Category: Arcade and Action Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:James Payne GAME DEVELOPER:Pyrosoft GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, James Payne Genocide is a fun freeware artillery game from PyroSoft that has SVGA graphics and great sound effects (EMS memory required). Although there are numerous artillery games on the Internet, Genocide is undoubtedly one of the better…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pawel Slawinski GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Paweł Sławiński Spych is a fun freeware logic game by a freelance Polish designer that provides many hours of puzzle-solving fun in under 100KB of space. The game is reminiscent of X-Land/Epics shareware game Adventures of Robbo, in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sean Barrett GAME DEVELOPER:Silver Spaceship Software GAME PUBLISHER:Silver Spaceship Software Copyright 2002, Silver Spaceship Software Chromatron 2 is an excellent shareware puzzle game designed by Sean Barrett. The game is a great sequel to the original Chromatron, a freeware guide-the-laser-beam-to-target game. The concept of both games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zeppelin Games GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1996, Merit Studios The Machines is an okay overhead shooter game similar in style to Team 17s (vastly superior) Alien Breed or freeware classic C-DOGS. The plot, as is common for this kind of game, is negligible: in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Core Design GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1990, Virgin Interactive Monty Pythons Flying Circus is a hilarious action game based on the much more hilarious TV series of the same name starring Monty Python, UKs best-known comedy group. You control one of Mr. Gumbies from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tom Hall GAME DEVELOPER:SoftDisk Publishing GAME PUBLISHER:SoftDisk Publishing Copyright 1989, SoftDisk Publishing Xenopods is a decent overhead shareware shooter game from Softdisk, designed by Tom Hall (of later id Software fame). The plot is very standard sci-fi clich? youve seen a zillion times before: you are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Franck Perruchot GAME DEVELOPER:Kalisto GAME PUBLISHER:Kalisto Copyright 1993, Kalisto Fury of the Furries is a great cartoon platformer/puzzle game from Kalisto that was released only in Europe (as an interesting side note, Kalisto released a very similar game based on the same engine called Pac-in-Time in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Allan GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Gremlin Copyright 1994, Gremlin Zool and Zool 2 are above-average 2D platformers from Gremlin that are quite obviously ri….err, I mean, ?inspired? by SEGA?s best-selling Sonic games. Instead of the quirky hedgehog, you control a similar-looking cartoon character: Zool, the ?Ninja…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Allan GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Gremlin Copyright 1993, Gremlin Zool and Zool 2 are above-average 2D platformers from Gremlin that are quite obviously ri….err, I mean, inspired by SEGAs best-selling Sonic games. Instead of the quirky hedgehog, you control a similar-looking cartoon character: Zool, the Ninja…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Magnavox GAME PUBLISHER:Magnavox Copyright 1981, Magnavox The Quest for the Rings was the first and arguably best adventure/RPG game produced for the Odyssey&#178, one of the early 80s console systems (whose main competition at the time was the Atari VCS). QFTR is a remarkable…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Raffaele Cecco & Graham Goring GAME DEVELOPER:Hewson GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Graham Goring Cybernoid 2 is yet another brilliant remake of a classic non-PC game from Retrospec, possibly the best retro-remake group today who concentrates on remaking classic games for the PC ? free of charge.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Miles Vignol GAME DEVELOPER:Fathom Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Fathom Entertainment Barrel Patrol 3D is a fun fanmade remake of Ripoff, a late 1970s Vectrex game in which you must defend your stash of fuel cells from invading pirates. In Barrel Patrol 3D, you must protect…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kurt Miller GAME DEVELOPER:Gradient Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Gradient Studios Copyright 2002, Gradient Studios Strayfire is a very fun, very good looking shareware vertical shooter powered by OpenGL and DirectX. The combination of jaw-dropping graphics and fast-and-furious gameplay makes Strayfire one of the most visually pleasing shooters to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christopher Emirzian GAME DEVELOPER:ToastSoft GAME PUBLISHER:ToastSoft Copyright 2001, ToastSoft XOP is one of the best shareware vertical shooters I have come across in recent memory. Although graphically the game is nothing to marvel at the graphics are more reminiscent of DOS games than todays 3D-accelerated game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Ton Tan Nerw GAME PUBLISHER:Ton Tan Nerw Copyright 1999, Ton Tan Nerw V.G. Custom is the sequel to V.G. Max, an all-girls Hentai (i.e. adult content) anime 2D fighting game developed by Ton Tan Nerw/Giga. The game, like most Giga titles for Windows 95/98,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Toni R?s?nen GAME DEVELOPER:Imagination GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Imagination Not to be confused with a game of the same name for Spectrum/Commodore 64 computers (for a remake of that, see Deflektor on this site), Deflector is a fun and quite original 2-4 player hotseat multiplayer game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Antti Haapakoski & Teppo L?htinen GAME DEVELOPER:Skitso Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Skitso Productions Mine Bombers is a fun action game designed for two or more players, although a single player mode is included. Think of it as two-player version of Bomberman and you’ll have a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Olli Haanperi & Kaj Bjorklund GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Olli Haanperi & Kaj Bjorklund Rocket Chase is among my top faves in the caveshooter genre. Well-thought and balanced gameplay is one reason. One are fantastic bitmap graphics – many levels are simply beautiful –…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Black & Ralph Stoeber GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Learning Systems GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1984, Digital Learning Systems Trivia 101, 3-K Trivia, and TV and Cinema 101 together constitute a trilogy of trivia games developed by Digital Learning Systems and published by IBM in 1984. The games are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Keith Frechette GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Learning Systems GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1984, Digital Learning Systems Trivia 101, 3-K Trivia, and TV and Cinema 101 together constitute a trilogy of trivia games developed by Digital Learning Systems and published by IBM in 1984. The games are all straightforward multiple-choice…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Black & Ralph Stoeber GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Learning Systems GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1984, Digital Learning Systems Trivia 101, 3-K Trivia, and TV and Cinema 101 together constitute a trilogy of trivia games developed by Digital Learning Systems and published by IBM in 1984. The games are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jiji GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Jiji Jegg is a cute little freeware gem from Japan with a simple premise: direct eggs of different color into the correct bag by adding or removing pipes the eggs can travel on. Despite being very easy to learn,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tyo Maho GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Tyo Maho Vsys Gaiden is a fun and very pretty vertical shooter from Japan. The idea is simple: shoot everything in sight to progress to the next level. Ray-traced graphics, good sound effects and music, and excellent ship…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:G-Cube GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, G-Cube Gigantic Gear is an excellent (albeit short) freeware giant robot action game from Japan. Aside from sporting excellent 3D graphics, the game offers a few innovative features that set it apart from other shoot everything in sight games.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Midway GAME PUBLISHER:Midway Copyright 1997, Midway War Gods is a shoddy 3D fighting game that is similar to Mortal Kombat — but unfortunately only in the gore department. With a lot of violence, blood, and gross fatalities attacks, War Gods and Mortal Kombathave very…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pete Shinners GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Pete Shinners It indeed does not take all that fancy multimedia or a billion of features to create an enjoyable game. It takes nothing more than a little spaceship going around in cardinal directions, boxes to collect and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jetro Lauha GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Jetro Lauha KOPS, to me, seems, although good, still a bit of a bland caveshooter. The action is not as hectic as in some other games of the genre, and neither there is anything very original in the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jaakko Lyytinen GAME DEVELOPER:KUDOS GAME PUBLISHER:KUDOS Copyright 1995, Jaakko Lyytinen Gee, yet another Finnish shareware title, where you battle your friend to death – or shrapnel rather. Again, it’s all about accelerating your little rocketship against the gravity and pelting your enemy with a pea-shooter, while…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hippopotamus Design GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1996, Hippopotamus Design Tankkk was a bliss in it’s time. This Finnish shareware oldie boasts not only two, but three tanks. There’s no dirt to dig around. Instead, a maze-ish arena is given for the players to fight in.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1995, Capstone Zorro is yet another lackluster game by Capstone that wasted the opportunity to leverage a well-known literary figure, in this case the handsome renegade Spanish hero. In this outing, you must help Zorro navigate the California wilderness as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Ton Tan Nerw GAME PUBLISHER:Ton Tan Nerw Copyright 1997, Ton Tan Nerw V.G. Max (a.k.a. Variable Geo Max) is a superior sequel to V.G. Fighter, a fighting game based on a Japanese anime series called Variable Geo. Similar to Metal & Lace and V.G.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Chung GAME DEVELOPER:iSeeSoft GAME PUBLISHER:iSeeSoft Copyright 2001, iSeeSoft World Dance is one of the most unique and enjoyable puzzle games I have ever come across. In addition to offering fun, original, and innovative gameplay, the game also succeeds as a rare “edutainment” title that teaches…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Rage Software GAME PUBLISHER:GT Interactive Copyright 1997, Rage Software One of Rage Software’s most obscure games, Trash-It is a decent platformer that injects a few puzzle elements into the tried-and-true side-scrolling platform formula. The game is still pretty much a basic action game, but…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Merit Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1994, Merit Studios One of the worst FPS games ever made, Nerves of Steel is Merit Studio’s failed attempt to resurrect its reputation after the appalling Fortress of Dr. Radiaki. First, the trite plot: from a super- secret…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:First Amusement GAME PUBLISHER:First Amusement Copyright 1994, First Amusement Metal Saver is a fun arcade-style game from Korea that plays like a cross between Bubble Ghost and Dinosaur Balls. Controlling either a male or female fighter (or play both in 2-player mode), your job…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Forest GAME PUBLISHER:Forest Copyright 1996, Forest Metal & Lace 2 is a vastly superior game to the first Metal & Lace game, which was published in the US by MegaTech. It’s still a Hentai (adult/nudity) game, but at least the action is a lot…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeform Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Freeform Interactive Laser Age is a decent coffee-break sized vertical shooter from Freeform Interactive/Ingava — one of the best freeware developers that folded sometime in 2000. Good SVGA graphics, detailed ships, and many different kinds of enemy ships…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ville M?nkk?nen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Ville M?nkk?nen The Forge is a fun and quite addictive freeware fighting game. Your goal is to win one-on-one gladiator fights to move from division three to become the champion of division one. You earn money from each…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1995, Anonymous Like Panda Entertainment’s Sango Fighter and Sango Fighter 2, Fong Wan Tien Ha is centered around China’s Han Dynasty during the times of famous “three kingdoms” period popularized in KOEI’s strategy games. Since the game is based on…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Adware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Duracell Duracell: Run the Bunny is a pretty awful first-person shooter starring — yes, it’s true — Duracell’s Energizer bunny, one of the most recognizable corporate mascots in the world. The goal in each level is to find the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ville M?nkk?nen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Ville M?nkk?nen Bikez II is a fast, fun 3D game where you drive a motorcycle around a noir-ish town. In a setting that recalls Grand Theft Auto and Quarantine, your job is to complete increasingly difficult missions to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Triniti Software GAME PUBLISHER:Triniti Software Copyright 1995, Triniti Software Antagony is a decent fighting game in the same style as Mortal Kombat, only not as varied. The game is a better than average effort, though, especially judging from the fact that it was developed…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tran GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, Tran Kaeon is a little SHMUP that was never finished, with only three short levels, so-so graphics and an extreme difficulty. It’s a little pity though, because it had potentialities: five parallactic backgrounds were quite a rarity on a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Iain McLeod GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anoymous Copyright 2000, Iain McLeod Between all the many Asteroids remakes floating around, this one stands as one of the most original. It’s not for particular innovations in the gameplay, aside from some creative bonuses like the Bounce Shield or the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Enix GAME PUBLISHER:Enix Copyright 1995, Enix The Violinist of Hameln is another unique action/adventure/RPG game from Enix that was released only in Japan. Thanks to the translation efforts of fan group J2e Translation, you can now play the game in English. The plot is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Toni R?s?nen GAME DEVELOPER:Imagination GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Toni R?s?nen The game is simple; move your ship (on the bottom of the screen) left to right to dodge the enemy ships, which descend in various patterns from the top of the screen – of course you’ve…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Williams Electronics GAME PUBLISHER:GT Interactive Copyright 1997, Williams Electronics Robotron X is a good revamp of the original coin-op hit Robotron: 2084. As one of the earliest attempts to revive arcade classics, Robotron X plays good and looks great, although the Playstation version, with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Team 17 GAME PUBLISHER:Team 17 Copyright 1994, Team 17 The sequel to Body Blows, this game is centered around the revenge of Max (otherwise known as the cyborg T17) and his gangland cronies. Each character from Body Blows is included, and an incredible amount…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Unknown The first difficulty in VajraVanish is… finding the shot and bomb buttons. After some tries, I found them: Backspace and Gray Ins respectively. While such controls are quite uncommon, I must admit that they aren’t absolutely bad, and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Unknown One of the most impressive freeware shooters I played, Another Zero is also one of the most difficult games in the genre, freeware or not. Three ships are selectable, each with different characteristics, a main weapon, and a…