PC gaming has come a long way. In fact, PC gaming in present day is almost completely unrecognizable, baring almost no resemblance whatsoever to the days of Baldur’s Gate, Dungeon Keeper, Wolfenstein 3D, System Shock, Homeworld, and Day of the Tentacle, an era also known as the 1990s. In truth, PC gaming today is basically identical to console gaming, only more technically advanced.
In the 1990s, PC gaming was an entirely separate beast, a genuine alternative to console gaming that offered completely dissimilar experiences. It was a magical system, and a magical period for gaming, a period which introduced the world to the likes of Guybrush Threepwood, Manny Calavera and Doom Guy, as well as Gordon Freeman.
With that said, PC gaming is a mixed bag, and unfortunately, not everything can mature with the same degree of grace. In reality, there are hundreds of PC games from the period that are simply unsalvageable, or utterly unplayable, many of which are remembered with a great deal of fondness. So, here are 10 games that actually hold up, proving that age is just a number…
Fallout 2: A Post-Nuclear Role Playing Game
Fallout 3 was released an entire decade after the last instalment, and was a significant departure for the series. For one thing, Fallout 3 was no longer a top-down, turned-based RPG, but rather a more conventional first-person shooter, which alone created a vastly dissimilar experience from Fallout, as well as Fallout 2.
For many, Fallout 3 was an improvement, and is often credited with saving the franchise from oblivion, and for reimagining the core concept for an all new generation of players. For others, Fallout 2 will always be the pinnacle of the series, a marvel of interactive storytelling, and an achievement that will never be surpassed, except maybe by Wasteland 2.
Well, I have great news: Fallout 2 still holds up. In fact, the dated visuals actually work quite effectively to enforce a sense of aesthetic, as well as physical decay. The central appeal of the series has always been the story, and that remains unaffected by the passage of time. Honestly, there’s absolutely no reason not to give Fallout 2 a go, even in 2016.
Thief: The Dark Project
Developed by Looking Glass Studios, and published by Eidos Interactive, Thief: The Dark Project was the first stealth game to utilise light and shadow as a central mechanic, forcing the player to strategies, as well as plan their movements carefully and considerately. In 1998, it was also the first game in a brand new series, a series which would survive over a decade, and influence everything from Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell to the Hitman series.
The game itself is first-person stealth game in which players must explore environments, steal treasure and neutralise patrolling guards. In the game, players take control of Garrett, an abandoned orphan turned master criminal, tasked with attaining The Eye, a mystical gem capable of untold devastation. Alone, and completely unmatched, Garrett must discover the domain of the trickster, and somehow prevent the complete annihilation of civilisation.
Thief is a remarkably influential game, a fact which is often understated. In 1998, it was nothing short of groundbreaking, spawning three sequels, as well as a reboot in 2014. Thief II: The Metal Age surpassed the original in many way, but The Dark Project came first, and will always be remembered as a crowning achievement in the genre, as well as an unparalleled success for Looking Glass Studies, selling over a million copies worldwide.
System Shock 2
System Shock 2 was the precursor to Bioshock, co-developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, the same development team behind Thief: The Dark Project. It was released in 1999, and was received positively by critics. In the game, players take on the role of an unnamed soldier, an amnesiac implanted with a cyber neural interface, forced to alley himself with a powerful artificial intelligence in order to prevent untold destruction.
In terms of gameplay, System Shock 2 is an amalgamation of survival horror and conventional RPG elements, creating a wonderfully unique experience. The goal of the game is to defeat enemies and advance through the story, but a rather innovative development system allows for significantly more depth, allowing players to modify certain abilities, customising their experiences depending on their own personal preferences.
The game welcomes multiple playthroughs, and was designed with longevity in mind. In fact, seeing as how the experience can vary depending on which abilities are advanced, there is limitless potential in replaying the game numerous times. Almost as a direct result, System Shock 2 survives the test of time. Even if you’ve played the game a dozen times already, there’s always more to discover, and new strategies to consider.
Myst
Released in 1993, Myst was a point-and-click graphic-adventure that shocked the world by becoming the highest selling PC game in history, until it was superseded by The Sims. In the game, players assume the role of an unnamed protagonist, who after inadvertently transporting himself to a mysterious island, is tasked with finding several missing pages, each of which is scattered throughout multiple unique worlds.
Throughout the 90s, Myst was ported numerous times to a handful of system, including the SEGA Saturn, PlayStation and 3DO. It was successful enough to spawn four sequels, as well as a dozen spinoffs, remakes and spiritual successors. In 2003, it was estimated that the entire series had sold over twelve million units worldwide, making it one of the most lucrative franchises in gaming history, as well as one of the most celebrated.
Since 2000, there have been two significant remakes of Myst, both of which received a fair amount of criticism. In reality, there’s nothing quite like the original, and seeing as how the game is primarily story and puzzled focused, it certainly holds up.
Grim Fandango
Grim Fandango was released in 1998, almost two decades ago. It was considered an immense success at the time of its release, and has since garnered numerous awards and recognitions. In fact, to this day, the game is considered one of the best examples of the point-and-click genre, and is often cited as one of the most original and imaginative works of videogame storytelling ever conceived.
In the game, players assume the role of Manny Calavera, a travel-agent capable of securing passage to the Ninth Underworld, who is forced to undertake the seven year journey himself, travelling through The Land of the Dead in order to reach his final destination. The gameplay involves solving inventory puzzles, as well as interacting with characters around the environment in order to overcome obstacles, and advance in the story.
Beautifully written, Grim Fandango is packed with complex, relatable characters, intelligently designed puzzles, and amusing dialogue. It may have been released in 1998, but it is still one of the best examples of the point-and-click genre. Thankfully, the remastered version of the game is easily accessible, and readily available. So, you have no excuse.
SimCity 2000
Released on Amiga, DOS and Microsoft Windows in 1994, SimCity 2000 was the second instalment in the series, and was later ported to SEGA Saturn, Playstation and Nintendo 64. In the game, players create their own cities, customising everything from the hospitals to the prisons, and from roads, subways and highways to sewage and water systems.
The game also introduced several playable scenarios, in which players are tasked with salvaging a demolished city from the brink of destruction. Interestingly, these scenarios were based on actual disasters, such as the 1970s recession in Flint, Michigan, the Oakland firestorm of 1991, and 1980’s Hurricane Hugo in Charleston, South Carolina. An expansion pack released in 1994 introduced several new scenarios, including those based on fictional occurrences, such as a UFO attack and a random nuclear meltdown.
Without a doubt, SimCity 2000 has weathered the storm, and survived the test of time. In fact, to this day, the game is one of the best examples of the genre, and hasn’t really been surpassed in terms of overall quality. There are plenty of larger games with hundreds of more features, but none are as compelling, or as fun as SimCity 2000.
Baldur's Gate
Developed by Bioware, and published by Interplay Entertainment, Baldur’s Gate achieved almost universal acclaim upon its initial release, and has since been credited with the rejuvenation of the entire genre. In 1998, the game was praised for its design, character customisation options, combat and reputation systems, and story. In fact, it was praised for pretty much everything, receiving very little negative criticism whatsoever.
The game itself takes place in The Forgotten Realms, a fictional world inspired by the campaign setting of the same name from Dungeons & Dragons. In the game, players must create custom characters, and developed their character throughout the game, choosing various paths, and making decision that affect the larger story. Gameplay is done in realtime, and is depicted from a top-down isometric perspective, allowing players to pause the game in order to contemplate their decisions, and form certain strategies.
Baldur’s Gate spawned several sequels, as well as a handful of direct remakes. Currently, Bioware are planning a third instalment in the series, and consider the project a long term priority for the company, a passion project that will eventually come to fruition. To this day, the game is still played in abundance, and is remembered fondly by most.
Half-Life
Wolfenstein 3D may have invented first-person shooting, but Half-Life perfected it. In 1998, the game utilised a heavily modified version of the Quake Engine, allowing the team to create more detailed, lifelike animations, as well as more convincing physics. The result was a realistic first-person shooter that prioritised storytelling over mindless carnage, in which everything about the experience was grounded, and attention was paid to the articulation of certain narrative themes, which might have been a first for that particular genre.
In the game, players take on the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who inadvertently causes a resonance cascade, opening a bridge between dimensions and allowing extra-terrestrial invaders to launch an offensive on the Black Mesa Institute. Gameplay is surprisingly puzzle orientated, and while gunplay is certain emphasised, the game itself is divided fairly equally between the two, creating a remarkably diverse experience.
In 1998, the FPS genre was in its infancy, consisting almost entirely of monotonous, uninspiring games, all of which wanting desperately to be DOOM. Half-Life was relatively slow-paced, taking its time to create a detailed world in which the action could take place. It was something completely unlike anything that had come before it, and continues to be relevant, as well as hugely influential to this very day.
Planescape: Torment
Developed by Black Isles Studios, and published by Interplay Entertainment, Planescape: Torment was released in 1993, and was praised almost unanimously by critics. In the game, players assume the role of The Nameless One, an unconventional protagonist tasked with recovering his mortality from The Fortress of Regrets.
In terms of gameplay, Torment uses a ruleset similar to Dungeons & Dragons, and the setting of the game is actually based on a campaign of the same name from D&D. Much like Baldur’s Gate, the game involves clicking the environment to move the protagonist, and the emphasis is on collecting items, solving puzzles, customising certain abilities, and exploring in order to uncover hidden secrets. Unlike Baldur’s Gate, the emphasis of the game is story, rather than conflict, meaning most quests can be completed entirely through diplomacy.
Without a doubt, Planescape: Torment is worth playing, even in 2016. After all, the game prioritises story, and a good story will never go out of fashion.
DOOM
The premier first-person shooter, and the literal definition of PC gaming in the 1990s, DOOM has not only survived the test of time, but appreciated tremendously in value. In 2016, the game is still a spectacle of cartoonish brutality, and an absolute delight. To this day, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of obliterating a room of demons with the rocket launcher, or grinding them to pieces with the chainsaw, or pummeling them with your bare fists.
It’s an unmatched experience, a marvel of gratuitous violence, as well as gruesome death. In the game, players assume the role of Doom Guy, a merciless marine tasked with the extermination of countless invading demons from Hell. Essentially, you’re objective is to murder everything that moves, demolishing your way through eight unique stages, collecting weapons, finding keys and wreaking as much destruction as humanly possible.
In the 1990s, DOOM had over twenty million active players, and was making between $100,000-$200,000 a day for ID Software, making it one of the most lucrative PC games in history, as well as being one of the most celebrated. To date, the game is still considered one of the most influential shooters of all time, and is often credited with pioneering the genre. In reality, DOOM is still a tremendous amount of fun, and well worth your time.