Spring is normally considered a dead time for videogame releases, but not this year. Sure, a Christmas-like quantity of games isn't on its way, but some pretty cool stuff is. Here's a look at two of the hottest games in stores now, as well as a look toward what will be hot this fall.
StarFox (Nintendo for SNES, $54.95). Another Nintendo masterpiece! A breakthrough in Super NES game-play, graphics, and action, StarFox is a new flight game that features Nintendo's new SFX Chip, which allows in-depth 3-D scaling and rotation. The chip uses RISC technology (found in high-end workstations) and lets games do things never seen before. You play a fox who flies his plane through many different levels of action. Most of the levels are set either in space, or on an earth-like terrain - but the final battle is inside a futuristic space station. There are some cool moves included - banking, speed-ups, power shots - as well as some hidden bonus stages that are really something to look at. There are enemy planes, robotics structures, meteors, space fish, and more. Nintendo has pulled out all the stops to make this game incredible, and they've succeeded.
X-Men (Sega for Genesis, $54.95). Held over from last year (originally to be released at Christmas time), this stellar game lets you choose from four X-men - Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Wolverine - and do battle with some of their most deadly foes. Every character can run, jump, kick and punch, but each of them also possesses a special "mutant" power. Cyclops shoots beams from his eyes, Nightcrawler can teleport, Gambit throws energy blasts, and Wolverine has indestructible claws. The game is based on the Marvel Comic of the same name, and features some of the best game-play and graphics ever seen on the Sega Genesis. Each level offers different settings, from the jungle to a futuristic space station. Comic book fan or not, X-Men is a game to check out.
And coming out this fall from Sega is the Activator! If you want interactivity, this device literally puts you in the game! You lay a track of sensors around your feet in a circle, which sense your movements and correlate them to the on-screen characters. When you punch, the character punches, when you kick, the character kicks.
This device definitely puts a new spin on games like Streets of Rage 2, or even Sonic The Hedgehog. The Activator will be out by Christmas, and retail for around $80, and will include a fighting game, as well as a music simulation cart (your movements will actually play music).
1993 may be a monumental year for video games, and both Sega and Nintendo are ready to see it through. No matter what system you own, you can't lose!
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