Favorite DOS games

[Renevent]

As the topic suggests, if you were alive during that glorious age of gaming, what were some of your favorites?

Also, while of course put whatever you want, try to pick stuff other than the same games that are usually picked for these kinds of threads (BGII, Planescape, Doom, ect)...give some love to some of the other games from that time.

My picks:

Stronghold - Great D&D strategy game

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9422/stronghold.png

Dark Sun - Fun RPG from SSI. Cool unique setting and lots of classes to choose from.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8809/darksun.png

Quarantine - Taxi driving carnage...nuff said.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7787/quaran1.gif

Magic Carpet - Awesome graphics at the time and the geomorphing gameplay was awesome.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9634/magiccarpet.png

[Renevent]

Rise of the Triad - Like Wolfenstein except with insane gore. One of my favorite LAN games ever.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5603/riseofthetriad.png

Dune - Original CD-Rom game...think it was my first game on that media. Not the best game eevr, but there was something about flying around those CGI dunes with a Ornithopter.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1986/dune.jpg

Dark Legions - Basically fantasy battle chess...but had a cool twist where in combat you actually control the troop and would fight real time. Each unit had unique skills.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1995/darklegions.gif

Big Red Racing - Have a real soft spot for this game...great graphics for it's day and wonderful open wheel racing.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6006/bigred2.gif

[alexei]

i'm could get much for dos game. played most dos game from 1993-1999. I pick this.

golden axe
http://loderunner.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/golden-axe-2.jpg

prince of persia
http://ezoterictheatre.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/prince-of-persia_1.jpg?w=300&h=187

doom demo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/Doom_ingame_1.png

cosmo cosmic adventure
http://www2.worldvillage.com/wv/gamezone/download/cosmo.gif

there are some other i can't remember the title. great memories.

[yerkyerk]

Nice titles!

I played mostly demo's back than.. a great many, I'd have to get my gray matter working to memorize which games I loved best.

I'd have to look through the depths of Abandonia to find some of the games I played though.

I find it strange that I never heard of Quarantine (until I checked out old games much later in my life) - while there was a huge fuss about Carmageddon. I thought Quarantine was older and it seems to have the same general idea.. oh well.


Anyway, here's some;
Dune II - I loved this game. It was a very basic RTS and probably what started the modern genre (even though it didn't really hit the mainstream like C&C later did)
http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/36/Dune%202_1.gif
Never could really see what was supposed to be what in those buildings..
http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/36/Dune%202_2.gif
I loved going to that creepy guy.
http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/36/Dune%202_3.gif
Cinematics were awesome!

I guess I should also list Command and Conquer than - the father of modern day RTS;
http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/378/Command%20&%20Conquer_6.png

[yerkyerk]

http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/145/Lord%20of%20the%20Rings%20-%20The%20Fellowship%20of%20the%20Ring_4.png
LotR - volume I. Heh, don't ask. I loved the game, was my first RPG ever I think.

Another World; Talking about amazing graphics for its time..
http://www.pixelate.de/uploads/images/another_world.jpg

And since nobody mentioned this one yet; Wolfenstein 3d. I actually find this one more enjoyable than the new one. Same goes for Doom, btw...
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060901/wolfenstein-02.png

And who hasn't played this one? Commander Keen - I dunno which version;
http://www.abandonware-paradise.fr/Gifs/Abandonware/Commander_keen4.gif

[Rhis]

Lots of good titles posted so far. Big Red Racing was definitely a shot out of nowhere. I had totally forgotten about that awesome game. Brings back memories.

[shawnmck]

I remember Quarantine (Awesome game), but I played it for the ill fated 3DO console.
Same with Wolfenstein & Doom.
I didn't own a PC back then (although I wanted one).

Wasn't Duke Nukem 3D DOS also..?
Was there a Road Rash for the PC DOS ?

[Renevent]

Commander Keen is classic...maybe not the "coolest" game on the block but awesome non-the-less :p

Speaking about first RPG's, I think this was my first one on the PC

Pool of Radiance - Great party based RPG based on the AD&D rule set. Part of the goldbox series from SSI which are great, but I thought this one was the best.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5709/poolofradiancepanels.png

4D Boxing - The best PC boxing game ever...well...maybe the only one haha.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8930/4dsportsboxing.png

[yerkyerk]

Wasn't Duke Nukem 3D DOS also..?
I think so. I tried to run everything through DOS - wasn't until Win98 that I was forced to actually use Windows.. probably a good thing. Meh.

Oh, for Commander Keen freaks; http://www.pckf.com/viewtopic.php?t=689&start=0

[Renevent]

Lots of good titles posted so far. Big Red Racing was definitely a shot out of nowhere. I had totally forgotten about that awesome game. Brings back memories.

Did you ever play 1nsane Racing? Not sure if it was intended, but I kinda consider it to be the spiritual successor to Big Red Racing. It's pretty cheap too and has nice graphics and widescreen/high resolution support.

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/1nsane

[Malpheas]

Big Red Racing, Stronghold and Out of This World were games I played to death.

I'd also add:

Raptor, Star Control II, Master of Orion I, Death Track, Thexder (Tandy OS), Silpheed, Duke Nukem series, Moon Unit (Or buggy depending on if you had a MAC or not), Dungeon Master!! Winter Games, California games, Skate or Die, various text games, Rogue-likes, etc.

Oh lots more.

My favourites in this list so far would have to be Out of This World and Star Control II. Both amazing games. That and OOTW was... well beautiful, the initial cutscene was great. Although I fudge it for a DOS game I definitely played it on my Amiga first. Better than the DOS port.

Cheers,

Malph

[Roros]

I think what I spent the most time on on my first computer was Descent. Once I got my 28,8 modem I'd play it competitively over Kali, and felt that 300ms ping was absolutely ideal.

I also had Alone in the Dark, but was too scared to play it. I got really immersed and there was just this sense of dread to the mansion.

Other than that I also played a lot of Dune2, Pirates (can't remember exact name), and Quake1/Duke3d on lans. I vividly remember trying to set up the sound devices for Duke and Descent where you had to select from a list of soundcards and irq's, and if you chose the wrong thing you had to hard reboot the whole rig. Extra fun ensues if your card isn't in the list, and you work your way down trying to find a different entry that somehow still magically works.

[Renevent]

Just remembered another one...and this is actually a game I still play every once in a while.

Transport Tycoon - Nothing like building up a transport company and crushing the competition...all to the smooth sound of Jazz :D

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9162/transporttycoon.png

[Malpheas]

I totally forgot about Descent. Man, that game owned. Silliest controls ever. Sigh, LAN version of that game were so fun. Get the big puffy missle and booya, dead player.

[yerkyerk]

Ah yes, Transport Tycoon. Now that brings back memories :)

As long as we're digging up oldies, here's a golden; UFO Enemy Unknown
http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue19/greviews/ufo2.gif

And the true sequel, as the second installment (Terror from the Deep) was complete rubbish; X-Com Apocalypse
http://www.blogcdn.com/news.bigdownload.com/media/2009/12/x-com-3-apocalypse_6.jpg

This one was fun too; Cannon Fodder
http://www.consolemad.co.uk//gallery/albums/CD32/Cannon-Fodder/cannonfodder4.jpg

[jiaco]

yerkyerk did you know that Another World is not exactly dead yet?

http://www.anotherworld.fr/anotherworld_uk/

(sorry, cannot contribute beyond that as never had anything to do with dos, was a mac guy at that time. but another world was on some system I had, cannot remember which though. a great game)

[Malpheas]

indeed forgot about Xcom as well.

Man... what faded memories dredge.

[yerkyerk]

I'm hoping they're gonna remake the first X-Com. With random loot! I never liked the fanmade versions much..

Hm, that Another World site was 2,5 years since the last update.
There was a sequel to it, but it was only launched on a console.

[gdansk]

I never used DOS*, my first computer had Windows 98SE... but I did use Dosbox a while back to play Triplane Turmoil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triplane_Turmoil_series). Good old aerial fun.

[Malpheas]

Sequels for Out of this world were (In spirit); not sure if these ever were true sequels... see Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashback_(video_game)#Comparisons_to_Another_Worl d).

(snes and PC) Flash back and (Playstation) Fade to Black.

Flashback was ok, but did not quite have the import of Out of This World (Another World)

[Skorpion_King]

Duke Nukem 3D:
http://www.xbox666.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/duke_nukem_3d.jpg

Blackthorne:
http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Features/2009/04/50%20games%20with%20untapped%20franchise%20potenti al/Screens/Blackthorne--article_image.jpg

And also "Spear of destiny" and "wolfestein 3D", of course.

[Malpheas]

blackthorn ruled. It was not unlike flashback.

Eh, I'm a little dubious about that picture for Duke Nukem.

[heron]

I grew up playing mostly nintendo games.
But the first pc game for me was "alone in the dark".
First mac game was "descent".

[Malpheas]

hey Heron, did you ever play Marathon for mac? I always heard it was decent.

[Renevent]

Feeling a little nostalgic this morning so resurrecting this one!

Some of the sillier/lighter games from my youth:

Jazz the Jackrabbit

http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue21/greviews/jazz1.gif

Hocus Pocus

http://www.cs.vu.nl/~csprong/hocuspoc.jpg

Only fighting game I liked on the PC

One Must Fall 2097

http://omf.niraj.ws/shadow2.jpg

[Renevent]

Now for some rather...um...poor games that have stuck in memory for whatever reason :D

Isle of the Dead

http://www.abandonware-paradise.fr/Gifs/Abandonware/Isle_of_the_dead_01.png

Corncob 3D

http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/images/screenshots/corncob3d.gif

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dL-13NZAXuE/0.jpg

[yerkyerk]

Only fighting game I liked on the PC

One Must Fall 2092

http://omf.niraj.ws/shadow2.jpg

One Must Fall 2097 wasn't it? That really was an amazing game. For its time, the graphics and effects looked extremely good. The collecting, upgrading and painting of bots made it even sweeter. It's available as freeware nowadays.

[Renevent]

Er yeah 2097 :p

[doddsy]

I'm hoping they're gonna remake the first X-Com. With random loot! I never liked the fanmade versions much..


they are remaking xcom, and it is going to be an fps.

[yerkyerk]

they are remaking xcom, and it is going to be an fps.
ffs.......

[Malpheas]

LOL.

Old dos games, hmm?

Not a DOS game, but the AMIGA version of Arkanoid ruled. As well, the AMIGA version of Boulderdash was great.

[Renevent]

Yeah the XCOM remake...looks...interesting I guess. I have the same reservations as most regarding it being a FPS, but the videos do spark my interest:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-xcom/101214

[yerkyerk]

It doesn't look bad. But it's definetely not what attracted me in the series. And I still remember that first X-Com FPS game, X-Com: Enforcer, which was a horrible, horrible game. X-Com Alliance got cancelled for some reason.

[shawnmck]

I had no interest for XCOM at first either, but recent game-play footage has gotten my interst.

I actually like first person perspectives, but it has to fit with the game.
Shooters are great, but RPGs annoy me in FP.

[Void(null)]

Syndicate I can see and appreciate being an FPS.

XCOM on the other hand feels like gamer blasphemy.

[Algonkin]

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis


http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue18/greviews/ijones/indy2.gif

[yerkyerk]

Syndicate I can see and appreciate being an FPS.
Do you know more than me?

I should revise my list of favourite DOS games, that game was awesome as well.
http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue18/greviews/syndicat/syndcat1.gif

Although tbh perhaps I'm hoping for some more original material coming up.

[sevrun]

They tried that once before, called it Interceptor... does anyone else remember that miserable excuse for an EPIC FAIL?

[Void(null)]

Do you know more than me?

I should revise my list of favourite DOS games, that game was awesome as well.

Although tbh perhaps I'm hoping for some more original material coming up.

Syndicate is without a doubt one of my favorite DOS games.

As for knowing more, I dunno... it depends on what you know and what I know.

I know that EA few several years has hinted that they are bringing back an old Bullfrog Franchise, and last year they Confirmed that it was Syndicate, and then about 4 months back that the game would be an FPS.


In a 2006 interview at the Leipzig Games Convention for Gamespot, Peter Molyneux said that he would like to revisit some of his old efforts, but adds that it is very unlikely that will happen. But Molyneux makes one possible exception: "Aside from the licensing complications, some sort of next-gen online version of Syndicate would certainly be popular with gamers."

There are rumours, as of October 18, 2008, that Starbreeze will be resurrecting one of EA's "classic franchises" - Syndicate. This rumor is further confirmed, as of March 31, 2009, by GamesIndustry.biz.

Then in 2010 Joystiq found the licensing for a new Syndicate game. (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/starbreeze-and-ea-partnership-revealed-by-syndicate-copyright-do/)

And Starbreeze is currently in full production of its mysteriously named "Project RedLime" (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28095/Starbreeze_Syndicate_Deal_EA_License_Uncovered.php )

[yerkyerk]

They tried that once before, called it Interceptor... does anyone else remember that miserable excuse for an EPIC FAIL?

I bought that X-Com package on Steam a while ago and the two X-Com games (X-com enforcer is a joke, doesn't count) I didn't play yet were in there as well. Well, I didn't miss anything. X-COM: Terror from the Deep was a very poor game and Interceptor, well, I couldn't really get in that. Can't really see it's bad, but.. the X-Com series really needs a turn-based combat system. Along with everything else that made it great. In X-Com Apocalypse, they got it right (although I wouldn't mind having even more possibilities, like (auto-assigned) perks, random loot, (limitless) endgame, etc...).

But it seems like turn-based tactical games are a thing of the past.

[myrmidon]

i tried to play a old elder scroll before but it dint work. and im pritty young so i only ever played duke nukem 3D but i dint even play it that much.my first pc game was starcraft :p

[Shen]

Oh man, I had the original Dune game. I remember getting to the very end (I think) where we were gearing up to assault the Harkonnen fortress. You had to gather all the main NPC's in one cave before you could progress, and this one girl WOULDN'T COME AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY :mad: Mind you, I was only ~10 at the time, it may have been user error instead of a bug.


some other good 'uns

http://www.myabandonware.com/media/captures/D/dangerous-dave-in-the-haunted-mansion/dangerous-dave-in-the-haunted-mansion_1.png
I knew this game as Rooms of Doom, but apparently it's called Dangerous Dave and the Haunted Mansion. I never beat it, everything kills you in one hit and things tend to fly at you from off the screen. Your shotgun feels so powerful - it even has recoil! Advanced!

http://www.dosmuseum.com/filestore/3/6/9_40776351d56e728/369pre_6ed10d7514b6daf.jpg
The Catacomb Abyss! I only ever had the shareware version which had maybe 5 levels. This was my Doom.

[MageMaster]

Dont Forget the Might and Magic series.

I started out playing M&M 3, 4, 5 (Clouds of Xeen, Darkside of Xeen = World of Xeen) and the bonus Swords of Xeen I have purchased those games multiple times, starting out with the floppy versions

[yerkyerk]

Oh man, I had the original Dune game. I remember getting to the very end (I think) where we were gearing up to assault the Harkonnen fortress. You had to gather all the main NPC's in one cave before you could progress, and this one girl WOULDN'T COME AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY :mad: Mind you, I was only ~10 at the time, it may have been user error instead of a bug.

Heh, I've gotten stuck at so many games from when I was younger than 10-12 or so. I could easily figure them out when I was older and didn't even understand why I got stuck :)
I think Dune hasn't aged that badly (not as badly as Dune II at any rate), so you might want to try again. You'll probably need Dosbox though.

That catacomb shareware demo was quite extensive. I don't think I ever even finished it. Well, most demo's used to be quite long, giving access to a major part of the game...

[Malpheas]

I remember doing a lot of work on Doom ][ and Doom I as far as mods went. Making levels and changing animations was so much fun.

[Draug]

Zeliard. A great 2d side scroller ARPG. Very light on the RP. The sound, music and graphics were amazing for a 1987 release.

First played it on my old Tandy 1000 around 1990, with a green monochrome display. Didn't beat it until 1997, when I finally found the last secret passage, which I had been right next to about one thousand times, and I only found it because I saw an enemy go through it. Last played it about a year ago using DOSBox. Good times.

[doddsy]

I think remaking x-com: ufo enemy unknown with todays gfx but staying true to the old game would lose a lot of the feel. For example, my fave game alltime for dos was probally The secret of monkey island
http://www.my-os.net/blog/images/2009_juillet/monkeyisland_1.jpg

Which they went back and remade in HD, drawing everything from scratch and remaking the soundtrack and adding voices to the characters which ruined it for me. While it still looks nice it lost the feel that the old game had for me. But I did like that they let you switch between the new and old versions in the new release.

Anyway based on my experience with a monkey island reskin, I have to say doing the same for x-com would never be the same(for me).

I'm sure i applied for a beta to a game that looked like it would be a lot like the old x-com, the name has slipped my mind at the moment unfortunately!

Just remembered, it's called xenonauts (http://www.xenonauts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=27)

[mamba]

Hehe, after giving this some thought, here is my list

Alone in the Dark
Civilization
Dungeon Master
Master of Magic
Master of Orion
Might & Magic (3 to 5)
Monkey Island
Ultima Underworld

Had to exclude some old games as they were for Windows already, most notable Planescape Torment, shame I could not put that on the list ;)

[doddsy]

how can i forget Z
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E_j1MlzjiZo/0.jpg

this was a whole lot of fun.

[Renevent]

Z was fun :p

Strife - Here's a game that doesn't get enough credit!

http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/s/strife-_quest_for_the_sigil_for_windows-281249-1251792685.jpeg

Descent - One of the few games that actually was able to give me vertigo

http://www.file-extensions.org/imgs/app-picture/2813/descent-2.jpg

Terminal Velocity - Not sure if this game was well received...but I liked it

http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/images/screenshots/terminalvelocity2.gif

[yerkyerk]

Do any of you guys ever dig up those old games to play them again? I do with some titles. Although having to deal with an emulator is kinda of a turn off for me.

[Renevent]

I still play Transport Tycoon and Tyrian...though both of those games had an open source version released which works native in windows 7 and has some improvements.

[doddsy]

Do any of you guys ever dig up those old games to play them again? I do with some titles. Although having to deal with an emulator is kinda of a turn off for me.

I played monkey island through again about 6 months ago, and like yourself I bought x-com on steam which I ploughed about 40 hours into.

[mamba]

Do any of you guys ever dig up those old games to play them again? I do with some titles. Although having to deal with an emulator is kinda of a turn off for me.

Dungeon Master I actually did play again a year or so ago. Was surprised about how short it felt this time around :D

Also, I bought the updated version of Monkey Island, have not finished that again yet though.

[Ian]

Reading this thread digs up some great old memories - starting on the ZX Spectrum and moving to an Amiga I'd say Bardstale was the game I loved the best and Still after for the PC ;)

Here's some of my oldies I may load up from time to time.



http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/2236t.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/1763t.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/1550t.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/2472t.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/1712t.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~iane/List/images/1762t.jpg

and many more :D

[Sile]

aahhh.. Heroes of Might and magic. One of my fav all time games and series.
Go go double strike Paladins! and big purple Dragons of OP'ness.

[Tarnsman]

One of my favorites from when I was a kid was Questron. Man I loved that game! Riding around on an giant eagle slaughter anything that crossed my path, including entire cities and castles!

[Opal Monkey]

Wow, just ran across this thread now! Haven't read through all of it, just skimmed.

This takes me back to my first days of gaming, when I was about 6-7, just playing demos and the odd game my older brother got!

My favorite was already mentioned: One Must Fall: 2097. I played the crap out of that demo!

Others I remember:


Wing Commander: Privateer. Loved the Orion (it was a ship). Spore was worth every penny just to make a model of that ship (http://www.spore.com/sporepedia#qry=sast-500646691397) and fly it around a good looking galaxy!
Guy Spy and the Crystals of Armageddon. Couldn't play this after awhile, since the code sheet got damaged. What kind of game makes you enter codes off an almost invisible sheet, just to advance? This one!
Jazz the Jackrabbit - Demo. (Also mentioned before) This one brings back good memories. Not that I was good at it!
OutNumbered, Gizmos & Gadgets, Operation Neptune. We got these so I could "learn". Fun and good memories wrapped in the guise of education... at least with the first two. Still have the music from OutNumbered stuck in my head! I actually downloaded OutNumbered awhile ago, just to hear the music and sound effects again :D

Something about some of those old DOS games just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside! I don't know why, maybe just the nostalgia?