#6!
This evening we conclude our RS Retrospective with...
Return of the Prophet...
SSM did a lot to push Radiant Silvergun. It first appeared in issue #31, before receiving a six page preview in issue #34 and a huge 10 page showcase in issue #35, including a two-page review. The coverage was simply stunning. They really sold the game well. And their review was the capper for many (scoring RS a massive 95%)
As evidence, the guy who I won the SSM lot off, here's an email he sent me in regards to SSM and Radiant Silvergun, right after I won his auction:
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I know I'm going to miss these mags and I must have read them cover to cover a thousand times. (yet I've kept them in superb condition) I have just purchased a Nissan Skyline GTR from Japan and need every cent I can get so over half my collection is going. I had over 450 Sega games (all originals and complete) and I've cut that down to around 200. As for the Saturn, I had around 90 games but that is now about 40, keeping mostly my shooters and imports along with a few others. Games sold though have included rarities such as Panzer Dragoon Saga and MegaMan X3.
Anyway, enough rambling. I will tell you though that the magazines are about the best Saturn ones ever and they
convinced me to go purchase Radiant Silvergun before the hype and price skyrocketed. I still regard RS as one of the best games I ever played, and it's thanks to the SSM boys I even gave it a shot (I wasn't a fan of shooters back then, but their enthusiasm/coverage sold me)
I got all the SSM issues immediately as they went to newsstands and it's been quite a ride. Those times feel like a different lifetime now. It's a great archive for one of the greatest systems of all time -- and was written by some of the wittiest bastards this side of the UK. I know you'll enjoy them as much as I have.
Regards
Matt
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Now let's turn our focus to a letter sent in from a fan, printed in the Final SSM issue #37 (Nov. '98)... I call this...
The Return of the Prophet!
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I'm writing to thank you for bringing to my attention one of the greatest games ever made. I'm talking about Radiant Silvergun, of course. If it were not for your fine coverage of this stunning title, I would almost certainly dismissed it as "just another shooter." It angers me that this game will never see the light of day over here, but utter tripe such as Iron Man XO and The Incredible Hulk are given official releases almost immediately. It's little wonder that the Saturn has died so swiftly in the west. I hate to say this, but Sony would have pounced on Radiant Silvergun and turned it into a Triple A release this Christmas. Treasure have put so much time and effort into this game. Everything is excellent; the controls, the learning curve, hell, it even has a good plot!
Now I'll tell you how much I paid for Radiant Silvergun. $60? $50? $40, maybe? No. I paid $30 for it.
As Tom Holmes stated last issue, ordering over the internet from America is a bloody good idea. My friends use TheRage.com but I like Tronix at
tronix2@worldnet.att.net. Through them and the net (and let's face it, almost everyone has an internet connection these days) I've been able to get other imports like Princess Crown (which is bloody fantastic). The prices are cheap, and delivery to your door on average takes four days! The latest Japanese games, such as Astra SuperStars, cost less than $40!
So...
Here is
my tip to all you readers: get on the internet and order Radiant Silvergun NOW! You'll thank yourself later...
Damien Worth, Hinckley
As I've mentioned before, Sega Europe are putting all their efforts into Dreamcast, into the future. They've conceded the 32-bit market to Sony and are now coming up with a new, astounding hardware platform. That's why, unfortunately, Radiant Silvergun won't be coming out. I agree, order Radiant Silvergun TODAY... or face the possibility of kicking yourself tomorrow... don't you DARE be that sucker who does. -Rich
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Boy, if only I knew back then. But all's well that ends well. I got my RS copy last Halloween, all for 65 bones.
But yeah, ole Damien boy sure was on to something eh... he proved his Worth... pun intended
You know, I wish I could share with you the SSM RS scans and the 2 page review as they are splendid. Wait a second... I can! If you want to see the showcase and review scans, go here:
http://blazinglazers.gamersgraveyard.com/radiant/gallery/scans_html/scans.htm
ooooh. aaahhhh.
Well that concludes our Radiant Silvergun Retrospective.
A New Beginning, The Fans Strike Back and Return of the Prophet. It was fun eh? Perhaps I'll see you again in 16 years... with...
The Xiga Menace...
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#6: VIRTUA COP 2 -95%
Following the unprecedented success of the seminal Virtua Cop conversion, AM2 reaffirmed their position as the greatest coders of Sega's machine with this stunning sequel. Time Crisis? HA!
"The most important thing to mention about Virtua Cop 2 is that it is huge -- approximately twice the size of its predecessor in fact. Each of the three levels feature multiple routes about half way through, making the sequel a less linear affair than VC1. Each of these levels are densely packed with destructible scenery and of course, hod-loads of bad guys. There's also some stunning set-pieces in there -- the car chase sequence in particular stands out in my mind. Yeah, it might not be as close a conversion as the less ambitious VC1, but AM2 have pulled off a miracle in getting the Saturn to emulate the Model 2 coin-op so well. Everyone must own this game." -Lee Nutter
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I've always enjoyed VC2 greatly. I remember the first time my brother and I played this game... I really felt like I was at the arcades -- it was a damn nice feeling!
The greatest sight is shooting a baddie in his crotch and seeing him react to it. And a shot right between the eyes is always fun. It'd have been interesting if there was some sort of blood code....
Very playable and enjoyable -- what can I say? Tight game.
new meaning to 'nutcracker'.... (ouch!)