Atari 1983
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Language: -
Licence: Commercial
System: Atari 2600

In the not-so-distant future (1999 to be exact), the nations of the world have at last recognized the need for peace to avoid mutual destruction and ensure the survival of the human race. The plan to achieve world piece is strongly reminiscient of the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still: Automated weapons are unleashed, supposedly to exterminate anyone becoming an aggressor. Of course, technology goes awry, and the weapons are starting to exterminate all life on earth. The player jumps into a rusty old tank trying to blow up all the other thanks, fighters and flying saucers which now threaten humanity.

Activision 1983
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 3/6
Language: -
Licence: Commercial
System: Atari 2600

Boxing. I can hardly think of a less interesting 'sport'. Two sweaty fat guys beating each other up. Or actually not, because most of the time, they seem to be hugging each other anyway. No, really, I fail to see the fascination. WHY IS HE REVIEWING A BOXING GAME, THEN? Well, I've also had a lot of fun with racing games, and I wouldn't be caught dead near a real racing track. As so often, virtual reality and real reality are two pair of shoes.

Activision 1983
Genre: Action
Rating: 2/6
Language: -
Licence: Commercial
System: Atari 2600

Evil mutant spiders are invading your house. These monsters are crawling up the wall, trying to enter by the windows. You're the world's last chance, and the weapon of choice is, of course, potted petunias. You throw them down, trying to hit the uglies before they reach the windows. Now, if only everyone's favourite award-winning actor William 'Captain Kirk' Shatner had thought of that in the philosophically subtle and thoughtful Kingdom of the Spiders...

DKTronics 1983
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

Since we were still talking about Saddam_Hussein_the_bad_dictator & George_Bush_the_good_pacifist & The_war_in_the_name_of_peace and all that, why don't we put up here a dictator sim. Yup, and a pretty darn addictive one.

Nintendo 1983
Genre: Action, Puzzle
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: NES

Donkey Kong is the signature game of NES. While originally developed as an arcade game by Nintendo and later ported to every single console available at that time, NES has been the flagship product of Nintendo, and so it's only natural that it was here that the game was most visible. This game not only started the most successful game franchise of all times, it also transformed a 90-years old game cards company into an electronic entertainment behemoth and in the process set one of the most important legal precedents for the gaming industry.

Thomas Wolf 1983
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Language: German
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

Along with Kaiser, this game defined the 'ruler-genre' for years to come! The premise is simple: make your country strong and stable inwards to conquer your neighbours.

Fitting the name, Imperator is set in ancient Rome. Your main job is to distribute the budget amongst several groups of interest. Every year, they demand a certain sum and it's up to you whether to comply fully, partly or not at all. That influences this group's stance towards you. If you give your wife (!) only half the amount she wanted, she'll be more likely to start a rebellion. On the other hand, if you provide the merchants with even more money than they said, they'll love you!

Bug-Byte Software 1983
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: ZX Spectrum

Manic Miner is probably the best known Spectrum game ever created. Not only it offered an unprecedented length of gameplay, it offered a reward for the first person to complete the game, lush graphics and the never before heard of in-game music.

ajf 1983
Genre: Action
Rating: 2/6
Language: English
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

When and where this game was made, I have no idea. The age is based on the file, as in "not modified since 16-1-1984". So, what's it all about? It's a...Space Invaders clone!!! Not terribly original, but then again, it's from 1984, so maybe, just maybe, it was then.

Bally Midway 1983
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

A very simple game for quick fun. Its attractiveness is caused by its original theme: As a waiter you have to serve the rushing-in customers.

But they are very impatient. Aparantely they are alcoholics. Their appearance points to that: unkempt beards and hair hidden under (probably) greasy hats. But also their behaviour lets you become suspicious about their addiction. They can't even wait for their beer (the game does not know other drinks) for some seconds. No, they need it immediately! And if you do not serve them at once, they will pull you over the bar.

Infocom 1983
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 3/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Los Angeles, February 1938. Freeman Linder has received what he believes to be death threats from a man called Stiles whom Mrs Linder had had an affair with before her suicide. Linder asks the police for their protection and he gets it. A detective (the player) is assigned to be present at the Linders' home on the evening Stiles' telegram to Linder talks about.