This really should have been an easy win but for some reason there is no online multiplayer in this version. Fair enough if the servers are no longer running but why isn't there at least an IP connect option? That's a huge oversight. No GOG-based multiplayer solution either. The main draw of Worms is the multiplayer and this version only supports local hotseat play. Stick with Worms Armageddon if you want to play online.
Please ignore the few reviewers here who seemed to think this was a collection of MK1, 2 and 3. This is NOT that, this is one single game that features characters and stages from all three of those games. If you only play one version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy, this is the version to play. Feature-wise it's the same as the PS1 and Saturn versions, without the load times! What's not to like? If you don't have this yet, then make sure you grab it.
A game that was better than Duke Nukem II in my opinion, Bio Menace is a great classic platformer by Apogee. The controls are tight, the game is fun to play and the music is great. The story is pretty cliche, but that's a minor gripe. Be aware the game gets really hard in episode 3! There's really no reason to not pick this up for the bargain price of free.
This was was sometimes called the "Starcraft under the sea", but that's a pretty unfair comparison. While it does bear some similarities to Starcraft, it's also very different and offers a unique experience. There's a learning curve to the game has the UI is laid out differently, there's lots of units with specific roles, there's multiple different resources to manage, there's a depth system, and the campaign is actually quite challenging right from the outset. There are three factions, some really nice looking CGI cinematics, pseudo-3D visuals that still hold up (especially if you increase the resolution) and nice features such as not having a unit selection limit, which believe it or not was the exception back then rather than the rule. You even have the ability to trade one resource type for another if you find yourself with an excess of one but not enough of another. You may need to tweak a few settings to get it running exactly to your liking in Windows 10 but it otherwise runs very well. It's not without a few flaws (for example all of the units in each faction have the same voice clips, making them difficult to differentiate), but the positives substantially outweigh the negatives. I go more in depth with Submarine Titans as part of my Windows 95/98 Hidden Gem video here: https://youtu.be/QEBPbKODlVg
Shogo was actually created by Monolith, after they made Blood which was the game that really put them on the map, but before they made the smash hits F.E.A.R. and Condemned: Criminal Origins. In was kind of buried underneath an avalanche of other FPS released for the PC around that same time like Unreal, Quake 2, Duke Nukem 3D, Hexen II, Blood II, System Shock 2, Rainbow Six and Half-Life, so it's worth checking out if you missed it back then. When you're piloting your mech you are powerful and can cause big explosions but when you're on foot you're pretty vulnerable and can die in a few shots in you're not careful, so you'll need to be more subdued and methodical. It's an interesting contrast, and the game has a bit of an anime theme to it despite coming from a western developer. I go more in depth with Shogo as part of my Windows 95/98 Hidden Gem video here: https://youtu.be/QEBPbKODlVg
Powerslide received a lot of critical acclaim back when it was released in 1998 but has gradually been forgotten, which is a real shame because it still holds up incredibly well. Realistic physics, fantastic visuals and excellent force feedback all add to the immersion. Be prepared to put your gaming credentials to the test with this one though because Powerslide is hard. Super hard. While you shouldn't have too much trouble winning the Novice championship once you've got the hang of it, and Advanced gives you a good challenge, the jump in difficulty to Expert and then to Insane is massive. You might need to jump through some hoops to get it running nicely on your Windows 10 PC but it's worth it. I go more in depth with Powerslide as part of my Windows 95/98 Hidden Gem video here: https://youtu.be/QEBPbKODlVg
Is this still worth playing? Definitely, yes. It's actually aged pretty well, all things considered – the game still looks good and controls well for the most part, though you may find yourself using the rewind mechanic more often to fix a misinput rather than a genuine mistake. The combat does bring the overall experience down a bit, but you should absolutely still put it on your list of games to play before you die if you somehow missed it. You could say it's...stood the test of time. Watch my full retrospective here! https://youtu.be/1pGpTtFd66g
Despite some criticisms, the game is still amazing. Back in 1998 when it first came out, it was mind blowing, and after 20 years it's still great, just not as quite as awesome, and the cracks in the paintwork are beginning to show. I still highly recommend you play the game however, the story alone is enough to keep you driving forward, and when you do solve those at times frustrating puzzles, you feel like a genius. The game is critically acclaimed and held up as one of the best adventure games of all time for a reason...it really is up there with the best of the best. You can watch my full retrospective video here: https://youtu.be/jVor2fvOXQM
