Game-a-day #23...Trash Man.

I love games that deal with real world situations or vocations in the case of "Trash Man".   Like "Paperboy", this game sets you up in a neighborhood setting where you must serve the population.  Rather than a glamorous paperboy, you are a trash man.  Sure it sounds mundane, but what was "Frogger" about... crossing the road?  How much adventure was in Pac-Man?  What was Pac-Man?  I guess he was a puck, because his name was Puck-Man in his original iteration. Donkey Kong?  It's about rescuing your girlfriend from a gorilla, so, okay, it's more of an adventure, but still, no guns or ships or bombs.  Anyhow, let's just say some of the timeless classics of game history are non-violent, sometimes mundane, yet very fun games.  I like "Trash Man", it is fun, it's a little slow, but hey, so's your grandma.  It's easy, you have to collect trash and put it into the trash truck.  Avoid getting hit by cars, and be sure to do it fast or you get fired.  I guess it's a little like a day job, but if you always wanted to be a sanitation worker, here it is.  I say play it, I did and I'm glad... If you need a spaceship game try Asteroids.

Trash Man on Gamebase64

Abandonia Treasures #20...Aquaphobia.

Here's a game from the 90's that even at the time was a sort of throwback.  "Aquaphobia", it's not the most sophisticated game, but it has some good points.  It's an action game, and that's a plus if you're short on time and need a game fix.  It's hard, so you don't have to worry about mastering it too quick, and it takes place underwater, a setting I like especially in an action game.  You are a diver and you have harpoons to throw at the angry underwater things that come at you.  You have a limited supply of air, and that's what makes this game a real challenge.  You can't just hang back and kill stuff you have to worry about how much air you have in the tank. Air only drops down at specific places, so if you take too long, it's death for you.  I like this little spin on a time limit, because you also have to grab the air without getting killed.  So, it's not an amazing game that you want to see immortalized in a temple of game heroes, but it's solid and you should have some fun with it.  Hmmmmmm, Will there be any deep sea adventure in "Deeds Of Yore"? Dive! Dive!

Aquaphobia on Abandonia.

Game-a-day #24...Little Computer People.

Some people will say that "Little Computer People" isn't a game.  If Tamagotchi is a game then "Little Computer people is a game too.  This game is the grandfather of the current Sims games.  The Sims are fine, a lot of detail and all, but I like the simplicity of "Little Computer People" over all of their complicated glitz and glamour. Somehow I feel at home when I play this game.  I don't know why, but this game is like a time machine for me.  More than any other game it takes me back to the 80's, back to my bedroom, with the GIANT computer table, back to the days that I would watch Chanel 5 Sunday movies on my 13 inch TV.  "Little Computer People" takes me back.  It was a simple time, no cell phones or twitter, or facebook.  To be honest in many ways I miss that time.  I mean, I like all the stuff we have today, and you can never go back, but when I fire up "Little Computer People", I can get as close to going back as I think is at all possible.  You don't have much to do in this game, you just watch your little guy live his life in his little house.  He watches TV, eats, feeds his dog, talks on the phone sleeps, uses the computer, and even plays piano.  You do have to make sure your little guy has water and food, and dog food, and you can make his phone and alarm ring.  It's not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but it's fun, cool, and like I said, it takes me back.  Give it a try, there's a meditative quality to it.

Little Computer People on Gamebase64

Abandonia Treasures #19...Crime Time

This is an interesting mystery crime type adventure.  The interface is dated to be sure, but it's easy to use and you'll be playing in a very few minutes.  It's like an early point and click, but you can't click on the actual artwork, that by the way is NOT animated but rather static.  There's some good mood music and you can interact with the world via clicking on actions and items on lists. Okay, I don't give this game any gold stars for being amazing to play, but the story is compelling and it's generally not bad.  If you like the crime genre, check this game out, if you get past it's slightly uncomfortable interface you'll get some great game play out of it.  Give it a try amateur detective types.

Crime Time on Abandonia

Game-a-day #25...Mothership.

Here's a simple, simple, simple one.  It's not as simple as "Down the Chimney", but it's dang simple.  You move and fire.  Now, the fact that it's simple doesn't mean it's easy, in fact it's freaking hard.  Fun?  I guess, it's not super enormous fun like Disneyland, or magic shows, but it's kinda amusing.  I like the Star Warsish look of it all, kinda cool too. I think I might like most other games a little better than this one, but I don't hate it.  Don't hate. appreciate!  Dont' hate, it's late, the game's not great, but it's your fate, to play it mate.  So go get it...

P.S. It's called "Mothership".

Mothership on Gamebase64

Abandonia Treasures #18...Zeliard.

"Zeliard" is in a word, delightful.  It's and arcade style adventure in the tradition of "The Adventure of Link", a sophisticated, stylish game that only the Japanese could bring to the table. Okay, so it's a rip off of "Link", but who cares, it's got it's own story, the artwork is awesome and original, it plays like an anime movie.  What more do you want.  I'll tell you what more I want, I want more time to play this game.  I was actually upset that I have to finish making "Deeds Of Yore" before I can spend a week on this game, and I LOVE making "Deeds Of Yore".... Oh Abandonia, why do you bring me such awesome games!?  I just want to play them and do nothing else.  Oh well, it's back to work for me, but if you have time, dude, this is the game.  I only played it for like ten minutes, and all I wanted was more.  Go to it adventures, go to it.

Zelirad on Abandonia

Game-a-day #26...Exodus.

Aka Ultima III.  It's a good starter Ultima for the RPG noob.  My favorite Ultima is Ultima I, but I'm hard core.  The bulk of the vintage game public may like to play a game less deep retro. Exodus is just particularly playable, and unlike it's child Ultima IV it's not a full time job. Let's say you're new to RPG games, you like the idea of playing an RPG, but you just don't know where to start...  Exodus dude, start with Exodus. You get to play with multiple characters, you have an epic quest, lot's of towns and castles, dungeons.  It's a solid game.  Most of the games that Origin made over the years are solid, you can be kinda sure that if a game has an Origin logo on it, it's gonna be pretty good.  You might be a RPG noob, or an RPG master, but either way Exodus is a great game.

Exodus on Gamebase64