Games - March '98

Windows 95 Games

Important Note: Almost All Windows 95 games require you install DirectX first. This is a special set of enhanced drivers for things like video, sound and input. If you receive an error message like "Cannot find DSOUND.DLL" then you do not have DirectX installed.

Entrepeneur Space Empires 3 Frogger Air Warrior 3 Falcon 4.0 Final Liberation Andretti Racing F-22 Raptor

Note: The links for some of these games may not run or install properly from within a Web Browser. If this happens, use Windows 95 Explorer or My Computer, to locate the path listed on the CD-ROM and run the .EXE file shown directly.

Entrepreneur is a world domination game with a difference -- no-one dies! Based on the tactics and alleged practices of large corporations that battle against each other on the economic battlefield, you play a director of a company. You get to choose the market and world you wish to compete in, however, while there was only one of each available at the time of writing, there will be upgrades that will bring such markets as auto, airline etc, and worlds other than Earth.

You can select the difficulty level and the number of opponents you wish to compete against. If you prefer real opponents, the game is playable over the Internet.

Next you are presented with a map of the world that is dotted with territories which have yet to be explored by your researchers. Entrepreneur's interface is slightly daunting at first, however, once you understand the primary screens and functions, the game is quite easy to play.

A number of tasks are presented to you which must be fulfilled; for example, the factory on your initial site needs employees, or you should be researching new territories to send your soldiers of fortune (your salesmen) to.

At first glance, the territories look like they match specific countries, however, do not be deceived -- wealth, economy and natural resources are generated randomly at the beginning of the game.

As the game progresses and you explore new territory, you may find that you need to upgrade to a larger factory, and perhaps relocate your corporate headquarters. You may even decide to build a research laboratory to develop new product as competition starts edging its way in.

The research facility allows you to increase the specific qualities of parts that make up your product. For example, the hard drive in your computer has qualities such as performance, reliability, cost, space etc.

Naturally you shouldn't develop your products without knowing what consumers want; it is up to you to work out their desires and the qualities that could be improved to achieve market victory.

No corporate battle is won by just using salesmen; you need a good advertising campaign as well. By building a marketing facility you can start off by producing print ads, then with further upgrades, radio and TV ads. These are sent to territories that you need to convert, or possibly to fight off an invasion by a rival company.

Monitoring site morale is another important task, as at times it does lower, affecting production and hence profitability. One of the nastiest ways for this to happen is for your opposition to plant an advertising campaign in your factory's territory. If things get extremely bad, your factory's non-productivity will lose you the game. This is where recreational facilities come into the picture -- build some on your site to help combat negative influences. This isn't always a foolproof solution however . . .

Complex events in the game, such as a strike, consumer revolts, international enquiries, flaws found in your products, legal battles etc, are handled by direct action cards, or DACs. DACs are randomly dealt to players; a new DAC is dealt at the end of each year. DACs cannot be played after receiving them, however -- they can only be activated and played once the required number of resources are earned. Resources are gathered when you control a territory which has one of the resource icons contained within it. If you are the market leader of that territory when the resources are tallied, you get that resource. DACs can be lethal and can drastically alter the flow of the game, and your eventual success or failure, so use them with caution.

Overall, Entrepreneur is a highly entertaining, but challenging game. Recommended.

by Mark Rogers

The dawn of a new age of exploration. Your race has discovered a way to  pass through the fabric of space and move to other solar systems beyond  your own. The galaxy is alive with movement and colonisation. But you soon  discover, that you are not alone. Other races have evolved and seek to
further their empires. Will you coexist, or is the galaxy yours to do with  as you please? You'll have to design your starships, build them and send  them into the icy void of space. Explore new solar systems, colonise strange alien worlds, and build an industrial complex to feed your empire. Research vital new technologies, perform intelligence operations on your neighbours, and play the delicate game of political intrigue. Will your empire stand the test of time and conquer the galaxy? Or will you bring peace to the untold billions who await you? Your dominion awaits.

Frogger is back, and he's armed with all new moves, power croak, heat-seeking tongue and super jump! He's the coolest amphibian in town, but now he's lost in strange new worlds filled with hungry enemies and dangerous terrain! You'll need quick reflexes as you help Frogger navigate obstacles like polluted ponds, hostile deserts, dark caves and outsmart new enemies such as crocodiles, lawnmowers, snakes and birds. One level is available in this demo.

NOTE: The demo supports 3Dfx (Glide).

This is a playable demo of the box version of Air Warrior III. It includes an instant action mission and an historical mission where you fly with the U.S. Navy Squadron, VF-17 - The Jolly Rogers. The terrain included, however, is not one of the very large scale terrains offered in the box version. This was done to keep the file size low. However, this should give you a good idea of how the game looks and plays, especially if you have a  Direct 3D compatible video card.

Falcon 4.0 is a Windows 95, multiplayer air combat simulation set in the Korean peninsula with a real-time war in progress in which you take the role of a single pilot in an F-16 jet fighter. Falcon 4.0's superb 3-D photorealistic, texture-mapped graphics and detailed models of F-16 avionics, weapons and threats will provide the most realistic combat flight simulation available. The ongoing simulation of a complex air/ land/seabattle, called the Campaign Manager, will create all of the tension, chaos and adventure that exists in modern air combat, immersing you within the game like no other flight simulation has done before!

NOTE: The demo supports all 3Dfx cards except Voodoo Rush.
NOTE ALSO: This gamre requires a Direct-X compatible Joystick to operate.

A turn-based strategy game of epic proportions, Final Liberation chronicles a monumental struggle for survival in the distant future. Humanity's spread throughout the stars has not gone unnoticed - along the way enemies have surfaced. The planet Volistad has been invaded by Orks who are attempting to crush the last of the humans - and claim the world as their own.

Andretti Racing delivers on all cylinders. Ground breaking 3D graphics, comprehensive network play, and the most accurate Indy car and Stock car physics available in a PC racing game will blast this title to the head of the pack.

The F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter-equipped to destroy the enemy in the sky and on the ground on the first day of war. Equally adept at destroying an enemy's desire to fight long before there is a war. Get ready to own the skies with F-22 Raptor, the next-generation of the best-selling fighter simulation, F-22 Lightning II.