News items for this issue
Psygnosis is one of the main reasons for the success of that playstation gizmo. This groovy, but traitorous, company has considered is considering the development of N64 games. These guys are responsible for the games Wipeout 2097, Destruction Derby 2, G-Police, (is that homie-G?) Lemmings, Colony Wars, and formula 1 '97. In May at the Electronics Expo is when they reckon they'll announce their intentions. This though, is no surprise because they already have let games like Destruction Derby and Wipeout to go on the Sega Saturn. They are the largest games company in Europe and have been a strong asset for the sony playstation, for the past 3 years delivering quality games to the sony gaming console. (Playstation!) This could be a big boost for the N64.
No, that's not it's real name. But it's a new accessory for the N64 that is coming out - well I don't know when but it should be soon. It looks real weird. I'll try and get a pic in for you people very soon, but I'll describe it for now. It's like a steering wheel like on playstation and other consoles, but it's also a controller, so it's like a round controller on a stick which you turn. Pretty weird? But hey, it presents full analogue steering, anologue movement, and analogue acceleration. It should be great for games like Lylat Wars and Pilotwings 64. It has all the compatibilities of the normal controller, like Rumble Pak and Controller Pak, therefore making it a perfect all in one device for the N64 driving and flying games. I'll get you more information when it becomes available about other stuff, like how it handles, which is another story.
Sorry if you mistook my title, no it won't be released for a while. Reports show that the 64DD probably won't be releases in America in 1998. George Harrison, the vice president of sales in America, says the 64DD is certainly not for America this year. It will soon be released in Japan though, and he says that he'll have to see how well it does over there. Nintendo America have previously said thet the 64DD will make an appearance at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and then be released in late '98, but now there has been no mention or clarification of the subject. The 64DD is showing lack of cool games. It has been previously said that Zelda 64 will be made for the 64DD only, but now it has been confirmed it will be a cartridge game. But there are still major titles for it. Donkey Kong Country 64 and Mario Paint will be a few of these, but news about these is very thin right now. Still, it's beleived companies like RARE, Acclaim, Lucas Arts, Culture Brain and other major companies are working on major 64DD software, but the launch info of the 64DD has been the cause of much confusion in the U.S. at the moment. So what does all this mean to Australian gamers? Well, the launch of the 64DD could slip back into 1999, especially if major launch software details don't appear in the near future. When it becomes available in Japan, I will give you a full review of the 64DD, which should be in a few months (better than the preview I have at the moment).
Datel, the king of accessories and cheat devices for the N64, has come up with another brilliant idea. It's like the normal rumble pak but it's a strap-on device. It comes with an interface that plugs into the N64 and takes the role of the rumble pak. Normally, you don't need the interface for it to work, and it senses the sounds of loud bangs and booms and sound like that. That would mean you could use it for other consoles too, which would make it interesting. It is much larger than your regular rumble pak, so it would be much more fun and realistic. You could really feel being hit by bullets and using powerful guns in Goldeneye, and in San Fransisco Rush, slamming into cars would feel very realistic. All that is needed now is for some company to import the device to Australia, as there are no release plans yet. It's meant to be available for about 25 pounds in Europe, (about 25 bucks in Australia) so lets hope a company does bring it in!
N64 owners have been waiting for a long time for a Tombraider style game to hit the console, and now, that fantastic company Iguana, they will have their fully 3D platformer, and it will be knwn as SHADOWMAN. From screenshots I've seen, the game looks a lot like a cross between Resident Evil and Tombraider, and promises to be every bit as violent as Capcom's action game, Tombraider. Just like Turok, Shadowman is a comic book character that made it to the N64, and Iguana has said it's debut will be even larger than Turok's. It'd just the same view and everything as in Tombraider, but the background veiws are much more detailed and spectacular than in Tombraider. It has a dark, evil atmosphere which fits perfectly with the violence. It's supposed to be possible for the player to carry out more than one action at a time, says Iguana about the control method. It is set to be a big hit for the N64, and it is sure to be another game that will make different console owners get envious. Zelda In Progress
News from Japan says that Zelda is nearing completion. The game is said to be in the gametester's hands and he's just narrowing out any last graphic glitches and bugs. This stage, called the "beta" stage, can take up to two or three months, depending how happy the testers are with the product. It is still remaining in it's cartridge format, and is still scheduled for April-May release in Japan. If all goes well, the could mean that before the end of 1998, Australian games will be playing it too.
Gameboy Games on N64??
It's true! Soon there'll be a little pak that goes into your controller that you put Gameboy games in! It's not confirmed, but it's probably going to be full screen, full colour through this special little pak.
It's the first superhero game on the N64 and it's set to hit America in June! But for everyone else it'll be August this year (Australia). You'll be able to fly around huge cities, throw objects bigger than Roseanne's butt (WOAH), and fight all those weirdo villians. From what I've seen from screenshots, the graphics look pretty plain...but I can't talk, I haven't played it.
The makers of the new game "Mission Impossible" which should be a winner have bought the rights from Warner Brothers to make these three game on the N64. (That's right, three!) But it's only just in production so it won't be on the shelves 'till the end of this year. The characters haven't been said, but expect to see that black duck, that bug crossed with a bunny or whatever it is and that cowboy with guns that shoot bouncy balls and black smoke. (The bullets bounce and when he shoots someone they go black). Wait scratch that crud I just said.
I've narrowed this story down to what you need and/or want to hear. That Turok bloke will now get mauled by heaps more new horrific aliens, plus new improved dinos to tear his ar.. ah ah ah ahh. Anyway the story is that that Primegadon guy and his mighty alien army land on earth way way ago in time, and soon discovers the dinos. Surprise surprise, he enslaves them into killing machines that serve him. Hmm. There'll be more action, better graphics and bigger playing areas. (Could they get any larger?!) There'll be over or near 40 characters, all in different dress ranging from pesky leapers to towering muredering mutha dinosaurs. The enemies will be very intelligent and require much skill to slay. Multiplayer is not confirmed, but we can only hope at this stage. There WILL be rumble pak compatibility, so it will finally feel good to have a t-rex chomp your butt off. It is 50% bigger and is set to topple the old Turok. It'll be released by the end of '98...I'm saving up for this one.
Sources from Midway Home Entertainment and Atari confirm Rush 2's underway. It will use an enhanced version of the original game's graphic engine, and will be located in a city with as many jumps and tall buildings as San Fransisco. It'll be the sequel to San Fransisco Rush, and it'll be called Rush: The Rock, with new cars and tracks. Expect it to be out in late '98 or early '99.
Nintendo has officially announced Cruisi'n World is to be converted to the N64. It is the sequel to the N64's Cruisi'n USA, and it's under development by Eurocom, responsible for War Gods and Duke Nukem. They reckon it'll be a "Arcade perfect" conversion, but will have extended track sections. Apparantly, Eugine Jarvis, the original makers of Crusi'n World are the programmers so they should make a top conversion. It'll have 96 megabytes, 4 player, and has 14 tracks, and it will be out in Australia in August.
