This page is under construction as I compose more reviews. Be patient.
Current Reviews:
Exile
III: Ruined World
Outlaws
| Genre | Role-Playing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 84% | ||
| System | Windows 95/3.X | ||
| Viewpoint | Top Down | ||
| Purchase Info | Shareware - $25 | ||
| Review | Exile III is the third in the Exile series (duh!), and I can't judge it against the earlier titles as I haven't played any of them. This game is very solid, but you should be warned that it is not the most technologically advanced game ever released. The game is fundamentally an Ultima 6 clone. Movement and combat are turn based, and the graphics are updated from simple 16 color stuff. Overall, the game's not visually impressive, but if you play turn based games for graphics, then I got a ball peen hammer with your name on it! The real strength of this game is in the size and depth. This game is *huge*! And the world is vibrant enough to merit some serious gameplay. Plus, the game tailors to on-and-off RPG players with good automapping and journal features. My only complaint is that the combat interface could use a little work, but I probably just haven't gotten used to the hot keys yet. A hint book and a character editor are also available for those of you who enjoy cheating. | ||
| Genre | Action/Adventure(Shooter-esque) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 73% | ||
| System | Windows 95 | ||
| Viewpoint | First Person | ||
| Purchase Info | Retail - ~$50 | ||
| Review | Quite a few people looked unfavorably on this game simply because the first person shooter category is so competitive today. However, this game was based upon the *very* solid Dark Forces engine, and it shows. The actual 'adventure' nature of the game, touted in the ads and reviews, actually amounts to very little. The strength of Outlaws is in its novel setting and its clever design and interface. The two biggest appeals to this game for me are: 1) having to reload your weapon, and 2) being able to use the level layout to your advantage. The demo shows both of these points nicely. With reloading, you get into a nice flow where you crank off a few rounds and then duck back around a corner to reload. The enemies also do this and learning how to time your fire is a big advantage. The second point is demonstrated nowhere more clearly than in the demo level. You start off in typical western fashion: entering the main strip of a town. If you roam down the middle of the street, you'll find yourself so full of lead that you'll need an eraser. Careful planning shows that most situations in the game have a back route that must be used. This type of strategic level planning is what I have rarely seen in most first person shooters, but Outlaws pulls it off brilliantly. | ||
Platform System Games
Arcade Games