Retro-gaming is a term with soft definitions. In my opinion, people who are interested in retro-gaming know what they like and love reading, watching and reviewing games with roots longer than last week. There is no doubt that these games can be fun. These games are quick to get into and rely on reflexes and pattern recognition to succeed. It is amazing what developers could do with such heavy restrictions. There are many websites, forums, magazines, Facebook pages, auction sites, and archives that collate and analyse this large body of work. This sort of discussion falls into groups such as historical, heritage, and recollections. Helen Stuckey has written a wonder thesis on Remembering Australian videogames of the 1980s, what museums can learn from retro gamer communities about the curation of game history. Beyond the historical perspective, retro-games are also a source for inspiration and refreshing onto newer platforms. I have put together some pages on interesting games that keep this in mind. Some of these games are readily available on current gaming platforms and some are even recent developments by passionate programmers. They reflect what I like and find inspiration from. Please enjoy.
7 games staring
Axolotls
Playing Coin-Op
Games for FREE
Sequel to
Baldur's Gate 3
Soundscapes of
RPG Fantasy
Interactive RPG
Narrative Generation
D&D Pixels to
RPG Perfection
Vortex Crystals
FREE C64 Game
Top 5 retrogaming
weapons
Karaoke on the
Commodore C64?
BBC Elite
play in browser
EPIC for the
Amiga and PC
Retaliate CE
C64 game review
Live Ammo
C64 games bundle
Most addictive shooter
on the Commodore C64?
Best combat simulator
on Commodore C64?
Bally Astrocade
Pac-Man Muncher
Step into the world of retro gaming machines, where vintage games meet modern convenience. These machines are sometimes a treasure trove of classic gaming adventures, often packing anywhere from a handful to thousands of games. Imagine reliving the era of street arcades, right in your own living room. These consoles, often compact and user-friendly, offer a gateway to the past, where pixels ruled and gameplay was king. From the simplistic charm of early 8-bit adventures to the more sophisticated 16-bit sagas, these machines cater to all kinds of retro enthusiasts.
It might not be front of mind, but retro-gaming also happens on your dusty old DVD player as well. I am not sure how many DVD games have been released. One thing is for sure, the original arcade Laserdisc games have been ported to it. The games are the same but the format is different. And interesting. Lat's look into how fun these spinning silver discs can be.
My retrogaming log overflows with high action, graphically intense, action games. These games are quick to get into and fast paced. Often it is a matter of switching off the brain and relying on rote reflexes alone. These are the headline actions. These are the blockbuster games. Never forget that adventure games are out there. Ask a gamer what the first gaming hits were. Gamers are likely to respond with the ever awesome Space Invaders, Asteroids or Defender. Adventure was distributed on mainframe computers before Arcades became a thing.
There has always been a devoted following to adventure games. The adventure crowd may not be as dense as shoot'em ups. Adventure game players are still around. Few modern blog posts discuss the merits of the latest text-based adventure game. The adventure crowd is living in a different world. Literally.
Adventure games have a reputation for mixing fantasy worlds with brain-twisting puzzles. The gamer usually finds themself at the center of the story. The world can be medieval fantasy, Cthulhu scientific horror, or set in space. All adventurers need a quest. The adventure game immerses you in that quest.
Adventure games are a battle of wits. The gamer may be battling a rabid orc in game. In reality, the gamer is battling their wits against the programmer's cunning. Adventure game writers are a devious bunch. Puzzles and riddles are their domain. The clues to winning are there. We need to search the clues to escape the next trap.
There is an amazing feeling in conquering an adventure game. You have won. You have bettered the program. That feeling is a rush. Maybe you have forgotten that feeling. Look out for your next quest as the adventure bug may bite again.
The title Eye of the Beholder from the 1991 game is a masterstroke of wordplay, offering a brilliant double entendre that resonates with both the game's narrative and its immersive design. At first glance, many interpret the title as a poetic nod to the player's perspective, tying into the first-person viewpoint that defines the dungeon-crawling experience. This interpretation aligns with the idea of the adventurer's journey being in the eye of the beholder, or the player guiding their party through the perilous underworld of Waterdeep.
However, the true meaning reveals itself as players delve deeper into the game's story.
The title is a direct reference to the monstrous Beholder, a nightmarish creature central to the climax of the game.
Xanathar, a powerful and fearsome Beholder, lurks at the heart of the sewers, orchestrating the evil that plagues the city.
The eye
is not merely metaphorical; it is literal—the deadly, otherworldly gaze of the Beholder, capable of disintegrating, petrifying,
or enchanting its enemies with devastating beams.
I only recently made this connection myself when I was reading the Dungeons & Dragons novel,
The Road to Neverwinter
(eBay affiliate link).
This dual meaning enhances the title's brilliance. The title describes both the player's immersive experience and the monstrous antagonist waiting in the shadows. It's a reflection of the game's careful story-telling, blending Dungeons & Dragons lore with an evocative title that lingers long after the final battle.