Shockwave: Operation Jumpgate

EA's Shock Wave is still one of the best 3DO discs out there, and now fans of the game have something very cool to celebrate - a data disk that adds five new missions to the original game.

The disc has 3D combat action and photorealistic terrain, plus Dolby Surround Sound.

The new missions include treks to Mars, Jupiter's mysterious moon lo, and Titan, a moon that orbits Saturn. You can also expect sub-missions with maze runs and time traps. As you catapult through space, you'll encounter new enemy ships like the Ice Melter, BattleAxe, and Suriken. How shocking!

The year is 2026. It's been seven years since you defeated the alien invasion force. Always on the lookout for signs of trouble, probes have discovered another alien threat in our solar system. Take your F-177 Heavy Fighter to the masses of alien slime, and prepare to kick major butt. Join Commander Stewert and her crack team of pilots, and see if you can save the Earth once more.

ShockWave: Operation JumpGate is a visual tour-de-force loaded with great action and cinemas. If you thought the first one was hot, this one's even better!

The aliens are back again in another attempt to take over the planet. The first time was bad enough and much was lost, but Commander Stewart along with Admiral Crane and his crew are now ready to defend against the alien invasion. Your pilot name is Wildcard. Your mission is to destroy the aliens in order to reach their command post and destroy it.

Since I enjoyed the first Shockwave so much, it wasn't hard to like this one as well. The effects are realistic, and the sound is superb. If you can get used to the touchy direction panel, then you stand a better chance. On the planet Mars, use your missiles wisely, for you may need them at desperate times. Also, try to find all the fuel/weapon stations to fill up on lost items. The voice control will help guide you. The funny thing about this game is that Commander Stewart doesn't allow you to recover after being hit a couple times. You basically go back into battle as a human vegetable!

THE GOOD

The effects are awesome in Shockwave. Get ready for some explosive firepower beyond belief!

THE BAD

It's pretty hard to maneuver around the ship. The movement is a little touchy in the area of control.

THE UGLY

Listening to the voice-over complain about your mistakes.

A mysterious alien invasion is about to send shock waves around the Earth. Shock Wave from Electronic Arts could do the same for 3DO shooters.

The State of Shock

The invasion presents a captivating mystery. No one knows who the aliens are or why they've invaded Earth. The awful answer will unfold as you complete missions over ten stages. Stylish cinematic scenes will tell the story using real actors against blue screens. This technique allows out-of-this-world hardware and other snazzy visual effects to be computer generated for every scene.

You'll fight battles in the skies above international locales from Cairo, Egypt, to Las Vegas, Nevada. The action graphics are polygon based, and you fly in a first-person cockpit perspective. A panel-mounted radar screen will guide you to your targets; however, on the prelim disc you could veer off your flight path as far as you wanted to explore areas.

Evil ET forces will have weird armaments, including three-legged mechanical walkers, pesky interceptors, sneaky submarines, and nasty antiaircraft weapons. Your fighter craft will be armed with homing missiles and a blaster that fires one shot per button press.

'Wave Rave

This CD looks like a sizzling shooter. Shock Wave could be a real shocker!