Action

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Description

The PC game based on the third Harry Potter story is, like its counterpart on consoles, a three-dimensional action adventure, but with entirely different challenges and levels.

The player controls both Harry as well as his friends Ron and Hermione, while casting spells, solving puzzles and fighting enemies. Each of the three has one unique spell: Harry can freeze things, Hermione can transform statues into living creatures which can reach areas she can’t, and Ron can pull himself over chasms or pull things toward him.

When the three (or sometimes only two) of them are together, the one best suited for the task at hand is automatically selected. If the power of several spells is required for a certain task, the other characters (AI-controlled) join in the casting. Spellcasting is context-sensitive – the correct spell is selected according to the object targeted.

When not engaged in a specific mission, the castle of Hogwarts can be freely explored. Many secrets and smaller tasks await. Scattered all around Hogwarts, usually in hidden areas, are Every Flavour Beans, Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes, which function as a sort of currency. They can be traded for Collectors Cards, passwords for portraits that lead to more secret areas, and power-ups. …

Jurassic Park – Trespasser

Description

Trespasser uses the Jurassic Park license and takes place on “Site B”, the Costa Rican Island from the Lost World where Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs were originally created and, following the island’s abandonment, allowed to breed out of control.

Players take the role of Anne, the sole survivor of an airplane crash who finds herself stranded in the Lost World, and who needs to find a way off the island (or at least avoid becoming a dinosaur meal). Throughout the journey, Anne will be accompanied by the disembodied voice of John Hammond, the founder of Jurassic Park.

Trespasser does not feature some of the typical first-person shooter interface elements. There are no health bars, ammo displays, or power-ups, and players can’t pick things up just by walking over them. Instead, interaction with the environment is done using Anne’s arm, which can be moved around using the mouse and which can be used to pick up items, throw rocks, push down crates or wield weapons. Anne’s voice gives a rough estimate of the amount of ammo left whenever she wield a gun, and Anne has a heart-tattoo that fills with red as she becomes more damaged. …

Mega Man X

Description

Mega Man X takes place in an unspecified time during the 22nd century (21XX) and approximately 100 years after the original Mega Man series. A human archaeologist named Dr. Cain discovers the ruins of a robotics research facility that had once been operated by the legendary robot designer Dr. Thomas Light. Among the ruins, Cain finds a large capsule which contains a highly advanced robot with human-level intelligence and emotions, and even free will, the likes of which the world has never seen before. Light had wished to instill within his creation reasonable sanity, good nature, and an understanding of the more controversial aspects of human morality. The robot was buried while running a 30-year diagnostic program to ensure these features. Cain spends the next several months studying the robot, who is named “X”. Cain decides to duplicate X and, within several months, completes the first “replicate android” or “Reploid”, a robot who can think, feel, learn, and grow exactly like a human. Within the year, the design is standardized and Reploids are mass-produced. However, with the free will given to a Reploid comes the possibility of criminal activity; such rogue Reploids are branded as “Mavericks” by law-abiding citizens. …

Mega Man X3

Description

A Reploid scientist named Dr. Doppler begins creation of a new city for Reploids, which will bring a new era of peace to the Reploids and humans. But something goes terribly wrong, and now Mavericks have begun to appear everywhere! It’s up to X and Zero to find out who is behind this Maverick revolt and bring them down for good!

For the first time in the series, players can play use X’s friend, Zero. However, he is pretty much restricted to only about one third of each level, and has only one life (i.e when he loses all his energy, he is put out of the fight for the rest of the game). …

Scrapland

Description

American McGee presents Scrapland is a third-person 3D action game set on an asteroid called Scrapland, a ruined paradise rebuilt by robots, the only inhabitants now. The player controls D-Tritus, a self-constructed young robot that has just arrived in Chimera, the main city. The adventure begins when he accepts a job as journalist and strange things start to happen…

The game is a mix between free-form outdoor levels and indoor levels with combat and puzzle-solving elements. During said indoor levels, the player can instantly change his form between 14 robots, all with their own advantages and special abilities. Utilizing those robots is important to solve puzzles or mini games, e.g. only a tiny robot can fit into small spaces and only certain robots are allowed into some areas. However, those disguises can be seen through by certain enemy types. Then it is a good idea to change to a robot with fighting abilities – aiming is basically done automatically by the game. …

Pandemonium 2

Description

In this sequel to Pandemonium, the player once again controls the young aspiring sorceress Nikki and the court jester Fargus with his puppet buddy Sid. It is the year of Cheese, and the advent of the Comet of Infinite Possibilities is foretold by the great prophet Nosewasinit. Naturally, Nikki and Fargus are interested in this comet; but they are not the only ones. The evil Goon Queen Zorrscha wants to use the comet for her own plans, so our heroes have to reach it first…

The gameplay is similar to that of the first game; despite the 3D graphics, the gameplay mechanics are those of 2D platformers. The player can select Nikki or Fargus for each level. Each of the two has different abilities. For example, Nikki can jump higher, while Fargus can use his puppet Sid for a variety of attacks. The characters can also acquire power-ups, such as fire and lightning ranged attacks for Nikki or various Sid enhancements for Fargus. There are also level-specific items and vehicles the heroes will encounter on their way. …

Pandemonium

Description

The young sorceress Nikki, the court jester Fargus, and his side-kick Sid the puppet are the three main protagonists of this 3D platform game. While attending a “Wizards in Training” seminar, Nikki accidentally casts a powerful magic spell, which results in a giant monster swallowing the whole village. The three friends must now travel to a place called “Wishing Engine”, and be granted a wish to revert the world back to normal.

The characters each have a special movement to kill enemies with. The game uses floating camera angles through a vast Prince of Persia-style world. The goal of the game is to clear the various levels, avoiding spikes and enemies and collecting coins for extra lives.

Unlike most 3D platformers, Pandemonium offers only two-dimensional movement, rather than complete freedom of movement. The characters move along a curving 2D course within a 3D environment. …

Scroll to Top