Reviews

• gamedeal user

  Aug 26, 2022

  they DID NOT even bother with the controls
• Angrydee

  Oct 12, 2022

  It does what it says on the tin
• gamedeal user

  Nov 15, 2014

  Ehh. It's okay. The games are definitely colored a lot by nostalgia. The controls are kind of crap, the speed and timing are decidedly "off" on a modern machine, and the graphics aren't quite as good as I remember them being. That said, I'm reminded of how much I enjoyed these games in the past, and I'll definitely sink a bit of time into each one. It's a good chance to play all of these in the Amiga versions as well, which I never have done for all of them, for whatever reason. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy these without either the nostalgia factor or a keen interest in playing classic games. They're not the remakes - these are the originals. They were great at the time, but a lot of the interface improvements and so forth that you're used to seeing just aren't there; these games are 20+ years old, after all. Even so, it's a nice trip into history. I used to work for a company that was an offshoot of Cinemaware, for whatever it's worth; I've worked with several people who you'll see in the credits of these games. It may bias me one way or the other. I'm giving it a thumbs-up, but take that with a smallish grain of salt.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 17, 2014

  Brought this mainly for "It came from the desert" and Wings. Both run well and were easy to set up to work on a 360 controller. Sound is authentic to Amiga versions. Great way to play some of my favorite Amiga classics.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 17, 2014

  Well, I only played It Came from the Desert and was very disappointed in the lag between scenes. The music is not playing when it should, but the visuals and context of the story are all there. I would probably need more time to see if I would really recommend this to my friends. I can honestly say I played this when it was new on my Amiga 2000 (I still own this game), so I have a good starting point for my review. I have played this on emulators that worked better than this version.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 18, 2014

  Only recommended for those who played these back in the day, I really don't think they would hold much appeal to anybody younger. 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. I purchased this primarily with the following five titles in mind: Rocket Ranger and Defender of the Crown (which I originally played on the C64) and TV Sports Basketball, Wings and It Came From The Desert (which I played on the Amiga). Wings and It Came From The Desert still hold up respectably well. I've found that DoC and RR are a bit too frustrating thanks to the squishy controls. TVS Basketball was a fun way to waste an hour, ahh the memories of that darn Cinemaware team shooting 70% from the field every game... but it's not something with any real staying power. So I would give this a tepid recommendation to old school C64/Amiga owners who enjoyed some of these back in the day. Even if I'll likely not spend much more time with this collection, I've done worse for $8.
• HoriGoDaiChakowa

  Apr 23, 2023

  As a fan of classic video games, I have to say that Cinemaware Anthology: 1986-1991 is one of the best collections of games ever made. This anthology is a treasure trove of some of the most innovative and iconic games from the golden age of gaming. 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. And this anthology brings together some of their best work. Every game in the anthology is a gem, but some stand out to me more than others. Defender of the Crown is a classic medieval strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a noble fighting to reclaim his rightful lands. The game is beautifully designed, with stunning graphics that really bring the medieval world to life. Another standout game in the collection is It Came From The Desert, an action-adventure game that's reminiscent of the classic B-movies of the 1950s. The game features a compelling storyline, great characters, and tons of action and adventure. One of the things I love most about this anthology is how well each game holds up today. Despite being decades old, these games are just as fun and engaging as they were when they were first released. Overall, if you're a fan of classic games, then the Cinemaware Anthology: 1986-1991 is a must-have collection. With its incredible lineup of games and timeless design, it's a true masterpiece of gaming history.
• gamedeal user

  Jan 30, 2015

  [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ogFScHR1g]I also covered this game on my retro YouTube show.[/url] If you're an old school Amiga fan, you probably know the catalogue of Cinemaware, a publisher who released a series of unique games that were technical showpieces for the platform. This is a compilation of some of their greatest hits, with both Amiga and DOS versions of the games available. The DOS versions are a nice added value I suppose but they don't look or sound nearly as good as the Amiga versions. The wrapper on the collection is also decent and offers a few options including save states. It's basic but does the job. One thing to note is that most of these games have not aged well at all. If you have fondness for them from back in the day, you'll probably still enjoy them. However, if you're a gamer who didn't grow up with the Amiga, you'll likely find these incredibly frustrating to play, even if their level of visual and audio fidelity doesn't bother you. This is a collection for old school Amiga/Cinemaware fans and those with a genuine curiosity for what these historical games were about. If you aren't those things, you'll probably use this for a few minutes and give up.
• gamedeal user

  Aug 26, 2015

  At the time these games came out there were three types of games: Old fashioned strategy games based on boards games, story games that involved a lot of reading with little possible action and the old standard side scrolling-style action fare. Cinemaware brought about the greatest change in gaming to date with these games. Games that blended, as seamlessly as was possible in the days of CGA graphics, the story with action. It is going to be dated for sure but they are still to this day good stories with a hint of action and/or strategy. King of Chicago was one of my favorites back then. It has a nice bit of randomness to it with a touch of sappy humor. ANd that is the attention to replayability they put into these games. Of course it is still a bit tedious sometimes but that is because of the age of programming. Well look, final verdict... If you are nostalgic for the old days then this is worth it for sure. If you want to learn about the olden days for a school project wait for a sale and if you still are looking forward to being a seniopr... walk away.
• gamedeal user

  Feb 4, 2016

  Some people say "dated" here but these games look better than Undertale, youngsters of today sure won't mind.