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Adventures:Kids:Role-Playing Games:Platformers:Casual Games: |
Adventures
| Adventure In Serenia / Wizard And The Princess | Sierra Online / IBM | [top] | |
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This is usually regarded as the first adventure game with color graphics. It was definitely Sierra's first. Ultima had color graphics around the same time, but that's an RPG. Serenia was later used as the town in King's Quest V. It came out first on the Apple II as "The Wizard and the Princess", and was released for the PC as Adventures in Serenia by IBM in 1982. You wander around the land of Serenia in search of a princess imprisoned by an evil wizard. It had some cute graphics for the time, but mainly relied on very simple situations and cliches for their puzzles. It sold more than sixty thousand copies, a substantial sell through for the early 1980s. Roberta Williams' next game would be an even more successful game called King's Quest. | ||
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| C.I.A. Adventure | Hugh Lampert | [top] | |
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In this text adventure, your mission is to find a ruby used in a laser projector that has been stolen by a spy ring named CHAOS. | ||
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| Castle Elsinore | Charles A. Cray / Temple Software | [top] | |
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A treasure hunt set against, of all things, Hamlet. Not all that Shakespearean, really - the major characters from the play are present, but their function is limited to blocking doorways until you give them the right item. Knowledge of the play makes a few of the puzzles easier, but mostly it's just a treasure hunt set in and around a Danish castle. Frequent randomized combat and several mazes, although even in the mazes most connections between rooms are logical. Some fairly obscure puzzles and an extremely obscure riddle in the endgame. Lots of purely decorative rooms. | ||
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| Cranston Manor | Ken Williams & Harold DeWitz / Sierra On-Line | [top] | |
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Old man Cranston trusted no one. He accumulated his immense wealth through questionable means. Before being dragged to his grave by cancer, he hid his treasures on his estate. Now it is suspected he still haunts the mansion and grounds guarding his treasure. You are in the deserted town of Coarsegold, which was strangled to death through old man Cranston's greed and plotting. You are determined to enter Cranston Manor, find the treasures and put them outside the gates so they can be used to rejuvinate Coarsegold. You have a list of the 16 treasures old man Cranston stole and hid, but it is not legible. Cranston Mansion was #3 in On-Line System's "Hi-Res Adventures" series, after Mystery House and The Wizard and the Princess. Unlike most adventure games of its time, Cranston lets you switch between graphic and text modes. You perform actions in the game by only typing a one- or two-word command (eg: WEST, GET SHOVEL) , and you can save the game at any point in the game by inserting a disk and pressing a letter. The PC version is very rare. | ||
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| Cyborg | Michael Berlyn / Sentient Software / Softsmith Software | [top] | |
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Cyborg is an imaginatively written, all-text science fiction adventure game. You must guess the object, which doesn't become clear until late in the game following a surprising arcade-like (and very effective) Lo-Res graphics interlude. At the outset, all you know is that you are a Cyborg, half-human, half-robot. Your mission is to find a source of energy to keep you alive. The game uses a text parser, except for character interaction, during which you choose a question from a predetermined list. Having an unusually cohesive plot, the game is more like a novel than an adventure. Cyborg is big, similar in size to Michael Berlyn's first game, OO-Topos. He's been involved with many adventure games including writing some of Infocom's games. There are 130 mappable locations, including two maze-like areas. | ||
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| Deadline | Marc Blanc / Infocom | [top] | |
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Deadline was the first murder mystery game from Infocom and their third game overall (after Zork I and Zork II). Despite the limitations of an early parser and very difficult puzzles that require multiple restores, it's still the best mystery game of all the ones Infocom released. Not only was it the first non-fantasy release for Infocom; it was was also the first Infocom game to ship with feelies: the original game was sold in an eye-catching "police folio" folder. In it, you find materials that resemble contents of a real case folder: interviews with the suspects, 3 pills in a plastic bag (found at the crime scene), a photograph of the murder scene, a letter from the attorney, and a coroner's autopsy report. They are remarkable in their authenticity, and help set the atmosphere for the game even before you start it (you also need the information to solve the games). The story: you are a police detective asked to investigate the death of Marshall Robner, a wealthy industrialist found dead in his own library from an apparent drug overdose. You have twelve hours to expose the foul play and catch the killer with evidence as to the murderer's motive, the method, and the opportunity. There are many possible endings the game, but only one "optimal ending" that explains all the loose ends and sees the suspect in jail. There are excellent NPCs who behave much more realistically than in most of today's games. All of the game's six main characters are fleshed out with well-written scripts: each character acts in a way that is consistent with his or her motive. | ||
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| Golden Voyage | Scott Adams & William Demas / Adventure International | [top] | |
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The King lies near death in the royal palace - you have only three days to
bring back the elixer needed to rejuvenate him. Journey through the lands of
magic fountains, sacred temples, stormy seas, and gold, gold, gold! Can you
find the elixer in time? This Scott Adams game is number 12 in the series
and is recommended for experienced adventurers only. See also: #Scott Adams Collection |
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| Mystery House | Roberta & Ken Williams / Sierra Online | [top] | |
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This might have been the first graphical adventure written. The graphics were actually black and white line drawings with stick figures for people but that didn't stop the game from being an instant success although it had no sound, no color, and no animations. The game eventually sold 10,000 copies at $24.95 and established Sierra. It was first released in 1980 then rereleased by SierraVenture iin 1982. Search an old house for a treasure while learning who's killing off the house's members. You even get to kill two people (one completely innocent) before the game ends, but of course that doesn't make you a murderer. This was released into the public domain at Sierra's 10th anniversary (around 1987-88). Elements from the game were reintroduced a later game called The Colonel's Bequest. | ||
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| Phantom's Revenge, The | Temple Software Inc. | [top] | |
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A simple crawl where you have to explore a strange old, mostly abandoned and rumouredly haunted prison to find some presumably fabulous treasure. As with the other Temple Software games, this is a simple text adventure, with most puzzles simply consisting of giving the right item to the right person. You can enter simple commands to navigate through the world, and you can save and restore the current game. | ||
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| Philosopher's Quest | Peter Killworth & Jonathan Mestel / AcornSoft / Topologika | [top] | |
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One of the oldest IF titles ever written (its first version was written in 1979 for the IBM 370 mainframe under the name Brand X), it starts with a most unfair first puzzle ever in a game. The plot starts out with you wishing you hadn't waved that old magic wand you found in the junk shop off Market Street. For when you did, the atmosphere turned inside out, taking you with it. And when it turned back again, the shop -- and the shopkeeper were no more. It pioneers the concept of a "pure puzzle" IF-- games whose emphasis is on (very difficult) puzzle-solving than on plot and character development. The parser is very primitive, and won't recognize even common verbs such as EXAMINE (curiously, every Topologika game suffers from this, even years after the original parser was coded). The game does have good writing and some clever puzzles. Note that the Topologika release has more content than the Acornsoft version. In 1999, it was made freeware. | ||
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| Prisoner 2 | EduWare Services Inc. | [top] | |
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This is a high-resolution graphics remake of a previous text-based adventure game (only on the Apple II) inspired by the cult-classic British television show about a former spy who is abducted and sent to a resort-themed "prison" where his captors attempt to get him to reveal why he resigned from his classified job. The game takes place on "The Island," where the player travels from building to building, each hosting a metaphorical quest in which the player's creative thinking skills are tested. Players demonstrating individual thinking eventually gain access to the Island's "Caretaker," and their ensuing conversation (using a language parser) can lead to the player's freedom. The PC version is quite rare. | ||
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| Savage Island Pt 1 | Scott Adams / Adventure International | [top] | |
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This is #10 in the series and the beginning of a two-part Adventure from
Scott Adams. You're not told much about the story behind part one, except
to survive on an island. Can you outlive the awesome power of Hurricane
Alexis and solve the problems of the volcano, the bear in the cave and the
underground caverns? If you get all the way to the end, you'll get a secret
code which you need to play Part 2. This one's a toughie - for experienced
Adventurers only! See also: #Scott Adams Collection |
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| Savage Island Pt 2 | Scott Adams & Russ Wetmore / Adventure International | [top] | |
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This is #11 in the series and the second of a two-part Adventure from Scott
Adams. Part two is far removed from any island, savage or otherwise, because
now you're in space and again the aim of the game isn't clear, apart from
progress and survival. It's a game of force fields, console panels and
captain's logs. The answer to the first problem of how to get through a
vacuum, deserves an entry in the obscure inputs hall of fame. This Adventure
requires you tohave successfully finished #10, wherein you were given the
secret password to begin this final half. See also: #Scott Adams Collection |
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| Starcross | Dave Lebling / Infocom | [top] | |
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The game was Infocom's first in the science fiction genre. It takes place in the year 2186, when the player's character is a lone black hole miner exploring an asteroid belt. The player's ship, the Starcross, is fitted with a mass detector to look for "quantum black holes", which are such powerful sources of energy that one could provide a wealth of riches. When the mass detector finally discovers an anomaly, however, it isn't a black hole but something else entirely: a massive craft of unknown origin and composition. The player must dock with the mysterious ship and gain entry to its interior. Once inside, there are a wide variety of alien plant and animal species to discover as well as an array of unfamiliar technology to master. It continued the successful use of "feelies" - items included in game package like a journal, map and letter which gave the game tactile interaction. "Astronaut Food", which was to be a small package of something edible and presumably freeze-dried was planned but with legal problems involving health laws, was dropped. The first box for Starcross was a round plastic box that resembled a flying saucer disc. | ||
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| Time Zone | Roberta Williams / Sierra On-Line | [top] | |
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A terrestrial guardian or keeper, of sorts, has chosen you for the task of securing the earth's future by destroying the evil ruler of the distant planet Neburon and offers you the ability of time and space travel in order to do so. On your way, you get to explore all 7 continents during 7 different time periods 400,000,000 BC, 10,000 BC, 50 BC, 1000 AD, 1400 AD, 1700 AD, 2082 AD, plus Neburon, 4082 AD. It's a graphical adventure game on 6 double-sided floppy disks (a large amount for the time), was written and directed by Roberta Williams and contained 1,500 areas (screens) to explore along with 39 scenarios to solve. During your time travels you meet famous historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. However most gamers were overwhelmed by the vast game world, which at the time was promoted as the largest of its kind. Ultimately the game bombed due to the original retail price of US $99, which was considerably higher than usual for games of the time. The PC version is extremely rare. | ||
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| Transylvania | Antonio Antiochia / Polarware / Penguin Software Inc. | [top] | |
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This is a very nice early graphic adventure mixture of traditional horror and fantasy motifs, with a flying saucer thrown in for good measure. The princess Sabrina lies ensorcelled in a vampire's castle, and will die at dawn unless you can rescue her. Features graphics that get stroked in as you watch, and which were considered quite good in their day. Fairly small, two-word parser, easy puzzles, monsters that wander around at random, and a time limit on the whole game. There are at least two versions of this game, with some slight differences in the puzzles. The game is now freeware. There are two more sequels in the series. | ||
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| Zork II: The Wizard Of Frobozz | Marc Blank and Dave Lebling / Infocom | [top] | |
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In Zork II, you will explore a long hidden region of the Empire, a region dominated by the Wizard of Frobozz. The Wizard was once a respected Enchanter, but when his powers began to fade he was exiled by Lord Dimwit Flathead the Excessive. Now bordering on senility, the Wizard is still a force to be reckoned with. Your goal, as you venture into the Wizard's realm, is to avoid his capricious tricks and learn to control his magic. It is the most difficult of the Zork games. Gameplay follows the tradition set by Zork I and is totally absorbing. You meet the Wizard very early on, when he tries to prevent you from completing your task. He appears at random places, and casts various spells at you which can delay you considerably, but it is well worth noting the names of them. The game bears a slightly different twist from Zork I in that there are a few more random elements to contend with, which can prove extremely annoying, especially once you have worked out what you need to do and find you have to try several times to do them. In addition, there are a couple of places where you need another character in the game to do something for you. | ||
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Kids
| Facemaker | DesignWare, Inc., Spinnaker Software Corporation | [top] | |
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Everyone's mothers always say "Don't make those faces! They'll stay like that!" But now you have the chance to make the silliest looking faces anyone's ever seen. Choose from a wide assortment of eyes, ears, noses, and mouths. Then make your newly created faces blink, wiggle their ears, wink, or razz you. You can even play a "Simon Says.." type game where your face will do some kind of action and you have to follow along! In 1984 a slightly altered version was released for Tandy or on its unlucky older brother IBM PCjr but does run on normal PC as well. In 1988, a Golden Edition was released that was updated with enhanced graphics and the ability to change bodies. | ||
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| Snooper Troops Case #1: The Granite Point Ghost | Tom Snyder Productions, Inc./ Spinnaker Software Corporation | [top] | |
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One of the world's first detective games for kids, Snooper Troops is a great edutainment title that truly stands the test of time. First in a short-lived series from Tom Snyder / Spinnaker and subtitled "Case 1: The Granite Point Ghost," Snooper Troops casts you in a role of a Snooper Trooper, a world-renown private detective team. Your job is to find out who is scaring the Kim family out of their new home, and why. Snooper Troops plays like a typical detective adventure, except that everything is simplified for kids ages 10 and above. Although you will need to carry out standard investigating techniques such as questioning witnesses and searching the premises for clues, the game's best feature is easily the plethora of high-tech gadgets that makes investigation much easier. The SnoopNet computer helps correlate information, a camera is provided for you to take Snoopshots, and a notebook automatically keeps track of all the clues you unearth during your investigation. Kids of all ages will definitely have fun with this. It is immediately accessible, user-friendly, and has an interesting plot to top it all off. Kids will learn to take notes, draw maps, organize information, and hone their deductive and reasoning skills. | ||
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| Snooper Troops Case #2: The Case of the Disappearing Dolphin | Tom Snyder Productions, Inc./ Spinnaker Software Corporation | [top] | |
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Second and last in a short-lived series from Tom Snyder / Spinnaker and subtitled "Case 2: The Disappearing Dolphin," Snooper Troops casts you as member of a Snooper Trooper, a world-renown private detective team. Your job is to find out who stole Lily, the lovable Dolphin, from the Tabasco Aquarium, and why. Armed with your Snoop-mobile, the snoopNET computer, a wrist-radio, flashlight and pen and paper, you're the detective who must solve the case of Lilly, the missing dolphin. The game requires logical thinking, planning, and note taking as you slowly comb the neighborhood gathering clues and evidence. Once the suspect is properly identified, use the snoopNET computer to accuse and ensure that justice has been served. | ||
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| Story Machine | DesignWare Inc. / Spinnaker Software Corporation | [top] | |
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This is a product aimed at children for teaching language skills. The product contains animations assigned to key nouns, and verbs. By typing phrases such as "The Girl Jumps Over the Flower" will show the player an animation of a girl jumping over a flower. Through this method, players are able to create short "stories" of about 40 words long and have the computer animate them. These stories are also limited to having 4 "actors" (animated noun objects) in each. | ||
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Role-Playing Games
| Dunzhin / Warrior of Ras: Volume One - Dunzhin | Intelligent Statements, Inc. / Computer Applications Unlimited | [top] | |
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Dunzhin is a simple role-playing game that is similar to Rogue. Your goal is to enter a dangerous, multi level dungeon and return with a valuable treasure. The game uses simple keyboard commands to move about and interact with the environment. As you explore the maze like dungeon, you will come across various enemies which you can attempt to fight, bribe, hide from or even run away. Different creatures have different weaknesses, so to improve your chance of success you should note the best approach to dealing with a particular enemy. You begin the game with a limited number of hit points, and if you lose them all the game will be over. In addition to the main treasure you are after, you may also discover some additional bonus treasures hidden in various rooms or by bribing creatures. Good luck on your quest! | ||
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| Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress | Richard Garriott / Sierra On-Line Inc., Origin Systems, Inc. | [top] | |
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The sequel to Ultima featured several improvements over the original, such as separate town and world maps, and the concept of traveling through time gates into different eras on Earth. Other than that the gameplay is pretty much the same as in Ultima I, with your single character roaming the land fighting monsters and looking for key items. In the original Ultima a hero from a certain third rate blue planet orbiting an insignificant yellow sun came to the world of Sosaria and slew the evil wizard Mondain before he could fulfill his dreams of universal domination. Thus peace was brought to Sosaria, and the hero hailed as a champion of the people of all time. Unfortunately, Mondain happened to have a young apprentice/lover named Minax who is understandably upset over his death. Using her considerable powers, Minax travels through time and space to the hero's homeworld of Earth and instigates a nuclear war, thus serving the dual purpose of working out her frustration as well as erasing the hero from history. Of course, as the hero, this works out rather badly for you, and so with the help of Lord British you must travel through time and somehow find Minax and prevent the events which culminate in the destruction of Earth. See also: #Ultima Collection |
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Platformers
| Apple Panic | Brøderbund Software, Inc. | [top] | |
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This is the very first platform game and was based on the arcade game Space Panic (1980, Universal). You control a digger, armed with his shovel, and you must kill your opponents - the evil legged apples. Your character can only walk left/right and climb up/down the ladders - no jumping - and if the apples touch you, you'll lose. To kill an apple you must dig a hole on the ground and wait for one of them to get stuck on it. Then you must hit it with your shovel to make it fall to the level below. The apples die if they fall deep enough. Depending on their color, they may require from 1 to 3-level falls, so you may have to dig several aligned holes. Besides, the deeper the fall, the higher you score. Each level is timed so you must take out all the apples quickly, or you'll lose. If you're successful, the next levels will feature more and more enemies than the previous one. | ||
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Casual Games
| Casino Games | IBM | [top] | |
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This is one of the first commercial casino games for PC and coded entirely in BASIC with ASCII graphics. Albeit primitive graphics and gameplay, the game offers decent options and underlying (mostly random) mechanics that somewhat convey the excitement of losing big money in a real casino. There are three games to choose from: blackjack, slots, and poker, each of which can also be run as a separate game since it's coded in separate BASIC files (.bas extension). Worth a look as one of IBM's earliest games, although not a keeper by any means. | ||
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| Night Mission Pinball | subLOGIC | [top] | |
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Night Mission Pinball is a pinball game simulation. You can change many physical parameters of the machine to suit your playing style or your whim such as the number of balls, the incline of the machine, the kick off the bumpers, etc. It supports 1-4 players and is controlled by the keyboard or joystick. In 1988, an upgraded v3.0 was released. | ||
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| PC-Man | Orion Software, Inc. | [top] | |
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A fairly faithful reproduction of the classic Pac-Man arcade game, considering its age and use of CGA graphics. It's an unofficial port and appeared on PC before the official version. As ever, the main character moves through a maze collecting dots and avoiding ghosts, using power pills for a chance to kill the ghosts for points. | ||
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| Serpentine | Brøderbund Software, Inc. | [top] | |
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You control a multi-segmented snake in a maze; your goal is to survive and earn as many points as possible. At the beginning of each level, three enemy snakes will also enter the maze. To complete the level, you need to eat all of the enemy snakes. If an enemy snake has more segments than your snake, you can only eat segments that form the tail of the snake; a collision with the head is lethal! Each time you eat a segment, the enemy snake will become smaller until eventually you can devour it completely. For enemy snakes that have fewer segments than you, you can eat the tail segments or the head segment. From time to time, a frog will appear in the maze; eating this will cause your snake to grow. Both your snake and enemy snakes will leave eggs behind occasionally; left alone, these will hatch (your eggs earn you an extra life, enemy eggs will hatch another snake). Eggs can also be eaten to remove them from the playfield, so it's usually a good idea to eat enemy eggs before a new snake hatches! The maze changes for each level, and the enemy snakes progressively become larger and tougher to catch. | ||
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