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



It's the start of a new month, and you know what that means. Monthly
playlist? No. Bitching about the HumbleChoice selection? Not yet.
Poking fun at the Epic Game Store client? C'mon, I can do that any
day. No, it's time to announce the next group of free-but-not-really
games on Amazon's Prime Gaming site!

Here's what we got this time.

[URLs are, as usual, informational only. Claim the
games on https://gaming.amazon.com instead]


----


* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw
A relatively average open-world space combat game; a
rather unexciting take on the "Elite" formula. There's
nothing really wrong with it, but everything -from visuals
to combat to story-- really could have benefited from more
polish. If you love the genre, you'll probably have fun
with this one, if only because it's something new.
Otherwise, I'd recommend you stick with the classics.


* Ambition: A Minuet in Power (GOG) https://www.gog.com/en/game/ambition_a_minuet_in_power
This one is another visual novel, a genre I never feel
qualified in rating because, well, I just don't enjoy it. I
don't find the games entertaining; too limited in scope,
interactivity and (usually) choice of setting. Is it a good
visual novel or a bad one? I can't judge. I only can say
I've no interest in playing it.


* Captain Blood (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/captain_blood
Arr, me hearties! It's a pirates life for you with this
game! Well, so long as all your interested in is the melee
combat; it's a hack-n-slash game at heart, so don't expect
much to do with sailing or crew management. It's basically
a Gods of War type game, except a bit more down to earth
'cause you're a pirate, not a deific avatar. A bit old-
school in style; not sophisticated but still fun. Three
out of five parrots!


* Meganoid (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/meganoid
Just the name probably gives you a hint as to what this
game is about. It's an old-school shooter-platformer with
retro-graphics. Not really my style, and reviews indicate
this game isn't a particularly good example of the genre.
Numerous reviews compare it to "Spelunky"... except
lacking the polish necessary to make it as memorable.
There are better games to play.


* Total War: Attila (EPIC) https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/total-war-attila-1b8242
Yet another in the long line of Total War games; this one
--as the title indicates-- features the fierce Hun Attila.
Otherwise, it doesn't really stand out from any of the
other games in the series. You either love it or you hate
its mechanics; Attila isn't going to change your mind
either way. And even then, except for the die-hards who
want to play every possible game, it's hard to recommend
because you've probably already played this game dozens
of times before wearing different skins. It's fine for
what it is, but hard to recommend.


* Taven Talk (AMAZ) https://store.steampowered.com/app/2076140/Tavern_Talk__A_Cozy_Visual_Novel/
Apparently this one is another visual novel. See my comments
above for my difficulty with the genre. I'll pass.


----

That's it for this bunch. While there is nothing great, a few games
look passable; others I could do without. But at least there's
variety.

You've got a month or so to claim these... but I'll be back in two
weeks to announce the next batch of freebies. The Number must grow,
after all!


--- Synchronet 3.21c-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

On 3/2/2026 8:40 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

It's the start of a new month, and you know what that means. Monthly playlist? No. Bitching about the HumbleChoice selection? Not yet.
Poking fun at the Epic Game Store client? C'mon, I can do that any
day. No, it's time to announce the next group of free-but-not-really
games on Amazon's Prime Gaming site!

Here's what we got this time.

[URLs are, as usual, informational only. Claim the
games on https://gaming.amazon.com instead]

----

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw
A relatively average open-world space combat game; a
rather unexciting take on the "Elite" formula. There's
nothing really wrong with it, but everything -from visuals
to combat to story-- really could have benefited from more
polish. If you love the genre, you'll probably have fun
with this one, if only because it's something new.
Otherwise, I'd recommend you stick with the classics.

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game. I
can't think of one that pulled me in this well for a long time before,
and nothing since. Well if you aren't counting 2d space sims, since
this one is 3d.

Since I have it elsewhere, if someone wants it I can get you the code.

* Captain Blood (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/captain_blood

I'll get this at least, pirate stuff can be fun.
--
-Justisaur

ø-ø
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
¶¬'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

On Tue, 3 Mar 2026 07:01:16 -0800, Justisaur <[email protected]>
said this thing:

On 3/2/2026 8:40 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game. I
can't think of one that pulled me in this well for a long time before,
and nothing since. Well if you aren't counting 2d space sims, since
this one is 3d.

Well, we can agree to disagree. I tried it briefly and found it rather
average (in fairness to the game, I didn't stay with it very long. But
it didn't make a great first impression). But that's the great thing
about modern gaming; there's such wide variety that there's a game for everyone. My tastes go one way, yours the other; we don't have to like
the same game because we can all find one that suits us better!

Especially when they give them away to us for free! Grab the game, and
even if you don't like it, well, you haven't lost anything. And if you
do, all the more awesome that you got it without paying a dime.

(Well, sorta. You do have to pay the Bezos-tax to claim these)


--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game. I

There are two Rebel Galaxy games, are you thinking of this one, or the earlier Rebel Galaxy ?

rms

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

On 3/3/2026 9:14 AM, rms wrote:

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game.  I

  There are two Rebel Galaxy games, are you thinking of this one, or
the earlier Rebel Galaxy ?

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw. BTW I think it was given away on Epic at some
point, so probably most people have it here.

The older one Rebel Galaxy was o.k. Much more generic and you used a
capital ship which at least was somewhat novel, the controls were weird
as I remember. Maybe Spalls was thinking of this one.
--
-Justisaur

ø-ø
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
¶¬'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

On 3/3/2026 8:49 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Tue, 3 Mar 2026 07:01:16 -0800, Justisaur <[email protected]>
said this thing:

On 3/2/2026 8:40 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game. I
can't think of one that pulled me in this well for a long time before,
and nothing since. Well if you aren't counting 2d space sims, since
this one is 3d.

Well, we can agree to disagree. I tried it briefly and found it rather average (in fairness to the game, I didn't stay with it very long. But
it didn't make a great first impression). But that's the great thing
about modern gaming; there's such wide variety that there's a game for everyone. My tastes go one way, yours the other; we don't have to like
the same game because we can all find one that suits us better!

I do remember the controls being a bit unusual and difficult to get used
to, but was great after that. Well... shoot. Looking at my old posts
yeah controls are bad, but can be remapped I guess, and disliking the
annoying hud. My main comment about liking it is

"The characters, voice acting, script, and plot was miles ahead of FS2.
Even just the pirates quips when you fight them them was so much better."

Also wrong about being the best space sim in recent memory as that goes
to Everspace for me, which I forgot (I is old and has the forgets.) Not
for the characters though, for the combat and upgrading.
--
-Justisaur

ø-ø
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
¶¬'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

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

On Wed, 4 Mar 2026 11:48:22 -0800, Justisaur <[email protected]>
said this thing:

On 3/3/2026 9:14 AM, rms wrote:

* Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/rebel_galaxy_outlaw

Bah, I strongly disagree, this was a very good space combat game.� I

� There are two Rebel Galaxy games, are you thinking of this one, or
the earlier Rebel Galaxy ?

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw. BTW I think it was given away on Epic at some
point, so probably most people have it here.

The older one Rebel Galaxy was o.k. Much more generic and you used a >capital ship which at least was somewhat novel, the controls were weird
as I remember. Maybe Spalls was thinking of this one.

Maybe that's the one I played. I honestly can't remember. To be sure,
I didn't recall there were two games until rms said. I've the both of
them in my library, anyway.

Oddly, many of the reviews Steam showed me indicated they considered
the first game the better of the two.


--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2