Aaron Savadge @ProtomanMK2

Half-Life (Windows)

Half-Life, Instant Classic

The Good
What is NOT to like! Half-Life created a new outlook on first person shooters with it's amazing plotline and it's NPC interactions. The Impact of this game is still felt today with the millions who play it and it's many mods online. There's enough variety of weapons to get anyone drooling and the scientists and security gaurds, though helpful, are sometimes icredibly fun to waste ammo on. The enemies for the most part are insanely intelligent which adds to this instant classic. Half-Life has finaly eliminated the boring kill everything aspect of all shooters before it and forces players to think and not just shoot. It's obvious other amazing games such as Deus Ex and the upcoming Return to Castle Wolfenstein have taken their ideas from this legend of a game. Such strides like this haven't been taken since the full 3D aspect of Quake.

The Bad
For the most part I have a few complaints only... First off sometimes it isn't excactly clear on what you have to do or where you have to go which can cause a mind numbing headache, many deaths, and getting lost quite a few times. The NPC's, though at times useful, are incredibly stupid (like the sercurity gaurds shooting you in the back while you're being attacked, and the inabillity to dodge any obstacles), and you never seem to find a scientist when you're low on health, I usualy just use them to avert enemy fire away from myself. Other than that and some horribly strong and smart enemies, the game is the best shooter ever created.

The Bottom Line
If you have a PC and you don't have this game, shame on you! Don't just but it for the incredible single player game but also for the multiplayer mods such as the Quake remake of Team Fortress (Team Fortress Classic) and of course the unbeliveably popular and realistic Counter-Strike!

By Aaron Savadge on April 26, 2001

One Must Fall 2097 (DOS)

Fighting Masterpiece

The Good
Where could I start? It's hard enough to find a fighting game worth playing on the PC and to top it off it's freeware! I first found OMF after playing the shareware a few years back and I instantly fell in love even though it was on a black and white monitor on an old 486. What makes this game stand out amongst fighting games especially for the PC is the incredibly simple controls and the RPG like tornament mode where you can buy robots and boost their stats and even boost your stats as a pilot. 1 player mode was dissapointing but the tornament mode more than made up for it. The graphics are much more than expected for a game of it's age and the music really hypes you up. Speaking of sound each time you score a hit there is a wonderful metal clanging noise. Another great thing about the tornaments is the ability to customize your robots colors. It has many aspects of a great fighting game even a fatality like "scrap" and "destruction" moves, but also has a great story and tons of secrets and extras. A total master piece.

The Bad
Sometimes things get annoying like the news caster or that repair guy saying the samething but at the same time these things make the game great and it's always satisfying to see your final blow on the news.

The Bottom Line
You might be thinking this is baloney because of the games age but the graphics are smooth though the sprites are a bit choopy (300X200) but they are rendered to fool you that they're 3D. If you love fighting games or RPG's then this game is defenatly worth downloading (HEY IT'S FREE). If you have a more powerful computer check out www.omf.com about information about the all new 3D game OMF Battlegrounds.

By Aaron Savadge on April 25, 2001