Home of Retro PC Gaming
Currently hosting 9 high-resolution VGA games!
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Home of Retro PC Gaming Currently hosting 9 high-resolution VGA games! |
| Crazy Eights 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Traditional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Moonlite Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Moonlite Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This is about as good a Crazy Eights game as you could expect from DOS. You can configure whether or not the "miss a turn", "pick up cards", and "change suits" rules are in effect and which cards trigger them, and what score wins the match. Only one player can play against the computer, who plays a decent game. There is no feature to organize the cards in your hand, though your cards do nicely overlap when you get too many of them. The shareware version includes a non-playable copy of Cribbage, which was free with the registered version of Crazy Eights. Both are now freeware, but I have only located the shareware version so far.
Moonlite Software has generously released this game as freeware.
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| Dragons Bane: Mah Jongg II 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c SVGA 640×480×256c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An enhanced version of Arcanum's original Mahjong solitaire game. The game calls itself as "Dragons Bane" everywhere except for one instance of "Dragon's Bane" on the title screen. Mah Jongg II upgrades Mah Jongg's EGA graphics to VGA and SVGA, and adds animation and sound effects when pairs of tiles are removed. You can also choose from a number of backgrounds, board layouts and tile sets. The bells and whistles can be turned off if you prefer a more meditative experience. The game also tells you when you run out of moves by default and includes a timer. The registered version includes additional tile sets and layouts.
Arcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $16 on floppy disk only.
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| Duel 2000 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Simulation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Damon Hastings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Damon Hastings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A neat little star battle game from the days when you could write a game in computer class and have it distributed by BBS and shareware compilation CD-ROMs. The game can be played by two humans or against the computer. The premise is simple: two space ships try to destroy each other by firing bullets. A planet in the center of the screen has gravity which attracts both of the ships and their bullets. Many options can be configured, such as bouncing off of the planet instead of being destroyed if you crash into it, and changing the walls from wraparound to bouncy. Using the planet's gravity to arc a bullet towards your enemy on the other side, or getting bullets into orbit are interesting applications of the game's physics. Using thrusters and fire shots cause the engine to heat up, and it will become useless if it overheats. Three random power-ups can appear: the Cool Box cools your engine, the Hot Box heats up your opponent's engine, and The Happy Reaper sends Death to destroy your opponent. The author released a new version in 2006 with his new contact information hex-edited into the exit screen, declaring it freeware with no restrictions.
Author Damon Hastings generously released this game as freeware on 26 July 2006.
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| Mah Jongg -V-G-A- 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Traditional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Ron Balewski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Ron Balewski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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One of my all-time favorite DOS games. I had never played Mahjong solitaire when I discovered this game, but it was so easy to use that I was able to figure it out without reading the instructions, and now it's the only DOS version I play. It looks great, it tells you when you're out of moves, and it's easy and intuitive to use. After each "official" release, a number of revisions were released with the same version number. Differences are listed in fixes.doc. Version 3.1 / Serial No. 5524 fixes a bug that existed in v3.0 and 3.1 that caused a divide by zero error on CPUs faster than 50 MHz, and also includes Mah Jongg for Windows v1.0.
Author Ron Balewski has generously released this game as freeware. Mah Jongg '97, a Win32 version, is still sold for $20 on CD-ROM or registered download.
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| Moraff's Pinball 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Pinball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Moraff's Pinball claims to be the first game to ever support 640×480 VGA mode (it also supports 640×350 EGA mode), which is pretty much this game's only claim to fame. The graphics are unimpressive for a pinball game, but remember that it was 1989. There are five paddles that can each be operated independently, two of which are part of a mini table on the left side of the table. There are bumpers and drop targets. Multi-ball can be played with three to five balls. Your goal is to catch and lock five balls inside chutes that are located around the table. Version 2.0 refers to the game as a "free 'try out' copy", which only gives you one ball unless a $10 registration code is entered to allow five balls. Version 3.0 is a full version which is registered simply by reading an ad for the sale of computers by MoraffWare. Version 5.0 asks for registration, though no cost is listed, saying that the game is supported by "those who use and pay for" it. The registered version of 7.0 mentions a feature that allows you to launch a series of balls by hitting the up arrow repeatedly.
I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Moraff's website.
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| MVP Bridge 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Cascoly Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A DOS version of the classic card game. Play with a computer partner and opponents, or play with other humans over a network or the internet. Each player gets 13 cards and plays one card per hand. In the bidding stage, players take turns declaring how many tricks they can win if the trump suit were, for instance, hearts, or without a trump suit. The next player can outbid a bid of the same number of tricks by choosing a more valuable trump suit. The trump suits, in order of value, are clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, and no trump. That means that a bid of "2 hearts" can be outbid by a bid of "2 spades". When no player is willing to outbid the highest bid, that forms the contract and the partnership tries to win the number of tricks in the contract, while their opponents try to prevent them. The registered version, MVP Bridge Deluxe, adds multiplayer support and a number of scoring systems and conventions.
MVP Software still sells MVP Bridge Deluxe v3.07, a Win32 version of the game, for $39.95 by CD-ROM or download.
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| Second Guess 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Traditional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c SVGA 640×480×256c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An enhanced version of Tile Match, a memory concentration game. Second Guess upgrades Tile Match's EGA graphics to VGA and SVGA, and adds animation and sound effects when pairs of tiles are removed. All of the other options for number of tiles, pairs, players, and computer difficulty level remain.
Arcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $16 on floppy disk only.
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| Syndicate 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 9.5 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Simulation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Bullfrog Productions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Electronic Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Syndicate is a real-time tactical simulation in which you control cyborgs to conquer the world. In the future, corporations have become as wealthy as nations, and have divided the world between syndicates. People have microchips attached to their necks that allow them to be controlled. Using cybernetically enhanced agents, you fight against the agents of other syndicates to steal their territory, and embark on a number of missions with goals such as assassination and sabotage. Money earned from successful missions can be used to upgrade the bodies of your agents and buy better weapons. Any items found on agents you kill can be collected, and there is a mind control device which can be used to brainwash massive numbers of people to use as human shields, or bring back with you to turn into additional agents. Police officers will only fire on your agents when their weapons are drawn, and the police can also be brainwashed and used to add to your firepower. A maximum of four agents can be sent on each mission, and you switch between and control them with the mouse. A fantastically violent but addictive game. A radar screen indicates the location of the target and enemy agents. High resolution VGA graphics enable highly detailed cities with futuristic hover vehicles, and the graphics are so good that there appears to be way more than the 16 colors that are actually present. An expansion pack called American Revolt was released, and they were also sold together as Syndicate Plus. There are over 50 levels in the full version of the game. Only the first level is playable in the shareware version. Syndicate Shareware Demo (773k) I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Electronic Arts' website. It can be ordered from Amazon: Syndicate, or with expansion pack, Syndicate Plus.
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| War-8}! 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Simulation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Jake Firth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Jake Firth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c VGA 640×480×16c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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War-8}! is a tank wars game for two human players. The author gave it an odd name to differentiate it from all of the other games called "war", and because it represents a smiley emoticon. The terrain is randomly generated before each battle and some buildings are placed on the map, which provide a small amount of cover. Each side gets five tanks and may use one of them to fire each turn. There are three types of weapon: rocket-propelled grenade, amplified light pulse, and pyrotechnic missile. The RPG requires creates a small explosion and is fired by choosing the angle and power. The amplified light pulse is a laser which fires in a straight line from the chosen angle and travels until it hits something, bouncing off the walls and ceilings. It gradually loses power as it moves, and can fizzle out if it never hits anything. The pyrotechnic missile is the most power weapon, and the most difficult to use. It requires angle, power, and the amount of fuel to use to deliver it to the target. The player must press D to make it detonate, and the timing is important to get the maximum yield. If timed properly, the explosion can be huge and will usually destroy any tank with a direct hit. The catch to all three weapons is that angle, power, and fuel levels must be selected from moving gauges, so getting your shot to travel at the angle and distance you want requires proper timing, making this a game of reflexes as well as skill. War-8}! Shareware (46k) Play online I have found no ordering information for this game.
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