209: Damocles

Number 209
(8 points)
Damocles
1991: 21

3D graphics were the hot new thing on the 16-bit micros, so when Damocles offered a semi-realistic world to explore, it got some attention.

Flying through space, you land on the planet of Eris, and are informed by the President that the comet Damocles is hurtling towards the planet, leading to certain destruction. You will be handsomely rewarded if you can find a way to stop the comet from destroying Eris. The game gives you the entire solar system to explore, yet still manages to stay fast on a stock Amiga 500 due to the sparse landscapes you encounter. Running, flying, collecting items, solving puzzles - Damocles was, for the time, a huge game and surprisingly non-linear. Exploration and note-taking are key, and it's certainly different from almost every other game of the time.

Games with 3D exploration on the Amiga tend to age poorly, but Damocles does have something going for it. The sheer scope of the game is astonishing, and on a single disk - only Frontier: Elite 2 would beat it several years later - and nowadays you have the luxury of online guides and gameplay videos to help you through. I certainly will be giving it a chance, but I imagine it will take me a while to explore.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Damocles - Mercenary II (1990)(Novagen)[cr Inner-City - Mayhem]