Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Play the Games Vol. 3 delivers an astonishing breadth of gameplay experiences by bundling 15 classic titles under one roof. The compilation splits the roster evenly across three publishing giants—Electronic Arts, Infogrames, and Eidos—offering everything from the real-time strategy of Dungeon Keeper 2 to the open-world adventure of Outcast. Whether you’re digging for resources in Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines or carving through dunes in Dune 2000, the variety of mechanics keeps each play session fresh and engaging.

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Strategy fans will appreciate titles like Populous: The Beginning and Alien Nations, which blend city-building with tactical combat, while racing enthusiasts can jump into Sports Car GT or Driver for high-octane thrills. Meanwhile, RPG aficionados have Silver’s fantasy landscapes and Ultima Online: Renaissance’s persistent world to explore. Even the more niche offerings—such as the chess simulation in Fritz 5.32—find a place in this eclectic mix, ensuring there’s always something new to try.

Beyond genre diversity, the control schemes remain intuitive and responsive, even on modern machines. Thief: The Dark Project’s stealth mechanics feel as smooth today as they did on release, and the point-and-click interface of Supreme Snowboarding (formerly Boarder Zone) is still accessible. Installation is straightforward: pop in each CD and follow the PDF manual on the disc, which compensates for the minimalist printed reference card included in the jewel cases.

Graphics

Graphically, Play the Games Vol. 3 offers a snapshot of late-’90s and early 2000s visual design. Some titles like Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft and Warzone 2100 showcase polygonal environments and dynamic lighting that were cutting edge at the time, and they still hold up surprisingly well. Character models may appear blocky by today’s standards, but their nostalgic charm is undeniable.

Other entries, such as Outcast, stand out with their pre-rendered backgrounds and unique shader effects, giving landscapes a painterly feel that many modern indies emulate. Dune 2000’s pre-rendered cutscenes remain impressively detailed, and the texture work in Dungeon Keeper 2—down to the glint of gold in your 3D map—still draws admiration from longtime fans.

Of course, some games show their age more than others: low-resolution textures, limited color palettes, and fixed camera angles can feel restrictive. However, the compilation’s inclusion of all 18 CDs in a sturdy hexa CD jewel case (and three accompanying quad cases) makes it easy to swap disks and revisit each title in sequence. For purists, the absence of aggressive upscaling preserves the authentic look and feel of each original release.

Story

Storytelling in Play the Games Vol. 3 is as varied as its gameplay. Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines throws you into tense WWII scenarios where every mission briefing feels like a mini-war thriller, while Thief: The Dark Project envelopes you in a gothic narrative of intrigue and night-stealing. Each title emphasizes a different style of plot—some linear and mission-based, others sprawling and exploration-driven.

RPG offerings like Silver and Ultima Online: Renaissance carve out deep lore and worldbuilding, allowing players to lose themselves in expansive fantasy realms full of side quests, political machinations, and hidden secrets. Even sports-themed entries like Sports Car GT come with career modes that—though modest—offer narrative hooks to keep you invested in your driver’s progress.

Perhaps the most compelling stories emerge when you transition between games. One moment you’re mastering Lara Croft’s tomb raiding exploits, the next you’re commanding medieval armies in Populous: The Beginning. The sheer number of narratives packed into this single collection means you’ll never run out of new worlds to explore and novel plot twists to uncover.

Overall Experience

As a successor to Play the Games Vol. 2, this third volume raises the bar with 15 standout titles across 18 CDs. The packaging—three quad CD jewel cases plus one hexa case—feels robust, though managing multiple discs can be a minor inconvenience. Thankfully, installation via on-disc PDF manuals is smooth, and once each game is set up, you’re free to swap discs at will without digging out lengthy printed booklets.

Value is the compilation’s strongest selling point. For collectors and newcomers alike, obtaining renowned classics like Tomb Raider III, Outcast, and Dungeon Keeper 2 in one affordable bundle is hard to beat. While some games may require community-made patches or compatibility tweaks on modern operating systems, the payoff of revisiting—or discovering—these hallmark titles is well worth the effort.

In sum, Play the Games Vol. 3 offers a rich tapestry of gameplay, graphics, and storytelling that spans multiple genres and eras. Its joint venture pedigree from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, and Eidos ensures that each slice of the compilation receives the attention veterans expect. Whether you’re reliving childhood favorites or stepping into these worlds for the first time, this collection delivers an unforgettable journey through gaming history.

Retro Replay Score

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