The sequel to X-Wing puts you in the seat of the very vulnerable TIE fighter. With many improvements on it's predecessor, this game is one you can play for days, hours, months, especially if you want to achieve all the secret goals in every mission at the hardest setting. It is unfortunate that there is no version which includes the best of all worlds; the latest version has inexplicably replaced the original excellent IMUSE sound track with generic Star Wars music and really should have an option to choose which one you prefer. I also like the original cutscenes, introduction and screens over the new version for the most part and would again like the ability to choose which one is displayed. But the in flight graphics in the original version are not so great and the inability to customise controls means they really aren't an option in terms of playability. Hopefully one day the ultimate version will be released.
Ultima 7, and especially Serpent Isle, immerse you in a huge, amazingly detailed world of characters, monsters, cultures and stories that have the potential to engage you for years. There's so much to these games it's really amazing they were ever completed. Just as one example, the religion of the long extinct serpent worshippers that you discover as you explore Serpent Isle through ruins, scrolls, the half-baked stories of the current occupants, dreams, visions etc is remarkably well developed and though out, and that's just as a background to the people who actually inhabit it now. I spent so much time getting to know all the characters, completing quests, exploring dungeons, trying out different weapons and spells, accumulating treasure, discovering the secrets of the serpent gates, listening to the music on the jukebox... etc etc etc!! Inevitably there are flaws (such as the system used for storing your items and the fact that if you lose something vital it's probably gone forever and you better hope you have a save point you can restart from) but if you are someone who enjoys role playing games, or someone who appreciates a decent story, this is a no-brainer. Seriously the amount of value you will get for under $10 is crazy. It's just a shame that Ultima 8 and in particular 9 did not live up to the standard this game set. Someday I will get round to working my way backwards and trying out Ultima 6 though...
This gives a new twist to the standard bridge building game. It's enjoyable except when you get to a level where you can't figure out what the designer intended; the solutions to many seem to very specific rather than allowing the player to be creative and require you to place the elements in exactly the right position, to the pixel in some cases. So you can spend a long time getting the cars to a certain point only to discover you can't get them to the exit without erasing everything and using a different approach. Also if you reach a level you can't figure out how to pass that means you are stuck and can't progress any further in the game. I think a hint system or the ability to skip a level would make this a lot more enjoyable.
For any fans of X-Wing and TIE Fighter this is a must have. Basically follows the same format with improved graphics, a more engaging story and some new elements. I would give it 5 stars but for some glitches, especially in the final Death Star mission which I had to replay multiple times due to issues with the ship getting stuck in areas I couldn't get out of, events not triggering as they should, and several times the core was simply indestructible. Replaying some of the missions where the real challenge where you could fail multiple times and have to go through everything again from the beginning can be tedious as well.
This is a very humorous point and click with really beautiful graphics that look like they have been drawn by hand. A few of the puzzles are a bit obscure but that's probably unavoidable. Try to resist the temptation to look up the solutions as you'll be sorry when it's over. For the bargain price it's a no brainer purchase for me.
I used to have this game on CD rom (funnily enough I think I claimed it free through a breakfast cereal promotion or similar). Although I haven't played it for a long time I recall being disappointed by the length of the game, especially compared to other Trek titles like A Final Unity and the Elite Force games. This feels like a side note and not really finished properly. I also recall finding the final stage of the game being very frustrating as you run through random generated corridors and have to shoot enemies with a phaser. The point of view is a fixed camera off to the side at an angle where you can see Data at one end of the corridor and the enemy at the other and it's extremely difficult to judge the angle you need to fire at to hit them. In my view this would only be worth purchasing at a large discount even if you are a big STTNG fan like I am.
Same engine as the first game with lots of little improvements that make the experience better for the player. There's a much more engaging story with a map, save game structure that makes more sense and is easier to use, improved menu for spell selection, more varied levels (underground and night modes), new enemies and lots of new weapons/spells, plus the game seems to be more stable overall and have dealt with some of the tech problems the original had. Crashes can still be an issue in high res mode. Still one of the most original games out there, I really would like to see a modern version of this game one day.
Magic carpet is a unique classic, definitely worth the small amount of money GOG is asking. Only gave it 4 instead of 5 due to numerous technical issues (discussed at length in the forums) which can mean frequent crashes and inability to finish some levels without resorting to cheat codes (eg frequently the game generates too many objects and you can't use weapons any more, indestructible castles built by enemies, etc). But don't let that stop you, it's hours of fun when it's working.
I've played this game to the point where the load times made it too frustrating to continue. I don't know why but on my machine it can take several minutes to load between levels and sometimes you have to go back and forth between levels quite frequently. Which means I'm spending more time waiting for the game to load than playing it. If it wasn't for this I'd probably give it 4-5 stars but the excruciating wait times make it unplayable after a certain point.
Very similar to it's predecessors but much easier. Finished the whole thing in an afternoon which was disappointing. Fine for a few hours of distraction if you get it for less than $4-5.
