Latest Game Reviews

Grand Prix II

Author: Tasha - Published: 21 April 2017, 12:41 am

Grand Prix II, also known as Formula One Grand Prix 2, is the second Formula 1 racing game in the series created by Geoff Crammond. It was published by MicroProse in 1995 for MS-DOS.

This installment was officially licensed and was based on the 1994 Formula 1 race season. This game set the standard for racing games for years, as it took the realism of racing sims to a whole new level. Featuring SVGA Graphics with 3D mapped tracks that were incredibly true to life, you can race every circuit from Monte Carlo to Australia. In GP2, the physics are as accurate as possible and allow for vehicles to become airborne during a race. The cars will also show wear and tear and will smoke or catch fire. Grand Prix II was the first game to feature visible car failure animations. The game also features multiple camera angles to choose from, though the first person from the cockpit is primary.

MDK

Author: Tasha - Published: 21 April 2017, 12:22 am

MDK is a science fiction shooter developed by Shiny Entertainment and published by Playmates Interactive Entertainment for DOS and Windows in 1997.

In order to keep players from needing GPU enhancements to run the game on their computers, the developers wrote their own programming language from scratch. This made the game’s 3D levels and graphics better able to run on more computers, making it widely accessible. It was later ported to Mac and PlayStation and was followed by one sequel.

Playing as Kurt, the unwitting janitor, you are kidnapped by possible mad scientist Dr. Hawkins and forced to save the world. The janitor scenario puts me in mind of Space Quest, though the overall circumstances are different. Kurt’s mission is to take out the ‘mine crawlers’ the aliens are using to bleed the Earth dry. Each minecrawler is huge and requires different things to defeat. Outfitted with a special combat suit and a gun strapped to his arm, Kurt is ready for battle. The suit also comes equipped with a parachute that can be used in a number of ways. Kurt will acquire explosives and upgrades along the way as well. Not just your usual run-and-gun, it features variable gameplay, strange enemies, crazy power-ups, stylish level entrances, and much more. The fast pace and sharp sense of humor of this one-of-a-kind cult classic, coupled with the surreal environments make it a must-play.

Where Time Stood Still

Author: Tasha - Published: 20 April 2017, 1:57 am

Where Time Stood Still is an isometric arcade adventure game developed by Denton Designs and published by Ocean Software in 1987. The game was developed *exclusively* for ZX Spectrum 128K, Atari ST, and MS-DOS.

The plot is based heavily on the 1974 film "The Land That Time Forgot" and other Lost World books/movies. The passengers of a plane crash land in an uncharted area only to discover dinosaurs and primitive humans inhabit it. The game's object is to keep your crew of four alive through all the dangers the site offers. Threats lurk around every corner, and you must be quick on your feet to get past them. The game randomizes with each playthrough, with random levels like Diablo, so you won't encounter the same things in the same places. Each party member has their strengths and weaknesses that shape how you deal with them. The crew can collect weapons and other valuable items to aid in their bid for survival and will also encounter friendly natives. Do your job as a leader, and you will lead these hapless folks to safety. If you're feeling a little evil, you can abandon everyone and leave them to their fate since only one party member is required to continue.

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Author: Tasha - Published: 20 April 2017, 1:29 am

Ultima VII: The Black Gate is a role-playing game and the seventh in the Ultima series designed by Richard Garriott. It was developed and published by Origin Systems and released for DOS in 1992.

This game was a turning point for the series as it introduced many new gameplay conventions. Aside from general improvements to the graphics, this installment departed from using tile and grid-based movement. It also switched from mainly being keyboard-controlled to mouse-oriented controls with optional keyboard hotkey usage. Players can move items by dragging and dropping them using the mouse rather than using the ‘move’ command. Ultima VII also introduced real-time gameplay that will pause only when specific menus are open, like your inventory. This is also the case during combat, and your party members are largely AI-controlled with behaviors that you set them to.

Kick Off

Author: Tasha - Published: 18 April 2017, 9:12 pm

Kick Off is a football (soccer) game designed by Dino Dini and developed by Anco Software in 1989 for the Amiga, Commodore 64, and other platforms. This football game was the first to use a top-down view of the field. It was also the first to show the ball as rolling in front of the player as it should be. The game had around eight sequels and remakes, making it a full-fledged franchise.

Kick Off was one of the first football games where knowing how to control the ball was necessary. There is a practice mode that allows you to learn the technique before applying it to an actual game. You can practice passing and sliding tackles until you are a master. You must change your strategy and players to claim victory when taking on actual teams. The game also features penalty cards, injuries, different referees, and other elements that add to the realism and difficulty.

Flood

Author: GN Team - Published: 17 April 2017, 2:22 am

Flood is a side-scrolling platformer created by Bullfrog originally for the Amiga and then ported to Atari ST. The game was published in 1990 by Electronic Arts. The main author of the game, lead game designer and developer, was Sean Cooper, more famous for being the lead programmer of Magic Carpet and the game designer of Dungeon Keeper 2.

The character of Flood is called 'Quiffy,' and it's able to run, jump, cling to walls and swim. On many levels, some taps can be opened so that the water can flood and Quiffy can swim. The physics of the water was really advanced for the time and very realistic.