Finding a game that will run well on a 68030 can be quite a
challenge these days. Although the system requirements will let you
know whether the game will run on a 68030, rarely do they
say whether it will run well.
During the last couple of weeks I have been on a
roller coaster in the computer world, from rediscovering several
classic games to having my trusty IIfx die on me. I will describe some of the
high points: games which will run well on 68030s, even those such
as the LC II, which is now the only working 68030 computer in my
collection.
Those who are regular readers of Low End Mac Gaming have
probably picked up on the fact that
Realmz is one of my favorite games. Realmz is a turn-based
role-playing game. You can find a more detailed description of
Realmz as well as download Realmz from
the Fantasoft site. You will also want to continue reading LEM
Gaming - due to my appreciation of Realmz, I am planning to do a
more in-depth column about it in the near future.
Realmz should work on any 68030 with at least 5 MB of free RAM
and a monitor capable of displaying 640 x 480 at 256 colors. The
full installation of the latest version requires around 40 MB of
hard drive space. The newer versions of Realmz seem to run pretty
slowly on slower 68030s, such as my 16 MHz LC II. On a 40 MHz IIfx, Realmz runs quite
acceptably. The overall performance of Realmz on '030s is
borderline, but the game is excellent.
If you like Realmz, you may also like WarCraft and Heroes of
Might and Magic. These games are not role-playing games like
Realmz, but both of them are set in the same type of fantasy world
with monsters, knights, and the like. Both of these games are the
first of highly successful series.
WarCraft is a real-time game in which you play as humans or
orcs, attempting to destroy the other. You control each individual
unit in your armies. WarCraft is developed by Blizzard
Entertainment.
Heroes of Might and Magic is similar in concept to WarCraft; you
build up strong armies. However, Heroes is turn-based. Also, the
command of your units is not as direct - you control "stacks" of
like creatures.
Both of these games have multiplayer options. They are both
supported by any 68030 processor, although, as with Realmz, they
will be a bit slow on the slower '030s. When buying one of these
games, make sure you are not getting Heroes II or III or WarCraft
II, since none of these games are officially supported on '030s.
WarCraft II will play on some '030s, but it is not officially
supported.
One of the true classics of Mac gaming is Bolo. Bolo is a tank game which has
been around for quite a while and should run well on any 68030
(Bolo requires a Mac Plus or
later). The point of the game is to gain control of as much
territory as possible. On the surface, Bolo may seem like an arcade
game, but it takes a lot of time to master. If you play it much,
you will see how complex it really is. Bolo also has very good
multiplayer support. Bolo is shareware and available for download
from Jolo's
Bolo Starter Pack page. Some of the links on the download page
are no longer valid, but the first one in the binhex section
works.
There are some 3D action games which support 68030s, but
frankly, few (if any) of them are worth playing on anything but the
fastest '030s.
If you want action, your best bet is side-scrolling games. One
classic which seems to be fairly easy to find is Prince of Persia,
a game in which you fight through many levels of dungeons trying to
save an Arabian princess. Prince of Persia is playable on any
68030. Prince of Persia is available as part of the Prince of
Persia Collection CD by Broderbund Software.
Another good side-scroller is Flashback. In Flashback, that you
are trying to save Earth. You battle through several worlds.
Flashback was originally published by MacPlay. It is currently
available from the Interplay online
store - search for "flashback." Flashback is also playable on
any '030.
Another great side-scroller was Thexder from Sierra. I have not
been able to find any trace of Thexder for Mac, other than the copy
on my hard drive. If you happen to come across it, do not let it
get away.
When considering games for older Macs, especially shareware,
don't overlook the games from Ambrosia Software. There's a
reason that Ambrosia has been one of the leaders of the Mac
shareware industry for several years. Their first big game,
Maelstrom,
is definitely worth checking out. Most of Ambrosia's games,
especially the ones which work well on 030s, are arcade-type. Some
of their games which work well on '030s include Maelstrom, Chiral,
Apeiron, Swoop, Barrack, Avara, Bubble Trouble, and Escape
Velocity, the prequel to their immensely popular Escape Velocity:
Override. EV, and especially EV: Override, are two very well
developed shareware games which go beyond the twitch level of many
arcade games and provide many hours of entertainment. One of the
best things about these games is that, since they are all
shareware, you can download them to see how you like them before
registering the ones you like.
Adventurous gamers may want to try Pseud040 or Wish I Were, available for download on
Low End Mac's software download
page. These programs trick other programs into thinking your
68020 or 68030 is a 68040. Note, however, that most games which
require an '040 do so for a reason; they may run very slowly on a
68030.
Other games which I did not have space to elaborate on, but are
worth trying, include Asterax, Diamonds 3D, Civilization and
Civilization II, Falcon MC, Wizardry Gold, many members of Maxis'
Sim series, Oregon Trail, and certainly others that I have
forgotten.
Further Reading
