Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Power, Corruption & Lies compilation delivers four distinct gameplay experiences, each showcasing a milestone in CD-ROM gaming. In Beneath a Steel Sky, players navigate a dystopian city through classic point-and-click mechanics, solving puzzles by interacting with the environment and characters. The intuitive interface and context-sensitive cursor make it easy to pick up, yet the clever puzzle design continues to challenge even genre veterans.

Fleet Defender shifts gears into the world of flight simulation, offering a surprisingly approachable cockpit experience for a CD-ROM era title. Players pilot F-14 Tomcats through carrier operations and air-to-air engagements, balancing throttle, weapons systems, and radio chatter with authentic CD-quality audio cues. The game’s mission variety—from intercepts to fleet defense—keeps the adrenaline pumping, though its dated flight model can feel stiff compared to modern sims.

Strategy fans will revel in X-COM: UFO Defense, where turn-based tactics and resource management define the gameplay loop. Squad deployment, base building, and research paths demand careful planning, and the permadeath of operatives adds real stakes to each mission. The CD-ROM edition enhances the experience with cinematic intros and ambient soundtracks, lending weight to every UFO interception and subterranean skirmish.

Finally, the multi-region release includes Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, often credited as the progenitor of the real-time strategy genre. Players harvest spice, build bases, and command armies across desert battlefields in real time. While its controls and pathfinding feel rudimentary by today’s standards, the foundational design—three Houses vying for control—still feels fresh, and the CD audio voiceovers lend an air of epic scale to the desert conflicts.

Graphics

Visually, the compilation spans a range of styles that illustrate the evolution of CD-based graphics in the early ’90s. Beneath a Steel Sky presents richly detailed pixel art environments, with atmospheric backgrounds that evoke a gritty cyberpunk future. The character animations are expressive, and the occasional full-motion video sequences underscore pivotal plot moments with surprising polish.

Fleet Defender leans into early 3D cockpit rendering, with wireframe HUD elements and textured ground models that recall the arcade flight sims of its era. While terrain lacks the high-resolution detail of later titles, the gauge animations and instantaneous zoom-in targeting views offer a clear, functional presentation that prioritizes gameplay clarity over scenic beauty.

X-COM: UFO Defense employs an isometric, tile-based engine where lighting and shadow play critical roles in building tension during alien retrieval missions. The low-poly soldier models and UFO interiors feel dated, but strategic use of color and grid-based design help players quickly interpret battlefield conditions. CD-ROM enhancements introduce animated cutscenes and digitized sound effects that add layers of immersion to every mission brief and terror site encounter.

In Dune II, the art style is bright and schematic, favoring functional clarity for base building and unit control. Sand dunes and spice fields form a pleasingly repetitive but readable backdrop, while the unit sprites are easily distinguishable at a glance. The game’s art may seem minimal by modern standards, but it laid the groundwork for the recognizable RTS aesthetic that followed in later decades.

Story

At the heart of Beneath a Steel Sky lies a compelling narrative of conspiracy, corporate greed, and personal redemption. Players control Robert Foster, stranded in a totalitarian metropolis controlled by a ruthless artificial intelligence. The writing is sharp, the dialogue often laced with dark humor, and the voice acting in the CD-ROM version elevates every exchange with professional flair.

By contrast, Fleet Defender offers a more procedural storyline centered on Cold War–inspired naval engagements and escalating aerial threats. While it lacks a deep character driven plot, the mission briefings and radio chatter create a believable military atmosphere. The episodic structure keeps players engaged, as each sortie builds toward a narrative crescendo involving submarine intercepts and carrier defense.

X-COM: UFO Defense weaves together its story through global news reports, research logs, and debriefings, crafting a sense of mounting dread as alien incursions intensify. There’s no single protagonist, but the fate of humanity rests on players’ strategic choices. The CD-ROM enhancements—digitized voices and cinematic sequences—make alien threats feel more tangible, and the narrative tension ratchets up with every success or failure.

Dune II delivers its lore through a brief but evocative prologue, setting the stage for inter-house rivalries on the harsh desert world of Arrakis. The audio logs and text introductions for House Atreides, Harkonnen, and Ordos lend personality to each campaign, though the story largely emerges from players’ own tactical decisions rather than scripted plot twists. It’s minimalist world-building, but it resonates with fans of Frank Herbert’s universe.

Overall Experience

The Power, Corruption & Lies anthology is a treasure trove for retro enthusiasts and newcomers alike, showcasing four genre-defining titles on one CD-ROM. Its biggest strength is the sheer variety: from narrative-driven puzzles and flight sims to turn-based strategy and real-time tactics, there’s something to suit every playstyle. The compilation arrives with a unified launcher that makes switching between games seamless, preserving the original feel while offering modern compatibility tweaks.

While some titles show their age in controls and graphics, the collection’s historical significance and production values compensate handsomely. Voiceovers, digitized music, and FMV sequences highlight the leap forward CD-ROM technology afforded developers in the early ’90s. Compatibility patches and community-maintained installers further smooth the experience on contemporary systems, ensuring that technical hiccups don’t overshadow the gameplay.

Replay value is high, thanks to each game’s distinct mechanics and replayable campaigns. X-COM and Dune II in particular boast near-endless strategic depth, while fans of adventure gaming will find fresh details in Beneath a Steel Sky even on a third playthrough. Fleet Defender may feel niche, but its authentic military ambiance makes it a unique departure from the rest of the compilation.

Overall, Power, Corruption & Lies stands as a testament to the innovation of early CD-ROM releases, offering hours of diverse entertainment. Whether you’re rekindling fond memories or exploring these classics for the first time, this anthology represents excellent value and a compelling snapshot of gaming history.