The Original CATACOMB I. Developed by John Carmack and Published by SoftDisk and Gamers Edge Inc. The root of all things we call Catacomb. © 1989-1990. Appeared on Big Blue Disk #50 and Vertabim DownUnder.

Catacomb, quietly released in 1990 quickly became a hit around the electronic magazine scene. In this game you play Petton Everhail, and you must rid the Catacombs of the evil that has taken a liking to haunting.. When you start the game you are rewarded to a Demo of how to play the game. It shows the basics of the game. The game takes place in an overheard setting, similar to that of the overhead portion of Commander Keen 1-3, but not so fluid. The graphics are mediocre at best, this was 1990 and this game utilized only EGA and CGA graphics, which just wasnt the norm. All the colors are not how they should be, everything is purple and green, poor, poor use of colors you guys. As you would expect everything is extremely blocky. The sound is bad, just the occasional blip and bloop of that darned PC Speaker. You better be warned, there is NO music in this game whatsoever, something only Catacomb 3d (Both Versions) had (Extremely Poor) music. Where this game gets good is the overall addictiveness of this game. The game, only boasts 10 levels, but each level requires a great amount of key-seeking and other such puzzles. But it is the fact that you get so deeply engrossed in this game and it is so difficult that you keep playing, just awaiting the next level. Some great features of the game, are the cool exploding walls. You can't leave some levels without finding them. The difficulty is very very hard, due extremely to the fact that finding a cure bottle is nigh impossible in this game. Also the enemies seem to dish out more damage than they should, not cool at all. Overall I have to say this was a pretty mediocre start to the series, much to be improved on, bur Catacomb II was on the way !!

Catacomb 2, the PC-Only sequel released less than a year after Catacomb, was basically Catacomb remixed with new levels, same engine and same graphics. Sometime in 1993 the game was renamed to the name The Catacomb

Catacomb 3d: A new dimension. This was the first 3d texture mapping game EVER! Even before the likes of Ultima Underworld and Wolfenstein 3d you were nuking orcs and trolls as you descended through a 16 color EGA adventure!!!

Catacomb 3d: The Descent was a re-released version of the original Catacomb 3d for the ID Software retro package called Vintage ID, that sold for high prices. The only difference is that in this game is that Nemesis is now Gremlinar, and a changed title screen.

Catacomb Abyss: the first game of the Catacomb Fantasy Trilogy, which in my opinion is the best. The ONLY shareware game in the catacomb series released, which surprisingly WAS the whole game (With the use of cheats) Revamped Engine.

Catacomb Armageddon (AKA Curse of the Catacombs): Basically the sequel to abyss with the same feel and setting, medieval times with magic and sorcery. I guess the plot is basically just as oblivious as Abyss, your sole mission is just to destroy nemesis (and his cronies)

Catacomb Apocalypse (AKA Terror of the Catacombs): Catacomb in the future. Nemesis has gained access to time gates and has created mechanical monstrosities that are bent on destroying mankind. First HUB-Based videogame ever created, even before hexen.