Category: Arcade and Action Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zillions Development GAME PUBLISHER:Zillions Development Copyright 1999, Zillions Development Touted as the world’s “first infinitely-expandable board gaming system,” Zillions of Games actually lives up to its lofty claim. I’ll let the company’s own blurb speak for itself: “[the game] uses an absolutely unique “universal…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Anthony Crowther GAME DEVELOPER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) GAME PUBLISHER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) Copyright 1993, Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) One of the most unique and entertaining word puzzle games I’ve come across, Zig Zag is best described as Mastermind with a difference: the task of deducing the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Game Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Game Arts Amidst the flurry of imported games that resulted from Sierra’s deal with Japanese publisher Gamearts are Sorcerian and Zeliard, two quirky action/RPG titles with strong “console” feel. Definitely “light” games in that there is few…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Bjork GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1984, SEGA The first isometric shooter in my memory brought the arcade’s furious action, cool “powerups,” and simple fun to the PC. The shadow that the plane casts on the ground is cool, too.I remember playing this for days…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1995, Anonymous Although it won’t win any educational award, X-Tetris has got to go down in history as one of the most imaginative Tetris clones ever created. The concept is quite simple and intuitive– match a falling guy with a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Mackey GAME DEVELOPER:Atomjack Production GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Atomjack Production Definitely one of the most least-known gems ever, this is a flawless conversion of Crystal Quest, the Macintosh cult classic. The premise of the game is simple: with your mouse, gobble up as many gems…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1989, Paragon Software A great side-scrolling arcade game featuring all the X-Men and their cool powers, Madness in Murderworld pits the team against their arch-enemies Arcade and Magneto in Murderworld, the deadly amusement park of terror. The game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Pytel GAME DEVELOPER:Optik GAME PUBLISHER:Optik Copyright 1995, Optik One of the most addictive Tetris variants ever, Xixit is like Tic-Tac-Toe meets Tetris: arrange the falling colored blocks to make 3 in a row in any direction to make them disappear. Like Tetris, Xixit is easy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Teacy GAME PUBLISHER:Homebrew Software Copyright 1995, Homebrew Software Xenoball is a neat puzzle game that is like Pipe Dreams meets Marble Madness: you control a living, rolling red ball that must lay track portions to make a path to the exit. Levels get harder…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Pixel Painters GAME PUBLISHER:Pixel Painters Copyright 1994, Pixel Painters Xatax is a side-scrolling shooter that doesn’t add any revolutionary concept to the genre, but does what it does well: furious action, tons of power ups, endless waves of enemy ships, and well-designed levels. A…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Heap GAME DEVELOPER:Denton Designs GAME PUBLISHER:Audiogenic Copyright 1991, Audiogenic Wreckers is a fun isometric action/adventure game that features innovative multiple-level map, the ability to choose multiple characters to control, and fun gadgets to find and use. The game starts on a spaceship, where your peaceful…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alexei Pajitnov GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1992, Spectrum Holobyte Tetris avalanche continues, this time with a fun and educational twist: you must clear blocks of letters from the screen by forming intelligible words. The in-game vocabulary is surprisingly large– it recognizes most words…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Silversun GAME PUBLISHER:Silversun Copyright 1995, Silversun Word Crazy is a superb word game that is worth the rare endorsement from Merriam-Webster, makers of the world’s most popular dictionary. The game comprises 4 mini-games: Letter Ball, Chain Reaction, Word Wrap, and Missing Link. In each,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Digital Splash GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Anonymous Aside from creating a whole new genre all to its own, id’s frag-fest classic Wolfenstein 3D inspired many “unofficial” versions made by dedicated fans. This Mortal Kombat Edition is among the best of these fan-made versions, featuring…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Roberts GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1993, Origin Systems The year is 2669. You are an experienced space crewdog who has just inherited an obsolete Tarsus scout/merchant ship from your grandfather. With it and your few remaining credits, you decide to seek your…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Everett GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1994, Origin Systems Wing Commander: Armada is Origin’s answer to the wishes of many Wing Commander fans: the blend of multi-player head-to-head action and strategic elements in the race to conquer the galaxy. Beginning with just a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Roberts GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1995, Origin Systems Wing Commader Academy is a fun but overlooked 3D space shooter based on the Wing Commander 2 engine, released by Origin to appease fans who were anxiously awaiting the release of Privateer and Wing…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Buena Vista GAME PUBLISHER:Buena Vista Copyright 1984, Buena Vista A real “blast from the past,” this is a faithful adaptation of the popular TV show. A good example of how it is possible to fit tons of gameplay value into less than 200KB of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Williams Electronics GAME PUBLISHER:Williams Electronics Copyright 1996, Williams Electronics This is one of the best compilations ever released. You get 6 of the best arcade games of yore: Defender, Defender 2, Joust, Sinistar, Bubbles, Robotron, plus a very nice front end to the games…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Titus GAME PUBLISHER:Titus Copyright 1990, Titus Wild Streets is an average side-scrolling arcade game– no more, no less. Characters are cardboard cutouts, graphics is below average, and fight animations are unconvincing. The hero (a cop in this case) only has 2 fighting moves– punching…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eric Daniels & Reichart von Wolfsheild GAME DEVELOPER:Silent Software GAME PUBLISHER:Disney Copyright 1987, Amblin Entertainment An average game based on the equally average Disney movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is a 3-part action game that follows the movie’s plot: cartoon rabbit Roger is framed for murdering…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Zed Two GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1996, OCEAN Wetrix is one of the most addictive arcade puzzlers I have ever come across. Although it was a big hit on the Nintendo 64, the first platform for which it was released, it unfortunately failed to attract…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Panda Software GAME PUBLISHER:Panda Software Copyright 1994, Panda Software Released between Panda’s Sango Fighter 1and 2, West Adventure is a fun fighting game based on Xi You Ji (“Pilgrim to the West” in English)– one of China’s most popular literary epics that tells the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alexei Pajitnov GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1991, Spectrum Holobyte This is “sequel” of sorts to the classic Tetris: this time you must deal with tiles in 3D, coming in from all 4 sides of a well (hence the name). The game certainly retains…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Braben GAME DEVELOPER:Frontier Developments GAME PUBLISHER:Rainbird Copyright 1988, Frontier Developments This game is the perfect answer to the question: what happens when you lock the designer of Eliteseries and future designer of Transport Tycoon in the same room? Virus is a furious and addictive action…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1995, SEGA This PC port of an arcade mega-hit did not sell well simply because of its hefty system requirements (P133 and 32MB of RAM three years ago, when the majority of gamers still didn’t have a Pentium). Still, the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Lewis & Jason Struck GAME DEVELOPER:Six Pound Sledge GAME PUBLISHER:Union Logic Software Publishing Copyright 1995, Union Logic Software Publishing The plot is simple: you’re Vinyl, the mars goddess who are supposed to attend the B-movie convention, but your spaceship is caught in a meteor shower..…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mastertronic GAME PUBLISHER:Mastertronic Copyright 1988, Mastertronic Novel 2-player ballgame that’s a lot like Marble Madness in look and feel, although much inferior to that classic due to unintuitive controls and lack of friction that made Marble Madness fun. The addition of multiplayer mode is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Assembly Line, The GAME PUBLISHER:US Gold Copyright 1990, US Gold A unique 3D shooter with frustrating gameplay, Vaxine plays like a cross between Alpha Waves and Spectre. The object of the game is to survive each level by destroying all the enemy cells that…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Webfoot Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Webfoot Technologies Copyright 1996, Webfoot Technologies Twinblok is a good twist of classic Arkanoid game that combines bounce-ball-off-the-paddle gameplay with creative addition of “special blocks” that, for example, change direction of the ball or clear many blocks at once. Levels get…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bullfrog GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1994, Bullfrog A fun futuristic racing game that’s simple in concept but packed with great gameplay, Tube offers imaginative tracks, obstacles, and cool car designs. As with all Bullfrog games, the animations are very smooth and soundtrack is excellent ……

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Virgin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1996, Virgin Interactive PC Gamer sums it up well in their review of this addictive puzzler: “The basic gameplay of TriTryst is similar to Tetris, with different colored squares that fall from the top of the screen, challenging…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Berkeley Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Berkeley Systems Copyright 1995, Berkeley Systems A good PC version of classic puzzle game, Triazzle is a solid and pretty PC version that curiously was published with little fanfare. The goal, as with any good puzzle game, is simple: arrange tiles…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Electronic Zoo GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Zoo Copyright 1991, Electronic Zoo A fun wreck-diving action game played from an attractive isometric view, Treasure Trap is short on innovation but long on imaginative gameplay. The goal is simple: find and collect gold in every room, then escape…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Origin Systems One of Origin’s best-kept secrets, Transland is a fun and wacky 3D action / RPG designed by several Origin programmers in their spare time. The plot is made out of humorous stuff hardly seen in Origin’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Artech GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1988, Artech The Train: Escape to Normandy is a good 3D action game that is similar to Infiltrator in its crisp graphics style and success of the Commodore 64 version. The plot, which centers around turbulent Normandy during World War…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Safari Software GAME PUBLISHER:Epic Megagames Copyright 1993, Epic Megagames Traffic Department offers fast arcade action with a story that unfolds as you play. The setting is in a dark city of the future remniscent of Mad Max. As Lieutenant Velasquez, you must defend a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Panda Software GAME PUBLISHER:Panda Software Copyright 1995, Panda Software Although not as well-known as Sango Fighter games, Tough Guy has the same charm and excellent gameplay that makes Panda one of the most underrated fighting game companies of all time, let alone in Taiwan.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ian Andrew & Paul Gregory GAME DEVELOPER:Incentive GAME PUBLISHER:Domark Copyright 1988, Domark After whisking the players to far-flung galaxies in the excellent Space Station Oblivion (a.k.a. Driller) and Dark Side, Incentive brought their revolutionary Freescape 3D engine to breath life into ancient Egypt. Legend has it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Activision GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1989, Activision One of the weirdest side-scrolling game ever made, Tongue of Fatman’s gory and downright disgusting aliens put off many gamers, but underneath all that surface is an entertaining game that offers tongue-in-cheek humor as well as gore. Computer…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1997, Georges Remi Tintin: Prisoners of The Sun is the last and best of all Infogrames’ games based on the acclaimed comics series. Intrepid adventurer Tintin is back, and better than ever in this installation. The game starts in Professor…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1996, Georges Remi A fun platform game starring France’s answer to Indiana Jones, Tin Tin in Tibet follows on the heel of Infograme’s successful Asterix & Obelix, with the same excellent action-packed gameplay. Although the game will prove quite easy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Silmarils GAME PUBLISHER:Silmarils Copyright 1998, Silmarils Silmarils inexplicably abandoned their strength in action/adventure and RPG genres to perhaps cash in on the 3D fighting games craze popularized by the arcade smash hit Virtua Fighter. Unfortunately, Time Warriors is a disappointing game– poor controls, sluggish…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bloodlust Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Bloodlust Software Time Slaughter is a gory fighting game similar to Mortal Kombat where two huge characters try to kill each other. It features fully animated multi-layered backgrounds, tons of special moves and loads of regular moves, slaughter…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Pollock & Tomy Beckwith GAME DEVELOPER:LIVE Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1990, Millennium Thunder Strike is an above-average 3D shooter with a wacky plot. It’s the year 2238 and the TV networks and defense industries control the Earth. Whoever has the highest ratings rules the world.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Cutter GAME DEVELOPER:Cinemaware GAME PUBLISHER:Cinemaware Copyright 1988, Cinemaware In this funny adaptation of the TV series that isn’t as well-designed as Cinemaware’s classic games, you control Larry, Curly and Moe who must collect enough money through dubious means to prevent the bankers from forcing forclosure…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:S. Uesaka & H. Godai GAME DEVELOPER:Game Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1990, Game Arts This sequel to Thexder has more of everything: enemies, power-ups, levels, and sports much-improved graphics and a rocking soundtrack. The aim of the platform shooter is still the same: kill everything…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:S. Uesaka & H. Godai GAME DEVELOPER:Game Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1987, Game Arts Thexder is a solid PC conversion of Game Arts’ hit in Japan, licensed to distribute in the US by Sierra. You control a robot (“mech”) that is capable of switching from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alexei Pajitnov GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1992, Spectrum Holobyte Although Tetris Classic is little more than a fancy-rewrite of the original blockbuster Tetris, it does have many added features that make it a good alternative to the original, especially the stunning VGA graphics…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alexei Pajitnov GAME DEVELOPER:Spectrum Holobyte GAME PUBLISHER:Spectrum Holobyte Copyright 1986, Spectrum Holobyte Here is the culprit for the huge decline in global productivity for at least a few months, if not years 🙂 No description should be necessary here– let’s just say that if you really…