Scanned from 2000AD Prog 733 cover date 01/06/1991

Recent releases for the Sega Mega Drive video games console reviewed by Steve May.

Mickey Mouse in The Castle of Illusion (Sega).

A real contender for the Best Video Came of the Year, Mickey Mouse is the kind of cartridge that socks you in the jaw the first time you see it and then grips you by the throat when you play it.
It's perhaps fitting that the world's most famous rodent should redefine the state of the art in platform/climbing challenges in much the same way his Disney creators transformed animated cartoons on the big screen. Make no mistake, this cart really is a quantum leap over what has gone before.
The story so far: Minnie has been mousenapped by the evil witch Mizrabel and whisked away to the Castle of Illusion. The wicked hag will only exchange her for seven rainbow gems, hidden within five worlds, each located behind a door in the castle. So far, so routine.
It's when you enter these worlds that your jaw gets socked. Each location is beautifully drawn in classic Disney style, with rich colours and enormous attention to detail. Mickey himself is brilliantly animated. From the worried sway when he precariously balances on the edge of a cliff to the comical expression when he ducks or falls, he constantly delights.
To help him on his quest there are a variety of aids. Mouseketeer ears earn you extra lives, while stars, marbles and apples provide energy and weaponry. All become invaluable later on in the game. After the deceptively easy start in the Enchanted Forest, the castle worlds become increasingly more difficult to crack. Mickey Mouse ain't a game for no wimps, dudes!
This is a game with Classic stamped large on every screen. You'll want to buy a Mega Drive to play it!

Arnold Palmer's Golf Tournament (Sega).

Thwacking golf balls around may not strike you as the coolest of sports, but believe me, this sport sim is tastier than an ice-cream Mars bar.
Most obviously its graphics are stunning. Both the golfer and the courses are superbly drawn, but more importantly, the multi-layered gameplay is splendid. There's far more to winning than simply sinking the ball with the fewest possible shots. Loosen up in Practice Mode and play a single round against an opponent or par. Move onto a full 18-hole game with Match Play. Getting more confident? Try the Tournament Mode which really throws you into the big league. Realising that this option can take some time to complete, Sega have thoughtfully provided a password option, enabling you to resume play from where you left off even if the Mega Drive has been powered down. It that's not enough there are numerous other embellishments to master: Selecting the right clubs (even down to a choice of which material they are made from - carbon, fibre glass or ceramic). Perfecting your swing and putting (check the direction the grass is growing, it may affect the way the ball rolls!) There's even a secret game-within-the-game. Just hit 100 shots on any hole, then during the Game Over sequence, press up twice, down twice, left, right B, A then Start and you'll enter Fantasy Zone — an arcade shoot 'em up! All in all, a hugely impressive game.

Super Monaco GP (Sega).

Put the pedal to the metal for the most authentic video racing game ever! Sega has been refining its racing games since the first arcade version back in the early 80s - and this is the best yet. The scrolling 3D graphics are breathtaking, and effortlessly create the illusion of speed as you hurtle around the various circuits, bumping the opposition off the track.
But the icing on the cake is the presentation: The neat little graphical touches, and superbly realistic sound, which make the experience so real.
You'll not forget the roar of a dozen ozone-hostile engines, the squeal of tyres and the white knuckle action. Super Monaco GP is a turbo-charged blast!

John Madden's Football (Sega).

This American football cart comes with a reputation as big as The Fridge. So it was with some anticipation that I loaded it up. Unfortunately it left me confused, bewildered and frustrated. John Madden's Football is far more a simulation than a sports arcade game, consequently if, like this droid, you have not been pre-programmed with the intricacies of American football you're likely -to be totally baffled. This is something of a shame because the game looks and sounds fantastic. The screens are beautifully drawn, the sprites are incredible and the music and effects first rate. However, payability is totally dependant on either your existing knowledge of the game or your willingness to learn. Recommended only if you're a) American, or b) watch a lot of Channel 4!

BITZ RATINGZ

96% Mickey Mouse in The Castle of Illusion (Sega),
£34.99.
86% Super Monaco GP (Sega), £34.99.
74% Arnold Palmer's Golf Tournament (Sega), £34.99.
67% John Madden's Football (Sega), £34.99.
All games are for the Sega Mega Drive system.
BITZ NEWZ
New Mega Drive carts currently on the scene:
Dick Tracey (Sega). Shoot 'em up featuring all the weird characters from last year’s blockbuster movie.
Spider-Man (Sega). Crawl into the web of the amazing, spectacular Spider-Man, star of some comic book or another. £34.99.
James Pond, Underwater Agent (Electronic Arts). Mega Drive conversion of the game ofsame name. £34.99. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega). Sounds weird but looks hot! £34.99.
Watch for reviews of these games in future Bitz pages.

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