Developer: Assorted
Publisher: 3D Realms, Steam
Price: $39.99
Platforms: Download only PC
Release Date: Oct 23rd, 2014
“An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts, and games “ – Google
If you could have wrote a well written love letter to anyone’s childhood growing up in the golden era of PC gaming then it had a collection that at least thirty percent of the library that Apogee/3D Realms had in their hands it would be no mistake. Unless you played video games on consoles, then you, and friends were on the BBS(I mostly used them for shareware) collections, the flee markets, and the computer shows, that had stacks of resellers of retail copies of games like Duke Nukem 2, and or Secret Agent. While this is a review I wanted to share a brief amount of my history of these games, as the most likely purchaser of this bundle would be of my era, simply someone who wishes to see what the big fuss is about.
Growing up, lets face it, you did not have a job, you did not have the fair amount of cash to enjoy the full experience of a gaming console. Unless you were lucky to have a family who would not mind visiting the rental store, or even Sears to buy you latest Sonic, or Super Mario bros installment. Nope I was not one of those fortunate kids. Well, in my mind, I was. Because while the kids three doors down had their Super Nintendo, I had MS-Dos, and Windows 95 to enjoy much of what you would see in this collection. I will tell you forefront I am not some code master of MS-Dos, just enough knowledge to pretty much boot up a game, and get cracking on it. I was in a league of my own in the school yard, most of the kids did not know what the heck Duke Nukem, or even Blake Stone was until Duke Nukem 3D brought a ton of limelight to PC gaming, next to Wolfenstein 3D, and Doom. Shareware was my bread and butter, getting to try out Commander Keen 4 was the world to me. For most out there, at least two or three games will be remembered off the bat from the list on the menu screen of the main hub. One thing you will notice is some of the stock game covers were swapped, or not used, instead generic images of ice burgs, like from Arctic Adventure. I enjoy the cheesy charm to these stock photos.
At the time from my collection of memory there was mostly only the title screen, and generic font that represented most of the art or splash imagery at the time on the diskettes. So, from what they put on the whole list of games you have a mixture of classic box art, and decently done images to give you a example of what to expect from the theme of the game. I have noticed over the years the original artwork of Duke Nukem did not have sun glasses, then more modernly, they tossed on the iconic shades a little after the massive success of DN3D. Aside from that the other classics like Blake Stone, and Commander Keen were kept intact.
Now the following, will not be quite in depth. As It will be my overall impressions of all of the games within this collection, with fair conclusions. In the past I have completed a chunk of them, so basically aside from this coverage generally telling you each games overall game play. Each game is executed with the Doxbox launcher, making it a life saver for modern computers.
First on the list, developed by Interactive Binary Illusions, and SubZero Software, and published by Apogee at the time. It sported some great casuals, and music, it was one of those games that had a few issues. Those issues did not doom the game by a long shot, just set it back a notch. You play as Harry, who is sent down to save earthlings from a slime substance that turns every one into freaking zombies. For example, if you run out of fuel for your jet pack, Harry is screwed. So you have to restart from wherever. Making this a recurrence unless you mastered the timing, and can balance your usage of fuel, and travel by a slim element. Most games at the time shared the maze like level thing before this, but it felt clunky in some aspects when trying to get around some maps with the jet pack. It deserves praise for challenging you, but it should have also allowed you to make small jumps too.
It was a sequel to Pharaoh’s Tomb. Which I will be covering as well. Originally this game was published by a company called Micro F/X Software, before George Brossard connected the dots with Apogee Software’s Scott Miller. So the title at first made me tilt my head for a second. The graphics are in a pretty pleasant CGA (Purples, teals and blues, oh my). It is currently a free abandonware game now other then being included in this bundle, a easier way to obtain it too is by simply signing up with the 3D Realms website, to land a instant short collection, including some of the games mentioned on this article. It starts you off with a maze like make where you have to clear caves(20 per episode) in what was like an I wanna be the guy style of platforming, where you do not have to worry about having a game over, but its an endurance test to see if you can make it through each level. Boy is it freaking hard, but in a good way.
A game on the Commander Keen engine, it used it, and used it quite well. No where as popular as Keen was for its time, it still was a charming and pretty graphic game. By graphic, I mean gory. When you shoot a enemy, crap flings everywhere, and you feel satisfied. With a decent soundtrack, plus controls were still as top notch, within the engines limits. Apart of one of the freebies/Abandonware games. If you want a fun little classic like this, give it a spin!
A ton of great ideas, using the Wolfenstein 3D engine, textures such as ceilings, and flooring. It featured you being able to blow up a objective during the first mission which, at the time it was wild. Originally it came with a comic book, but I have never personally seen one to date. Some aspects to the game were set in a general mission, where you had objectives, you know before games like Call of Duty, and such. It featured one aspect which made me chuckle at points, which is vending machines, where you use coins found throughout the game to buy food to replenish your life. It still holds up if you can still sit down to play Wolfenstein 3D as regards of a shooter.
The second installment of the Blake Stone series. It was basically the same, but with a few tweaks, and new weapons. The plot was basically you are going after Pyrus Goldfire, who escapes from the first game, your task is to find him, and finish him off. It was true to its original installment. It is still fun, but a bit challenging. So play the first one, before this. The interface looks a lot more impressive, with an on screen map display.
Commander Keen 1+2+3: Invasion of the Vorticons
The gem in PC gaming. The one in the many reasons I hurried home from school just to boot this up and get off mars. Aka the Shareware episode, until my dad purchased the diskettes from a computer show, so we could complete it. It was in a league of its own. Borrowing from arcade elements, some Super Mario bros included. It still was its own thing. You were limited to the shots you were given, and were rewarded for searching every nook and cranny of each map. The episodes grew more challenging, the nice little touches in the level design made it a treat to go through. The episodes stories were pretty interesting too. Plus taught me to read in my youth, much like the other game on this collections list.
Commander Keen 4+5: Goodbye Galaxy
The series for Commander Keen may have been for most, started here. The graphics then, were top notch, the music, the levels, the gameplay, all were solid. Rolling back into the covers with this game reminds me of how well this game stands up to the test of time. Things get brutal deeper into the game much like the earlier keens, setting you up for a butt whooping.
There is one game missing from the complete CK listing, and that is Aliens ate my babysitter.
Hearing the first levels music, all the way to its colorful landscapes in the background, told me a project of love was before my eyes. Cosmos Cosmic Adventure, was one of those games almost easily spotted in a crowd of platforming action games of its time. It has a mixture of Mario, with some Sonic and knuckle’s Knuckles character with the whole clinging to surfaces with his suction-cup hands. It is a cute and quirky little game, done pretty well for its time. With memorable music and graphics to boot. In its later stages it proves to be more challenging, setting a pretty darn good pace throughout the game.
One of Apogee’s finest platformers. It was basic in concept, you collect Gems/ Crystals, and collect enough to trade at some sort of space station bake sale. It has that Keen feel, and a overall colorful and addicting game to boot. Think of Pac-man, but at your own pace, then toss in some cool death animations whenever you zap some enemy nastys. My favorite part of the game aside from the cool little animations, is shooting the air supply. If you play this game, go ahead, try it. 🙂
Sadly I had a bit of an issue making the game boot correctly. Which was a shame at first, until I cracked the whip on my client and told it would not get fed until the game started my race. You would not believe what vintage games would do for crackers and cheese. Aside from that, it plays like cult classics like Rock n’ Roll racing, or RC Pro-AM on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
The stages are set in a 3D 2D sprite work style, giving a great polish to it, also setting it apart. Its line up of racers are somewhat generic, aside from Duke Nukem being a selectable. The music was not as great as most of the action gets too heavy and drowns it out. If you can manage to get it working, its a great over head racing game.
One of my favorite old MS Dos games growing up. Yes, Duke Nukem 3D is perhaps in regards of quality, and remembrance everyone’s favorite game. However for me, I easily can point out this, and DN2 Vs the iconic FPS game. I remembered getting this game from a computer show because of a good attendance award, going home, and playing the crap out of the games first episode. Then shortly after getting the other episodes through mail in. You know before the Steams or retro online vendors. It does not truly hold a candle vs its sequel, but it in terms of game play is still pretty fun to sit down and run through the maze like levels finding secrets, and getting the keys.
A big time step up from the first game. Graphically, music wise, and game play. All feel crisp, with light hiccups from time to time. This game provided a ton of innovative ideas for the MS dos platform. Such as being able to rocket jump around with a rocket launcher, moving you about. Some will say, which amusingly enough is kinda true, shares the same sprite work from the game Turrican. Both being great games, and it was the era of clip art. As long as both games benefited, screw it.
The most quoted, and referenced game in FPS shooter history, with so many movie quotes tossed at you. Perhaps one of the most other ported games across many modern consoles, and the like. Next to Doom, and Wolf3D. It had a kick ass lineup of weapons, secrets, and baddies to destroy. If you have not played this game by now, you are surely missing out a ton. It was apart of the stream of 90’s most iconic, and genre defining games. Well that, and tipping strippers was always funny. Another feature was the interaction with some of the environments, including cameras, switches on the walls, and the lighting effects were top-notch.
I would say more of a misunderstood game within this collection. By no means is it even that bad, nor is it even that great. Its on that bracket of good. Its more of a throw back to how Duke Nukem used to handle before he hopped to the 3D side of the fence. It has some decent level design, along with a contra like feel in some fronts. It is a hit or miss with some, for me I quite enjoyed it. I also enjoyed Duke Nukem Forever, but people consider me a nutcase for that. Sue me.
One of my favorite games on the collection alone. I spent many hours as a kid playing this game tirelessly through its shareware fragment. Everything about this game is great, sharp visuals, a decent story plot, and you play as a to hip to be square wizard apprentice named Hocus. At the time it had 256 colors in VGA, featuring 360 degree scrolling and parallaxing backgrounds. It was your basic, collect this, and that, then exit sort of game. Is it weird I found these sort of games back then the most enjoyable? I mean it was one thing to get from point a then to point b, completing a stage. But what if you had to use your nose, reflexes, and guess around to locate keys within a side scrolling platforming aspect. Anyway I was rambling deep in font for a moment. It was one of those games next to Xargon that kept my attention for a few hours a day sorting through each stage until I beaten the first episode. Years later I got to playthrough the whole game, leaving a relieved smile across my face.
Another gem within the collection, however with some slowdown issues even with a modern PC. Featuring multiple layers of great sprite art work, across each stage, with a clutter of enemies trying to knock your head quickly. It features a great soundtrack overall, plus a good story plot. If you can overcome the slowdown issue(because of all of the things happening at once, via enemies, and movement of the environment,) then it is a fun shump.
The sequel to Word Rescue. Where you have to solve math problems,instead of word problems, to be able to leave each stages red door. It has plenty of secrets and items to find for the younger in your gaming crowd to enjoy. I personally grew up with this game as a child and had a blast. I leaped back into it doing the hard difficulty, and setting it to give word descriptions to problems. Where most of this is simple math. It is an easy pick up and play style game. So if you want to distract your kids with something while you want a break from them, do not hand them a Xbox one controller to play Call of Duty, give them the keyboard, and tell them to learn something, not fowl words.
Always perfect for the Halloween season. It had some light flaws, but did not push it away from ever being a cult favorite among MS dos fans, like myself. It aged well with a solid soundtrack, decent controls, and a innovative combat system involving rocks being tossed with a slingshot. It has plenty of little secrets, and clever map design. The plot is generally you have to save cats and dogs from the clutches of demons and the like as a young kid named Johnny Dash. It has some ups, and downs in terms of some aspects. Where you have to be pin perfect, or somehow the terrain with punish you, making it a mini game of “Johnny the pinball ball”. Past that fun game.
Is a arcade/puzzle based game with collectibles, among ammo picks within the very well designed levels. The only flaw within all of this is its trial and error is a little brutally unfair. Where even the lightest screw up requires you to load form a old save, so saving often is the best choice here, if remembered. So with that said, it maybe not that pretty as a whole, but the thought behind it is clever. Sadly the one little flaw sets back players a bit.
A awesome game, made with the biggest of detail, and exploration. Everything from the characters animations to picking up objects feel organic. Also featuring challenging game play, and fun, puzzles within the game to solve. Even how light they might be for sections of each level. It might take some getting used to for the controls, but seeing you can use a game pad, It made it a heck of a lot easier. But I am still practical to using my keyboard for this game. Great fun, a must play.
A push block like movement mechanic, that focuses you on getting through every level timed. The objective of this game is pretty simple, collect all the keys, get a high score, then exit. Avoid enemies along the way. I found myself spending at least 8 hours trying to solve solutions with later level, which is a good thing. If you usually can breeze through a puzzle game, then either the creators weren’t as thoughtful, or you are a brainy god.
Featuring some of the PC’s earliest graphics, this game is an Arcade/adventure game where you must collect idol masks, and navigate tricky levels. You are given lines, which are spears to get rid of a few enemies that might get in your way. It blends elements like Donkey Kong meets pitfall Harry, meets I wanna be the guy. Very fun, the sound effects even though I understand at the time most had pc speaker sound to depend on, I began to steep a headache from it under 25 minutes of game play. Still fun, but oh boy.
One of my favorite Shumps for the PC. It has a freaking awesome soundtrack, also featuring a shop that gives you a balance of firepower, and survivability. The game play, the bosses, and everything that this game stands for is pure quality. Still a strong game to have in this collection. Everything is destructible just about through the scrolling levels. Where they could at points contain a powerful, or some orb cash.
A game that had a few interesting ideas, but was not as amazing. It featured a system where you could tag in either the warrior called Endrick and a mage called Elandra. It was a in house game at the time where it had some great visuals. At the time I sadly never had the funds to purchase this game when it originally came out, so I was stuck playing the shareware copy once. It boasts some good music. The enemies are well made, making you swap between the two characters to deal with which ever. For flying enemies I used Elandra to knock some down, where ground enemies I used Endrick. It had a basic control scheme where it was merely your fault at points if you died.
This part of the review, many might know the games name, by its recent released title of the same name, without the Dark War part. That was produced by Interceptor. This game has a ton of humor, Rocket Launchers on steroids, and Gibs. Yes much Ludicrous mounts of gibs. Ironically supposed to be the sequel to Wolfenstein 3D, it sports a heavily modded engine of that said game, boasting a crazy amount of coin collecting, and a heap of secrets. The score for the game was always great to listen to. So if you need another shooter to challenge your fingertips, this game will hand you your butt, and make you come back for more.
Feeling a lot like Crystal Caves, but with a different theme. Plus, a whole lot more challenging. I think I have shouted the word “F” more in this game then generally I have in most current gen FPS shooters. And I am a sailor mouth in those games. However the arcade vibes leave this game in a great place. It keeps the controls simple, its just your careful hopping about that makes you move on, or have to start each stage all over again.
“Who ordered some Wang?!” Based on the Duke Nukem 3D engine, with some notable tweaks, Shadow Warrior featured a loudmouthed ninja by the name of Wang. Who popped some wisecracks on toe to toe with the Duke himself. The game was generally explore a level, find the color coded keys, key cards, or whatever else, while taking down some tough as nails enemies. Featuring a good sound track. Plus plenty of dirty easter eggs to locate, good luck you perverts finding them all (do not youtube it).
Now this game is interesting. It has a lot of freedom of customization, now think if you mixed Gradius, R-Type, and a few other shumps, and you get this. With colorful backdrops, big enemies, and constant frantic action. Its one of the recently made free to download games (abandonware) that got tossed into this mix. This does not make it a bad game at all. It is in all regards pretty darn fun. It mixed two elements of 3D sprites, such as your own ship, some enemies, including the bosses. Then the background with some sprite work that would make Mama PC game proud.
A game that left me some positive memories, it had some flaws that I could clearly state are there now. An example is the clunky collusion with the ground or walls makes the video flick 3 meters ahead, and how derp the AI is at points. In later levels the enemies become more aggressive, but not by much. The soundtrack was not one of 3D realms strongest publishings within this list. The game play itself handles well, you press A or Z to boost your speed, and decline your thruster. You move with the arrow keys in a typical simulator fashion that you would expect with flight sims. By no means is it a bad game at all. Just some what flawed.
Think Mario Kart, with animals. And just as fun. Then you will have Wacky Wheels. A PC gamers call to the very popular franchise put out by Nintendo. It features some decent tracks, and interesting ideas for the terrain, such as being able to submarine underwater whenever you go across water, slowing you down. It still holds up in terms of game play, and overall fun. Pick the Camel.
The grandfather of First Person Shooters (Next to Catacombs Abyss/3D made in 1991 with a early Wolf3d Engine) in the main stream of gaming. Having so many ports that it would make your head spin cracking down each platform. It was released in 1992 as shareware(to make it spread like wildfire of course in a clever marketing format). It had a ton of controversial elements such as the SS symbols, and Hitler across the levels on walls as pictures. Getting ban’d outright in Germany(with fair enough reasons). You play as World War II Allied spy William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, starting with a pistol you take from a now dead guard you run though maze like levels finding keys, killing nazi scum, and taking names. A completely nameable classic for about a gazillion gamers out there, still worth it in your collection.
The game that was apart of my education in learning to read as a young one. It is one of those games where you know its fun, simple, and kids can pick up and play it easily. You basically solve word problems by finding words based off of the picture you see. This included actions, or just a description of example: Brush. You had to look for a brush. So simple, at the same time busy. So kids would ether eat it up, or I do not know what else. Still pretty good as a educational game.
The Soundtrack included: “Re-rockestrated soundtrack by Interceptor Entertainment’s Andrew Hulshult”
Re-rockestrated includes:
01 – Duke Kicks Ass (Duke Nukem II)
02 – On The Range (Duke Nukem II Theme)
03 – Major Stryker Medley
04 – Chasing (Bio Meance)
05 – Stargunner Medley
06 – Aliens Of Gold (Blake Stone Theme)
07 – Alien Carnage (Halloween Harry)
08 – Dream (Wacky Wheels)
09 – Shadow Warrior Theme
You get those hints of the original tracks, then a clear guitar, and drum supporting it all with the bass sound. Featuring three formats, Wav, MP3, and FLAC. Hearing his work from the reboot of the Rise of the Triad, I knew I would be hearing almost the same style to it, which was pretty rad. My favorite out of the lot is the Shadow Warrior theme Track 09. That drum doh. Any who for those who already aware of these games, are in for a treat, as all of the songs are handled with a nice loving embrace. Nothing was butchered that day, as they say.
The collection overall has some great games, spanning some of Apogee. And 3D Realms best sellers. Aside from a few obscure published games, which had their trademarks pushed to Apogee shortly after. For the price you pay, you get a hefty collection, that all fits in one drag down listing. I am using Windows 7 which fires up each game fine, exception to a few hick ups with Death Rally. My main focus with this article was originally to state if the bundle functioned well, and everything worked, but it ended up me spending a few days breaking down every game as you noticed above.
Almost every game on this list was made with interesting ideas, and or innovations. Predating 1998 minus. I practically played 80% of these games in my youth, and still to this date for a reason. They were the industries great lineups, next to ID software, Sierra, and Epic Megagames. Now this article pretty much was a rush of my memory line, as I replayed all of the games, refreshing my memory of certain aspects. One thing that without the nostalgia glasses even on, is they all handle well, with a few kinks.The sound track is actually on my cellphone now where I can sit down and listen to it along with my already hulking MP3 collection on it. So for what you get for forty dollars basically is a very good collection. Being DRM-free being another plus. I am grateful for the memories I have had with the companies products. Now I am patient to see what their plans are for the future. A Duke Nukem Forever 2? Or Maybe a sequel to Cosmos Cosmic Adventure. Who really knows.
Worth the purchase?:
Yes, Recommended
