|
In the last issue we talked about some good old-fashioned games. In
this one, we'll take a look at some of the games that can be played on
your computer.
It has been our
good fortune to be able to try a vast range of computer games over the
past few years, ranging from tiny, simple games that need no installing
to incredibly complex adventure games spread over several CDs and taking
a great deal of time and effort to complete. Beyond
Atlantis, one of the latter kind, on four CDs, takes one to ancient
civilizations and, as one works out how to enter a particular chamber or
reconstruct a bridge across a river, can be quite frustrating to anyone
with limited patience. The Mate is still stuck on a giant spider's web
slung between trees... everything was fine when there was only one
spider but... Anyone who has invested in such a game most
certainly gets their money's worth, in our opinion. You can come back to
a saved game when it is convenient, so there is no need to stay glued to
the screen on a nice sunny day. The Adventure Company, whose game it is,
has a European site too... At
the other end of the spectrum, in terms of size and money, are hundreds,
if not thousands, of freeware games (you'll find a few examples on Honor
Mission's Fun With Freeware 1) that are, no less enjoyable. Many
games are variations on a theme. Some are more visually pleasing or
improved versions of games designed by less artistic programmers.
Amongst the games reviewed by Honor Mission there are also programs for
those who fancy having a go at designing a computer game, incidentally,
which could be a lot of fun. Some
people enjoy shoot-'em-up games that range from cartoon animations to
terrifyingly realistic commando operations. We have to confess that
killing and maiming hold no thrall for us, so we cannot really comment
on the range of programs that cover this genre but we will be glad to
hear from anyone who has something to say on the subject - we are not so
small-minded as to think that our tastes are the 'right' ones! For
those who are online cheaply enough to stay connected for any length of
time, there are many games to play against others all over the world.
There are also combinations of solo games played online and chat room,
for those who want to do both things at once. Quite
a few software authors offer a compendium of games in one package - this
is quite popular with shareware authors who invite you to try their
wares for a limited period and then pay if you want to continue playing.
Some offer trial versions that include only part of what is available in
the full version and others prefer to offer demo versions of their
games. In some cases, the limited trial is sufficient to ensure that one
purchases the game because it has already become addictive by the time
the term expires. Unfortunately, some authors bombard the potential
buyer with so much high-pressure advertising that a perfectly good game
becomes an object of loathing, long before the time has expired. Here's
a game that'll cost you twenty dollars but you'll get more than your
moneys' worth unless we're very much mistaken:
|
Conquest
Sean O'Connor's Windows Games
$20.00
More Info
Buy Now!
|
A version of Risk for Windows. Fight against up to seven computer opponents each of which can have their own personality.
View a screenshot.
|
In
the next issue, we will include reviews of a few websites you may like
to visit if you are interested in playing online or downloading games to
play at home. If you already have a favourite game or website, why not
tell us about it? We'd be glad to share any good information with
readers who are looking for fun sites to visit! |
