An excellent sequel to Little Big Adventure, once again developed by Adeline Software International and published by Electronic Arts, this time in 1997.
Little Big Adventure 2 is more detailed, more varied, and more fun than its predecessor, and, technically, it is also something of a leap forward – this second game having fully-rotating 3D exteriors, as well as the usual isometric, pre-rendered backgrounds seen in the first game.
French developer Adeline Software International created Little Big Adventure (or LBA as it is affectionately known), for Electronic Arts in 1994.
The game is an isometric 3D adventure, with simple beat ’em up combat elements, and features an interesting mix of pre-rendered backgrounds (popular at the time of release, but dating badly these days), and 3D polygonal characters.
The second of two ground-breaking Ultima Underworld games made by Blue Sky Productions (later to become Looking Glass Technologies) and Origin Systems.
Labyrinth of Worlds, first released in 1993, again features a very early (and successful) attempt to create a Role-Playing Game with a fully-explorable 3D environment. Both this – and its predecessor, The Stygian Abyss – were developed concurrently, and were a significant leap forward in terms of software technology at the time.
Continue reading Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, PC
The first of two ground-breaking Ultima Underworld games made by Looking Glass Technologies (formerly known as Blue Sky Productions) and Origin Systems.
The Stygian Abyss, first released in 1992, is one of the first Role-Playing Games to feature first-person action in a 3D environment.
This fan-made reworking of id Software’s classic Doom is just stunning!
The second game in the famous Elder Scrolls series, this one called The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.
Daggerfall is a sprawling MS-DOS-based RPG, full of monsters and magic (and fun), and was first released by Bethesda (and US Gold, in the UK anyway), back in 1996.
The world exclusive first review I did of Deus Ex for PC Zone magazine way back in 2000, showing the original grabs.
A game close to my heart, as I was the first person in the world to review Ion Storm‘s brilliant Deus Ex, for PC Zone magazine in 2000. Click here for the review.
Deus Ex (pronounced Day-Us-Ex – NOT Deuce-Ex) is a classic first-person, futuristic action game with stealth overtones, although you can choose whether to blast your way through it or not.
This is the world exclusive first review I did of System Shock 2 for PC Zone magazine back in 1999, showing the original grabs.
I knew I was down to review it, but hadn’t seen the game moving until I got the review copy. I sat in a darkened room for five days, shitting myself, playing the game, grabbing it and writing the review.
Back in the office the editor asked me for a coverline. “A masterpiece unveiled?” I suggested. It stuck.
System Shock 2 IS a masterpiece!
The King of Grabs 