23 votes

Rediscovering Old Games

Having seen the topic about lost games, I recalled my experiences with trying to find a game from my childhood that I just couldn't dig up no matter how hard I tried. A few years ago someone managed to help me figure out what that game was, but I'd given up all hope of ever finding out before then. For the record, that game happened to be Legend of Legaia, a pretty fantastic RPG, in my opinion.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to experience this kind of frustration, so I thought it could be nice to try to help each other rediscover old games that would otherwise be lost to us only because we couldn't divine the title from our memories and couldn't google the answer forth.

39 comments

  1. [4]
    Grzmot
    Link
    I'm fairly young, so my childhood games (Stronghold Crusader and Warcraft III) are both well preserved. But I feel your pain, as there are some small European games we played in my very early...

    I'm fairly young, so my childhood games (Stronghold Crusader and Warcraft III) are both well preserved. But I feel your pain, as there are some small European games we played in my very early childhood I can barely remember. I've found one of them again, but the other is still missing. Both were czech titles. One of them, Vlak (English: Train) was a more complex version of Snake with prebuilt levels. Of the other I can't even really remember the name anymore, except that it was a copy of Donkey Kong I think. At least from the layout of the levels, you had a 2D level where you had to climb up and avoid cannonballs I think.

    EDIT: Literally just found an online version of Vlak, I don't have to use DOSBOX anymore! :D

    7 votes
    1. [2]
      Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Being Czech titles, I unfortunately wouldn't be able to help much finding the second one. It's good to know that you found an online version of the other, though!

      Being Czech titles, I unfortunately wouldn't be able to help much finding the second one. It's good to know that you found an online version of the other, though!

      2 votes
      1. Grzmot
        Link Parent
        Yeah, maybe one day I'll find the other.

        Yeah, maybe one day I'll find the other.

        1 vote
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Grzmot
        Link Parent
        I know, the updates from Blizzard to make the game work better on modern systems are fantastic. That sound in the main menu of the chains rolling down opens up a lot of nostalgic memories...

        I know, the updates from Blizzard to make the game work better on modern systems are fantastic. That sound in the main menu of the chains rolling down opens up a lot of nostalgic memories...

  2. [3]
    teaearlgraycold
    (edited )
    Link
    Recently I rediscovered The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary. I'd been trying to find it, not knowing the title, until I finally preformed the correct search query. My friends and I all played this...

    Recently I rediscovered The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary. I'd been trying to find it, not knowing the title, until I finally preformed the correct search query. My friends and I all played this trippy game growing up because it was on our school district's computers. There is a site out there where you can play it in your browser.

    I have also newly discovered an older game, King's Quest. I was gifted a 1993 Thinkpad and decided to give some old games a try. The VGA remake is beautiful. I managed to finish it with some cheating.

    6 votes
    1. Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Man, those games are about as old as I am. I know there was something that I'd stumbled across with a lucky query once myself, but I can't recall what it was. Still, it's nice when those...

      Man, those games are about as old as I am.

      I know there was something that I'd stumbled across with a lucky query once myself, but I can't recall what it was. Still, it's nice when those serendipitous moments happen :)

      1 vote
    2. nathan12343
      Link Parent
      Holy crap, looking at screenshots of Dr. Quandary is like a nostalgia bomb for elementary school.

      Holy crap, looking at screenshots of Dr. Quandary is like a nostalgia bomb for elementary school.

      1 vote
  3. [3]
    JuniperMonkeys
    Link
    I remember all the actual-game games from when I was young, but there's one educational game that always drives me nuts from being unable to remember. It was from the early '90s -- I remember...

    I remember all the actual-game games from when I was young, but there's one educational game that always drives me nuts from being unable to remember.

    It was from the early '90s -- I remember playing it on my cousin's dad's badass Mac 2CI -- and it was a math game with cars. All I remember is that the boss car was like a dragster, and when it came out there was voiceover that went "Oh no! Oh NO! OH NO!"

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Turbo Math Facts: "Oh no! Oh NO! OH NO!"

      Turbo Math Facts: "Oh no! Oh NO! OH NO!"

      6 votes
      1. JuniperMonkeys
        Link Parent
        Awesome, that's the one! Great pull -- thanks! And now, for a nostalgia trip..

        Awesome, that's the one! Great pull -- thanks! And now, for a nostalgia trip..

        1 vote
  4. [2]
    drg
    Link
    Theme Hospital! I played again a few years ago, and it is really good! I also wasted so many hours in Sim Copter, but never found it again. Other than that, the classics. Doom II (I think this is...

    Theme Hospital! I played again a few years ago, and it is really good!

    I also wasted so many hours in Sim Copter, but never found it again.

    Other than that, the classics. Doom II (I think this is the game I spent most hours in in my life :), Warcraft III, etc...

    5 votes
    1. Grendel
      Link Parent
      My wife bought Theme Hospital on Good Old Games recently. They have fixed it up to be able to run on modern systems. She enjoyed it a lot.

      My wife bought Theme Hospital on Good Old Games recently. They have fixed it up to be able to run on modern systems. She enjoyed it a lot.

      2 votes
  5. [8]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Okay, I've never played that game, but the name and cover art are vaguely familiar. Also, old school Spyro was the best. I had no idea what the hell I was doing back then, being too young to fully...

      Okay, I've never played that game, but the name and cover art are vaguely familiar.

      Also, old school Spyro was the best. I had no idea what the hell I was doing back then, being too young to fully grasp the tasks and all, but I would spend forever chasing sheep!

      The PS1 and PS2 will always be nostalgic to me :)

      2 votes
    2. ghostsplosion
      Link Parent
      I remember Gex. I didn't own it, but I'm sure I played it somewhere.

      I remember Gex. I didn't own it, but I'm sure I played it somewhere.

      2 votes
    3. yellow
      Link Parent
      Dunkey actually mentioned Gex towards the end of his review Yooka Laylee. That is the only reasons I know the little I do about that game, yet "acid trip" seems appropriate.

      Dunkey actually mentioned Gex towards the end of his review Yooka Laylee. That is the only reasons I know the little I do about that game, yet "acid trip" seems appropriate.

    4. [3]
      lemon-fresh
      Link Parent
      Huh, I thought the "Gex" series was relatively well known for anyone that owned a ps1 or n64 around that time. I personally didn't play it because it wasn't really my thing (most 3d platformers...

      Huh, I thought the "Gex" series was relatively well known for anyone that owned a ps1 or n64 around that time. I personally didn't play it because it wasn't really my thing (most 3d platformers from around that time didn't really do much for me).

      Also looks like it's still available to download via the playstation network on ps3. :)

      1. BuckeyeSundae
        Link Parent
        or 3DO, where the first gex was originally released. ;)

        or 3DO, where the first gex was originally released. ;)

      2. Akir
        Link Parent
        I seem to remember that that particular Gex game was very strongly advertised in the US. I remember seeing ads for it on TV.

        I seem to remember that that particular Gex game was very strongly advertised in the US. I remember seeing ads for it on TV.

    5. kfwyre
      Link Parent
      I played Gex: Enter the Gecko extensively! It felt very much like a low-rent version of Super Mario 64, but I loved it anyway because I had a Playstation and that's what we got in terms of a high...

      I played Gex: Enter the Gecko extensively! It felt very much like a low-rent version of Super Mario 64, but I loved it anyway because I had a Playstation and that's what we got in terms of a high profile 3D platformer (well, that and Spyro, which was and is still awesome).

      I remember thinking it was way clumsier than SM64, but I felt like it also had a lot of neat ideas, levels, and references. It was also ridiculously cool to be able to walk on certain walls and ceilings. Navigating 3D spaces was still really novel when it came out, so that aspect felt really neat to me.

  6. [12]
    ghostsplosion
    Link
    So I've actually got one. I think it was an educational game because it was on a floppy disk (I think) and used to be in our classroom when we were around 8 or 9 years old. Let's say roughly 1999...

    So I've actually got one. I think it was an educational game because it was on a floppy disk (I think) and used to be in our classroom when we were around 8 or 9 years old. Let's say roughly 1999 or 2000. A group of us used to load it up and sit trying to get the highest score (I think), or maybe we were just trying to beat a hard level.

    Anyway, this was back when we had Acorn computers in school. The game had some elf characters (or maybe dwarves) and I'm sure you had to obtain keys/open doors and move up and down ladders and various obstacles.

    I have never been able to find this game. I have posted on reddit and other forums and had no luck. Honestly if someone manages to find it I'll be so happy.

    4 votes
    1. [6]
      Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Treasure Mountain? Also, here are some other entries in the Super Solvers series (including Super Seekers). One of these could very well be what you're looking for.

      Treasure Mountain? Also, here are some other entries in the Super Solvers series (including Super Seekers). One of these could very well be what you're looking for.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        jsx
        Link Parent
        OMG nostalgia trip! I grew up on so many of the games from The Learning Company, many of them playing on DOS machines in school computer labs. One of the best things I ever discovered is that the...

        OMG nostalgia trip! I grew up on so many of the games from The Learning Company, many of them playing on DOS machines in school computer labs.

        One of the best things I ever discovered is that the Internet Archive has preserved so many of these in their library of MS-DOS games, making them playable in-browser!

        Gizmos and Gadgets

        Midnight Rescue

        Treasure Mountain

        Outnumbered

        Spellbound

        Operation Neptune

        Logical Journey of the Zoombinis has a remastered version out

        4 votes
        1. ghostsplosion
          Link Parent
          I just said to another user that it wasn't treasure Mountain, however the more I look at it, it does seem familiar. It has the similar "file" button etc at the top left. There's ladders and trees...

          I just said to another user that it wasn't treasure Mountain, however the more I look at it, it does seem familiar. It has the similar "file" button etc at the top left. There's ladders and trees and elfs. But I'm certain the main character was an elf and there were a lot more elfs on the screen around you.

          1 vote
        2. Crespyl
          Link Parent
          Oof, I haven't played Treasure Mountain, but I had completely forgotten that I played a lot of the related Treasure Cove.

          Oof, I haven't played Treasure Mountain, but I had completely forgotten that I played a lot of the related Treasure Cove.

          1 vote
      2. [2]
        ghostsplosion
        Link Parent
        I don't think it was treasure Mountain. Character doesn't look familiar.

        I don't think it was treasure Mountain. Character doesn't look familiar.

        1. Emerald_Knight
          Link Parent
          Ah, shit, your other comment brings another game to mind, but I don't remember enough about it. I think I vaguely know what you're talking about.

          Ah, shit, your other comment brings another game to mind, but I don't remember enough about it. I think I vaguely know what you're talking about.

    2. [5]
      cfabbro
      Link Parent
      1999-2000 (but could be from much earlier given it was an Acorn school computer), with elves or possibly dwarves, obtain keys to open doors, with ladders and obstacles. That doesn't really narrow...

      1999-2000 (but could be from much earlier given it was an Acorn school computer), with elves or possibly dwarves, obtain keys to open doors, with ladders and obstacles. That doesn't really narrow it down all that much, TBH. Can you remember any more specifics? What sort of computer was it actually played on? You mention Acorn but they range from the 8-bit to the modern 32-bit era. So do you remember what level of graphics it had, better or worse than 8, 16, 32bit? Was it fully 2D, 2.5D, 3D? What kind of floppy was it on, 3½, 5¼ or the glorious old 8″? Can you remember any more mechanics for the game to help narrow it down?

      Because without narrowing it down there are an absolute boatload of games I can think of that could potentially fit the bill... from Palace of Magic (1987) to The Lost Vikings (1993).

      1 vote
      1. [4]
        ghostsplosion
        Link Parent
        I am trying to remember as much as possible but it's hard. It was like a sideways platform type game, it looks very similar to the lost vikings game you linked. Very colourful, and I'm pretty sure...

        I am trying to remember as much as possible but it's hard. It was like a sideways platform type game, it looks very similar to the lost vikings game you linked. Very colourful, and I'm pretty sure there were doors in trees that you needed to get keys for. I think we are talking 3.5 floppy from memory. I don't remember much about the acorn PC itself. I was very young at the time and it's hard to remember exact details. I am sure the characters were elfs. I can picture them being really colourful, and if I remember correctly, there was some sort of drop down click menu in the top left, kind of like when you click "File" in Word or something.

        Edit: tbh, it may have even been 1998. In fact, I think it was 1998.

        1 vote
        1. [3]
          cfabbro
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          Hmm, okay if it was ≤1998, on a 3.5 then that potentially narrows it down to Acorn Archimedes/Risc PC/A7000 games at least. Do you remember if the OS looked like this? Since that would mean for...

          Hmm, okay if it was ≤1998, on a 3.5 then that potentially narrows it down to Acorn Archimedes/Risc PC/A7000 games at least. Do you remember if the OS looked like this? Since that would mean for sure it was one of those 3.

          And looks similar to Lost Vikings on an Acorn... Was it Twinworld, maybe? And this is a bit of a long-shot since the game mechanics are different than what you describe, but was it Lemmings?

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            ghostsplosion
            Link Parent
            I genuinely don't remember what the main OS looked like. I am pretty sure it wasn't Lemmings. Twinworld looks more like it, with the trees and such, but I specifically remember there being a few...

            I genuinely don't remember what the main OS looked like. I am pretty sure it wasn't Lemmings. Twinworld looks more like it, with the trees and such, but I specifically remember there being a few characters on screen and looking more elf like. I'm trying to remember any more details that might help but it's so difficult when it was 20 years ago.

            1 vote
            1. cfabbro
              Link Parent
              Yeah, no doubt. And memory can be suck a fickle, imperfect and malleable thing too, which makes it that much harder. If you can think of anything else that can potentially narrow it down, let me know.

              it's so difficult when it was 20 years ago

              Yeah, no doubt. And memory can be suck a fickle, imperfect and malleable thing too, which makes it that much harder. If you can think of anything else that can potentially narrow it down, let me know.

  7. [2]
    kfwyre
    Link
    I think the hardest thing is that, at this point, I don't remember what I don't remember! It's not that I have memories of particular games whose names escape me; it's that the memories themselves...

    I think the hardest thing is that, at this point, I don't remember what I don't remember! It's not that I have memories of particular games whose names escape me; it's that the memories themselves are gone, and I would need a screenshot or title or something associative to dredge them back up.

    Somebody else linked Operation Neptune here, and I didn't have any direct memory of playing until I read the title, and now I can see it clearly! Then, watching a video of it made me remember Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, which was another game that I probably haven't legitimately thought about or remembered in 20+ years. I feel like I need to take a stroll through a game database with yearly listings to see what titles ping for me.

    3 votes
    1. Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      There are plenty of such listings around. You might consider taking some time to delve through one!

      There are plenty of such listings around. You might consider taking some time to delve through one!

      2 votes
  8. [2]
    Grendel
    Link
    Hey OP! You can play Legend of Legaia on the InternetArchive. It can be played in browser or downloaded as a ROM for an emulator :)

    Hey OP! You can play Legend of Legaia on the InternetArchive. It can be played in browser or downloaded as a ROM for an emulator :)

    3 votes
    1. Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Oh, that's no problem. I've got a physical copy and everything. But up until a couple of years ago, I struggled just to find the name. Thanks, though! I'm sure someone else may enjoy throwing it...

      Oh, that's no problem. I've got a physical copy and everything. But up until a couple of years ago, I struggled just to find the name.

      Thanks, though! I'm sure someone else may enjoy throwing it into an emulator :)

      1 vote
  9. [4]
    PetitPrince
    (edited )
    Link
    There's this one game I cannot find despite some vigorous search: It was an arcade driving pc game, I think it was released before 2000. Graphics were 3d but probably a bit more refined than early...

    There's this one game I cannot find despite some vigorous search:

    It was an arcade driving pc game, I think it was released before 2000. Graphics were 3d but probably a bit more refined than early ps1 titles. There's definitely a cartoon vibe to the graphics (no cell shading but exaggerated features).

    You would drive semi truck (I think you could mount weapons on the top?) in third person around mostly deserted tracks (what the setting post-apo?). In a classical fashion you would get some money depending on the race performance to spend on better equipment. I think there's also a mission system where you just ferry some cargo from point A to B (and there's some hazard, hence the weapons), but I don't think its that much of an open world.

    I'm convinced the name had a "truck" element somewhere ("truckers" maybe?) but so far I cannot find the right title.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      cfabbro
      Link Parent
      Hard Truck: Apocalypse? It was released in 2005 but sounds about right.

      Hard Truck: Apocalypse? It was released in 2005 but sounds about right.

      1. PetitPrince
        Link Parent
        Not this one unfortunately (but it's oddly fits all my description!). Looking at the screenshot from game of this era, I'd like to retract my comment about graphics. The environnement was really...

        Not this one unfortunately (but it's oddly fits all my description!).

        Looking at the screenshot from game of this era, I'd like to retract my comment about graphics. The environnement was really crude. More like [Moto Racer(http://domustation.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/moto-racer.-2.png).

        I live in the French part of Switzerland, maybe it's a German or French exclusive?

        I think

        1 vote
    2. talklittle
      Link Parent
      MegaRace released in 1993 or 1994 and has racing and buying weapons for your car. Don't know about the mission system though.

      MegaRace released in 1993 or 1994 and has racing and buying weapons for your car. Don't know about the mission system though.