Futura 1990
Genre: Simulation, Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Everyone who tries this game will notice the similarity to Silent Service. Graphics, sound and even controls are almost the same. And also the topic differs only slightly: Instead of a sub, you're in charge of a british destroyer in WW2.

Incentive / Domark 1990
Genre: Adventure, Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

If a game primarily tries to sell its technical merits, its plot is quickly pushed on the back bench in the development phase. That is probably why this part of the Freescape series (a series known for its free-movement three-dimensional graphics) sends the player on the standard quest of the standard quests: The player takes over the role of either a prince or a princess whose respective counterpart twin has been captured by a magician. The player enters the baddies' castle on a rescue mission, but before he or she can enter the actual dungeon, he or she has to find ten items spread all around the castle.

Dalali / Leisure Genius 1990
Genre: Puzzle
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

An aristocrat mansion, a murdered host and one of the guests has to be the murderer. Each player takes over the role of one of those guests / suspects / detectives trying to find out the truth. Of course, this is the classic boardgame in the mystery genre: Cluedo.

Lucasfilm Games 1990
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - the last of the movies (well, at least they said it then), and the first Indiana Jones movie to become an Adventure game (the second time Lucasfilm used its software branch to make an Adventure game of any movie). Huge expectations, because in an Adventure, storytelling has to be a little better than in a simple action game throwing a few snakes at a whip-wielding hero sprite.

Cinemaware 1990
Genre: Strategy, Adventure
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Lizard Breath, a small desert town in 1951. A meteor has just crashed down here. This is your chance to do some research! So you head over there and start working.

Suddenly, unusual things happen in and around the village. Animals are behaving strangely. On a nearby farm, a cow's head is bitten off and all the guts have disappeared. You examine some rock samples found near the crash site and discover one glowing piece of rock you've never seen before! Are there any links?

U.S. Gold 1990
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Just like movie tie-ins, 'official' games of major sport events are crap in most cases. After paying for the expensive licence, little money seems to be left to make a decent game. Or, maybe the companies think it won't be important anyway, because fans will buy the game just because of the name.

Ocean 1990
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

You walk from left to right and kill a few enemies. Sounds like Super Mario World? Maybe, but it's not! And it's not even something similar! It's Ivanhoe!

The 'story' is quite simple: King Richard has been captured by the French and you have to rescue him. Alone. You start your quest in England. There you have to get to the port. Unfortunately, a forest full of villains lies in the way. So you have no other choice but to fight your way through. You draw your sword and show them what you're made of! These weak peasants are no match for you! Some hits with your blade and they fall to the ground dead. Also those cowards hiding in the trees won't escape you!

Sierra 1990
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 0/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

You are Sir Graham, noble knight in some medieval kingdom at the court of the old King Whatever. The king apparantely has some magical powers, because he can control when he wants to die! And he has decided to walk over the Styx once he has finally gotten his collection of stereotype king-stuff (magical mirrors, unlimited treasure chests and such) complete. Lil' King is too busy sitting on his throne gazing at the walls to find the last three missing pieces himself, so he gives the job to one of the guys who always hang around in the castle grinning and saying 'yes, my lord': Sir Graham. In return, Graham is promised to inherit the crown.

Psygnosis 1990
Genre: Puzzle
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Lemmings - widely regarded as one of the most influential, one of the most original and one of the best games ever. What could I possibly say about it what hasn't been said before? Even today, it is the epitome of the 'puzzle' genre - and I added this genre to this site just for this game. I recoded pages, made special images, defined scripts, all just to be able to present this game. So there has to be something special about it.

Lucasfilm Games 1990
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

1990 was the year of Monkey Island. So great, so successful that it overshadowed everything else - including this earlier product of the same company. Not to say this is an 'underground' game or a 'rarity' - quite the opposite. It was a best-seller and even today, it is one of the most widely known Adventure games. Just not as much as Monkey Island. And not as one-sided positively as Monkey Island...