Microsoft Treasure Hunt: Lost My Permanent Upgrades - A Forgotten Gem of Survival Horror Games

Resident Evil 4 may be one of the most iconic survival horror games, but it's not the only standout experience on Nintendo's underrated GameCube system. One game that often gets overlooked is the 1986 classic Alter Ego, developed by Activision for the Commodore 64, PC, and Apple II.

Alter Ego takes a unique approach to survival horror, with players guiding six characters through a colony base in search of the queen's lair. The game's tense atmosphere is amplified by its sound design, particularly the unsettling take on the movie's motion tracker effect that ramps up the scare factor. While movement is limited to left and right, the action is intense, and quick accurate aiming hints at the FPS genre to come.

Another forgotten gem is Aliens: The Computer Game, developed by Software Studios/Electric Dreams Software for the Commodore 64 and Spectrum in 1986. This game may not have received as much attention as Activision's tie-in with the movie, but it has lasting significance in game design terms. The first-person view and smooth movement were astonishing at the time, especially considering it ran on an older 16k Spectrum. This game no doubt paved the way for future variations on free-roaming driving games.

For a more recent take on survival horror, look to 3D Deathchase, developed by Micromega for the ZX Spectrum in 1983. This 3D chase game puts players behind the wheel of a futuristic motorbike, tasked with tracking down and shooting enemy riders through dense woodland. The game's innovative use of 3D graphics may not be as polished as modern games, but it showcases an impressive level of creativity for its time.

In conclusion, these three games demonstrate that survival horror has been around for much longer than you might think. From Alter Ego's tense atmosphere to Aliens: The Computer Game's pioneering first-person view, and 3D Deathchase's innovative use of 3D graphics, these games offer a glimpse into the evolution of the genre. So next time you're exploring the world of survival horror, be sure to dust off your old consoles and give these classics a try.

Microsoft treasure hunt lost my permanent upgrades