Category: Strategy and War Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) GAME PUBLISHER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) Copyright 1994, Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) The Perfect General 1 rocketed QQP to fame when it was released in 1990. The game offers a complete player history, an elaborate scoring system, and good AI. The…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mark Baldwin GAME DEVELOPER:White Wolf Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) Copyright 1991, Killer Bee Software The Perfect General 1 rocketed QQP to fame when it was released in 1990. The game offers a complete player history, an elaborate scoring system, and good AI. The Perfect…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Crawford GAME DEVELOPER:Chris Crawford GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1986, Chris Crawford A fun turn-based wargame set in the World War II. Although the game is a bit too “simplistic” in that it only has two basic army types: infantry and tanks, it was one of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Crawford GAME DEVELOPER:Chris Crawford GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1990, Chris Crawford Although Patton Strikes Back is unarguably the worst game of Crawford’s career, it was a novel (and noble) attempt to attract non-wargamers to the fray through simplified combat, colorful animations, and excellent help functions and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rich Banks & Frank Chadwick GAME DEVELOPER:Artech GAME PUBLISHER:Three-Sixty Pacific Copyright 1991, Artech No doubt the most obscure and buggy Three-Sixty game ever made, Patriot is an excellent (and perhaps the only realistic) modern wargame based on the 1991 Gulf War… but only after it’s patched…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Roger Keating GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) Copyright 1990, Strategic Studies Group (SSG) Panzer Battles is a great World War II wargame that is up to the normal high standards of wargaming legends Roger Keating and Ian Trout. It originally included…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Impressions Copyright 1991, Impressions Paladin 1 and 2 are Omnitrend’s application of the complex tactical engine that underlies its underrated Breach games to the fantasy universe of knights, monsters, and damsels in distress. The result is a unique blend of RPG and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Omnitrend GAME PUBLISHER:Omnitrend Copyright 1990, Omnitrend Paladin 1 and 2 are Omnitrend’s application of the complex tactical engine that underlies its underrated Breach games to the fantasy universe of knights, monsters, and damsels in distress. The result is a unique blend of RPG and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Landrey & Chuck Kroegel GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1988, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) The massive Allied airborne assault to capture the bridges of Holland in 1944. In the words of wargame veteran M. Evan Brooks, this is “a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KOEI GAME PUBLISHER:KOEI Copyright 1989, KOEI KOEI’s first foray into the wargame arena is a worthy attempt, but ultimately unrewarding. The game engine which has proven effective for KOEI’s strategy games is woefully inadequate to handle the nuances of World War II combat, where…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stuart Marks GAME DEVELOPER:Origin Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Origin Systems Copyright 1989, Origin Systems One of the *best* strategy games ever made, OMEGA lets you program futuristic cybertanks to wage wars. The box touts “The only game of its kind!” and it isn’t far off the mark. Using…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eric Hyman & Jon Van Caneghem GAME DEVELOPER:New World Computing GAME PUBLISHER:New World Computing Copyright 1991, New World Computing One of the better games in the niche sub-genre of tongue-in-cheek strategy, Nuclear Warlets you unleash a nation’s nuclear might at other nations headed by equally sadistic…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kou Shibusawa GAME DEVELOPER:KOEI GAME PUBLISHER:KOEI Copyright 1990, KOEI This sequel to Nobunaga’s Ambition is to its predecessor what Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2 is to RTK 1: better graphics and sound, but almost identical gameplay. The AI has been improve somewhat in this incarnation,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kou Shibusawa GAME DEVELOPER:KOEI GAME PUBLISHER:KOEI Copyright 1989, KOEI Essentially Romance of The Three Kingdoms with Japan as a backdrop, the game chronicles the achievements of Oda Nobunaga, a shrewd daimyo who came close to the ultimate title of shogun in one of the most properous…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Bever GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1991, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Revolution ’76 and No Greater Glory are grand wargames covering the entire U.S. Civil War. You choose to be either Lincoln or Davis and you must deal with…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephen Beckett & Steven Krenek GAME DEVELOPER:Datasoft GAME PUBLISHER:Datasoft Copyright 1988, Datasoft Step back to 1813 and try to penetrate the Russian front. The graphics are reminescent of SSI’s Sons of Liberty, but the gameplay is similar to an RTS game, with the exception of a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Metagraphic Software GAME PUBLISHER:Metagraphic Software Copyright 1994, Metagraphic Software This rare Vietnam wargame has 4 options: play 2 battle scenarios or 2 general war scenarios where you make decisions as US President Johnson or President Nixon. F1-F4 control the realtime movement speed. The game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:US Gold GAME PUBLISHER:US Gold Copyright 1990, US Gold A fun murder mystery that resembles boardgame classic Clue! with real-time elements thrown in, Murder! puts you in the shoes of an investigator who must solve a murder case in a big mansion and arrest…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Son T. Ton GAME DEVELOPER:Virgin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Virgin Interactive Copyright 1992, Virgin Interactive Until Westwood’s Monopoly CD-ROM, this was the best PC conversion of parlor game classic. All the tokens are here, with up to 8 components, any number of which can be computer-controlled. The rules…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dani Bunten GAME DEVELOPER:Electronic Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1988, Dani Bunten From Brian Moriarty’s tribute to Dani Bunten: “A final title for Electronic Arts broke even more new ground. 1988’s Modem Wars was the first game released by a major publisher to support modem-to-modem multiplay.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kent Quirk GAME DEVELOPER:Cognitoy GAME PUBLISHER:Cognitoy Copyright 2000, Cognitoy MindRover is one of the most original and replayable games I’ve ever come across that unfortunately isn’t selling like hotcakes for lack of advertisement and reviews in well-known game magazines. Ignore the insipid sci-fi plot: this is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ian Bird GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1991, Paragon Software Paragon took some time off from converting paper & pencil RPG to do a good PC conversion of Ian Bird’s classic space strategy game for Atari ST and Amiga computers. The game plays as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Take 2 Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Take 2 Interactive Copyright 1995, Take 2 Interactive A highly innovative strategy/adventure game that was sadly ignored, Millenia combines intriguing plot with unique strategic elements. Your task is to restore the galaxy’s equilibrium by “seeding” 4 alien races in the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Singleton GAME DEVELOPER:Microplay GAME PUBLISHER:Microplay Copyright 1992, Mike Singleton Midwinter games are good but difficult action/strategy/resource management epics that didn’t do well because of the confusing game interface. Had Singleton paid more attention to the interface and overall integration of disparate elements, this series would…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mike Singleton GAME DEVELOPER:Microplay GAME PUBLISHER:Microplay Copyright 1990, Mike Singleton Midwinter games are good but difficult action/strategy/resource management epics that didn’t do well because of the confusing game interface. Had Singleton paid more attention to the interface and overall integration of disparate elements, this series would…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Owen Hall GAME DEVELOPER:General Quarters Software GAME PUBLISHER:General Quarters Software Copyright 1989, General Quarters Software This game simulates the naval Battle of Midway in 1942 where the United States Fleet and naval air forces defeated the Japanese Invasion fleet that was heading towards Midway Island. Play…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Sensible Software GAME PUBLISHER:New World Computing Copyright 1992, New World Computing A wacky Populous clone that is fun for a short while before degenerating into mediocrity, Mega Lo Mania lets you lead a primitive tribe through the evolution of mankind, conquering neighboring islands in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Martin Campion GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1991, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Although quite well received upon first release, Medieval Lords had many bugs that were not fixed until patch 1.1, which was not widely available and so this game…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Gary Grigsby GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1985, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Despite its age, Mech Brigade remains to this day one of the most detailed simulation of modern land battles. As with his later masterpieces, Gary Grigsby took into…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Barcia & Ken Burd GAME DEVELOPER:SimTex GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1996, MicroProse The best feature in this excellent sequel to Master of Orion is the multiplayer option. Other new features include more than one colony per planet allowed, freighters, heroes for hire, random attacks from the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Barcia GAME DEVELOPER:SimTex GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1992, Steve Barcia The first SimTex that puts their name on the map is also arguably the best games Steve Barcia ever designed in his short career. This is *the* 4X space strategy game that has it all: solid…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Steve Barcia GAME DEVELOPER:SimTex GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1993, Steve Barcia A complex and innovative fantasy strategy game that was released with too many serious, computer-crashing bugs. Which is a shame, because it’s one of the best strategy games ever, with cool spellcasting system inspired by Magic:…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Interplay GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1993, Interplay Bringing the popular Nintendo character to PC, Mario’s Game Gallery lets you play against Mario in 5 popular parlor games: Checkers, Dominoes, Go Fish, Yacht, and Backgammon. Easy-to-read on-screen instructions, Mario’s encouraging voices, and amusing animations throughout the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Andy Blau GAME DEVELOPER:PAS Software GAME PUBLISHER:Merit Studios Copyright 1992, Merit Studios Maelstrom is a good example of a great game concept marred by poor execution. As “overlord,” you must transform a planet’s mining-oriented culture to a war-oriented one. The game has many strong points, e.g.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Rainbow Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Greenwood Entertainment Copyright 1996, Rainbow Arts Mad TV is a cult classic in Europe that is virtually unknown in the U.S. And that’s a shame, because it is a fun, solid strategy game with a neat underlying plot. You start as…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ralph Stock GAME DEVELOPER:Rainbow Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Rainbow Arts Copyright 1991, Rainbow Arts Mad TV is a cult classic in Europe that is virtually unknown in the U.S. And that’s a shame, because it is a fun, solid strategy game with a neat underlying plot. You start…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bruce Williams Zaccagnino & Ken Lighter GAME DEVELOPER:Holistic Design GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1993, Holistic Design Undoubtedly one of the best –if not THE best– medieval strategy games ever released, Machiavelli: The Prince is a superb trading game set in the Renaissance, where you assume the role…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Roger Keating GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Studies Group (SSG) Copyright 1990, Strategic Studies Group (SSG) General Douglas Macarthur. The name brings thoughts of an American war hero. The Korean War was really one of the first times the US intervened between 2 rivals…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dani Bunten GAME DEVELOPER:Ozark Softscape GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1984, Ozark Softscape From Brian Moriarty’s tribute to Dani Bunten: “M.U.L.E. was multiplayer from the ground up. It used the joystick array of the Atari 800 to connect four people in an unprecedented example of computer-moderated parlor…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Lindsley & Steve Marshall GAME DEVELOPER:Magnetic Images GAME PUBLISHER:Magnetic Images Copyright 1989, Magnetic Images A “one-hit wonder” from short-lived Magnetic Images is a solid game set in the Gold Rush of 1800s. As newcomer to Goldfield, you must find the map to legendary Lost Dutchman…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bruce Williams Zaccagnino & Thurston Searfoss GAME DEVELOPER:Fogstone Enterprises GAME PUBLISHER:Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) Copyright 1991, Quantum Quality Productions (QQP) The Lost Admiral was the first game QQP released, in 1991, and remains one of its best. This strategic navy wargame features excellent resource system, numerous…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Flint Dille & Lee Chin GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1992, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) “A faithful adaptation of GDW’s boardgame, this simulation was not an accurate representation of the Gulf War. More akin to a static line World War…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KOEI GAME PUBLISHER:KOEI Copyright 1989, KOEI Based on the U.S. Revolution, Liberty or Death puts a new spin on KOEI’s main game engine in various novel ways: to raise popular support, “give food to the populace” is replaced by “write a gazette”; soldiers are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kou Shibusawa GAME DEVELOPER:KOEI GAME PUBLISHER:KOEI Copyright 1989, KOEI An ambitious game that chronicles the life of Napoleon Bonaparte from his days as army commander to the ruler of empire, L’Empereur is a solid strategy game that simplifies many of RTK’s statistics and tactical-level commands in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Worldweaver Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1997, Worldweaver Productions Beasts and Bumpkins is a great Settlers-style gem that is one of the very few games from software giant Electronic Arts that were released very quietly without any marketing hype, and only in Europe. And…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Julian Gollop GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Krisalis Copyright 1992, Krisalis A relatively unnoticed game at the time of its release that suddenly became heavily sought after after the phenomenal success of its successor X-COM, Julian Gollop demonstrated his knack for deep and addictive strategy games in this…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chuck Kroegel GAME DEVELOPER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1983, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) “An operational simulation of Rommel’s Desert Campaigns in North Africa during World War II, [Knight of the Desert] was one of the first games to offer multiple stacking…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Imagitec Design GAME PUBLISHER:GameTek Copyright 1993, GameTek King’s Table is an excellent computerized version an ancient Scandinavian board game of the same name. The arrangement of the pieces and differing objectives of the two sides set King’s Table apart from Chess or Draughts. White…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Dunham & Greg Stafford GAME DEVELOPER:A-Sharp GAME PUBLISHER:A-Sharp Copyright 1999, A-Sharp King of Dragon Pass combines elements of roleplaying, strategy (resource management) and simulation into a very unique game. The game is placed in late-Bronze Age fantasy world Glorantha, a world resembling Viking legends added…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Van Caneghem GAME DEVELOPER:New World Computing GAME PUBLISHER:New World Computing Copyright 1990, New World Computing Back when I became instantly addicted to this fantasy strategy game, I wondered why it didn’t sell better than it did, and why so few magazines recognized its quality. Years…