California Games II

California Games II is a sports game created by Epyx. It was released in 1990 for MS-DOS and later ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, and other platforms.

It's the sequel to the original California Games, but while the first game was developed for the Commodore 64 (in 1987) and later ported to other platforms, California Games 2 was built for MS-DOS - quite obvious when you see the color palette. This sequel expands on the original’s concept. It features various events, including bodyboarding, hang gliding, jet surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. Each event offers unique play mechanics and physics, challenging players to score as many points as possible through stunts and survival.

Unfortunately, the controls and gameplay are not perfect compared to the original. They are often too difficult and, in some cases, boring. Competing with friends is still fun, but playing it solo is not recommended. Additionally, while the graphics conversion from Commodore 64 to Amiga for the original California Games was excellent, the conversion from MS-DOS to Amiga of California Games II is disappointing. The resolution is good, and there are some nice details, but the palette is just an EGA palette with a lot of dithering. The Amiga could have done better in terms of colors. Also using the default Amiga system font was a cheap choice.

So, if you still haven't played the other Epyx mixed sports games series, you should check the other first. But if you have already played them and want to try all the releases, it's time to try California Games II. Just remember to invite one or more friends.