamp, an address, Now pull the
and a way to write the address on the same trick on Edna.
envelope. Oh, there's one other thing While Edna takes
— you have to decide what you're one kid to the
going to mail. We'll leave that up to dungeon, another
you. kid can go into the attic above her You must refill the pool, but don’t let
You can find the stamps you need
' II room. Go to the painting and move it any of your kids get wet in the process.
early in the game. Keep one of the kids to one side to reveal a wall safe,
close to the mailbox, and when the Send a kid to the swimming pool,
doorbell rings, send that kid to the but make sure he has the glass jar from
mailbox. You'll find a package with the pantry. Fill the glass jar with pool envelope. You can address the
some uncanceled stamps. water, then head to the den on the envelope with the typewriter in the
Next, head for the music room on third floor. Use the pool water on the den, but be sure to let the kid who saw
the second-floor landing, then go to plant to make it grow then give it the
; the address on TV do the typing.
the TV at the far right side of the room. can of Pepsi from the fridge to make it Finally, head for the kitchen. Place
When you turn on the TV, you'll see the burp, Go to the hatch in the ceiling the envelope, stamps, and a glass of
address where you can send your that leads to the observatory, but be tap water in the microwave, then turn
package. sure the kid you send up has two dimes. it on. The envelope will be steamed

There are a lot of steps involved in Find the coin slot on the wall, insert open, and the stamps will stick to the
finding an envelope. First, go to Dr. a dime, and press the right button. envelope. Place your package in the
Fred's room and pick up the dime on Repeat the process, then look through mailbox and raise the flag. The U.S.
the floor, Next, send a kid to Weird Ed's the telescope to see the combination Postal Service should take care of things
room. When Ed hauls that kid to the for the wall safe. Use the combination from there.
dungeon, another kid can go into Ed's to open the safe —
inside you'll find an
 Tom R. Halfhill
Nintendo version of Maniac Mansion,
you may have a collector's Item. Why?
Because due to an oversight, early
versions of the game allow you to put
the hamster into the microwave. re you going nuts named Dr. Fred Edison, and a bizarre
Neither Jaleco nor Nintendo endorses trying to find your sense of humor — much of the story
the mistreatment of animals, of course, way through Dr. was changed for TV.
but somehow it slipped by. Fred's mazelike man- For instance, the mansion is now
Weird Ed really loves his hamster, sion? Do you know inhabited not only by Dr. Fred, but
and if you nab it, he'll probably ask any whattodowiththe also by his whole family. There's his
kids he's friendly with if they' ve seen his can of Pepsi in his fridge? Have wife, Casey , who 's probably the most
pet. you did microwave the little
If you figured out how to take normal member of the clan; their 1 5-
don't dare show itto Ed. He'll fly
critter, advantage of the paint remover? year-old daughter,Tina,who'saboy-
into a rage, and the kid who had the If you're stumped by these or crazy genius; a 10-year-old son, Ike,
nerve to break the news to Ed will wind the hundreds of other puzzles to who dresses like 1950s movie star
up buried under a tombstone in the solve in Maniac Mansion, maybe it's James Dean; and a 4-year-old son.
front lawn —along with any items he or time for a break. Turn off the game Turner, who was accidentally
she picked up during the game. for a while and watch TV but not — transformed into a 6-foot-4, 250-
just any TV. Try "Maniac Mansion," a pound preschooler by one of Dr.
comedy series that airs on Fridays, Fred's wayward experiments.
Saturdays, and Sundays on the Oh, yeah, there are two other
Family Channel. members of the household as well;
Watching "Maniac Mansion" Uncle Harry and Aunt Idella. You
won't help you beat the game, but might have a little trouble seeing
you might at least get a few laughs. Uncle Harry, because Dr. Fred
Since its debut last fall, "Maniac accidentally transformed him into a
Mansion" has attracted some housefly. All except for his head that
,

enthusiastic reviews from TV critics. Dr. Fred

is. hasn't figured out what
still

Time magazine called it the went wrong with that experiment.

"looniest, sweetest family comedy "Maniac Mansion" stars Joe
Only mean kids put animals in of the year," and included the series Flaherty as Dr. Fred; John Hemphill as
microwaves —
and Weird Ed doesn't in year-end list of the ten best TV
its Uncle Harry; Deborah Theaker as
like mean kids. shows of 1990. Casey; Mary Charlotte Wilcox as Aunt
The TV version of "Maniac Man- Idella; George Buza as Turner; Avi
sion" is an offshoot of the popular Phillips as Ike; and Kathleen
computer game from Lucasfilm, Robertson as Tina. Flaherty, Hemphill,
h c h i and Wilcox are all veterans of Second
I was later City TV, where Wilcox won an Emmy
released for writing.
The Edison family for Nin- The half-hour show airs at 6:30
(clockwise from left): tendo by p.m, on Sundays, and repeats at
Dr. Fred, Casey, Tina,
Jaleco. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 11 p.m.
Aunt Idella, Ike, and Although Saturdays.
Turner. Not shown: the TV
Uncle Harry, the 1

show has
human-headed
housefly.
I things
common
few
in GP
]
with the
game
including
a wacky
|
mansion,
..
mad
V' III
scientist
 XP LOR I IMG

xI he eagerly awaited Super

Mario World is finally here! j.
The world's most p opular_yi deo- Ifc
game character is back, and
time he's movi up to the Silver
this adventure is the largest one
yet. Super Mario World has so many
secrets and hidden levels that
with innovative
are
Chris Slate

new ideas. There

new maneuvers for you to
master, new items to find, and new
enemies to conquer. Because of the
huge scope of the game, we're di-

never changed in this game Mario >me end many- times before y@i . In this first in- —
must once again save the princess, found everything! Larger enemies, stallmen t, we take a look at the first
who is being held captive in the vibrant colors, and excellent sound two lands —and we let you in on
Valley of Bowser. Bowser has also effects round out the game's long- a few of Mario's closest-held se-
stolen Yoshi eggs, which hatch into
dinosaurs. The eggs are hidden in
numerous fortresses throughout classic
the land.
Because of the advanced tech-
nology of the Super NES,
 7p
i|
You must learn
^1
some new tech-
niques in Super
Mario World, such
as the spin-jump.
Use this maneuver
to break blocks
from above a —
handy trick when
important items or

The first castle you

reach is filled with huge
pits that are too wide
One of the most enjoyable
for you to cross. To
When you finish the first ac- aspects of Super Mario World is
reach the boss, crawl
tion scene, climb up the your new prehistoric sidekick.
along the fence that
mountain to a bonus scene. The friendly dinosaur gives you
— hangs above you.
Here you find a gigantic a ride and gladly gobbles
button with an exclamation up any bad guys that cross
mark (!) on it. If you press it, your path.
allthe invisible blocks are
replaced with special ones.
 The first boss sits on a
platform that floats in
a lake of lava. The key
here is to wait until the
boss’s side of the plat-
form tilts, then jump

on his head until he

falls off the edge.
in the second part of the castle,
keep an eye out for huge pillars
that come stomping down in
your path. Look for little holes in
the floor — you can duck into
them to avoid being crushed. «• *%, m 358

* <i& 10 to «o0o0

(!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) ffl 000 0) 00

When you find a feather, Mario

can don his cape. With a little
This new
kind of block al- practice, you can use it to help
lows you to bend the laws Mario fly. First run until Mario holds
of gravity a bit. Build up out his arms for balance, then
speed as you race to it,
jump and soar into the air. To
and when you hit youit
keep flying, you must press the
continue running — right directional pad in the opposite
up the wall! direction from the one in which
you're flying.

Super Mario World has loads

of new bonus stages. You can 8MXesj.
find this type of bonus room
:

There’s a long stretch

by going down pipes. The
of land near the end of
trick is to bump the blocks
the first action scene
one by one from underneath.
Ifyou succeed, you’re re- you enter after the
castle. Make sure you
warded with a one-up.
have the cape and use
the space as a runway.
_ Once you gain a little

#
altitude, you find
^ * something up there-
 stars, you enter a bonus
matching game. Try to match
the pictures in the blocks to
win one-ups.

'-tSH
m±L mmBM

Your dinosaur friend, like

Mario, has a few unique
tricks all his own. For ex-
ample, if he holds a blue This little Goomba soldier is

turtle shell in his mouth, finding out the hard way what
he grows little wings and a golden shell does to Mario’s
he needs little dino. As long as he’s
can fly until to
swallow. holding the shell in his mouth,
your dinosaur is powered with
a super-strong stomp.

There’s an al-
ternative way
to complete
level 2 if you
don’t like the
path we
chose. From
The boss of the second the first action
castle walks across the scene in area
ceiling, then drops on top of 2, you can go

you. Run ahead quickly to out into the

avoid getting stomped, middle of the
then jump on his head as he lake.
runs by you. It only takes
\ three hits to defeat him.
There's a P-block at the bottom of
the lake. Carry it until you come to
a keyhole. When you stomp on the
P-block, the bricks turn to coins,
enabling you to pass through and
reach the key. Now swim back to it
the keyhole to clear the stage. ALj If you complete the lake

scene by using the key, a

path is cleared to the sec-
ond ghost house. After a
exploring inside the
little

house, you find another P-

and blocks appear that There’s a chief spook inside

. .

form a bridge on which

the blue door — along with a
you can stand to bump few of his soldiers. Pick up the
blocks that you’re standing
the center block above
on, then throw them at the
your head. A vine grows
out of this block. ghost. Remember: Always
face the other little ghosts so
they’ll behave.
^ .

The vine grows upward until it

reaches a platform that ex-
tends to the right. Quickly run
to the right and enter the blue
door before the time expires
on the P-block. If you arrive
too late, the door disappears.

«
...the warp
zone! You
can access
the warp zone
Why would you want to travel (called Star
this alternative path when the World in the
first route was so much easier? game) from
Here’s your answer! When you numerous
return to themap screen, a places throughout Mario World, but
has appeared underneath
star we’llleave those for later. In future
you. Stepping on it will take issues we'll continue our romp
you to a place that all Mario through Super Mario World and
fans love to visit... reveal more of its closely guarded
secrets.

OP
 imnnmmnnnnmnnnmmncinnmnmnmi
hr*

BEETLEJUICE
Gary Meredith

ou know, there's never a guy of Beetlejuice's obvious refine-

a bio-exorcist around ment and impeccable wardrobe will

/% No
when you need one.
And the Maitlands re-
ally need one.
sooner has the couple died
be appreciated.
To clear the house of Deetzes and
earn his way into the afterlife,
Beetlejuice must storehouse different
— and no Scare
than strangers move into their home. Scares is too small for

The Maitlands want these pesky liv- his inventory. He can get Scares by
ing beings out, but all the reputable collecting "Help" vouchers, then
exterminators trading them in
are booked for on the various As gruesome as ever, Beetlejuice jumps
at the chance to redeem himself by
the next few mil-
lennia. Desper-
HiMT frights.
Most of the ridding the Maitland house of its in-

vouchers are festation of Deetzes.

ate times call for
Don't be discouraged you visit a
if
desperate mea- earned by stomp-
Scare shop and don't see what you
sures —
and su-
need. The stores are stocked at ran-
ing and squash-
per-desperate ing things such as
dom, so try leaving, then coming back beetles (which
times call for
in. The selection will have changed,
Beetlejuice. also provide em
and maybe this time the object you need ergy for our guy)
Maybe the guy's
just been given
is in stock.
or flies —al-

a bad rap. It's though he can

probably not even his fault that disas- destroy ghosts, octopi, and whirly
ter seems to follow him around. Yeah, skulls for vouchers as well. And col-

right. lecting poison bottles really pads the Keep moving to the right until you
In Beetlejuice, you must help the voucher total. find these clouds — and the key to the
infamous "ghost with the most" rid Don't pass up a single voucher — house.
the Maitland house of the insufferable Beetlejuice requires different Scares
Deetze family so that he can go on to for all the situations he manages to get
his "just" reward. And the hereafter in himself into. Inaccessible areas, for
this game is just the sort of place where example, call for the Birdman Scare,

Before Beetlejuice can

get into the Maitland
house, you must find
its key in the village.
Try not to become one of the hunted
You also need to lo-
yourself. And although Beetlejuice
cate the Handbook for
probably needs a bath, this is definitely
the Recently Deceased.
not the time or the place.

75
nnmnmnnmnmnnmnmnnmnmnmmnmnnnnn
mnmmnnnnnmmnnncnmnmmnnnmnmmnnnm!
nmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnn nrii

You must eliminate all these beehives

before you can meet the boss, but if
you've got the Skeleton Scare, you
should have no problem. After all, if
you don' t have skin, you can't be stung.

Once you've picked up enough Help

vouchers, it's time to seek out the
familiar entrance of a Scare store.
Here, you can buy extra lives — plus
all the different Scares you need to
clear the house of Deetzes.

which gives him impressive jump- too much to bear. And don't forget the Beetlejuice begins his adventure
ingability. The Two-headed Man Snakeman Scare — the super-serpent in the village, where he must find
Scare is just perfect for those holidays is Beetlejuice's best all-around Scare, the key to the Maitlands' house and
on Saturn when the sandworms are so try to stockpile it. recover the Handbook for the Recently

With the beehives out of the way, open the door to the last Otto, the interior designer, has picked out the perfect shade
garage. While you're here, you might as well have a little of color— and if you're not careful, he'll spray it all over
fun and stomp on a few bugs. you. Try to attack him as soon as you enter the room.

76
mnmmmnnmnmmnmmmmnmmmnmmmmnc
mmmnmnnmmnmmmmmmmmmmnmmmr

The storm drains also contain lots of

ways to pile up points. Bugs are ram-
pant, and who knows what could be
lurking in those caves, just waiting to
be scared.

This cruise down the storm drain is

one of Beetlejuice's favorite holiday
excursions. The platforms hold sev-
eral extra lives.

Deceased. From there, he makes his penalty round on Saturn). Once he's sor with the smoking problem — |

way through the storm drains and rid the house of the dreaded Deetzes, awaits to rule on Beetlejuice's pas- 5

into the Maitland house (and beyond, he can go to the afterlife waiting room. sage to the real afterlife.
if you count the graveyard and the There, Juno — that un-heavenly advi- This videogame contains many |

Be sure you've already picked your Scare before you enter Once inside the house, your best plan is to keep moving to
here.The football player is tough, but you can take him if the right so you'll stay out of trouble. For example, the door
you move toward him the instant you enter the room. on the left whisks you to Saturn for some sandworm fun.

77
mnnmnmccnmnnmnnmmnnnmnnnmnnnnmnn
nmmmnmnnmmnmncnmnnmmmnmnnDmnnn
nnmmnnmnnnnmnmnnmnnnnnnmnnmmnnnn
^535

"Safely" back in the house, you're up

to your neck in Deetzes. The newly-
deceased Maitlands are whining, too.
Somehow, you've got to clear out this
place.

If you're unlucky enough to be trans-

ported to Saturn, the best thing to do
watch the patterns of the
is stay calm,

sand worms, and use the Two-headed

Man Scare. Look for extra lives in the
clouds.

made the movie

of the scenarios that One of our game experts ended
dious. shouldn't detract from your enjoy-
so popular. You'll almost think that up holding down the button on a ment of the game. Beetlejuice should
you hear Michael Keaton in the back- turbo-fire controller with a rubber keep you stomping, scaring, and
ground. But be warned that accumu- band to let Beetlejuice stomp bugs laughing for a long time.
lating help vouchers may become te- overnight! But even the repetition

While the roll of paper you find in the bathroom would Beetlejuice doesn't know much about art, but he knows
appear to be important, it's really not. The door to Saturn, that these hideous sculptures are actually portals to different
however, should grab your attention — it's chasing you. areas of the house. You may want to map these.

78
nmnnmmnnmcnnmmmmmmnnmmcinmmmm
mmnmnmmnnnmmnnmmnnnnc]mmnmnmnnr j

nmmnnmnmnnmnnnnmmnnmmmmmnnnmnn

Inside the graveyard tower, your

primary objective is to find the chalk.
Before you can get into the waiting
room of the afterlife, you must defeat
the Grim Reaper, then use the chalk
to draw a door.

Pick up as many vouchers and lives as you

can while you're in the graveyard. You
need all the items you can find —
but even
these probably won't be enough. You can
carry only nine lives at a time.

Scare shops can also be useful in a not-so-obvious

way. For a short time after you leave a shop,
you're invincible. This is a helpful bonus espe- —
cially if you're getting low on energy and lives.

You can also renew this invincibility as many LJN

times as you want. (a division of Acclaim)
1 Spring Street; Oyster Bay, NY
11771

f ***
1
****

***
V
\

•***
A \t
\

**<

Several Scares work well with the Grim Reaper, but perhaps This guy's not just hanging around — he'll help you find
the Ogre Scare is most effective. Just keep advancing toward Juno. You need the tickets you collected in the graveyard

the boss, while being careful to avoid his fiery blasts. to gain admittance to the processing area.

79
 m cl/PFi?
AT’crr-i
ra 1 I KZA feteiSr*i
1

CONQUEST OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE

Gary Meredith
ifteen years is a long You, as Prince Farron, have waited
time to wait for re- 15 long years to return to Crystal Pal-
venge — especially ace.With Zapolis (as Zap the dog) in
when you barely re- tow, you must fight through four pre-
member why you liminary stages before you make it

want vengeance in the first place. You back to Crystal Palace and enter one
do know that many years ago you final showdown with Zaras.
were transformed from a young prince The first stop on your journey is
into a six-month-old commoner by Mount Crystal, where you meet the

mm
Zaras. This evil swarming Kellix,
wizard also batlike creatures After you've customized your stats by
changed the pal- with barbed tails. choosing a power-up crystal, you and
ace guardian, Things only get Zap head off on what proves to be a
Zapolis, into a worse from there, torturous journey back to your
dog, then ban- When fighting The Desire of Fire in as you travel to homeland.
ished the two of stage four, experiment with fighting the Realm of the
you from the from different places on-screen. There's Guardian, the
kingdom of Cry- a special safe spot from which you can Lair of the Hun-
stal Palace. attack without risking life and limb. gry Ghosts, and •

Why would the Gateway of

anyone want to Flame — all be-
disrupt the fore you can re-
peaceful life in Crystal Palace? Zaras enter The Crystal Palace.
had decided that no one should enjoy You're armed with only a sword
life as much as the citizens of Crystal until you accumulate some cash and
Palace.Not only did he transform you visit Kim's shop and training center. Mount Crystalis far from Crystal
and Zapolis, but he also killed your Kim appears from time to time, offer- Palace. But even here, Zaras' evil in-
parents and spirited the population of ing weapon upgrades, potions, and fluence can be seen in the dozens of
the kingdom to galactic parts un- other special equipment. She can train deadly creatures he commands.
known. Not to mention that he's made you to use the various weapons, and
you go through puberty twice. she also operates her own little news

When Prince Farron

turns 15, his faithful
dog, Zap, reveals the
story of their present
circumstances, and
the need for revenge.
This understudy from Little Shop of
Some birthday pre-
Honors must quickly be destroyed, or
sent!
else it releases deadly spores. Be
careful — with your present weap-
onry, you must get in close to do the
job.

80
nnnmmnmmnmnmnnnmmmmmmmnnnmmmQQ
mnmnmmnmnmmmmmmmmnnnmnmnmnnci^

Kim is often a sight for sore eyes

— especially justbefore a difficult
make sure you've got
battle. Just
some money before you try to
make a purchase.

Try to avoid touching the ooze

from these drain holes. This par-
ticular kind of toxic waste is evi-
dently quite deadly to royalty.

network, QNN, which keeps you try to buy items if you don't have the That's where Zap comes in. If you've
posted on what lies ahead. Be sure cash, or else the proprietress tosses trained your trusty mutt with a dog
to read Kim's news flashes care- you out on your ear. whistle bought from Kim, and if

fully— the smallest bit of informa- There are a couple of areas when you keep him nearby and well-fed,
tion could prove critical. But don't enemy attacks come fast and thick. he can pounce on a few enemies

While you're in the store, you definitely should check one At the end of the first stage, you meet this death-dealing

of Kim's sidelines, the QNN news service. Listen well duo. Take on the chunky fellow, Kentar, first. Jump down
because she may provide some helpful information. to attack, then jump back up on the ledge for defense.

81
nrrrrnrrrrrrnrrrrnrrrrrirnrirnrrrrrrnrnrnrrnrn
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrirnrrnrrrrrrnrrrcornrrnrnrni
rrrrrcrrcrrrrrrrrrrnrrnrnnrnrrrrrrnrrrrrrrr/i

The creatures of the Realm of the

Guardian stage seem friendly;
even the floor wants to shake
hands. But believe us —
this is
one greeting you should ignore.

To defeat Kellix, stay near the

bottom of the screen, to the far
left or right. You must time your
sword swing for the very top of
your jump to hit the villain.

while you're busy with others. In If there is a main skill to develop This is especially true of the Gate-
fact, taking Zap into your battle with in Conquest of the Crystal Palace, it's way of Flame, where platforms that
Zaras can mean the difference be- good timing. There are umpteen places move in different directions with
tween the thrill of victory and the where you must make a perfect jump distinct speeds and angles make
agony of defeat. or die the death of the uncoordinated. leaping a real adventure.

Kergen is big and tough, but you can defeat him if you and The map shows your progress. From the Realm of the
Zap work together. Before tackling this big guy, make sure Guardian, you must travel into the Lair of the Hungry
there's a dog whistle and a wave sword in your possession. Ghosts. Can you guess what they're hungry for?

82
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nrnnrnrnnnnrnnnnnnncnnnnnrnnnrrnnnnnnrrrnnnD«g
nmnmnnmnnmmmnmmnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnmnEpy

Surviving the lair is no easy task.

Not only must you navigate across
the moving cloud platforms, but
you must also withstand harass-
ment by Zara's goons.

The more expensive the weapon,

the more effective it is. But to
benefit from its power, you might
need to learn some fighting
techniques from Kim.

Despite Conquest of the Crystal cute and interesting companion. acter control is smooth. So what more
very
Palace's outlandish plot, it's a There's a lot of violence, but it's di- could you want? OK, besides a real-
enjoyable game. The graphics are rected at fantasy creatures instead of istic plot....

above average, and Zap makes a humans. The music is good, and char-

There's no single boss at the end of the lair. Instead, crea- The columns of fire in the Gateway of Flame stage appear
tures under the Will of the Ghost converge and attack you. from all directions. To avoid this fiery stalagmite, move
quickly to the far edge of the platform.

83
mnnmmnmLinnnnmLimnnmni innannnnnnncimmt
rrrrrrrrnrrr nnnrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrr i

rrrvrrrrrrrr rnrrrrrnrrrrnr nrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn

r

There's a trick to descending

these mazelike staircases. Climb
down four flights, then jump onto
the wide step at the bottom of the
fourth flight.

ded bonus (or burden, depending on

how you look at it), you r mission includes finding
the Crystal Princess. Kim hints that the princess
may be somewhere on Mount Crystal, but she's
really at the bottom of one of the ravines in the
Realm of Asmik
50 North La Cienaga Blvd.;
Suite 214; Beverly Hills, CA
90211

Get through this room as quickly as possible, or you're To battle Zaras, try our "kitchen sink" strategy —throw
likely to acquire several new, rather painful body openings. everything you've got at him and keep your fingers crossed
Be strong — you're very close to your goal.

84
 rnnnnrrrrrrnrnnrnrnnnnrnmnnr rrrnr
BFfeEjn a srrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
i

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

DESTINY OF AN EMPEROR
William R. Trotter

uring the second cen- During the game's early stages,

tury A.D., China was Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and the other good
divided into numer- warlords are united in their campaign
ous small kingdoms, to wipe out the Yellow Scarves. In
each generally in a later stages— after much progress has
state of continual warfare. One of the been made against rebels, bandit, and
worst perils to law and order was a coastal pirates — rivalry breaks out
horde of warlord-bandits known as between the warlords, and they begin
the Yellow Scarves. So great was their to strive against each other. After all,
power that no there can only be
opposing war- one emperor.... Few Nintendo games have as many
lord could mus- After each characters as this one — keeping all

ter the strength to successful vic- the Chinese names straight is a chore.
challenge them. tory over a ban-
Perhaps you To free King Liu Zheng from prison, dit chieftain, you

can be that chal- you should talk to him. He'll tell you earn experience
that the door is weak. You should stand points, gold, and
lenging warlord
— but only if you on the door and press up on the direc-
tional pad of your controller. If you do
(sometimes)
succeed in mas- provisions. lire
tering the com- this six times, the door should disap- two com-
latter
plexities of Cap- modities are
corn's Destiny of needed to feed,
an Emperor. arm, and equip your growing armies;
You can elect to be Liu Bei, a solid, the experience points are necessary if
well-rounded leader with royal blood you're to advance to high levels of
Remember: Even though you're car-
in his veins and a legitimate claim to power and skill. rying weapons, you can't use them in
being emperor; or Guan Yu, a less As you advance, you acquire of- combat unless you first enter the Equip
versatile leader but a tiger in battle, fensive and defensive tactics which
command.
and a general capable of command- can spell the difference between vic-
ing a truly powerful force. tory and defeat — i/you employ them

Before leaving your

home village, talk to
the citizen at the
bridge.He gives you More people volunteer to join your
your first supply of force than you can use, so be selective.
money.

85
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L
Guan
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g? Fo|-ce
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1 04 tif

Your first destination should be this

walled city to the west.

Battles are resolved on this rather odd-

looking screen. Gang up on your
mmmmmmm
strongest opponent first.

at the right time and under the right in more conventional NES quest can restock himself with troops. In
circumstances. Actually, these "tac- games. the same vicinity, you can buy spe-
tics" aren't military in background; Between bouts of bandit-bashing, cial potions and items from a mer-
instead, they correspond to the magic your party can return to an inn, and chant and liquidate unwanted items
spells and power-up bonuses found for a very modest fee — each general for cash if you're strapped for oper-

*Liu Be
Guan Vu
ZhanS Fe
Sons Ren
Sons VonS

Always put your strongest commanders at the front of your Here in Xu Zhou, you can save a game, visit merchants,
formation. and put party members into reserve (or retirement, if
they're really turkeys!).

86
 ating funds. You can also visit the proaches to the game without rising explore, and literally tens of thou-
town historian and have him store losing progress. sands of bandits to slaughter. So
your game. Up to three games can Destiny of an Emperor is a very big taken on its own terms. Destiny of an
be stored at one time, which enables game: There are 50 experience levels, Emperor is a vast, subtle, and in-
you to try several different ap- dozens of large geographical areas to triguing game. But it isn't a true

Be sure to stock up on food before returning to the wars. The historian records your stats before saving the game; he
also tells you how many points you need to reach the next
experience level.

87
crrrnrnrnrnrrnrrnrrnncrnnrnrrnrrrrcrrrcnrrrnQ
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn r.BG
rrrrrrrnnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrnAt

North of Zu Zhou is the stronghold of

Zhang Liang. Don't attack him unless
you've gained several experience lev-
els.

Be sure to pay your respects to the

king in the palace at Zu Zhou.

strategy role-playing game. If you're manual doesn't give you a clue as to of game, it may not find the audi-
'

expecting another Nobunaga's Ambi- the peculiarities you'll encounter in ence who'll appreciate it because of
tion or Shingen the Ruler, you're go- this original but decidedly odd game- theway it's being marketed.
ing to be disappointed. system. So while Destiny ofan Emperor Too bad.
And unfortunately, the game is a fascinating and very different kind

Use tactics to destroy the most powerful enemy leader. Some of the Yellow Scarves are more belligerent than
then enter into ordinary combat against his weakened others — usually the strongest and most dangerous ones,
followers.
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
rrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Whenever you enter a room, be sure

to use the Check and Talk commands
to learn all you can.

If you lose a valuable warlord in

battle, you can always resurrect him
with the proper spell — if you can

afford to purchase it.

You won't be able to enter the land of Shu unless

you have Zhu Ge Liang in your party. Go to his
house and talk to the person there to find out
where Zhu Ge Liang has gone. You'll have to
follow him to several different cities before finally Capcom
finding him back at his house. But don't wake him
up — he's almost finished his nap.
3303 Scott Blvd.; Santa Clara,
CA 95054

89
 nnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
rj- rgrrf rcincmncnnncnnncmnmm
i

innnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnn

DICK TRACY
Lisa M. Bouchey
ce detective Dick Tracy the police stations scattered through-
is sure that Big Boy out the city.

Caprice is the brains When the game begins, your

behind the crime wave notepad lists the crime under investi-
that's drowning the gation and the game's first clue. As
city, but he's finding out that know- you uncover additional clues, they
ing who to blame and putting the appear in the notebook in the order
mastermind behind bars are two en- you should have discovered them. You
tirely different matters. won't be able to make an arrest stick
In Bandai's unless the note-
DickTracy a two- book is filled Avoid the fire of rooftop snipers by

im
,

way wrist radio with evidence staying in the squad car, or use the car
is tuned to your against your as a shield and shoot back. If you kill
frequency as you prime suspect. a sniper, he won't reappear during
a building to investi- you're
don the crack If that case.
; to the top of the on a
crime-fighter's stuck clue,
void most of the open the mug
yellow trench-
unarmed bad guys. If you move book for a profile
coat and pound
slowly, it's fairly easy to pick off the on your main
the pavement in
gun-toting drugs from this vantage suspects. This
search of bad
point. screen identifies
guys. Solve a se-
ries of five Big Boy's known
crimes, and you'll have all the hard, accomplices, pinpoints their last
cold evidence you need to put Big Boy known location, and might help you
away. analyze a clue or find a crook.
The game has three main areas of When Tracy hits the street, the
play: an overhead view of the city, game shifts to the overhead view of The alphabetic street names increase
side views of building interiors, and the city — but the streets in this city as you move toward the top of the
screen, and the numbered street names
information screens. A notepad and are tough. Snipers try to pick you off
increase as you move to the right.
mug book are included in the info from the rooftops, and you might find
screens and are accessible from any of yourself in a high-speed chase or two.

%
:
i
Each clue you find
tells you which loca-

V tion or criminal to look

for next. Check out the
mug book if you have
trouble deciphering a

OK> Il’ACV. VCD ’VE CC¥ ¥ttE clue. A knockout punch leaves the bad guys
down for the count.
THDCS. AMO FCLLC.1 ¥t1E
CLDE£

90
nrnmmmnnnrmnnnnnmmrncmcnnnrmmrnmmi
mnnnnnnnnnmcmnnmnnmmnnnnmnnnnmnmnn
mnnnmmmnncnnnnnmnnmnmnnnnnmnnnnnnn

While you're clearing an area of thugs,

you might find evidence for the crime
you're investigating. The clues are all
clearly marked —
but some of them
are well-guarded.

Chances are that at some point you'll

end up on a high-speed chase through
the streets of the city. You must hit an
enemy car 20-25 times to stop it.

Riddle the criminal's car with at least view when you enter a building and unarmed bad guy, you lose one of
20-25 shots to stop it, but be careful. are met by fist-fighting and gun-tot- your four badges of energy. If you
If you r car is hit by too much gunfire, ing bad guys, plus watchdogs and return to a police station with half a
you're pulled off the case. sewer rats. Fire on the armed crimi- badge or less, you receive up to one
The game switches to the side nals, but remember that if you blast an full badge of power in exchange, so

***#

Following up on each clue you find leads to the next bit of Special weapons and devices are hidden in crime scenes
information needed to solve the case. throughout the game. The tommy gun adds a rapid-fire
machine gun to your arsenal.

91
nrinnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnn nnn nnnni
mmncnnomnnmnmmncimnnmnnnmmnnnnnnnnra
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnDDDEi

Defend yourself by firing on armed

criminals, but remember that your
supply of ammunition is limited. If
you run out of bullets, pick up a new
clip at any police station.

You can enter any building at any

time, but you'll only be able to explore
buildings that hide clues or criminals.
To leave a building and return to the
street, find the clearly marked exit.

there is less risk of dying. nal, the screen shifts to the interroga- you get the first clue in the next
While you're clearing an area of tion room, and you must decide case. But if you arrest the wrong
thugs, you might uncover evidence whether to arrest or question the sus- thug (or try to interrogate a crimi-
or a bad guy to haul in for question- pect. If you arrest the right master- nal not involved in the crime), you
ing. When you apprehend a crimi- mind, he ends up behind bars, and won't receive any information and

CUE BCCUS BUCKS

f.FAKE #20 OlClJUSOD
MEAD SIEVE THE
TRMW ’S FLOmOUSE
% 2 FceiiMnis
I .
I'flDDlE or CM ICED
& INK
C'BEEH
I 3 '
1
& u icinrsiiop
M, ‘
£ c SliCE REIftlR

As you uncover clues in each case, they're listed in the The mug shots screen reveals the name and job of each of
notepad in the order you should have discovered them. Big Boy's cronies along with their last known location. This
Your notebook must be full to make an arrest stick. is a good place to look when you're trying to find a suspect.

92
nrrrrnrrrrrrrrnrrrrnrrnrnrnrrnrrrrnrrrnnrnrni
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn n nn nnnnnnnnnnnra
mmnncmnnmmnnnnmnncnrmcinmnmrmmcnno

Hearts are first-aid symbols in this

game. When your energy runs low,
grab the heart symbol so your energy
will return to a four-badge level.

You can try to avoid their fire, but the

bad guys can duck and shoot as well
as you. Move slowly and try to stay
near the top of the screen so you can
see them coming.

must set him free. shoot-em-up games. Loosely based on clues and criminals adds a nice twist
Players of all ages should enjoy last summer's hit movie, Dick Tracy's to the usual kill-or-be-killed game
thisarcade adventure —
it's a step graphics are crisp, clean, and colorful theme.
above the average cops and robbers (if a bit repetitious), and the search for

The closer you get to the big boss, the tougher the bad guys Madonna she isn't, but Breathless Mahoney is still Big
get. The unarmed thugs are easy prey early in the game, but Boy's best-looking crony. When you pick up a bad guy, the
they start fighting back during later cases. screen switches to the interrogation room.

93
mmnnnnmnmmnnmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmnmngn
nnnmnmmnnnnmnnmmmnmnmnnmmnmmnnoffl
nnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnE^

Avoid any dogs you might encounter.

If they touch you, you lose energy.

Instead, defeat the dogs by punching

or shooting.

Firing on unarmed bad guys only

saps your energy —
you must get by
them using brute strength or a
knockout punch.

mm
Remember where you find weapons such as tear
gas and tommy guns that enforce your arsenal. If
you make repeat trips to that building to stock up,
you should have enough ammunition to get out of
any sticky situations you encounter.
Bandai
1 285 1 EasH 66th Street; Cerritos,
C A 90701

When you arrest the right criminals, they're put behind Lock up Big Boy, and you'll become the toast of the town!
bars. It looks like Big Boy's going up the river for a long,
long time.

94
 Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrnmrrnrrrnnrn
/vie f
I 1 n
“’nrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn

FLYING WARRIORS
Richard Lashley

he stars twinkling over Dimension, Dragonlord. This brave

Mf
Hong Kong have re- warrior imprisoned Demonyx in the
mained basically un- Mandara Talisman, a prison cell con-
changed as long as there structed of powerful magic. But
have been eyes to watch Dragonlord was afraid that someday
them. But tonight the sky is different. Demonyx would escape his galactic
A red light pierces the settled pattern prison, so he selected five fighters —
of the stars —
a light that quickly Rick, Mary, Hayato, Greg, and Jimmy
stains the sky — to guard Earth.
crimson. Some- In Culture In stage 1, clumsy zombies tramp

thing is wrong.
Earth is
HINT Brain's Flying
Warriors, you
through the mountains outside Hong
Kong. Be aggressive and attack them
first so they can’t surround you.
about to ha''e a Money really matters in this game. must help the
visitor — De- You can buy charms. Magic Water, guardians recon-
monyx, a fiend- and informationintwodifferentshops. struct the Man-
ish demon who You earn coins by killing your en- dara Talisman by
has attacked the emies, butnot all your foes leave money finding its scat-

planet once be- behind when they die. tered pieces, then
fore. Demonyx seal Demonyx
and his devilish troops are back, and inside the cell forever. If you're new to
their goal is the same: to blast the martial arts games, you might want to
world into a smoking cinder. How- play the game on its beginner level so
ever, plans had been made in antici- you can enter the Practice Mode, which
pation of Demonyx's return, and the lets you polish your moves when your When you're exploring caves, watch
arrangement is now quickly put into life's not at stake. for helpful items or people who might
effect. While you're in beginner level, have information. The damp air in
All those eons ago when the in- targets appear on your opponents so this cave is zapped dry as you battle
vaders first attacked Earth, they were you know where to strike. However, this goblin for the Angel Robe.
repelled by the champion of the Light targets appear on you, too, so you

Nothing good comes

easily — especially
saving the world.
Take advantage of the
Practice Mode to de-
velop your skills and
Defeating a Tusk soldier is difficult,
earn valuable experi-
but victory is often rewarded with
ence points.
pieces of the Mandara Talisman. You
receive the Sword of Vijaya if you
vanquish Rakan in stage 2.

95
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-*

need to learn — and learn quickly defend yourself. Anyone who has other moves featured in Flying
how to block your enemies' blows. played Culture Brain's earlier game, Warriors.
During these tutorial sessions, a Dragon Warriors, is familiar with this Once you're a martial-arts
controller at the bottom of the screen system, but no one will have trouble master, you (and up to seven
highlights the buttons you should learning the trick throw, spinning friends) can compete in the Tour-
push to attack your competitors or ground kick, cosmic saucer punch, or nament Mode against tough oppo-

The bracelet is hidden in the Dragon Cave — a dangerous These platforms are slippery, so use your spin-cyclone kick
trek away. But this Mystic Crystal makes you temporarily to jump. Timing is crucial.
invincible, which in turn makes jumping a little easier.

96
rr nrnrnrrrrrrrrrnrrnnnnnnr rrrrn rrrrnrnnnnnr nrn
rrj~_
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn rgg
rrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Demon^ hates to see an honest com-

petition. His elite Tusk soldiers dis-
guise themselves to enter this tourna-
ment. But the vicious fighters don't
want fame or glory — they want you.

Journey to China in stage 3 to enter in

a kung fu tournament. If you don't
win these matches, Mary and Hayato,
your fellow guardians, won't be able
to join you.

nents. But after all the trophies are and vertically scrolling landscape characters have limited uses, how-
handed out, it's time to save the that's overrun with zombies, bats, and ever, which is a drawback. When
world. other visions of terror. You begin your you're fighting goons and beasts,
In the Battle Mode, you venture hunt for Demonyx with Rick, but the only Rick is available. The other
through a dangerous horizontally rest of the group joins you later. The four guardians enter the battle only

Demonyx's Black Fog stretches over Hong Kong like a Nature's beauty is lost once you enter the secret laboratory
You must travel to a mysterious lab in Peru to find
blanket. base —you're immediately attacked by an armor-plated
out more about the fog. Only Rick can handle the jungle. guard. Wait until he turns away, then kill him.

97
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn^
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr / l

f
In the lab, Dargon (one of Demonyx's
top commanders) informs you that
this trip was a trap. Now you must
chase Dargon to New York City and
face him in a challenge match.

Narga is one of Demonyx's prize

warriors. Use all the guardians to win
this battle of wits. You must out-
think the fighter and cast Mystic
Spells to penetrate his barriers.

to fight bosses and Tusk soldiers, talisman pieces, and reach the final tial-arts enthusiasts alike. Few other
De-monyx's elite warriors. With brawl against Demonyx. games can offer such an interesting
these limitations, it takes great strat- More than a simple scrolling ar- combination of mental and physical |

egy — and a little luck —to find cade game. Flying Warriors should
allies, obtain power-ups, locate the appeal to role-playing fans and mar-

The New York City challenge match in stage 4 is packed Dargon has the Orb of Justice, but you can bet your wings
with Dargon's friends. Watch out for Harken's Phantom that he's not just going to give it to you. Dodge his fireballs
Dance —he isn't embarrassed if he squashes a few toes. and grab that bottle of Magic Water.
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrQ
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
rrrnnrnrnnrnnnnrnrrrrrnrnrnrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrm
*
Your Cosmic Saucer punch really
heats up this damp, cold tunnel. These
floating skulls are the least of your
worries — you've just invaded the
home turf of the Moon-Light warriors.

Next stop —the New York City sewers. Even

though your team is assembled, Rick must
handle this electric wolf alone. Stay underneath
the key hanging on the wall and kick. When the
wolf jumps into your trap, grab the key and
head for Demonyx's Underground Palace.

landscapes contain many

.ims. The most difficult
to the Dragon Cave.
cave,use a Windyshoes
Culture Brain
s shop. The going is

easier 15315 N.E. 90th Street; Red-

mond, WA 98052

Sometimes a warrior asks to fight a certain opponent. Use When you reach the doors to the Underground Palace, you
Rick against Seleneos, the first Moon-Light warrior, then know that Demonyx is near. The final clash between the
your teammates' advice about the other goons.
listen to Light and the Dark Dimensions awaits.

99
 nnnnn nnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnn
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iMPinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
r*wjii1g|

GAUNTLET II

Stephen Poole
o someone unfamiliar and ghouls are determined to keep
with videogames. Gaunt- everything right where it is.
let 11 might sound like You can play as one of four heroes,
the sequel to a Clint each possessing unique abilities. Thor
Eastwood movie. Game the Warrior has excellent shooting
fans will recognize it as a sequel, too power for direct attacks; Thyra the
— not to a movie, but to the enor- Valkyrie's shield offers her maximum
mously successful Gauntlet from protection from enemies; Merlin the
Tengen. Those same players will be Wizard can use magic to destroy al-
happy to learn most every en-
thatMindscape's emy in sight; and The icon in the lower left of the screen
excursion into
the Dark Dun-
geons retains all
Him Questor the Elf
has the speed to
dodge in and out
gives you reflective shots. Be careful
not to shoot the jug of life-replenish-
ing cider, marked with x's.
Treasure rooms are a great place to
the ingredients among enemies.
rake in the loot, but if you don't get out
that made Gaunt- Although
before time expires, you lose all the
let such a hit in Gauntlet II can be
treasure you've collected. Try moving
the arcades and played by a sin-
clockwise along the boundary of the
NES. gle player,
for the
Gauntlet II is
—
maze the exit is almost always lo-
really designed
it's

cated near the maze's outer wall.

played exactly for at least two
the same way as players. With an
Gauntlet. Every level (and there are NES Satellite or NES Four Score adap-
more than 100) is a maze, and your tor, up to four players can compete at
task is to explore each one in search of once — although compete may not be Blue bottles are magic potions that
treasure, magic potions, and amulets the right word, since teamwork is
enable you to destroy monsters and
that give you special powers. But necessary to overcome many of the
monster generators.
there's more involved here than just hazards you encounter.
finding away to reach the goodies. Form as balanced a team as pos-
These mazes make up the Dark Dun- sible. While Thor can destroy your

geons, and the local monsters, ghosts. run-of-the-mill goblin or grunt, only

Those glowing white

tiles are actually traps
that open walls. In
level you must acti-
1,
vate these traps to Sometimes you can go to secret po-
reach an exit that tion-filled rooms by following a hint
warps you to level 6.
given at the start of certain rounds.
Here, the red warrior is about to pick
up a potion for extra armor.

100
nmmnnnmncnnnmmnmmnnmnmmmmmmmn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrnccnnncnnnnnnnncnnnnnnrnrnra
nnrinnnnrnnnnnrnnnnnnrnnnnnnn nnnnn rnnnnnnnnnrii

Transportability lets you pass

through any solid object. By start-
ing at the end of a wall and moving
forward through it...

You can destroy monsters and mon-

ster generators with no danger to
yourself by shooting through the
cracks in these sawtooth-shaped
walls.

the magicians' spells destroy all the Your character's life force is mea- the dungeons replenishes your
monsters on the screen. Merlin and sured in health points, which steadily health —
as a matter of fact, even
Questor can also use their magic to decrease over time. Any hit you take food and cider that has been poi-
destroy Death, who not only is im- from an enemy costs you even more soned is useful: You can shoot it to slow
pervious to normal weapons, but health points. Luckily, grabbing the enemies down for a few seconds.
also steals the most health points. food and cider scattered throughout If your health points reach zero.

...you create a row of gaps so your fellow heroes can make Treasure rooms are chock-full of booty, but don't get too
a quick escape. You can also use it to make entrances to greedy. You lose all the treasure you've collected if you
areas that would normally be unreachable. don't find the exit before time expires.

101
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnmmnnmnmnmnnnncnnmnncnnnnmnmnnnnnrawf
nnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnniy

Stop shooting as soon as you've slain

a dragon because you may acci-
dentally shoot the special potion that
dies.

Dragons rarely appear, but they're

the toughest foes you can meet. One
player should distract the dragon
while the other attacks.

your character dies, but there's no Your enemies are created by mon- the enemies out of the way, and with
need to fret. You can get right back ster generators, soone of your main no more being created, you can
into the game, either as the same goals should be to destroy every mon- search for magic potions and food
character or one of the other three ster generator you find to prevent and not put your character at risk.
heroes (more than one player can more monsters from replacing the After you've cleared more than a
use the same character). ones you've destroyed. With most of hundred levels, you'll probably think

While it may look foolish for Merlin to let Death drain his If a hero dies, his entire inventory is left behind. Thor has
health points, it eventually clears the way for Questor to replaced Merlin and can pick up the keys piled in a heap in
grab an unguarded magic potion. the middle of the screen.

102
rnrmmnnrnnrcnnrrmnnnnnnrnmrnnnncnrnnrnnri
nnnrnnnncnnnnnnnnnnnnnnncrnnnnnnnnnrnnnncnoi

They may look like starfish, but

they're really amulets that give you
special powers. These provide
temporary repulsiveness, causing
all your enemies — even Death —
to flee at your approach.

Sections of walls that look slightly

different can be destroyed by re-
peated shots. You can often get to
hard-to-reach places by blasting
through these weak spots.

you're nearing the end of the game they can play forever, but not so great prepare for endless battle against
— but think again. Gauntlet II has an for those who like splashy endings. the evil creatures that inhabit the
unlimited number of mazes, which But if exploration is your thing, grab a world of Gauntlet II.

is great for those who want a game friend, head for the dungeons, and

Questor needs the blue potion inside the locked gates, but Grab the chow and get out of there! You've nothing to gain
let Thor lead the way. His tough skin absorbs damage well, by opening the locked gates that imprison the ghosts, and
and he can also destroy the ghost generator faster. the acid puddles are impervious to weapons or magic.

103
nmnnmnmnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnmmnmnmmnn
nnnnnnnnnmmnmnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnrnnrcrnnra
nnnn nnnnnnnn nn n nnnn n nn nnnnnnn nnnn n nnn nn nnn nrii

If you kill the dragon on level 56,

you'll find he's left behind a special
potion for extra speed. Be sure to
give it to Merlin or Thor, the slowest
of the heroes.

The red warrior stands beside a

transporter, which can take you to
places you otherwise couldn't enter.
Traveling through a transporter also
destroys any enemies standing
around you when you materialize.

Him
e hints you're told to follow in order to
enter a secret room are really exercises in futility.
Since they won't help you gain entry to secret
rooms, don't pay attention to these messages: Mindscape
"Don't use invulnerability," "Watch what you (a division of The Software
Toolworks)
shoot," "It would be nice," and "Be pushy."
60 Leveroni Court; Novato,
CA 94949

Sometimes you receive messages before entering a level. If

you can't figure out what "Watch what you shoot" means,
don't worry — it's a false hint anyway.

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 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnn nnn nn nnnnnnnnn
rj~r rrr,r rcrmmmmmnmnnnmnnn
jj
nnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnn

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

Gary Meredith
he future of the world submarine that could either destroy
rests in the hands of a the world or save it. Somehow, you've
madman — at least, got to thread your way through ob-
that's the picture painted stacles — both natural and man-made
by the Soviet govern- — as well as through the best ships the
ment when one of its top Naval offic- Soviet Navy can throw at you. Still,
ers decides to defect in the Soviets' Red October features the most ad-
most advanced boomer (ballistic mis- vanced offensive and defensive
sile submarine), the Red October. weaponry. The sonar array gives you
Because of its ample wam-ing
revolutionary of each attack. You can navigate around the gun em-
The homing
new caterpillar And the Soviets placements, but you may have to de-
torpedoes on
drive
which makes
system,
it
Uyy Soviet attack
can't detect their
own caterpillar
stroy a few of them in order to reach
some of the icons.
subs have a fairly short range, but
nearly undetect- drive any better
they're very accurate close in. They are,
able by radar, Red than the U.S.
however, not very quick at changing
October is a pow- Navy can.
direction, and so can be lured into rocks
erful war wea- You begin
and other obstructions. Natural for-
pon. Marko Ra- the game by at-
mations can be used to destroy enemy
mius, once the tempting to slip
subs as well.
Soviet Navy's out of port, ne-
most trusted sub- gotiating the
marine skipper, has decided to restore maze-like lock system outside the
the balance of world power by hand- Soviet submarine pens. The rest of the
ing Red October over to the U.S. The SovietNavy is already on to you, so Each set of lock valves has a different
Soviets will do anything to keep their you can expect heavy opposition from actuation routine. Before trying to
strategic edge, so they pretend that the start. Red October, however, is a
make it through the valves yourself,
Ramius is insane and is planning to technical marvel - heavily equipped
study their patterns.
World War III singlehandedly.
start with torpedoes, missiles, and the lat-
In The Huntfor Red October, you're est in electronic countermeasures
Marko Ramius, commander of the (ECM).

Take care when pass-

ing through the lock
doors —
and go
through as quickly as
possible. If the doors It willtake more than a few torpedoes
close on you, they'll to blast through the main lock at the
cause considerable end of the dockyard channel, but keep
damage. at it until you've made an opening
large enough for Red October.

105
rnrnrrrrrrrrnrnnrnrnnrrrrrrrrnrnrrrrrrrnrnrni
nnmnnnmnnnmnnmmnnnmnnmnmmnnnmnnnnra
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnn i

Back in Washington, presidential

advisor Pelt demands an explana-
tion for the increased Soviet naval
presence in the North Atlantic.

Now in the open sea. Red October is

no longer a mystery to the U.S.
Navy. Somehow, U.S. ships must
intercept the super sub before the
Soviets can destroy it.

With subs, surface ships, and weaponry or to repair and refuel your capabilities, although these upgrades
planes after you, you can expect to submarine. While some icons are just are only temporary.
use up your arsenal fairly quickly. floating around, others must be un- After leaving port, you head out
Fortunately, you can grab special covered by destroying enemy ships. to open sea and into the North Atlan-
icons along the way to replenish your You can also upgrade your weapons' tic, where razor-sharp icebergs

While the Soviet ambassador is as much in the dark as his Among the ice packs of the North Atlantic, nature becomes
—
U.S. host, he still has his orders from the Kremlin and a as great an enemy to Ramius as the Soviet Navy. If you've
rather flimsy explanation for Pelt. got plenty of torpedoes, it's best to blast your way through.

106
nnnnnnnnn nnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnni
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnra
nnnnnn nnn nnnnnnnnnnnnDnnnpnnnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnri

The one vulnerable spot of this

underwater installation is within
the narrow passage near the top.
You'll know you've hit the correct
spot when cracks begin to appear.

You must destroy these mines be-

fore passing, but watch out for the
falling ice that might be dislodged
by the mine explosions.

threaten to peel open your hull. Then derwater installation before you can amount of time, the bombs a sabo-
it's on to the tropics, and finally to a advance to the next theater of war. teur has planted in the missile bays
region filled with strange crystals. Before you can finally turn Red Octo- of your sub.
At the end of each stage, you ber over to the U.S., however, you Although based on a complex
must take on a supership or an un- must hunt down, within a limited 1990 movie, which in turn was based

at!

" Z/r'\

As surface ships and planes join the attack force in the open Depending on your arsenal, you can stay close to the
sea. Red October is fair game for attack from under, on, and surface and take out the ships and planes, or dive where
over the ocean. you have only enemy submarines to worry about.

107
rnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrinnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnni
nnnnnnrirnnnrnrnnnnrnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnra
nnnnnnnnnnrinnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnn nnnnnri i

on an even more complex novel, the and vertically. And the connecting probably think that more than just
videogame is only loosely based on scenes between the U.S. president's the Soviet Navy is after you once the
either. Still, The Hunt for Red October advisor and the Soviet ambassador missiles start flying.
is a well-done scrolling arcade game, link the game to its predecessors.
with an additional bomb-defusing The Hunt for Red October is an easy
sequence that moves horizontally game to get into, even though you'll

As you approach the end of this stage, you must come close Knocking out just one of the modules in this underwater
to the surface, where a treasure trove of icons can be found. installation won't do the job. See why you needed all those
You need every one of these weapons for your next fight. extra torpedoes?

108
nnnnnnnnn nn rnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnni
rnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnn nnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnrnnnngi
cnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnncinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnCi

This installation has a force field

which protects it from normal attack.
The field pulsates off and on, how-
ever, which allows you enough time
to slip inside for an attack

In the Crystal Zone, you must con-

tend with falling crystal shards which
could open up Red October as easily
as you open a can of tuna. Homing
missiles are also part of the danger.

H HINT
While it may be easier to dodge some of the weap-
onry thrown against you, you may be missing some
valuable icons by doing so. Missile and torpedo
icons are especially numerous in the wreckage of
other submarines. And don't forget that you can
Hi Tech Expressions
continue to fire torpedoes after your gauge reads
zero, but the torpedoes will be progressively slower 584 Broadway; New York,
until you replenish your supply. NY 10012

ss

Just when you think you're home free, disaster strikes Its bombs disarmed. Red October can finally surface in
again. You must find and disarm all the bombs the saboteur friendly waters. Now flying the Stars and Stripes, it will
has planted before the little time you have runs out. soon yield secrets to restore the balance of world power.

109
 innnnnnr nc nnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnrnnn
msimmnmmnnni
1

mmnnnmcnmncmnnmn
IKARI WARRIORS III: THE RESCUE
Jeff Lundrigan
your jump kicks
ractice vertically scrolling levels full of at-
and limber up your tacking soldiers, knife-carrying thugs,
trigger finger — those flying hit men, boulder-throwing
Ikari Warriors, Paul and brawlers, and teleporting ninjas. There
Vince, are back! Ikari are hordes of enemies in this game,
Warriors III: The Rescue is the kind of and they all seem to come at you at

nonstop punching, kicking, shooting, once.

barrel-tossing, and jumping game After the spectacular arsenal
that's become an NES staple. It may available to Paul and Vince during the
have been three first two Ikari
years since the Warrior adven- Unless you're near death, don't grab
Ikari Warriors tures, it comes as the heart until you've beaten every

made an ap-
last a surprise to see enemy in sight.
pearance, but them primarily
A controller with a turbo-fire option is engaged in
fans of the
two games won't
first
a big help in this game —
especially
hand-to-hand
when fighting bosses or maneuvering combat in this
be disappointed
in this fast-action
through the underwater stage. But
outing — espe-
don't use this option if you're carry-
adventure. cially because -

ing a machine gun, or you'll waste they have only a

In this out- .

precious ammunition.
ing, Paul and limited number
Vince must take of moves. You
on Crime Ghost, a secret organization roundhouse-kick when you push the
bent on ruling the world. When Crime A button on your controller, punch Whatever is inside these storage
Ghost kidnaps the U.S. president's when you hit the B button, and jump- drums really packs a wallop. The
daughter, Elise, the Ikari Warriors are kick when you press both buttons.
explosion kills every enemy on-
called in for the rescue. But there are so many enemies in
screen, so hang on to the drum until
But don't spend too much time The Rescue that you probably wouldn't
you can really inflict some damage.
analyzing the plot —
you'll be too have time to perform elaborate moves
busy leading Paul (and Vince as well anyway. Your best chance of surviv-
in the two-player game) through six ing is simply to move slowly and take

The warriors ap-

proach Crime Ghost
headquarters in their
heavily armored
battle tank — so it's

too bad Crime Ghost

has armor-piercing, Grenade-tossing enemies only throw
anti-tank missiles. the bombs in one direction. You can
You're on foot from destroy everyone else before looping
here. around to take them out from behind.

110
nrnnnrnnnnrnrnrnnDnnrnrnrnrnnnnmrnnnnnnnnnni
nmnnmmnnmmnmmnnnnmmnnnnnmnnmcn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn nnnnnn

The soldiers carrying guns move in al-

most the exact pattern as the enemies
who throw grenades: They might pace a
little, but they shoot in only one direction.

You should attack them from behind or

from the side.

The first boss is a battle tank that

can only be hit from the side. Shoot
ita few times, then get out of the
way before it runs you down.

things one step at a time. It's easier to and attack, once you've found a pat- out the different levels are weapon
fight the enemy one by one than to tern, you can figure out the best way to icons —usually one-shot grenades.
take on half a dozen all at once. And move in for the kill. Although you can hang on to a gre-
since all the Crime Ghost members The Ikari Warriors aren't always nade, you should probably use it
have definite patterns of movement without weapons. Scattered through- quickly. As long as you hold it, you

This ninja can teleport, so he's constantly appearing and These mines are only deadly if you step on them or if you're
disappearing. Wait for him to appear, then attack. If you standing next to them when they explode. Keep your
take too long, he throws a barrage of shuriken. distance until they've detonated, then move on.

Ill
nnnnnnnnnnnnrinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn nnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnmmnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmr
mnmnnmnncmcncccncncmnmmnmmmmnnm:

The soldiers with jet-packs try to

surround you. Run for the bottom
corner of the screen and wait for
them togo away, or, if you feel
lucky, watch for a break in their fire.

This boss jumps around and sprays

mines. Attack him from the side
but be careful. If he lands on you,
his touch is deadly. Once you land
one punch, he won't hit back and
you can keep up the barrage of
blows until he's dead.

must rely solely on your roundhouse it makes you spin around so you end can leave yourself wide open to in-
kick because grenade-throwing, like up facing in the opposite direction jury by relying on a kicking attack.
punching, requires pressing the B from where you started. If the enemy You can also find a machine gun
button on your controller. you're fighting needs more than one icon. Use its ten shots sparingly, since
Your kick may be powerful, but blow to kill (and a lot of them do), you they give you the chance to attack

The Australian unit of Crime Ghost wields deadly boo- The Cheng Brothers gang up on you. Stay to the side and
merangs. Watch yourself —
while you're busy punching, wait until one charges, then hit him. If you concentrate on
their boomerangs can hit you from behind. one brother until he's defeated, the other is easy pickings.

112
nnnnn nnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnni
nnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnncnmnncnnr'

To kill Aquarius, stay below and

slightly to the right of him, shoot him
a few times, then let him go and head
for the far left. Dodge when he rushes
you, then get below him again.

Strap on your scuba gear — the secret

entrance to Crime Ghost headquar-
ters is underwater. Since there are
lots of bonus diamonds here, but
only a few hearts, being greedy can
kill you.

someone who isn't standing right up your ammo and live, than hang on a whole lot of action. It’s one of those
next to you. However, don't be too to it and die. games you should play wi
stingy. If you're in a tough situa- While there's not a whole lot of brain in low gear and your
tion, blaze away — it's better to use strategy in Ikari Warriors III, there is in high.

This is the second machine gun in this stage, and you If you can keep the machine gun, beating Jason is a snap —
should hang on to it as long as you can. Try to let enemies just shoot him. If you can't keep the gun, stay away from the
run right by, and don't shoot anyone unless you have to. boss, beat his two henchmen, then wait for an opening.

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mnmmmmnnnmmmmmnmmmmmmmmmn
mmmmmmnmnnmmmmnnmmmnnmmmmn

When you meet the death train,

stay below the train and to the right
of the cannon's barrel. Shoot at the
turret as the train moves to the right,
and run to the bottom of the screen
to dodge its shots. Then follow the
train back to the left and start over.

Knife-wielding commandos try to

attack you from behind. Walk up to
them, but turn around the second
they start to move or else you'll wind
up with a bowie between your
shoulder blades.

Mhimt
If your path is blocked by soldiers performing
constant spinning jump kicks, you can get by them
— just do a jump kick of your own to fly harm-
lessly by. you're lucky, you can even knock
If
SNK
them out of the air in the process.
246 Sobrante Way; Sunnyvale,
CA 94086

Once you've defeated the train, your rescue mission is Elise follows you from now on — and she can' t be hurt. That
almost completed. Now that you've found Elise, all the two plane is your ticket out, but you still have to fight your way
ofyou must do is get out with your lives. to it. And where is Faust, the leader of Crime Ghost?

114
 nnnnnr rnnnnnnnrrnnnnnnrrrmmnmm
rcssiCCGPaiffrrj-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrr
^Tr?^f^*ct*~nrrrnnrnrnrrrnrrnrrrr

KABUKI QUANTUM FIGHTER

Stephen Poole
y the middle of the 21 st once it's inside the circuitry.
century, all the Earth's In Kabuki Quantum Fighter, you're
defenses —
including Colonel Scott O'Connor, the man cho-
nuclear weapons — sen to enter the defense computer.
are controlled by a The conversion process has trans-
single, massive computer. In this era formed you into a kabuki actor —
of peace, it seemed like the perfect someone who follows a style of drama
system of government. No one developed in 17th-century Japan. With
counted on alien your white face,
invaders making flowing robe, and
Don't waste chips on these fire-
a beachhead in-
side the computer.
But that's just
Mhint long red hair,
you're as un-
likely-looking a
breathing squawking heads. Study the
timing of the flame and leap just as it's
In the first three stages, it's easy to hero as the future about to stop. It takes only two quick
what happened.
bring your life meter to full strength. whips of your hair.
A virus of un- has ever seen.
known origin has One of the first enemies you kill leaves But your red
com-
infected the behind a heart. The enemy reappears mane is your pri-
puter and is when you retreat, so you can kill him mary weapon
repeatedly until you've earned a full
spreading un- against the efi-
checked through supply of energy. emies you face in
the system. The the game's six
entire planet lies at the mercy of stages. Your hair acts much like a whip
whoever — or whatever — controls and is capable of taking out almost

the virus. every enemy you meet, with the ex-

There's just one chance to avoid ception of some of the bosses.
catastrophe. Thanks to a new (but You start the game with a supply Avoid the bounding attacks of the

untested) process, it's now possible to of memory chips which can be fired at stage 1 boss. When he crouches and
convert a human mind into raw binary your foes. You're given a new, more unleashes a wall of flame, hurdle the
data and reassemble the information powerful weapon whenever you flame and get in a few blows before
However, no one
inside a computer. complete a stage, but your supply of retreating.

knows what shape the data assumes memory chips is depleted each time

Wait until the pit

hound is as far away
as possible before
dropping from this
platform. You're sure
to lose more energy
fighting it than it

would leave behind The water here carries you into a set of
— if you can kill it.
spikes. Press down and left on the
directional pad to fight the current,
and stay crouched as you advance —
an angry bird is about to attack.

115
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnn n nn nnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnn nni
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nrTinnnnn nn nnnnnrnnnnnnnnr'
n nnnnn n nnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnn nnn nnnn nnnnr '

These guys use a weapon that

—
works like a yo-yo it flies toward
you, then back to its owner. Use
your fusion gun, or avoid trouble
by leaping over the bad guy.

This is a good place to use the

fusion gun, the first addition to
your weapons. Fire as you hang
here, then leap to the platform
and take out the dart thrower
bringing up the rear.

you use a weapon. And the stronger hearts (which replenish your life en- because you can swap them for more
the weapon, the more memory chips ergy) or memory chips, so don't worry energy — energy you'll really need.
it uses. about permanently running out of Although selecting the right
However, when some enemies chips. Those extra chips are especially weapon and maintaining a good
are destroyed, they leave behind important when fighting the bosses supply of chips is crucial to your

You must descend from platform to platform to reach the The best way to deal with the second boss is to stay near him
boss of stage 2. Here, leap to the right to avoid several dart at all times. Take him out as quickly as you can because
throwers — and collect a one-up to boot. eventually he uses a mirror image of himself to fool you.

116
nnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnn nnm
nnnnnccnnnnncocnnnnnnmnnnnnnrnrcnncnrrrrnrnr
rrrnnnrrrrnnnrirrrrcnnnrrrrrrTnnrrrrrrrrnnnrr

You gain the quantum bomb be-

fore starting stage 3. You can de-

stroy the flamethrower above you

by using the quantum bomb as
you hang from the platform.

Use your fusion gun in this area

of stage 3. If you jump and fire to
the right, you'll destroy the laser
cannon on the wall.

success, without expert timing and platform to platform is the only way provides you with a real challenge.
nimble fingers, your effort is useless. you're going to get very far in the The animation is smooth, with only
Hanging platforms are often your game. a few instances of flicker (mainly in
only way around danger spots, so Even if you're a veteran of martial- the scenes with the bosses). The
learning how to swing safely from arts videogames. Quantum Fighter graphics aren't earthshaking, but

Use your quantum bomb to eliminate the flamethrower The boss of stage 3 is tough. Kneel to avoid him as he passes
near the bottom of the screen, then leap and fire your fusion overhead, then move in close when he lands at either side
gun to take care of the flamethrower above you. of the screen.

117
nnnnnmnnmmnnnmmnnmnnnmmnmnnnmmnmc
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrnrrnrnnnrrnrcrnrnrc'
nnmncnnnnmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnmcnmmr

Robo Roaches are slow, but they

take several hits to destroy. Wait
for this one to crawl to the right,
then land behind it so you can attack
it with no danger to yourself.

Use dynamite on this boomerang

thrower for an easy one-up.

they're colorful and creative. And But no matter what your opinion alien-invaders" plot. The wacky,
thanks to all the ways you can use of Kabuki:Quantum Fighter is, you've imaginative story and the game's
the memory chips, there's a good got to give its designers credit for challenging arcade action put it a
dose of strategy along with the fast- some new wrinkles into the
putting notch above most martial
paced action. timeworn "save-the-world-from- games.

Since the orange flames drain your energy, you don't jump These two drones can make your life miserable. Whip the
up and over when leaping between these platforms. Press boss as much as you can before he goes to the ceiling, then
the pad directly to the right and lightly tap the jump button. use the fusion gun to kill one of the drones.

118
 qqqqqqqqqqqqgqpgqqqmmmmmmmmmmmmmi
gggqpqpqqqqqmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmr
mmmmnmmmmnmmmmnmmnmmmmnmr

There's a time limit for each level,

but don't sacrifice safety for speed.
Study the timing of these spikes
before flinging yourself to the next
platform.

.Here's another guy with a deadly

yo-yo. When he flings it toward
you, vault over it and quickly whip
your hair. The weapon disappears
as soon as you kill the enemy.

z
vxm
Take advantage of your ability to trade en-
ergy for memory chips, and vice versa. After
defeating the bosses in the first and second
stages, pause the game and trade most of your
energy for chips. Not only is it easy to renew
Hal America
energy at the start of the next levels, but you'll
have a healthy supply of chips as well. 7873 S.W. Cirrus Drive; Build-
ing 25F; Beaverton, OR 97005

The mechanized fifth boss provides a respite — he's the To defeat the sixth and final boss, you need all the blue
easiest to defeat. Jump onto the spiderlike contraption, then chips you can accumulate. Only dynamite or the remote-
make your way to the top and punch the dome. control bolo are effective against him.

119
 nnnnnnnnnnnn nn n nn nnnnn nnnn nnnnnnni
nmnnmmmmmnnnnn
cnnnnnnnnncnnnnnnnnn

THE KRION CONQUEST

hen a legion of alien to destroy flying mechanoids, jump-
m robots invades Earth, ing robots, and treacherous obstacles
» K the planet is brought found in every comer of the alien bases
m to the brink of extinc- — and that's the easy part! The attack
Even the most
tion. of the Thunder Knight waits at the
advanced armies in the world are end of round 1; Yukimaru's stinging
found
helpless. But finally a force is snowballs chill you in the ice base; the
any modern army.
that is greater than Aqua Knight tries a transformer at-
Ancient witches are conjured up, and tack in round 3; and Sky Hawk uses a
their mighty . hammer and
magic is called on missile attack at Green magic makes your shots bounce
to stop the robot the end of the sky off the walls, a useful trick if you don't

raiders from the

Krion Empire.
HINT base. The boss of
the space station
have a clear shot at your enemy.

In The Krion When Sky Hawk, the boss of

fighting is unlike any
Conquest, you're round 4, use your broom to fly up and you've ever seen.
the powerful hit his weak spot (the bulb on the top Your bag of
witch, Francesa, of his head). Just plant the broom in tricks contains six

who must use the left corner, then fly up and to the kinds of magic/'
magic to save right, shooting at Sky Hawk's head. any of which you
Earth from cer- can use right
tain destruction. from the begin-
You must battle through five levels (of ning of the game. Check your position
three stages each) filled with robotic on the screen and the location of any
enemies — and face a very dangerous robotic enemies before deciding which Keep an eye on your life meter in the

boss at the end of every level. But is magic to use — each sorcerer's trick top left. An oxygen gauge appears
your enchantment strong enough to has a unique effect. You can easily next to the power indicator during
survive battles in ice caverns, midair, identify the magic in use because your round 3, and if your oxygen registers

outer space, and under water? robe is a different color with each one. empty, you die.
Long before you confront the ro- If your robes are red, you're oper-

bot bosses, you must use your magic ating in the standard magic mode and

Your first battle with

the robot invaders
takes place in their
underground base.
Keep a sharp eye out
— the attacks come Crouching down while you shoot at
from all around you. the robots protects you from enemy
fire. Since the robots don't duck, their
shots sail harmlessly over your head.

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nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnniyi
cnnnnncncccoDnnnmmncnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnM
nacnmnnnnmnnommnmmnnmnnmnnnnnnnnnmZinp

can fight enemies with normal and super shots in this mode halt your spell — your shots ricochet off the
missiles or super shots, which are enemies in their tracks for a few min- walls in this mode. If your robes are
four times more powerful than nor- utes —
long enough for you to make a orange, you're operating with a
mal fire. When your robes are blue, quick getaway. shield spell, and your shots form a
you're using freeze magic. Normal Green robes indicate the ball magic barrier between you and the enemy.

IjjwH
IfCfb a

Sim

XTTW,
When the magic gauge at the bottom of the screen reads An orange magic spell casts a barrier between you and
GO, you can fire a super shot, a powerful weapon that your enemies. After awhile, you'll get the hang of using
packs a punch four times stronger than a normal blast. the different spells in the most appropriate situations.

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rnrrrrnrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrnrrrrnrrnrnry'
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnn nn nnnnnn nn nnn nn nnnnnnnnww

When the knight turns back into

a robot, take a position on the
platform directly beneath him
and fire as many times as possible.

The Thunder Knight guards the

exit from the underground base.
Watch the path the thunderheads
follow through the room, then
jump from platform to platform to
avoid being struck.

Ifyou choose the fire spell, your life meter shows at least one-third of available to you is broom magic.
robes turn pink, and you're able to the power available — this spell re- Unleash this spell, which creates a
unleash magic that kills every en- duces it by that much. purple robe, and you're able to fly.
emy on-screen. But make sure your Perhaps the most important spell Using broom magic is often the only

This large pumpkin restores six blocks on your life meter. Little witch dolls that closely resemble Francesa provide
Smaller pumpkins restore three. you with an extra life. Collect them whenever they appear
— you need a lot of spunk to finish this game.

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nnnmnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnmmnnnmnnnmmmnncan
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriTWf
nnmnmmnnnnmncnnnmnnnmmnmnnnmnmmniHpy

way to cross some screens safely. the Mega Man trilogy, but don't be behind Mega Man. Nevertheless, on
The screen layouts and scenery fooled by small similarities. When it its own merits. The Krion Conquest is
in this fantasy arcade game
from Vic comes to action, adventure, and an entertaining game.
Tokai may look familiar to fans of graphics, The Krion Conquest is a step

Invoke the pink magic spell, and you change into a Firebird Make it past the Aqua Knight and you've cleared the

to destroy all the enemies on-screen. Watch out, though — underwater base. Jump out of the water to avoid his missile
this spell reduces your life meter by a third. attacks.

123
nnmnmmmmmnmmmnmmnmnnmmnnnmmn
mmmnmmmnmmnmnmmmmnmmmnmmra
nmmnmmmmmnmnmmmmmnmmmmmnnBi

The space station is the last enemy

stronghold. Defeat the robots in
this base and you've saved Earth.

Shoot at the glowing bulb on the

top of Sky Hawk's head. It's the
only way to beat the boss of the
sky base.

When fighting the final boss, stand on the middle

platform while using the ball weapon (green
magic) to shoot at an angle. When the boss comes
down, switch to your normal weapon, the super
shot. When the boss rises out of reach of the super Vic Tokai
shot, switch back to the ball weapon. Keep re- 22904 Loch Ness Avenue;
peating this until you've destroyed the boss. Torrance, CA 90501

124
 icrcnccrccccnncccnrnrnccrcrnrrnrcrn
AT=r « | '

•rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn

THE LAST NINJA

Richard Lashley
ike shadows, they move this game isn't the typical slice-and-
effortlessly through the dice ninja adventure. The Last Ninja
night — skilled assassins tests both your physical and mental
who attack, then vanish strengths.
without a sound ... the The difference is that The Last Ninja
calling card of the ninja. The history of adds a dash of role-playing challenge
these mysterious soldiers dates back There are
to accent the usual violence.
to ninth-century Japan, when they six stages, each with hidden passages
proved themselves the most elite of and objects that you must locate
fighters. before you can
Warriors progress in the You must knock enemies down twice
with such great
power also have
great responsi-
HINT action.
players
However,
who like
their games full of
to kill them. In Central Park, practice
your ninjitsu on this guy, then grab a
hamburger at the snack bar.
And some In stage one, there's a fast-food stand slashing and kick-
bility.
abuse it. When with a single hamburger. Grab it for ing won't be dis-
Shogun Kunitoki an extra life, but before you leave appointed.
began his quest to Central Park, go back to the stand.
To find Ku-
take over Japan One more hamburger — and life — is
nitoki, who's hi-
by force hun- now available. ding in the mid-
dreds of years dle of the Big
ago, only that master ninja, Ar- Apple, Armakuni must fend off con-
makuni, possessed the skill and the stant attacks from Kunitoki's hench-
courage to rebel against Kunitoki's men, and try to locate keys, weapons,
wave of terror. and secret passages. While the in- Don't forget to pick up the shuriken
Jaleco's The Last Ninja warps time struction manual gives clues about
lying beside this park bench, but save
and transports ninth-century charac- what can be found in each stage, these it until the last stage.
ters Armakuni and Kunitoki to the clues are riddles that require clever
year 1991 — and downtown Manhat- thinking to solve.
tan. The plot may sound common in a A general rule as you play The Last
market rife with ninja titles. However, Ninja is to experiment. For example, in

The Last Ninja is a

complex maze of
screens in which the
correct path isn't al-
ways obvious. Arma-
kuni must punch this One of the most important items to
white block in the find in CentralPark is the Bit Map,
second room to open which illuminates hidden passages
a door in the first.
and objects when you enter rooms.

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rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriyr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn

In stage two you walk the streets of

Manhattan. There's a key in this
alleyway shanty.

Jumping on these floating platforms

is difficult. Stand on the edge of the

sidewalk and jump just as the plat-

form gets next to you.

stage one there's a towering wall nailed to the wall of the building. Climb While you're busy discovering
that you can't jump over, and there's up those, and you're home free — at how to navigate each section, don't
no ladder conveniently placed least until the next obstacle. You see, forget to look for keys. You need
nearby. Still, you must pass the things just aren't always what they them to unlock the doors between
building.If you look carefully, you'll appear to be in the world of The Last stages. You must also pick up the
see a number of vertical boards Ninja. weapons that are scattered

Even a ninja should look both ways before crossing a street. Even an ordinary object could prove vital to your mission.
When you cross, wait until the traffic light turns red or— Believe it or not, you can use this bottle as a powerful
you might be splattered by speeding motorists. weapon later in the game.

126
 The slick dampness of the sewers
makes Armakuni's movements
tricky. Watch out for rocks step- —
ping on them dumps a nest of poi-
sonous spiders on you.

Use the Bit Map to find the entrance

to the sewers in stage three. Jump
from beside the streetlight and land
squarely on this manhole cover. The
jolt of your landing opens it.

throughout the game. Your throw- counter in stage one are armed with Besides a unique combination
ing stars are perhaps the most im- shuriken and can kill you with one hit, of action with a hint of role-playing.
portant weapons to find. Save them ifyou engage them in hand-to-hand The Last Ninja contains graphics that
for the final battle with Kunitoki — combat, they won't be able to throw create a challenging —
sometimes
you'll need all of them for that fight. their weapons, and you can save yours too challenging — environment in
Although the other enemies you en- for Kunitoki. which to play. The 3-D screens in-

There are many doors among the maze of different screens. Rats, rats,and more rats. There's always a nice variety of
Some doors lead to the next room ... some lead to death. vermin in any respectable sewer. Carefully time your jumps
Here, step over the goon and enter the middle passage. over these rodents, or they'll crawl all over you.

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rnncncrncrrrrrnrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, 1

If you find a chicken leg in stage

three, don't eat it. Instead, use it to
pacify this black panther in stage
four.

The bottle you picked up in stage two

becomes a flaming Molotov Cocktail
in the sewers. Be sure to use it against
this alligator guarding the entrance
to stage four.

voke a sense of depth that can make Jockeying for position in fights is no unique blend
in The Last Ninja, the
j

maneuvering your character awk- piece of cake, either, since you can of mental and physical challenges
ward since you observe from a never be quite sure if Armakuni is in might give this game a boost in a
slanted, overhead view. Jumping front of the opponent. market flooded with
; across chasms and making pinpoint Despite the awkward character dice'em ninja games.
landings is particularly difficult. movement and annoying soundtrack

After you feed the cat, you enter a computer room and Hopefully, you haven't just shattered a Ming Dynasty vase.
obtain a code you'll need in stage six. You're not being clumsy —
you need to knock over the vase
to open the secret passage beside you.

128
ncrrcnnrccrncncnrrrncnccnnnnccnncrcrrcrcrnnncQ
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

.^rrrrTTTTTll^^ The adventure continues in stage

five's sprawling mansion. When
you enter, descend these steps to
find a key.

Once outside the building, climb the

ledges to the top. Go to the far right
and jump off to the next stage. A
helicopter flies by, but ignore it — the
pilot is one of Kunitoki's men.

The traffic in stage two can be deadly. Normally,

as a ninja who obeys traffic laws, you'd wait for
the light to turn red before you cross the intersec-
tion. However, at the second stoplight in this
stage, cross when the light turns green. A motor- Jaleco
cycle will run the red light there. 310 Era Drive; Northbrook, 1L

60062

pPMJi
W-

The key you find in the hallway opens the door at the top Armakuni must now solve the last puzzle in his quest and
of the stairs. In that room you find a rope —
use it as a tool defeat the most evil ninja in the history of the ninjitsu
to open the door to the last room in this stage. masters — Kunitoki.

129
 innn nn nnn n nnnnnnnrnrn nn nnnnnnnnnn nn i

7-t srrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
"
t i
nnnmnmmmmnnmnnn
LITTLE NINJA BROTHERS
Brian Carroll
wS f you have a few than a few smiles. The amusing dia-
Nintendo games un- logue is sprinkled throughout a

der your belt, you've sprawling adventure with heavy doses

M M|| probably noticed of exploration and action, and with
some of the fractured colorful, lively graphics.
English that makes it into the story. Your main mission is an involved
Misspellings, strange sentence struc- romp through the expansive, faraway
ture — the Japanese translations are place called Chinaland. Twin ninja
often unintentionally funny. brothers. Jack and Ryu, are called on
But some- to recover seven
times the narra- "Bells of Prism" To play the field meeting, select up to
to save civiliza- five of the six events offered.
tive contains in-
tentional as well as tionfrom a dan-
accidental misuse gerously de-
of the English ranged dictator,
language. And Blu Boltar. To ac-
the uproarious complish these
account in Little goals, the twins
Ninja Brothers is a must tour all of

prime example. Chinaland's

This new towns, talk to vil-
role-playing lagers, and build
game from Cul- up an extensive
ture Brain, the inventory of The wackiest field event is Eating, in
company that brought you The Magic weapons and items. which you race toward the finish line
of Scheherazade and Kung Fu Heroes, is The adventure plays much like while devouring as much of the food
a farcical frolic that combines botched The Magic of Scheherazade or other role- by on balloons as you can.
that floats
translations ("I am cheery") with more playing games —except there's a lot
blatant attempts at humor ("I will more action. You frequently meet
change you into meatballs and eat you opposition as you roam through
up."). The end result produces more Chinaland's more rural areas. When

The Athletic event is

an obstacle course,
the most diverse of
the field competi- Your wise mentor on Mt. Epin has a
tions. heart of gold — he's funding your
Chinaland excursion with money from
his private stash.

130
rrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrnnnrrrrrrr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrna
rrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It'sextremely important to up-

grade your weaponry in the vari-
ous artillery shops, otherwise you
won't keep pace with your oppo-
sition.

Start your journey by visiting the

town of Hynen. It's the first vil-
lage you see after descending Mt.
Epin.

you do, the exploration screen that increase your strength and offen- Kung Fu Heroes). It may not sound
switches to a battle scene, and you sive power. sensible, but punching rocks with
must knock out a set number of Not only must you punch out your your fist sometimes uncovers chests
enemies before continuing your enemies, but you should try your containing valuable items.
journey. Each time you conquer your uppercuts and jabs on the blocks and Little Ninja Brothers also features
foes, you receive experience points rocks as well (just as is necessary in a section that's totally separate from

131
n nnnnn nmnnnnn nnn nn nnnnnnnn nnnnmnnn nnn n nnrn nra
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrcrrrrrrrrrrn
rnnrrrnrnrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrr m

the main game. There are six athletic Some role-playing games allow roam simultaneously through
ers to
competitions from which to choose only one gamer to explore at a time, so Chinaland and fight through the
— some of which reappear later. The ifyou have a buddy with you, he can combat sequences. And the twin
track meet, for example, is great do little more than cheer you on. But brothers are interchangeable. Either
practice for what lies ahead. Little Ninja Brothers allows two play- one of you can fight and accumulate

Punching rocks often earns "M" marks. Collect six of them. The mayor of Deli-Chous has apparently confiscated all of
then cash them in for the "Mighty Ball" weapon. the village's food. It's up to the ninja twins to get it back.

132
 rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-Q
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri>
rrrrrnrnrrrrrrrrrrnrnrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrnrrnr/r^>
*

The guard outside the mayor's

estate greets you with suspicious
graciousness. Beware.

You can get passwords and medi-

cine inside the convenience stores
scattered throughout Chinaland.
Use the passwords to return to the
last convenience store you visited
before leaving the game or dying.

I
experience points while the other cover in Little Ninja Brothers. This ad- to survive — and then there are the
concentrates on collecting items venture is huge, bigger than the Leg- field events. Whew! You'd better
j

from sweet buns to medicine. end ofZelda, if you can believe it. There pack a lunch before
Even two ninja masters will find are eight villages to explore, 30 items your journey through
j
that there's plenty of territory to to collect, and countless combat scenes

I SUDDEN L V FEEL

Even though you get sleepy after joining the mayor's Don't worry when the mayor imprisons you after you've
sumptuous feast, go ahead and enjoy. fallen asleep. It's all a part of the master plan.

133
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rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr>
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,

To rub out Tub-A-Tummy, punch

him repeatedly in the face. If one of
his projectiles hits you, you're
transformed into a blob and im-
mobilized for a brief time.

Once you escape, pay a visit to the

building immediately to your left.

The lady of the house has an amulet

you need to defeat the mayor.

In addition to collecting sweet buns, you can re-

store your strength by checking into a local hotel
and sacking out. And don't forget that you can
increase the maximum levels of both physical
strength and offensive power by defeating large Culture Brain
quantities of enemies any time during your ad-
venture. 15315 N.E. 90th Street; Red-
mond, WA 98052

You must obtain the sword to fight the Dragon family. To To defeat the Evil Queen, you need the sword and the
find the sword, follow the coastline going south until you mirror shield. Her palace is in east Chinaland.
reach Yoma Chateau.

134
 innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnn n nn nnnnn nnn
np nrjr rp nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
i

METALSTORM
Jeff Lundrigan

n the year 2501 the The M-308 Gunner is armed with

M Earth's technology sud- a laser rifle, but its greatest advantage

W denly backfires, threat- is its ability to manipulate gravity. By

0^ ening the entire solar executing the "Gravity Flip," it's pos-
system with destruction. sible for the battlesuit to "fall" upward
The LaserGun on the Plutonian out- and walk on the ceiling. This unique
post of Cyberg —
installed to protect ability allows you to execute some
colonists from - —- -- incredible ma-
hostile aliens — t" neuvers —
and it
has gone haywire. C makes MetalStorm That's not to say, however, that other
Instead of de- rrr
stroying enemies,
HINT a unique game,
combining arcade
power-ups don't have their moments.
The gravity fireball makes you invincible
If you shoot straight up or straight down,
it's demolishing action and chal- while flipping, which can be handy.
your shots can "wrap" the screen. The
every planet in the lenging strategy.
power beam is good for‘ this
especially
MilkvWav Mpn- Throughout
because it can shoot through some walls
hinp \
tune
f iwara
hag already
has alrparlv teyt* :
SB’s. ,
- , - ‘
the game you
and platforms the regular laser can t.
been reduced to should grab pow-
This technique is unusually effective
dust and Earth
... er-up icons. You
during stages two, four, and six.
may be next. have a choice of
In Metal- three weapon
Storm, you must travel to Pluto to icons: a power beam, gravity fireballs,
activate the LaserGun's jammed self- and shield force. Since your battlesuit
destruct mechanism. Using your M- can be equipped with only one of these
308 Gunner battlesuit, you must over- at a time, choosing the right weapon The first boss has a blue globe that
come airlocks, defense barriers, tanks, for a given situation is important. moves between different ports. Dodge
and elevators. Blocking your path are When in doubt, use the power beam its shots until the globe pokes out
evil creatures and bosses. Even after — since it increases the width of your from the bottom port, then blast away.
you beat these brutes you can't take a laser and makes it shoot faster, it's the
breather — it's time to disarm the bestweapon to have. And once you
LaserGun. If you can reach it. have the weapon you want, make sure

This "P" icon is the

power beam. It in-
creases the width of
your laser and gives
you the ability to
shoot through some These shutters swing to different po-
walls. In general, this sitions every time you flip, so be

is the most useful careful. If you're in the way when they

power-up. flip, you're crushed like a tin can.

135
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnni
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnno
mmnmmnmmmmnmnmmnmnnmmnmnrrimei

When these ships fire, the shots

come out from their sides in two
arcs. Stand in front of these ships to
destroy them or run past quickly
and get behind them —
they're
deadly if you're above or below.

You must move fast to get through

these defense gates. Jump from one
platform to the next as quickly as
you can, shifting just slightly to the
right with each jump.

you don't pick up another weapon It isn'tpossibletohavemorethanoneunit you find and their locations. Extra
icon by mistake. of armor at a time, however, so once it's lives —
which are very rare dis- —
Other special icons include the been used, start looking for more. appear if you die during a stage, so
"Crusher," which destroys all en- All the power-up icons except ex- you can only grab them once. If
emies on-screen, and extra armor tra lives are found in specific places on you're having trouble finishing a
which can absorb one hit of damage. each stage, so take note of what items level intact, the best thing to do is to

Once you've destroyed one energizer, you have a safe platform Although you can destroy these tramcars, there are always
on which to stand. Attack the energizer on the platform above by more coming. Fortunately, they don't move very quickly,
jumping just high enough to shoot it without actually landing. and there's usually a safe spot to stand.

136
nnnnmnmmmnmnmmnmmnmnnmmnmmmmcii
nnmonnnnnmnnmnmmnnnnnnnmmmnnnnmcnnn§5P
mnnnnnmccnnmmcnnnmnnmmmmnmmnnmnBr^

The third boss, "Gultzen," follows you

from one yellow circle to the next. Fire
until it starts moving, then get out of its
way. Gultzen itself can't shoot you, so if
youhaveto,waitbeforerunningthrough
the beams.

Some beam turrets fire only when

gravity is pulling in a specific di-
rection. You must flip to shut off the
turret — just make sure you're all
the way past before flipping back!

try using a different weapon the next you die, retaining your inventory and game and use your password to restart
time around. any lives you had at the end of the with all your lives and power-ups intact.
MetalStorm has seven stages, and previous stage. It's possible, then, to In addition, the game has un-
each stage has two sections. Using finish one stage, use the continue limited continues, so when all your
passwords, you can return to the feature to explore, practice, and plan lives are used up you can continue from

beginning of your current stage if strategies for the next stage, then exit the the beginning of the section you're cur-

There's not much room inside the cargo elevator that In stage 4-2, you're buzzed from all sides by these small
carriesyou through stage four. Try to shoot these reap- attack robots. The shield force weapon makes this section
pearing turrets while you're standing in the comers. a little easier to survive.

137
mnmmnmnmDnnnnnmnnnnnmmnnnmnmnmmr
mmnmcmmnmnnncnmnnnmnnnmnnnnnmnnmr
mnnnnnnmmnnnmnmnnnomnmcmmmnmmml

These beams make stage five pretty

hostile. Most of them can be de-
stroyed, but it's better just to run by
when you can. Usually there's a place
to hide while the beams are firing.

The stage four boss, the "Zoniar"

unit, is tricky. Concentrate on
blasting the turrets while the Zoniar
is bouncing around inside the el-

evator. Then, when the turrets are

gone, the Zoniar is defenseless.

rently playing. But in this case, you and fairly dynamic. The "Gravity Flip" Although MetalS torm is an ar-
have only three lives, and you lose any may seem gimmicky at first, but the cade shooter at heart, it's a perfect
power-ups you had. different stages require some skillful example of how a little ingenuity
MetalS torm is an extremely well- flips and jumps, and the numerous and careful attention to detail
designed game. The graphics are and varied types of enemies you en- keep an old formula exciting.
top-notch, and the action is smooth counter really keep you on your toes.

This boss constantly changes its configuration to alter its Although there's no floor in stage six, you can't be killed by a fall
field of fire. Concentrate on dodging its shots and staying — you'll simply "wrap" back up to the top of the screen. This is
alive, rather than causing a lot of damage all at once. another stage where you'll need to take things one step at a time.

138
nnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnrnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnnmDDCTi
nnnmmmmmnmnonnnnnmnnnmmmnmnmmgW
mnmnnnmnnncnnnnmnncnmmnnnncinnmnmmnEQ|i

As you get to the end of stage six,

you must walk off the edge of the
platform, fall into space, and flip

just before you hit the spikes. It's the

only way you can jump far enough
to reach the safesideofthe platform.

If you've got a power beam, destroy

these guns as you go. If you don't,
run over the top of this gun platform.
Keep jumping, don't slow down,
and try to land on the blue platforms
toward the far end.

In stage 5-2, there's a series of platforms just past

the beam unit where you'll be attacked by robots
that explode into wide laser arcs. If you hop onto
the top platform and wait until the first robot Irem
attacks, then drop onto the middle platform be-
fore continuing on, you'll be left alone until the
8335 154th Avenue, NE
platforms end.
Redmond, WA 98052

These three units constantly circle the chamber. Keep fir- Just before the final fight, you're faced with a choice of
ing, and before you get smashed, walk off the edge of the power-up icons. Grab the power beam before moving on.
unit you're standing on and drop down to the next one. Good luck!

139
 mnnnnmnrnmmnmmnmmnmn
~ ~7 ~^ r rr| rr|~t~rrrrrrrrrrr ~
awnHPr ^wnnnnnnrnnnnrn
i

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I

NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION II

obunaga II isn't a betrayed and took his own life in a

typical sequel. It's not ritual suicide at the age of 49.
a son-of -N obunaga Like the historic Nobunaga, your
game. Instead, Nobu- goal in Nobunaga's Ambition II is to
naga's Ambition 17 is unify Japan. You must first create
an upgraded, refined version of its stable and prosperous fiefdoms for
predecessor —
and probably the first your own samurai by issuing com-
really mature game of military and mands during each month of game
political strategy time. Then you
released in the can expand your
Nintendo for- power in all di-
Recruiting
mat. rections using a
too large an
For the ben- combination of
army too
efit of those who diplomacy, spy-
fast can drain your fief's resources.
have never play- ing, and outright
What counts on the battlefield is not
ed either of these war. You must
the quantity of soldiers, but the quality.
historic simula- be constantly on
Select your warlord (supreme com-
tions: Both are set the alert for trai-
mander) first, then samurai with high
in the violent, tors; make sure
war ability. You can accomplish more
chaotic era of both your serfs
with two strong units of 60 men than
16th-century Ja- and your samu-
with five mediocre units half that size.
pan, when that rairemain loyal;
Besides, you lose a battle when your
nation was frag- and be prepared
warlord is killed, regardless of how
mented into to deal with na-
many soldiers remain under lesser
small provinces tural disasters
officers. If you're not satisfied with your
(fiefdoms) con- such as plagues warlord's character traits, you can
trolled by pow- and typhoons — easily reset them.
erful warlords. Oda Nobunaga was a that could reverse months of work.
skilled, ruthless general whose dream The PC version of Nobunaga's
was to unify Japan into a single great Ambition was a worldwide bestseller,
nation. He almost succeeded, but was as well as one of the first computer

Choose a strategi-
cally located fief as Watching others wage war can be in-
your home territory. structive, but it does slow down the
game considerably.

140
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnm
nGnnnccncnrnrnrcncnncnrnrnnnrnnnnnnnncncnrn
ncnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnBBnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Avoid the temptation to build up

your armies too quickly — your
fiefdom may not ha ve the resources

for their upkeep.

This is the basic command screen.

If your samurai have the stamina,

you may perform more than one

action per turn.

games to be converted for the NES. field scenes was terribly jerky. your musketeers reload depends on
But it wasn't an altogether happy Battle tactics are much more real- their training and skill levels), then

translation. Not only was the action istic and elaborate this time around. launch a charge to try to shatter the
squeezed down to fit Nintendo's You can soften up the enemy with unit it hits. Units may launch sur-
specs, but the scrolling in the battle- volleys of rifle fire (the speed at which prise attacks at night, and infantry

The Training command uses body points, but costs no gold. Clearing land for cultivation puts your fiefdom on a sound
The skill of your men increases each time you use it. economic footing.

141
nmnmnnonmncmcnnnnmnnnnmnncnnmnmnnnrr
rinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn i

258 1QO
^ 108
252 M
5Ci_
1332
187
The first men you recruit should
serve in units commanded by your
53 .si 18*7 spend
” V t»i* most warlike samurai. Two good
M 135 8
T®o much
an nnr* units of 100 men are more valuable
2-45 Q than six units of 40 men.

soldi ersCV/M >?

Although your advisors may be

overly cautious, it's still wise to
listen to what they have to tell
you.

Assisn sol die

units can set ambushes. If you're tant role in Nobunaga II, and it's the first general dynamics of the game re-
heavily outnumbered and things get Koei game to include such a feature. main similar, thereare enough im-
tough on the battlefield, you can even Graphically (and in terms of over- proved features that Nobunaga II is
fall back into the castle to make a all smoothness), this sequel is a dra- new game. For example,
virtually a
stand. Siege warfare plays an impor- matic improvement. And while the battle tactics are much more subtle

Your ninja are valuable spies — let them gather data on Battles are fought on these hexagon-filled screens,
other fiefdoms.

142
mmmmmmmmnmnnmmmnmmmmmmmmi
mmmnmmmmnmmmmmmmnmmnmmmnr

now, and include ambushes, cav- — to make it worth playing, even if deep, absorbing tale of warfare, in-
alry charges, and elaborate sieges. you have the game. Those who
first trigue, and bloody ambition.
In short, Nobumga II is different haven' t yet tried any Koei games could
enough — and improved enough do no better than to start with this

You can win the loyalty of your samurai by giving them Naturally, battles fought at night take place in reduced
gold. But loyalties can change, so make periodic checks to visibility.

see if anyone is wavering.

143
mmmmmmnnnmnmnmnnrnnmmmnnnmmnm
rnrnnrnrrrnrnnnnnrrnnnnnncncnnrnnnnrnrrrnrn -
nnnnHdnnmmnnnnnnmncnannncnmannnnnmmo

You can recruit lordless samurai,

but you must invest a lot of gold
to cement their loyalty.

Random events such as typhoons,

and uprisings can under-
floods,
mine the strategy of even with
wisest warlord.

Here's a good way to

gain power fast: Choose
to play more than one
warlord simultaneously, then concentrate on
quickly building up both men's powers. When
they're powerful and in good positions geographi-
cally, use the Diplomacy command to unite them i< V/ N
under a single banner. Not only do you double
your power with a single stroke, but you also can
conquer other warlords with much greater ease. Koei
1350 Bayshore Highway; Suite
540; Burlingame, CA 94010

Other warlords may ask for alliances from time to time. Although a Charge tactic is useful against a demoralized
—
How you respond to their overtures is entirely up to you foe, it may backfire against a strong enemy.
but be prepared to live with the consequences.

144
 innnnnnn nnnnn nnnmnnnnnnnnmmmcirD
rnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrr
nn nnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnn
i

S.C.A.T. — SPECIAL
CYBERNETIC ATTACK TEAM
Jeff Lundrigan

n the 21st century, Malmort prepared for his final assault.

mankind faces its By combining the best weapons ever
M greatest threat — the conceived with the two finest war-
J invading armies of the riors Earth ever produced, the team
—
the Special Cy-
alien VileMalmort. created S.C.A.T.
New York has been destroyed, and bernetic Attack Team.
Malmort has set up an Astrotube lead- The key word in S.C.A.T. is
ing from the ruins "team." Two peo-
of the Big Apple
to his orbiting
space platform.
m
CEL
pie can play this
game at once, and
it's certainly rec-
Ifyou lock your satellites to the left,
you've protected your back and can
i rr 5

ommended that use your main weapon on the gun

Fresh troops are
you own a controller with a turbo- you take a friend turrets.
constantly arriv- If

ing through this fire option, you might be tempted to along on your
Astrotube, and the use it —
but don't. It won't improve ij mission. Unlike
total destruction your firepower, and putting a turbo- ! some games, in

of Earth seems fire on the satellite control button is a which the diffi-

certain. disaster. i |
culty varies ac-
Fortunately, \ I cording to the
the U.S. president number of play-
learned of theinvasion before Malmort ers, nothing changes in S.C.A.T.
actually set his plans in motion. A whether you try a one-person game or
team of the world's foremost scien- team up with a friend. And since the
tistsand military personnel was going gets a lot harder as the game These attack robots are usually be-
quickly assembled, to invent a weapon progresses, an extra player doubles hind some cover. Have one S.C.A.T.
system that could counter the alien your firepower —
and your chances member draw the robots' fire while
threat. of survival. the other blasts them.
Working night and day in a des- The most important cybernetic
perate race against total invasion, the enhancement the team has are the two
team finally found the answer just as satellites that orbit above and below

You don't often find

more than one power-
up at a time, so if you're
playing a two-player
game, you can each use
one speed-up bonus Two players are better than one when
and decide who gets attacking the first boss. One player
the wid e-beam, or just can shoot at the boss's glowing green
be greedy and grab center, while the other can knock out
any bonuses you can. the gun turrets below.

145
nnnnnrnnnnnnnnnr rnnnn nnnnnrrnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnni
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rr rrrrrrrr
rnnnr rrnrrn nn nnrrnrnrrnnnnrrrnnnnn nnnnn nnnn:

Even though this excavation drone

looks like it will stay put, some can zip
out to amazing lengths for a devastat-
ing punch. Be cautious around drones
that aren't shooting at you.

These snakelike turrets are Vile

Malmort's excavation drones. Be
careful —when destroyed, they break
up into a number of lethal chunks that
fly out in all directions.

each player. The A button locks satellites is most important in the game. and ceiling ahead of you, while us-
these satellites into position, and For example, when traveling along ing your main weapon to take out
they fire in tandem with your main the tunnels of the Subterranean Realm aliens flying in from the sides.
weapon, allowing you to shoot in in stage two, keep the satellites locked One significant feature of the
several directions at once. Deter- at a right angle. This lets you blast satellites is that they always fire from
mining the best position for the enemy gun emplacements in the floor the direction in which they're locked.

The only weak spot on the second-level boss is on its head. Stage three is a high-speed journey through the Astrotube.
Set the satellites almost straight left or right and concentrate Since lots of enemies come from above and below, lock the
your fire while you dodge its shots and guided missiles. satellites straight up and down.

146
ririnnnnnnnri nnn nnnn nnnrnn nn n nnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnrri
mnnnnnmcmmcnnnnmmcnnnnmmnnnnnnnncnmr

There's an enormous, three-part boss

at the top of the Astrotube. Lock your
you
satellites to the right, face right if
can, and keep shooting while you
dodge incoming fire.

This swarm of small drones can ap-

pear from nowhere and surround
you, then close in. Once they start to
appear, stay still and keep firing, then
take the path you've cleared and get
out of there.

regardless of the direction you face. pointed toward the target while you're you pick up and use alien items,
So if you set them to the right, they busy dodging incoming shots. and these pods are found at vari-
continue to fire to the right —
even if Your main weapon isn't very ous places throughout the game.
you turn and face left. This is particu- powerful when you start, but several It's possible to pick up extra speed,
larlyhandy when fighting a boss be- options are available that improve its life energy, and three kinds of
cause you can keep the satellites strength. S.C.A.T. technology allows weapons.

Those white missiles in the boss's last section have S.C. A.T.- You must fight your way past Malmort's huge battleship in
seeking warheads. They can be destroyed, but only your stage four. In the tunnel on the way, watch for these saucer-
main weapon is powerful enough. launchers — they take several shots to destroy.

147
nnrnnnnnnnrrnnnnnnrrrrnnnnnnnnrr nn nnnnnnnrnnni
rrrrnnnnrnnrnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn nr'
mmnonnmnnnnmmmmmnmnnnncnnnrinnnrinn
mtmi iaagmsaaB

Halfway over the battleship

v super-turret
that
whose only weak spot is
is this

window slit below the top beam-

gun. Be very careful —
the beam-guns
can't be damaged, and the window
has considerable firepower of its own.

The battleship itself is bristling with

enormous beam-guns. Don't even try
to get in front of a gun —
angle your
satellites to the right and shoot from
below.

Of the weapons, the bomb is the of fire. So the wide-beam laser is your knowledges equal rights. S.C.A.T.
least useful since it fires very slowly, best weapon choice — grab one and is also very challenging. The final
and it seems to slow down your hang onto it. stages, in particular, will probably
as well. The laser can
satellites' fire S.C.A.T is extremely well-made. test the skills of even the most ex-
shoot through some walls, but it The graphics are excellent, the action perienced game player.
also slows down the satellites' rate is first-rate, and the game even ac-

Your final challenge in stage four is to destroy the battleship's Stage five is an incredibly dangerous trip through Vile
engines. They fire in sequence, but once an engine has been Malmort's orbiting platform. These invulnerable turrets
knocked out, it can't fire anymore. shoot blue beams that bounce off the ceilings and floors.

148
nnn rinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnr:
nnn nrnrnnnrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrrrrrrnrnrrrrnr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Although it's safer to use your satel-

lites to destroy these rocket launchers
from above or below, it's also possible,
if you're brave —
or stupid enough,—
to get between the rockets and destroy
the launcher.

These columns are simple to pass, so

don't waste any time trying to blow
up one — like most of the hardware
in stage five, it can't even be scratched.
St

mMNT
There are a lot of bomb power-ups in the
Astrotube, but don't be suckered into pick-
ing one up. If you're stuck with a bomb in the
Astrotube, you're done for.

Natsume
1234A Howard Avenue; Bur-
lingame,CA 94010

Watch out for these tiny ships. They leave behind deadly Toward the end of the stage, things get even worse. Dodge
balls of energy that spiral out into ever-widening circles. the crisscrossing beams and hang on —
it's just a short trip

Blast the ships when they first appear or dodge the balls. before your final confrontation with Vile Malmort.

149
 .nnnnnnnn nn n nn nnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Btinrci nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
“nnnmnnnDnnnnnnnnncnc

SILVER SURFER
Jeff Lundrigan
ons ago, the planet Zenn- Galactus has called on the Surfer for
La was threatened by help. The evil rulers of the six forgot-
Galactus, a cosmic being ten realms plan to assemble a Cosmic
of immense power Device that would open a hole in space
whose hunger for energy and allow the ravaging hordes of the
drove him to consume entire planets. Magik Domain to enter.
Zenn-La was saved by one of its in- Your first decision is to choose the
habitants, Norrin Radd, who flew out forgotten realm in which you wish to
to Galactus and persuaded him to begin. The only realm you cannot
spare the planet choose is the
and its people.
Although
Galactus agreed,
itwas with the
mm
iome power-ups will be in plain sight,
Magik Domain
— in
reach
must have
order to
it, you
beat-
These are the five evil rulers of the
forgotten realms. Although you can
take them on in any order, you should
probably start with Reptyl.
provision that en the other five.
but others are hidden. At the end of
Radd would be- Each realm has
the first section of the Firelord's realm,
come the herald three sections;
for example, there are hands that come
of Galactus, jour- you must meet
out of the lava to grab you. Keep to the
and defeat the
neying across the
universe to find
left and don't stop shooting —
the last
ruler at the end
hand on the left hides an extra life.
him energy-rich of the third sec-
planets that were tion. If you're
not inhabited. Galactus changed victorious in battle, the ruler surren-
Norrin's body into one that could ders his piece of the Cosmic Device.
better withstand the ravages of deep The game instructions suggest that Most of these red-topped pyramids in
space, granted him a measure of cos- you begin with either Reptyl's or
section two hide some sort of power-
mic power, and fashioned a unique Mephisto's realms. And although up. This one, though, a trap. When
vehicle for him —
a kind of galactic Reptyl's realm is indeed one of the
shot,
is

throws out red disks in posi-

surfboard made of the same silvery easiest to travel through — and thus a it

your teeth —
tively lethal spirals.
material as his new body. good place to cut
In the Silver Surfer videogame. Mephisto's realm turns out to be one

Don't waste your

time trying to kill
these frogs — they're
obstacles, not targets.
Ifyou wait too long
trying to destroy
them, you'll get As long as you have an orb and a few
trapped. "F" symbols, Reptyl isn't hard to beat.
Line up your board with the dinosaur's
mouth. Your shots destroy his, but be
ready to dodge if any slip through.

150
mmmnmnnnnnmnnnmamnnmnnnnnnnnmrinnncn
nrnrrnnnnnnmnnnncrnnnrmmnnnnmnmrnnnnnnra
nnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnno

After Reptyl, tackle the Emperor's

realm. This first-stage boss shoots
angled missiles. If you stay at the
bottom of the screen, you can sneak in
for a shot or two, then find the safe
places in between the lines of fire.

At the end of each realm, you can

retrieve one piece of the Cosmic De-
vice if you've destroyed the ruler of
that world.

of the most difficult to complete. The Emperor's realm, on the other through the Emperor's for your next
There are few power-ups, and hordes hand, has a fair number of power-ups challenge.
of enemies swarm toward you at and enemies that move in much more Throughout your journey, you
once, particularly during the final predictable patterns. So after you've should hunt for the five kinds of
section. finished Reptyl's domain, continue on power-ups. The most important are

Move fast to grab this extra life. There's nothing guarding

but
—
Emperor is one of the easiest bosses just destroy this bank
it, it disappears pretty quickly. If you hesitate for a of guns. Your shots can stop its shots, so line up with each
second, it'll be gone. top and work your way down.
barrel. Start at the

151
mnmmmnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnommncnncnnQn
nnnnnnnnnn nn nnnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnjg
nnnn nnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnriry

When you reach section two, you'll

come to an area where gun turrets are
mounted on rails. If you have orbs, set
them to shoot out to the sides.

The first section of the Possessor's

realm is difficult because enemies
come at you from below as well as
from the side. If you have an orb, set
it to shoot downwards.

orbs, which fly alongside your surf- "F" symbols increase the number smart bombs which destroy all en-
board and fire when you do, doubling of shots fired each time you hit the fire emies on-screen (except for bosses,
your firepower. By using the B but- button — and if you collect enough of of course). Regular "S" symbols in-
ton, you can also select the direction them, the symbols increase the dam- crease your speed, and larger, silver
in which the orb fires. age those shots do. "B" symbols are "S" symbols give you an extra life.

Be careful when facing the Possessor. Just before most To get by these doors in Mephisto's realm, wait for the
enemies appear, the area where they'll spring from flashes, ghosts to come out, destroy them, then fly past. If you see
and once they're on-screen, they travel in straight lines. the next door opening, stop and wait for that ghost as well.

152
nnrnrrrrnrnrrrrnrnrrnrnnrrrrcrrrnrnrrnrnrnnror
rnrnrnnrnnnrnrnnrnnnn rnnnn nnn nn rnnn nnnnnnnnnw^
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn Fy

Mephisto breathes out some kind of

vapor that's not only deadly, but shoots
at you as well. Line up your board with
the emerging vapor and keep firing. If
itshoots, zigzag to miss the missiles,
then concentrate on the vapor again.

Although these hands in section two

are indestructible, the rocks they
throw aren't. If you have orbs, set
them to shoot to the side. If you don't
have orbs, cross your fingers and try
to fly between the volley of rocks.

In general. Silver Surfer is a well- shots, but in other realms you can't, obstacles. As a general rule though,
made arcade game, but there are a and there doesn't seem to be any way if you can't shoot through it, you
few quirks. For one thing, your en- to tell which is which beforehand. can't fly through it, either.
emies' shots don't behave consis- Likewise, there's some difficulty tell-
tently — in some realms you can ing which graphics are just part of the
destroy their missiles with your own background and which are deadly

To get this orb in Firelord's realm, don't wait for the lava — This stretch is much easier to complete if you destroy these
grab it before the lava falls, then zip out of the alcove after- lava spouts. If you have any orbs, use them to shoot
wards so you won't get trapped by the scrolling screen. downward at enemies emerging from below.

153
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
mmmcnnmmnmmmmmmmnnmnnmnmmnnoilE
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnriry

o , iv ix iv r
r r r r I

kj After defeating the first five rulers,

'
'. '.‘.Jv VIV fv [V fi fv : V* | I you're ready to venture into the Magik

'} i> .**.?> i-jiy j'vi.v' J-jiv ;Vis ^15 i

Domain. Take a short rest while
Galactus calls up the interdimensional
gateway to send you there.

Although his realm is difficult, the

Firelord himself is fairly easy to beat.
No special trick here — just hang
back a little, line up your board, and
shoot.

Arcadia
(a division of Virgin
Mastertronic)
18001 Cowan; Suites A&B;
Irvine, CA 92714

The Magik Realm is the hardest one to get through. Parts of This rather macabre pair of hunting trophies is the last
it don't even have many enemies —
maneuvering through hurdle to clear before the final boss. Wait for the drop to fall,
it is difficult enough. then quickly fly by or the splash will kill you.

154
 innnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnrcnnmmnnnnmm
GCBBBQ^[(|rnmnnnnnnrimmmmmn
l
-lUSJJrHlF^r mnmnnnnmnmmmnm

THE SIMPSONS: BART VS. THE SPACE MUTANTS

Brian Carroll

e just can't get enough overcome his legendary reputation for

of the Simpsons. This underachievement? Not withoutsome
weird but lovable help, he can't. He needs your help
family has become a (and that of his family) to search
runaway ratings hit on Springfield for mutants and the objects
television and a merchandising phe- they desperately need to carry out
nomenon. Despite their ghastly over- their plans.
bites and bug- Bart's big-
eyes — or maybe gestproblem —
because of them and we know he He may have a town to save, but Bart
— Homer, Marge, has several — is can always make time for a phone
Bart, Lisa, and credibility. Given prank. His name isn't an anagram of
Maggie are at- Ifyou miss too many of the objects the his tendency to "brat" for nothing.
tempting to knock aliens need, the game won't let you color the truth, it's
off the Huxtables advance, and you'll have to backtrack. easy to see why
as TV's First And since there's a time limit on each the fourth-grader
Family. level, you can't afford to back up. would have a
But even tough time cofi-
though these wacky misfits have con- vincing people that aliens are invad-
quered North America, they must still ing. Before his family will help him,
face their greatest challenge. In Barf us. Bart must prove he's not making up
the Space Mutants, Springfield is under the story by exposing the mutants for
siege.Mutants from outer space have all to see.

possessed the bodies of ordinary citi- Luckily, Bart has a pair of super-
zens and are secretly working to take cool X-ray glasses that enable him to
over not only this sleepy suburb, but see which townspeople are possessed. Use Bart's X-ray glasses to detect
the entire planet as well! Each time he correctly identifies an mutant-possessed townspeople.
Only Springfield's own Barthol- alien and forces it out into the open, a When you spot an alien, expose it by
omew Simpson aware of this
is letter in the name of one of the Simpson jumping on the townsperson's head.
J.

diabolical scheme. But can the Bartman clan appears. Spell out the entire name.

See the UFO? The oc-

cupants of that space-
ship are planning to
take over the planet.
Bart Simpson the
unlikeliest of heroes,
is perhaps Earth's only
hope.
works to scare away Jebediah
Springfield's feathered friend.

155
nnnnnn nnnnnnn nnnn nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnj
rrrnrrrrrrrrnrrrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn mnnnmnnnnnnnnmnnmnnnmnDlBl

Level two takes place at the local

mall, where your objective is to
collect as many hats as you can.
You must also do away with some
bizarre shopkeepers — like this one.
-X-RA^ SPECS
r Oli 8l| 32
MAfiG _E
<

1
<cui irwf timi

If Bart destroys enough aliens to

fill in a family member's name,
that relative helps him defeat the
final boss of the level. Maggie,
Bart's silent sister, helps with
Nelson at the end of level one.

and that family member will help need several objects from Springfield artist that he is, should have no
Bart battle the archenemy at the end to carry out their plan, Bart must ei- problem finding enough spray paint
of the level. ther remove these objects or or alter to paint the purple items red. Other
Of course, even Vanna White them. For example, in level one, the levels require you to collect hats,

can spell out names. Your task is aliens need any object that's purple. balloons, exit signs, and plutonium
much greater. Because the mutants Bart, being the accomplished graffiti rods.

That's wet cement below, so be sure to stay on solid footing. Take time out to check inside the mall's trash cans. You
never know what you might find inside.

156
rrrrnrnrrnrrrnrrnrnrrrrrrrrrnrrrnrrrrrrrrrrr:
nn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn nnnnr
nnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnn n

Like any good county fair, the one

in level three has several sideshows
where you can earn some extra
coins. Throw at the top of your
jumps to hit the faces.

Watch out for falling luggage! Ms.

Botz, that notorious babysitter, is

out to squash Bart. You could

probably use Marge, who's been
known to hide valuables inside her
towering blue beehive.

H T 3 N A ROW
TO WIN 5 COINS
I I

The end result of all of this may- claim obviously put a great deal of you'll do because everyone from
hem is a ton of good fun. Bart's quest time into making sure that Bart vs. the Bart's hero, Krusty the Clown, to
is a delightful, but surprisingly dif- Space Mu tants wouldn't disappoint the those'toons within a' toon. Itchy and
ficult, adventure made especially for cartoon's fans. Scratchy, make cameo appearances
the legions of fans that follow the TV The more familiar you are with in the videogame. Spotting these
show. The game designers at Ac- the show and its characters, the better characters, catching the inside jokes.

Missing a ride on the ferris wheel can be the pits, so time Here's everyone's favorite clown, Krusty. Use the air jets
your jump carefully. for distance while you simultaneously pop the balloons
that float across.

157
rnrnnrrrnrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry.
nnrrnnnnnnnnnnnrrncnrnnnnnnrnnrrrnnnrrnnrrrnry
nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnmnmgicy

Bounce on the glass cases inside

level four's museum to get the
valuables inside.

Sideshow Bob, a good entertainer

gone bad, is the boss of level three.
If you remember the TV episode

that featured him, you can beat

him. Just keep in mind that law-
abiding folks have small feet.

and watching for the many Simpson mend Bart vs. the Space Mutants for only a few mistakes before having
trademarks should motivate even novice gamers. Even our best game to start all over again. Remember,
the most frustrated game player to players had a rough time getting though: There is a way to get to

keep going when things get tough. through the adventure's later stages. every object and around every
—
And things will get tough so Because you get only two hits per life, stacle — so don't have a
tough, in fact, that we can't recom- and three lives in all, you can make cow, man.

Who said alligators were dangerous? Hop on this one for a This Venus flytrap doesn't like bratty boys. To kill this

free ride across the pond. weed, jump on its head.

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nnnnnnnnnnnnnncnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnE.
nnnmmmnmnmnnnmnmmcnnnnmnnnnmnnnme0|i

Watch your step when hopping

across these fossils. One false
move and you, too, become a
memorial to times past.

You can step on these blocks only

when they're glowing red —
and
then for just a short time.

Mum —
Bar t needs lives and lots of them. You'll probably
end up burning quite a few lives just figuring out
how to beat certain areas. So look for the square
icons bearing the likeness of Krusty throughout
the adventure. Each icon equals an extra life.
Acclaim
71 Audrey Avenue; Oyster Bay,
NY 11771

Nuclear power rods are the last elements you must collect. Look for relatives inside the power plant for some much-
After you find them all, insert them into the reactor found needed help. Even Lisa puts aside her differences with Bart
in the power plant's basement. long enough to help stop the alien invasion.

159
 innmnnnmncmnncnnnnmnnnnnnmmnn
MHTi'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
— rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

SKULL AND CROSSBONES

William R. Trotter

hoy, mates. One day, Instead, you must fight your way
while pirates Red Dog through six levels of intense arcade
M
*
and One Eye were out action, some of which takes place on

^ cruising the bounding

main in search of booty,
the decks and riggings of sailing ships.
As you fight your way through hordes
they were placed under a sleep spell of enemy pirates, skeletons, and ninjas
by an evil wizard. The beautiful prin- (ninjas ? ), you
must collect booty in the
cess the two were guarding was then form of gold or treasure, which you
spirited away by can later trade for
the wizard and more and better
There's no way you can stop the wizard
imprisoned on weapons.

HINT when he first appears, but it won't

his island. To re-
claim the princess
— and
their
buccaneers
to redeem
honor as
—
Look
how
forbooty even/where, no matter
odd or seemingly unreachable
I must
cific
At each level
of the game, you
kill

number
a spe-

enemies in order
of
hurt to take a shot at him
weaken him.
— you might

Red Dog and One the screen location may be. Often, the to proceed to the

Eye swear to most valuable loot is in the most inac- next (15 on the
cessible location.
track down the first ship, 25 in the
wizard, even if ninja camp, and
they must sail to the ends of the earth so on). You don't have to keep count
to do it.
— as soon as you've reached the nec-
rough-and-tumble world
In the essary body count, a big arrow flashes
of Skull and Crossbones, you can on the screen to point you in the direc-
swashbuckle as Red Dog, or, in the tion of the next level. Booty appears in unexpected places
two-player game, try petard-hoisting The six levels can be seen on a — on clouds, for instance. Jump on
as his sidekick. One Eye. But don't map screen, arranged left to right, from every spot you can think of.

expect to battle ships, sail the Carib- easiest to hardest. You can visit any
bean, or send your enemies to walk level in any order youwish during the
the plank. course of a game, but few players will

You have only two

enemies to kill before
you've cleared the
introductory level.
Once the arrow Be sure you have plenty of weapons
flashes, you're free to before tackling the boss of the first
proceed to the next level. And watch out for falling bar-
level. rels.

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 rrrrrrrrrrrrnrrcnror;
rrrrrrrrrrrrrnnrnoHf
rrrrrrrrrrr rrrrnrrrrrrnnrnrrrrffc

The princess's plight grows more

desperate with each level you clear.

Don't touch the skull icons — they're

lethal.

survive long in the advanced ing enemies, lots of jumping and mode, Tengen actually recom-
stages if they haven't gained ex- climbing to do, plenty of booty to pick mends playing the game in the
perienceon the earlier levels. up, and a bunch of falling objects to two-player mode — and we
Most of the screens in Skull dodge. agree. When two players are co-
and Crossbones are extremely Although it's useful to practice operating, one player can man-
busy: There are lots of fast-mov- various things in the single-player age the firepower and fighting.

You can go to any level from the map screen, but most It's dangerous to go near cannon muzzles, but there's
players will want to take things as they come. usually a valuable item to be had in that vicinity.

161
rrrn

Call up the booty screen to exchange

loot for weapons.

The executioner-boss is best handled

at a distance, with guns or knives.
Fists will kill him, but it takes a long,
dangerous time.

“«1E!
while the other one scurries the five continues are shared between Skull and Crossbones features
around collecting all the booty both players. Each player, regardless vivid, cartoony, high-resolution
in sight. of playing mode, starts the game with graphics, and it's certainly chock-
A solo player has five con- 50 health points, and additional health full of the ingredients that ar-
tinues in which to finish the points and extra lives are available at cade-heads look for in their
game. In the dual-player mode. various points throughout the game. games. But beyond the props and

Remember, you can't go to the next level until you've killed After you slay a boss, lots of booty icons appear. Try to grab
the required number of enemies and the directional arrow them all — but avoid the dangerous skulls.
begins to flash.

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rrrrnnnrncrnrnrrnnnrrnrnnrnnnrnrnnrrrnnrnnrn
rrrrcrrrrrrrrrrrnrrrnrrrnnrrrrrnrrrrrnrrrnn

costumes, the pirate concept Crossbones frustratingly hard as a solo more interesting to play. So we
doesn't really disguise the game. recommend the game for hard-
tiredness that hangs over the In the two-player mode, however, core arcade fans, but suggest that
whole game. In addition, many Skull and Crossbones becomes a much other players try to take a look at
players will find Skull and more balanced game, and one that is the game before buying it.

When the boss of the ninja stage starts to flip over you, If you can land on and crush
a barrel it, you remove that
crouch down to hit him. particular nuisance from the screen.

163
nmmnnmcmnmmnmnmncmmcramcmnmcoc
cnmmrmmcnmnecnnnrnmccnmmmmmmcnn
rcrrrcrrrcrrrrrcrrncrrcnnrrrnrrrnnnrrrrrrrn m

Don't forget to jump on unusual places

to search for the best booty.

Barrels can drop from anywhere.

They'll knock you off the screen and
cost you two health points, so watch
out for them.

HINT
In the two-player mode, plan your actions care-
fully. Normally, one player should concentrate on
shooting, the other on booty-grabbing. But on
some screens, each player will have to do a bit of
both.
Tengen
1623 Buckeye Drive; P.O. Box
360782; Milpitas, CA 95035-0782

On the Wizard's Isle, hop onto the center pedestals to kill This is an easy boss to defeat. Duck when she shoots, then
the skeletons, then go up the ladders. jump up and punch her lights out.

164
 inmmncnnocnnnccnmnmnmmcDnnnnn
rpnrirrBTrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
~ " cnnnmnmnnnnnnnnnnnn

SNAKE RATTLE N ROLL

Phill Powell
« hat a bunch of whin- We stew in our own juices for
m ing crybabies we are. every minute an airline flight is de-
0 Even with
modern convenien-
all of our layed, but in this
razor blades can slice
NES game, gigantic
you in half as
ces, we can always you're innocently proceeding on your
find something to complain about. journey. And while nothing raises our
Consider, for example, our 20th cen- blood pressure like realizing our lug-
tury methods of gage has been lost,
travel. We can get r-ir—p* I in Snake Rattle N
around faster and »— LrWiiL Roll, an anvil
|
If you're fast on the slither, you might
more conveni- r-11—jf— ):
could fall from
^ above any catch a ride on this snake shuttle, which
ently than any ! at
other group of K \
minute and crush transports you directly to level eight.

people in history. B your head.

But still, we moan. 1
Travel has ne-
The slippery
heroes of Snake
X
:

K
ver been more
dangerous or—
Rattle N Roll E less convenient
would
themselves silly at
laugh
^
®
than in this
Oddly enough,
game.

our bellyaching. though, that's the

Just look at what K\_ primary focus of
they put up with. Snake RattleN Roll.
While we're get- There's not even a
Big Feet like this one appear through-
ting upset at the crazy antics of our story behind the game; all you know is
out the game. They're hard to kill, but
fellow motorists while locked in a that you're controlling a serpent with
they're worth a fair number of bonus
traffic jam, in Snake Rattle Roll, a huge N the need for speed. And for unex-
points.
block can pop out from the side of a plained reasons, its eventual destina-
mountain and push you off the edge tion is the moon. To get there, you
of a cliff. must guide your snake through 11

Snake Rattle N Roll

features several
warps that let you
bypass entire levels.
Landing on this un-
marked block lets The second level requires a lot of ma-
you leapfrog over the neuvering. Activating this clock,
second level. however, buys you 25 extra seconds.

165
n nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnn nn nnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnr
nnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnn nnnnnnnnn nnnnnncnoey

Take it slow on this ledge, and be

ready with your tongue. Tear
through here in a hurry, and you're
likely to land on top of a razor
blade.

Zap this mushroom before you

approach the scale. After weighing
in, start climbing the stairway of
blocks that ends above the scale.

levels of terrain, winding your way tant to your mission as traveling. In shot out of handy dispensers.
past hazardous creatures and fact, you can't advance from one level Throughout the game, the Nibbley
deadly natural barriers. to the next until your weight reaches a Pibbleys take on different forms.
All of this hustling around is certain amount. Early on, they're small balls of food
bound to make you hungry. Fortu- For your dining pleasure, try that bounce around energetically.
nately, eating is almost as impor- Nibbley Pibbleys, parcels of energy As the game continues, they grow

There's another warp here in the third level, but you must Pools like this one are controlled by death-grip currents.
do some heavy-duty jumping to get up to it. Swimming through these areas is difficult —and so is
slithering out of them.

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rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnWf
nnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrnnnnnnnnninry

The toughest jumps in Snake Rattle

N Roll force you to change direction
or levels after you're airborne.

Some level four Nibbley Pibbleys

flattenout to a small splat when
they hit the surface, then bounce
away elusively.

feet and try to outrun your voracious don't contain nutrients. They may look and snake-hungry sharks want you
appetite. Later on, the Nibbley like food, but they explode shortly du jour.
for their viper
Pibbleys mutate into birds and fish. after being dispensed. Destructive But helpful objects also abound
Maintaining your ideal reptilian enemies also try to make you lose in this 3-D world. Tongue exten-
weight sounds easier than it is. For weight quite rapidly —huge feet try sions let you reach out and touch
one thing, some Nibbley Pibbleys to dance on you, and poisonous plants your food faster, from positions of

Winged Nibbleys are harder to catch, but if you're patient, The trickiest part of this magic carpet ride is when your
you can still get a full meal. flying rug vanishes . When it does, leap straight up in the air
and wait for it to reappear.

167
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nnncnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnDnnnmnnmnr
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn nnnnnnn

The exit from level six is right be-

neath you, but how do you get to it?
You have to let yourself fall down
by the opening, then immediately
duck into it.

As much as you'd like to, you can't

ignore this menacing mouth. It

spits out the fish tailyou need to

catch so you can climb the enor-
mous waterfall.

greater safety. Other items allow you Pibbleys could pose a threat to your and a lot of ground to cover (some of
to move faster, give you more time, gaming prowess, keep in mind that it dangerous). Hey — maybe it's not
or make you immune to attack for your successful exit from each level that different from modem travel
short durations. must be accomplished within a strict after all.

If you're unconvinced that a time limit. Basically, in Snake Rattle N

game about snakes and Nibbley Roll you've got a short amount of time

Geysers can be useful methods of transportation. Here you The easiest way to catch fish is to wait until they've swum
need to use this gusher to boost your jump to the pool on the into a comer, then go after them. Otherwise, they're likely
upper left. to dart away from you.

168
nmmmnnnmnnnmnnmnnmnnnnonnccnnnnmmm
mmnnmmDnnmmnnmncnnnmmmnmnmrinnnnn
mnmnmmnmnmnmmmmmmnmnmmnmmn

If you die making this leap, the

computer may reposition you on
the block you were trying to reach.
If that happens, stay perfectly still

until you're ready to jump up the

next set of ice stairs.

The ice levels are steep and slip-

pery — and probably the most dif-

ficult areas to navigate. When this

snowball is at the top of its bounce,
run to the block underneath it.

tJ I li f "T The underwater sequences

f If/V I of level eight are tricky.
First of all, the fish Pibbleys
can zip away from you with ease. They also
require more strikes from your tongue to catch,
so you must not only find them, but also hold
them in place you've eaten them. And remem-
ber that you can't exist indefinitely without tak-
ing in nourishment underwater. If too much Nintendo of America
time lapses between Pibbleys, you might die.
WA
P.O. Box 957; Redmond,
98073-0957

Get closer to the center of this floor of ice. The Ice Foot Here's another snowball to contend with — and one last

probably won't be able to reach you, and you'll still be able level to conquer before finishing your busy journey.
to catch the Nibbley Pibbleys as they land around you.

169
 nnnmmnmnmmmnnmnnnnnnnmmm
-r .
—
nnnnnnnn nnnnn
i
'

cncnnnnnnnncnnnijnnnnn

SWORD MASTER
Wlilliam R. Trotter

he title tells you what to tures from another dimension, but

expect: seven levels of they've also imprisoned the princess
nonstop cut-and-thrust Aria somewhere beneath what was
action ... with a little magic once Aragon's castle.
thrown in for good mea- Beginning in the Forest of Living
sure. Darkness, you must hack and slash
Long before the Sword Master your way through the seven levels of
(that's you) had reached that lofty sta- danger. You must also learn when to
tus, he sought perfection in the art of put up your sword and use your
blade-fighting by magic cloak
leaving his native "*’ tac- instead. But first This skeleton can parry most of your
kingdom
r/TFTfci '""’Pare 1

attacks, so use a variety of strokes and

Eledar and
of
I/AXl key to success
one you have
the cloak.
to find
movements to break through his
roaming the sav- game. The "A" button controls your
in this When the defenses.
age Borderland jumps; hitting A consecutively allows good king fled the
country, taking you to extend the range of your jumps. castle, he lost his
on all comers in Master double and multiple jumps as mystic staff and
fencing match- soon as you can. Double jumps are useful other symbols of
es. for knocking down bats (which in turn power. One of
Now that increase your experience points), while your first tasks
you have be- multiple jumps are especially needed to must be to find
come the leg- get through the courtyard level. the staff, which
endary Sword can transform
Master, you've returned to Eledar, into the valuable Cloak of Might.
only to find that good King Aragon Whenever you need to use magic Stay on the left here so you'll have
has been overthrown by the Fire spells,you should don the Cloak of time to see whether the wolves are
Mage, who in turn is in cahoots with Might and gain increased powers to going to jump or stay on the ground.
Vishok, the serpent god. Together, battle evil.
these two evil entities have not only You can obtain the magic staff by
unleashed a swarm of ghastly crea- defeating the first blue knight (Knight

The game begins in

the Forest of Living
Darkness. Kill the
bats for easy experi-
Kill this ogre by darting forward,
ence points. striking, then backing off. Keep using
this strategy until you've finished
the job.

170
nn nnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrinnrii
nnrnnrnnnncccccnnnnncnnrnnnnnnrnnnnnrnnncrnra
crcirrrrrrnrnrrrrnrrcrrirnrrnrrrrnrnrrrrrirrrrri

of the Serpent). Once you have the pressing Select on your controller. But if the cloak isn't activated,
you're able to launch magical
staff, Your list of spells appears when you you fine-tune your fencing skills

short-range energy balls. Other press Start to call up the menu. To add with the controller. You can choose
spells become yours after you energy to any spell about to be cast, the angle of your sword by pressing
defeat certain enemies. hold down the B button on your con- the B button and the directional
You can activate the cloak by troller. pad. Push left or right on the direc-

Fire demons can be beaten if you leap up and strike just Since these orbs can't be destroyed, wait until they
before they fire. Use the overhand attack. bounce high, then duck under them.

171
mnnnnnnnnnnnn
mnnmnnnmnnnmnnnnnmnnnnnnnmnmnnnnnmra
mnmmmmnmnmnmnmnmmmmnnnmnnnnnci

Once you defeat the Blue Knight, the

mystic staff appears as an icon in the
village street.

Defeat the Blue Knight by using

repeated jumps and overhanded
blows.

tionalpad for a side-arm swing, up it may not be suitable in tight spots. drains a certain amount of experi-
for the overhead swing, and down As your health bar decreases, ence points from you — so don't
for a forward thrust. The most replenish it by drinking from flasks rely on magic alone. Your sword-
powerful sword attack is the over- taken from defeated foes. Experience wielding skills are just as likely to
head swing, but it is also the slow- points are also obtained through bat- save your skin.
est and takes up the most room, so tle victories, but each use of magic Throughout the game, one of the

If you wait until the dragon is finished breathing fire, he'll Defeat the lizard man by kneeling and rapidly thrusting
charge and impale himself on your sword. It will still take your sword straight ahead,
several blows to kill him.

172
CDnmmmmnnmnnnnmnimnmnnnnmnmnnmmnnno
nnnnmnnmmmcnmnmnmnnmmmnmmnmmng
rrrrncrrcnrnrrrrrrrnrcncnnnrrrrrnrrrrrrrrrnrinrt

most useful battle tactics is a jump- Sword Master is a smooth side- responsive control over the hero's
in, jump-out attack. Quickly slash scrolling, slash-and-dash game. There movements, and it offers crisp, nice-
at an enemy, then retreat to avoid is little original about the concept, but ly detailed graphics. If you're not
his blows. Your shield protects you it does stand out from its over- burned-out on action games, Sal
against many enemies, so learn to crowded genre because of two fea- Master is a good one to pjjj
raise it quickly. tures: It gives you exceptionally

This is tricky: Jump up and hit the orb to knock it aside, Use your fire magic to defeat this demon inside the castle.
then make a split-second jump forward.

173
ncmmnnnnmmnnmnnnmmmnnmnnnmnnnmnmcQEl
nnnnnrrnnrnnnnrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnncnnnnnnnnrnnnnow
nnnn nn nn nnnn nnnn nnnnnn nn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnriny

Aim low, move in, duck back —

rhythm involved in
there's a definite
winning your fight with this dragon.

This game is not generous with experience points

— there just aren't a lot to spare. In general, since
spell-casting drains so much energy, you should
reserve your magic spells for confrontations
Activision
with the bosses. Most of the time, your sword,
(a division of Mediagenic)
shield, and leaping ability are enough to defeat
3885 Bohannon Drive;
ordinary enemies.
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Ouch! —
spiked balls and falling boulders! If you feint a Smooth player control and sharp, atmospheric graphics
jump at the boulder, you'll cause it to fall so you can cross help save this game from being another routine exercise
safely. in swordplay

174
 nnmmnnmmmnnnmnnnmmmnnmni
fclZjN-* mcnncnr

WHOMP ‘EM
Brian Carroll

magine Luigi's sur- The true story — honest Injun — R

prise when, after trac- is this: Soaring Eagle, a young Indian
ing the Mario family brave, has been called on to search
SS35 1

history, he discovers each of eight worlds, hunting down

that he isn't Italian af- whatever creatures dare cross his path
ter all. The blockbuster videogames, and magic items these
collecting the
the TV shows, the breakfast cereal — creatures leave behind once they've
they all have to been scalped.
change because His chances of
Luigi has discov- making it to the Soaring Eagle is invincible for a short
ered that he's a climactic final period of time if he wears this deerskin
world, which is shirt.
Sioux Indian!
Don't expect to come a way from your
Evidently Luigi veiled in secrecy,
battles against the level leaders with-
was stolen by depend on the
out a scratch. Before you fight them, "2TB
renegade plumb-
make sure you have a healthy supply
number of crea-
tures he kills and
0
ers many moons — l
of extra lives three is usually suf-
how many items
ago.
OK, OK, we
ficient — and collect some gourds to
he collects.
beef up your energy.
may be stretching In addition
the truth, but to the parallels 33
you'd never know it if you played between Soaring Eagle and the Mario
Whomp ’Em. Except for a clean-shaven characters, Whomp ’Em also shares the
merry, flighty flavor of the Super Mario
WWWvWYVYmVYVYWWWV
face and a radically different ward-
robe, Whomp 'Em's Soaring Eagle, the games. format, however,
Bros, Its is
You should be OK if you move steadily
star of Jaleco's romp through Never- more similar to another wildly popu- through the first world...
Never Land, is the spitting image of lar adventure trilogy, the Mega Man
Mario and Luigi. He's elfishly cute, series. In fact, the resemblance at times
he's dangerously armed —
and he's borders on duplication. One of Whomp
got a lot of work to do. 'Em’s level bosses looks and acts al-

You can restore one

unit on your life
meter by collecting
one small heart. The
...but if you fall off any of the ledges,
larger hearts restore
you've got one unhappy scout on your
all of your life units.
hands.

175
mnmnmmmmmnmnmnnmnnmmnnmnmnnnnoQ
mmmmnnnmmmmnmmmnmmnmmmnnmnr/iW

You must complete world one before

you can advance to the seven theme
worlds. With the exception of the se-
cret mountain (which is your final
stop), the worlds can be explored in
any order.

Magic potion bottles like this one are

good for one extra life each. Make
sure you grab as many of them as you
can.

most exactly like the WoodMan from you've explored the Sacred Woods defeating the boss of the Secret Cliff,
Mega Man 2. and defeated the Woodman lookalike, and so on. Once acquired, the totems
And just as in the Mega Man you're given the Spear Whirlwind, are yours for the rest of the game.
games, special weapons or powers which repels enemy attacks and breaks As your path becomes more
are awarded after each level in through rock. This item (or totem, as the you must adapt your
treacherous,
Whomp 'Em. For example, once special powers are called), is the key to powers. But it's equally important

Round up as many gourds as you can to increase your life Soaring Eagle's defensive power is increased when he
force. finds a buffalo headdress. While you're in this quiet area of
the Magic Forest, take time to gather some magical items.

176
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crnrnrrnncrrrrcrrnrnrrrrnrncnnnnnnnncnnncncra
nncnnncnnncncnnrnnnrrnnnnnnnnncnnnnrnnncnnnci

...then go after the golden butterfly

inside. Keep a sustained attack — if

you retreat, the bug's life force restores

itself.

Your battle with the boss of the Magic

Forest is a two-round, one-knock-
down bout. First, do some damage to
this suspended cocoon ...

to stockpile magic potions (which The key to getting through the scenes, the fewer chances his foes
are worth extra lives) and gourds game is to keep
busier sections of the have to multiply and swarm around
(which increase your life force) be- moving. Because Soaring Eagle is a him.
cause your battles with the level walking magnet who attracts adver- Once the action has become
leaders are as much tests of endur- saries wherever he goes, the quicker manageable, you should slow your
ance as they are feats of combat. he moseys through the more crowded pace and hang around these quieter

When you've swatted the Magic Forest's butterfly, you This area early in the Fire Test world is extremely dangerous.
earn a Web weapon, which gives Soaring Eagle Spider- You must avoid the falling fireballs while hustling across
man-like abilities. the moving platforms.

177
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
rrrirrrrrrrirrrnrrrrrrrcrrrrrrrrrrrrrrcrrrrrro
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn n nriri
—
When you defeat the fire man, you
earn a fire wand, which operates like
a flamethrower.

Don't bother jumping to put this fire

out. Move from side to side and jab
the boss in the middle.

areas to collect items. When the Whomp 'Em was influenced by two of other adventures — and it won't
varmints start coming one at a time the most popular NES series. Super disappoint fans of Mega Man or
instead of in packs, that's your cue Mario Bros, and Mega Man. Luckily, the Mario brothers, either.
to gatherup lives and energy. Whomp 'Em is just as much fun and as
What can we say? Imitation is charming as those games. It should
the sincerest form of flattery, and please those who haven't played the

Before going after the leader of the Ice Ritual world, spend You will have to jump to get at the boss in the ice ritual.
a little time in this shaft harvesting magic items.

178
mmnnnmmmnmnnnmnmmmmnnmmcmrimnQn
rrrrrcrr'Crrrrrrrrrrnrrnrrcrrrrrrrrrnrnrrnrnvey
nnnnnnnnmnnncnnnnrnnnncnncnnnncnncncnncncncpji

You can stick your enemies by

thrusting your spear through the
ledges in the vertically scrolling sec-
tions of the game.

This guy breaks apart into a circle of

smaller pieces for his first attack, then
reassembles to finish you off. The
best times to get him are just before
he disintegrates and just after he
reassembles.

iill
Every good Indian brave knows how to make
II
good use of his free time. If there are no foes in the
area, use your spear to poke walls, ceilings ...

anywhere and everywhere. Often you'll uncover

magic potion bottles, gourds, and hearts without
Jaleco
risking major wounds.
310 Era Drive; Northbrook, II

60062

You need at least three extra lives to outlast the boss of the Whomp 'Em ' s final world, signified by the mountain in the
Secret Cliff. A Spear Whirlwind would also be handy, since middle, is a secret. Wear Soaring Eagle's moccasins and
it's just powerful enough to do some sustaining damage. discover for yourself what lies beyond.

179
 Stephen Poole

Y
ter
ou'd think that young Mas-
Higgins would be ready for the
simple life after the perils he faced
rescuing the lovely Princess Leilani in
Hudson's Adventure Island. Butthesame
witch doctor that abducted Leilani has
now kidnapped her twin sister, Tina.
Naturally, it's up to everyone's favorite
island tyke to free her.
Adventure Island II follows the
same formula as Hudson's Adventure
Island, but the sequel has eight islands Although the skateboard can shorten your trip through each part of an
foryoung Higgins to explore instead island, it has its drawbacks. You can't turn around on it, and you can't
of one. The basic game play is the get off unless you hit a rock, lose a life, or find another means of
same: As Higgins, you begin the game transportation.
unarmed and must uncover weapons,

valuable items, and friendly creatures

by breaking the eggs you find scat-
tered throughout each island.
Dashing around each island
searching for the kidnapped Tina takes
a lot of energy, so you ha ve to be on the
lookout for food to restore your life

meter. Fruits, vegetables, and milk

really agree with Higgins, but don't
try to give this y oung hero eggplant
it rapidly drains his energy.
Bonus areas like this one can pro- You'll run into all sorts of animals
vide Higgins with weapons and during your search for Tina. Deadly After you're given the Hudson
nourishment —
but it takes good snails, fire-breathing snakes, hostile Bee, you can start each new life
timing to hop from spring to fish, and swooping birds can all end holding the weapon with which
spring. Higgins' life with just one touch. Most you died.
of these critters can be avoided with

180
 J

To defeat this boss, avoid the green

lines while tossing axes at its
middle. The rocks that the
pteranodon drops come in espe-
cially handy here.

clever jumping, but the stone axe you

find early in the game is effective
The blue camptosaurus gives you added protection against enemies,
against all of them. but neither you nor your prehistoric friend should play with fire.
Many eggs contain prehistoric
creatures that you can use for trans-
portation and protection. You can ride some of the latter islands if you don't
a red camptosaurus that spits fire, a already have a weapon.
blue camptosaurus that can destroy The addition of the prehistoric
enemies with a flip of its tail, and a creatures and different islands gives
pteranodon that can drop rocks as it Adventure Island II much more variety
soars above any danger down below. than its predecessor, though the lo-
And don't forget your trusty skate- calesdo look a bit the same from is-
board —perfect for speed, but dan- land to island. While there is a small
gerous if you don't know what lies —
amount of violence Higgins "kills"
ahead. snakes, snails, and even pigs — it's of
The bright, cartoonlike graphics
the cartoon variety and isn't graphic.
and basically nonviolent premise in
And there's enough challenge for
The only enemies you have to
Adventure Island II make it especially adults to enjoy the game, too. This
worry about when riding the is
suitable for younger gamers, but keep one game that truly does have some-
pteranodon are unfriendly birds.
in mind that it does require good hand-
eye coordination. There are several
features that even the odds for less-
Higgins can survive a fall from his
prehistoric plane ifhe doesn't land
in water or in a fire.
GP
experienced game players, however.
Bonus rooms with extra points and
one-ups automatically appear after Another new feature lets you Hudson Soft
each level. Secret rooms contain one- "store" weapons and friendly crea-
400 Oyster Point Blvd.; Suite
ups and the Hudson Bee, an item that tures to use on new islands. You can 515; South San Francisco, Cfl
lets you begin a new life using the begin the game on any of the eight 94080
weapon with which you died. islands, but the going can be tricky on

181 • • •
 Base Wars

^^^tese days, the battle of wills

around the baseball diamond isn't
only between pitchers and hitters.
Behind the scenes, there's another
battle going on between the baseball
players and the team owners. Play-
ers' salaries have hit record levels,
and owners' revenues are also hitting
all-time highs. Who loses? The fans.
In Base Wars, baseball fans can
extract a little revenge. In this futur-
game, the players have priced
istic

themselves out of the market, and Those boys of summer have been letes that do things you'll never see
have been replaced with automated, supplanted by cyborgs, tanks, on a real baseball diamond.
preprogrammed baseball machines. flybots, and motorcycles pro- For example, force-outs and
grammed not only to win games, close calls on the base paths turn
but also to destroy each other in the into one-on-one battles between the
process. runner and the fielder. Just try to
The result is a brutal and violent imagine Rickey Henderson, Major
version of what was our pastoral League Baseball's premier base thief,
national pastime. While baseball brawling with San Francisco's Will
purists may balk at the idea of Clark before he can land on first.
combat in the grand old game, they BaseWars even takes it a step further.
should be reminded that it's just a If a player gets thrashed often

videogame. enough, he explodes.

BaseWars' unique game idea is Given the stakes, how you per-
With earnings you make by ideal for the NES. By relying as much form in these battles for bases is as
winningleaguegames,youcan on medieval jousting as on tradi- important as how many base hits

buy new parts to increase your tional baseball strategy, the game is you get. Whenever possible, you
robot' s strength. able to deliver a new fast-paced should try to stretch singles into
hybrid sport, with aluminum ath- doubles or doubles into triples. And

182
if the playis close, be ready to ex-

ploit each opponent's weaknesses

in an exchange of blows.
You also need some knowledge
of baseball to play BaseWars.
Knowing how the sport is played
becomes especially handy on the
pitcher'smound, where you're able
to throw pitches with more curves
than a mountain road. By pressing
and holding the A button, you can
also hurl fastballs that are barely
visible —
and even less hittable.
Although BaseWars might first
seem overly simplistic, it offers a
wide range of options. To get the
most out of the game, form your
own six-team Cyber League and play
a season. You earn $20,000 for each
win —
money that can be used to
buy weapons and spare parts, or to
pay for repairs to your damaged
robots.
Fun to play, BaseWars is also
pleasing to watch. The sharp they play in a spacious, futuristic pear at approximately the same time
graphics follow the combatants as arena. The joust sequences are not they need to be in position to make
visual masterpieces, but the catch. There just isn't time to
they clearly convey react.
CDNF IGURRT ION
NO. e what's going on. You're also at a definiyesingular
CR LIFO mH I A The game has its disadvantage when playing against
OWN. GIBSON OPER. MAN flaws. It's unfortunate the computer, which always knows
1 CYBORG GREENE C R that you can make no where its fielders are positioned. But
2 TANK SHORT SS R personnel changes once don't let these minor limitations
3 FLYBOT HANSEN IB l_ the ball is in play. You obscure the merit of BaseWars. It
4 FLYBOT ADAMS 2B R can't pinch-hit or would make a fine addition to
5 TANK WALTERS LF R change pitchers, for ex- anyone's NES sports library.
6 GVBORG BENNETT CF R
V
8
TANK
GVBORG
LYNCH
CLARK
P
RE
R
R
ample. You're also un-
able to bunt. These GR
limitations minimize
Q FLYBOT SMITH 3B R your role as team man-
ager. And, as with many Ultra
Before heading out of the dugout, you can baseball simulations, 900 Deerfield Parkway;
7
it s very difficult to field
modify the types of robots in your lineup, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-
their names, field positions, and batting order. balls in the outfield 4510
since your players ap-
 The Black Bass
Gary Meredith

^
mist
^ ut
is rising.
on a quiet lake the early
All the preparations
have been made. You've got plenty of
bait, acouple of extra rods with 20-
pound test line (OK, so you're an opti-
mist), net at the ready, mucho
munchies, and a cooler of drinks.
The tension is almost unbearable....
The first cast is made, and the lure
breaks the water 18 yards from your
boat. As the excitement reaches its
peak, you sit back, pop open a drink,

and wait. And wait. And wait. The

mental battle of man against fish is
under way.
After you've signed in, you're lakes,where the fish are only so-so in
The Black Bass isn't exactly like a
given your basic equipment. Since The way to progress to the high-
size.
morning on the lake, but for anyone
you start the game as a beginner, you er levels —
and so to the better lakes
whose idea of heaven is a summer —
must go first to one of the two lesser by fishing as much as possible.
is
day with nothing to do and all day to
The fishing day lasts 10 hours at the
do it, this videogame might help you beginning of the game, and it gradu-
through the winter doldrums. The set-
ting is the opening of the International
Anglers' Fishing Tournament. You
and 199 other selected contestants
are out to catch the most fish (in total
pounds) and win the trophy.
It won't be easy. You fish in four

lakes, each with its own hazards and

hot fishing spots. The fish you're
going after seem to be bred for cun-
ning, too, so don't expect them to As low man on the totem pole, you
swim up to your lure and chomp begin the tournament fishing in Your lure selection isn't all that var-

down on your hook. Rooting out the least productive lake. Whether ied at the start of the tournament.
your quarry with a variety of lures or not you make the cut and pro- When in doubt, go with the pencil
and techniques is the challenge of The ceed to the next lake depends on lure — and be sure to let it wiggle
Black Bass. your performance. a bit as you slowly reel it in.

184
 ally increases for the first six days
before decreasing in the last six.
You've got less than two weeks to
prove that you can out-fish your wor-
thiest opponents.
i Once out on a lake, you can move
to different spots, should your initial
location prove unproductive. Moving
around, however, uses up precious
time, and you're going to need every
second —
particularly at the begin-
ning of the tournament.
Perfect your casting early. Your The tournament scoreboard keeps
You can aim your cast over quite a a running total of your catches
casting strength is measured on -a
large area. Just remember that any throughout the 12 days of the tour-
casts off the screen to the left or
power meter similar to those in golf
games. It takes timing to produce a
nament. You can advance to the
right result in a broken line.
by keeping your daily
better lakes
long and you need to work on
cast,
your "thumbing" technique (inter- poundage as high as possible.
rupting a cast by placing your thumb
on the reel) to make an accurate cast. movements, for example, to
specific
In the later stages of the tourna- make it more attractive to the fish.

ment, pinpoint accuracy is essential Working the lure skillfully can add
because you need to drop your line considerably to your total catch.
near the various lake obstacles where You won't be able to conjure up a
the fish hide. Being adept at thumbing warm summer day or the "ploink" of
can mean the difference between tak- a lure hitting the water while playing
ing the trophy home or inventing a The Black Bass, but the game lets you
"one that got away" tale for the guys get lots of practice for those lazy
back at the lodge. days to come.
The choice of a lure is also an
important consideration in The Black
OP
Bass. In the earlier lakes, smaller fish
The best fish can be found lurking and shallower depths are the norm, so
around lake obstacles, but these a surface lure such as the pencil or the
hazards can be bad news to your the best choice. When you're
frog is Hot-B
line. "Thumbing" your casts
after a really big bass, a plastic worm
allows you to put the lure where 1255 Post Street; Suite
is the way to go.
or the classic spinner 105, San Francisco, CA
the fish, not the obstacles, lie.
You need to know how to use the 94109
You can make a lure perform
lure, too.
 Castelian

Cary Meredith

^ s there not enough frustration in

your life? Are things going a bit too
smoothly? Perhaps a dose of Castelian
is just what you need to put the world

back in perspective. The anxiety you'll

feel while trying to climb to the top of
the eight towers in this game will give You have to be quick off the mark, even on the first tower. When
you a new appreciation of the quiet using the doorways to escape a Hexalon, remember that you may
life. run into another one on the other side.
You're Julius, one of the good cit-
izens of Jemmerville, an island nation as the Spheroids, can be destroyed way around these enemies by using
on the planet Centaurus. You're also with the Carbonobombs you carry. the elevators and stairways in the
a loyal employee of Domoloco and Others, such as the I-Balls, the towers.
Sons, one of the many mining com- Hexalons, and the Tri-Zeroops, can You begin at the very bottom of
panies in your country that dig for the never be destroyed. You must find a the first tower with three lives to
most exquisite gems in the galaxy.
Naturally, all that raw ore makes
Jemmerville a prime target for con-
quest.
One night while you were sleep-
ing, aliens began to surround your
island with eight towers which threat-
en to cut off Jemmerville completely
from the outside world. Because
you're such a valued employee, Mr.
Domoloco volunteers your services to
climb each of these towers and topple
If
them with your Destructo Bombs.
The orbiting Spheroid is one of the Once you've scaled a tower and
You must succeed before the aliens
few tower guards that you can set off your DestructoBomb, you
finish the eighth and final tower that
destroy with your Carbon- go on to a bonus round, where
will seal Jemmerville's fate.
obombs. You have to be ready for you can add to your score by
Each tower is loaded with plat-
forms, elevators, and false floors as — the Spheroids, however, when grabbing some of the gems for
you come through a doorway. which Jemmerville is famous.
well as a number of alien guard
machines. Some of these aliens, such

186
 J

Picking up all the beautiful

gems in the bonus round is

nice, but don't forget to get

them to the Clock Tower before
time expires. you don't, you
If

won't receive any valuable

bonus time for them.

Since time is at a premium on the final three towers, gathering all the
bonus gems becomes a necessity. Unfortunately, if you happen to fall
into one of the bottomless pits, you lose all the time you've earned.

Castelian is a devilishly difficult game intense frustration level have been

to get into — let alone score well in. faithfully transferred to the NES for-
From the very first tower, you're mat. Castelian is probably not the
continually harassed by the various game you'd choose for a pleasant,
alien guards and frustrated by the unhurried afternoon of gaming, but
maddening construction of the towers. if you're looking for an arcade/puz-

Further complicating matters, you zle game to tax your patience and
Each new tower becomes pro- have only a limited time to scale each arcade skills, we've got a game for
gressively more difficult to scale, tower. you.
not only because of the increased
complexity of its structure, but it
If (and that's a big "if") you make
to the top and destroy a tower, you
GP
also because of the increased num- advance to a bonus stage. Here, you
ber of enemies with which to con- can earn bonus time or extra points
tend. Here, the I-Ball population (and maybe extra lives) by finding
has grown considerably. gems. And you'll need every second
and every life you can scrape togeth-
spare. If you can accumulate 5,000 er, since the towers become progres- Triffix Entertainment
points (or 10,000 points, if you're sively more difficult as you go along.
5756 Royalmount Avenue;
playing in the "hero" mode), you've Based on the computer game Montreal, Quebec, Canada
earned an extra life. But getting those Tower Toppler, Castelian has a new H4P 1K5
points isn't a foregone conclusion. although the cute graphics and
plot,

187 • * ®
 Harlem Globetrotters

Ha
f he Harlem Globetrotters are
probably the most unique basket-
ballteam in history. For more than
60 years, their madcap antics have
brought laughter to fans all over the
world.
But in addition to a great sense of
slapstick, the "Clown Princes" of
basketball are incredibly talented
athletes. After all, how many NBA
players could score a basket by place- at the 'Trotters' hijinks. Up to four It shouldn't take you long to get the
kicking the ball from half-court — players can compete using an adapter, hang of game play. On offense, you
even if it were a legal shot? with one or two players on each team. control the ball handler (if someone
Now the Globetrotters are mak- There are two levels of play. Rookie else is playing on your team, you split

ing their debut on the NES. InHarlem and Pro, but the main difference be- ball-handling chores), and dribbling
Globetrotters, you can play as the tween them is the shot clock (45 sec- is automatic. Aside from that, all you
Globetrotters or the Generals, the onds at the Rookie level, 24 seconds can do is shoot the ball or pass to a
team that has to keep a straight face for Pro). teammate. Defensively, you control
only one player, trying to block a shot
”T*T5Sv£5r2
or steal the ball (shot-block attempts
are automatic at the Rookie level).
If you're playing as the Globe-
trotters —
and you'll want to most of
the time, since there's not a lot you can
do as the Generals —
you naturally
have a few tricks up your sleeve. You
can make normal passes and shots,
but what fun is that when you can try
a behind-the-back pass or a somer-
sault dunk shot?
As soon as the referee's pants A hook shot from your own free
The Generals are quite different
fall to his ankles, you realize this throw line might seem strange,
from their real-life counterparts. You
isn't going to be the usual bas- but you'd be surprised at how
almost never get an offensive rebound
ketball game. often it drops through the hoop.
against them, and the Generals' out-

188
 The kick shot is a lot more accurate
if you're inside the three- point line.

side shooting is very accurate. If you

try to move the ball by dribbling, it

will be stolen almost the second you
move.
Harlem Globetrotters has a few
quirks. There seem to be certain places
on the court where the ball can be
stolen from you just because you're
standing there. And there are other
spots where you'll miss your shot 99
percent of the time —
and it's not
because you're well-covered or be-
yond your shooting range.
Does Harlem Globetrotters succeed in
bringing the Globetrotters' wacky
stunts to your Nintendo? Not really. what made the Globetrotters famous,
You can try trick shots like the half- and a little more emphasis on that part
court hook shot or the kick shot, but of the game would make Harlem
you don't have any control over which Globetrotters much more appealing.
trick is attempted. You just press a
button and wait to see what happens.
The action would be a lot more en-
GR
tertaining if you could first choose a
trick to attempt, then carry it out with
a series of controller moves.
Still, Harlem Globetrotters can pro-

vide fun for novice gamers. Older or

Don't take the Generals' skills too GameTek
lightly. Unless you're playing
more experienced players, though,
might find that the challenge fades 2999 IME 191st Street; Suite
tough defense, their jump shots hit 800; North Miami Beach, FL
rather quickly. After all, the crazy ball-
the mark fairly often. 33180
handling stunts and trick shots are

189
• • •
 Hollywood Squares
J Leslie Mizell

J
J

• - on't look for Paul Lynde in

the center square. Charlie Weaver and
Wally Cox are missing, too. Not even
Peter Marshall is here. In fact, there

are a number of holes in Hollywood

Squares.
Hollywood Squares, one of the old-
est game shows, is the latest TV show
to be turned into a Nintendo game by
GameTek. But while Wheel of Fortune
and Concentration lend themselves well
to NES translations, Hollywood Squares
doesn't have the necessary substance fill a square of a tic-tac-toe board. Two
to be a videogame that remains en- contestants (X and O) choose a square,
joyable with repeated playing. and the celebrity in that square an-
On the surface, Hollywood Squares swers a question. The contestants then
seems to be a faithful translation of the decide if they agree or disagree with
game show. Nine "celebrities" each the celebrity's answer. If the X contes-
tant, for example, is correct, the square
is filled with an X. If the contestant is

wrong, his opponent wins the square,

and it's filled with an O.
Unfortunately, while game show
videogames should be free-spirited,
In the second game of every
even wacky (Hi Tech's Remote Control
match, you have a chance to win a
is a good example), Hollywood Squares
vacation by finding the Secret
doesn't even try. Not only are there no
real celebrities — or take-offs on ce-
Square.

lebrities, which would really be fun

but their names (and those of the con- most human contestants will have to

testants) can'tbe more than four letters use their initials instead of their names.
long. It's a small detail, but it seems There are 400 questions included
silly for a "Beth" or an "Eddy" to be in the game. This may seem like a lot,
giving punchlines for the jokes. And but it isn't. While the same question is

190
never asked twice during a match,
questions are reshuffled after each
contest. With at least a dozen questions
asked during each three- or four-game
competition, it doesn't take long for
the same questions to start popping
up again. Admittedly, the celebrities
may give different answers, but if you
remember the correct answer, you've
got an edge.
You'll also have an edge if you're
up on your biblical studies or Chinese
history. There seem to be an unrea-
sonable number of questions in these
two subjects. There are as many tied games in Hollywood Squares as there are in real
When all is said and done, the tic-tac-toe. Tied games are thrown out, so it still takes two games to
winner of the match gets to choose one
win a match.
of five keys to stick in the ignition of

one of five computerized sports cars.

you lose the first time, don't worry.
If

As long as you remain champion, you

can keep picking cars — as long as you
remember which cars you've chosen,
and as long as you stay interested,
which, for many players, may not be
too long.
GF>

You get only one opportunity to Too bad that the fabulous new
choose a key, but you can keep
GameTek
car you win in the bonus round
picking cars as long as you remain isn't one you can take on the open 2999 WE 191st St.; Suite 800;
champion. IM. Miami Beach, FL 33180
road.

191
 Jim Henson’s IVIuppet Adventure:

Lisa M. Bouchey

iss Piggy has long had

her sights set on two things —
Kermit
the Frog and a show-business career.
But being billed as a sideshow attrac-
tion is not what she had in mind.
Still, in Jim Henson's Muppet Ad-

venture: Chaos at the Carnival, that's

where our femme fatale finds
exactly
The devilish Dr. Grump has
herself.
kidnapped Miss Piggy, and now she's
the star attraction in his carnival of
confusion. It's up to Kermit and his
ragged band of Muppet rescuers to
save the indomitable pig.
In this new game from Hi Tech
Expressions, you get to explore the
carnival as not just one of your favorite
Muppet characters, but as four —
Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and
Gonzo. Each Muppet must survive
one carnival ride and find a key that
helps unlock the cave of Dr. Grump
and the evil Grumpasaurus.
The "Lost in Space" ride is perfect
for The Great Gonzo's daredevil na-
ture. To find the key in this attraction,
you must guide Gonzo through space, Avoid the booby traps and rub- Docking with fuel canisters re-
avoiding obstacles, collecting prizes, ber-band bumpers on the Car stores Gonzo's power in the
and destroying the space station. Crash Course, or Animal won't Lost in Space ride. You need all
Nothing is too risky for Gonzo, but he have enough power to finish the power you can muster to
still faces some tough tests from Space the obstacle course and pick up destroy the enemy space sta-
Dogs, an asteroid cave, and flying his key. tion and earn your key.
satellites.

192
 Chaos at the Carnival j

Clumsy, well-intentioned Fozzie the bear comedian. If the barkers block perfect challenge for this wild and
Bear needs your help to get through your path, throw bones, banana peels, crazy Muppet. Steer Animal around
the "Fun House Ice Cream Maze" and or hearts to get them out of your way. the booby traps, oil slicks, and rubber-
find his key. Watch out for carnival Animal likes to have lots of loud band bumpers to find the key. Run-
barkers and moving walls as you guide fun, so the "Car Crash Course" is the ning over the flags on the course helps
rack up extra points and restore his
power.
To find the fourth key, you must
help Kermit navigate his boat down a
raging river. Keep a sharp eye out for
rocks, floating logs, and a changing
shoreline as you shoot the rapids on
your rescue mission.
Once the Muppets have earned
all four keys, Kermit can unlock Dr.
Grump's cave. But although he's pre-
pared to meet the Grumpasaurus
when he enters the cave, he finds
himself standing on a sandy beach
instead. Where are the bad guys? Just
hop along the beach until you find the
monster. Remember: He may be big
and ugly, but even the meanest mon-
sters have their weak spots.
Compared to the cartoon-inspired
Carnival barkers chase Fozzie through the Ice Cream Maze. A well-
Disney and Simpson adventures —
or

placed banana peel whisks them out of your way — even Hi Tech's Sesame Street games —
but watch out
the graphics in the Muppet Adventure
for moving walls and dead ends.
are disappointing. Even the character
sketches in the instruction manual are
more realistic than the game's graph-
II i PiTi TTirrr ics —
and some of the characters are so
M, jYrrTYr TrrrTT rY small that it's hard to tell which
n mi IJ lt
was
1 l

i II ll i
'
Muppet is which. Still, members of
Ti ITT. VrViM-V TT
mm
the Muppet Baby generation will
ri i lt 1 11111'!
1 1 1 1

T; r
|.
'll
probably enjoy the game, although it
tVi
l l l ! !
T- FT
r^i
1 1 l

'Vi'i might have limited appeal for older

Vraii,
i i i i i

players.
ITT1TI11
r in i i .1.
i

.i.uxri
. v 1
1
1

GP
A feather is all Kermit needs to He may look frightening, but this Hi Tech Expressions
defeat the Grumpasaurus monster's bark is worse than 584 Broadway;
monster. his bite. Mew York. MY 10012

193 • % %
 KlashBall
j
j
j Lisa M. Bouchey

(2 rash into the 23rd century

with KlashBall. In this futuristic game,
based on the "primitive" sports of soc-
cer, basketball, and hockey, two teams
of techno-gladiators battle each other
in an arena full of space-age twists.

If your team's skill level is high enough to execute a successful tackle,

the player you take down loses some of his stamina — and slows down
substantially.

In a one-player game, your team

wears red and plays facing the
goal at the top of the screen.
The player under your imme-
diate control is highlighted by
an arrow.

Dressed in a full-body suit of ar-

mor, you need all the speed and

strength you can muster to maneuver The rotating squares that ap-
a three-kilo energy sphere into your Before you choose which team pear on the field from time to
opponent's goal — a four-foot gaping — Verna, Lacata, or Draco — time are power tiles. Simply
hole in the end wall of the arena. Your you want to portray, study its run over them to pick the tiles
team of four players and goalie can stats.Power, skill, and stamina up. This "I" tile increases your
battle a team headed by either the levels vary from team to team. team's stamina.
computer or a friend. But the goal is

194
 %
simple: The team with the most points
when time runs out is the winner.
Solo players can choose between
Knockout and League play. The
Knockout game is a best-two-out-of-
three match, and if you defeat ten
opponents in a row, you're crowned
KlashBall champion. In League play,
your team plays a weekly match
against the other teams in the league
for an entire season. Teams move up
or down in the rankings as they win or
lose matches. If your team finishes the
season in one the top three slots, you
advance to the Power Bowl finals and
it out for the championship.
fight
Knockout and Single-Round op-
tions are available in a two-player
game. In the Knockout mode, the team
that claims two out of three rounds
walks away the winner, but in Single-
Round play, you play only one match
against your opponent.
At the start of each round, the
teams' power, skill, and stamina lev- Draco. If your team wins a round, side at the same speed and angle at
els are displayed. You then select one
bonus coins equal to the number of which it entered, enabling you to make
of three teams: Verna, Lacata, and goals you scored are added to any passes to teammates on the other side
coins you picked up on the floor of the of the playing field. In a sort of space-
arena during the game. You can use age pinball twist, bounce domes rise
thepower coins to change variables above the floor and give off electrical
and improve your team's status and energy that repels the ball, sending it
increase its chances of winning. bouncing off the walls.
For example, two power coins But no matter which way the ball
extend the time limit for the round, bounces, SOFEL's KlashBall will be a
three coins give your players extra lively addition to any game collection.
stamina, and four coins increase their Crisp graphics and clear ball move-
skill level. Six coins result in a power ment make it easy to play, and it's a
boost, and scooping up eight coins nice change from all the simulations
scores an extra goal for your team. of the popular "primitive" 20th cen-
You should also learn how to use
To make your goalie dive sideways,
push the B button and move in the the warp tunnels and the bounce
domes on the arena floor so you'll
tury sports.
GP
direction you want him to dive.
When the goalie touches the ball, he have an easier time winning. Warp SOFEL
automatically throws it toward the tunnels are located at the midpoint of 1341 Ocean Avenue; Santa
center of the arena. each side wall. Passing into the tunnel Monica,CA 90401
sends the ball shooting out the other

195
% J %
 Mendel Palace
J
J
Stephen Poole
J

0 f all her toys, Candy loved

her dolls the most. She would spend

hours with Toby, Mira, Tako, and the
other dolls, and sometimes it seemed
to her that they were really alive. When
she went to bed, she even dreamed
that they could run, jump, and talk to
her.
Unfortunately, when Candy's The roulette panel rotates between four items, but the one-up panel is
fondest dream came true, it turned the one you should try to get. Study the pattern of the rotation
out to be more of a nightmare. As she carefully, but don't forget about any nasty dolls in the vicinity.
slept, her dolls really did come to life.
But now that they're alive, they're not
as nice as they were in Candy's make-
believe world.
Since they know that if Candy
wakes up, her dream — and their
St
newfound freedom — will end,
they've decided to keep her asleep St St St »' St Si
forever. The dolls kidnap the child
Sit Si 8 * St St
and take her to a place in doll-land
calledMendel Palace, and the only St St St '* St St
way she'll ever wake up is if her best St St St St St St St
friend, Bon-Bon, can rescue, her.
In Mendel Palace, the latest release
from Hudson Soft, you play the part These Vinci dolls aren't master If you walk over a moon panel,
of Bon-Bon as he searches for Candy. artists, but once a drawing is com- the room darkens and all the pan-
To find her you must search through pleted, you can't shuffle the panel els turn to stars. While it's not
eight dollhouses — but don't think — although if you shuffle them smart to do this if you're facing
that rescuing Candy going to be
is before the pictures are finished, fast enemies, the lumbering Sumo
child's play. Each dollhouse contains anything the dolls have drawn is dolls never catch you as you rack
enemies that present unique chal- erased. up stars.
lenges, and you have to clear all eight

196
 The Tako dolls are a nice touch in
the game. When you knock them
down, a frown appears on their
faces when they hit the floor.

dollhouses before you can even set

foot inside Mendel Palace.
The floors inside the dollhouses
are made up of panels, and your only In some rooms panels can be shuffled until they change into metal. You
weapon against Candy's kidnappers
can use these to form a wall, blocking off dolls while you search for
is your ability to shuffle the panels. If
bonus items.
you shuffle a panel on which a doll is
standing, the doll falls down and slides
across the floor. To destroy a doll, you extra life, special bonus panels take
have to keep shuffling panels until the you to an extra and roulette
stage,
doll slides into a wall and breaks. panels rotate between four helpful
Since each kind of doll has its own items (including a one-up.)
style of movement and attack, you But some of the action panels can
have to adjust your strategy in each be useful or deadly, depending on
dollhouse. For example, the Sumo when and how you use them. The sun
dolls don't move very quickly, but if panel, for example, shuffles every
you shuffle them they stomp on the panel on the board, slamming almost
floor and over a whole row of
flip every doll into the walls. At the same
panels — and send you careening into time, however, it could uncover a score Toby dolls jump when you get
the wall or another doll if you're of enemy panels that create more dolls near them. Use their shadows to
standing on that row. than you destroyed in the first place. determine where they'll land, then
The Vinci dolls, on the other hand, Hudson Soft has a reputation for position yourself to shuffle them
aren't very aggressive, but they do designing games with younger play- safely.

draw on the panels. Once a drawing is ers in mind, and the storyline of Mendel
completed, you can't shuffle that Palace will undoubtedly appeal to that
panel; in the higher stages the draw- same group. But don't let that fool you
ings come to life and join forces with — Mendel Palace's charming story
their creators. might be kid stuff, but the combination
Some of the panels are actually of fast-paced action and strategy
two or even three panels in one, and makes it a winner for gamers of all
Hudson Soft
by shuffling them you can reveal bo- ages.
400 Oyster Point Blvd.; Suite
515; South San Francisco, CA
nuses or special action panels. Star
panels contain stars you collect for an GR 94080

197
 Metal Mech
j William R. Trotter

j
j

ML,—
ly elaborate and challenging shooter
that also involves a great deal of ex-
ploration. Its difficulty level is high,
compared to other recent games, and
it features a more extensive — and
imaginative — array of situations,
enemies, and screen layouts than most
games of its type.
The setting is the near future,
where civilization is threatened by Most of the time, your attacks are enemy hits. There are many tight

thousands of Metal Mechs — half or- made from the security of your Metal places, however, which can be ex-
ganic, half mechanical alien creatures Mech. Indeed, whenever possible, you plored only on foot. Once you're out-
that are controlled by the Alien Queen should stay inside the machine because side the machine, you're a very small
from her heavily guarded spaceship. it has an awesome capacity to absorb character — maybe too small. The
The forces of freedom have man- character is often difficult to control as
aged to capture a single Metal Mech (it
looks like one of those "walker"
fighting machines from The Empire
Strikes Back), and their plan is for a
lone brave pilot (guess who!) to guide
the mech through the aliens' strong-
holds to find and destroy their queen.
The six levels of the game are very
difficult —and very long. Whenever
you die, you must start again from the
beginning of that level, so don't be
surprised if you find yourself fighting You can find the key to level
thesame aliens over and over. Those three by searching on the top of The objects that look like
with a low frustration level might find the second tower near the end handcars can drag your Metal
themselves abandoning their quest of level two. Shoot the object Mech across the screen. Hunker
at least for a while. But then the size next to the girder in the upper down and start shooting the
and complexity of the mission will right corner. instant they appear.
probably draw you back.

198
 J

you explore nooks and crannies of the

alien worlds.
But whether you're inside the
Mech or hoofing it, shoot everything
in sight —
not only moving targets,
but buildings, plants, and rocks as
well.When you destroy a target, it
may leave behind an icon. Collect as
many of these as possible for extra
lives and firepower. The most impor-
tant of these icons are keys that unlock
the door to the next level. Without the
keys, you can't advance.
Metal Mech is an enormous and
complex game that might have ben-
efited by having shorter, more nu-
merous levels. But if retracing your
steps won't frustrate you. Metal Mech
delivers everything an arcade game
should.

GR

Unfortunately, you can't travel

through level six inside your
Metal Mech. The whole area is
spiral-shaped, so try to negoti-
ate it by continually moving to
the left. Instead of fighting your
enemies, try to avoid them.

Jaleco
You can't survive the underwater sequence in level four unless you 310 Era Drive; Northbrook,
locate this object. IL 60062

J
199
 Monopoly
J Lisa M. Bouchey
J
J

ill
L ,:
owadays, it's hard to
imagine having to pass a rainy day
without the benefits of Nintendo.
What did people do before there were
videogames to play, anyway? Does
anybody remember board games —
the rainy-day "Mom, there's nothing
on TV!" way to pass the time?
One of the world's favorite board
games has been around for more than Ifyou're used to playing banker (and maybe enjoying a little
50 years, but even rich Uncle Pen- embezzling on the side), you'll be disappointed to learn that the
nybags has seen the need for expan- computer is in charge of the high finances in this game.
sion. So a board game standard has
entered the videogame market — and
CHANCE
now would-be tycoons and real estate GO DIRECTLY
traders can play Monopoly on their TO JAIL
Nintendo machines instead of on the
kitchen table.
The same rules apply to both
— DO NOT PASS GO,
games up to eight players can get DO NOT COLLECT S2QO
in on the wheeling and dealing, and
each player starts the game with $1 500
If you're unlucky enough to be
in the bank. But the animation in the
sent to jail, you're dragged kick-
Nintendo version actually makes this
ing and screaming to your cell.
game more fun to play with your
friends or family.
The game pieces (or tokens) move you pass GO, and if you're tapped to
All the game pieces are animated pay taxes, a cash register zips the cash
if they were alive
across the board as
— the horse gallops, the dog runs, — the dog runs, the horse gallops, out of your hand.
and the car wheels along the
and there's a rabbit in the top hat that Play against a human opponent
board. The action adds a new twist
hops along from square to square. to get a feel for the game before you
to picking your favorite token.
Trains whistle when you land on a take on the players in the computer's
railroad, money showers down when rogues' gallery. From self-made mil-

200
 ... but if you land on someone else's property, you have to watch the
cash register gobble up your hard-earned dough.
lionaire Arthur and quick-witted
Carmen to trusting Penelope and four players. Based on the game you munity Chest or Chance cards, you'd
good-natured Ollie, you can go to bat select,you can play along with The better figure out a different way to
against high-rollers or little-league Big Boys, take stock in Trader's De- finance your high-rolling deals — all

traders. But be prepared —

if you light,or cope with a Building Short- the money collected from taxes and
compete against the computer, you'd age with the cash and properties as- fines goes directly to the bank. Free
better be an ace player no matter who signed by the computer. Parking is just a spare resting spot.
the opposition is. The programmed Even with the options available in Leading Parker Brothers' push
opponents make decisions so quickly thisNintendo game, there are still a into the Nintendo market this year.
that it's more than difficult to follow few drawbacks —
at least for people Monopoly's entertaining animation and
what they're doing. who played the board game without family-favorite status make it a wor-
If you find yourself bored with strictly following the rules. For ex- thy addition to any collection and a
the preliminaries of circling around ample, if you land on an unowned great game for all ages.
the board just to
holdings,
amass property
you can cut to the chase
piece of real estate,
snatch it up or send
you must either
it to auction. You
GR
with a wheel-and-deal option. It's can't simply bypass the property and
possible to assign cash and properties make a transaction the second or third Parker Brothers
on a player-by-player basis and place time around the board.
50 Dunham Road; Beverly,
houses or hotels before the first roll of And if you're one of those Mo- MA 01915
the dice so you can jump right in the nopoly fans used to landing on the
thick of things. Free Parking block and taking all the
Or you might want to load one of money in the pot collected from
the eight preset games designed for Luxury Taxes or fines levied by Com-

201 © ® m
 Moon Ranger
J
J
J
Cary Meredith

A
it's
S s you look up at the moon,
hard to imagine an alien power
lying on its surface that could spell the
Once you've survived the While normally you would
end of life on Earth. But in Moon
aliens' outer defenses, it's time grab any health potion flasks
Ranger, it's true. An alien civilization to leave the relative safety of you see, you should probably
has sent a huge starship to our solar
your MRAT V for the unknown forget about this one, located
system to mine elements from the
dangers of the alien asteroid just inside the base. Getting it
planets and moons. The giant Element
base. costs you more power than the
Converter is now activated, and the
potion itself provides.
machine threatens to devour the moon
— and Earth is next on the menu.
What this planet needs is a hero
and you're the pilot who fits the bill.

You must find the ship, set a bomb to

destroy it, and annihilate all the alien
creatures and robots who guard its

Don't waste your time on space

frogs after they've already
hatched. Instead, take out the
Frog Bubble so the spaceways Somewhere inside the asteroid base are the four pieces of the
are free of those pesky green Gamma Bomb that you need before you can destroy the Element
fellows for good. Converter. The first piece is just down the hall from the first room.

202
 J

machinery. The bomb you must use

isn't easy to come by, either. Only the
Gamma Bomb can destroy a ship this
size. This ultimate in explosive de-
vices has only two drawbacks: It has
to be assembled from four pieces you
must track down inside the base, and
you must be at least 100,000 miles
away when the bomb goes off if you
don't want to be fried to a crisp.
But luckily, you're going into or-
bit with the latest in Earth technology,
the MRATV (Moon Ranger All-Ter-
rain Vehicle). This classy chassis can
withstand great punishment, whether
it's flying through space or making

tracks on the lunar surface. Your Moon

Ranger is also equipped with plasma
bolts, but more importantly, it can
adapt any alien weapons you find so
that you can use them.
You'll need those advanced alien
weapons, too. Although you wear a
Once inside the main base, it's a good idea to enter every room with
your guns blasting. Otherwise, you risk being nailed almost imme-
body protection suit —
which not only
dissipates enemy blasts, but also gives
diately by the defense mechanisms.
you fantastic jumping ability those —
weapons supplied by your Moon
Ranger mean the difference between
life and death once you're inside the

alien spaceship.
Moon Ranger's graphics and game

Emm
play don't break new ground, and it

offers little to set it apart from other

arcade-action titles. Despite an inter-
esting storyline, this is an arcade game,
pure and simple, with no puzzles or
problems to solve. Moon Ranger isn't
really a bad game, but it could have
The defenses are tougher down Your best tactic here is to allow
on the lunar base —
and you the spinning propeller creatures
been a lot better. n
may not have the firepower to to come to you instead of going
deal with every danger. When to them. Stay to the left, take
Bunch Games
you meet ground forces, it out all the small fry, then go
might be wiser to avoid them after the robot refugee from
1442 Irvine Blvd.; Suite 134;
Tustin, CA 92680
than to fight. "Lost in Space."

J J J
203
 M.U.L.E.
Richard Lashley
J
J AUCTION »1
ENERGY 1
J
37
45
: n •
|
a.

i^^ojyveai
or years, the only games avail-
able were board games. Most of these
played upon one of our most selfish
ziih
io
— -
s - *
4* B
g
drives — greed. Games such as Mo-
GUY IQ 10
nopoly gave us a chance to collect 27 1566 1034 1 136
money from opponents whose only UMTS
misfortune was to land on Boardwalk T ftftOEO
when we just placed three hotels on it.
But videogames ended the board- Auctions are where your fortunes are made — and lost. If demand is

game monopoly. Now the pursuit of low for your surplus supplies, you won't make much of a profit.
property and the all-American dollar
is available for Nintendo players. In

M.U.L.E. from Mindscape, you and

up to three other fortune hunters rocket
to Irata, a planet ripe for settlement.
In this futuristic land war, you can
be one of a variety of alien life forms.
Flapper is the most profitable alien,
since he begins the game with $1,600.
Humans are the least profitable ex-
plorers: They venture out into the Irata
landscape with only $600. The others
fall somewhere in between.

To stake your claim on Irata, you Auctions are followed by status Before you can work your land,
must use the land-grant feature in screens showing how you're do- you must go into town to buy and
M.U.L.E. to obtain a plot of property. ing in comparison with your com- outfit M.U.L.E.s. This M.U.L.E. is
Any pioneer knows that a wise selec- petitors. Thepersonwith thelargest on its way to the farmlands of
tion of land can mean the difference total net worth wins the game. Irata.

between life and death. If someone

else wants the same plot as you do, the square of land you want — you don't around. You can produce three re-
game can become very intense, very get a second chance. sources from your land: ore, food, and
fast. During the land grant, a blinking When you take a look at your plot, energy. The riverbank supports
square travels across the screen. you'll see a river winding down its farming, the flatlands yield energy,
Quickly hit the A button to freeze the middle and mountains scattered all and the mountains contain ore.

204
 J

ft » m ft n

A large surplus of food can give

you a
HRUE S 1 600 MULE COSTS S100 lot of leverage in auctions
during a food shortage. Now's
BUV ft MULE your chance to sell your surplus
(the amount above the dotted line
on your production bar) at high
As your empire grows, you must make more M.U.L.E.
trips to the
prices.
corral. The prices of this mechanized workforce rise and fall with the
colony's demands, so when their prices drop —
buy, buy, buy.
around reacting to the colony's needs.
As you accumulate more land, trans-
Once you've staked your claim, to —
make enemies the law of supply fer M.U.L.E.S from one plot to another
go into town and buy a M.U.L.E. and demand can work against you as to vary the resources of each plot (and
(Multiple Use Labor Element). This well as for you. capitalize on your neighbor's short-
mechanized donkey does all the dirty Your game strategy revolves ages). For example, if there's an en-
work for you, but you must visit the ergy crisis, you should line up three

appropriate store to outfit him for his energy M.U.L.E.s on three adjoining
designated task before producing a plots — then collect the benefits dur-
resource. ing the next auction.
When you visit town, you should M.U.L.E ' s landscape and charac-
also check out the pub to see if there's ters look simple, but the game doesn't
any gambling action going on. Al- require detailed graphics — it enter-
though a quick wager is a good way to tains the mind, not the eyes. The game
pick up some easy cash, don't get proves to be an entertaining lesson in
caught up in gambling fever —there's economics as well as geography, and
a time limit on any visit to town, so if its three levels test your ability to rule

you ignore business matters, you'll (or even survive) a space-age Wild
accomplish nothing in the long run.
After you and the other settlers
Your first land plots should
close to the river. After you've
fall
West. GP
built up food and energy stores, Mindscape
start producing resources, you start you can enter the mining trade in (a division of The Software
competing in auctions. Be sure to sell the mountains and start making Toolworks)
only your surplus, and hold out for GO Leveroni Court; Novato, CA
big bucks.
the highest possible price. But try not
94949

205 J J ®
 I\IES Play Action Football
j Brian Carroll
j
j

t's surprising that Tecmo Bowl is

still the top football game available for
Nintendo (see the list of our picks for
the top ten sports games elsewhere in
this issue).Released in early 1989,
Tecmo Bowl has weathered numerous
challenges from lesser gridiron games
and survives today as the standard by
which all newcomers are measured.
The most recent challenge to
Tecmo's two-year reign comes from
Nintendo's NES Play Action Football.
Licensed by the National Football
you have offensive weapons like Joe OFFENSE J ar.ro
League Players' Association, the game t

Montana, Jerry Rice, and Roger Craig

features eight pro teams, each consist-
at your disposal.
85 81 ia B3 &m Tt
83
ing of actual players from the 1989-90
Each player is rated in three cat- 88
^
season. So if you pick San Francisco,
egories: energy, speed, and a single
skill related to his position on the field.
33 25 10 Si
Of the three, energy is the most crucial
because a player's performance drops
13 21 1 81 86 82

along with his stamina. Although

°B S*!E,,
you'll undoubtedly develop favorite cfl?»GV SPEEg PftS^
plays, the energy factor forces you to
keep an eye on your players and to
With three screens of offensive
keep the defense guessing, too.
plays, you've got quite a range of
For instance, let's say you're par-
possibilities. Be sure to alternate
ticularly fond of the lead option. Run
plays to keep the defense guessing
the play too many times, and your
and your offensive players rested.
running back begins to move ewerr
sooo slooowly as he runs low on energy.
Before you call a play, check your
players' energy on the substitu-
Your quarterback's energy meter quarterback's energy — especially af-

tion screen. If anyone's meter reg-

merits the most attention because if he ter sacks — he might even need a
tires, your offense stalls. As a matter of stretcher to make it back to the locker
isters under 50 percent, bench him.
fact, if you don't monitor your room.

206
 J
A

On kickoffs, the force meter at

the bottom of the screen deter-
mines how hard the ball is booted.

The trickiest aspect of Play Action

Football,which can be played by up to
four players, is, not surprisingly, the
passing game. Because your view of
the action is from a 45° angle, and
because the ball must be thrown so
precisely, your greatest challenge may
be figuring out how to complete a
pass. To increase your chances of
completing a pass, hit the B button on
your controller a second time after the
ball is thrown. This switches control
Since your linemen can completely immobilize defensive players, use
to your intended receiver. Then a third
your blocks on running plays. Linemen never get called for holding.
tap of the B button directs your receiver
either to dive or jump for the ball.
The somewhat simplistic game to have a problem figuring out who
play weighs heavily in favor of the your teammates are.
offense. On the other side of the ball, Play Action Football does an ad-
you'll find it shake blocks,
difficult to equate job portraying the game of
catch up with speedy running backs football —
which is a claim few titles
and wide-outs, pick off passes, and can legitimately make. That in itself
tackle the ball-carrier. This quirk makes it a game pigskin fans should
makes long gains unusually common. consider. But in the long run. Play
You might find the 45°-angle good enough
Action Football just isn't
viewpoint a bit disconcerting. When to knock Tecmo Bowl out of first place.
you press up on your controller, you're
really aiming northeast; press down GR
and you're aiming southwest. And
there are no "away" jerseys used in Nintendo of America
the game. If red-clad Washington is P.O. Box 957; Redmond, WA
playing the burgundy and gold of San 98073-0957
Francisco, for example, you're going

207
J % %
 IMinja Crusaders
J
J
J Stephen Poole

f he assault
cessful as
— who
as
it
on Earth was as suc-
was fierce. The invaders
called themselves the Inimicus
— easily destroyed Earth's defenses
in the first wave of the attack. All cities
were leveled and humanity crushed
except for a tiny and elusive group of
ninja who refused to consent to the
Inimicus' demands for unconditional
surrender. Avoid the dangers in the city by grabbing the first bo icon you see
The Ka wari ninja clan, hiding deep and transforming into a hawk.
within a mountain, came up with a
bold plan to strike a fatal blow at the
intruders. Two of their most daring
and stealthy warriors would be sent to
penetrate the enemy's defenses, with
the ultimate goal of destroying the
Inimicus' headquarters.
You begin Ninja Crusaders in the
shattered ruins of a city, and from
there you must make your way
through a variety of locales in order to
reach the Inimicus' inner lair. Each
area is heavily guarded, and it seems
as though it would be impossible for
only two men to fight their way
through the alien hordes.
But the Kawari are masters of
stealth and combat, and you have
perfected your skills with four weap-
ons: shuriken, chain and sickle, bo, For underwater travel and combat, the scorpion can't be beat. He
and katana sword. Though at the start moves incredibly fast, and if you stay on the bottom whenever
of the game you're equipped only with possible, enemy shots pass harmlessly above you.
shuriken, as you progress you can

208
change weapons by grabbing special
icons scattered throughout each level.
Choosing the right weapon is
crucial to your success. It takes several
hits with the chain and sickle or the
shuriken to kill many of the robots the
Inimicus have stationed on Earth, but
you can stand at a safe distance as you
attack.The bo and katana are deadly,
but you have to move in very close to
use them —
and just one touch from
an Inimicus is fatal.

There's another reason why you

should be careful when selecting your
weapon. As a Kawari, you have the

The dragon is the mightiest creature of all — but be careful. You

quickly return to your normal state, so do as much damage and gain
as much ground as you can while you're transformed.

ability tochange into one of four ani- over again at a trouble spot, but your
mals — tiger, scorpion, hawk, or number of lives won't go down as
dragon — depending on the weapon long as you remember to grab the
Timing is the key to victory you're carrying. So when picking a right icon along the way.
against the bosses. Strike the weapon, think about the terrain as a fairly difficult
Ninja Crusaders is

Stage 1 boss while he's in the well as the number and kind of en- game, so be aware of its challenges.
middle of the screen, then re-
emies you'll face in each level. For example, if you go backward
treat to the far left. Don't ad- The tiger (shuriken) has incred- against the scroll, enemies you've al-
vance as soon as he backs away ible leaping abilities and is excellent in ready killed reappear. And if you lose
— he fires one last shot as he levels where you must jump over walls a life in the middle of a level, you have
retreats. or holes. The scorpion (chain and to start all over from the beginning of

sickle) moves slowly on land but is the stage. You may wind up making
perfect for underwater combat. The silly mistakes just because you're

hawk (bo) can't attack, but it can soar bored with the familiar terrain.
above danger in outdoor scenes, and Ninja Crusaders offers nothingnew
the dragon (katana) is the deadliest in graphics or game play. If you're
animal of all, since it not only can fly, more interested in strategy than looks,
but can also shoot fireballs. Unfortu- though. Ninja Crusaders may be just

nately, you can only remain a dragon what you're looking for.
for a short time before turning back
into a Kawari.
OR
Weapon selection is important for
The Inimicus have even enlisted
to stop you.
one more reason —
maybe the most
Earth's aquatic life
important of all. When you pick up a American Sammy
Then again, what did you ex-
weapon icon for the weapon you're 2421 205th Street; Suite D-
pect in a place called the Lake
already carrying, you earn a free life. 104; Torrance, CA 90501
of Chaos?
In some stages, you can die over and

209
 Orb 3-D
J Richard Lashlev
J
J

massive black hole is

forming at theedge of our galaxy —

and it's not an ordinary stellar phe-
nomenon. Krohn, a space wizard, has
used his evil magic to twist nature into
his own ominous weapon. Entire so-
lar systems are being swallowed by
the black hole, and panic has spread
On the way to Vern's Orb-A-Rama, the Cheshire Cat might cross your
throughout the galaxy like wildfire. path. He may not be a black cat, but he can still bring you plenty of bad
As an Explorer First Class, your luck. To defeat him, you must punch out both his eyes — and each dive
assignment in Orb 3-D is to stop
has to count if your fuel level is low.
Krohn's diabolic plans of galactic
domination. But Krohn isn't going to fighter through 30 puzzle-like stages To use the 3-D feature to its best
make it easy for you. You must ma- inside the swirling black hole. Only advantage, darken the game room
neuver your Millennium Orb hi-tech then will you face Krohn himself. while wearing the glasses included
The Orb's controls are easy to with the game. But you might not find
A button on
master. Simply press the
your controller to dive at targets.
However, moving vertically on the
screen is a bit more challenging. You
must press up or down on the direc-
tional pad of your controller to posi-
tion the two force-field pads that
bounce your ship across the screen.
Targets are cleared from each screen
by hitting them with your Orb ship.
The real challenge isn't bouncing
You need plenty of energy to across the black hole — it's solving the
complete stage four since each puzzle of each stage, since the targets
Ifyou don't have any credit when
in the different levels react differently
worm has to be hit twice. The first you arrive at Vern's, punch the
hit transforms the worm into a
to your attacks. Sometimes objects
dollar icon to open the fuel portals.
cocoon, and the second changes disappear when from
they're struck
But if your credit is overextended,
the cocoon into a butterfly.
the top, while others are vulnerable
you'll leave empty-handed.
from underneath.

210
 SCOREOOOOOOBONUS IO i -- LEVEL-

that the 3-D effect makes it worth-

while. Only when the Orb circles back
into the screen can a hint of the three-
dimensional effect be felt. Happily,
you can play without the glasses with
$ 2 ©* ’«• '<>

no loss of game play.

Stage four is one of the most enter-
©>*'
taining screens —with or without 3-D '

t
glasses. Throughout this stage you're
challenged by space worms. And these
aren't just any space worms that
splatter across your windshield when
you hit them. These worms transform
into cocoons when hit once, then into
butterflies that flutter away when you
hit them again. It's a pleasant twist to
an arcade game when you're called You'd better sharpen your pool-shark shots for stage nine. Knock out
upon to create instead of destroy. each ball as it begins spinning, and after all the balls have been
Unfortunately, all the screens in dropped, sink the eightball to win.
Orb 3-D aren't as entertaining as stage
four. Sometimes you'll think you're
bouncing through endless screens of
SCOREOO OZOBOHUSOOOO :0LEVELO8
1
whirling balls and flashing dice with
your eyes growing weary and your
Orb's fuel running low. Most of the
© o o strategy in Orb 3-D, as a matter of fact,
o opo is determining when to fuel up.
Anytime your fuel gauge goes
o o below half a tank, press the B button
on your controller to visit Vem's Orb-
A-Rama. If your tanks aren't com-
pletely dry it doesn't take much credit
to fill up, but the more times you need

Stage eight tests your aim — it has

fuel in one level, the more you risk a
battle with the Cheshire cat (!).
to be exact here. The object of this
Although Orb 3-D is entertaining
stage is to punch out an entire row
for the first few levels, you might find
of dots. When you hit a dot, it turns
that the novelty wears off after several
red. If you land on the same dot
repetitive screens of twirling objects.
twice, you'll lose the dot and have
to hit it again. Bad aim can make
this a frustrating stage.
GR

211
 The Punisher
j
j
j

TL
and
*
he Punisher doesn't hang around
As soon as he's
talk to reporters.
exterminated all the criminals in an

area, he moves on. You see. The Pun-

isher doesn't waste time —
and he
doesn't take any sass. He knows that
the shortest distance between the two
sides of the law is a straight line of
gunfire.
Frank Castle is The Punisher, the
self-appointed Rambo of the streets.
His never-ending mission takes him
all over the world, wherever the dark

stain of evil needs scrubbing. He and changed him forever. He became

possesses no super powers and an- The Punisher and swore to repay
swers to no authority other than his criminals with a devastation all his
own conscience. He takes an eye for own.
an eye and gives back bullet for bullet. Now, in what can only be called
This lone vigilante got his combat fair play, Frank Castle steals from the
training the hard way, in the jungles of thieves, using their dirty money to
Vietnam. That's where he learned to finance his one-man war machine. It
shoot —
and make every shot count. takes a lot of cash to buy his supply of
He's no stranger to the horrors of ur- assault rifles, hand grenades, and
ban warfare, either, having cut his rocket launchers. Face it —
he's a bad
teeth as a detective. dude — and he doesn't scrimp on the In The Punisher, you've got to
But Castle's thirst for vengeance basics.
go after the low-level crime
wasn't bom until a single tragic mo- The Punisher harkens back to the
bosses before you can target
ment. The Castle family was enjoying ancient arcade days when shooting- the kingpin. Choose your
a picnic in the park when a mob hit gallery marksmen hunkered over starting point from here.
went down. Bystanders were blasted mounted rifles and machine guns. The
by stray machine-gun fire and — game scrolls from left to right over a
Castle's wife and children were among variety of locales, all set in some of isher, aim his weapons, and eliminate
the innocent victims. The senseless New York City's most wn-scenic ar- all those who stand against you. If you
killings threw a switch in Castle's head eas. Your object is to position The Pun- progress in your mission, you get

212
 -+

his five lieutenants. Before you can

extract your pound of justice from the
kingpin, you've got to lay these lesser
thugs to waste.
It would be highly foolish to expect

any of these goons to roll over and die.

Each of the kingpin's underlings spe-
cializes in a different set of battle skills
and operates from within some type
of protective armor or vehicle. Your
work is definitely cut out for you.
One final warning: Don't wait for
In bonus stages, you can really
any help from the local police —
they
clean up on needed items.
don't like The Punisher. He's a threat
There's a clip of extra shells to their careful, deliberate, and pain-
waiting for you at the top of the fully slow methods. In fact, he boldly
screen. defies their entire system of investi-
gating, trying, and locking up crimi-
closer to the henchman responsible nals. The Punisher cuts out the
for the death of your family. middlemen and doles out justice on
This kingpin controls all the crime the spot. Some people cheer him, while
in New York. That's a big job, but he's others curse him. But it's up to you to
Worse help him.
a pretty big guy.
sulated from do-gooders like
yet, he's in-
you by GP

213 • ® %
 RollerCames
J Brian Carroll
J
J

B f you approach RollerGames

anxiously flexing your mental muscles
in preparation for an intense intellec-
tualworkout, you're in for a disap-
pointment. But if what you're looking
for is challenge, intensity, and plenty
of action, this game is worth a try. Like
the makers of good cops-and-robbers
movies, the people at Ultra know that
the chase is as much fun as the final
conquest.
The chase in RollerGames takes
down-
place in six different locales: mental leap as daring as any jump Two different types of scrolling in
town "Anytown," two freeways, an required to beat the game. RollerGames serves to spice up the oth-
automobile processing plant, a jungle But criticizing a Nintendo game erwise straight-ahead action. When
river region, and enemy headquar- for having a weak plot is like attacking the game scrolls automatically, your
ters. Each stage is comprised of varying a politician for going back on a cam- main objective should switch from
numbers of areas and, while two of paign promise. After all, it's the action obliterating enemy skaters to maneu-
the stages scroll automatically (forc- that is most important in an arcade vering over and around the obstacles
ing you to skate to the right), the re- game. And RollerGames has plenty of that fly across the screen.
maining four stages scroll normally, action for skaters and fighters alike. Luckily, you can wage battle with
allowing you to move in eight differ-
ent directions.
The task at hand in RollerGames is
a familiar one. By using your expert
roller-skating skills, you must get past
the agents of a underworld organiza-
tion called V.I.P.E.R. (Vicious Interna-
tional Punks and Eternal Renegades)
and rescue the commissioner of your
troubled roller derby federation.
This flimsy storyline raises the
Before you get a crack at the stage The time to attack Lucy Ferball is
ante for the mission by asking you to
most popular sport in
believe that the
boss, you must punch out the band when she tires — which, consider-
of V.I.P.E.R. hoodlums waiting for ing the energy she expends racing
the 21st century will be roller derby.
Buy you at the end of each stage. back and forth, is fairly often.
that, and you've accomplished a

214
 J

any of three skaters, each with his or

her own area of expertise. (For in-
stance, Rolling Thunder, a skater on
the "Hot Flash" team, boasts a spin-
ning jump-kick.) It's up to you to de- Steer clear of these oil spills in stage three's junkyard.
cide who skates when, depending on
the type of skills you need in the dif- stage five. Believe us when we say that
ferent areas. these are substances you don 'f want to
The picture painted by Rol- get your ball bearings stuck in.
lerGames' 21st-century scenery is Roller derby is a colorful, physi-
rather bleak. Among the obstacles you cal contest played out between gladi-
must avoid are "Valdez Jr.," an oil ators on skates. RollerGames takes this
Exxon, and
spill sure to irk the folks at pseudo-sport and unleashes it on the

"Radon Sludge Juice," which gushes streets of a future world whose destiny
dangerously out of the sewer pipes in rests in your hands.
OP
Nail the jet skiers when they at-

tempt to skip across the dock.

Ultra
900 Deerfield Parkway; Buffalo
Grove, IL 60089-4510

Among the many V.I.P.E.R.

agents sent to you is this "Combat The "Muck Truck" is your great-
Copter," which showers you with est challenge on stage four's Re-
explosives. gional Freeway.

215
© % •
 Streetfighter 2010 —

'

!v

/ P t's not often that you meet some-

one who's a kung fu expert, world
champion street fighter, and ground-
breaking scientist all rolled into one.
But Ken, the hero of Capcom's
Streetfighter201 0 — The Final Fight, fits
that description to a "T."
After defeating all the world's
greatest street fighters, Ken turned his
attention to academics. Working in
the field of "Cybotics" (Cybernetic
These limbs act as a diving board, and you can use them to evade the
Robotics, perhaps?), Ken and his best
hunter drones. Your main goal here is to simply stay alive long
friend Troy perfected a substance
enough for your transportation to arrive.
called "Cyboplasm" that could make
a person several times stronger than
normal. This discovery would be ex-
citing at any time, but it came at a very
crucial point in time. Mankind was
beginning to travel to new worlds,
where such an increase in strength
could mean the difference between
life and death.
Although Ken had no desire to
travel to new worlds, he was happy
that his formula could be used to ex-
plore the frontiers of space — until the
formula for Cyboplasm was stolen and When you come to this wall on
Troy murdered. All the evidence in- the first planet, concentrate on A hanging eyeball releases corro-
dicated that Troy's murderer had fled sive droplets that form stalagmites
destroying the pods and climbing
into outer space, and Ken knew what on top of the beam above you. on the floor of this cave. Avoid
awful consequences Cyboplasm the droplets, then climb the sta-
The horizontally scrolling screen
would have if it fell into the hands of will crush you against the wall if
lagmites to put the eyeball in your
someone evil. His only choice is to lethal range.
you stay where you are.
travel to the new worlds, use the

216
 J
The Final Fight
%

You must hitch a ride on this

jellyfish to reach the shaft above.
Don't worry — he won't attack
until you've leapt to the walls of
the shaft.

a hit. But after just a few power-ups

Ken's lethal range increases quite a bit

you run into double trouble when

— in fact, it begins to look as though
On the fourth planet you visit,
Ken is firing a weapon when he un-
these lizard men and jellyfish attack. Drop down until you reach the
leashes his blows.
water, then zap them as they emerge.
The game has unlimited contin-
ues, and for good reason. Capcom
places apremium on fast reflexes and recommends Streetfighter 2010 for
good Your primary weapons
timing. advanced players, but even that group
are your feet and hands, and you must will probably have its hands full. In
battle your way through a seemingly fact, you might be surprised at how

endless supply of enemies. tough it is just to get past the first

But a couple of things set Street- enemy!
from the usual punch-
fighter apart The storyline is odd how many —
and-kick game. The game uses regu- kung fu masters are scientists? but —
lated horizontally and vertically that's nothingnew in videogames. The
scrolling screens (if you don't keep up graphics, while not incredible, do give
with the scroll, it's curtains for Ken), in a good sense of the outer worlds. And
Although this floating serpent can
addition to several areas where Ken the high degree of responsiveness
be deadly, he's also rather fragile
— his body breaks wherever you
can look for enemies, by moving verti-
cally and horizontally at his own speed.
makes controlling your character a
real joy. If you like arcade-style games
unleash a blow. Watch out, how-
And because your quarry has fled to with plenty of action and challenge,
ever, because his head can live
outer space, your main rivals are re- you won't be disappointed with
(and attack) all by itself.
pulsive (and persistent) alien life forms Streetfighter 2010.

Cyboplasm serum himself, and find

instead of the
found in
henchmen and villains
most kung fu games.
GR
the person responsible for the evil When Ken begins each life, his

deeds. punches and kicks have a very short

From its title, you'd probably ex- range. You won't get very far unless Capcom
pect Streetfighter 2010 to be another you search for power-ups to increase 3303 Scott Boulevard; Santa
Clara, CA 95054
furious martial arts exercise, and for this range because getting close to any
the most part you'd be right. The game enemy almost certainly means taking

217 • • #
 Totally Rad
j
j
j Jeff Lundrigan

alifornia: sunny days,

sandy beaches, great surfing, perfect
skateboarding — and mutant mon-
sters from the deep. In Totally Rad, the
Golden State is under attack from
Edogy, a totally evil and really gross-
looking dude from somewhere be-
neath Earth's crust. Edogy has kid-
napped the smartest man in the state
and his daughter, Alison, to help him You can kill the big bees if you wait until they're on the far side of the
plan an invasion of California. screen, then jump up and shoot them. They're really unpredictable
But Jake, Alison's boyfriend, isn't though, so watch out.
the type to stand by while his home
and his girl are in jeopardy. Luckily,
into a lion, eagle, or fish — and unleash
Jake once met an old man, Zebediah, his destructive powers of fire, water,
who happened to be a top-notch ma- wind, and stone. Maybe Edogy should
gician. And when the two became
have tried to invade Florida!
pals,Zebediah taught Jake all his After some last-minute lessons
magic tricks. Now Jake can change from Zebediah, you, as Jake, take off
after the mutants, hot on their trail
and ready to pound anything that tries
to stop you. Since you have a limited
magical power, take time for some
strategic planning to decide when to You must shoot Biclopter's legs
use your wizardry. There are five lev- out from under him before you
els in the game, each with two or three can reach his eyes. Jump over his
stages. While you start each new level shots — and don't forget to use
with maximum life and magic, you life-up spells when your energy
don't always regain the points as you gets low:
enter internal stages — so you'd better
make each point count. especially the elemental spells, which
But if you take care of your magic, damage or destroy every enemy on-
your magic will take care of you. screen (and are a lot of fun to watch,
You've got some powerful spells — too). Though it might be amusing to

218
 J

Since these saucers run you down

if you get too close, jump out a
when you're dropping from
little

platform to platform, then jump

again when you hit the ground to
let the saucers slide right by.

conjure up a stone spell to cause an

avalanche, you need to show some
Nautikill has a bad habit of charging at you. Keep jumping and
restraint — you won't get very far by
shooting, and cast a damage shield spell when he charges. Then
calling up elemental spells every few
you're able to get right in his fishy face and let him have it.
minutes. Jake has a super shot, which
is just as powerful as an elemental

spell and a lot more practical when one afternoon. Experiment to discover
fighting one or two mutants. the most efficient method of complet-
Something else to keep in mind is ing a stage, and try to save as many
that if you transform into an eagle, magic points as possible for your en-
fish, or lion, you can't use any other counters with the bosses. This isn't
spells, even the vital life-up spell, strictly a skateboarding action game

which gives you an energy boost. If — you're going to spend as much time
you're low on energy, you must change developing tactics as you are blasting
back into Jake, cast a life-up spell, then creatures.
transform again — pretty tricky when
— egy
But it's the mix of action and strat-
that makes Totally Rad a most tri-
you're fighting killer pizza vendors or This guard robot is easy to beat
flying pigs. as long as you leave his eye alone. umphant game. It's got nasty-looking
Sometimes when you're merely Jump his shots until he fires his bad guys and tons of scheming — a
low on energy, wiser to cast a life
it's eye, then run back and forth to cool challenge with a low frustration
half-up spell than waiting until you're dodge it while blasting his body
factor.
p
almost dead to throw a life-up spell. with super shots.
Not only is it a lot cheaper per point of
energy you gain, but you're also less want to risk losing any progress you've Jaleco
likely to die if you take an unexpected made. 310 Era Drive; Northbrook, IL
deadly blow during a fight. Since you The long and short of it is that 60062
have limited continues, you just don't you're not going to beat Totally Rad in

219
• # •
 Touchdown Fever
J Brian Carroll
J
J

o
quality football simulations on the
market might be because they're so
difficult to design. It doesn't seem to
matter what machines they're made
for — arcade, 8-bit, or 16-bit — most
are two-bit games at best.
Certainly sophistication and real-
Before passing, make sure there are no defenders in the vicinity of your
ism can be achieved. Joe Montana
receiver. It's better to get sacked for a loss than to turn over the ball.
Football, John Madden Football, and
Tecmo Boivl are all great examples of
how to play football. You don't even often — and with some rapidity —
this. And looking at these games makes need to read the instruction manual. without ever passing the football. As a
it tough to figure out exactly what the
Just plug and play.
it in matter of fact, rushing the ball is a
folks atSNK were thinking when they The game is so underwhelming that recommended strategy because it's so
developed Touchdown Fever. The
you'll probably end up taking risks easy to throw an interception. But you
company that produced award-win-
just to spice up the action. For example, can throw passes, if only to avoid
ning titles such as Crystalis and Base-
it's possible to march down the field falling asleep over your controller.
ball Stars has created a gridiron game
that should never have made it out of
the locker room.
With only four basic plays on of-
fense and no play selection on defense,
Touchdown Fever demonstrates by its
serious omissions just how sophisti-
cated football really is. In fact, this
game uses the term "football" rather
loosely. It may look like football, but
then Astroturf looks like real grass,
too.
The only people who might find You have two receivers on pass Your blockers form a wedge for
Touchdown Fever fun are either those plays. The A or B button identifies you on kickoff returns, so make
entirelynew to football or entirely the player you want to catch the sure you don't outrun them. You
new to Nintendo. To play it — much pass. need their protection.
less to win — you don't have know to

220
 A—
JOAQO
DETROIT -
MIAMI -
MEW YORK “
On running plays like this one, use -
your blockers to get around the •PHILADELPHIA
corner, then dart down the field. PITTSBURGH
WEST
There simply isn't much enjoyment DALLAS
in running the ball a dozen times to XDEMV/ER
score. Unless you've got Herschel
Walker, Barry Sanders, or "Rocket" LOS AMGELES - i
Raghib Ismail on your team, it's a lot PHOENIX
like watching your fingernails grow.
And unfortunately. Touchdown Fever
SAM FRAMOISOO-
doesn't have any players like these. In SEATTLE i
fact, it doesn't have any players at all.
The characters in the game are
presented graphically as X's and O's
Compete in either single exhibition games or the championship
or A's and B's, each moving according
tournament.
to programmed patterns. Though the
game's teams represent NFL cities,
the teams aren't meant to represent game that doesn't require practice or
their real-world counterparts, either wading through instruction manuals
in appearance or action. and play books, there could be no
Touchdown Fever is almost a simpler game. You make the call.
throwback to Nintendo's neanderthal
days of flickering graphics, no-non-
sense action, and difficult-to-distin- OR
guish characters. If a videogame's
success depends on technical and
creative breakthroughs, this game is
likely to gather dust.
If you're a big football fan or an After touchdowns, you can either
avid Nintendo gamer. Touchdown Fe- kick the ball through the goal posts
SNK
ver will probablybe a big disappoint- for an extra point or try for the two- 246 Sobrante Way; Sunnyvale,
ment. However, if you're a rookie point conversion. CA 94086
looking for an introductory sports

221
% % %
 War on Wheels
:
•
1 : ;
- -

...

.
i
" ...
;,“ 1
..
?!,*

William R. Trotter

12 espite
. rules that almost
one understands, roller derby contin-
no

ues to attract huge audiences. The

matches are like big, fast, circular
wrestling matches —
spectacles of
speed, violence, and exaggerated ag-
gression, where the fans sometimes
get as involved as the players.
Jaleco's War on Wheels
is an am-

bitious and detailed simulation of

roller derby's action. You choose a
team, pick your lineup, then start
slamming and jamming through a 35-
game season against seven other
highly antagonistic teams. The cham-
pionship goes to the team that survives
the bruising best-of-five semifinals and
the climactic playoff series. A pass-
word feature lets you interrupt sea-
sonal play and resume it at your con-
venience.
You have a lot of control over
your skaters on the track (and over the
fans who get involved in fights —
which happens fairly often). Skaters
can grab an opponent, spin him or her
around —
yes, it's a co-ed sport —
then fling the opponent off in the
wrong direction. Fans and players
alike can punch, elbow, block, and
kick. They can also perform such rude
maneuvers as the torso slam, the leg Choose a team, pick your
grab, and the eye gouge! lineup, and play a complete 35-
Some of these maneuvers require game season.
rather complicated actions with the

222
 J

control pad, so many players might For the most part. War on Wheels
woTTSft nmifi uit choo?
Vfi STQOPID OR SUMTH1M’? have to devote some practice time to features good graphics, although
mastering the various moves. There when more than two animated fig-
are, in fact, two complete sets of con- ures are on-screen, there's that flicker
trols — one for skaters on the track, so prevalent in NES action games.
and another for brawling fans or Sound effects are varied and most ap-
skaters. It's important to win these propriate for the bone-crushing action.
fights. Fan-vs.-fan battles break out Game players who aren't roller-
spontaneously, and if you can win, derby fans will probably not want to
the opposing team's fans stop throw- bother learning all the controls. But
ing their garbage on the track for at fans of the skate-or-die sport should
least one round. enthusiastically welcome War on
The fans' behavior is accurately
Garbage is only one type of ob- Wheels. The simulation captures the
depicted. Fortunately, you can
stacle your skaters must handle. They energy and mayhem of its real-life
control your team's fans as well
must also learn to jump over humps, counterpart.
as the skaters.
ruts, and grates.

GR

Learning to fight is as important

as learning to skate. Practice
with the complex controls be-
fore the going gets too tough.

Jaleco
310 Era Drive; Northbrook,
IL60062

J J
223
 of AI/#itencfo'l./censees

Acclaim Entertainment Electronic Arts Koei Seta

71 Audrey Avenue 1 820 Gateway Drive One Bay Plaza 105 East Reno Avenue
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 San Mateo, CA 94404 Suite 540 Suite 22
1350 Bayshore Highway Las Vegas, NV89119
Accolade Enix America Burlingame, CA 94010
550 South Winchester Blvd. 4030 148th Avenue NE SNK
Suite 200 NG-1 Konami 246 Sobrante Way
San Jose, CA 95128 Redmond, WA 98052 900 Deerfield Parkway Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Buffalo Grove, IL
American Sammy FCI 60089-4570 SOFEL
2421 205th Street 150 East 52nd Street 1333 Ocean Avenue
Suite D- 104 34th Floor UN Suite B
Torrance, CA 90501 New York, NY 10022 (a division of Acclaim) Santa Monica, CA 90401
1 Spring Street

American Technos GameTek Oyster Bay. NY 11771 Sony Imagesoft

4805 SW Griffith Drive 2999 NE 191st St. 9200 Sunset Boulevard
Beaverton, OR 97005 Suite 800 Matchbox Toys Suite 820
N. Miami Beach, FL 33180 6100 Green Valley Drive Los Angeles, CA 90069
Arcadia Suite 220
(a division of Virgin Games) HAL America Bloomington, MN 55438 Square Soft
18001 Cowan Street 7873 S.W. Cirrus Drive 8347 154th Avenue NE
Suite A&B 25-F Mattel Redmond, WA 98052
Irvine, CA 92714 Beaverton, OR 97005 333 Continental Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245 Sunsoft
I ASCII Hi Tech Expressions 11165 Knott Avenue
I] 11105 Dana Circle 584 Broadway Meldac Cypress, CA 90630
y
Cypress, CA 90630 Suite509 1801 Century Park East
New York, NY 10012 Suite 2210 Taito
I Asmlk Los Angeles, CA 90067 390 Holbrook Drive
I 50 North La Cienego Blvd. Hot-B Wheeling, IL 60090
0 Suite 214 1 255 Post Street MicroProse
R Beverly Hills, CA 9021 Suite 105 180 Lakefront Drive Tecmo
San Francisco, CA 94109 Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Victoria Business Park
|
1 Asuka Technologies 1 8005 South Adria Maru
1 1 7 145VanKarman Avenue Hudson Soft Milton Bradley Lane
Suite 110
|
400 Oyster Point Blvd. 443 Shaker Road Carson, CA 90746
Irvine, CA 92714 Suite 515 East Longmeadow, MA
South San Francisco, CA 01028 THQ
5000 North Parkway
Calabasas
Suite 305
Calabasas, CA 91302
 rn
l
L

-
vj
J
an you hack it? As the
imprisoned young
adventurer who has just
1

a
f *
i •

i
<

§ jyu
managed to escape your
cell in the palace
dungeons, you have only
60 minutes to make your
way to the top of the
palace and rescue the
beautiful princess from a
forced marriage with
Jaffar the evil tyrant who 4 ;

has stolen her father's /H

throne.
PRINCE OF PERSIA^will
plunge you into an exotic
™ B
world of challenging
puzzles and non-stop action, V
featuring the most fluid and
’U-/ikc
realistic animation you've
ever seen on your
Game Boy®!
You may be swift and
cunning enough to
slash your way past
palace guards and ^
dodge trap doors...
but how will you
withstand the
wicked sorcery
of Jaffar?

“An unmitigated delight.

NIBBLE

“A tremendous achievement.
COMPUTER GAMING WORLD «««/>//;„
"'"'"“"on
‘ sP<>nsi
\ v control
,

“Prince of Persia" is the

Star Wars of its fteld.”

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD

> THE OFFICIAL SEALS ARE

(Nintendo")

Virgin Games, Inc. 18061 Fitch Ave. .Irvine, CA 92714 TEL: 1(800) VRG-INoT^'''^^^
^^
1

For pricing and orders call 1(800) VRG-1N07. Visa, Mastercard, Am. Express, and checks accepted.
Fun with whole
Flintstone family

Plenty ol
prehistoric pals
and tunny foes

Surprising new
friends in the
future

Turn your watch back a few million your friends in Bedrock too! They can
years and join the whole Flintstone family in provide helpful hints and key clues.
prehistoric pandemonium. A visitor from the Well, you’d better get moving. You still
future has taken Dino and Hoppy, Fred and have to figure out how you’re gonna use
Barney’s pets, for his prehistoric zoo. You Fred's one-on-one basketball skills, build

have to help Fred get them back and restore that darn time machine, rescue your beloved
'

happiness to Bedrock. pets, and mu

You must journey through Bedrock
collecting pieces to build a time machine.
much more!
Wow! You’re
(Nintendo)
Watch out though, primitive foes will cause gonna be EHTERTRinmEnT
many woes! Bikeman, Frankenstone, King awfully busy.
SVSTEm
Snake, and Saber Tiger are just a few of the Don’t worry though; this comical adventure
unfriendly obstacles you and Fred will have and Fred’s encouraging “YABBA DABBA
to outsmart and outwit. Take advice from D00!”™ will leave you in stone-age stitches.

T ITO
the only game in town. Taito is a trademark of Taito America Corporation. The Flintstones Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. ©1991 H-B Prod.
Inc. Nintendo and Nintendo Entertainment System are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. ©1991 All Rights
 4.
*""v
ETRoAtoT S,9 i ;
6/*V!\c

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