GamePro was one of the most popular gaming magazines of the 1990s. I didn't pick up GamePro very often because there were other magazines I preferred (e.g. Electronic Gaming Monthly) and I didn't have unlimited funds for magazines. GamePro always felt like it had a slightly younger target audience but it was still a solid magazine. The June 1996 issue includes:
FeatureS
GamePro Readers' Choice Awards - The best games and systems of the year as determined by readers. Some of the highlights include Myst (Saturn) for best strategy game, Chrono Trigger (SNES) for best role-playing game, Zoop for best puzzle game, PlayStation for best overall system, Ultimate Mortal Kombat for best arcade game, Road Rash 3 (Genesis) for best 16-bit racing sim, Donkey Kong Land (Game Boy) for best handheld game, Destruction Derby (PlayStation) for best next-gen racing game, and Doom (PlayStation) for best next-gen corridor shooter (I guess "first person shooter" wasn't as universal of a term as it would become?). There are a bunch of other categories with each category having several entries.
Electronic Entertainment Expo Sneak Previews - Better known as E3, this used to be an important event in the gaming industry. Some new things shown (most still under development at the time) include Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire (Nintendo 64), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Turok Dinosaur Hunter (Nintendo 64), Shredfest (PlayStation, Saturn), Tigershark (PlayStation, PC CD), Pandemonium (PlayStation), Bogey: Dead 6 (PlayStation), Jumping Flash 2 (PlayStation), Dark Forces (PlayStation), Rebel Assault II (PlayStation), Bubsy 3D (PlayStation, Saturn), Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Saturn), Tomb Raider (Saturn), Gun Griffon (Saturn), X-Perts (Genesis), Vectorman 2 (Genesis), and lots more.
War Gods: First Look from the ACME Show - A first look at the War Gods arcade game. This was a new 3D fighter from Midway.
Table of Contents from the June 1996 issue of GamePro
SWATPro Strategy Section
Resident Evil PlayStation ProStrategy Guide - A detailed strategy guide for the game that popularized the survival horror genre.
Super Mario RPG Super NES ProStrategy Guide - A strategy guide for Super Mario RPG. These guides aren't something you want to use unless you are really stuck. Otherwise, I think they spoil the game.
SWATPro - Hints, tips, cheats and more for Bases Loaded '96 (PlayStation), NHL All-Star Hockey (Saturn), Earthworm Jim: Special Edition (Sega CD), Return Fire (3DO), PO'ed (PlayStation), Doom (3DO), ViewPoint (PlayStation), Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball (Saturn), Raiden Project (PlayStation), Shinobi Legends (Saturn), Sega Rally Championship (Saturn), Darius Gaiden (Saturn), Toy Story (Super NES), and more.
Lunar II: Eternal Blue (Sega CD) - A guide to reaching both endings in this RPG. I always wanted this (and its predecessor) for the TG-16 CD-ROM but for some reason never got around to playing them.
Table of Contents from the June 1996 issue of GamePro (continued)
Departments
Letter from the GamePros - A look at some of the latest changes to the magazine.
The Mail - Letters from readers about "palette swap" characters in games, NBA in the Zone, AC adapters for the Sega Nomad, and more.
GamePro Gallery - Video game related artwork from readers.
Buyers Beware - Questions answered about the shareware version of Duke Nukem 3D, the price of Killer Instinct 2, Squaresoft, XBand keyboard repair, playing old games on new systems, and more.
ProNews - Angry mom gets Primal Rage removed from store shelves; Sega, Sony and Nintendo cut console prices; PlayStation sales go over the 1 million mark; new VR baseball game; and more.
GamePro Online - Some of the GamePro content you can find on America Online, various web sites, and more.
