showing 15 games
| name | publisher(developer) | year arrow_downward | description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye of the Beholder | SSI (Westwood Studios) | 1991 | [22]*** [63]*** [52]*** [37]***You control a party of four heroes tasked by the lords of Waterdeep to investigate some foul stuff going on by entering the vast sewer system below the city. Saved games can be loaded into a new game in the sequel ([game=#40320]EOB2[/game]); minus the special items. [Zerothis] | labelimageminimize |
| Heirs to Skull Crag | SSI (MicroMagic;SSI) | 1993 | Heirs to Skull Crag is the game, exclusively available in no other package game, real game, actual game, existing game, playable game, completable that comes the the Unlimited Adventures game creator which is in every other videogam database with tools to create AD&D based adventures, or even other types of adventures based on the Gold Box Engine. The executable is "FRUA.EXE" and the letters stand for "Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures". But UA is by no means limited to the Forgotten Realms setting. Materials from other settings are included and players are free to create their own or download UGC from the aforementioned site. | labelimagesubject |
| Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos | Virgin Interactive (Westwood Studios) | 1993 | [59]***CD-ROM version [37]***Floppy disk version [37]***[media=youtube]DKdBs7Pc1JE[/media]***Latest version: 1.23 (as of 1994-04?), 1.02 for CD release White Label CD release is pre-patched to "1.02D".***[b]Minimum:[/b] * 386SX / 25 MHz CPU * 4 MB RAM * VGA or MCGA GPU * 5 MB free HD space For voices: Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, AdLib Gold, or AdLib Gold Standard. For music: Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, AdLib Gold, AdLib Gold, Roland MT-32/LAPC-1 or General MIDI. The CD-ROM (White Label) version mentions Win3.1, but this is only for compatibility info.***1993 original floppy release 1994 CD-ROM - full speech and additional narrative history of the lands by Patrick Stewart 1996 CD-ROM - "special" white label European release. No idea what's so special about it, even though I have this. Doesn't appear any different from the '94 release, except maybe the box art.***A Legend has been born...Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos is a fantasy, role playing adventure like no other. "Scotia, the hideous hag wants it all... power... riches...lland...THE WORLD! Can she be stopped? The truth stone must be found before her evil can be defated" The sheer scale, superb art animation and incredible special effects, will transport you through over thirty unique areas. As one of the seven characters that you can choose from, you will face over fifty intelligent and believable monsters in mortal combat. Fantasy and reality become one, in lands where the only law is survival. [Box blurb] | labelimagesubject |
| Little Big Adventure | Electronic Arts (Adeline Software International) | 1994 | Somewhere in the universe, there is a beautiful planet called Twinsun. It is populated by four different races, which have been living in peace and prosperity, until a mad scientist Dr. Funfrock of the Quetch (human-like) race used his newly invented cloning and teleporting techniques to create an army of fearsome soldiers and become the planet's dictator. Twinsun's inhabitants have not lost hope, placing their faith in the old legend about the benevolent goddess Sendell who would save the world. However, Dr. Funfrock totalitarian regime forbade displaying any images of the goddess and her worship. A young Quetch named Twinsen was just a regular fellow until he had a dream, which surprisingly involved the outlawed goddess. It seems that Dr. Funfrock was no stranger to mind control; in his opinion, even dreaming of the goddess was illegal, and he promptly ordered to put the perpetrator in prison. Now the unlikely hero must find a way to escape and eventually save his planet from the clutches of its insane ruler. Little Big Adventure (Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure in the US) is primarily an adventure game with strong action elements. As usually in adventure games, the hero must talk to other characters, and collect and use objects. However, not all the problems have to be solved with dialogue and item manipulation. The player can activate four different behavior modes for Twinsen: Normal, Aggressive, Athletic, and Discreet. The first is used for peaceful exploration and conversations; Aggressive mode allows Twinsen to punch and kick other characters; Athletic mode must be applied when it becomes necessary to run quickly and jump; Discreet effectively puts Twinsen in a stealth mode, making it possible to sneak by hostile character unnoticed. While activation of a particular mode is often required to solve a problem, many situations can be dealt with in different ways. The game universe is rendered with characters in full 3D, while the environment uses isometric graphic tiles. The CD version (which was released earlier than the floppy one) features pre-rendered animated cutscenes, audio music and speech; all these features are absent from the floppy disk version.***3.5 disk version [22]***CD-ROM version [22]***[b]Spoken languages:[/b] English, French, German | labelimagesubject |
| The Elder Scrolls: Arena | Bethesda Softworks | 1994 | [b]Minimum:[/b] * DOS 5.0 * 25 MHz 386 CPU * 4 MB RAM * 25 MB HD space * VGA display * mouse***The game was formerly commercial, but was released as freeware at some point. | labelimageminimize |
| Heretic | id Software;GT Interactive (Raven Software) | 1994 | [media=youtube]PvXDik3-XG0[/media]***1999-01-11 source code released under a restrictive license. 2008-09-04 source code was released under GPL compatible license.***A [gametag=doom]Doom[/gametag]-like game with similar premise, demons from some outer realm invade the homeworld of Corvus, our elven hero and "heretic" for standing up against the absolute rule of [i]D'sparil[/i] after years of hiding. As the lone magical warrior to stand against the hordes of the Serpent Rider, you battle your way through monsters, undead, demons and the evil disciples to finally give D'sparil a final beating. Basically Heretic is for anyone who wanted fantasy-themed Doom as it doesn't really offer much more than Doom did, though Heretic started a [url=/groups/info/heretichexen]well-loved series[/url] telling the tales of D'sparil's brothers enslaving other worlds and how their indiviual heroes fought back and defeated the rest of the Serpent Riders. However, if you're just looking for a plain shooter of around the same era, you're better off with Doom.***[b]Episodes:[/b] * City of the Damned * Hell's Maw * The Dome of D'sparil * The Ossuary * The Stagnant Demesne The shareware version only had three episodes compared to the retail release's five, but a later free patch updated the shareware version to have the two additional episodes.***Raven Software teamed up with Id Software for the second time in its creation of the hit fantasy action game Heretic. Based on a modified DooM engine, Heretic pioneered a revolutionary new inventory system for character item use that has become commonplace in the FPS genre. Id Software published the game under its flag and it was distributed by GT Interactive. Players took the role of Corvus, an Elven hero whose race was nearly eliminated by a horde of evil monsters from another dimension. The first episode of Heretic was released as Shareware as a precursor to the full version of the game, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders. Heretic won several awards for excellence, appeared in such notable publications as USA Today and Playboy, and opened many new doors in the computer gaming software industry for Raven Software and its team of developers. Heretic was Raven Software's most popular, highest acclaimed, biggest selling game to that point. [Raven]***More than just another Doom clone, Heretic lets you battle it out as Corvus against the first of the serpent riders. New weapons, the ability to jump and fly, water that moves your char around etc. make this game stand apart from others of it's kind. Along with an inventory system, and the Tomb of Power, which gives all your weapons an added boost, perfect for when you're opponents are just a little better equiped than you. Heretics game-engine is the same as in "Doom" and "Doom 2". Gameplay is very similar with some extra-features and a fantasy-setting. In 1996 GT Interactive re-released the game as "Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders", which features 2 more episodes. | labelimagesubject |
| Ascendancy | Virgin Interactive (The Logic Factory) | 1995 | [22]***[b]Species:[/b] * Minions - sentient robots, the only artificial "species" in Ascendancy; presumably nano-scale * Snovemdomas - woolly mammoth-like creatures * Orfa - strange centauroids with gaping, flaming maws * Kambuchka - too bizarre to describe * Hanshaks - seemingly brains with hands, whiskers and a hole in the middle * Fludentri - sentient "polymerized" liquid * Baliflids - mangy rat-like creatures * Swaparamans - two-headed tendril creatures * Frutmaka - odd fungal tree-like creatures * Shevar - completely inorganic creatures (presumed to be from different dimension/reality in game mythos) * Govorom - tentacle creatures with some parts remotely resembling human females * Ungooma - ugly fly-like creatures (of similar size) that mindcontrol larger creatures * Dubtaks - manta-like creatures * Capelons - "masses of flowing fibers who can rearrange their bodies quickly to assume any shape" * Mebes - large translucent unicellular creatures * Oculons - massive eyeball on legs and with tentacles * Arbryls - haggard plant-like creatures * Marmosians - insectoids * Chronomyst - jellyfish-like creatures * Chamachies - centauroid somewhat chameleon-like saurians * Nimbuloids - sentient dense gas clouds***I can't remember much of this game except the music was nicely atmospheric and set a fantastic mood for the game. The game itself was rather boring if you think of anything else :) Quite unique in the sense that the game actually uses 3D space instead of 2D mapping of it, something even recent (2009) real 3D games (with polygons and all that) haven't done. The base building bit is the only part that doesn't use this. | labelimageminimize |
| Hexen | id Software;GT Interactive (Raven Software) | 1995 | Re-edited version with addons included [84]*** [22]***1999-01-11 source code released under a restrictive license. 2008-09-04 source code was released under GPL compatible license***Has rather unique difficulty levels, the number of enemies gets inflated as is to be expected, but better weapons are located later on, forcing you to fight with old and "less efficient" ones much longer. But since each character has only 4 weapons total, including the starting weapon, this isn't such a big thing but does prove additional challenge early on. There are some differences in encountered enemies between the characters, too (or they're randomized, but I haven't verified that). There are only two types of "ammo" (mana, really), where the second weapon consumes blue, third weapon green, and fourth weapon both. Unlike some other games of the time, magic was not simply dispensed from some magical weapons, but the character actually seemed to have proficiency in magical arts, as witnessed by the mage classes use of lightning and ice and cleric's use of fire. Hexen is also one of the first (if not [i]the[/i] first) first-person games to implement jumping, as well as falling damage which is ignored in great many games even today. [spoiler=Show weapons;Hide weapons]Baratus (Warrior): * Spiked Gauntlets * Timon's Axe * Hammer of Retribution * Quietus Parias (Cleric): * Mace of Contrition * Serpent Staff * Firestorm * Wraithverge Daedolon (Mage): * Sapphire Wand * Frost Shards * Arc of Death (Lightning) * Bloodscourge[/spoiler]***Raven Software's HeXen actually began development as an expansion for Heretic that was originally slated to hit the shelves as "Heretic II." However, the game design so expanded beyond the original game that this proposed the expansion of the Heretic universe took on a bold new identity of its own...HeXen: Beyond Heretic. HeXen was developed over a period of 8 months, published by Id Software and distributed by GT Interactive in 1995. The game introduced the 3-D gaming world to the "hub system" of level progression, rotating polygonal brushes and multiple character classes that were available in both single player and multiplayer. All of this combined to help HeXen raise the bar for the first-person shooter genre. HeXen pushed Id Software's DooM engine to its absolute limits and surpassed Heretic as Raven Software's most popular, highly acclaimed title. The success of HeXen prompted a mission pack, Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, and several ports to home console gaming systems including the Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64 and the Sony PlayStation. HeXen also became the first Raven Software game made available for the Macintosh. [Raven]***[b]System requirements:[/b] * 486 33 MHz CPU or better * MS-DOS 5.0 or higher. * 25 MB free HD space * 8 MB RAM * VGA graphics card * Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound card Supports joystick and mouse.***~ Represeting a quantum leap in realism, bursting at the seams with playability and bulging interactivity, Hexen is a spellbinding and terrifying epic that pits its players as one of the three classes of hero and sets them on a nightmarish knife-edge quest to destroy the evil rulers who once controlled them. Every part of this colossal battle between horrific creatures is waged with one of the 12 death dealing weapons, either alone or in 'co-operative' or 'Deathmatch' networked play. Pretenders to the throne beware: - id Software and Raven have joined forces again to create this masterpiece of the 3D dynasty. [Box blurb]***While you were battling the evil forces of D'Sparil, the other Serpent Riders were busy sowing the seeds of destruction in other dimensions. One such dimension is the decaying world where Hexen takes place. A world littered with the mangled corpses of nonbelievers and inhabited by the undead followers that executed them. Only three humans - a warrior, a mage and a cleric - have escaped the leaders' vicious spell. Now these brave souls have sworn to crush the evil regime that threatens to destroy the world forever. Separated upon entering the mystical portal, the three are forced to attempt on their own what they had hoped to do together: find Korax's stronghold, destroy him and restore order in the physical world. [id Software]***A sort of sequel of Heretic, Hexen takes you to a new world to take the place of one of three heroes (A Fighter, a Cleric and a Mage) to stop the second of the Serpent Riders. The use of a "hub" system to travel back and forth through the levels is a very innovative idea. This is one of my all time favorite games, however some are turned away by the running around, collecting of puzzle pieces. | labelimagesubject |
| Stonekeep | Interplay (Interplay Productions) | 1995 | Latest version: 1.2 (as of ?)***[b]sorcery[/b] - requires a magic staff onto which you inscribe combinations of magic runes that produce various effects, modified by meta runes and so forth (in the tag's grey area) --- averted ambidextrous - has no significant gameplay effect. simply determines which mouse button activates it and which hand on the screen uses it. ergo, this is primarily a graphical gimmick. no way to swap handedness without dragging and dropping the tools between hands.***The scan of the box art is flawed only because my scanner can't really scan the hologram on it (I'm not sure any scanner can). You can see this rainbowy thing behind and around the front skeleton and another skeleton in the rainbow, but in reality it should be silvery/chrome-white and the second skeleton barely visible.***Immerse yourself in an epic experience more powerful and realistic than anything you've imagined. Using innovative new technology, Stonekeep draws you into its dark reaches so completely you'll forget it's just a game. Your feet will walk the ancient corridors. Your hands will wield weapons of metal and magic. You'll battle disembodied foes, rescue your allies from evil, liberate a massive dragon from bondage and discover an experience more realistic than anything you've ever imagined. Step into the mystery of Stonekeep and begin a quest through dark corridors, treacherous sewers and subterranean realms of faeries, magic and the living dead. You'll discover a world where darkness reigns and where you become part of a detailed story line that unfolds to your commands. Defeat evil, reclaim your immortal soul and experience the adventure that is Stonekeep. Concentrate on the experience, not the computer * An epic production, Stonekeep is the result of nearly 30 man-years for a dedicated team of producers, designers, programmers, artists and other professionals. * Hollywood special effects, state-of-the art sound effects and music, expert scriptwriting and stunning live action cinematic sequences... Stonekeep is an experience like nothing you have ever seen. * 3-D rendered dungeons and creatures combine with live actors and amazing special effects to produce a game play environment of unparalled realism. * Full-Screen graphics let you truly feel the full intensity of your quest. Without distracting menus and icons, you can conctentrate on the experience, not the keyboard. * An intelligent Diary accompanies you in your travels, automatically mapping where you've been, the characters you've encountered and important clues you may have heard. * Includes the first chapter in the Stonekeep saga - Thera Awakening, a limited edition hardbound novella from Steve Jackson and David Pulver. [Box blurb]***The game came bundled with a small novella, Thera Awakening, coauthored by Steve Jackson and David Pulver. | labelimagesubject |
| Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel | id Software (Raven Software) | 1996 | Apparently the first expansion Raven Software ever did. | labelimageminimize |
| Daggerfall | Bethesda Softworks | 1996 | The various demo various support sound hardware that the final version does not.*** [84]***[b]Minimum:[/b] * DOS 6.0 * 66 MHz 486DX2 CPU * 8 MB RAM * 50 MB HD space * mouse [b]Recommended:[/b] * 450 MB HD space [b]Soundcards:[/b] *Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, AWE 32 * Pro Audio Spectrum * Ensoniq Soundscape * Gravis Ultrasound***2009-07-09 made temporarily available for free, on the 15th anniversary of the Elder Scrolls series.***Latest version: 1.07.213 (as of ?)***The control system for Daggerfall was surprisingly advanced for its time (in DOS game, anyway), I think. You could easily have mouse look in and practically use similar-ish control mechanism to what's in modern games (e.g. in Dark Messiah) to control which way or how you swung your weapons. The only difference was that instead of swinging in the direction you moved, it swung in the direction you dragged the mouse, which in effect prevented you from turning around with the mouse as long as you had the attack button pressed. The controls were also quite customizable, since you could easily configure them to resemble something similar to that time's control system. The game was also quite unique that you could scale any straight wall almost indefinitely, defying any laws of sensibility by dragging yourself across to heights that made no sense. Lack of this ability was one of the most disappointing factors in the sequels, I think (though I have to really blame the blatantly lighter mood of the other games for _really_ disappointing me.. honestly, the story description of both Morrowind and Oblivion is much darker, yet I feel like I'm playing in some kind of [[link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletubbies Teletubby]] land).***The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall is the second chapter in the highly acclaimed Elder Scrolls role-playing series. Its predecessor, TES: Arena, won over twenty Best Role Playing Game of the Year awards and set a new level for computer role plating. TES: Daggerfall is the most ambitious CRPG ever created and surpasses the high standard set in Arena. Daggerfall offers you an opportunity to adventure in total freedom within a world where your destiny is of your own making and consequence evolves from your decisions. A world of love and darkness, magic and sorcery. Whether you choose to follow a quest or to venture out alone, you will interact with thousands of people as you travel across an expansive land in a time of fantasy and imagination. * The largest world ever created for a computer role-playing game. Adventure through thousands of cities, villages, dungeons, graveyards, ruins, castles, shrines and farms. * Interact with thousands of characters, both in dialogue and action. * Involve yourself in a complex world of constantly evolving political intrigue. * Own property and ships, participate in the politics of guilds and other organisations and trade goods and services. * Customise your character or even create a unique character class. * Participate in numerous large-scale, complex quests or venture off on your own. * A multiple path story, with several different endings. You decide how the game is played and won. [Box blurb]***Daggerfall is the sequel to Arena. The world is HUGE, with litterally thousands of NPC's, hundreds of towns and dungeons, and a nearly infinate number of choices that can be made. You can spend time on side quests, or attempt your main goal of saving Daggerfall from the spirit of it's dead king. | labelimagesubject |
| The Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire | Bethesda Softworks | 1997 | From the epic role-playing world of Daggerfall and Arena, springs forth a sinister tale of mortal conflict and triumph. The celestial citadel known as Battlespire has been ravaged by a black-hearted Daedra Lord. If this evil Lord and his minions can so easily brush aside an entire defending garrison of the Empire's Battlemages, how can you, a solitary hero, stand against them? * Create your character using the acclaimed Daggerfall character design system, unrivaled power to custom-build the exact type of hero you want. * Chat with, conspire and then betray your enemies. Mete out justice with sword and fyre. Battle fiends so cunning they smell your blood, hear your footsteps, and track you like prey. * Explore exquisitely detailed 3D interiors and exteriors. From ominous dungeons to towering castles, all rendered in splendid hi-res and hi-color. * Wage war in multi-player mode! Team vs. computer, team vs. team or the ultimate Deathmatch via IPX or Internet. [Box blurb] | labelimagesubject |
| Little Big Adventure 2 | Electronic Arts;Activision;Virgin Interactive (Adeline Software) | 1997 | Comes on the same CD as the Windows version. | labelimageminimize |
| Baldur's Gate: Edition spéciale | Interplay Productions | 1998 | labelminimizeminimize | |
| The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard | Bethesda Softworks | 1998 | Latest version: retail Comes on 2 CDs.***If there ever was a ridiculous game, then this is it, a DOS game that requires Windows OS to install but DOS to play. Even X-COM Apoc comes with DOS installer (despite being advertized as Win95 game). Players should see the UESP link for installation and other instructions.***[b]Minimum:[/b] * Windows 95 or 98 * Pentium 166 MHz * 32 MB RAM * 2 MB VRAM * 16-bit soundblaster-compatible soundcard * 350 MB free HD space***Sharpen your sword... and your wits Discover swashbuckling adventure like never before. You are Cyrus, a Redguard mercenary who has returned to his homeland to find it in peril. The quest leads from the Iron Governor, to a restless band of pirates, and even into another dimension. You'll solve their puzzles, with both your wits and your sword, and live an epic story. Action, adventure and storytelling are all combined in the genre breaking game that is Redguard. * Travel the wish landscapes of REDGUARD. Beaches, rivers, hills, and mountains will test your stamina. * Return to Tamriel, land of the Elder Scrolls. * Make your way into the palace and seek an audience with the governor. * Real time 3D cinematics highlight the story that evolve at the pace of your play. * Sword fight, jump across dizzying chasms, and swing across ropes! * Delve into deep caverns, dwarven ruins, mysterious catacombs, and even into another dimension. The entire world is open for you to explore. If you get stuck in one area, you can leave and tackle another. * Interact with dozens of characters and hear every line of dialogue. * Involved puzzles, with multiple objects and deep combinations will test your wits. * The heart of your search is Stros M'Kai, an island of unparalled scope and detail. Explore the harbour town and unlock the secrets of its landscape. [Box blurb] | labelimagesubject |
