Midway 1993
Genre: Action, Sport
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Playing Mortal Kombat is a pure pleasure. Or pain, depending how well you are doing. The game offers everything a lover of fighting games could wish for - fast paced action, tonns of moves, punches and kicks, all of which can get combined, decent opponents, each with special attacks and a lot of blood. In addition, some extras, such as small skill tests and the introduction of all characters makes the game very well rounded.

Acclaim 1993
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: SNES

Many sports games are usually followed by at least yearly but unimproved sequels (like FIFA or NHL). NBA Jam is the first part of such a series, so I chose this one for the sake of originality.
NBA Jam simulates (you guessed it, did you?) ghetto sport #1: basketball. To make things clearer the teams are reduced to 2 players, so it's more like streetball than basketball. You can choose from the original NBA-teams, represented by their best (= best known) 2 men. Up to 4 human players can compete simultaneously. In solo games the computer takes control of your partner, but you can still request him passing or throwing. You can also select to always control the player who has the ball or to team up with a friend. Difficulty level and length of a game can be set as well.

Electronic Arts 1993
Genre: Sport
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

In 1993 'NHL Hockey' started off the famous NHL-Series which has seen a new version almost every following year. They all offer great gameplay, the original teams and players of the NHL and great grafic and sound. From the starting menu you can choose whether you want to play an exhibition game, a season or a playoff round or have a look at the various statistics. There you can view the real 1992/93 stats or the ones of your season. The 1992/93 season which is represented in the game saw just 20 teams compete for the Stanley Cup, divided into four divisions. You can select to re-play the actual schedule or create a random one. You can also set up the rules to your likings. For example you could select no offside or no penalties and of course the length of a period. Up to 20 human players can take over the teams, either on the same PC or by transferring game data on disks. When you have chosen a team you can start your first game.

Marc S. Seter 1993
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

Although the C64 classic had been remade on the Amiga by Graftgold themselves as Paradroid 90, this version had its rough edges. Paradroid II, a freeware remake of the original, came out a few years later. Hard to believe in these days of lawsuits, trademark, patent and 'intellectual property' trolling: The programmer got through with not only using the original name, but also with producing pretty much a carbon copy of the graphics and much of the gameplay.

Microprose 1993
Genre: Strategy, Action
Rating: 6/6
Language: English, Deutsch, Francais
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

As gameplay is basically the same to the original version of 'Pirates!' I won´t get into detail about that. Have a look at the review of 'Pirates' instead.
So, what has changed since then?

Tradewest Inc. 1993
Genre: Action, Puzzle
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: SNES

Meet Plok, a rather strange fellow. He has a flag fetish, hates fleas, can shoot off his arms and legs and absolutely hates fleas. Did I mention that he hates fleas? If not, then... well, you get the idea. Plok wakes up one sunny morning to find that his most prized possession, a big square flag, has been stolen. Our brave red-and-yellow hero decides to go flag hunting, and sees his flag hanging on an island just off the coast. When, after much adventure (a level or eight) he has finally recovered his flag, he returns to his island, only to find that it has been overrun with big, ugly fleas! Of course, our intrepid protagonist immediately vows to rid the island of fleas once and for all...

Bullfrog 1993
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Populous 2 is a brilliant successor to the first Populous game which evolves the innovative game concept even further. Again you're a god leading your people to victory by changing landscape and casting various spells but this time you're not just any god but rather a son/daughter of the Greek godfather Zeus. Your final goal is to beat him in the 1000-level (yup!) conquest game.

Gremlin 1993
Genre: Sport, Strategy
Rating: 4.5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Premier Manager 2 is a nice football manager game with many different features. Up to two players can select a team which is always starting in Englands lowest division, the Conference League. From here you have to battle your way up or you could also choose to coach another, higher placed team.

Origin 1993
Genre: Action, Simulation
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Right. What can I write about such an immensely popular game which hasn't already been said. Obviously not much. Also, what should I describe it for - everybody already knows it! Then again, maybe not really everybody. So, a brief introduction.

ImagiSOFT 1993
Genre: Puzzle, Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

The most vicious pirates of the Carribean want to find out who is the biggest cutthroat, so they make a bet. They're all sailing the same route, and whoever can show the biggest amount of loot at the end of the journey wins. Master pirate Redhook plays the judge, but there aren't many rules - everything is allowed as long as it earns gold.