SCORCHER

Futuristic racers, in particular WipEout, were key in the mid-90s to change the perception of video games. No longer were they thought of by the masses as just children's playthings overflowing with kiddified mascot platformers, but visceral, adult and cool. Developers were quick to latch on to this craze, and Scavenger's 1996 effort Scorcher is one of the most interesting.

METALTECH SERIES

   

The excellent Metaltech series defined what PC gaming was in the early to mid-90s, at least to me. It showcased some impressive polygonal graphics, explosive combat and complex mechanics which were not possible for those stuck with a Super Nintendo or Mega Drive. Add to that an n-depth control system and online play and you have a series that were miles ahead of the 16bit consoles. In the 20-plus years since its debut in 1994, does this once high-regarded series still hold up? Read on to discover my thoughts on the first three in the series: Battledrome, EarthSiege and EarthSiege II...

PRINCE INTERACTIVE

2016 is shaping up to be quite a depressing year. There's so many icons we've lost and we're only a third of the way in. Last week saw the passing of a charismatic songwriter and performer who gave us many three-minute wonders to listen to. Prince has never struck a chord with me as much as David Bowie, but when he did he was damn good. Like Bowie, there was also an interactive CD-ROM in the early 90s...

ACE VENTURA

I'm a sucker for cartoon-style point 'n click adventures, so much so that games otherwise designed for little children will keep my attention until the very end. Ace Ventura  (1996, 7th Level) is something of an oddity in its tone. It's obviously geared at young children, yet hidden beneath the surface is a script filled with crass humour and innuendo.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN Vol. 1

It's been quite an eventful year so far. So much so that juggling work, life and passions have been something of a struggle. Then came Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to prove that I'm not the only one with a lot on my plate. Imagine being given hundreds of millions of dollars to create a film many comic book geeks like me have been waiting to see for decades and ending up with this confused mess of a movie! Makes finding the time to review classic games seem trivial...