Abandonware games published by Quality Software

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Atari 8-bit, Apple II, PC-88 1981

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is a dungeon crawler with strong RPG elements that sends you in search of the Sultan's kidnapped daughter, Princess Buddir-al-Buddoor. You'll delve into the (often trapped) underworld to battle nefarious thieves. Your party is chosen from a range of 17 characters, which can be humans, dwarves, elves and halflings. They can be controlled in turn-based single-player or co-op mode. As you search for the princess, you'll come across piles of gold ducats, with which you can buy armor and weapons. There are also runes that offer hints. Vicious animals (such as tigers and scorpions) will happily tear you apart if you're not careful.

Beneath Apple Manor

DOS, Apple II, Atari 8-bit 1983

A dungeon crawler with primitive graphics. Kill some monsters, accumulate experience and explore deeper levels. The goal is to find the Golden Apple, buried somewhere deep in the basement of the mansion. This game can be configured for graphics or text, 10 different skill levels and configurable room layouts. Each level is created randomly at the beginning of the game. In addition to the monsters you have to fight, you can also find treasures, secret doors and hidden traps in the dungeons.

Fastgammon

Atari 8-bit 1980

Fastgammon is a computer adaptation of the board game Backgammon. The game follows the rules of the board game as you would expect with one player competing against an AI opponent, both trying to move all their pieces on the board. It is played entirely with the keyboard and to make a move the player simply enters the starting point number followed by the destination number. To move a piece from the bar the player enters B followed by the number of the destination point. To remove a piece the player enters the number of the point followed by an H. The dice rolls are performed automatically by the program (except for the Atari version where it is possible to activate the manual input of the dice values). When starting a new game it is possible to reuse the dice rolls of the previous game.

Jeepers Creepers

Atari 8-bit 1982

Jeepers Creepers is an Atari 8-bit game released in 1982 by Apollo Games. The title is a play on the popular phrase “Jeepers Creepers” which was popularized in the 1930’s by the cartoon character ‘Betty Boop’. The game is a side-scroller in which the player controls a jeep, avoiding obstacles, collecting items and shooting enemy vehicles. The goal of the game is to reach the top of the screen, where the player must battle a giant spider. The game contains five levels, each with different levels of difficulty. The player must complete all levels in order to win the game. The graphics of Jeepers Creepers are quite basic, but still detailed enough to make the game enjoyable. The game also has a variety of sound effects which add to the atmosphere. The controls are simple and easy to use, making the game accessible to all kinds of gamers. Jeepers Creepers is an enjoyable game that is perfect for those who are looking for some classic Atari 8-bit gaming. It is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The colorful graphics and catchy sound effects make the game an enjoyable experience. Despite its age, the game remains an enjoyable experience and is worth checking out.

QS Reversi

Atari 8-bit 1982

QS Reversi was an adaptation of the classic board game for the Atari 8-bit computers, released in 1982. Using the graphics capabilities of the Atari platform, the game provided a version of the game that was easy to play yet challenging enough to hold its own against classic board games of the same era. Gameplay was pretty straightforward: each player took turns placing pieces onto the board to create diagonal rows of their own pieces. The goal of the game was to have the most pieces on the board at the end of the game. The computer opponent provided a respectable challenge, responding to the moves of the human players in ways that maintained a tightly contested game. A full tutorial mode was available to those just starting out with Reversi, introducing new players to the concepts of the board, taking turns, and making moves. For those with a bit more familiarity with the game, multiple spiritual quests challenges were available for extra difficulty. The visuals stayed faithful to the board game's original art style, and the sounds and music including title score by Chris Grigg helped capture the atmosphere. Additionally, the game offered a two-player competitive play mode as well as options for configuring board size, pieces per side, computer skill level and a few other options. Moving pieces around the board with the joystick was intuitive, though this facilitated quick games, there was also an undo feature available in case of accidental moves. Offline or with friends and family, QS Reversi was an enjoyable way to pass the time between 1982 and 1987, a longer-than-expected lifespan for a game of its type.

Starbase Hyperion

Atari 8-bit 1981

The Atari 8-bit game Starbase Hyperion, released in 1981, provided a delightful trip into the world of space exploration and excitement. The sights and sounds of space exploration were represented with bright, vibrant colors and beeping sounds that transported players onto distant moons and planets. Players of this game use the joystick to navigate through the familiar star fields of the universe. At each mission, players plan to encounter asteroids, hostile aliens, and alien ships which must be destroyed in order to achieve victory and to make progress in the game. The game featured a wide variety of exciting sound effects, including the firing of lasers, explosions of asteroids, and incoming fire from alien ships which provided a truly immersive soundtrack for playing the game. Players are also expected to master the control of their spacecraft using maneuvering thrusters, and blaster cannons to complete the tasks they are given. The visuals present an equally exciting experience. A large variety of space backgrounds are available, including dense star clusters, ancient galaxies, and even deep space vortexes. Each of these backgrounds provide a unique visual style to explore and conquer. The environment also includes a variety of bonus elements such as power-ups, extra lives, and helpful surprises. Starbase Hyperion is still considered one of the best retro-style games to play today. It’s faithful recreation of classic space exploration adventure is sure to capture the attention of the most experienced players, as well as ignite the fire of enthusiasm within younger players. People of all ages can enjoy the simple graphical style, but also the depth of challenge offered by the game.

The Return of Heracles

Commodore 64, Apple II, Atari 8-bit 1985

Players travel the land of Greece to accomplish the 12 tasks assigned by Zeus and the other gods. By gaining fame and fortune fighting strange beasts and completing the tasks, the player(s) get help to complete the quests of the Oracle of Delphi. Several human players can play together on the same computer. The player controls up to 19 mythological heroes in an effort to accomplish all of Heracles' tasks. You can visit places like Mount Olympus and Troy, retrieve the golden apples and even battle famous creatures like the Medusa, the Minotaur and the Hydra.