As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but marvel at the intriguing titles that have graced our screens over the years. One such gem is none other than “Black and White,” developed by Lionhead Studios in 2001. This game, much like a fine wine, has aged beautifully, offering a unique blend of strategy, morality, and charm that was a precursor to the beloved Fable series.
For numerous years, strategy games have been a significant aspect in the world of video games. Alongside what we now call “shooter” games (not yet named back then) and Role-Playing Games set in a computer environment (CRPGs), strategy titles were an essential part of the remarkable 90s PC game releases that shaped the gaming industry as it exists today.
However, numerous strategies game titles from the ’90s wave, which significantly shaped the genre, have unfortunately slipped into oblivion and are unavailable on contemporary platforms today. Here’s a list of a few strategy games that appear to have been overlooked by time.
5 Dune 2
Forge A Dynasty On Arrakis
- Release Date: 1992
- Platform: Sega Genesis, Amiga, DOS, MS-DOS, Acorn Archimedes, AmigaOS, RISC OS
- Developer: Westwood Studios, Westwood Studios, Inc., 7th ARM Systems
- Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment, The Hit Squad
Following the extraordinary success of the latest two Dune movies and the ongoing development of a new open-world game (although its progress may not always be consistent), it’s evident that Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi series has made a comeback in popular culture. Interestingly, video games have attempted to capture the grand space opera of Dune before, with many influential strategy games offering interpretations of the mystical, vast world of Arrakis.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can confidently say that out of all these game titles, it’s Dune 2 that truly shines as an immersive strategy game. It perfectly embodies the essence of Herbert’s original work. Furthermore, let me not forget to mention that this game was one of the major influencers in the 90s gaming landscape. Its impact was profound, significantly shaping the Command and Conquer series and many other concepts we see at play there.
4 Mega-Lo-Mania
A Pioneer In Tech Trees And War
- Release Date: 1991
- Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis
- Developer: Sensible Software
- Publisher:Image Works, Ubisoft, Virgin Interactive Entertainment, CRI Middleware Co, Imagineer
Back in the day, “Mega-Lo-Mania” might not ring a bell for many, but its impact on the strategy game genre remains significant and far-reaching. Released a year before “Dune 2”, this title paved the way with numerous groundbreaking features, even if these were presented in a rather simplified board game-like structure where the distinct factions essentially boiled down to color differences. One of the most enduring advancements it introduced that continues to be a mainstay in strategy games is the technology tree.
In the early stages of Mega-Lo-Mania, units initially lack any means of defense or offense until a player assigns workers to study technology and create blueprints. As more blueprints are produced, an array of new items and unit types become accessible. Continuing along the technology path, the primary objective of this game is to surpass the AI opponents in research and eventually conquer their territories.
3 Black And White
A Morality-Focused, Strategic God Game
- Release Date: 2001
- Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac
- Developer: Lionhead Studios
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Feral Interactive, Fireshine Games, Sold-Out Software
From the great mind and lofty, lofty ambitions of Lionhead Studio’s Peter Molyneux, comes Black and White, a morality-focused strategy game that puts the player in a position of a god trying to win over the worship, or at least subservience, from a variety of tribes spread across several isles. Game Rant’s experts have run over the data and are 99% sure that the Japanese visual-novel RPG also titled Black and White has nothing to do with this one, alas.
As a devoted fan of the extraordinary Fable series, it’s quite captivating to reminisce about this specific game that laid the groundwork for the intriguing concepts that later blossomed in the powerful trilogy. The charm, black-and-white morality, and depth in gameplay are all evident if you can find a copy of this lesser-known gem.
2 NATO Commander
A Fascinating Cold War Relic
- Release Date : 1983
- Platform: Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit computers, Apple II
- Developer: MicroProse
- Publisher: MicroProse, U.S. Gold
In a strategy game that offers a considerable challenge, NATO Commander positions players as a NATO commander, tasked with preventing an invasion of West Germany by the Warsaw Pact. This game, initially launched on ATARI in 1983, finds itself right in the heart of the Cold War era, a full six years before the Berlin Wall came crashing down. Despite appearing distant to today’s world, this conflict was one of the most critical geopolitical issues during its time.
Games such as “Command and Conquer” are renowned for their challenging nature, but “NATO Commander” stands out as an exceptionally tough game to conquer. The troops from Warsaw are overwhelmingly powerful, making them difficult to defeat. Instead of forcing an enemy’s surrender, the objective of the game is to delay long enough for diplomatic negotiations to take place.
1 Dark Colony
Fight For Mars On A Shifting Battlefield
- Release Date: 1997
- Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac
- Developer: GameTek, Rockstar Toronto, Strategic Simulations
- Publisher: GameTek, Strategic Simulations, Take-Two Interactive
Sci-Fi strategy games are captivating and unique within their genre, with a significant part of their appeal stemming from the long-standing history of Sci-Fi strategy titles that have consistently redefined the formula. The game “Dark Colony” stands out with its intriguing setting and dual factions, making it one of the early trailblazers in the strategy gaming world.
In Dark Colony, one issue that is common among many games from this period is that the opposing factions, humans and Taar, primarily differ in appearance but have only minor gameplay variations.
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2024-09-19 10:34