What modern man has not, at some point in their life, yearned to conquer the world? Civilization was perhaps the first computer game to quench this thirst. In charge of a civilization on an extensive map, filled with enemies and resources, your job is to explore the map, manage resources, confront your enemies and conquer… Continue reading Civilization (1991)
Tag: Review
Wolfenstein 3D (1992)
By Andrew Ross
I have to start with a disclaimer: I never shelled out the $30 for the full version of Wolfenstein 3D. Being a kid without an allowance, I didn’t have the means for such largesse, so I was restricted to playing the first dungeon. Of course, I played that first dungeon over and over, until I… Continue reading Wolfenstein 3D (1992)
Asteroids (1979)
By Robbie White
Released in arcades in 1970, Asteroids was Atari’s answer to Space Invaders. They must have done something right because Asteroids went on to become Atari’s all-time best seller. Asteroids took the “high score” idea and went a step further, allowing players to enter their initials when they achieved a high enough score. Asteroids was also… Continue reading Asteroids (1979)
Star Fox (1993)
By Robbie White
In 1993, Nintendo was feeling pressure from the various 32-bit consoles such as the Panasonic 3D0 and Atari Jaguar. Also their biggest competitor Sega had its new 32X system on the horizon. Nintendo’s answer was to push its Super Nintendo to the limits with the Super-FX chip. Star Fox was the first game to use… Continue reading Star Fox (1993)
Pacman (1980)
By Вen Li
Though not the first video game, Pacman (originally named Puck-man, though renamed to discourage obscene graffiti) is the definitive video game in both popular and gaming culture. In movies and on television, Pacman is called upon to be any video game the producers desire, and deservedly so. The story of a little yellow head roaming… Continue reading Pacman (1980)
Puzzle Fighter (1996)
By Falice Chin
Capcom’s classic game that combines Tetris-style puzzles with Street Fighter combat makes Puzzle Fighter one of the most addictive video games of all time. With its theme inspired by Street Fighter Alpha 2, its characters are caricaturized to about one-tenth of their original height and three times their body width. Naturally, they are just adorable.… Continue reading Puzzle Fighter (1996)
Q*bert (1982)
By Вen Li
Q*bert is like Speed: They only got it right in its first incarnation. Having fortunately played the upright, LCD, PC and Atari (shudder) versions of the original Q*bert, nothing quite tops frobbing the joystick on an upright to get the orange tube-nosed thing onto a Flying Disk, away from the vicious Coily and his friends.… Continue reading Q*bert (1982)
Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt (1984)
Offered as the first game you would ever play on your Nintendo Entertainment System, the first kid on the block to get this puppy hooked up was suddenly at no loss for friends. Mario was unlike anything we had seen before. With its 32 levels in eight different worlds (!) it was the most massive,… Continue reading Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt (1984)
Gauntlet (1985)
This game pitted one or two of four characters (Warrior, Valkyrie, Elf, Sorcerer) against an infinite onslaught of unavoidable enemies over the course of an endless dungeon crawl. Each level featured little “houses” spawning hordes of creatures to be killed by players’ thrown weapons. Most games of the era gave players the chance to make… Continue reading Gauntlet (1985)
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985)
By Natalie Sit
Not all games were mindless blasting and maiming. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? was the queen of intelligent games. It was followed by USA, Europe, Time and Space, but the original was the best. Intrepid learners would gather clues that led them closer and closer to the culprit. At the same time, they… Continue reading Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985)