Rediscovered Classics
Sep 10, 2008
Over its 30-year history, the world of video games has churned out hundreds of superb titles. But unless you have a garage full of dusty, antiquated consoles, it can be a real pain in the neck to catch up with the classics. Thankfully, this fact hasn't escaped game publishers.
So where can you find them? Most are now downloadable in exchange for a few bucks and a 15-minute wait. Console gamers can check out the manufacturer's online stores, but PC owners have more alternatives. For the best selection, prices, and customer service, check out Steam, Gametap, and newcomer Good Old Games, which opened up for beta testing this week. If you register on the site quickly, you'll get in.
Once there, what to play? Here's our list of favorites. Despite their differences, all have three things in common: they're playable on modern hardware (specifically, a PC, a new-ish console, or a portable), they're zero hassle to buy, and they're true classics.
Galaga
Playable On: PC, Xbox 360
It's hard to believe over a quarter of a century has passed since Galaga machines first started to appear in the corners of dingy stores, take-out restaurants and dive bars. And thanks to GameTap, you can still play what's arguably the finest Space Invaders spin-off ever made on your PC. If you're looking for something a little more progressive, though, check out the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service, where you'll find Galaga Legions, a souped-up version packing modernized graphics and new gameplay tweaks.
Bionic Commando
Playable On: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
One of the most loved titles on the NES, top platformer Bionic Commando stars the endearing Nathan Spencer, a man with a mission and a handy robot arm to help get 'er done. Like Galaga, Bionic Commando has been revamped and re-released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox Live Arcade as Bionic Commando: Rearmed to huge critical acclaim.
X-Com: UFO Defense
Playable On: PC
Probably the best alien invasion game ever made, X-Com: UFO Defense is remembered with tremendous fondness by an entire generation of strategy fans. Though it looks a touch clunky these days, think of its turn-based, strategic pace as more akin to a board game than an action-packed shooter, and you'll be set for a superb ride. It's available for download on PC through Steam -- and for under $5, there's no excuse for passing it over. The world needs you.
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Playable On: PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP
Avast! Best pirate game ever? There's no question about it. Master game crafter Sid Meier turned Pirates! into a gem no real swashbuckler would dare overlook. You'll merrily tool around the Spanish Main, capturing enemy vessels, hunting treasure, courting beautiful noblewomen, and seeking your kidnapped father. You can find it in a few different shapes, but no matter the version, get ready for one of the most memorable adventure games to sail the seven seas.
Fallout
Playable On: PC
Tired of waiting for Xbox 360 blockbuster Fallout 3's October release? Well, what better time to take a stroll back down to the Vault and check out the series' heritage? Fallout, its sequel, and its spin-off Fallout Tactics are for sale on Good Old Games, but the original game is still the best. Featuring an iconic 1950s graphical style, it's a post-apocalyptic adventure with a heaping dose of black comedy. For its many fans, the game will endure no matter what catastrophes may befall the human race.
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Freespace 2
Playable On: PC
Like disliking blueberry cobbler, Mom's apple pie, or delicious, rum-soaked tiramisu, you can't play Freespace 2 and not fall in love with it. It's one of those things you simply Do Not Do. This 1999 sci-fi classic marked the apex of the nigh-forgotten space sim genre, featuring vessels of colossal scale, quality AI, a superb, dark plot, and atmosphere most modern games can't match.
Prince of Persia
Playable On: PC, Xbox 360
Ubisoft's recent series of Prince titles rekindled interest in this old platformer, and a brushed-up Xbox Live re-release followed. Although it's quite basic looking, the original Prince of Persia will still impress you with its smooth, fluid character animations. Jordan Mechner, the game's creator, hand-drew the animations himself, basing them on real photographs of his brother in a very primitive form of the motion-capture tech that's behind almost every game these days.
Final Fantasy IV
Playable On: Nintendo DS
Debuting of many of the features that characterized the Final Fantasy series for years, Final Fantasy IV is still remembered as among its best episodes. Its lead protagonist, Cecil, is probably one of the most memorable characters to come from video games, period. The game was updated, polished, and overhauled for a Nintendo DS release a few months ago, and, if anything, it's even better now than it was back then.
Sam & Max
Playable On: PC
Remember this hilarious LucasArts adventure game? Or perhaps you simply remember its lovable, anthropomorphic crime-fighting stars from their comic book origins. One's a human-sized, suit-wearing dog, and one's a deranged, gun-toting rabbit. The interplay between the two and their bizarre cast of supporting characters is enough to cement them into gaming history. The pair are starring in a new series of episodic adventures on the PC (and Wii, in the future), and they're just as surreal as ever.
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