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Hexen II (by Raven Software) was published by id Software in 1997. It was based on the Quake engine, and added some cool features such as basic RPG stats to grow more powerful in terms of hit points or mana, increasing with your experience level. You could pick one... of four possible classes, each requiring a different style of play: Paladin, Necromancer, Crusader, and Assassin. Despite reviews being mostly positive, the game couldn't generate enough sales and was deemed a commercial failure, with official sales of only 30,000 units. Among the juggernauts of 90s RTS games, Hexen II simply didn't stand out enough to leave a bigger mark. I still think it was a good game, had some unique features, and a pretty high replay value due to the four classes you could choose from.show more

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Rise of Nations (Big Huge Games, 2003) was another one of those great RTS games that - maybe - got a little lost in the shuffle of the juggernauts of that era. It was designed by Brian Reynolds, who was formerly with MicroProse and Firaxis, creating Civilization II and Alpha Centauri. Rise of Nations featured over 100 unique units, a huge selection of buildings and wonders (that greatly affected your nation), excellent graphics (zoom in/out), and a campaign mode and multiplayer option, received extremely positive reviews (often in the high 90s range) and was a commercial success. If you were a fan of Age of Empires, Empire Earth and other RTS games of that kind, Rise of Nations was probably also very high on your list. I remember many, many epic LAN weekends in 3v3 matches... good times!

Rise of Nations (Big Huge Games, 2003) was another one of those great RTS games that - maybe - got a little lost in the shuffle of the juggernauts of that era. It was designed by Brian Reynolds, who was formerly with MicroProse and Firaxis, creating Civilization II and Alpha Centauri. Rise of Nations featured over 100 unique units, a huge selection of buildings and wonders (that greatly affected your nation), excellent graphics (zoom in/out), and a campaign mode and multiplayer option, received extremely positive reviews (often in the high 90s range) and was a commercial success. If you were a fan of Age of Empires, Empire Earth and other RTS games of that kind, Rise of Nations was probably also very high on your list. I remember many, many epic LAN weekends in 3v3 matches... good times!

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99,257 views • 6 months ago

Anyone remember General Zod? One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and got a bit lost in the shuffle. Great graphics, an epic soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?) were sadly still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were pretty low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, were commercially much more successful. Maybe it was the fact that the RTS genre was already quite saturated (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. Did you play it back in the day and liked it?

Anyone remember General Zod? One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and got a bit lost in the shuffle. Great graphics, an epic soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?) were sadly still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were pretty low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, were commercially much more successful. Maybe it was the fact that the RTS genre was already quite saturated (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. Did you play it back in the day and liked it?

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36,966 views • 5 months ago

How such a great game as Battle Isle II (Blue Byte, 1994) still had so little commercial success boggles my mind to this day. Maybe it was the limited market - developed by a German studio primarily known in Germany - or the lack of marketing power, who knows. It certainly wasn’t the gameplay, which was simply excellent for a turn-based strategy game. It even innovated some features, such as being the first CD-ROM strategy game to feature 3D combat animations and unit displays using raytracing and vector graphics. Granted, that was “just” eye candy, but it set the game apart from others in the genre that could sometimes feel a bit dry to non-experts. It also offered a huge variety of units for air, sea, and ground combat, including 12 experience levels for each unit (greatly affecting battle outcomes). Controls were easy enough for new players to learn quickly, maps varied greatly in size and terrain (requiring different strategies), and the pixel-style in-game cutscenes were a nice touch. I couldn’t get enough of the Battle Isle series (1, 2 and 3 were all great, plus Incubation, which was a later spin-off). This series is gravely underrated and overlooked, one of my all-time favourites, and yet I wonder if many non-German players have ever even heard of it.

How such a great game as Battle Isle II (Blue Byte, 1994) still had so little commercial success boggles my mind to this day. Maybe it was the limited market - developed by a German studio primarily known in Germany - or the lack of marketing power, who knows. It certainly wasn’t the gameplay, which was simply excellent for a turn-based strategy game. It even innovated some features, such as being the first CD-ROM strategy game to feature 3D combat animations and unit displays using raytracing and vector graphics. Granted, that was “just” eye candy, but it set the game apart from others in the genre that could sometimes feel a bit dry to non-experts. It also offered a huge variety of units for air, sea, and ground combat, including 12 experience levels for each unit (greatly affecting battle outcomes). Controls were easy enough for new players to learn quickly, maps varied greatly in size and terrain (requiring different strategies), and the pixel-style in-game cutscenes were a nice touch. I couldn’t get enough of the Battle Isle series (1, 2 and 3 were all great, plus Incubation, which was a later spin-off). This series is gravely underrated and overlooked, one of my all-time favourites, and yet I wonder if many non-German players have ever even heard of it.

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22,796 views • 5 months ago

"We've advanced a tech level!" Popular belief credits Dune II as the first major RTS, and it certainly launched the genre into the spotlight with near perfect reviews and massive commercial success. However, other RTS games predated it. One was Mega-Lo-Mania, developed by Sensible Software and released in 1991 for the Amiga and Atari ST. You control one of four gods: Scarlet (red), Oberon (yellow), Caesar (green), or Madcap (blue), trying to conquer 28 islands across eras from 9500 BC to 2001 AD, each with new units and structures. You begin with 100 men per island, mine resources, research tech trees to unlock units from primitive cavemen to powerful tanks and lasers. Though smaller in scope than Dune II, it helped pave the way for the genre. The digitized speech and pixelated beauty still holds up if you ask me. Not bad for a 35 year old game.

"We've advanced a tech level!" Popular belief credits Dune II as the first major RTS, and it certainly launched the genre into the spotlight with near perfect reviews and massive commercial success. However, other RTS games predated it. One was Mega-Lo-Mania, developed by Sensible Software and released in 1991 for the Amiga and Atari ST. You control one of four gods: Scarlet (red), Oberon (yellow), Caesar (green), or Madcap (blue), trying to conquer 28 islands across eras from 9500 BC to 2001 AD, each with new units and structures. You begin with 100 men per island, mine resources, research tech trees to unlock units from primitive cavemen to powerful tanks and lasers. Though smaller in scope than Dune II, it helped pave the way for the genre. The digitized speech and pixelated beauty still holds up if you ask me. Not bad for a 35 year old game.

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48,454 views • 1 month ago

As a fan of the first three Indiana Jones movies, whenever I think of the excellent "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" by LucasArts (1992), I can't help but wonder why they didn't use that story for the fourth movie. Instead, it was the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which sucked). If the movie would have used the script that the game was based on, everyone would have been better off. What a wasted opportunity and a perfect example of self-inflicted wound, if you ask me. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis was an excellent game, and added a really nice twist by allowing the player to choose from three different paths, increasing replay value quite a bit. Aww, what could have been...

As a fan of the first three Indiana Jones movies, whenever I think of the excellent "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" by LucasArts (1992), I can't help but wonder why they didn't use that story for the fourth movie. Instead, it was the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which sucked). If the movie would have used the script that the game was based on, everyone would have been better off. What a wasted opportunity and a perfect example of self-inflicted wound, if you ask me. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis was an excellent game, and added a really nice twist by allowing the player to choose from three different paths, increasing replay value quite a bit. Aww, what could have been...

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42,455 views • 5 months ago

Midwinter (1989) by Mike Singleton is a massive game in every sense of the word. For its time, it was incredibly ambitious, blending first-person action, strategy, and RPG elements into a pretty unique package. It was definitely not a "load up and play" game - the learning curve was extremely steep (it took me ages to figure it out). In the story, a meteorite impact has triggered a new ice age, leaving a vast 160,000-square-mile frozen island. You begin as Captain John Stark, a police officer tasked with building a guerrilla resistance against the invading forces of General Masters. You can recruit up to 32 unique characters, each with their own personality, skills (such as marksmanship or mechanics), backstories, and relationships. The game also features a detailed body-part injury system, along with hunger and exhaustion mechanics… and remember, if you think that's sounds a bit "meh, so?", this was released in 1989! It was widely praised at the time for its enormous open world, vector-based 3D graphics, and mix of genres. Many consider it one of the first true open-world games, and being quite ahead of its time.

Midwinter (1989) by Mike Singleton is a massive game in every sense of the word. For its time, it was incredibly ambitious, blending first-person action, strategy, and RPG elements into a pretty unique package. It was definitely not a "load up and play" game - the learning curve was extremely steep (it took me ages to figure it out). In the story, a meteorite impact has triggered a new ice age, leaving a vast 160,000-square-mile frozen island. You begin as Captain John Stark, a police officer tasked with building a guerrilla resistance against the invading forces of General Masters. You can recruit up to 32 unique characters, each with their own personality, skills (such as marksmanship or mechanics), backstories, and relationships. The game also features a detailed body-part injury system, along with hunger and exhaustion mechanics… and remember, if you think that's sounds a bit "meh, so?", this was released in 1989! It was widely praised at the time for its enormous open world, vector-based 3D graphics, and mix of genres. Many consider it one of the first true open-world games, and being quite ahead of its time.

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29,955 views • 3 months ago

Would you rank Quake II (1997) in the top 3 FPS games of the 90s? Critics loved it, it sold over a million copies, and many magazines hailed it as the gold standard for shooters - some even called it the best game ever made The highly active modding scene delivered a crapload of maps and skins, while the graphics and Sonic Mayhem's killer soundtrack pushed 1997 tech to the limit. The cheeky easter egg featuring id Software team portraits (including “id Mom”) perfectly captured that unforgettable 90s charm. John Carmack and crew were absolute rockstars. Quake II ruled our weekly LAN parties - hauling towers and monitors across town was always worth it, despite getting the weirdest looks from random people on the bus and train...

Would you rank Quake II (1997) in the top 3 FPS games of the 90s? Critics loved it, it sold over a million copies, and many magazines hailed it as the gold standard for shooters - some even called it the best game ever made The highly active modding scene delivered a crapload of maps and skins, while the graphics and Sonic Mayhem's killer soundtrack pushed 1997 tech to the limit. The cheeky easter egg featuring id Software team portraits (including “id Mom”) perfectly captured that unforgettable 90s charm. John Carmack and crew were absolute rockstars. Quake II ruled our weekly LAN parties - hauling towers and monitors across town was always worth it, despite getting the weirdest looks from random people on the bus and train...

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17,562 views • 1 month ago

Who here is old enough to remember Pole Position? Published in 1982 by Namco, it essentially revolutionized racing games. It was the first to introduce and popularize the "behind the car" third-person perspective, which became the industry standard for racing games ever since. Pretty wild - at least from today's perspective - to see ads from global brands like Marlboro, Martini or Pepsi in an arcade game. But then again, you could also smoke on commercial flights and nobody would tell you "sugar is bad" when you had a Pepsi as a little kid. The 80s were different. Pole Position became the #1 arcade game in terms of gross revenue in 1983 and even remained among the top earners when Pole Position II was released.

Who here is old enough to remember Pole Position? Published in 1982 by Namco, it essentially revolutionized racing games. It was the first to introduce and popularize the "behind the car" third-person perspective, which became the industry standard for racing games ever since. Pretty wild - at least from today's perspective - to see ads from global brands like Marlboro, Martini or Pepsi in an arcade game. But then again, you could also smoke on commercial flights and nobody would tell you "sugar is bad" when you had a Pepsi as a little kid. The 80s were different. Pole Position became the #1 arcade game in terms of gross revenue in 1983 and even remained among the top earners when Pole Position II was released.

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21,429 views • 1 month ago

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (Blizzard, 1995) was such a badass game back in the day. Sure, from today's perspective it looks outdated, the graphics a bit clunky, the rendered cutscenes will at best get a "pass", but for anyone who plated RTS games in the 90s, Warcraft 2 was among the best. There was a time when Blizzard just rolled out incredible games: Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and then World of Warcraft - all four of those had such a massive impact on the gaming culture. It all started with "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans", but I chose the sequel for this post, since I believe this was their real break through game. Hard to believe for modern gamers... but Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was once peak gaming! Within the period from 1993 to 1999, Warcraft II was the 6th best selling game among all that were released during that time.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (Blizzard, 1995) was such a badass game back in the day. Sure, from today's perspective it looks outdated, the graphics a bit clunky, the rendered cutscenes will at best get a "pass", but for anyone who plated RTS games in the 90s, Warcraft 2 was among the best. There was a time when Blizzard just rolled out incredible games: Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and then World of Warcraft - all four of those had such a massive impact on the gaming culture. It all started with "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans", but I chose the sequel for this post, since I believe this was their real break through game. Hard to believe for modern gamers... but Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was once peak gaming! Within the period from 1993 to 1999, Warcraft II was the 6th best selling game among all that were released during that time.

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23,591 views • 8 months ago

Back in the ‘90s, there was one arcade game you were almost guaranteed to find: Irem’s Ninja Baseball Bat Man. It was incredibly fun, and with support for up to four players, it was one of the best games to enjoy with friends. But did you know this? While the game was a huge hit in South Korea, it received a fairly lukewarm response in Japan and was released in very limited numbers in North America, making it virtually unknown there. Pretty strange, isn’t it? One of the reasons I loved this game was that, unlike most Irem titles, it wasn’t brutally difficult. You could have a great time with just a single credit. Most Irem games were known for their gritty atmosphere, incredibly detailed pixel art, and punishing difficulty. This one, however, stood out with its bright colors and cute, round character designs, giving it a completely different feel. If you’ve never played it before, do yourself a favor and try it on an emulator.

Back in the ‘90s, there was one arcade game you were almost guaranteed to find: Irem’s Ninja Baseball Bat Man. It was incredibly fun, and with support for up to four players, it was one of the best games to enjoy with friends. But did you know this? While the game was a huge hit in South Korea, it received a fairly lukewarm response in Japan and was released in very limited numbers in North America, making it virtually unknown there. Pretty strange, isn’t it? One of the reasons I loved this game was that, unlike most Irem titles, it wasn’t brutally difficult. You could have a great time with just a single credit. Most Irem games were known for their gritty atmosphere, incredibly detailed pixel art, and punishing difficulty. This one, however, stood out with its bright colors and cute, round character designs, giving it a completely different feel. If you’ve never played it before, do yourself a favor and try it on an emulator.

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31,198 views • 5 days ago

One of the most unique games ever: Loom (1990) wasn't just incredibly gorgeous to look at; it also introduced a completely novel way to play adventure games. Instead of a classic inventory or command prompts, it was controlled entirely through musical notes (spells). By combining new sequences of notes, you could cast spells to interact with the environment - like opening a door or sharpening a blade. These spells were learned by observing the world around you. You could also play some notes backwards to reverse their effect (for example, open/close a door). The game was successful and attracted a much larger portion of female gamers than traditional adventures had before. It was also more appealing to beginners due to its gentler and more accessible nature (more experienced gamers found it generally a bit too easy and short). I always wondered why such a successful and brilliant game never got a sequel. Originally, two more sequels were planned, but Lucasfilm buried the idea. No clue why.

One of the most unique games ever: Loom (1990) wasn't just incredibly gorgeous to look at; it also introduced a completely novel way to play adventure games. Instead of a classic inventory or command prompts, it was controlled entirely through musical notes (spells). By combining new sequences of notes, you could cast spells to interact with the environment - like opening a door or sharpening a blade. These spells were learned by observing the world around you. You could also play some notes backwards to reverse their effect (for example, open/close a door). The game was successful and attracted a much larger portion of female gamers than traditional adventures had before. It was also more appealing to beginners due to its gentler and more accessible nature (more experienced gamers found it generally a bit too easy and short). I always wondered why such a successful and brilliant game never got a sequel. Originally, two more sequels were planned, but Lucasfilm buried the idea. No clue why.

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30,242 views • 4 months ago

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I played the crap out of it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a true milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for (too) high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventures - and thus diverging from LucasArts' typical style which was more on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. I wasn't able to finish it without a walkthrough from one of the game magazines back then (Internet wasn't really a mainstream thing yet). The visuals and music of The Dig remain absolutely incredible, even over three decades later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours (The Dig just looked so different!), the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike many other adventure games this one never got a sequel. It certainly deserved one.

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I played the crap out of it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a true milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for (too) high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventures - and thus diverging from LucasArts' typical style which was more on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. I wasn't able to finish it without a walkthrough from one of the game magazines back then (Internet wasn't really a mainstream thing yet). The visuals and music of The Dig remain absolutely incredible, even over three decades later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours (The Dig just looked so different!), the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike many other adventure games this one never got a sequel. It certainly deserved one.

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23,378 views • 4 months ago

Centurion: Defender of Rome (1990) was seen by some as the spiritual successor to Defender of the Crown. One of the more obvious connections would be the graphic artist James Sachs, though Centurion didn't quite reach the same "wow" level in terms of graphics as Defender of the Crown did four years prior. You start as an officer in 275 BC with one legion, conquering provinces across Europe and North Africa to ultimately trying to ascend to Caesar. You also manage taxes, host "bread and circuses" like chariot races and gladiator fights (rather simple mini-games). The design and cutscenes seemed to be inspired by Ben-Hur and Spartacus. While this game didn't win any rewards or receive more than "just good" reviews, it still holds a special place in my heart. For its time it was pretty good, and the tactical options for each fight - though limited - kept you engaged and always trying to improve.

Centurion: Defender of Rome (1990) was seen by some as the spiritual successor to Defender of the Crown. One of the more obvious connections would be the graphic artist James Sachs, though Centurion didn't quite reach the same "wow" level in terms of graphics as Defender of the Crown did four years prior. You start as an officer in 275 BC with one legion, conquering provinces across Europe and North Africa to ultimately trying to ascend to Caesar. You also manage taxes, host "bread and circuses" like chariot races and gladiator fights (rather simple mini-games). The design and cutscenes seemed to be inspired by Ben-Hur and Spartacus. While this game didn't win any rewards or receive more than "just good" reviews, it still holds a special place in my heart. For its time it was pretty good, and the tactical options for each fight - though limited - kept you engaged and always trying to improve.

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23,490 views • 6 months ago

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I devoured it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventure games - and thus diverging from LucasArts' usual style which was usually on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. The visuals and music of The Dig remain incredible, even 30 years later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours, the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike other advneture games this one never got a sequel.

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I devoured it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventure games - and thus diverging from LucasArts' usual style which was usually on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. The visuals and music of The Dig remain incredible, even 30 years later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours, the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike other advneture games this one never got a sequel.

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65,316 views • 6 months ago

One of the best turn based strategy games of the pre-2000 ear that I ever played was Heroes of Might and Magic II (New World Computing, 1996). I lost count of how many times I finished the campaign, over and over again. Pretty much everything about this game is brilliant. The concept, the flow of the game, the graphics (very vibrant and colourful), the soundtrack (simply wonderful), the little RPG elements for your heroes, finding artefacts, the battle system, and the spells. I could go on, but I am sure anyone who played this feels pretty much the same. It's exactly the type of game I would pay money for to replay in a modern setting, with a map editor and the ability to add different units and attributes to each. The Heroes of Might and Magic series is one of the best ever, and I still always come back to number II.

One of the best turn based strategy games of the pre-2000 ear that I ever played was Heroes of Might and Magic II (New World Computing, 1996). I lost count of how many times I finished the campaign, over and over again. Pretty much everything about this game is brilliant. The concept, the flow of the game, the graphics (very vibrant and colourful), the soundtrack (simply wonderful), the little RPG elements for your heroes, finding artefacts, the battle system, and the spells. I could go on, but I am sure anyone who played this feels pretty much the same. It's exactly the type of game I would pay money for to replay in a modern setting, with a map editor and the ability to add different units and attributes to each. The Heroes of Might and Magic series is one of the best ever, and I still always come back to number II.

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18,483 views • 6 months ago

Rise of Nations (2003) is easily one of the best RTS games ever. It's maybe no surprise, since Brian Reynolds - the genius behind Civilization II and Alpha Centauri - created it. I sank countless hours into this one, an unspeakable amount really. It was an absolute blast in both single-player and multiplayer. In conversations about the the all-time greats, games mentioned are usually Dune II, Command & Conquer, Age of Empires, Warcraft, and StarCraft - and all deservedly so - but in my opinion Rise of Nations also belongs in that uppermost echelon of RTS games ever made. One of the features that felt more strategic were the visible influence of borders. You could only build inside your own territory, and expanding it was a core strategic layer. Entering enemy territory caused attrition (units slowly took damage over time), encouraging smart expansion and defense, you couldn't just blindly run in. It also had 18 unique civilizations, each had distinct Nation Powers and unique units (e.g., Romans got extra territory, Mongols had powerful cavalry, etc.), giving strong asymmetry without breaking balance - a very tough balancing act in any RTS game with such diverse civilizations. I would assume that you were of fan of RTS games during that era, you also invested a fair bit of your time into this one...

Rise of Nations (2003) is easily one of the best RTS games ever. It's maybe no surprise, since Brian Reynolds - the genius behind Civilization II and Alpha Centauri - created it. I sank countless hours into this one, an unspeakable amount really. It was an absolute blast in both single-player and multiplayer. In conversations about the the all-time greats, games mentioned are usually Dune II, Command & Conquer, Age of Empires, Warcraft, and StarCraft - and all deservedly so - but in my opinion Rise of Nations also belongs in that uppermost echelon of RTS games ever made. One of the features that felt more strategic were the visible influence of borders. You could only build inside your own territory, and expanding it was a core strategic layer. Entering enemy territory caused attrition (units slowly took damage over time), encouraging smart expansion and defense, you couldn't just blindly run in. It also had 18 unique civilizations, each had distinct Nation Powers and unique units (e.g., Romans got extra territory, Mongols had powerful cavalry, etc.), giving strong asymmetry without breaking balance - a very tough balancing act in any RTS game with such diverse civilizations. I would assume that you were of fan of RTS games during that era, you also invested a fair bit of your time into this one...

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66,145 views • 4 months ago

LucasArts is without a doubt one of the most iconic game studios of all time. Their trademark adventure games defined the 1980s and 1990s. Among the countless hits they gave us is this masterpiece from 1992: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. One of the most unusual twists was one of its endings. It’s actually a bad ending, with Indy dying - quite grim for a LucasArts adventure. But it also made the game stand out even more and added significantly to its replay value, thanks to the different paths you could choose and the multiple possible endings. Very much in the same way older “Choose Your Own Adventure” books worked, letting the reader (or player) have a real impact on how the story unfolds. Easily among the best point-and-click adventures ever made.

LucasArts is without a doubt one of the most iconic game studios of all time. Their trademark adventure games defined the 1980s and 1990s. Among the countless hits they gave us is this masterpiece from 1992: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. One of the most unusual twists was one of its endings. It’s actually a bad ending, with Indy dying - quite grim for a LucasArts adventure. But it also made the game stand out even more and added significantly to its replay value, thanks to the different paths you could choose and the multiple possible endings. Very much in the same way older “Choose Your Own Adventure” books worked, letting the reader (or player) have a real impact on how the story unfolds. Easily among the best point-and-click adventures ever made.

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12,889 views • 17 days ago

Diablo II is widely considered by a large portion of longtime Diablo fans to be the best game in the franchise. 🔥 Diablo (1996) 🔥 Diablo II (2000) 🔥 Diablo III (2012) 🔥 Diablo IV (2023) The overall dark tone and punishing gameplay felt more immersive and "hardcore" than later entries, if you read up on the feedback on Diablo forums. It was grittier, tougher, and also allowed for more variety in terms of playstyles, adding a lot to its replay value. So, is Diablo II the truest to its RPG roots, and the one with the best lore and gameplay?

Diablo II is widely considered by a large portion of longtime Diablo fans to be the best game in the franchise. 🔥 Diablo (1996) 🔥 Diablo II (2000) 🔥 Diablo III (2012) 🔥 Diablo IV (2023) The overall dark tone and punishing gameplay felt more immersive and "hardcore" than later entries, if you read up on the feedback on Diablo forums. It was grittier, tougher, and also allowed for more variety in terms of playstyles, adding a lot to its replay value. So, is Diablo II the truest to its RPG roots, and the one with the best lore and gameplay?

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65,888 views • 1 month ago

The X68000 was one of the best home computers for enjoying classic Konami and Capcom arcade games. Its hardware was so powerful that, aside from the Neo Geo, it was virtually the only system capable of delivering near-perfect arcade conversions at the time. Unfortunately, it was extremely expensive and sold exclusively in Japan, so very few people ever had the chance to experience it. Even today, decades after its release, the quality of its games is still incredibly impressive. Ghouls ’n Ghosts is a perfect example. Compared to the Mega Drive and PC Engine versions, the X68000 port is on an entirely different level in terms of accuracy and overall quality. It’s still amazing to think that a game this good could fit on just two floppy disks.

The X68000 was one of the best home computers for enjoying classic Konami and Capcom arcade games. Its hardware was so powerful that, aside from the Neo Geo, it was virtually the only system capable of delivering near-perfect arcade conversions at the time. Unfortunately, it was extremely expensive and sold exclusively in Japan, so very few people ever had the chance to experience it. Even today, decades after its release, the quality of its games is still incredibly impressive. Ghouls ’n Ghosts is a perfect example. Compared to the Mega Drive and PC Engine versions, the X68000 port is on an entirely different level in terms of accuracy and overall quality. It’s still amazing to think that a game this good could fit on just two floppy disks.

Gamer_lafan

20,263 views • 16 days ago

Karateka, released in 1984 for the Apple II by Jordan Mechner (while he was a Yale student!), stood out as a groundbreaking title for its era. My biggest achievement as a student was getting out of bed in time for the majority (not all) classes... The innovations included pioneering rotoscoped animation, where Mechner filmed himself performing karate moves on video, traced the frames by hand, and digitized them frame-by-frame for ultra-fluid, lifelike character movements. It was also one of the first games to use cinematic storytelling scenes, inspired by Akira Kurosawa films, and silent movies: wordless cutscenes with cross-cutting (such as showing the princess in peril or the villain's reactions), dramatic pauses and tracking shots. Mechner also had a sense of humor: The Apple II disk included an Easter egg: the game was single-sided but when you flipped the disk it would pay the game the full game upside-down and mirrored, causing players to call tech support in confusion.

Karateka, released in 1984 for the Apple II by Jordan Mechner (while he was a Yale student!), stood out as a groundbreaking title for its era. My biggest achievement as a student was getting out of bed in time for the majority (not all) classes... The innovations included pioneering rotoscoped animation, where Mechner filmed himself performing karate moves on video, traced the frames by hand, and digitized them frame-by-frame for ultra-fluid, lifelike character movements. It was also one of the first games to use cinematic storytelling scenes, inspired by Akira Kurosawa films, and silent movies: wordless cutscenes with cross-cutting (such as showing the princess in peril or the villain's reactions), dramatic pauses and tracking shots. Mechner also had a sense of humor: The Apple II disk included an Easter egg: the game was single-sided but when you flipped the disk it would pay the game the full game upside-down and mirrored, causing players to call tech support in confusion.

exQUIZitely 🕹️

61,432 views • 7 months ago