Category: Sports Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Wizbang! Software Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1996, Wizbang! Software Productions HyperBlade is a superb futuristic sport game that is the closest thing to a 3D version of Bitmap Brothers’ classic Speedball game (that is, until the next generation Speedball game comes along, whenever that…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Nick Baynes GAME DEVELOPER:Acclaim Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Acclaim Entertainment Copyright 1999, Toy-Volt In the world of toy publishing, few toys can match the speed of Toy-Volt’s success with its line of remote-controlled (R/C) cars. Acclaim brought the fun of R/C racing to Re-Volt, which boasts great gameplay…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1998, Krisalis Second in the UEFA Champions League line, B>UEFA Champions League 1998/99 is the second soccer game licensed by UEFA. It’s essentially 1996/97 version, improved with new graphics and some coaching options. The game features all 16 teams…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephano Lecchi GAME DEVELOPER:Milestone GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1996, Milestone One of the best arcade-style racer ever made for PC, Screamer 2 is everything Screamer was, and more. Sam Damage puts it nicely in his review for MobyGames: “The Good: After the first Screamer Virgin Interactive,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Milestone GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1999, Milestone Superbike World Championship is a superb motorcycle racing game from Milestone, the company behind racing classics Screamer and Screamer 2 (back when they were called Graffiti). Since I’m hardly knowledgeable about motorsports and since I find the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Inca Gold GAME PUBLISHER:ValuSoft Copyright 2000, Inca Gold Given the popularity of one-on-one fighting games, it is disappointing that PC games based on actual rules of oriental fighting sports such as karate or judo are few and far between. Since the days of EA’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Funnybone Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1997, Funnybone Interactive One of the most little-known games published by Sierra, Eat My Dust by Funnybone Interactive is a decent racing game for kids that in many ways merits its obscurity. Games Domain says it all in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Edward Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Edcom GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1996, Edcom The superior sequel to Edward Grabowski’s classic and highly underrated Grand Prix Manager (published by MicroProse), Grand Prix Manager 2 is more of the same – which can only be a good thing given how good the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Douglas GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Michael Douglas Soccer Cards is a unique football (soccer) game from Michael Douglas, an amateur game designer. Basically a football game that is played by cards, you play the game by using a set of “match cards,” each…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Stuart GAME DEVELOPER:Manic Media Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1995, Manic Media Productions Manic Karts is a great but very unknown sequel to SuperKarts, Manic Media’s hit game published by Virgin Interactive. Criticized by most of the press for its outdated graphics, Manic Karts remains…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Chapman & Jon Hare GAME DEVELOPER:Sensible Software GAME PUBLISHER:Time Warner Interactive Copyright 1996, Sensible Software A “sequel” of sorts to Sensible Software’s 1996 Sensible World of Soccer, a great conversion of the company’s famous Amiga football (soccer) game. Based on the teams that played in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stein Nyg?rd GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Stein Nyg?rd Another excellent racing game from Stein Nyg?rd, the talented Danish author behind KartingRace. In NapkinRace, up to four human players can race each other in splitscreen mode, via LAN or TCP/IP. NapkinRace courses are laid out…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stein Nyg?rd GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Stein Nyg?rd KartingRace is an excellent 3D gokart racing game from a Danish author. The game offers two race-modes: practice and race. Up to 6 players can compete via TCP/IP, and the game supports a complete range of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Gremlin Copyright 1997, Gremlin Actua Soccer: Club Edition is another excellent entry in Gremlin’s highly underrated Actua Soccer series. Chris McMullen of Games Domain says it all about this underdog: “…You can play as any of the twenty Premiership clubs, and unlike…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Artech GAME PUBLISHER:Valusoft Copyright 1997, Artech Moto Extreme is a so-so motocross game from Artech that pales beside Road Rash and Moto Racer, although admittedly Moto Extreme tries to be a different kind of game. While Moto Racer is a “real life” motocross racing…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Audiogenic GAME PUBLISHER:Audiogenic Copyright 1995, Audiogenic The last and arguably best in Audiogenic’s long line of excellent but very underrated rugby games, World Cup Rugby ’95 is an updated version of World Class Rugby, a great 1992 Audiogenic released described by The One magazine…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Dreams Multimedia GAME PUBLISHER:Digital Dreams Multimedia Copyright 1996, Digital Dreams Multimedia Soccer Superstar is a poor football (soccer to you Americans) game from DDM, a small Spanish shareware developer. Let’s start with the few good points first. Graphically, the game is on par…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gremlin GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1999, Gremlin Imagine Sensible Soccer. Imagine a 3D engine built over the massive ammount of teams and competition options. Now imagine everything screwed up by unrewarding gameplay, and there you have Actua Soccer 3 in its full glory. 25 leagues,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1996, Krisalis Based on the English FA and with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), this Krisalis manager/action game is probably one of the most underrated football games ever. Updated and upgraded version of Manchester United: The double, Player of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1999, Impressions A much better game than it’s predecessor, Ultimate Soccer Manager, and not much worse that it’s sequel and “grand finale” USM98, USM2 the perfect example of a second “volume” in a trilogy: Although it misses the multi-league seasons…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Keypunch GAME PUBLISHER:Keypunch Copyright 1987, Keypunch Sports Spectacular is a very lackluster compilation of 3 sports games – yet another “rip off” maneuver from Keypunch: combining public domain games and selling them without the author’s knowledge, let alone royalty fee. The games included are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Burst GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1997, Virgin Interactive Grand Slam is a disappointingly average baseball game that promised much more than it delivers. Baseball guru Tasos Kaiafas of GameSpot says it all in his scathing but fair review: “A couple of years ago, Grand…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Benna & Jeff Sember GAME DEVELOPER:MindSpan GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1997, MindSpan Hardball 5 Enhanced is the enhanced edition of Hardball 5, arguably the best entry in Accolade’s long-running series (many baseball fans have assured me that this is better than Hardball 6, the final game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Markus Heinsohn GAME DEVELOPER:Out of the Park Developments GAME PUBLISHER:.400 Software Studios Copyright 2003, Out of the Park Developments The Out of the Park Baseball franchise has become the management sim of choice for the knowing fan. Each edition gets better graphically, becomes easier to play…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Papyrus Design Group GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1996, Papyrus Design Group Road Rash is one of the rare gems that play much better than it looks. Although very dated when released, the game’s simple charm attracted a small but loyal following. While the game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Lobotomy Software GAME PUBLISHER:Microsoft Copyright 1997, Lobotomy Software Microsoft Soccer is definitely one of the worst soccer games ever made – and one of the many first embarrassments for Microsoft when it tried to re-enter the gaming industry in mid 1990s. Games Domain trashed…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Alternative GAME PUBLISHER:Alternative Copyright 1996, Alternative Tracksuit Manager 2 is a decent soccer management game (SMG) from Alternative Software. While the prequel Tracksuit Manager was one of the best SMGs at the time of its release, this sequel unfortunately offers too little, too late.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SEGA GAME PUBLISHER:SEGA Copyright 1997, SEGA Manx TT is a decent PC port of SEGA’s popular arcade game which was in turn based on the real-life “Isle of Man Trophy Race” motorcycle race. Similar to other racing games, you can play the game in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:High Voltage GAME PUBLISHER:Midway Copyright 1997, High Voltage NHL Open Ice is an excellent PC conversion of Midway’s hit arcade game of the same name. Licenced by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, this two-on-two hockey game features over 120 real-life players from all…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:CDS GAME PUBLISHER:CDS Copyright 1991, CDS European Superleague is an obscure and underrated soccer management game (SMG for short) from German developer CDS, released only in Europe. You can manage one of eight European teams on one of three difficulty levels. Similar to other…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dick Olsen GAME DEVELOPER:Olsen Outdoors GAME PUBLISHER:Olsen Outdoors Copyright 1993, Dick Olsen BassTour and BassDuel is an excellent fishing game by Dick Olsen, who marketed his games as mail order shareware titles between 1991 and 1995. Although graphically dull, the games attracted a loyal following with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dick Olsen GAME DEVELOPER:Olsen Outdoors GAME PUBLISHER:Olsen Outdoors Copyright 1991, Dick Olsen BassTour and BassDuel is an excellent fishing game by Dick Olsen, who marketed his games as mail order shareware titles between 1991 and 1995. Although graphically dull, the games attracted a loyal following with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Greenwood Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Greenwood Entertainment Copyright 1996, Greenwood Entertainment 2 Fast 4 U is an average futuristic racing game from German developer Greenwood Entertainment. Although the VGA graphics looks nice and the music decent, the game suffers from bad physics and lackluster track design.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Anonymous One of the most unique racing games you will ever come across, Chair Chaser is an intriguing freeware game from a team of students at Konami’s computer gaming school in Japan’s Osaka (which is Japan’s equivalent of Digipen,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Vicarious Visions GAME PUBLISHER:Wanadoo Copyright 2000, Vicarious Visions Snowcross is an above-average snowmobile racing game from Wanadoo. While it is not as fun as Konami’s popular line of snowboarding games, it is still a fun game that introduces a few interesting innovations in the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Z-Axis GAME PUBLISHER:Acclaim Entertainment Copyright 2000, Z-Axis In the rarefied world of BMX racing, Dave “Miracle Boy” Mirra is a living legend in the extreme sports community. It is fitting, therefore, that Acclaim’s Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX successfully captures both his talents and the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Hare GAME DEVELOPER:Sensible Software GAME PUBLISHER:Sensible Software Copyright 1998, Sensible Software Sensible Soccer ’98 is the final release in Sensible Software’s outstanding Sensible Soccer series. At first glance, fans may be disappointed by the fact that the game no longer sports the cute tiny players…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Park Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Park Productions Championship Wave Racer is a fun boat racing game that is strongly reminiscent of classic Super Sprint and Micro Machines games. Despite taking place on water, the game looks so similar to Codemasters’ classics that it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jussi Koskela GAME DEVELOPER:Webfoot Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Webfoot Technologies Copyright 1997, Jussi Koskela Fatal Fumes is a fun shareware racing game that should delight everyone who likes miniature racing games. The review at Games Domain says it all: “Fatal Fumes is a top-down racing game along the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Team 17 GAME PUBLISHER:Team 17 Copyright 1994, Team 17 Arcade Pool is an excellent arcade-style Pool game for 1 to 8 players. While this underdog cannot compare with Virtual Pool in the realism department, in terms of play value and sheer fun factor alone…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:LudiMedia GAME PUBLISHER:UBI Soft Copyright 1995, LudiMedia A quick and succinct synopsis of this cartoonish soccer game from MobyGames:: “Action soccer is a quick and uncomplicated soccer game with two different graphic styles (2D overview and 3D isometric). The 16 teams have 6 skills…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:MicroValue GAME PUBLISHER:MicroValue Copyright 1998, MicroValue Power Surge is a decent drag racing game from MicroStyle. An exciting sport that is unfortunately not simulated enough by racing games, drag racing is a contest of acceleration and raw speed between two cars over a distance…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SingleTrac GAME PUBLISHER:Sony Interactive Copyright 1996, SingleTrac The second in the Twisted Metal series of car combat games, and the last to be developed by SingleTrac, Twisted Metal 2 is considered by most of its fans to be the pinnacle of the series. Combat…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:.400 Software Studios GAME PUBLISHER:.400 Software Studios Copyright 2003, .400 Software Studios .400 Studios’ Tournament Dreams is the most complete college basketball simulation to come along in ages. 320 American universities complete with recruitment budgets, pre- and post-season tournaments and academic suspensions. Though clearly…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Software 2000 GAME PUBLISHER:Europress Copyright 1997, Software 2000 Total Football Management (known as Bundesliga Manager 97 in Germany) is the sixth entry in Software 2000’s long line of excellent football management games that started with The Manager in 1992. As with other entries in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Software 2000 GAME PUBLISHER:Software 2000 Copyright 1997, Software 2000 F1 Manager Professional is an excellent, comprehensive, and highly underrated F1 manager game by German developer Software 2000. The game lets you control every aspect of F1 team management, from manufacturing and financing, to race…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Quest Inc. GAME PUBLISHER:subLOGIC Copyright 1984, Quest Inc. subLOGIC Football is an oldie American football game developed by Quest Inc. and published by subLOGIC in 1984. The game is very primitive even by 1984 standards. There is only a few teams you can control…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Philips Media Copyright 1997, Krisalis UEFA Champions League 1996/97 is the first soccer game licensed by UEFA. Released to coincide with UEFA’s 1997 Euro Cup, this 3D soccer game from Krisalis is a fun, highly underrated game that was slightly better known…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:SingleTrac GAME PUBLISHER:Sony Interactive Copyright 1996, SingleTrac JetMoto is a good PC conversion of a Playstation futuriastic bike racing game of the same name, developed by now-defunct SingleTrac for Sony Interactive. Despite the futuristic setting, the game boasts “true physics” model, and by and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Distinctive Software GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1993, Distinctive Software World Tour Tennis is the definitive version of Distinctive Software’s excellent tennis game that began life as 4D Sports Tennis in 1990 and improved for the subsequent promotional game Compaq Grand Slam Cup in 1992.…