My GamePro Recaps continue with Issue #45 for April of 1993. This issue is about 177 pages long and our cover story is StarFox. Though, the length of the issue will probably be padded a little by the second half of their strategy guide for Sonic 2. The editorial this issue is, basically, saying that the NES is managaging to hang on by it’s fingernails. Well… we already knew that, from the fact that NES games are still coming out. So, let’s just move along.

Letters: We get a letter about the SFX Chip, and what it does (it lets the system create crude 3D polygonal shapes), what the expansion port on the bottom of the SNES if for (nothing), whether we’ll get a NES converter for the SNES (Innovation’s working on one, but Nintendo cracks down on them like a ton of bricks).

LamePro: We have the debut of GamePro’s god-freaking aweful April Fool’s section. EGM comes up with with a made-up cheat in the magazine, complete with screen shots as evidence, and asks you, the reader to find it (thus requiring some thought). GamePro, on the other hand, does a lame, fake magazine, with pathetic made-up parodies of existing games.

Hot at the Arcades: Two new fighting games, Holosseum from Sega, Time Killers from Strata.

Cutting Edge: This issue we’ve got a preview of the Pioneer Laseractive Game System, which not only has a Laserdisk System, but also a Genesis & Sega CD, and a Turbo Duo! Also, Sega’s working on a new VR unit.

NES Coverage: First is a review of Duck Tales II. They do have some complaints about the game being short – in that it’s the exact same length as the first game, though they like the new ability to buy powerups with cash you earned while going through levels and it plays well. The game gets 4.5s for Graphics & Control, and 4.0s for Sound & Fun Factor. Next is a review of Dizzy The Adventurer from Camerica (which is unlicenced), which is a mascot platformer where you play as an egg. They like the controls, but they think the sound isn’t spectacular. Oh, and they make a carton of egg puns. The game gets 3.5s for Graphics & Sound, and 4s for Control & Fun Factor. TradeWest has RC Pro-Am II. They find the controls are solid, and they like the multi-tap support. It gets a 3.5 for Graphics, a 3 for Sound, and 5s for Control & Fun Factor. Bomberman II has been ported to the NES, which gets a 3.5 for Sound, 4s for Graphics & Control, and a 4.5 for Fun Factor.

Genesis Coverage: We have a review of the cyborg brawler Cyborg Justice, which they find difficult to get the hang of (control-wise) gets 4s across the board. Battletoads has gotten ported, though you can only play as Zitz or Rash (no Pimple). The graphics aren’t so hot (compreable to the NES version, but with more colorful backgrounds and no flicker). The game gets a 3.5 for Sound, 4s for Graphics & Control and a 5 for Fun Factor. We’ve also got a review of Cool Spot as well, and they give it 4s for Sound, Control & Fun factor, as well as a 5 for Graphics. There’s also a review of Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster’s Hidden Treasure. We do get a useful note about the game in particular – that halfway through the game you can’t continue anymore. The controls are apparently solid, and the graphics and sound are good as well – the game gets 4s across the board.

We also have a review of Chakan: The Forever Man. They really like the look and feel of the game, as well as the game’s control. It gets 4s for Graphics, Sound & Control, and a 3.5 for Fun Factor. We’ve also got G-Loc, a flight sim. The controls aren’t so hot (which is to be expected on Console Flight Sims during this era), which gets a 2.5 for Control, and 3s for Graphics, Sound, and Fun Factor. There’s also a home port of Outrun 2019, which has iffy graphics, iffy sound, and halfway decent control. The game gets 2.5s for Graphics, Sound, and Fun Factor, and a 3 for Control.

Sega CD Control: We have a review of the Dragon’s Lair style adventure game Road Avenger from Renovation, and it looks really good, though I don’t know how much replay value there is. The game gets 5s for Graphics, Sound, Fun Factor, and a 4.5 for Control. We also have a port of the Hook action platformer. The game gets a 5 for Sound, and 4.5s for Graphics, Control and Fun Factor. There’s also the more traditional adventure game The Adventures of Willy Beamish, which gets a 5 for Sound, 4.5s for Graphics & Fun Factor, and a 3.5 for Control.

SNES Coverage: We have a feature review of Starfox. Not surprisingly, it gets 5s across the board. We also get stills of the first 6 stages and a brief preview of the SFX chip. We also get a review of Super Turrican. They also like it and give it 5s across the board. There’s a review of Shadowrun, which I’ve played, beaten, and loved. The game gets 4.5s for Graphics & Control, and 5s for Sound and Fun Factor. Koei has another historical RPG in Inindo, which puts you as the last survivor of the Iga Ninja clan, out to kill Oda Nobunaga. (Nobunaga don’t get no respect). It’s apparently very grindy, though they kind of like it. The game gets 3.5s for Graphics & Sound, a 4 for Control, and a 4.5 for Fun Factor.

We have another game based off a FASA property in Mechwarrior, which keeps the Mech Customization (which the PS1 Mechwarrior games lack), though they’re not too fond of the lack of ability to take out distant tergets). The game gets 3.5s for Graphics & Control, and 4s for Sound & Fun Factor. There’s also a review of Pocky & Rocky. They really like the game, and give it 5s for Graphics, Control, and Fun Factor, and a 4.5 for Sound. We have a Tom & Jerry licenced game, with you playing as Jerry, trying to evade and thwart Tom. the game gets a 5 for Graphics, 4.5s for Sound & Control, and a 4 for Fun Factor. We then get the continuation of the Sonic 2 Strategy Guide. Again, there isn’t much here that you can’t get online if you look in the right places (GameFAQs). This is followed by a preview of Interplay’s Lord of the Rings RPG and Final Fight II from Capcom. Also, Bubsy is getting delayed.

TurboGrafx Coverge: We have a review of the new Action game (on a chip), Legend of Hero Tonma, which is deliciously engrishy. They find it pretty straightforward, and feeling that the game works better with younger players. They give it a 4 for Graphics, and 3s for Graphics, Sound & Fun Factor.

Things What They Saw At CES: Of note is the Bram Stoker’s Dracula game, Aerobiz, Jungle Strike, James Bond 007 (featuring the likeness of Timothy Dalton), Mortal Kombat, Final Fantasy VI/III, 7th Saga. The NES also has Battletoads/Double Dragon and Bases Loaded 4. There’s also Mighty Final Fight (which you could also call Final Fight SD). The TurboDuo has Dangerous Journeys based on the the Pen & Paper RPG that Gary Gygax designed after he quit/was fired from TSR, and Snatcher. The Sega CD has After Burner III, Rise of the Dragon, Kings Quest V, and Dune. Oh, and Legends of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.

Overseas Prospects: We have another Dragon’s Lair style adventure game in Time Gal, and a second Ranma 1/2 fighting game game in Ranma 1/2 II. There’s also Final Fantasy V, which introduced the job system and didn’t come out in the US until Final Fantasy Anthology was released for the PS1.

The Sports Page: First up is Tony LaRussa Baseball for the Genesis, EA’s new baseball game, which is the first baseball game with a Manager mode. They like the game, though they feel that the sound is a little sparse. The game gets a 4.5 for Graphics, 4s for Sound & Control, and a 5 for Fun Factor. Tecmo’s got Super NBA Basketball for the SNES, which they find pretty meh. The game gets a 3 for Sound, and 3.5s for Graphics, Control & Fun Factor. There’s also Jerry Glenville’s Pigskin Footbrawl for the Genesis, which is kind of like Mutant League Football, but in the middle ages. They think that it looks good but is otherwise just “okay”, getting a 4 for Graphics, 3 for Control, and 3.5s for Sound & Fun Factor. Tradewest has Pro Quarterback for the Genesis, which is missing a few useful features, such as the ability to mask your plays when you call them in multi-player, and no penalties. The game gets 4s for Graphics & Control, and 3.5s for Sound & Fun Factor. The Duo is getting World Sports Competition which is a track & field game and is mediochre at best, getting a 2.5 for Sound, 3.5s for Control & Fun Factor and a 3 for Graphics. We also get notes on a few upcoming sports games, but nothing particularly in-depth.

Neo-Geo Coverage: We have a review of Super Sidekicker, a soccer game, which get 5s across the board.

Game Boy Coverage: We get a review of Kid Dracula, a kind of cutsy platformer. They like it though – it gets a 4 for Sound, and 4.5s as Graphics, Control, and Fun Factor. There’s also a port of Milon’s Secret Castle, which gets 4s for Graphics & Fun Factor, and 3s for Sound & Control. I hope the game doesn’t have the same problems with obscure “puzzles” as the NES version.

Game Gear Review: We have a review of Shinobi II, which they also really like, which gets a 5 for Graphics, a 4.5 for Control, and 4s for Sound & Fun Factor. There’s also a new McDonald’s advergame in Global Gladiators, which gets 4s for Sound & Control, and 5s for Fun Factor and Graphics.

Lynx Coverage: We have the shooter

Power Factor

, which gets a 5 for Graphics, a 4.5 for Fun Factor, and 4s for Sound & Control.

Hardware Helpers: I normally don’t cover this, but we have our first look at the Activator.

GameBusters: We get advice for beating the final boss in Alien3 and the ending cutscene – which is nothing like the ending from the movie – either one.

ProNews: Malibu Comics has a Street Fighter II comic coming out, EA is renaming the EA Sports Network (or EASN) to EA Sports. There is also going to be a “Championship Edition” of Madden Football.

Well, this wraps up this week’s GamePro Recap. Tomorrow I’ve got another wrestling event review.