From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Well, it's been the promised two weeks. Let's see what new goodies are
waiting for us on Amazon Prime.

[note: URLs are provided for informational use and not
where you can claim the games. For that, go to
https://gaming.amazon.com/home. An Amazon Prime account
is required, obviously.]


* Civilization IV Complete Edition (via GOG) https://www.gog.com/en/game/sid_meiers_civilization_iv_the_complete_edition
The grand classic, and quite possibly my favorite in the
franchise... although that may just be because of the music.
It's not that I think it has the best features --you could
argue that the other games do a lot of things better-- but
I think that overall it has the best mix. Civ 2, 3, 5... they
all have their highs and lows. Civ4 may not reach those same
heights, but it doesn't have the same lows either. It's also
a great place to start if you've never played a Civ before.


* Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (via GOG) https://www.gog.com/en/game/spelljammer_pirates_of_realmspace
Spelljammer is a weird setting, but it's always had a strange
appeal to me. You'd think that this, combined with SSI's Gold Box
games, would make for a slam-dunk game. But the end-result was
a rather clunky, unfocused affair. It wanted to be a mix of
grand quest (in traditional SSI style) coupled with open-
world space-trader simulation (e.g., a fantasy Elite) but
didn't do either very well. And even in 1992, the game was
noticeably behind the curve technologically. A valiant effort,
but ultimately not a game worth playing.


* Dungeon & Dragons: Ravenloft Series (via GOG) https://www.gog.com/en/game/dungeons_dragons_ravenloft_series
The last gasp of SSI's Dungeons and Dragons game, this
collection includes "Strahd's Possession" and "Stone Prophet".
It's gameplay is a mixture of the fairly actiony "Eye of
the Beholder" series and its slower-paced Gold Box games;
it's a first-person but there's more reliance on stats and
role-playing. They're fine; not great, but if you can get
past the clunky DOS-era visuals and gameplay, they'll
entertain. But even when they were new they felt old-school
compared to games like "Underworld" and "Elder Scrolls".


* Into the Breach (via EPIC) https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/into-the-breach
A turn-based strategy game. On the plus side, it features
giant robots, which is always a plus as far as I'm concerned.
But it also uses retro-inspired visuals and procedurally
generated gameworld; it's made by the same guys who did "FTL"
and it's really a game focused more on mastering the mechanics
than presenting a good story or setting. It's not a bad game
in any way, but it's not really the sort of game I enjoy.


* Subterrain: Mines of Titan (via Amazon) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1573100/Subterrain_Mines_of_Titan/
A top-down action/RPG with the usual survival elements and
turn-based combat. The setting looks interesting but it's
slooooow to play, has a rough learning curve, and (surprising
nobody) the retro-inspired visuals do nothing for me. It's
fine, if that's your thing.

* After Image (via Amazon) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1701520/Afterimage/
A side-view action/adventure/platformer/metroidvania thing.
It looks okay, but seems to confuse quantity with quality;
there's a lot of game here but it lacks in story, pacing,
direction and variety. It's pretty, at least.



Don't be scared... but there's no new Hidden Object game this time. I
know; can it really be an Amazon Prime Gaming announcement without
one? Is this a sign of the end-times?

Well, I guess we'll see. If the Apocalypse hasn't claimed us all in
two weeks, maybe there will be another hidden object game next time we
meet. Until then!



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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Correction... or rather, an addition. I forgot a game.


* Tower of Time (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/tower_of_time
A top-down action/RPG with the option to pause or slow-
time. It's still basically Diablo, though... except with
less polish.


Apologies for the error. I've had the author of the previous article
lightly flogged to ensure they learn their lesson.


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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Yes... a second response to my own article. I need to get my
post-count up /somehow/, after all. ;-)


Anyway, here's the usual "I already own these games so somebody else
gets the keys" comment. You know the drill:


1) Claim the keys on https://www.gog.com/en/redeem
You'll need a GOG account for this to work
2) The first person to use the key gets it, second
(and later) attempts get nothing
3) You won't get a second copy if you already own
the game
4) The keys are ROT13 encoded, at this point mostly
for shits and giggles, I think


Got it? Good. Here are the keys:


* Tower of Time
<ROT13> DONY3QN2P6P4657336 </ROT13>

* Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft Games
<ROT13> 2IAY5O4SS21Q394945 </ROT13>

* Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
<ROT13> NTUJRS9589P2S25124 </ROT13>



Have fun! And may The Number grow ever larger for you!






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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

tossing to the winds!
Gbjre bs Gvzr uggcf://jjj.tbt.pbz/erqrrz/DONY049999924ONONN

rms

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:47:57 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <[email protected]> wrote:

* Tower of Time
<ROT13> DONY3QN2P6P4657336 </ROT13>

* Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft Games
<ROT13> 2IAY5O4SS21Q394945 </ROT13>

* Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
<ROT13> NTUJRS9589P2S25124 </ROT13>

Have fun! And may The Number grow ever larger for you!

Thank you Spalls. I took Spelljammer. I remember reading about this
one back in the day in my magazines but I dismissed it in favor of
games I was more interested in at the time. I am curious about it.
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


On 9/15/2025 9:24 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Well, it's been the promised two weeks. Let's see what new goodies are waiting for us on Amazon Prime.

* Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (via GOG) https://www.gog.com/en/game/spelljammer_pirates_of_realmspace
Spelljammer is a weird setting, but it's always had a strange
appeal to me. You'd think that this, combined with SSI's Gold Box
games, would make for a slam-dunk game. But the end-result was
a rather clunky, unfocused affair. It wanted to be a mix of
grand quest (in traditional SSI style) coupled with open-
world space-trader simulation (e.g., a fantasy Elite) but
didn't do either very well. And even in 1992, the game was
noticeably behind the curve technologically. A valiant effort,
but ultimately not a game worth playing.

I could finally try this! I had and loved Spelljammer... though I never really used it, except for some monsters and some hooks that the players weren't interested in. Except this doesn't seem to be that good.

* Subterrain: Mines of Titan (via Amazon) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1573100/Subterrain_Mines_of_Titan/
A top-down action/RPG with the usual survival elements and
turn-based combat. The setting looks interesting but it's
slooooow to play, has a rough learning curve, and (surprising
nobody) the retro-inspired visuals do nothing for me. It's
fine, if that's your thing.

I got excited for a moment with the title figuring it was a more modern
if indy remake for Mars Saga/Mines of Titan. Sadly it doesn't seem to
be very close except in name. The reviews don't seem great either.
Slow, grindy, and with some contamination meter which sucks.
--
-Justisaur

ø-ø
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
¶¬'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'
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