Pokemon Stadium making its debut at number one.1. Pokemon Stadium, Nintendo Nintendo 64 2. WWF Smackdown, THQ Inc. Playstation 3. Pokemon Yellow: Pikachu Edition, Nintendo Game Boy 4. Syphon Filter 2, 989 Studios Playstation 5. Resident Evil: Code Veronica,Capcom Dreamcast 6. Dead or Alive 2, Tecmo Dreamcast7. Pokemon Blue, Nintendo Game Boy 8. Pokemon Red, Nintendo Game Boy9. Mario Party 2, Nintendo Nintendo 64 10. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Activision Nintendo 64 … [Read more...] about Console Bestsellers
Free PC Games
Quake 2
Quake, as you very probably know, is a phenomenon. It's a strong possibility that every PC gamer in the world has at least heard of this game, if not played it. But the game had very little impact in the console world, with an N64 conversion of the notoriously "brown" Quake being an altogether dull and ineffective port, since Quake was so popular for its deathmatching, rather than its single player depth. However, this conversion of the second in the Quake series has seen a tremendous leap of dedication towards bringing console owners something to shout about and wave in the face of their PC owning counterparts, other than their pointy joypads. Quake 2 on the Nintendo 64 is just as much of a classic here, as it was there, and in some ways, it's far better. What we haven't got is a straight conversion. No... that would be too easy, for I was surprised when loading the game up to find … [Read more...] about Quake 2
Planescape Torment
One of the surprise hits of 1998 was Baldur's Gate, an old school isometric RPG based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rule set. With over a million copies shipped worldwide, it's perhaps no surprise that the game has produced a whole horde of successors, including an expansion pack (Tales Of The Sword Coast) and a sequel (Shadows Of Amn). Planescape Torment is the latest of the spawn of Baldur's Gate, an all-new game which shares the AD&D rules and the Infinity graphics engine with Baldur's Gate, but precious little else... Whereas Baldur's Gate was set in a reassuringly familiar fantasy world of elves, healing potions, bandits and wands, Planescape Torment has an altogether darker, almost science fiction feel to it. Robots, fallen angels, floating skulls and magical tattoos are … [Read more...] about Planescape Torment
The Sims
A friend of mine picked up The Sims at about the same time as I did. Having played it for a good few weeks now, he agrees with me that the game is very addictive. I'm told that he has already achieved a vibrant 2.4 children-esque soap opera lifestyle. But anyway, I was passing his flat a few nights ago and dropped by, as you do. After the usual exchange of pleasantries, we found ourselves huddled around his PC and looking at various things that he had got hold of. After about 10 minutes he was called away to a phone call, leaving me to ponder over his hard-drive .. and his copy of The Sims. So I loaded it up and inspected his town. To my great amusement I discovered that he had set it out just as he lived, with me on one side of town and he on the other. However, I was alarmed to discover … [Read more...] about The Sims
Virtua Fighter 3 Gets Upgrade
At the recent Virtua Fighter 3 Java Tea Battle Koshien, AM2's Yu Suzuki revealed that an upgrade to Virtua Fighter 3 is indeed in the works. The name of the new version will be Virtua Fighter 3 Team Battle, and it will include a slew of new features and refinements to this already excellent Model 3 fighting game. The name Team Battle refers to the fact that now players will be able to duke it out three-on-three, and each character has been balanced for more even gameplay, and there are even a few new moves. Yu Suzuki said that the game should be ready to go on test in Japanese arcades shortly. … [Read more...] about Virtua Fighter 3 Gets Upgrade
Final Fantasy VII Early?
With the release of Final Fantasy VII approaching fast, many gamers are wondering exactly when the game will be available for purchase from their local stores. GS News contacted Sony Computer Entertainment America today to clear up the confusion. We were told that the official release date remains September 7, and has been so since the company announced a firm release date last spring. However, some retail software stores have the game listed as coming in early - as early as September 2. While this won't be the official date, a Sony spokeswoman today said that nothing is preventing stores from selling the game early. Many stores have even asserted that they expect to be completely sold out of the game by the official release date. Sony said that Final Fantasy VII will be their biggest product launch in the PlayStation's history, and already TV ads for the game have been spotted. So either way, Final Fantasy VII's official date is still the 7th, but you can expect local stores to … [Read more...] about Final Fantasy VII Early?
Mega Man’s New Dimension
Ten years ago, Mega Man got a modest start on the 8-bit Famicom (aka Nintendo Entertainment System). Since then, Mega Man has provided a cornucopia of robotic mayhem, with plenty of action added to each of his jumps to more sophisticated systems. The long evolution of the Mega Man series continues. Mega Man is finally leaving what some might call the constraints of two-dimensional gameplay. Capcom is currently hard at work on Mega Man Neo, easily the most ambitious of any game in the series to date. Combining elements from the action and RPG (yes, RPG) genres, Neo takes a surprising turn. At its heart, Neo is first and foremost an action title. Gameplay differs from previous Mega Man games in that there's a lot more exploring to do. The environments are big enough that some wandering around is needed for the player to become familiar with the surroundings. There's an even amount of jumping and shooting action, and the controls in this 3-D game are easy to get used to. Smooth … [Read more...] about Mega Man’s New Dimension
Yoshi Gets Bigger
After news came down that Zelda 64 would weigh in at a hefty 256 megabits, the company has confirmed that Yoshi's Story is also getting bigger. The game will now clock in at 128 megabits, as big as Rare's Banjo-Kazooie. The space will no doubt be utilized to hold more levels, graphics, enemies, abilities, and maybe even voice. So far, the game reportedly has 6 worlds, with 24 (!) levels per world for a grand total of 144 levels! Japanese gaming magazine the 64 Dream reports in an interview with Yoshio Hongo, a publicist for Nintendo Co. Ltd., says that Baby Mario will no longer be in the game. Yoshi's Story will hit Japanese shelves in November just before Shoshinkai. Also revealed in the interview with the 64 Dream is that Banjo-Kazooie may be retitled Banjo's Adventure, and that there is a Rumble Pak version of Mario Kart 64. The Rumble Pak version of the game may not be released though, even in Japan, since the game is a best seller both there and here. Hongo-san says that the … [Read more...] about Yoshi Gets Bigger
Final Fantasy VII Hits TV
Stay alert, TV viewers. Already spotted by some, three different TV spots for Final Fantasy VII are currently airing nationwide. The 30-second commercials highlight the game's cinematic sequences and high-energy 3-D graphics and gameplay. For those who haven't seen the ads yet, Sony has provided some hints as to when they'll be shown. Network placements will be aired during Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Simpsons, and Prime Time Sports. Syndicated placements will be shown during Hercules, Baywatch, World Championship Wrestling, and American Gladiators. MTV, ESPN, Comedy Central, USA Network, the Sci-Fi Channel, and E! will also be running the spots. Other marketing efforts include major print campaigns in magazines like Rolling Stone, Details, Spin, and gaming publications. There are four separate print advertisements that will be seen throughout September, October, and November. Sony is also teaming up with Pepsi for a major holiday promotion featuring the … [Read more...] about Final Fantasy VII Hits TV
Up All Night with Final Fantasy VII
Amidst dozens of other gamers, I traveled to the local Electronics Boutique yesterday to pick up my copy of Final Fantasy VII. Like thousands of other gamers, I had pre-purchased my copy of the game, and was more than ready to tear into it. Unlike some, I had not seen much of the Japanese version of the game, partly to keep the anticipation for the US release high. Out of the box the most surprising thing is the full-color manual. The 60-plus page booklet glazes over many of the game's complexities, but keeps it simple for RPG rookies. Unfortunately, the manual more or less goes to waste after you get into the game because it doesn't provide nearly as much information as it could to get you started. In awe of the graphic effects, I was soon engrossed in the game's storyline. Like many others, I too had played through the demo that came with the PlayStation Underground 2 disc, so the beginning of the game was merely a prelude to the big surprises ahead. Beautifully paced, the game … [Read more...] about Up All Night with Final Fantasy VII
Diablo II Coming
It should come as little surprise to gamers that Blizzard Entertainment has announced a sequel to Diablo. The action-RPG, developed by Blizzard's northern California counterpart, Blizzard North, has remained one of the top-selling games of 1997 and garnered several awards, including 1996 Game of the Year accolades from GameSpot and Computer Gaming World. Diablo II was announced today at the European Computer Trade Show, and is scheduled for a late 1998 release. Details on the sequel are still sketchy, but Blizzard has announced several new additions, including five new character classes, all new quests and items, an advanced combat system, and an expanded game world including four towns and surrounding wilderness area to explore. Each town will contain multiple dungeons, crypts and caverns. Blizzard has also announced new multiplayer options for playing on Battle.net, its free Internet gaming server. Improvements include increased multiplayer support, an online trading post and … [Read more...] about Diablo II Coming
Driving Crazy Taxi
Gamers interested in Sega's newest arcade workings, as well as those looking towards future Dreamcast ports, might want to check out the new web site devoted to Crazy Taxi, which runs on Sega's Naomi arcade hardware. Crazy Taxi is a driving/racing game, which requires you to pick up passengers and get them to their destination by any means possible. There are no preset ways to get to your destination, so any and every available alley, street, cafe, rooftop, lawn, and shopping mall is fair game. Crazy racing action aside, your goal is to make as much money as you can while getting your fares to their destinations. Numerous real-life franchises (FILA, KFC, Levi's, Pizza Hut, and Tower Records) make an appearance in Crazy Taxi, adding an authenticity to the game that already sports some amazing graphics. Since it runs on the Naomi board, a pixel-perfect home conversion can be expected, just like House of the Dead 2. The same artist responsible for the visuals for Sega's Top Skater game … [Read more...] about Driving Crazy Taxi
Mario Party 2 Preview
One of the titles attracting large crowds at Nintendo's last Space World show was definitely Mario Party 2. The original game was very well received in Japan, and gamers were anxious to get their hands on the sequel. While not much has really changed for this next party game, Nintendo has come up with 64 new mini games to play through. One of the new ones we saw had Mario and crew being chased down a hallway in a dimly lit castle by a large ghost. Using skateboards, the characters must keep speed high while evading obstacles on the floor. Another game had the gang dressed up in penguin suits for a race very similar in style to the ones found in Pen Pen on the Dreamcast. One other cool looking game was one where you played on a mini hockey table. Essentially Pong, you'd have to defend the hockey puck from entering the goal on your side by sliding up and down. With four players it was kind of cool, since you have two people defending each side. And one last mini game that caught our … [Read more...] about Mario Party 2 Preview
New PlayStation2 X-Fire Screens
While X-Fire was one of the less impressive games when we played it at this past fall's Tokyo Game Show, Electronic Arts Square has some major time and money invested in the game to make sure it sells. So it's likely that we'll be seeing some major improvements over the next few months. A PlayStation2 3D corridor shooter similar in style to GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64, X-Fire will make use of some nifty new PlayStation2 effects. In fact, for X-Fire, EA Square has partnered with Animation Science, a company with expertise in the TV/film 3D graphics field. So, no doubt X-Fire will be a title to keep an eye on over the next few months, as it could end up turning out to be a killer app for the PS2. In any case, today we got our hands on a few new screens of the game. These show off some of the characters being generated in real time, and they are definitely worth a look. X-Fire is currently slated for a release alongside the PlayStation2 when it launches on March 4, 2000, in Japan. The … [Read more...] about New PlayStation2 X-Fire Screens
HP Lovecraft Horror Coming
Headfirst Productions, the Birmingham, UK-based developer that recently built Simon the Sorcerer 3 has announced that is has signed an exclusive deal with Chaosium Inc. to develop games based on the Call of Cthulhu brand. And to drum up some early support for the game, the company has released several screenshots. As part of the exclusive deal, Headfirst will deliver an action-horror game called Dark Corners of the Earth, which will be based on the works of HP Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos. The first-person-perspective game will have a single and online component, where players can explore scenarios and solve puzzles (even in multiplayer mode). Currently, Dark Corners of the Earth for the PC and PlayStation2 is scheduled to release during Q3 2001. The company is actively seeking a publisher for the title. … [Read more...] about HP Lovecraft Horror Coming
Oni Programmer Departs
Bungie's upcoming anime-inspired action-adventure game, Oni, is still in development for a late-April 2000 release and it appears that the game's lead programmer, Brent Pease, has decided to leave Bungie. Apparently, most of the essential programming has already been completed, so the departure shouldn't impact the game's development. From all reports, his parting was amicable and a Bungie spokesperson says that Pease's departure will have little effect on the game's shipping date. In his place, senior programmer Michael Evans will manage the rest of the game's coding. … [Read more...] about Oni Programmer Departs
Hi-Res Dreamcast Ecco Screens
We got our hands on some great new screenshots of Ecco the Dolphin for the Dreamcast today, and we were immediately blown away. In fact, these are arguably some of the best-looking Dreamcast game screens that we've ever seen - they are on par with most anything we've seen on the PlayStation2. In any case, take a look at these screens to see for yourself. Ecco the Dolphin is slated for a release in April of 2000 in Europe, and then a summer 2000 release in the US and Japan. … [Read more...] about Hi-Res Dreamcast Ecco Screens
Interview With Atriarch Designer
Start-up games-developer World Fusion is currently working on a massively multiplayer role-playing game called Atriarch. While one might equate such a game to follow in the footsteps of an EverQuest or an Asheron's Call, Atriarch deviates sharply from the standard MMRPG formula by focusing around a sci-fi, and not a fantasy, setting. We recently had a chance to talk with the game's lead developer, Serafina, in detail about Atriarch. We touched on a variety of topics including the inspiration behind the game and its technical capabilities. What follows is an excerpt from our conversation: GameSpot News: How long has the company been working on the game? Serafina: We began putting the concept together about two years ago. GSN: How large is the development team? Serafina: When we started, my partner and I were working on Atriarch part-time. Since then, we have grown the Atriarch team to eleven people. GSN: How many gamers do you anticipate to populate the game? Serafina: Unlimited. … [Read more...] about Interview With Atriarch Designer
New Elite Force Screenshots
Raven Software's Kenn Hoekstra updated his plan file last night with word that the official Voyager - Elite Force web site has been updated with new information pertaining to the game's weapons, characters, and aliens. The update includes new screenshots and artwork of the game, as well as summaries for each of the game's main characters and alien classes. Elite Force is a first-person shooter that uses the Quake III Arena engine to supply the game with its lush visuals. The game is expected to ship later in 2000. … [Read more...] about New Elite Force Screenshots
This door is locked
As you reach out to open the door, the Calendar throbs and quivers, its surface rippling in an uncanny, fleshy manner. A low growl comes from somewhere within and as the tip of your finger reaches the door, you feel something very much like a vein, pulsing beneath your touch. Recoiling in horror, you stumble and would fall to the ground if there were nothing to support you. But there is. Somebody is in the Calendar’s chamber with you, though you entered alone. He folds you into his arms, his robe softer than fog. His beard bristles gently.“The time is not yet right.” His voice is like the cracking of thin ice on a lake and the breath that carries it smells of spun sugar and mulled wine. “You must obey the rules for the Calendar has been known to punish those who do not respect the passage of time. That is, after all, its purpose. To chronicle the end of things. The last person who pried open a portal before its time is still lost somewhere within the calendar, … [Read more...] about This door is locked