In the year 1917, evil threatened to rise again in Transylvania. A young woman named Elizabeth Bartley, who had been tried as a witch and murdered centuries before, was planning to resurrect the Prince of Darkness, Count Dracula, once again.
The last of the Belmont lineage, John Morris, and his friend Eric Lecarde, must now travel across Europe to the Palace of Versailles in France, where Bartley is planning the resurrection. And standing in their way are Dracula's strongest followers...
Centurion: Defender of Rome is an iconic DOS game released in 1990 that allows players to take on the role of a Roman general, leading your armies to conquer and defend the vast Roman Empire. Developed by Bits of Magic and published by Electronic Arts, this strategy game is set in ancient Rome during the height of its power and allows players to experience the thrill and challenges of military leadership.
The game begins with a detailed tutorial that guides players through the basics of combat, economy, and diplomacy, making it easy for players to get started. Players are given a set of objectives to achieve, such as conquering new territories, building alliances, and accumulating wealth and power. The game also offers a challenging AI opponent, making every battle and decision a true test of strategic thinking and leadership skills.
One of the most impressive features of Centurion: Defender of Rome is its attention to historical accuracy and detail. The game's map is an accurate depiction of the Roman Empire during its reign, and players can choose to play as any of the five Roman empires, including Rome, Carthage, Persia, Egypt, or Greece. Each empire offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities, making the game incredibly engaging and replayable.
The game also allows players to experience the different aspects of being a Roman general. From managing resources and building infrastructure to recruiting and training soldiers, players must make intelligent decisions to ensure the survival and growth of their empire. The gameplay is turn-based, allowing players to carefully plan their moves and anticipate their opponent's strategies.
Centurion: Defender of Rome is praised for its realistic battle scenes and animations. Players can watch their soldiers engage in hand-to-hand combat, firing arrows, and catapulting projectiles in stunning 2D graphics. The sound effects further enhance the immersive experience, from the clanging of swords to the cries of soldiers.
In addition to its engaging gameplay and historical accuracy, Centurion: Defender of Rome also offers multiple endings, depending on the player's performance and choices. This adds to the game's replay value, as players can aim for different outcomes each time they play.
Chakan: The Forever Man arrived on the Sega Genesis in 1992, bringing with it a haunting atmosphere and a level of challenge that stood out in an era crowded with action platformers. Based on a comic book character created by Robert A. Kraus, the game thrusts players into the grim role of Chakan, a warrior cursed with immortality after arrogantly wagering against Death itself. Having been granted endless life only if he can vanquish all supernatural evil, Chakan’s journey defies the typical hero’s tale, instead embracing a relentless, brooding tone that sets it apart from its contemporaries.
From the outset, Chakan’s world is one of shadow and peril, drenched in oppressive visuals that leverage the Genesis hardware to create a moody, gothic backdrop. Towers, desolate forests, and sinister caves are rendered in dark, moody palettes, giving a palpable sense of doom wherever the protagonist ventures. The soundtrack, composed by Mark Miller, complements the eerie landscape perfectly, layering synthesizer-driven melodies with haunting sound effects to deepen immersion and accentuate the game’s foreboding air.
Gameplay in Chakan diverges from straightforward action, instead emphasizing methodical exploration and a high level of difficulty. The mechanic at the heart of the game is the use of elemental weapons and alchemical potions, which the protagonist collects throughout his journey. These items grant abilities such as fire, water, earth, and air powers, which are essential for overcoming obstacles and dispatching the fiendish creatures littered across each labyrinthine stage. Progression demands not only quick reflexes but also critical thinking and experimentation with the character’s expanding arsenal.
Levels are arranged within a central hub, allowing the player to tackle Chakan’s quest in a non-linear fashion. Each elemental realm must be painstakingly conquered, often requiring a thorough knowledge of enemy patterns and level hazards. Death is frequent, punishing careless players, but respawns are quick, propelling the player back into the fray with little downtime. This design reinforces the game’s uncompromising spirit, demanding perseverance and patience in equal measure.
Despite offering a uniquely imposing experience, Chakan’s severe difficulty and unyielding tone proved polarizing among players and critics alike. While many praised its atmospheric presentation and mature themes, others found its challenge overwhelming and sometimes unfair. Over time, however, the title has garnered a cult following, respected for its ambitious design and its refusal to coddle the player.
Chakan: The Forever Man occupies a peculiar niche in retro gaming lore. Its distinctive blend of horror-fantasy aesthetics, unforgiving gameplay, and existential narrative distinguish it from more formulaic offerings of its time, ensuring it remains a memorable—if daunting—adventure on the Genesis for those willing to brave its dark corridors.
This soccer game offers 32 national teams to play, with no player names displayed. Shown from a slightly tilted third-person side perspective, players can play an exhibition match, a full tournament, or take on a human player in the 2-player exhibition mode. Different teams are ranked by speed, offense and defense, and different team formations can be selected.
The gameplay is very basic: players can pass, shoot, face and a third button is used to switch players. In the options menu, you can disable fouls and offsides, you can determine the amount of time per half and there is a radar and a minimap to follow the other players. The European edition is endorsed by Ryan Giggs and the game uses a password system to continue the tournaments.
Championship Bowling is a standard bowling game for one or two players, and the only one available for the Genesis. The player chooses one of four different bowlers and the ball they want to use, and then takes to the lanes. The player controls the throw, spin and power by stopping the rods at the right time.
The game includes three different game modes: standard bowling; spare mode, in which a handful of pins are placed with the goal of picking up a spare; and bonus mode, in which certain pins are worth different amounts of points. Each mode can be played against the computer or against a friend, and there are three different types of lanes available. There is also a practice mode for each of the game types.
The Japanese version, Boogie Woogie Bowling, is largely the same, but features different anime-style characters to play with (including a robot for no apparent reason), as well as minor adjustments to the timing of the throws.
Championship Pool is a pool game in which players can play in an 8- or 9-ball pool tournament that begins with the BCA Regional Championship, in which the player must defeat 32 opponents in a first-to-four game match. If the player loses to any of the 32 opponents, he/she is eliminated from the tournament. The winner advances to the World Championship.
The entire game is played from a top view of the table. The player moves an icon to indicate where he wants to hit the ball. To help aiming, a ghost of the cue ball and the first ball to be hit is played repeatedly to show the trajectory of the struck ball. On all shots there is a very small margin of error, but this is only noticeable when playing a long shot or a shot from an acute angle and the ghost balls will randomly reproduce all possible occurrences. The player can also change the power and spin of the shot played and the ghost balls will update to show the result of those changes.
There are 4 different game modes to choose from, each with a different set of pool games. The different game modes and their games are:
1. Tournament: the player must defeat 32 different players in a first to fourth elimination tournament in 8 or 9 ball pool before moving on to the World Championship. During the tournament, the opponent is never seen playing his shots. Instead, when it is the opponent's turn, a picture of the player is shown with a caption and then control is returned to the player with some balls removed and moved. In this way, the opponent can finish the game in 4 turns, regardless of whether he was outwitted or not.
2. Challenge: It has many different billiard games played, all with a player with no opponent. The games are:14. 1 Challenge - After the break the ball is placed anywhere on the top of the table behind the line. At that time, the player may hit any ball, but if he fails to sink a ball into a hole, the game is over. If there is only one ball left on the table, the rest of the balls are replaced and play continues. At the end, the score is based on the number of balls pocketed. The score is counted over 5 games to get the total score.
Eight Ball - After the break, the ball is placed anywhere on the top of the table behind the line. The player must hit the entire chosen set of balls (stripes or solids) and the 8-ball in one turn. Scoring is based on the number of balls pocketed.
9-Ball - After the break, the ball is placed anywhere on the top of the table behind the line. The player must hit the 9-ball in one turn. Scoring is based on the number of balls pocketed.
Level Play - Same as the 14. 1 challenge but only one game is played.
Three Pool - There are only 3 balls on the table. Scoring is based on the number of shots it takes to pocket all three balls.
Speed Pool - The object is to pocket all the balls as quickly as possible, as a timer measures the time of the game. Any ball can be hit at any time and the player can miss the shot and not be penalized (apart from taking longer). Party: There are different multiplayer pool games that can be played with only 2 or with 2 to 8 human players. The games are:Eight ball (2 players) - A standard eight ball game where players take turns playing.
Nine-ball (2-8 players) - A standard nine-ball game with up to 8 players taking turns. The first player to pocket the 9-ball wins.
14. 1 Continuous (2 players) - Players may pocket any ball to score a point. If a shot is missed, the other player plays. If there is only one ball on the table, pocketed balls are put back on the table. Play continues until one of the players reaches the score chosen at the beginning of the game.
Ten Ball (2-8 players) - Same as Nine Ball, but with 10 balls.
Rotation (2-8 Players) - Only the lowest ball can be hit and the score for pocketing a ball is the value of that ball (e. g. 8-ball is 8 points). The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.
Straight Pool (2 Players) - Same as 14. 1 Continuous but the player with the highest score after a game wins.
Level Playing Field (2-8 Players) - Same as Level Playing Field in Challenge mode, but players can take turns beating each other's score.
Fifteen Ball (2-8 Players) - Same as Rotation except you can hit any ball and not just the lowest ball.
One Pocket (2 Players) - Both players receive one of two pockets at the end of the table.
1994, the year Championship Soccer '94 was released on Genesis. Made by Sensible Software and published by Sony Imagesoft, this sports game is available for free on this page.
In 1992, the Genesis gaming community was buzzing with excitement over the release of "Chase H.Q. II." Developed by Taito Corporation, this sequel to the popular arcade game promised to take players on a wild and thrilling ride like never before. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
The game follows the same format as its predecessor, placing the player in the role of a police officer who must chase down and apprehend criminals in high-speed car chases. However, "Chase H.Q. II" took things to a whole new level with improved graphics, faster gameplay, and a larger variety of vehicles to chase down. In fact, there are a total of 10 different types of vehicles to pursue, each with its own unique handling and challenges.
One of the most striking features of "Chase H.Q. II" is its cinematic style. The game is divided into multiple stages, each of which feels like a scene straight out of an action movie. From driving through bustling city streets to navigating treacherous mountain roads, the game never fails to keep players on the edge of their seats. And let's not forget the epic car chases, complete with heart-pumping music and intense police radio chatter.
But what truly sets "Chase H.Q. II" apart from other racing games of its time is its emphasis on strategy. Instead of mindlessly chasing down targets, players must use their skills and wit to take down the criminals before they run out of time. This adds an extra layer of depth to the gameplay and keeps players engaged for hours on end.
In addition to the main missions, the game also features bonus stages where players can rack up extra points by performing stunts and jumps. These levels are a welcome change of pace and provide a break from the intense chase sequences. And for players looking for a challenge, "Chase H.Q. II" offers multiple difficulty levels, ensuring that there is always room for improvement and replayability.
1993, the year Chavez II was released on the Genesis. Made by Sculptured Software, Inc. and published by American Softworks Corporation, this sports game is available for free on this page.
Cheese Cat-Astrophe is a 2D sidescrolling platformer video game featuring the Looney Tunes character Speedy Gonzales, released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1995. In the game, Speedy Gonzales must save his fellow mice from the evil Dr. Carajo, who has imprisoned them in cages and is using them as test subjects for his genetic experiments.
The player controls Speedy Gonzales, who can run and jump. The game consists of five worlds, each with three levels. The first level of each world is a platforming stage, the second level is a scrolling shooter stage, and the third level is a boss stage. In the platforming stages, the player must navigate platforms and avoid enemies and traps to reach the end of the stage. In the scrolling shooter stages, the player must shoot enemies while avoiding their attacks. The boss stages are fought against Dr. Carajo and his genetically-modified creatures.
Cheese Cat-Astrophe received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the game's graphics and music, while others criticized its difficulty.
