Wing Commander Finally Gets Its Due? (February 3, 2016)

[ChrisReid]

Den of Geek recently ran an article on the 50 Underappreciated DOS Games. As one of the best selling and highest rated DOS games of all time, we'd probably agree with Space Game Junkie that Wing Commander doesn't really fit on this list. Rather, this instead seem like a missed opportunity to highlight something like Wing Commander Armada or perhaps Privateer 2. Nevertheless, we'll take it as a fun look back at some of the highlights of yesteryear. Check out the full article here.

DOS was no stranger to 3D space combat simulators, and while there were some incredible titles to be had, not many gamers seem to recall the original Wing Commander too much these days.

Like some cheesy 80s sci-fi film, the intro credits roll to heroic music, space dogfights, and passing asteroids. Then it???s to the bar on-board the TCS Tiger???s Claw for a spot of chitchat with the crew, including Paladin???s magnificent mustachios.

With girly pin-ups in the barracks, blue hair, scenes of the crew running to their ships, and such names as Blue Devil Squadron and the Killer Bees, Wing Commander was a hit from the word go. It was a breakthrough game, utilising the current PC hardware to the max. Playing now, it???s amazing how difficult the game actually is.

--
Original update published on February 3, 2016

 

[Captain Obvious]

Wing Commander isn't the only much lauded classic game on this list though it is one of the most eyebrow raising considering it's a genre defining title.

I can only imagine whoever wrote this was doing so from a limited perspective, maybe someone who was a console gamer at the time. Their litmus test for "well known" is Doom and X-Wing which is a bit extreme.

 

[LeoCeballos]

Given his comments, it sounds like he was definitely an active PC player at the time these came out. I think what he's getting at is that they are no longer mentioned or referenced for their influences as much as maybe they should be. So its about how they are underappreciated by *today's* audience, as opposed to the audiences of their day. But in particular I feel like Wing Commander and Master of Orion still cast long shadows in the PC community, if not so much on gaming in general.

 

[Bitterman]

Given his comments, it sounds like he was definitely an active PC player at the time these came out. I think what he's getting at is that they are no longer mentioned or referenced for their influences as much as maybe they should be. So its about how they are underappreciated by *today's* audience, as opposed to the audiences of their day. But in particular I feel like Wing Commander and Master of Orion still cast long shadows in the PC community, if not so much on gaming in general.

yeah i feel that this one was more like a Underappreciated by today's standards, rather than the 90's or Early 2000's(Freelancer and Tachyon were the last ones)


Also, Daggerfall isn't underappreciated
It was ridiculously hard for those who never played games like Ultima underworld or TESArena(this one is worse than hard, along with Underworld 2), but not underappreciated, also i would replace Redneck rampage with Witchhaven, also it good to see that Hexen showed up on that list as a Special mention

And "I Have no mouth, and I Must Scream" became a Cult Classic nowdays