Publisher: FTL Games

Oids (1987)

by Christopher August 31, 2024

written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Release Year: 1987
Genres: Arcade, Shooter
Platforms: Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Mac
Developers: FTL Games
Publishers: FTL Games

Oids (1987)

Oids is a gravity/inertia shooter game developed and published by Cinemaware for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS in 1987. The game was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best gravity shooters ever made.

Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship that must rescue Oids from the Fiendish Biocretes, who are turning them into vending machines and household appliances. The player’s ship can move in any direction, and its speed and direction are determined by the player’s input. The ship can also fire photons and novabombs, which can be used to destroy enemies and obstacles.

The game is played on a series of planetoids, each with its own unique gravity field. The player must use the ship’s inertia to navigate the planetoids and avoid crashing into obstacles. The player must also collect fuel and shields, which are necessary to keep the ship running.

The game features a variety of enemies, including Hell Jets, Heat-Seekers, and Burst Orbs. Each type of enemy has its own unique攻擊模式, and the player must learn how to defeat each type of enemy in order to progress through the game.

Development

Oids was developed by a small team of developers led by David Perry. Perry was inspired to create the game after playing Gravitar and Thrust. He wanted to create a game that was similar to these games, but with more accessible controls and more varied gameplay.

The game was developed using the Cinemaware game engine, which was also used to create other classic games such as Defender of the Crown and Wings. The game’s graphics were created by artist Mark Hammill, who also worked on other Cinemaware games.

Reception

Oids was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

Oids has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The game has also been released on GOG.com and Steam.

Legacy

Oids is considered to be one of the best gravity shooters ever made. The game is still enjoyed by many gamers today, and it continues to inspire new games in the genre.

Conclusion

Oids is a classic gravity shooter that is still enjoyed by many gamers today. The game’s innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Additional Information

Publisher: Cinemaware
Developer: Cinemaware
Release Date: 1987
Platforms: Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, GOG.com, Steam
Genre: Gravity shooter
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Number of Players: 1

Tips and Tricks

Use the ship’s inertia to your advantage. You can use the ship’s momentum to slingshot around obstacles and enemies.
Collect fuel and shields whenever you can. Fuel is necessary to keep the ship running, and shields protect the ship from damage.
Learn the attack patterns of each type of enemy. Each type of enemy has its own unique attack pattern, and you must learn how to defeat each type of enemy in order to progress through the game.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Oids is a game that rewards experimentation. Try different strategies and see what works best for you.

Review

Oids is a classic gravity shooter that is still enjoyed by many gamers today. The game’s innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Score: 8/10

Review Score

8/10

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Dungeon Master (1987)

by Ji-yeong August 11, 2024

written by Ji-yeong 6 minutes read

Summary

Release Year: 1987
Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
Platforms: Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari ST/STE, DOS, FM Towns, Sharp X68000, Super Famicom, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Publishers: FTL Games, JVC Musical Industries, Psygnosis, Victor Interactive Software

Dungeon Master: The Revolutionary RPG That Changed Gaming Forever

Released in 1987, Dungeon Master was a groundbreaking role-playing game that set new standards for the genre. Developed by FTL Games and published by Atari, it was one of the first games to use real-time gameplay, a first-person perspective, and a mouse-driven interface. These innovations, along with its immersive atmosphere and challenging gameplay, made Dungeon Master a critical and commercial success.

Real-Time Gameplay

One of the most significant departures from traditional RPGs was Dungeon Master’s real-time gameplay. Instead of taking turns, players controlled their characters in real time, allowing for a more dynamic and action-oriented experience. This made combat more exciting and forced players to think on their feet.

First-Person Perspective

Another major innovation was the use of a first-person perspective. This gave players a more immersive experience, as they could see the world through the eyes of their characters. This perspective also made the game more challenging, as players had to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Mouse-Driven Interface

Dungeon Master was also one of the first games to use a mouse-driven interface. This made it much easier for players to interact with the game world. Players could click on objects to examine them, open doors, and attack enemies. This intuitive interface made the game more accessible to a wider audience.

Immersive Atmosphere

Dungeon Master’s atmosphere was another key factor in its success. The game’s graphics, sound effects, and music all worked together to create a truly immersive experience. Players felt like they were actually exploring a dangerous dungeon, filled with monsters and treasure.

Challenging Gameplay

Dungeon Master was also known for its challenging gameplay. The game’s dungeons were filled with traps, puzzles, and powerful enemies. Players had to use their wits and skills to survive. The game’s difficulty added to its replay value, as players could spend hours trying to overcome its challenges.

Legacy

Dungeon Master’s influence on the RPG genre cannot be overstated. Its innovations helped to shape the way RPGs are played today. Many of the features that are now commonplace in RPGs, such as real-time gameplay, first-person perspectives, and mouse-driven interfaces, were first introduced in Dungeon Master.

The game also had a significant impact on the development of the dungeon crawler genre. Dungeon crawlers are RPGs that focus on exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. Dungeon Master is considered to be one of the first dungeon crawlers, and it helped to popularize the genre.

Conclusion

Dungeon Master is a classic RPG that deserves its place among the greatest games of all time. Its innovative gameplay, immersive atmosphere, and challenging difficulty made it a groundbreaking experience. The game’s legacy can still be seen in RPGs today, and it continues to inspire new generations of gamers.

Additional Information

Dungeon Master was developed by a small team of just four people: Chris Crawford, Gary Martin, Ed Anderson, and John Cutter.
The game was originally released for the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. It was later ported to the Apple II, MS-DOS, and Macintosh.
Dungeon Master was a critical and commercial success, selling over 400,000 copies worldwide.
The game has been praised for its innovative gameplay, immersive atmosphere, and challenging difficulty.
Dungeon Master has been ranked among the greatest video games of all time by many publications, including IGN, GameSpot, and PC Gamer.

Review Score

9/10

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Sundog: Frozen Legacy (1984)

by Ji-yeong November 25, 2022

written by Ji-yeong 6 minutes read

Summary

Release Year: 1984
Genres: Adventure, Role-playing game (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Tactical
Platforms: Apple II, Atari ST/STE
Developers: FTL Games
Publishers: FTL Games

Sundog: Frozen Legacy (1984)

Sundog: Frozen Legacy is a science fiction adventure game developed and published by FTL Games in 1984 for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit family of computers. The game is set in the year 2299, and the player takes on the role of a spaceship captain who has inherited a one-man star freighter from his uncle. The uncle died under mysterious circumstances, and the player must now complete his uncle’s contract to aid in the building of a colony for a religious group.

The player has three tasks to perform in Sundog: Frozen Legacy:

Find the location of the colony.
Find, buy, and deliver goods needed for its construction.
Locate the cryogenically-frozen colonists needed to populate the colony.

The player travels from planet to planet in his spaceship, searching for information and resources. The game features a variety of planets to explore, each with its own unique environment and challenges. The player must also interact with a variety of characters, including traders, pirates, and colonists.

Sundog: Frozen Legacy was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best science fiction adventure games of its era. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, its detailed and immersive world, and its challenging puzzles.

Gameplay

Sundog: Frozen Legacy is a text-based adventure game with graphics. The player types in commands to control their character and interact with the world. The game features a variety of puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress. The puzzles are often challenging, but they are always fair and logical.

The game world is detailed and immersive, and the player can explore a variety of planets, each with its own unique environment and challenges. The player can also interact with a variety of characters, including traders, pirates, and colonists.

Story

Sundog: Frozen Legacy takes place in the year 2299. The player takes on the role of a spaceship captain who has inherited a one-man star freighter from his uncle. The uncle died under mysterious circumstances, and the player must now complete his uncle’s contract to aid in the building of a colony for a religious group.

The player has three tasks to perform:

Find the location of the colony.
Find, buy, and deliver goods needed for its construction.
Locate the cryogenically-frozen colonists needed to populate the colony.

Development

Sundog: Frozen Legacy was developed by FTL Games, a small independent game development studio founded in 1982. The game was designed by Mike Arnautov and Rich Carlson, and it was programmed by Arnautov and Bob Polin.

The game was developed over a period of two years, and it was released in 1984 for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit family of computers. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best science fiction adventure games of its era.

Reception

Sundog: Frozen Legacy was praised for its innovative gameplay, its detailed and immersive world, and its challenging puzzles. The game was also praised for its original and engaging story.

The game was a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide. It was also well-received by critics, with many reviewers praising the game’s innovative gameplay and its detailed and immersive world.

Sundog: Frozen Legacy is considered to be one of the best science fiction adventure games of its era. The game is still enjoyed by many gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic of the genre.

Legacy

Sundog: Frozen Legacy has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s innovative gameplay and its detailed and immersive world have influenced many subsequent science fiction adventure games. The game is also considered to be a classic of the genre, and it is still enjoyed by many gamers today.

In 2014, a remake of Sundog: Frozen Legacy was released for Windows, OS X, and Linux. The remake features updated graphics and sound, but the gameplay remains largely the same. The remake was well-received by critics and fans alike, and it is considered to be a faithful and enjoyable update to the classic game.

Review Score

8/10