Download the Game Now

This may be one of the first games that proved, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the PC could compete with video game consoles of the day. I first played the game about 10 years ago (damn, I can't believe that much time has passed) and was hooked immediately.

The game play is presented with an isometric viewpoint, creating a simplistic yet believable 3-D feel. It is a hybrid game, part RPG, part action and part puzzle-solving. It provides an excellant story background:
you must go through a skyscraper and rescue a group of workers ("Diehard") and try to discover the mystery of a scientist's secret experiment that has gone awry.

The puzzle solving features of the game are its most interesting aspect, with a riddle presented as you enter each room. You must figure out a way to get through the room, so you can move onto the next room, avoiding deadly traps and, at times, attempting to guide trapped workers past these same traps. As you go past each room, you will eventually make it to the final conclusion.

The only critque of the game would be the artificial intelligence of the trapped workers. You must lead them out of each room, past several dangers, including bouncing balls that can swallow people whole (ala, the "Prisoner" TV series) electrified force fields built into floors and doorways, and numerous other traps. At times, the Rescuee does not follow you or gets trapped in a doorway and is killed. This can be frustrating at times, but it can be overlooked as a fatal flaw because the implementation of the whole game is terrific.

Still a fascinating game after all these years, I would rank it with the original versions of "X-wing", "Tie Fighter", "Keen", "Prince of Persia" and "Wolfenstein" in the PC hall of fame Top 50.