Slick Powerplay shines

NHL Powerplay °98 on
the Playstation

Yay! It's hockey season!
Naturally, there's a bunch of
new hockey games to canta-
lize us fans. Last veur's
Powerplay was pretty much
a ground breaker, using
polygon images instead of
the clunky-vet-reliable
Sprite-based characters.

This year's version
includes slightly slicker
sound and graphics as well
as updated rosters, logos
and stats (naturally).
However, Powerplay is occa-
sionally bogged down by its
own slickness.

A little jerky and blotchy
at times — even slow.
Control is easy, however,
and gameplay is intense for
the most part. The 360-
degree, omnipresent replay
mode is second to none as it
is not limited by the
“authentic” camera angles.
Great customizing features
too, which I discovered
when I had to “re-acquire”
Messier.

Best of all, fighting is in
vogue again, the endorsing
NHL having pulled such a
notion from gameplay a
couple of years back. The
*99 version of Powerplay is
sure to be even betrer, how-
ever, so I'd wait for it. Great
Rental. OK purchase.

World Series Baseball ’98
on the Saturn

While Sega appears to cater
to the market share out in
left field — some would say
in a different ball park — it is
games like this one chat
Keeps them in the video-
game game.

WSB '98 has dumped the
Sprites this year (as did
Powerplay) in favor of the
fully-rendered 3D arena.
Anyone who's seen Sega's
fighting games knows they
excel at motion-captured
athletics. These players have
character! If you understand
the nuances of baseball —~
which I do not — you can
take advantage of batters"
“hat spots” and “cold
spots.” Likewise with the
different pitchers’ styles,
which makes the whole
thing entertainingly educa-
tional. And it's downright
competitive in two-player
mods.

It’s an exceptionally com-
plex version of “paper, scis-
sors, rock” in a beautifully
rendered ball park of your
choice. I suppose that's
what baseba}} is all about...
The audio file adds an

Shaw Theatre's
mystery mystery
makes the grade

From pase 80

Verdi's pathetically keen stage
manager, whose puppy-like
eagerness comes dangerously
close to going over the top.

The only problem last
Friday, other than a slightly
slow first act, was the technical
business of the slaps and the
gunshots, Stage fights are
always problematic, but if vou
want us to Delieve somebody
has been shot the gun had
better go bang.

However, even if the gun
didn’t, the show did. Who
knows? If this keeps up [
might even vet to like murder
mysteries.

authentic antbienee ta hoor
— itd be spooky if it wasn't
on my PV. The crowd goes
wild. Great rental. Good
purchase, sports fans,

Por Hey Bud? Would
vou like to buy a code? WSB
“9S: Lie che classic Homerun
Derby, press and hold UP
before the pitcher pitches.
This will make the pitcher

throw high bur ir will count
as an autom atic out. Weird.
Top 5
i. Galdene ve O07 (N64)
2, NHI C98 (Psx}
3. Final Fantasy VII (Psx)
4. Clay Fighter 63% (N64)
5. NHL ‘98 (Genesis!)
(Willow Video Games in
Park & Tilford)

— Shaun Coulin

3 days only! Till November 2nd

15% to 50%* off all you need for your environment