CLR 1986
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 3/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

This review is part of The Review Roundup - Round 2: Games Related to the Undead

Dracula - a universally known horror icon. Ironically, only few have actually read the novel these days. Instead, the count's image is dominated by his numerous appearances in other media. Most notably movies which have taken on a life on their own, straying from the original more and more over time. Instead, these movies seem to be based on other movies. Or how would you explain that almost every vampire movie out there claims these undead creatures dissolve in daylight? A hint: this wasn't the case in either Dracula or the even older vampire story Carmilla. That 'tradition' was established by Nosferatu, an unofficial movie version of Dracula from the 1920s.

Icom Simulations / Viacom New Media 1993
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Ten years have passed since Dracula was killed. Alexander Morris, brother of Quincey Morris (a victim of the chase after the vampire), has come to London. His brother's connections make it easy for him to get into the society: he's invited into the illustrious Hades Club.

Firebird 1986
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

Druid is yet another game in Gauntlet style: top-down view, player runs around shooting an endless stream of monsters. Mostly, these games are set in fantasy environments. So is Druid:

Acamantor, some evil sorcerer, has summoned four 'demon princes' to help him rule the country of Belorn. The guild of druids send one of their illustrious members to banish these powerful creatures: Hasrinax. They could have gone all together, and the quest would certainly have been way easier, but then, this game would have been pretty dull. So Hasrinax is on his own.

Firebird 1987
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

103 peaceful years have passed since Acamantor and his Demon Princes have been banished from Belorn. Now the evil is back! And it's up to the last of the druids to stop it.

Other than last time, the evil magic has already spread across the outside world. So our hero doesn't just have to enter a fortress filled with monsters, but they are everywhere. Even in his own village, the dead are literally coming alive. Imagine how it'll look in the surrounding woods...

Cryo 1992
Genre: Strategy, Adventure
Rating: 5/6
Language: English, Deutsch, Francais
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Frank Herbert's Dune is one of the best known pieces of fictional literature - beaten only by the bible and a few others. Millions of people have read it and even those who didn't at least know the name because they've seen the movie, they've just heard of it somewhere or they've played one of the computer games.

Rainbow Arts 1989
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 3/6
Language: Deutsch, English
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

The early days of the Cold War. The USSR is blocking all land transports to the western sectors of Berlin. The USA have initiated an air bridge to supply the city. But Berlin is like a tiny island in what is going to be the GDR - when it comes to war, it'll be overrun by the Red Army immediately!

Mr Creosote 1999
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 0/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

Compared to my previous Adventure games, this one offers a vastly improved 'engine' which allows the player to move around freely through the (admittedly few) locations. Puzzles have been included as well this time.

Computerpartner T&S GmbH 1991
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Ever wanted to rule a country? This is your chance! Your party has just won the election and now you're Chancellor (that's similar to the British Prime Minister).
Now you have to start working. Many decisions await you! What's your first step? Getting drunk? Giving an interview

elefanten Schuh GmbH / WWF 1993
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

A well-known shoe company of the 80s teams up with a well-known environmental organization of the 80s to present you this economical simulation. Commercial advertisement mixed up with promotion for a 'good cause' - very, very questionable.

New World Computing 1993
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Empire inspired a whole generation of programmers to do similar games. The concept is simple, yet addicting: Start with one city, build up an army and conquer the whole (unknown) world. That's it. Plain and simple. Maybe you've had this many times before, but certainly not often that well done!