Review : Demon Star Secret Missions : PC

Demon Star: Secret Missions 2

PC

By Steve Fulton

“A frantic, kinetic 2D shooter unequaled on the PC platform”

Scott Host of Mountain King Software has been making shooters for the PC since 1993 with Galactix.  He followed that game up with the amazing (for it’s time) Raptor: Call Of Shadows and a few years ago with Demon Star.  All of these games featured sumptuous 2D graphics mixed with some of the best scrolling shooter action since Xenon 2: Megablast on the Atari ST and Amiga.   Obviously, the commercial market for a 2D scrolling shooter is not what it used to be, so Host went independent a few years ago, and never looked back.  

Demon Star: Secret Missions 2 and  both of it’s prequels are pretty much unequaled on the PC when it comes to scrolling shooters.  These games have everything you would want if you are hankering for classic 2D game play, and don’t know how to satisfy the hunger: dozens of enemies, tons of bolt-on weapons, boss-battles, multiple scrolling environments, and most notably, Multiplayer action.  You can play with a friend on the same computer, or even over a network.

Review : Land Before Time Activity Center : PC

Land Before Time Activity Center
PC
By Steve Fulton
Originally published on gamerdad.com

If You Can Stand It, Your Kids Will Love It

I am a self-proclaimed “bargain-bin diver”.  My ultimate price-point is $2.00.  I’ll buy any software for $2.00.   When Havas bought Sierra in the late 90’s they dumped dozens of their low-rent titles for $2.00 each at CompUSA.  It was like finding buried treasure.  I’ve never owned more copies of pinball, miniature golf, and You Don’t Know Jack games in my life.    I dream about finds like that, but they are few and far between.   These days, the lion’s share of the bargain-bin and jewel-case racks in major discount stores are filled with Kid’s software, sometimes in packs of 2 or even 3 titles for $9.99.   One of the titles currently available is The Land Before Time: Activity Center.  It can sometimes be found packaged in a two-pack with The Land Before Time: Math Adventure, or in multi-pack named The Land Before Time: Three Pack that also includes Kindergarten Adventure and Math Adventure.