Publisher: Adventure International

Lunar Lander (1979)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 7 minutes read

Summary

Lunar Lander (1979): A Retro Gaming Classic

Lunar Lander is an arcade game released by Atari, Inc. in 1979. It is a vector graphics game, meaning that the graphics are made up of lines and shapes rather than pixels. The object of the game is to pilot a lunar landing module to a safe touchdown on the moon.

Lunar Lander is a simple game to learn, but it is difficult to master. The player controls the lunar lander with a joystick and two buttons. The joystick controls the lander’s thrusters, and the buttons control the lander’s landing gear and engine.

The player must carefully control the lander’s descent to the moon. If the lander descends too quickly, it will crash. If the lander descends too slowly, it will run out of fuel and drift away into space.

The player must also avoid obstacles on the moon’s surface, such as craters and rocks. If the lander collides with an obstacle, it will crash.

Lunar Lander is a challenging and addictive game. It is a classic example of early arcade gaming, and it remains popular with retro gaming enthusiasts today.

Gameplay

The player controls the lunar lander with a joystick and two buttons. The joystick controls the lander’s thrusters, and the buttons control the lander’s landing gear and engine.

The player must carefully control the lander’s descent to the moon. The lander’s thrusters can be used to slow down the lander’s descent, or to change the lander’s direction. The landing gear can be used to stabilize the lander once it has landed on the moon.

The player must also avoid obstacles on the moon’s surface, such as craters and rocks. If the lander collides with an obstacle, it will crash.

The player’s goal is to land the lunar lander on the moon’s surface without crashing. The player is awarded points for landing the lander safely, and for landing the lander close to the center of the moon’s surface.

Development

Lunar Lander was developed by Atari programmer Ed Logg. Logg was inspired to create the game after watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on television.

Logg wanted to create a game that was both challenging and fun to play. He also wanted to create a game that was realistic, and that would accurately simulate the experience of landing a lunar module on the moon.

Logg spent several months developing Lunar Lander. He worked closely with Atari engineers to create a game that would run smoothly on the Atari hardware.

Lunar Lander was released in 1979, and it was an instant success. The game was praised for its realism, its challenging gameplay, and its addictive nature.

Lunar Lander has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the PC. The game is still popular with retro gaming enthusiasts today.

Legacy

Lunar Lander is considered to be one of the most important video games of all time. It is a classic example of early arcade gaming, and it has inspired many other games.

Lunar Lander has been featured in several films and television shows, including the movie “The Right Stuff” and the television show “The Big Bang Theory.”

The game has also been used as a training tool by NASA. NASA astronauts have used Lunar Lander to simulate the experience of landing a lunar module on the moon.

Lunar Lander is a true classic video game. It is a challenging and addictive game that is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks for playing Lunar Lander:

  • Use the thrusters to slow down the lander’s descent, or to change the lander’s direction.
  • Use the landing gear to stabilize the lander once it has landed on the moon.
  • Avoid obstacles on the moon’s surface, such as craters and rocks.
  • Land the lander close to the center of the moon’s surface to score more points.
  • Practice makes perfect! The more you play Lunar Lander, the better you will become at it.

Conclusion

Lunar Lander is a classic video game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. It is a challenging and addictive game that is sure to provide hours of fun. If you are a fan of retro gaming, or if you are just looking for a fun and challenging game to play, then I highly recommend Lunar Lander.

Review Score

8/10

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Ghost Town (1980)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Ghost Town (1980): A Text Adventure Classic

Ghost Town is a text adventure game released in 1980 for the TRS-80 and Apple II computers. It was one of the first text adventures to feature a Western setting, and it quickly became a classic of the genre.

The game is set in an abandoned Wild West town called Ghost Town. The player takes on the role of a lone cowboy who is searching for 13 hidden treasures. The town is haunted by the ghosts of its former inhabitants, and the player must use their wits to solve puzzles and avoid the ghosts in order to find the treasures and escape the town.

Ghost Town is a challenging but rewarding game. The puzzles are clever and the atmosphere is spooky and immersive. The game’s parser is also very good, allowing the player to interact with the world in a natural way.

Gameplay

The player controls their character by typing commands. The commands can be simple, such as “go north” or “open door”, or more complex, such as “use key on door” or “talk to ghost”. The parser understands a wide range of commands, and the player can also use natural language to interact with the game.

The game world is divided into a series of rooms. The player can move between rooms by typing the direction they want to go, such as “go north” or “go east”. Each room contains a description of the room and a list of objects that are in the room. The player can interact with the objects in the room by typing commands such as “take object” or “use object on object”.

The player’s goal is to find the 13 hidden treasures. The treasures are scattered throughout the town and its nearby mine. The player must use their wits to solve puzzles and avoid the ghosts in order to find the treasures.

Setting

Ghost Town is set in an abandoned Wild West town. The town is deserted and overgrown, and the only signs of life are the ghosts of its former inhabitants. The ghosts are hostile to the player, and they will attack if the player gets too close.

The game’s atmosphere is spooky and immersive. The descriptions of the town and its inhabitants are vivid and evocative, and the sound effects and music add to the game’s eerie atmosphere.

Characters

The player character is a lone cowboy who is searching for treasure. The cowboy is a skilled gunman and a quick thinker. He is also brave and resourceful, and he is not afraid to face the ghosts of Ghost Town.

The ghosts of Ghost Town are the former inhabitants of the town. They are hostile to the player, and they will attack if the player gets too close. The ghosts are all different, and they each have their own unique personalities and motivations.

Puzzles

The puzzles in Ghost Town are clever and challenging. The player must use their wits to solve the puzzles in order to find the treasures and escape the town. The puzzles are varied, and they range from simple puzzles that can be solved with a little bit of thought to complex puzzles that require the player to think outside the box.

Reception

Ghost Town was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, its atmospheric setting, and its challenging puzzles. Ghost Town is considered to be one of the classic text adventure games, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Legacy

Ghost Town has had a significant impact on the text adventure genre. It was one of the first text adventures to feature a Western setting, and it helped to popularize the genre. Ghost Town also influenced the development of other text adventure games, such as Zork and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Ghost Town is still enjoyed by gamers today. It is available for download on a variety of platforms, and it can also be played online. Ghost Town is a classic text adventure game that is sure to provide hours of enjoyment for gamers of all ages.

Review Score

8/10

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Adventureland (1978)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 7 minutes read

Summary

Adventureland: The Granddaddy of Text-Based Adventure Games

Adventureland is a text-based adventure game developed by Scott Adams and released in 1978 for the TRS-80. It is considered to be one of the first graphical adventure games, and it helped to popularize the genre. Adventureland was later ported to a variety of other platforms, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.

The game is set in a fantasy world where the player controls an adventurer who is exploring a series of caves and dungeons. The player must solve puzzles, fight monsters, and collect treasure in order to progress through the game. Adventureland is known for its challenging puzzles and its nonlinear gameplay, which allows players to explore the game world in any order they choose.

Gameplay

Adventureland is a text-based adventure game, which means that the player interacts with the game world by typing commands. The game uses a simple two-word command system, which allows players to perform a variety of actions, such as move, examine, and talk.

The game world is divided into a series of rooms, each of which contains a description of the room and a list of objects that can be found in the room. The player can move between rooms by typing the command “move” followed by the name of the room. The player can also examine objects in the room by typing the command “examine” followed by the name of the object.

The player’s goal in Adventureland is to find the treasure that is hidden in the caves and dungeons. To do this, the player must solve puzzles, fight monsters, and collect keys. The game features a variety of puzzles, including logic puzzles, riddles, and mazes. The player must also fight a variety of monsters, including goblins, trolls, and dragons.

Development

Adventureland was developed by Scott Adams, a programmer who was working at the time for the software company Adventure International. Adams was inspired to create Adventureland after playing Colossal Cave Adventure, a text-based adventure game that was released in 1976. Adams wanted to create a game that was more challenging and visually appealing than Colossal Cave Adventure.

Adams spent several months developing Adventureland, and he released the game in 1978. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize the text-based adventure game genre. Adventureland was later ported to a variety of other platforms, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.

Legacy

Adventureland is considered to be one of the most important video games of all time. It helped to popularize the text-based adventure game genre, and it influenced the development of later adventure games, such as Zork and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Adventureland is still played by gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic of the genre.

Critical reception

Adventureland was praised for its challenging puzzles, its nonlinear gameplay, and its innovative use of graphics. The game was also criticized for its difficulty and its lack of a save feature. However, despite these criticisms, Adventureland was a commercial success, and it helped to establish Scott Adams as one of the leading developers of adventure games.

Awards

Adventureland won the Golden Joystick Award for Best Adventure Game in 1983.

Ports and remakes

Adventureland has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, IBM PC, and Atari 8-bit family. The game has also been remade several times, including a 2007 remake for the Nintendo DS.

Legacy

Adventureland is considered to be one of the most important video games of all time. It helped to popularize the text-based adventure game genre, and it influenced the development of later adventure games, such as Zork and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Adventureland is still played by gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic of the genre.

Review Score

8/10

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Rear Guard (1982)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Rear Guard (1982): A Retro Sci-Fi Shoot-‘Em-Up Classic

Rear Guard is a horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game released in 1982 by Adventure International for various 8-bit platforms. The game was written by John Anderson, who was also responsible for other classic games such as Choplifter and Lode Runner.

In Rear Guard, the player takes control of a lone spaceship that must defend a convoy of unarmed transports from waves of enemy attackers. The game is set in a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars, but is now under attack from a relentless alien horde.

The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player must use these weapons to destroy enemy ships and protect the transports. The game features a variety of enemy types, each with their own unique攻擊模式.

Rear Guard was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics. Rear Guard is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-up games of its era, and it remains popular with retro gamers today.

Gameplay

Rear Guard is a horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game. The player controls a lone spaceship that must defend a convoy of unarmed transports from waves of enemy attackers. The game is set in a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars, but is now under attack from a relentless alien horde.

The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player must use these weapons to destroy enemy ships and protect the transports. The game features a variety of enemy types, each with their own unique攻擊模式.

The player’s ship can be destroyed by enemy fire, but it can also be repaired by collecting power-ups. The player can also collect extra lives and weapons by destroying certain types of enemy ships.

The game is divided into a series of levels, each with its own unique layout and敵人. The player must complete each level by destroying all of the enemy ships and protecting the transports.

Graphics and Sound

Rear Guard features impressive graphics for an 8-bit game. The game’s backgrounds are detailed and colorful, and the enemy ships are well-animated. The game also features a catchy soundtrack that adds to the overall atmosphere.

Legacy

Rear Guard is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-up games of its era. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics. Rear Guard remains popular with retro gamers today, and it has been ported to a variety of modern platforms.

Rear Guard has also been cited as an influence on later shoot-’em-up games, such as R-Type and Gradius. The game’s unique gameplay mechanics and impressive graphics have helped to make it a classic of the genre.

Conclusion

Rear Guard is a fun and challenging horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game with great graphics and sound. A must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

7/10

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Pyramid of Doom (1979)

by Nish
written by Nish 6 minutes read

Summary

Pyramid of Doom (1979): A Text Adventure Classic

Introduction

Pyramid of Doom is a text adventure game released in 1979 for the TRS-80 and Apple II computers. It was one of the first text adventures to feature a detailed and immersive world, and it quickly became a classic of the genre.

Gameplay

Pyramid of Doom is a treasure hunt game in which the player explores an ancient Egyptian pyramid in search of a hidden treasure. The game world is described in detail, and the player can move around the pyramid, interact with objects, and solve puzzles.

The game’s parser is relatively sophisticated, and it allows the player to enter complex commands. For example, the player can type “examine statue” to get a description of a statue, or “open door with key” to open a door with a key.

Setting

The game is set in an ancient Egyptian pyramid, which is filled with traps, puzzles, and monsters. The player must navigate the pyramid’s treacherous corridors and chambers in order to find the treasure.

The pyramid is divided into several levels, each of which has its own unique challenges. The player must solve puzzles, defeat monsters, and find keys in order to progress through the pyramid.

Characters

The player is the only character in the game. However, the player will encounter a variety of non-player characters (NPCs) throughout the pyramid. These NPCs can provide the player with information, help, or obstacles.

Some of the NPCs in the pyramid include:

  • The Pharaoh: The Pharaoh is the ruler of the pyramid. He is a powerful and dangerous foe, and the player must avoid him at all costs.
  • The Mummy: The Mummy is a undead creature that guards the pyramid’s treasure. It is slow and powerful, and the player must be careful not to get caught by it.
  • The Sphinx: The Sphinx is a wise and ancient creature that can help the player on their quest. However, the Sphinx is also a trickster, and the player must be careful not to fall for its riddles.

Puzzles

The pyramid is filled with puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress. These puzzles range from simple riddles to complex logic puzzles.

Some of the puzzles in the pyramid include:

  • The Door Puzzle: The player must find a key to open a door. The key is hidden somewhere in the pyramid, and the player must search carefully to find it.
  • The Maze Puzzle: The player must navigate a maze in order to reach a treasure chest. The maze is filled with dead ends and traps, and the player must be careful not to get lost.
  • The Riddle Puzzle: The player must answer a riddle in order to open a door. The riddle is difficult, and the player must think carefully to solve it.

Combat

The player will encounter monsters throughout the pyramid. These monsters can be defeated with weapons or magic.

The player can find weapons and magic items in the pyramid. Weapons can be used to attack monsters, while magic items can be used to cast spells.

Reception

Pyramid of Doom was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its detailed world, challenging puzzles, and immersive atmosphere.

The game has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, and MS-DOS. It is still considered one of the classic text adventure games, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Legacy

Pyramid of Doom had a significant impact on the development of the text adventure genre. It showed that text adventures could be more than just simple puzzles; they could also be immersive experiences with detailed worlds and engaging stories.

Pyramid of Doom inspired a number of other text adventure games, including Zork and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It also helped to popularize the use of parser-based input in text adventures.

Pyramid of Doom is still considered one of the greatest text adventure games ever made. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a truly immersive experience. If you are a fan of text adventure games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Pyramid of Doom.

Review Score

8/10

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Questprobe featuring The Hulk (1984)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 7 minutes read

Summary

Questprobe featuring The Hulk: A Classic Graphic Adventure

Released in 1984, Questprobe featuring The Hulk was one of the first graphic adventure games ever released. Developed by Adventure International and published by Parker Brothers, the game follows the Marvel superhero Hulk and his human alter-ego Bruce Banner as they explore the mysterious lair of the Chief Examiner.

The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the player controls both Hulk and Banner. Each character has their own unique abilities that must be used to solve puzzles and progress through the game. Hulk is incredibly strong and can smash through obstacles, while Banner is more intelligent and can use his scientific knowledge to solve puzzles.

The game’s graphics are simple by today’s standards, but they were quite impressive for the time. The game’s world is rendered in a black-and-white ASCII style, and the characters are represented by simple sprites. Despite the limitations of the technology, the game’s graphics are still charming and effective.

The gameplay in Questprobe featuring The Hulk is challenging but fair. The puzzles are well-designed and require the player to use both their brains and their brawn. The game also features a number of timed sequences that add to the challenge.

The story in Questprobe featuring The Hulk is engaging and well-written. The game’s narrative is full of twists and turns, and the player is constantly kept guessing what will happen next. The game also features a number of memorable characters, including the Chief Examiner, who is a truly evil and menacing villain.

Overall, Questprobe featuring The Hulk is a classic graphic adventure game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

The Development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

The development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk began in 1983, when Adventure International approached Marvel Comics about the possibility of creating a video game based on one of their characters. Marvel was initially hesitant, but they eventually agreed to let Adventure International develop a game based on The Hulk.

The game’s development team was led by Scott Adams, who was one of the pioneers of the graphic adventure genre. Adams had previously created the popular Adventureland and Colossal Cave Adventure games.

The development team also included a number of other talented individuals, including:

  • Steve Meretzky: The game’s lead designer. Meretzky had previously worked on a number of other graphic adventure games, including Zork and A Mind Forever Voyaging.
  • Bobbi Brown: The game’s artist. Brown had previously worked on a number of other video games, including Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.
  • David Warhol: The game’s programmer. Warhol had previously worked on a number of other video games, including Donkey Kong and Mario Bros.

The development team worked closely with Marvel Comics to ensure that the game was faithful to the source material. The team also consulted with a number of scientists to ensure that the game’s puzzles were accurate and challenging.

The development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk took approximately one year. The game was released in 1984 for a number of different home computers, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.

The Release and Reception of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

Questprobe featuring The Hulk was released to critical acclaim. The game was praised for its challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Questprobe featuring The Hulk was one of the first graphic adventure games to be released on home computers. The game’s success helped to popularize the genre and paved the way for a number of other classic graphic adventure games, such as King’s Quest, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Myst.

The Legacy of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

Questprobe featuring The Hulk is still considered to be one of the best graphic adventure games ever made. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics continue to entertain and challenge players today.

The game has also been praised for its faithfulness to the source material. The game’s narrative and characters are all based on the Marvel Comics characters, and the game’s puzzles are all based on real-world science.

Questprobe featuring The Hulk is a classic graphic adventure game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

7.5/10

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