Cinemaware Anthology: 1986-1991

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 75 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Cinemaware Anthology: 1986-1991 Game Cover
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"Cinemaware Anthology: 1986-1991" is a collection of classic games from the legendary developer Cinemaware. Play games like Defender of the Crown, The King of Chicago, and Rocket Ranger, and choose between the original Amiga or PC MS-DOS versions. The anthology includes 13 games in total, ranging from action-packed adventures to sports simulations, and is compatible with Windows 7 and 8. Please note that the German version of Rocket Ranger is only available for purchases made in Germany.

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Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews
graphics6 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The collection offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans of classic games, particularly those who enjoyed Cinemaware titles on the Amiga.
  • Several games in the anthology, such as 'It Came From The Desert' and 'Defender of the Crown', are still considered engaging and fun, showcasing the innovative design of their time.
  • The emulation works well on modern systems, allowing players to easily access and enjoy these classic titles without needing complex setups.
  • Many games in the collection suffer from bugs, slow performance, and unresponsive controls, making them frustrating to play compared to modern standards.
  • The lack of updated features, such as game manuals and improved controls, detracts from the overall experience, leaving players feeling disappointed.
  • The collection may not appeal to younger gamers or those unfamiliar with the original titles, as the gameplay and graphics have not aged well.
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are often described as dated, yet they still manage to create a rich atmosphere that immerses players in the experience. While some users appreciate the stunning visuals that bring the medieval world to life, others note significant discrepancies between the graphics of different versions, with the Amiga versions generally being superior. Overall, the nostalgic appeal of the graphics is acknowledged, but many players express a desire for modern updates to enhance the visual experience.

    • “The game is beautifully designed, with stunning graphics that really bring the medieval world to life.”
    • “Back then the graphics blew me away.”
    • “But the emulation is spot on, and the graphics remain surprisingly decent given their age.”
    • “Lords of the Rising Sun, when riding a horse after battle, has some odd graphics and then it crashes back to the game start.”
    • “The PC version has much better options and lets you end your turn manually, but the graphics are too ugly to look at (even for someone like me who was around in the 80s) and the PC speaker music beeps make your ears bleed.”
    • “The Amiga game versions have better graphics, but that's where the differences end - the games (both PC and Amiga) have terrible loading times (often I did not know if the game was loading or frozen), confusing and/or unresponsive controls (for instance, it's 'great' to save a Steam screenshot every time you close a game - you do this by pressing F12) and confusing gameplay.”
  • story10 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its compelling narrative and strong character development, contributing to an engaging experience. However, gameplay issues, such as bugs and difficulty spikes, detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to mixed reviews regarding the integration of story and action. While some players appreciate the blend of storytelling and gameplay, others find the execution lacking due to technical problems.

    • “The game features a compelling storyline, great characters, and tons of action and adventure.”
    • “Games that blended, as seamlessly as was possible in the days of CGA graphics, the story with action.”
    • “3 out of 5 average story, average gameplay.”
    • “At the time these games came out, there were three types of games: old-fashioned strategy games based on board games, story games that involved a lot of reading with little possible action, and the old standard side-scrolling action fare.”
    • “The music is not playing when it should, but the visuals and context of the story are all there.”
  • gameplay7 mentions

    The gameplay of Cinemaware titles is characterized by a cinematic design that aims for immersion through graphics and sound, but suffers from significant issues such as spongy controls, confusing objectives, and long loading times. While the Amiga versions boast superior graphics, they often fall short in gameplay quality, making them nearly unplayable compared to their PC counterparts, which, despite their inferior visuals, offer a more engaging experience. Overall, the gameplay experience is marred by technical flaws and design shortcomings.

    • “Cinemaware was known for its cinematic approach to game design, which combined realistic graphics, atmospheric soundtracks, and engaging gameplay to create a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The problem is that the Amiga versions have lightyears better looking graphics, but the PC versions are lightyears better in the gameplay department.”
    • “Just go watch 30 seconds of gameplay from something like King of Chicago or Sinbad on YouTube to see how truly bad these relics are.”
    • “The controls can be spongy, the gameplay objectives can be obtuse, and a few of them just weren't very good games even in their day.”
    • “The Amiga game versions have better graphics, but that's where the differences end - the games (both PC and Amiga) have terrible loading times (often I did not know if the game was loading or frozen), confusing and/or unresponsive controls (for instance, it's 'great' to save a Steam screenshot every time you close a game - you do this by pressing F12) and confusing gameplay.”
    • “Most of the gameplay in the Amiga versions is so bad it's virtually unplayable.”
  • music5 mentions

    Cinemaware's games are praised for their atmospheric soundtracks that enhance the immersive experience, with many users expressing a desire for modern revamps that leverage improved music capabilities. However, some criticisms arise regarding the PC version's poor audio quality, particularly the unpleasant beeping from the PC speaker, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these mixed reviews, the nostalgic value of the music remains significant for fans.

    • “Cinemaware was known for its cinematic approach to game design, which combined realistic graphics, atmospheric soundtracks, and engaging gameplay to create a truly immersive experience.”
    • “These games, and the music, are still so good that I feel guilty getting it on sale.”
    • “I look forward to seeing Cinemaware revamp their games and make new ones that utilize modern graphics and music abilities.”
    • “The PC version has much better options and lets you end your turn manually, but the graphics are too ugly to look at (even for someone like me who was around in the 80s) and the PC speaker music beeps make your ears bleed.”
    • “The music is not playing when it should, but the visuals and context of the story are all there.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its rich immersion, enhanced by a combination of realistic graphics and engaging soundtracks, despite some dated visuals. Players report being quickly drawn into the experience, with time seemingly flying by during gameplay.

    • “Though dated graphically, its rich atmosphere and stunning playability are fully intact; I became immersed immediately and three hours passed like minutes.”
    • “Cinemaware was known for its cinematic approach to game design, which combined realistic graphics, atmospheric soundtracks, and engaging gameplay to create a truly immersive experience.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, bugs that disrupt gameplay, and issues such as lost save files, rendering it largely unplayable.

    • “Unfortunately, I found it unplayable as this conversion is extremely buggy and resets and crashes a lot.”
    • “It's buggy; while defending the castle from a raid, the graphics messed up completely, and I had to reset. Additionally, the game lost my save file and just stopped allowing me to continue after 4.5 hours.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of randomness and sentimental elements, creating a unique and lighthearted experience.

    • “It has a nice bit of randomness to it with a touch of sappy humor.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight a strong emphasis on replayability in the games, indicating that developers have thoughtfully designed elements that encourage players to return for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The attention to replayability in this game is impressive.”
    • “There are so many different choices and paths to explore, making each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “I love how the game encourages you to try different strategies and approaches every time you play.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The game offers no new experiences on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel stale.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players acknowledge that grinding can be tedious at times, attributing this to the game's older programming techniques.

    • “Grinding feels like an endless chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the storyline.”
    • “It often feels like I'm just going through the motions, rather than actually playing the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to "Came from the Desert," reminiscing about their high school days and the nostalgia it evokes through its impressive graphics and gameplay for its time. This sense of nostalgia contributes to the game's lasting impact on their memories.

    • “Playing 'It Came From the Desert' again made me feel like I was back in high school, with an open-jaw expression due to the top-end graphics and gameplay back then. This was one of the best games of my youth.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration over the lack of optimization for modern PCs, indicating that the games should have been better tailored to current hardware capabilities.

    • “The game runs smoothly on modern PCs, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “I appreciate how well the developers have optimized the game for various hardware configurations.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end systems.”
    • “They should have at least optimized the game for modern PCs, for God's sake!”
    • “The performance issues are frustrating; it feels like the game was never properly optimized.”
    • “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it struggles to run even on high-end hardware.”
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