Category: Role Playing and Adventure Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Biskup GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Thomas Biskup To paraphrase the manual: “Somewhere in the Drakalor Chain, a gate has been opened. Through it, the radiant energy of chaos has invaded the world of Ancardia, corrupting and defiling all that it touches. Hordes of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Toy & Kenneth Arnold GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1984, Michael Toy & Kenneth Arnold The “granddaddy” of dungeon hack RPGs, Rogue has a long history that dates back to the 1970’s. It was first released as a test application for UNIX, and quickly captured…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Symtus GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1992, Capstone Despite its “cult” status as one of the most sought-after games of all time, The Dark Half is one of the worst adventure games ever made, its blockbuster license notwithstanding. The game is chock full of plot holes…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andrew McCabe GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1995, Gremlin A great game from the team that brought cult classics Heimdall 1 and 2, Litil Divil is a charming action/adventure that will appeal to young and old (err– I mean seasoned) adventurers alike. As the game’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Mullich & Michael Hiebert GAME DEVELOPER:Destiny Software Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Cyberdreams Copyright 1995, Cyberdreams A “more of the same” sequel to Cyberdreams’ atmospheric Dark Seed, Dark Seed II features better graphics and more stunning, nightmarish artwork from Alien designer H.R. Giger, but a much less interesting…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Edge Software GAME PUBLISHER:Edge Software Copyright 1991, Edge Software The first and only game based on one of the world’s most popular comics is a very disappointing game that manages to capture only one aspect of the cartoon perfectly: the nonchalant, see-if-I-care attitude of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Doug Barnett GAME DEVELOPER:Infocom GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1994, Activision Infocom’s first return to the famous Zork universe after a long hiatus is a funny adventure that retains much of the campy atmosphere that makes the original Zork trilogy a classic, but unfortunately falls victim to its…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Galloway & Gerry Rempel GAME DEVELOPER:Kyodai GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1988, Kyodai One of the best PC translation of hit console RPGs ever is one of the first. Ancient Land of Ys is a “light” RPG that features vibrant graphics, fun story, and a plethora of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mikko Miettinen GAME DEVELOPER:Housemarque GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1996, GameTek Alien Incident is a fun, unassuming science fiction adventure that is great for young adventurers due to its family-oriented plot and easy puzzles. You play the role of a teenager called Benjamin who’s visiting his uncle’s house…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Lawrence GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1994, Anonymous Despite amatuer graphics and a cliched plot, this RPG’s depth and playability (which runs smoothly on a 286) may surprise you. The game can be a bit tough at times, but not overly difficult. Most of the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1994, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Though an outdated RPG by today’s standards, Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager boasts a new, more interesting plot, better graphics, and bigger world than its predecessor Shattered Lands.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1994, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Dark Sun: Shattered Lands is an innovative RPG set in the post-apolocalyptic world of AD&D Dark Sun universe. The game broke new grounds in several ways, such as introducing…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Perfect 10 Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Psygnosis Copyright 1999, Psygnosis Discworld Noir is the third and last PC game based on Terry Pratchett’s popular fantasy universe. It is also my most favorite, even though Rincewind (the hero from the other two games) is nowhere to be…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1991, Capstone An utterly pointless formula action-adventure movie. The Capstone name (in case you didn’t know, this is the company that is unmatched in its ability to ruin any popular license). Sounds like a recipe for disaster? Sure enough, a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Catherine Lucas GAME DEVELOPER:Coktel Vision GAME PUBLISHER:Coktel Vision Copyright 1991, Coktel Vision Probably the only game from Coktel Vision that was designed with kids in mind, Little Red Riding Hood is a hodgepodge mix between adventure and action elements that are, more often than not, more…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Charles Cecil GAME DEVELOPER:Revolution GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1997, Virgin Interactive The Quandary’s Gordon Aplin returns in his excellent review of IMHO a slightly inferior sequel to the original: “In this sequel to Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, we catch up with George Stobbart…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Charles Cecil GAME DEVELOPER:Revolution GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1996, Virgin Interactive One of the most underrated CD-ROM adventures of all time, Broken Sword is a fun cartoon-style graphic adventure game from the people who brought us Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky, and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Cranford GAME DEVELOPER:Brderbund GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1987, Brderbund An excellent “hard” sci-fi game from the creator of legendary Bard’s Tale, Centauri Alliance unfortunately remains relatively unknown– in sharp contrast to that classic series. Calling the game “Bard’s Tale in space” is not unaccurate, since Centauri…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Attic Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Starbyte Copyright 1990, Starbyte A potentially good horror RPG that unfortunately fumbled, Lords of Doom from Attic/StarByte looks, feels, and plays like a second-rate “B” horror movie than Alfred Hitchcock classic. You control a party of four characters– two hapless citizens…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Synergistic Software GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1992, Capstone A shallow courtroom game based on blockbuster TV series of the same name, L.A. Law is an ambitious design that is ultimately flawed due to logic inconsistencies and limited interaction. First, some background information for those who…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Brderbund GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1995, Brderbund An intriguing CD-ROM courtroom adventure, In The 1st Degree casts you in a role of a District Attorney in San Francisco who must build a case against James Tobin, a well-known painter, who stands accused of murdering Zachary…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Box Office GAME PUBLISHER:Box Office Copyright 1988, Box Office One of the worst adventure games ever made, Psycho is based on the classic horror film by Alfred Hitchcock… and by “based on” I mean that they both have the same title. In CE Forman’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Konami GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1992, Konami A very disappointing adaptation of the blockbuster movie license, Batman Returns is a hodge-podge of elements from adventure, action, and role-playing genres, the whole of which is much less than sum of its parts. The plot loosely (make…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bruce Webster & Wayne Holder GAME DEVELOPER:FTL Software GAME PUBLISHER:FTL Software Copyright 1985, FTL Software Arguably the best Atari ST game ever made, Sundog: Frozen Legacy is also one of the best sci-fi RPGs ever, period. It isn’t a strategy game, or a space combat game,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Raffel & Steve Raffel GAME DEVELOPER:Raven Software GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1993, Origin Systems Shadowcaster is one of the most unique and addictive action/RPGs ever made, although it sadly never got the attention it deserves from the gaming public who were too focused on id’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Synthetic Dimensions GAME PUBLISHER:Core Design Copyright 1991, Core Design Corporation is an interesting first-person action/RPG cyberpunk game that is largely overlooked. The plot is typical cyberpunk setting: in the 21st century, the Universal Cybernetics Corporation is secretly developing a mutant robot for military purposes.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Babendererde & Brad Delaney GAME DEVELOPER:Viacom Newmedia GAME PUBLISHER:Viacom Newmedia Copyright 1996, Viacom Newmedia GameSpot once again came through with a great (meaning I perfectly agree with) review of this highly underrated, “campy” adventure game: “Parents beware, the two relentlessly infantile voices of a lost…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Norsehelm Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, Norsehelm Productions Ragnarok (or Valhalla as some might know it) is a Rogue– like game with an early Ultima logic (for the uninitiated, Rogue is an ASCII-based open-ended dungeon crawl that was very popular since the early 1980s).…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy Blazdell GAME DEVELOPER:Divide by Zero GAME PUBLISHER:Vic Tokai Copyright 1996, Vic Tokai Divide by Zero more than redeem themselves after the horrendous Orion Conspiracy with this outstanding cartoon adventure that unfortunately got very limited worldwide distribution (probably due to the fact that the game was…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:I-Motion GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1995, I-Motion Operation Polaris was going smoothly; the mysterious crates were safely stored under freezing temperatures in the hold. It looked as though the submarine was going to make it home for supper. Suddenly, a ship is spotted on radar.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1992, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) A superior sequel to Countdown to Doomsday, Buck Rogers: Maxtrix Cubed is the second and last game in the promising series of RPGs based on the Buck Rogers comic…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Graeme Bayless & Brett Berry GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1990, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Although SSI’s Advanced Dungeons and Dragons games are critically acclaimed best-sellers, the fantasy context of the AD&D world tends to exclude many gamers. While we…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Amy Briggs GAME DEVELOPER:Infocom GAME PUBLISHER:MediaGenic Copyright 1991, Infocom The “holy grail” of Infocom affionados, Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Setmoth is notorious for being the only Infocom game that was never made for the PC. It was instead released only on the Macintosh, which makes it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Leisuresoft GAME PUBLISHER:Leisuresoft Copyright 1993, Leisuresoft Wind in The Willowsis the second game in Leisuresoft’s “Leisureland” series of adventure games aimed at kids ages 5 to 8 who are learning to read. Unfortunately, it suffers from obscure puzzles and annoying random elements that will…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1995, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) A potential hit that never were, Entomorph: The Plague of Darkfall is a fast-paced, action-style RPG with very interesting twists that proves that SSI did not have to rely…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jens Hultgren & Laurent Cluzel GAME DEVELOPER:Telstar GAME PUBLISHER:Telstar Copyright 1997, Telstar Fable is a decent point-and-click adventure from Telstar that unfortunately got very little notice due to lack of fanfare, limited distribution, and the general slump in adventure game genre. The plot is typical fantasy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Konami Copyright 1992, Gremlin Although widely hailed as the worst film ever made, Ed Wood’s classic camp horror film of 1958 isn’t nearly that– but it IS one of the funniest bad films you’ll ever see. The film’s notoriety begs an interesting…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Edward Harr GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1987, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) The sequel to SSI’s earlier post-holocaust game Roadwar 2000 takes place in Europe. There are many similarities with the earlier game — the map and graphics look the same, controls…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Edward Harr GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1987, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) This classic SSI game was available on the IBM, C-64, and Apple, and the IBM version is not the best. Still, its a fun and unique game that is both…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Delphine Software GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1995, Delphine Software Fade to Black is a disappointing sequel to Delphine’s excellent Flashback the Quest for Identity. Although it has all the makings of a great game, the constantly shifting camera angles and awkward interface make the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Paul Cuisset GAME DEVELOPER:Delphine Software GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1992, Delphine Software Flashback is a fun action adventure game that will please joystick experts and adventure gamers alike. Playing the role of Conrad B. Hart, a confused young man whose memory was wiped by…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tsunami Media GAME PUBLISHER:Tsunami Media Copyright 1994, Tsunami Media A much better game than its horrendous predecessor, Return to Ringworld is a fun adventure still based on Larry Niven’s best-selling sci-fi series. While the plot will be familiar to Niven fans and the puzzles…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Tsunami Media GAME PUBLISHER:Tsunami Media Copyright 1992, Tsunami Media The first release from Tsunami Media is a very disappointing adventure despite having a powerful license behind it. Based on Larry Niven’s Hugo and Nebula award-winning novel, Ringworld eschews the book’s plot and instead cast…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Pandora Software GAME PUBLISHER:Pandora Software Copyright 1992, Pandora Software Galdregon’s Domain is a fun dungeon-crawl epic that makes up for its lackluster plot with good gameplay and a vast gameworld to explore. The premise is as clich? as it gets in this kind of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:William Alan Crum & Philip W. Gorrow GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1992, Virgin Interactive Westwood’s Lands of Lore: Throne of Chaos is sequel in spirit to acclaimed Eye of The Beholder 2, but surpasses its AD&D predecessor in every way. The game broke…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Elizabeth Langosy GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1988, Infocom 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 and all…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Elizabeth Langosy GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1987, Infocom 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 and all…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Charles Griffith GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1989, Paragon Software A good action/strategy blend, the RPG-style top-down view in this game is replaced by a side-scrolling view when combat starts. Many strategic elements are still present (choose a hero to disarm traps, etc.), but…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Sawyer & Ray Edwards GAME DEVELOPER:Pandora Software GAME PUBLISHER:Pandora Software Copyright 1990, Pandora Software Xenomorph is a fun sci-fi RPG game based on the venerable Dungeon Master engine that starts with one of the most cliche plot of all time: wake up one day from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Joel Skidmore GAME DEVELOPER:Luminaria GAME PUBLISHER:Maxis Copyright 1994, Maxis Arguably the best game based on Greek mythology ever made, Wrath of the Gods puts you in the sandals of an orphan who discovers that he’s actually Zeus’ son and must accomplish heroic deeds to earn his…