Dungeons of the Unforgiven (1993)

Moraff’s Dungeons of the Unforgiven (1993) — Retro DOS Dungeon Crawler Spotlight

For this week’s Vintage Windows feature, we’re shining a light on Moraff’s Dungeons of the Unforgiven, a colorful and quirky MS-DOS dungeon crawler released in 1993 by MoraffWare, the one-man studio of Steve Moraff. It’s one of the more unusual first-person RPGs of the era, and a perfect example of the experimental, personality-driven PC shareware scene of the early ’90s.

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Quick Facts

• Title: Moraff’s Dungeons of the Unforgiven
• Developer / Publisher: MoraffWare (Steve Moraff)
• Release Year: 1993
• Platform: MS-DOS
• Distribution: Shareware, commonly found on BBSes and shareware compilation CDs

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A Dungeon Crawler Full of Color and Personality

Unlike many dungeon crawlers that aimed for dark, brooding visuals, Dungeons of the Unforgiven stands out with its brightly colored, highly patterned wall textures. Every corridor takes on a vivid look, making navigation surprisingly intuitive despite the maze-like structure of each level.

Gameplay is classic dungeon-crawling at its core:

• First-person, grid-based movement
• Turn-based exploration
• Spell preparation and magic use
• Detailed character stats
• Inventory management and item upgrades
• Level-by-level descent into increasingly dangerous dungeons

The UI is packed with information—HP, stats, maps, spells, and battle effects—reflecting the era’s love for giving players deep mechanical insight.

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A True MoraffWare Experience

Steve Moraff became known in the early DOS era for his unique visual style and ambitious RPG mechanics. Dungeons of the Unforgiven continues that tradition with:

• Improved 3D-style walls and SVGA-like visuals for 1993
• Roughly 25 dungeon levels depending on version
• A mixture of serious RPG challenges and humorous or oddball enemies
• A light-hearted tone woven into monster descriptions and encounters

This mix of charm and challenge helped the game gain a cult following among shareware RPG fans.

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Final Thoughts

Moraff’s Dungeons of the Unforgiven is a wonderful time capsule from the early days of PC dungeon crawling. Its vibrant visuals, deep stat system, and quirky charm make it an entertaining game to rediscover—especially for fans of vintage DOS RPGs who want something a little off the beaten path.

Stay tuned for more retro software explorations here on Retro Gaming Life – Vintage Windows!

Word Rescue(DOS, 1992)

A Look Back at Word Rescue (1992) — A Colorful Edutainment Classic from Apogee

If you grew up gaming on early ’90s DOS or Windows 3.x machines, chances are you crossed paths with one of Apogee Software’s many iconic shareware titles. Among their platforming shooters and puzzlers was a charming, educational twist: Word Rescue, released in 1992, an edutainment platformer that blended vocabulary-building with classic PC action.

What Is Word Rescue?

Developed by Redwood Games and published under Apogee’s shareware model, Word Rescue set out to teach children spelling and reading skills in a way that didn’t feel like traditional “school software.” Instead, it wrapped learning inside a vibrant side-scrolling adventure featuring a friendly bookworm named Bashful and a pair of young heroes the player could choose from.

The game’s premise is simple but fun: mischievous creatures known as Gruzzles have stolen words from books, mixing up matching pairs and causing chaos. Your job? Navigate colorful levels, defeat or avoid Gruzzles, match words with their correct pictures, and restore order to the world’s books.

Release Format

Like many Apogee games of the era, Word Rescue was released as a three-episode shareware series:

• Part 1 (Shareware Episode) — the portion most players first experienced
• Parts 2 and 3 — available for purchase
• Platforms: Primarily MS-DOS, commonly bundled or downloaded by early Windows users and still remembered fondly by those who used Windows 3.1 and DOS-based setups

Key Features

• Educational gameplay focused on reading and vocabulary
• Classic 2D platforming reminiscent of other Apogee titles
• Selectable characters, giving kids more agency
• Vivid EGA graphics that made the game instantly recognizable
• Environmental variety, from forests to caves to spooky castles
• Difficulty settings appropriate for different age ranges

Why It Stands Out in the Vintage Windows Era

During the early ’90s, educational PC games were often dry, beige-toned experiences. Word Rescue broke that mold with its arcade-like energy and bright visuals. It also benefitted from Apogee’s shareware model, which meant millions of kids were introduced to it through freely distributed floppy disks or early online downloads.

For many Windows 3.1 household users, Word Rescue was one of the first games that made learning fun and genuinely replayable.

Legacy

While Apogee would go on to publish more action-heavy titles and Redwood Games later developed the math-focused companion Math Rescue, Word Rescue remains a standout in early edutainment design. Its combination of platforming and word association still feels unique today, and the game has become a nostalgic favorite among vintage PC collectors and retro-computing fans.

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If you enjoy digging into early ’90s DOS/Windows-era software gems, Word Rescue is a must-revisit title—simple, charming, colorful, and a perfect example of how shareware shaped an entire generation of PC gamers.

Leaper(DOS, 1992)

Leaper (1992) – A Charming VGA Frog-Hop Classic for Vintage Windows & DOS Fans

If you grew up exploring the shareware libraries of the early ’90s, chances are you stumbled upon a colorful little DOS title called Leaper. Released in 1992 and programmed by Lee Chapel, this quirky VGA game is a fun throwback to an era when bright pixel art, simple gameplay loops, and hobbyist programming defined the PC gaming landscape.

A Classic Frog-Jumping Adventure

Leaper opens with a memorable title screen: a big green frog peering out from the reeds, drawn in unmistakable early-VGA style. The game itself is heavily inspired by arcade classics—fast-paced movement, timing-based obstacles, and level designs meant to test reflexes rather than story comprehension.

Players guide their frog across busy paths and waterways, dodging hazards and navigating patterns that grow increasingly challenging. It’s easy to pick up, tough to master, and endlessly replayable—just like the best early-PC arcade clones.

Technical Details & Features

• Release Year: 1992
• Author/Developer: Lee Chapel
• Platform: DOS (runs beautifully on vintage PCs and modern emulators)
• Graphics: VGA Version 1.0 (bright, bold 256-color artwork)
• Controls: Keyboard or joystick (yes, full joystick support!)
• Genre: Arcade/reflex game

The game’s simple control instructions—Press ENTER to start, press H for help, J for joystick—are quintessential for its era. The title screen even includes a tiny pixel spider in the corner, a charming detail that reflects the creativity of early independent PC developers.

Why It’s Worth Revisiting Today

For collectors, retro PC enthusiasts, or vintage Windows/DOS bloggers, Leaper is a perfect reminder of what made early shareware and hobbyist games magical. It’s lightweight, immediately accessible, and full of nostalgic personality. Best of all, it showcases the artistic limitations (and clever workarounds) of early VGA homebrew design.

If you’re running a vintage Windows 3.x, Windows 95, or pure DOS setup—or even DOSBox—Leaper is a fun little title to add to your retro gaming library.

Gobman(DOS, 1992)

GobMan (1992) – A Charming Pac-Like Gem for Early Windows PCs

If you spent any time exploring the shareware ecosystem of the early ’90s, chances are you remember stumbling upon quirky, inventive titles that blended familiarity with experimentation. GobMan, released in 1992 by Filipe Mateus, is exactly that kind of game—a Windows-era reinterpretation of classic arcade gameplay with its own distinct style and personality.

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⭐ A Windows Twist on a Classic Formula

At first glance, GobMan looks heavily inspired by Pac-Man, and that inspiration is proudly worn on its sleeve. The title screen itself—featuring a big yellow sphere with a wide animated mouth, a ghost-like blue enemy, and even a playful depiction of a bomb—immediately sets the tone. But GobMan is far from a simple clone. It takes the familiar maze-chasing formula and infuses it with the aesthetic experimentation that was common among early Windows and DOS shareware developers.

The game runs on PCs of the early ’90s and was designed for the hardware and graphical limitations of the time. This makes it an interesting snapshot of how classic arcade mechanics were adapted into a Windows-compatible environment before DirectX and widespread multimedia standards became the norm.

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📅 Release and Development

1. Developer: Filipe Mateus

2. Release Year: 1992

3. Platform: Early Windows PCs (often shared through bulletin boards and shareware collections)

Games like GobMan were often distributed as shareware, encouraging players to experiment with them freely and share copies with friends. This culture is partly why titles like this remain beloved pieces of retro computing history.

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🎨 Graphics & Style

The title screen alone—shown above—is a great example of early bitmap-based graphic design on Windows systems. The shading, gradients, and somewhat clay-like rendering give the game a visually distinct identity compared to other minimalist Pac-Man-style clones.

The artwork even includes a stylized circuit board, highlighting the tech-obsessed aesthetic of the era, complete with bright green traces and chips that feel straight out of a 1990s electronics magazine.

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🎮 Gameplay and Features

While simple, GobMan offered:

1. Classic maze-chase gameplay with its own variations

2. Colorful enemies and obstacles

3. Light humor and playful animations

4. A distinctly early-Windows presentation

5. Easy pick-up-and-play mechanics, making it a staple of home PCs at the time

For many players, GobMan was one of those games that came bundled on shareware CDs or downloaded from local BBS boards—the kind of title you’d launch "just for a minute" and end up playing longer than planned.

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🖥 A Retro Windows Time Capsule

Today, GobMan stands as a fun example of early PC gaming creativity. It captures a moment when developers experimented freely, blending arcade nostalgia with the possibilities of personal computers that were rapidly evolving.

If you're building a collection of vintage Windows games or simply enjoy exploring early ’90s shareware, GobMan is a charming and important piece of that history.

Balloonz(DOS, 1993)

🎈 Retro Spotlight: Balloonz! by Adrian B. Danieli

If you’re into retro DOS games and shareware nostalgia, you might remember Balloonz!, a quirky arcade-style title released by Adrian B. Danieli under his label Acumen Software back in the early ’90s.

📜 Origins and Release

1. Balloonz! first came out in 1993 for DOS. 

2. It was distributed as shareware, which was very common at the time: players could download the unregistered version for free, but to unlock all levels or modes, they needed to register. 

3. The developer, Adrian B. Danieli, released it under his company Acumen Software. 

🎮 Gameplay & Modes

Balloonz! actually contains two distinct game modes, giving it a nice variety for a small DOS title:

1. Midnight Journeys

   1. In this mode, you control a little character suspended by two balloons.

   2. You drift through a night sky, collecting pink balloons while avoiding dangerous stars; if you hit a star, you lose one of your balloons.

   3. The registered version has 10 levels, while the shareware (unregistered) version has 5. 

2. Puff-Gunners

   1. A two-player competitive mode: ea

   2. Balloons fall from the top, and the idea is to blow balloons toward your opponent’s side. 

   3. There are configurable settings, such as how strong your puffs are, how many balloons can fall at once, and how much energy each gun starts with. 

💾 Technical Notes

1. The game runs in 320 × 200 resolution and requires VGA. 

2. It supports Sound Blaster, which brings in some nice audio for the DOS era. 

3. Despite being a simple arcade game, it’s surprisingly polished for a shareware indie project of its time.

👤 About the Creator

1. Adrian B. Danieli, under the name Acumen Software, created Balloonz! as one of his few published games in the ’90s. 

2. According to MobyGames, he also made other small DOS titles. 

📥 Legacy & Preservation

1. While not as well-known as big-name ’90s titles, Balloonz! is a great example of the small, creative shareware projects that flourished in the DOS era.

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If you like the feel of classic DOS shareware games, Balloonz! is definitely worth a look — especially if you’re curious about how independent developers made fun, arcade-style games before the Internet age kicked into full gear.

Gateworld(DOS, 1993)

Exploring Gateworld (1993): A Forgotten DOS Gem Worth Revisiting

If you grew up playing early ’90s PC games on Windows 3.x or DOS, chances are you remember stumbling across countless shareware titles—some great, some… less so. Today, we’re taking a closer look at Gateworld, a colorful sci-fi platformer released in 1993 by HomeBrew Software, a small studio known for its shareware offerings during the golden era of BBS downloads and floppy-disk swapping.

A Bold Sci-Fi Adventure

Gateworld places you in control of Captain Buzz Klondike, an astronaut who crash-lands on a mysterious alien world filled with strange environments, tricky platforming, and plenty of enemies to zap. The game starts right away with an eye-catching CGA/EGA/VGA title screen—seen above—featuring bold graphics that definitely stand out among its shareware peers.

The game was released as a three-episode series, following the classic Apogee shareware model:

1. Episode 1: The Seed Ship

2. Episode 2: The Gateway Home

3. Episode 3: The Door to the Multiverse

Episode 1 was distributed as shareware, while Episodes 2 and 3 required registration.

Gameplay and Style

Gateworld is a side-scrolling platformer with puzzle-like elements. Its gameplay is reminiscent of titles like Commander Keen and Bio Menace, offering:

1. Multi-layered levels

2. Hidden areas and collectible items

3. A blaster for combat

4. Jet-pack–like movement using the suit’s thrusters

While not as polished as big-name PC platformers of the era, Gateworld certainly has charm. The game’s art style—bold sprites, striking color gradients, and quirky alien landscapes—gives it a distinct personality. The soundtrack and sound effects are also typical of the shareware scene, enhancing the nostalgic vibe.

System Requirements and Platform

Gateworld was designed for MS-DOS systems and runs very smoothly on vintage hardware or modern DOSBox setups. Although not specifically a Windows game, it was commonly played by Windows 3.1 users through DOS sessions, making it a great fit for any vintage Windows enthusiast's collection.

Legacy

While Gateworld never reached the popularity of some of its contemporaries, it remains a hidden gem among early ’90s DOS platformers. It stands as a fun reminder of the shareware era—a time when small teams could make ambitious games and distribute them anywhere from computer stores to magazine cover disks.

If you enjoy exploring lesser-known PC titles from the era, Gateworld is absolutely worth firing up on your retro Windows setup.

Bubble Ghost (DOS, 1988)

Bubble Ghost: The Criminally Underrated '80s Puzzle Gem That Haunted Early Windows PCs

Hey, retro Windows warriors! If you're like me – knee-deep in CRT flicker, Win95 boot screens, and hunting for forgotten floppies in flea market bargain bins – then you've probably blown through the usual suspects: Commander Keen, Jazz Jackrabbit, or Doom shareware. But today, we're diving into a true hidden horror: Bubble Ghost. This isn't your standard platformer or shooter. Nah, it's a fiendish action-puzzle where you play as a pint-sized poltergeist puffing a fragile bubble through a mad inventor's castle of death traps. And yeah, it made its way to those early beige-box Windows rigs, where it tested the patience of many a mouse-wielding gamer.

The Spooky Origin Story: From Atari ST to Global Haunt (1987-1988)

Bubble Ghost bubbled up (pun absolutely intended) in 1987 as a solo passion project by French developer Christophe Andréani for the Atari ST. Programmed in C and 68000 assembly on an Atari 1040ST, with graphics whipped up in Degas Elite, it was published by ERE Informatique in France. ERE, a scrappy French studio known for sci-fi oddities like Crafton & Xunk and Macadam Bumper, saw this as their ticket to international spooky stardom.

By 1988, it exploded across platforms:

Infogrames (Europe/UK)

Accolade (US – those Test Drive folks!)

Ports to Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Apple IIgs, MS-DOS, and more.

The Data East International edition you see in that trippy title screen? That's the 1988 collector's item – a vibrant, dripping-with-80s-acid-trip aesthetic that screams "boot this on your XT and pray for EGA graphics!"

What the Specter? Gameplay That'll Pop Your Bubble (Literally)

You control Bubble Ghost – the spirit of eccentric inventor Heinrich Von Schinker – trapped in his own booby-trapped castle. Your mission? Guide a single, soap-fragile bubble through 35 increasingly sadistic "halls" (levels) to freedom. One wrong puff, and POP – lose a life (you start with 5).

Core Mechanics:

• Mouse control (perfect for Windows era): Drag to move the ghost freely – he phases through walls like a true boo!
• Left/Right buttons: Rotate the ghost.
• Shift/Space: BLOW. Hold for a gentle nudge, tap for a hurricane gust. Angle matters – blow from the side to curve the bubble.
• Physics perfection: The bubble bounces realistically off the ghost's body (head = high bounce, feet = low skim). Nail the exit for 1000 points + bonuses. Action bonuses? Up to 5000!

Obstacles = Pure Evil Genius:

Obstacle	What It Does	How to Counter
Lit Candles	Pops the bubble on contact	Blow 'em out!
Fans	Blows bubble wildly off-course	Turn them off with switches (blow those too)
Electricity/Sparks	Instant pop	Toggle switches or time your puffs
Spikes/Blades	Sharp death	Precision navigation only

It's simple to learn, impossible to master. Levels ramp up with Rube Goldberg traps – fans redirecting into candle clusters, switches behind spikes. That neon ghost face puffing red-faced? Iconic frustration fuel.

Windows Legacy: From DOS Ports to Win3.x Haunts

While the 1988 MS-DOS version ruled early PCs (EGA/VGA glory), Bubble Ghost slithered into Windows via ports and bundles in the early '90s – think Win3.1 era, running silky on 386/486 rigs with a mouse. Abandonware sites still host pristine installs – fire up DOSBox-X or PCem, mount that 1.2MB floppy image, and poof: instant nostalgia.

Fun fact: Infogrames (post-ERE buyout) dropped Bubble + (1990) – a remake with fancier graphics/sounds, but no love for original devs. Game Boy port (1990, Pony Canyon) was a monochrome masterpiece too.

Why It Deserves a Spot in Your Vintage Windows Collection

In a sea of run-'n-gun, Bubble Ghost's precision blowing feels fresh even today. Addictive "one more hall" loops, that killer synth soundtrack (ST original slaps!), and Easter eggs (blow the ghost's ear for vanishing glasses?). It's the ultimate "easy to pick up, hard to put down" for Windows retro fans.

Relive the haunt, or forever wonder what popped in those castle halls. What's your high score? Drop it in the comments – no cheating with save states! 👻🫧

Catch more vintage Windows weirdness at the Windows Portal!

Icon Do-It 2.01(Win 3.11, 1992)

Bringing Life to Program Manager: Icon Do-It 2.01 (Moon Valley Software)

When we think of Windows 3.x, it’s often about simple grey windows, Program Manager groups, and static icons. But back in the early ’90s, Moon Valley Software offered a little bit of magic with Icon Do-It, a playful utility that let users spice up their Program Manager icons — even animating them.

What Is Icon Do-It?

Icon Do-It is a customization tool for Windows 3.0 and 3.1 that lets you replace the standard icons in Program Manager with animated ones. It also includes a screen saver module built-in, so it's not just about static visuals — it adds motion and liveliness.

The software’s goal was pretty straightforward: let users personalize their Windows shell with more personality. Think of it as one of the early “shell enhancement” tools, before things like modern themes or animated desktops became common.

Version 2.01 & Release Details

1. The particular version you have, 2.01, belongs to the 2.x series. WinWorld

2. According to WinWorld, the release date for the 2.x series was 1992. WinWorld

3. The download size on WinWorld is ~ 440.9 KB for version 2.01, which runs on 32-bit x86 architecture. WinWorld

4. In addition to the animated icons, the program enhances integration with Windows 3.1, most likely improving how it works with newer features of that era’s GUI. WinWorld

How Icon Do-It Fits in the Moon Valley Software Ecosystem

Moon Valley Software was quite creative in the early Windows 3.x era. Icon Do-It wasn’t their only shell-tweaking or fun utility:

1. They also made Icon Hear-It, which added sounds to desktop actions (clicks, program launches, etc.) in Windows 3.0/3.1. WinWorld

2. Their Icon Make-It was a companion app: it allowed users to design their own animated icons and even attach .WAV sound effects. Elis Software+1

3. Another tool, Do It On Your Desktop!, bundled some of these features and added system-monitoring elements. Elis Software+1

Taken together, these utilities show that Moon Valley was about more than just productivity — they leaned into fun, personalization, and customization.

Why Icon Do-It Matters for Retro Windows Enthusiasts

1. Nostalgia & Aesthetics: For anyone running Windows 3.0 or 3.1 in emulators or virtual machines, Icon Do-It provides a way to recapture that early ’90s charm — adding motion to what used to be static.

2. Technical Curiosity: It’s a peek into how early Windows users were already demanding more from their shell experience. Animated icons weren’t common standard features yet, so tools like this filled a niche.

3. Software History: It’s part of a small but interesting lineage of shell enhancement tools from a third-party publisher. Moon Valley (while perhaps not as well remembered as big companies) contributed to the culture of making Windows more “alive.”

4. Lightweight Footprint: Given its small size (~440 KB), Icon Do-It is very VM / emulator friendly. You can easily run it under DOSBox-Windows or in a vintage VM without heavy resource demands.

Things to Watch Out For

1. Compatibility: Designed specifically for Windows 3.0 and 3.1, so modern Windows versions (or even NT-era) likely won’t run it natively.

2. Resource Use: Animated icons and additional modules might use more memory than a typical Windows 3.x machine would comfortably spare, depending on your configuration.

3. Licensing / Legality: As with many old utilities available on abandonware-style archives, be cautious about the legal status; always try to source from legitimate preservation sites.

Final Thoughts

Icon Do-It 2.01 may seem like a quirky piece of software today, but it was part of a broader trend in early GUI customizations. For vintage Windows fans, it’s a small but delightful utility: the kind of thing that makes an old Program Manager feel less rigid, more personal, and more animated — quite literally.

If you’re running a DOSBox-Windows or a vintage VM, giving Icon Do-It a spin is a fun way to recreate that early Windows era feel, complete with bouncing or moving icons and a little extra personality on the desktop. It’s a reminder that even nearly 30–35 years ago, software makers were already thinking about how to make the PC experience more fun — not just functional.

Commander Keen IV(DOS, 1991)

Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy! — A Landmark in PC Platforming

Few DOS-era platformers hold as much nostalgic power as Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy!, a pivotal release in the early ’90s PC gaming boom. Published by Apogee Software and developed by the talented team at id Software, this entry marked a major step forward for the Commander Keen series—both in gameplay sophistication and in technical achievement.

Release Date & Background

Released in December 1991, Goodbye, Galaxy! is officially considered Commander Keen Episodes 4 and 5:

1. Episode 4: Secret of the Oracle

2. Episode 5: The Armageddon Machine

These episodes follow the original three-part Invasion of the Vorticons trilogy (1990) and were later followed by Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! (Episode 6) in 1991 as well.

The title screen shown in the image above is from Episode 4, one of the most iconic in the entire series.

A Giant Leap from the Original Trilogy

While the original Commander Keen trilogy proved PC platformers were possible, Goodbye, Galaxy! showed they could be polished, dynamic, and full of personality. Some improvements and key features include:

1. Smooth Scrolling with the Enhanced Engine

Using an updated version of John Carmack’s groundbreaking adaptive tile refresh engine, Episodes 4 and 5 offered buttery-smooth side-scrolling rarely seen on early ’90s IBM-compatible hardware.

2. New Gameplay Mechanics

Compared to the earlier trilogy, Keen’s abilities expanded significantly:

1. A brand-new pogo system with tighter movement

2. More varied weapons and power-ups

3. Smarter enemy AI

4. Large, interconnected levels with hidden areas

This gave the game a deeper and more exploratory feel.

3. More Detailed Artwork and Colorful Graphics

The art team—Tom Hall and Adrian Carmack—gave the series a visual overhaul with richer tilesets, improved sprite animation, and more expressive character design. Keen himself appears more polished and lively than ever.

4. Story and Setting

In Secret of the Oracle, Billy Blaze (Commander Keen) embarks on a mission to stop the rogue Shikadi from destroying the galaxy. The game introduces memorable alien species such as the Gik, Popleft, Berkeloid, and the ever-popular Dopefish—a character that became an inside joke within the PC gaming community for decades.

Distribution & Legacy

Distributed as shareware by Apogee, Episode 4 was free to play, while Episodes 5 and 6 were commercial releases. This business model played a key role in shaping early PC gaming, allowing players to experience large portions of a game before buying the rest.

Goodbye, Galaxy! is often celebrated as the golden age of Commander Keen and one of the most influential pre-Doom releases from id Software.

A Staple of Vintage DOS Gaming

Whether you experienced it back in its heyday on MS-DOS or you’re booting it today via DOSBox or a vintage Windows machine, Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy! remains a standout example of creativity, technical innovation, and classic PC charm.

For fans of pixel art, smooth platforming, and early id Software history, it’s a must-play and a must-remember.

Mario Brothers VGA(DOS, 1990)

Mario Bros VGA – A Forgotten PC Gem From the Early DOS Days

The world of early PC gaming is filled with fascinating reinterpretations of arcade classics, and Mario Bros VGA stands out as one of the most interesting—and obscure—entries in that history. Developed by Dave Sharpless and released in 1990, this unlicensed PC remake of Nintendo’s iconic Mario Bros. arcade game brought plumbers, pipes, and platform-flipping action into the world of MS-DOS at a time when the PC wasn’t known for smooth, console-style gameplay.

A Fan-Made Homage for VGA PCs

As the title screen proudly displays, Mario Bros VGA was built specifically to take advantage of the then-impressive VGA graphics standard. While many DOS games in 1990 still relied on CGA or EGA color modes, this version offered bold, high-contrast visuals and smooth sprite animation for a fan-developed title.

The game closely follows the structure of the 1983 Mario Bros. arcade experience:

1. Enemies pop out of pipes

2. You flip them by striking platforms from below

3. You kick them off the stage

4. Bonus stages appear periodically

Even though it’s not an official Nintendo release, Sharpless did an excellent job capturing the arcade’s core mechanics within the limitations of DOS hardware.

Shareware-Style Distribution

The title screen message—“For (UNREGISTERED)’s use only!”—is a classic sign of the era’s shareware distribution model. Players could download and try the game for free, and registering would remove restrictions or unlock additional content. Many DOS games followed this format, but seeing it applied to a Mario remake makes this title even more of a curiosity today.

Sound, Controls, and Compatibility

While not as polished as Nintendo’s original hardware, Mario Bros VGA offered:

1. Simple keyboard controls

2. Basic PC-speaker sound effects

3. Support for a range of DOS-compatible machines from the late ’80s and early ’90s

It ran well even on modest hardware, making it accessible to a large portion of early PC users.

A Snapshot of Early PC Fan Creativity

Unlicensed PC recreations of console classics were surprisingly common before the era of strict licensing and modern IP enforcement. Mario Bros VGA is a perfect time capsule:

1. A passionate fan developer.

2. A popular arcade game recreated for home computers.

3. VGA graphics showing off the capabilities of DOS gaming

4. Distributed through the grassroots shareware scene

Today, it stands as a charming relic from a time when the PC gaming landscape was wild, experimental, and full of surprises.

Final Thoughts

If you’re exploring vintage DOS and Windows gaming, Mario Bros VGA is a must-see curiosity. It represents both the enthusiasm of early PC developers and the technical creativity that defined the shareware era. Whether you’re a Mario historian, a retro PC collector, or simply someone who enjoys digital archaeology, this 1990 fan-made platformer is a fun and fascinating piece of gaming history.

Clyde’s Adventure (DOS, 1992)

If you’re a fan of classic PC gaming and the era of shareware gems, then Clyde’s Adventure is one to dig up and revisit. Here’s a blog-post-style journey through its history, gameplay quirks, and place in the vintage Windows/PC scene.

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Release & Developer Info

• Clyde’s Adventure was developed and published by Moonlite Software in 1992. Internet Archive+3Wikipedia+3MobyGames+3

• One noted release date is August 30, 1992. MobyGames+1

• Originally it was distributed under a shareware model for the first episode, with the second episode available by registration. Wikipedia+1

• The platform: it was made for DOS (IBM PC compatible) rather than Windows. MobyGames+1

  • So if you’re running it today, you’d likely do so via an emulator (e.g., DOSBox).

• Over time, Moonlite Software made the full game available as freeware. Wikipedia+1

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Gameplay & Unique Features

• The core concept: You play as Clyde, exploring castles, collecting gems, and finding the exit. Wikipedia+1

• Unlike many platformers of the time, Clyde’s Adventure does not focus on enemies to fight. Instead the challenge is navigating traps, teleporters, switches, bricks, falling hazards, and managing an energy meter. RGB Classic Games

• The energy meter is particularly interesting: Clyde loses energy when walking, jumping or falling from a height. If it runs out — game over. Play DOS Games .com+1

• There are two “episodes” (or chapters):

  • Episode 1: Lost Treasure of Tahookaboo

  • Episode 2: The Vanished King RGB Classic Games+1

• Each episode contains 16 castles, making 32 levels in total in the full (registered) game. MobyGames

• Graphically, it uses EGA (320×200 with 16 colours) with a bit of parallax scrolling (foreground, background, even “outside windows” glimpses) which was pretty notable for the time. RGB Classic Games+1

• The game also has plenty of “gotchas” — invisible blocks, teleports that lead to death, sealed passages, traps designed to confuse you. One reviewer described it as mischievous. The Obscuritory

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Why It’s Worth a Retro Look

• It captures a specific era of game design where shareware platformers were flourishing: relatively small scope, quirky mechanics, experimental ideas.

• The absence of enemies and the focus on puzzle-platforming plus energy-management gives it a different flavour than more combat-focused platformers of the early 90s.

• Simple but colorful graphics, unusual level design, and a hidden layer of difficulty make it appealing for retro enthusiasts.

• Since it became freeware, it’s accessible for those who want to explore DOS-era games without hunting down out-of-print boxed copies.

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Considerations & Caveats

• Because it uses DOS and older tech, you’ll want to run it via DOSBox or another emulator; it is not a native Windows game (despite being frequently grouped in vintage Windows/PC retrospectives).

• Some level designs may feel repetitive or frustrating by modern standards: many instant-death traps, hidden teleports, obscure solutions. As one site put it, “if you don’t like being nudged into retrying things a lot, it might wear on you”. My Abandonware+1

• The shareware episode (Episode 1) gives you a taste; unlocking the full game (Episode 2) historically required registration — but given the freeware status, you may find the complete version if your interest is piqued.

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Legacy & ‎Trivia

• A sequel, Clyde’s Revenge, was released in 1995. Wikipedia

• The game has been included in “abandonware” sites and retro archives, indicating its status as a cult favourite rather than a blockbuster hit. Internet Archive+1

• Reviewers highlight the “playful mocking” nature of the game (it seems aware it’s messing with you). Example: The Obscuritory wrote: “The game tries to warn you about upcoming funny business, but the castles are rife with unpleasant surprises.” The Obscuritory

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Conclusion

For your vintage Windows/PC blog, Clyde’s Adventure is a gem (pun intended) in the landscape of early 90s PC platformers. While technically a DOS game, its spirit aligns with the Windows-era shareware mindset: quick to download, fun to explore, a bit rough around the edges, but full of character. If you like platform games where the “enemy” is the level design and your own patience rather than a barrage of monsters, it’s definitely worth a revisit.