Month: December 2015

Ridge Racer

Peter Ward

Published by Namco Hometek Inc. Developed by Namco Limited Released Sep 09, 1995 Also For Arcade When I first heard that Sony were getting into the video games industry with their Playstation console I was very skeptical. I felt that Nintendo and Sega were so powerful that no third party could compete, especially with the failures of the 3do, Atari’s Jaguar and Phillips Cdi console.  However, when I saw Ridge Racer being played on a Playstation on an episode of Bad Influence in 1995 I quickly became a believer. I could not believe…

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Crash Bandicot

Peter Ward

Published by Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. Developed by Naughty Dog, Inc. Released Sep 03, 1996 Also For Android, PlayStation 3, PSP, PS Vita Crash Bandicoot was released for the original Playstation console in 1996 and was the first truly great platformer for the machine. Gorgeous graphics which mix up tradition 2d left to right and right to left platforming with 3d levels where you run into the screen or out of the screen (such as when you are chased by a massive dinosaur). Crash controls like an absolute dream, the levels are very original and…

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Wipeout

Peter Ward

Published by Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. Developed by Psygnosis Limited Released Nov 21, 1995 Also For Android, DOS, PlayStation 3, PSP, PS Vita,SEGA Saturn Released in the autumn of 1995, Wipeout was the game which made gaming officially cool! Before the released of Wipeout, the perception was that video games were played in the bedroom by children and were not mainstream. Wipeout changed all that, for the first time video game adverts were appearing in magazines such as ‘Loaded’ and were being played at nightclubs and swanky wine bars (not that I would know). …

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Virtua Fighter 2

Peter Ward

Published by SEGA of America, Inc. Developed by SEGA-AM2 Co., LTD. Released Dec, 1995 Also For Arcade, iPhone, Windows   During the 32 bit console wars it was widely accepted that  the Playstation was the king of 3d gaming. However, Virtua Fighter 2 on the Saturn proved that in the right hands the machine was capable of fantastic results in 3d. Ported over from the arcades by Sega’s AM2 team this conversion is stunning. Graphically it is almost identical to the arcade smash and in many ways this version is superior due to the awesome control…

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Super Mario World

Peter Ward

Published by Nintendo Co., Ltd. Developed by Nintendo Co., Ltd. Released Nov 21, 1990 Platforms Arcade, SNES, Wii, Wii U Eric Bowden Review Released alongside the Super Nintendo in Europe in the spring of 1992, this was actually the first Mario game that I ever played (I never owned a Nes). To say I was impressed would be a massive understatement! The gameplay is absolutely fantastic with precise controls and some very creative level designs. The graphics are much improved over the earlier Nes games with huge sprites, amazingly colourful backgrounds and fantastic animations.…

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Fighting Vipers

Peter Ward

Published by SEGA of America, Inc. Developed by AM R&D Dept. #2 Released Nov 30, 1996 Also For Arcade, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Released in late 1996, Fighting Vipers is one of the best Sega Saturn fighting games ever released. You would be forgiven for thinking this game is very similar to Virtua Fighter, but after playing for a while you will notice several differences. Firstly all the characters are wearing protective armour plates, and before you can beat your opponent you really need to knock off their armour. At the top of the screen next…

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Castle of illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

Peter Ward

Published by SEGA of America, Inc. Developed by SEGA Enterprises Ltd. Released 1990 Platform Genesis During the 16 bit days there were many many great 2d platform games, chief among them was this game Castle of illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Released in 1990 just in time for the christmas season this game took the gaming world by storm. Featuring everybody’s favourite mouse Castle Of illusion has everything, stunning graphics (almost like a cartoon) with fantastic sprites and animations, simple and fun gameplay, amazing sound effects and background music, superb controls and a perfect learning curve…

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1080 Snowboarding

Peter Ward

Published by Nintendo of America Inc. Developed by Nintendo EAD Released Apr 01, 1998 Also For Wii You’re taking a Tahoe 155 snowboard down a steep, bumpy incline at night and you’re about to top off an Indy Nosebone with a 360° Air, and you haven’t even left your living room! You’re playing 1080° (Ten Eighty) Snowboarding, a game so intense you’ll be brushing the snow off your goggles. With five different boarders, eight different Lamar® snowboards, more than 25 tricks, a Half-Pipe and six different courses, this is as close as you’ll get…

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Wave Race 64

Peter Ward

Published by Nintendo Co., Ltd. Developed by Nintendo EAD Released Sep 27, 1996 Platforms Nintendo 64, Wii Wave Race 64 is sure to provide some of the most exciting racing you’ve ever experienced. Feel the pounding and crashing of the waves as you accelerate into straight-aways, whip around the marker buoys and go airborne on the jump ramps. Don’t race alone! Challenge a friend. Nine challenging courses set in exotic locales – race conditions change as the wave action responds to the way that you and your opponent race. Take control in three…

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Shadow of The Beast

Peter Ward

Published by Psygnosis Limited Developed by Reflections Interactive Limited Released 1989 Also For Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, FM Towns, Genesis, Lynx,SEGA Master System, TurboGrafx CD, ZX Spectrum Long ago, the Beast Lord conquered the world and banished all light. A mysterious child was born into this darkness. The Beast Lord’s warrior priests knew of the birth and warned the evil king that this child would someday destroy the Beast Lord and return light to the world. In terror, the Beast Lord ordered the child captured and transformed him into a demon…

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