Category: Role Playing and Adventure Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Epyx GAME PUBLISHER:Epyx Copyright 1988, Epyx LA Crackdown is an excellent police/detective game that will really benefit from a facelift for the 90’s, because the gameplay is already excellent. You’re an undercover FBI agent-in-command who must expose an illegal smuggling ring. Although there are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Castleworks Gameware GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1993, Merit Studios Kronolog presents one answer to the intruguing question: What would the future be like if Hitler’s Nazi had won World War II? You are Dr. Hoffman, American scientist by day and leader of an underground…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Fissionchip Software GAME PUBLISHER:Cinemaware Copyright 1990, Cinemaware One of Cinemaware’s last releases before the company disbanded and one of the few games it did not develop in-house, The Kristal is a zany outer-space adventure game that combines traditional adventure with arcade sequences that occur…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Mastertronic GAME PUBLISHER:Mastertronic Copyright 1987, Mastertronic One of the strangest adventure games ever made, Kobayashi Naru (despite the misspelling on the box as Kobyashi Naru) has an innovative interface (choose a verb among icons and specific noun from the description of the scene to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Todd Porter GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1989, Origin Systems Knights of Legend ranks to this day among the most detailed RPGs ever created. It was designed to allow for future expansion packs that, unfortunately, never came out. In your mission to vanquish the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Johan Robson GAME DEVELOPER:Cryo Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1994, Cryo Interactive Another vastly overlooked adventure from Cryo, this game took me by surprise with its depth and intriguing plot despite awkward writing. You are a KGB secret agent assigned to investigate a powerful drug trafficking…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:James B. Thomas GAME DEVELOPER:Mindcraft GAME PUBLISHER:Mindcraft Copyright 1991, Mindcraft This game is best described as the “light” version of far better-known Magic Candle series. Mindcraft seems to be targeting the RPG newbies with simplified RPG engine and statistics– instead of 4 characters, now you control…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Hollyware GAME PUBLISHER:Hanna Barbara Copyright 1993, Hanna Barbara PC adaptation of a popular edutainment TV series, Jonny Quest is an action/adventure game that puts you in control of the title character and his pal Hadji in a quest to recover ancient artifacts in Guetemala…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bob Bates GAME DEVELOPER:Legend Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1998, Mindscape The latest Legend offering is a disappointingly short and easy adventure that is an anticlimax to the company’s stellar career. Thanks to best-selling author John Saul, Blackstone Chronicles succeeds as a gripping psychological short story– you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Some Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Discovery Copyright 1997, Discovery Inimitable host of Discovery Channel’s Connections show and prolific author James Burke comes to life in this edutainment title that shows the amazing connection between everyday objects. In five separate scenarios, your job is to find key…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Philippe Chastel & Paul Cuisset GAME DEVELOPER:Delphine Software GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1990, Delphine Software James Bond: The Stealth Affair is a fun spy adventure that was originally released in Europe as Operation Stealth in Europe without the James Bond license– a fact that explains why the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:GameTek GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1994, GameTek Jack the Ripper is arguably the ultimate detective game. Based on the sensational Jack the Ripper murders in 19th century London, your job is to deduce the killer’s identity before he strikes again. Gameplay consists of highlighting text…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1993, Infogrames/I-Motion A mini-game made by Infogrames as teaser to Alone in the Dark 2, Jack in the Dark is a fun short story of a little girl trapped in a toystore who must negotiate a variety of malignant toys…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Riversoft Japan GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1991, Riversoft Japan J.B. Harold in: Murder Club is a little-known PC conversion of a TurboDuo game of the same name. As investigator JB Harold, you must investigate the murder of a well-known businessman and bring the murderer to…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ken Melville GAME DEVELOPER:Cinemaware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1991, Cinemaware Undoubtedly inspired by dozens of 1950s “B” movies, especially the 1954 mutant-ant classic “Them!”, It Came From The Desert is one of Cinemaware’s finest creations that will challenge both your brain and your brawn. As the town’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Silmarils GAME PUBLISHER:Silmarils Copyright 1994, Silmarils The Ishar series is undoubtedly Silmarils’ most successful games, and rightly so. Silmarils touted Ishar I when it was released in 1992 as “a new benchmark for RPG”– a bold statement that turns out to be quite accurate:…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Silmarils GAME PUBLISHER:Silmarils Copyright 1993, Silmarils The Ishar series is undoubtedly Silmarils’ most successful games, and rightly so. Silmarils touted Ishar I when it was released in 1992 as “a new benchmark for RPG”– a bold statement that turns out to be quite accurate:…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michel Pernot GAME DEVELOPER:Silmarils GAME PUBLISHER:Silmarils Copyright 1992, Silmarils The Ishar series is undoubtedly Silmarils’ most successful games, and rightly so. Silmarils touted Ishar I when it was released in 1992 as “a new benchmark for RPG”– a bold statement that turns out to be quite…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:UBI Soft GAME PUBLISHER:UBI Soft Copyright 1989, UBI Soft This fun, “light” RPG from Europe is a standard medieval fantasy fare that sets itself apart from other RPGs in nice real-time gameplay, 3D combat view, and a large gameworld to explore. Set out from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Azeroth GAME PUBLISHER:Azeroth Copyright 1990, Azeroth Inspector Gadget is an excellent family-oriented point-and-click adventure startting the kind but bumbling cartoon hero. The game is aimed at a younger crowd, with a focus on environmental issues and abundant in-game hints. This is one of the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy Blazdell GAME DEVELOPER:Divide by Zero GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1993, Divide by Zero Although by no means revolutionary, Innocent Until Caught is a fun, “light” sci-fi romp in the spirit of Rex Nebular that features a creative interface for using and combining items. You are Jack…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dreamers Guild, The GAME PUBLISHER:New World Computing Copyright 1993, Wyrmkeep Entertainment The only adventure game from New World Computing is a pleasant fantasy adventure aimed at kids of all ages. Control a group of talking animals in their quest for the Orb, an ancient…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Trecision GAME PUBLISHER:Trecision Copyright 1995, Trecision In one of the better but sadly less-known shareware games, you’ll play the role of Tom Scool, private investigator hired to steal a rare gem from a famous actress in her mountain chalet. The game sports some good…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Will Harvey GAME DEVELOPER:Sandcastle GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1990, Will Harvey A great action-oriented isometric RPG featuring cool monsters and spells, The Immortal was a hit on the Amiga but its PC version version sadly fared worse. As a young sorceror who follows his master’s voice…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Pendulo Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Optik Copyright 1995, Optik One of the best shareware games ever released (with possibly the most creative name), Igor: Objective Uikokahonia tells a typical story of schoolboy Igor who must get on to the class biology trip to Uikokahonia to pursue…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Mullich & Harlan Ellison GAME DEVELOPER:Cyberdreams GAME PUBLISHER:Cyberdreams Copyright 1995, Cyberdreams I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream if not the best hard sci-fi adventure ever made, is definitely the best novel license I’ve seen (no doubt due to active involvement of author Harlan…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:OCEAN GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1991, OCEAN Hook is an average game based on the movie of the same name, which is a modernized version of the classic tale. Peter Pan, who is now living a normal adult life, is compelled to relive his roguish…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Synergistic Software GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1991, Capstone Probably the best (but not by much) among an average crop of movie and novel adaptations from Capstone that includes the horrendous Wayne’s World, here you play a lowly clown trying to make a break for a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Scott Johnston GAME DEVELOPER:DMA Design GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1993, DMA Design Hired Guns is a neat futuristic RPG that allows you to control 4 characters simultaneously via 4 windows (see screenshot). The plot, which would send your band of galactic mercenaries on a wide variety of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1989, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) A fun RPG with lots of neat arcade sequences (e.g. horseback riding, lockpicking, arena fights), this game once again proves that Westwood didn’t become one of the greatest computer game companies…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tag & Pete James GAME DEVELOPER:Psygnosis GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1994, Psygnosis A fun RPG from the makers of Bloodwych, Wizard! improves on the standards set by that cult classic with even more exotic classes of characters to choose from, a much better interface, good puzzles in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Antinori & Laura Kampo GAME DEVELOPER:Take 2 Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Take 2 Interactive Copyright 1995, Take 2 Interactive The first game from Take 2 is a fun cyberpunk-meets-Inferno romp with an interesting plot: in the future where Hell is proven to exist and demons have real…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Tunnell GAME DEVELOPER:Dynamix GAME PUBLISHER:Dynamix Copyright 1991, Dynamix Heart of China is an excellent and most cinematic of the adventure game trio designed by Dynamix’ Jeff Tunnell (the other two being Rise of the Dragon and Adventures of Willy Beamish). Set in the exotic Orient…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Karl Buiter GAME DEVELOPER:Electronic Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1990, Karl Buiter Hard Nova is an overlooked epic sci-fi RPG that is a follow-up of sorts to the excellent Sentinel Worlds. Every aspect of the game is a vast improvement over its predecessor, the most important…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Cartwright GAME DEVELOPER:Activision GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1986, Activision Even today, Activision’s Hacker games remain two of the best espionage games ever made. The premise of Hacker 1 is novel: you accidentally stumble upon someone else’s computer system and can’t resist the temptation to hack it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Cartwright GAME DEVELOPER:Activision GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1985, Activision Even today, Activision’s Hacker games remain two of the best espionage games ever made. The premise of Hacker 1 is novel: you accidentally stumble upon someone else’s computer system and can’t resist the temptation to hack it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy Blazdell GAME DEVELOPER:Divide by Zero GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1995, Divide by Zero This sequel to underrated Innocent Until Caught sports the same flexible game engine, with better and longer plot. Intergalactic two-bit thief and failed womanizer Jack T. Ladd is back, but this time you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Denton Designs GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1987, OCEAN One of the most gripping “realistic” adventures ever produced, The Great Escape puts you in the role of a World War II pilot who is captured by the Germans and must –what else?– escape from the prison.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Artworx GAME PUBLISHER:Artworx Copyright 1991, Artworx A well-conceived adventure that suffers beyond help from poor parser, boring puzzles, and lack of plot development whatsoever, Grail Quest is a good example of how not to make an adventure game. Lest I appear biased in this…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pierre Gilhodes & Muriel Tramis GAME DEVELOPER:Coktel Vision GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Coktel Vision The last game in Coktel’s puzzle adventure series is a very disappointing title that’s not worthy of the name. As the title suggests, you control only one goblin this time around…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pierre Gilhodes & Muriel Tramis GAME DEVELOPER:Coktel Vision GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1992, Coktel Vision The avalanche of hair-raising puzzles continues in this sequel to Gobliiins 1, albeit with a totally different plot (save Prince Buffoon (yeah, no joke) from the –you guessed it– the evil…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Pierre Gilhodes & Muriel Tramis GAME DEVELOPER:Coktel Vision GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1991, Coktel Vision Arguably the best Coktel game ever made, lead three wacky goblins on a madcap adventure to restore sanity to the King. The game features wacky but ingenious puzzles, all of which…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tomahawk GAME PUBLISHER:Coktel Vision Copyright 1990, Coktel Vision In one of the most unique and controversial plots I’ve ever seen, you play an undercover agent who disguises herself as a futuristic geisha to steal secrets from seedy characters. Puzzles are as weird as you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Amy Briggs GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1988, Tom Snyder Productions Infocom released Lane Mastodon, the world’s first “interactive comic book” in 1988 with little fanfare and even lesser reaction from the gaming public. Apart from being the first electronic comic book, Lane Mastodon…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kellyn Beck GAME DEVELOPER:Cineplay Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Cineplay Interactive Copyright 1991, Cineplay Interactive In one of the most disappointing execution of a good game concept, Free D.C.! tries to be too many things at once but falls flat on its face with banal plot, frustrating and out-of-place…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Al Lowe & Josh Mandel GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Al Lowe Yee-haw! Experience life in the wild, wild west in this adventure co-designed by jokesters Al Lowe and Josh Mandel. As the title suggests, you are a gunman-turned-pharmacist who will soon find…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Bryce & Richard Case GAME DEVELOPER:Machination GAME PUBLISHER:Machination Copyright 1995, Machination Framed is a charming side-scrolling action/adventure game that successfully combines arcade and puzzle-solving elements into a satisfying experience (although it was Alone in the Dark series that popularized the action/adventure genre). In this game,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave Albert & Robert Hardy GAME DEVELOPER:Electronic Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1990, Electronic Arts As an intended “sequel” to Interplay’s classic Wasteland, this game falls short of that classic in numerous ways. However, it is a good, solid RPG on its own: interesting plot (you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Passfield & Steven Stamatiadis GAME DEVELOPER:Interactive Binary Illusions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Interactive Binary Illusion This charming game from a not-so-well-known Australian developer puts you in the shoes of Joe King, freelance pilot hired to escort actress Faye Russell to a photo shoot deep in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:PSS GAME PUBLISHER:Mirrorsoft Copyright 1991, PSS A decent PC conversion of the Amiga hit game and sequel to Legend of The Sword, Final Battle features an interesting plot (you start the game as a prisoner of evil wizard Suzar, imprisoned alone in a dank…