Category: Arcade and Action Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:DOE Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:DOE Entertainment Copyright 1997, DOE Entertainment Egyptia is a very obscure puzzle game from German developer DOE Entertainment. Your goal is to navigate dozens of rooms inside a pyramid to uncover the hidden gold of the Pharaohs. The game plays like…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kenta Cho GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Kenta Cho Among freeware SHMUP designers, few names have become associated with quality as Kenta Cho of Japan. His games are consistently addictive, unique, and eminently replayable thanks to creative uses of the D programming language and BulletML,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tommy Visic GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Tommy Visic Glace is a polished, long, and fun freeware platformer that harks back to the golden days of Super Nintendo. The story: in a strange galaxy inhabited by aliens, two made scientists named Dr. Frog and Dr.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Messhof GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Messhof Bool is a very creative and unique action game that takes some time to figure out at first, but will gradually grow on you. In the author’s words: “in this game you rescue yellow balls with a crane…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Image Works Copyright 1990, Bitmap Brothers An even better shooter than its original, Xenon 2 is a SHMUP masterpiece from Bitmap Brothers, although this PC version did not sell nearly as well as its Amiga counterpart. Piloting the “Megablaster” ship, your…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Image Works Copyright 1988, Bitmap Brothers Xenon was the first game from Bitmap Brothers, a classic vertical shooter that immediately put the small UK outfit on the map. Excellent graphics, catchy soundtrack, and gameplay turned the game into best-seller on Commodore…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Mirrorsoft Copyright 1990, Bitmap Brothers The Payoff was released in 1991 as an “expansion disk” to Cadaver, a fun puzzle/adventure/action hybrid from Bitmap Brothers. The game picks up right where Cadaver left off, offering additional four levels of action, puzzles and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Mirrorsoft Copyright 1990, Bitmap Brothers Cadaver is a fun isometric puzzle/adventure game from Bitmap Brothers. The first non-action Bitmap Bros. game, Cadaver lives up to the company’s reputation of producing games with detailed graphics, addictive gameplay, and an intuitive user interface…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Binary Zoo [2004] GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Binary Zoo [2004] DUOtris is a fun Tetris variant that merits attention of fans of falling-block games, even though the interface takes some getting used to. Shockedfrog’s thorough review at his site summarizes the pros and cons…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Binary Zoo [2004] GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Binary Zoo [2004] DUO is a fun “retro” 2D vertical shooter that features frenetic gameplay with minimalist/abstract graphics that seems to be all the rage lately. In a twist to normal shooters, your ‘ship’ in DUO is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Richard Jordan GAME DEVELOPER:Ultimate Play the Game GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Richard Jordan Jetpak – Solar Crisis is a superb Jetpac remake from Richard Jordan, maker of Klass of ’99, one of the best fanmade remakes ever made. The author said this is his fourth attempt…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:COSMI GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1990, COSMI Munch, Invaders, Sanction and Ribet are four simple arcade games included in COSMI’s Top Ten Solid Gold compilation. The only thing these four games in common is the fact that each game is a rip-off of well-known games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:COSMI GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1990, COSMI Munch, Invaders, Sanction and Ribet are four simple arcade games included in COSMI’s Top Ten Solid Gold compilation. The only thing these four games in common is the fact that each game is a rip-off of well-known games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:COSMI GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1990, COSMI Munch, Invaders, Sanction and Ribet are four simple arcade games included in COSMI’s Top Ten Solid Gold compilation. The only thing these four games in common is the fact that each game is a rip-off of well-known games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:COSMI GAME PUBLISHER:COSMI Copyright 1990, COSMI Munch, Invaders, Sanction and Ribet are four simple arcade games included in COSMI’s Top Ten Solid Gold compilation. The only thing these four games in common is the fact that each game is a rip-off of well-known games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Acclaim Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Acclaim Entertainment Copyright 1996, Acclaim Entertainment Definitely one of the worst side-scrolling action games ever made, Iron Man/XO Man o’ War in Heavy Metal boldly continues Acclaim’s trend of ruining a good license. This time, you get to play Iron Man…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Philips Media GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1996, Philips Media Mystic Midway – Rest In Pieces is a so-so and little-known PC conversion of Philips’ game of the same name released on their short-lived CD-i system. The game is basically a shooting gallery with a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ryan Bury GAME DEVELOPER:RjB Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, RjB Software Afterlife is a fun and long freeware platformer/exploration game from Ryan J. Bury of RjB Software. “Afterlife is RjB Software’s showcase game, a unique, massive, action-packed adventure starring the daring balloonist Rickard Bronson, the one…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Accolade GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1996, Accolade Eradicator is a fun FPS from Accolade that got far too little attention than it deserves. Steve Bauman’s review for CD Mag explains why this derivative underdog is not just another boring Quake clone: “In the gaming business,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Corel GAME PUBLISHER:Corel Copyright 1996, Corel Ashes to Ashes is a very banal, sub-par first-person shooter released in 1996 amid other boring Quake clones. Although the game does try to offer something new (for instance, you can operate several types of vehicles including turrets…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Juuso Salonen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Juuso Salonen Super Secret Ninja is one of the smallest and most entertaining ‘coffee break’ games I’ve ever come across – not to mention unique. In a game that seems to have been inspired in equal parts by…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zyrinx GAME PUBLISHER:Zyrinx Copyright 1993, Zyrinx Sub-Terrania is a creative and highly underrated SEGA Genesis game from Zyrinx, maker of Zero Tolerance, another Genesis underdog also reviewed on this site. The banal plot: alien forces have invaded an asteroid mining colony and it is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Novotrade GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1995, SEGA Ecco The Dolphin is the rare Windows 95 version of SEGA’s first game in a classic series that began life on the SEGA Master System in 1992 and is still going strong, with sequels appearing on the Playstation…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zyrinx GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1994, Technopop One of the few first-person shooters on SEGA’s Genesis console, Zero Tolerance is also one of the most underappreciated gems on that system. Your goal in this sci-fi FPS is to control a team of five soldiers sent…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Georg Rottensteiner & Oliver Kirwa GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Georg Rottensteiner HitBlock is a fun puzzle game that started life as a remake of C64 game Crillion but ended up offering much more than its predecessor. The premise is simple: use the arrow keys…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Driven Phantom Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Driven Phantom Soft Mogura Reverse is another cute horizontal shooter from Japan, where more and more freeware games achieve – and in some cases surpass – the quality of commercial games. Gendo Ikari’s review for Gamehippo.com explains…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jez San GAME DEVELOPER:Argonaut Software GAME PUBLISHER:Nintendo Copyright 1992, Argonaut Software One of the most revolutionary games ever made for the Super Nintendo (SNES) console, Star Fox (released as StarWing in Europe) is an addictive and innovative 3D space shooter from Argonaut Software. The concise review…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kevin Lambert GAME DEVELOPER:Monolith Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Monolith Productions Copyright 1999, Monolith Productions Gruntz is an addictive but vastly overlooked puzzle game from Monolith. A bit like Lemmings but with the addition of combat and more focus on puzzles than real-time precision, Gruntz will definitely appeal to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Menne Kamminga GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Menne Kamminga Lemming Ball Z is one of the best and most imaginative blends of two blockbuster games. Who would imagine that pitting the cuddly lemmings from Psygnosis’ classic puzzle series against each other and arm them with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Arkano GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Arkano Light in the Darkness is a fun action/RPG hybrid coded in Game Maker. The favorable review by tapeworm (maker of Seiklus) at Gamemakergames.com does a good job of explaining why both RPG and action genre fans should take…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:amaginZ GAME PUBLISHER:amaginZ Copyright 2000, amaginZ Valkyrie Fight and its sequel Valkyrie Fight Tag are two superb and highly underrated 2D fighting games based on Tri-Ace’s popular Valkyrie Profile series on the PSX and PS2. VF and VFT are “Doujinshi” games – i.e. an…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Johnson GAME DEVELOPER:MicroValue GAME PUBLISHER:Villa Crespo Copyright 1992, MicroValue The Space Vegetables Corp. is a relatively rare but decent action game from MicroValue. The game is similar an older Commodore 64 game called Star Paws: as a space-age farmer, you have to protect your crop…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Loudness Multimedia GAME PUBLISHER:Loudness Multimedia Copyright 1997, Loudness Multimedia Detective Bogey is a below-average platformer from Loudness Multimedia that more or less deserves its unknown status. The clicheed plot: as Detective Bogey, you must rescue the beautiful Pandora from the clutches of evil Sinister…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:amaginZ GAME PUBLISHER:amaginZ Copyright 2001, amaginZ Valkyrie Fight and its sequel Valkyrie Fight Tag are two superb and highly underrated 2D fighting games based on Tri-Ace’s popular Valkyrie Profile series on the PSX and PS2. VF and VFT are “Doujinshi” games – i.e. an…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Oliver Kirwa & Thomas Bolhuis GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Thomas Bolhuis MisAdventures of Sir Randolph Doogleberry, British Explorer (MASRDBE in short) and Sensitive are two fun turn-based puzzle games with similar concepts: move over each tile exactly once to make them disappear or fall…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Danny Boyd GAME DEVELOPER:Acoders GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Acoders MisAdventures of Sir Randolph Doogleberry, British Explorer (MASRDBE in short) and Sensitive are two fun turn-based puzzle games with similar concepts: move over each tile exactly once to make them disappear or fall away before you can…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jorge Granados & Ignacio Gil GAME DEVELOPER:Ziggurat GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Ignacio Prez Gil Humphrey is a great remake of one of Ziggurat’s best action games that is basically unknown outside Spain. In the remake author’s words: “in 1988, Zigurat released a game that ended up…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Crystal Light Stage Restraint of Zero (R.O.Z. for short) is another excellent, very polished shooter from Japan’s rapidly growing freeware scene. Similar to huge 3D shooters like Idinaloq and Die Slave (which you can also download from this site),…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tomaz Kac GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Black Cat Push-Push Penguin is a superb remake of Pengo, SEGA’s classic arcade game. Designer team Black Cat did a superb job of recreating the addiction on the PC, but also went above and beyond the call of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1996, SEGA Baku Baku Animal from SEGA is a fun Columns variant for Windows 95 that can be played in 2-person mode via split screen. CD Mag’s review explains it well: “Baku Baku is Tetris with animal food. Basically, the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Danny Boyd GAME DEVELOPER:Atari Games GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Danny Boyd Haunted House is a great fanmade remake of a classic Atari 2600 action game of the same name. Since I fondly remember playing this classic until the wee hours when I was young, this superb…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Hideo Kojima GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 2000, Konami Metal Gear Solid is a solid PC conversion of a hit Playstation game, in itself a hugely popular console series designed by Hideo Kojima. GameSpy’s comprehensive review of this “definitive” version to own says it all about…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Argonaut Software GAME PUBLISHER:Nintendo Copyright 1995, Argonaut Software A cool 3D space combat game featuring polygonal graphics, Star Fox 2 is one of the most sought-after unreleased games in existence. Years after the final beta was uncovered and released as ROM on the Internet,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jimmy Riley GAME DEVELOPER:Acoders GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jimmy Riley Arena Runner is another quality freeware action game from the talented Apocalyptic Coders group. Circy’s review for Klik-Me.com says it all: ” I guess, in a couple of ways, Arena Runner perhaps resembles a Snake game.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Lupinek GAME DEVELOPER:Taito GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Robert Lupinek Legend of Shadow is a fun freeware remake of Legend of Kage, Taito’s underrated ninja platformer for the NES. In the crowded field of remakes, LOS still manages to stand out from most of the rest…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jph Wacheski GAME DEVELOPER:Iteration Games GAME PUBLISHER:Iteration Games Copyright 2004, Jph Wacheski Valence is a fun and unique arcade game that offers much more fun than its $5 registration price tag suggests. The short but concise review at Gamemakergames.com says it all about this indie underdog…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Antimatter Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Antimatter Entertainment Defender of Grim is a fun and atmospheric action game that starts out as a simple arcade game, but will grow on you after a while. You’re the one and only chance the dying alien species…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:James Whitehead GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, James Whitehead Titan Omega Revelations is a fun, polished, and massive freeware horizontal shooter that went through many versions, each time with more features than the last. This latest incarnation is chock full of many more features than…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Samona GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Samona One of the most unique and fun platformers I have ever come across, Obake is a fun Japanese platformer that plays like what Messiah would probably be without the third dimension, religious/sci-fi overtones, and ‘real-world’ graphics. The gameplay…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1996, Dupuis Lucky Luke and Spirou are two relatively obscure 2D side-scrolling platformers designed by Infogrames based on popular Belgian comics. Lucky Luke is a Western cowboy, while Spirou is a bumbling bellboy who looks like he could be Tintin’s…