THQ Shows Off First-Quarter Lineup

Representatives from Calabasas, Calif.-based THQ visited the VGS offices this week, and they brought along their Q1 1998 lineup.

Here's what we saw:

WCW Nitro (PlayStation)The game features 16 regular characters and tons of hidden wrestlers as well. The lineup includes Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Sting, Macho Man, Diamond Dallas Page, Syxx, Dean Malenko, Eddy Guerrero, and more. The game looks and feels just like the TV show upon which it is based - wrestlers can even run in from outside the ring and cause a little unbalanced mayhem. Each wrestler has over 30 moves, including signature moves such as the Torture Rack, the Scorpion Death Lock, and the Diamond Cutter. This much-anticipated wrestling title is scheduled for a January release.

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (PlayStation)Released as Circle of Blood on the PC, Broken Sword is a huge, well-animated graphic adventure. The main character is George Stobbard, an American visiting Paris. George ends up getting wrapped up in a huge mystery, and it's your job to get him out of trouble. The interface, while originally designed for a mouse, is very easy to use with the PlayStation controller. Broken Sword will ship in February.

Quest 64 (working title, Nintendo 64)Quest 64, which THQ is hoping to make the first N64 RPG in the US, is still very early, but already looks pretty amazing. The character runs around Mario 64-style, except the action/platform elements have been replaced with towns, castles, characters to interact with, and turn-based combat. The little wizard's spells are based around the four elements, and they can be combined with one another for some interesting effects. There is no firm release date for Q64, but look for it during the first quarter of 1998.