Author: admin
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Gravity Sports 3
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Phame GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Phame Yet another innovative but not very well known freeware puzzler from Japan. Gravity Sports 3 is a cool puzzle game where you control a cute anime girl named Jiima, who wants to collect all the candies in each…
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Ranchan Cat
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Nozomi Matsuzaka & Yuka Higashiiwai GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Nozomi Matsuzaka & Yuka Higashiiwai Another fun and quite unique time waster from Japan. In Ranchan Cat, you are a cat named Ranchan (duh), who needs to get to the end of each level (to…
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Imperialism
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bill Spieth & Ted Spieth GAME DEVELOPER:Frog City GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1998, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) One of the best strategy games ever made, Imperialism is the rare turn-based game that strikes a near-perfect balance between economics, diplomacy, and military action set in…
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Imperialism II: The Age of Exploration
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bill Spieth & Ted Spieth GAME DEVELOPER:Frog City GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1999, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Imperialism II: Age of Exploration is an outstanding turn-based strategy game that expands on the premise set in its predecessor, Frog City/SSI’s underrated Imperialism. The game is…
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Emergency: Fighters for Life
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:TopWare Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:WizardWorks Copyright 1998, TopWare Interactive Emergency: Fighters for Life is a unique and fun “light” strategy game from TopWare that got far too little shelf life than it deserved. It is a real-time strategy game (RTS) that is very different from…
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Sony Game
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:ComAd GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1990, SONY Probably one of the worst promotional games ever made, Sony Game is a quaint platformer starring everyone’s favorite Walkman– SONY’s, of course. It’s a typical platformer in every respect, except that from time to time you will find…
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Flying Tigers 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jay Kramer GAME DEVELOPER:Teacy GAME PUBLISHER:Homebrew Software Copyright 1994, Teacy Flying Tigers 2 is a decent top-down shooter that is identical to its predecessor in every respect, except for new levels and enemies. If you have played the first game, you know what to expect: a…
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Sensible World of Soccer 96/97
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Hare GAME DEVELOPER:Sensible Software GAME PUBLISHER:Sensible Software Copyright 1996, Sensible Software Undoubtedly the best game in the venerable Sensible Soccer series, Sensible World of Soccer 96/97 is the last annual update by Sensible Software before the series succumbed to the 3D graphics fad with Sensible…
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Ultimate Soccer Manager 98-99
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Howman & Andrew Prime GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1999, Impressions One of the most underrated soccer simulation series of all time is back, and this time is arguably a better game than venerable Championship Manager 2. USM 98 contains data for the 7…
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Dragon’s Lair: Escape from Singe’s Castle
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1993, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Dragon’s Lair II: Time Warp
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1991, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Dragon’s Lair III: The Curse of Mordred
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1992, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Guy Spy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1992, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Wrath of The Demon
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1991, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Space Ace
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1990, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Space Ace II
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rick Dyer GAME DEVELOPER:ReadySoft GAME PUBLISHER:ReadySoft Copyright 1991, ReadySoft In early 1990s, Readysoft released a number of animated action games that became instant hits on the Laserdisc platform, although their PC counterparts suffered poor sales in comparison. This is by no means surprising: although these games…
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Panzer General II
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Russ Brown GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1997, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Billed as “the sequel of the century!,” Panzer General II did live up to that claim– the game boast a stronger AI, more varied scenarios, and gameplay enhancements…
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Tone Rebellion, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jason Templeman & Arthur DiBianca GAME DEVELOPER:Logic Factory, The GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1998, Logic Factory, The The Tone Rebellion is a great sequel to Ascendancy, an innovative space strategy game that was unfortunately too riddled with bugs in the first release to attract many gamers.…
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Hell Fighter
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Peterson GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, David Peterson Hell Fighter is a unique top-down space combat/strategy hybrid that is highly addictive, especially in multiplayer. First released in 1995, the game has gone through numerous iterations and improvements, thanks to the dedication of designer David…
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XEvil
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Hardt GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Steve Hardt One of the most graphically violent games ever made, XEvil is probably one of a handful of games that manage to be this offensive and controversial and get away with it. The game features an incredibly…
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Act of Fighter
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SoftStar GAME PUBLISHER:SoftStar Copyright 1994, SoftStar Another solid arcade game from SoftStar, Taiwan’s best game company, Act of Fighter is a smooth side-scrolling beat-em-up set in Chinese history. Set in a typical o-father-I-vow-to-avenge-your-death premise common in most “period” Chinese stories, Act of Fighter is…
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Captain Dynamo
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Nick Thompson GAME DEVELOPER:Codemasters GAME PUBLISHER:Codemasters Copyright 1993, Codemasters Captain Dynamo is a solid entry in Codemasters’ string of excellent cartoon platformers. As chubby, smiley Captain Dynamo, your goal is to rescue your girl’s diamonds from a loony old villain. The game is a vertically-scrolling affair…
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Clockwiser
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Reinier von Viet GAME DEVELOPER:Team Hoi GAME PUBLISHER:Rasputin Copyright 1994, Team Hoi Clockwiser is a good PC conversion of an interesting match-the-picture game by Team Hoi, one of Amiga’s most underrated publishers. Your objective is to move various elements (these include bricks, bombs, transporter unit, self-generating…
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Violent Myth
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dysin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Dysin Interactive Copyright 1994, Dysin Interactive Violent Myth is a lackluster 2D fighting game that botches the very interesting premise by poor execution. Although it looks and feels similar to Panda Software’s famous Sango Fighter, the game is not half as…
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Lunar Command
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Aaron Massey GAME DEVELOPER:Wesson International GAME PUBLISHER:Mallard Copyright 1993, Wesson International A re-release of Wesson’s 1991 Moonbase Lunar colony simulator, Lunar Command keeps the realistic factors in the original game intact while adding a lot of bells and whistles and some minor gameplay tweaks. For those…
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Quick The Thunder Rabbit
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Stywox GAME PUBLISHER:Titus Copyright 1994, Stywox Lackluster platform game from Stywox and Titus, featuring chubby and toothy rabbits that are uglier than they are cute. Standard platform fare, except with blocky graphics, uninspired levels, and downright boring gameplay. Definitely one of the worst games…
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Surf Ninjas
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1993, Capstone Another Real Dog from Capstone, who tirelessly acquired lucrative movie licenses and churned out horrible games based on them — and they never seem to learn, either. Surf Ninjas is no exception. But what makes the game worse…
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Magnetic Crane
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alexei Pajitnov GAME DEVELOPER:Dialog GAME PUBLISHER:Dialog Copyright 1989, Dialog A cute little puzzler by Alexei Pajitnov, most famous as the creator of Tetris. The objective in Magnetic Crane is to arrange train bogeys in the right order before time runs out. Each level starts with the…
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Last Eichhof, The
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tritone GAME DEVELOPER:Alpha Helix GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Alpha Helix One of the most entertaining and original shooters ever made, The Last Eichhof is the great freeware game developed by Alpha Helix, small Swiss outfit and guzzlers extraordinaire. Derrick Steel sums up the game succinctly in…
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Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mission Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1994, Mission Studios / BOOKUP Possibly the best instructional chess game ever made, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is based on the excellent book of the same name (no relation to the film Searching for Bobby Fischer). For those who…
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Flying Nightmares
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Domark GAME PUBLISHER:Domark Copyright 1994, Domark Undoubtedly one of the best flight sims ever made for the Macintosh, Domark?s Flying Nightmares is an outstanding simulation of the Harrier fighter, with significant strategic planning elements, similar to Digital Integration?s Tornado. Meant to be an evolution…
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MetaSquarer
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Kim GAME DEVELOPER:MetaCreations GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, MetaCreations One of the most unique and intriguing board games ever made, MetaSquares was created for America On-Lines games room by Scott Kim, renowned puzzle designer who created Heaven & Earth for Buena Vista and Obsidian CD-ROM game…
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Terrace
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Anton Dresden & Buzz Siler GAME DEVELOPER:Siler/Siler Ventures GAME PUBLISHER:Siler/Siler Ventures Copyright 1994, Siler/Siler Ventures Terrace is a unique board game that rocketed to fame when it was selected to feature as a permanent prop onboard the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Billed as…
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Perestroika
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Locis GAME PUBLISHER:Locis Copyright 1991, Locis Perestroika (a.k.a. Toppler) is a fun game by a small Russian developer called Locis, who promptly disappeared after this one hit wonder. What makes the game interesting and of historical value is not only great gameplay, but the…
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Toppler for Windows
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Nikita GAME PUBLISHER:Nikita Copyright 1995, Nikita A nice Windows remake of cult classic Perestroika (a.k.a. Toppler), one of the few games that manage to both be a fun action game and make a political statement about reforms in Russia. Read my earlier review of…
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World Trophy Soccer
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Laszlo Szenttornyai & Peter Balla GAME DEVELOPER:Novotrade GAME PUBLISHER:Novotrade Copyright 1989, Novotrade Official soccer game of the 1990 World Cup at Italy, World Trophy Soccer is a graphically advanced game that is unfortunately bogged down by frustrating controls and unrealistic ball mechanics. The best thing about…
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Gloriana
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Ascaron GAME PUBLISHER:Ascaron Copyright 1996, Ascaron Gloriana is another excellent underdog from Ascaron, one of the most underrated strategy game companies today. Originally released in Germany as Elisabeth I, Gloriana is a historical trading simulation similar to Holistic Designs classic Machiavelli The Prince. The…
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War Wind
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dreamforge Intertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1996, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) War Wind is SSI’s outstanding entry into the crowded RTS arena that sadly received a lot less accolades that it deserves. While some may dismiss it immediately as ?just another WarCraft…
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Starquake
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephen Crow GAME DEVELOPER:Bubble Bus GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1988, Bubble Bus One of the most innovative side-scrolling shooters ever made, Starquake was a big hit on the Commodore 64 and Atari ST but sadly not on the PC system. The plot is very clich?, but its…
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X-Car: Experimental Racing
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bethesda Softworks GAME PUBLISHER:Bethesda Softworks Copyright 1997, Bethesda Softworks One of the most underrated racing games ever, X-Car: Experimental Racing is the perfect game for anyone who likes tinkering with cars, although arcade gamers will be disappointed. As the name implies, X-Car is an…
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Pandemonium 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Crystal Dynamics GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1997, Crystal Dynamics Pandemonium 2 is a solid sequel to Pandemonium, one of the best platform games ever created. Although more evolutionary than revolutionary, Pandemonium 2 offers the same addictive gameplay as the original, with even better graphics.…
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Alien Arcade
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KV Graphics GAME PUBLISHER:Luxenberg Copyright 1994, KV Graphics Alien Arcade for Windows is a great PC conversion of a classic Macintosh game. The game is essentially a collection of six different non-violent arcade games from the depths of outer space for children ages 5…
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Swamp Gas Visits the USA
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KV Graphics GAME PUBLISHER:Inline Design Copyright 1994, KV Graphics Swamp Gas Visits The USA is one of the best edutainment products ever made for home computers. More famous on the Macintosh, this Windows version has unfortunately been overlooked despite winning a faire share of…
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Zoo Keeper
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1994, Davidson & Associates No, this is not the classic Taito game of the same name. Rather, Zoo Keeper is another excellent edutainment title from Davidson & Associates. Designed for toddlers aged 1-6, Zoo Keeper teaches…
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Digger
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Windmill Software GAME PUBLISHER:Windmill Software Copyright 1983, Windmill Software Undoubtedly the most successful game from Windmill Software, Digger is a timeless action classic that combines the best elements of Ataris Dig Dug and Mr. Do. MobyGames says it all about this masterpiece that remains…
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Styx
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Windmill Software GAME PUBLISHER:Windmill Software Copyright 1983, Windmill Software Another excellent classic from Windmill Software, Styx is an enhanced clone of Taitos Qix that allows diagonal drawing. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the Taito classic, heres the basic scoop: you play a marker,…
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Floppy Frenzy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Windmill Software GAME PUBLISHER:Windmill Software Copyright 1982, Windmill Software An early arcade classic from Windmill Software, famous for unleashing Digger to the unsuspecting public and converted many skeptics to PC gamers for life 😉 Like all other Windmill games, Floppy Frenzy is simple, intuitive,…
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Moon Bugs
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Windmill Software GAME PUBLISHER:Windmill Software Copyright 1983, Windmill Software Yet another game by Windmill Software inspired by arcade originals, Moon Bugs is a blatant clone of Galaxian that unfortunately adds little to the tried-and-true shoot all aliens in sight concept. Your goal is to…