Binary Systems / Electronic Arts 1987
Genre: RPG
Rating: 6/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Only a few centuries ago, the humans have discovered space travel. They build a space station orbiting their home planet, Arth, and send out ships to scour the known universe for habitable planets. No, it wasn't a typo; the humans are convinced that their home planet is called Arth. What they don't know is that due to the rogue Crystal Planet, which has the capability to destroy a whole solar system, all races in the galaxy are in a permanent state of exodus, and during one such exodus the Earth and most of its colonies were destroyed, plunging the backward world of Arth into a dark age. Times change, and Arth is now as advanced as the Earth ever was, if not even more so. However, recently the star your planet is orbiting has destabilized, and ships that were sent out to find another habitable planet disappeared. You are a freshly commissioned captain of a small ship, with only one goal in mind: making money. Since your world needs you, though, you agree to do some exploration on the side as well. You'll soon run into questions you don't have answers for. Who are the Ancients? What is the Crystal Planet and how to stop it? Why did other races flee and why are some of them trying to wipe the humans out? All those and more questions are just the beginning of a story that offers up to 100 hours of gameplay that spans over 800 planets.

Velocity 1996
Genre: Action, RPG
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Shooters have a tendency to lack story or at least a bit of depth, consisting in nothing more than pressing a button and moving forward. Yet a few like this one shine and reach a higher mark than the many which try only to be a copy of the famed game from where Strife takes its engine, Doom.

SSI 1993
Genre: Strategy, RPG
Rating: 4/6
Language: English, Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Now this game truly deserves to be called 'Real-Time-Strategy'! But if I called it like that, most of you (the readers) would get a completely wrong idea of what it is like because this term is being completely misused in my opinion. Games like the Command & Conquer or Age of Empires series don't require much thinking. It's all about speed! And even if it was different, the word 'strategy' would still be wrong because it would mostly be tactics then!

Disney 1992
Genre: Simulation, Action
Rating: 5/6
Language: English, Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Stunt Island is one of the most original games in existence! To write a comprehensive text about it would be completely impossible because of the sheer mass of features and the fact that they are all cross-linked. So I'll just describe the individual parts. Basically, you're working in the film business. Your main job is stunt pilot. Hollywood owns a complete island to shoot these scenes: Stunt Island. Here you can find different scenarios ranging from a farm to a metropolis and from desert to mountains. Even some sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz have been imitated! Depending on which surroundings are needed for the particular movie, the stunts are shot in another corner.

Mindscape 1990
Genre: Sport, Simulation
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

'Stunts' is a great and very action-packed racing simulation. You don't race against a bunch of other drivers but instead your main goal is to survive the numerous stunts each track has to offer, although you can still compete against a computer controlled car.

Infocom 1984
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Yet another case of murder in yet another feudal mansion. And yet another time, it's up to you to solve the case before time runs out. Only this time, there's a twist to the usual procedure: You're not the police detective called to the scene of crime, but the main suspect. It all began with an invitation from Veronica Ashcroft to her annual Halloween costume party. What a chance to write an article for your paper about this event of the high society!

SSI 1989
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Sword of Aragon is one of the most underrated games ever. This game has the full right to be listed among the top ten games of all times, yet I have never seen it listed at all. At a time when games offer flashy graphics and very simplistic and inadequate gameplay, Sword of Aragon shines as an immortal gem. This game does not require the same level of graphics and sound to be interesting: it combines complex economy, diplomacy and tactical combat in one neat package, reinforced by a very simple interface. It offers very complex and lengthy gameplay, yet the learning curve is very low. Overall, the game, is the pure essence of excellent design end execution.

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

The future. Several syndicates control different regions of the world, and there's a war between them. You must take the role of one of the organizations and perform a variety of tasks to "capture" the regions one by one until you control them all.

Interplay / Electronic Arts 1987
Genre: RPG
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale, as this game was originally called, is one of the most important games in the history of computer gaming. In addition to bringing role-playing to the masses with its flashy graphics, simplified character development and relatively good story, never before and never again did a game development team include so many great talents. In fact, this game has launched the careers of several biggest names in the gaming industry, including Lawrence Holland, Joe Ybarra and Brian Fargo.

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.