New Video Games Offer Realism, Better Graphics

Have you ever wanted to be Deion Sanders strutting into the end zone with a game-winning touchdown? Or how about Fred Couples teeing it up at Augusta? Perhaps you want a front-row seat for the matchup between Babe Ruth and Cy Young winner Greg Maddux?

You can have all these things - one after another - with the right sports video games.

Gone are the cartoon-like characters of games past. Computer athletes now not only look like the real thing, they act like them.

The possibilities are endless. Old Time Baseball offers the possibility of Ruth vs. Maddux. In PGA Tour ‘96, you have a standing tee time on an exact replica of Spyglass Hill on the Monterey Peninsula. Or you can hear John Madden’s comments as you control the Dolphins against the Cowboys in a Super Bowl.

In most of these games, you are in command. You can trade players, coach teams and control players during the game. On NFL Gameday, you can trade Terrell Buckley for Emmitt Smith. Want to see the University of Miami play Florida? Get College Football USA ‘96.

Football

Madden ‘96: The best football game on the market is back for another season. Madden ‘96 brings you complete rosters, all NFL teams, a full NFL season, playoffs and a Super Bowl. Learn the secret codes and you can play more than a dozen Super Bowl teams and Hall of Fame teams back to the ‘50s.

The game contains new Madden defenses and 3-D graphics that use motion-capture technology. Actual NFL players have been digitized into the game. The field is bigger and features a windowless passing option that forces QBs to read zone and man coverages. It looks the best on the 32-bit Sony PlayStation system. For one to four players. By EA Sports (N, G, S, P, PC).

NFL GameDay: Sony has introduced this new game, which features incredible 3-D animation, realistic stadium renditions and actual player statistics from Stats Inc. Sony’s internal production team consulted with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono on the game’s playbook to ensure that NFL GameDay faithfully re-creates current NFL offensive and defensive strategies. Players will also be able to create dream teams using the player trade option.

One to two players. By Sony Interactive Sports (P).

NFL Quarterback Club ‘96: This new challenger to John Madden ‘96 on 16-bit systems has more than 800 plays to choose from. It even features an historic simulation mode that lets you change history in more than 50 game-breaking situations. Looks the best on the 32-bit Sega Saturn system. One to four players. By Acclaim Entertainment (N, G, S, P).

Prime Time Starring Deion Sanders: Sanders has his own game, which is as fast and hard-hitting as any on the market. What makes this game different is that the speed of the players mirrors the speed of the real NFL player. One to four players. By Sega Sports (G, S).

College Football USA ‘96: Forget the Bowl Alliance - here you get to decide who is the national champion. This game contains all 108 Division I-A teams Graphics are so sharp, you see the players’ numbers clearly, and game play is on par with Madden ‘96. One to four players. By Sega Sports (G).

Baseball

Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball: Excellent graphics with Thomas’ moves captured by Acclaim’s motion-capture technology, making the player on the screen very lifelike. Excellent for young fans. One or two players. By Acclaim (N, G, S, P).

World Series Baseball ‘96: The next generation of video baseball is here. The graphics are like nothing you have seen on a home system. You get four fully rendered 3-D stadiums that make you feel you are sitting in the dugout. A tip: when you play against the computer, you will notice every fielder has a rocket for an arm so be cautious taking that extra base. Next year’s version will have all the major-league parks. One or two players. By Sega Sports (G, S).

Basketball

Slam ‘n’ Jam: This is the most lifelike of the basketball games. Players look like the real thing when they jam in your face. Play is hard and fast with no mercy shown for lackluster defense. It’s the John Madden of basketball games. One or two players. By Crystal Dynamics (3D0).

NBA JAM: This home version of Midway’s arcade hit is packed with all the fun of the original. You can choose digitized likenesses of 122 NBA superstars from all NBA teams, along with all-rookie and All-Star teams and 38 hidden characters such as Larry Bird. One to four players. By Acclaim (N, G, S, P, 32X).

Hockey

NHL ‘96: This new version combines all the fast action, strategies and realism of hockey with new CD sound effects that bring the arena to life. The puck travels at real-time speed, making it a game that takes time to learn. One to four players. By EA Sports (N, G, S, P, PC).

Golf

PGA Tour Golf ‘96: If you love golf, you’re in for a treat. This game has a PGA Tour license, and you can play with any one of your favorite pros, including Tom Kite, Craig Stadler and Fuzzy Zoeller. It features stroke, skins, match and tournament play. Graphics are sharp and lifelike, and the caddie even can offer advice on club selection. One to four players. EA Sports (3D0, G, P, PC, M).

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Key legend Sports video games are available on several systems. Here is the key to the abbreviations following each review: N - Super Nintendo G - Sega Genesis S - Sega Saturn P - Sony PlayStation, 3D0 - 3D0 32X - Sega 32X PC - personal computer M - Macintosh