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| Sidescrolling Games - Page 2 |
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Cool Spot
Virgin Interactive,
1994 |
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Rating:  Demo! [ Screenshot ]
Cool Spot, the former mascot for the 7UP soft drink, starred in his own video game which appeared on several computer and video game console platforms in the mid 90's. Actually, three different games if you can believe it. This particular demo version of this sidescrolling game reveals that the game has its own peculiar style but doesn't offer much that is new and innovative; decent graphics and sounds but nothing particularly remarkable, it plays similarly to other mascot games of the era like Bubsy the Bobcat or Aero the Acrobat. Does it make you want to drink 7UP? I did buy a 2L bottle of 7UP a few days after playing this demo, so ...
Rating:  Shareware [ Screenshot ]
One of Apogee's great EGA sidescrollers, this one seems quite similar to Commander Keen. Cosmo has some added abilities, however, like using his suction-cupped hands to grab onto walls to climb. One of the lesser-known Apogee classics.
Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
A somewhat average EGA sidescroller created by Apogee right around the same time as the first Keen game was released ... this probably explains why it has been generally overlooked. In any case, it's nowhere near being a bad game, so if you're looking for a good EGA platformer, try it out. Note that it can be annoying at times, since the gameplay predates Keen.
Rating:  Freeware [ Screenshot ]
Before creating Keen, Wolfenstein, and Doom, John Romero was programming small games for SoftDisk, which back then was some kind of games club. (I remember vaguely seeing the ads in gaming magazines back in the late 80's/early 90's). This game is cool basically only because of the author. ;) Otherwise, it's an extremely average (and, at times, quite annoying) VGA jumping game.
Rating: Full version! [ Screenshot ]
This game was pretty high tech back in '91. Today, Dark Ages seems a little dated, and gameplay-wise it doesn't have many innovative features. But for those of you who remember playing it back in the day, this will surely be a trip down memory lane. Supposedly (according to Apogee) the "first shareware game to include sound card and music support", this game is basically a straightforward jumping and shooting platform game with few surprises but generally tight controls and average, early-nineties style EGA graphics. Apogee Software (now 3D Realms) recently released the full version of this series as freeware!
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DarkWolf
John Paul D'India,
1994 |
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Rating:  Shareware [ Screenshot ]
This simple platform game contains some interesting concepts, such as the ability to have and use different magic powers and special items at the same time. However, the controls of your wizard (especially jumping) make this game very hard to play, due to the fact that it's hard to get him to do what you want. Nevertheless, the game features nice looking VGA graphics and SB sounds.
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Diamond Dash
David Fleming,
1993 |
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Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
Diamond Dash borrows heavily from the classic Lode Runner game. It involves ladders, getting chased by baddies, collecting diamonds and using your "proton accelerator" to blast holes in the floor to trap them. The graphics are extremely minimal (think Jumpman style) but if you're a fan of Lode Runner you will probably get some enjoyment out of this game.
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DoubleSpyGuy
Jay Carson,
1990 |
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Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
DoubleSpyGuy, due to its nature as a text-mode sidescrolling jumping game, features limited graphics, sounds, and gameplay. The object is to collect all of the boxes (ASCII char #254 if you're interested) on each level while avoiding (jumping over) the enemies. It does play relatively well for an ASCII jumping game, and also includes a level editor to create your own levels.
Rating:  Shareware [ Screenshot ]
One of my all-time favorite sidescrollers. It just has excellent level design, items, enemies, and interactivity. The graphics look good (for EGA, that is) and even though the sounds are played through the PC speaker, they aren't that annoying! Amazing. Definitely worth the download! (Note: This is NOT the 3D Duke Nukem game! To download the 3D Duke game, please visit the 3D Shooting Games page.)
Rating:  Shareware [ Screenshot ]
Between the original, classic Duke and the kickass Duke Nukem 3D came the unheralded sequel, Duke II. (Which really would've been Duke 4, if you counted the "registered-only" episodes 2 and 3.) The main advantages of the sequel over the original are in the areas of its graphics (still EGA, but they look better) and sound (SB instead of the PC speaker). It looks and sounds great. However, despite the cool new effects, it doesn't seem quite as fun as the original.
Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
Epic Megagames (in their early days) bought some of their games from other companies. This is one such game ... they don't support it anymore. Nevertheless, it's not a bad game. It features a RoboCop-like character which you must try to navigate through the levels. Not a lot of fast action (and the jumping controls are a bit odd) but other than that, not bad at all. (Note: I had problems running from Win95, but the game ran fine in DOS mode.)
Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
A neat little EGA platform game. It looks and plays sort of like an early Apogee game. It's enjoyable, as long as you turn the extremely annoying PC speaker sound effects off. (On the main menu.)
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Fire & Ice
Graftgold,
1995 |
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Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
A VGA run'n'jumper with nice graphics (for VGA) and a neat premise: You throw ice balls at enemies to freeze them, and then run into them to make 'em shatter. (Note: You must run this game in straight DOS ... if you attempt to run it from Windows, you'll get an error message, and the program will stop.)
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Framed
John Boyce & Richard Case,
1995 |
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Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
A bit of a weird sidescrolling game. It's graphics, action, and control are all mostly average, but it does feature an adventure-like inventory system. You pickup and use items you find along the way, while trying to avoid the prison's guards. Mildly entertaining.
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The Game with No Name
Darren Heaton,
1995 |
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Rating: Shareware? [ Screenshot ]
This is a quite interesting and unique text-mode game. (That is, a game created using only the ASCII character set.) This is a sort-of sidescrolling game where you use mostly the left and right arrow keys only to play. Deemed by its own author as "Probably one of the hardest games ever invented" it won't be easy. Needless to say the graphics aren't great but it may be of interest to fans of old, obscure games! (Note: I have heard that there may be a bug which prevents completion of the 5th level. I haven't made it that far so I can't confirm that!)
Rating: Shareware [ Screenshot ]
My first thought when playing this game was "Alright! It looks like Duke Nukem!". GateWorld has undoubtedly been largely influenced by the original sidescrolling Duke Nukem games, which is not a bad thing. GateWorld's graphics, sounds and overall gameplay have the feel of an early Apogee game. Unfortunately this game is not as polished as Apogee's offerings, as there are some gameplay quirks (limited ammo, camera that doesn't show far enough ahead) that limit the fun a bit. Still an enjoyable game in the platform genre.
Rating: Freeware [ Screenshot ]
Giana Sisters was apparently a popular game on the Commodore64 computer, and it was recently ported to PCs so the game can be enjoyed on recent computers as well. The gameplay is very similar to the original Super Mario Bros by Nintendo, where you run through short side-scrolling levels hitting blocks and stomping enemies. Fairly good graphics, but no sounds on this one, although its small size and good compatibility makes it a good choice for older computers.
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