Abandonware: The Ethics and Essentials

Pirates Gold

Published: Micropose Inc., 1993
Get it from Abandonia

A redone version of the Sid Mier’s Pirates!, Pirates Gold boasts enhanced graphics, hand drawn images and more accessible gameplay over the original – though it doesn’t look as good as the newest game in the series.

The game itself is as freeform and open as a game can be, allowing players to choose from a variety of starting options (including the year and location the game will be based in) and then just dumping you in a open, fully simulated world. You can be whatever you want in Pirates Gold – a roving buccaneer, a raiding pirate, or a wealthy merchant who woos the daughters of island governers.

That said, if you’re expecting a very action-driven game with lot of cussing and voodoo curses then you might be a bit disappointed. Pirates Gold has plenty of atmosphere and ambience, but it’s all quite family friendly and even the sword fighting is more strategic than action-orientated.

Regardless though, Pirates Gold is the high point in this unfortunately neglected series for many fans, with genuine replayability and a depth that still makes this brief simulation-adventure challenging today.

Syndicate

Published: Electronic Arts, 1993
Get it from Abandonia

Ah, Syndicate – one of those cult classics that’s managed to maintain a loyal following for more than 15 years, yet has always been stuck on the periphery of popularity at the same time.

Basically a strategy and action game, the goal in Syndicate is quite a simple (and ironic, given the publisher) one – to lead your company to worldwide domination! Not corporate domination either, but violent and brutal rule of the entire planet. To do that you’ll need to develop new weapons, lead your robotic troops into battle against your rivals and slowly extend your grip until you govern the world.

Developed back when Bullfrog still existed and Peter Molyneux only attached his name to undeniably decent strategy games, Syndicate is a game from a better time and it’s aged very gracefully. The graphics don’t even look that bad by modern standards thanks to the stylised art and crisp, isometric interface.

The favourite game of many gamers and games journalists, Syndicate is an absolute classic and one that should be considered required reading for any PC user.

Albion

Published: Blue Byte Software, 1995
Get it from Abandonia

Another game that’s unfortunately never managed to achieve the recognition it deserves, Albion tells the simple tale of pilot Tom Driscoll, whose shuttle crashes on a strange alien world. Stranded for a time, Tom learns to love the planet and the various aliens that inhabit it, vowing to protect it from his crewmates and colleagues who have come to mine the world for resources.

Though the learning curve can be pretty steep in this top-down RPG, the game is consistently fair with players who take the time to explore and understand the complex world of Albion. While the game itself is a fairly familiar mix that’s similar to the old Final Fantasy games – top-down navigation and turn-based combat for the most part.

What really sells Albion however is the obvious love and care which the fictional world has been built with, including some rather striking artwork. Though players are originally introduced to Tom and his co-workers as the Good Guys, the gradual reveal of the sinister purpose behind the mission is only half the story – it’s the way that Tom himself deals with this early twist that endears his plight to players.

These have been just some of our abandonware games, but there are plenty of others out there to find and enjoy. Share some of your favourite games of old with us, in the forums.