All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'classic, casual' on The Great Games Experiment All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'classic, casual' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'classic, casual' on The Great Games Experiment en-us The Curse of Monkey Island The third game in the Monkey Island saga. After giving Elaine a cursed engagement ring, Guybrush must find a way to break the curse that turned her into solid gold. Hilarious antics ensue.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 12:46:57 Elite Elite is a seminal space trading computer game, originally published by Acornsoft in 1984 for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers. The game's title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their combat rating to the exalted heights of 'Elite'. It was written and developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, who had met while they were both undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge. Non-Acorn versions of the game were published by Firebird.

Elite was one of the first home computer games to utilise wireframe 3D graphics. Another novelty was the inclusion of The Dark Wheel, a novella by Robert Holdstock which influenced new players with insight into the moral and legal codes which they might aspire to. It elevated the technically complicated software beyond the pigeon-hole of "game".

Elite's open ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Even now, over 20 years after it was published, Elite is frequently used as a yardstick by which any new space trading game is measured. It has often been said that "Elite has been imitated but never bettered". While this is perhaps somewhat hyperbolic, it is certainly true to say that Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as EVE Online, Wing Commander: Privateer and the X series of space trading games.

The Elite universe contains eight galaxies, each galaxy containing 256 planets to explore. Due to the limited capabilities of 8-bit computers, these worlds are procedurally generated: A single seed number run through a fixed algorithm the appropriate number of times and creates a sequence of numbers determining each planet's complete composition (position in the galaxy, prices of commodities, and even name and local details — text strings are chosen numerically from a lookup table and assembled to produce unique descriptions for each planet). This means that no extra memory is needed to store the characteristics of each planet, yet each is unique and has fixed properties. Each galaxy is also procedurally generated from the first.

The player, initially Commander Jameson, starts at Lave Station with 100 Credits and a lightly armed trading ship, a Cobra Mark III. Most of the ships that the player encounters are similarly named after snakes, or other reptiles. Credits can be accumulated through a number of means. These include piracy, trade, military missions, bounty hunting and the mining of asteroids. The money generated by these enterprises allows the player to upgrade their ship with such enhancements as better weapons, shields, increased cargo capacity, an automated docking system, and more.

Travel between planets is constrained to those within range of the ship's limited fuel capacity (7 light years); fuel can be replenished after docking with a space-station in orbit around a planet - a challenging task without a docking computer, as it requires matching the ship's rotation to that of the station. Players can upgrade their equipment with a fuel scoop, which allows raw fuel to be skimmed from the surface of stars - a dangerous and difficult activity - as well as collecting free-floating cargo canisters and escape capsules liberated after the destruction of other ships.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 12:00:49 Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros is a classic game of Nintendo. It revolves around rescuing a kidnapped Princess by an evil creature named Koopa. Mario and Luigi must help each other to succeed in their mission and save the Toadstool Kingdom.
]]> 30 Dec 2006 07:27:55 International Superstar Soccer Deluxe International Superstar Soccer Deluxe is the sequel to International Superstar Soccer, Konami's saga of soccer games. This Deluxe version was published first to the SNES, then the Mega Drive and Playstation.

ISS Deluxe has realistic animations and player sprites. You can compete with 36 national teams with recognizable celebrity players (like Valderrama, Baggio, Ravanelli, Petkov...), but their names are fictitious. You can choose too from 16 formations and 8 strategies to win.

The competitions available are: International Cup, World Series (League), Scenario Mode and customizable mini-cups/leagues.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 07:11:04 Worms: Armageddon Team warfare on a worm scale

Description:
Worms: Armageddon is a turn based strategy game in a 2d environment. There is a single player campaign, and training missions to complete; but the main attraction is playing against other people locally or over the internet. Games can be played with 2 or more people. The graphics and sound are very cartoonish, and entertaining.

Gameplay:
Each player starts with a number of worms on their team. Each worm has a fixed amount of health. If a worm runs out of health, it will die. Once you run out of worms, you lose the match. The game is turn based, so each team gets control of one worm during their turn. You have a limited amount of time to select one of many weapons and inflict damage on another teams worm. There are also other more subtle tools to choose from for more strategic play, such as terrain digging tools, girder construction, and ropes and other means to get around the map. Weapons vary from the ordinary guns and explosives, to odd things like exploding sheep, mad cows, and homing pigeons.

There are several other popular gameplay types, with specific rules for play.

Finding online games is easy when you log onto WormNet. It's an irc-like chat interface where you can host or join games.
]]> 21 Jan 2007 02:14:34 Breath Of Fire II Breath of Fire II is the second role-playing game in the Breath of Fire series. It was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan in 1994 by Capcom, and was later brought to North America in 1995 by Capcom, before Laguna released it in Europe in 1996. It was later re-released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan under the name Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko, which translates to Breath of Fire II: The Fated Child. It was re-released in North America and Europe in 2002 under the original title.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 06:17:16 Frontier: Elite II Frontier: Elite 2 is a computer game written by David Braben and published by Gametek in 1993. It is the first sequel to Ian Bell and David Braben's earlier game Elite, and is available for Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and PC computers.

Frontier (or FE2 as it is commonly referred to) retains the same principle component of Elite—namely completely open-ended gameplay—and adds to this realistic physics and an accurately modelled galaxy. There is no plot within Frontier, nor are there pre-scripted missions (as there are in its sequel, First Encounters); instead players explore space while trading legally or illegally, carrying out missions for the military, ferrying passengers from system to system, engaging in piracy or any combination of the above. As a consequence, Frontier cannot be completed or "won"—instead, players themselves decide what to aspire to and set out to achieve it.

The game has since been released as shareware and is available as a free download, although being a DOS game, users of Windows 2000 and Windows XP may initially have difficulty getting it to run. Using emulation such as DosBox will get the official shareware version of the game to run on modern operating systems including Windows XP, Mac OS X and Linux.

In Frontier, the player assumes the role of one of Commander Jameson's grandchildren, having inherited from Commander Jameson one hundred credits and an Eagle Long Range Fighter. By the game’s standards, this is incredibly modest, and is used as a spur to encourage players to earn money by whatever means they feel is appropriate.

As with Elite, much of Frontier is concerned with trading: players can buy and sell much—from food and computer parts to guns and slaves—with the intent of making the most profit from each trading run. Thus, learning to compare prices in various systems is essential for profitability, and calculating overheads for each trip (such as fuel, missiles, and hull repair) are essential skills. It often becomes apparent that a particular trading route is profitable, such as the Barnard’s Star-Sol route. It is worth noting that some items (particularly narcotics, nerve gas, weaponry and slaves) are illegal in most systems and attempting to trade these in a system in which they are illegal will result in being fined by the police, which can often escalate into violence. It is often worth the risk, however, as illegal goods generally have a very high price on the black market.

Frontier substitutes Elite’s arcade flying style for one based rigidly on Newtonian physics: momentum must first be neutralised to bring the player's craft to a stop, and turning 180° has no effect on the direction of travel until previous momentum has been counteracted. The craft’s control is largely left to the player, but often day-to-day tasks—such as navigating from a hyperspace exit-point to a desired planet or space-station and docking—can be handed over to a ship's autopilot.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 12:22:46 You Don't Know Jack

You Don't Know Jack: the show where high culture and pop culture collide!


You Don't Know Jack is a series of quiz show-inspired computer games which combine trivia and comedy. The games are known for their humor and challenge, as well as simple presentation. The games rarely use graphics, relying heavily on voice acting and text.

The games have recently been revived at the YDKJ official website, where new episodes are released every weekday. These are developed in Flash and are available to play for free within your web browser.

Category: Quiz

Release Date: Varied

Developer: Jellyvision
]]> 26 Mar 2007 11:13:20 King's Quest Collection Celebrate the golden age of adventure games all over again with the return of King's Quest.

The bravest knight in all of Daventry, Sir Graham, is appointed by the dying king to embark on a Quest for the Crown. By retrieving the three treasures of Daventry, he will not only save the land but become its king.

Now the ruler of Daventry, King Graham sees a vision of a beautiful woman trapped in a tower. Romancing the Throne won't be easy with mermen and vampires separating him from his imprisoned bride.

A young apprentice to an evil wizard must escape his captor or be faced with certain death. Upon the discovery that he is the long-lost son of the royal family, young prince Alexander learns that To Heir is Human.

King Graham lies on the brink of death and only a magical fruit from a far off land can heal him. The Perils of Rosella pit evil fairies and fearsome foes against the brave princess as she fights to save her father.

Returning home one day to find the castle missing, King Graham must don his famous adventurer's cap once more to find his family. Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder and Graham must learn a little magic of his own to rescue his loved ones from an evil spell.

Haunted by the memory of the kidnapped princess who helped his family escape the malevolent wizard Mordack, Alexander learns of a plot to force the beautiful Cassima to marry an evil Vizier. Sworn to protect the woman who saved his life, Alexander takes to the Green Isles in Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow.

Rebellious Rosella is content to be The Princeless Bride, but her adventurous spirit may lead to a marriage to the King of the Trolls. With the help of her mother, Queen Valanice, Rosella must end a plot to destroy the land of Eldritch and find her own happy ending.

from http://classics.sierra.com/us/kingsquest/
]]> 03 Jun 2007 01:07:42 Breath Of Fire III Breath of Fire III is the third RPG in the Breath of Fire series. It was originally released for the PlayStation in Japan in 1997 by Capcom, and was later brought to North America and Europe in 1998. It was ported to the PSP and was released in Japan in August 2005 and in Europe in February 2006.

The game follows the adventures of Ryu (the protagonist) who is the sole survivor of the Dragon Clan, as he struggles to discover why his clan was wiped out. The adventure takes him to many places, on journeys thought impossible, and in the end he will discover power in the ability to choose his own future.

As the last survivor of the Dragon Clan, Ryu must continue his struggle against the evil goddess Myria, who has taken over the world and now controls it.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 06:23:52 Frontier: First Encounters First Encounters is the sequel to Frontier (1993), which itself was a sequel to the seminal 1984 game Elite. The game was created by David Braben’s company, Frontier Developments. Many fans of the game refer to it by the shortened title of FFE.

Like Frontier, First Encounters features realistic Newtonian physics and the ability to land on planets. It has graphics that are an improvement over Frontier (the main difference being Gouraud shading) and, as well as employing the same open-ended gameplay of its predecessors, it also features a storyline concerning an alien race called the Thargoids.

Like the other two Elite games, it has been re-released as shareware and can be freely downloaded from the Elite Club site.

Being a DOS game, First Encounters has difficulty running with Windows XP or Windows 2000 machines, although the official site does offer solutions to get the game running. A recreated game engine called JJFFE allows playing the game on Linux, Windows and DOS.

First Encounters plays much like its immediate predecessor Frontier: the game is a combination of trading, fighting and a variety of other activitiesâ€â€
]]> 03 Mar 2007 01:23:22 Breath Of Fire Breath of Fire is the first role-playing game in the Breath of Fire series. It was originally released for the Super NES in Japan in 1993 by Capcom, and was later brought to North America in 1994 by Squaresoft (now Square Enix). It was later re-released for the Game Boy Advance worldwide, this time by Capcom themselves.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 06:08:53 Mutant Storm Inspired by RoboTron, Smash TV and Llamatron. Mutant Storm is a classic arcade game with a new age twist. One hand controls the firing the other controls the movement. Simple controls and addictive gameplay with decent graphics set Mutant Storm apart.
]]> 17 Jan 2007 01:27:17 Hotel Solitaire Welcome to Hotel Solitaire where you have a reservation for endless solitaire fun! Step into the elevator and get ready for a variety of card challenges as each floor presents a new twist on classic fun. As you make your way through the hotel, you'll unlock even more excitement in the hotel's Casino, Recreation Room, and Terrace. Whether you're looking for a relaxing game of cards or a frantic race against the clock, Hotel Solitaire has accommodations for all. Check in to this suite solitaire game!
]]> 05 Feb 2007 04:14:27 Sonic The Hedgehog In 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog was released on the Master System, Mega Drive and Game Gear. Its fast pace and vivid environments set it apart, and it went on to become a phenomenon, being by far the biggest-selling game on all three platforms. To date, Sonic games have sold in excess of 44 million copies worldwide, placing him ninth in the franchise sales table. (Source: Wikipedia)
]]> 06 Feb 2007 05:46:13 SkyRoads "You could play this game just for the amazing sound tracks, but the gameplay is also very catchy. Simply, you need to steer your space vehicle along the course, jumping and dodging blocks that will wipe you out when you're flying along at light-speed. Balancing acceleration and fuel usage becomes tricky when you've got a time limit to beat with hardly any fuel in the tank. Your reflexes and timing will be the difference between getting home safely and floating aimlessly through space."
-dosgamesarchive.com

This is truly an original. Very simple, very addictive.
]]> 19 Mar 2007 09:09:34 Joust Joust's simple controls, and the fact that it was one of the few games two players could play together, helped make this arcade game a hit.

You play a knight mounted on an ostrich. You must use your lance to joust against wave after wave of enemies. The only controls you have are to flap your wings and to move left and right, making it quite easy to get into the game. You may defeat an opponent by colliding with them with your lance higher than theirs.

When you beat an enemy, they drop an egg. If you let it hatch by not collecting it, it will spawn a tougher enemy than the one who dropped the egg.

Other dangers include a lava pit at the bottom of the screen, a lava troll which tries to drag you into the lava pit, and a very tough-to-beat pterodactyl which appears if you take too long on a level.

Designer: John Newcomer
Released: 1982
]]> 13 May 2007 09:11:30 Yoshi's Island 2 As Yoshi, transport the younger versions of classic mario characters across dangerous landscapes to save Baby Luigi and the other babies from evil. Use Yoshi's amazing abilities such as, eating your enemies, throwing eggs, hovering in the air, and stomping the ground.

You can even use the babies to your advantage! Use Mario to make special blocks visible. Peach to use her umbrella to ride on the winds, Donkey Kong to swing on vines, and more!
]]> 25 Jan 2007 03:43:45 Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat was the first entry in the famous Mortal Kombat fighting game series by Midway, released in arcades in 1992. It was later picked up by Acclaim Games for the home version, then later returned to Midway. It centers on the first Mortal Kombat tournament and the ultimate defeat of the evil Shang Tsung by the monk Liu Kang.

Versions of the original Mortal Kombat game appeared on several different formats, most notably the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Nintendo's SNES. When the first game in the series was released for the SNES in North America, Nintendo of America had a strict "Family Friendly" policy towards the content of the games released on their systems which required the removal of graphic violence, religious imagery and themes, mentions of death, sexual themes, and other sensitive subjects. Hence, the first Mortal Kombat game on the SNES had the blood recolored gray in an attempt to pass it off as sweat, and the various Fatality moves were graphically changed to be less gruesome. The SNES version was graphically superior to the Mega Drive/Genesis port, but all violence was censored.

The game was a response by Midway to Capcom's successful Street Fighter II, which spawned a number of fighting games. However, it used a distinctly different fighting system from the Street Fighter formula, which was used in all subsequent sequels until Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. The controls consisted of five buttons arranged in an "X" pattern: a high punch, a high kick, a low punch, a low kick, and a block button, as well as an eight-way joystick. If the two fighters were standing next to each other, hitting any of the attack buttons would result in a modified strike: a low punch turned into a throw, a high punch turned into a heavy elbow, headbutt, or backhand, and either kick turned into a knee strike. Crouching and hitting either punch resulted in an uppercut, which was the most damaging attack of the game. Jump kicking and crouch-kicking were executed in a similar fashion to Street Fighter, although leg sweeps and roundhouse kicks were performed by holding away while pressing the appropriate kick button.

The blocking in Mortal Kombat I by itself greatly changed the flow of fighting in comparison to contemporary games which used Street Fighter conventions. Characters do not block while retreating or crouching, but only block when the block button is pushed. Even then, characters take (reduced) damage from any hit while blocking. However, successfully blocking moves is simple – a crouching block can successfully defend against all moves, even aerial attacks such as jumpkicks – and blocking characters give very little ground when struck rather than sliding backwards. This style of blocking rewarded dodging to avoid damage but also made counterattacks much easier after a successful block, and the ultimate result was an environment which rewards a more furtive playing style than contemporary games.

Another of the game's innovations was the Fatality, a special finishing move executed against a beaten opponent to kill them in a gruesome fashion. For example, one character (Sub-Zero) would grasp a defeated opponent by the head, then rip out the head and spine while the body crumpled to the ground in a pool of blood.

Finally, Mortal Kombat also changed the way special moves were performed. Street Fighter (and many other fighting games) performed most special moves in fractions of circles (usually full, half or one-quarter) on the joystick followed by a button press (such as a quarter-circle forward, plus punch). Mortal Kombat was the first to introduce moves that did not require a button press (such as tap back, tap back, then forward), and only a few of the special moves required circular joystick movement.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 07:14:32 Digger Digger was released by Windmill Software in 1983, popular in the era of the IBM PC with a CGA graphics card and monitor. Digger was resurrected by Andrew Jenner in 1998, when he reverse engineered it to run using VGA on fast Pentium based computers. The source code of the remastered version was released under the GPL with permission of the original author Rob Sleath.
]]> 24 Dec 2006 02:53:39 Jezzball Jezzball is a simple yet engaging fast-paced game of skill and strategy.This game will indeed make you crazy. It's very quick to pick up, but as you begin to improve, subtle strategies emerge. Then it gets harder and harder to stop, and that's when the madness begins.
]]> 01 May 2007 06:58:00 Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True A point-and-click adventure game released for the Mac in 1985 by MindScape. It was developed by ICOM Simulations, who pioneered the move from text-based interaction to point-and-click adventure games.

The story is set in the 1940s and you play a private eye who wakes up in a bar's bathroom stall. You find a body in the bar's office and have to track down the murderer to clear your name.

Developer: ICOM Simulations
Released: 1985
]]> 10 Dec 2006 12:12:33 Lost in the Labyrinth "It's a maddening game perfect for the casual genre: it's easy to play but difficult to master." - VH1 Game Break

Inspired by the classic wooden toy, "Lost in the Labyrinth" has you guide your ball through the 3D maze from start to finish by tilting the playing surface. Sounds simple, right? Think again! Watch where you roll. Dodge holes and bumpers while trying to get to the goal as fast as you can. With over 30 levels to play, race the clock and beat the computer's best time, then beat your best time. When you're ready, challenge a friend to a head-to-head race. Will you get lost in the Labyrinth?
]]> 04 May 2007 04:20:06 Scarab of RA Released in 1987 by Semicolon Software, this shareware adventure game for the Mac was an instant success.

You play the role of an archaeology student entering the newly-discovered Great Pyramid of RA the Sun-God. Your objective is to explore the pyramid and devine its secrets.

The goal of the game is to gain prestige and, of course, to survive the creatures and puzzles the pyramid throws your way.

The interface is point-and-click, and is reminiscent of the original Wizardry.

Developer: Rick Holzgrafe
Released: 1987
]]> 26 Jan 2007 11:19:12 Jack in the Dark Jack in the Dark was released by Infogrames in between the first and the second Alone in the Dark games. It is substantially smaller in scale and length, and served as teaser for the upcoming sequel.

The game stars Grace Saunders, the kidnapped girl in the main story, who gets locked in a toy store on Halloween. The goal of the short game is to solve the mystery of the toy store and escape. Utilising the same engine as the Alone in the Dark games, Jack in the Dark plays pretty much the same, though Grace has only Search and Close as her available actions. The puzzles are interesting and varied, and the creepy story unfolds via various means such as a book that explains the past of a certain ghostly character.
]]> 11 Mar 2007 05:44:19 Arch Rivals Before Arch Rivals, arcade "basketball" games were simple "aim the ball" novelty devices. By letting each Player control multiple teammates, both directly and indirectly, Arch Rivals allowed Players to employ real basketball strategies and plays.

However, the game might best be remembered for the fact that characters could punch each other in the face, "pants" each other and even tackle opposing players...

Designed by Rampage designers Brian Colin & Jeff Nauman for Bally Midway shortly before a corporate buyout by competitor Williams Electronics, it is said that the success of Arch Rivals single-handedly paid for the 8 million dollar purchase!
]]> 29 Jun 2007 02:23:10 LaserAge LaserAge is a retro game similar to Galaxian and Galaga clones. This shooter features power-ups and is highly detailed, combining nostalgia with 24-bit color. Four levels have 100 waves of ships. Destroy 15 enemies with 13 power-ups. You can play in windowed and full-screen modes; then show off your skills to the world with Web-based high scores. Your ship can be controlled with the mouse, which comes in handy when you're trying to dodge enemy fire. The Gold version features a new interface and a massive list of bug fixes.

Genre: Arcade
Developer: Ingava
Version: 2.0A
]]> 07 Dec 2006 08:46:07 Police Quest Collection The closest experience to being a police officer without having a badge.

Investigating what seems to be a simple car crash, rookie cop Sonny Bonds uncovers a homicide. In Pursuit of the Death Angel, Bonds must track down murderous drug lord Jessie Bains before he strikes again.

It isn't long after Sonny Bonds is promoted to the homicide department that Jessie Bains escapes from prison seeking revenge on everyone who put him behind bars. Bonds must protect not only his own life, but his girlfriend Marie from The Vengeance of Bains.

With vicious cult killings, a raving madman, and a new drug regime threatening Lytton, Bonds is faced with his greatest fear: his wife Marie is stabbed and lays in a coma. Will Bonds be able to keep his cool and solve the brutal mysteries of The Kindred?

The action moves to Los Angeles, where Detective John Carey must find the link between the murder of his partner and a string of mutilation murders. It's Open Season when a serial killer is one step ahead of the investigation.

from http://classics.sierra.com/us/policequest/
]]> 03 Jun 2007 01:13:27 Final Fight Final Fight is a classic beat 'em up series from Capcom. It is considered to be Street Fighter's "cousin", and the two series are set in the same universe (characters like Guy, Hugo Andore, Rolento, Cody Travers and Poison have all appeared in later Street Fighter installments). Final Fight was originally released as an arcade game and was ported to several platforms, including the Super NES, Sega Mega-CD, Sharp X68000 and Game Boy Advance. It features former wrestler (as seen in Saturday Night Slam Masters), and mayor of Metro City (Capcom's fictitious city, modeled after New York City), Mike Haggar.

The story of Final Fight involves the abduction of Haggar's daughter, Jessica, because he would not work with Mad Gear to ensure their dominance of the streets. When the Mad Gear thug Damnd contacts Haggar and informs him, Haggar calls up his daughter's boyfriend Cody and his sparring partner Guy, and the three vigilantes head into the streets to bust Mad Gear's skulls, fighting their way through the hordes of goons littering the city (including the Rastafarian thug Damnd, the "Japanophile" Sodom, former Red Beret and militia leader Rolento, corrupt cop Edi. E, and the ill-tempered Abigail), to get to Mad Gear's boss, Belger.

Final Fight, whilst following in the footsteps of Double Dragon, was an innovative and balanced game. Unlike several beat 'em ups before it, Final Fight featured very large and detailed sprites for its day, and the controls were quite fluid and simple. Beginners could take to the game quickly, yet the game was balanced and difficult enough to ensure even experts could always expect a challenge for every new play. The game also began the strength-based, speed-based, and average character variety that countless other beat 'em up and other genres derived, as one controls Haggar (very powerful yet very slow and vulnerable to attack), Guy (very agile and can use hit-and-run, yet has weak offensive power), or Cody (who balances strength and speed, being an excellent choice for beginners). It also featured very long levels and various powerful enemies that could easily crowd the screen and had several fighting tactics against the player. It was not uncommon to hear people talk of how crowds would gather to watch whoever was playing the machine at the time.
]]> 05 Apr 2007 11:59:05 Space Invaders Basically done as an experiment to see if I could build Space Invaders in an afternoon.
]]> 17 May 2007 05:17:46 Quest for Glory 3: Wages of War The third game in Quest for Glory series is set in the Africa-like world of Tarna, where you travel with your new liontaur friends you have met in the second game. Shortly after your arrival, you learn about the conflict between the liontaurs and the neighbor Simbani village, populated by the leopardmen. It is now time for our hero to become a skillful diplomat and to prevent an upcoming war between the two nations.

The gameplay system of "Wages of War" is the same as in the two previous games. The game plays like an adventure, with puzzles to solve and characters to talk to, with the additional of RPG elements: combat (action-based) and character development. You can play as either a fighter, a thief, a mage, or a paladin, and raise your skills directly after battles or by performing various actions. Graphics and interface underwent a major change. This is the first 256-color Quest for Glory game, and the first one to utilize the new, icon-based interface.

(from the Moby Games QFG3 page)
]]> 05 Dec 2006 11:32:14 Crash Bandicoot Crash Bandicoot is a platform game made by Naughty Dog in 1996 for the PlayStation, featuring the character by the same name. In it, Crash must fight Dr. Neo Cortex's henchmen in order to save Tawna, his beloved bandicoot girlfriend for revenge on Cortex.

Evil dr. Neo Cortex and his sidekick dr. Nitrus Brio have captured Crash and his girlfriend Tawna to experiment on them. Crash was rejected as a failiure, but Tawna is still at the clutches of evil scientist Cortex. It is up to Crash to rescue her.

In Crash' first appearance on the Playstation, you must run, jump and spin your way through this part 3D platform/part Side Scroller/part Mario 64 style adventure.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 02:03:56 Final Fight 2 Final Fight 2 is a 1993 beat 'em up for the Super NES and the second game in Capcom's Final Fight series. Unlike the original Final Fight, Final Fight 2 was not an arcade game, but was made specifically for the home market. The game features the return of Mike Haggar from the original game and introduces Maki Genryusai and Carlos Miyamoto.

Set sometime after the events of the original Final Fight, the Mad Gear gang has been revived under the leadership of a man named Retu in Japan. In retaliation for their early defeat, they had kidnapped Guy's fiancee, Rena and her father (Guy's master), Genryusai.

Two days after the abduction, Haggar receives a phone call from Maki (Rena's sister) informing him of the situation and tells him to meet up with her in Hong Kong. With Cody supposedly "on vacation with Jessica" (Cody would most likely be in jail by this time) and Guy away on a training mission, Haggar enlists the help of Carlos Miyamoto, a swordsman and boarder who is staying with Haggar. The two meet with Maki and decide to travel through various parts of Eurasia in search of Mad Gear's new hideout.

The game can be considered as an attempt by Capcom compensate for the earlier SNES version of Final Fight (as well as Final Fight Guy). The gameplay is not very different from the original game in terms of changes. However, the 2 player cooperative game mode that was missing from the first SNES is restored in the sequel and the game offers three playable characters (instead of two). Though neither Guy nor Cody are playable characters in this game, Maki and Carlos are essentially their replacements (this is further emphasized by the fact that Maki uses the same fighting style as Guy). The only returning enemy (besides the Andore family) is Rolento, a boss character from the original arcade game who was missing in the SNES version. The new enemies are also analogues to the ones from the first game, with virtually all of the new Mad Gear members (Elias, Eleck, Mary) having similar fighting styles to their counterparts from the first game (El Gado, G. Oriber, Poison).

Instead of an American city like Metro City, the game takes place primarily in various European and Asian cities and landmarks, thereby giving the game its own distinct look.
]]> 05 Apr 2007 12:11:02 Alone in the Dark 2 Alone in the Dark 2 is the 1994 sequel to 1992's survival horror video game Alone in the Dark created by Infogrames. The game is the second installment in the series.

It is Christmas 1924. Edward Carnby, a "Supernatural Private Eye," and Ted Striker are investigating the kidnapping of young Grace Saunders. The trail of clues leads to an old mansion named "Hell's Kitchen"--the home of an infamous gangster boss and his gang. Edward decides to pick up the trail when he learns of Ted's disappearance in the mansion. Unfortunately, Edward soon finds out that Ted has been murdered. Carnby eventually finds out that the mobsters are but the corporal forms of the spirits of pirates that plundered the sea years ago. Fighting his way into the house and ultimately onboard a pirate ship hidden in cliff on which Jack's house is built, Edward must rescue little Grace, and find out why the pirates have taken an interest in her.

Alone in the Dark 2 introduced the concept of playing as more than one character within the same game. Although much of the game is spend playing as Carnby, the player will occasionally take control of Grace Saunders. Grace, a child, cannot fight and is instantly captured if the gangsters spot her, so instead she must sneak around and defeat the gangsters by turning common household objects into booby traps. Unlike the original game, the player cannot choose between two different characters at the start. It's Carnby or bust.
]]> 11 Mar 2007 06:00:37 Leisure Suit Larry Collection A decade of debauchery now on one CD.

Larry Laffer is a loveable loser on the most desperate of quests: lose his virginity or die trying. Armed with his trademark leisure suit, breath spray the dream of true love (or at least fake love), he heads to the sinful Lost Wages, The Land of the Lounge Lizards.

When the girl of his dreams has second thoughts, Larry finds himself on the street again, but this time in Los Angeles. Larry Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places) amidst KGB agents, island natives, and the evil Dr. Nonookee.

Larry may finally have found The One on Nontoonyt Island, but a misunderstanding separates him from his lascivious lounge singer love. Explore the jungle with lovelorn Larry or aid Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals.

After suffering amnesia induced by The Case of the Missing Floppies, Larry must find three hot women to appear on America's Sexiest Home Videos. Meanwhile, Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work as an FBI agent investigating corruption in the music industry. Help the lost lovers take on organized crime and Larry regain his memory.

Alone again, Larry finds himself at a spa resort as a consolation prize on a TV dating game. To try to win the hearts of the beautiful vacationers, Larry must Shape Up or Slip Out!

Grab this spectacularly priced collection and help the original Leisure Suit Larry himself find his way in the series that spawned a lecherous legend. Be sure to visit the creator at www.allowe.com for great game hints, tips, and all-around good humor!

from http://classics.sierra.com/us/larry/
]]> 03 Jun 2007 01:18:21 Asteroids Story:

At 0400 hours, we received confirmation from NASA that an asteroid field larger than any recorded in the history of civilization is headed for a direct collision course with Earth. If just one of these asteroids were to hit Earth's surface, the impact would measure at approximately 50 megatons - 4,000 times the explosive power of the fission bomb used on Hiroshima.

Our entire military fleet is currently at war with the Martians and, as fate would have it, the asteroid field is too far away from Mars to reassign a Commander. You are the only armed ship within reach of the field.

Your mission is simple: Eliminate all asteroids. Our information sources believe gravitational forces have banded the asteroid field into eight waves. This will provide time between each wave to repair your ship.

Scientific analysis has shown the asteroids' outer shells are coated in almandine carconite, a rare, highly explosive mineral which is normally only safe at extremely low temperatures. This means a single shot from a laser turret will suffice to blow the asteroid into pieces, but be warned! The explosion will be so large that you are advised to stay well back. A severe explosion could interfere with your guidance systems, or ultimately obliterate your ship.

The entire fate of the world rests in your hands. Good luck.
]]> 12 Feb 2007 04:49:18 Hunchback Remake of the arcade classic hunchback.
Platform game where you must avoid hazards like fireballs, arrows and angry guards on your journey over the castle walls to save your love, Esmerelda.

Updated graphics and funky sound track gives the game a fresk lick of paint but the same game play that made it a "one more go" game remains.
]]> 05 Feb 2007 05:07:13 Super Tennis Super Tennis is a 1991 tennis video game for the Super NES.

The game itself features three different modes, Singles mode, in which you can compete against a human or chosen computer opponent, doubles mode, in which you and a human team-mate can face the cpu, or you can each pair with a CPU opponent, or even one player can pair with a CPU opponent to face two other computer opponents. Finally, Circuit mode, featuring a wide range of tours you battle through each tournament to earn yourself ranking points and aim to finish number one in the rankings. There are four minor tournaments and four major tournaments, each taking place on a different surface, Hard, Lawn or Clay.

A big advantage to the games gameplay is the differences in each court, and it is possible, just like a real human player that one can become accustomed to the bounce and speed of one type of court, but struggle on another. This enables different tactics to be used to defeat an opponent, to making your game more solid on your weaker surfaces.

Another advantage are the characters to choose from. There are 20 characters to choose, 10 male and 10 female, each with different characteristics and styles of play.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 08:17:48 Troll's Tale Troll's Tale is an adventure game created by Al Lowe (Leisure Suit Larry, The Black Cauldron). An evil troll has hidden the treasures of the Dwarf King, and it is up to you to get them back!

Each screen featured a graphic and a menu of decisions. If you find the treasure, but the troll is on the screen at the same time, you would not be able to pick up the treasure.
]]> 19 Mar 2007 02:19:17 Bust Up
]]> 22 Aug 2007 11:42:22 Final Fight 3 Final Fight 3, known in Japan as Final Fight Tough, is the third game in the Final Fight series. Like Final Fight 2, Final Fight 3 was exclusively for home systems, and was not released in arcades. This game introduces two new characters; Lucia Morgan and Dean.

Following the Mad Gear gang's defeat in Final Fight 2, a gang war erupted in Metro City, with the Skull Cross gang eventually reigning supreme. Guy returns to Metro City following his training and meets with Mayor Haggar. The Skull Cross gang then detonates a bomb and incite a riot in downtown Metro City, freeing their leader, Black, from prison. Joined by Metro City Special Crimes Unit officer Lucia Morgan and a mysterious street fighter named Dean, Guy and Haggar fight to take down the Skull Cross gang.

The game's engine is greatly modified from that of its predecessors. Borrowing from Street Fighter series, special attacks and super moves were included. Running, running attacks and running leap attacks similar to those in Captain Commando were included. Players could also grab opponents from behind, much like rival series Streets of Rage. Players had weapon combos with their weapon of preference instead of a single power blow. However, if a player used any weapon other than their weapon of preference, it would be used with a single power blow. Additionally, the game's stages feature several multiple routes. All the players have an advantage in either speed or power, with Guy being the most balanced in both terms of speed and strength.
]]> 05 Apr 2007 12:19:15 Alone in the Dark 3 Alone in the Dark 3 is the third installment of the Alone in the Dark survival horror video game series created by Infogrames (now Atari).

After Edward's success in his previous two investigations a journalist has nicknamed him the "Supernatural Private Eye." This time, he is called to investigate the disappearance of a film crew at a two-bit ghost town known by the name of Slaughter Gulch located in the Mojave Desert in California. Among the disappeared crew is the heroine of the story, Emily Hartwood. Edward soon discovers that a curse has gripped the town, and an evil cowboy from the Badlands named Jed Stone is the villain who is responsible for the crew's disappearance. Lurking around town are many trigger-happy sharpshooters, deranged prospectors, and bloodthirsty lost souls whom Edward must ward off with both his strength and his wit.

Although the primary enemies are still human-like characters with firearms, combat has been de-emphasized a bit and isn't quite as hard. Carnby is often presented with opportunities to flee from enemies or defeat them using non-combat means, and there is a greater emphasis on solving puzzles. Also, because enemies are armed with six-shooters rather than tommyguns, the player ends up being shot less frequently than in Alone in the Dark 2.

The main theme of this game is the Wild West, as Carnby is pitted against a town filled with "zombie cowboys" who attack him with six-shooters and lever-action rifles. More traditionally mindless, shambling zombies begin to appear about mid-way through the game. Towards the end of the game, the concept of radioactive mutation plays a significant role in the story, and the player ends up fighting a few monstrous creatures created from such radiation.

Alone in the Dark 3 features a greater variety of gameplay, including sequences in which you play as a mountain lion that Carnby has been transformed into.
]]> 11 Mar 2007 06:14:23 Lemonade Stand Your objective is to run a successful business - a lemonade stand. You set the price, choose the number of glasses to make, and the number of advertising signs to put out. Then you hope for good weather - a sunny day will help your profits - a cloudy day could see you take a big loss. That's business!
]]> 20 May 2007 09:20:35 Paper Ball Paper Ball is a unique remake of the old classic Arkanoid. With new "hand-drawn" graphics and some new gameplay features Paper Ball is a fun addictive arcade game.
]]> 16 Jan 2007 04:14:30 Tetrageddon Although the controls take on the basic "pentomino" controls (Up, Down, Left, Right, Space for "drop", and Q to submit your high-score), the game-play takes a very unusual spin that tickles the "nonsense" nerve. You are presented with a quiet city scene where you control heaps of rubble dropped from the sky by a tiny alien (Minibyte), who decided to "pick on the big people" by planting his "Portable Entertainment System" (a giant crane) over Earth. The goal of the game comes in three tiers: to score by squishing people, play pentomino, and challenge your reflexes as blocks fall at random speeds. The traditional set of blocks are mixed with "surprise blocks" which you have to quickly find a place for in the grid. Even the individual block tiles are purposefully vague and hard to distinguish to add to the chaos. The game is very challenging to ones reflexes. The goal is to keep your grid under control as long as possible so that you can continue scoring on pedestrians. Only those with quick fingers can survive.
]]> 07 Jun 2007 06:06:37 Dark Reign: The Future of War
]]> 24 Dec 2007 09:06:14 Trax
]]> 22 Jul 2008 06:18:53