During the last couple of years the software market is being flooded by
CD based programs. I find it hard to keep track, so I read as many reviews as
I can before buying a game. Unfortunately the "professional" reviewers
seldom get to test a game in depth, thus even the magazine reviews
sometimes "miss". I buy many games, I play many games, I play a lot and
I decided to share some of my experiences with you.

                      Ŀ
                       What you should NOT buy 
                      

FIFA International Soccer


This game got some good reviews. It certainly wasn't checked by people
who knew soccer real well.

If you are familiar with soccer, the greatest aggravation is waiting for
you. This game is the most irritating mismatch between "looks, sound"
and the actual game value, gaming enjoyment. As you open and install the
game, the first sight and sound is pretty. The movement of the players
are very realistic, the sound (the digitized crowd noise and actual
voice broadcast) makes it sound like you would be really there, the
different options to play (exhibition, kind of round robin and world cup
type tournament) are well designed and you have the impression that you
have one of the best game in your hands. Not so. One thing you can
learn from this game is how to rig a soccer match. Because clearly, that
is what's happening. After a few games it becomes more and more clear
that your actions, skill has little if any influence on the outcome.
It becomes more and more clear that if the program "decides" that you
will score, believe me you will. Even if it is a ridiculous shot from 63
meters, it will be a goal. But far more often when the program "decides"
that you won't score, believe me you won't. Not even if you come up with
the most amazing combinations, shots from as close as 5 meter, not even
if you end up bombarding the computer opponent's goal keeper as many as
40-50 times. I don't know why the programmers did that, but it is likely
so the game will LOOK exciting. The level of "rigging" is to the point
where I actually learned to predict which team will score next.
If it is not "your turn" to score, the ball will bounce toward your
territory sometimes against all known laws of physics, and when you get
more than one free kick against your team within 30 seconds, might as
well go and eat your dinner, you are doomed to get a goal. So, no matter
how realistic this game looks and sounds, if you are familiar with
soccer, this game is pure aggravation, because the score depends on some
warped "plan" of the programmers and not your skill.

                   Ŀ
                    What you SHOULD buy. 
                   

Under a Killing Moon


A truly spectacular production. It comes on 4 CDs and it is one of the
best, if not the best multimedia adventure game I have ever played.
I am very critical, but I couldn't come up with any fault. The story
line is very well written excellent science fiction novel. The game has
"atmosphere". You not only play the role of Tex Murphy P.I., you do feel
like Tex. He is funny and his "P.I. humor" permeates the entire game.
The adventure game features are thoroughly logical, not too difficult,
but not too easy either, just right. The music/sounds are appropriate to
the given situation, pleasant, and part of the "atmosphere".
The graphics are great. You hear a lot of claims about "virtual reality"
(which of course is not possible without stereoscopic 3D vision), but if
there was one game which got real near to the effect, this is it. In
this game the "virtual reality like" effect is not only parts of the
game, but the entire game happens in moving 3D-like surrounding.
There is a complete built in help system, so if you get stuck you don't
have to order hint books, you don't have to call BBSs for help files,
you just have to click and it is all there. Even the help system was
perfectly designed, you can't get a hint you don't want to see.
If you like multimedia type adventure games, interactive movies, good
music, good story line, appropriate humor, 3D-like environment, the type
of program which makes you feel "to be there", UKM is probably the best
of it's kind today on the market. Extremely highly recommended.

Gabor
