The Return of The Classic: 15 Classic Downloadable Games

Ever since its launch, Good Old Games has quickly become a resource for gamers intent on playing classic games. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the GOG team, gamers can now download and play numerous classics without having to deal with the slightest hassle.  

Here are fifteen select games available on the website that deserve to be played if you’re ever hankering for some classic gaming. This isn’t to say that they’re the absolute best games available, and your own list may vary, but they’re certainly up there.  

Rise of the Triad 

Quite possibly the campiest FPS ever made, Apogee's “Rise of the Triad” had a plot that paid homage to bad 80s action movies. You took on the role of one of five mercenaries, but the character you chose to play didn't make much of a difference in the game proper. Instead of killing nazis or zombies or undead space marines, you took on the fascist soldiers of a banana republic ruled by a tyrant named Oscuro, who as it turns out, was a monstrous human caterpillar made entirely out of heads and hands.  

Spanning over several chapters, “Rise of the Triad” pitted you against numerous enemies, including a wheelchair-bound nemesis who happens to be a Dick Cheney-lookalike armed with rocket launchers.  

Like the movies it based itself on, “RoTT” didn't take itself seriously, and weapons ranged from John Woo-inspired pistols akimbo to a “Hand of God” attack that vaporized everything on the screen. You could even turn into an attack dog by enabling “Dog Mode”.  

“Rise of the Triad” was also the first title to use a jump pad system, a feature later revived in “Quake 3 Arena” and “Halo Reach”. Despite using the 2D Build Engine, its developers managed to successfully create the impression of a 3D environment through some clever trickery.  

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/rise_of_the_triad__dark_war 

 

Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition 

It's good to be the king. In “Duke Nukem 3D”, you're a one-liner spouting, gun-toting late 80s/early 90s action movie hero. You basically play the gun-toting Arnold Schwarzenegger from Predator, without the pretense of being a decent actor (I really do think Arnie's a decent actor). Instead of fighting a single Predator, you go up against countless aliens and pig alien cops.  

Armed with your trusty set of boots (to kick ass while chewing bubblegum), and various guns (including a shrink ray and a freeze ray), you (I groan every time I write this) take the fight to the alien enemy while rescuing helpless female strippers. Yeah, it's definitely a game of the 90s.  

Somehow I don't think the sequel's going to go down all that well with today's enlightened crowd, but with that said, it's still a great game to return to.  

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/duke_nukem_3d_atomic_edition

Temple of Elemental Evil 

Released in 2003, “Temple of Elemental Evil” was Troika's first game after Arcanum, and planned as the first of many classic D&D modules to be brought onto the PC. “ToEE” was based on Gary Gygax's campaign of the same name, which is sadly as bare-bones as modules come. Despite the game's excellent combat system, colorful visuals and overall design, “ToEE” was marred by its lack of content and performance issues.  

In spite of its problems, I count “ToEE” as one of the best turn-based strategy games ever created due to its combat system, which remains ahead of the curve even to this day, and Troika's solid implementation of D&D 3.5 Edition rules in a video game. I can only imagine what the RPG genre would be like today had the game been commercially successful. Troika might still be around, and we might be playing meaty RPGs like “Dragon Age” with the excellent turn-based combat of “Temple of Elemental Evil”.  

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/the_temple_of_elemental_evil

Master of Magic 

“Master of Magic” looks like the child of “Civilization” and “Lord of the Rings”. But it's more than just fantasy civilization. Released in 1995 and created by the now defunct Simtex, Master of Magic was the first game of its kind to feature both empire building and a tactical turn-based battles.  

As an archmage vying for dominion over the land against other powerful wizards, you had to first choose a patron race, which provided you with a myriad of bonuses, penalties and special abilities. One of the races even began in the mirror world of Myrran, which was a reflection of the real world, replete with its own set of heroes, cities, resources and dungeons. You had to also choose spellbooks, which allowed you to cast a variety of spells based on the schools of magic that you picked.  

While much of the game consists of building up your empire, the turn-based battles are just as much a part of the “Master of Magic” experience. You can recruit heroes who approach you seeking service in exchange for payment and use them to lead your armies to conquest. Battles are played out in an isometric map similar to Final Fantasy Tactics and your actions determine your victory or failure.  

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/master_of_magic

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 

Developed by “King's Quest” creator Jane Jensen, “Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers” places you in the role of the game's titular character, an author and bookstore owner living in New Orleans. The game offered a balanced mix of historical and fictional elements, blending voodoo lore and New Orleans history with a compelling narrative. It was one of the first titles to place a strong emphasis on character development, with detailed human interaction between Gabriel and the people around him. Two sequels were produced to critical acclaim--the first in FMV and the second in 3D.  

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/gabriel_knight_sins_of_the_fathers

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