Author: admin
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Captain Pork’s World of Violence
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Captain Pork GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Captain Pork
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Lacewing
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Captain Pork GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Captain Pork
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Ball Blazing Fantasy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Lachie Dazdarian GAME DEVELOPER:Kentauri GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Lachie Dazdarian Ball Blazing Fantasy is a fun arcade-ish game that plays like a cross between Marble Madness and Dizzy series of games. The game contains two different ball-rolling games: “Ball Blaze” and “The Quest.” In “Ball Blaze,”…
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Town Hall Toaster
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Nelson GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Scott Nelson One of the most unique action games you’ll ever see, Town Hall Toaster plays like an expanded version of BBQ, a little-known freeware gem from Japan that is also reviewed on this site. The purpose of…
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Diabolika 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Derek Yu & Jon Perry GAME DEVELOPER:Blackeye Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Blackeye Software Diabolika 2 is a great sequel to Diabolika, a unique strategy/puzzle hybrid from freeware developer Blackeye Software. More of an update than a true sequel, Diabolika 2 nonetheless remains as fun as…
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Real Genius
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Pro One GAME PUBLISHER:Pro One Copyright 1997, Pro One Real Genius from Pro One is a decent compilation of 20 puzzle games, most of which are family word games we are all familiar with – games such as cryptograms, scrabble, and word builder. Although…
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Flip Flop
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GAMOS GAME PUBLISHER:GAMOS Copyright 1997, GAMOS Flip Flop is another fun game from Russian developer Gamos, makers of clever puzzle games. Although far from Gamos’ best, Flip Flop is still fun for a few minutes before it gets repetitive. Your goal: open all of…
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Kurukuru UFO
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Monolith GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Monolith Another fun action freeware underdog from Japan, Kurukuru UFO lets you pilot a flying saucer around the arena. In contrast to a typical shooter, you cannot control the firing direction of your saucer: in this game, your ‘gun…
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Vegas Casino 2
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tarheel Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Mastertronic Copyright 1988, Tarheel Technologies Vegas Casino 2 is a craps and roulette simulation written by Tarheel Technologies and distributed by Mastertronic. Although the ‘prequel’ Vegas Casino was billed as “The Ultimate Gambling Compendium Program,” VG2 is at best an “add-on”…
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Sid Meier’s Civil War Collection
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sid Meier GAME DEVELOPER:Firaxis GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 2000, Firaxis Civil War Collection is a superb compilation that includes Sid Meier’s Gettysburg! and Sid Meier’s Antietam!, two excellent real-time wargames from master of strategy genre – along with South Mountain, an additional eight-scenario campaign not sold…
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Golf Doctor
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Jacobs & Dick Aultman GAME DEVELOPER:1 Step Software GAME PUBLISHER:1 Step Software Copyright 1988, John Jacobs & Dick Aultman Golf Doctor is a neat – and highly obscure – program that was essentially the DOS conversion of John Jacobs’ best-selling book of the same name.…
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BBC Gardeners’ World: 3D Designer
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Europress GAME PUBLISHER:Europress Copyright 1993, BBC & Europress The first in a long and reasonably successful line of 3D garden designer software, Europress’ 3D Designer is licensed by BBC to use the name of its popular “Gardeners’ World” TV program on the product. Quite…
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Warning Forever
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hikoza Ohkubo GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Hikoza Ohkubo Another superb freeware shooter from Japan, Warning Forever is similar to BulletML games like rRootage – addictive games that are turning “abstract shooters” into a new and exciting genre. Warning Forever packs enough innovation to set…
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Capone
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Actionware GAME PUBLISHER:Actionware Copyright 1988, Actionware Capone is a decent “shooting gallery” action game from Actionware, erstwhile Amiga game maker who released a handful of game in late 1990s. This is one of their two Operation Wolf clones, P.O.W. being the other (and better)…
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Turbo Sliders
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Antti Mannisto GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Antti Mannisto A freeware racing gem which deserves recognition and playing, Turbo Sliders offers a solid netplay code, and with a built-in server list, finding a race or setting up your own is not that difficult. Racing these…
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Alien Rampage
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Inner Circle Creations GAME PUBLISHER:Softdisk Publishing Copyright 1996, Inner Circle Creations Alien Rampage is a fun 2D horizontal platformer from indie developer Inner Circle Creations, who bought rights to the game (originally titled Ravager) from Apogee, finished it, and got Softdisk to publish it…
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Cubots
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ancil Anthropy GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Ancil Anthropy A nice PC clone of Daleks, classic Macintosh puzzle game. For an explanation of what Daleks is, here’s excerpt from my review of DRroboWHOids, an older clone for DOS: “In this game, you must help that…
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Jaywalker
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ancil Anthropy GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Ancil Anthropy Jaywalker is a unique and fun little puzzle-bent action game from Ancil Anthropy, lone designer of Piquin and Cubots, two other puzzle gems reviewed on this site. Subtitled “the game of pedestrian revenge,” Jaywalker puts you…
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Phantom Fighter
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Emerald Software GAME PUBLISHER:Emerald Software Copyright 1989, Emerald Software More of less a “beta version” of If It Moves, Shoot It!, Phantom Fighter is a one-year-older vertical shooter from Emerald Software that is identical to the better-known IIM,SI game in every respect, except for…
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Rotor
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Arcana Software GAME PUBLISHER:Microdaft Copyright 1990, Arcana Software Rotor is an above-average multi-directional shoot ’em up that bodes well for the spiritual descendants such as Zone 66 years later. Good graphics, smooth gameplay, and an interesting mix of tactical options. The description at MobyGames…
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Trauma
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Enigma Software Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Friendware Copyright 1995, Enigma Software Productions Trauma is an above-average and rare shareware shooter from Spain. The reason it is obscure to most gamers is that it was released only in Spain and Britain. The plot is simple, as with…
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Genghis Khan [Positive]
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Positive GAME PUBLISHER:Microdaft Copyright 1991, Positive One of the first attempts by a Spanish game company to capture market share in the crowded strategy games market, Genghis Khan is unfortunately a failure – due largely perhaps to too little time on the drawing board…
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Dr. Rudy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kevin North GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Kevin North Superb PC remake of Nintendo’s Dr. Mario, an inventive Tetris clone. Your goal in this game is to eliminate all the little germs in the bottle by matching the color of your pills to the color…
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Notrus
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Stephens & Subha Ghoshal GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1991, John Stephens & Subha Ghoshal Notrus is an excellent Tetris clone from a duo of programmers. Aside from sporting some of the best graphics I have seen in a Tetris game, Notrus adds one twist…
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Fallout!
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brad Taylor GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1990, Brad Taylor Fallout! is the superior sequel to Beyond Columns, Brad Taylor’s excellent Columns clone. The game is much more obscure than its predecessor for some reason, despite being improved in every way, including sharper graphics and more…
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Narcolepsy
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Adam Cadre GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Adam Cadre Yet another superb IF from Adam Cadre, Narcolepsy is a fun and funny game that pokes fun at American pop culture. The game is most similar to Adam’s earlier game Interstate Zero in its setup: you…
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Hextris
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ezra Dreisbach GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1991, Ezra Dreisbach Hextris is an excellent Tetris clone that introduces hexagonal (beehive-shaped) blocks as the name suggests. The edges of the playing area are also hexagonal-shaped to fit the blocks. The game is more difficult as a result,…
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Records of Warrior
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softworld GAME PUBLISHER:Softworld Copyright 1992, Softworld Records of Warrior is a decent solitaire mahjongg game from prolific Taiwan developer Softworld. The game is a typical match-the-tiles game that many Western gamers recognize from Activision’s superb Shanghai series, with a neat twist: set in a…
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Terminus
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Vicarious Visions GAME PUBLISHER:Vatical Entertainment Copyright 2000, Vicarious Visions One of the most overlooked space simulations, Terminus is a great – and very realistic – futuristic space simulation from Vicarious Visions that strives to be the next generation of Elite – and mostly succeeds…
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Commando [2004]
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hamish GAME DEVELOPER:Fallen Angel Industries GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Fallen Angel Industries Commando is a superb side-scrolling platformer from Fallen Angel Industries, one of the best freeware making groups. The excellent review at Totalklik mirrors my thoughts almost exactly: “Commando is one of the best click…
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Highway Pursuit
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Adam Dawes GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Adam Dawes Highway Pursuit is a great arcade-style game that takes its inspiration from a number of classic games, but plays most like Midway’s classic Spy Hunter – so much so that I have decided to assign this…
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Bridge 7.0
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Arthur Walsh GAME DEVELOPER:Artworx GAME PUBLISHER:Artworx Copyright 1992, Artworx The seventh release of the longest continuously published bridge games for PC, Bridge 7.0 from Artworx is a powerful bridge program that focuses exclusively on the bidding part of the game: you and your computer partner bid…
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Pref Club
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:IBS GAME PUBLISHER:IBS Copyright 1991, IBS Pref Club is a decent card game that is notable for introducing something that is missing from most card/casino games: club atmosphere. Instead of putting you in a tournament environment as in QQP’s underrated Bridge Olympiad, or the…
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Balance
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Kahabka GAME DEVELOPER:Kingsoft GAME PUBLISHER:Kingsoft Copyright 1992, Kingsoft Balance is thoroughly average and obscure German action game from Kingsoft. The review-style description at MobyGames: “This German game of dexterity delivers what the title promises. Balance is a lesson in applied gravity: guide a ball to…
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Zen Puzzle Garden
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Joseph White GAME DEVELOPER:Lexaloffle Games GAME PUBLISHER:Lexaloffle Games Copyright 2003, Lexaloffle Games Zen Puzzle Garden is a unique and superb shareware puzzle games from Lexaloffle Games, an independent game developer. As a Zen Buddhist monk, your objective is to rake through all the sand in the…
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Neko Puzzle
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Joseph White GAME DEVELOPER:Lexaloffle Games GAME PUBLISHER:Lexaloffle Games Copyright 2003, Lexaloffle Games Neko Puzzle (or Cat Puzzle if you want to translate Japanese into English) is a fun shareware underdog from Lexaloffle Games. The game is similar to Zen Puzzle Garden in that the only ‘user…
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Speed Rage
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Telstar GAME PUBLISHER:Telstar Copyright 1996, Telstar Speed Rage is a simple arcade-ish fantasy racing game that lets you race either a dune buggy or a boat on various tracks. The game is decent, but it doesn’t really have anything to make you quit, say,…
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Reader Rabbit’s Ready for Letters
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1993, Learning Company, The Reader Rabbit’s Ready for Letters is another superb release in The Learning Company’s excellent Reader Rabbit edutainment series. Tailored to pre-schoolers, this program contains six activities designed to improve kids’ cognitive and…
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Trivia Whiz
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Broussard GAME DEVELOPER:Apogee GAME PUBLISHER:Apogee Copyright 1988, Apogee Probably two of the rarest Apogee games in existence, Word Whiz and Trivia Whiz are two decent trivia games by George Broussard and Scott Miller, two founders of Apogee. Word Whiz is the more limited and straightforward…
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Word Whiz
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Miller GAME DEVELOPER:Apogee GAME PUBLISHER:Apogee Copyright 1988, Apogee Probably two of the rarest Apogee games in existence, Word Whiz and Trivia Whiz are two decent trivia games by George Broussard and Scott Miller, two founders of Apogee. Word Whiz is the more limited and straightforward…
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Neverball
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Kooima GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Robert Kooima Neverball and Hamsterball are two superb Marble Madness-inspired games from a freeware and an indie developers, respectively. Your objective in both games is similar: guide a ball (or a hamster-trapped-inside-a-ball in Hamsterball) safely to the exit…
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Hamsterball
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Raptisoft GAME PUBLISHER:Raptisoft Copyright 2004, Raptisoft Neverball and Hamsterball are two superb Marble Madness-inspired games from a freeware and an indie developers, respectively. Your objective in both games is similar: guide a ball (or a hamster-trapped-inside-a-ball in Hamsterball) safely to the exit before time…
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Dragons of Flame
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Groteboer & George MacDonald GAME DEVELOPER:US Gold GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1989, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Heroes of the Lance, Dragons of Flame, and Shadow Sorcerer are three releases in SSI’s series of action/RPG games that are based on AD&D’s “Dragonlance” fantasy world.…
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Heroes of the Lance
From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Groteboer & George MacDonald GAME DEVELOPER:US Gold GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1988, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Heroes of the Lance, Dragons of Flame, and Shadow Sorcerer are three releases in SSI’s series of action/RPG games that are based on AD&D’s “Dragonlance” fantasy world.…