Classic Personal Computer (PC) Games

Author: admin

  • Wilderness: A Survival Adventure

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Titan Computer Products GAME PUBLISHER:Titan Computer Products Copyright 1984, Titan Computer Products Wilderness is a unique survival adventure that may well be the most realistic simulation of its kind ever made, even decades after its release. The game casts you as an archaelogist in…

  • Squarez Deluxe

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Adam Pedersen GAME DEVELOPER:Adept Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, Adept Software Squarez resembles Tetris in a sense that you must assemble sets of blocks in specific patterns so that they dissappear to make room for more blocks (repeat ad infinitum if you’re lucky or skillfull). As…

  • Jetpack

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Adam Pedersen GAME DEVELOPER:Adept Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Adept Software In Jetpack, you play an adventurer without personality, who must gather all gems from a level to proceed to the next one until you’ve finished all hundred of them. The action is executed in a…

  • Heartlight Deluxe

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:xLand Games GAME PUBLISHER:Epic Megagames Copyright 1994, xLand Games Heartlight Deluxe is one of the better Supaplex clones, although level design leaves much to be desired. Your task is to guide the little elf Percival through 60 levels, each of which is full of…

  • Hockey League Simulator

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bethesda Softworks GAME PUBLISHER:Bethesda Softworks Copyright 1991, Bethesda Softworks One of the best hockey simulations ever made, Bethesda Softwork’s Hockey League Simulator allows you to design and manage your own customized league, or create current or classic leagues from the past. There are more…

  • Wacky Funsters

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tsunami Media GAME PUBLISHER:Tsunami Media Copyright 1992, Tsunami Media Wacky Funsters is a fun tongue-in-cheek game from Tsunami that is entertaining, although lacking in long-term play value. There is even a semblance of a plot: King Wacky of the Funsters gaming realm has summoned…

  • Chip’s Challenge

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chuck Sommerville GAME DEVELOPER:Epyx GAME PUBLISHER:Epyx Copyright 1990, Epyx More commonly known as the best game in Microsoft’s Windows Entertainment Pack series and one of the most innovative games ever made for any system, Chip’s Challenge was actually first released by Epyx in 1990 with little…

  • Ringworld: Revenge of The Patriach

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tsunami Media GAME PUBLISHER:Tsunami Media Copyright 1992, Tsunami Media The first release from Tsunami Media is a very disappointing adventure despite having a powerful license behind it. Based on Larry Niven’s Hugo and Nebula award-winning novel, Ringworld eschews the book’s plot and instead cast…

  • Return to Ringworld

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tsunami Media GAME PUBLISHER:Tsunami Media Copyright 1994, Tsunami Media A much better game than its horrendous predecessor, Return to Ringworld is a fun adventure still based on Larry Niven’s best-selling sci-fi series. While the plot will be familiar to Niven fans and the puzzles…

  • Crusader: No Regret

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tony Zurovec & Mark Vittek GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1996, Origin Systems Joe Hutsko of GameSpot wrote such an excellent and thorough review of this excellent underdog that I’d like to just quote it here verbatim: “There’s no point in opening here with…

  • Crusader: No Remorse

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tony Zurovec & Mark Vittek GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1996, Origin Systems Definitely one of the best action games ever made, Origin’s Crusader: No Remorse is a perfect use of the 3D isometric engine used in the abysmal Ultima VIII: Pagan. The premise…

  • Flashback: The Quest for Identity

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Paul Cuisset GAME DEVELOPER:Delphine Software GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1992, Delphine Software Flashback is a fun action adventure game that will please joystick experts and adventure gamers alike. Playing the role of Conrad B. Hart, a confused young man whose memory was wiped by…

  • Fade to Black

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Delphine Software GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1995, Delphine Software Fade to Black is a disappointing sequel to Delphine’s excellent Flashback the Quest for Identity. Although it has all the makings of a great game, the constantly shifting camera angles and awkward interface make the…

  • Fireteam 2200

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave Nielsen GAME DEVELOPER:Internecine GAME PUBLISHER:RAW Entertainment Copyright 1991, RAW Entertainment Fireteam 2200 is a detailed and complex wargame about tactical ground combat in the 23rd century. The usual trappings of a galactic conquest game are here: many star systems to explore and conquer, R&D capabilities,…

  • African Trail Simulator

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Positive GAME PUBLISHER:Positive Copyright 1990, Positive African Trail Simulator is decent mountain biking game with a simple premise: you take part in a desert rally against a specialist who will do anything he can to defeat you and prove that he is riding the…

  • Golden Eagle

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Loriciel GAME PUBLISHER:Loriciel Copyright 1991, Loriciel A fun platform game from Loriciel, Golden Eagle features fluid animations that rival Jordan Mechner’s classic Prince of Persia games, as well as an intriguing blend of action with elements from adventure and puzzle genre. The plot in…

  • Cougar Force

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tomahawk GAME PUBLISHER:Coktel Vision Copyright 1990, Coktel Vision One of Tomahawk / Coktel’s few action games, Cougar Force is a decent platform game starring you as member of Cougar Force, an elite commando team. Your mission is to penetrate the criminal’s fortress to retrieve…

  • Hotshot

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Nick D’Mahe GAME DEVELOPER:Addictive GAME PUBLISHER:Prism Leisure Copyright 1989, Addictive Hotshot is a fun futuristic sport game that plays like a cross between Arkanoid and regular pinball. The object is to score more points than your opponent, by attracting a plasma ball and firing it with…

  • Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Henrik Markarian GAME DEVELOPER:Software Toolworks GAME PUBLISHER:Software Toolworks Copyright 1987, Software Toolworks Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing from Software Toolworks is a revolutionary typing program that spawned many sequels and a host of imitators. 4-color CGA graphics doesn’t hamper the game’s appeal at all, as it’s not…

  • Pirates 2

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Marcel Strbak GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Marcel Strbak Sid Meier’s Pirates! remains to this day one of the most famous strategy games ever made. A lot of people were disappointed when MicroProse released a poor remake called Pirates! Gold in 1993, and felt the…

  • Roadwar 2000

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Edward Harr GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1987, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) This classic SSI game was available on the IBM, C-64, and Apple, and the IBM version is not the best. Still, its a fun and unique game that is both…

  • Roadwar Europa

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Edward Harr GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1987, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) The sequel to SSI’s earlier post-holocaust game Roadwar 2000 takes place in Europe. There are many similarities with the earlier game — the map and graphics look the same, controls…

  • Plan 9 from Outer Space

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1992, Gremlin Although widely hailed as the worst film ever made, Ed Wood’s classic camp horror film of 1958 isn’t nearly that– but it IS one of the funniest bad films you’ll ever see. The film’s notoriety begs an interesting…

  • When Two Worlds War

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1993, Impressions Impressions’ conquer-the-universe game that could be considered a sequel to Global Domination, When Two Worlds War is not your typical divide-and-conquer game, although it still suffers somewhat from Impressions’ “Excel spreadsheet overload” syndrome evident in their early…

  • Fable

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jens Hultgren & Laurent Cluzel GAME DEVELOPER:Telstar GAME PUBLISHER:Telstar Copyright 1997, Telstar Fable is a decent point-and-click adventure from Telstar that unfortunately got very little notice due to lack of fanfare, limited distribution, and the general slump in adventure game genre. The plot is typical fantasy…

  • Global Domination

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lester GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1994, Impressions Global Domination is an awful multiplayer real-time game of world conquest that is bogged down by very confusing interface and boring display of bland statistics that most Impressions games suffer from. The gameplay most resembles boardgame RISK,…

  • Entomorph: Plague of The Darkfall

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1995, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) A potential hit that never were, Entomorph: The Plague of Darkfall is a fast-paced, action-style RPG with very interesting twists that proves that SSI did not have to rely…

  • Of Light and Darkness

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Riordan GAME DEVELOPER:Tribal Dreams GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1998, Interplay Of Light and Darkness is a very unique blend of puzzle, action, and adventure that will prove too esoteric to most gamers to enjoy. The game’s great premise and beautiful artwork will, at first, lead you…

  • Labyrinth of Crete

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Cliff Johnson GAME DEVELOPER:Philips Media GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1996, Cliff Johnson The second game Cliff Johnson (Fool’s Errand) designed for Phillips Interactive is virtually identical to Merlin’s Apprentice, with ancient Greek myths as the backdrop this time instead of Arthurian legends. The game’s premise is…

  • Merlin’s Apprentice

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Cliff Johnson GAME DEVELOPER:Philips Media GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1995, Cliff Johnson Merlin’s Apprentice is a delightful collection of challenging puzzles designed by Cliff Johnson, of The Fool’s Errand fame. The premise is not as original as Cliff’s previous games, but is well executed: you are…

  • Conquest of Japan

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1992, Impressions Conquest of Japan is a pseudo-historical game set in 16th century Japan. As a Daimyo (i.e. ruler) of a state, your goal is to conquer your opponenent’s state to claim ownership of the entire island of Honshu.…

  • D-Day: The Beginning of The End

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1994, Impressions Veteran wargame reviewer M. Evan Brooks sums it up succinctly in his synopsis of this marginal underdog: “D-Day: The Beginning of The End is a wargame that portrays the amphibious invasion of Festung Europa, based on The…

  • Blue and The Gray, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1993, Impressions Probably one of the worst Civil War games ever made, M. Evan Brooks sums it up well in his synopsis of this ambitious wargame from Impressions: “[The Blue and The Gray depicts] the American Civil War, with…

  • Wind in The Willows

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Leisuresoft GAME PUBLISHER:Leisuresoft Copyright 1993, Leisuresoft Wind in The Willowsis the second game in Leisuresoft’s “Leisureland” series of adventure games aimed at kids ages 5 to 8 who are learning to read. Unfortunately, it suffers from obscure puzzles and annoying random elements that will…

  • Rorke’s Drift

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1990, Impressions Rorke’s Drift was the first game in Impressions’ little-known “Micro Miniature” series of games that are based on the same engine. Although it is a worthy attempt to portray the little-known battle of the Anglo-Zulu War, it…

  • Charge of The Light Brigade

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1991, Impressions Charge of the Light Brigade is Impressions’ recreation of one of the most idiotic military “battles” ever fought: the Crimean War of 1854 – 56 between Turkey and Russia, which led to a famous poem of the…

  • Fort Apache

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1991, Impressions The third offering in the infamous “Micro Miniatures” series, Fort Apache is virtually identical to the previous two releases, Rorke’s Drift and Charge of The Light Brigade, except for a different premise and different unit clothes. The…

  • Cohort

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1991, Merit Studios In veteran wargamer M. Evan Brooks’ words, “a clumsy interface coupled with mediocre graphics shows why British products are generally not ready for the American market.” Still, Cohort is one of the first detailed game…

  • Cohort II

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1992, Impressions Cohort II is a significant upgrade of Impressions’ earlier Cohort. Aside from an upgrade of graphics (to VGA this time) and gameplay, this version is part of an interlocking game system module with Caesar, which allows the…

  • Caesar

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lester GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Impressions After years of false starts and misdirected attention with its flawed “Micro Miniatures” series, Impressions finally found their true calling in Caesar, a great city and empire management game that can aptly be labeled Sim City in…

  • Jagged Alliance

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ian Currie GAME DEVELOPER:Sir-Tech GAME PUBLISHER:Sir-Tech Copyright 1994, Sir-Tech One of the most addictive games ever made in any genre, Jagged Alliance is a great strategy game that successfully combines the outstanding squad-level gameplay of X-COM with an unprecedented level of personalities and RPG elements that…

  • Quarterstaff: Tomb of Setmoth

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Amy Briggs GAME DEVELOPER:Infocom GAME PUBLISHER:MediaGenic Copyright 1991, Infocom The “holy grail” of Infocom affionados, Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Setmoth is notorious for being the only Infocom game that was never made for the PC. It was instead released only on the Macintosh, which makes it…

  • 3 in Three

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Cliff Johnson GAME DEVELOPER:Inline Design GAME PUBLISHER:Inline Design Copyright 1991, Cliff Johnson Probably Cliff Johnson’s best game since The Fool’s Errand, created at the height of his creativity, 3 in Three is a charming, unique puzzle adventure that unfortunately is very little known due to its…

  • System’s Twilight

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andrew Plotkin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Andrew Plotkin System’s Twilight is a wonderful puzzle adventure for the Macintosh, designed by the incomparable Andrew Plotkin (affectionately known in the IF community as “Zarf,” Andrew is most famous for excellent IF games, including So Far and…

  • Gettysburg for Windows

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave Goodman GAME DEVELOPER:Swifte International GAME PUBLISHER:Swifte International Copyright 1993, Swifte International Veteran wargame reviewer M. Evan Brooks sums it up succinctly in his synopsis of this marginal underdog: “Released to tie-in with the four-hour Turner movie, this simulation was a workmanlike albeit simplistic product. In…

  • Air Force Commander

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lester GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1992, Impressions Veteran wargamer M. Evan Brooks said it all in his synopsis of the game: “Multi-scenario options for strategic air supremacy in the Middle East. The scenarios themselves were detailed and somewhat esoteric, e.g. Bahrain vs. Qatar (actually…

  • Skyroads

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bluemoon Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, Bluemoon Interactive Skyroads is a fun action game, where you must steer your rocket-propelled mobile capable of jumping through a track of floating panels, tunnels and obstacles. Special panels fuel your ship, speed or slow it or just…

  • Nigel’s World

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Lawrence Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Lawrence Productions Copyright 1991, Lawrence Productions Nigel’s World is a fun educational title that fulfills what its subtitle (Adventures in Geography) implies, despite obvious borro– err– inspiration from Carmen Sandiego series. In this game designed for kids ages 7 and up,…

  • Discovering America

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Lawrence Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Lawrence Productions Copyright 1993, Lawrence Productions Discovering America is a fun game that is derivative of MECC’s famous Oregon Trail, but offers many innovations of its own. Designed for children aged 8 and up, this adventure for children combines American history…

  • Discovery: In The Steps of Columbus

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lester GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1992, Impressions Veteran wargamer M. Evan Brooks said it all in his synopsis of the game: “The 500th Anniversary of Columbus was PIC (politically incorrect). The movies, televisions, books quickly became major “busts”. This game was no different —…