Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Amiga Software Extra Nr. 12 presents a diverse trio of game experiences, each rooted in classic Amiga-era design. Highway 42 sweeps you into the life of a freelance car courier, blending straightforward racing segments with text‐based city menus. You shuttle between cities, take on delivery jobs, and manage your earnings to cover fuel and repairs—while occasionally earning enough to upgrade your vehicle or arm it for high‐stakes bounty hunts and dangerous street races.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Warlords steps away from high-speed action and drops you into a stripped‐down strategic board game. This two-player variant of checkers offers a hot‐seat mode for friends and a four-tiered AI for solo play. Victory hinges on moving one of your twelve stones across an 8×8 board to your opponent’s baseline, and a convenient board editor adds customization and replay value to this otherwise minimalistic setup.

Zargon brings back adrenaline with a top-down, vertically scrolling shooter. Piloting a green fighter jet, you dodge or destroy a hodgepodge of enemies—ranging from skulls and satellites to hamburgers—while collecting power-ups for extra lives, points, and improved firepower. The challenge escalates as any collision strips you back to your weakest ammunition. A second player can also jump in, doubling the chaos on a single screen for shared thrills.

Graphics

Graphically, each title in this compilation reflects its low‐budget German origins, yet manages to capture a distinct atmosphere. Highway 42 uses simple but functional sprites for cars and road markers, with city menus that employ clear text layouts. While it won’t win awards for visual flair, the straight‐forward presentation serves its purpose and keeps gameplay smooth.

Warlords’ board is rendered in a basic tile style, with contrasting colors to distinguish each player’s pieces. The UI is minimal but effective—stone movement and board editing feel intuitive, though the lack of animation can make prolonged sessions feel static. Still, for fans of abstract strategy, the visuals are clear enough not to hinder the cerebral pacing.

Zargon’s top-down shooter segments lean heavily on repetitive background tiles and a motley collection of enemy sprites. The scrolling backdrop remains uniform, but it’s animated smoothly, and the various hazard designs stand out crisply against the playfield. Expect modest pixel work rather than polished parallax effects, yet the occasional explosion and weapon upgrade animation will satisfy shooter enthusiasts looking for straightforward action.

Story

Highway 42 provides the most narrative depth of the three, casting you as a young courier striving to climb the ranks of road‐bound freelancing. While the text menus do most of the storytelling, occasional quest threads—like bounties or special races—add flavor and give a glimpse into the underbelly of this fictional highway network. The plot is light, but the role-playing elements give your courier journey a sense of progression.

Warlords forgoes any elaborate backdrop in favor of pure strategy. There’s no lore or setting beyond the abstract concept of opposing warlords vying to occupy enemy territory. This lack of story can be a double-edged sword: it keeps the experience focused but may leave players craving context or thematic hooks that richer strategy games provide.

Zargon’s narrative is conveyed almost entirely through gameplay itself. There’s no introduction cinematic or written briefing—just you, your jet, and an endless wave of attackers. The implied military/naval themes come from repetitive background sets, but with a mix of food items and random objects thrown in, the story feels incidental. Essentially, Zargon invites you to spin a yarn of high‐score heroics if you’re so inclined.

Overall Experience

As a budget‐priced compilation, Amiga Software Extra Nr. 12 delivers a surprising range of genres: vehicular RPG‐style progression, tabletop tactics, and arcade‐style shooting. This variety makes for an eclectic package that can cater to casual gamers exploring classics or nostalgic Amiga aficionados seeking hidden German-developed titles. Loading each game from disk retains that authentic Amiga feel, complete with loading screens and system chimes.

However, the low production values are immediately apparent. Graphics are serviceable but dated, audio cues are repetitive, and some gameplay loops—especially in Zargon—can become monotonous. Warlords shines best in short bursts, while Highway 42’s text menus can slow pacing, and Zargon’s endless scoring chase may frustrate those looking for clear objectives or endings.

Ultimately, if you’re drawn by retro variety and want three distinct experiences on one disk, this compilation holds appeal. For players seeking polished, modernized remakes or deep narratives, it may feel rudimentary. But for collectors and budget-tolerant gamers who appreciate Amiga’s golden age quirks, Amiga Software Extra Nr. 12 offers a cost-effective dive into under-the-radar titles that never saw release beyond Germany.

Retro Replay Score

null/10