Category: Arcade and Action Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy Williams GAME DEVELOPER:Motivetime GAME PUBLISHER:Motivetime Copyright 1994, Motivetime 3D shooters of the old kind were known for having somewhat constructed game stories. But this one beats them all. Obviously Motivetime thought: “Let’s make a 3D shooter with a rock’n roll hero and cool rock’n roll…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Webfoot Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Webfoot Technologies Copyright 1995, Webfoot Technologies A strangely appealing, unique action/puzzle hybrid, Cyborg: Hopy-ONE is reminiscent of Epyx’ classic Spiderbot. You are a pogo stick-like robot who must navigate dozens of levels to get out. You can bounce, or you can…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Sorrell GAME DEVELOPER:Millennium GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1993, Millennium A solid PC conversion of Millennium’s 1991 Amiga hit James Pond 2: Codename RoboCod. RoboCod is a fantastic, colorful platform game which improves the genre with some very ingenious ideas. The star of the game is James…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ste Cork & Markus Grimmer GAME DEVELOPER:Linel GAME PUBLISHER:Linel Copyright 1991, Linel The Neverending Story II is a very poor action game based on the not much better (and quite bizarre) movie of the same name. The concept is simple: you’re Bastian, and are called forth…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Millennium GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1991, Millennium Moonshine Racers is a fun 3D bitmap racing game with nice graphics, converted from the original Amiga release. Probably the best thing about the game is the wacky plot, which is set in the wild, wild west of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Abrash GAME DEVELOPER:Funtastic GAME PUBLISHER:Funtastic Copyright 1983, Funtastic Undoubtedly Michael Abrash’s masterpiece, and one of my most favorite games of all time, Funtastic’s Big Top is an incredibly addictive “ladder” game that adds so many extras and nice touches that set it apart from the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Abrash GAME DEVELOPER:Funtastic GAME PUBLISHER:Funtastic Copyright 1982, Funtastic Another wonderful Michael Abrash classic, Snack Attack II is an enhanced Pac-Man clone that is no less addictive than the arcade classic. The goal, as we all know too well, is to gobble up gumdrops and other…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Abrash GAME DEVELOPER:Funtastic GAME PUBLISHER:Funtastic Copyright 1982, Funtastic Ah… the memories. Cosmic Crusader was the very FIRST IBM PC game I played. It was one of the pre-loaded software on our brand new 8088 IBM — running at a whopping 8Mhz 🙂 The game itself…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Randy Glover GAME DEVELOPER:Epyx GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1984, Epyx Jumpman is one of the best “ladder” games (e.g. climb various ladders to the exit) that were hugely popular in the early 1980s. Your goal is to collect all the bombs to advance through levels, while avoiding…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Webfoot Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Webfoot Technologies Copyright 1995, Webfoot Technologies Tronic is a fun, traditional breakout game in the best tradition of Taito’s popular Arkanoid. In this reincarnation of Pong, you use the racket, controlled by the arrow keys or mouse, to hit the balls,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stuart Gregg GAME DEVELOPER:Astral GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1991, Millennium Horror Zombies from The Crypt, as the name implies, is a spooky action-adventure by Millennium. You are Count Frederick Valdemar, and your mansion has been shattered by the arrival of an army the undead. So it’s up…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dene Carter GAME DEVELOPER:Brainware GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1990, Millennium Cloud Kingdoms is a great action/puzzle game featuring the first injection-moulded, eight-way rolling, rubber-bottomed software hero! The review at Lemon 64 says it all about this underdog, and there’s not much difference between the C64 and PC…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Pollock & Jason Wilson GAME DEVELOPER:Millennium GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1991, Millennium Strike II is a fun 3D action shooter by Millennium, sequel to Thunder Strike. The thing I love most about this game is the presentation surrounding the actual action. Mixing absurd classical music with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eric Matthews & Steve Tall GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Renegade Software Copyright 1991, Bitmap Brothers A great conversion of Bitmap Brother’s Amiga classic, Gods is a very stylish platform game that is famous for offering many nice twists and ideas, including puzzles, adventure-game style inventory, and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Rice GAME DEVELOPER:Mindscape GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1988, LucasFilm Willow is an oldie action game based on LucasFilm’s fantasy movie of the same name starring Val Kilmer. Not a classic, but an interesting movie conversion with some nice ideas. The game faithfully follows the movie’s script,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tobias Herre GAME DEVELOPER:Blue Byte GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1991, Psygnosis Atomino, not to be mistaken for Atomix by Thalion, is probably best described as a molecular version of Tetris: simple in concept, but addictive in gameplay. The objective in the game is to combine atoms into…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Taito GAME PUBLISHER:Taito Copyright 1990, Taito Decent conversion of Taito’s coin-up puzzle/logic game done by Banana Development, an independent studio that ported a lot of arcade/non-PC games to the PC. A fun puzzler where you have to eliminate blocks by moving two or more…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmasters GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1992, Bitmasters A near-perfect conversion of Atari’s 1990 arcade hit. Rampart is a game of medieval warfare that boasts fast, furious gameplay, good graphics, and a very high addictiveness quotient. Like all good arcade games, Rampart is easy to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mindscape GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1989, Mindscape Decent – at best – conversion of Atari’s fun arcade hit from 1985 based on the Warner Bros. cartoon series of the same name. You control Road Runner in a race against Wile E. Coyote and his ACME…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Gremlin Copyright 1994, Gremlin Pretty cool conversion of Electronic Arts’ Mega Drive action hit Desert Strike, the first game in their “Strike”-games series. An isometric-view heli-shooter, not bad at all – just leave out the idiotic story. That banal premise has probably…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1995, Gremlin Gremlin’s excellent conversion of EA’s console game, follow-up to the popular shoot’em up Desert Strike. Jungle Strike is basically the same game as its predecessor– just set in a different scenario. In Jungle Strike you’re mainly controlling…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Elite Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Elite Systems Copyright 1990, Elite Systems Conversion of Tecmo’s arcade follow-up to the fun game Bombjack. I loved both the C64 and the arcade version of the first part. This follow-up that adds a scrolling multi-screen dimension never was one of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:M. Schmitz GAME DEVELOPER:StarByte GAME PUBLISHER:StarByte Copyright 1990, StarByte Logo is a collection of three fairly simple puzzle games in one pack. All three games are variant of a traditional matching game, except that after solving one level, you get to see one piece of a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Probe Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Acclaim Entertainment Copyright 1996, Taito A great value for money that includes two classic action/puzzle games: a remake of 1989’s Bubble Bobble, and its sequel Rainbow Islands. For those who aren’t familiar with the original, Bubble Bobble is a classic arcade…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Butrovich GAME DEVELOPER:NovaLogic GAME PUBLISHER:Taito Copyright 1987, Taito One of the most popular arcade games ever made, Taito’s Bubble Bobble tells a story of Bub and Bob, two friends who are changed into bubble dragons, and must save their girlfriends from a super baddie named…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Raffaelle Cecco GAME DEVELOPER:Probe Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:US Gold Copyright 1988, US Gold A disappointing conversion of Tecmo’s popular platform/puzzle arcade game, done by Probe Entertainment. I remember this game quite well on the C64 when it was a lot of fun. Simple goal, good playability: solve…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Leitch GAME DEVELOPER:US Gold GAME PUBLISHER:US Gold Copyright 1990, US Gold Rotox is a fun top-down shoot’em up with decent 3D/bitmap graphics. Your objective: navigate the Cyborg Class 2-A over the platforms while dodging and shooting the deadly machine-enemies. Don’t fall off the platforms or…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Canvas GAME PUBLISHER:US Gold Copyright 1988, US Gold Although billed as an action game, Charlie Chaplin is not just a plain jump-and-run, but a very original game than is quite enjoyable. Your task is to create and edit a slapstick movie by acting as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bethesda Softworks GAME PUBLISHER:Bethesda Softworks Copyright 1994, Bethesda Softworks A precursor of Bethesda’s much later X-Car Experimental Racing, Delta V is an example of a game designed to take advantage of industry capabilities rather than being too concerned with presenting a satisfying, intelligent gaming…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Martin Schmitz GAME DEVELOPER:Bitmap Brothers GAME PUBLISHER:Renegade Software Copyright 1992, Infogrames A decent platform game from Bitmap Brothers featuring a strange, kid-in-fantasy-land plot. From the manual: “The Bitmap Kid was pretty much like every other kid on the block until the day when a Strange Old…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Hudson Soft GAME PUBLISHER:UBI Soft Copyright 1992, Hudson Soft Dynablaster is an excellent PC conversion of Hudson’s popular PC-Engine arcade/puzzle hybrid Bomberman (although why they had to change the popular name to this obscure title is puzzling). The game, which has spun off numerous…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Himeya Soft Copyright 1998, Anonymous One of the most obscure fighting games ever made, Queen of Heart ’98 is an anime fighting games that feature female fighters only. Based on popular Japanese anime series To Heart, Queen of Heart ’98 is not…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Joosa Riekkinen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Joosa Riekkinen Best described as “Worms done right” (that is, not turn-based), Liero is an incredibly addictive third-parson, 2D deathmatch style game in split-screen mode designed to be played against a friend (although computer opponent is available). There…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Wendell Hicken GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Wendell Hicken Scorched Earth is a simple, yet very exciting artillery combat game, based on a long line artillery games that began with Atari’s classic arcade game Lunar Lander. At its most basic level, Scorched Earth is a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rod Nakamoto GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Origin Systems Secret Ops was a free (and huge) stand-alone episode in the Wing Commander: Prophecy saga that was available for download from the game’s official site in 1999. It is not available for download there anymore,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1988, ShareData A fun game based on oldie TV game show Play Your Cards Right, Card Sharks combines amusing surveys with a lot of luck to create a lively and entertaining half-hour. To gain control of the gameboard, contestants must…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1989, ShareData If youve ever watched daytime television in the US, chances are youve run across a game show called Family Feud. It pits teams of five family members against one another trying to guess the most popular answers to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1987, ShareData If youve ever watched daytime television in the US, chances are youve run across a game show called Family Feud. It pits teams of five family members against one another trying to guess the most popular answers to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1989, ShareData Wipeout is one of the most obscure Softie games ever, based on an equally obscure trivia game that managed to have an UK version despite lackluster ratings in the US. In this trivia game, a screen of sixteen…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Cooley GAME DEVELOPER:Box Office GAME PUBLISHER:Box Office Copyright 1988, Box Office $100,000 Pyramid is a great computer version of The Pyramid game show, one of the most successful TV game shows ever made. The show was nominated 16 times for the Emmy Award, and won…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Box Office GAME PUBLISHER:Box Office Copyright 1987, Box Office A good PC version of an oldie TV game show of the same name. In this novel combination of gambling and trivia, 2 contestants compete to remove numbers off a 3×3 grid by rolling a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1988, GameTek One of the rarer TV game show conversions, Super Password is a decent PC version of the Pearson game show, although it’s not very exciting since the game show itself isn’t very interesting to begin with. Super Password…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GameTek GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1988, GameTek Hollywood Squares is a solid computer version of a popular TV game show starring celebrities, recently revived by Whoopi Goldberg. The game is basically a tic-tac-toe game with celebrities in the grid. The host (who looks nothing like…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Grace GAME DEVELOPER:Gaping Wolf Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Gaping Wolf Software Halflight is a fun freeware space shooter starring furry animals. It’s not revolutionary by any means, but it does offer one thing that most shooters ignore: a plot. And an interesting one at…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Roger Pedersen GAME DEVELOPER:GameTek GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1988, GameTek A decent computer version of an oldie TV game show of the same name. Press Your Luck is best described as Wheel of Fortune meets Jeopardy!: a show that pits one champion against two challengers and requires…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GameTek GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1990, GameTek Now You See It is a decent computer version of the short-lived game show hosted by Chuck Henry, which was the show CBS replaced the hugely popular $100,000 Pyramid with (in one of their worst decisions ever). NYSI…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1987, ShareData One of the better game show conversions for PC that Softie produced, Classic Concentration succeeds in capturing the excitement of the Alex Trebek classic TV show. In this wonderfully original game, the goal is to solve the rebus…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:ShareData Copyright 1987, ShareData One of the better game show conversions for PC that Softie produced, Classic Concentration succeeds in capturing the excitement of the Alex Trebek classic TV show. In this wonderfully original game, the goal is to solve the rebus…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Softie GAME PUBLISHER:Hi-Tech Expressions Copyright 1989, MTV In my opinion the greatest (and most underrated) game show ever made, MTV’s Remote Control is a fun, irreverent ‘trivia quiz’ game show that features offbeat humor, eclectic questions, and a great atmosphere. Despite having a great…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GameTek GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1990, GameTek One of the most successful Mark Goodson shows ever created, The Price is Right is a famous CBS gameshow that has acquired a loyal following for its endless variety of “pricing games.” The rule of the game is…