Ariolasoft

0° Nord

0° Nord

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

0° Nord is a german text adventure game with graphics. As usual in this type of games you type in the commands that the character should perform instead of controlling the game directly. Special about this text parser is, that it wants to have the object first and then the verb. Most text parsers work the other way around. The story is about an old book that sparked your curiosity. It is about the north pole scientist Scott. But not only that he had to pay with his life for traveling to the north pole, but also that he left a treasure in the ice. Fascinated you collect more information about Scotts expedition which leads you to the conclusion that the treasure really exists. Now you really want to start your own expedition to the north pole, but already in your home city you run into the first problems which are not easy to solve.

0° Nord

0° Nord

Commodore 64 - Released - May 31, 1985

0° Nord is a german text adventure game with graphics. As usual in this type of games you type in the commands that the character should perform instead of controlling the game directly. Special about this text parser is, that it wants to have the object first and then the verb. Most text parsers work the other way around. The story is about an old book that sparked your curiosity. It is about the north pole scientist Scott. But not only that he had to pay with his life for traveling to the north pole, but also that he left a treasure in the ice. Fascinated you collect more information about Scotts expedition which leads you to the conclusion that the treasure really exists. Now you really want to start your own expedition to the north pole, but already in your home city you run into the first problems which are not easy to solve.

Adventure Construction Set

Adventure Construction Set

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

Despite its title, Adventure Construction Set is an editor that allows players to create their own role-playing scenarios. It is possible to customize a tile-set, maps, and objects to create RPGs reminiscent of the early Ultima games. Seven small 'toolkits' to build from include Sci/Fi, Spy, and Medieval setting templates, plus two complete games are included as a demonstration: Rivers of Light is based on Sumerian mythology and contains 140 rooms and Land of Aventuria consists of seven mini adventures with different settings, e.g. an adaption of Alice in Wonderland or a Nazi castle.

Airline (Ariolasoft)

Airline (Ariolasoft)

Atari 800 - Released - 1986

Airline is a multiplayer strategy game for two to four players. Every player takes control over a airline company and tries to be the first to score 100 points. Those points are not only earned by accumulating money but also with others factors like customer satisfaction. The basic procedure: in each turn, representing a month, players have two minutes to make all decisions in the menus. The only exceptions are the result (shows the player's score) and maintenance menus which can be chosen even after time has run out. After all players are done, the computer calculates the consequences which show the profitability of each flight along with the overall financial balance. Flights can also be cancelled because of random occurrences, e.g. strikes or winter. After that the next round starts. The whole game is menu based and the most important thing to plan are the flying routes of the owned airplanes. This includes planning the personnel and the service goods. Of course players can also buy or sell airplanes, set the prices and transport freight.

Airline (Ariolasoft)

Airline (Ariolasoft)

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Airline is a multiplayer strategy game for two to four players. Every player takes control over a airline company and tries to be the first to score 100 points. Those points are not only earned by accumulating money but also with others factors like customer satisfaction. The basic procedure: in each turn, representing a month, players have two minutes to make all decisions in the menus. The only exceptions are the result (shows the player's score) and maintenance menus which can be chosen even after time has run out. After all players are done, the computer calculates the consequences which show the profitability of each flight along with the overall financial balance. Flights can also be cancelled because of random occurrences, e.g. strikes or winter. After that the next round starts. The whole game is menu based and the most important thing to plan are the flying routes of the owned airplanes. This includes planning the personnel and the service goods. Of course players can also buy or sell airplanes, set the prices and transport freight.

Alley Cat

Alley Cat

Atari 800 - Released - 1983

Alley Cat is an action game consisting of several mini games tied together. You're a little black cat who wants to make love to a pretty lady cat that lives in an apartment complex. Play all kinds of cat-themed mini games in order to reach her and score as many points as you can while doing so. You start out in an alley and need to get inside the apartment by climbing on garbage cans and a fence. Next, jump on a clothesline and through several open windows while big dogs try to eat you and people throw garbage at you. Outside of the apartment complex you can score points by eating the mice that run across the clotheslines. Once you've jumped through a window you enter a room where you play a randomly assigned mini game. These mini games include: eating all the fish in a fish bowl, stealing milk from a bunch of bulldogs, pushing a birdcage from a table and eating the bird, catching mice inside a big cheese, pushing vases from a cabinet. To make things harder there's always a broom inside every room that tries to knock you around. You score points by completing the mini games within a certain time (the faster the better). After you've completed a mini game you're back in the alley. Make your way back inside the apartment complex and you get a chance to play the love-cat game: try to reach the lady cat on the top row of hearts while rival male cats and cupid's arrows knock you down. After you've mated, the difficulty gets cranked up a notch.

Archon II: Adept

Archon II: Adept

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1989

The sequel to Archon, Archon II: Adept features a more complex board and enhanced gameplay. Each side plays as an Adept - a powerful wizard with the ability to cast spells against other Adepts and his summonings - and must defeat the other side, either Chaos or Order, by attacking him/her with summoned Elementals or Demons. Each side can summon 4 unique elementals at a time or choose from 4 demons, common to both. Gameplay is similar to the original, reminiscent of a chess-like board game, requiring strategy, but with arcade elements, especially when two adepts confront each other face-to-face. The board also shifts from time to time, making the strategy less predictable.

Asgard

Asgard

Commodore 64 - Released - 1989

The regions of the north are overpopulated. So king Arne sent scouts to discover new lands for settlement. The scouts discovered three new islands Yrum, Asanor and Basengard. Badly, other nations also discovered those and a race for the settlement started. Asgard is a strategy game in which the player has to establish a settlement on one of the islands, while also building armies to potentially fight enemy settlers. The player can rode forests, build houses, create cornfields, build mills, on mountain fields mines can be build, while at the sea fishing huts increase the income. Also defensive building like a tower can be build and bridges can cross water. Production buildings generate a certain income each round, which can be altered by natural conditions, e.g. strong winds may prevent the fishing boats to catch any fish and therefore produce income. Natural disasters may randomly destroy enhancements. Armies must be paid and the morale is depending on the amount of cash spent on them. Asgard is a multiplayer game for up to seven players. The player can also play solo but no computer controlled opponents are available.

Asgard

Asgard

Atari ST - Released - 1989

The regions of the north are overpopulated. So king Arne sent scouts to discover new lands for settlement. The scouts discovered three new islands Yrum, Asanor and Basengard. Badly, other nations also discovered those and a race for the settlement started. Asgard is a strategy game in which the player has to establish a settlement on one of the islands, while also building armies to potentially fight enemy settlers. The player can rode forests, build houses, create cornfields, build mills, on mountain fields mines can be build, while at the sea fishing huts increase the income. Also defensive building like a tower can be build and bridges can cross water. Production buildings generate a certain income each round, which can be altered by natural conditions, e.g. strong winds may prevent the fishing boats to catch any fish and therefore produce income. Natural disasters may randomly destroy enhancements. Armies must be paid and the morale is depending on the amount of cash spent on them. Asgard is a multiplayer game for up to seven players. The player can also play solo but no computer controlled opponents are available.

Atlantis (Ariolasoft)

Atlantis (Ariolasoft)

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

While cleaning a closet at the marine biological institute in Sandramar, France, Boris Larunge stumbled upon a document which he immediately forwarded to the scholar Janusz Perheszhöe in Chablis. Perheszhöe studied it carefully and realized it could be the most sensational discovery since the the beginning of the gold rush in California. He sat down with Captain Eugen Mone, expert diver Franz Gurgelhaß and the Spanish Consul General in Istopol. The latter, Jose Atapualga de Minelao Estrabaldi-Vacante, made the necessary preparations for an expedition under the secret name "Lemuria." A few months later, a ship was found adrift near the Canary Islands - undoubtedly the expedition's ship. Whatever you may think of it, the story seems credible. Now go and dive for the treasure. Atlantis is waiting!

Atlantis (Ariolasoft)

Atlantis (Ariolasoft)

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Atlantis is a text adventure game in which you take on the persona of an explorer. By chance, documents about the legendary lost city of Atlantis were found. A well-equipped group of scientists disappeared in search. The irresistible urge to solve the mystery involved will not let you rest for a minute. Silently expecting fame and fortune, you sell everything you own to outfit and finance a new expedition... The expedition begins in a boat on the sea near the ruins of the lost culture. The first difficulty is to take the right equipment and find your way to the outer wall of Atlantis through various adversities such as endless currents and voracious squid. After getting into the maze of passages and chambers (which is confusingly laid out to say the least), there are more valuables and pieces of equipment to find in order to lure the guardians of the untold treasure of this sunken civilization to clear the way.

Axis Assassin

Axis Assassin

Commodore 64 - Released - 1983

A mix of Tempest and Asteroids, Axis Assassin has you piloting a space ship across a series of grids, blasting away at the Master Arachnid and his army. Armed with only lasers and a single "Pulse Bomb" per level (which wipes out all enemies on the screen), your ship can travel up, down, left, and right across the grid, avoiding enemies and the webs they weave. Destroy all the enemies and you'll be sucked down the grid and onto the next level. Release a Pulse Bomb when the Master Arachnid appears and you'll be transported to The Nest, where you have a chance to earn an extra ship.

BattleDroidz

BattleDroidz

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Earth's resources are running out so we need a new power source. The only way this can be achieved is by linking The Cosmic Interlace Grid. 37 hexagons make up this grid and to get power there has to be a continuous line from one side to the other. To liberate a hexagon to make your line across with three ZMX all-purpose robots. They have one hour real-time to achieve this task. The robots have to navigate the landscape and collect four pods. Once collected a teleport is created. When the robot is teleported, the hexagon has been liberated. There are three types of robot to choose from. Fang doesn't like acid pools but is immune to gravity and stays on slopes. The flat round hover robot likes acid pools but hates slopes. The last robot, a standard issue one hates gravity and acid. There are lots of enemies to avoid and shoot, these are produced by generators so try to destroy these robot makers. The hexagons do provide power-ups for you to help in your task. The game is viewed from a 3-D isometric view. The robot is controlled by the joystick and can fire lasers. Before you start a hexagon, a map of the grid is shown. Here you can plan your route from side to side. Be careful though, if you fail a hexagon it can't be attempted again so plan that route carefully.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Blitzkrieg is a strategy wargame that let's you play as German forces who have to take over Western Europe as well as England from the dates May 1st to September 30th. With various types of forces and units you give orders to them in your quest for Western European domination. The computer plays as the Europeans but the game is played in real-time and not the usual taking it in turns to place orders before the computer works out the outcome of each turn. A country will only surrender when all it's cities have fallen and the end of the game is when you have accumulated 100000 victory points, which means you can win if England falls but not France. The game is viewed showing a map of Western Europe and icons show cities, armies and terrain. The game is based on Len Deighton's history book Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk,

Blue Max 2001

Blue Max 2001

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

In this sequel to Synapse's Blue Max, it is the year 2001 and you are flying a flying saucer. You're trying to bomb enemy targets while not getting shot (or rammed) by enemy saucers or shot by ground cannon. If the screen border starts flashing yellow, you are dangerously close to the ground. If the border is red, you are hitting the ground. If the border is gray, you are flying low but not TOO low. If the border is light blue, then the enemy ship is a the same altitude as you.

Brian Clough's Football Fortunes

Brian Clough's Football Fortunes

Atari 800 - Released - 1987

Brian Clough's Football Fortunes is a football management computer board game suitable for two to five players. Each player takes on the role of a club manager. The object of the game is for each manager to successfully steer his team through the season using his skill to make his team stronger as the game proceeds. Each manager competes with human and computer controlled teams in a ten strong league and the F.A. Cup. From the second season onwards, each team will also enter a European competition (League Champions to the European Cup, F.A. Cup Winners to the Cup-Winners’ Cup, and the remaining clubs will go to the UEFA Cup). The winner of Brian Clough's Football Fortunes is the manager who survives to the end of the game and has the highest number of game points. Game points are points awarded by the computer program, based on each managers performance in League and Cup competitions and on the amount of cash the player has left at the end of the game.

Bug Blitz

Bug Blitz

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Your mission is to find and destroy and army of mutant bugs who have made their homes in caverns deep beneath the planet's surface. A labyrinth of dangerous tunnels leads down to these caverns which you must negotiate skillfully in your spaceship. Once you've destroyed the bugs in a cavern, you must return through the tunnels to the planet's surface. But beware!! The surface is not safe, it is covered with a network of randomly pulling endergy fields that can easily destroy your spaceship.

Camelot Warriors

Camelot Warriors

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

If you dare to cross the threshold of mystery, forget everything that you know, because you will go into in a trip without return. Past and future worlds, black magic, hidden traps - take your sword with a lot of courage and never throw a glance back. Four elements from the 20th century have entered the world of Camelot: "The voice of another world", "Wisdom mirror", "The life elixir" and "The fire that doesn't burn". You must take them and present them to the guardians of each world, who will be in charge of their destruction. Camelot Warriors is an action game with platforming elements. You must travel through four different worlds populated by many enemies. Forests, lakes, caverns and finally, the Castle of Camelot are awaiting you.

Camelot Warriors

Camelot Warriors

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1986

If you dare to cross the threshold of mystery, forget everything that you know, because you will go into in a trip without return. Past and future worlds, black magic, hidden traps - take your sword with a lot of courage and never throw a glance back. Four elements from the 20th century have entered the world of Camelot: "The voice of another world", "Wisdom mirror", "The life elixir" and "The fire that doesn't burn". You must take them and present them to the guardians of each world, who will be in charge of their destruction. Camelot Warriors is an action game with platforming elements. You must travel through four different worlds populated by many enemies. Forests, lakes, caverns and finally, the Castle of Camelot are awaiting you.

Canonrider

Canonrider

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

A 2D side view, single player platform game by Rainer Weingärtner and René Udert, published by Ariolasoft in Germany in 1988. Canonrider is an arcade game about exploring a maze while flying on a cannonball. (Note: the game is a bit reminiscent of the story of Baron Munchausen, who traveled the world with a cannonball!) The goal is to escape the maze by finding a cannon and gunpowder that match the cannonball to fill a hole to blast into the wall. A total of eight bags of gunpowder can be found in the maze. There are also a number of other items that you need to use to progress, e.g. B. Water to put out a fire. The ball can float in all directions, slowly sinking down if you don't steer up. However, you can remain in the air at the touch of a button. In the maze there are a number of traps and bugs to avoid. One touch leads to the loss of a life. If you collect enough "bonus balls" hanging from the ceiling, you get new lives. There are arrows on some screens. If you lose a life, you start again with the last touched arrow.

Cavelord

Cavelord

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

A 2D side-scrolling shooter where you must explore caves to find the three pieces of the crown for the king. The large playfield is notable for an enormous amount of movement, with flowing water and swaying vines. Hidden triggers will cause explosions or lightning bolts to strike that will injure the player, as well as falling stones, and two dreaded birds that keep spawning to harass you. The player looks like they are riding on a stork and have a lance, similar to the characters in Joust, though the translated story says you are on a winged horse. Though the game is short, it is known for being very difficult. It has three difficulty levels, named slightly different depending on translation, corresponding to easy, medium and hard, which controls how regularly the explosions and lightning bolts go off, as well as the speed the birds spawn and move. The game was released in Germany, but Wikipedia offers a rough translation of the story in the game: The player controls the hero Telos on his winged horse Pegamis and has to explore two caves within a large scrolling playfield. While exploring the caves the player is threatened by flying creatures called "Nemesides" that appear occasionally.

Caverns of Khafka

Caverns of Khafka

Atari 800 - Released - 1983

Find 5 holy seals in a labyrinth and attach them to the gate at the temple of Pharaoh Khafka to open the gate. Enter the tomb, outwit the ghost guards and get the treasure. . . . . This sounds easy, but it is not, because the people of the Pharaoh does not live any more but all lockings and traps still work well. Furthermore, evil bugs, rolling and falling rocks, magma and bats obstruct the search. And finally, some tunnels and channels are very narrow so that our brave treasure hunter (or tomb raider) must crawl through them to avoid hurting his head. In the unlikely event that you find all seals and get to the guards of the treasure, the most dangerous task will follow, as you need to pass the guard without touching it. If this succeeds the adventurer will be awarded the Treasure of the Pharaoh, if not he will die a cruel death. . .

Caverns of Sillahc

Caverns of Sillahc

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

The Torms and the invading Humans don't like each other. Spotting a quick buck you have decided to take both sides. The Torms have taken the Humans' farming robots who want them back. The Humans want the Torms' power plant to be destroyed forcing them up to the surface. Your aim is to rescue the robots and navigate the underground caverns to destroy the power plant. The game is viewed from the side as you move your ship about with the joystick. Gravity influences the ship and almost the entire environment is deadly to the touch, so regular upwards thrust (requiring fuel) and careful steering is required. The ship is armed with a cannon to take out mines and clear blocked passages. Attention must be paid to how many robots are picked up - too many means you crash. Some of the landing pads robots must be delivered to double as fuel stops.

Clever & Smart

Clever & Smart

Commodore 64 - Released - November 1, 1987

Clever & Smart is an action game with puzzle elements, based on the Spanish comic book series Mortadelo y Filemón. The two protagonists are special agents and in this game they need to find Dr. Bakterius who was kidnapped by the competing agency OMA. The main part of the game takes place on the city map which is shown from a top-down perspective (except persons, cars and trees). Here the protagonists need to explore the city and its sewers to find hints on Bakterius' location. However, there are many locations where Clever & Smart need to have certain items in their possession to proceed. For example to enter some houses Clever needs to use one of his trademark disguises or in the sewer they can tap telephone phone line with the right tools. Another important resource is money which is used to buy items, disguises and food. The latter is essential for survival because a hunger value constantly rises when the heroes don't eat. Money is either earned by illegal activities like burglary or forging checks or by playing mini games like flipping coins or a snail race (Clever participating himself in disguise).

Colossus Chess 2.0

Colossus Chess 2.0

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

Colossus Chess 2∙0 is a computer program that allows you to play the computer at a game of chess. The rules of chess are followed and includes the moves 'Castling' and 'En-passent'. As well as a normal game there are various options that can be chosen to further enhance the experience of the program. You can play as either white or black as well as just allow the computer to play itself. The whole board is shown on the screen viewed from above but there is another screen that shows you all the moves that have been played as well as various stats on how the computer is thinking. The board can be set up to allow you to place the pieces in various places as well as play various check positions to solve. A tournament mode can be set up by adjusting the time allowed for each move to be played.

Cromwell House

Cromwell House

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

Cromwell~House

Cromwell~House

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

A German language mystery text-adventure game to bring out your inner-Sherlock Holmes. You start of the adventure in the park in front of the villa, examine every clue and make need to crack a safe to crack the case.

Das Haus

Das Haus

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

Das Haus is an economical simulation in which the player owns an apartment building with 30 flats. The goal is to earn as much money as possible. The player has various opportunities to influence the earnings respectively keep the house running, e.g. buying fuel oil, changing the rent, renovate the house or invest in land or industry. There are various unforeseen occurrences to spice things up a bit, e.g. house damage, moving tenants or a lottery winning.

Das Komplette Schach Programm

Das Komplette Schach Programm

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

A German language "complete" chess program aka Profi Chess released in 1987 by Falken Verlag GmbH and Ariolasoft. "Das komplette Schach-programm" was developed with the intention of taking chess programming into a new direction. It is designed not only for the beginner, who would like to play against an appropriate chess partner, but also for the hobby player, who wants to systematically increase his play strength and become acquainted with the reasons behind the play. Also, the advanced amateur, who would like to sharpen his training on combinations, finds an instructor, with an ideal game interference with many options in the open structure of the program. In the "Spielen" (Play) section, heavy emphasis is made on opening variations that can be practiced, by allowing the player to study the opening library that is available on the disk. In the program section " Trainieren" (Training) short lessons are available to the user, as well as stored diagram test positions all created to increase your chess knowledge, in all three stages of the game -- Opening, middle and endgame. The program plays strictly according to the international chess rules, possesses a problem solving function, which solves up to mate-in-nine chess problems. A “Save Game” is also available and the program recognizes and names the twenty most important chess openings.

Das Magazin

Das Magazin

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

Das Magazin is a managerial simulation in which the player responsible for a monthly computer magazine. Each month a sales ranking is calculated and the goal is to achieve a good place. Depending on the ranking a certain amount of points is awarded and if the quota is failed after a year, the player gets fired. In turn a successful year may result in a bigger budget. The gameplay is completely menu based and consists of changing setting screws. The most important thing to do is hiring staff (editor in-chief, editors and a foreign correspondent) and buying their working equipment. The magazine concept includes both the content (the covered computers and key subjects) and other aspects (e.g. number of printed issues, the used paper or the price). Of course this also depends on the budget and the staff at hand. Other options are marketing and speculating on the exchange market.

Das Magazin

Das Magazin

Atari ST - Released - 1990

Das Magazin is a managerial simulation in which the player responsible for a monthly computer magazine. Each month a sales ranking is calculated and the goal is to achieve a good place. Depending on the ranking a certain amount of points is awarded and if the quota is failed after a year, the player gets fired. In turn a successful year may result in a bigger budget. The gameplay is completely menu based and consists of changing setting screws. The most important thing to do is hiring staff (editor in-chief, editors and a foreign correspondent) and buying their working equipment. The magazine concept includes both the content (the covered computers and key subjects) and other aspects (e.g. number of printed issues, the used paper or the price). Of course this also depends on the budget and the staff at hand. Other options are marketing and speculating on the exchange market.

Deadringer

Deadringer

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

Deadringer is a 1st person perspective racing game set in the future where you have to race an armoured skimmer on a ring made up of various parts to survive as well as compete against other competitors. The ring is made up of four parts with an inside edge and an outside edge, with the outside the most dangerous to drive on but the competitors can drive on any part they want. A timer counts down and you have to still be on the track when it reaches zero to win the race. As you drive various objects appear like walls, gates and mines as well as the other competitors but you are armed with a cannon which fires forwards and follows the ring. You can take so many hits but if you crash into an object then you lose one of three lives. A warp gate also appears which moves you to another part of the track.

Deja Vu - Die phantastische Geschichte

Deja Vu - Die phantastische Geschichte

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

German language graphic adventure.

Déjà Vu: Eine phantastische Geschichte

Déjà Vu: Eine phantastische Geschichte

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Déjà Vu: Eine phantastische Geschichte is a German illustrated text adventure from 1985. Déjà Vu is about a schoolboy who learns about the Garasim temple through a book. The temple is threatened with decay and with it the whole world. There are only 99 days left to save the temple. The plot of the game is very reminiscent of The Neverending Story of Michael Ende

Fire Quest

Fire Quest

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

After his quest for food in the game Ugh!, you once again take the role of Ugh the Caveman as he attempts to get fire from the local volcano to keep warm. The game consists of various single screen platform games as Ugh tries to complete quests while avoiding creatures and obstacles. Wood needs collecting, ladders carried to connect platforms, fire carried and other tasks. If you touch any creature, obstacle or fall from a height then you lose one of three lives and when all lives are gone then it's game over.

Forbidden Forest

Forbidden Forest

Commodore 64 - Released - July 1, 1983

Zounds! And Gadzaoks! You were just out to do a little target practice with your bow and arrow when you lost your way. Now the moon is coming out and there are some strange rustling noises coming from the bushes, Egad! You have mistakenly wandered into the Forbidden Forest. Only your skill as an archer can protect you now. Here they come. Giant spiders and unbelievable cruel monsters. Move quickly, aim accurately, destroy the monsters and you just may escape from the Forbidden Forest!

Frostbite

Frostbite

Atari 2600 - Released - August 14, 1983

You're an Eskimo who wants to build an igloo to live in during the cold season. To do this, you must jump from ice-block to ice-block, while avoiding wildlife such as birds and crabs. Coming with contact with any of these will cause them to push you off the block and into the deadly water. Once you have built your igloo, you must enter it to proceed to the next level. Remember, you must build it before the temperature drops to 0°. You have four lives.

Halls of Gold

Halls of Gold

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1986

his platform game (which was released in France as Les Mines du Roi Aquantus) has a twist; you cannot jump! Instead, you run, dangle, fall and climb ladders. You possess bombs that allow you to create holes in the floor. Nasties-wise, this one includes lots and lots of running men who look just like you. They home in on your location and the aim is to evade them long enough until you’ve collected all the gold. Game has built in level editor.

Hanse

Atari ST - Released - 1986

Hanse is a managerial strategy game set in the 14th century. The player takes the role of an ambitious citizen who wants to become the mayor of Lübeck. To reach this goal he has to get rich by trading with other cities of the Hanseatic League. The basic gameplay principle is simple: shipping salt and exchanging it for other goods which then can be sold in Lübeck for a good price. This means the current salt price is the most important part when planning shipments (besides the weather). Of course the player also has to purchase and maintain other things, e.g. a trading station, ships and cannons. Alternatively the player can also participate in smuggling. When using the game alone, the player competes against an AI opponent. He sometimes attacks the player's trading stations which results in a fight scene in which the player has to place his cannons so they destroy the attacking ships during the automatic attack phase. There are also other similar sequences and random occurrences like weddings or disasters that may force the player to react. The game is completely menu driven and offers multiplayer for up to six people.

Hanse

Hanse

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Hanse is a managerial strategy game set in the 14th century. The player takes the role of an ambitious citizen who wants to become the mayor of Lübeck. To reach this goal he has to get rich by trading with other cities of the Hanseatic League. The basic gameplay principle is simple: shipping salt and exchanging it for other goods which then can be sold in Lübeck for a good price. This means the current salt price is the most important part when planning shipments (besides the weather). Of course the player also has to purchase and maintain other things, e.g. a trading station, ships and cannons. Alternatively the player can also participate in smuggling. When using the game alone, the player competes against an AI opponent. He sometimes attacks the player's trading stations which results in a fight scene in which the player has to place his cannons so they destroy the attacking ships during the automatic attack phase. There are also other similar sequences and random occurrences like weddings or disasters that may force the player to react. The game is completely menu driven and offers multiplayer for up to six people.

Hanse

Hanse

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Hanse is a managerial strategy game set in the 14th century. The player takes the role of an ambitious citizen who wants to become the mayor of Lübeck. To reach this goal he has to get rich by trading with other cities of the Hanseatic League. The basic gameplay principle is simple: shipping salt and exchanging it for other goods which then can be sold in Lübeck for a good price. This means the current salt price is the most important part when planning shipments (besides the weather). Of course the player also has to purchase and maintain other things, e.g. a trading station, ships and cannons. Alternatively the player can also participate in smuggling. When using the game alone, the player competes against an AI opponent. He sometimes attacks the player's trading stations which results in a fight scene in which the player has to place his cannons so they destroy the attacking ships during the automatic attack phase. There are also other similar sequences and random occurrences like weddings or disasters that may force the player to react. The game is completely menu driven and offers multiplayer for up to six people.

Hellowoon

Hellowoon

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

In a world called Boran, the evil sorcerer Kronos decides he has to put an end to King Aaron's rule. Aaron however is protected by the white mage Gandalf, who fights a terrible battle of magic against Kronos. At the end of the battle, both sorcerers are killed and Gandalf's staff is broken in two parts. Now Kronos' evil helper Hellowoon saw his chance at bringing the land under his control. He set up a reign of terror, but there was one more thing he needed: Zarrak, who is Aaron's son. The player assumes Zarrak's role, and the game begins with Zarrak waking up in a prison cell, bound by a chain to the wall. Hellowoon is a text-adventure, so all actions are controlled by words entered into the parser. Each room does however have its own graphical representation at the top of the screen. During the course of the game, the player may learn a total of three magical spells that can be used to defend themselves against foes.

Hellowoon: Das Geheimnis des Zauberstabs

Hellowoon: Das Geheimnis des Zauberstabs

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1987

In a world called Boran, the evil sorcerer Kronos decides he has to put an end to King Aaron's rule. Aaron however is protected by the white mage Gandalf, who fights a terrible battle of magic against Kronos. At the end of the battle, both sorcerers are killed and Gandalf's staff is broken in two parts. Now Kronos' evil helper Hellowoon saw his chance at bringing the land under his control. He set up a reign of terror, but there was one more thing he needed: Zarrak, who is Aaron's son. The player assumes Zarrak's role, and the game begins with Zarrak waking up in a prison cell, bound by a chain to the wall. Hellowoon is a text-adventure, so all actions are controlled by words entered into the parser. Each room does however have its own graphical representation at the top of the screen. During the course of the game, the player may learn a total of three magical spells that can be used to defend themselves against foes.

Hellowoon: Das Geheimnis des Zauberstabs

Hellowoon: Das Geheimnis des Zauberstabs

Atari ST - Released - 1987

In a world called Boran, the evil sorcerer Kronos decides he has to put an end to King Aaron's rule. Aaron however is protected by the white mage Gandalf, who fights a terrible battle of magic against Kronos. At the end of the battle, both sorcerers are killed and Gandalf's staff is broken in two parts. Now Kronos' evil helper Hellowoon saw his chance at bringing the land under his control. He set up a reign of terror, but there was one more thing he needed: Zarrak, who is Aaron's son. The player assumes Zarrak's role, and the game begins with Zarrak waking up in a prison cell, bound by a chain to the wall. Hellowoon is a text-adventure, so all actions are controlled by words entered into the parser. Each room does however have its own graphical representation at the top of the screen. During the course of the game, the player may learn a total of three magical spells that can be used to defend themselves against foes.

Hotel

Hotel

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

A German language strategy game with a heaping helping of management where you manage the affairs of a busy hotel and make decisions that will make for happy customers and maximum profits. It was published by Ariolasoft, which was released in 1985. Not to be confused with the Ariolasoft Hotel (California) that came out several years later.

Hotel

Hotel

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

This game simulates the running of a large Hotel.

Hyperforce

Hyperforce

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

The player represents a space pilot whose STATRON system is heavily damaged by opposition fire. A single mission remains before you can head for home. The aim of the game is to pass through a series of chambers collecting the pods which will appear at random around the screen. However, as you attempt to do this the chamber walls will advance upon you, absorbing the pods as they move.You can shoot at the walls to force them to retreat but as they move back will erase the pods behind them. It is possible to drag back some of the walls, but once again the pods will disappear as the walls are pulled back.

Hyperrace

Hyperrace

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Hyperrace is a top view scrolling game with some shooter elements where the screen scrolls constantly in the direction you move your spacecraft low over a surface. The game is either one player or two player with a split-screen so both players can play at the same time. You and a friend are both in a Space Academy and to graduate you have to complete various levels by getting from a start pad to a finish pad. As you fly around you must avoid certain obstacles with some that can be removed with your cannon. An other spacecraft makes an appearance and this needs avoiding, and if you hit anything then you lose part of an energy bar. When the bar reaches the red part then the screen starts flashing and when it empties then it is game over for that player. The player that gets to the finish pad first gets bonus points.

Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey

Atari 2600 - Released - 1981

Ice Hockey is an ice hockey game for one player against the computer or two players facing off against each other. Each team consists of two players, one offensive and one defensive. At any given time, one player is active and can be controlled while the other remains inactive; if the puck is near your goal, then the defensive player becomes active, otherwise, you control the offensive player. Each player has the ability to shoot the puck at a variety of angles, and can even body-check their opponent! The game lasts for three minutes, and whoever scores more points by the end of that time wins. The game can be played at normal or high speed, and optionally one of the players can be handicapped to give an inexperienced player more of an advantage.

Inspektor Griffu

Inspektor Griffu

Commodore Amiga - 1991

Inspektor Griffu is a German detective mystery and a mixture between a graphical and a text adventure. Features of the former are mouse control, button interface and graphical representation of the environment. The text output is a trademark of IF and can be found in this game. You play as Inspektor Griffu who was chosen because no one better was available and your task is to solve a murder case in one day. Every action you make eats up some minutes and if you don't reach the solution in time it's Game Over for you. Interrogate the village habitants, search for clues and finally, find the murderer.

Invaders of the Lost Tomb

Invaders of the Lost Tomb

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

The Pharoah's Lost Tomb contains the valuable emerald of Scarabaeus, and you have set off to find it. You walk around from an early first-person view with 90 degree movement and four views from each position, aided by a map. On the first level you must touch nine ghosts, to collect pieces of a key to know which of the objects you will later find are medicines, and which are potions. While on level 2, you must visit information sites - you will need this to survive on level 3. These are guarded by spiders, which must be trapped and lured away using doors. To move between levels you must guide a mechanical lift, by moving the joystick in smooth circles from inside it. This final level contains familiar safe bottles as well as poisonous ones - all stored on hidden shelves. It also contains zombies to avoid or trap. Before you can reach the emerald, you must solve a final puzzle involving hieroglyphs. Arrange a 4x4 grid so as to get the rows and columns to match, within 40 moves.

James Clavell's Shogun

James Clavell's Shogun

Commodore 64 - Released - July 1, 1989

The game reproduces many of the novel's "scenes", few of which are interconnected in any way. The player assumes the role of John Blackthorne, Pilot-Major of the Dutch trading ship Erasmus. During a voyage in the Pacific Ocean in the year 1600, the Erasmus is shipwrecked in Japan. Blackthorne must survive in a land where every custom is as unfamiliar to him as the language. After learning some of the society's ways, he is drawn into a political struggle between warlords and falls in love with a Japanese woman. Eventually he embraces Japanese life and is honored as a samurai.

Kaiser

Kaiser

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

Kaiser (German for emperor) is a political/business simulation set in 18th century Germany. Players take the role of nobles in the Holy Roman Empire and compete for the crown of the emperor. One to nine players can play, beginning by entering their name and gender and being assigned a state in the empire. Gameplay then takes place in turns, each consisting of a number of consecutive screens. In the first screen, players can sell and buy grain and land. Grain is necessary to feed a noble's subjects. Bad weather can result in harvest losses, making it necessary to buy extra grain to prevent starvation. Providing more grain than necessary increases population growth and the state's reputation. Acquiring more land increases population and is necessary for economic growth. Following the trading screen is a statistics screen, displaying births and deaths, immigration and emigration as well as income and expenses. The third screen allows control of income. Players can set taxes and tariffs and can determine how harshly the justice system works - setting it to a level that is too brutal might increase income in the short term but also lead to increased emigration. Another overview screen follows, displaying a player's lands and properties in detail. The fifth screen allows for spending the turn's income. It is possible to buy marketplaces and grain mills (both of which increase income) as well as construct part of a palace or a cathedral (both of which have no direct use but are required to move into the highest levels of nobility). Each building option requires owning a certain amount of land. Constructing five marketplaces and three mills results in the creation of a city.

Kaiser

Kaiser

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Kaiser is a German simulation strategy video game developed and published by Ariolasoft. Kaiser is an updated version of the 8-Bit game of the same name. The most obvious addition are the graphics: while the original almost entirely consisted of text, here all screens have a drawn background image and mostly also include animations. By clicking on interactive elements, e.g. the city for city development, the player can reach other screens and further settings to change. While the basic principle of the game has not changed, there are a number of additional features. For example, the city development was extended (now the player also needs to buy houses and military tents) and there are two starting conditions (1700 as noble or 1725 as margrave with more advanced funds and possessions). There are also a number of smaller additions like the possibility to buy/sell trade goods instead of only grain.

Kaiser

Kaiser

Atari 800 - Released - 1984

Kaiser (German for emperor) is a political/business simulation set in 18th century Germany. Players take the role of nobles in the Holy Roman Empire and compete for the crown of the emperor. One to nine players can play, beginning by entering their name and gender and being assigned a state in the empire. Gameplay then takes place in turns, each consisting of a number of consecutive screens. In the first screen, players can sell and buy grain and land. Grain is necessary to feed a noble's subjects. Bad weather can result in harvest losses, making it necessary to buy extra grain to prevent starvation. Providing more grain than necessary increases population growth and the state's reputation. Acquiring more land increases population and is necessary for economic growth. Following the trading screen is a statistics screen, displaying births and deaths, immigration and emigration as well as income and expenses. The third screen allows control of income. Players can set taxes and tariffs and can determine how harshly the justice system works - setting it to a level that is too brutal might increase income in the short term but also lead to increased emigration. Another overview screen follows, displaying a player's lands and properties in detail. The fifth screen allows for spending the turn's income. It is possible to buy marketplaces and grain mills (both of which increase income) as well as construct part of a palace or a cathedral (both of which have no direct use but are required to move into the highest levels of nobility). Each building option requires owning a certain amount of land. Constructing five marketplaces and three mills results in the creation of a city. Only if there is more than one player in the game, income can also be spent on military expenses. Soldiers can be recruited from the own population or hired as mercenaries. Recruitment is limited by population size, while mercenaries cost more, but are more skilled from the start. Infantry, cavalry and artillery units are available. Military exercises can be conducted to increase the troops' experience. Finally, troops can be sent to war by selecting another player to attack. Only geographical neighbors can be attacked directly - if other states are in the way, their regents have to be asked for right of passage. All other players besides the two fighting parties are asked if they want to support either of the two. If a party gains the support of another noble, they are allowed to control the supporting player's troops in the battle. The actual battle is fought automatically, but both parties can place their troops on a map of the defending player's lands beforehand. The victor of a battle gains land from the loser. At the end of a turn, interest on the money reserves (or the debt) is calculated and players move ahead in the ranks of the nobility if certain winning conditions are met. Higher ranks increase the debt limit and allow players to be more demanding in setting taxes. Becoming emperor requires moving through all ranks, owning five cities, a palace and a cathedral, 25.000 hectares of land and 100.000 thalers of money. The game has a built-in time limitation. At the start of the game, all players are given a set date of death. This is the same for all players, but if players take more than 90 seconds for their turns, the date might move ahead, shortening their game.

Karateka

Karateka

Commodore 64 - Released - July 15, 1984

Returning home after years of study under a Master of Karate, you find your village burned to the ground. Your friends and family are scattered, your bride-to-be stolen by Akuma, the warlord whose oppressive shadow has darkened your village since before you were born. Your grief and rage turn to cold determination. You vow never again to submit to the evil warlord. You know you must avenge your village and rescue your beloved Princess Mariko from Akuma’s mountain fortress. Alone, armed only with your knowledge of Karate, you must outfight Akuma’s vicious warriors, each one more powerful than the last. Fight on, deep into the heart of the palace, where to rescue Mariko you must confront the cruel Akuma himself in hand-to-hand combat. Put fear and self-concern behind you. Focus your will on your objective, accepting death as a possibility, and do what you have chosen to do. This is the Way of the Karateka.

Killer Ring

Killer Ring

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

The idea behind the game is to shoot anything that moves, this does not include family pets (except poodles). If it moves, shoot it, if it doesn't, shoot if anyway. If by some freak chance you should reach the spaceman, then blow out his heart for some extra bonus points! Each time you play, difficulty increases! (providing you don't turn off!)

Kolonialmacht

Kolonialmacht

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Kolonialmacht is a multiplayer-only strategy game set in the Africa of 1884. Over the course of a restricted amount of months, three colonial powers try to gain the military and economic lead. One of the most important aspects are mines and plantations which produce the four resources of the game: cacao, tobacco, diamonds and gold. Those can be either sold for money or traded against another of the four resources. After every round the market prices change so the key to success is to anticipate which resource to concentrate on. The military troops are used to proceed against the enemies, either directly against their units or by conquering their assets.

Lapis Philosophorum

Lapis Philosophorum

Atari 800 - Released - 1986

The King of Alkanien is gravelly ill and you have been tasked to find The Lapis Philosophorum to heal him and it can also turn metal into gold. King Gieselmer Gutfried with two marriages had failed to produce an heir so promised the throne to his stepson. His stepson couldn't wait for the King to die to gain the throne and power, so poisoned him. You must explore the kingdom to bring back the stone to save the King and Alkanien. Lapis Philosophorum: The Philosophers' Stone is a graphics text adventure where text describes each location and you can see a picture of the description. The keyboard is used to input text to interact with the locations and control your hero.

Lapis Philosophorum: The Philosophers' Stone

Lapis Philosophorum: The Philosophers' Stone

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

The King of Alkanien is gravelly ill and you have been tasked to find The Lapis Philosophorum to heal him and it can also turn metal into gold. King Gieselmer Gutfried with two marriages had failed to produce an heir so promised the throne to his stepson. His stepson couldn't wait for the King to die to gain the throne and power, so poisoned him. You must explore the kingdom to bring back the stone to save the King and Alkanien. Lapis Philosophorum: The Philosophers' Stone is a graphics text adventure where text describes each location and you can see a picture of the description. The keyboard is used to input text to interact with the locations and control your hero.

Lode Runner (Brøderbund)

Lode Runner (Brøderbund)

Commodore 64 - Released - 1983

The player controls a stick figure who must collect all the gold in a level while avoiding guards who try to catch the player. After collecting all the gold, the player must travel to the top of the screen to reach the next level. There are 150 levels in the game which progressively challenge players' problem-solving abilities or reaction times.

Lunari

Lunari

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

A Uridium style shooter. Man's adventure in space requires a series of tools that can allow survival in a hostile environment or in any case, unsuitable for normal human functions. The problem of the lack of the force of gravity can skew both physical and mental equilibrium. The danger of exposure to cosmic rays, extreme and fluctuating temperatures and lack of gasses necessary for breathing along with the normal hardships and difficulties that arise create the need for a protective shell within which we can recreate the environmental conditions existing on Earth. All this to allow men and women to carry out the work of the day. This led to the creation of the spacecraft: a vehicle that is sturdy, thermally insulated, and can maneuver to allow travel in space. Equipped with rocket engines controlled by the human pilots in a manner similar to aircraft. Every system must be reliable and redundant to ensure that a small inconvenience doesn't turn the crew into a bright red stain. Unfortunately, in the course of human events, one of these ships must wage war against another, and take on the defenses of a large space station in the process, so grab the controls safe in the knowledge that your incredibly advanced ship was created by the lowest military bidder and hope there are no brightly colored inconveniences in your future. Published as L.E.M. in Italy in Videoteca Computer n.4.

Magic Marbles

Magic Marbles

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Energy reserves are low on Earth and more is desperately needed to keep the planet going. In a far corner of the Universe, various landscapes full of spheres have been discovered and when collected will keep Earth's energy levels high. You have been tasked to fly over the landscapes in a special craft to collect the spheres and place them in a transformer which will send them to Earth. The landscapes are an isometric view with a part of the landscape shown on the screen with the screen scrolling in multiple directions when you move. Squares make up the landscapes and on various squares sits black spheres. As the game progresses, these squares will rise changing the color of the spheres which then contain different levels of energy. You control the craft with a joystick and you have to be wary of the inertia as the craft will keep moving without a response from the joystick so a press in the opposite direction slows the craft and brings it to a halt. To reach the higher squares you are equipped with a boost to raise the craft in the air and this is done by holding the fire button. Let go and the craft falls to the ground. To collect a sphere you must place the craft exactly over the sphere and when you are close to the sphere a target area of the sphere appears on the control panel and a dot needs to be moved on to the sphere for it to be collected. Once the sphere is collected you must take it to the transformer but if you touch the sides of any raised squares or the sides of the landscape then you lose part of a shield and when it reaches zero it is game over. Once enough energy has been placed in the transformer then you move to the next landscape. To add more to your shield, you can visit a service area but you cannot hold a sphere with more than 500 energy.

Maps Europe

Maps Europe

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

An educational computer game which teaches the locations and names of cities, towns, regions and rivers of Europe. There are 3 modes, which are Opzoeken (Look up), Overhoring (Quiz), Het Stedenspel (The City Game). The game contains a mid 1980s map of Europe, as evidenced by countries such as East Germany, West Germany, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. It contains many names and locations of cities, rivers and seas. In Look Up mode you can type the name of a city or sea and the game will point it out on the map. In Quiz mode, the game will point a randomly selected place and the player must type in the name on time. The helicopter mode is the main part of the game. The player controls a helicopter and must fly to a randomly selected city or location before the time runs out. When the helicopter is close enough to the target city or location, it will turn into a pulsating red dot. Additionally there is an information browser which shows data per country or a bar graph comparing all countries. The data includes the area in square kilometers, population, agriculture, industry and service industry data.

Mars

Mars

Atari 800 - Released - 1986

German language Text/Graphics adventure.

Mars (Ariolasoft)

Mars (Ariolasoft)

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

A German language text-and-graphics adventure. It's nice to be the first person to step on the Martian soil. Unfortunately, the astronaut, in whose role one puts oneself in Mars , cannot enjoy the moment of triumph carefree. Because during the landing the tank of the spaceship was destroyed. For the player, the Mars mission means: repairing the tank and finding fuel.

Masters of Time

Masters of Time

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

Masters of Time is an educational quiz game for multiple systems. All of Earth's history has been lost. You are the pilot of a time machine, and must travel through time faster than the speed of light. Your mission is to reach and record past events on Earth. The player moves on a 3-dimensional playing field, and must locate various time holograms, each of which contains an important historical fact. As the player explores this field, they are attacked by timeguards and timebombs which sap their energy. When the player's energy runs low, they must enter the intertimelevel to arrive back at the present date. Upon arriving to the present date, the player must correctly remember the facts they previously received. Completing this task, the player's energy is refilled, and they go out in search of more historical facts.

Missing:... One Droid

Missing:... One Droid

Atari ST - Released - 1986

Mord an Bord

Mord an Bord

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

A German language text adventure with a murder mystery theme. Murder on Board a ship on the high seas. Agatha Christie would be proud.

Mord an Bord

Mord an Bord

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

German language text adventure.

Mountie Mick's Deathride

Mountie Mick's Deathride

Commodore 64 - Released - January 1, 1987

Mountie Mick's Deathride is a platformer in which the player takes the role of Mountie Mick who has to stop bandits from raiding nine trains. The screen automatically scrolls from right to left which means he has to keep moving until the front of the train is reached. Then he swings onto a handcart to get to the next level. There are many obstacles on the way, examples being jumps between wagons, gas leaks or dark tunnels. Collected gas masks and torches help to survive the two latter. However, most of the time Mick has to deal with the bandits themselves. Those try to kill him, but this can be avoided by dodging the bullets, shooting back or jumping on their heads. Also both parties have grenades to their disposal.

Mythos 1

Mythos 1

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

From the depths of the sea emerged the island of evil, and horror descended upon Vandor. the lovely planet - famous for its wines, its festivals. The sun lost its light to the evil that now rules Vandor. Villages and towns are deserted, the once enticing forests are dangerous. Barren the valleys, forbidding the mountains, on whose slopes wine once fermented. When the night plunges the planet Vandor into black, one gathers in the stronghold and listens to the stories about the one who will set Vandor free again. So proclaimed Shandra the magician. But who dares to face the forces of darkness? Who is strong enough, clever and wise enough to interpret the few clues? Who dares enter the ice caves of Modra to find the king who left the land of Kruzia in grief and holds the key that could change everything? Shandra the magician foresaw all of this. Nobody listened to him. - But Shandra is also the only one who still believes in rescue. No treasures beckon to the capable, the one longed for, no other reward than to bring Vandor back to freedom and to know: Evil can be conquered! Are you strong enough, friend? Then face the myth!

Mythos I

Mythos I

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

From the depths of the sea emerged the island of evil, and horror descended upon Vandor. the lovely planet - famous for its wines, its festivals. The sun lost its light to the evil that now rules Vandor. Villages and towns are deserted, the once enticing forests are dangerous. Barren the valleys, forbidding the mountains, on whose slopes wine once fermented. When the night plunges the planet Vandor into black, one gathers in the stronghold and listens to the stories about the one who will set Vandor free again. So proclaimed Shandra the magician. But who dares to face the forces of darkness? Who is strong enough, clever and wise enough to interpret the few clues? Who dares enter the ice caves of Modra to find the king who left the land of Kruzia in grief and holds the key that could change everything? Shandra the magician foresaw all of this. Nobody listened to him. - But Shandra is also the only one who still believes in rescue. No treasures beckon to the capable, the one longed for, no other reward than to bring Vandor back to freedom and to know: Evil can be conquered! Are you strong enough, friend? Then face the myth!

Nemesis: Escape From Euboea

Nemesis: Escape From Euboea

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Far away in a distant galaxy, the planet Silenus has become the latest victim of the Hordes of Pterelaus - a confederacy of evil beings intent on domination all other lifeforms. After a long and bitter battle, the Pterelaens enveloped the planet in an impenetrable force-field and the surviving Silenian tribes were forced to retreat to Euboea, a city deep beneath the surface of the sacred Antileon lake. The Silenian elders have approved a daring plan. Leaving the sanctuary of Euboea, the boldest worriors will undertake a long and hazardous journey towards a final rallying point far above the planet. After negotiating the Caves of Dicte (a maze of interconnecting tunnels infested with mutants and enemy devices), they will emerge on the Tegean plains where they must make their way to the only window through the planet's force-field - above the Pterelaen stronghold in the Brauron mountains. If they can survive, their aim is to regroup in space to launch one final, desperate assault on the Pterelaens' mother-ship. For now, though, they must concentrate on making their 'Escape from Euboea". Having prayed to the Goddess Nemesis for guidance and protection in his arduous quest, the first warrior is launched through the airlock....

New York City

New York City

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

You control Ed Hick, who decided to take a day trip to New York City in his red atomic Plymouth Continental. For a first-timer in the big city, Ed will run into some problems, namely the traffic. There are two types of vehicles that Ed must face. There are harmless cars cruising the streets, and these cars can be run over without taking any damage to yourself. There are also tow trucks that can easily damage your Plymouth. If it takes enough damaged or it runs out of gas, then it is hauled to the garage while you are recovering in the hospital. You must hot-foot it all the way to the garage to pick up your car and fork out $100 for repairs. If you run out of money, the game is over. However, you are free to visit the bank to get some more. If you do this, then you need to avoid a series of bank robbers, who constantly fire at you and prevent you from reaching the teller on the opposite side. If you manage to reach the teller, then you are awarded $500 and the teller will close. Your main objective is to visit two of the buildings, as indicated in your status bar. (Only two buildings are open at once.) To view a site, you must find a parking space close by, get out of the car, and walk into the building. Each building contains a mini-game that must be completed before it can be deemed as 'seen'. Meanwhile, your car is metered, and if the parking meter expires, then it is towed away to the lot and you have to make your way to the lot to pick it up. The whole game must be completed in a day.

Nibelungen

Nibelungen

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

Nibelungen is an text adventure inspired by the 19th-century epic opera of the same name. The frame narrative explained in the introduction is that you are a modern-day person who has fallen asleep at the opera. The game itself is set within that person's dreams, which combine elements of Wagner's opera work with references to contemporary opera appreciation culture.

Nibelungen

Nibelungen

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

The ring cycle in text adventure form with graphics. German Language only.

One-on-One

One-on-One

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1985

Control either Julius Erving or Larry Bird in front of a single basket, in a game of one on one. The user can select to play either to a certain score or for a certain amount of time. When on offense, the player can rotate to keep away from his rival, take a shot from a distance or move in to the basket for special up-close slam-dunks. When on defense, you can try to take your rival's ball or jump up to block a shot. Particularly good set-ups get a slow-motion replay. You can even smash the glass on the backboard, which will send an irate janitor onto the court to clean up the mess.

Ooze

Ooze

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

In a setting familiar to most horror fans, you must negotiate a variety of creepy events while exploring Carfax Abbey, an ancient dilapidated house that's become your new home. The unusual second-person perspective parser, simplistic but fair puzzles, and good atmosphere makes this a pleasant game that falls short of Infocom's classic horror IF Lurking Horror, but is still a worthy attempt despite banal plot and amateurish writing.

Ooze: Creepy Nites

Ooze: Creepy Nites

Atari ST - Released - 1988

In a setting familiar to most horror fans, you must negotiate a variety of creepy events while exploring Carfax Abbey, an ancient dilapidated house that's become your new home. The unusual second-person perspective parser, simplistic but fair puzzles, and good atmosphere makes this a pleasant game that falls short of Infocom's classic horror IF Lurking Horror, but is still a worthy attempt despite banal plot and amateurish writing.

Out of this World

Out of this World

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

You are a test pilot of the experimental RP2-16 fighter and while flying the ship, strange flashing lights appear and before you knew it, you were flying over a strange world. Your mission now is to fly over eight levels blasting as many aliens as you can to escape this strange world. The game is a horizontal side view scrolling game that scrolls to the left or the right. You must shoot waves of aliens and when you have shot enough then an E floats around and when collected you move to the next level. Touch an alien ship and you lose one of six lives. As you shoot the aliens some will drop a disc and these go towards better weapons, collect enough of the same colour and you can fire the better weapon for a limited time. Between each level is an interval where you must blast or avoid objects flying towards you for a period of time and if you survive you move to the next level.

Panzadrome

Panzadrome

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1985

As the pilot of an underpowered tank with stone wheels and a single-shot turret, you must take out the full force of tanks which inhabit the island of Panzadrome, which is split into 64 flick-screen regions. Nothing unusual there, but the tanks and mounted turrets of Panzadrome are robotic, and controlled by a central computer. Plasma vents send their power throughout the network, and are destructible but heavily protected by tanks – these are thus your main target. Upgrades to your tank can be purchased from robot factories, each of which offers a single product. The most important of these is the Polycrete, which allows you to repair the huge impassable craters that are left in the ground by enemy fire. This adds a puzzle element to the game, as you aim to kill tanks in wide areas where possible, to prevent boxing yourself in. Keep an eye on the scanner in order to avoid landmines, and don’t allow your shields to be destroyed.

Paul Whitehead Teaches Chess

Paul Whitehead Teaches Chess

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Paul Whitehead was a better chess player than the average high school student. So good, in fact, that before he completed his teenage years he had won a number of chess titles, including the Masters Division of the American Chess Championship. Now, the young chess master has concocted a computer chess tutorial which includes a program that teaches the fine points of the age-old game of chess, as well as a chess program for you to play against. Paul Whitehead Teaches Chess is two programs contained on several disks—a three-disk set for Commodore. The main instructional program provides tutoring for what Whitehead terms "absolute beginner to middle-level" players. (By the way, his middle level is well above my high level.) The tutorials are divided into 11 groups. A poster-size road map gives the user an overview. The tutorials covering the rules include topics such as How the Pieces Move and How the Pieces Capture, progressing to Checkmate and Stalemate Is Better Than Losing. When you're ready to move on from the basics, other tutorials come under such headings as Opening Principles, Tactics, and Strategy. The last of these three—Strategy—includes 167 separate screens. Despite the large size of the tutorial, you're never stuck within the program. I really appreciated the fact that I wasn't trapped in any long runs of sequenced screens. I could duck out any time I wanted and move to any other screen I requested.

Peter Beardsley's International Football

Peter Beardsley's International Football

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1988

Licensed around former England player Peter Beardsley, this football (soccer) game is viewed side-on. The only playing option is the European Championship tournament of the day, although you can choose the 8 teams from the 26 major European footballing nations of the time (so the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia are all still complete). Two players can compete in these groups, but there's no guarantee of getting straight to a 2-player game, especially as tournaments (and individual matches) can't be quit out of. The gameplay features variable strength kicks, determined by how long you hold the fire button for. In a break with realistic physics, the ball ricochets back in the direction it came from. Goalkeepers stay on the goal-line rather than using the whole penalty box.

Pinball Construction Set

Pinball Construction Set

Commodore 64 - Released - 1983

Pinball Construction Set is considered the first construction set game that launched the concept and genre. Construct a pinball game by dropping parts onto the table (or alter the table itself). Alter world physics like gravity, bounce, kick, and speed. Paint custom backboards. Wire together targets for specials and bonus points. Finally, save creations for later, or generate a self-loading version of the table to distribute to friends (original program not needed to play). Comes with 4 pre-made Pinball sets for inspiration and instant gaming fun!

Qatbol

Qatbol

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

In Qatbol the player is in control over a one-screen level which represents a real-life wooden board. Just like a real board, the player can change its angle in all directions. The reason to do so is a little ball which is also on the board and its movement corresponds to the board movements. The player has to solve objectives which change from level to level, e.g. collecting things on the board or moving the ball into a hole. Of course there are also obstacles like teleports, holes or mazes.

Quasimodo

Quasimodo

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

A hunchback atop a wall, minding his own business, is advanced upon by a man in armour climbing up a ladder from below. Where have I seen a game start this way before? No matter -- though its theme and trappings are strangely reminiscent of certain licensed popular contemporary video game properties, the gameplay soon goes off in a direction all its own. This hunchback, for instance, can fight back -- grabbing a rock from a nearby pile he handily hurls it down at the intruder, knocking him off his ladder. But another is set up, and another... soon Quasimodo is single-handedly fending off a veritable siege, tossing rocks left, right, down and to the lower diagonals as squirming masses of bad guys return fire with arrows that bounce off the walls! Yet as soon as it began... all is quiet once more, your sole companion an endlessly-flapping bat (who kills you should he absentmindedly drift into your path). The game shifts gears here, the joystick's action button switching duties from rock-lobbing to jumping. No other humans will be seen for quite some time as you scurry up ladders and swing yourself across ropes dangling from massive ceiling-mounted bells, all in pursuit of gleaming gems to deposit in basement altars. Every time you do so another area of the game will be opened up, and you get to undertake the grand circuit once more -- again fending off the ladder-climbers, swinging across the same pits (the only time you enjoy bat-immunity, though they don't make any conscious effort to seek out your close company), dodging the same bats (the flock increased by an extra bat each time through). At the very pinnacle of your medieval structure you will have to climb a sheer wall face while dodging (and returning) arrows shot by archers in the window and (now the tables are turned!) boulders rolled down from the parapets. (Parapets? This, then, is no Notre-Dame!) And then the gem is got, and back down again, and so forth and so on; the cycle turns on, endless labor without even a rumor of beloved Esmeralda! What motivates this Sisyphean hunchback? All work and no play make Quasimodo go something something...

Raid on Bungeling Bay

Raid on Bungeling Bay

Commodore 64 - Released - December 1, 1984

Raid on Bungeling Bay has the player controlling a helicopter which is on a mission to destroy everything that moves. The only ally is the carrier, which is where the player begins at each level and may return to for repair and pick up bombs, as long as the player manages to protect it from being destroyed. The main goal in each level is to destroy a factory, which requires a steady increasing amount of bombs. Enemy forces include ships, planes, tanks, anti-air guns, and eventually, a large battleship.

Reederei

Reederei

Commodore Amiga - January 3, 1988

Reederei is a turn-based trading game where players can buy and sell goods to make profit. The game is totally menu driven and there are no action sequences. While playing, players try to run an Hamburg based maritime company. On each turn, each player has an option to send their ship to another seaport, buy goods from there and return to Hamburg where they can sell it for a good price. Players are also expected to buy ships to enhance their ship convoy thus increasing their buying quota from other seaports. The goal of the game is to increase company value to a certain score. This score depends on the game difficulty. First player reaches this score (either human or computer) wins the game.

Richard Petty's Talladega

Richard Petty's Talladega

Commodore 64 - Released - January 1, 1985

"Richard Petty's Talladega is a racing game where you get to take the super speedway as you race against king Richard Petty and 18 top pro drivers. After trying to qualify for a pole position, you use strategy to plan your pit stops, draft leading cars to pick up time and save fuel and be prepared for yellow caution flags." --mobygames.com

Ritter

Ritter

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Ritter is a strategy game, developed and published by Ariolasoft, which was released in Europe in 1989.

Robot Commander

Robot Commander

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

Robot Commander is a real-time strategy game without a background scenario which goes beyond "science-fiction with robots". It is designed to be played with two players, but fighting against the AI is also an option. Each player commands an army of robots with the goal to defeat the other player, mainly the opponent's headquarter. The game screen is quartered: a half goes to each player and this half is also split in half by itself. The upper part shows the map around the active robot (everything beyond its line of sight is blacked out) while the under part is dedicated to the menus in which the player chooses the robots and gives them commands. Examples of possible actions are patrolling, attacking, transporting droids (smaller robots) on a big robot or the "follow" command which can be used for moving larger squads. Another option is to repair destroyed, hostile robots and use them for the own army. Since the player can only control one robot at a time, they automatically follow the orders in absence until there is a reason to stop. A special feature is that players not only compile their army out of 20 pre-defined robots before the match starts, but they also have the option to use an editor to create new ones or alter the statistics of existing robots. Options for the map are pre-defined, randomly generated or built with an editor. Likewise the starting positions can be picked or randomly chosen.

Saucer Attack!

Saucer Attack!

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

Aliens in their flying saucers have invaded Earth and have set their sights on destroying the capital of the USA, Washington D.C and all it's landmarks. You have been given the task of destroying the invaders by blasting them with your Energy gun in a bunker outside the city. The game is viewed from a 1st person perspective with the game shown on one screen and you control a gun sight to blast the saucers before facing the Mothership in space. To face and destroy the Mothership you must get 150 points before the aliens get 50 points. Blasting the saucers get you various points while for every three seconds on screen and destroying a landmark, an alien gets points. If the aliens get 50 points or manage to land then it is game over. You start the game in the daytime and the game moves into the evening and then night time for every 50 points. Once you have got 150 points then you can face the Mothership in space and this entails trying to shoot it's Command Module on the top but you can decrease it's shield hitting elsewhere on the ship. The joystick is used to control your gun sight.

Scarabaeus

Scarabaeus

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1985

The Pharoah's Lost Tomb contains the valuable emerald of Scarabaeus, and you have set off to find it. You walk around from an early first-person view with 90 degree movement and four views from each position, aided by a map. On the first level you must touch nine ghosts, to collect pieces of a key to know which of the objects you will later find are medicines, and which are potions. While on level 2, you must visit information sites - you will need this to survive on level 3. These are guarded by spiders, which must be trapped and lured away using doors. To move between levels you must guide a mechanical lift, by moving the joystick in smooth circles from inside it. This final level contains familiar safe bottles as well as poisonous ones - all stored on hidden shelves. It also contains zombies to avoid or trap. Before you can reach the emerald, you must solve a final puzzle involving hieroglyphs. Arrange a 4x4 grid so as to get the rows and columns to match, within 40 moves.

Schatzjäger

Schatzjäger

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Our grandfather was an adventurer who found a big treasure in a pyramid. Unfortunately he was the only survivor of the expedition and no one took his discovery seriously. Now we step in his shoes, visit the South American jungle and try to get the treasure. Schatzjäger is a typical text adventure, although in German language: the player navigates the environment, enters commands into the parser and solves puzzles. Each scene is accompanied with graphics and it is possible to die.

Sereamis

Sereamis

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

In this German text adventure you, Sereamis, have to free your girlfriend Leilah. SEREAMIS, the caliph's young son, has fallen in love. His beloved, the beautiful Princess Leilah, is being held prisoner in the Radakan's palace. So SEREAMIS decides to kidnap his Leilah. You slip into the role of the prince from 1001 Nights. So you have to be clever, because you have to penetrate the palace undetected. The key to the harem must be found, the ever-vigilant eunchs must be avoided, and much, much more. Brigitte and Günter Möhle put 1 year of intensive work into their new graphic text adventure. The result you are holding in your hands is unparalleled in adventure games of any country. Over 160 graphics illustrate the adventures of Prince SEREAMIS. No matter where your decision takes you in this adventure. You will see, something will always happen. Just let yourself be enchanted" and enjoy this unique graphic adventure.

Shamus: Case II

Shamus: Case II

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

You play Shamus, a sort of detective and dungeon-crawling adventurer in one. In a previous game, you managed to get your bad guy, but now he has escaped, and you must go into his underground lair to bring him back. Getting through the game means surviving the traps and monsters spread throughout the dungeon. You must also get past the wrong turns. To get by the monsters, you must either avoid them, or use a weapon (limited shots). Throughout the dungeon are treasure chests, cache's of useful things, such as keys and hints.

Ski-Weltcup

Ski-Weltcup

Commodore 64 - Released - 1984

The C64 classic Ski Weltcup, one of the first skiing games with a level editor.

Slot-Machine

Slot-Machine

Atari 800 - Released - 1985

Slot Machine game from Germany.

Spell of Destruction

Spell of Destruction

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Spell of Destruction (Wizardry in Europe) is about a magician guild which requires a special final test for its students. The protagonist Drinn has to retrieve the "First Element" from a dangerous castle. The game is an isometric action game with puzzle elements.The player commands Drinn through the castle rooms (which scroll as long as no door is entered) and solve puzzles by using the correct items or spells. Spells are limited, though, and have to be found in the castle rooms. To dispatch of the numerous foes he uses either fireball spells or his sword for direct combat. If an enemy launches an successful attack on Drinn or touches him, the life energy drains an if it reaches zero, the protagonist dies. Spells and commands have to be chosen with the keyboard and then triggered with the joystick. Besides special spells for puzzles and fireball there are two other standard spells available: find it (shows the location of hidden chests) and tell tale (gives a hint how to proceed). If a critical spell is wasted or Drinn dies the game has to be restarted from the beginning.

Scroll to Top