Long before Sony, Sega and even SNK released dedicated CD-based consoles, there was the Philips CD-i. Released in the early 1990s as a way to use the emerging CD-ROM technology as vessel for education and reference applications, this expensive console was aimed directly at parents who were in the market for a set-top box that did more than just play mindless video games. Philips was gambling on edutainment, hoping for a future where you were just as likely to take a virtual tour through an art museum as you are to shoot down demons in a first-person action game.
In the eight years that Philips kept the CD-i dream alive, there were a total of 208 games released for the system. Electronic Gaming Monthly managed to review ... 13 of them. Okay, so that's not very many. In fact, it's only 6% of the library. To be fair to EGM, there were a lot of systems vying for attention at the time and only so many critics on hand. What's more, the CD-i never caught on, selling only a million units and focusing more on the edutainment titles that EGM usually ignored. Instead of dwelling on all of the games the magazine skipped over, I instead want to highlight the thirteen titles they bothered to review. What we're going to do is countdown the best and worst CD-i games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. Join me for this incredibly niche episode of EGM Ranks the Philips CD-i!
Who Shot Johnny Rock? (CD-i)
#13
"Unless you have the American Laser Games Game Gun, you probably won't get very far in this move-the-cursor-and-shoot game (as was the case in the earlier Mad Dog McCree) – the control pad is just too slow. For the CD-I system, Johnny Rock suffers from inexplicably substandard graphics (the images are so blurry you can't tell what's going on at times) and frustrating gameplay. There is plenty of action and the whodunnit aspect of the game is welcome, but the technical aspects hamper the overall product." (4.8 out of 10)
Kether (CD-i)
#12
"I really don't know what to make of this game. Just what kind of game is Kether, anyway? It's a shooter. It's a puzzle game. It's a role-playing game. It's many different things. It's good from a variety of standpoints. But I just wished it stayed in only one category. I felt the graphics are probably the best I have ever seen and the sound and music are top-notch, but the pace was too slow. It's just okay." (5.75 out of 10)
Lemmings (CD-i)
#11
"It's getting hard to rate Lemmings, since I played the original on a PC what seems like a lifetime ago. Since then, it's gone to about every platform in varying degrees. Basically, I love the game, but it's getting a bit old. After playing Lemmings 2 and others, this one just seems a bit weak. It is an excellent translation, but I must admit to getting bored with it. If you've never played it, it is a great game, but it has been done to death." (6.25 out of 10)
Litil Divil (CD-i)
#10
"Litil Divil is a really cute game for the CD-i. The cute little demon's humorous antics and animation are really entertaining. This is all due to some of the best graphics anywhere coupled with superb CD stereo sound. There were some things I didn't like, such as the play control, which seems to lag when I wanted to execute a particular action. This made fighting bosses very difficult. It still has some entertainment value." (6.5 out of 10)
Hotel Mario (CD-i)
#9
"The game sounds simple enough: Go through several levels while banishing Koopa Troopas and other enemies. However, this is quite addicting stuff and it is strongly recommended you use the joypad for max enjoyment." (6.6 out of 10)
Axis & Allies (CD-i)
#8
"Axis & Allies has to be one of the more comprehensive and complete wartime simulators ever made. The live-action stock footage and sounds are amazing and make this a game any World War II buff won't want to miss. This one covers everything and you can practically make your own (hypothetical) war scenario." (6.8 out of 10)
Dragon's Lair II: The Time Warp (CD-i)
#7
"When Dragon's Lair first came out to the arcades, I totally got into it. Full motion was cool back then. But now it's just another FMV game, and there really isn't much interaction. All you do is point in a direction or press a button to use Dirk's sword. Ho hum! It really isn't much of a game. And yes, the scenes are straight from the arcade, but many times the machine's limits make the scenes look too blocky. A one-shot deal." (7.25 out of 10)
Dragon's Lair (CD-i)
#6
"This version of the laserdisc arcade classic is without a doubt the best version on any platform. Everything from the arcade has been directly ported over. All the scenes and music are here! Another thing that makes Dragon's Lair so good is the fine control of Dirk, which allows players to choose his moves with ease. On the downside, the CD access time is a nuisance, breaking you away from the game too long." (7.5 out of 10)
Caesar's World of Boxing (CD-i)
#5
"Like most Philips CD-i games, Caesar's World of Boxing has superb graphics. But in terms of an actual boxing match, it's better to call it a simulation where strategy is more important than punching speed. Easily the best boxing game yet!" (7.6 out of 10)
Space Ace (CD-i)
#4
"The CD-i is really becoming a strong contender with games like this. Space Ace is a blast to play and is truly faithful to the original coin-op. The digital video is perfect and the game controls great. Space Ace can be difficult to play at first until you get the timing down. However, after beating it a few times, the challenge is gone. If you are an owner of the CD-i, you don't want to pass up this perfect translation." (7.75 out of 10)
NFL Hall of Fame (CD-i)
#3
"Even though this is not a hard-hitting action game, it is nice to know more about the history of football. The layout of the Hall of Fame is something to see. The actual video footage of players is cool and should not be missed. This CD will broaden your knowledge of the history of football and then some. Hey, it doesn't hurt to learn more every day." (8 out of 10)
The 7th Guest (CD-i)
#2
"Wow! If you've never heard of 7th Guest before, you're in for a shock. The graphics are simply mind-blowing, with beautifully rendered scenes of the Stauff mansion. While simply walking around and playing puzzles at various points seems boring, just fire this puppy up and you'll be hooked. The music adds a creepy side to the game, so I wouldn't suggest playing with the lights off. A great game with no real replay value." (8 out of 10)
Burn: Cycle (CD-i)
#1
"Just sitting down and playing Burn: Cycle for 10 minutes isn't the way to enjoy it. it must be played like a role-playing game, which is does a nice job of emulating. The characters, story and graphics are all top-notch. The stingy time limit can be bothersome, but really adds to the suspense. This is one game you will definitely find yourself wrapped up in. If you don't have a CD-i by now, Burn: Cycle will definitely change your mind." (8 out of 10)
