Gardensoft 1988
Genre: Simulation
Rating: 1/6
Language: English
Licence: Freeware
System: ZX Spectrum

It's the things which are fun in real life which usually translate well into great computer games. And you know what's really fun? Lawnmowing. Don't you just love going back and forth, tweaking your route till perfection, while at the same time, you have plenty of time to think about all kinds of things? At last, Advanced Lawnmower Simulation gives you the opportunity to do all this in front of your computer!

Core Design 1992
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 1/6
Language: Multi
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

1992. Sierra had left the Amiga market (only to return silently later again, but that's another story), other companies tried to fill the gap. Core Design (these days known as the makers of horrible action games featuring big breasts) did it most successfully - they almost perfectly took Sierra's place with their Adventures! Not so much in serial output, but certainly concerning the quality of their products. Does that mean they made great classics with intriguing stories and witty puzzles which stood the test of time? Well, not exactly.

PCSL 1991
Genre: Puzzle
Rating: 1/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Dingsda was a popular quiz show on German television running from the mid-80s to the end of the last millenium (in fact, it was only popular until the mid-90s, but it ran for another five years after that). The basic premise: two teams of TV 'celebrities' would compete in guessing words which were explained by kindergarten children.

True Emotions 1993
Genre: Sport
Rating: 1/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Who does not know the classic shaking sports games on the C-64 or the Amiga? They were as good to get cramps as they were Joystick killers. But this game is different! It leaves out the hectic movement of the input device and replaces it with...NOTHING.

PCSL Software 1991
Genre: Puzzle, Action
Rating: 1/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Warning: Even though I normally try to treat both language versions of the site equally, there are situations in which this is impossible. This review is such an example. This English review will be a boring read to everyone who isn't familiar with German television, because it mostly consist of references to the popular TV show which the game is based on. You'll still learn something about the game, but I won't promise it'll amuse you much.

Starbyte 1991
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 1/6
Language: Deutsch
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Meanwhile, german game desginers have adapted to their foreign idols and they only produce 3D-Action and Real-Time-Strategy now. That is a pity, because some really innovative german concepts were lost. But the majority of "german" games was pure mass production. Only a few years ago there were games of which you could both graphically and from the content say that they come from Germany. A very typical example for this is "Winzer" which means wine-grower.