I don’t know if it’s just me, but it sure
seems like this holiday season there’s a lack of big ‘must buy’ titles for
the holidays. Some genres, such as Real Time Strategy, seem almost dead this holiday
season, while other genres have one or two major titles, but not the usual wealth of hit
products we usually see around the holidays. In many ways, this is a positive trend –
Companies are becoming less Christmas-centric in their release schedules. Hence, games we
anticipated this holiday season, such as Tiberian Sun and Fly!, have been pushed into
’99. So, what’s left to buy?
The truth is that it really depends on which genre you enjoy.
However, I have a few tips on some key stocking stuffers for avid gamers. Here’s the
rundown:
Hardware: 3D Accelerator
I don’t normally lead off with a hardware suggestion, but this year it’s almost
a prerequisite that you have a 3D accelerator card in your PC in order to play the best
games. Looking over my holiday list, every game practically requires an accelerator card.
Although some products may support "software" mode, the game experience is
exponentially increased with a good 3D card. The best choice is any card with a 3DFX
Voodoo 2 chipset, but there are a wealth of other options too. The bottom line is that if
you’re looking to make a solid investment for the holidays, the first thing to do is
buy a 3D-accelerator card if you don’t already have one. Games like Need for Speed 3
and Half-Life are incredible on a 3D card, but your mileage may vary with a regular video
card. Keep that in mind.
Racing: Need for Speed 3
Electronic Arts Seattle has finally brought out the definitive PC racing game. This 3D
accelerated racing title has some of the most impressive visual effects ever seen in a PC
game, not to mention a wealth of tracks, cars, and play modes (ranging from championship
racing to a police-car chase). Although the second Need for Speed game was nothing
special, the third time is definitely the charm for this series. Sure, there are tons of
racing games out there for the PC, but very few offer the variety and playability of Need
for Speed 3 from EA.
Sports: NFL Blitz
To be honest, sports games on the PC have been decisively lackluster over the past few
years, with the exception maybe being some of EA’s games such as NHL ’98 and
FIFA Soccer. Leave it to Midway to bring NHL Blitz to the PC, which is near-identical to
its arcade counterpart, thanks in part to the fact the arcade game runs off of a 3DFX
video card. This no-holds-barred football game is just a lot of fun – fast paced,
exciting, and challenging. It really shows off what your PC can do, and it’s the
perfect sports game for those fans that hate all the complicated plays and controls in
games like Madden. The only downside is that the game really requires a good gamepad on
the PC, but if you have one, NFL Blitz is a must-buy.
Action: Half-Life
Valve and Sierra Studios’ Half Life is the top action game for the holidays,
there’s no doubt about it (read my review of it here).
There’s not much more to be said, besides the fact that in such a crowded genre,
Half-Life just about obliterates everything else on the map. It has innovative gameplay, a
compelling story, and other positives such as unique weapon and level design. This is the
definitive 3D action game for the holidays. The only game that even comes close to it in
my opinion is Heretic 2 from Raven and Activition, which is also a worthy second purchase
if you’re looking to grab two action games to put under the tree.
Adventure: Grim Fandango
Ok, so you’ve got to admit that there isn’t a lot of choice for adventure game
players out there, but Tim Schafer and LucasArts’ Grim Fandango is just about as good
as they come. It’s got a lineup of zany characters, innovative puzzles, and just a
ton of atmosphere, wit, and class. The production is slick and it has a truly epic feel to
it thanks to so many locations, inventory items, and dialogue. Although players will
definitely have to devote quite a few hours to finishing the game, once you start playing
Grim Fandango, there’s no stopping – it’s that good.
Simulation – Railroad Tycoon II
Gathering of Developers and Pop Top Software have a hit on their hands with Railroad
Tycoon II, and rightfully so, considering the game is a very faithful follow-up to the hit
game from the 80s that preceded it. This realistic railroad simulator has beautiful
graphics, a classic interface, and a lot of history built into its story. It’s seldom
that a simulation game like Railroad Tycoon II catches my attention, but this game has all
the elements needed to help it achieve classic status. If you have anyone in your family
who’s a fan of railroads or likes a slower-paced game experience, this game is the
ticket. It doesn’t undermine your intelligence.
Action/Flight-Sim – Rogue Squadron 3D
Ok, ok, I know all you hard-core flight-sim buffs are going to go after me for picking
this action game as the best flight-sim for the holidays, and you’re right – A
product from Jane’s or Novalogic might be more appropriate here. So let’s call
this category flight-sim/action to appease my critics. Still, Rogue Squadron 3D is a
surprise addition to my list. I just started playing it last week, but already this
amazing Star Wars game has me hooked. Sure, the gameplay is pretty simple (sort of like a
3D-accelerated version of Rebel Assault), but I just love seeing Star Wars space battles
in high-resolution on a computer screen. The game only works if you have a 3D card (all
the more reason to upgrade), but it’s just right for me – simple controls that
blend the flight-sim and action genres. Although some of my colleagues have had a mixed
reaction to this game, I think it’s a ton of fun if you treat it as a sort of
3D-enhanced Star Wars version of Asteroids.
RTS – Populous III
The RTS is one genre that I expected to be a lot more competitive this holiday season.
However, with Tiberian Sun being pushed into ’99, there isn’t a lot to keep
players occupied, except for the Age of Empires and StarCraft expansion packs. However,
don’t overlook Bullfrog’s Populous III. It’s a faithful follow-up to
Bullfrog’s mega-hit game from the 80s, and I really like the interface and the use of
a 3D globe (you actually build on top of the globe and can rotate the camera however you
wish). As is often the case with Bullfrog games, the interface isn’t as slick as one
would like, but once you get the hang of it, Populous III is a ton of fun. The mixture of
magical spells with 3D topography creates a dynamic package. It’s the kind of RTS
that breaks the mold for the genre, but I think players will take a liking to it. It
certainly is imaginative.
Well, those are the key suggestions for the holidays in my opinion.
Next week I’ll be back to highlight some of the most disturbing trends in the
industry this year. Until then take some time out and enjoy some of the great games that
have just shipped.
Sincerely,
Geoff
Keighley
Editor-in-Chief
GameSlice
