Author: admin

  • Chaos Engine

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1992, Infogrames From one of the masters of the action genre comes this excellent top-down action game that is fun in solo mode and exceptional in 2-player. Choose from a handful of mercenaries, each with his/her own weapons,…

  • Chaos Overlords

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:New World Computing GAME PUBLISHER:New World Computing Copyright 1995, New World Computing Chaos Overlords is an excellent board-game style game with a novel premise: lead your gang to victory in a post-apocalyptic city. The game is structured like a card game, with different cards…

  • Chess Maniac 5 Billion and One

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1993, Spectrum Holobyte One of the best parody games ever, Chess Maniac 5 Billion and One, endorsed by the National Lampoon), took the classic Battle Chess idea of animated chess pieces one step further with parodies of pop…

  • Chewy: ESC from F5

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Blue Byte GAME PUBLISHER:Blue Byte Copyright 1996, Blue Byte Chewy is a fun but sadly unknown cartoon adventure in the style of LucasArts’ classic Day of the Tentacle but with plenty of charms on its own. You play Chewy, a cute little alien (and…

  • Chicago 90

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Microids GAME PUBLISHER:Microids Copyright 1989, Microids This is a fun action game designed by one of the most prolific UK companies who, unfortunately, never got a start distributing their games in the US. In this game, choose to be either gangster or police and…

  • Chinese Chess Master

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Fatman GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1987, Anonymous Chinese Chess Master is an excellent straightforward chinese chess program that has all the features one could hope for in this type of game, from options to rewind or fast forward moves, save game in progress, and varying…

  • Chip & Dale in: Rescue Rangers

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Hi-Tech Expressions GAME PUBLISHER:Disney Copyright 1989, Hi-Tech Expressions This is a fun platform game developed in by Hi-tech Expressions, starring adorable chipmunks Chip & Dales as they don the role of rescue rangers. Avoid the menacing dogs and traps along the way. Overall, a…

  • Choose An Enemy

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Russian Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Russian Soft Copyright 1991, Russian Soft One of the best examples of how Russians vent their anger (or maybe not), Choose An Enemy is a fun mildless action game from little-known developer Russian Soft. The goal is simple: rescue your girlfriend…

  • Christminster

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Gareth Rees GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Gareth Rees One of my most favorite IF games of all time, Christminster is a thoroughly entertaining features some of the best NPCs ever coded in a game, and memorable atmosphere and puzzles. You start out with a…

  • Chronomaster

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Roger Zelazny & Jane Lindskold GAME DEVELOPER:Dreamforge Intertainment GAME PUBLISHER:IntraCorp Copyright 1996, Dreamforge Intertainment Before the phenomenal Sanitarium, Dreamforge designed this sci-fi adventure that’s sadly not better known despite getting good reviews. Based on the works of seminal sci-fi master Roger Zelazny, you are a chronomaster–…

  • Circuit’s Edge

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael E. Moore & Michael Legg GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1988, Westwood Studios Circuit’s Edge is an atmospheric, well-written game based on “When Gravity Fails,” an excellent sci-fi series by George Effinger about the Budayeen– a small corner of Morocco notorious for violence, sex,…

  • Circus Games

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Keypunch GAME PUBLISHER:Keypunch Copyright 1987, Keypunch A small and fun CGA action game similar to Big Top o’ Fun with a simple goal: perform 4 circus events individually or in the International Competition where judges will induct you to the Hall of Fame if…

  • Civil War, The

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Estvanik GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1985, Avalon Hill “Based on the Victory Games boardgame of the same title, this product covered the American Civil War (1861-1865). It showed how one can take a highly playable boardgame and turn it into an unplayable…

  • Clash of Steel

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Martin Scholz GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1993, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) “A strategic and eminently playable simulation of World War II in the entire European Theater (including both Eastern and Western Theaters). Reminiscent of Avalon Hill’s boardgame Hitler’s War,…

  • Clash of Steel: Future Edition

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Martin Scholz GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1995, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) This updated version of SSI’s classic Clash of Steel is the same game, but with numerous bug fixes and AI enhancement. SSI should have included new maps or…

  • ClockWerx

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alvin Mullin GAME DEVELOPER:Callisto Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1995, Callisto Productions Clockwerx is a delightful action puzzle game of split-second thought and timing. The plot: someone must journey into the inner workings of the great Clock of the Universe to repair it. The player must…

  • Clue!, The

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:NEO Software GAME PUBLISHER:NEO Software Copyright 1994, NEO Software The Clue! is an original mix of adventure and strategy. You are Matt Stuvysant, a young criminal wannabe trying to strike it rich in London… through robbery. Adventure elements include talking to other people for…

  • Coaster

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Disney GAME PUBLISHER:Disney Copyright 1989, Disney One of the most original games ever released, Coaster lets you design killer rollercoasters to your heart’s content, then experience the thrill of your creation in 3D view. You design new roller coasters, or view and edit existing…

  • Codename: ICEMAN

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jim Walls GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1992, Sierra On-Line Sierra’s only installment in a much-hyped series, Codename: ICEMAN is a fun adventure that combines political intrigue, submarine simulation, and even romance into an enjoyable romp that is worthy of a spy flick. You…

  • Cogito

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Kalisto GAME PUBLISHER:Kalisto Copyright 1992, Kalisto Similar to an old Milton Bradley board game, Cogito is a nice little puzzle game for Windows in which you must use the vertical and horizontal levers to arrange the pieces to match the given pattern. The number…

  • Colonization for Windows

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Meier GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1993, Firaxis This Sid Meier classic is not severely underrated but certainly deserves as much acclaim as his classic Civilization for the novel design and refreshing emphasis on colony development as opposed to military might like Civil War games…

  • Colony, The

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mindscape GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1987, Mindscape A revolutionary RPG that is largely forgotten, The Colony pioneers many concepts that are now familiar to most RPGers: fully rotational 3D gameworld, real-time action, digitized sound effects, and mouse-controlled movement. Your task in this sci-fi RPG is…

  • Color Buster

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Pyramid GAME PUBLISHER:Pyramid Copyright 1992, Pyramid Color Buster is a fun and addictive puzzle game that, like all classic puzzle games, is easy to learn but difficult to master. Your goal in each level is to merge color boxes into one but pushing them…

  • Colorado

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Silmarils GAME PUBLISHER:Silmarils Copyright 1990, Silmarils The second survival game after Le Fetiche Maya, Colorado casts you as feerless adventurer who must deal with the Indians and wildlife in your search for the legendary Cheyenne goldmine. In addition to standard weapons, special objects such…

  • Command HQ

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dani Bunten GAME DEVELOPER:Microplay GAME PUBLISHER:Microplay Copyright 1991, Microplay From Brian Moriarty’s tribute to Dani Bunten: “Microprose took up the cause of modem-based wargaming in a big way with the 1990 [Dani Bunten] release, Command HQ, which boasted a simple, clean user interface that made historical…

  • Commando

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Quicksilver GAME PUBLISHER:Data East Copyright 1985, Data East A poor conversion of Data East arcade game of the same name. There are many things wrong with Commando that make the game much inferior to the arcade original. For starter, the control is very limited:…

  • Companions of Xanth

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Verdu GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Legend Entertainment Copyright 1994, Legend Entertainment Companions of Xanth is a charming game based on Piers Anthony’s “Demons Don’t Dream,” in which two humans compete for a prize without knowing that two demons are using them as tools in their…

  • Computer Acquire

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Sackson GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1991, Avalon Hill Computer Acquire is a faithful translation of AH’s famous boardgame of the same name. In this game of oligopoly, up to 6 players, any of which can be computer-controlled, compete to build a hotel…

  • Computer Circus Maximus

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1985, Avalon Hill This classic early Avalon Hill game mirrors the board game very well. Take control of a Roman chariot and try to win races and gain glory in ancient Rome. There is a lot of strategy…

  • Computer Diplomacy

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ron Sutherland GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1984, Avalon Hill “A faithful rendition of the classic boardgame, its graphics and computer intelligence were probably never state-of-the-art, the AI was learning disabled and multi-player options were clumsy. Yet its faithfulness to its predecessor made this…

  • Computer Quarterback

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dani Bunten GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1979, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) One of Dani Bunten’s early classics, Computer Quarterback, published in 1979, in Brian Moriarty’s tribute, “was originally designed to support exactly two players. It was ported to Apple…

  • Conan The Cimmerian

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Clardy GAME DEVELOPER:Synergistic Software GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1992, Virgin Interactive The fourth game by Synergistic traces the adventures of well-known comic book hero Conan from his humble beginnings as a blacksmith. The World Builder engine, which has remained more or less the same for…

  • Conflict in Vietnam

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Meier & Ed Bever GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1987, Firaxis Conflict in Vietnam, Crusade in Europe, and Decision in The Desert are three outstanding wargames, collectively released as “Command Series,” remain to this day some of the most well-balanced and fun wargames ever made.…

  • Conflict: Korea

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Norm Koger GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1992, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Based on the engine of Conflict: Middle East, this is, in M. Evan Brooks‘ words, “A simulation of the Korean War (1950-51) and a hypothetical invasion (1995). Detailed…

  • Conflict: Middle East

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Norm Koger GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1991, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) “A serious simulation of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a future Arab-Israeli War, this product was very detailed. Mouse implementation is is much easier than the designer’s…

  • Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Eastman GAME DEVELOPER:Virgin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1990, Virgin Interactive An excellent but hardly-known sim, Conflict achieves what it sets out to be in the title: a political simulation of age-old conflicts in the turbulent middle east. Set foreign, economic, and military policies to…

  • Congo: Descent into Zinj

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Viacom Newmedia GAME PUBLISHER:Viacom Newmedia Copyright 1996, Viacom Newmedia A decent adaptation of the Michael Crichton’s novel of the same name (or more precisely, the movie that followed), Congo suffers from frustrating action elements and overly obscure puzzle solutions. In one offending puzzle, you…

  • Conquered Kingdoms

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Fogstone Enterprises GAME PUBLISHER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) Copyright 1992, Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) This is an excellent fantasy strategy game that could very well have influenced SSG in their design of acclaimed Warlords series. Control fantastic creatures, each with different strengths and abilities, in…

  • Conqueror

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Rainbow Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Rainbow Arts Copyright 1989, Rainbow Arts Yet another successful European game that failed to make a splash in the U.S., this game is a 3D tank simulation that is simply a lot of fun to play. With more emphasis on “action”…

  • Conquests of Camelot

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christy Marx GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1991, Sierra On-Line Christy Marx’ debut as game designer for Sierra is a fun adventure set in Arthurian lore. As none other than King Arthur himself, you must search far and wide for the Holy Grail, which…

  • Conquest of The Longbow

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christy Marx GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Sierra On-Line Christy Marx followed up on the underrated Conquest of Camelotwith another excellent historical epic that, unfortunately, is also severely underrated and undersold. As none other than the fabled “Prince of Thieves” Robin Hood, here…

  • Contraption Zack

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mindscape GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1989, Mindscape Before Twinsen’s Odyssey and long before Alone in the Dark, Contraption Zack is among the first games that successfully combined physical puzzles, action, and adventure elements into a fine game. Your job is to help Zack the clueless…

  • Corporate Raider

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Craig DeRouen GAME DEVELOPER:SoftServ, Inc. GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1987, COSMI Sequel to excellent but little-known Inside Trader, Corporate Raider is also an excellent stock market simulator. This time, however, you are owner of a company as opposed to an outside investor in Inside Trader. This role…

  • Cosmic Spacehead

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Codemasters GAME PUBLISHER:Codemasters Copyright 1993, Codemasters Cosmic Spacehead is a decent arcade adventure drawn in the illustration style of the 1950s (TV’s The Jetsons comes to mind). Bright graphics, a simple point-and-click interface for the adventure elements, interspursed with enjoyable arcade romps will keep…

  • Cosmoserve

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Judith Pintar GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Judith Pintar For those of you too young to understand what kind of game the title implies, I’ll just give it away: Cosmoserve is a very clever game that makes fun of Compuserve, the on-line provider giant of…

  • Countdown

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brent Erickson & Chris Jones GAME DEVELOPER:Access Software GAME PUBLISHER:Access Software Copyright 1990, Access Software Similar to Access’ early Tex Murphy adventures, Countdown has an incredible amount of “pixel-hunt” puzzles and several pointless “arcade” sequences. The plot of this game is quite interesting, though (although they…

  • Covert Action

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Meier GAME DEVELOPER:MicroProse GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1990, Firaxis Have you ever wanted to work for the CIA? Infiltrate the KGB? Black-mailpeople into becoming double agents? If you answered yes to any of the preceding then Covert Action is a game for you. Combining strategic thinking…

  • CP/M-86 v1.0

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Research GAME PUBLISHER:Digital Research Copyright 1982, Digital Research CP/M-86 is the IBM-PC version of the popular business operating system popular during the early 80’s. Many programs were made for this operating system, but sadly – few games. CP/M, for the most part, lacked…

  • Crack of Doom

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Philip Mitchell GAME DEVELOPER:Beam International GAME PUBLISHER:Melbourne House Copyright 1988, Melbourne House Beam’s The Tolkien Trilogy closes on a positive note with this solid adventure that is both longer and more complex than its predecessors. The game follows the adventures of Frodo and his band of…

  • Crazy Nick’s Pick: King Graham’s Board Game Challenge

    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Sierra On-Line Sierra’s adventure games have always included little arcade sequences that, for the most part, offer a fun diversion from puzzles at hand. Crazy Nick’s Picks games are collections of these games-within-a-game with a budget price…