Space Station Silicon Valley

A haywire combination of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, The Discovery Channel and z-buffering, this genre-busting Pak maroons two bumbling adventurers on a giant spaceship stuffed to the yardarms with a heavy-metal menagerie. Coupling a great sense of exploration with some of the wickedest humor this side of Wallace & Gromit, Space Station: Silicon Valley has the look and feel of an instant cult classic.

DMA Design, creator of Lemmings and Uniracers, came up with an unusually thoughtful backstory for the extraterrestrial antics. It seems that in the distant future, Space Station: Silicon Valley has reemerged after wandering the cosmos for a thousand years. In a daring effort to see how artificial life might evolve, earth's finest scientific minds had built the giant spaceship, which replicates earth's climates and swarms with cybernetically engineered animals. In the intervening millenium, the silicon beasts evolved special abilities and weapons. They also got smarter and meaner, eventually lopping off the scientists' heads. Unfortunately, it's a little too late to rethink the research design.

World President Mrs. Frank Bloke tries to calm the frightened citizenry by sending Dan Danger, adventurer extraordinaire, and his cyborg sidekick, Evo, to secure the sinister station. Wisely, she's crossed out her speechwriter's panicked words: "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

When Dan and Evo crash-land in Silicon Valley, squishing a love-smitten Dog named Roger in the process, the stage is set for the oft-funny, always challenging action to come. Evo scampers into the dead Dog's skin and sets out on find out what the heck's going on around here.

The clever setup allows for a great variety to the game, as Evo gets to wander through four climactic zones (Europe, Arctic, Jungle and Desert) and take control of 45 different beasts. None of the animals -- trust us -- are what you'd see at your local zoo. There's a Racing Mouse that zips around on wheels, attacking its enemies with a very pointy tale. There's a propeller-driven Walrus armed with homing missiles. There's a Tortoise Tank, a Hyena that laughs its enemies to death, an electrified Scorpion and a Kangaroo that challenges ya to put up your dukes. Even the Piranha is a lot bigger and meaner than any you've seen in a B movie.

Spicing up the action is plenty of daft humor, such as Dan's smart-alecky commands to Evo. These two make Moe and Curly look like bosom buddies. Out on assignment, Evo wallows through Silicon Valley's effluent, gets banged around a giant pinball game, dogfights with outsized canines and turns on and off giant heaters, blowers, day/night machines and oil pumps. You'll want to keep the sound on to listen to Dan's groans whenever Evo cashes in his chips and the lounge music pulsating Silicon Valley's myriad speakers.

Despite the Everyone rating and the animal theme, Space Station: Silicon Valley is quite a mature title. After all, one of the chief goals is to slaughter virtually anything that moves. The dead scientists scattered about the landscape might upset younger players. And the game comes with some very challenging puzzles, especially in the huge later stages.

Players must make do with a CPU-controlled view that's usually overhead, although an Evo's-eye view can be had by squeezing the Z Button. For a good-looking game that puts a heavy emphasis on exploration, the inability to control the camera angle is a disappointment. Fortunately, many of the more complex stages have a movie camera. When Evo bumps into it, he gets one free fly-through of the entire stage. It's a nifty innovation that other developers would do well to adopt.

Given the dozens of creatures at your command, control is generally quite crisp. Guiding the Cool Cod around the Arctic waters proved most frustrating. The lack of camera controls can make aiming difficult, although that's only a problem with lightly armored creatures like the Penguin.

If you're looking for a title dripping with more attitude and creativity than Saturday night in SoHo, you'll want to check out this Pak.

Source:

www.nintendo.com

IN THE YEAR 3000, THERE ARE NO PETTING ZOOS

(Next to pictures of robotic animals) * Rocket boosters and treacherous heat-seeking missiles make this flying fox virtually unavoidable and unflappable. * A sheep-herding K-9 on wheels whose Fido firepower is worse than his bite. * You can't get over this hump, full of explosives and ready to blow. * Packs nuclear power in his pouch and in his punch. * A rocket-sneezing, snow-squeezing polar bear who dumps dangerous icicle mines in front of unsuspecting foes. * A high-speed husky on skis who hates penguins and often flips his wig. * Full of lighting-fast mayhem and deadly cruise missiles, he's no angel. * A deviously shy tortoise who comes out of his armor-plated shell to wreak serious havoc.

Silicon Valley, a space station used to harbor cutting-edge technology, has disappeared. Now, in the year 3000, it's on a collision course with Earth. You must not only think like the wacked-out beings who inhabit its incredibly lavish environments, you must become them. Only then will you be able to unlock the mysteries of the Valley and save our planet. Whatever you do, do not attempt to feed the animals.

Source:

Nintendo Power #113, October 1998

A Wild Cyberspace Adventure to Save the Next Millennium

Silicon Valley was intended to be the most technologically advanced amusement park civilization has ever known. Shortly after take-off, it disappeared. Now, in the year 3000, it's back and on a collision course with Earth! It's up to you to conquer the 30 levels in four incredibly lavish environments, take control of the totally original, wacky and - at times - life threatening characters and unlock the mysteries of the Valley. It's all great fun but remember, the fate of the world is in your hands!

(Image captions) * An experiment gone wrong! * Wacky and challenging puzzles and secrets! * This Kangaroo packs power in his pouch! * Master over 90 different powers! * Take control of over 40 outrageous characters!

Source:

Back of Box - N64 (US)