Ferazel Needs a Better Wand

Ferazel’s Wand is the latest offering from Ambrosia Software, a rare gaming company that specializes in game software just for the Macintosh platform. Ambrosia markets its products as shareware, which is nice for the budget minded because you get to try before you buy. And even when you buy it’s not very much. Ferazel’s Wand, which is their most advanced game to date, is a mere $30. This is pleasant when the average consumer game is between $50 and $60. Another feature of Ferazel’s Wand is you don’t need a joystick to play it. It’s designed to be played on … Continue reading Ferazel Needs a Better Wand

Earth 2150 is Ahead of its Time

When I saw this game displayed at E3. I knew this was a game where if the demo proved to be as good as the final version, I was going to enjoy this game. And I was not disappointed! The only real problem with this game is that if falls into the flooded ground combat real time strategy genre. Earth 2150 has some unique aspects that may help it rise above the pack, if people start to take notice. Obviously, the game is set in 2150. The Eurasian Dynasty (ED) used their stockpile of nuclear weapons to attack some United … Continue reading Earth 2150 is Ahead of its Time

Ground Control is a Stunning Depiction of Planetar

You have been contracted by the Crayven Corporation for a series of missions of the utmost importance. You will equip the squads of devastating war machines and cunning soldiers assigned to you and lead them to victory. You will descend upon the planet Krig 7-B and plow through the enemy forces occupying the planet’s surface. Your enemies, the Dawnies, are a ruthless and strongly religious group of well-trained warriors who will fight to the death for their land on Krig 7-B. It will take all of your resources and skills in order to gain control of the planet’s surface and … Continue reading Ground Control is a Stunning Depiction of Planetar

Ever Get Tired of Being the DM?

Then perhaps Interplay’s latest release, Icewind Dale, is what you and your Dungeons and Dragons group may be looking for. Icewind Dale is the latest in the series of TSR Advanced Dungeons and Dragons PC adaptations dealing with the Forgotten Realms setting. The look and feel of the game resembles that found in Baldur’s Gate or Baldur’s Gate II. The three quarters view and the activation of various members of the group (in the stand alone game) are identical. The pausing of combat to allow commands to be given to the various members of the group are also similar. All … Continue reading Ever Get Tired of Being the DM?

Who’s Afraid of the Blair Witch?

When the Blair Witch movie went from a film student’s basement cutting room to Hollywood blockbuster, it was inevitable that many people would be looking to cash in on the project. A video game tie-in was inevitable. Now, as we approach Halloween this week, the lab dims the lights and sets out to review the first of three games based on the Blair Witch legend. The release of this game coincides not only with the spookiest holiday on the books, but also the release of the movie Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows. The three planned games are being released … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of the Blair Witch?

Hasbro Turns Up the Heat

I normally only moderately enjoy racing games, BUT this game is outstanding. I usually play these games the proper way the creator had intended them to be played, and then I usually go a little crazy. You should see me on the off road games out blazing new trails! Although still in the early stages, I tried everything available on this Beta CD. I raced against the traffic, I deliberately rolled my car, I did donuts in the pit, on the track, and even in the grass. I used a stick game control, but you don’t have to. The graphics … Continue reading Hasbro Turns Up the Heat

Do Svidanya to Originality in Russian Combat Fligh

Oh, why do they insist on making the same mistakes time and again? Like Hollywood, the video game industry is often looking more at how to capitalize on past success, rather than trying the risky business of innovating. Echelon, a "futuristic" flight combat game is a good example of this mindset. Look at the years of success of titles such as LucasArts Secrets of the Luftwaffe (the best combat flight sim ever!) and Microsoft’s Flight Combat and it’s easy to see that there is demand out there for this genre. And hey, futuristic stuff is always good right? But we’ll … Continue reading Do Svidanya to Originality in Russian Combat Fligh

Lemmings Revolution is Puzzling Fun

If you are a fan of Lemmings games from the 1980’s and ’90’s, stop reading. Go buy Lemmings Revolution. Now! It’s more challenging, more visually appealing, and easier to operate than the earlier incarnations, and the Lemmings are still unbearably cute. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the history of the Lemmings games may have heard of real live lemmings, rodents that have been known to plunge off cliffs in communal suicide. The digital Lemmings aren’t any smarter, and it’s your job to guide them to the waiting hot air balloons that will carry them to safety without allowing … Continue reading Lemmings Revolution is Puzzling Fun

Dogs of War is No Litter Runt

I can’t decide if this game is outstanding or infuriating. Perhaps it is both. Dogs of War, published under the Talonsoft label but developed by Silicon Dreams, is a real-time strategy game in the mold of Microprose’s MechCommander. It features three different armies battling for control of Primus: The Mantai, an indigenous dinosaur-like race, the War Monkeys, a human mercenary group in the employ of the planetary government, and the Imperials, representing the military might of humanity as a whole. The game has a number of things going for it. The most apparent is the versatility of the camera, which … Continue reading Dogs of War is No Litter Runt

Vampire gets in your blood

I thought perhaps I would have to take on the curse of unlife to wait for a quality RPG with a good storyline to come out for the PC in the United States. Thankfully, I have found one, and I didn’t even have to wait a thousand years, though it seemed like it at times. I must admit I was a bit wary of a game titled Vampire: The Masquerade Redemption. After all, I have never been into vampires. But the graphics on the box looked so appealing, I had to give it a try. If I was willing to … Continue reading Vampire gets in your blood