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PC Games 1997

History of 1990s Computer Games | Computer Game Reviews | Amiga Game Reviews

PC Games & Hardware of 1997


This is an overview of PC games and hardware that came out in 1997. The PC games are listed in alphabetical order. Both PC DOS and Windows 95 games are included. I will expand on this list in the future.

Hardware & Software Technologies of 1997



A good gaming PC of early 1997 consisted of an Intel Pentium Pro 200 MHz CPU, 64 megs of EDO DRAM, 2x 4.55 gig 10,000-RPM SCSI hard disk drive (RAID) and 12x SCSI CD-ROM drive coupled with 2D acceleration via Matrox Millennium card (May of 1995), 3D acceleration via 3Dfx Orchid Righteous 3D card (Oct. of 1996) and audio acceleration via Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 PnP card of 1995. However, MIDI aficionada also preferred to have the Yamaha SW60XG Waveforce of 1996 at their disposal as well.

High-end gaming PCs of late 1997 (800-MIP Pentium II 300 MHz and 2x video cards) could run GLQuake at 60 FPS in 640x480, which was impressive in 1997. NT 4.0 workstation OpenGL monster-cards could do much better, but cost ten times as much as game video cards.

Chronological listing by release month (the U.S. month of release is appended to each entry):

  • 3Dfx Interactive released 3Dfx GL / MiniGL in Jan. (pseudo-OpenGL driver)
  • Intel released Intel Pentium MMX in Jan.
  • ATI Technologies released 3D Rage Pro PCI in Mar.
  • DVD-ROM released in the U.S.A. in Mar.
  • Nvidia released RIVA 128 PCI aka NV3 in Apr. (max 16-megs SGRAM)
  • AMD released AMD K6 CPU (166-233 MHz) in Apr.
  • Intel released Pentium II CPU (233-300 MHz) in May
  • 3Dlabs released PERMEDIA 2 PCI/AGP in May (max 8-megs SGRAM)
  • Microsoft released Windows NT 4.0 SP3 in May (AGP support)
  • Canopus Corporation released Canopus Total 3D in Jun. (Rendition Vérité V1000)
  • Ensoniq released AudioPCI sound card in Jul. (SID lineage)
  • Diamond Multimedia Systems released Viper V330 PCI in Aug. (Nvidia RIVA 128)
  • 3Dfx Interactive released Voodoo Rush PCI in Aug.
  • Matrox released Mystique 220 PCI in Aug. (MGA-1164SG, max 8-megs SGRAM)
  • Microsoft released DirectX 5.0 in Aug.
  • Microsoft released Windows 95 OSR2.1 in Aug. (AGP & USB support)
  • Intel released Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) in Aug.
  • Intergraph Corporation released Intense 3D PCI in Sept. (Intense 3D Voodoo Rush)
  • Rendition released Vérité V2100 PCI in Sept. (4-megs SGRAM)
  • Microsoft released Internet Explorer 4.0 & Windows Desktop Upgrade in Sept. [1]
  • Diamond Multimedia Systems released Stealth II S220 PCI in Sept. (Rendition Vérité V2100)
  • Rendition released Vérité V2200 PCI/AGP in Nov. (max 16-megs SGRAM)
  • S3 Graphics released S3 ViRGE/GX2 PCI/AGP in Nov. (S3d, 4-megs SGRAM)
  • Microsoft released Windows 95 OSR2.5 in Nov. (IE4.0)
  • Joystick: Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro (Aug.), Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro (Aug.)
  • Joystick: ThrustMaster Millennium 3D Interceptor, ThrustMaster Top Gun
  • Gamepad: 6-button ThustMaster Rage 3D 100
  • Intel's Indeo Video & Apple's QuickTime were needed to play FMVs in some games

Origin Systems' Wing Commander: Prophecy of Nov. explicitly supported five Direct3D video cards and five 3Dfx video cards whereas id Software's Quake 2 of Dec. supported 3Dfx OpenGL and PowerVR OpenGL as well as Rendition, Intergraph and ATI Rage Pro under Default OpenGL. Quake 2 did not support Nvidia RIVA 128 under Default OpenGL until Jan. of 1998.

While not so famous for much of 1997 Nvidia's RIVA 128 of Apr. (listed above) would evolve into the RIVA 128ZX PCI/AGP 2x of Feb. of 1998, the RIVA TNT2 PCI/AGP 4x and TNT2 Ultra AGP 4x of Mar. of 1999, followed by the GeForce 256 PCI/AGP 4x of Oct. 1999.

Nvidia's RIVA 128 was a contender to 3Dfx Voodoo dominance, and is thus historically significant.

Windows 95: Victory Laps


The most popular operating system of 1997 was Windows 95 with DirectX 3.0-5.0, but Windows NT 4.0 support picked up in 1997 via (to cite a few big-name games) Win/GLQuake, Quake 2 and Age of Empires compatibility with NT 4.0. Of course, NT would eventually dominate via Windows XP of 2001 (and rightly so).

MS-DOS 6.22 of 1994 was still widely used by PC gamers in 1997. Indeed, a number of PC gamers were still playing base-game Doom/II and Quake in DOS, to say nothing of the DOS releases of Final Doom of Jun. of 1996 (TNT:Evilution & Plutonia Experiment) and Quake's Dissolution of Eternity & Scourge of Armagon of Feb. and Mar. of 1997. And while such could be played from Windows 95 as well, MS-DOS enjoyed less in the way of overhead.

However, if Microsoft-published games, Doom95, the first DirectX 2.0/3.0 games (e.g., Diablo) and Sega-developed PC games of 1996 had not yet clarified that Windows would be the gamer's OS for the foreseeable future, 1997 made it crystal clear that that was indeed the case. And history shows us that "foreseeable future" pretty much became "forevermore." It was the rapidly advancing hardware technologies (by the likes of Intel, Seagate and 3D chipset manufacturers), the well-documented DirectX API, and the comparative user-friendliness of Windows 95 (e.g., plug and play) that all but ensured its success as a gaming platform. Microsoft's success in converting gamers from DOS and the lame DOS-dependent operating "environments" (3.x) cannot be overstated.

Since there were no contenders to Win-tel dominance 1997 is not as interesting to commentate on as previous years (and the same goes for all subsequent years), but that does not mean that 1997 was not a great year for PC gamers: big-name franchises of DOS-origin (or which were notable on DOS) made their official transition to Windows 95, such as:


However, one could make an argument to the effect that, of the above-listed, no successor on Windows 95 was superior to the DOS original or predecessor; indeed, several were not as good! And it's a given that no successor is as historically significant as the DOS original. For the most part, as subsequent years roll on, we find ourselves dealing more and more with devolutions, stagnations or incremental advances (at best), rather than revolutions. The reasons for this have been given in 1995; that is, "normie involvement in game development and the diminishing returns of subsequent technological advances" and (to paraphase) "the DOS era not only originated most genre but also brought them to their height". From 1995 onwards the Windows PC was just doing victory laps after a race that DOS, VGA and the 486DX had already won by a country mile, back in 1994: proof.


Having jumped on the Windows 95 bandwagon in 1996 Sega doubled-down in 1997 by releasing Windows 95 ports of Sega AM1's Virtua Fighter 2, SegaAM2's Virtua Cop 2, Sega AM2's Daytona USA (Deluxe) and Sega AM3's Sega Rally. In addition Capcom released Windows 95 ports of Resident Evil and Street Fighter Alpha and Alpha 2 (Zero and Zero 2). None of the above were released for DOS.

EA's Need for Speed II and NFS:SE were also released for Windows 95 in 1997, not DOS. cf. Need for Speed.

That said, many PC games of 1997 were distributed on CD-ROM that contained both DOS and Windows installers (install.exe and setup.exe); otherwise, they received both DOS and Windows 95 releases. For example, the greatest pure cRPG of all-time was released for both DOS and Windows 95; that is, Interplay's legendary Fallout. In addition, DMA Design's Grand Theft Auto was released for both DOS and Windows 95.

PC Game Genre Overview of 1997


In 1997 the PC-game catalogue was more focused on scaling, pseudo-individualizing, and pushing 3D chipsets than it was with innovation or even masterful refinement of the tried and true. That doesn't mean no PC game of 1997 innovated or refined; this is just a general introductory remark.

RTS PC Games 1997


Note the huge RTS-genre expansion of 1997:


  • Feb.: Command & Conquer: Gold by Westwood Studios (Win)
  • Mar.: Enemy Nations by Windward Studios (Win), KKnD by Beam Software (Win)
  • Apr.: Red Alert: Counterstrike by Westwood Studios (DOS)
  • Aug.: Outpost 2 by Dynamix (Win), Dark Colony by Alternative Reality (Win)
  • Sept.: Close Combat II by Atomic Games (Win), Total Annihilation by Cavedog Entertainment (Win), Dark Reign by Auran Development (Win), 7th Legion by Vision Software / Epic MegaGames (Win), War Inc. by Optik Software (DOS), Red Alert: Aftermath by Westwood Studios (DOS)
  • Oct.: KKnD Xtreme by Beam Software (Win), Age of Empires by Ensemble Studios (Win), Chaos Island: Lost World by DreamWorks Interactive (Win), Earth 2140 by Reality Pump (DOS/Win)
  • Nov.: Myth: Fallen Lords by Bungie (RTT) (Win), NetStorm: Islands at War by Titanic Entertainment (Win), Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain by Heliotrope Studios (Win), Seven Kingdoms by Enlight Software (Win), War Wind II by Dreamforge Intertainment (Win)

(RTT = Real-time Tactics.)

Just around the corner was Blizzard's StarCraft of Mar. of 1998, too. RTS was so popular that it was influencing the design of TBS games and threatening to convert TBS franchises to RTS ones: publisher requests that TBS designer converts their long-running and legendary TBS franchise to RTS twitch-fest in order to cash-in on the RTS fad; many a designer answers with a flat "No."

Several of the above RTS games were directly influenced by Westwood's Dune 2 of 1992 and Command & Conquer of 1995.

Of the above, the Microsoft-backed Age of Empires would emerge victorious and eventually dominate the RTS genre, even into the 2020s.

Wargames & TBS Games of 1997



On the wargame front, in 1997 TalonSoft released the 6th, 7th and 8th entries of their Battleground series, Strategic Simulations Inc. released their 3rd Steel Panthers entry as well as the 5th and 6th entries of their Panzer General series, and Erudite Software released the first two entries of their Great Battle series. In addition, Impressions Games released the sequel to Civil War General.

  • May: Battleground 6: Napoleon in Russia & Battleground 7: Bull Run by TalonSoft
  • Jun.: Great Battles of Alexander by TalonSoft
  • Jul.: Birthright: Gorgon's Alliance by Synergistic Software (Win), Pacific General by SSI, X-COM Apocalypse by Mythos Games
  • Aug.: Warlords III Reign of Heroes by SSG
  • Sept.: Battleground 8: Prelude to Waterloo by TalonSoft, Achtung Spitfire! by Big Time Software, Imperialism by Frog City Software (Win)
  • Oct.: Civil War Generals 2 by Impressions Games, Panzer General II by SSI, Sid Meier's Gettysburg! by Firaxis Games, Incubation: Time is Running Out by Blue Byte (TBT)
  • Nov.: Great Battles of Hannibal by Erudite Software, Steel Panthers III by SSI
  • Dec.: Lords of Magic by Impressions Games

In addition, SSI released World of Sword & Steel 8-game compilation and Five Star Collection 4-game compilation in 1997 for PC DOS. Thus, grognards of 1997 were satisfied.

FPS Games of 1997



  • Feb.: Quake: Scourge of Armagon by Hipnotic Interactive (DOS)
  • Mar.: Quake: Dissolution of Eternity by Rogue Entertainment (DOS), Blood by Monolith Productions (DOS)
  • Apr.: Outlaws by LucasArts (Win 95), Redneck Rampage by Xatrix Entertainment (DOS)
  • May: Shadow Warrior by 3D Realms Entertainment (DOS)
  • Jul.: Last Rites by Ocean Software (DOS)
  • Sept.: Hexen II by Raven Software (Win 95)
  • Oct.: Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II by LucasArts (Win 95)
  • Nov.: Turok: Dinosaur Hunter by Sculptured Software (Win 95)
  • Dec.: Quake 2 by id Software (Win 95 / NT 4.0)

The pick of that bunch are the Quake games and LucasArts' Outlaws and Jedi Knight; they are great games. LucasFilm/Arts had been one of the best multi-genre developers on the planet since the early 80s.

While still going strong in 1997 the FPS genre would get a huge boost in 1998 via Unreal and Half-life.

Adventure Games of 1997



  • Mar.: Atlantis: Lost Tales by Cryo Interactive (Win), Last Express by Smoking Car Productions (DOS), Star Wars Yoda Stories by LucasArts (Win)
  • Apr.: Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Legend Entertainment (DOS), Last Express by Smoking Car Productions (Win)
  • Sept.: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life by 7th Level (Win)
  • Oct.: Broken Sword II: Smoking Mirror by Revolution Software (Win), Myst II: Riven by Cyan (Win), Zork Grand Inquisitor by Activision (Win)
  • Nov.: Blade Runner by Westwood Studios (Win), Curse of Monkey Island by LucasArts (Win)

Curse of Monkey Island was the third Monkey Island game released by LucasFilm/Arts (and their 11th adventure game in this, their most famous style), but it is no better than the original of 1990.

It is also worth noting that Legend Entertainment had released no fewer than one dozen interactive fiction or graphics adventure games by 1997 (1990-97). In addition, they had released the Lost Adventures of Legend eight-game compilation for DOS/Win in 1996, which installs the eight games into separate folders in one fell swoop.

The point here being that LucasFilm/Arts and Legend Entertainment had long since led this field by 1997. And they would go on to lead it for several more years to come.


cRPGs of 1997



  • Apr.: Exile III: Ruined World by Spiderweb Software (Win), Heroes of Might & Magic II: Price of Loyalty by Cyberlore Studios (DOS/Win)
  • Jun.: Betrayal in Antara by Dynamix (Win)
  • Aug.: Faery Tale Adventure II Halls of the Dead by The Dreamer's Guild (DOS/Win)
  • Sept.: Lands of Lore II: Guardians of Destiny by Westwood Studios (DOS/Win), Ultima Online by Origin Systems (Win)
  • Oct.: Fallout by Interplay (DOS/Win)
  • Nov.: Diablo: Hellfire by Synergistic Software (Win), Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire by Bethesda Softworks (DOS)
  • Dec.: Yendorian Tales: Tyrants of Thaine by Smithware Games (DOS/Win)

As I said in Best cRPGs, Interplay's Fallout was like the best cRPG or adventure game you had ever played, multiplied by 100. Fallout wins several awards in this article (search this article for Best 1997 PC Games: Awards).

Origin Systems' Ultima Online MMORPG is also historically significant: it gained 100K players in its first six months of operation, and spawned five Origin-developed expansions by 2003, at which point it had amassed a player-base of 250K. However, it wasn't until EverQuest of 1999 that MMORPGs would become truly mainstream.

Sports PC Games of 1997


Note that motorsport games are covered in the next section.


  • Jan.: Cricket 97 aka Battle for the Ashes 97 by Beam Software (DOS)
  • Feb.: NBA Jam Extreme by Sculptured Software (Win)
  • Mar.: Jack Nicklaus 4 by Cinematronics (Win)
  • Apr.: British Open Championship Golf by LookingGlass Technologies (Win)
  • May: Front Page Sports Baseball Pro '98 by Dynamix (Win), Front Page Sports Golf by Headgate Studios (Win)
  • Jun.: Kick Off 97 by Anco Software (DOS/Win), LINKS LS 1998 by Access Software, PGA Tour Pro by EA Sports (Win), Triple Play 98 by EA Sports
  • Sept.: NHL 98 by EA Canada (Win)
  • Oct.: Madden NFL 98 by Stormfront Studios (Win), NBA Live 98 by EA Canada (Win), NCAA Football 98 by EA Tiburon (Win)
  • Nov.: FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 by EA Canada (Win), Front Page Sports Football Pro '98 by Synergistic Software (Win), Front Page Sports Ski Racing by Dynamix (Win), Jack Nicklaus 5 by Eclipse Entertainment (Win)
  • Dec.: Kick Off 98 by Anco Software (DOS/Win)

Golf-sim fans were happy in 1997 thanks to releases of LINKS golf (franchise origin in 1990; actual origin in Leader Board of 1986), PGA Tour golf (origin in 1990), Jack Nicklaus Golf (origin in 1988) and British Open Championship Golf (origin in Mean 18 of 1986). Noble lines, to be sure.

Note that PGA Tour Golf Pro of 1997 would lead to no fewer than 14 Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf games, developed by four different studios over a 13-year period.

1997 is the year in which EA Sports and its divisions successfully transitioned its FIFA, NBA Live, NHL and Madden NFL franchises from DOS to Windows 95. For example, after the above entries of 1997 EA Canada would develop 28 more FIFA games in succession, eight more NBA Live games in succession and five more NHL games in succession whereas Stormfront would develop one more Madden NFL game (99) before EA Tiburon took over and developed 15 more in succession. (By succession is meant in unbroken sequence, year after year.)

Sensible Software actually released no soccer games in 1997 even though they had released one every year since 1992, but they would go on to release one more in 1998. Note also how Anco's Kick Off franchise (which kicked off in 1989 on the Atari ST) added two more entries in 1997. However, I'd say that Kick Off 2 of 1990 retained its crown.

Racing Games of 1997



  • Feb.: Sega Rally Championship by Sega AM3 / Sega PC (U.S.A.) (Win)
  • Mar.: Interstate '76 by Activision (DOS/Win), Thunder Truck Rally aka Monster Trucks by Reflections Interactive (Win), Test Drive Off-Road by Elite Systems (DOS/Win)
  • Apr.: Need for Speed II by EA Seattle (Win)
  • May: Street Racer by Vivid Image (DOS/Win)
  • Jun.: Carmageddon by Stainless Games (DOS), Formula 1 by Bizarre Creations (Win), Screamer Rally by Milestone (DOS/Win)
  • Jul.: WipEout 2097 (WipEout XL) by Psygnosis
  • Aug.: Carmageddon by Stainless Games (Win), Moto Racer by Delphine Software (Win)
  • Sept.: International Rally Championship by Magnetic Fields (Win)
  • Oct.: SODA Off-Road Racing by Software Allies (Win), Need for Speed II Special Edition by EA Seattle (Win), Daytona USA Deluxe Special Edition by Sega AM2 (Win)
  • Nov.: Andretti Racing by High Score Productions / Stormfront Studios (Win), NASCAR Grand National Series by Papyrus Design Group (DOS/Win), Test Drive 4 by Pitbull Syndicate (Win)

Note that International Rally Championship is of noble Lotus lineage. With a few exceptions the above-listed racers can be categorized as actual racing sims, though some are more action-based than others.

Geoff Crammond had been a leader in racing-sim design since 1985's Revs, but would not release another F1GP game until the year 2000. The other leader, Papyrus, would continue to develop racing sims up to 2003. Anyway, most racing sim fans of 1997 were still playing Crammond's Grand Prix 2 and Papyrus' NASCAR Racing 2 (both of 1996; the above-listed NASCAR GNS being an expansion to NR2).

Flight & Armor Sims of 1997



  • Feb.: Air Warrior II by Kesmai (Win)
  • May.: Comanche 3 by NovaLogic (DOS)
  • Sept.: Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 by Microsoft (Win)
  • Oct.: Armored Fist 2 by NovaLogic (DOS)
  • Nov.: Agile Warrior: F-111X by Black Ops Entertainment (Win), Flight Unlimited II by Looking Glass Studios (Win), Jane's Longbow 2 by Origin Systems (Win)
  • Dec.: Air Warrior III by Kesmai (Win), Joint Strike Fighter by Innerloop Studios (Win), Red Baron II by Dynamix (Win), Sierra Pro Pilot by Dynamix (Win)

The picks of that pack are Red Baron II, Jane's Longbow 2 and Flight Unlimited II; all three are sequels to the DOS originals. Also, they did not devolve from the originals.

Arcade Games of 1997



By arcade games, I am referring to traditional arcade-action games aka coinop-style games (such as shooters, platformers and versus fighters) as well as to general action-adventure games. Racing games and FPS games are covered above, in their own sections.

  • Jan.: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft by Take-Two (DOS/Win)
  • Feb.: Gradius Deluxe Pack by Konami (Win)
  • Apr.: Lost Vikings 2 by Beam Software (DOS/Win)
  • May: X-Men Children of the Atom by Capcom (DOS)
  • Jun.: Raiden II by Kinesoft (Win), Mortal Kombat 4 by Eurocom (Win), Street Fighter Zero by Capcom (Win)
  • Jul.: Atomic Bomberman by Interplay (Win), Machine Hunter by Eurocom (Win)
  • Aug.: Nebula Fighter by Holodream Software (DOS)
  • Sept.: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain by Silicon Knights (Win), Resident Evil by Capcom (U.S.A.) (Win), Virtua Fighter 2 by Sega AM1 1997 (Win)
  • Oct.: Disney's Hercules by Eurocom (Win)
  • Nov.: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain by Silicon Knights (Win), Grand Theft Auto by DMA Design (DOS/Win), Men in Black: The Game by Gigawatt Studios (Win), Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee by Digital Dialect (DOS/Win), Street Fighter Zero 2 by Capcom (Win), Tomb Raider II by Core Design (Win), Virtua Cop 2 by Sega AM2 (Win)
  • Dec.: Re-loaded by Gremlin Interactive (DOS)

Disney's Hercules was the fourth 2D Disney platformer to be released on PC; while not as good as Aladdin of 1994, it was technically superior to the three others. It was good to see PC still getting the Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter games as well but, overall, this genre's 1997 line-up was a disappointment.

The Three Fads


In 1997 three fads were in full-swing: the 3D texture-mapping fad, the multiplayer fad and the RTS fad. I call them fads because that's what they were in 1997; respectively, they came at the expense of 2D games, solitaire games and genre-variety. For example, X-Wing vs TIE Fighter of Apr. was MP-only until Nov.: big mistake.

The above can be summed up by normies with "No 3D no buy, No MP no buy, No RT no buy". Such was the normie mindset in 1997.

That said, the RTS fad was not wholly a bad thing because RTS is a PC-focused genre due to its mouse control (e.g., marquee selection) and extensive hotkey usage. Moreover, most RTS games actually featured good gameplay. On top of that, the RTS fad somewhat offset the 3D fad in that 3D chipsets did not yet have the capacity to render massively multi-unit games in realtime 3D, but the 3D plague would eventually infect RTS and most other genre as the years wore on (e.g., WarCraft III); and even devolve several genre; in all-too-many cases, it was just 3D for 3D's sake.

Not to put too finer point on it but in all-too-many cases it wasn't that 3D would facilitate a better game X -- that wasn't the reason game X was 3D -- it was that game X should be 3D in order to push around a pack of polygons on the latest 3D card -- that was the real reason. Because 3D was a fad. And thus, 3D games sell better than 2D games: a market-manufactured mindset.

It was a shame that the PC was a 3D-centric platform that, as of 1997, had barely even begun to be pushed in the sphere of 2D-acceleration; like the Sony PlayStation it had comparatively no 2D arcade-action pedigree (unlike the Amiga, SNES and Genesis). Going back as far as the early 90s the PC had shown that it did indeed have the capacity for 2D arcade-action games -- even platform games -- but that capacity was being largely ignored in favor of poly-slop. And this was partly due to the undeserved popularity of the pernicious and primitive PlayStation: a console, a toy.

Considering what the 25-MIPS 468DX 66 MHz CPU with VESA Local Bus was capable of in 1994, can you imagine the kind of shooters that an 800-MIPS Pentium II 300 MHz, 64 megs of RAM and 2D video card with 8 megs of VRAM could power in 1997? Well, you basically need to imagine that heavenly scenario because almost nothing truly impressive was developed for such genre for PCs. We could have been playing silky arcade-action games at 60 FPS in 16-bit color depth at 800x600 resolution (well beyond what consoles could handle), but instead we mostly just got clunky poly-slop wrapped in lores t-maps smudged over by Glide: generic and artless.

In the present-day we can take a look around and find that games of 2D genre that we wanted to see more of back in the day have been remade into soulless slop 30 years after the fact; not as labors of love but for the cash-grab. You can find these generic remakes spammed on Steam -- so what are you waiting for?

Fallout of 1997 being a given, 2D graphics would show its strength in subsequent years via StarCraft of 1998, Jagged Alliance 2 of 1999 and Diablo 2 of 2000; games that were just as graphically impressive as any 3D game that came out in the those years.

The Amiga Footnote


In 1997 Team 17 released Worms 2 for Windows 95 whereas Amiga AGA got Worms: Director's Cut, which was the last game Team 17 would release for the Amiga. cf. Worms. I mention this because Team 17 were one of the most loyal big-name Amiga developers; they held out for longer than most.

While they would not be graced with a Quake port until 1998 FPS Amigans of 1997 nonetheless had access to Alpha Software's Gloom 3: Director's Cut (Zombie Massacre) and Gloom 3: Zombie Edition (Ultimate Gloom). And several other FPS games besides. cf. Texture-mapping for a rundown.

List of Current Coverage of 1997 PC Games





Best 1997 PC Games: Awards


Interplay's Fallout is the best game of 1997. Fallout wins best cRPG, best 2D game, best 2D graphics, best presentation, best music and best sound effects of 1997; it was also the most original game of 1997. For more on the merits of Fallout please consult Fallout in History.


[1]

Since it upgraded and installed new system files the Windows Desktop Upgrade of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 of Sept. actually became a requirement to install many new programs, including games: the program would not request WDU but it would declare that certain system files are missing, and the program would not run until it had access to those files (e.g., DCOM). Thus, it was important to update Windows 95, DirectX and audiovisual drivers before installing the latest games of 1997.

cf.

PC Games 1987 PC Games 1991 PC Games 1995
PC Games 1988 PC Games 1992PC Games 1996
PC Games 1989 PC Games 1993 Decade of 1990-99
PC Games 1990 PC Games 1994 PC Game Reviews

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