Despite picking up a bunch of must-play AAA titles and experimental indie games during the recent Steam sale, I’ve spent the majority of my play time on a game about programming a fictitious computer from the dawn of the age of technology. TIS-100 is a puzzle game at heart, but what captured my attention was…Read more
Reviews
Your analysis, Mr Worf
Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity was released in 1995 by Spectrum Holobyte (later known as MicroProse). At a time when most Star Trek games, notably those from Interplay, were based off the original series, the game invites us into the TNG universe with a compelling mix of action and classic adventure…Read more
Warning – Trespassers Will Be Horribly Mutilated
I recently decided to replay the LucasArts adventure game that started it all: Maniac Mansion. Inspired by cheesy horror and sci-fi b-movies, the game invented many of the conventions that would define the genre for the next decade. I had previously played the (heavily censored) NES version, but used the ’89 PC remake for this…Read more
How do you know you’re not a Replicant?
Blade Runner was released in 1997 by Las Vegas based developer Westwood Studios who at this point is mainly known for pioneering the real-time strategy genre with its Command & Conquer series before being dismantled by EA. The game is a fairly classical point & click adventure game based on the 1982 movie of the…Read more
“The end of an era” or “I cannot believe I actually played through this piece of crap”
Ultima IX – Asccension is the only title of the classic RPG series which I actually bought at the time of its release. I remember playing it for a little while, but ultimately (ha!) I didn’t have the patience to complete it since it crashed about every two minutes. Also, at the time of its…Read more
So, tell me about LOOM
Among some other games I recently rediscovered the 3.5” disc version of the LucasArts (née Lucasfilm Games) classic Loom. Released in 1990, this game is based on the same version of the SCUMM game engine used by The Secret of Monkey Island (see my earlier review). I had bought the game sometime in the mid-…Read more
What I’ve been playing
After last year’s odyssey through the vast lands of Skyrim was completed, I was craving some lighter forms of entertainment. Luckily, it was time for the annual Steam holiday sale, and so I was able to pick up a number of titles that had been on my wish list for a while. Portal 2 Last…Read more
On Exploring Tamriel
Last week numerous sources reported that Skyrim, the latest title in the Elder scrolls series, does not only contain the landmass for the eponymous province it is set it, but also those of previous titles such as Morrowind, Cyrodil, and Hammerfell. Since the player is normally not able to reach any of these areas, there…Read more
Not a laughing matter
Since it’s release last Friday I’ve spent the majority of my time ridding Skyrim of Dragons and Trolls. And believe me, it’s addictive. The game is a clear improvement over Oblivion’s repetitive dungeons and awkward NPC interactions. The quests are motivating and diverse, the environment is incredibly detailed. It might not quite match the uniqueness…Read more
It’s the great pumpkin!
With Halloween practically knocking on our door, Double Fine Productions just released Costume Quest on Steam. While the game was released for consoles about a year ago, this marks Double Fine’s first game on the PC since the much-praised Psyochonauts in 2005. The game centers around a pair of siblings, named Wren and Reynold, and…Read more