Nine Old School PC Games Worth a Second Look

I've been looking for a new game for my PC, and I'm sorry to say that the hunting hasn't been great. For the most part, all I see are sequels to big-seller shoot-em-ups (boring and nasty) and sims that get far too compulsively into capturing a specific period (I'm not really into, say naval warfare in the Pacific in 1940s). Then there's the no-name adventures which I can tell , at a glance, just won't play well. After more than 30 years of gaming, all I have to do is scan the packaging and I know if I'll enjoy the show.

But there are still some great options out there. Even after 10 or 15 years in the dustbin of game history, the old games listed below still rock. And that's not even taking into account some classics that didn't make the date cutoff, such as Harlan Ellison's "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream," Sid Meier's "Alpha Centauri" and Electronic Arts' "SimCity 3000." (OK, "Grim Fandango" and "Starship Titantic" were published in 1998, but I had to give them some extra respect. Play them and you'll see why.)

Sure, some of these gems are a bit long in the tooth, and you may have played others of them to death already. What's more, the puzzles are often so arbitrary that it's more fun to play with a walkthrough. Still, each of these games offers something funny, whimsical or compelling that makes them worth exploring. Now, in no particular order, I offer you fifteen years of PC gaming history. Enjoy!

-Anne Zieger

1. Phantasmagoria I and Phantasmagoria II: A Puzzle of Flesh (1995/1996): Ordinarily, big-screen style terror doesn't translate well to the PC. But both Phantasmagorias managed to cram the nerve-wracking tensionof Alien into a 15-inch monitor. Built around what was then a ground-breaking technology, which allowed you to manipulate an image of the point of view character, these were both totally immersive games. Brace youself for some very nasty (and surprisingly high-impact) violence, but don't let that stop you from playing.

2. Buried in Time (1996): If you've played the later games in the Journeyman Project series, the first probably wouldn't impress you too much. Still, as a whole, this series offers one of the most amazing adventure gaming experiences I've ever had, with Buried in Time a particular standout. Buried in Time combines beautiful graphics, an entertaining plot, thoroughly imagined historical settings and some of the best use of 3-D available at the time--along with video sequences that actually advanced the plot. If you like imaginative, colorful adventure games, it doesn't get much better than this.

3. Grim Fandango: (1998): Beautiful. Moving. Inventive. Completely unique. That's Grim Fandango for you: one of the most interesting, vivid and emotional games I've seen in the past decade. Grim Fandango crams an entire life-and-death story arc--the struggles of a reluctant Grim Reaper intent on reaching the world beyond Death --into just two CDs. And despite its relative brevity, the creators manage to create something poetic, artistically satisfying and intimate along the way. This was the first 3-D project for LucasArts, which has since gone on to focus on non-adverture genres and console games since. I'd love to see them try something like this again!

4. Gadget (1993): OK, I admit it, this is mostly a wank, but a memorable one nonetheless. Gadget, a tour through a private museum of beautiful Art-Deco scenework, doesn't have much of a plot, and there's only one ending possible ending. Instead, it offers a breathtaking tour through a private museum of beautiful Art-Deco scenework. Gadget focuses largely on trains and flying machines from the 1920s and 30s, all strewn across of a pointlessly mysterious country ruled by a vaguely Russian-sounding dictator, and you really don't get much more than that out of it. In truth, this is less a game than a series of still lives, but it's hypnotic nonetheless. (Believe it or not, copies go for $50 on eBay these days.)

5. 7th Guest (1992) :Looking back at this game today, the effects look pretty cheesy. But despite its limitations, this game has some serious juice anyway. Using a then-cutting-edge technology which offered smooth 3-D panning, The 7th Guest managed to offer a surprisingly immersive tale of murder and mayhem in a purple-shadowed Victorian mansion. (Elegantly spare, creepy music by The Fat Man give the plot a big boost too.) If you're up for a darkly comic, puzzle-driven murder mystery, this game is a hoot.

6. Labyrinth of Time (1993):The Labyrinth of Time (or should I call it "The Labyrinth of Escher"?) takes gamers through an odd universe where say, a subway car opens out into a hotel hallway. But somehow, it keeps its spooky charm despite the complicated journey users must take--underscored by a singsong musical soundtrack which adds to the mystery and beauty of this unique story. Buy this game--you'll be enchanted. (And make sure you don't have anything to do the next several hours.)

7. Total Distortion (1995):Total Distortion is an acquired taste. My first take was "Hey, what the heck is this? Attacking aliens with rock guitar licks and creating your own music videos to pay for trips back in time? You've gotta be kidding me." But the game's manic energy, original tunes and colorful illustrations--executed masterfully by Macromedia god Joe Sparks--will win you over. Total Distortion may seem bizarre, but eventually, after you play for a while, it wins you over.

8. Starship Titanic (1998): The gameplay is often frustrating, but this is still one of the more entertaining and idiosyncratic titles I've played in the past decade. Starship Titanic, which was designed by the late, great sci fi writer Douglas Adams, is chock full of oddball characters who behave in (for the gamer) extremely frustrating but ultimately amusing ways. And then, of course, there's the voice overs by greats like John Cleese (a bomb that can't manage its own countdown to explosive destruction) and Terry Jones (a backtalking parrot). My advice: Get a walkthrough, solve the puzzles and enjoy the show.

9. Zork: Grand Inquisitor (1997):Chock-full of self-parodying references to the myriad of Zorks past, Zork: Grand Inquisitor is laugh-out-loud funny, campy and flavored with the bit of menace that makes the series so compelling. Among the biggest delights is the imperious--yet decidedly silly--voice of the Grand Inquisitor, Erick Avari, who reminds you continually via loudspeaker that "I am the boss of you!" as you walk the deserted streets of Port Foozle. (Another droll announcement by the Inquisitor: "'Shun magic, and shun the appearance of magic. Shun everything, and then shun shunning.'") While the puzzles can be aggravating, you'll have a great time wandering through the game nonetheless. (Warning: Avoid getting totemized--you'll end up in New Jersey, God help you.)