Korin Hasegawa-John
- 2001.12.06
Q: I enjoyed your articles on first person shooting games,
but those sort of games really don't appeal to me. I also don't
have and can't afford a Mac that will run them. Can you recommend
any other games?
A: Sure. There are lots of good games out there that are
shareware or older retail titles. I've broken down a few of my old
favorites into several categories. All the games are rated by
number of stars. Unless otherwise noted, all games need a PowerMac
and at least 32 MB RAM.
Strategy
Worms. Unsure as to availability. •••
This is a very fun game. You control a group of worms, which do
battle with another team of worms on a second map. They can use any
manner of weapons, from air strikes and grenades to pistols and
shotguns. It also has a same-computer multiplayer option.
Turn-based. Price: $30 retail if you can find it, maybe less.
Deathground.
Freeverse Software. ••••
It's like Risk. You are a mob boss, whose aim is to conquer the
city by taking over "hoods" from other players. Each turn you get
more guys, and if you control a group of hoods, you get even more
guys. Very fun, and voices are very funny. Uses same-machine
multiplayer capabilities. If you want to get it, Freeverse has very
generously made it available to Low End
Mac readers for $10 including shipping. Just mention Low End
Mac - and many thanks to Colin Lynch Smith for providing this.
:-)
The turn based strategy game. You start with a small
tribe and attempt to conquer the world or build a spaceship to
colonize Alpha Centauri. If you accomplish either, you win. Along
the way you build buildings and military units, found new cities
and research technologies. Includes an Internet/intranet
multiplayer option. Turn based. $49.99 retail, check DealMac for a
good price. Still being published, and will run on 68040, but needs
32 MB RAM.
Alpha Centauri. Aspyr •••••
Civilization II's sequel. Includes multiplayer support (network
or Internet). It's much more powerful and flexible, allowing you to
design your own units. An added bonus: It takes place on an
imaginary planet of Alpha Centauri (called Planet) which has much
more realistic terrain modeling than Civ. II. (Squares have height,
rockiness, and moisture attributes.) Groups, now called Factions,
have their own specific agendas and bonuses. Needs 604e 200 MHz or
better, 4 MB VRAM, 64 MB application RAM.
Action/Adventure
Classic. Very fun, complicated, action/adventure/RPG game. You
start as a trader in the midst of a galactic civil war. Choose
sides or just watch to see what happens. No more said, at the risk
of giving away a great plot. Its plug-in architecture allows for
the game to be modified almost limitlessly when the original
missions and scenario get old. It's big con is the lack of
multiplayer support, but it's easy to waste months on the game by
itself. Runs on any Quadra or better, 640 x 480 8-bit video or
better. Price: $20 shareware.
Unprovoked.
Cortic Software. ••••
A space-action game. It has many missions. You can choose
various ships with different capabilities, from small, speedy
fighters to big hulking carriers with lots of weapons. Plot is
nothing special, but it's still a blast (literally). Needs 160 MHz,
Mac OS 8, 800 x 600 and 32 MB RAM. Has a multiplayer option
via intranet or Internet via Cortic's homepage. Price unknown.
Shooters
Marathon
II. Bungie Software. ••••
No matter what Doom-heads say, this is the Mac FPS king.
Published in 1995, it is still available in a boxed set with
Marathon and Marathon Infinity. The source is now open, so many
modifications are available. Has an intranet multiplayer support,
but graphics are a little lackluster by today's standards. For good
performance, you need a 100 MHz PPC with 40 MB RAM or better.
