Author: admin
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Wizards
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Mosbo & Robin Warren GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Robin Warren Wizards is a great PC conversion of the Avalon Hill fantasy board game of the same name. In this fantasy game, hexagonal map tiles are placed on a blank mapboard to make…
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Homas Tour
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rob Bontenbal & Jurgen Muns GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jurgen Muns Homas Tour is the original edition of the cycle racing game later known as Um Reifenbreite. The concise description from Boardgamegeek.com goes as follows: “Translating as “By the Width of a Tire,” this…
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Modern Art
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Reiner Knizia & Gabriel Rocklin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Gabriel Rocklin Modern Art is an excellent PC implementation of the board game of the same name designed by award-winning designer Reiner Knizia. Your goal: buy and sell paintings by five different artists to make…
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Rails
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Darwin Bromley & Bret Mulvey GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Bret Mulvey Rails is a faithful PC adaptation of the Eurorails board game from Mayfair Games, designed by Darwin Bromley. Description from Boardgamegeek.com: “Eurorails is another entry in the Mayfair crayon rail games, like Empire…
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Solitude for Windows
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Sackson & Dave Bernazzani GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Dave Bernazzani Solitude for Windows is a superb freeware collection of 91 solitaire card games for Windows 95/98/NT. The games include many familiar favorites like Klondike, Yukon, and Poker Solitaire. But the highlights are modern…
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Dreamhold, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andrew Plotkin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Andrew Plotkin The Dreamhold is yet another interactive fiction masterpiece from Andrew “Zarf” Plotkin, doubtless one of the best IF authors after the demise of Infocom. As a game designed to teach basic text adventure premise and commands…
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Finger Flashing
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Affect GAME PUBLISHER:Affect Copyright 1999, Affect Finger Flashing is a cool reflex-oriented puzzle game from Japan. The game plays like a cool arcade version of rock-paper-scissors game, with cutesy graphics and lots of extras. Andy DeWilde’s thorough review at his website says it all…
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Essence Child
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Living Energy Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Living Energy Productions Essence Child is a great brainteaser from Living Energy Productions, a small group of amateur designers. In addition to offering devious non-timed levels that recall the best of Chip’s Challenge, the game comes with…
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Deadline [2004]
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Unknown Deadline from Japan is a very cool polygon-based vertical shooter that lets you switch between 4 different weapons on the fly. The hefty size is more than made up for by excellent graphics and sound effects. Similar to…
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Gate 88
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jonathan Mak GAME DEVELOPER:Queasy Games GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Queasy Games One of the best freeware multiplayer games I have ever come across, Gate 88 is a cool “action-RTS” game that features abstract graphics inspired by ABA Games’ Japanese shooters (Parsec47, rRootage, et. al.), combined with…
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Doukutsu Monogatari
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pixel GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Pixel Doukutsu Monotagari (“Cave Story” in English) is an excellent freeware side-scrolling platformer/adventure game from Pixel, Japanese maker of the also-superb Ikachan game (reviewed elsewhere on this website). Formerly a Japanese-only title, the game is now available in full…
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Diam
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alain Couchot & Bernard Klein GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Unknown Diam is a cool Flash version of a neat abstract board game for 2-4 players that makes an ingenious use of the third dimension (i.e. height). The goal of the game is to place…
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Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:EAI Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Hasbro Interactive Copyright 1998, Parker Brothers Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion is a very competent translation of Parker Brothers’ popular board game to the computer screen. Although I found the mouse-driven movements hard to do, and the game lacks the charm…
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Winged Gear
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Zap GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Zap Winged Gear is a fun top-down 2D “arena shooter” from Japan. Your goal is simple: clear each room of enemies within the allotted time before moving onto the next. The graphics is crisp, the animation is smooth, and…
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Isle of the Cult, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rune Berg GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Rune Berg The Isle of the Cult is a fun puzzle-based text adventure from Rune Berg, first-time IF designer (as of Feb 2005). While the game is not the next Photopia, it is a well-designed traditional game that…
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Ragdoll Matrix
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Artturi Piipponen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Artturi Piipponen Ragdoll Matrix is a fun freeware action game made with Game Maker by Artturi Piipponen. Inspired by tAAt’s Truck Dismount and Stair Dismount games, the purpose of Ragdoll Matrix, as the name suggests, is to dodge…
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Super Monster Painter Extreme
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Johan Peitz GAME DEVELOPER:Free Lunch Design GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Free Lunch Design Super Monster Painter Extreme is yet another addictive cartoony arcade game from Johan Peitz of Free Lunch Design, maker of a great freeware classic called Icy Tower. In the author’s words, this is…
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Wire Robo
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Team Dangeroude GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Team Dangeroude Wire Robo is a fun and unique shooter that plays like a cross between a regular vertical SHMUP and Wire Hang Redux, reviewed elsewhere on this site. Instead of piloting a ship, in this game you…
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Jonny RPG
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jonathan Smeby GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jonathan Smeby Jonny RPG is a great action/RPG hybrid from
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Wandering Fighter
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Miguel Perez GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Miguel Perez
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Manchester United: The Official Computer Game
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Krisalis Copyright 1990, Krisalis One of the most obscure football (soccer) games ever made, Manchester United is the world’s first PC game based on the famous British club of the same name. The squad’s exploits are depicted quite faithfully in the PC…
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Serai Puzzle
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:NZP GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, NZP Serai Puzzle is yet another neat little brainteaser from NZP, maker of excellent freeware solitaire and puzzle games for Windows. Your goal in this one is to move the numbered tiles to arrange the numbers in order. The…
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The Historical League of Bouncy Boxing
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lloyd GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, David Lloyd A clever and skillful use of the Adventure Game Studio adventure game engine, The Historical League of Bouncy Boxing is a cool multiplayer beat ’em up that plays like a cross between The Ancient Art of…
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Squares X
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Unknown Squares X is a fun coffee break action game coded in Game Maker. The review at Gamemakergames.com says it all about one of the best fanmade remakes of addictive Flash games: “Squares X is a clone of the…
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Darwinia
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Introversion GAME PUBLISHER:Introversion Copyright 2005, Introversion One of the most refreshingly original and addictive genre-bending games I have played in years, Darwinia is a beautiful, unique, and fun stategy/RPG/action hybrid from Introversion, makers of the superb hacker simulation called Uplink which I reviewed in…
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People’s Tactics
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Victor Reijkersz GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Victor Reijkersz Definitely one of the best freeware wargames ever made, People’s Tactics is a great hex-based, turn-based war game that rivals many commercial games in terms of quality and AI strength. The quality of the game is…
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Tower of Goo Unlimited
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kyle Gabler GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Kyle Gabler Tower of Goo Unlimited is a very addictive ‘coffee break’ game that is based on a simple premise: drag goo balls to form “joints” of a structure, making it as high as possible. Like other games…
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Bernard and Hank
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hayo van Reek GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Hayo van Reek Bernard and Hank is yet another fun and free 2D platformer from the talented group of amateur programmers who code games with Click Team game-making applications. The review says it all: “When you first…
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Beehive Solitaire
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:NZP GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, NZP Beehive Solitaire is a solid PC implementation of an original solitaire game by NZP. From the official blurb: “This good and little-known solitaire is easy to play, and can be won reasonably often. But it’s not unusual for…
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Qianhong
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeremy Craner GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Jeremy Craner Qianhong is a good and free Chinese chess game for Windows. The author calls the game “Chinese chess for the casual and curious,” and this description fits Qianhong quite well. The well-written and concise on-line rules…
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Atomic Butcher
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Schwingenschlgl & Roland Moritz GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, David Schwingenschlgl & Roland Moritz Atomic Butcher is a fun 2D platformer in the same vein as Abuse, except much more violent, long, and potentially offensive (your main weapon is a stream of piss (!),…
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Akron
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Cameron Browne GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Cameron Browne Akron is a decent PC implementation of the abstract board game of the same name which was invented by Cameron Browne. In the author’s own words: “Akron is a new connection game played with marbles on…
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Tommy: The Interactive Adventure
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Interplay GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1997, Interplay Tommy: The Interactive Adventure is possibly the rarest release from Interplay. This CD-ROM, narrated by Pete Townsend, chronicles the development (as well as a lot of backstage goodies) of The Who‘s hit musical Tommy, although it would have…
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Future Boy!
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kent Tessman GAME DEVELOPER:General Coffee GAME PUBLISHER:General Coffee Copyright 2005, Kent Tessman Future Boy! is a fun graphical text adventure by Kent Tessman, maker of the Hugo game-creation language. Billed as “an interactive comic book,” Future Boy! offers a full suite of graphics, voices and music…
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Vigilance on Talos V
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Pollard GAME DEVELOPER:PolyEx Software GAME PUBLISHER:PolyEx Software Copyright 1997, PolyEx Software One of the rarest shareware games ever made, Vigilance on Talos V is a decent 2D side-scrolling platformer made by PolyEx Software, who had better luck with the OS/2 version of this game. You…
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Lost Admiral Returns, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thurston Searfoss GAME DEVELOPER:Fogstone Enterprises GAME PUBLISHER:Fogstone Enterprises Copyright 2005, Fogstone Enterprises The Lost Admiral Returns is Fogstone’s long-overdue sequel to The Lost Admiral, a 1991 underdog published by QQP, which is no longer in business. Peterb, owner of Tea Leaves gaming blog, posted an excellent…
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Dolphin Powerboating Simulator III
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dolphin Marine Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Dolphin Marine Systems Copyright 1994, Dolphin Marine Systems Dolphin Powerboating Simulator III is the last and best game in an obscure line of sailing simulations developed and published by Dolphin Marine Systems as shareware in the early 1990s. The game,…
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DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Erik Hermansen GAME DEVELOPER:Caravel Games GAME PUBLISHER:Caravel Games Copyright 2005, Caravel Games DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold is a wonderful sequel to Deadly Rooms of Death (or, more precisely, DROD: Architects’ Edition which is the freeware upgrade of the original), one of the most addictive and…
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Liquisity
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mr. Chubigans GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2005, Mr. Chubigans Liquisity is a fun Game Maker game from Mr. Chubigans, creator of other GM classics like Ore No Ryori and The Sandbox of God. The game is a fun puzzle/platformer hybrid that boasts 50 levels, fun…
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Europa 1400 Gold
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:4Head Studios GAME PUBLISHER:JoWood Productions Copyright 2002, 4Head Studios One of the most underrated turn-based strategy games ever made, Europa 1400 from 4Head Studios/JoWood is a superb “medieval life simulation” that rewards the patience required to negotiate the complicated user interface and steep learning…
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Driver
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Martin Edmondson GAME DEVELOPER:Reflections Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Atari Games Copyright 1999, Reflections Interactive Driver is a superb driving action game from Reflections Interactive, the team behind Destruction Derby series. You play a police officer who is assigned to go undercover as driver for a crime syndicate. Your…
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Imperium Galactica
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Istvn Kiss GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Reality GAME PUBLISHER:GT Interactive Copyright 1997, Digital Reality Imperium Galactica is a unique and commendable effort from Digital Reality that tries to blend 4X strategy genre with a real sci-fi story and adventure-genre-style plot development. The result is a hodgepodge of features…