Classic PC Games That Should Get a Next-Gen Makeover

Perhaps Hollywood writers are somehow still hungover from that 2008 strike, but lazy and lame remakes of '70s and '80s productions have become increasingly commonplace. While that wearisome and troubling lack of creativity is a plague within the music, movie, and television industries, there is one medium that would actually benefit from an awakening, and reinvention, of forgotten and slumbering classics: the video game.

Budding geeks of the '70s began programming and sharing simple (by today's standards) PC games through the fledgling ARPANET, the network which would eventually become the Internet. Those early programmers, who were typically young and often students, were obviously limited by the computers of the era. The games originally consisted of nothing more than text-based puzzles, but they steadily evolved to incorporate graphics and movable characters.

While the scope and range of the games may have been limited by technology, the genius and creativity which spawned them was not, so many of those classics overwhelmingly deserve to be anointed with next-generation console glory. Some early PC franchises made the transition to consoles (e.g., 'Wolfenstein' and 'Leisure Suit Larry'), but far too many integral and groundbreaking titles remain idle in undeserved obscurity.

So, command yourself to "READ THE LIST," and revisit the games that once captivated millions of geeks. They would undoubtedly do the same again today.

'Zork,' Infocom (1980)

The 'Zork' trilogy was first conceived by MIT students who wanted to translate 'Dungeons and Dragons' into a text-based adventure. The crew, which would eventually form Infocom, began work on the project in 1977, but a completed product wouldn't be available until 1980 due to the vast size of the witty and challenging adventure experience. Incorporating awesome characters like 'Lord Dimwit Flathead the Excessive,' the series enthralled and amused gamers for years, and eventually sold over 1 million copies. At the time, players controlled their avatar with simple commands like 'Look' and 'Pick up,' but the constantly expanding underground realm would translate perfectly into a mesmerizing modern console adventure.

'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' Infocom (1984)

Any true sci-fi fan should be completely familiar with Douglas Adams's 'Hitchhiker's Guide' series, but younger dorks may be completely unaware that Infocom produced an incredibly popular text-based version for computers. The style was similar to 'Zork,' but the game incorporated all of the major scenes of the first 'Hitchhiker's' book, while adding a few new comedic punchlines. Mos Def and Zooey Deschanel starred in the 2005 big-screen version, so it's definitely time that someone considered adapting this title, which sold over 350,000 copies in 1984 alone, to modern consoles and flat screens.

'Infidel,' Infocom (1983)

Infocom produced many worthy "interactive prose" titles, like the sultry and naughty 'Leather Goddesses of Phobos' and the widely marketable 'Wishbringer,' but 'Infidel' would carry over nicely into today's first-person shooter (1PS) genre. Gamers navigated a soldier of fortune, using an ahead-of-its-time GPS device, through Egyptian tombs in search of treasure. It may sound an awful lot like 'Tomb Raider,' but fighting hordes of ruthless enemies in pursuit of fortune and glory never loses its appeal.

'Akalabeth: World of Doom,' California Pacific Computer Company (1980)

Laying claim to dozens of games for almost every console, the 'Wizardry' series has inspired countless others (like 'Final Fantasy') and received critical acclaim, but 'Akalabeth' deserves recognition, as well. It wasn't greeted with the initial fanfare of 'Wizardry,' but -- to its credit -- it was one of the first role-playing games, gave birth to the 'Ultima' series, and featured advanced graphics and gameplay. It was also created by a teenaged Richard Garriott and, according to popular legend, first marketed in Ziploc bags. A next-gen modernization by a major manufacturer (with the amazing Garriott's help, of course) could be incredible.

'King's Quest,' Sierra (1984)

The 'King's Quest' series sparked the graphical video game renaissance. Programmer Roberta Williams, whose husband Ken was a programmer himself, grew bored with text-based play, so she became determined to create captivating adventure games that featured graphics. The dynamic duo, idolized by a generation of gaming enthusiasts, revolutionized the industry with the 'King's Quest' franchise, which tracked the exploits of lovable hero King Graham and his steadily expanding family. 'King's Quest V' was the first Sierra game to eclipse 500,000 copies in sales, and was the best-selling game of all time for several years. A revamp, which would be perfect for Wii, is long overdue.

'Police Quest,' Sierra (1987)

Like Infocom, Sierra produced so many awesome titles that it's difficult to eliminate any from consideration. The company, which began as On-Line Systems, released notable and historic titles like 'Mystery House,' 'The Black Cauldron,' 'Gold Rush,' 'Oregon Trail,' and 'Space Quest,' but none deserve a PS3 or Xbox reboot like the 'Police Quest' series. The gritty, violent, and incredibly intense games required realistic police work and featured activities like driving and scuba diving. They were developed by real-life detective Jim Walls (until Daryl Gates of O.J. fame took over for the fourth title), and were immensely popular for years. Games today have an obvious overabundance of violent criminals, like in 'Grand Theft Auto,' and a definite lack of peace-keeping lawmen, so this memorable series would fill a much-needed role.

'Archon: The Light and the Dark,' Electronic Arts (1983)

One of the first games released by what is now EA, 'Archon' pitted the ageless universal forces of Light and Dark against one another in a deadly battle of chess. Instead of typical chess pieces, though, the opposing armies fielded such fantastical combatants as wizards, unicorns, golems, dragons, and shape-shifters. Once engaged on a square, the two pieces would battle in an arena using appropriate weapons and spells. Since it includes the strategy of chess, this game would make a smart addition to the fighting genre.

'Maniac Mansion,' Lucasfilm Games (1987)

'Maniac Mansion' was one of the first titles released by what is now LucasArts, and it revolutionized many facets of the adventure game style. The point-and-click actions featured multiple playable characters, cut scenes, and a variety of possible endings. LucasFilm picked 'Maniac Mansion' as its first entry into the world of Nintendo in 1990, but the version was significantly watered down and censored. A saucy, gory, and adult-themed homage to the original would be great for PS3 or Xbox.

'Temple of Apshai' Trilogy, Epyx (1979)

Epyx may have unceremoniously faded away like Infocom, but in its day the company received accolades and recognition for titles like 'Summer Games' and 'California Games.' (Remember the Lynx?) The 'Apshai' trilogy, in which players could accumulate and hone various skills, was awesome as well. And, even though dungeon-inspired games littered the primordial computing landscape, this incredible series featured a diverse array of levels, rooms, monsters, and characters. The original game was so expansive that a reference manual was required for consultation.

'Destroyer,' Epyx (1986)

With the endless string of 'Call of Duty,' Tom Clancy, and other first person shooter games, the war genre may seem a little overpopulated. Epyx's 'Destroyer' would be a unique and welcome addition, though. The naval simulator was set on a Fletcher-class WWII Destroyer, equipped with 13 fully operational battle stations, somewhere in the Pacific. Players could engage in missions that included rescuing stranded pilots, bombarding enemy islands, escorting convoys, and embarking on submarine hunts. Epyx called it "the first simulation that actually combines the large scale strategy of wargaming with the intensity of furious, eyeball-to-eyeball action," and it wasn't lying.

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