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From the
makers of
Edition
Digital

ESSENTIAL TV SHOWS & MO

VIES
THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING
ICONIC MUSICIANS AND GENRES
EDITION
FIRST
WELCOME
TO THE

9 0 s
Arguably the best decade of the 20th century, the ’90s had
it all – fantastic music, iconic movies, timeless TV shows, the
best (and worst) of fashion, and some of the greatest toys
and games ever created. Packed full of passionate tributes
and stunning photography, the Ultimate 90s Collection is a
celebration of the decade that brought us Friends, Jurassic
Park, Harry Potter, the Super Nintendo, Britpop, the Spice Girls
and so much more. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane
and revisit the films, albums, videogames, tech, toys, TV shows
and clothes that made the ’90s so special.
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Part of the

bookazine series
 CONTENTS
8 THE SIMPSONS
Discover how a cartoon family evolved into an
iconic TV show, won hearts around the world,
042
Friends
and became a ’90s pop-culture phenomenon

18 90 FILMS
THAT DEFINED
THE ’90s
36 WWE
38 THE FRESH PRINCE
OF BEL-AIR
40 TAMAGOTCHI
080
42 FRIENDS Polly Pocket

46 DREAM PHONE
48 FURBY The
50 HARRY POTTER AND
THE PHILOSOPHER’S
STONE
Simpsons
52 CAPTAIN PLANET
AND THE
08
PLANETEERS
54 ATMOSFEAR
56 BAYWATCH
58 THE GOLDEN AGE
OF GAMING
60 GAME BOY
64 MEGA DRIVE
68 SNES
72 N64
76 PLAYSTATION
038
The Fresh Prince
of Bel-Air
80 POLLY POCKET
82 TELETUBBIES
84 SUPER SOAKER
86 APPLE IMAC
036
WWE
6
 018
90 films
that defined
the ’90s

88 MIGHTY MORPHIN
POWER RANGERS
90 BOP IT
92 THE INTERNET
94 POKÉMON
TRADING CARD
090 GAME
Bop It
088 96 FASHIONS OF
Mighty Morphin THE ’90s
Power Rangers
100 SOUTH PARK
102 THE DVD
REVOLUTION
104 SUPERTED
106 THE X-FILES
110 MIGHTY MAX
112 REN & STIMPY
114 BEANIE BABIES
116 CROCODILE DENTIST
118 BEAVIS AND
082 BUTT-HEAD
Teletubbies
120 SAVED BY THE BELL
122 MINIDISC
124 BUFFY THE
106 VAMPIRE SLAYER
The X-Files 126 GOOSEBUMPS
128 BEVERLY HILLS,
90210
130 THE SOUNDS
OF THE ’90s
132 BATTLE OF BRITPOP
136 GIRL POWER VS
Sounds BOY BANDS

of the ’90s 140 HIP HOP: THE

GOLDEN AGE

130 142 THE BIRTH

OF GRUNGE

7
8
SIMPSO
ONS How a hastily sketched cartoon family
evolved into an iconic TV show, won
hearts around the world, and became a
pop-culture phenomenon
9
 he Simpsons is the greatest TV show

T of all time. It’s a cultural touchstone

that crosses generational boundaries.
A merchandising marvel that’s produced
T-shirts, pencil cases, videogames, toys,
stamps, a feature film, theme park rides and
just about anything else you can think of.
It’s an endless source of internet memes. A
treasure trove of quotable lines. The coiner
of universally recognised expressive noises
like ‘d’oh’, ‘yoink’, and ‘meh’. A pioneering
production that popularised the idea of
animation for adults. For all those reasons and
more, The Simpsons is one of the best things
the 1990s produced.
It all started when Simpsons creator
Matt Groening was contacted by executive
producer James L Brooks about making
a series of animated shorts based on his
long-running Life in Hell comic strip for US
variety programme The Tracey Ullman Show.
The story goes that Groening was worried
about losing ownership rights for Life in
Hell, so, while waiting to meet Brooks in his
office’s lobby, he conceived of and hastily
sketched out a dysfunctional family: Homer,
the overweight and simple father; Marge,

TV SHOW
the beehive-sporting anxious mother; Bart,
the troublemaker; his smart and socially
conscious sister Lisa; and the pacifier-
sucking baby, Maggie. On the fly, Groening
had created The Simpsons. The cast would
eventually expand and the family would evolve
in look and personality after leaving Tracey
Ullman behind, but the core of what we now
What made us fall in love with a dysfunctional
know and love as The Simpsons was there.
The Simpsons debuted on The Tracey
family from Springfield?
Ullman Show in 1987. It was then picked hen trying to put your finger on
up by Fox and developed into a full half-
hour series, which premiered on TV in the
December of 1989. The show quickly became
W what it is that makes The Simpsons
such a great TV show, it’s hard to
look past its characters as the starting point.
a phenomenon. The series’ early success There tended to be a veneer of fakeness about
was centred around the popularity of Bart, the sitcom families we were exposed to when
the world’s favourite delinquent. Millions of the show debuted. Despite being bright-yellow
T-shirts, lunchboxes and other memorabilia cartoon characters, the Simpsons, in contrast,
featuring Bart were sold, and controversy was felt uncompromisingly real. Every member
generated as schools started banning T-shirts of the family is flawed. Their relationships are
featuring the character due to debates about troubled and the resolutions they reach to
him being a bad role model. overcome their problems often feel patchwork
Bartmania would soon die down, and other and makeshift. Precisely because the
Simpson family members were allowed to Simpsons aren’t idealised, precisely because
drift into the spotlight as the show grew in their relationships are messy and difficult, we
sophistication and ambition. The Simpsons can identify with them. We can see their flaws
found its groove, and its undeniable quality in ourselves and our family members. We
quietened the volume of criticism as the can laugh at the way The Simpsons brilliantly
series evolved into the decade’s greatest exposes the reality of family dynamics,
television success. without being judgmental, and draw heart
The Simpsons is still going today, but will from the way that the Simpsons’ genuine love
always be inextricably linked to the decade for each other keeps them going despite their
that gave us its Golden Age: the 1990s. obvious issues.

10
 THE SIMPSONS

TOP 5
FAMOUS
FACES
Krusty Gets Busted
Kelsey Grammer
Making the transition from one huge
’90s sitcom to another, Kelsey Grammer
jumped over from Frasier to provide the
voice for Sideshow Bob, who has ended
up being a popular returning character,
usually out to get revenge on Bart for his
arrest in the episode Krusty Gets Busted.

“A savage satire it may be, but let’s not forget The Springfield
Files
that The Simpsons is also just very funny. It’s Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny

full of hilarious one-liners” The X-Files was huge in the ’90s, so

it was a pretty big deal when David
Duchovny and Gillian Anderson showed
up as their characters from the show, Fox
Of course, The Simpsons has a cast of heartlessness of the super-rich; Krusty the
Mulder and Dana Scully. The pair show
characters that expands far beyond the family. Clown’s storylines showcase the shallowness
up in Springfield to investigate Homer’s
There’s God-fearing do-gooder Ned Flanders, and cynicism of the entertainment industry; alleged alien encounter.
sleazebag huckster Lionel Hutz, stereotypical Chief Wiggum stands in for the police, while
nerd Comic Book Guy, school bully Nelson Dr Hibbert and Nick Riviera stand in for the
Muntz and many, many more. Each of them medical profession, and Principal Skinner the Stark Raving Dad
is a hilarious and well-observed caricature. school system, and so on. Every aspect of Michael Jackson
The King of Pop sort of played himself,
However, they also serve as a lens through society is covered by The Simpsons, and it’s got
but also not. He played a character who
which the show brutally satirises the excesses, something funny and clever to say about every
Homer met in a mental institution who
extravagances and hypocrisies of American one of them.
believed he was Michael Jackson, called
culture. Mayor Quimby is used as a vehicle A savage satire it may be, but let’s not forget Leon Kompowsky. Due to contractual
for attacking corruption and greed in politics; that The Simpsons is also just very funny. reasons, Jackson was credited as John
Mr Burns is the avatar of the viciousness and It’s full of hilarious one-liners, such as when Jay Smith, and his involvement in the
incompetent attorney Lionel Hutz tells his episode only officially confirmed later.
clients Homer and Marge: “Don’t you worry.
I’ve argued in front of every judge in the state…
often as a lawyer!” It has an ear for playing with Lisa’s Rival
language in ticklingly pleasurable ways, like Winona Ryder
Thanks to starring roles in films
when good-hearted simpleton Ralph Wiggum
like Beetlejuice, Mermaids, Edward
exclaims: “Me, fail English? That’s unpossible.”
Scissorhands and The Age of Innocence,
Or when Moe chides Lisa’s scepticism about Ryder was a huge film star when The
a fossilised angel by saying: “If you’re so sure Simpsons nabbed her to play Allison
what it ain’t, how about tellin’ us what it am.” Taylor, a new student at Springfield
The series has impeccable timing when it Elementary who Lisa becomes jealous
comes to physical comedy, too. It’s full of great of due to her outshining Lisa’s academic
slapstick humour, with the buffoonish Homer and musical achievements.
often bearing the bumps and bruises in the
name of our entertainment.
The Simpsons is a comedy that can do it all.
Radio Bart
Sting
It can be earnest and heart-warming, deliver Having left The Police to go solo in the
razor-sharp satire, deconstruct the psychology mid-1980s, Sting started finding solo
of individuals in hilarious and insightful ways, success and stardom in the early ’90s,
and be silly and slapstick. It’s given us moments as well as a guest appearance as himself
we’ll never forget, from monorail mania to where he assisted in freeing Bart from a
secret societies, Halloween specials to Bond well. His appearance puts him in good
parodies. The Simpson family and the citizens company with other musical guest stars
of Springfield will forever be in our hearts. like Aerosmith and George Harrison.

11
 “You can find
a Simpsons
version of
pretty much
every famous
board game”

TOYS
Memorabilia madness brings The
Simpsons to toy-store shelves and
high-street racks
12
 THE SIMPSONS

iven that early Simpsons fever was available through cross-brand promotional Simpsons merch extends well beyond

G centred around Bart, it’s no surprise

that merchandising efforts began
by cashing in on the spikey-haired rebel’s
campaigns. Burger King had a set of Simpsons
figures available in the early ’90s, for example,
and Kellogs gave away Simpsons cake
the world of figures and dolls. You can find
a Simpsons version of pretty much every
famous board game, including Simpsons
popularity. A talking Bart Simpson doll was toppers in Canada. The ’90s ended chess, Simpsons Monopoly, Simpsons Cluedo,
one of the first examples of Simpsons on a high when it comes to Simpsons Simpsons Scrabble and Simpsons Pictionary.
toys. It would spout catchphrases figures, with the first release of the There are also Simpsons board-game versions
like “Don’t have a cow, man!” and “Ay World of Springfield series. World of of TV quiz shows, like The Simpsons Jeopardy
carumba!” Alongside the dolls, Bart Springfield is a series of action figures and and Simpsons Wheel of Fortune. Then there
Simpson T-shirts were an essential accompanying playsets based on the TV are original Simpsons games. In the Don’t Have
for the ’90s kid. You couldn’t go show, made with a quality and detail that a Cow Dice Game, you roll cubes with pictures
anywhere without seeing an image was lacking in some of the decade’s early of the Simpsons on them to try and match
of him saying ‘eat my shorts’ on efforts. This line would eventually include combinations, like the three Simpson kids,
the T-shirts of passers-by, or over 200 characters from the series, while betting against each other. Then there
hanging from racks in the shops. including the likes of Hans Moleman, is Hungry Homer, a game where you must roll
We’re pleased that the Simpsons Disco Stu and Rainier Wolfcastle, 40 a dice that determines the size of the donut
series soon realised it could do playsets based on locations from the you can take away for poor Hungry Homer.
better than rely on catchphrases, town like the nuclear power plant, Moe’s Eventually, he’ll lose his patience and send all
but they proved valuable in the Tavern and Springfield Elementary, the donuts flying to end the game. Inevitably,
early days of shifting Bart merch. and even a couple of vehicles – the The Simpsons also has The Simpsons Board
Of course, the rest of the family Simpsons’ family car and the school Game, where the goal is to be the character
got in on the act too. In the early bus driven by Otto. There was also a with the most trash on the living-room rug.
days, there were figures of the set of celebrity guest figures released to Then, there is the miscellanea. The Simpsons
whole family produced by Acme and DanDee, celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary, including dartboard and skateboards, the Bart Simpson
which, probably unintentionally, replicated the figures of Leonard Nimoy, Stephen King, and Bret phone, the Homer egg cup, The Simpsons-
slightly shoddy nature of the TV series’ early Hart. You can also get Lego sets based on The themed stationery, and all manner of other
seasons. As the show’s popularity grew, Simpsons, including a faithful re-creation of the memorabilia. If you can think of it, there’s
Simpsons merch started becoming Simpsons’ family home. probably a Simpsons version out there.

13
 MEDIA
Conquering the entertainment world, from
The Simpsons: Bart
& the Beanstalk
received mixed
reviews when it
was released on

chart-topping success to venerated videogames Nintendo’s Game

Boy in 1994.

he swift success

T
on Radioactive Man, transforming a fictional
of The Simpsons comic book hero within the Simpsons universe
led to the series into a comic book hero in the real world.
branching out into other media. A slew of As we’ve mentioned Bartman, we should
Simpsons books were published in the early also touch on the series’ brief flirtation with the
’90s, kicking off with Greetings from The music industry. In 1990, a Simpsons album
Simpsons, The Simpsons Xmas Book and called The Simpsons Sing the Blues was
The Simpsons Rainy Day Fun Book. These released, featuring songs performed by Homer,
books ranged from those that let you delve Marge, Bart and Lisa. Do the Bartman was
deeper, like The Simpsons Uncensored Family released as a single from the album, making it
Album – which featured family trees of the to Number 1 in the UK, New Zealand, Norway,
Simpson and Bouvier families, baby photos Ireland and Australia.
of Homer and Marge, and the documenting of As if conquering TV, publishing and music
the lives of their children – to books aimed at a wasn’t enough, The Simpsons also delved
younger audience, like Maggie Simpson’s Book into the world of videogames. The first game
of Animals. based on the series remains one of the better The Simpsons took to the arcades as well as
In 1993, creator Matt Groening founded a Simpsons games: The Simpsons: Bart vs. home consoles. The Simpsons arcade game
comic book company called Bongo Comics to the Space Mutants, released on NES, Master was a side-scrolling beat ’em up released in
publish Simpsons-themed comics. Obviously, System and a variety of other systems. The 1991 where up to four players could take control
this includes a comic book series based on game was a 2D side-scrolling platformer where of Homer, a hoover-wielding Marge, a skipping
The Simpsons, but there was also an Itchy & you, playing as Bart, had to thwart an alien rope-swinging Lisa and a skateboard-riding
Scratchy series, a Bartman series based on invasion using Bart’s X-ray specs to spot aliens Bart, to battle against enemies and save the
Bart’s superhero alter-ego, and even a series hiding in human form. kidnapped Maggie. It was a brilliantly vivid re-

14
 THE SIMPSONS

“As if conquering TV, publishing and music

wasn’t enough, The Simpsons also delved into
the world of videogames”

creation of the town of Springfield and its varied

cast of characters.
There are too many Simpsons videogames
to list them all, safe to say there’s a varied
collection out there, including an Itchy &
Scratchy golf game released for the Game
Boy in 1994; a 1992 game where you had
to exterminate rats while playing as Krusty
the Clown, called Krusty’s Fun House; and
a beautifully detailed PC point-and-click
adventure released in 1997 that let you explore The Simpsons: Bart Vs.
all of Springfield’s famous locales and interact The Juggernauts was a
with your favourite characters, called Game Boy-exclusive
Virtual Springfield. release, which came
When it comes to Simpsons games, be wary out in 1992.
of the fact that the quality varies wildly. The
Simpsons Wrestling for the original PlayStation
and The Simpsons Skateboarding on PS2 are
a couple of examples of notoriously terrible
Simpsons titles. However, there are some good
ones out there. Along with the aforementioned
Simpsons arcade game, GTA clone The
Simpsons: Hit & Run, the unimaginatively titled
The Simpsons Game, and Crazy Taxi rip-off The
Simpsons: Road Rage are all fun to play.
It was always going to be impossible for
The Simpsons to hit the same level of quality
as it did with its ground-breaking TV show in
other mediums (we’re looking at you, Do the
Bartman). Still, between the books, the comics
and the videogames, there’s some great
Simpsons spinoff media to enjoy.

15
 as been
t ’ McNall h
Travis ‘Bar em orabilia
impsons m
collecting S s.
30 year
for nearly

THE
SIMPSONS
SUPERFAN
Simpsons fan Travis ‘Bart’ McNall talks us through his
colossal collection of Simpsons memorabilia
How did you first get into The Simpsons? drug store that sold some toys. It was a Bart Yes. The number-one item that I’m looking
I first saw The Simpsons as shorts on The Simpson doll from DanDee. For Christmas for to add to my Simpsons collection is a
Tracey Ullman Show on 19 April 1987. I’m not 1990, Simpsons items are pretty much all the Bart Simpson theme park costume. The very
sure if I’ve seen them all. Then I heard that material gifts that I got that year. one used at Universal Orlando Resort
they were having a Christmas special on 17 or Universal Studios Hollywood. Also, I’d
December 1989. I watched it then. Then I What are some of your favourite items like to get an actual Simpsons animation
heard that they were having regular episodes in your collection? cel, with the whole family or just Bart in a
airing. I did what most people would do and My current favourite item is a life-sized decent pose. I’d like to be in a Simpsons
watched a few episodes to see if it was worth plush Bart Simpson doll. One of the other episode as a big fan and collector of the
it to keep watching. By that March, I got favourite items that I have (that I can think ‘I didn’t do it boy’, and actually talk to
hooked. I like The Simpsons for the humour. of) is a reproduction animation cel from the Bart himself.
Bart Simpson has and always will be my 100th episode. Only 2,500 were made. I
favourite Simpsons character. have some Bart Simpson T-shirts that I Do you think you’ll ever run out of
really like, some of which I wear today and Simpsons items to collect?
How did you get into collecting some I keep in mint or near-mint shape. Right now, I’m not sure. I only collect the
Simpsons merchandise? Also, I have some unopened Bart Simpson clean Simpsons items. I won’t collect
When I got hooked on the show, I saw some action figures and some Simpsons books in anything that’s dirty [rude]. If they still make
Simpsons merchandise in stores. I really different languages. and release anything clean, I plan to collect
wanted to buy them. But, at the time, I was it. Right now (in the US) I haven’t really seen
too young to be working. I’m thinking I got Are there rare items missing from your anything new except for some comics and
one of my first items at a local pharmacy/ collection that are tricky to get hold of? some T-shirts; nothing big.

16
 THE SIMPSONS

“Bart will always

be my favourite
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17
90
FILMS

FILMS THAT
DEFINED
THE ’90S Take a trip down memory lane with the
very best films that defined a generation
ox office became a big deal in crime capers, while Dances with Wolves

B during the ’90s, with many of the

decade’s biggest hitters effortlessly
surpassing the $500 million mark that
and Unforgiven are largely responsible for
making Westerns fashionable again.
While action stars like Sylvester Stallone
the films of the ’80s failed to dent. 13 films and Arnold Schwarzenegger no longer
smashed the barrier with ease, while Titanic dominated the box office like they did in the
© Paramount Pictures; Miramax Films; Disney/Pixar; Twentieth

went one better, earning over $1.843 billion. ’80s, they still managed to make an impact
Money wasn’t the only thing that was with films like Terminator 2 and Cliffhanger.
Century Fox; Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc; Getty

changing: audiences’ tastes were, too. Ultimately, however, it was Tom Hanks and
Horror movies that had been hugely Tom Cruise who would become some of
popular during the ’80s began to fade, only the biggest stars of the decade, with Hanks
returning later in the decade, while gross- winning two best actor Oscars back to
out comedies like There’s Something About back, a feat that hadn’t been achieved in the
Mary and Dumb and Dumber found new category since Spencer Tracey in 1938.
audiences. The runaway success of Quentin So join us as we look at some of the
Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs reignited interest decade’s most enduring films.

19
 Ghost Léon
1990 1994

1 2
The highest-grossing film of Luc Besson’s unlikely tale
1990 made Patrick Swayze of a hitman who takes in an
and Demi Moore mega orphaned girl works largely
stars, and even earned Whoopi thanks to sensational
Goldberg an Oscar for best performances from Jean Reno
supporting actress the following as the childlike hitman, Gary
year. Its iconic potter’s-wheel Oldman’s unhinged dirty cop,
scene has been parodied countless and a powerhouse debut from a
times over the decades, while its then 12-year-old Natalie Portman.
theme tune, Unchained Melody, Oozing style, the available
turned out to be a big hit for the director’s cut further explores
Righteous Brothers 35 years after it the main characters’ complex
was first recorded. relationship, which is fascinating.

The Full Monty

1997

3
Who would have thought a group of unlikely unemployed men
becoming strippers would have performed so well at the box
office? Made for a paltry $3.5 million, it netted $258 million at the
box office, kickstarted the career of Mark Addy, and led to a play and
Broadway musical.

Clerks Robin Hood: There’s Mrs Doubtfire

1994
Prince of Something 1993

4 7
Kevin Smith’s debut film He wasn’t able to topple
was shot in the convenience Thieves About Mary Spielberg’s dinos, but Robin
1991 1998
store where he actually Williams’ performance of

5 6
worked, and was made for a Never mind the fact that The highest-grossing comedy a failing actor who dresses up as
meagre $27,525. It cemented this is another dubious of the year catapulted Ben the curmudgeonly Mrs Doubtfire
him as one of the leading indie Hollywood portrayal of Stiller and Cameron Diaz in order to see his children
directors of the ’90s, though, the popular English folk hero; to the top of Hollywood, and still did gangbusters at the box
and helped to create the View let’s remember Alan Rickman’s proved the Farrelly brothers had office. While a sequel was still
Askewniverse – the fictional hilariously hammy portrayal of the no bounds when it came to the in development as late as 2014,
universe that would link many of Sheriff of Nottingham and Bryan pursuit of comedy. Amazingly, Bill Williams’ tragic death that same
Smith’s later films. A sequel was Adams’ (Everything I Do) I Do It Murray was originally considered year inevitably means it is now
released in 2006. For You. for the sleazy role of Pat Healy. permanently cancelled.

20
 FILMS

Rush Hour GoldenEye

1998 1995

10 11
Jackie Chan’s first big After a six-year break,
western blockbuster Martin Campbell was
saw him teaming up tasked with rebooting
with the smart-mouthed Chris James Bond. It turned out to be
Tucker for a fairly formulaic take a very smart move, generating
on the buddy action genre. Despite more than $350 million at the box
some rather lacklustre reviews, it office. Pierce Brosnan shines as the
still made $244 million off a $33 sultry spy, while Dame Judi Dench
million budget, leading Newline becomes the perfect foil for him as
to commission two sequels in his new boss, M. It’s only real let
2001 and 2007. A fourth movie is down by Sean Bean’s somewhat
allegedly in the works. weak villain.

Boogie Unforgiven
Nights 1992

13
1997 Clint Eastwood’s love
letter to the Westerns

12
Paul Thomas Anderson’s
focus on the porn that made him so iconic
industry of San Fernando scored big at the Oscars, winning
Valley reinvented Marky Mark four awards, including best picture,
as a serious actor, and featured director and supporting actor
a career-defining role from Burt for Gene Hackman’s frightening
Terminator II: Reynolds. It has arguably got the performance as ‘Little’ Bill Daggett.

Judgment Day best ensemble cast of the decade Eastwood himself plays brilliantly
against type, until the final
1991 (with Magnolia possibly just edging
showdown turns him into every

8
James Cameron’s second pairing with Arnold Schwarzenegger it), and a killer soundtrack that
spawned two albums. violent character he’s ever played.
generated over $523 million to become the year’s top hit.
While it’s remembered for its (then) cutting-edge visuals,
Arnie’s clever role-reversal and the introductions of Edward Furlong
and Robert Patrick, it’s the transformation of Linda Hamilton into a
highly trained killing machine that leaves the biggest impression.

Lock, Stock & Two

Smoking Barrels
1998

9
Guy Ritchie’s comedy crime caper
led to a marriage with Madonna,
turned Jason Statham into one of
Hollywood’s biggest action stars, and
launched the unlikely acting career of
footballer Vinnie Jones. It’s an excellent
crime story, which convinced Sting it was
worth returning to acting (it wasn’t).

21
 Speed The Muppet
1994 Christmas Carol

14
Described on release 1992

15
as ‘Die Hard on a bus’, If you only ever watch
the directorial debut one Christmas film
of cinematographer Jan de Bont starring muppets and
remains an epic action movie Michael Caine, then make sure
today. Speed features a crazy turn it’s this one. While it didn’t do
by Dennis Hopper, helped further big business at the box office Wayne’s World
the blossoming career of a then upon its release, Brian Henson’s 1992

16
largely unknown Sandra Bullock, movie has become a real Mike Myers’ Saturday Night Live sketch show became a
and of course had everyone Christmas favourite thanks to monstrous cinematic hit that had everybody schwinging and
talking about Keanu Reeves’ sexy some killer jokes and a ‘bah hurling upon its release. Notable for a huge number of cameos,
new haircut. A true classic from humbug’ performance which included Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper and Jimmy DeGrasso, its box-
the decade. from Caine. office success led to a less-than-impressive sequel the following year.

The Blair The Truman Four Weddings Fargo

Witch Project Show and a funeral 1996

20
1999 1998 1994 This fine effort from the

17 18 19
This chilling horror Eerily predicting Nobody plays a lovable, Coen brothers earned
was notable for the world’s current bumbling buffoon like them an Oscar for
numerous reasons. It obsession with trashy Hugh Grant does. Mike best original screenplay. Frances
made ‘recovered footage‘ films reality TV, The Truman Show Newell’s romantic comedy was McDormand also won an Oscar
popular, and was arguably the proved that Jim Carrey was more not only a massive success on for her portrayal of a pregnant
first example of viral marketing, than capable of simply gurning both sides of the Atlantic, but also police officer who investigates the
with many being led to believe it his way through a film, and is led to Wet Wet Wet’s cover of brutal murders that take place in
was a true story thanks to clever arguably his finest performance. The Troggs’ Love Is All Around, a sleepy Minnesota town. A TV
websites available on its release. Ed Harris shines too, as the which topped the UK charts for series set in the same universe was
It’s plagued by poor sequels. creator of Truman’s fake universe. 15 consecutive weeks. released in 2014.

22
 FILMS

Goodfellas
1990

21
Martin Scorsese’s
best film of the ’90s
works thanks to the
excellent source material (it’s
based on Nicholas Pileggi’s
Wiseguy) and three powerful
performances from Joe Pesci,
Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta.
Oh, and it’s got one of the
coolest tracking shots of all
time. So there!

Sleepless
in Seattle
1993

22
This romantic comedy-
drama by Nora Ephron
was a surprise hit at the
cinema, and further cemented Tom
Hanks as an increasingly bankable
actor. It also marks the second of
three times he would team up with
his co-star, Meg Ryan. The first
was Joy Verses the Volcano; the
third being You’ve Got Mail, also
by Ephron.

23
 “Anthony Hopkins won an Twister The Lion King
Oscar for his sinister portrayal 1996 1994

24 25
Jan de Bont’s tale of Loosely based on
of Hannibal Lecter, while Jodie idiot storm chasers Hamlet, this was
makes for rather another box-office
Foster picked up her second spectacular viewing, and features success for Disney, and featured
best actress Oscar” a somewhat surprising lead the vocal talents of Matthew
performance from the late Bill Broderick, James Earl Jones,
Paxton. Although it lost out on Jeremy Irons, Rowan Atkinson
a best visual effects Oscar to and many others. Elevated by
Independence Day, it did win a an excellent soundtrack from Sir
Golden Raspberry Award for the Elton John, even a string of terrible
worst written film grossing over sequels can’t tarnish its incredible
$100 million. Ouch! reputation and stunning animation.

Jerry Maguire Face/Off

1996 1997

26 27
Notable for introducing Arguably the nuttiest
the public to Renée plot of the ’90s,
Zellweger, Jerry Maguire Face/Off features John
works thanks to a fantastic Travolta’s Sean Archer swapping
performance from Tom Cruise as faces with Nicholas Cage’s Caster
the titular character, and Cuba Troy so that he can find a bomb
Gooding Jr, who won an Oscar that is supposedly going to level
for his portrayal of Maguire’s Los Angeles. John Woo’s film
remaining sole client, Rodney shouldn’t work on any level
‘Rod’ Tidwell. Audiences showed whatsoever, but it does thanks to
him the money, and Cameron tight action sequences and the
Crowe’s film netted more than magnificent one-upmanship of its
$270 million worldwide. two leads.

The Silence of
the Lambs
1991

23
Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his sinister
portrayal of Hannibal Lecter. It was Oscars all
round in fact, with the chilling psychological drama
also winning Jodie Foster her second best actress Oscar, the
best picture, and a best director gong for Jonathan Demme.
Audiences agreed, and it grossed $272 million at the box office.

24
 FILMS

Teenage Mutant Godzilla

Ninja Turtles 1998

29
1990 Godzilla must have
made perfect sense

28
If you are a child of the
’90s, chances are you at the time. Spielberg
begged and pleaded with had proven that dinosaurs were
your parents to take you to see this popular, and Godzilla was even
on the big screen. Based on the bigger. Clearly a movie would be
popular ’80s comic and fuelled by amazing. Alas, it wasn’t, and while
Partners In Kryme’s top-ten single, it admittedly has some decent
Turtle Power, TMNT became the special effects, it is a mess of a
ninth highest-grossing film of the film thanks to Matthew Broderick’s
year, and led to two sequels in unconvincing lead and a bored
1991 and 1993. Jean Reno.

Titanic
1997

30
James Cameron’s fascination with shipwrecks led to the
biggest-grossing film of all time (well, at least until his
own Avatar surpassed it in 2009). It might not be super
accurate, but Titanic does feature astonishing special effects, great
turns from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, and that bloody song
by Canadian warbler Celine Dion.

Blade LA Confidential Groundhog Day Scream

1998 1997 1993 1996

31 32 33 34
Is there any superhero Curtis Hanson’s Harold Ramis directed Horror films failed to
movie that has a better scintillating adaptation fellow Ghostbuster make much impact
opening scene than of James Ellroy’s Bill Murray in this during most of the
Blade’s bloody rave club? Wesley classic crime thriller launched excellent romantic comedy about 1990s, but Wes Craven’s Scream
Snipes is effortlessly cool as the the Hollywood careers of Russell an arrogant weatherman who finds changed all that. Scream was so
eponymous vampire hunter, and Crowe and Guy Pearce, earned a himself continually stuck covering successful thanks to a very clever
made a big enough impact that best supporting actress Oscar for Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Day. script from Kevin Williamson,
two further sequels followed in Kim Basinger, and the best Murray arguably delivers one of which continually messes with
2002 and 2004. Not bad for a adapted screenplay for Brian his finest performances, but Andie the audiences’ conception of
low-tier Marvel character from the Helgeland. A planned TV series MacDowell is also on fine form as standard horror tropes. Several
early ’70s. The original film was a featuring Kiefer Sutherland never the news reporter who (initially) sequels and a TV series of the
huge commercial success. made it past its pilot. rebuffs his continued advances. same name followed.

25
 Men in Black Dances
1997
with Wolves
35
While everyone likes 1990
to focus on all the sci-fi

36
After headlining
in this film, it can be numerous films in
easy to forget just how funny Men the late ’80s, Kevin
in Black actually is. Will Smith Costner’s directorial debut not only
effectively channels the Fresh cemented his status as a leading
Prince, but it is Tommy Lee Jones man for most of the remaining
who is the surprising heart of Barry decade, but also scored big at the
Sonnenfeld’s film, playing a wicked Oscars, winning seven awards,
straight man to Smith’s mouthy including best picture. It’s now
rookie agent. It also includes one cited as reigniting Hollywood’s
of the catchiest songs of the ’90s. interest in Westerns.

The Addams Total Recall

Family 1990

38
1991 Astonishingly, Arnold
Schwarzenegger starred

37
Inspired casting is just
one of the reasons Barry in two of the highest-
Sonnenfeld’s movie grossing top-ten films in 1990,
became such a monster at the box however, we are ultimately
office. While Anjelica Huston, Raúl picking Total Recall over
Juliá and Christina Ricci are all Kindergarten Cop to go in our
on-point as Morticia, Gomez and selection. The film was adapted
Wednesday, it’s an unrecognisable from the Philip K Dick short story
Christopher Lloyd who steals the We Can Remember It for You
show as Uncle Fester. A sequel, Wholesale, and directed by Paul
Verhoeven. It is a magnificent slice
Clueless
Addams Family Values, followed 1995
of sci-fi-tinged ultraviolence.

39
in 1993. Alicia Silverstone shines as the superficial rich girl
who eventually realises she’s a lot more clueless
than she actually thought she was. Loosely based
on Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless works thanks to its young
actors firing on all cylinders and a surprisingly excellent
soundtrack. A TV series not starring Silverstone appeared in
1996 and ran for three years.

“Arnie had two of the highest-

grossing top-ten films in 1990,
however, we’re picking Total
Recall over Kindergarten Cop”

26
 FILMS

Toy Story
1995

40
Pixar’s first movie
was a smash success,
topping the box office
by making more than $373
million, and highlighting what
was possible from a computer-
animated film. While the story
largely riffs off Jim Henson’s The The Shawshank
Christmas Toy, we still love it due
to the constant banter between
Redemption
1994
Tom Hanks’ Sheriff Woody and

41
Despite critical acclaim,
Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear. Frank Darabont’s
adaptation of Stephen
King’s short story failed to do
big numbers at the box office.
Word of mouth spread, though,
and it’s gone on to become one
of the most celebrated films of
its generation, largely thanks to
the on-screen chemistry of Tim
Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

Hot Shots! The Bodyguard Armageddon True Romance

1991 1992 1998 1993

42 43 44 45
Made for just $26 Originally written in Two asteroid movies Tony Scott’s romantic
million, the Airplane! the ’70s, The tussled for dominance crime caper was
team of Zucker, Bodyguard became in 1998. While Deep written by Quentin
Abrahams and Zucker set their another colossal hit for Kevin Impact starred Elijah Wood Tarantino, and has a script
sights on spoofing Top Gun and Costner, and proved that the and Téa Leoni, Michael Bay’s that still sizzles today. Patricia
countless other movies, earning late Whitney Houston could act preposterous blockbuster Arquette and Christian Slater have
$181 million in the process. as well as sing. Its soundtrack, featured a team of deep-sea never been better, while they’re
Charlie Sheen proves surprisingly which features Houston’s cover oil drillers led by Bruce Willis. surrounded by an incredible
comedic, and stars alongside of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Audiences fell for it hook, line ensemble cast, including Dennis
his future Two and a Half Men Love You remains the bestselling and sinker, allowing the farcical Hopper, Christopher Walken,
co-star, Jon Cryer. A sequel did soundtrack of all time, with 28.4 film to make more than $550 Brad Pitt, and Gary Oldman as
equally well in 1993. million copies sold. million at the box office. the pimp, Drexl.

27
 Mission: Heat Saving Private Ryan
Impossible 1995 1998

47 48
Michael Mann’s Its famous opening scene has
1996
crime thriller drew been outdone many times since,

46
Brian De Palma’s
much expectation but Ryan’s assault on Omaha
reboot of the classic
on its release, mainly because Beach was a shocking revelation at the time,
television series of
it was the first time that Robert apparently moving real war veterans to tears
the ’60s and ’70s spawned five
De Niro and Al Pacino had ever because of its authenticity. It made more
sequels and became the third
appeared on screen together. It than $481 million at the box office, and
highest-grossing film of the year.
was a big moment. While the earned Steven Spielberg his second best
Tom Cruise is superb as Ethan
much-anticipated scene proved director Oscar.
Hunt, doing all of his own stunts
and surrounding himself with as good as everyone had hoped
an excellent supporting cast that for, it’s undoubtedly the final
includes Jean Reno, Ving Rhames dramatic gunfight that lingers in
and Jon Voight. the memory the most.

The Big Toy Story 2

Lebowski 1999

50
1998 Although it also
suffered from a rather

49
Although it received a
rather mixed reception troubled production,
upon its release, Toy Story 2 managed to outperform
history has taught us that The Big the excellent original, both at the
Lebowski is in fact amazing. Filled box office and as a movie in itself.
with unconventional dialogue, It’s filled with tremendous gags,
a strong ensemble cast and a has an interesting story at its
hopelessly complex plot, the Coen core, and has markedly improved
brothers’ film is held together effects. And to think it was
masterfully by Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey originally planned to be a direct-to-
‘The Dude’ Lebowski. video release…

Home Alone
1990

51
Made for just $18 million, Home Alone took more
than $476 at the box office, turning its young lead,
Macaulay Culkin, into one of the decade’s biggest stars.
The riotous comedy may not be very believable, but it’s constantly
entertaining, and led to three additional movies (although Culkin
only returned for the sequel).

28
 FILMS

Independence The Frighteners Cliffhanger The Usual

Day 1996 1993
Suspects
53 54
1996 Michael J Fox is Sylvester Stallone’s 1995
undeniably wonderful box-office clout faded

52 55
Will Smith punching Christopher McQuarrie’s
out an alien with the as the fraud exorcist somewhat during deliciously twisting tale
punchline “welcome to who sends his ghostly mates the ’90s, but Cliffhanger proved of deceit won him an
Earth” is just as good as watching into people’s houses so that he that he was still brutally efficient Academy Award, and proved an
the White House blow up. Roland can charge exorbitant fees in at killing bad guys, particularly effective calling card for director
Emmerich’s CGI-fuelled sci-fi romp order to exorcise them. Peter ones with English accents. The Bryan Singer. Made for just $6
is great fun thanks to insane special Jackson’s horror comedy can still actual mountaineering isn’t very million, it features an excellent
effects and fun performances from be enjoyed today thanks to great authentic at all, and the dialogue is ensemble cast that includes
Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Randy special effects and a rather creepy laughable, but no one punches like Gabriel Byrne, and led to one of
Quaid. Just don’t mention the god- performance from Jeffrey Combs Stallone does, and he gets to do it the most mysterious on-screen
awful sequel. as an eccentric FBI agent. in Cliffhanger. A lot! villains of all time, Keyser Söze.

The Crow
1994

57
As enjoyable as Alex
Proyas’ dark fantasy
is, it is somewhat
overshadowed by the tragic death
of its lead, Brandon Lee. The only
son of Bruce Lee had been killed
The Matrix by an accidental gunshot wound
1999 on 31 March the previous year,

56
The Wachowski while filming a pivotal scene
brothers took in the movie. The scene was
their love of sci-fi remade using computer graphics.
and anime and effectively Numerous sequels (naturally with
reinvented action movies new leads) followed.
thanks to incredible wire-fu
combat scenes and the use of
‘bullet time’, which allowed
Keanu Reeves and the rest of
the cast to perform incredible
superhuman moves. Just
ignore the incredibly bad
sequels that followed.

29
 Beauty and Reservoir Dogs Forrest Gump
the Beast 1992 1994

59 60
1991 Quentin Tarantino’s Tom Hanks’ portrayal of the slow-witted Gump
directorial debut was earned him his second best actor Oscar, straight after

58
The third film of
Disney’s ‘renaissance a massive hit at the winning it the previous year for Philadelphia. Despite
period’ generated Sundance Film Festival. The being a drama, there are lots of clever CGI effects happening
more than $425 million at the movie itself remains superb in the film, which director Robert Zemeckis used to integrate
box office, finishing in third place thanks to some exceptional Hanks into numerous key scenes of American history.
behind Terminator 2 and Robin performances from the likes of
Hood. Originally planned in the Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth and
’30s and ’50s, it finally powered Harvey Keitel, as well as
through production under the Michael Madsen’s gruesome
guidance of Michael Eisner. It was torture scene/dance to Stealers
the second Disney film to use Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle
computer-generated imagery. with You.

The Fugitive Con Air

1993 1997

61 62
Harrison Ford is Simon West’s hi-octane
absolutely superb as the blockbuster features
doctor who is wrongly one of the best
convicted of killing his wife, and mullets in cinematic history.
is pursued by a doggedly efficient It also includes a delightfully
US marshal played by Tommy unhinged performance from John
Lee Jones. The set pieces are Malkovich as Cyrus ‘The Virus’
really excellent and still parodied Grissom, who intends to hijack
today, while Jones’s performance a plane filled with dangerous
was so strong that it earned him convicts. Thankfully Nicholas
an Oscar and his own spin-off Cage and his outrageous mullet
film, U.S. Marshals. are also on board to stop him.

Bill & Ted’s Bogus

Journey
1991

63
The adventures of William ‘Bill’ S
Preston and Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan
continue with this delightfully nutty
sequel. Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves excel as
the lovable losers destined to unite the world and
find time to play chess with Death, meet God and
create a world-changing song in the form of Kiss’s
God Gave Rock and Roll to You II.

30
 FILMS

Die Hard with Grosse Pointe Boyz n Austin Powers:

a Vengeance Blank the Hood International
1995 1997 1991
Man of Mystery
64 65 66
Yes, we are aware You don’t get many John Singleton’s 1997
that Die Hard 2 films about disillusioned nominations for best

67
Jay Roach’s fantastic
came out in the ’90s, hitmen who go to their director and original mockery of James
but this is the (slightly) better high-school reunions so they screenplay meant he became Bond features two
movie thanks to the bickering can also attend a convenient the youngest director and first performances from Mike Myers,
interplay of Bruce Willis and hit, which is a shame. George African American to ever be one as the titular spy; the other as
Samuel L Jackson as Zeus Carver. Armitage’s deliciously dark nominated. While Cuba Gooding his adversary, Dr Evil (who was
Adapted from a screenplay comedy works thanks to a great Jr excels as protagonist Tre, it’s going to be played by Jim Carrey).
called Simon Says, it also features ’80s soundtrack and dynamic an astonishing performance from It was a surprise success for
Jeremy Irons as the brother of performances from John Cusack rapper Ice Cube, and an insanely Newline, which led to a sequel in
Hans Gruber. and Dan Aykroyd’s rival hitmen. good supporting cast. 1999 and a third movie in 2002.

Jumanji
1995

69
If you were a certain
age in the ’90s, this
adaptation of the Chris
Van Allsburg book is probably
your Goonies moment. It was
mainly such a huge success
Schindler’s because of two things: some
List very fun special effects, and of
1993 course Robin Williams, who plays

68
Spielberg’s moving Alan Parrish, a child who has
adaptation of been trapped in a magical board
Schindler’s Ark game for 26 years. A sequel was
(which was first released in released 22 years later in 2017.
1982) wasn’t an easy watch,
but it did lead to a long-
overdue best director
Oscar for the acclaimed
director. It performed
incredibly well at the box
office, too, and catapulted
Liam Neeson and Ralph
Fiennes into the limelight.

31
 The Nutty Sister Act Pretty Woman
Professor 1992 1990

71 72
1996 Whoopi Goldberg’s Only Hollywood could take a relationship with a high-flying
Oscar win for Ghost businessman and a low-class prostitute and turn it into a fairy

70
Eddie Murphy began
moving into more opened many doors, tale blockbuster. While it’s Richard Gere’s least favourite movie
family-orientated movies leading to this rather over-the- (according to an interview in The Telegraph) it helped turn Julia Roberts
in the ’90s, scoring big at the box top caper that sees her going into one of the highest-paid actresses of all time.
office with this remake of the 1963 undercover as a nun after
Jerry Lewis vehicle. In addition to witnessing a killing by a local
playing the lead and of course his mobster. Goldberg is as watchable
alter ego, Buddy Love, Murphy as ever, but Maggie Smith and
also found time to play five other Kathy Najimy are excellent, too. A
characters in the movie. A sequel less successful sequel appeared the
arrived in 2000. following year.

Tremors Starship
1990 Troopers
73
If there’s a better pair- 1997
up in the ’90s than

74
Paul Verhoeven’s satirical
Kevin Bacon and Fred take on war features
Ward, then we can’t remember gigantic bugs, atrocious
what it was. The duo are simply dialogue and Doogie Howser MD
superb as two handymen who in full Nazi regalia. Verhoeven
find themselves battling for made the film with the intention
survival against gigantic space that “war makes fascists of us all,”
worms in the backwater town of and while the message is just as
Perfection. Just forget all of the relevant today, it’s the action scene
awful sequels that followed. that will linger in the memory.

“Only Hollywood could take a

relationship with a high-flying
businessman and a low-class
prostitute and turn it into a fairy
tale blockbuster”

32
 FILMS

Aladdin
1992

75
A showcase for the
comedic talents of the
late Robin Williams
(much of his improvisations were
in fact kept in the final film),
Aladdin became the first fully
animated Disney movie to reach
the top of the charts since the Pulp Fiction
1937 release of Snow White and 1994

76
the Seven Dwarfs. A fallout with Quentin
Disney unfortunately meant that Tarantino’s
Williams didn’t return for the second movie
direct sequel, though. was an epic crime caper,
which cleverly appeared
out of chronological order.
It not only reignited John
Travolta’s languishing
career, but also did
wonders for Samuel L
Jackson, who steals the
film from under the noses
of Travolta and Bruce
Willis as god-fearing
hitman Jules Winnfield.

The Mummy Cool Runnings Edward The Last

1999 1993
Scissorhands Boy Scout
77 78
Brendan Fraser It may have taken 1990 1991
channels Indiana numerous creative

79 80
Tim Burton’s ridiculous You may have forgotten
Jones, and makes a liberties, but this lively gothic fairy tale largely that Bruce Willis once
rather engaging lead in this loose sports comedy from Jon Turteltaub works thanks to Johnny played a washed-up
reboot of Universal’s 1932 film is still an enjoyable underdog story. Depp’s stoic portrayal of a lonely detective who teamed up with
of the same name. Its impressive Based on the events of the 1988 boy with scissors for hands. It’s Damon Wayans’ disgraced
$415 million take at the box Winter Olympics, which featured notable for being one of the last quarterback, but we haven’t. Shane
office inevitably led to two a surprising entry from Jamaica, films to feature Vincent Price (in a Black’s tight screenplay is full of
sequels, an animated series and a it’s saved thanks to endearing role that was written specifically sharp one-liners, and there’s a
spin-off, The Scorpion King, performances from leads Leon, for him), and inspiring the naming great back and forth between the
which starred The Rock (as he Doug E Doug and John Candy’s of an extinct arthropod called two leads, but that couldn’t stop it
was then known). last good on-screen performance. Kootenichela deppi. flopping at the box office.

33
 Jurassic Park
1993

81
Universal scored
a colossal hit with
Steven Spielberg’s
adaptation of Michael
Crichton’s popular novel about
a dinosaur theme park that
goes awry. Astonishing special
effects (a mixture of CGI and
puppet work) and exhilarating
action pieces turned it into
the highest-grossing film of its
time, with a final gargantuan
haul of $914,691,118.

Batman Returns
1992

82
Tim Burton’s sequel
saw Michael Keaton
continue his role as the
caped crusader, and introduced
two new villains, Michelle Pfeiffer
as Cat Woman and Danny DeVito
as the Penguin. Far darker than the
original, the change in direction
was too much for Warner Bros,
who dropped Burton and Keaton
for Joel Schumacher and Val
Kilmer. Val Kilmer!

34
 FILMS

The Mask Basic Instinct Braveheart Star Wars:

1994 1992 1995
The Phantom
83 84 85
Ace Ventura: Pet Best known for its You can apparently fill
Detective was a solid infamous leg-crossing a warehouse with the Menace
1999
calling card, but it scene (filmed without inaccuracies that appear

86
was this interesting adaptation Sharon Stone’s knowledge), Basic in Mel Gibson’s directorial debut. Universally scorned by
of an obscure comic series that Instinct generated controversy on Despite that, it makes for some die-hard fans, the return
cemented Jim Carrey’s position release due to graphic depictions epic cinema thanks to gorgeous of Star Wars was huge.
as the ’90s’ comedy king. It’s also of violence and its negative sweeping vistas, intense battle It kick-started a new generation of
notable for being the breakout attitudes towards homosexuals. scenes and a spiteful performance toys and videogames, became the
role for Cameron Diaz. Despite Despite this, it performed strongly from Patrick McGoohan as King first indication that Liam Neeson
its big box-office success, Carrey at the box office and turned Edward I. Hollywood didn’t care would turn into an unlikely action
turned down $10 million to star in Sharon Stone into a sex symbol for about its inaccuracies, awarding hero, and boasts the coolest
a sequel. the rest of the decade. Braveheart five Oscars. lightsabre of all time.

Trainspotting Seven The Rocketeer The Sixth Sense

1996 1995 1991 1999

87 88 89 90
There’s no denying David Fincher’s first This charming Haley Joel Osment
that very few films film after the divisive family adventure never gives a rather
sum up the culture of Alien 3 proved exactly gets enough love, so tremendous
the ’90s as well as Trainspotting what he was capable of in terms we’re doing our bit here. Set in performance as the child who is
does. Ewan McGregor shines as of movie directing. It’s an excellent the ’30s, and based on a popular capable of seeing dead people,
heroin addict Mark Renton, and thriller with one of the most talked comic book character from the in M Night Shyamalan’s excellent
the role arguably led to his star about endings of the ’90s. Kevin ’80s, it’s a loving homage to the horror movie The Sixth Sense.
rising in Hollywood. For a film Spacey (who was unnamed in matinee heroes of the ’30s and Bruce Willis is on equally fine form
that relies so heavily on music, promotional material) absolutely ’50s. Audiences didn’t agree, as a troubled child psychologist,
it should come as no surprise steals the movie as the serial killer though, and unfortunately it while the movie’s surprise twist
to learn that it spawned two who is obsessed with the seven struggled to make back its $40 has lost none of its impact all these
great soundtracks. deadly sins. million budget. years later.

35
 WWE
Information
Biggest event of the decade: The Legacy
WrestleMania XV There were times in the ’90s when WWE
Most profitable year: 1999 – was close to going bust. The Attitude Era
$68,973,000
saved it from that fate, and set it on the
Rival federation: WCW
path to becoming the public-traded, multi-
million-dollar company it is today. However,
wrestling has never been as popular since
the Attitude Era ended in 2001. While it’s
great to see the back of the era’s problematic
portrayal of women and the concussion-
inducing chair shots, many fans would love
to see its spontaneous feel return.

There was an increase in risk-taking and violence

in the Attitude Era. The WWE introduced
matches that featured chairs, ladders, trash
cans, barbed wire and big, risky falls. Wrestlers
would covertly cut themselves with razors in big
matches to add to the drama.

Mike Tyson was banned from boxing at the time

of his appearance in WWE due to an infamous
incident where he bit off a chunk of Evander
Holyfield’s ear in a title bout. That incident only
helped to increase Tyson’s fame, and ensured all
eyes were on his WrestleMania appearance.

restling fans of the ’90s may approach. Before you knew it, WWE (WWF at antics struck a chord with fans, and he

W remember Bret ‘The Hitman’

Hart, the British Bulldog and
SummerSlam 92 from the early years of the
the time) had a new ‘scratch’ logo, wrestlers
were smashing each other with chairs and
crashing through tables, TV ratings had
became an anti-authoritarian icon, feuding
with his evil, billionaire boss, Vince McMahon.
When WWE brought Mike Tyson in as a
decade, but, following a slump in popularity, it exploded, and wrestling was cool again. The special enforcer for WrestleMania XIV in
wasn’t until the Attitude Era hit that wrestling Attitude Era had begun. 1998 – contested between Steve Austin and
became a worldwide sensation. There were several stars that helped WWE Shawn Michaels – WWE’s hottest star and
Towards the tail end of 1997, WWE attain this new level of cultural relevance – his defining feud with McMahon was exposed
began shifting away from being a product The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker – but to a mainstream audience. That kicked the
aimed primarily at kids and its traditional there was one man who led the charge: momentum the company had been building
good-guys-versus-bad-guys template to ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Austin’s beer- up to the next level, and gave us the most
take a more adult, edgy and controversial swilling, middle-finger flipping, ass-kicking popular era in wrestling history.

36
 W WE

The Attitude Era boom fed off the amazing

chemistry between ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
and his real-life boss and on-screen rival, Vince
McMahon. Fans who had to pay deference to
their bosses in real life could live vicariously
through Austin’s rebellious attitude.

The popularity of early WWE stars, such as Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior
and the Legion of Doom, as well as their colourful personalities and outfits,
spawned a host of toys and action figures that are still sought-after today.

© Alamy

37
 THE FRESH
PRINCE OF
BEL-AIR nyone who watched The Fresh Prince Cue lots of humour in this classic NBC

A of Bel-Air during its run from 1990

to 1996 will undoubtedly be able to
recite the series’ backstory. It was right there
sitcom, as Smith – whose character almost
bore the same name (he is William in the
show, but Willard in real-life) – proved to be
in the glorious opening theme song, Yo Home sharp-witted, charismatic and confident.
to Bel Air, which was written and performed Smith agreed to sign up because he was
by DJ Jazzy Jeff and rapper-turned-actor spending money like it was going out of
Will Smith, who was undoubtedly the star of fashion, and he owed $2.8 million to the
the show. taxman. He didn’t even know how to act at
It was the tale of how the Fresh Prince’s life that time.
got flipped-turned upside down when he was But he learned fast. Although the first
forced to move from a rough neighbourhood. season underperformed, the series soon
The Fresh Prince tells us how he became picked up and, while it was formulaic and
the prince of a town called Bel Air. But moralistic, it addressed race and class, and
there was so much more to this show than gave viewers a good laugh. Prodding the
that earworm, Quincy Jones composition, pretentious outlook of Uncle Phil, Hilary and
because the Fresh Prince’s working-class, Carlton provided the comedy, but it was
West Philadelphia background frequently gentle and fun, for this was a show that stood
clashed with his auntie and uncle’s upper- up because of its characters, and it helped
class family. make Will Smith the star he is today.

Much of the comedy revolved

around Smith’s interaction with
the Banks’ family. Younger
cousin Ashley Banks (played
by Tatyana Ali) looked up
to Will as a big brother, and
became rebellious as she grew
older, which caused tension.
The conservative Republican
outlook of Carlton Banks and
father Philip was also played to
comedic effect.

38
 THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR

Having peered around the

living room from the top of
the stairs and noticed no
one was around, Carlton
(played by Alfonso Ribeiro)
enthusiastically made his
way down, inserted a CD
into the hi-fi, made some
final checks that he was
alone, and then energetically
danced and mimed to Tom
Jones’ It’s Not Unusual. Until
Will Smith appeared…

According to The New York Times in 1990, the producers, ‘The Fresh Prince’ had been Will Smith’s stage name from
writers and actors wrestled with how much rap culture the late 1980s. Back then, he formed part of a hugely
they should insert into the show. They feared alienating successful hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff (who starred in
the mass audience they were targeting. Co-writer Susan the TV show as Smith’s best friend, Jazz). The pair received
Borowitz said the focus was on exploring cultural a Grammy for best rap performance in 1989 for the song
differences and bringing the characters to the fore. Parents Just Don’t Understand.

The Legacy
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the
first to show a truly wealthy African-
American family on television, and
it also cemented hip-hop in pop
culture. Will Smith became a
major star: his single Summertime
in 1991 was his most successful,
and he began to make movies
while still filming Fresh
Prince. He broke out in Six
Degrees of Separation
in 1993, starred in
Bad Boys in 1995, and
thumped an alien in
Independence Day in 1996,
before appearing in Men in
Black in 1997, the year he began
his musical solo career.

Information
Created by: Andy and
Susan Borowitz
First aired: 1990
Number of seasons: Six
(148 episodes)

39
 TAMAGOTCHI
he idea behind the Tamgotchi was small pet. Using the three buttons under the well you looked after it, though it wasn’t

T simple: what if you could take your

pet with you everywhere you went?
Tamagotchi creator Aki Maita answered that
screen, you had to feed it when it was hungry,
bath it, play with it, give it medicine if it got
sick, and clean up its poos. If you neglected
clear exactly what you had to do to get each
different form, so you never quite knew what
you were going to get.
question by developing a small, egg-shaped your Tamagotchi, the poor creature would Whether it was that sense of mystery,
digital device with a keychain that made it pass away and you would have to start all the portability, or some other factor, the
easy to carry with you. over again. Tamagotchi struck a nerve. The device
You started with an egg on your screen, One of the most exciting moments for any exploded beyond the borders of its native
which was meant to be deposited on earth by Tamagotchi owner was that moment when Japan to become a monster success, selling
an alien species, according to Tamagotchi’s your pet would evolve to the next stage in $150 million worth in seven months, as taking
own mythos. You would wait for the egg its development. Your Tamagotchi would care of a virtual pet became the primary
to hatch and, eventually, out would pop a grow into different forms depending on how preoccupation of kids across the globe.

“You had to feed it, bath it, play with

it, give it medicine if it got sick, and
clean up its poos. If you neglected it, the The wild success of the Tamagotchi meant
creature would pass away” that Bandai was keen to follow up on the first
generation of Tamagotchis. New versions like
the Tamagotchi Angel and Tamagotchi Ocean
quickly followed the original release. Bandai later
followed up with the Tamagotchi Connection,
which used infrared to connect devices.

Tamagotchis came in a variety of colours, so

theoretically you could choose your favourite.
However, the device’s popularity led to shortages
in the early days, so often the choice was
between taking what you could get, if you could
get anything at all, or waiting and hoping your
favourite colour came back in stock.

Bandai’s Aki Maita came up

with the idea for Tamagotchi
after watching an advert
where a young boy tries to
take his pet turtle with him to
school before being told he
couldn’t, and that his reptilian
friend had to stay at home.

40
 TA M AGOTCHI

Information You looked after your Tamagotchi

using a simple menu system laid
Manufacturer: Bandai
First released: 1997 out in two strips along the top
Expect to pay: £30 and bottom of the screen. This
included the options to feed your
pet a meal or snack, and a game
option where you had to guess
whether your Tamagotchi would
turn right or left.

The Legacy
The Tamagotchi caused a mini-storm due to
kids bringing them to school to keep their
digital pets happy and healthy, to the point
that many schools banned them to cut down
on distractions. They needn’t have worried
too much, because the Tamagotchi craze
died down after a few years, though Bandai
has continued to release new iterations,
including a limited edition run of the original
Tamagotchi in 2017. In 2018, Bandai Namco
released a mobile version for Android and
iOS called My Tamagotchi Forever.
© Getty

41
42
 FRIENDS

The one US sitcom that

millions of us loved
very decade has its defining pop-

E culture moments. But for the

millions of viewers glued to NBC’s
warm and lovable sitcom, Friends, it came
towards the end of an episode that debuted
on 9 November 1995. It showed Rachel
clearing up at the Central Perk coffee shop
and Ross walking in, sparking an argument
and leaving. As Rachel sat with her head in
her hands, Ross could be seen standing by
the door. Rachel walks across, fumbles with
the locks, finally lets him back in and the pair
find themselves in a loving embrace. It was
Ross and Rachel’s very first kiss. And it felt
just as right for those watching as it did for
the characters.
But then it was always meant to be that
way – at least up to a point. Conceived in
1993 and set in Manhattan, show creators
David Crane and Martha Kauffman had long
envisaged six people exploring the madness
of their mid-20s, with all of the will-they-
won’t-they romances that go along with it.
Yet the main love story was not actually going
to involve Ross and Rachel but Joey and
Monica instead. Kauffman believed them to
be the most sexual of the characters, but that
changed as the script-writing got underway.
Could it have been so different?
Well yes, it could have. For starters, Crane
and Kauffman – who began work on the
programme at a low point in their careers
when their futures seemed uncertain
following the canning of their CBS show,
Family Album – had initially looked to call the
show Insomnia Cafe. Drawing on their own
earlier lives as college graduates finding their
way in New York, the pair penned a seven-
page pitch. But when NBC snapped up the
idea and commissioned the pilot script, they
changed the name to Friends Like Us. It then
became known internally as Six of One before
everyone agreed on Friends.
Some of the cast members may have been
different too, since there were 75 actors to
choose from for each part. Courtney Cox
was originally earmarked to play Rachel, but
she insisted on the part of Monica (I know!).
Meanwhile, NBC wanted Matt LeBlanc to
become Joey despite Crane and Kauffman

43
 BEST
being less keen (và’ fà a Napoli, as Joey would Chandler. An original pilot had also included
say). That, however, worked very well, with a middle-aged man called Pat The Cop who
LeBlanc perfectly playing up the dim element was supposed to be an older voice lending
of the much-loved character that made him
such a success.
relationship advice – something the network
deemed important because they feared too
EPISODES
The series was also fortunate to get few viewers would be interested in a show
Jennifer Aniston, since she had been about people in their 20s. Pat The Cop never
contracted to the CBS show Muddling made it to the screen, however.
Through but it failed and freed her to join Instead, the six-strong ensemble cast were
Friends. Meanwhile, Craig Bierko almost left to forge their own way, mistakes and
became constant joker Chandler instead all. Filmed mostly before a live audience at
of Matthew Perry. However, Lisa Kudrow’s Warner Bros’ studios in California (except for
excellent audition and role as Ursula in Mad cliffhanger episodes), and carrying a laughter
About You saw her take the part of Phoebe as track, most of the action took place in Monica
first choice. The scriptwriters also wrote the and Rachel’s West Village apartment, the
part of Ross with David Schwimmer in mind. hub of the show, and in Joey and Chandler’s
The One with the Prom
All six would become firm household names flat across the hall. It would take around five
Video Season 2: Episode 14
Considered one of, if not the best Friends
within months. hours to shoot each episode, each of which episode, this gem introduced ‘Fat Monica’ in
lasted about 20 to 22 minutes. Within that an undiscovered senior prom video. It also saw
GOING GLOBAL time would be lots of jokes, much energy Joey gift a bewildered Chandler a gold, engraved
The first episode premiered on NBC on and a good dollop of drama. Phrases such as bracelet, and Phoebe declaring Ross and Rachel
22 September 1994, introducing fashion Joey’s “How you doin’?” as well as “We were “lobsters” – falling in love and mating for life.
enthusiast Rachel, her childhood best on a break,” and “friend zone” became part
friend Monica, Monica’s paleontologist of the show’s easy, reliable charm.
brother Ross, quirky self-taught musician In many ways, it really did put the ‘situation’
and masseuse Phoebe, struggling actor into ‘situation comedy’, because the laughs
Joey and the acidly witty statistical analyst came from the innovative scenarios the

The One with Ross’s Tan

Season 10: Episode 3
For a pure slapstick and laugh-out-loud moment,
little beats Ross’s failure to work out how a
tanning booth is supposed to work. After taking
too long to count to five – “One Mississippi…”
– he accidentally sprays himself twice in the
front, goes back to rectify the mistake and sprays
himself twice more.

Rachel’s haircut
As well as being one of the most iconic comedy characters of the
1990s, Rachel Green also turned heads because of her bouncy, The One with the Embryos
smooth, full-bodied, layered hair. Created by celebrity stylist Chris Season 4: Episode 12
McMillan, and sported over the first couple of seasons, ‘The Rachel’ A personal quiz ends in a tie and goes into a
became a classic cut and a star in its own right, and it was aped by Lightning Round – “30 seconds, all the questions
women the world over. you can answer.” Monica puts up the girls’
Jennifer Aniston, however, was no big fan. The actress said the apartment to the boys’ birds but they come
hairdo was far too high maintenance, and it was actually just one unstuck when trying to figure out Chandler’s job.
of 29 haircuts worn by Rachel over the course of the ten seasons, “Transpondster,” shouts Rachel.
according to Cosmopolitan magazine. Its popularity has endured, “That’s not even a word,” Monica screams.
though: it even made a comeback towards the end of 2017.

44
 FRIENDS

“It put the ‘situation’ into ‘situation

comedy’, as the laughs came from the
innovative scenarios the characters found
themselves in as much as what they said”
characters found themselves in as much as kept fans hooked, and the funny scripts
from what they said. The six would hang out continued. After all, what would Friends be if Met Your Mother, which debuted in 2005, and
in the Central Perk coffee shop where barista the laughs were not flowing? Friends was as Joey had a spin-off series, but the heights of
Gunther would have his eye on Rachel. There much about Phoebe strangling the words of Friends were hard to reach.
were other love interests too, including her song, Smelly Cat, Joey and Chandler’s Not that it has ever felt like the end.
Chandler’s loud girlfriend, Janice (“Oh. obsession with the foosball table, Monica’s Friends has barely been off the TV since
My. God!”); Ross’s wife-cum-ex-wife, Emily overweight past, and the fiercely competitive 2004, allowing new audiences to enjoy
Waltham (played by Brit Helen Baxendale); Geller Cup held every Thanksgiving as it was its funny, relatable characters, and
and Monica’s older boyfriend, Richard Burke the compelling storylines. there’s even a touring celebration of the
(aka Tom Selleck of Magnum, P.I.). programme with full-scale sets for fans to
It certainly struck a chord with viewers, LEGACY enjoy. But while Netflix has taken up the
hitting its stride from the second season The series was so popular, it maintained an entire series, and the programme is also
thanks to high-quality writing. ‘The One impressive ten-season run, ending in May shown on Comedy Central, some people
After the Superbowl’ (all the episodes start 2004 with a tearful finale that saw Rachel have sought to negatively re-evaluate the
with ‘The One’, except for the pilot and taking a job in Paris and Ross rushing to the programme, claiming there were clear signs
finale) gained 52.9 million US viewers in that airport to declare his love for her. At the same of homophobia, transphobia, fat-shaming,
second season, with other audience figures time, Monica, Chandler and their adopted sexism and stereotyping throughout.
hovering around the 24 million mark. Viewers twins made their final preparations ahead But has that dented Friends’ relevance
learned of the characters’ back stories – of moving to the suburbs but, just before today? Arguably not, given that issues of
Phoebe’s mother’s suicide and Chandler’s everyone parted, there was a chance for one femininity, sexuality, homophobia and body
crossdressing, Las Vegas-star father – and last cup of coffee. It was a fitting end, and a image are as prevalent as they’ve always
they religiously followed the get-togethers staggering 52.46 million people tuned in in been. Certainly, Friends may be clearly of its
and break-ups. the US, with millions more around the globe. era, but its humour transcends generations.
Indeed, such was Friends’ global popularity, Certainly the show’s impact was strong. By It has also made stars of its cast, who were
the series four finale, which saw Ross marry the time it had finished, the world may well being paid a cool $1 million per episode
Emily, was filmed in London as a sort of thank have been ‘so over’ trying to mimic Rachel’s by season 10, with each of them enjoying
you to British fans. Drama was brought to the unique haircut. Yet Friends had become part varying degrees of success on the big and
fore with Ross saying Rachel’s name at the and parcel of Western culture. Even so, it was small screen. As for Friends itself, Crane says
ceremony, and Monica and Chandler ending perhaps time for a break. There were echoes it will never return, but adds: “right now, it’s
up sleeping together. But such goings-on of the series in the New York-set sitcom How I preserved exactly as it should be.”

45
 Dream Phone was designed to be played by two
to four players, but forming teams was also a
popular option. The winners would have to fight
over their newfound crush themselves, however.

Different editions of Dream Phone came

with their very own sets of hunks. So if you
were playing in the UK, you’d be calling Bob
and Charlie, whereas Carlos and Spencer
were on the line in the US version.

Aside from the various ‘boy’ cards,

players could also use additional cards
like ‘Mum says hang up’ to keep their
opponents from winning the game.

46
 DREA M PHONE

DREAM PHONE
I
f you ever played Dream Phone, there
Information was no forgetting it. The board game
had the Dream Phone itself as the
Original Manufacturer Milton Bradley centrepiece, a giant bright pink phone in the
First Released 1991
middle of the table. The board was anchored
Expect to pay £25 (for an original set)
around the phone, as was all the action.
But what was its purpose? The idea of
the game is that one of 24 guys fancies
you, and you need to find out who. Each
player has photo cards with a guy on and
his phone number. By calling each number
on the Dream Phone, you’d get a clue as
to who the guy is. Clues would range from
useful (“He doesn’t like pizza”) to vague
(“He looks cool in whatever he wears”) to
unhelpful (“I know who it is… but I’m not
telling! Ha ha!”).
Using the clues, you eliminate potential
guys one-by-one until you’re confident
enough to guess who the actual guy who
fancies you is. The guys themselves range
from geeky nerds to blond-haired jocks,
who all have distinguishing features such
as playing baseball or listening to music or
eating popcorn. This makes it easier for the
player to eliminate them.
Even though Dream Phone seemed like
a throwaway concept for a game, it actually
required brainwork to narrow down the list
of guys, making it surprisingly challenging.
The Dream Phone itself also meant that
there was some impressive technology at
the heart of it all, making for a talking point
(of course) for those playing it.

The Legacy
Dream Phone was released around the
same time as Guess Who, another board
game by Milton Bradley. It was the latter
that would go on to have a lasting impact,
thanks to its broader appeal (Dream
Phone was quite clearly targeted at girls).
Even so, you can buy a modern, updated
version of Dream Phone, which still uses
a phone as its centrepiece – albeit not a
bright pink one any more!

47
 FURBY he 1990s brought us toy prototype, and while it had a few

T phenomenons like no other. From

Japanese electronic pets that
became the must-have accessory in school
issues to begin with, it apparently
impressed manufacturer Tiger
Electronics enough to buy the rights.
playgrounds to plastic space rangers from When the toy was debuted at the
hit Pixar films, these toys may have had short same toy fair the following year, it
runs at the top, but when they were there generated a huge amount of buzz.
they were untouchable. That’s the story of By the time the holiday season
the ‘Furbish’-talking Furby, a memorable rolled around, manufacturer Tiger
robot toy that took the world by storm from Electronics was expecting the toy
1998 to 2000. to do well – but it did so well, it
Creator David Hampton had visited immediately sold out across stores
American International Toy Fair in February worldwide. Demand for Furby was
1997. He saw the Tamagotchi first-hand, and incredible that year, with 1.8 million
while it would go on to be a mega hit in its units sold by the time Christmas
own right, the inventor wanted to create an drew to a close. The brand sold
electronic toy that evolved and adapted to another 1.4 million in 1999 before
its owner. It took nine months for Hampton major interest began to fade at the
and partner Caleb Chung to build their first beginning of the new millennium.

Did you know the Furby was banned from the

premises of the National Security Agency (NSA)
in 1999 due to concerns it was a security risk? It
sparked a worldwide concern that the toy had
the potential to record state secrets and other
classified information. In reality, Furby wasn’t
capable of recording anything.

While the original line of Furbies didn’t really

have the ability to ‘learn’ English, later models –
such as the iOS/Android-connected line in 2012
and Furby Party Rockers in 2013 – did include
chips designed to adapt to a user with changing
personalities and enhanced phrases.

The original Furby launched

with a language known as
‘Furbish’, and was designed
to gradually start using
English words over time.
Contrary to concerns at the
time, Furby didn’t really
‘learn’ English, but was pre-
programmed to gradually
start saying words such as
‘Hello!’ the more it was
used. This was true even for
models sold in non-English-
speaking countries.

48
 FURBY

In December 1998 – at the height of ‘Furbymania’

– Warner Bros filed a lawsuit against manufacturer
Tiger Electronics due to the similarities with
Furby and its own line of Gremlin ‘Mogwai’ toys.
According to reports, the two firms came to an
undisclosed seven-figure settlement, although
Warner Bros had disputed such a claim.

The Legacy
While it’s never managed to rekindle the
magic of its late ’90s original run, Furby
has made a handful of comebacks over
the years. Hasbro bought the rights to the
brand in 2003, and launched a new one two
years later. Another attempt to reboot them
was orchestrated in 2012, with a brand-
new redesign helping it reassert itself as
an electronic toy with a decent amount of
selling power and brand recognition.

Information
Creator: David Hampton
First released: Autumn 1998
Expect to pay: £10-20

49
 The book was published under JK Rowling to keep
the author’s gender ambiguous. The editor at the
time thought the book would appeal more to boys
than girls and, as such, boys preferred books by
male authors.

The Philosopher’s
Stone was changed
to Sorcerer’s Stone
for US audiences,
although JK Rowling
expressed regret
at agreeing to this
some years later.

JK Rowling would follow

The Philosopher’s Stone
with two other Harry
Potter books in the ’90s,
The Chamber of Secrets
(1998) and The Prisoner
Information of Azkaban (1999).

Publisher: Bloomsbury
First released: 26 June 1997
Expect to pay: £4.60

50
 HARRY POT TER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE

HARRY POTTER
AND THE
PHILOSOPHER’S
STONE
nspiration really can come from anywhere, Dumbledore and Hagrid – setting the stage for

I and that was most certainly the case for

Joanne Rowling. The idea for the 11-year-
old wizard, Harry Potter, popped into her head
further adventures to follow. Inspiring adults
and children alike, Philosopher’s Stone is the
first in a series of seven books. It has sold in
while she was on a long train journey from excess of 120 million copies, making it one of
Manchester to London. the bestselling books of all time. Despite this,
She spent the next few years writing Harry only around 500 copies were initially printed –
Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, juggling the with 300 of those going into libraries – making
pressures of being a single mother, surviving off the hardback first editions incredibly valuable.
benefits and raising her daughter. Six years and The Harry Potter books have since been
12 rejection letters later, the story of the young translated into 79 languages, including Welsh,
wizard and his first year at Hogwarts School of Latin and Ancient Greek. JK Rowling’s work
Witchcraft and Wizardry became a reality. has gone on to inspire films, videogames,
This book introduced us to all our favourite merchandise, theme parks and the creation of
characters – including Ron, Hermione, Quidditch as a real-life sport.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
went on to win lots of awards, including
Gold at the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
Awards, the British Book Awards’
Children’s book of the Year in 1997, and
the FCBG Children’s book award in 1997
(Longer Novel category).

The Legacy
Collectible first-edition, hardback
copies of Harry Potter and the
Philosopher’s Stone can be found
with the dust jacket, but they are rare
– one sold for just over £60,000 at a
US auction in 2017.
In order to check whether you
have a first edition, the publisher
must be Bloomsbury, the latest
date on the copyright page must
be 1997, and the print line on the
page must read: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.
Check page 53 too: ‘1 wand’ appears
twice on the list of school supplies.

51
 CAPTAIN
Information
Manufacturer: DIC Enterainment
First Released: 1990

PLANET
Expect to pay: £19.99
(import DVD)

Gi is the Planeteer who

wears the Water Ring

AND THE
and she’s especially
compassionate for marine
life. It’s never revealed
exactly where she’s from
– she’s just described as

PLANETEERS
being from Asia in the
cartoon – although the
creators would later say Gi
is from Malaysia.

n an era of brightly coloured, super-sized heroes, on the planet. The five Planeteers were drawn from

I it took something special to stand out. Captain

Planet was unforgettable, his radiant design
ensuring that he lingered in the memory long after
all corners of the globe: Ghana, the US, Brazil, the
Soviet Union and Asia. It gave Captain Planet an
international flavour its fellow cartoons lacked, both
the credits for each episode had finished rolling. With in its day and even now.
crystal blue skin, a green mullet, fiery red clothes and With the antagonists calling themselves
yellow globe burning bright like the sun on his chest, Eco-Villains, made up of members like Verminous
Captain Planet symbolised a healthy, vibrant Earth. Skumm and Dr Blight, Captain Planet featured an
Captain Planet was the hero summoned by the environmentally friendly message. Each episode
Planeteers. The Planeteers are guardians chosen by found time during the action to explain problems
Gaia, the spirit of Earth, who is woken from a century- facing nature and the environment, such as how
long slumber by the dangerous levels of pollution burning coal leads to acid rain or how elephants
are being hunted for ivory. Not every episode was
grounded in reality – one plot saw Eco-Villains
spreading a disease that turned people into rats –
but the central message of protecting the Earth was
always the same. From the striking look of its hero to
the idea of different nations working together, there
was a lot unique about Captain Planet, which is why
it’s still remembered so fondly today.

Most of the environmental issues are detailed

through Wheeler’s ignorance, as he needs
Gaia to explain to him why the planet is being
harmed by the actions of the Eco-Villains.
As the series progresses, however,
Wheeler learns and becomes
more knowledgeable.
Captain Planet occasionally
veered away from environmental
issues into more adult territory, especially
for a children’s cartoon. One episode focused on
drug addiction while another addressed the AIDS
pandemic, and the stigma that surrounds those who have it.

52
 CAPTAIN PL ANET

The Legacy
Captain Planet has been absent from
our screens for a while, but he’s not
completely forgotten. The Mother
Nature Network, the biggest website in
the world dedicated to sustainability,
hosts episodes and unseen footage.

© Hanna-Barbera/Courtesy Everett Collection/Alamy

53
 The Gatekeeper
remained one of
the longest-running
characters in the series,
but plenty of other ghouls
and creatures appeared
on screen to guide (and
usually terrify) would-be
players. These included
the witch, Anne de
Chantraine; the voodoo
zombie, Baron Samedi;
and serial killer
Elizabeth Bathory.

Despite effectively requiring players

to talk to their TV, Atmosfear proved
a mega hit in 1991, and sold a
staggering two million copies within
two years. One of its sequels, 1995’s
The Harbingers, was also a big success,
selling well above expectations in
Australia, the UK and North America.

54
 ATMOSFEAR

ATMOSFEARy the beginning of the ’90s, board combination made it a smash hit, with its some ominous music in the background, but

B games were either a family game

played on a lazy weekend or the
imagined canvas for groups of bespectacled
success peaking around 1993.
Later versions of the game would swap
the video cassette for a DVD, but popping
at the time, it could be a real trip.
Originating from Australia, the game
proved a huge success in its home region,
roleplayers. But then along came a game in that clumsy VHS and pausing/playing and became a popular choice for both
that changed all that, introducing not only a each section was all part of its charm at the drink-addled dinner parties and late-night
fresh injection of horror, but a new interactive time. With a board, pieces and cards, the aim sessions for kids brave enough to face their
element that no one had attempted would be to collect all the keystones before fears. Playing like a twisted cross between
before. This was Nightmare (or Atmosfear facing your worst fear. Looking back, the Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, Atmosfear
if you live in the United Kingdom or North ‘Gatekeeper’ – who would host the event became a unique experience few other board
America). The unusual yet instantly addictive on the tape – was just a man in a hood with games have ever been able to emulate.

Information Atmosfear: The Gatekeeper (the 2004 reboot) was in development for nine
years, and eventually went on to sell 600,000 copies worldwide, thanks
Creators: Brett Clements and
Phillip Tanner mainly to its vastly overhauled playing board, new ruleset, enhanced
First released: 1991 DVD setup and better effects for the Gatekeeper itself. Its randomised
Expect to pay: £5-10 programming made it much more enjoyable on repeat visits.

Actor David Whitney played the original

Gatekeeper in the VHS version, with creators
Brett Clements and Phillip Tanner using a
mixture of creepy sound effects and visual
effects (such as making the Gatekeeper’s eyes
glow or giving him a skull-like face) to help
freak out players playing too close to the TV.

The Legacy
The original version of Atmosfear/
Nightmare came boxed with a
VHS tape, but an updated version
with a DVD was released in
2004 – known as Atmosfear: The
Gatekeeper – making the experience
far more interactive and dynamic
(the titular Gatekeeper also looked
a lot scarier). It spawned plenty of
sequels and expansions over the
years as well, including Nightmare
II-IV, The Harbingers and Khufu the
Mummy. Of all the later versions, the
revamped 2004 version proved the
most popular and memorable to a
new generation of players.

55
 BAYWATCH n paper, a show about lifeguards an investment it was. With new star and

O looking after beachgoers on the

sands of California shouldn’t have
been a success, and it very nearly wasn’t.
former Playboy playmate Pamela Anderson
on board, Baywatch went from forgettable
procedural drama to international superhit.
Baywatch actually premiered on US TV at With its tanned bodies, sun-kissed beaches
the very end of the ’80s, and did so poorly in and slo-mo beach running, Baywatch
the ratings that it was cancelled after a single transformed into a cultural phenomenon.
season and put production company GTG It was a ratings beast and helped revive the
out of business to boot. Baywatch, it seemed, career of Hasselhoff, but it also encountered
wasn’t destined for success. its fair share of problems. Years after
However, the show proved a popular hit surviving cancellation, Baywatch hit the news
in Europe, and with Knight Rider star David when a sex tape involving Anderson and
Hasselhoff and creators Michael Berk, then-husband, the Mötley Crüe’s Tommy
Douglas Schwartz and Gregory Lee went public. There was an outcry among
J Bonann dedicated to distributors in the States and around
getting the show a the world, but rather than sinking
second chance, the show’s success, it drove
they bought back ratings into the stratosphere,
the rights to the and cemented Baywatch as
show for just one of the decade’s biggest
$10. And what TV brands.

Mustachioed cast member Michael Newman

was a lifeguard in real life when the producers
of the show hired him to play the role. He would
often coach the other stars on how to pull off
certain dives, and was able to do plenty of his
own stunts. His character was even named
Michael Newman.

Baywatch had a big-screen reboot in 2017, with

Information
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Zac Efron
headlining an attempt to turn the once-powerful
brand into a cinematic franchise. It exchanged
Creators: Michael Berk,
the corny melodrama for comedy, and ultimately
Douglas Schwartz and
Gregory J Bonann proved itself to be a flop with an 18 per cent
First broadcast: Rotten Tomatoes rating.
22 September 1989
Number of episodes: 242

56
 BAY WATCH

The Legacy
Baywatch ran from 1989 to 1999 before a
© Photo credit: Frank Masi; (2017) Paramount Pictures; Getty

drop in ratings led the producers to attempt

to rebrand the show with a new location
and cast. It was originally meant to be set
in Australia with the title Baywatch Down
Under, but strong local resistance to the idea In order to convince studio executives to During the height of its success, creators Michael
led the producers to opt to move the show give the concept of Baywatch a chance, its Berk, Gregory J Bonann and Douglas Schwartz
to Hawaii instead. The deal secured two creators created a custom music video to sell teamed up with David Hasselhoff to create a spin-
more seasons for the show, but it eventually the idea. They spliced together footage of off series called Baywatch Nights. Its first series
bowed out in 2001. lifeguards working on sun-kissed beaches, followed a detective agency, while its second
and edited to Don Henley’s iconic track The followed a paranormal route. Unsurprisingly, it
Boys of Summer. didn’t get a third season.

57
58
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

THE
GOLDEN
AGE OF
GAMING
How the greatest systems in gaming history conquered
the world, broke new ground and captured our hearts
he ’90s was arguably the most It wasn’t just Nintendo and Sega churning mid-’90s, 3D gaming exploded, changing the

T important era in videogame history.

The fierce battle for console supremacy
between Nintendo’s SNES and Sega’s Mega
out great games. Other developers were
creating some of the most influential titles
of all time. We’re talking about the most
medium forever. Mario 64 and The Legend of
Zelda: Ocarina of Time brought 2D icons into
the new age on Nintendo’s system, while the
Drive kicked the decade off, the rivalry taking important fighting game in the genre’s history: PlayStation gave us ground-breaking new titles
the world by storm as kids across the globe Street Fighter II, FPS juggernauts Doom and like stealth-action game Metal Gear Solid and
went to bat for their favourite system, and the Half-Life, RPG mega-hits like Final Fantasy VII survival horror Resident Evil.
companies’ mascots, Mario and Sonic, became and Pokémon Red and Blue, and multiplayer This was a decade where the old met the
household names. That rivalry fuelled the innovators like GoldenEye 007. new, and those there were lucky enough to
creation of countless 16-bit classics – games Speaking of innovation, the ’90s was experience the best of both: the peak of the 2D
like Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the decade that quite literally added a new era on 16-bit systems and the revolutionary
Golden Axe, Super Mario Kart, Streets of Rage II dimension to gaming. With the coming of first steps into the exciting new frontier of 3D.
and Super Metroid. Sony’s PlayStation and the Nintendo 64 in the This truly was gaming’s golden age.

59
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING

GAME BOY he Game Boy was far more basic than Red and Blue gave the console a boost that saw

T handheld competitors like Sega’s Game

Gear and the Atari Lynx. It only had two-
buttons to complement its d-pad and a single-
it end the decade as it started it: on a high.
The Game Boy’s success wasn’t just down
to Nintendo’s smart choices on the console’s
colour screen, as opposed to the vibrant colour hardware. There was also its ‘killer app’: a little
offered by its rivals. However, its simplicity game called Tetris. The famous block-puzzler’s
worked in its favour, the console’s accessibility beautiful simplicity reflected the ethos of the
broadening its audience, and the simple screen hardware it was played on and, together, the
giving it an incredible battery life that smashed two became a phenomenon. Almost everyone
the pitiful efforts of its foes. knows Tetris, as well as the iconic piece of
This helped make the Game Boy a huge hardware that made it a worldwide hit.
success. It enjoyed strong sales right out the In the age of smartphones, it’s difficult to
gate, and had an unusually long lifespan. It remember that handheld gaming wasn’t
was still going strong in the late ’90s when the always such a matter-of-fact occurrence. It was
release of the Game Boy Color in 1998 and this pioneer that popularised the concept of
the first-entry in one of the most successful taking games on the go, and that makes it an
videogame franchises of all-time in Pokémon important part of videogame history.

The Game Boy in numbers

66mm
screen
118.98
million battery
units sold life

60
 GA ME BOY

TECH
SPECS
RAM: 8kB
Processor: 8-bit Sharp LR35902
at 4.19MHz
Audio: 2 pulse wave generators,
1PCM 4-bit wave sample,
1 noise generator
Resolution: 160 x 144 pixels
Media: Cartridges
Graphics: 8kB video RAM

Information
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year: 1990
Expect to pay: £69.99
(launch), £20-50 (today)

61
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

GAME BOY
PERFECT TEN GAMES
There’s a worrying number of licensed platformers on Nintendo’s handheld, but also a lot
of genuine gems. If you’re thinking of buying a machine or adding to an existing collection,
make sure you at least own the following
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT
LINK’S AWAKENING GAME BOY ADVENTURE
» RELEASED: 1993 » RELEASED: 1991
» PUBLISHER: NINTENDO » PUBLISHER: LJN
» CREATED BY: NINTENDO » CREATED BY: BEAM SOFTWARE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: F-ZERO » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: TRANSFORMERS: ARMADA

01 Although it features an ending that’s the Linkian

equivalent of finding Bobby Ewing in the shower, this
charming adventure remains one of the Game Boy’s best
02 Licensed platformers are often nothing more than
a cheap cash-in at the expense of whichever movie
they’re based upon. Nobody passed this information on to
titles. Set on the island of Koholint, Link’s Awakening has Beam Software though, for which we’re eternally grateful.
the intrepid adventurer trying to awaken the mystical Wind Playing like a Nineties update of Chuckie Egg, BATEGBA
Fish. His trials take him through some fantastically designed is quite frankly fantastic fun and should be sought out by
dungeons, see him battling some impressive bosses and anyone with a love of platformers. Yes it looks incredibly
generally meandering around a beautifully detailed world. basic, but the cunning level design, incredibly tight controls
The lack of certain Zelda elements – it’s not set in Hyrule and overall slickness more than make up for its graphical
and Ganon is nowhere to be seen – may upset some, but shortcomings. Perfect proof that you don’t have to be
you’ll be doing yourself a grave disservice if you turn your Nintendo or rely on well-known videogame stars in order to
nose up at Link’s first portable adventure. A true classic. make a genuinely excellent (sorry) portable platformer.
01
R-TYPE SUPER MARIO LAND POKÉMON RED/
» RELEASED: 1991 » RELEASED: 1989 BLUE
» PUBLISHER: IREM » PUBLISHER: NINTENDO » RELEASED: 1996
» CREATED BY: BITS STUDIOS » CREATED BY: NINTENDO » PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » CREATED BY: GAME FREAK
LAST ACTION HERO DONKEY KONG » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

03 Although superseded by the

incredibly polished R-Type DX,
this remains the best blaster on the
04 Its successors certainly
boasted far more spit and
polish, but in terms of fantastic 05
MARIO & WARIO
By the time UK gamers were
able to sample the delights of
Game Boy. An astonishingly polished gameplay hardly anything else on the Game Freak’s ridiculously absorbing
port, R-Type looks and sounds Game Boy comes close to Mario’s first RPG, both Pokémon Red and Blue
amazing due to its accurately drawn handheld outing. Bowser has been had been available in Japan for three
sprites – right down to a near perfect replaced by the sinister-sounding years! The lengthy wait was well worth
miniaturised version of Dobkeratops – Tatanga while Luigi and Princess it, however, and while the series has
and impressively authentic music, and Peach are nowhere to be seen, but since gone on to become a global
plays like a proverbial dream. Yes it’s don’t let that put you off as Super merchandising phenomenon, it’s
just as annoyingly tough as its arcade Mario Land is as good as anything important to remember that Game
parent, but the stunning level design, that appeared on Nintendo’s home Freak’s first two games were as
exceptionally constructed bosses and systems thanks to its cleverly captivating as they were original. Full
addictive gameplay will keep bringing designed levels, perfect controls and of charm and recapturing the trading
you back for more. It’s one of the polished gameplay. Mario even finds card craze that used to sweep schools,
02 best arcade ports the Game Boy ever time to jump into a sub and plane for it took a serious amount of patience
had and is a must for shoot-’em-up some fun shmup action. A superb and strategy in order to capture all 151
fans everywhere. platformer that sold 18 million copies. of Game Freak’s cute critters.

03 04 05

62
 GA ME BOY

06 07 08
METROID II: THE TETRIS FACEBALL 2000
RETURN OF SAMUS » RELEASED: 1989
» PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
» RELEASED: 1991
» PUBLISHER:
» RELEASED: 1992
» PUBLISHER: NINTENDO » CREATED BY: BULLETPROOF SOFTWARE
» CREATED BY: INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS BULLETPROOF SOFTWARE » CREATED BY: XANTH SOFTWARE F/X
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: GATO

08
ADVANCE WARS YOSHI’S COOKIE What do you get when you

06 Samus’s second outing is

generally considered to be 07 With Nintendo now being
hailed as the saviours of
gaming due to the Wii, DS and Switch
cross forum emoticons with
Doom? This gem of a first-person
shooter still looks astonishing on
one of her worst, but we’d have to
disagree. Sure the graphics take a hit ensnaring brand-new gamers, it’s the Game Boy’s tiny screen, despite
on the Game Boy’s tiny screen, and easy to forget that it managed to do its slow pace. A port of the Atari
the environments are bland as hell, exactly the same thing with the Game ST’s Midi Maze, Faceball 2000
but it’s the gameplay that matters Boy and Tetris. Everyone from your can support death matches for
and The Return Of Samus delivers best mate to your granny was playing up to 16 players. The solo mode
in spades. Huge and sprawling, it Alexei Pajitnov’s classic puzzler back is effectively a take on 3D Monster
rewards exploration and expands on in 1989, no doubt helped by the fact Maze where you have to guide
the gameplay that made the original that it was bundled with the Game Boy. your HAPPYFACE (Holographically
Metroid so enjoyable. Add in some Worryingly addictive and sporting Assisted Physical Pattern Yielded For
impressive boss fights and a more that ‘one more go’ factor, it was a true Active Computerised Embarkation)
refined Samus who’s far easier to killer app for the machine and proved through 70 complex mazes, but it’s 09
control than her NES counterpart and that you didn’t need flashy graphics or the multiplayer where Faceball 2000
the result is a wonderful adventure even colour to captivate the masses. truly shines. Of course finding 15 other
that just keeps on giving. Just a damned good game. players may be a little tricky now…

CASTLEVANIA II: KIRBY’S PINBALL LAND

BELMONT’S REVENGE » RELEASED: 1993
» RELEASED: 1991 » PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
» PUBLISHER: KONAMI » CREATED BY: HAL LABORATORY
» CREATED BY: KONAMI » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: MYSTICAL NINJA ADVENTURES OF LOLO

09 If the only Game Boy Castlevania you’ve ever played

is the godawful original, then don’t be put off by this
sequel. Realising what a hash it had made with the series’
10 We came oh so close to nominating the excellent
Revenge Of The Gator here – also by HAL Laboratory
– but Kirby is just the better pinball game. Featuring superior
first portable debut, Konami went back to the drawing physics, a total of three different tables to battle on – each
board, meaning that Belmont’s Revenge is not only worthy with its own mini-game – and some extremely lush looking
of the franchise but easily one of the best examples of the visuals, Kirby’s Pinball Land is a great little title that will
genre to be found on the Game Boy. Although there are bring out the score-attack fiend in everyone. The lack of
only four levels, they’re extremely large in size, brilliantly a multiplayer mode is a little annoying, but this has been
designed and feature a range of familiar enemies and put together with so much care and attention that it’s
bosses. Audio is also impressive, easily matching the impossible not to love. Worryingly addictive and likely to give
excellent tunes that appeared in the NES games. In short, you extremely sore thumbs, it’s another essential game that
an essential addition to your Game Boy library. your Game Boy shouldn’t be without. 10

63
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING

MEGA DRIVE
he Mega Drive was a powerhouse at The series most strongly associated with

T the time of its release. It had a separate

processor to handle its audio, freeing
up the main processor to work with the video
the system, however, is Sonic the Hedgehog.
The first two Sonic games were a big hit,
playing a vital role in making the Mega Drive a
processor, and a palette of 512 colours to push success. The speedy platformers’ star, Sonic,

Information
big sprites in vibrant scenes. Using those tools, also served as a mascot for Sega, his attitude
the system offered incredible graphics that had contrasting with the more genial Mario as part
never been seen in the home before, delivering of a strategy to position the Mega Drive as the
Manufacturer: Sega
an impressive library of arcade ports such as cool console for teenagers, and its rival, the Year: 1990
Golden Axe and Altered Beast. SNES, as a kids’ toy. Expect to pay: £189.99
(launch), £30-80 (today)
The system also enjoyed strong support Sega made several mistakes with the Mega
from third-party publishers, most notably the Drive as the ’90s rolled on, most infamously
first entries in EA’s juggernaut sports series, with its two ill-fated Mega Drive add-ons, the
FIFA and Madden, the latter of which was Sega 32X and the Sega CD. But that hasn’t
important in helping the console gain traction in stopped the Mega Drive going down in history
the US, where it was known as the Genesis. as one of the greatest consoles of all time.

The Mega Drive in numbers

controller

30.75 million Original system

measures:
button

units sold
28 x 21.2 x 7cm
worldwide

64
 MEGA DRIVE

TECH
SPECS
RAM: 72kB
Processor: Motorola 68000 at
7.6MHz and Zilog z80
Audio: Yamaha YM2612 FM
Synthesizer and Texas Instruments
SN76489 PSG
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Media: ROM Cartridges
Graphics: Sega VDP

65
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

MEGA DRIVE
PERFECT TEN GAMES
Sega’s succcessful console is home to dozens of great titles, but here are ten of the very best
from this classic 16-bit machine from the ’90s.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 GUNSTAR HEROES
» RELEASED: 1992 » RELEASED: 1993
» PUBLISHED BY: SEGA » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA
» CREATED BY: SONIC TEAM » CREATED BY: TREASURE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: DYNAMITE HEADDY

01 After the success of the original Sonic The

Hedgehog, it came as no surprise to see the
lovable scamp returning a year later in a brand-new
02 Outrageously good platformer/shooter that
features dazzling graphics, a crazy relentless pace
and dozens of fantastic boss encounters. Created by a
adventure. With a refined engine, the addition of Miles bunch of ex Konami staffers (you should all know the story
“Tails” Prowler, a greatly enhanced bonus stage and an by now) Gunstar Heroes does tricks with the Mega Drive’s
excellent two-player mode, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is easily hardware that many thought impossible, and even today
one of the hedgehog’s most memorable 16-bit outings. it has a freshness about it. While special mention must
While the core gameplay is little different to that seen in obviously go to the game’s astounding visuals, Treasure
the original, Sonic Team threw in plenty of new touches also ensured that the gameplay was just as special and
to ensure that gamers wouldn’t feel short-changed. The injected all manner of interesting play mechanics to ensure
end result is not only one of the Mega Drive’s greatest that every level remains as fresh as a proverbial daisy. If
platformers, but quite possibly the hedgehog’s finest you’re after a frenetic blaster then look no further. This is
hours on any system. run-’n-gun heaven.
01
DEVIL CRASH STREETS OF RAGE 2 STRIDER
» RELEASED: 1991 » RELEASED: 1993 » RELEASED: 1991
» PUBLISHED BY: TECHNO SOFT » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA
» CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE » CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE » CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
THUNDER FORCE III STREETS OF RAGE AFTER BURNER

03 There’s a few pinball

games on Sega’s Mega Drive
but this superb 1991 offering from
04 As with Sonic The
Hedgehog 2, Sega took
everything that made the original
05 Oh come on, how could
we put together a Mega Drive
top ten and not feature Strider?
Techno Soft remains a firm favourite. Streets Of Rage so fun to play and Despite our obsessive love for
While it only features one main table, turned it up to 11. The visuals have Capcom’s purple clad ninja Strider’s
it’s well designed and boasts all had an overhaul with all the heroes addition is easily justified, as it’s quite
manner of different bonuses that lead and enemies being beefed up and simply the strongest arcade port on
you to several smaller, mini-tables. boasting greatly improved detail. Sega’s 16-bit console. Not only does
While Techno Soft’s previous pinball Yuzo Koshiro is back with another it capture all the character of the coin-
title Alien Crush featured an alien thumping soundtrack and the game’s op classic, it goes one step further
theme, Devil Crash has chortling many bosses are tougher than ever. and delivers a stunning soundtrack
knights, chanting monks and dragons Each character now has a selection that actually manages to improve
occupying its tables. Released in of special moves and there are four on the arcade original. Sure there’s
the UK as Dragon’s Fury, Devil Crash different protagonists to choose a fair amount of flickering here and
is a superb pinball game that should from: Axel and Blaze from the original there but as far as capturing the
02 last you forever. Oh, and it’s got one of
the most rocking soundtracks we’ve
game and new boys Skate and Max.
A magnificent scrolling fighter that’s
essence of the original game goes no
other Mega Drive conversion comes
ever heard. crying out for a next-gen remake. close. Essential.

03 04 05

66
 MEGA DRIVE

06 07 08
DESERT STRIKE: SHINOBI III: ECCO THE DOLPHIN
RETURN TO RETURN OF THE » RELEASED: 1993

THE GULF NINJA MASTER » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA

» CREATED BY:
» RELEASED: 1992 » RELEASED: 1993 NOVOTRADE INTERNATIONAL
» PUBLISHED BY: ELECTRONIC ARTS » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
» CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE » CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE JAWS UNLEASHED

08
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: Delightful underwater
JUNGLE STRIKE THE REVENGE OF SHINOBI adventure that sees

06 Set a year after the events

in the Gulf War, Desert Strike
sees you climbing into an Apache
07 Despite a lengthy
development period, Shinobi
III’s four-year wait was worth it. Not
you trying to rescue your dolphin
friends when they all get sucked
up by a mysterious hurricane.
and using it to stop a despot in the only has the pace been increased, With its focus on exploring the
Middle East from starting World War your ninja now knows a selection expansive stages and its many
III. Utilising an isometric viewpoint, of new skills. Flying-kicks, a running devious puzzles, Ecco The Dolphin
EA’s blaster saw you storming dash and using your hands to swing was quite unlike any other game at
into armed bases to rescue POWs, across ceilings are just a few of the the time and instantly caught the
whilst using your firepower to take new abilities you can use and all have public’s attention. The underwater
out anything that stood in your been perfectly integrated into the environments are full of detail and
way. Despite the destruction you game. There are even sections where bursting with all sorts of exotic
can cause, Desert Strike is quite
a cerebral affair, with many of the
you can ride horses or surf along the
crest of a wave, dispensing bad guys
undersea creatures. Our only real
complaints with Ecco is that some
09
later levels requiring a fair amount of as you go. If only the later games of the sections can be difficult to
strategy to complete. The thinking showed a tenth of the imagination of negotiate, ruining the otherwise
man’s shoot-’em-up. Shinobi III… tranquil atmosphere.

THUNDER FORCE IV SHINING FORCE II

» RELEASED: 1993 » RELEASED: 1994
» PUBLISHED BY: SEGA » PUBLISHED BY: SEGA
» CREATED BY: TECHNO SOFT » CREATED BY: IN-HOUSE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: SHINING FORCE

10
ALIEN CRUSH
While it essentially features the same combat

09 While Thunder Force III was never released in the

UK, Sega atoned by releasing its superb sequel in
1993. Techno Soft’s fourth Thunder Force title (and the third
system and gameplay mechanics as the original
Shining Force, Sega’s sequel is generally considered
by many to be a far superior RPG. Take the combat for
to appear on the Mega Drive) boasted amazing visuals, over- example: it’s a lot quicker now, making fights far less of a
the-top weaponry and a stunning soundtrack that perfectly chore than before, and the new counter-attacks add a great
complemented the frenetic on-screen action. As with degree of spice to the proceedings. The interaction of items
Thunder Force III, the first four levels could be approached in is also better integrated with little touches like automatically
any order, but the stages themselves were far larger in scope passing a picked up item to another character when your
and featured both vertical and horizontal sections. Throw in main hero’s pockets are full, and being able to view an item’s
some insanely tough bosses, plenty of exotic locations and stats before you buy them means that everything flows
those stunning visuals and you have one of the Mega Drive’s along rather nicely. A superb RPG that shouldn’t be missed
classiest shooters. under any circumstances. 10

67
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING

TECH
SPECS
RAM: 128kB
Processor: Custom 65C816
at 3.58 MHz
Audio: 8-channel ADPCM
Resolution: 256 x 224 – 512 x
448 pixels
Media: Cartridges
Graphics: 16-bit PPU with
64kB RAM

68
 SNES

SNES eleased in Japan two years after there’s no denying that it had the edge the genre-defining Super Metroid, and

R its main competitor, the Mega

Drive, the SNES impressed with
its more advanced graphical and sound
technically speaking.
However, to understand what made
the SNES such a huge hit and, to this
legendary RPGs like Chrono Trigger, Final
Fantasy VI and Earthbound. Not content
with popularising one iconic character
capabilities (though the Mega Drive day, one of the most-loved consoles ever with some of gaming’s most definitive
remained competitive on the speed released, you need look no further than titles, à la Mario, the SNES also gave us
front). For example, while the Mega Drive the games that were released for it. The The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,
could display 61 colours from a possible console helped to cement the legacy of Donkey Kong Country and Star Fox.
512 on screen at any given time, the the iconic Mario with Super Mario World – So, yes, the console was powerful, but
SNES could display a whopping 256 to this day heralded by many as not only it was that incredible library of games
from a possible 32,768. Add to that the the greatest platformer of all time, but that blended creative innovation with a
SNES’s pseudo-3D capabilities, shown the greatest game full stop. There was supreme level of quality that really made
off by titles like F-Zero and Pilotwings, and the fantastic kart-racer Super Mario Kart, it a success.

Information “To understand what made the SNES one

of the most-loved consoles ever released,
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year: 1992 look no further than the games that were
Expect to pay: £150
(launch), £50-100 (today) released for it”

The SNES in numbers

49.10
copies of Launched with only
million Super Mario games in
units sold World sold 3 Japan

69
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

SNES
PERFECT TEN GAMES
This has been one of the hardest top tens to put together, a fitting tribute to the fact that
Nintendo’s SNES had a phenomenal amount of great games available for it. Join us as we
run down the best games for arguably the greatest console of the ’90s. 01

02 03 04
THE LEGEND OF
ZELDA: A LINK TO
SUPER MARIO THE PAST
KART CONTRA III: THE
SUPER METROID » RELEASED: 1992
» RELEASED: 1993
» PUBLISHED BY: NINTENDO » RELEASED: 1994
» PUBLISHED BY: NINTENDO
» CREATED BY: NINTENDO
ALIEN WARS AXELAY
» PUBLISHED BY: NINTENDO » RELEASED: 1992 » RELEASED: 1993
» CREATED BY: NINTENDO » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
» CREATED BY: INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS » PUBLISHED BY: KONAMI » PUBLISHED BY: KONAMI
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA:
SUPER MARIO BROS » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: THE OCARINA OF TIME » CREATED BY: KONAMI » CREATED BY: KONAMI
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
01 03
BADVANCE WARS DS
We’ve been playing the There’s no denying the

02 Super Metroid is a game SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV GRADIUS III

original Super Mario Kart superiority of Ocarina
on and off now for over 25 years
and it still remains fresher than a
that works on a variety of
levels. While some marvelled at
its motherly themes, stunningly
Of Time, but A Link To The
Past remains a wonderfully 04 Konami released some
outstanding titles for
Nintendo’s 16-bit wonder, but
05 There’s a host of great
shooters available for the
SNES, but few can compare to the
baker’s dozen that’s just popped accomplished adventure that
out the oven. Meticulously designed created environments and deserves to sit proudly in every this cracking effort from 1992 is brilliance that is Konami’s stunning
circuits, a well-balanced range of remarkable attention to detail, SNES owner’s collection. Every arguably one of its best efforts. Axelay. From its quasi-3D levels to
weapons – including the greatly others were simply impressed with dungeon you explore is crafted to Each level is a rollercoaster ride of its utterly amazing music, every
missed feather – and impressive the sheer amount of crap you could perfection, and while they start off destruction and featured the SNES moment of Axelay is exhilarating to
visuals proved perfectly that there blow up in it. Regardless of how easy, you’ll soon be scratching your hardware on fine form. Sprites play through. While the level design
was so much more to everyone’s you feel about Samus’s only 16-bit head over Miyamoto’s deviously are full of detail, the game’s many and available weapons are worthy
favourite plumber than simply adventure, there’s no denying that designed puzzles. The many bosses a joy to behold, and there’s of praise, it’s the immense, striking
jumping on wayward Koopas. While Super Metroid remains a staggering weapons you discover are well a ridiculous amount of Mode 7 bosses the game constantly throws
the cups provided plenty of fun, it achievement that perfectly balanced and every encountered trickery going on. Add in a fantastic, at you that truly astound. Huge
was the stunning time trial mode combines the rush of shooting huge boss is a masterstroke in design. stomping soundtrack, an awesome metallic spiders, colossal ED-209
and sublime multi-player games bosses with the wonder of exploring Then of course you have the array of different weapons and styled mechs and a gigantic lava
that kept us constantly going back vast new areas like no other SNES two unique worlds that Link can some groovy overhead levels creature are just a few of the mayors
for just one more go. Those who game around. Little wonder then eventually switch between, thus (that can be rotated with the left you have to deal with and each is
missed out first time around can that it took Nintendo eight years to making an already sprawling game and right triggers) and you have breath-taking to behold. Why it was
now experience it on the SNES Mini, come up with a sequel that could even larger. Quite simply one of the a run-‘n’-gun title that would be never released on the Game Boy
released in 2017. do it justice. finest 16-bit adventures ever made. essential on any format. Advance we’ll never know…

70
 SNES

05 06 07

08 09 10

SUPER MARIO
ALL-STARS
» RELEASED: 1993 CHRONO TRIGGER STREET FIGHTER
» PUBLISHED BY: NINTENDO » RELEASED: 1995 ALPHA II UMIHARA
» RELEASED: 1996 PILOTWINGS
» CREATED BY: NINTENDO
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
» PUBLISHED BY: SQUARESOFT
» CREATED BY: SQUARESOFT » PUBLISHED BY: CAPCOM » RELEASED: 1993 KAWASE
» CREATED BY: CAPCOM » PUBLISHED BY: NINTENDO » RELEASED: 1994
SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
» PUBLISHED BY: NHK

06 What’s better than three FINAL FANTASY X » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » CREATED BY: NINTENDO
» CREATED BY: TNN
07
classic Mario NES outings SUPER GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
It would have been all too

08
on one cartridge? Why, three easy to go with Squaresoft’s Capcom’s second Alpha DONKEY KONG » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

09
Mario NES games with improved Secret Of Mana, so we’ve decided title was released late SHIJOU SAIKYOU LEAGUE SERIE A:
The Mode 7 chip was used
aesthetics and a fourth exclusive to focus on this little beauty in the SNES’s life, and as a ACE STRIKER
in countless numbers of
title that had only originally
appeared in Japan of course!
All-Stars’ triple whammy of Super
instead. While Squaresoft’s epic
RPG borrows plenty of ideas from
the Final Fantasy series, you just
result, was sadly overlooked
by a great many gamers who had
moved on to the newer, flashier
SNES games, but never was its
appearance more noticeable than 10 It seems only fair to put
at least one quirky
Japanese title in the top ten, so
in the wondrous Pilotwings. Taking
Mario Bros 1, 2 and 3 made it can’t help but be impressed by the consoles. Their loss was our gain control of a budding pilot, all the our vote goes to the delightful
incredible value for money and sheer amount of love that has gone however, as it’s easily one the game required you to do was Umihara Kawase. Taking control of
were great examples of taking old into crafting this astonishing RPG. best brawlers on Nintendo’s 16-bit master licences for four different an adorably cute little girl, the aim
games and updating them for a Although the central storyline is wonder. Great looking sprites, a events: Skydiving, Rocketbelt, Light of each stage is simple – avoid the
newer platform. Add in Super Mario fairly predictable, it soon begins to solid roster of characters, new Plane and Hang Glider. While some bizarre fishy enemies and reach the
Bros: The Lost Levels, which was twist and turn all over the place and moves, plenty of additional of Pilotwings’ events could be tricky door on each exit. Of course, said
effectively a tougher version of the introduces plenty of memorable animation and thumping good to get to grips with, the elation you exit is often out of reach, and with
original game and allowed you to characters and sub plots. The gameplay made Alpha II a winner. felt when they were finally mastered your little tyke not being that great
choose from either brother and you combat system is a joy to use We’ve no idea why the first game more than made up for it. Thanks a jumper she has to rely on a handy
had an amazingly comprehensive and the use of sound throughout didn’t appear on the SNES, but to the excellent Mode 7 effects the elastic rope to get her around. Think
package. Finally, if you bought the is outstanding. It all combines to Capcom more than made up for sense of scale you encountered as Bionic Commando but with some
version that came boxed with a create one of the most engrossing it with this excellent sequel. An you flew through the air was breath- decent rope physics thrown into
SNES you received Super Mario RPGs we’ve ever played. outstanding fighter that deserves to taking, and wait until you finally get the mix and you have a good idea of
World on the cartridge. Bargain! Utterly essential. be in everyone’s SNES collection. to use the hang glider… Marvellous. what to expect.

71
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING

NINTENDO 64
o back to the early days of 3D gaming 3D gaming. That wasn’t the only influential was also the release of the Rumble Pak, an add-

G and you can find plenty of titles that

have aged badly. That’s not true when
it comes to the Nintendo 64’s key games, and
title on the console either: The Legend of Zelda:
Ocarina of Time’s lock-on system has become
an action-game staple, and GoldenEye 007’s
on to provide haptic feedback to the controller.
Again, rumble features have become standard
on modern consoles.
that’s evidence of the fact that it laid down thrilling multiplayer matches popularised not The trailblazing steps taken by Nintendo in
the template for how to do 3D right. After only the console itself, but the now ubiquitous developing the N64’s hardware and its flagship
defining 2D platforming with its mascot, Mario, console FPS. games has had a huge influence on modern
Nintendo did the same for 3D platforming Let’s not forget just how influential the gaming. That’s a testament to how important
with Super Mario 64. The game featured a hardware was either, in particular the N64 this console is and what made it so great.
ground-breaking open approach that let you controller. The reason that games like Super
explore Bowser’s Castle at will, a revolutionary Mario 64 felt so fluid was in part because of the
dynamic camera system, and amazingly controller’s analogue stick, now considered
precise movement, setting new standards for essential for a modern controller. There

Information
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Year: 1995
Expect to pay: £250
(launch), £50 (today)

72
 NINTENDO 64

The N64 in numbers

32.93 RAM expandable to

million
units sold with Expansion Pak 4 controller
slots TECH
SPECS
RAM: 4MB
Processor: NEC VR4300
Audio: 64-bit DSP
Resolution: 320 x 240 –
640 x 480 pixels
Media: Cartridges
Graphics: Reality
Coprocessor

“The reason that games like Super Mario

64 felt so fluid was in part because of the
controller’s analogue stick, now essential
for a modern controller”

73
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

N64
PERFECT TEN GAMES
Nintendo followed the success of the SNES with the world’s first 64-bit machine,
which featured some of the best 3D games ever created for a home console.
Here are ten of the N64’s standout releases.

GOLDENEYE THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE

» RELEASED: 1997 OCARINA OF TIME
» DEVELOPED BY: RARE » RELEASED: 1998
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » DEVELOPED BY: IN-HOUSE
SABRE WULF » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

01 When Rare’s GoldenEye first appeared in 1997 SUPER MARIO BROTHERS

first-person console shooters were instantly given a
massive shot in the arm (pun fully intended) and its impact
sent shockwaves through the industry that continue to be
02 We remember playing The Ocarina Of Time like it
was yesterday. Link’s tearful farewell to Saria, learning
about the Deku Tree’s imminent death, walking out onto the
felt to this day. Sniper rifles, four-way split screen, multiple vastness of Hyrule field, playing the titular Ocarina for the
missions, even duel analogue support (via two N64 pads) very first time – they’re all moments that become indelibly
all made their first-person console debut in Rare’s excellent etched on your mind forever. If Super Mario 64 proved that
shooter and even today it remains incredibly fun to play. With classic 2D franchises could work perfectly well in 3D, it was
its wonderfully designed missions, intelligently structured Ocarina that truly showed console owners just how much
level design, excellent array of weaponry and utterly amazing breathtaking scope the third dimension could actually offer
multiplayer it should come as no surprise to learn that the them. No other adventure in recent memory has matched
only N64 game to ever succeed it was the development the perfection of Ocarina Of Time, and it’s quite possible that
team’s very own Perfect Dark. High praise indeed. none ever will.
01
SUPER MARIO 64 LYLAT WARS F-ZERO X
» RELEASED: 1996 (1997 UK) » RELEASED: 1997 » RELEASED: 1998
» DEVELOPED BY: IN-HOUSE » DEVELOPED BY: IN-HOUSE » DEVELOPED BY: IN-HOUSE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:
DONKEY KONG SUPER MARIO WORLD WAVE RACE 64

03 Few videogames have made

the tricky leap from 2 to 3D as
successfully as Shigeru Miyamoto’s
04 Playing through Lylat Wars (or
Starfox 64 if you’re overseas) is
like taking part in your very own space
05 Okay, so it was yet another
SNES update, but no other
racer on the N64 (with the exception
Super Mario 64. From the moment movie – hell it’s actually better than of Nintendo’s very own Wave Race
the Italian plumber’s cheerful face many of the Star Wars games. 64) came close to matching the
appears on the title screen to the final Everything about Lylat Wars, from sheer speed and excitement that
boss encounter, Mario’s first three- its soaring operatic music, to its jaw- F-Zero X offered. It may not have
dimensional outing feels as natural dropping visuals has been done on been the prettiest of games – there’s
as breathing. Beautifully structured, such an impressive scale that you can’t a distinct lack of detail and plenty of
perfect to control (unlike the recent helped but get fully immersed within fog – but it was amply compensated
DS outing) and home to one of the the on-screen action. This sense of by the fact you could race against 29
finest 3D cameras ever created, immersion is captured perfectly by your other cars and that its snaking tracks
Super Mario 64 retains its title as the more-than-able Arwing co-pilots. Slippy, zipped along at a blisteringly smooth
finest 3D platformer ever made. And Peppy and Falco are now fully fleshed- 60 frames-a-second (something no
if that’s not a good enough reason out characters, while the opposing 360 racer has currently achieved).
to include it in this top ten, then we Starwolf team ignites an intense rivalry With F-Zero X Nintendo managed to
don’t know what is. A masterpiece that was never apparent in Starwing. capture the very essence of racing
02 of game design that no true gamer Fighting the forces of Andross has never in a 128mbit cart – nothing more,
should miss. been so much fun. nothing less.

03 04 05

74
 N64

06 07 08
BANJO KAZOOIE WAVE RACE 64 SUPER SMASH BROS
» RELEASED: 1998 » RELEASED: 1996 (1997 UK) » RELEASED: 1999
» DEVELOPED BY: RARE » DEVELOPED BY: IN-HOUSE » DEVELOPED BY: HAL LABORATORY
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: F-ZERO » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

07
DIDDY KONG RACING KIRBY’S DREAM LAND
Wave Race 64 was

06 If proof was needed that Rare

could do no wrong on Nintendo’s
N64, look no further than this superb
one of the first launch
games for Nintendo’s new 64-bit
console and it instantly set a
08 Trust Nintendo to take
a popular genre (in this case
the beat-’em-up) and add its own
platformer. Featuring a fascinating precedent due to its incredible unique spin to it. Super Smash
gameplay mechanic – Banjo and physics, convincing water Bros allowed 12 of Nintendo’s most
Kazooie could be manipulated in and superb gameplay. The popular videogame characters
a variety of different ways to solve aforementioned physics allowed to battle against each other in an
problems – beautiful looking visuals you to feel every ebb and swell ecstatic orgy of over-the-top cuteness.
and some fiendishly clever level that your jetbiker raced across, Four brawlers could take part and
design, Rare nearly managed to do the while the beautifully constructed the aim of the game was simplicity
impossible and create a game that was courses ensured that you’d itself: send your opponents flying from
better than Super Mario 64! constantly return to them to the ring before they do the same to
Brimming with charm and humour shave precious seconds off your you. While it lacked intricate special
– special mention must go to the previous lap times. Over 20 years moves and the depth of titles such
hilarious hoedown at the beginning on from the original’s release as Street Fighter II, the sheer
of the game – and with just the right
amount of item-collecting, Banjo
and it’s still considered by many
to be one of the Nintendo 64’s
amount of items you had access
to – everything from lightsabers to
09
Kazooie is a platform fan’s dream greatest racers. It’s certainly Pokémon balls – and the chaotic
and should be played by anyone with not a statement we’re going to battles easily made up for Smash
even a passing interest in the genre. argue with. Bros’ few shortcomings.

BLAST CORPS SIN & PUNISHMENT

» RELEASED: 1997 » RELEASED: 2000
» DEVELOPED BY: RARE » DEVELOPED BY: TREASURE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: GRABBED BY THE GHOULIES » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

09
MISCHIEF MAKERS
Rare’s second N64 title was a game of such twisted
brilliance that we’re surprised a sequel to it has never
appeared. When an out-of-control missile is set to destroy
the world, you have to clear a path for it by jumping into a
10 Treasure may have only released three games
for the Nintendo 64, but we consider every single
one of them to be a work of art that deserves to be played
variety of different machines (including two giant robots) again and again. For the Perfect Ten we’ve decided to go
and destroying as much of the landscape as possible. The with the superb Sin & Punishment though. Released in
sheer destructive nature of the game harks back to the old 2000, it pushed the machine like no other game before
arcade games of old, while Rare further fuelled the nostalgia it had done. A simple on-rail shooter at heart, Sin &
buds by offering a variety of bonus levels that mimicked Punishment is nevertheless a giddying rollercoaster of a
everything from Pac-Man to Defender. A refreshing, unique ride that instantly grabs you by the balls and doesn’t let
title that proved just what a powerhouse the N64 could be in them out of its vice-like grip until the whole dizzying
capable hands. experience is over.

10

75
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING

76
 PL AYSTATION

PLAYSTATION
ony’s PlayStation was an upstart Using discs meant that the PlayStation could

S console that shook the gaming world.

It was all about Nintendo and Sega
until the PlayStation came along and shocked
play music CDs too, an early example of the
multimedia functionality that would evolve to
make our consoles into DVD players, Blu-ray
Information
Manufacturer: Sony
Year: 1995
everyone by shattering their dominance and players, and streaming devices. Expect to pay: £299
overtaking both companies. Another key to the PlayStation’s greatness (launch), £20-40 (today)
This was a system that embraced the was Sony’s open attitude to third-party
future. It was the first console to focus on 3D, developers in comparison to its competitors’
positioning it at the cutting edge of the medium. relatively closed-off approach. While it had a
Indeed, Sony consciously played on the idea few successful properties of its own – Gran
that it was on the edge, marketing the console Turismo and Crash Bandicoot, for example – TECH
towards young adults in a successful bid to be getting third parties on board meant that the SPECS
viewed as the cool system. PlayStation had great games coming out all RAM: 2MB main, 1MB video
The PlayStation’s use of CDs, rather than the time. Tomb Raider, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Processor: 32-bit RISC MIPS R3000A
cartridges, was another forward-thinking Tekken, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy Audio: 16-bit, 24 channel ADPCM
Resolution: 256 x 224 – 640 x
move. The lower costs of the media and higher VII are just a few of the incredible third-party 480 pixels
storage capacity proved to be a big advantage, games that helped make the PlayStation an Media: CDs
and effectively signalled the death of cartridges. essential purchase. Graphics: GPU and Geometry
Transformation Engine

“This was a system that embraced the

future. It was the first console to focus on
3D, positioning it at the cutting edge of
the medium”

The PlayStation in numbers

Almost
102.49 10 million
million copies
of Gran
units sold games released Turismo sold

77
 THE GOLDEN AGE OF GA MING

PLAYSTATION
PERFECT TEN GAMES
The original PlayStation brought us a massive number of franchises that have become part of
the gaming landscape today. Just take a look at the list below…

TOMB RAIDER GRAN TURISMO 2

» RELEASE: 1996 » RELEASE: 1999
» PUBLISHER: EIDOS INTERACTIVE » PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
» CREATOR: CORE DESIGN » CREATOR: POLYPHONY DIGITAL
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: FIGHTING FORCE » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: OMEGA BOOST

01 Although her star has waned a little since she

first arrived on the scene, there’s no denying that
Lara Croft remains one of videogaming’s most enduring
02 The first Gran Turismo was possibly the
most technically groundbreaking release of
the 32-bit era, and this sequel beefed up the already
icons. Her 1996 debut was actually on the Saturn, as considerable experience by adding more cars, more
developer Core Design had traditionally supported tracks and even a rally mode. The title’s visuals – already
Sega’s consoles. However, it was the PlayStation version pretty mind-blowing in the original release – pushed
– released shortly afterwards – that was truly responsible the 32-bit hardware to the absolute limit, with Polyphony
for firing the delectable Miss Croft into the realms of Digital’s unique development software eking out
global superstardom. Sequels followed as it firmly every last drop of power from the PlayStation in its
became a PlayStation series and arguably improved final years. Spanning two discs, Gran Turismo 2 is
on the template, but the original game retains a near- arguably the definitive racing title of that era and still
legendary status. plays great today.
01
FINAL FANTASY METAL GEAR SOLID RESIDENT EVIL 2
TACTICS » RELEASE: 1998 » RELEASE: 1998
» RELEASE: 1997 » PUBLISHER: KONAMI » PUBLISHER: CAPCOM
» PUBLISHER: SQUARE » CREATOR: IN-HOUSE » CREATOR: IN-HOUSE
» CREATOR: IN-HOUSE » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: DINO CRISIS
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: DEW PRISM INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR
05 The first title established

03 Released only in Japan SOCCER PRO Capcom’s reputation as

and North America, this
strategy RPG arrived around the 04 Hideo Kojima’s magnum
opus set a new high
watermark for storytelling in
master of the ‘survival horror’ genre,
but it was the second game in the
series that truly confirmed the
same time as Final Fantasy VII, which
caused some confusion when videogames, as well as introducing company’s god-like status. Offering
gamers discovered that they an entire generation to the wonderful the ability to play the story with
actually had very little in common. stealth sub-genre. Solid Snake has two different characters – one to
Developed by the team behind gone on to become a household each of the game’s two discs, with
Tactics Ogre – Square snapped up name, starring in more technically differences depending on which
studio Quest prior to producing impressive sequels on the PS2, you play first – Resi 2 mixed
the game – Final Fantasy Tactics PS3 and PS4 consoles. However, relentless zombie slaughter with
showcases gorgeous visuals, hardcore fans maintain that this intriguing puzzles and some of the
breathtaking music and a instalment remains the best, best visuals seen on the PlayStation

02 surprisingly mature and complex

plot. It was released on the PSP in a
thanks largely to its tight plotting,
memorable characters and judicious
up to that point. It’s unsurprising
that series fans hold this entry in the
slightly enhanced form. use of the host hardware. utmost regard.

03 04 05

78
 PL AYSTATION

06 07 08
TEKKEN 3 EINHÄNDER FINAL FANTASY VII
» RELEASE: 1998 » RELEASE: 1997 » RELEASE: 1997
» PUBLISHER: NAMCO » PUBLISHER: SQUARE » PUBLISHER: SCE
» CREATOR: IN-HOUSE » CREATOR: IN-HOUSE » CREATOR: SQUARE
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: SOUL BLADE » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER:

06 Tekken 2 had proven

that Namco was more
than capable of taking on Sega’s 07
BRAVE FENCER MUSASHI
Famous for being
Square’s one and only 08
SAGA FRONTIER
Having sold over 10
million copies worldwide,
illustrious Virtua Fighter, but it was entry in the shooter genre, Final Fantasy VII needs no
the third game that dazzled the Einhänder is an incredible introduction. Cited as the game
most. Sceptics had feared that it achievement. The team involved that sold the Japanese RPG to the
would never appear on the 32-bit had no previous experience with Western mainstream, this three-
console, but Namco’s expert coders this type of game, yet it managed disc epic made the most of the
managed to squeeze in every aspect to create a classic that is still talked PlayStation’s technical capabilities
of the coin-op to create a fitting about in hushed, reverent tones to deliver hours of turn-based
pugilistic swansong for the ageing even today. Featuring a unique entertainment. It remains arguably
PlayStation. While the Tekken weapon system based on grabbing the most popular entry in Square’s
Force and Tekken Ball modes the ordnance of fallen enemies, evergreen franchise and spawned
were superfluous additions to Einhänder’s brilliance is made even several spin-off games and
the domestic port, all of the
important features were present
more remarkable when you consider
that Square hasn’t ventured to the
other projects, such as Crisis
Core on the PSP and the Advent
09
and correct. genre since its release. Children CGI movie.

CASTLEVANIA: VAGRANT STORY

SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT » RELEASE: 2000
» RELEASE: 1997 » PUBLISHER: SQUARE
» PUBLISHER: KONAMI » CREATOR: IN-HOUSE
» CREATOR: IN-HOUSE » BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: FRONT MISSION 2

10
» BY THE SAME DEVELOPER: PROJECT OVERKILL One of the most ambitious role-playing games of

09 The PlayStation has a reputation for being

something of a duffer when it comes to 2D
titles, and to a certain extent, this is true. The console
the 32-bit era, Vagrant Story is epic in every sense
of the word. Produced by the same team responsible
for Final Fantasy Tactics, the game featured a deep and
had only 2MB of RAM compared to the Saturn’s 4MB, sometimes disturbing storyline, and lead character
and this resulted in some lacklustre conversions. Ashley Riot has to rank as one of the most hard-edged
However, titles like Symphony Of The Night – coded with protagonists in videogame history. Vagrant Story was
Sony’s hardware in mind – were mind-blowing. Fusing 2D re-released on Sony’s PlayStation Network to be
and 3D effects, Konami’s designers created one of the purchased and downloaded for play on both the
most mesmerising titles of the generation. Look out for PlayStation 3 and PSP, and it even lives on through its
the limited edition European version, complete with art shared universe with the Final Fantasy Tactics series and
book and CD. Final Fantasy XII. 10

79
 POLLY POCKET
or many a girl and boy in the early later, Swindon-based company Bluebird Toys heads (known at the time as ‘Doom Zones’

F 1990s, few toys were as sought

after as Polly Pocket and Mighty
Max. These miniature creations were a
licensed the idea, and a new line of must-have
toys entered the market.
The figures included were around an inch
and ‘Horror Heads’). Like MM, Polly Pocket
also spawned a TV series to capitalise on its
success in the toy market.
merchandising giant, offering a set of tiny tall, with bases that could be secured onto American toy giant Mattel had acquired
figures and a playset all contained in one fixed points inside each playset. Its portability the licensing to sell Polly Pocket in the
little hinged toy. Polly Pocket was the first made it an instant hit in playgrounds around States, and when it eventually bought
to hit the market, originally starting out as a the world, and it spawned the male spinoff, Bluebird Toys in 1998, it went about giving
homemade toy created by British inventor Mighty Max. Rather than the entire line a much-needed makeover.
Chris Wiggs. Around 1983, Wiggs used an old cutesy dolls’-house designs, Polly and her friends were given a more
makeup compact case and fashioned a dolls’ the MM range were giant lifelike appearance, and a new range
house inside for his daughter, Katie. Six years skulls and monster of playsets was launched.

Information
Creator: Chris Wiggs
First released: 1989
Expect to pay: £10-20

While we’re long past the days where Polly Pocket was
a must-have toy on many a girl’s (and boy’s) Christmas
list, the franchise still took a huge chunk out of the ‘90s’
toy market. The brand has reportedly shifted more than
10 million units over the years, so there’s no surprise it’s
getting a modern reboot.

80
 POLLY POCKET

The 1998 reboot was known as

‘Fashion Polly’, and was the first The Legacy
attempt by Mattel to transition the While Polly Pocket’s popularity waned as the
Polly Pocket range away from its ‘90s gave way to the ‘00s, Mattel kept the line
pure miniature roots and into more in production for years. Now using a larger,
of a doll creation. They came with Polly Pocket spun off into many a different almost four-inch-sized set of characters, the
stretchy rubber clothes, which was medium over the years, including the world range began to focus more on the fashion doll
another first for the franchise. of videogames. It got an LCD handheld game aspect than the original miniature gimmick.
from Tiger Electronics (remember those – In 2010, Mattel attempted to relaunch the
they were huge in the ‘90s?) and a game on range, but by 2012 it had been discontinued
the Game Boy Advance, 2003’s Polly Pocket! in the US. Polly Pocket will be making a
Super Splash Island. comeback in 2018 with a new line that uses
the miniature format from the ‘90s (along
with a new TV show).

Following the takeover of Bluebird Toys by Mattel

towards the end of the ’90s, the Polly Pocket
playsets produced by the British manufacturer
became far more valuable collectors’ items. One
classic set went for almost £7,000 on eBay in early
2018. Time to go check your old toy box!

81
 TELETUBBIES
he ’90s saw plenty of children’s had the unenviable task of filling the slot

T TV shows transform into cultural

phenomena, but not many of them
were aimed at preschoolers. Yet, when
previously occupied by the popular series
Playdays. The over-simplified language and
almost psychedelic qualities of repetition
Teletubbies debuted on the BBC back in the were a huge departure for kids’ show formats
spring of 1997, the simple and colourful world at the time, but the change eventually proved
of four strange little baby creatures captured its worth, with viewership skyrocketing to two
the imagination of kids and parents alike. It million views per episode by August 1997.
also became a merchandising beast, with the It proved a huge draw internationally too,
plush toys of its titular quartet – Tinky Winky, with broadcasts in 120 different countries
Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po – becoming one of around the world. That greater exposure
the most sought-after toys at Christmas that also brought some controversy in 1999, with
year. Teletubbies went head to head with some groups suggesting the character of
Tamagotchi that year, with the red-coloured Tinky Winky – who was famed for carrying a
Po proving the most popular gift. handbag – was an overtly gay character who
When it dropped onto BBC Two had no place in the children’s TV
(back when we didn’t have rolling show. The BBC responded
kids’ TV channels, but small slots on with: “Tinky Winky is simply
weekdays when children’s television a sweet, technological baby
programmes would be broadcast), it with a magic bag.” The Legacy
The original series, which ran

Information from 1997 to 2001, produced a

staggering 365 episodes, which were
repeated heavily in the years that
Creators: Anne
Wood, Andrew followed. In 2015, the BBC revived
Davenport the series, keeping the same format
First broadcast: as before but with new actors in
31 March 1997 the Teletubbies‘ suits, a new baby
Episodes: 365
(original series) playing the sun, a new narrator and
a revamped set. Its format changed
preschool programming drastically,
paving the way for the likes of In
the Night Garden and other sedate
programming aimed at youngsters.

Much like Power Rangers before

it, Teletubbies became such a
cultural phenomenon, it even
made its way into the music
charts. A remix of the official
theme tune became the
Christmas Number 1
in the UK Charts in
December 1997. It
sold well over a million
copies as well.

82
 TELETUBBIES

To celebrate the show’s tenth

anniversary in 2007, its creators
held a number of special events
across the world. This included an
invitation-only show in London
and a number of locations in New
York. The original four actors also
appeared on The Today Show
(marking the first time that they
had been interviewed without
their costumes).

As well as plushies and a range

of other toys, Teletubbies also got
the kids‘ meal treatment. In 1999,
Burger King in the United States
did a promotion that included
mini Teletubbies plush toys along
with chicken nuggets shaped like
the characters.

Some of the actors involved

in the show continued with
careers in children’s television.
Pui Fan Lee (who played the
original version of Po) is a
regular on CBeebies, on shows
such as Show Me Show Me,
while Laa-Laa actress Nikky
Smedley would go on to
© Alamy/Getty

choreograph fellow BBC kids‘

show hit In the Night Garden.

83
 SUPER Information
Manufacturer: Larami/Hasbro
First released: 1990

SOAKER
Expect to pay: £20-50 used,
$100-200 new in box

n the early 1990s, two words were absolutely finally catching a break with promising toy It turns out that – and to borrow language

I synonymous with dripping popsicles,

playing outside until the sun set, and those
wonderfully schoolless summer months: Super
Soaker. Created by prolific patent-holder and
company Larami.
When it officially launched in 1990, the Super
Soaker line didn’t bare the now-recognisable
(and totally radical) moniker, but instead the
from a Super Soaker marketing slogan – wetter
is indeed better. Whether it was the line’s
signature neon colours or the strong, reliable
H2O tech,the water was certainly on the wall:
NASA scientist Lonnie Johnson in his basement less-appealing Power Drencher label. However, Johnson’s new outdoor play device was a
during spare evening hours in 1982, this soon-to- poor sales and a name conflict with another massive hit. And, more importantly, it left water
be revolution in water-gun culture was, believe inventor led to a full rebranding and relaunch balloon fights and traditional squirt gun battles
it or not, born out of Johnson’s attempts at in 1991. This, coupled with a memorable TV in the proverbial dust.
creating a new kind of heat-pump technology ad campaign that had young boys crashing a
for refrigerators and air-conditioning units. pool party with cool shades and pump-action
He shopped around the humble prototype – a pressurised water, resulted in more
hodgepodge built out of a two-litre soda bottle, than two million Super Soakers being
Plexiglas and PVC pipe – for several years, until sold that year alone.

Some of the first Super Soaker water guns released were the
SS30 (orange and yellow), the SS100 (blue and yellow) and the
bestselling SS50 (yellow and green), which every kid in existence
seemed to own. It was this last model that earned Super Soaker
an official nomination for the National Toy Hall of Fame.

84
 SUPER SOAKER

Even celebrities fell under the Super Soaker spell.

Johnny Carson was seen brandishing one of the neon
water weapons on The Tonight Show in 1992, and The Legacy
Michael Jackson had a well-known obsession with the Super Soaker became such a
high-powered squirt guns, often hosting all-out water ubiquitous cultural phenomenon in
wars at his Neverland Ranch estate. the 1990s that the brand name itself,
similar to product mainstays like
Kleenex or Band-Aid, became a way
in which to refer to virtually any kind
of pressurised or pump-action water
gun. Even today, Hasbro is still (pun
fully intended) pumping out fresh
Super Soaker toys under its wide Nerf
umbrella. While the name doesn’t
carry nearly the same retail clout it did
decades ago, new generations are still
passing forwards the drenched torch.

When Lonnie Johnson pitched

With the introduction of Larami’s CPS Super Soaker to Larami in 1989,
(Constant Pressure System) in 1996 came he closed the landmark deal in
the infamous CPS 2000, a revered model a fashion that only an inventor
that arguably remains the most powerful could – by using pressurised water
stock water gun to ever hit store shelves. to knock paper cups off a table
It even came with its own health and from across the conference room.
safety warning! What toy company president
© Getty

could resist such salesmanship?

85
 The all-in-one design
allowed all of the
components to reside at the
back of the display. Techies
were delighted by the Power PC
750 233MHz central processing
unit, ATI Rage Iic graphics card
and 4GB hard drive. There were
also two USB sockets, a couple
of mini-jacks for headphones and
built-in stereo speakers.

The Legacy
Steve Jobs was right when he told a crowd in 1998: “We
think iMac is going to be a really big deal.” After all, Apple
continues to make iMacs today, with the top-end model
being the £4,899 iMac Pro. The iMac G3 was eventually
pulled after five years in favour of the ground-breaking flat-
panelled iMac G4. The iMac G5 was launched in 2004,
two years before Apple ditched PowerPC processors in
favour of Intel, while the style of iMac we’re familiar with
today was introduced in 2007.

86
 APPLE IM AC

Information
Manufacturer: Apple
First released: August 1998
Expect to pay: £80 to £100
APPLE IMAC
t is becoming hard to remember the time when statement, and unlike any other computer on the

I tech giant Apple was on its knees. But back in

1997, it was on the verge of bankruptcy until
Steve Jobs – its gifted founder with a penchant for
market at that time. If you looked closely, you could
see the shapes of the iMac’s innards: it packed a
233MHz PowerPC G3 processor and a 4GB hard
mock turtleneck sweaters – made a triumphant drive. Most eyes were on the exterior, however,
return and gave the company back its bite. where there wasn’t a straight line in sight.
He blew a fresh breeze through the corridors of Although the computer severed ties with the
Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, sweeping away floppy disc, it adopted the USB standard. The
a large and confusing line-up of computers and iMac also shipped with the modern-looking Mac
projects. Working with the now-acclaimed designer, OS 8.1 – the biggest overhaul of Apple’s operating
Jonathan Ive, he also came up with the all-in-one system since System 7, which was launched six
desktop computer, the iMac G3, costing consumers years earlier. There is no doubt this combination
in the US $1,299. got people talking about Apple again, and the
With its gorgeous curved, egg-shaped styling iMac ended up selling 800,000 units in under five
and a translucent casing that eventually came months. In doing so, it sparked the beginning of a
in 13 different colours, the computer was a bold tremendous Mac revival.

“With its gorgeous curved, egg-shaped

There was no floppy drive but there
was a 24x CD-ROM optical drive. The
styling and a translucent casing that
first models let you pop the discs into a eventually came in 13 different colours,
tray, but this was discontinued in 1999
in favour of a slot. It was also possible the computer was a bold statement”
to download software from the internet.
With Safari not released until 2003, the
browsers of choice were Netscape and
Internet Explorer for Mac – made by Bundled with each computer was an equally distinctive
rival Microsoft. keyboard. Also produced using translucent plastic, it had black
keys with white characters on them. Controversially, the single-
button mouse was circular, and quickly (and unfavourably)
compared to a hockey puck, with many believing it to be clumsy
to hold and operate.

© Getty

The iMac G3 was originally launched with

Bondi Blue coloured plastic wrapped around
the back of a 15-inch CRT display. Later colours
included Blueberry, Grape, Tangerine, Lime,
Strawberry, Graphite, Ruby, Sage, Indigo, Snow,
Blue Dalmatian and Flower Power, each lending
this iconic late-’90s computer a unique look that
departed from the usual beige boxes.

87
 MIGHTY
MORPHIN
POWER
RANGERS hen Israeli-American TV producer When the show premiered in 1993, it

W Haim Saban travelled to Japan on

a business trip in the mid-’80s, he
came across a broadcast full of characters
was more than just a hit; it was a veritable
phenomenon. The colour-coded Rangers
became household names, spawning a
Interestingly, the Green Ranger (who would
go on to become one of the franchise’s
most popular characters) actually started
in bright costumes, imbued with superhero merchandising franchise powerful enough to out as a villain. Eventually, the man
strength and acrobatic fighting skills. That give Star Wars a run for its money. It became otherwise known as Tommy Oliver was
show was Super Sentai, a series that had a ratings machine, pulling in an average of eventually freed, with actor Jason David
been a staple for young Japanese fans since 4.3 million young viewers, making the leap to Frank returning multiple times over the
1975. When he returned to the States, he cinemas with the hugely successful Mighty decades to play the emerald Ranger.
eagerly helped put together a pilot – known Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (a film
as Bio-Man – which he shopped around that grossed $66 million from a $15 million
various studios. When Bio-Man failed to budget – not bad for one that was mauled
catch a break, the show was re-edited with by critics). Its theme even got to Number 3
footage from Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (a in the UK charts. What other kids’ shows can
contemporary version of Super Sentai) and make that kind of claim? The brand is still
renamed Galaxy Rangers. When Fox Kids going today, on its umpteenth reboot (and
picked it up in the early ’90s, the rest, as they with a new film no less), but it’s never quite
say, was history. recaptured the intensity of its ’90s takeover.

Information
Creator: Haim Saban
First broadcast: 28 August 1993
Number of seasons: Three
(original series)

88
 MIGHT Y MORPHIN POWER R ANGERS

The show may have been popular between 1993 and 1995, but nothing
compared to the popularity of its toy ranges. Lines consistently sold out
in 1993, with Power Rangers figures – including the must-have original
Megazord – proving the toy to own in 1994. By the following year, PR
toy sales reached $1 billion.
When Saban acquired the
rights to Super Sentai in the
West, he didn’t just straight
up make his own version.
To save money (and make it
more attractive to eventual
investor Fox Kids), the show
used the fight scenes from the
Japanese version and reshot
the scenes where the rangers
were in normal clothing with
their Western cast.

The Legacy
The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
ran for three seasons – from 1993 to 1995 –
before being rebooted as Mighty Morphin
Alien Rangers. A further 23 seasons have
followed in various guises (including a brief
attempt to fully reboot the show in 2010),
and it continues to bring in decent ratings
on kids’ channels around the world (as well
The original show’s reliance on the Japanese incarnation for its
as selling toys by the dozen). A cinematic
Ranger-based fight scenes led to a number of issues over the years,
reimagining was also made in 2017, but it
including the fact the Yellow Ranger was played by a woman in the
failed to rekindle the magic of its heydey.
West, but a man in the East. The Green Ranger died in the Japanese
version, eventually forcing the West to turn him into the White Ranger.

89
 BOP IT et’s be honest, the ’90s was the and older audiences, mainly because it

L decade for weird and wonderful board

games. Whether you were moving
around a board while watching a creepy and
was so easy to pick up and play. Its design
was updated into the Bop It Extreme,
which added two more commands, a
faux-interactive VHS tape, or attempting new layout, and an increased score. It
to give a plastic crocodile so much needed proved just as popular as the original,
dentistry, there were myriad ways to play and ensured Bop It has remained in
unusual pastimes with family and friends. production for years to come.
So, of course, these were the years when
the strange and addictive toy that was Bop It
took the world by storm.
Made by toy giant Hasbro, and first
released in 1996, Bop It is as bizarre as
it looks and sounds. The original version
included three commands – ‘pull it’, ‘twist In 2011, Hasbro launched a
it’ and ‘bop it’ – with each one requiring smartphone app version of
a different action across its musical Bop It on iOS and Android.
instrument-esque design. That first iteration It took all the physical
commands of the toy version
only included one voiceover option, but
and translated them into
packed in three very ’90s game modes –
on-screen gestures. While
Vox Pop, Solo Pop and Beat Pop – as well
it lacks the tactile feel of
as using a musical set of tones to describe the original, the inclusion
your score at the end of each round (a drum of unusual twists (such
beat represented one point, a ratchet sound as shouting into the
meant ten points, and a whistle was 100). microphone) makes it
It was a huge success – especially in 1996 surprisingly addictive.
and 1997 – proving a hit with both young

90
 BOP IT

Information
“These were the years Manufacturer: Hasbro
when the strange and First released: 1996
Number of commands: Three
addictive toy that was (bop it, twist it, pull it)

Bop It took the world

by storm” As well as various new
models and a smartphone
app, the Bop It franchise
also made its way into the
virtual world of videogames.
This included Hasbro Family
Various voice-over artists provided the warped
Games Night 2 for the
announcer’s dulcet tones in the original versions
Nintendo Wii and Hasbro
of Bop It, but since the big 2008 relaunch, actor
Family Games Night 1 for
Buddy Rubino has been the voice of Bop It.
the Nintendo DS.
He’s provided vocals for all the modern
versions of the game, including the app and the
videogame incarnations.

The Legacy
The Bop It was updated in the ’00s
and beyond. The Bop It Extreme 2
arrived in 2001 with a new mode,
volume control and redesigned
inputs, while a Bratz-themed version
dropped in 2004. In 2005, Bop It
Blast introduced a higher score cap,
and both male and female announcer
voices. The series was overhauled in
2010 into the forms you see today.

91
 THE INTERNET
W
e take the internet for granted
today. It is, after all, an ever-
present constant within our lives.
It allows us to communicate better (arguably
at least) and it lets us conduct research, buy
items and have lots of fun. Yet in the early
’90s, the world wide web was a virtual land
of mystique and infinite possibility.
Time magazine summed it up in April
1993 as ‘the info highway’ that was ‘bringing
a revolution in entertainment, news and
communication’. Indeed, a year later, the
web browser Mosaic Netscape 0.9 was
launched, achieving three quarters of the
market after just four months. It evolved into
Netscape Navigator, and anyone using it will
remember how slowly pages loaded on the
wheeze-sounding dial-up connections of
those pre-broadband times. You would have
to tell people to stop using the phone to let
you connect.
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer followed
in 1995, but early websites were primitive.
Everybody seemed to produce their own
sites, based on their personal lives or
hobbies. They’d add garish backgrounds,
dazzling gifs, hit counters and stacks of
hyperlinks to basic HTML page creations.
Many hosted them on GeoCities where
masses of fonts, lines of fire and dancing
baby gifs proved very popular.
Yahoo!, which bought GeoCities in 1999,
was, for many, the search engine of choice.
It was more of a directory, letting you peruse
categories to find useful websites. Some
preferred Ask Jeeves, typing questions
in the hope that a character based on PG
Wodehouse’s fictional valet would provide
the answers. Others ventured into chat
rooms, communicated on MSN Messenger,
or fired messages using Hotmail addresses
bearing embarrassing names.

One of the first free webmail services was

RocketMail, which was acquired by Yahoo!. In The first ever website was launched in December
1997, it became Yahoo! Mail, largely competing 1990, and it described the world wide web
against Hotmail, which was launched in 1996 project itself. It was hosted on a NeXT computer
and itself the subject of a takeover, this time used by the web’s inventor Tim Berners-Lee
by Microsoft. Millions also used AOL Instant at the European research organisation, CERN,
Messenger, which launched in 1997 and allowed which put the WWW software into the public
for real-time text chats. domain on 30 April 1993.

92
 THE INTERNET

The Legacy
The world wide web, as invented
by English scientist Tim Berners-
Lee in 1989 (who also produced
the first browser a year later), has
indeed proven to be revolutionary.
Email continues to thrive, but social
media has also become an effective
communication tool. Professional
web design is an important job, and
HTML, CSS and JavaScript are even
familiar terms to ‘non-nerds’. The
catalyst for the major advances has
been broadband, which took off in
the 2000s, bringing faster speeds
and paving the way for better quality
images, video and music streaming.

As with many internet ventures, Yahoo! was

founded by entrepreneurial graduates meeting in
California’s Silicon Valley. Jerry Yang and David
Filo created the yahoo.com domain in January
1995, and its stock rose in line with other web
portals such as MSN, Lycos and Excite. This
continued throughout the decade until the
‘dot.com’ bubble burst.

Web addresses – or Uniform Resource

Locators (URL) – were defined in 1994
by Tim Berners-Lee and a working
group of the Internet Engineering Task
Force. They specify the location of a
web resource on a network and they
are the ‘secret’ tool used to display
websites in your browser.

Information
Key figure: Tim Berners-Lee
First website: December 1990
Biggest company in 1995:
Netscape

93
 POKÉMON
TRADING
CARD Information

GAME
Manufacturer: Nintendo/
Creatures Inc
First released: October 1996
(Japan), December 1998 (US)
Number of sets (’90s): Three
(Base set, Jungle, Fossil)

f you happened to be a child or same year. With the launch of the brand’s

I teenager during the 1990s, you’ll know

that this was the decade for must-have
toys. Kid-friendly items that were not just
ever-popular anime in 1997 – including an
infamous episode that caused widespread
seizures across Japan – Pokémon was
must-have accessories as they had been in everywhere come the final year of the
previous decades, but were now their very decade. Combining the collectible craze of
own phenomenon. Much like Mighty Pogs with that immutable Nintendo magic,
Morphin Power Rangers six years earlier, it the Pokémon Trading Card Game was an
would be another show with Japanese unstoppable giant of a franchise.
origins that would spawn a brand-new With Pokémon: The First Movie hitting
craze to take over school playgrounds and cinemas in November 1999 and proving a
Christmas wishlists everywhere. Pokémon huge box-office hit, every child worth their
was upon us. salt wanted their own collection of collectible
The late ’90s saw the Japanese brand cards. The palpable anticipation of opening
take over the world on all fronts. Starting a foil pack – the hope of finding a shiny
out as a series of videogames on the Game Charizard within always in the back of your
Boy released in Japan in 1996 (we wouldn’t mind – was peak ’90s, and helped to turn the
get any of them in the West until 1998), a franchise into a $3.28 billion powerhouse by
trading card game was soon launched the the end of the decade.

The Pokémon games – where the franchise originally

started – were also hugely popular for Nintendo, the

The Legacy collectible nature of its digital creatures driving sales

alongside its card-based counterparts. Pokémon Red,
While Pokémon would shed its Green, Blue and Yellow kept the Game Boy relevant
‘craze’ status by the start of the throughout the ‘90s, and remain some of the most
‘00s, the franchise would go on to beloved entries in the series.
become one of the most enduring
and much-loved series in the world
of collectible/trading card games.
There are now over 70 individual
Of course, this being Nintendo,
sets of cards, and almost 10,000
there was also a Pokémon
individual cards spanning over two
Trading Card Game game, which The Pokémon Trading Card
decades of continued releases.
was released on Game Boy Color Game certainly wasn’t a cheap
Some of the first-edition cards from
in 1998 (it wouldn’t arrive in pastime. A booster pack would
the very first set are also worth a lot
the West until late 2000). It was cost around $4/£4, while a base
of money today; some being worth
another smash hit and included set would retail for anywhere
north of £3,000 for a single card in
all three of the first sets (and north of $50/£50. It’s a pricing
pristine condition.
some cards exclusive to the game model that has served the series
you couldn’t get anywhere else). well, even to this day.

94
POKÉMON TR ADING CARD GA ME

By the end of the ’90s, the Pokémon Trading Card Game was at its
peak. The brand as a whole was so big that even Time magazine ran
a story in late 1999 called ‘Beware of the Pokemania’. Pokémon had
arrived and was the toy that every boy and girl wanted.

95
 THE FASHIONS
OF THE ’90S From the deconstructed flannel power of grunge to the rise
and fall of denim, these were the threads that made the ’90s
hen we think of the ’60s, ’70s such as grunge – became the norm. A the times, with everything from piercings

W or ’80s, we can instantly bring

their unique fashion trends to
mind, but it’s not so easy with the ’90s.
time where T-shirts, hoodies and trainers
became style trends of their own. It was
here we saw the dominion of denim, from
to tattoos finding their way into the
zeitgeist. Even trends from previous eras
found new life, with the ‘Cool Britannia’
That’s because there were just so many Levi’s adverts to high-street takeover, and scene reviving the ‘mod’ look, and
of them, crammed into ten small years of the new age of neon, filling our TV screens fashion designers taking cues from the
fashion fads and must-have accessories. with colour schemes bright enough to decade where disco was king. It was a
This was the era where ‘casual chic’ remove your irises. hodgepodge. A melting pot. A veritable
– driven by the popular rise of sports Body modification was no longer the smorgasbord of fashion evolution. These
clothing brands and rising music scenes symbol of the outlier, but a proud sign of were the styles of the time.

96
 THE FASHIONS OF THE ’90S

Grunge Neon Cool Britannia

Plenty of bands popularised One fashion trend that held the With the rise of UK bands such as The Verve and Oasis, the
many a fashion trend in the ’90s, ’90s in a garishly coloured grip mod culture of the 1960s saw a revival, with the return
but few were inspired by one bled directly from those who saw of longer, messier hair for men. Along with a new
small scene. When grunge went out the previous decade: neon. penchant for scooters came a love of paisley shirts,
global in mid-1992 – riding on the Everything from electric blue to large bomber jackets and bootcut jeans. Around
popularity of Nirvana, Pearl Jam fluorescent pink was the name of 1995-96 was also when real fur was dropped
and Alice in Chains – it brought the day, with brighter colours and for the fake stuff.
a new unisex look comprising angle patterns (such as zig zags
flannel shirts, oversized jumpers and jagged lines) speaking loud
and baggy jeans. and proud.

Goth
Goth rose to
prominence in the ’80s
on the back of the New
Hip-hop Wave music scene, but it
With the evolution of hip-hop in the early transitioned from outlier fashion
’90s came a new wave of fashion – fans began dressing like their choice to a worldwide style trend
favourite rappers from the East Side and beyond. Snapback caps were thanks to a slew of hit teen flicks
in (Raiders, naturally), as were gold chains, baggy jeans, sneakers such as The Craft. The style brought
and loose-fitting clothes (tying into the ‘casual chic’ memo that was leather jackets back into fashion for
circulating across multiple fashions at the time). both men and women, saw black hair-
dye selling by the bucketload, and a new
love for fishnet tights.

97
 Skate punk Flattops
The skate scene – which found Finding popularity from the ’50s
plenty of inspiration from rising onwards, the squarish haircut
pros such as Tony Hawk, as well that was the flattop briefly came
as the ska punk music scene – back into fashion during the late
also saw parallels with the likes ’80s and early ’90s. The style also
of hip-hop and grunge. It too was segued into the hi-top fade, a
casual, with a big focus on cut- haircut that rose to prominence in
down high-tops (air pockets were the US hip-hop scene in the early
huge, too), sweatpants and big years of the decade. A certain
Tommy Hilfiger jackets. Fresh Prince also rocked one.

Shellsuits Denim
For a while, denim was king in the ’90s. It wasn’t just for jeans
A brightly coloured hangover from the
– which became huge thanks to Levi’s iconic mid-90s advert
’80s, the shellsuit continued to be a
campaigns (Spaceman, anyone?) – but a whole wardrobe
popular style choice in the early
experience. Denim jackets were must-have items for both
’90s – thanks mainly to the fact that
men and women, with everyone from Rachel on Friends
garish colours and a loose fit were
rocking denim dungarees to supermodel icon Kate Moss
both very in at the time. They may
modelling them in global campaigns.
have technically been sportswear,
but the elasticated bottoms and
zip-up jacket combo was an
everyday choice when the
decade was still in its youth.

Reebok Pumps FUBU

While it was first introduced in Launched in 1992, For Us By Us
1989, it wouldn’t be until 1991 started out as a series of hats sold
that the Reebok Pump really took out of one man’s house in New
off. The first shoe to house an York. Designed for the African-
internal inflation mechanism that American community – and
expanded the size of the cushions inspired by styles from hip-hop
inside the shoe and the tongue, – FUBU took off on both sides
it became one of many footwear of the Atlantic. The FUBU brand
that were synonymous with the covered everything from denim
NBA in the ’90s. dungarees to football jerseys.

98
 THE FASHIONS OF THE ’90S

Timberland boots
Originally launched way back in 1973, the ‘Original Yellow
Boot’ had a strong revival in the ’90s when they became
popular with hip-hop artists and groups such as Wu-
Tang Clan, DMX and Mobb Deep. Along with
a raft of ‘sneakers’, Timberland saw profits
skyrocket as fans scrambled to grab a pair.

Bucket hats
An accessory that saw
popularity on both sides of the
Pond, the bucket hat wasn’t just for
keeping your head shaded from the
sun – it was a bonafide fashion craze
in itself. In the UK, the likes of Oasis and
The Stone Roses made them their own,
while Damon Dash, Ghostface Killah and
Rakim owned them in the US.

The middle
parting
Hairstyles were just as
representative of the times as
clothes and accessories, and Converse
few things said ‘young person Sometimes known as ‘Chuck
in the ’90s’ like a parting in Taylors’ in the US, Converse has actually
the middle of your hair. From been around since the 1920s in one form or another.
long hair to bowl haircuts, The All Stars range saw plenty of popularity in the
a pair of curtains was a ’90s, especially with the fashions spinning out of the
common sight in schools, grunge and hip-hop scenes. They’re one of those
colleges and universities few items that have popped back into fashion
across the US and the UK. during multiple decades.

99
 SOUTH PARK hen Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman town. No controversial topic is off limits, which makes for

W and Kenny McCormick piled onto our screens

in 1997, our worlds changed forever. These
profanity-filled, 2D, stop-motion animated adventures
hilarious, amazing and bizarre viewing.
Most of the characters are inspired by people in Trey
and Matt’s lives: Stan is based on Trey Parker and, like his
were like nothing else on TV. cartoon counterpart, his father is a geologist called Randy,
What started out as Spirit of Christmas – a four-minute who is married to Sharon with a daughter called Shelly.
stop-motion animation shot on 8mm film based on poorly Meanwhile, Kyle is based on Matt Stone, and his parents
cut-out characters – evolved into a slightly longer, award- really are called Gerald and Sheila. Trey Parker’s school
winning, stop-motion animation based on poorly cut-out friends served as inspiration for Kenny and Cartman.
characters. And its fans wouldn’t have it any other way. The first ever episode – Cartman Gets an Anal Probe –
Created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, South Park aired on 13 August 1997. The series quickly became one of
focuses on the adventures of four school kids, their the most popular programmes on Comedy Central, and is
families, and the local community in a small Colorado now in its 21st season.

The Legacy
Even after two decades, South Park
continues to push boundaries. Its
revised, six-day production time
means plots are topical. The team
has only missed the deadline once,
causing the studio to lose power.
Its dedication to causing the most
offense possible has no doubt inspired
other adult cartoons such as Rick and
Morty and BoJack Horseman.

Information
Original network: Comedy Central
First released: 1997
Seasons: 21

100
 SOUTH PARK

South Park’s Chef was voiced by soul singer

Matt Stone and Trey Parker provide voices Isaac Hayes. He performed the song
for some of the characters in South Park. Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You) in the
Kyle, Kenny and Butters are all performed 1998 episode ‘Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls’.
by Matt, while Trey voices Cartman, Stan The song reached number one on the UK
and Randy Marsh’s characters. singles chart at the end of the year.

© Alamy, Photofest / Cineflix

Kenny McCormick has died 98 times

throughout different episodes of South Park.
The team now no longer uses it as a plot tool,
although it hasn’t been written out completely.

101
 THE DVD
REVOLUTION
fter the furore in the 1980s over single-layer storage limitations meant that able to watch and pause films with

A which videocassette format would

become standard (a battle that was
clearly won by VHS), the scene was set for a
some films needed the disc flipped halfway
through. Keen to avoid this inconvenience,
dual-layer discs were quickly introduced,
crystal-clear clarity, jump to chapter
locations with ease, and enjoy superior
sound quality. The effect was an almost-total
similar conflict in the ’90s. The adversaries which also made way for additional space domination of the market within five years,
were MultiMedia Compact Disc (MMCD) and another selling point for the new media: as the price of budget model DVD players
and Super Density Disc (SD), but fortunately extra materials. These extras included dropped from the initial region of around
for consumers, the companies behind documentaries, voiceover commentaries £500 to under £100.
the former abandoned it to create a new and deleted scenes, and were often a good Much like compact discs, DVDs have
standard that merged properties from enough reason (along with the improved enjoyed longevity largely because the
both formats. picture and sound quality) to upgrade format does its job effectively and efficiently.
This new technology was named DVD, from videotape. Despite competition from superior formats
standing for either Digital Versatile Disc After years of magnetic tape, the advent of and instant streaming services, DVDs still
or Digital Video Disc. Initially, the format optical disc media was a massive jump, which dominate sales charts today, 22 years after
was used primarily for movies, although the public certainly embraced. Now you were the release of the first player.

“After years of magnetic tape, the

advent of optical disc media was
a massive jump, which the public
certainly embraced”

Information
Manufacturer: Toshiba, Philips, Sony,
Pioneer, Panasonic and others
First Released: 1996
Expect to pay: £500

102
 THE DVD REVOLUTION

DVDs are also used for computer software (most notably

videogames) and with sat nav units, before the advent of
micro media such as SD cards. There are also several formats
of recordable DVD, although use of these has dropped
dramatically due to USB flash drives and streaming services.

Sony’s PlayStation 2, released in

2000, was the first games console
to use the DVD format, giving it a
huge advantage over its rivals. The
PlayStation 3 would continue the
trend and contain a Blu-ray drive
for movies and games.

Several types of boxes competed in the early days

of DVD. Along with a jewel-style case, this card and
plastic combination gave way to the standard we
know today.

The Legacy
By the late ’90s, high-definition
(HD) technology had finally arrived,
and with it two new rival formats
to usurp DVD. HD-DVD (led by
Toshiba) and Blu-ray (Sony) both
contained technology that allowed
for even higher capacity, ergo further
improved picture and sound. The
lesson from DVD was not learned,
however, as the rivals clashed,
making consumers reluctant to move
up from their current players. Today,
a clear winner has emerged in Blu-
The first DVD player was the Toshiba SD-3000, ray, but DVD’s biggest threat comes
released late in 1996 in Japan. Western models from the advent of digital streaming
were first released in the United States the following services that offer an unparalleled
year. Other notable early models include the Sony ease of accessibility.
DVP-S7000, Panasonic DVD-A100 and Pioneer DVL-
©Getty

700, an impressive DVD/Laserdisc combination unit.

103
 SUPERTED here were some pretty strange in all kinds of crazy schemes, including
Information
Manufacturer:
DIC Enterainment
First Released: 1990
Expect to pay: £19.99 (import DVD)

T kids’ TV shows in the 1980s, but

SuperTed is up there with the oddest.
It’s the story of a teddy bear that is thrown
robbing Incan temples and stealing the
pocket money of children. Only the most evil
villains would do stuff like that!
away when the toy factory discovers The TV show was originally the creation
something wrong with him. Soon afterwards, of Mike Young, who had made up the
when the teddy is sitting alone in a dark character as a way to help his son conquer
storage room, a Spotty Man from space his fear of the dark. Young decided to turn
appears in his rocket ship, and uses cosmic the stories into a series of books, ultimately SuperTed
SuperTed is the hero who always
dust to bring him to life. From there, the pair writing more than a hundred. When Young
saves the day. He got his powers
go to a magic cloud, where Mother Nature was approached to write SuperTed for the
from Mother Nature – when he
gives the teddy special powers and he screen, he was determined to make the says a secret, magic word, he
becomes SuperTed. series Welsh. He created a production studio transforms into SuperTed. He has
The show featured some equally odd in his home country, creating jobs, and the rocket boosters in his boots to
villains, including a Texan cowboy, an Welsh language show was soon translated help him fly, and is always brave,
overweight guy who made fat jokes, and a into English for the BBC, ensuring SuperTed even in the dark!
camp skeleton. SuperTed and Spotty Man became a household name across the UK by
would stop these dastardly foes succeeding the end of the third and final series in 1986.

104
 SUPERTED

The Legacy
SuperTed became the first British cartoon series to be
shown on the Disney Channel, in 1984. A new series,
The Further Adventures of SuperTed, was created in 1989
in collaboration with Hanna-Barbera; the UK version of
this show was redubbed, with the original voice actors
returning to their roles. Mike Young has been working on
a reboot for the character since 2014, and rumours of a
new series starting soon have been swirling.

Spotty Man
This mysterious alien landed on Earth and used his magical cosmic dust to bring a
teddy to life. He now travels around with SuperTed, stopping the evil trio of Texas
Pete, Bulk and Skeleton from completing their dastardly schemes.

Texas Pete
The leader of the three villains, Texas Pete is a cowboy who has
all kinds of crazy plans. Whether he is trying to take over a new
galaxy and make it his own, or stealing treasure, his plans are
always foiled at the last minute by SuperTed.

Skeleton
The very cowardly Skeleton often falls apart – literally – when
SuperTed and Spotty Man try to stop the group’s plans. However,
he can be put back together again without too much trouble. He
wears pink slippers, and was described as “flamboyantly gay”
by the show’s creator, Mike Young.

Bulk
Bulk is a very stupid baddie who is always saying foolish things in response to Texas Pete’s
© Alamy

plans. He’s very fat, and serves as the muscle in Pete’s gang – creator Mike Young recently
said he would likely make changes to the character if the show was rebooted.

105
 THE X-FILES
The X-Files was a cornerstone of TV viewing in the ’90s, and
has recently been resurrected by Fox. Take a look back at how
the adventures of Mulder and Scully started

I
t’s easy to forget just how phenomenally studio was less than impressed with the
successful The X-Files was on its original 24-year-old actor. It wanted someone who
release. Chris Carter’s creation elevated was either well known, or was ideally ‘leggier,
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson into the breastier or blonder’, but Carter fought hard
stratosphere, spawned two films and a spin- for Anderson, and was eventually rewarded
off TV show, and led to endless merchandise when she won several awards for her
that ranged from books to videogames, portrayal of the sceptical agent, including
playing cards and everything in between. an Emmy and a Golden Globe. There would
Countless actors, including Jack Black and be a lot more acclaim in store for the show,
Seth Green, as well as Jane Lynch and Aaron though, and it would become one of the
Paul, all had fresh-faced appearances on cultural cornerstones of the ’90s.
the show before they hit the big time, while
Mark Snow’s incredibly creepy theme tune GOING GLOBAL
reached second place in the UK singles chart, Despite the fact that the pilot episode of
staying there for three weeks. At one point in The X-Files attracted 12 million viewers, and
the ’90s, Chris Carter’s show seemed to be the final episode drew 14 million, it certainly
everywhere. So it’s mind-boggling to learn wasn’t enough to consider the show a success
that Carter’s original script was actually at first. In fact, it was actually ranked 105th out
rejected by Fox executives. of 128 shows for its television season, which
wasn’t the best of starts. It continued to climb
A NEW CONCEPT in the ratings, though, season by season. By
Tired of the numerous comedies he had its third season, it was ranked 55th, but more
worked on for Disney, Carter came up with importantly to Fox, was scoring well with the
a new concept that was inspired by what he 18-49 age advertising demographic, and the
had read about the Watergate scandal of merchandise began to flow as a result. By
the ’70s, and the fact that nearly four million the fifth season, the show hit its peak with an
Americans believed they had been abducted opening of more than 27 million, and a Super
by aliens. Carter also drew on his experiences Bowl special that was viewed by 29.1 million.
of ’70s cult TV show Kolchak: The Night The series ended as the 11th best-ranked
Stalker, which featured a newspaper reporter show of the year overall, and Fox’s highest
who investigated mysterious crimes that rated show in general.
were typically linked to science fiction or the By this point The X-Files was a cultural
supernatural (Darren McGavin who starred phenomenon. A crossover episode with The
in the show would eventually appear in two Simpsons called The Springfield Files was
X-Files episodes). Other influences that would a huge success, and also roped in another
shape the direction of The X-Files included sci-fi stalwart, Leonard Nimoy, to frame the
The Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks, but one episode, while the show’s impact became
of the most important was perhaps The so big that Fox commissioned a movie for
Silence of the Lambs, as Carter felt it was release in cinemas in 1998. The X-Files: Fight
plausible that FBI agents would be interested the Future bridged the gap between seasons
in investigating the unusual cases that would five and six, and made nearly $190 million off
form the basis of the show. a $66 million budget. In true X-Files fashion, it
Casting proved problematic for Carter, posed as many questions as it answered, but
particularly when it came to casting Agent it went down well with fans, and proved the
Scully. While he was instantly impressed show could find success outside of its core
with the chemistry Gillian Anderson had audience. In fact, a follow-up film, The X-Files:
alongside the already cast Duchovny, the I Want to Believe, arrived in 2008, six years

106
 THE X-FILES

“Carter fought
hard for Anderson,
and was rewarded
when she won
several awards for
her portrayal of the
sceptical agent”

The X-Files game

While the very first videogame based on The X-Files divided
critics, it ties into the show perfectly; effortlessly capturing what
made Chris Carter’s show so watchable in the first place.
The developer, Hyperbole Studios, initially turned down the
project, only jumping on board once it started watching the TV
series (the game itself is loosely based within season 3). Players
take on the role of FBI agent Craig Willmore who must investigate
the disappearance of Mulder and Scully. It’s a slow-burning
adventure, elevated by some excellent (for the time) full motion
video. While the PlayStation version is quite cheap, just be aware
that it comes on four discs.

107
 after the final episode of season nine ended, after one season. By the ninth and then final
BEST although it did far worse at the box office.
Merchandise was another example of the
season, viewing figures were at an all-time
low, with just ten million tuning in for the

EPISODES show’s enormous success, and it came in

a variety of forms. Numerous books were
season’s opening and 12 million watching the
(somewhat disappointing) finale, the lowest
released, aimed at a variety of ages, which figures ever for a season closer. Fox decided
were either based on episodes or took the that it was time to call an end to the show, but
form of standalone stories. There was also in a way, it would eventually turn into a new
a spin-off comic series that ran between beginning for the evergreen series.
1995 and 1998, a monthly periodical, a
collectible card game, three videogames, LEGACY
soundtracks, clothing and numerous VHS Demand for The X-Files was so high that
and DVD releases. Fox eventually persuaded Duchovny and
The X-Files eventually hit a stumbling Anderson to return in 2016, with season 11
block from season eight, when Duchovny following the next year. Although its revival
Squeeze expressed an interest in leaving the show, hasn’t perhaps been the success Fox was
The very first Monster-of-the-Week episode in and as a result only appeared in half of the hoping for, there’s no denying the impact
season one remains one of the best from the
season’s episodes. Robert Patrick and the TV show had had on modern TV since
series. Doug Hutchinson stars as Eugene Victor
Annabelle Gish were brought in as additional its debut in 1993. Its overall mythology
Tooms, a mutant serial killer who can contort his
agents, and while they proved popular with story arcs (a rarity at the time) are now
limbs and hibernates for years at a time. ‘Squeeze’
proved so popular that Hutchinson reprised the critics, fans began to leave the show. A spin- commonplace in numerous television shows,
role of Tooms later in the season. off show, The Long Gunmen, which focused while its ability to constantly employ different
on three investigators who Mulder often went
to for support, was also launched during this
time. Despite generally positive reviews, it
failed to find an audience, and was cancelled

One Son
This fantastic episode concludes the original
Syndicate story and follows on directly from
the previous episode, ‘Two Fathers’. It not only
satisfyingly clears up most of the ongoing story
arcs from the previous five series, including the
abduction of Mulder’s sister, Samantha, but also
highlights just how evil the Cigarette Smoking
Man actually is.

Bad Blood
As early as season two, The X-Files proved its
leads were adept at comedy with ‘Humbug’.
One of the funniest, however, is this excellent
offering from season five, which features Mulder
and Scully giving very different versions of events
to an exasperated Skinner after Mulder kills a
suspected vampire during the episode’s opening.

108
 THE X-FILES

directors, who all gave the show a different Valley’s Kumail Nanjiani is a huge celebrity
tone and feel, is also commonplace today. In fan who has made countless podcasts
fact, shows like Game of Thrones regularly about the show, and even wrote The Big
reveal its directors as part of a season’s Sick based on his love for the season two
reveal (one of which is long-time X-Files episode ‘One Breath’. The pop culture for
director David Nutter). The X-Files is deep, and can be found in
And then of course there are shows like countless TV shows and films. American
Breaking Bad, which might not have even Dad, The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory,
existed if creator Vince Gilligan hadn’t Independence Day, Monsters vs Aliens and
received his big break on The X-Files and even House MD have mentioned the show or
became an acclaimed writer in the process. featured its stars, highlighting just what an
Shows like Supernatural owe a huge debt impact Chris Carter’s show had on countless
to the groundwork laid by The X-Files, with aspiring writers, directors and producers.
its Monster-of-the-Week episodes and The X-Files was a watermark moment for
the complex relationship between its two TV, both in its quality and in its execution,
leads, and let’s not forget the likes of Fringe, and its influence stretches far and wide.
Miracles, Warehouse 13, American Horror The truth might still be out there for its
Story, Dark Skies, Freaky Links, Grimm and characters, Mulder and Scully, but we’ve
countless other TV shows that have followed known the truth for a very long time now
in the show’s wake. and it’s this: The X-Files is one of the most
The X-Files inspired Catatonia to write a important television events of all time. May
song entitled Mulder and Scully, while Silicon its legacy continue.

“The pop culture for The X-Files is

deep, and can be found in countless
TV shows and films”

© Getty

109
 MIGHTY
MAX ith Polly Pocket proving that
Cancelled prematurely during the
prototype phase, Into the Battle
Zone was an abandoned wave of
Mighty Max products that never
quite made it to store shelves. It
included vehicles, light-up figures,

W miniature playsets were a big

hit with pre-teen girls, it was
only a matter of time before Bluebird Toys
fortresses and awesome new Doom
Zones like a mummy, a toad and a
ferocious piranha.

expanded on the concept, and introduced a

line of matching tiny products aimed squarely
at young boys. Sporting the same compact,
self-contained design as its successful sister
line, Mighty Max hit store shelves in 1992,
backed by a simple premise: titular Max
finds a magical baseball cap that allows
him to open mysterious portals, and these
shimmering gateways lead to all manner
of sinister otherworlds and supernatural
situations. Exciting exploration, close-call
battles and near-death escapes ensue.
Such a fantastic foundation allowed for
edgy, oftentimes gross and ultimately horror-
themed aesthetics – snakes, spiders, bats,
zombies, dragons, aliens, lava monsters
and even rampaging dinosaurs were
regular adversaries in Bluebird’s radical
plastic universe. Each detailed playset
came packaged with a small Max figurine
and a handful of unique villains, all of which
could be stored neatly inside the moulded
clamshell when snapped shut. The resulting
carrying case was either a grotesque outer
face or pleasantly unsettling creepy crawler.
First came the Doom Zones, hand-sized
playsets that arguably served as the line’s
signature configuration. Then there were
the Horror Heads, slightly smaller variants,
followed by the Monster Heads and
Shrunken Heads, which were even more
bite-sized in dimension. There were also
action figure-style Battle Warriors, as well
as larger layouts like Dragon Island, Terror
Talons, and the absolute must-have mega-
set Skull Mountain.
Freaky, imaginative, collectible and
perfectly portable. What more could a ’90s
kid ask for? Mighty Max, Mighty Max!

Information
Manufacturer: Bluebird Toys
Distributor: Mattel/Irwin Toy
Expect To pay: $10-50 per loose
playset, up to $100 for MOC

110
 MIGHT Y M A X

The Legacy
Unfortunately, the miniature horror revolution that
Mighty Max pioneered hasn’t exactly carried over
into modern times. While the toys managed to spawn
other micro 1990s’ playsets from big franchises like
TMNT, Godzilla, Star Wars and even Primal Rage, the
fad eventually passed. Chalk it up to changing market
trends or choking hazard liability, the closest thing
we currently have to Mighty Max might be Moose’s
Grossery Gang. Rumours of a proper reboot have
circulated for years, all without official confirmation.

1993 saw the television premiere of

the official Mighty Max animated
series. It introduced a slightly older
adolescent Max, as well as two
new sidekicks – Viking strongman
Norman and wise fowl Virgil. The
show ran for two seasons (a total
of 40 episodes), and boasted one
seriously sick theme tune.

A Mighty Max videogame was released for both

Some of the playsets released later in the line’s the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo in
lifespan are especially difficult to find, and usually 1994 by Ocean Software. Panned by critics and
fetch high aftermarket prices. The Series 2 Shrunken gamers alike, it sported some seriously tedious
Heads and Series 3 Doom Zones received an 2D side-scrolling action that made poor use
especially low production run, as did the un-openable of the excellent licence. At least some copies
Monster Heads and several of the Battle Warriors. came with a free VHS tape.
 ven today, there are few cartoons relationship with Nickelodeon, Ren &

E able to elicit the same nauseous

mix of riotous laughter, creeping
unease and guttural revulsion as animator
Stimpy explored outlandish, uncanny
storylines that involved taboo subjects
like unapologetic innuendo, sexual
John Kricfalusi’s edgy Nickelodeon classic. undertones, gratuitous nudity, gallons
Launched on the orange-splat network in of bodily fluids and some seriously
August 1991 alongside fellow Nicktoons questionable mental health. In
trailblazers Doug and Rugrats, Ren & one strange episode, Ren resigns
Stimpy was a gross-out tour de force filled himself to a hermit’s life inside a
with surreal, often disturbing imagery that cave, during which he begins to
enthralled young watchers and left swaths literally go insane, concocting
of concerned parents asking the honest companions out of bat guano and
question: Is this weird show, starring an his own disembodied feelings. In
angry chihuahua and a dimwitted cat, really another, Stimpy passes gas and
for kids? gives birth to a sentient fart that
Kricfalusi, who had worked on cartoon goes missing.
staples like The Jetsons and Tom & Jerry The whole business was a circus
prior to setting out on his own, was a huge aimed at children, but also not really
proponent of completely unique animation intended for children at all. That may
frames, often discouraging his team from be where Ren & Stimpy’s true brilliance
ever drawing the same movement or resided, in its willingness to totally break
facial expression twice. Wild, unhinged the mould, and such indelicate gall changed
and initially bolstered by a creatively open cartoons forever.

Information
Studios: Spumco/Games
Animation/Nickelodeon
First released: 1991
Number of episodes: 52

112
 REN & STIMPY

The Legacy
In many ways, Ren & Stimpy was
a pioneering precursor to other
offensive animated endeavours like
South Park, Family Guy and Rick
and Morty. Although it was largely
marketed to children, the show was
arguably the first mainstream mature
cartoon for adults, one that proved
how pandering to an audience with
hamfisted niceties and goofy morals
wasn’t necessary for maintaining
a modern viewership. Its far-
In September 1992, Ren & Stimpy creator John The characters of Ren Hoek and Stimpson J Cat were
reaching influence can still be seen
Kricfalusi was fired from his own show due to actually conceptualised almost a decade before
in the bizarre details and general
growing tensions between the controversial animator the show’s pilot officially went into production for
irreverence of today’s hit kid programs
and Nickelodeon. Billy West, who originally only Nickelodeon in 1989. During their college years in
like SpongeBob SquarePants and
voiced Stimpy, subsequently took over vocal duties Canada in the late 1970s, John Kricfalusi and his
Adventure Time.
for Kricfalusi’s Ren after the fallout, an ongoing point friends created the infamous duo. Why? Mostly for
of contention between the two. laughs and personal enjoyment.

One of Ren & Stimpy’s most recognisable

and influential signatures was its disgustingly
exhaustive closeups. The show would sometimes
pull away from the more traditional animation to
showcase gruesome painted depictions of body
hair, lice, rotten teeth, open wounds, blisters and
other unsavoury awfulness in excruciating detail.

Many felt that Ren & Stimpy was never the

same after John Kricfalusi, along with much of
the original animation team, left in 1992 amid
internal conflict. Still, the show managed to
last via Games Animation at Nickelodeon until
the December of 1995, during which the final
episode aired.

113
 BEANIE BABIES
oday, Beanie Babies are as ubiquitous The Beanie Babies craze reached its peak Babies boom’ as it became known at the time

T as most other soft-toy brands, but

back in the ’90s it was a toy craze that
became so popular collectors descended
in 1998, with sales exceeding $1.4 billion,
but they were first released back in 1993
with only nine different designs on offer.
– also played a role in its eventual downfall.
Many were touting the plush toys as long-
term investments that would pay dividends
into bank-balance-destroying bidding wars Warner’s decision to only sell them to select down the line, but the reality was a craze that
to own the most exclusive editions. Some retailers made them novelty items at first, peaked and fell rather sharply, leaving many
single toys would go for as much as ten but a promotional campaign in 1996 with toys that were no longer worth the thousands
times their original prices. Creator Ty Warner McDonalds – which saw miniature versions of pounds they had been bought for. That
would often ‘retire’ certain designs, a tactic packaged in Happy Meals – was the catalyst ‘boom’ did make Ty Warner one of the richest
that made them even more popular – and that sent the world into Beanie Baby mania. men in the toy industry, his must-have toys
sent collectors into overdrive in a mad bid to That limited availability tactic that made setting countless sales records before the
acquire each new rarity. Beanie Babies so popular – the ‘Beanie decade was out.

Information
Creator: Ty Warner
First released: 1993
Most expensive model:
Princess the Bear ($500,000)

“The Beanie Babies craze reached its peak

in 1998, with sales exceeding $1.4 billion”

114
 BEANIE BABIES

The Legacy
With creator Ty Warner famously retiring
certain Beanie Babies throughout its
peak, it shouldn’t have come as much of
a surprise when he announced in 1999
that he would be retiring the entire brand
itself. He even released a commemorative
bear called ‘The End’ to mark the occasion.
Fans reacted negatively to the decision, and
following a public survey, Warner decided
to revive the brand in 2000. The next toy
produced was called ‘The Beginning’, but
the boom had already gone bust.

An attempt was made to ‘reboot’ and relaunch the brand

in 2008 with Beanie Babies 2.0. The new line of toys
came with a code that gave the user a link to a special
interactive website, but the gimmick failed to spark the
same kind of heated fervour among consumers that the
In 1999, Beanie Babies made the headlines for a
original incarnations had so many years before.
very different reason. One couple’s divorce led
to a rather acrimonious confrontation when it
came down to dividing up their prized collection.
The collection was valued between $2,500 and
$5,000 at the time, and the judge ordered they
be brought into court and physically divided
between the former husband and wife.

With any big toy craze comes the inevitable knock-offs, and The Beanie Babies brand had plenty of sought-after and
Beanie Babies had plenty at the height of their popularity. uber-popular models, including the tie-dyed Garcia the
Counterfeit versions started surfacing around 1997, with the Bear, Princess the Bear (created in memoriam for the
productions and transport of fake Beanie Babies becoming a big late Princess Diana), the copyright-infringing Tabasco
business on the black market. Thousands of counterfeit plushies the Bull and the incredibly popular (and very rare)
were confiscated during the late ’90s. Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant.

115
 CROCODILE
Information
Manufacturer: Milton Bradley
First released: 1990

DENTIST
Creator: Robert B Fuhrer

hile electronic toys from Japan

W would revolutionise the toy

market in the mid to late ’90s,
the early part of the decade still belonged
to more classic board-game designs.
One such creation proved to be one of
the wackiest ideas ever (and one that’s
still a popular choice today), and it just so
happened to include a set of pliers and one
temperamental crocodile with a sore tooth.
Designed by inventor Robert B Fuhrer in
the late ’80s, the original version of what
A travel version of Crocodile
came to be known as Crocodile Dentist went Dentist was also produced in
through a number of changes. The classic 1993, following the success of
‘lunging’ motion the game became so well the larger home version. Rather
known for was originally removed, as it was than using pliers to remove teeth,
thought it might scare young players and put this version required you to push
them off the game entirely. Fuhrer was also each tooth down until you found
forced to add a set of plastic pliers for players the sore one and made its jaw
to use when removing teeth (you were clamp down playfully.
originally just meant to use your fingers).
However, following later playtests, Fuhrer
decided to phase the lunging motion back in.
And so a board-game classic was born.
Launched in 1990, Crocodile Dentist would
go on to be one of the most sought-after
toys during Christmas 1991 (a mighty feat
considering this was during the Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtle heydey and the same
year as the launch of the Sega Mega Drive/
Genesis games console). It remained a big
seller for years afterwards, and you can still
get a more modern version of it today. And,
yes, it still lunges!

The Legacy
American board game publisher Winning Moves
and toy giant Hasbro eventually acquired the rights
to Crocodile Dentist, seeing the game through a
number of iterations right through into 2018. The
modern version of the game dropped the use of
plastic pliers and instead opts for the pushing down
teeth method used for the ’90s pocket version.
Much like Buckaroo before it, Crocodile Dentist
has become one of those enduring mainstays in the
family board game market.

116
 CROCODILE DENTIST

“The classic ‘lunging’

motion the game
became so well known
for was originally
removed, as it was
thought it might scare
young players and put
them off the game”

The game was involved in a

famous blooper on the American
version of The Price is Right. Back
in 1993, the travel version was
used as one of the prizes that
contestants could win. Host Bob
Barker yelped in fright when the
miniature croc clamped its mouth
down on his unsuspecting digit.

The success of Crocodile Dentist saw creator While Operation, Hungry Hungry Hippos,
Robert B Fuhrer continue the crocodilian theme Mouse Trap and Buckeroo were the hits
with the release of Gator Golf in 1994. The idea that dominated the board game market in
of the game was to navigate a golf course set the ’60s and ’70s, it would be the likes of
inside the mouth of a motorised alligator. It also Crocodile Dentist and Bop It that would
got a reboot and was re-released back in 2008. define the market in the ’90s.

117
 BEAVIS AND
BUTT-HEAD
Information
Directed by: Mike Judge
First shown: 1992
Number of seasons: 8

ome viewers couldn't get past the brave, if not without controversy. They made neighbour Tom Anderson. There were also

S laughter: the incessant “heh, heh,

hehs” of two of the most socially
incompetent, sex-obsessed, teenage
their debut in a cartoon short called Frog
Baseball in 1992 – with Beavis throwing
amphibians for Butt-Head to splat. Its
catchphrases aplenty, albeit from ‘butt-
munch’ to ‘dill-weeds’.
Some proved too much for MTV. Fire
delinquents to have ever graced our success led to MTV commissioning a host references were banned, and the show
television screens. But whether they were of episodes, and the series ended up airing bumped back to 10.30pm when Beavis'
getting into scuzzy self-made scrapes or between 1993 and 1997. penchant for flames was blamed for a
passing their judgement on myriad music The first season was so successful that five-year-old setting fire to his home, killing
videos while plonked square-eyed on a it had to be halted soon after it premiered his sister. The innuendo and scatological
couch, Beavis and Butt-Head's penchant for because Judge and his team couldn't keep humour also caught the attention of Senator
boobs, violence, mayhem and heavy metal up with the demand. But as time went on, Ernest Hollings, who inadvertently labelled
proved hugely influential. a world was built around the bewildered the under-educated outsiders ‘Buffcoat and
Whether that was cool or totally sucked pair. Viewers would see the ninth-graders' Beaver’. Mispronouncing their names then
seemed to depend – to a degree – on age. workplace (Burger World) and Highland became a running gag, with the overall show
For the young viewers of Generation X, Mike High School along with Principal McVicker, proving so memorable that it returned for
Judge's jabbering duo were supremely hippie teacher David Van Driessen and one more series in 2011.

118
Both Beavis and Butt-Head were
voiced by the series’ creator,
writer and director Mike Judge,
who spent his early career in
Silicon Valley working for tech
startups and touring in a blues
band. He would improvise a
lot of the comments made by
the feckless pair as they sat and
watched music videos.

“The first season was so successful Beavis was given a pronounced underbite and obsessive stare while
that it had to be halted soon after it Butt-Head had receding gums. Judge says he based these on the facial
characteristics of his school friends and neighbours. He also named Beavis
premiered because Judge and his team

©Alamy; Thinkstock
after a friend from college called Bobby Beavis, and Butt-Head from a kid
who had the same nickname.
couldn't keep up with the demand”

As well as fostering a violent,

sadistic relationship with Butt-
Head, Beavis would transform
The Legacy
Beavis and Butt-Head had a major
into Cornholio after consuming
influence on television comedy and
caffeine, sugary food or pain-relief
animation. Mike Judge went on to
tablets. With his shirt over the top
create King of the Hill in 1998, and
of his head and his arms raised, he
the Beavis and Butt-Head character
would wander around screaming:
Daria appeared in a spin-off animated
“I am the Great Cornholio, I need
sitcom of her own. Meanwhile, South
TP for my bunghole.”
Park creators Matt Stone and Trey
Parker say their show was influenced
by Beavis and Butt-Head. There has
been much talk of a movie sequel and
live-action film, but both have yet to
get off the ground.

In 1996, the characters starred in a hilarious feature

film called Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.
Stripped of music videos, it involved the sex-starved
pair inadvertently and excitedly agreeing to kill
the wife of a gangster, having misinterpreted the
instruction to ‘do’ her. It grossed $63 million in the
US, and got a 72 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

119
 SAVED BY The theme tune for Saved by the
Bell was as memorable as the show
itself. Written by composer Scott

THE BELL
Gale, it included the words ‘saved
by the bell’, which was against the
wishes of producer Peter Engel,
who hated the fact the show was
even called that. With more than
50 per cent of US teenage girls
watching the show, however, it
hen the students of Bayside lit up Berkley); and the token jock AC Slater

W
was certainly well heard.
the small screen in 1989 with their (played by Mario Lopez). Together, they
high-school high jinks and comedy embarked on a four-season run spanning
adventures, there was a sense of familiarity 86 episodes, covering mostly light-hearted
for many viewers. After all, actors Mark-Paul topics and the ups and downs of high-school
Gosselaar, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies life, but sometimes looking at issues such as
and Dennis Haskins had appeared together homelessness and drug use.
on a previous show called Good Morning, Created by Sam Bobrick, who had written
Miss Bliss. But it was the hit US kids’ sitcom for Bewitched and The Flintstones, and
Saved by the Bell that made household filmed before a live studio audience, Saved
names of their characters, Zack Morris, by the Bell’s action also took place at the cafe
Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers, Lisa Turtle, and hangout, The Max. Typically, Zack would
the beloved principal Mr Richard Belding. set up a prank or get involved in an extreme
Disney had decided not to recommission situation that he needed to get out of, while
Good Morning, Miss Bliss, so NBC stepped Screech would be his bumbling partner in
in, axing all but the aforementioned four, and crime. Slater would vie with ‘preppy’ Zack for
bolstering them with Zack’s love interest, Kelly’s attention, while much-teased Screech
Kelly Kapowski (played by the all-American would seek Lisa’s love. Jessie, Zack’s
gal Tiffani-Amber Thiessen); the strong, neighbour, was the studious girl who had an
perm-haired, feminist brainbox Jessie Spano on-off relationship with Slater. The chemistry
(played by the talented actress Elizabeth between all of them worked so well.

In 1992, Saved by the Bell spawned the

feature-length TV film Hawaiian Style, which
involved the six students trying to save a resort
owned by Kelly’s grandfather from a greedy
developer. A follow-up series, The College
Years, then saw Zack, Slater, Screech and Kelly
head to California University, and
this led to Wedding in Las
Vegas, in which Zack
and Kelly
became engaged.

The Legacy
Saved by the Bell was so popular, NBC sought
to keep it going after the original teenage cast
One of the most popular
members left. This led to Saved by the Bell: The
characters, Screech, was the
New Class, with Dennis Haskins continuing as
ultimate high-school dork, yet
Mr Belding, and Dustin Diamond’s Screech later
he could so easily have been
becoming his administrative assistant. The series
denied the part. Unknown to
ran from 1993 to 2000 with a revolving cast, but it
producer Peter Engel at the
was never as popular as the original. Bayside! The
time, Dustin Diamond was
Musical!, however, includes the original characters,
aged just 12 when he was cast,
and it has enjoyed a stage run since 2013.
making him a couple of years
younger than the other actors.

120
 SAVED BY THE BELL

Information
Developed by: Peter Engel
First Shown: 1989
Number of seasons: 4

Saved by the Bell tended to be

a colourful, light-hearted affair.
But in episode nine of season
two, Jessie Spano (Elizabeth
Berkley) turned to caffeine
pills to cope with her midterm
exams and ended up freaking
out in front of Zack. In one of
the most memorable scenes of
© Getty; Alamy

the show, Jessie began singing

I’m So Excited, before breaking
down, scared.

121
 MINIDISC
t’s hard to imagine life before the iPod, feature that portable CD players just could

I but back in 1992, Sony’s answer to digital

data storage for the home market was
the MiniDisc. The technology was used in
not offer.
At the time of launch, CDs hadn’t yet
become recordable, so MiniDisc offered
portable players, home stereos and as a file great scope for creating customised playlists
storage medium. and backup copies; however, the initial
With an appearance that resembled recommended retail price of players was high
a floppy disc and tiny CD combined, the – around $700/£550 – which meant that
MiniDisc was a magneto-optical, disc-based many music fans were unable to afford it at
data storage format. It first launched with a first. RRPs did lower in the late ’90s, but Sony
capacity to hold 60 minutes of compressed faced tough competition when the prices of
audio, which was later increased to 74 and blank CD-Rs fell sharply.
then again to 80 minutes. MiniDisc was popular in Japan, and
Sony marketed the MiniDisc as a higher- achieved moderate success in Europe, but
quality alternative to cassette tapes due to its US sales were low throughout its life. The
rewriting functionality. What was also great launch of the iPod in 2001 meant that much
about it was its ability to buffer music for six of its anti-skip and rewriting appeal was lost
to ten seconds: it meant that your tunes were to the new MP3 format. The last of Sony’s
far less likely to skip when on the move – a MiniDisc players were sold by March 2013.

Unfortunately, the MiniDisc player/

recorder cost $750 at launch, meaning
it was unaffordable for most younger
music fans at that time. Thankfully,
lower-priced systems were launched at
around $250 in 1998.

What was brilliant about the portable MiniDisc

player was its shock-absorbing mechanism:
unlike the Discmans at the time, your music
didn’t skip if you accidentally knocked the player
while out and about.

122
 MINIDISC

The Legacy
Sony’s portable MiniDisc player
offered skip-free music on the
move, so in that sense it very
much helped to pave the way for
MP3 players, such as Apple’s iPod.
Features such as a rechargeable
battery, visible track listings and
volume control on the headphone
attachment became standard fixtures
of portable music players.

The first ever MiniDisc Information

portable player weighed
a whopping 700 Manufacturer: Sony
grams and only had a First released: 1992
75-minute battery life. Expect to pay: £50

The idea for the MiniDisc was actually

introduced in 1984 at the annual Audio
Engineering Society Convention by Kees
© Getty

Schouhamer Immink and Joseph Braat.

123
 BUFFY THE
VAMPIRE
SLAYER he mid to late ’90s may have been the

T era of the true summer blockbuster,

but it was a decade when television
once again came into its own, driven by
a slew of sci-fi and fantasy shows. Star
Trek continued its success with The Next
Generation, DS9 and Voyager; Babylon 5
fought a different intergalactic war; Sliders
travelled between parallel dimensions;
and The X-Files explored the weird and
unexplained. And, in amid that small-screen
phantasmagoria, was a little show based on a
forgettable teen movie from 1992.
Joss Whedon, who had written the original
script for that very film, returned in 1997
with a version that was far darker and more
multi-layered. Premiering in the spring, it
proved an instant ratings smash for the WB
Television Network, and that popularity soon
went global. It’s not difficult to see why. While
its practical effects and special effects –
especially in the first few seasons – haven’t
aged well, its writing and performances have
rightly earned it a status as immortal as its
titular monsters.
Part horror, part fantasy and part
human drama, it managed to capture the
transformation and emotional upheaval of
our teenage years while still playing host to
vampires, ghosts, demons and countless
other otherworldly creatures. It made
household names out of stars Sarah Michelle
Gellar, David Boreanaz and Alyson Hannigan,
and launched countless other careers
both in front and behind the camera. Some
might say the ’90s was the time of Ross and
Rachel, but no one even came close to the
unforgettable romance of Buffy Summers
and Angel. Some things just live forever…

Information
Creators: Joss Whedon
First released: 10 March 1997
Number of seasons: 7

124
 BUFFY THE VA MPIRE SL AYER

During the audition

process, stars including The Legacy
Selma Blair and Katie While Buffy’s quality may have started to dip
Holmes (who would go on towards the end of its seven-season-long run, it
to star in Dawson’s Creek) managed to spawn countless tie-ins including
auditioned to play the titular games, novels, comics and more. It also, famously,
slayer. Charisma Carpenter produced a spin-off show in Angel, which holds
also originally auditioned just as much affection for long-serving fans of the
for the part of Buffy, but ‘Buffyverse’. Creator Joss Whedon would go on
was instead cast as the to create the much-loved (and short-lived) Firefly,
preppy Cordelia. Sarah and eventually write/direct two Avengers films, as
Michelle Gellar actually well as 2017’s Justice League. Most of its major
auditioned for Cordelia stars would go on to have long careers in TV and
before nabbing the star role. film, but Buffy will always remain their centre.

Despite playing a character famed for slaying creatures that

rise from the grave, Sarah Michelle Gellar had a real-life fear of
cemeteries. She burst into tears during a scene where she had
to be buried alive, so the producers eventually built a fake one
on set for use in future episodes.

Enduring villain-turned-antihero, Spike could have had a

southern drawl if actor James Masters had had his way in
the auditioning process. The producers instead opted for a
British accent, with Anthony Stewart Head (who played Giles)
coaching Masters on his best cockney impersonation.

Joss Whedon did indeed write the script for the original 1992
film, but eventually parted ways with the studio behind it
midway through production. Whedon
stated the change in the film’s tone, a
removal of some key scenes, and star

© Getty; Alamy
Donald Sutherland’s ad-libbing as
some of the main issues.

125
 GOOSEBUMPS hen RL Stine sat down to pen

W the very first Goosebumps book,

Welcome to Dead House, back
in 1992, nobody (including his hopeful
Information
Publisher: Parachute Press/Scholastic
First released: 1992
publisher) had any idea what a pop-culture Expect to pay: £3-10 per book
craze the unassuming middle-grade horror
series would eventually become. Born out
of a suggestion from Stine’s wife and editor,
Jane, as a follow-up to his recently successful
line of Fear Street teen novels, Goosebumps In the early ‘90s, RL
began its meteoric rise with a humble two- Stine was pumping out
book launch – Stay Out of the Basement one Goosebumps book
rounded out the duo – and a virtually every single month.
nonexistent marketing campaign. Ghostwriting rumours
The series’ unexpected popularity slowly circulated for years in
expanded over the next several years response to the intense
through, as Stine likes to put it, a kind of publishing schedule,
though Stine confirmed
underground word-of-mouth kid network.
that while there was
Classics like Say Cheese and Die!, The
outside help on a few
Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, Welcome to
basic outlines, he indeed
Camp Nightmare, Deep Trouble, Monster wrote all 62 main entries
Blood, One Day at HorrorLand and Night in the original series.
of the Living Dummy kept young readers
hooked and turning pages. By 1994-95,
Scholastic was selling over four million
Goosebumps books a month, resulting in
the creepy stories getting translated into 28
different languages.
The ubiquitous franchise spawned a
campy TV show, collectible trading cards,
a choose-your-own-adventure spinoff (Give
Yourself Goosebumps), a fan club, a Milton
Bradley board game, and even weird tie-ins
such as spooky scissors and sticky ‘ghost-it’
notes. Unsurprisingly, countless imitation
book series cropped up in order to cash in
on the literary craze; knock-offs such as
Gooflumps, Bone Chillers, Spinetinglers,
Deadtime Stories and the notably excellent
Strange Matter. However, with its signature
blend of humour and horror, Goosebumps
will always be the pioneer that started the
kiddie horror revolution.

The Legacy
While it doesn’t generate nearly the fevered demand it did in the early ‘90s,
Goosebumps is still enduring today. After the original 62-entry series ended,
RL Stine kept the terror train rolling via continuations like Goosebumps 2000,
Goosebumps HorrorLand, and most recently, Goosebumps SlappyWorld.
Arguably late but fun nonetheless, a feature film based on the books starring Jack
Black as a fictional Stine, was released in 2015. A sequel is currently in the works.

126
 GOOSEBUMPS

New Jersey-based artist

While Goosebumps seems like the perfect name for
Tim Jacobus was the
everyone’s favourite nostalgic book series, its origin is
brilliant talent behind
rather happenstance. Early on, Stine was flipping through
most of the original
an issue of TV Guide and saw an ad listing that stated
Goosebumps covers. With
‘It’s Goosebumps Week on Channel 11!’. The rest, as
a combination of traditional
they say, is horror history.
paint and airbrushing, he
created iconic imagery
that perfectly conveyed
Stine’s suburban horror tone.
Arguably, it was instrumental
in catapulting Scholastic’s book
series into the stratosphere.

No matter how hard you look, you’ll never find

divorce, sex, abuse or death in a Goosebumps
book. Truthfully, that’s all by design. From the
“The series’ unexpected popularity slowly series inception, RL Stine purposely kept any
expanded through a kind of underground sordid, real-world situations out of his stories,
because he wanted kids to feel like they were on
word-of-mouth kid network” a rollercoaster: scared but safe.

127
 Information
Creators: Darren Star, Aaron
Spelling and E Duke Vincent
First released: 4 October 1997
Number of episodes: 293

BEVERLY HILLS,
90210
L
ong before teen dramas and teen
comedies took over the big screen in
the early 2000s, one TV show brought
young angst and the transformative time of
Sure, it did have cast members that were
far too old to play students attending high
school (those wrinkles and receding hairlines
look even more cringe-worthy today), but it
AIDS. It looks cheesy to 21st century eyes,
but at the time, it shed light on issues few
programmes would even consider.
The show also made a household name of
high school to life like no other. Broadcast really did break the mould when it came to many of its stars (even if some lost their place
from 1990 to 2000, Beverly Hills, 90210 portraying some incredibly taboo subjects in the zeitgeist after the show). It put Jason
set the blueprint for all the big teen-based on prime-time US TV. It openly portrayed Priestley and Luke Perry on many a bedroom
shows that followed, from Dawson’s Creek sexual awakening, but also dealt with rape wall in poster form, and was a launch pad
to The OC. It even got a soft reboot in 2008, and teenage pregnancy. It tackled domestic for Shannen Doherty (who went on to star in
but this new iteration was a far cry from the violence, homophobia and racism, and even fantasy series Charmed) and Hilary Swank
trailblazer that was its original. had storylines involving teenage suicide and (who went on to win two Academy Awards).

128
 BEVERLY HILLS, 90210

Torrance High School in Torrance, Los

Angeles was used as a double for Beverly
Hills High School throughout the series’
decade-long run. Interestingly, this wasn’t
the only show using it as a shooting
The show was conceived under the working title Class of Beverly Hills, and was initially planned to be an issue-based location. It was also used to bring Sunnydale
show that dealt with a different theme each episode. However, the decision was eventually made to make it a teen High School to life in fellow ‘90s hit TV
drama with multiple story arcs that dealt with myriad taboo teen problems. series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Legacy
In 2008, a soft reboot of the series – using its original premise
of a family moving to Los Angeles from out of state – premiered
on The CW network in North America. In this version, a family
from Kansas moves to Hollywood to be with their alcoholic
grandmother, with Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty and Tori
Spelling reprising their roles as Kelly Taylor, Brenda Walsh and
Donna Martin, respectively. It ran for five seasons until May 2013.

Alongside all the special episodes that

aired during its ten-year run, Beverly Hills,
90210 also returned with a number of
one-off instalments, including Beverly
Hills, 90210: The Final Goodbye in 2000,
Beverly Hills, 90210: 10 Year High School
Reunion in 2003 and Beverly Hills,
90210: Fox 25th Anniversary
Special in 2012.

A number of characters from Beverly Hills, 90210 made regular

cameo appearances in Melrose Place – another memorable
drama from the ‘90s – including Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling,
© Alamy, The 216

Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering.

129
 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

THE SOUNDS
OF THE ’90s
Moving away from the glitz and glamour of the 1980s, music
became angst-ridden and more reflective of society
oc Martens. Parkas. Dungarees. In The Stone Roses amazing crowds on a man- from Take That and East 17 to Boyzone and

D the 1990s, your choice of clothes

may well have reflected your taste in
music. Certainly, in Britain at least, preferences
made island in the Mersey estuary on 27 May
1990), just as the recession was about to bite
and people were yearning for something new
Westlife), there was also a backlash.
Oasis emerged and stunned with Live Forever
that was an antidote to Nirvana’s I Hate Myself
appeared to be mainly split across grunge, and identifiable. and Want to Die, as Noel Gallagher later put it.
Britpop, hip-hop and straight-out pop, all with At first, the Americans invaded, Nirvana Indeed, guitar bands flourished to a backdrop
their different outlooks both physically and helping to drag grunge from Seattle and of Loaded magazine and Fantasy Football,
mentally. As such, it was a decade of both California to an appreciative, socially sparking Britpop and a humongous battle
evolution and revolution – one in which the glitz conscious worldwide audience. The golden of two particular bands, split down class and
of the megastars, from Michael Jackson to age of hip-hop also continued from the 1980s, geographical lines. The decade also saw the
Madonna, largely gave way to more down-at- flourishing with artists such as Dr Dre and rise of the lad and ladette and the emergence
heel appeal. Snoop Doggy Dogg. But while British and of the Spice Girls, bringing Girl Power to the
But then music had a void to fill as Irish boybands took great influence from the fore. Few opted to wear Geri Halliwell’s Union
the decade got underway. The baggy Boston five that was New Kids on the Block Flag dress but the impact of the first all-girl pop
Madchester era was drawing to a close (with (leading to numerous young vocal groups group was enormous.

EVENTS

Death of
Freddie Michael
Mercury Birth of
1991 Jackson Trainspotting Napster
Just 24 hours after he confirmed marries 1996 Candle in 1999
he had been diagnosed with 1994 Right in the midst of Britpop, the Wind Set up by two teenagers, Napster
AIDS, Queen’s extravagant lead Michael Jackson signed a record- Manchester film director Danny 1997 struck fear into the heart of music
singer, Freddie Mercury, died breaking $65 million deal with Boyle helmed Trainspotting, a Originally written in 1974 in industry executives who, for so
at the age of 45. He’d suffered Sony in March 1991, and his black comedy set in Edinburgh. honour of Marilyn Monroe, Elton long, had been watching the
bronchio-pneumonia as a result eighth album, Dangerous, went It made a star of Ewan McGregor John penned a new set of lyrics impact of the internet with some
of his condition, and he was the on to sell 30 million copies. But and was widely acclaimed but its for Candle in the Wind following trepidation. The file-sharing
first major rock star to die from his reputation was battered over soundtrack was also applauded the death of Diana, Princess of application allowed people to
the disease. The following year, accusations of child sexual abuse for championing Britpop while Wales. Released as the B-side to download music from other
the remaining members of the in 1993 (the case was settled placing techno-dance music on Something About the Way You people’s computers, building up an
band – famous for hits such as out of court), which meant his a par with rock. As such, bands Look Tonight, the ballad struck enviable record collection of MP3s
Bohemian Rhapsody – organised marriage to Lisa Marie Presley including Sleeper, Blur, Pulp and a chord with the British public without even whiffing a traditional
The Freddie Mercury Tribute (daughter of Elvis) was a welcome, Elastica rubbed shoulders with and it reached Number 1 in the store or cluttering up space with
Concert for AIDS awareness, positive relief for fans. The pair Underworld, Bedrock and Ice charts of many countries across anything as old fashioned as CDs.
which took place at Wembley appeared in Jackson’s video for MC. Underworld’s Born Slippy the world. Elton John also sang the Napster eventually faded, but the
Stadium, London. A crowd of You Are Not Alone but they got .NUXX became a hit on the back song at Diana’s funeral, describing idea didn’t – as any music lover
72,000 attended. divorced in 1996. of the movie, selling a million. the experience as “surreal.” today will know.

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 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

BATTLE OF Damon Albarn (second from left) lines up with his

fellow Blur bandmates: Dave Rowntree, Alex James
and Graham Coxon.

BRITPOP
It really, really did happen: the glorious soundtrack of the ’90s was a
heady mix of guitars and confidence
he Britpop era did not last very long, tradition of contemporary pop. This was a by the writers of Select magazine, with

T but as a musical movement, it beat

the drum (and strummed the guitar)
so very loud and proud. Some have claimed
time when British music was in the doldrums
thanks to the rise of American grunge,
spearheaded by Nirvana. Then Suede
the latter’s Brett Anderson making the
publication’s cover, flanked by the Union
Flag. ‘Yanks go home!’ screamed the strap,
it was bookended by two albums of wildly released their debut single, The Drowners, alongside a reference to the ‘Battle for
differing quality: Blur’s Parklife on 25 April on 11 May. Again, it was certainly not a hit Britain’. In that moment, a new movement
1994, and Oasis’s Be Here Now in August (charting at Number 49), but the musical was duly born.
1997. But while those two bands were at the seeds had been sown. Even so, it took a while before Britpop was
pinnacle of this pop-culture phenomenon, a By April 1993, other British indie bands a common phrase. That came after Blur
huge explosion of new guitar bands ensured had also become prominent. Denim sought released Modern Life is Rubbish on 10 May
they were far from lonely. to revive the glam rock of the ’70s, and Saint 1993, and after they introduced Parklife the
Etienne was emerging from the indie dance following year. That latter release really did
ON STANDBY scene and riding close to the Top 10 with mark Britpop’s imperial period, however,
Blur was first off the mark. The group You’re in a Bad Way, while Pulp – following and when those cocky northern boys
released the single Popscene on 30 March years on the dole and a struggle for success Oasis released the epic and era-defining
1992, and while it only peaked at Number 32 during the ’80s – had been getting a lot of Definitely Maybe on 29 August 1994, the
in the UK singles chart, it featured frontman radio airplay with Babies and Razzmatazz. doors opened and so began a tidal wave:
Damon Albarn snottily delivering a petulant These three bands, together with The Ash, Dodgy, Echobelly, Feeder, Gene, The
two-fingered assault on the derivative Auteurs and Suede, were lumped together Bluetones, Lush, Menswear, Kula Shaker, The

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 BAT TLE OF BRITPOP

Pulp’s appearance at Glastonbury on the Other Stage

in 1994 – alongside Oasis, Radiohead and Blur – was
a wake-up call for the newcomers of the British pop
scene, and rising indie star Jarvis Cocker dazzled.

Oasis played a huge gig at Maine Road, the former home of its beloved Manchester
City, in 1996, with Noel sporting his iconic Union Flag guitar.

5 ESSENTIAL ’90S BRITPOP ALBUMS

(What’s the Different Class Parklife Urban Hymns In It for

Story) Morning Pulp Blur The Verve the Money
Glory? 1995 1994 1997 Supergrass
Oasis This undoubted masterpiece As quintessentially British as The Verve had actually 1997
1995 was defiant and edgy, they come and sung with split up amid feelings of Suede or Supergrass? Well
Noel Gallagher reckons Definitely showcasing Jarvis Cocker’s an accentuated southern disillusion and got back both, but Supergrass was
Maybe beats Morning Glory, extraordinary lyrical ability after accent, this album might not together when they made born just as the Britpop
and he’s not wrong. But, as so many years in the wilderness. flow easily from one song to this – their third studio era kicked in, and they
indebted as it is to The Beatles, Sharp wit complemented the next, but it is whimsical, album. It may have come were aware of where
this album came at Oasis’s peak: dazzling melodies in the experimental and packed at the tailend of Britpop, they fitted (“as everyone’s
at a time when even its B-sides establishment-baiting Common with references to life in but the unabashedly epic second favourite band,”
were becoming acclaimed People, while the minutely the 1990s. Full on, as with Bittersweet Symphony kicked as they would later market
classics. Wonderwall, Hey detailed narrative of Underwear Girls & Boys, and reflective off a big record that was themselves). This isn’t the
Now!, Don’t Look Back in Anger, had listeners on tenterhooks. of future troubles (End of a unafraid to get tears rolling one with Alright, but its crisp
Cast No Shadow, Champagne An album high on revenge, Century), it’s Britpop frippery with the magnificence of The melodies and adventurous
Supernova… shall we go on? hedonism and twisted fantasy. at its best. Drugs Don’t Work. spirit proved to be winners.

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 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

Liam Gallagher strikes a familiar pose as he sings: his head

raised to meet the microphone and his hands behind his back.
He also looks similar to John Lennon – his Beatles idol.

Justine Frischmann of Elastica performs at the V96 festival in

Chelmsford. Justine also dated Damon Albarn, and her band’s
album, also called Elastica, was not only the fastest-selling British
debut but a Mercury Music Prize nominee.

Pictured in 1995, Oasis (Noel and Liam Gallagher)

had truly become rock ’n’ roll stars with their first
two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story)
Morning Glory?, instantly lauded as classics.

Verve and Supergrass were rising from the “It was as much a battle between identity
local pub venues to the pages of NME. Once
marginalised (Suede only got dropped in to and culture as anything”
perform Animal Nitrate on the Brit Awards
in 1993 following accusations the organisers up between the working-class boys from Country House to clash with it. Blur’s upbeat
were failing to champion new music), Britpop Burnage, Manchester, and the wry middle- song sold 274,000 copies to Oasis’s 216,000,
was now mainstream. class London boys Blur. It was as much and it stoked the rivalry.
a battle between identity and culture as But Oasis arguably had the last laugh that
WHAT’S THE STORY? anything, one fought amid hurtling insults. year. The album (What’s the Story) Morning
With Oasis, sometimes the fists rather This came despite Damon (who was dating Glory? shot to the top slot in October, bringing
than the music did the talking. It meant the Justine Frischmann of Elastica) declaring the world Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back in
tabloid showbiz editors who had, for so long, their 1995 Brit Award for Best Group should Anger. It became the second fastest-selling
favoured production-line popstars, began be shared with Oasis. Before long, the gloves album in British history behind Michael
to sit up and take notice. Frontman Liam were off. Jackson’s Bad.
Gallagher was newspaper box-office, mined At its height, it turned into a contrived Blur’s The Great Escape, meanwhile, was
for quotes and followed for his behaviour. Battle of the Bands that, if not a fight for a widely acclaimed, but although it shot to
Noel had his fair share of controversy too, generation, was at least a distracting spat Number 1, it failed to sell as many as Oasis’s
once saying taking drugs was “like getting up that even made it onto the BBC Nine O’Clock (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. The
and having a cup of tea.” News. By that point, Oasis had followed following year, Oasis played two nights at
But it was the quality of their songs that Definitely Maybe and its popular roster Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire before a
kept them at the top, and they almost of songs from Supersonic to Live Forever, combined audience of 250,000. More than
became separated from the whole Britpop with the release of Some Might Say – the 2.6 million people had applied for tickets.
scene, such was their immense pulling power Oasis single to get to Number 1. The band
(their management team saw Britpop as was getting ready to release Roll With It SOMETHING CHANGED
parochial, and felt Oasis to be an international on 14 August 1995, but Blur (on Damon’s But Britpop wasn’t just Oasis and their
band). Despite that, a homegrown rift opened suggestion) moved their original date of Beatles fixation, drug habits, parkas and

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 BAT TLE OF BRITPOP

penchant for singing with the microphone of Noel’s Union Flag guitar were coming to
too high, just as it wasn’t the posh southern an end, and even efforts by Spice Girl Geri
kids of Blur, who were as tainted with Halliwell to flaunt the colours on a mini-dress
hedonism as the rest of them. Pulp’s seedy, started to appear desperate. It was also
righteous and awakening Different Class the year Liam Gallagher and his wife, Patsy
brought a much-needed cynicism in songs Kensit, had appeared on the front cover of When Noel
such as Mis-Shapes, Sorted for E’s & Wizz Vanity Fair in the US – suddenly British bands met Tony
and the anthemic, era-defining Common wanted to be accepted by Americans. Cool Although the photographs show Tony
People. Bespectacled Jarvis Cocker was Britannia, as it was now being dubbed, was Blair in an amiable conversation with
a quirky, witty, wry frontman, cementing feeling hijacked. a smiling Noel Gallagher, the invitation
Sheffield on the Britpop map. That he Even so, it was an utterly glorious period to Downing Street for the song-writing
invaded the stage at the 1996 Brit Awards while it lasted, and let’s not forget some of brain behind Oasis was as much a
and showed his backside in protest at Michael the true gems that 1997 also brought us, surprise for the prime minister as it was
Jackson’s Christ-like performance of Earth including Radiohead’s OK Computer and for everyone else. Taking place in 1997,
Song was the icing on the cake for a British The Verve’s Urban Hymns. It had created the PM’s spokesman, Alistair Campbell,
movement that had been born from a desire new optimism and a fresh mood in the later said Blair was worried Gallagher
would trash the place. He didn’t, but
to dismiss the US. country, which Labour leader Tony Blair had
he later claimed he took cocaine in
By 1997, however, Britpop was about to looked to capitalise on in the general election
the toilet reserved for the Queen. Such
wane. Oasis launched Be Here Now, and that year. revelations failed to dampen the dismay
critics – stung by their scorn of (What’s Britpop was also fun and adventurous, with over the visit, however: many felt then
the Story) Morning Glory? – praised it a feeling that new bands were emerging with (and still do) that Noel’s hobnobbing
wholeheartedly. But then TV presenter Chris a bang each week, and that a group of men attendance at the glitzy ’Cool Britannia’
Evans labelled the album a stinker on Channel or women, or even a combination of the two, reception was a step too far. Mixing
4’s TFI Friday, and there appeared to be a could get together and achieve. It was, for so with the political elite was viewed as a
concerted effort to push the flag-waving many people, as good as it could have been. If nail in the coffin for Britpop.
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Britpop label aside by other bands. The days only it could have lived forever.

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 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

Recalling how boy bands rose to prominence during the 1990s, and
how girl power beat them at their own game
he screams of anticipation as a boy

T band takes to the stage has always

been deafening. But while it is a ritual
that extends back decades, in the 1990s
there was certainly a good number of clean-
cut pretty boys to scream at. At the time,
music industry executives had been falling
over themselves to emulate the success of
US record producer Maurice Starr who had
worked so much magic with New Edition
and the achingly cool New Kids on the Block
in the 1980s. It may have meant there was NSYNC in 1997, with a young
almost a surplus of such groups on both Justin Timberlake in yellow, was
sides of the Atlantic, but the scream-o-meter created to build on the success
sure would fly off the scale for a good number that the Backstreet Boys had
of them. been enjoying.

THE NEW KIDS The Spice Girls in 1996 at

One of the biggest boy bands was Take That, the beginning of their highly
put together in the UK by casting agent Nigel successful career.
Martin-Smith, who had noticed the global
impact New Kids on the Block had been
enjoying. Eventual band members Howard
Donald and Mark Owen were already on his
books as male models, while Gary Barlow
was touring the clubs as a singer. The group
was built around Barlow, and Jason Orange
and Robbie Williams were also added. By
1992 – following three singles that failed to
make the Top 40 – Take That finally broke
through with It Only Takes a Minute. Once
they got their first Number 1 in 1993 with
Pray, there was no stopping them, and they
hit the top slot with seven of their eight
subsequent releases.
Like many boy bands of the era, Take
That benefitted from slick styling and highly
polished dance routines, as they sought
to turn the heads of their mainly teenage
female fans. Their erstwhile UK rivals for
attention were the rap-influenced bad
boys East 17, formed in 1991 and named
after the postcode of their hometown of

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 GIRL POWER VS BOY BANDS

Bands were good at hiding problems.

Members of Boyzone, the group formed
as an Irish version of Take That by Louis
Walsh, were later revealed to have had their
differences but, to fans, Ronan Keating, Keith
Duffy, Stephen Gateley, Mikey Graham and
Shane Lynch were the perfect guys. Put
together after adverts were placed in Irish
newspapers, they released their first single,
Working My Way Back to You, in Ireland in
1994. It peaked at Number 3 in the charts,
and their next tune, Love Me for a Reason,
was then launched globally, flying to the
top, and reaching Number 2 in the UK. Their
achievements were phenomenal.

GIRL POWER!
But success wasn’t solely confined to the
boys. In 1991, the all-girl trio TLC had burst
onto the scene with the sexually edgy Ain’t
2 Proud 2 Beg, and they went on to sell more
Walthamstow. Viewed as grittier and more than 65 million records and win five Grammy
political, lead singer Brian Harvey ended up Awards in a career that ran throughout the
Destiny’s Child took girl power
being sacked for saying he had once taken 12 decade with hits including Creep, Waterfalls
further in 1998, with powerful
ecstasy tablets and then driven. Yet with so and No Scrubs.
songs and a stunning line-up of
Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland
much money invested in such manufactured Meanwhile, the American R&B vocal
and Michelle Williams. groups, there was always a worry that trouble group En Vogue was in its stride, conceived
could be financially damaging. of as a modern-day Supremes by the

5 ESSENTIAL ’90S
GIRL/BOY BAND ALBUMS

Backstreet Spice Everything The Writing’s ’N Sync

Boys Spice Girls Changes on the Wall NSYNC
Backstreet Boys 1996 Take That Destiny’s Child 1997
1997 Britain’s quintet of sassy 1993 1999 Justin Timberlake, JC
The Backstreet Boys girls dealt primarily with This second album by Take As one of the best-selling Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris
brought their mix of hip- relationships over the course That shines with its mature R&B albums of all time, Kirkpatrick and Lance Bass
hop, R&B, rock and pop of this barnstorming album of sound – a world away from The Writing’s on the Wall showed what they could do
together in two different catchy and uplifting ballads the largely dance-pop debut includes the Number 1 hits on this slow-burning album,
self-titled debut albums. and pop songs. Boasting the Take That & Party. Providing Say My Name and Bills, and it’s essential listening
The US version from 1997 zany debut single Wannabe, six singles and four Number 1s, Bills, Bills. It’s also the if only for a sense of music
is the best, packing all of along with quintessential this was Take That at their most final album to contain the history. Wonderful R&B
the band’s singalong chart ’90s tunes Say You’ll Be confident, prolific and talented original band members. tracks such as I Just Wanna
tunes such as Quit Playing There and 2 Become 1, it selves, and while there were You can hear the hunger to Be With You rub shoulders
Games (With My Heart) was warm, classy and, above covers such as Relight My inject fresh ideas and make with techno jazz and
and All I Have to Give. all, fun. Fire, they were superbly done. an impression. It succeeds. wonderful harmonies.

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 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

production and writing duo Denzil Foster and and bold, and able to talk directly to a female latter included sisters Nicole and Natalie
Thomas McElroy. They formed the template audience. It appears Geri was the engine Appleton, and they had chart success
for other female R&B groups of the 1990s, room of the band, unafraid to speak out, from 1997 with the likes of Never Ever,
with Cindy Herron-Bragg, Dawn Robinton, which encouraged the other four to do the Under the Bridge and Lady Marmalade.
Terry Ellis and Maxine Jones selling more same. At the same time, each band member Meanwhile, Destiny’s Child made a star of
than 20 million albums. was equal, and they knew what they wanted Beyoncé Knowles (Bills, Bills, Bills being
The biggest all-girl group of all, however, to do and where they wanted to be. the breakthrough). The music industry was
included Victoria Adams, Geri Halliwell, They wrote their own songs, constructed suddenly confident that it could aim all-girl
Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton and Melanie the melodies, the videos and the dance bands, as well as boy bands, at females.
Chisholm, aka Posh, Ginger, Scary, Baby routines, and sold 85 million albums across
and Sporty – the Spice Girls. They arrived in the world (Spice, Spiceworld and Forever). BYE BYE BYE
the midst of Britpop and the Cool Britannia Some of the clothes they wore – such as That’s not to say that the boy bands faded
movement and, while heavily marketed, they Geri’s Union Flag dress – became iconic, away – far from it. The Backstreet Boys
had the personalities and the looks to endear and the band was unafraid to explore released their debut album in 1996, a year
them not to a market of lusting teenage boys merchandising and spin-off opportunities,
(although there were many) but to millions of such as the movie Spice World, commercials
admiring girls. and documentaries. Not bad for a group
The Spice Girls – the biggest girl group that had originally been deemed derivative
ever – were more than about the music, as and talentless, cynically created as a female
catchy as Wanabee, 2 Become 1, Spice Up counterpart to Take That.
Your Life, Too Much, Stop and all the rest Indeed, the Spice Girls inspired a girl
proved to be. They may have been managed band revolution. There were B*Witched,
by a man, Simon Fuller, but they were brash Atomic Kitten, Hepburn and All Saints. The

Ginger leaves
the Spice Girls
The Spice Girls had released their
Take That in 1991 (from left to debut Wannabe in 1996 but, two
right): Robbie Williams, Jason years later, Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger
Orange, Mark Owen, Gary Spice, confirmed speculation that she
Barlow and Howard Donald. was going to walk away, leaving the
other four band members behind. As
blows go, it was on a par with Robbie
Williams quitting Take That in 1995,
and a statement from the remaining
quartet said they were “upset and
saddened,” although they vowed to
carry on. Geri said she had suffered
from exhaustion and, as if to underline
The all-girl band All Saints that, she did not start her solo career
(Nicole Appleton, Shaznay until a year later, debuting with the
Lewis, Natalie Appleton and catchy single Look at Me.
Melanie Blatt) was launched by
the 1997 single Never Ever.

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 GIRL POWER VS BOY BANDS

singing pop but moved to R&B. They grew in

American boyband Backstreet confidence too: 98 Degrees would write their
Boys in 1995. The group’s sound own material, and they formed independently
was heavily influenced by R&B. rather than relying on a record label to put
them together.
But there were always inevitable strains.
Robbie Williams sought to break out of
Geri Halliwell wore this Union the boy-band mould and become friends
Flag dress at the Brit Awards in with Oasis, joining the band on stage at
1997, towards the end of the
Glastonbury in 1995. Noel Gallagher,
Britpop and Cool Britannia era.
however, referred to him as “that fat dancer
from Take That.” There were also pressures
on stalwarts to remain fresh in the face
after their first single We’ve Got It Goin’ On of bands such as The Moffatts, Hanson,
and around the same time as Quit Playing LFO and 5ive. Everyone knew that when
Games (with My Heart) was unleashed. The boy bands faded, they were dumped and
band was formed by American businessman replaced; so out went Boyzone, in came
Lou Pearlman, who also created NSYNC, Westlife – the band well known for standing
the two bands dominating the music scene up on a key change in what fast became a
to a large extent in the late 1990s. Many of cliché for the 2000s.
the songs cast doubt on relationships, and Girls were not immune either: music grew
highlighted the hopelessness of love. They tired of their bands for a spell, but that was in
even questioned boy bands themselves (”Am part down to the industry thrusting so many
I everything you need…” the Backstreet Boys on the public. In 1999, around 20 emerged,
sang in Everybody (Backstreet’s Back). and in 2000, the industry was preparing to
Yet if they were feeling threatened by the launch another 35. But that in itself was a
rise and power of the girls, the truth is that legacy of Girl Power, and the confidence on
these later-decade boy bands were screamed display. Now if only someone would clear up
over in greater numbers than ever before, what zig-a-zig-ah actually means, we’d all
achieving enviable glory and longevity. sleep much easier. It’s enough to make you
© Getty

Some also matured: Backstreet Boys began want to scream.

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 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

HIP HOP: THE

GOLDEN AGE
The 1980s were an impressive time for the genre, but the 1990s
presented a chance for a new generation of artists to evolve it
he revolutionary and inspirational work at the time. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) tracks and working with talented, like-minded

T of Public Enemy, NWA, Run DMC, Eric

B and Rakim, Afrikaa Bambaataa and
more put hip hop into the hearts, minds and
is a heavy and utterly unique album full of
personality, and is still regarded by many as a
classic today.
artists. Snoop went on to release the hugely
successful Doggystyle a year later, and his
laid-back style and creative rhymes gained him
ears of fans across the world in the ’80s, yet the industry praise and respect.
’90s provided a launch pad for many artists to MUSICIAN, INFLICTIN’
innovate and showcase their skills. While this COMPOSITION OF PAIN EAST/WEST BEEF
big melting pot of styles divided audiences at Nas’s take on the genre, meanwhile, took social Nevertheless, while the brilliance of this genre
times, there was no denying that music fans and political commentary to a new level. Much is in its authenticity, diversity and freedom of
were spoilt for choice with the offerings. like Public Enemy and KRS-One, his debut expression, rifts were appearing and feuds
On the one hand, you had Fresh Prince, MC album Illmatic addressed important issues were forming. The East/West Coast divide
Hammer and Vanilla Ice producing – let’s say using poetic lyrics, skilful composition and was present in the lyrics and on the streets,
– accessible tracks that raised the profile of the innovative production techniques. His songs caused by a number of factors, including
genre to mainstream audiences. Yet, on the described a reality that many fans could relate media coverage, gang culture and record
other, groups such as the East Coast Native to. Biggie pushed this a little further with his label competition. One rivalry that has since
Tongues collective were positively influencing more aggressive approach to rap, often writing become legend was between Tupac and
the music community with socially conscious about his first-hand experiences of working as a Biggie. Once close friends, the pair became
hip hop. Artists such as the Jungle Brothers, De dealer and growing up in Brooklyn. enemies, swapping insults on diss tracks Who
La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest were hitting On the West Coast, meanwhile, Dr Dre was Shot Ya? and Hit ’Em Up. Sadly, the world lost
fans with fun, laid-back, sample-heavy tracks. making great headway with his incredible debut this artistic talent when the two were killed in
Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan took the solo album The Chronic. Snoop also made his separate shooting incidents. Tupac Shakur
creative sampling one step further by including first appearance on it, marking what would be a passed away on 13 September 1996, while
audio clips from their favourite kung-fu films key part of Dre’s career in the future: producing Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious BIG

Dr Dre and Snoop established West Coast

gangsta rap as a major force in the ’90s.

A Tribe Called Quest were responsible for two

of the best hip hop albums of the decade, 1991’s
Low End Theory and 1993’s Midnight Marauders.

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 HIP HOP

2Pac and his rival Notorious BIG were tragically

murdered in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Their
deaths followed a long-running feud between their
record labels.

With its kung fu-inspired samples and raw beats,

the Wu-Tang Clan delivered one of the most original
debut hip hop albums of the ’90s.

Eminem burst onto the scene at the end of the ’90s

with the Dr Dre-produced single My Name Is.

or Biggie, died on 9 March 1997. The whole first self-titled debut: a relaxed, fun and soulful
industry and its fans mourned their loss. spin on hip hop. Its style, while remarkable and
Outside this rivalry, though, other artists distinct, harked back to the early, more carefree
emerged and took the hip-hop world by days of the genre – no doubt inspired by De La
force. Missy Elliott’s first album Supa Dupa Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
Fly, marked a huge change for female
representation in the industry. Not only was THE REAL SLIM SHADY
her style effortlessly cool, but her music was As the decade came to a close, the
edgy and intelligent too. Early work saw her powerhouse that was Dre’s Aftermath record didn’t stop there: on 16 November 1999, he
collaborate with artists including Timbaland, Li’l label introduced something new to hip hop released his second studio album 2001. His
Kim, Aaliyah, Busta Rhymes and even Eminem. fans: Eminem. Slim Shady EP combined collaborations with Eminem, Snoop, Xzibit
The Beastie Boys continued to have massive Marshall Mathers’ distinct vocals and lyrical and more reminded the industry – as if it was
success with their albums Ill Communication talent with the production genius of Dr Dre. necessary – that he was a true creative force
and Hello Nasty, while Jurassic 5 shared its While Mathers won a Grammy award for it, Dre to be reckoned with.

5 ESSENTIAL ’90S HIP HOP ALBUMS

The Chronic Midnight Illmatic Enter the Aquemini

Dr Dre Marauders Nas Wu-Tang (36 Outkast
1992 A Tribe Called 1994 Chambers) 1998
It’s impossible to Quest Nas is known for his Wu-Tang Clan Hailing from Georgia,
measure the impact 1993 poetic lyrics, and Illmatic 1993 Outkast truly put the Deep
and influence The The third studio album doesn’t disappoint. While many artists were South’s hip hop scene on
Chronic has had on the from A Tribe Called Quest, His debut album was sampling old-school jazz, the map with their third
music industry since Midnight Marauders blends a massive success: it disco, folk or blues tracks, Wu- studio album. Combining
its launch. The album a medley of samples in showcased his passion Tang took it further to include Big Boi’s southern drawl
is incredible – like with fun, intelligent and for authenticity, artistic snippets from imported kung- with Andre 3000’s high-
nothing else we’d ever positive lyrics. Sounding integrity, creative, fu films, said to be from RZA’s speed flows, the album was
heard before or since. slick, fresh and altogether rhythmic delivery, and collection. Enter the Wu-Tang a laid-back masterpiece
There’s a reason why original, it’s considered a high production values. (36 Chambers) is a blend of with production heavily
Dr Dre later went on to classic album by many, and N.Y. State of Mind, Life’s a personality, lyrical rhythm and influenced by the funk
become hip hop’s first a cornerstone for the hip B****, Represent… hip hop flow with incredible sampled and soul sounds of the
© Getty

ever billionaire. hop genre as a whole. doesn’t get much better. source material. ’60s and ’70s.

141
 THE SOUNDS OF THE ’90s

THE BIRTH
OF GRUNGE
How this raw, unpolished sound helped to define a generation
runge started out of the Seattle were also beginning to find success with their scuffed-up DMs. Described as ‘the elegantly

G music scene at the end of the ’80s

and early ’90s. It quickly captured
the hearts and minds of many music fans
powerful tracks. This distinct approach and
style attracted the interest of the British music
press, and went on to influence bands and
wasted look’ by the press at that time, it even
influenced the catwalk – most famously in Marc
Jacobs’ spring/summer 1993 show for Perry
at the time, helping to define the era and a artists across the world. Ellis. What started out as Kurt Cobain’s granny
generation. Popularised by record label Sub dress or thick lumberjack shirts evolved into
Pop, this musical genre had many influences: COMPELLING LYRICAL expensive chiffon and cashmere counterparts.
chiefly heavy metal, punk and alternative rock, CONTENT Naturally, it went down like a lead balloon with
including – but not limited to – Black Sabbath, Supporting the sludgy, grunge-rock sound was the fashion industry, and Jacobs was promptly
Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Pixies, Sonic Youth, often a set of intelligent yet rather melancholy fired for this, but the fact it was even included
Buzzcocks, David Bowie, Melvins, Sex Pistols, lyrics covering topics such as political demonstrates the power and influence of this
Velvet Underground, The Slits, Vaselines and commentary, difficult relationships, drug and sub-culture on the mainstream.
Joy Division, but also even as far reaching as sexual abuse, abortion, anxiety, depression,
the Beatles and 1940s’ talented folk/blues suicide and death. One of Pearl Jam’s tracks, REACHING THE MASSES
singer Lead Belly. The result? A raw, unpolished Black, was so personal to the band, in fact, that While other grunge bands experienced
sound like nothing the world had ever seen or they refused to issue it as a single or make a success, nothing could compare to the impact
heard before. music video for it. Yet despite the heavy subject of Nirvana’s second studio album, Nevermind.
The ‘Seattle sound’ was first coined by indie matters, the personal connection with the Noticeably different in production styles than
record label Sub Pop as a way of marketing music, and the minds that made it, only made Bleach, this was due to a number of factors: the
the stripped-down, consistent production the fans love it more. band had a new, kick-ass drummer in the form
techniques of its audio engineer, Jack Endino. of Dave Grohl; Nirvana was signed to a new
An established musician in his own right, AS A TREND, AS A FRIEND record label, Geffen, and as such, production
Endino worked on various Sub Pop bands’ This connection with its fans also helped to of the album was handled by Butch Vig; Kurt’s
albums, including Mudhoney’s Superfuzz evolve grunge as a strong fashion movement love of the Beatles even meant he wanted to use
Bigmuff, Soundgarden’s Screaming Life, of that era. Fans were eager to replicate the similar production techniques to the Fab Four in
Screaming Trees’ Buzz Factory and, of course, ‘uniform’ of their favourite bands and artists, the studio. Nevermind was released in 1991, and
Nirvana’s first album, Bleach. Around the same which was defined by long (often unwashed) the music scene has never been the same since.
time, fellow Seattle-formed band Pearl Jam hair, checked flannel shirts, T-shirts, jeans and Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic
quickly shot to fame, and brought the raw
sounds and DIY spirit to the masses. Nothing
could compare to the opening of Smells Like
Teen Spirit and the tracks that followed. Cobain’s
often-haunting vocals, Grohl’s impressive
drumming, and the heavy, grungy guitar sounds
made for a heady combination.
Sadly, Kurt’s heroin addiction was an
unwelcome fourth member of the band, and
slowly consumed him until his tragic suicide
at the age of 27 on 5 April 1994. News of his
death understandably shook the industry and
devastated fans. While arguably grunge died
too at that point, Cobain became an icon for
the genre, and his talents and work continue to
inspire people to this day. Grunge helped to open
Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain the doors to Queens of the Stone Age, White
(centre) tragically committed Stripes, Arcade Fire, plus many more. And, for
suicide in 1994 at the age of 27. that, we are truly thankful.

142
 THE BIRTH OF GRUNGE

Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind

was a surprise commercial success
and introduced the mainstream to
grunge for the first time.

Like many of the best grunge bands of the Mixing heavy metal elements with
’90s, Pearl Jam dealt with a range of issues and the ’Seattle sound’, Alice in Chains
subjects, both social and personal, in their lyrics. had two Number 1 albums in the US
during the ’90s.

5 ESSENTIAL ’90S GRUNGE ALBUMS

Bleach Nevermind Superunknown Ten Dirt

Nirvana Nirvana Soundgarden Pearl Jam Alice in Chains
1989 1991 1994 1991 1992
Okay, so technically Bleach Nothing could have quite The fourth studio album from When you think of Pearl Deliberating over this final
is not a ’90s grunge album, prepared Kurt, Dave and Krist Chris Cornell and co is a Jam, which song springs to choice was tough, but there’s
since it came out in 1989. for the success of Nevermind. worthy addition to any grunge mind first? Even Flow? Alive? no doubt Alice in Chains’
However, it is grunge and Reaching beyond the grunge fan’s record collection. From Once? Either way, they’re Dirt was instrumental (pun
was huge in the ’90s, so no audiences and launching them the figuratively heavy lyrics all off the Ten album. While intended) in helping to
‘top 5’ in this genre would into the hearts and minds of to Chris’s powerful vocals it arguably lacks the punk establish the genre. Listening
be complete without it. the mainstream, Nevermind and everything in between, edge that exists in other to the first few tracks, you
Nirvana’s debut studio successfully manages to Superunknown is a truly much-loved grunge bands, can tell the band was heavily
album is 40-odd minutes simultaneously act as a fantastic body of work – Pearl Jam played a powerful influenced by Sabbath;
of raw, unassuming grunge soundtrack to the ’90s and a not least because it contains part in the music scene at however, the end result was
gold. Turn it up and listen classic masterpiece in its own the inimitable single Black that time and, for this reason, a breath of fresh, grimy air for
in full. right. Genius. Hole Sun. they’re in. music fans at the time.

143









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