He's got soul, and he's super-bad.

Then:
Bungie's Myth and Myth II were the best Mac games of all time, introducing players to a new style of action with innovative, 3D graphics. Back in 1997, you controlled just a squad of troops for the first time, issuing them commands and formations without worry for resources. There was no gold, trees, or food to gather; Myth outfitted you with a full group of medieval and fantasy units to instantly lead to battle.

While showy and new, the 3D perspective affected the game outcome. Dwarfs tossed Molotov cocktails further downhill, while warriors had a harder time fighting similar units that stood on higher ground. Gorgeous weather effects and terrain ushered in the age of 3D-accelerated games; I bought a 3dfx Voodoo card primarily for the nights playing on my college network.

Those multiplayer modes made the series legendary, fostering a massive community. Then-young game types are still popular: King of the Hill, Territories, Assassin (read: V.I.P.), and more. With free toolsets let that community created numerous maps and conversions, remixing Myth in creative ways. And thanks to those creative, obsessive gamers, you can still play Myth today in OS X.

Which way to the zombie jamboree?

Now:
Much of Myth looks dated today, with the animated units not even technically shown in 3D. (They're clever-but-flat cutouts, redrawn as you move the camera.) But Myth's long-lasting core of strategy, action, and humor are matched by few others. Myth II is my favorite for refinements over the original, while Myth III cut much of the tactical strategy to try a new direction. Developed outside of Bungie, Myth III is an okay game but not a true part of the Myth core.

So I'll focus on the best; here's how to get Myth II running again. Its low system requirements make it a great game for nearly any Mac you have lying around, especially MacBooks.

Your initial challenge comes from tracking down a copy of this title, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Check Amazon, eBay, used software stores, and your closets for the software. I found a bunch of options to buy the game for about $5, and you'll easily get your money's worth.

These are the important files; nest them on your hard drive inside that Myth II f folder.

Pop the disc in your Mac, but don't bother with the installer application; it's an OS 9-only affair. Instead, first copy the Myth II f folder into your Applications folder. Then copy most of the other CD files into that hard drive folder, specifically: cutscenes, Myth II Manual, Read Me, setup, tags, and Tool Docs. Note that you'll be prompted to replace a tags folder; approve the process to write over the original, empty one. (If the game requires the CD in the drive later, retry this process.) Eject the CD.

Launch Myth II 1.6(Universal) for squad-based action. Click to embiggen

Update the game to the latest, OS X-friendly version, thanks to fan support from Project Magma. Download the Myth II 1.6 files, and copy the contents of "put in plugins" into the plugins folder. Move the rest into the Myth II f folder. Launch Myth II 1.6(Universal). It'll open in a windowed mode, but it'll follow the in-game preferences to play in full screen.

After you remember the basics of the single-player levels, take your battles online. You can directly challenge friends or meet new ones in the small-but-consistent Myth II community; on a random, Wednesday morning, I found more than two-dozen players online.

Vikings colors always looked good on the battlefield.

Bungie's multiplayer server has long been closed, but you can select a fan-operated alternative. Click Multiplayer Game, and choose Servers. Select MariusNet, and click Save. Register on the forums at Mariusnet, and use that login and password in the Multiplayer Setup. (Check your email to approve the final registration step.) Remember to change your Player Name and colors, too. Click Login. If the first room is deserted, click the Crow's Nest name in the upper-left to find a new one. Practice up; anyone who still plays this classic has to be good.