This Week's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'DOS, sci-fi' on The Great Games Experiment This Week's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'DOS, sci-fi' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg This Week's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'DOS, sci-fi' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Planetfall After the fall of the Second Galactic Union in 1716 GY, a ten-thousand-year dark age settled upon the galaxy. Interstellar travel was non-existent, and many star systems descended into a near-barbaric state, buring coal and gas for energy, and growing food directly from exposed topsoil.

In 11,203 GY, a treaty between the Empires of Tremain and Galium formed the Third Galactic Union. Ships of the Stellar Patrol (a pseudo-military wing of the Union government on Tremain) began exploring the galaxy, searching for the human civilizations that are the remnants of the Second Galactic Union.

You are a native of the planet Gallium. Although it is one of the most politically powerful worlds in the Union, Gallium is no garden spot. In fact, the Gallium Chamber of Commerce brochure entitled "Ten Great Reasons to Visit Gallium" ends on page 3. The author ran out of reasons after listing just two.

For five generations, your family has served in the Stellar Patrol. Your great-great-grandfather was a High Admiral and one of the founding officers of the Patrol. It was taken for granted that when you came of age you would join up.

Now, more than a year after signing up, and two months after being transferred to the S.P.S. Feinstein, you are still only ranked Ensign Seventh Class. You superior officer, Ensign First Class Blather, has been making your life miserable. You're begining to wonder if you're really cut out for the Stellar Patrol...
]]> 28 Nov 2006 02:39:20 Another World Another World, known as Out of this World in the US and Outer World in Japan, is a 1991 cinematic platformer designed and developed by Eric Chahi. The graphics and box art were designed by Chahi, while the music was composed by Jean-François Freitas.

While not a great commercial success, Another World was innovative in its use of cinematic effects in the graphics, sound and cut scenes, with characters communicating through their facial features, gestures, and actions only. This cinematic style granted Another World cult status amongst critics and fans.

The protagonist of the game is Lester Knight Chaykin; a young, athletic, red haired physicist. Lester arrives at his high-tech underground laboratory during a thunderstorm, and continues to work on his experiment using a particle accelerator. Right before the particles reach their intended destination, lightning strikes the lab and interferes with the accelerator causing the unforeseen teleportation of Lester to a barren alien planet.

The player can control Lester using the keyboard or gamepad using four directions buttons and two action buttons: one for main actions, and one for jumping. Depending on the player's current position, movement, and status, the main action key performs a variety of actions including attacking and interacting with Lester's environment. At the start of the game Lester can only kick to attack, but later he can acquire a gun. While the movement keys normally make Lester run, the game also features sections where the player must swim, roll, or drive a vehicle. The player only has one life, but there are multiple checkpoints he can return to by entering the relevant pass code given at each one.
]]> 10 Dec 2006 09:53:52 Crusader: No Remorse
Videogame Advisor said,
Origin has created a masterpiece in the mission-based action game genre. This game is pure joy to play.

An isometric action game set in the near future. Play as a Silencer in the Resistance and try to take down the World Economic Consortium.

Take on 15 different missions that include helping your new friends escape from prison, blowing-up power generators, and finding top-secret intelligence. Thankfully, there are 13 different weapons to utilize. Will you be able to gain the confidence of the resistance? Can you stop the evil plans of the World Economic Consortium? Play CRUSADER: No Remorse and find the answers to these questions.

Additional Game Features:

  • Origin's scrolling isometric sets let you explore refineries, military bases, government offices, rebel bases, labs and interstellar backgrounds that explode at every blast. Almost anything you see can be destroyed.
  • Incredibly high-detailed SVGA frames of bit mapped animation for the Crusader, let you run, jump and crouch, roll, side-step and ambush.
  • Live action video gives you fully detailed mission objectives to maximise your shooting efficiency.
  • Ingenious puzzles force you to take control of enemy vechicles and gun turrets.
  • Single player action game powered by the Enhanced Ultima VIII engine, and enhanced with fmv cutscenes.

Developer: Origin Systems, Realtime Associates
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: Aug 31, 1995

System Requirements
MS-DOS 5.0 or higher, i486 DX2 66 MHz, 8 MB RAM, 65 MB hard disk space, Sound Blaster compatible sound card, VESA compatible SVGA video card
]]> 10 Dec 2006 01:45:36 Crusader: No Regret Isometric sci-fi action game, sequel to 1995's Crusader: No Remorse.
]]> 10 Dec 2006 01:56:59 Wasteland Wasteland was one of the first successful non-fantasy RPG's that Electronic Arts produced. It's design was the basis for Dragon Wars which was later published by the same developers under another publisher.

Wasteland set the player in a post nuclear United States. Players could recruit NPC characters into their party or create new characters.

Game overview (taken from Wikipedia):

The game is set in the middle of the 21st century, following a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Parts of Earth have been turned into a "wasteland" where survival is the paramount objective. Players control a party of Desert Rangers, a Nevada paramilitary group that survived the nuclear holocaust, and are assigned to investigate a series of disturbances in the desert. The party begins with four characters, and through the course of the game can hold as many as seven characters by recruiting certain citizens of the wasteland to the player's cause. Throughout the game the player explores the remaining enclaves of human civilization, including a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas.
]]> 10 May 2007 10:21:13 Stellar 7 Remake In 1990, Stellar 7 was remade for the PC with improved graphics and a stronger plot. There were new powerups as well as new enemies to fight.
]]> 18 Jan 2007 05:26:12 Arcticfox In the distant future of 2005, aliens have taken over Antarctica and it is up to you to destroy them. You pilot the Slye-Hicks MX-100, Codename: Arcticfox.
]]> 18 Jan 2007 05:54:46 Wing Commander I Set in the year 2654, Wing Commander tells a tale of mankind's struggle for survival in a ferocious war between the Human Confederation and the warmongering Kilrathi Empire, a fierce bi-pedal feline race.





"You're a starfighter pilot, the best of the best, but nothing in your training prepared you for action this hot. Deep space dogfights against Kilrathi aces are deadly, and the future of humanity is on the line each time you fly!


Wing Commander puts you in the middle of the most intense starship action you've ever experienced outside of a movie theatre. But in Wing Commander, you're the star!"





The majority of the game takes place within the cockpit of various space fighters. Depending on how well one performs while in action, the player may find themselves on the winning or losing path thus altering the plot accordingly. Medals and the respect of your wingmen are gained if performance is exemplary, in turn leading to a more effective attack wing. In between space-flight missions the player is free to roam the legendary carrier "TCS Tiger's Claw" and have conversations with their fellow crew mates, learning more about the horrors and triumphs of the bloody war that is now being fought.


When Wing Commander was released in 1990, the in-game graphics and space-combat engine were a step above all other products during that period. The game was even one of the first to use the new Sound Blaster for PC's, adding to the already cinematic feel of the game.


The strong script and characters which has been a staple through out the series are the primary reason why the Wing Commander has gained such a strong following over the years. That combined with movie-like presentation and strong gameplay has made the venerable Wing Commander a classic among gamers and critics.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 11 Feb 2007 07:47:45 Earthsiege Five hundred years in the future, mankind is fighting a desperate battle for survival. Sentient Cybris war machines have rebelled against their human masters and crushed the great military powers of the world. Using stolen Cybrid technology, bands of Guerrilla fighters have survived the prolonged assaults and are now beginning to carry the fight to the machines. The next few months will tell whether man or machine inherits the Earth...
]]> 13 Feb 2007 06:05:16 Wing Commander II Released in 1991, Wing Commander 2 is a sci-fi space simulation that is a continuation of the storyline that was told in the original Wing Commander.






"Ten years ago, you were the Hero of Vega Sector, idol of millions - the starfighter pilot who single-handedly turned the tide of a major Kilrathi invasion. Then something went wrong.


You were disgraced, court-martialed and transferred to a backwater outpost. For years, your lightning-quick reflexes and instinctive dogfighting tactics went to waste while the Kilrathi killed your closest friends on the front lines.


But Mankind still needs a hero, now more than ever before. And you're still the best pilot in the Galaxy. You've got just one chance to prove yourself, just one chance to keep the Terran homeworlds from falling to the massed armada of the Empire of Kilrah."



Think you can handle it, flyboy?"





Again most of the game is spent flying missions in space for the Confederation in the continuing war effort against the fearsome Kilrathi Empire. When not flying missions, the player is also able to explore the "TCS Concordia" and talk to fellow crew-mates. A greater emphasis has been placed on storytelling, which gives the player a greater scope on the people fighting this war. The mood is darker than the original, mainly due to the fact that the Humans are in fact losing the war.


Wing Commander 2 bettered the original in every regard, from the updated graphics engine to the detailed script. It is considered an all-time classic within the gaming world.








Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 18 Feb 2007 11:05:29 Space Quest V: The Next Mutation Roger Wilco is a cadet and janitor at the Starfleet Academy. However, he cheats his way through the aptitude test and becomes the captain of his own ship. He is the newest captain of the SCS Eureka, a garbage scow. Roger explores space looking for trash, and eventually comes across a toxic disease that is spreading through the galaxy. You need to help roger save the galaxy and get the girl in the end.

Space Quest V was not designed by the full "Two Guys from Andromeda" team who did the original four games. Instead, only one of the two, Mark Crowe, was involved. The humor in this episode was different than that of the past games.
]]> 22 Feb 2007 06:47:34 Deathtrack Hurtling through the turn, you lock-on to the lead car and fire. In less than a second, your falcon missile slams into the target and explodes in a ball of fire. You smile to yourself-he was a good assassin, but a lousy driver. Instantly, your radar detects a terminator bearing down on your exhaust. You swerve, but it's too late. Another small mistake ends a brief career on the Death Track-yours

-Box description
]]> 23 Feb 2007 06:12:32 Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri is a science fiction first-person shooter, squad combat computer game developed and published by Looking Glass Studios (known then as Looking Glass Technologies) in 1996.

The game is set in the year 2327 â€â€
]]> 01 Mar 2007 08:10:08 Hard Nova In Hard Nova you play a mercenary working for a mercenary guild on Holbrook. You can fly around in space with your ship, land on planets and fight your way through enemy bases while uncovering a conspiracy of grand scale.
]]> 07 Mar 2007 12:22:54 Earth 2140 As its name suggests, Earth 2140 takes place in the year 2140 AD. Previous wars have left much of the Earth a nuclear wasteland, forcing most of the world's population into underground bunkers. Tensions rise between the Earth's two major factions, the Eurasian Dynasty (ED) and the United Civilized States (UCS), as both sides vie for the world's steadily dwindling resources. A UCS raid on an ED base is enough to ignite the rivalry into full-scale war as the ED fails in its bid to control Mexico and the UCS counterattacks Scandinavia, Great Britain, France, and the Iberian Peninsula.

Two little known expansion packs were released for this game:
Earth 2140: Mission Pack 1
Earth 2140: Mission Pack 2 - Final Conflict

A package named Earth 2140 XP was released in August 2006 , it included the game, both expansions and was redone to work under Windows XP.
]]> 08 Mar 2007 09:25:43 Autoduel Autoduel was based on the Steve Jackson Games series Car Wars and published by Orion Systems.

The action revolved around the many car chases, demolition derbys, and combat driving that made Car Wars popular.

Taken from Wikipedia:

Autoduel is based on events in the future in the Northeast part of the U.S.. In this future, cars are a primary means of protection and defense and the highways are dangerous stretches of land ruled by gangs and vigilantes with armed vehicles. The player's character starts without a car and has to enter demolition derby contests using spare vehicles in order to raise enough capital to finance the creation of their own vehicle.
]]> 10 May 2007 10:33:42 Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions Wing Commander I: The Secret missions is the first mission add-on pack for the hugely succesful Wing Commander I.





"Wing Commander: The Secret Missions is another thrilling chapter in the continuing saga of the TCS Tiger's Claw. A human colony has been obliterated by the Kilrathi. Now they challenge the defenders of humanity to a deadly game of hide and go seek. You must cross into enemy space in pursuit of the Kilrathi strike fleet, only to face their latest secret weapon....a weapon capable of destroying an entire world."





With the incredible success of Wing Commander, Origin pioneered the concept of game expansions with the Secret Missions add-on disk. Fans of the first title in the series were treated to an intense campaign where the pilots of the Tiger's Claw were tasked with an important covert operation. A new Kilrathi superweapon was being tested aboard the Sivar Dreadnought. Although the Claw hurried in response to its distress call, the populous Goddard Colony was annihilated before help could arrive. The Claw was the only ship in position to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, pick apart the fleet that attacked Goddard and ultimately destroy the Kilrathi secret weapon.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 09:26:37 Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions 2: Crusade Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions 2: Crusade is the second mission add-on pack for Wing Commander I.





"The Secret Missions 2: Crusade, another exciting chapter in the saga of the Tiger's Claw! In this campaign, a huge Kilrathi fleet maneuvers toward a planet of peaceful, primitive natives. After a Kilrathi renegade defects with the crew of a small destroyer, you'll fly one of their fighterships in undercover missions.


In these new secret missions, you must discover the truth behind the Kilrathi "holy war" before the Warriors of Kilrah can destroy you and the Tiger's Claw!"





Wing Commander I was a huge success and Wing Commander II was in development during 1991. Origin used their experience with The Secret Missions to craft a second expansion pack, The Secret Missions 2: Crusade. WC2 was shaping up to be a huge story driven adventure, so the developers took this opportunity to establish a backstory with SM2. Characters such as Tolwyn, Thrakhath, Hobbes, Jazz and Doomsday were introduced. The TCS Austin appeared as a method for characters such as Angel to survive the impending doom facing the Tiger's Claw in the WC2 intro. In each Wing Commander game the character must face the potential death of wingmates, but in SM2 the first major scripted loss occurred when Bossman died. The tension and emotions were ratcheted up another level for this expansion, and the game created a great environment for Wing Commander II to launch into.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 10:15:10 Wing Commander II: Special Operations Wing Commander II: Special Operations is a continuation from the storyline told in Wing Commander II.

"If you thought you could snatch a few Zs after that victory at K'tithrak Mang, you'd better look for another line of work!


The cats are restless and rebellion is brewing throughout Kilrathi slave worlds. As a show of force, the Emperor plans a brutal assault on the rebel populations. Millions of lives are in jeopardy until you and the Special Operations team can blunt the attack."





Having had great success with the Secret Missions distribution model, two expansion packs were planned out for Wing Commander II. Blair, Paladin and Hobbes were engaged in covert operations when they became entangled in the mutiny aboard the TCS Gettysburg. They meet up with ace pilot Jason Bondarevsky and begin to learn about the rival factions that have developed among the mutineers. To make matters worse, the Gettysburg was testing an experimental new bomber. The special ops team must defeat ruthless Kilrath and bring the rogue members of the Gettysburg crew to justice. Bondarevsky later goes on to become one of the main characters in several Wing Commander novels.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 11:36:29 Wing Commander II: Special Operations 2 Wing Commander: Special Operations 2 is the second mission add-on pack for Wing Commander II."The Confederation's electronic grapevine is running amok with rumors that vital intelligence has been withheld from the High Command. Luckily, Special Operations has its own sources of information, and they say the waiting game just won't cut it any longer. Someone has to lead the way, and you're getting the call!"

Special Operations 2 brought Blair into contact with Maniac's Wild Eagles Squadron and their prototype Morningstar fighters. The special ops team had to also contend with mounting pressure from the traitorous Society of the Mandarins seeking to sell out the Confederation to the Kilrathi. Secrets were revealed and Blair engaged in a final showdown with Jazz Colson.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 11:52:56 Wing Commander: Academy Wing Commander: Acadamy is a mission builder based on the Wing Commander II engine. No major storyline was part of the game - it's a pure blast-fest.



"As a student at the TCSN Academy, you custom-design and fly unique combat, rescue, and search and retrieval missions from the CyberSchool's holographic simulator. In the Wing Commander tradition, the game features a dynamic musical score, improved bit-mapped graphics, and a dazzling array of customizing options. But Wing Commander Academy is not another cinematic extravaganza -- it's an intense dogfight marathon."





Wing Commander Academy was a mission simulator built on the Wing Commander II engine. Before there was a world wide web where modders created and shared tools to manipulate their favorite games, Academy let Wing Commander fans easily play around and create custom scenarios on their own. The game had an addictive high score gauntlet mode and introduced the fastest Confed fighter to date, the Wraith. Academy also gave people their first look at the insides of the Kilrathi cockpit since the Dralthi II in Secret Missions 2. Oddly enough, the Dralthi VIIs pictured on the box cover were not featured in this simulation or any of the games based upon the WC2 engine.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 12:14:55 Wing Commander - Armada Wing Commander: Armada is a multiplayer action-strategy game set in the Wing Commander universe.





"The life of a seasoned starfighter pilot isn't all glory and adventure. After years of following orders and losing ships and friends, you are now the sole commander, responsible for heading up a momentous strike against your enemy's homeland - either the Empire of Kilrah or the heart of the Confederation. This war requires real strategy, not just hotshot piloting, and you have to determine where to fight, how to fight, and what ships to build to get the job done. In Wing Commander Armada, you have the freedom to construct your own universe, your own missions and your own campaign."









Wing Commander Armada was at least half a decade ahead of its time. In the summer of 1994 it incorporated turn based strategy with 3D fighter combat. Armada was the testbed for the WC3 engine and therefore the first WC game to deploy fully three dimension ship models in flight. The strategic mode had eleven elaborate sectors to conquer, and the game could randomly generate sectors for unlimited gameplay options. Players mined ore, built shipyards and reinforced strategic systems. When clashes occured, the game could compute the possible results or pilots could pilot the fighters firsthand. All of this could be done over a modem or network with fellow fans. Hot seat and split screen options were also available. Players could even record taunts, send them to opponents and have their own voices key in during combat. The game had a fifteen mission storyline describing the TCS Lexington's desperate mission to circumvent the Kilrathi borders and destroy the Kilrathi homeworld. On top of all this, players could turn it around and play as the Kilrathi from start to finish. The narrated manual that was included describes the war from the Kilrathi perspective in some depth. Because of the immature state of the internet when it was released, Armada's multiplayer options don't yet live up to their full potential, but efforts are under way to discover ways to play online.




Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 07:26:58 Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire is an add-on pack for the original release of Privateer.







"So you think you're a hotshot pilot. A clever entrepreneur. A notorious pirate. You've destroyed the Steltek Drone, secured the alien artifact, and outfought and outsmarted everyone in your way. Now, you're taking a well-deserved break on one of Gemini's pleasure worlds. But relaxation will soon be the last thing on your mind...


In Rightous Fire, you're once again transported to the seamy side of the universe, where you discover a fiendish plot that threatens the order and prosperity of Gemini Sector. Whether you're a merchant, pirate or mercenary, plenty of action awaits if you're willing to risk all you earned in Privateer."







Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire continued with the protagonist Burrows on vacation. While away from his craft, cultists steal his prized Steltek gun to study and replicate it. The Church of Man cult used these replicas aboard ships supplied by the Kilrathi to mount a campaign against technology in the Gemini Sector. The player must make the rounds, check with all his various contacts and discover clues in order to bring the Retro plot down.







Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 08:19:38 GearHead GearHead is a science-fiction post-apocalyptic anime roguelike/crpg, with mecha, guns, and extreme customization. Mecha can be customized with more parts, and design files are human-readable. Three dimensional turn-based strategy, open source, and plenty of game-play with randomly generated plots.
]]> 14 Jun 2007 02:06:48 Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers
]]> 14 May 2008 04:27:40