Author: admin
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Ultimate NFL Coaches Club Football
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1995, MicroProse MicroProse’ Ultimate NFL Coaches Club Football is an ambitious football game that is unfortunately bogged down with too many bugs and gameplay quirks to be fun. While it will not tear anyone away from Front Page Sports Football,…
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Trivial Pursuit
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Virgin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Domark Copyright 1991, Virgin Interactive One of the first games made under the new “Leisure Genius” label after Virgin took over Mastertronic to form the “Virgin Mastertronic” division, Trivial Pursuit continues Mastertronic’s line of famous boardgames translations. Including their notorious lack…
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Unnecessary Roughness
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Accolade GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1993, Accolade First in a long series of American football games that ends with ’96 version, Unnecessary Roughness, released in 1993, is an ambitious football game that unfortunately suffers from an SVGA engine that was too demanding for most computers…
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WWF Wrestlemania
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:OCEAN GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1991, OCEAN The first WWF-licensed computer game is a horrendous game, although still (surprisingly enough) better than its even worse successor WWF European Rampage. OCEAN’s WWF Wrestlemania features a lot of blocky wrestlers who look nothing like their real-life counterparts,…
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Fields of Battle
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:BevelStone GAME PUBLISHER:BevelStone Copyright 1995, BevelStone One of the most ambitious shareware wargames ever made, Fields of Battle is a strategic simulation of World War I on the strategic level. While the grognards will likely be disappointed at the absence of tactical options and…
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Zork Zero
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Meretzky GAME DEVELOPER:Infocom GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1989, Infocom Duncan Stevens posted an excellent review of this ultimately disappointing underdog from Infocom in SPAG, so I’d like to quote it here in full: “The original Zork series was probably best described as treasure hunt with a…
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CyberJudas
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:DC True GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1996, DC True An underrated sequel to D.C. True’s Shadow President, CyberJudas is a solid sequel that is unfortunately inferior to its predecessor in terms of gameplay, although it is not lacking in gameplay options and other enhancements.…
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AV8B Harrier Assault
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simis GAME PUBLISHER:Domark Copyright 1992, Domark AV8B Harrier is another simulator using Simis’ popular graphic engine. The sim is similar to KA-50 Hokum in gameplay. You have at your disposal some Harriers and with the excellent mission map/planner you can plan your missions and…
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Legions
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Manny Granillo & Briscoe Rodgers GAME DEVELOPER:Mindscape GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1994, Mindscape Legions is an ignored war/strategy game from Mindscape, designed for Windows 3.1. Its a simple and unique strategy game, but has some serious flaws with it. For starters, although it runs in Windows 95/98,…
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Magic: The Gathering
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1997, Wizard of the Coast One of the best computer translation of a non-computer games ever made, MicroProse’s Magic: The Gathering not only deserves a Hall of Fame status for its faithful rendition of Wizard of the Coast’s blockbuster trading…
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Traders
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andre Wuthrich GAME DEVELOPER:Linel GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1992, Merit Studios Linel’s Traders is an ambitious clone of Dani Bunten’s classic M.U.L.E. that unfortunately adds too many new gameplay elements with the subpar AI that the elegant simplicity of M.U.L.E. is lost. It is no wonder,…
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Subtrade: Return to Irata
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Felix Unger GAME DEVELOPER:Century Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Boeder Copyright 1993, Boeder One of the best M.U.L.E. clones ever made, Subtrade: Return to Irata transfers the galactic capitalism of Dani Bunten’s timeless classic to an undersea economy. Despite new species, background graphics, and different commodities, gameplay is still…
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Smokin’ Guns
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Twin Dolphin Games GAME PUBLISHER:Twin Dolphin Games Copyright 1993, Twin Dolphin Games Smokin’ Guns is a simple shooting gallery for Windows 3.1 with a surprising depth and variety. As the game states: “you are the law in Gangsterland– take on the crime lord and…
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Darker
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Psygnosis GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1995, Psygnosis Darker is a very atmospheric spaceflight simulator that, ironically, pays too much attention to atmosphere at the expense of playability. You are the Delphi, one of two races on a curious planet where one side is perpetually in…
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Lamborghini: American Challenge
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eric Zmiro GAME DEVELOPER:Titus GAME PUBLISHER:Titus Copyright 1994, Titus The last and arguably best in Titus’ Crazy Cars series, Lamborghini – American Challenge is essentially the same game as Crazy Cars 3, except for the addition of a two-player mode and speed synchronization (so that slowdown…
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RoboCop
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Data East GAME PUBLISHER:Data East Copyright 1989, Data East Data East’s RoboCop is a decent PC port of a fun coin-op game, not to be confused with OCEAN’s horrible CGA port released earlier. -This release, while still pales besides the Amiga and Atari ST…
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Synthetic Dimensions GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1992, OCEAN Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a boring game based on Terminator 2 the movie. In all respects, it is a formulaic film license material, i.e. a series of sub-games, each based on a certain scene from the…
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Terminator 2: The Arcade Game
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Hi-Tech Expressions GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1993, OCEAN One of two games based on the hit movie Terminator 2, T2: The Arcade Game is a sub-standard Operation Wolf-style first-person shooter that offers a few hours of mindless fun but little else. All you do is…
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Take Down Wrestling
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GameStar GAME PUBLISHER:GameStar Copyright 1988, GameStar A fun wrestling game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Take Down Wrestling features a good sense of humor, a wide variety of moves, and good controls. Gameplay is very fast: pick a tag-team of two wrestlers, and…
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Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Stormfront Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1991, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) The original in Stormfront Studios’ popular baseball game series combines a high production value action game with a detailed and accurate statistical simulation. The result is Tony La Russa’s Ultimate Baseball,…
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Tony La Russa Baseball II
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Stormfront Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1993, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Stormfront’s underrated Tony La Russa series continues with Tony La Russa Baseball II, an astounding sequel that features numerous enhancements that makes a great game even better. The innovative “fly ball…
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Star Wars
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J?rgen Friedrich GAME DEVELOPER:Brderbund GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1986, Brderbund The first PC game ever made based on the blockbuster series, Star Wars is a primitive-looking first-person shooter that is nonetheless a very good conversion of the Atari arcade game of the same name. The game puts…
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Ajax
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1989, Konami A solid conversion of a little-known Konami arcade game of the same name, Ajax is a challenging vertical scrolling shoot-em-up for one or two players. The objectives of the game, simple enough, are to destroy all enemy forces…
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Alcatraz
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1992, Infogrames A significant update to Infogrames’ earlier classic Hostages, Alcatraz is an infiltration operation set inside one of the world’s most famous prisons. As a SEAL marine, your task is ultimately to find and arrest a Colombian drug lord…
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Lords of The Realm
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Foster & David Lester GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1994, Impressions David Lester’s masterpiece and definitely THE game that finally brought Impressions into the spotlight, Lords of The Realms is a great medieval strategy game that strikes a great balance between combat and empire building.…
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Aspar GP Master
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Fernando Jimenez GAME DEVELOPER:Dinamic Multimedia GAME PUBLISHER:Dinamic Multimedia Copyright 1988, Dinamic Multimedia Aspar GP Master is a fun but little-known motorcycle racing game inspired by Jorge “Aspar” Martinez, Spanish world champion who dominated the 125cc class in the 1980s. It is only fitting, then, that his…
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Baal
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Psygnosis GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1989, Psygnosis A decent conversion of a little-known Commodore 64 game, Baal is a fun side-scrolling shooter with a banal plot: you are member of the Time Warriors, an elite commando unit sent into the alien lairs to defeat Baal,…
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Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Probe Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Probe Entertainment Copyright 1988, Probe Entertainment One of Probe Entertainment’s earliest games is a good effort at creating an original science fiction platform game that didn’t come out quite right. Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper is still notable for the bigger-than-average character…
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Vette!
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dan Geisler & Gilman Louie GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1989, Spectrum Holobyte A highly underrated racing game, Vette! features great graphics, camera angle options, and multiplayer. It was, in fact, one of the first racing games to offer multiplayer racing via modem, which…
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SuperBike Challenge
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Brderbund GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1987, Brderbund One of the first truly excellent motorcycle racing games, SuperBike Challenge features smooth CGA graphics, multiplayer options, a wide variety of tracks, and intuitive keyboard and joystick controls. The game’s split-screen display in two-player mode is one of…
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Blades of Steel
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1990, Konami Excellent PC port of arguably the best action-oriented hockey game ever made for the NES, Konami’s Blades of Steel offers full-out, white-knuckled action at its blistering best. Gameplay is hockey at its rawest, action-packed level. Although there are…
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Castlevania
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1990, Konami First in a hit series that is still going strong on the Nintendo 64, Castlevania is the first and only entry that was ported to the PC. The plot is standard kill-the-Dracula fare, but what the game lacks…
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Street Rod
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Logical Design Works GAME PUBLISHER:California Dreams Copyright 1989, California Dreams Street Rod is California Dreams’s masterpiece and one of the very best racing games ever made for the PC. What set the game apart from other racing games of the era (and even now)…
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Street Rod 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Logical Design Works GAME PUBLISHER:California Dreams Copyright 1991, California Dreams A great sequel to Street Rod that improves upon its predecessor in every respect, Street Rod 2 features more and faster cars, more challenging courses, and new customization options that were added based on…
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Grand Prix 500 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Microids GAME PUBLISHER:Microids Copyright 1991, Microids Microids’ Grand Prix 500 2 is a fun motorcycle racing game that boasts vibrant graphics and smooth animations that are better than average for its time. In many ways, the game feels like an update of Br?derbund’s 1987…
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Gold of The Americas
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephen Hart & Ian Trout GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) Copyright 1989, Strategic Studies Group (SSG) One of the few SSG classics that are not based on World War II, Gold of the Americas is an excellent strategy/conquest game set in…
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Defcon 5
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Paul Norman GAME DEVELOPER:COSMI GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1989, COSMI Billed as an “authentic “Star Wars” simulation,” Defcon 5 is called “second worst computer game of all time” by Computer Gaming World, and for good reasons. Fans of complex, realistic modern Cold-War simulations will detest the game,…
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Bill Elliott’s Nascar Challenge
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1991, Konami A solid Nascar racing game that places more emphasis on adrenaline rush than realism, Konami’s Bill Elliott’s Nascar Challenge is a great arcade-style racing game that also offers plenty of options to keep die-hard fans happy. Endorsed by…
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Last Ninja, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Cale GAME DEVELOPER:System 3 GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1988, System 3 One of the most well-executed action games of all time, The Last Ninja is a great start of a great series that was a huge hit on the Commodore 64. This PC port is excellent,…
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Last Ninja 2: Back With a Vengeance, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Cale GAME DEVELOPER:System 3 GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1989, System 3 A great sequel to one of the best Commodore 64 games ever made that failed to attract attention of PC gamers. The Last Ninja 2: Back With a Vengeance offers more of the same addictive…
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X-Men: Children of The Atom
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Probe Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Acclaim Entertainment Copyright 1997, Marvel Comics One of the better fighting games for the PC, X-Men: Children of the Atom proves that the PC is indeed a viable platform for fighting games, despite popular opinion. In GameSpot‘s words: “X-Men: Children of…
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Central Intelligence
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave Harrison GAME DEVELOPER:OCEAN GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1995, OCEAN Central Intelligence is a detailed role-playing game covering revolution in South America. Despite the great espionage / strategy premise, the game is marred by a very “dry” presentation. The game is set in the Caribbeans. A fictional…
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Destroyer
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chuck Sommerville GAME DEVELOPER:Epyx GAME PUBLISHER:Epyx Copyright 1986, Epyx One of the earliest naval simulations ever made, Epyx’ Destroyer is a graphically-intense portrayal of World War II destroyer operations. Judging that Epyx is best known for many addictive sports and action games, it shouldn’t surprise anyone…
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Fire & Forget
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Titus GAME PUBLISHER:Titus Copyright 1988, Titus A fun Mad Max-style apocalyptic racing game, Fire & Forget is, surprisingly, one of the better games released by a company famous for mundane action titles. The goal is simple: net the highest score by blasting enemies and…
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Fire & Forget II: The Death Convoy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Titus GAME PUBLISHER:Titus Copyright 1990, Titus Sequel to Fire & Forget, Fire & Forget II is a graphically superior update to the first game, but an inferior title in terms of gameplay. The goal is still to amass the highest score at the end…