Have you ever fancied having a go at Domino Rally? Well today’s free game will enable you to realize your dream, in a puzzling sort of way. The game does play without DOSBox, but the intro takes some while to finish if left to its own devices - (note -advance the intro using the Spacebar!). At the start of the game you have to set the game up - choose the control method you want to use (Keyboard, Joystick or mouse, and if playing it in DOS, which sound option from Speaker, Adlib, Soundblaster or no sound).
The only down side to this game in my opinion is you do need to note down end of level codes if you want to continue where you left off. If you don’t you’ll have to start from the beginning again.
The game may run better in DOSBox if you've a slower processor CPU, though as mentioned above, it will run perfectly fine windowed or full-screen in XP and Win 7, so presumably should run in Vista. If you want sound get VDMSound. (link below). Running it directly provides sound natively.
Pushover (1.27Mb):
Pushover is a very cute and smart little game, being an Amiga remake. You're an ant, and your mission is to save Colin Curly's Quavers (snack). Colin Curly is a dog by the way :) You accomplish this task by rearranging yellow blocks so that when you push the last one, all of them fall down in a great dominoe effect.
The first few levels are somewhat simple, but don't be fooled! Once you complete the "tutorial" levels where you learn what different type of special blocks do, things get pretty complicated. Just if that wasn't enough, all the levels are timed so you won't be able to sit and think as if you're playing a chess game. You'll have to act quickly and come up with a solution while rearranging the blocks. But don't get frustrated if you don't solve all the levels the first time you see them.
In the later phase of the game you'll end up playing a single level up to 10, 20, 30, or who knows how many times. It's very challenging later on, and yet a very entertaining game, with 100 levels. After each level, you will be provided with a code, so you won't have to start the game from the beginning every time.
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Controls are pretty easy to master – you can move around the level using the arrow keys, pick up blocks with the Spacebar, and to push a block press the Spacebar) + the direction in which you wish to push it (Or use the 'Z' key as the action key instead of the Spacebar). The Esc key quits the game.
The graphics are simple and functional, and this is no problem as nothing more is required by this genre. There are three DOS sound modes – PC speaker, Sound Blaster and Adlib so you will probably find one that suits your needs, or just run the game directly in Windows if you have a moderately fast computer. In conclusion, a great idea that has been flawlessly turned into a really fun game!
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzHPbo_ZPX0
Download:
Game Home Page http://ishisoft.com/archives/126
or
http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/62/Pushover.html
or
http://www.bestoldgames.net/eng/old-games/pushover.php
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Contraption Zak: (1.03Mb)
You'll need DOSBox for this one.
This is GameBringer once again, reporting from a small office deep in the bowels of Gadget Co., but I seem to be having some problems with the power, my computer, and everything else. I think I'll call for that new maintenance guy...
Contraption Zack! Contraption Zack is a puzzle game, using the same 3D isometric view that was made popular (was it really ever popular) by games like Populous and Treasure Trap. Treasure Trap is the best thing I know of to compare this game too.
It's Zack's first day here at Gadget Co., and I'm sure the losers in Maintenance are going to give him a hard time and do something juvenile like hide his tools. You control Zack and help him solve a series of puzzles to retrieve his tools and fix some machinery around the plant at the same time.
The game can be saved, but you will always start back at the beginning of an "area." Exactly what constitutes an "area" is not clear to me. Possibly the manual explained it. The result is that you will play the same level and puzzle over a few times, but an area is not so big as to be unbearable.
Another aggravation is that you can get "stuck" unable to continue, leaving you no other option but to restart or load a game. It is not a major deal, but it would seem like the game should notice that you messed up the level and prompt you automatically.
The graphics are fairly decent and representative of the time period. Puzzle games don't exactly rely on their graphics so the graphics in Contraption Zack more than fit the bill. The music (which played using VDMSOund, but not DOSBox) and sound effects are simple and did not distract.
You can get VDMSound from the following address:
http://www.abandonia.com/en/node/23027
Download:
http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/877/Contraption+Zack.html
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Fat Head (1.7Mb):
This is a freeware game from limewire.
The dread unnamed evil empire has been polluting the quadrant with smelly space garbage. Fat Head must decontaminate these cylinders of toxic space-goo one at a time. His only defense from the happy-but-deadly Goonies is his huge head. Will Fat Head jump his way to victory or will he lose his head?
His fate is in your hands...
The basic game which is free has 40 zones to complete. If you really like the game, the author is selling an extra 20 BONUS ZONES for $3. All these are difficult levels.
Download:
http://www.groovylime.com/fathead.htm
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