Issue Summary

Robocop was the cover star on the second issue of Mean Machines. God knows why, as the Robocop games featured within looked pretty stinky. Strider was the original choice for the cover, but according to 'The Making of' feature in issue 15, the Robocop photo was deemed to be a stronger image.

This issue of unique in as much as it featured a review of one of the first games to be released simultaneously on two rival consoles - Titus' Fire and Forget II. The Master System and Amstrad GX4000 versions are both reviewed.

Talking of the GX4000, it was still hanging on for dear life in this issue. It would soon pass into the abyss of console history, never to return.

The excellent (and super-rare) Megadrive version of Taito's Rainbow Islands was given a review - it's amazing that this game wasn't given a Western release, bearing in mind how mind-blowingly successful the home computer versions were.

Free Gift

Given away free with this month's issue was an audio tape containing the 'Sega Rap'. At the time, I thought it was possibly the most awesome thing I'd ever heard, combining videogames with culture-changing beat of rap, but listening to it now I see it for what it really is. Namely, shit. Here's how it all happened and here's the complete lyrics. Am I good to you or what? I'll try and get an MP3 of the song online shortly.