Mac gamers didn't always have the access to all the games PC gamers had, so most of them cherish a unique list of MacIntosh only titles. Here's a list of 10 titles I fondly remember playing as a kid - and probably many long-time Mac gamers will recognize some of the titles in the list.


1. Crystal Quest (1987)
Crystal Quest is a fast-faced game in which you control a circular spaceship that shoots its way through stages. The game is completely controlled by mouse, but what really makes this one stands out are the hilarious sound effects. Passing a portal, picking up a star bonus, or shooting a blop enemy and most enemy sounds are all accompanied by funny, weird and memorable audio tones most Mac gamers will instantly recognize when hearing them.



2. Shufflepuck Café (1988)
Shufflepuck Café is probably the earliest game I played. This air hockey game / 3D Pong clone is also completely controlled by mouse and was originally developed for the Apple MacIntosh, but received many ports on other platforms later on. The game is memorable for its frantic gameplay and weird enemies (like the robot waiter on the picture below).



3. Glider PRO (1995)
Glider PRO was created by the same developers as Crystal Quest (namely Casady & Greene). In this game you control a paper plane flying through a house, while avoiding furniture and making use of hot air streams to keep floating up. The game has easy on the eye graphics, nice relaxing music and is easy to control - but is harder than you might except.



4. Power Pete (aka Mighty Mike) (1995)
Power Pete, later released as Mighty Mike, was packaged with Mac OS 7 on MacIntosh Performa models. The game was developed by Pangea Software, a company specialized in Mac games. It is a sort a Gauntlet game for kids, with funny sounds, nice graphics and easy controls, but I feel the game lacks a little depth on the long run.



5. Marathon (1994)
Marathon is a game that made Mac games mature. Bungie, that later went on to develop Halo, created an interesting and atmospheric first person shooter with many puzzle elements. The actually playing field is quite small and the enemy animations are a bit choppy by recent standards. It's a good game, but in all honesty I didn't enjoy it as much as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, that eventually also came available for the Mac.

6. Bubble Trouble (1996)
Ambrosia Software was a shareware company that developed many high-end shareware games for the MacIntosh. Among the best of their games is Bubble Trouble (that has nothing to do with Bubble Bobble, if you were wondering). In this wonderful and colorful game you take control of a fish that has to collect diamonds by pushing through a sort of bubbles and avoiding enemies. It's very addictive and well produced and could have easily pass through for a true commercial release.



7. Hellcats over the Pacific (1991)
Hellcats over the Pacific is a very easy and accessible flight simulator, with 3D polygonal color graphics that were revolutionary for its days. The enige of this game was later also used for the more advanced F/A-18 Hornet flight simulator game.



8. Swoop (1995)
Swoop is another game by Ambrosia Software and probably the best Galaxian clone on the MacIntosh. This game has an amazing sound track, and great audio effects. It also looks very good. Again, high above shareware quality, like all of Ambrosia's shareware titles for the Mac.



9. Firefall Arcade (1993)
Firefall Arcade, also released by Pangea Software, is one of my favorite Mac games of all time - and also the best Centipede clone I ever played. The game can be controlled by mouse or keyboard, but I prefer the latter. The sound effects are great, but the best thing about Firefall Arcade is the AMAZING soundtrack. Regular levels are alternated with bonus stages, which is great. It's also a blast to try to better your own or the high scores of your friends. Along with Crystal Quest probably the Mac games I played the most.



10. Pathways into Darkness (1993)
Pathways into Darkness is the predecessor of Marathon and that game is the predecessor of the successful Halo franchise. Developer Bungie created a combination of a first person and an adventure game. The playing field is actually very small, because most the screen is used for other windows in which you have to manage your weapons and objects. Controlling the game (with keyboard for gameplay and mouse for object management) takes some time getting used to, but gets interesting in the long run.