Author: admin
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Kunio-kun no Dodge Ball Dayo Zenin Syuugou!
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Technos Japan GAME PUBLISHER:Technos Japan Copyright 1993, Technos Japan Kunio-kun no Dodge Ball for the SNES is definitely the best dodgeball game, and among the best console sports games ever. Released only in Japan, the game has been translated into English, thanks to the…
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Oxford Games
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Oxford Softworks GAME PUBLISHER:Oxford Softworks Copyright 1991, Oxford Softworks Oxford Games is a collection of three early games from Oxford Softworks: Bridge 2,000, Backgammon Royale, and Chess Player 2150. They are all solid releases compared to their peers at that time, and strong AI…
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Front Mission: Gun Hazard
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Squaresoft GAME PUBLISHER:Squaresoft Copyright 1996, Squaresoft Front Mission – Gun Hazard is a fun side-scrolling “mech” arcade/RPG platformer for the SNES console, set in Squaresoft’s Front Mission universe. Although the game is not a turn-based tactical strategy game like others in the series, it…
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Comic Book Confidential
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ron Mann GAME DEVELOPER:Voyager Company GAME PUBLISHER:Voyager Company Copyright 1994, Voyager Company Preambulatory note: This review and the download is dedicated to Jorge a.k.a. Reverendo, the superb artist behind The Kennel, a comic strip about this site… and one of the best-kept secrets on the Internet…
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Widget Workshop
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Maxis GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1995, Maxis One of Maxis’ most underrated games in my opinion, Widget Workshop is a neat computerized “science kit” that lets kids devise gadgets, perform experiments, and design puzzles by using various parts. Like most other Maxis “toys,” Widget…
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Infestation [2000]
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Frontier Developments GAME PUBLISHER:UBI Soft Copyright 2000, Frontier Developments Infestation is a fun and diverse 3D ground combat game that features Transformers-style futuristic vehicle that can be transformed into five different shapes. In a mundane shoot-the-aliens plot, you pilot an experimental vehicle called ACAM,…
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Falcon 4.0
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Gilman Louie GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:Hasbro Copyright 1998, G2 Interactive Arguably THE most realistic flight simulation ever created, Falcon 4.0 suffers many bugs at the time of release, but fortunately thanks to a “leaked” source code in 2000, the game is now being actively updated and…
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101 Airborne: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Timothy Brooks GAME DEVELOPER:Interactive Simulations GAME PUBLISHER:Empire Interactive Copyright 1998, Empire Interactive 101 Airborne: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy is a much-overlooked and now out-of-print squad-level wargame from Empire Interactive. Alan Dunkin’s thorough review at GameSpot says it all: “Over the past few years there have…
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Diggles: The Myth of Fenris
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Innonics GAME PUBLISHER:Strategy First Copyright 2000, Innonics Diggles (released as Wiggles in Europe) is an ambitious, unique, and charming RTS that is ultimately bogged down with too much micro-management and snail-like pace to have a long-term appeal. The plot is set in Norse mythology,…
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F/A-18 Hornet 3.0
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Graphic Simulation GAME PUBLISHER:Graphic Simulation Copyright 1997, Graphic Simulation F/A-18 Hornet 3.0 is Graphic Simulation Corp (GSC)’s first flight sim released on PC, and it is a very realistic and highly underrated sim. Jim Pedicord’s review for CD Mag explains why die-hard armchair pilots…
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Dim
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:YoMamasMama & Dex GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, YoMamasMama & Dex Dim is a fun little platform/puzzle hybrid that is a collaborative effort of two Game Maker coders. You play a lab mutant who has to find the exit in each level. What sets this…
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Guimo
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christian Lykawka GAME DEVELOPER:Southlogic Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Southlogic Studios Copyright 1997, Southlogic Studios Guimo is a highly underrated, innovative 2D side-scrolling platformer, probably the first game from a Brazilian studio that was released outside the country (Europe, in this case). Similar to Alien Carnage, there is a…
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Shane Warne Cricket
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Audiogenic GAME PUBLISHER:Audiogenic Copyright 1997, Audiogenic Arguably the best cricket game ever made, Shane Warne Cricket is the last cricket game from Audiogenic, makers of classic games including Allan Broder’s Cricket and Brian Lara Cricket. This 1997 version of their popular game engine sees…
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Lucky Luke
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1997, Dupuis Lucky Luke and Spirou are two relatively obscure 2D side-scrolling platformers designed by Infogrames based on popular Belgian comics. Lucky Luke is a Western cowboy, while Spirou is a bumbling bellboy who looks like he could be Tintin’s…
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Spirou
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1996, Dupuis Lucky Luke and Spirou are two relatively obscure 2D side-scrolling platformers designed by Infogrames based on popular Belgian comics. Lucky Luke is a Western cowboy, while Spirou is a bumbling bellboy who looks like he could be Tintin’s…
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Star Trek: Starfleet Command III
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Josh Morris GAME DEVELOPER:Taldren GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 2002, Paramount Pictures Starfleet Command III is an excellent sequel to Starfleet Command II, arguably the best strategy game based on Star Trek franchise ever made. While it “dumbs down” many features to attract casual gamers, it still packs…
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Rush Hour
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Neil Holmes GAME DEVELOPER:Clockwork Games GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1997, Clockwork Games Rush Hour is a decent top-down arcade racing game that is much better known on the PlayStation than the PC. Like most arcade racers, driving in Rush Hour is very simple: just use the arrow…
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Gooch Grundy’s X-Decathlon
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Microforum GAME PUBLISHER:Microforum Copyright 1997, Microforum Adrenaline Vault’s critical review says it all about this missed opportunity that could have been so much more: “Gooch Grundy’s X-Decathlon takes the whole olympic theme and turns it on its ear. [You compete] in ten wacky events…
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Obake
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Samona GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Samona One of the most unique and fun platformers I have ever come across, Obake is a fun Japanese platformer that plays like what Messiah would probably be without the third dimension, religious/sci-fi overtones, and ‘real-world’ graphics. The gameplay…
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Titan Omega Revelations
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:James Whitehead GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, James Whitehead Titan Omega Revelations is a fun, polished, and massive freeware horizontal shooter that went through many versions, each time with more features than the last. This latest incarnation is chock full of many more features than…
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Time Out Sports Baseball
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy LeBeis GAME DEVELOPER:Destiny Software Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Micro League Copyright 1994, Micro League A nice entry in Micro League’s short-lived “Time Out Sports” series, designed to provide bite-sized sporting entertainment for short coffee breaks between your spreadsheet or word processing. TOS Baseball is a simple and…
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Defender of Grim
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Antimatter Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Antimatter Entertainment Defender of Grim is a fun and atmospheric action game that starts out as a simple arcade game, but will grow on you after a while. You’re the one and only chance the dying alien species…
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Valence
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jph Wacheski GAME DEVELOPER:Iteration Games GAME PUBLISHER:Iteration Games Copyright 2004, Jph Wacheski Valence is a fun and unique arcade game that offers much more fun than its $5 registration price tag suggests. The short but concise review at Gamemakergames.com says it all about this indie underdog…
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YS Flight
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Soji Yamakawa GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Soji Yamakawa Fans of diehard flightsims should stop reading about now, this is not the game for you. However, those wishing more entertainment than realism might be interested in YS Flight, CaptainYS’s ambitious project. As the game features…
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Legend of Shadow
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Lupinek GAME DEVELOPER:Taito GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Robert Lupinek Legend of Shadow is a fun freeware remake of Legend of Kage, Taito’s underrated ninja platformer for the NES. In the crowded field of remakes, LOS still manages to stand out from most of the rest…
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Arena Runner
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jimmy Riley GAME DEVELOPER:Acoders GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jimmy Riley Arena Runner is another quality freeware action game from the talented Apocalyptic Coders group. Circy’s review for Klik-Me.com says it all: ” I guess, in a couple of ways, Arena Runner perhaps resembles a Snake game.…
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Star Fox 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Argonaut Software GAME PUBLISHER:Nintendo Copyright 1995, Argonaut Software A cool 3D space combat game featuring polygonal graphics, Star Fox 2 is one of the most sought-after unreleased games in existence. Years after the final beta was uncovered and released as ROM on the Internet,…
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SimSafari
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Maxis GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1998, Maxis Yet another entry in Maxis’ popular “Sim…” series, SimSafari is a fun game for kids that let you build your own park and camp area, populating them with animals of your choice. As befits a game designed…
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Metal Gear Solid
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hideo Kojima GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 2000, Konami Metal Gear Solid is a solid PC conversion of a hit Playstation game, in itself a hugely popular console series designed by Hideo Kojima. GameSpy’s comprehensive review of this “definitive” version to own says it all about…
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Haunted House
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Danny Boyd GAME DEVELOPER:Atari Games GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Danny Boyd Haunted House is a great fanmade remake of a classic Atari 2600 action game of the same name. Since I fondly remember playing this classic until the wee hours when I was young, this superb…
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Baku Baku Animal
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1996, SEGA Baku Baku Animal from SEGA is a fun Columns variant for Windows 95 that can be played in 2-person mode via split screen. CD Mag’s review explains it well: “Baku Baku is Tetris with animal food. Basically, the…
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MoonBase Commander
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rhett Mathis GAME DEVELOPER:Humongous Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 2002, Humongous Entertainment One of the most underrated turn-based strategy games ever made, MoonBase Commander is a superb release from Humongous Entertainment that would definitely have sold much better without the “designed for kids” blurb that makes the…
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Push-Push Penguin
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tomaz Kac GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Black Cat Push-Push Penguin is a superb remake of Pengo, SEGA’s classic arcade game. Designer team Black Cat did a superb job of recreating the addiction on the PC, but also went above and beyond the call of…
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Restraint of Zero
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Crystal Light Stage Restraint of Zero (R.O.Z. for short) is another excellent, very polished shooter from Japan’s rapidly growing freeware scene. Similar to huge 3D shooters like Idinaloq and Die Slave (which you can also download from this site),…
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St. Petersburg
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Tummelhofer & Guenther Rosenbaum GAME DEVELOPER:Rio Grande Games GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Guenther Rosenbaum St. Petersburg is a great PC conversion of the card/board game of the same name from Hans im Gluck/Rio Grande Games, the same publishers that brought us Carcassonne series. St. Petersburg…
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Humphrey
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jorge Granados & Ignacio Gil GAME DEVELOPER:Ziggurat GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Ignacio Prez Gil Humphrey is a great remake of one of Ziggurat’s best action games that is basically unknown outside Spain. In the remake author’s words: “in 1988, Zigurat released a game that ended up…
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MisAdventures of Sir Randolph Doogleberry, British Explorer
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Danny Boyd GAME DEVELOPER:Acoders GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Acoders MisAdventures of Sir Randolph Doogleberry, British Explorer (MASRDBE in short) and Sensitive are two fun turn-based puzzle games with similar concepts: move over each tile exactly once to make them disappear or fall away before you can…
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Sensitive
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Oliver Kirwa & Thomas Bolhuis GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Thomas Bolhuis MisAdventures of Sir Randolph Doogleberry, British Explorer (MASRDBE in short) and Sensitive are two fun turn-based puzzle games with similar concepts: move over each tile exactly once to make them disappear or fall…
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Ski Xtreme
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Danny Boyd GAME DEVELOPER:Acoders GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Acoders Ski Xtreme is a superb skiing game by Danny “danjo” Boyd of Apocalyptic Coders. Circy’s concise review for Klik-me.com says it all about this modern “klik” classic: “Summer is drawing to a close, and winter seems to…
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Valkyrie Fight Tag
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:amaginZ GAME PUBLISHER:amaginZ Copyright 2001, amaginZ Valkyrie Fight and its sequel Valkyrie Fight Tag are two superb and highly underrated 2D fighting games based on Tri-Ace’s popular Valkyrie Profile series on the PSX and PS2. VF and VFT are “Doujinshi” games – i.e. an…
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Popscene
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mat Dickie GAME DEVELOPER:MDickie GAME PUBLISHER:MDickie Copyright 2004, Mat Dickie Popscene is a fun “band simulation” from MDickie, probably the world’s most underrated “lone wolf” game designer. In the author’s words, “Popscene is your backstage pass to the entire music industry. Build your own act, of…
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Political Machine, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brad Wardell GAME DEVELOPER:Stardock Systems GAME PUBLISHER:UBI Soft Copyright 2004, Stardock Systems The Political Machine is a fun 2004 US election simulation from Brad Wardell/Stardock Systems, makers of excellent underdogs like Galactic Civilization and Entrepreneur. Using a modified version of the engine that underlies our HOBF…
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Detective Bogey
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Loudness Multimedia GAME PUBLISHER:Loudness Multimedia Copyright 1997, Loudness Multimedia Detective Bogey is a below-average platformer from Loudness Multimedia that more or less deserves its unknown status. The clicheed plot: as Detective Bogey, you must rescue the beautiful Pandora from the clutches of evil Sinister…
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Space Vegetables Corp, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Johnson GAME DEVELOPER:MicroValue GAME PUBLISHER:Villa Crespo Copyright 1992, MicroValue The Space Vegetables Corp. is a relatively rare but decent action game from MicroValue. The game is similar an older Commodore 64 game called Star Paws: as a space-age farmer, you have to protect your crop…