'98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib

Baldur’s Gate

Everyone loves an underdog. Everyone loves hearing the story about the longshot that managed to overcome the odds and become a hero. Perhaps mirroring the game’s own story of coming from a humble beginning to achieve great things, Baldur’s Gate was a game that defied the expectations...

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'98 Game Showcase, PlayStation Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, PlayStation Luke Habib

International Superstar Soccer Pro ‘98

1998 was a World Cup year, and as you’d expect with the world’s largest sporting event there were a plethora of games to tie in to the occasion. World Cup ‘98, FIFA ‘99 and Actua Soccer 3 were just some of the titles that were contending with International Superstar Soccer ‘98 (ISS for short) for the proverbial Football Game of the Year cup…

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'98 Game Showcase, Nintendo 64 Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, Nintendo 64 Luke Habib

WCW/nWo Revenge

Pro wrestling was hot in the late 90s. Pro wrestling was positively on fire in the late 90s. After the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) had dominated most of the 80s with a national expansion and major pay-per-view events such as Wrestlemania, the public would be forgiven for thinking that the industry was something of a one-horse race. But things changed very quickly in 1995…

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'98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib

Railroad Tycoon II

It was a long time between drinks for the Railway Tycoon franchise. The original Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon was released all the way back in 1990! Eight years on, and the original game had garnered quite a reputation for itself, and it was well deserved, being one of the earlier examples of a ‘business simulator’. The game was a commercial success and praised for the in-depth, but addictive gameplay. There would be quite a bit of pressure on a sequel to live up to the name, but thankfully Railroad Tycoon II not only met, but exceeded these expectations…

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'98 Game Showcase, Nintendo 64 Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, Nintendo 64 Luke Habib

Wetrix

Wetrix is one of those games that comes along every so often that just exemplifies the idea that sometimes the most simple concepts can be the most fun… and addictive. Picture something akin to Tetris, but on a 3D plane with a lot of rainfall and you’ll be on the way to Wetrix

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'98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib

Fallout 2

One cannot talk about Fallout 2 without talking about the first game in the franchise, 1997’s excellent Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game. The two games share a lot of features, mechanics and even graphical assets, and both are outstanding examples of the Computer RPG (CRPG). Fallout and Fallout 2 stand shoulder to shoulder as standouts in the history of PC gaming…

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'98 Game Showcase, Arcade Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, Arcade Luke Habib

Metal Slug 2

Metal Slug is a series almost as synonymous with SNK as their stellar fighting game franchises. It’s definitely a game that’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind when they think of arcade run n’ gun shooters. The sequel to such a legandary game would have to be awesome, and thankfully, Metal Slug 2 will blow you away…

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'98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, PC Luke Habib

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

The Need for Speed franchise began in a relatively unsuspecting way, with a release on the ill-fated 3DO platform in 1994. The game notably featured real-life supercars like the Acura NSX, Dodge Viper and Lamborghini Diablo, and for pitting these cars in illegal street races. The Need for Speed was soon ported to PC, Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn, and would receive critical praise and become a commercial success…

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'98 Game Showcase, Sega Saturn Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, Sega Saturn Luke Habib

Panzer Dragoon Saga (Azel: Panzer Dragoon RPG)

The Sega Saturn would be “going out in a blaze of glory” with the release of Panzer Dragoon Saga according to Computer & Video Games Magazine #197. Indeed, many consider this title to be something of a swan-song for the console, which by 1998 was approaching the very end of its lifespan outside Japan. No, it would not be the last official release for the system in any region, but it was a culmination of years of hard work and love to wring everything out of Sega’s beloved console by the developer, Team Andromeda…

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'98 Game Showcase, Arcade Luke Habib '98 Game Showcase, Arcade Luke Habib

Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers

Developed during the same period of time as Capcom’s Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, SNK’s Fatal Fury: King of Fighters released in 1991 as one of the pioneers of the modern fighting game. The series would prove to be a hit for SNK and with fighting game fans, and by 1998 Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers was the seventh game in the franchise, and the third and final game of the Real Bout sub-series.

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Nick Thorpe’s 1998 - Part 3

The final part! Nick Thorpe had quite the 1998 when it came to gaming, as you can read about in part 1 and part 2 of this interview. However, what of the games that were released in 1998? There’s no shortage of titles to choose from, but in the opinion of a long-time gamer and games journalist, what were Nick’s picks?

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