Category: Arcade and Action Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:OCEAN GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1992, OCEAN Cool World is a lackluster platform game based on the equally lackluster follow-up movie to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. In this cartoon world, you are Frank Harris, a detective hired to stop busty cartoon diva Holli Would from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Chilton GAME DEVELOPER:Psygnosis GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1989, Psygnosis Stryx is an ambitious multi-type action game with some puzzle elements (similar to Epyx classic Impossible Mission 2) that unfortunately is bogged down by poor platform action levels. The plot, which is almost superfluous in this type…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Thorburn & Bill Thorburn GAME DEVELOPER:MicroValue GAME PUBLISHER:MicroValue Copyright 1993, MicroValue Demon Blue is a simple, average platformer from MicroValue, done in a cutesy cartoon style similar to Virgins better-known Cool Spot. You are a blue demon, and your job is simply to make it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Apogee GAME PUBLISHER:3D Realms Copyright 1996, Apogee One of the most underrated shooters ever made, Stargunner is a great sci-fi side-scrolling shooter that features excellent gameplay and outstanding graphics and sounds. The story, if you need to know for shoot-a-thon game, is straightforward: …deep…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Action Forms GAME PUBLISHER:WizardWorks Copyright 1999, Action Forms Arguably the best ?hunting simulator? ever made, Carnivores 2 is an excellent budget game that proves that not every hunting game is Deer Hunter clone. PC Gameworld says it all about what makes this a FPS…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Terminal Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Terminal Studios Copyright 2000, Terminal Studios BrickShooter is a wonderful combinatorial puzzle game based on a unique twist on Tetris. The best way to describe the game is perhaps to think of what happens when you combine Rubiks Cube with Tetris…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Etiumsoft GAME PUBLISHER:Etiumsoft Copyright 2001, Etiumsoft Pool War is an excellent, very innovative 3D turn-based strategy game that plays like a cross between chess, pool, and an arcade game. As the companys blurb says, …it’s very similar to a pool game set-up, but has…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:LittleWing GAME PUBLISHER:LittleWing Copyright 2000, LittleWing Just when you think LittleWing can add no more features to their outstanding Solid State Pinball series that began with Tristan Pinball, LittleWing came out with Golden Logres, the latest and possibly best game in the series that…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:LittleWing GAME PUBLISHER:LittleWing Copyright 1998, LittleWing After Loony Labyrinth, LittleWing continues to improve and enhance their Solid State Pinball series. Angel Egg, fourth game in the series, ups the ante even higher with new features and graphics modes that makes the game even more…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:LittleWing GAME PUBLISHER:LittleWing Copyright 1994, LittleWing Second in LittleWings acclaimed Solid State Pinball series and its best seller, Crystal Caliburn is an excellent pinball simulation with a cool story that takes place in the Golden Age of King Arthur and his Knights of the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:LittleWing GAME PUBLISHER:LittleWing Copyright 1998, LittleWing Third in the acclaimed Solid State Pinball series, Loony Labyrinth is another excellent pinball simulation from LittleWing, Japan-based developer responsible for the outstanding Crystal Caliburn Pinball. This time, LittleWing has aimed this title at beginning pinball players, while…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Goldtree Enterprises GAME PUBLISHER:Piranha Interactive Copyright 1998, Goldtree Enterprises Dead Reckoning is a significant update of Goldtrees 1996 underdog Cylindrix, a fun 360-degree, 3D action game set in a cyberpunk-ish universe. Similar to Cylindrix, Dead Reckoning is a pure arcade shooter: there is nothing…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Chaos Works GAME PUBLISHER:Epic Megagames Copyright 1997, Chaos Works One of the most underrated shareware releases from Epic Megagames, Fire Fight is an excellent, very addictive isometric shoot em-up from Polish developer Chaos Works. Although the game did well enough to warrant a later…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Hi-Tech Expressions GAME PUBLISHER:Hi-Tech Expressions Copyright 1991, Hi-Tech Expressions Hi-Tech Expressions botched another blockbuster TV license with this game, a lackluster platformer starring Fred Flintstones. The plot is simple: Fred and Barney are out looking for Dino, Freds pet dinosaur that is lost somewhere…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeform Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Freeform Interactive The second and one of the last releases from Freeform Interactive, a promising freeware developing arm of Ingava.com, one of the best freeware sites that folded in mid-2001. Rocket Download has the skinny on this fun…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Seamus McNally GAME DEVELOPER:Longbow Digital Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Longbow Digital Arts Copyright 2000, Longbow Digital Arts Tread Marks is an incredibly addictive battle tank combat and racing game that is similar to classic BattleZone, but a lot more sophisticated and fun. A deserving winner of 3 awards…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:ShareData GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1987, ShareData Daily Crossword Puzzles is a decent but small collection of daily crossword puzzles from the NY Times. The game includes only 15 puzzles, although they are all quite interesting. The interface is clean and easy to use: you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:ComAd Group GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, bhv One of the earliest promotional games by ComAd, developed for Germany’s software superstore bhv in 1992. Willi’s Pinball is an okay pinball game with the same trappings as most other pinball games, except that you can forget…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mikko V?lim?ki GAME DEVELOPER:V?ldesoftware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Mikko V?lim?ki A fast, fun, unassuming little side-scrolling freeware shooter. You are a new sheriff in town, and your job is to track down the notorious gunslinger who’s been causing trouble in these parts. The game is played…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Topo Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Topo Soft Copyright 1993, Topo Soft Sequel to Topo Soft’s excellent by underrated Luigi & Spaghetti, this second unofficial outing of Mario’s underrated brother is unfortunately not as fun as the first. In Luigi en Circusland, you will guide Luigi as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Topo Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Topo Soft Copyright 1990, Topo Soft Fun, unassuming sequel to Mad Mix, Topo Soft’s interesting Pac-Man clone. In this second outing, the Spanish version of Pac-Man is presented in outstanding isometric graphics, with the third dimension used to great effects: our…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Topo Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Topo Soft Copyright 1991, Topo Soft One of the least-known platformers of all time is this excellent cartoonish game from Spanish developer Topo Soft, starring the long overlooked Mario brother from Nintendo’s best-known series. Luigi & Spaghetti sees our hero stomp…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Anonymous Ever want to know what DOOM would be like if it were made as 2D side-scrolling shooter? Well, now you can! DOOM 2D is an excellent fan-made game based on id’s perennial favorite, featuring everything you love about…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christian Bj?rkqvist GAME DEVELOPER:Software of Sweden GAME PUBLISHER:Webfoot Technologies Copyright 1997, Software of Sweden Bubble Pop is a great clone of Bubble Bobble, with some unique touches. Your mission is to rescue Bublina and the world from The Evil One (definitely the most unique name ever…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Morrison & Stuart Cheshire GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, John Morrison & Stuart Cheshire One of the best Macintosh games ever made is Bolo, a great game of tank combat for up to 16 players. WinBolo is an excellent Windows port of this Mac…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:JJ Soft GAME PUBLISHER:JJ Soft Copyright 1999, JJ Soft PetWings is a cool vertical shooter similar to Galaxian, except with crisper graphics and awesome anime style which is reminiscent of the famous Twinbee series on the console. The basic premise is simple: shoot everything…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:JJ Soft GAME PUBLISHER:JJ Soft Copyright 2000, JJ Soft Excellent 3D anime action game from JJ Soft, one of the best (and most obscure) shareware developers today. The review at Rocket Download says all about this great underdog: “Hopmon is a brilliant combination of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Clark GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, David Clark Sopwith: The Author’s Edition is a greatly modified version of the original freeware classic Sopwith with the following features: Faster framerate Novice (with unlimited ammo/no stalls) and Expert mode for Single Player Includes new sprites (bullet…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Clark GAME DEVELOPER:BMB Compuscience GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1985, BMB Compuscience Two of the best-loved “cult classics” of all time, Sopwith and its much-improved successor, Sopwith 2 are classic CGA games that gave birth to the genre of flying-planes-to-destroy-stuff. Among the now-legendary gameplay, the original Sopwith…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Clark GAME DEVELOPER:BMB Compuscience GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1984, BMB Compuscience Two of the best-loved “cult classics” of all time, Sopwith and its much-improved successor, Sopwith 2 are classic CGA games that gave birth to the genre of flying-planes-to-destroy-stuff. Among the now-legendary gameplay, the original Sopwith…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Anthony Hamilton & Roger Wong GAME DEVELOPER:POW Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Anthony Hamilton Powball is one of the best Breakout clones I have ever seen, freeware or otherwise. The game introduces a lot of fun elements to the paddle-and-ball formula, including a simultaneous 2 player…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jens Hassler GAME DEVELOPER:Kingsoft GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Jens Hassler Gravity Force is a fun PC remake of an underrated Amiga game of the same name, first released by Kingsoft in 1989. The game’s looks and feel are similar to Scorched Earth: Your mission is to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Minter & John Dow GAME DEVELOPER:Llamasoft GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, John Dow One of the best PC remakes ever, Attack of the Mutant Camels is a wonderful remake of Jeff “Yak” Minter’s classic quirky shooter for the Atari and Commodore 64. The plot: evil aliens…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Ritman & Kakarot GAME DEVELOPER:OCEAN GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, Kakarot Watman is a great remake of Batman, a classic 1986 action/adventure hybrid released only for the Spectrum computer, designed by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond and published by OCEAN. The original Batman is not only…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Page GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Mark Page Super Methane Brothers is an excellent unofficial PC remake of the fun Amiga 1200 game of the same name. The game is similar to Bubble Bobble in looks and gameplay: you control two cute cartoon characters…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Daniel Feed GAME DEVELOPER:Raven Software GAME PUBLISHER:GT Interactive Copyright 1997, Raven Software Another underrated released from premier action house Raven Software (most famous for Hexen and Heretic), Mageslayer is an excellent hack ‘n slash-fest that rejuvenates the overhead dungeon hack genre pioneered by Atari’s Gauntlet over…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eugene Jarvis GAME DEVELOPER:Williams Electronics GAME PUBLISHER:Atari Games Copyright 1984, Williams Electronics Arguably the best “pure” action game ever made, Robotron: 2084 rocketed Eugene Jarvis to fame when it was first released as an arcade game by Williams Electronics in 1982. This PC version, released two…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zero Gravity GAME PUBLISHER:WizardWorks Copyright 1997, Zero Gravity id Software’s perennial favorite Quake has probably seen more unofficial add-ons and enhancements than any other game. Those of you who play on their servers over the Internet are probably familiar with improvements such as the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Anonymous A cool Chopper Command clone, Taso is a fun little mindless game with two simple goals: destroy your opponents and defend your base. You have a wide range of choppers, each armed with different weapons, as well as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Seumas McNally GAME DEVELOPER:Longbow Digital Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Longbow Digital Arts Released as freeware in 1996, Michael Welchs DX-Ball instantly acquires a loyal following and is widely hailed as one of the best Breakout clones ever made. In 1999, Longbow Digital Arts began working…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Fallen Angel Industries GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Fallen Angel Industries Kar-nage is a fun isometric car combat game from Fallen Angel Industries, indie developers of several excellent freeware titles using the Klik & Play application. The game is the first car combat game released…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Fallen Angel Industries GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Fallen Angel Industries Factor X is a fun free-for-all top-down fragfest that is inspired by Virtually Real’s cult classic Destruction Carnival. As the official site proclaims, the game is “…a massive compilation of a 23 level story…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Bourassa & Dana Fortier GAME DEVELOPER:Furious Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Furious Entertainment Copyright 2001, Furious Entertainment One of the most unique (and violent) action games I have ever come across, Hateful Chris: Never Say Buy is an excellent counterculture platformer with plenty of disgusting and amoral elements,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Stardock Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Stardock Systems Copyright 2001, Stardock Systems LightWeight Ninja is a fun, quirky platformer that is one of the best 2D action games I have played in some time. If you are familiar with OS/2 classic Galactic Civilizations or Entrepreneur, you might…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Microids GAME PUBLISHER:Microids Copyright 1990, Microids Highway Patrol II is a little-known racing game from Microids that boasts some innovative concepts that are sadly lost in lackluster implementation. As the title suggests, you play a highway patrol officer in a nondescript town somewhere in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Crystal Dynamics GAME PUBLISHER:EIDOS Interactive Copyright 1997, Crystal Dynamics Probably Crystal Dynamics’ least successful release, Gex is a decent platformer that tries too hard to emulate Earthworm Jim in playability and humor… but doesn’t quite get there. In Gex, you play a cocky 20th…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simulmondo GAME PUBLISHER:Simulmondo Copyright 1994, Simulmondo After having ruined some comics’ licenses, Simulmondo tried again, this time with completely own storyline and characters. The project was quite ambitious: Fabbri is one of Italy’s biggest magazine publishers, and the games were even advertised on television…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simulmondo GAME PUBLISHER:Simulmondo Copyright 1994, Simulmondo After having ruined some comics’ licenses, Simulmondo tried again, this time with completely own storyline and characters. The project was quite ambitious: Fabbri is one of Italy’s biggest magazine publishers, and the games were even advertised on television…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Richard Leinecker GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1989, Capstone Yet another awful PC adaptation of a movie license by Capstone. In Miami Vice, you will take on the roles of Crockett and Tubbs from the movie (two players can play simultaneously in hotseat mode). Gameplay is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simulmondo GAME PUBLISHER:Simulmondo Copyright 1994, Simulmondo After having ruined some comics’ licenses, Simulmondo tried again, this time with completely own storyline and characters. The project was quite ambitious: Fabbri is one of Italy’s biggest magazine publishers, and the games were even advertised on television…