Category: Others

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Thoman GAME DEVELOPER:Sir-Tech GAME PUBLISHER:Sir-Tech Copyright 1988, Sir-Tech The only IF from Wizardry maker is a decent dungeon romp in the spirit of Zork (only with a more serious undertone and better plot). While enjoying your holidays in the mountains, you encounter a strange dying…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1988, Paragon Software Paragon Software, maker of the Twilight series of strategy games, takes a diversion in this surprisingly well-written IF set in the Twilight universe. Suddenly discovering that your girlfriend has been kidnapped, you must deal with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J. A. Jay GAME DEVELOPER:First Row Software GAME PUBLISHER:First Row Software Copyright 1988, First Row Software Twilight Zone is a good game in the same vein as Mike Berlyn’s Altered Destiny: a hapless hero gets sucked into an alien world where he must find a way…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ann Weil & Lee Jackson GAME DEVELOPER:Telarium GAME PUBLISHER:Telarium Copyright 1985, Telarium Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island, is probably the most famous pirate tale of all time. The protagonist, a boy named Jim Hawkins, acquires a map to an infamous pirate’s hoarded treasure, and he and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Antonio Antiochia & Veronika Slintak GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1989, Polarware The last game in the Transylvania series ends in a high note with improved graphics, much better plot and writing, and more difficult puzzles. This time you’re not just up against an evil vampire…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Antonio Antiochia GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1986, Polarware The follow-up to Transylvania follows in its predecessor’s all-too-predictable plot: your nemesis the vampire is back, and you must prevent him from obtaining the Crimson Crown that signifies rulership of Transylvania. The puzzles are more interesting with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Antonio Antiochia GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1985, Polarware The first in the Transylvania series is one of Polarware’s best known games. The plot is not very unique: as the name suggests, the story takes place in land of the vampires and involves the evil vampires,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bob Bates GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Legend Entertainment Copyright 1990, Legend Entertainment This masterpiece by Bob Bates is almost flawless, except for the fact that the plot is outlined almost entirely in the documentation, and there is little plot development as the game progresses. As futuristic…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1992, Learning Company, The Another outstanding edutainment title from The Learning Company, Time Riders in American History teaches history of the United States in such a captivating way that kids will not realize that they’re learning…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Level 9 Computing GAME PUBLISHER:Level 9 Computing Copyright 1988, Level 9 Computing Level 9’s answer to the Infocom’s Zork, this trilogy includes Lords of Time, Red Moon, and The Price of Magik, all of which center around wizards and spells. Despite the name “trilogy”…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brendan Wyber GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Brendan Wyber A good review from Baf’s Guide to the IF Archive: “A genuinely creepy game. Spend the night trapped in an abandoned theatre, accompanied by a variety of spooks and nameless horrors. Has an interesting two-layered plot:…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Daniel Ravipinto GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Daniel Ravipinto Tapestry won second place at the second Annual Interactive Fiction Competition, and deservedly so. It is similar to Photopia in the way that the author clearly focuses more on the story and atmosphere than actual puzzles…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bill Gates GAME DEVELOPER:Tandy Corporation GAME PUBLISHER:Tandy Corporation Copyright 1988, Tandy Corporation This version of MS-DOS is tailored for Tandy IBM-compatible BIOS only. Therefore, it will not boot under other systems. It should come in handy to anyone who has a Tandy computer but lacks a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1987, Polarware One of the few games set in exotic Arabia, Talisman combines the well-known Arabian myths of genies and evil vizors into a captivating game. As a Persian hero, find the legendary Talisman to destroy the evil genie who…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Miller GAME DEVELOPER:Apogee GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1986, Apogee Scott Miller’s Beyond The Titanic and Supernova are two atmospheric, well-written IF that have sadly been ignored by the gaming public, perhaps due to the fact that their publisher Apogee is better known as an action game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1989, Learning Company, The Treasure Mountain is a fun educational adventure in the successful “Super Solvers” series from The Learning Company. It is also the first in “Treasure” sub-series that had a few more games. Designed…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1989, Learning Company, The A fun game in the popular “Super Solvers” series, Outnumbered! was designed for kids ages 7 to 10 to help build basic mathematical skills, such as number recognition, counting, and basic algebraic…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1994, Learning Company, The The last and arguably best game in The Learning Company’s outstanding “Super Solvers,” Mission T.H.I.N.K. teaches a wide range of skills while making the graphics and gameplay even more attractive. The evil…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1990, Learning Company, The Designed for kids ages 7 to 10, Super Solvers: Midnight Rescue is a great educational game that aims at improving kid’s vocabulary. Gameplay is similar to Spellbound, but designed for older kids.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1993, Learning Company, The One of the best games in The Learning Company’s “Super Solver” line, Gizmos & Gadgets is a great edutainment title that aims to teach principles of physical science found in everyday items…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1991, Learning Company, The A fun edutainment title designed for kids ages 7 to 10, Ancient Empires is anoter solid game in The Learning Company’s celebrated “Super Solvers” line. Ancient Empires is a basically a treasure…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1990, Learning Company, The Yet another excellent title in The Learning Company’s “Super Solvers” line, Super Solvers Spellbound! offers one thousand words in four amusing games: Word Search, Flash Card, Criss Cross, and Spelling Bee. The…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Learning Company, The GAME PUBLISHER:Learning Company, The Copyright 1990, Learning Company, The Another excellent game in The Learning Company’s outstanding “Super Solvers” series, Operation Neptune is a math edutainment title similar to Treasure Mountain, but aimed at older kids. As with other Super Solvers…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ivan Cockrum GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Ivan Cockrum A very well-written game with grand scope, this game is based on an interesting premise: while on vacation at a beach resort, you must find ways to convince yourself to leave your existing job. Scoring in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1986, Mindscape An evil warlord has abducted 2 earthlings. He is a maniacal, war game loving (looks like he’s one of us!:-)), evil person. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to let yourself be captured…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:IO Software GAME PUBLISHER:IO Software Copyright 1994, IO Software A cool program for Windows that can create stereograms– pictures that form 3D images when you cross your eyes properly– from any picture. Many graphics formats are supported, and the program also includes excellent guides…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Angelsoft GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1984, Angelsoft Undoubtedly one of the best IF titles from Angelsoft, Stephen King’s The Mist is based on a famous short story by the world’s leading horror author Stephen King. The choice of “The Mist” out of all other short…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Human Code GAME PUBLISHER:LucasArts Copyright 1994, LucasArts A wonderful and informative program by the Star Wars masters. Despite its lofty name, the program truly is screen “entertainment” that goes beyond most screen savers by offering a number of interesting “modules” that range from the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Berkeley Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Berkeley Systems Copyright 1994, Berkeley Systems Yet another module for the world’s most popular screensaver After Dark. The program features the original cast, great sound effects, and diverse modules to make staring at the monitor more entertaining. Not as informative as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simon & Schuster GAME PUBLISHER:Simon & Schuster Copyright 1986, Simon & Schuster Arguably the best Star Trek adventure game ever made until Interplay’s 25th Anniversary, this Simon & Schuster text game is actually stronger than its better-known sequel, The Kobayashi Alternative, because it has…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simon & Schuster GAME PUBLISHER:Simon & Schuster Copyright 1987, Simon & Schuster This sequel to Promethean Prophecy is text-based Star Trek adventure that’s quite difficult to play and even more difficult to finish. It’s quite fun, though, and well-implemented. Using the same interface from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simon & Schuster GAME PUBLISHER:Simon & Schuster Copyright 1988, Simon & Schuster Last of the Star Trek trio of games Simon & Schuster and arguably the best, First Contact continues the exploits of intrepid captain James T. Kirk and his crew abroad the starship…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Polarware Copyright 1985, Polarware Polarware’s short-lived Spy’s Adventure series of educational games are pioneers of an original concept that would be popularized by Carmen Sandiego. In one of the more interesting anecdotes of gaming history, Br?derbund released the first Carmen Sandiego game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Polarware GAME PUBLISHER:Polarware Copyright 1986, Polarware Polarware’s short-lived Spy’s Adventure series of educational games are pioneers of an original concept that would be popularized by Carmen Sandiego. In one of the more interesting anecdotes of gaming history, Br?derbund released the first Carmen Sandiego game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andrew Plotkin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Andrew Plotkin This game is one of the best detective games I’ve ever come across– and you’re not even a detective in this game. The plot, which starts out vague but picks up the pace quicky, revolves around…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Meretzky GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Legend Entertainment Copyright 1993, Legend Entertainment The last and best game of the series, Spellcasting 301 once again puts you in the shoes of bumbling nerd sorceror Ernie Eaglebeak as he joins his fraternity brothers on a spring break. The…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Meretzky GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Legend Entertainment Copyright 1992, Legend Entertainment Spellcasting 201 vastly improved on the original ideas first used in Spellcasting 101, and has a more substantial and interesting plot. While slightly more challenging than the first game, it is still rather easy,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Meretzky GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Legend Entertainment Copyright 1991, Legend Entertainment Steve Meretzsky’s first game for Legend is a raunchy adventure of the best caliber that is best described as his earlier classic Leather Goddesses of Phobos meets Zork. Help bumbling nerd and wizard wannabe…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Adams GAME DEVELOPER:Adventure International GAME PUBLISHER:Adventure International Copyright 1984, Adventure International One of the classic games by Scott Adams in the early ’80s, Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is an above-average dungeon romp that sends you, a young sorcerer’s apprentice, into the dreaded castle to retrieve…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Voyager Company GAME PUBLISHER:Learn Technologies Copyright 1998, Voyager Company Without a doubt THE best CD-ROM about philosophy ever made, and one of the most unique and original programs you’ll ever find, Sophie’s World is an amazing adaptation of Jostein Gardner’s best-selling book about a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andrew Plotkin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Andrew Plotkin This is a masterpiece of interactive storytelling. It is no surprise that Andrew Plotkin (“Zarf”) is highly regarded as one of the best IF authors today. In contrast to his later game Spider and Web which…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Sierra On-Line A colorful and fun interactive storybook similar to Br?derbund’s later Living Books series, Slater & Charlie Go Camping recounts the story of two amicable dinosaurs as they prepare to go camping. Each page contains many…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Neil Guy GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Neil Guy Paul O’Brian said it best in his review: “Six Stories bills itself as “multimedia interactive fiction”, and the billing is no exaggeration… The game includes photographs, graphical backgrounds, and voice-over narration. [The game’s] multimedia components combine…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Maxis GAME PUBLISHER:Maxis Copyright 1996, Maxis SimTown is basically a kids’ version of SimCity with complex features removed but fun intact. Althought it may look simple at first glance, the game is quite complex for the game’s target age group of 6-10 years old.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Level 9 Computing GAME PUBLISHER:Rainbird Copyright 1987, Level 9 Computing A trilogy of sci-fi games that comprises Snowball, Return to Eden, and The Worm in Paradise. All three games follow the exploits of Kim Kimberly, the legendary secret agent and space pilot. In Snowball,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bantam Imagic GAME PUBLISHER:Bantam Imagic Copyright 1985, Bantam Imagic The first Sherlock Holmes game ever made for PC is a fun interactive fiction title that features an all-new mystery created specifically for the game. The premise is that aging Holmes, now in his 60’s,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brent VanFossen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Brent VanFossen In Bob the old hunter, VanFossen has created what for many of us is Planetfall’s Floyd in the 90’s: a thoroughly entertaining and realistic NPC who will go about his business regardless of your actions, and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Philip Mitchell GAME DEVELOPER:Beam International GAME PUBLISHER:Melbourne House Copyright 1988, Melbourne House This third game in the trilogy follows the adventure of Frodo and his band of fellow Hobbits from where Fellowship of the Ring left off as the Hobbits plunge into greater danger — facing…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Baker et. al. GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Mark Baker et. al. This is a unique game in that it is a collaboration of 6 authors on Compuserve (a defunct online service) who never met each other in real life (well, maybe now they…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Level 9 Computing GAME PUBLISHER:Level 9 Computing Copyright 1991, Level 9 Computing Level 9’s last adventure game features one of the most unique plots and player character ever seen in a game, even though the puzzles are sometimes bordering on the illogical. You are…