Midway Stops By

Reps from Midway came by our offices to demo the latest Nintendo 64 games and talk about the next series of Dreamcast and PlayStation titles. Here's what was covered.

Mortal Kombat: Special Forces(PS/N64)Filling out the back story of the Mortal Kombat fighting series, this second MK spin-off (the first being Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero - you'll note this one trims the Mythologies moniker) focuses on the Special Forces members Sonya and Jax, who pursue Black Dragon clan assassin Kano throughout the game. MK: SF is told to have a single ending but will have multiple paths to get there for each character. Other MK characters will also appear, but the company isn't telling which ones just yet.

The title is described to inhabit a Mario/Tomb Raider-type 3D environment, where you fight enemies a la Final Fight/Streets of Rage but using Mortal Kombat fighting moves. John Tobias is said to stress that this is an action-adventure game instead of another side-scrolling platform title.

PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions (with the RAM pack likely) are both planned, and Dreamcast may be a possibility. Look for it next fall.

Mortal Kombat 4(working title) (DC)We've heard that Midway is still searching for an appropriate name for the Mortal Kombat 4 Dreamcast game, because it's not really MK4 but will be very similar. New characters and backgrounds will appear. Whatever it ends up being called, it's down as a US Dreamcast launch title.

NFL Blitz 2000(PS/DC/N64)The developers have said they want to include fully controllable punts, a hang-time meter for additional stats tracking, quicker passing, an optional icon-based passing system, the ability to create defensive plays, more user-created offensive plays (up from nine to 18), more intuitive AI to better combat your created plays, an increased frame rate during weather conditions, hi-res mode for the Nintendo 64 version, and teams and players that better reflect their real-life counterparts based on current stats. It should appear next fall and will definitely be a Dreamcast launch game.

Midway PresentsMidway's Greatest Hits Vol . 3/Atari's Greatest Hit's Vol. 3(PS)This two-disc collection of arcade games will sport quite a few noteworthy titles next September. On the Midway disc, you'll see Satan's Hollow, Gorf, Wizard of Wor, Smash TV, and N.A.R.C., while the Atari disc will have Stun Runner, Toobin', 720, APB, and Klax.

Gauntlet Legends(PS/N64)We got a chance to see the N64 version of the game, which is quite early but looking surprisingly a lot like the arcade version already (check out the shots). The magic effects are in, and a pile of enemies were seen onscreen without affecting game speed, but the turbo button and sound - as well as most of the levels - have not yet been added.

Midway says that the home version of the game will be a lot harder, have additional midrange bosses (specifically designed for the home version), and will take about 20-25 hours to complete (as opposed to the arcade game, which took us about six to eight to finish). Both the N64 and PS versions will be released this spring.

Paperboy 64(N64)In this 3D version of the Atari arcade classic, you ride your bike down the street avoiding obstacles and delivering papers before the clock runs out. The player will have the option of choosing from several different bikes as well as a male or female lead character (as in Paperboy 2 for the Genesis). The neighborhoods begin fairly normal, but stranger and stranger areas open up as you do well. The game will have a 1950s look to it, which will be reflected in its invaders from space enemies and bosses.

Paperboy 64 should make it out in September.

Hydro Thunder(DC/N64)The only difference between the arcade and Dreamcast versions of this game is told by Midway to be that the Dreamcast uses the Power VR chipset. The company says both versions should look practically identical. Hydro Thunder will be a Dreamcast launch title but won't appear on the N64 until October 31. It'll be in arcades any day now.

Micro Machines Turbo(N64)You can see from the shots that the N64 version of this popular little car-racing game series has slightly updated graphics. It'll be coming out March 25.

Rampage 2: Universal Tour(PS/N64)The four new monsters in this new Rampage game will be Curtis the Rat, Boris the Rhino, Ruby the Lobster, and Myucus the Alien (a hidden character). Each creature will have a special move, such as a rhino charge or eye burst, that can be used once his power meter is maxed out. The game will feature 125 cities in all in over 20 different planets.

California Speed(N64)This Cruisin'-style racing game uses the same design team and game engine as the Rush N64 titles, and it seems like it'll be able to support the high frame rate of its arcade cousin. That's a March release, folks.

Other BitsRC Stunt Copter will be released for the PlayStation on June 15. War: The Final Assault isn't seeing home versions until next year. Klax will possibly be coming out for the Game Boy Color. Boss Studios' World Driver: Championship (previously known as Boss World Tour Rally) will arrive for the N64 in June.

For even more information, check out the links to our previous Midway news stories and previews.