Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Play the Games Vol. 4 delivers an astonishingly diverse roster of 15 titles that span genres from city-building and theme-park management to stealth tactics, first-person shooting, racing, and turn-based artillery warfare. Each game arrives on its own CD, meaning players will find themselves swapping discs frequently—but this trade-off is quickly forgotten once you dive into the unique gameplay loop of each entry. Whether you’re fine-tuning your metropolis in SimCity 3000 or lining up the perfect shot in Worms: Armageddon, the compilation offers deep mechanics tailored to each genre.

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Electronic Arts’ selections bring solid simulation staples: Bundesliga Stars 2001 gives soccer-management fans a chance to juggle tactics and finances, SimCity 3000 retains its addictive city-planning core, and Theme Park World challenges you to build and run your own amusement park down to the last roller-coaster loop. These titles share a polished interface and clear progression goals that make them easy to pick up, yet rich enough to hold your attention for hours.

Eidos contributes six varied experiences, from the tactical puzzles of Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty to the fast-paced platforming of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver stands out with its seamless blend of combat and exploration, while John Romero’s Daikatana—despite its rough edges—offers an ambitious, gun-heavy adventure. Urban Chaos and Abomination: The Nemesis Project round out the lineup with urban combat and sci-fi strategy elements that keep the gameplay fresh.

Infogrames’ half of the set dives into racing simulations and quirky strategy. Grand Prix 3 and V-Rally 2 deliver realistic driving physics and challenging track designs, while Hogs Of War injects humor into turn-based tactics. Slave Zero’s on-rails shooter action contrasts nicely with the open micromanagement of Street Wars, and Worms: Armageddon remains an addictive, genre-defining artillery classic. This breadth ensures there’s always something new to try, whether you prefer high-octane racing or methodical strategy.

Graphics

Graphically, Play the Games Vol. 4 reflects its late-’90s and early-2000s heritage in varying degrees of polish. SimCity 3000 and Theme Park World still look charming with their vibrant tile-based aesthetics, though SimCity’s buildings can appear blocky by modern standards. Bundesliga Stars 2001 is serviceable but lacks the visual flair of contemporary sports titles, relying on simple player models and basic stadium environments.

Eidos’ contributions showcase both striking advances and dated ambitions. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver impresses with atmospheric lighting, detailed textures, and fluid character animations that hold up surprisingly well. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation offers gothic environments and dynamic lighting effects, though polygon counts sometimes dip in large areas. John Romero’s Daikatana and Abomination: The Nemesis Project have ambitious art directions but suffer from lower-resolution textures and occasional clipping—a reminder of hardware limits of their era.

Infogrames brings a mix of brawn and whimsy to the visual front. Grand Prix 3 presents realistic car models and trackside details, while V-Rally 2 shines with varied weather effects and dust clouds on off-road stages. Hogs Of War and Worms: Armageddon lean into cartoon stylings with bold colors and exaggerated animations. Slave Zero’s futuristic cityscapes and particle effects were cutting-edge at release, though they can look blocky on high-resolution screens today.

Story

The narrative quality across Play the Games Vol. 4 is as diverse as its gameplay. Many titles prioritize mechanics over plot—SimCity 3000 and the racing sims are entirely player-driven experiences with no scripted story. Worms: Armageddon and Hogs Of War deliver only lighthearted setups, letting the gameplay speak for itself through humor and emergent battle scenarios.

Eidos, however, brings some of the deepest lore in the compilation. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver weaves a dark saga of betrayal, fate, and supernatural vengeance that rewards series fans and newcomers alike. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation explores ancient Egyptian mythology, adding narrative weight to Lara’s platforming exploits. Abomination: The Nemesis Project offers a sci-fi thriller with sci-fi conspiracies, while Commandos sticks to mission-based objectives with minimal storytelling, focusing instead on tight level design.

John Romero’s Daikatana is infamous for overpromising on its narrative ambitions and delivering mixed results—players will find flashes of a compelling time-travel plot hampered by inconsistent pacing. Urban Chaos tells a straightforward crime-drama tale, fitting its urban mayhem premise. Meanwhile, Street Wars offers only a loose criminal underworld backdrop, and Slave Zero’s plot of mechanical rebellion provides a basic framework to launch you into nonstop action.

Overall Experience

Play the Games Vol. 4 is a love letter to late-’90s PC gaming, offering remarkable breadth at an attractive price point. The set’s major strength lies in its variety: from city-building to stealth, racing to artillery combat, there’s something to satisfy nearly every taste. It’s especially appealing for collectors or newcomers wanting to sample classic titles without tracking down individual CDs.

However, the physical format comes with trade-offs. Juggling 15 discs and relying on PDF manuals can feel cumbersome—there’s no comprehensive printed book, only a reference card that helps you identify each CD. Installation may require occasional minor tweaks or patches to run smoothly on modern systems, but most titles can be coaxed into compatibility with a bit of patience.

If you value retro experiences and enjoy hopping between genres, this compilation delivers exceptional bang for your buck. The uneven quality across some titles is offset by standout hits like SimCity 3000, Soul Reaver, and Worms: Armageddon. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering classics for the first time, Play the Games Vol. 4 offers a rich, nostalgic journey through gaming history.

Retro Replay Score

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