Raptor: Call of the Shadows

The Good
In 1994, this was a breath of fresh air. The graphics represent the pinnacle of what is possible with the VGA 320x200 video mode. Interesting ship designs, lovingly detailed backgrounds, earth-shaking pyrotechnics. When I pull this game out and play it today, the sounds are still impressive - loud and clear, every noise adds something to the experience. The gameplay is tons of fun, with a wide array of weapons to keep things fresh. Great map design and interesting enemies make Raptor an engaging experience from beginning to end. The "mercenary" aspect allows for buying and selling of equipment, which is a lot more interesting than in-game pickups.

The Bad
You can only play it so many times before you have so much equipment that you're sleeping your way though the levels. And it's not entirely taxing on the gray matter.

The Bottom Line
A top-down shooter with a gritty edge.