Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

5 Plus One: Pack 4 offers a remarkably varied suite of experiences in one package, led by the headline act, It Came from the Desert. This Cinemaware classic takes you through side-scrolling action, overhead exploration, timed shooting galleries, and even mini-strategy sequences. The shifts in pace keep you on your toes, and although some segments feel a bit dated in terms of controls, the ambitious mix of genres shows off an impressive range for an ’80s title.

The five shareware titles that accompany It Came from the Desert each bring their own flavor to the collection. Cyberchess provides a straightforward but solid chess engine—you can play against the AI or a friend, with a clean 2D interface and simple piece animations. Dark Ages: Volume 1 – Prince of Destiny flips the script into a sword-and-sorcery action RPG, featuring hack-and-slash combat, item gathering, and rudimentary character progression. It’s not deep by modern standards, but it scratches that dungeon-crawl itch.

Quickfire delivers a series of timed puzzles and reflex tests that range from shape-matching challenges to simple logic grids. It’s a compact diversion that rewards quick thinking. Commander Keen 3.5: Keen Dreams reintroduces us to Billy Blaze in a short but charming platformer that bridges the gap between the main Keen series entries. Finally, Catch (or Catch If You Can) adds a frantic arcade twist: you pursue or evade targets across single-screen arenas. Together, these six games ensure you’re never stuck in one gameplay loop for too long.

Graphics

The visual presentation of It Came from the Desert still impresses thanks to its colorful pixel art and smooth animations. From the rolling hills outside Lizard Breath, California to the creepy underground lair sequences, there’s a cinematic flair in every cutscene and clear transitions between gameplay phases. While you’ll notice the chunky pixels by today’s standards, the art direction leans fully into the B-movie aesthetic, complete with exaggerated monster designs.

The shareware titles vary in graphical ambition. Cyberchess sticks to clean, utilitarian boards and pieces—nothing flashy, but entirely functional for a mental workout. Dark Ages features sprite-based characters and simplistic effects for spells and sword swings, giving the feeling of an early console adventure rather than a PC RPG. Quickfire’s puzzle screens are bright and minimal, putting function over form so you can focus on the challenge.

Commander Keen 3.5 delights with its signature cartoonish visuals, vibrant palettes, and fluid character movements. The backgrounds are lightly detailed but charming, evoking a Saturday morning cartoon vibe. Catch keeps it basic with top-down, single-screen arenas, but colorful icons differentiate chaser and chased. Individually, the graphics aren’t groundbreaking; as a collection, though, they offer a pleasing trip through early PC gaming styles.

Story

It Came from the Desert unfolds like a love letter to cheesy 1950s monster flicks. You step into the role of Dr. Greg Bradley, racing to uncover the cause of giant insect invasions and thwart a government cover-up. The narrative is delivered through comic-book panels and on-screen text, injecting humor and urgency. You won’t find deep character arcs, but the tongue-in-cheek writing and B-movie tropes provide plenty of campy charm.

Dark Ages presents a rudimentary heroic quest: rescue your kidnapped family and vanquish the evil Highlord. The plot delivers enough motivation for dungeon diving, though dialogue is minimal, mostly appearing as text boxes after boss fights or upon discovering key items. In Commander Keen 3.5, the story is lighthearted—Keen’s dream world adventure is framed as an interlude between major episodes, giving fans a nostalgic side story that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The other shareware games focus less on narrative and more on pure gameplay. Cyberchess and Quickfire don’t really have stories, centering instead on mechanics. Catch offers a simple premise—tag or avoid your opponent within the time limit—without additional context. While this means the compilation’s overall storytelling depth is front-loaded in the Cinemaware feature, the variety suits players looking for both plot-driven and pick-up-and-play diversions.

Overall Experience

5 Plus One: Pack 4 feels like opening a time capsule of late ’80s and early ’90s PC shareware culture. The standout is undoubtedly It Came from the Desert, whose theatrical presentation and multi-genre gameplay make it the crown jewel of the set. The five shareware titles may not all be classics, but they fill out the collection with quick thrills, mind-benders, and nostalgic platforming.

One minor gripe is the cohesion—switching between a dungeon crawler, a puzzle series, a chess simulator, and platformer can feel disjointed. Still, for a modest price, you get a buffet of retro gaming experiences that can satisfy different moods. If you’re buying solely for It Came from the Desert, the additional games are welcome bonuses; if you’re a collector of shareware curios, the pack is a neat snapshot of the era.

The physical packaging deserves a mention: the CD-ROM jewel case doubles as part of the artwork, and you’ll notice a gap left in the cover art when the disc tray is slid out. It’s an unusual design choice that makes the unboxing memorable, though be mindful of the exposed booklet if you toss it in a bag. Overall, this compilation is best suited for retro enthusiasts and newcomers curious about early PC gaming’s experimental spirit. Whether you dive into mutant insect showdowns or simply want a handful of quick downloads, Pack 4 delivers a quirky, varied ride through gaming history.