Meisters 1986
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Freeware
System: C64

Tired of all these modern 'anti-terror' - games? Hunting evil guys of whom you have no idea what kind of evil they've done gets boring? You're fed up with working for an anonymous 'government' with more than questionable ideals? Then choose the other side: become a terrorist!

Will Wright / Broderbund 1984
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

It may seem unbelievable in these days, now that every computer game seems to be about war, spurting blood and severed limbs, but in the 80s, it was pretty much agreed on in the gaming press (here in Germany at least) that 'realistic' war themes are morally questionable and detract from the enjoyment of a game. So, the more otherworldly the story and the freakier the setting of a game about some sort of fighting, the better the ratings.

Microprose 1990
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Most people already know this classic. Because it was a huge success. And it deserved it! Inspired by Sim City, Sid Meier wanted to do a real-time building game. This was the product.

The most significant thing about the game is, that there's no real goal. Just like in Sim City you just build and build. You can't really win the game, only climb the highscore list. You just try to build up a huge railroad company.

Bally Midway / Activision 1986
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Atari ST

This is gonna be a short one, as there's not much to describe in terms of storyline and plot. Straightforward coin-op/arcade stuff here, which is a genre I usually won't rave about. Rampage has that little something that makes certain games so addictive, though.

Electronics Arts 1992
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

As an adaptation from an arcade, Rampart is a simple game, a simple, fun and hard game in which you will build the castle walls inside which will be placed the cannons to fight back an invading float.

Apogee 1994
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Shareware
System: PC

You know the saying, “seen one, seen all”. Well, in this case if you have played any airplane shooter, like those that used to be on the arcade halls, you have already played this one. And more than probably in an improved shape.

Gremlin Interactive 1997
Genre: Adventure, Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Ok, you have a dream of your dead father asking for help, then a weird guy gives you some obviously (yet broken) magical amulets, and when the morning ends everything makes you think you must pay a visit to the obviously haunted mansion. I smell genius behind this story.

Julian Gollop / Red Shift 1984
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: ZX Spectrum

Not many games can claim the honour of having started something really big and immensely popular for themselves. Rebelstar Raiders is one of the notable exceptions. It spawned a whole modern genre and has to be recognized as the seminal work for countless others. Games like UFO (X-Com) and Jagged Alliance wouldn't exist without RR. Talking about UFO, RR was even made by the same person, so it's even a direct descendant.

Dynamix 1990
Genre: Simulation
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Red Baron is kind of a predecessor of Dynamix' Aces series. This time it's about World War I and featuring its respective planes. All known features can be found in this game: single missions, a career mode and the possibility to record your most glorious deeds.

Microprose 1989
Genre: Simulation
Rating: 6/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Red Storm Rising is based on a novel by Tom Clancy creating the background for this submarine simulation by the outbreak of a conflict during the last phase of the Cold War. The player as the commander of an US attack submarine has to fulfill various missions whose success may influence the outcome of the war.