Retro games, abandonware, freeware and classic games for PC and Mac
Author: Maddie - Published: 17 June 2025, 1:23 pm
Wonder Boy in Monster World is an action-adventure platformer developed by Westone and released in 1991 by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive. This fourth entry in the Wonder Boy series combines RPG elements inspired by early Zelda titles with free exploration that makes it an early example of the metroidvania platformer genre, creating a unique hybrid that bridges the gap between Wonder Boy in Monster Land and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap.
The game follows Shion, a young warrior who must save Monster World from the evil BioMeka forces that have invaded and corrupted the land. Unlike the linear progression of earlier entries, Wonder Boy in Monster World embraces a more open-ended structure that encourages exploration and backtracking as players acquire new abilities and equipment. This approach draws heavily from the Zelda series' dungeon-crawling formula while maintaining the side-scrolling perspective that defined the Wonder Boy franchise.
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Author: GN Team - Published: 16 June 2025, 11:58 am
LHX Attack Chopper is a helicopter combat simulation developed by Electronic Arts and released in 1990 for MS-DOS. The game, designed by Brent Iverson, was later ported to Sega Genesis in 1992, bringing arcade-style helicopter combat to console audiences.
Brent Iverson, who had previously worked on EA's military simulations, designed LHX Attack Chopper as an accessible yet authentic helicopter combat experience that balanced realism with engaging gameplay. Players pilot the fictional LHX stealth helicopter through various combat scenarios ranging from jungle insertions to urban warfare, each requiring different tactical approaches and weapon loadouts.
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Author: Maddie - Published: 15 June 2025, 8:36 pm
Crusader: No Remorse is an isometric action-shooter developed by Origin Systems and released in 1995 for MS-DOS. It was later ported to PlayStation and Sega Saturn, bringing its intense combat and cinematic presentation to console audiences.
Created by industry veterans Tony Zurovec, who served as lead programmer on Ultima VIII: Pagan and programmer for Ultima VII: Serpent Isle, and Mark Vittek, designer for both Ultima VII: The Black Gate and Ultima VIII: Pagan, the game represents a bold departure from Origin's traditional role-playing heritage. Built using a modified version of the Ultima VIII engine, Crusader: No Remorse transforms the technology initially designed for fantasy adventures into a futuristic action experience that showcases the versatility of Origin's development tools.
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Author: GN Team - Published: 15 June 2025, 8:26 pm
Gateway to the Savage Frontier is a role-playing game developed by Westwood Associates for Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) and released in 1991 for MS-DOS, Amiga, and Commodore 64. The game represents the first Advanced Dungeons & Dragons adventure set in the Wild West-inspired Savage Frontier setting of the Forgotten Realms.
Built on SSI's established Gold Box engine, Gateway to the Savage Frontier follows the familiar template established by Pool of Radiance and refined through titles like Curse of the Azure Bonds and Secret of the Silver Blades. Players create a party of adventurers and explore the frontier town of Loudwater and surrounding wilderness, engaging in turn-based tactical combat that faithfully implements AD&D 2nd edition rules. The story involves investigating mysterious disappearances and uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire frontier region.
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Author: Maddie - Published: 15 June 2025, 12:57 pm
Rayman 2: The Great Escape is an adventure platformer developed by Ubi Studios UK and released in 2001 by Ubisoft for Game Boy Color. This portable adaptation of Michel Ancel's celebrated masterpiece represents an ambitious attempt to translate the original three-dimensional experience into a two-dimensional platformer, successfully capturing much of the charm and personality that made the Rayman series so beloved.
The Game Boy Color version radically transforms the original's gameplay, completely abandoning the 3D perspective in favor of a traditional side-scrolling platform approach that more closely recalls the first Rayman from 1995. Despite this fundamental change, the developers at Ubi Studios UK managed to preserve key elements of the narrative and atmosphere, maintaining Rayman's quest to save his friends and liberate the Glade of Dreams from the robot pirates led by Admiral Razorbeard. This return to 2D roots would prove prophetic, as the series would eventually embrace this approach again with the critically acclaimed Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends.
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Author: GN Team - Published: 13 June 2025, 6:32 pm
True Lies is a top-down action shooter developed by Beam Software and released in 1994 by Acclaim for both Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Based on James Cameron's action blockbuster starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, this adaptation successfully translates the film's high-octane sequences into an engaging overhead shooter that captures the movie's spirit while delivering solid gameplay mechanics that set it apart from other licensed games of the era.
The game follows secret agent Harry Tasker through diverse locations, including a Swiss chateau, a shopping mall, waterfront docks, and an industrial refinery, each meticulously designed to reflect memorable scenes from the film. True Lies employs a three-quarter overhead perspective similar to Commando or Ikari Warriors, giving players greater freedom of movement and tactical positioning during firefights. This perspective choice proves inspired, allowing for more dynamic combat scenarios where players can utilize cover and positioning rather than simply running and gunning.
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