N64 Magazine Issue 15 | Nintendo Mags

Introduction

Issue 15 kicked off with a world exclusive look at Mission Impossible, which had moved studios to Infogrames in France. The game now resembled a Metal Gear Solid style stealth mission, with violence the last aspect - a key difference from the similar film tie-in of Goldeneye. The team got a chance to preview many of the levels with over 100% as the game neared completion. Other big previews this month looked at 3D shooter Forsaken, eagerly anticipated sequel ISS ‘98, racer GT 64 and ISS rival World Cup ‘98 from EA.

The big news this month was that Nintendo were finally opening a proper Europe office, as previously many decisions impacting the UK had to move through either the US or Japan. There was also news about the Color Game Boy nearly ready for release. There was also the latest report from the Tokyo Game Show, with plenty of new games on offer - including the previously mentioned ISS. Of course the issue wouldn’t be complete without the latest news about Ocarina of Time - with the Japanese release date somehow still pencilled in for April! There were plenty of new shots - including a look at the first dungeon of the game.

Yoshi's Story was the star game this month, Tim scored it at 86%, which was unchanged from its Japanese score in issue 12. There was praise for the visuals and sounds - although the 2D aspect didn’t really push the N64 too hard. There were two other UK games this month with Quake 64 scoring 79% and puzzler Wetrix scoring 78%. Susume! Taisen Puzzle Dama was the best import review - essentially a Puyo Puyo clone, it scored 78% G.A.S.P Fighters Nextream the latest Beat-Em-Up to come out of Konami scored 52% and Olympic Hockey: Nagano ‘98 scored 60%.

Martin Kitts looked at some profiles of the gaming underground - aka the gaming hardcore - with some great South Park style illustrations. There were also guides for last month's big games - Goemon and Snowboard Kids, with the help wanted section looking at some hilarious quirks some readers had found in Goldeneye. There were also further tips for WCW vs NWO and NHL Breakaway, and the Nintendo Hotline featured Tetrisphere and Duke Nukem.

The now regular back of the mag feature looked at the 30 most important people (and characters) in the world of Nintendo - including superstars like Mario and Link, as well as former presidents Howard Lincoln and Hiroshi Yamauchi. There were no prizes for guessing who was number 1, with Shigeru Miyamoto’s genius pretty much shaping the gaming industry as a whole.

Articles

Future Look

Forsaken
ISS '98
GT 64
World Cup '98

Coming Soon

Space Circus
Looney Toons Space Race
F-Zero X
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Turok 2
Banjo-Kazooie

Special Investigation

Mission: Impossible

Reviews

G.A.S.P! Fighters Nextream
Author: Martin Kitts
Country: Jap
Score: 52%
Olympic Hockey Nagano '98
Author: Martin Kitts
Country: USA
Score: 60%
Wetrix
Author: James Price
Country: UK
Score: 78%
Susume! Taisen Puzzle Drama
Author: Tim Weaver
Country: Jap
Score: 78%
Quake 64
Author: James Price
Country: UK
Score: 79%
Yoshi's Story
Author: Tim Weaver
Country: UK
Score: 86%

How To

Survive the Gaming Underground
Save Edo Japan from the great stage plan in Mystical Ninja
Surf your way to victory in Snowboard Kids
Find 12 Hilarious quiriks in Goldeneye

Features

The 30 most important people in the Nintendo Universe

Staff

James Ashton Editor
Tim Weaver Deputy Editor
Wil Overton Art Editor
Paul Jarrold Art Assistant
Jes Bickham Writer
Andrea Ball Production Editor
James Price Writer
Dan Nowell Writer
Martin Kitts Writer