What do the games Diddy Kong Racing, Einhander and Quake 2 all have in common? These three amazing games were all reviewed back in 1998, but they were NOT that year's best games. At least, not according to NEXT Generation magazine, who gave all three of these undisputed classics four stars out of five. As crazy as it sounds, NEXT Generation gave 19 different games a higher score than Tomb Raider II. I'm talking about the perfect 5-star rating, and today we're going through all of these reviews to see what makes them worthy of this coveted prize. This is NEXT Generation's Five-Star Reviews, and these are the 19 best games of 1998.
1080° Snowboarding (Nintendo 64)
#1
“Less than a month after the disappointing Yoshi's Story, Nintendo gets back into shape with 1080° Snowboarding – a game best described as “Wave Race on the rocks.” While not as groundbreaking as Mario 64 or Wave Race, 1080 Snowboarding simply does everything just right. From the fast and beautiful graphics to the thoroughly designed tracks, the game delivers the most satisfying snowboarding experience on any system yet. The excellent feel and wealth of features easily made us cast a charitable blind eye on the relatively low number of courses and occasional pop-up and clipping. With 1080° Snowboarding, Nintendo delivers another system seller and once again sets the standard for the entire genre.”
Bushido Blade 2 (PlayStation)
#2
“Square has always had the unique ability to push the limits of a genre with every game it creates. Nothing illustrates this better than its sequels, like the Final Fantasy games or Tobal 2, which are essentially identical games with vastly improved technology and plots taken from new angles. In the case of Bushido Blade 2, that philosophy is taken to a new extreme – so much so, in fact, that the result actually bears little resemblance to the original game. Bushido Blade 2 isn't an easy game to classify. As a sequel, it may alienate fans of Bushido Blade 1 who were anxious for more of the same. But nonetheless, kudos to Square for trying such a different approach to begin with, and for refining it in such a fearless manner. Excellent.”
Colony Wars (PlayStation)
#3
“Those who have watched the epic space battles of Star Wars, Star Trek or Babylon 5 and fantasized about piloting a fighter of their own will have their dreams realized by playing Colony Wars. The game offers more than 70 potential missions, which, much like Wing Commander, unfold during a nonlinear story that can lead to at least six different endings. A technological marvel, Colony Wars seems to redefine what is possible on PlayStation. The special effects used throughout are both eye-popping and superior to just about anything that has come before on any platform. Simply put, this game is not to be missed.”
Die by the Sword (PC)
#4
“Die by the Sword is essentially two games in one – an adventure mode that could stand by itself as a game of Tomb Raider standards, and a fighting engine that compares well to most modern brawlers. Die by the Sword's humorous slant on the all-too-serious fantasy genre is a welcome relief. In most respects, it is everything that games like Deathtrap Dungeon aspire to be. Tantrum has innovated in both story and gameplay at a time when most game companies are churning out derivative sequels and clones. Well, the gamble paid off. This title should not be missed by anyone seeking immaculately done fantasy action. Recommended.”
F-Zero X (Nintendo 64)
#5
“When Nintendo launched N64 with Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64, the company effectively set the stage for a series of stunning updates of classic NES and Super NES games. Both titles managed to completely satisfy fans of the originals and at the same time attract a new, younger audience, with flashy graphics and involving gameplay. But it didn't take long for the first chink to appear in the mighty N's armor. Mario Kart 64, while true to its predecessor in many respects, simply didn't raise the bar in any way, and lacked the balance and playability that most Nintendo titles are known for. F-Zero X is no Mario Kart 64. Like Wave Race or Sony's Gran Turismo, the game stands out among other racers, with perfectly tuned controls and a number of innovations. From the rocking guitar tunes to the insanely addictive Grand Prix races, the game is a blast.”
Gran Turismo (PlayStation)
#6
“Gran Turismo is simply the most incredible racing game ever to grace a console system. Period. No detail was overlooked in the game's design, and it shines through in every facet of the game, no matter how you look at it. As a racing simulation, Gran Turismo is unmatched. The controls are tight, and with an analog controller, they're the most realistic seen to date on console. The physics engine is dead-on, and once players get used to the nuances of driving cars at high speeds under true conditions, it's very intuitive. Gran Turismo is a class act and it raises the bar for racing games on almost every level. Our highest possible recommendation.”
Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation)
#7
“Every once in a while, a game comes along that forces you to redefine what video games are all about. Sometimes it just looks better than everything else on the market, sometimes it just plays better, and sometimes it's just so different that it defies comparison to anything else. Metal Gear Solid does all of the above, living up to the hype and proving itself to be the pinnacle of PlayStation gaming. There are precious few games in the world that end up living up to the hype when they are released – especially when they've been hyped as much as this one. However, rest assured that this is a game no player should miss and the best reason yet to own a PlayStation.”
Monster Rancher (PlayStation)
#8
“The virtual pet craze has finally hit the U.S. console market in this gem from Tecmo. The premise is similar to the handheld electronic Tamagotchis in that players care for and nurture an animal to adulthood. However, this is where the similarities end. Not simply limited to how to take care of your monster, the game incorporates a wide variety of options and possibilities (namely, combat with other monsters) that give the game an awesome amount of depth. One of the most interesting and unique features of Monster Rancher is the ability to create monsters from music, game or computer CDs. Players can dial up the appropriate screen, pop in a favorite CD, and the game will generate a monster based on what it finds on the disc. This feature alone is guaranteed to send players scrambling around their entire CD collection in an attempt to discover the perfect monster.”
NCAA GameBreaker '98 (PlayStation)
#9
“What do you get when you take the best pro football engine on the planet and spend several months tweaking it for a college football game? Obviously, you get the best college football game anywhere. But even more impressively, in this case, you get a game that's actually better than NFL GameDay '98, a feat we didn't expect at all. Sure, NCAA GameBreaker '98 borrows heavily from GameDay, but amazingly, the end result is a football game that has no equal.”
NFL Gameday '99 (PlayStation)
#10
“Ever since the first GameDay scared EA Sport's Madden game off the store shelves for a year, Sony's masterpiece has repeatedly proven its dominance over the competition both in technology and gameplay. The adaptation of polygonal graphics for GameDay '98 made a great game even better. Had 989 Sports merely released an updated rehash of last year's game, it still would have been the best PlayStation football game availale. Instead, the development team re-examined every facet of the game and improved upon it. The result? A revelation. There is really no room for criticism of NFL GameDay '99 – it provides everything a gamer could possibly want from a console football title.”
Resident Evil 2 (PlayStation)
#11
“Following a long trail of countless delays and whispered rumors of a company in trouble, Capcom's masterpiece sequel to 1996's groundbreaking 3D adventure, Resident Evil, has finally made the journey from the object of gamer fantasy to the reality of the small screen. And the result goes beyond all expectations to produce one of the most impressive games yet in the PlayStation library of classics. With a greater amount of interactivity characters have with the flawlessly pre-rendered landscape, Resident Evil 2 far surpasses the occasional choppiness of Tomb Raider II's graphics and even gives Final Fantasy VII a run for its re-rendered money. Kudos to Capcom for undoubtedly making the must-own title of the year.”
Sid Meier's Gettysburg (PC)
#12
“Sid Meier has once again lived up to his considerable reputation in Firaxis' new Civil War strategy sim Gettysburg. In contrast to the usual stiff, overly complicated gameplay associated with this genre, Meier's new title plays well enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best action/strategy games in the market. The key factor that makes this game both easy to learn and highly realistic is an intuitive control interface. This simple design conceals a staggering amount of detail, yet still allows players to focus on the finer aspects of tactical strategy. Gettysburg is an excellent first offering from Firaxis. It not only overshadows previous historical sims, but it also bests most of the real-time strategy games available today.”
Starcraft (PC)
#13
“StarCraft is a perfect example of a game that shines through an exceptional cohesiveness of great design, flawless execution, and enough polish to impress the most jaded PC gamers. In development for more than two years, StarCraft is Blizzard's spiritual sequel to its monster hit, WarCraft 2, from which it shamelessly steals many of its gameplay elements. StarCraft is one of those rare gems that doesn't really do much new, but does everything perfectly. Add in free play on Battle net, including a built-in ranking system, and you have a good excuse to not touch any other game on your PC for quite a while. It is truly a must-buy for anyone who loves a great game.”
Tekken 3 (PlayStation)
#14
“The Tekken series has undergone an interesting evolution from Virtua Fighter wannabe to PlayStation standard. Tekken 2 was a great leap forward, and Tekken 3 makes the same kind of progress. Compromises have been made, but even the most anal arcade fan would be hard-pressed to identify them visually. The polygon count is lower and some textures have been sacrificed, but Namco has produced a game conversation that looks almost exactly like its parent. Add to this package some good (if mixed) musical themes and you have the absolute category leader. There is no better fighting game, on this system or any other.”
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
#15
“In David Scheff's elaborate expose of Nintendo, Game Over, Shigeru Miyamoto offers some insight into his inspiration for the Zelda series. Recalling his time spent playing as a boy, the world's most revered game designer reminisces about wandering alone for hours exploring the Kyoto countryside, drawn by the promise of stumbling upon dark caves, secluded lakes or even tiny villages hidden amongst the mountains. This guiding vision has been realized thoroughly in Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the latest and greatest incarnation of the seminal action RPG series. It's possible that this is the Zelda Miyamoto wanted to make all along, with its open, less linear world intensifying the spirit of its gameplay beyond that of its forebears. Here is a game destined to capture the hearts of Nintendo 64 owners the world over – and simultaneously reaffirm its creator's stature as the Spielberg of video games.”
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (Nintendo 64)
#16
“In the story of Acclaim's fall and rise, it's fair to say that one title marked the beginning of a new, more positive chapter. Developed by Iguana, last year's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter hammered home the message that things really were changing within the beleaguered company. It also proved to the world that Nintendo was not the sole master of the sparkling-new 64-bit technology. The most striking thing about Turok 2 is the vast improvement made to the game's 3D engine. After wading through the dense fog of the original, the open layout of Turok 2's first level is a nice surprise. Overall, Turok 2 is a real blast. The technical, AI and design advances over the original make it an absolute must-have.”
Unreal (Nintendo 64)
#17
“Well, it's been a long time coming. The Unreal project was delayed almost as much as Nintendo's Zelda 64. Adding to the conventional problems inherent in game production were the new disasters created by an ever-evolving game engine. As it turns out, though, the Unreal engine is a beast of near mythical proportions, although at first glance, it looks very much like a tarted-up version of Quake 2. It boils down to one question: Is Unreal better than Quake 2? The answer is yes. Absolutely. We'll even go further: Unreal is the single best action game ever to appear on PC. Ion Storm's John Romero will be watching this carefully, and no doubt taking a good look at his own Daikatana. It's hard to see how the genre can be much improved after this.”
