Slashdot Mirror
Good Games For Christmas?
Since nothing really interesting seems to be happening today (unless you count some lame overpriced scooter) I figured I'd throw this out. We've discussed christmas presents in general, but what about refining the subject to just video games? With Final Fantasy 10 not due out until the day after christmas, what new games are coming out? Please mention systems in your subject line. Personally I just finished Klonoa 2 and enjoyed it, I'm maybe half way through Grand Theft Auto 3 and am absolutely in love, and just picked up Metal Gear Solid 2 but have yet to break the celophane, but can't wait. On the PC side, The Sims Hot Date expansion pack is pretty smooth if your idea of fun is micromanaging an armada of virtual people. I hope a psychiatrist never analyzes my Sims style.
Oh how I loved this game in the earlt 1990's, and oh how I love it with a modern graphics engine. This one is one not to miss. I literally sweat while playing this game!
5 fps stars!
All i want is Civilization 3. I just had my birthday yesterday, and I was given money to but it from a family member with the sincire promise that I won't buy it untill the christmas holidays (2 weeks!!!)
DAMN!!!
Note, only buy this for your favorite geek if you wish absolutely no f2f contact with him/her until Groundhog's Day.
No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. - Cmdr. Susan Ivanova
"Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life." -- Marcus Aurelius, _Meditations_, Book 9, 37
This is one of the best traditional console RPGS I've played in a LONG time. My current fave it Final Fantasy 5, but this one is catching up. AWESOME graphics, and a huge storyline!
Check out this review:
http://pocket.ign.com/reviews/15255.html
You crazy man? You piss off supahfly!
Super Mario Kart 2!!!!!
please.... somebody, anybody...
no, neither MarioKart64 or MarioKartAdvance count... trust me, sometimes you just have to be a purist.
On a slightly more reasonable note, Tony Hawk 3(for PS2) is a pretty fresh pick, and I mean who could get tired of more Tony Hawk(and the character customization is ridiculously cool... nothing is quite as much fun as watching a 3d-modelled person who looks JUST LIKE YOU do a 900 off of an 18-foot ramp and then fall flat on his face, smearing blood everywhere).
lysergically yours
I know it's mentioned in the story, but Grand Theft Auto 3 is just awesome. You get complete freedom to do whatever your sick twisted mind can think of. Plus the story is pretty non-linear, and the side missions are plentiful.
Descent 3 is an example of a great game gone forgotten because of bad marketing. The good thing is that you can find it for $9.99.
And exactly how smutty is the Sims Hot Date expansion? Personally, I'm hoping for Leisure Suit Larry-ultra.
Maybe we can get the Linux community to create a Leather Goddesses of Phobos 3-d game.
. We've got computers, we're tapping phone lines, you know that ain't allowed - Talking Heads, "Life During Wartime"
Frankly there is so much going on in the mod scene for Half-Life, UT, and Q3 to get me to go out and pay 40$ for something new that I'll play for a few hours before going back to some of the better mods. (This does not include Counter-Strike in my opinion.) If you want the really cool ideas, check out the Half-Life mod scene. Its amaizing what is being done with a 3(?) year old engine. Aside from that, there is some decent games on the PS2, including Gran Turismo 3 and MGS2. Nothing on X-Box nor the Gamecube is going to get me to buy those, at the moment at least.
forma3
Get me a gift certificate for final fantasy then, I can wait a day, then bombard the stores and fight my way to aisle containing it. Well have plenty of crowd dodging practice by that time.
Must admit, my xmas shopping skills are weak this year.
I always prefered gift cerificates anyways, else my mom will be me a copy of "Who wants to be a billionare (but not really), the video game. Whee, I just looove those gifts.
--Nuintari
slashdot : where an opinion can be wrong.
Also that scooter has two wheels, side-by-side, I've been wondering why it hasn't been posted on the front page yet.
Rez is coming out for PS2 sometime in january. It's a rail shooter (like panzer dragoon) with graphics similar to ones you'ld find in an MP3 visualization, and electronic music that responds to your play style. The gameplay is amazing, and the music kicks ass, and unlike most shooters, It doesn't get booring the 10th time through. Here's some more info: http://www.thegia.com/psx2/rez/rez.html
If you really want something before christmas, a Dreamcast + 4 games will set you back under $100. Most games on it look as good as other consoles and cost 1/4 what they do...
BBK
X-box w/ Halo, Oddworld, and Project Gotham Racing
PC Games (listed in order of desire):
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Aliens vs Predator 2
Civ3
Sims - Hot Date
Mechwarrior4 -Black Knight
Empire Earth
---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
- Grand Theft Auto 3 - Amazing
- Metal Gear Solid 2 - Has its ups and downs, but pretty cool
Reviews have been good on the following:PC Wise the only thing that I have played civilization 3, and its good, but might not be for everyone.
I'm also probably going to pick up the often discussed Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
In a related note, does anyone know of any good party style games for the PS2? I really enjoyed Smash Brothers on the N64, but don't want to pick up a new system just for the 1 game, so I was hoping that there was a similar, multiplayer, simple PS2 game out there my girlfriend might be able to play.
Thanks,
Captain_Frisk
...on a Gottlieb machine :)
Or some 8 Ball Deluxe, or some GnR Pinball...
Forget consol games, go for some old fashioned pinball this Xmas. Yer index fingers will love you for it.
Even though it's done by Microsoft, I'm a big fan of the Age of Empires series. I thought Star Wars, Galactic Battlegrounds looked good enough to play.
Basically, it's AOE2 with Star Wars themed races, units, etc. with all the graphics, Y-wing fighters, and sounds.
I'll probably pick it up once i'm done with my second round through MGS2!
Oh, and a review of the game can be found at http://pc.ign.com/reviews/15959.html
But /. folks should love it- it's a hacking simulator. Break into computers, copy or trash data, delete logs, break bank computers to get funds, create fake credentials... Who, me amoral?
Highly idealized, of course, but the basic ideas are sound. There's a short demo available-sold me on the idea.
Eric
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
Metal Gear Stupid
-- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
See the LucasArts page on it
I'm picking up playstation games now that are only 1 year or less out of date and having a wicked time. Everyone knows what the best games are, so you're guaranteed to get something good, and they don't cost more than $20 usually. Here are my picks:
NHL 2001
Driver (obviously)
Ape Escape (a crazy 3D platform game, amazing design)
Grand Turismo
If you're looking at getting laid off like me, you can pick up a playstation super cheap and get games galore for nothing. Look into it.
Personally, I'm not too fond of consoles, but I've heard good things about GTA3. On the PC, the most obvious thing to mention would be Castle Wolfenstein, which I spotted in the stores the other day. Judging from the popularity of the multiplayer test, it's going to be ripped off the shelves. I've heard some people complain about the AI, but personally, I'd much rather play multiplayer anyway.
For strategy-lovers, there's always Stronghold.A realtively new game from firefly studios, stronghold mixes bits of the fighting from age of Empire with the resource management from the settlers and adds some spicy caste-building extras on top. It may not be everyones cup of tea, but I find it very enjoyable.
-----------------------
I pushed the red button
PC: Civilization 3, Return To Castle Wolfenstein, Commandos2, Tribes 2
PS2: Metal Gear Solid 2, Devil May Cry, Grand Theft Auto3
GameCube: Super Smash Brother Melee, Rogue Squadron 2, Super Monkey Ball, Waverace
XBox: A severe beating and maybe Halo
Nosce te Ipsum
The best thing about the super-customizable characters is the ability to put your favorite PHB on a skateboard and drive him into the bucket of molten steel on the Foundry level...
lysergically yours
'Nuff said.
--
# Canmephians for a better Linux Kernel
$Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.net";
My wife plays the SIMS because she is a control freak and she can push them SIMmy types all around (you know for when I'm not home.) ;)
I for one can't get into a game where I have to get up, take a shower, eat breakfast, clean up, go to work, come home, watch TV, read a book, go to bed... I already do that. I prefer SIMS that let me do stuff I don't do everyday like racing SIMS or flying SIMS... (MicroSoft Train Simulator? Simulate your commute? WHAT?!)
Anylou...
I played this dating game in the hopes that I could make a really slutty girl. But it sucks. I played for about 8 total hours. My girl just cries all the time about her neighbor and won't have sex with any of the prospects I try to pick up with her at the bar I built. I wish there was a shallow grave option in BUILD MODE.
Ugh! Talk --> About Interests, Talk --> Gossip, Kiss --> Peck
I'm waiting for The SIMS Fetish Pack to come out so I can tie this girl to a water pipe in a basement somewhere and walk away from the computer for a week.
This
If you want a very high-quality game, go for Wizardry 8. Not only will it take a long time to fonish, but it is feature-rich, entertaining (sometimes downright funny!), and completely enjoyable.
As a bonus you could first purchase Wizardry Gold for cheap, play it for a good hundred hours, then import your party to Wiz 8 and start from there.
Moderation: Put your hand inside the puppet head!
Gamespot gave it a 9.1, even tho it was developed 2 years ago (or just finished in May or something). 60 hours of gameplay, and its already being talked about as RPG of the year by many sites. Go to ebworld.com .. they have exclusive distribution rights for the first 30 days of sale?
"Old man yells at systemd"
Myst III: Exile. A sequel to Myst I, with a Riven (Myst II) feel, and an actual plot! Graphics are cool (realistic panoramic view). Brad Dourif is your thoroughly wicked and entertaining antagonist.
Civilization III: Addicting. Addicting. Addicting. Just two more turns and I'll go to bed. Okay, just two more turns and I'll turn off the alarm clock telling me to get up. A major evolutionary (not revolutionary) update to Civ II. Diplomacy actually works. Conquering the world is damn near impossible.
A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
After overcoming my initial inability to master
the games movement style (which consisted of me
coming to the understanding that it realisticly
expects you to apply thrust when you're airbourne
if you want to move horizontally), I've come to truly enjoy this game. It includes much variety as to the style of the players' weaponry and armor, and the vehicle operation gives it something above Quake 3:TA and UT (both of which I also think of highly). It's slow-paced comparitively, but it's a lot of fun, and it has tremendous replay value.
"A man talking sense to himself is no madder than a man talking nonsense not to himself."
unless you count some lame overpriced scooter...
I tell you, I just don't understand the animosity toward this amazing technology. I was hoping the subject would come up again today after people had actually SEEN it, but no such luck. For those of you who haven't seen it in action: this machine actually keeps balance. It reproduces an extremely intricate function of our brain and nervous system. Here's what the story on Time.com says:
Pulling off this trick requires an unholy amount of computer power. In every Segway there are 10 microprocessors cranking out three PCs' worth of juice. Also a cluster of aviation-grade gyros, an accelerometer, a bevy of sensors, two batteries and software so sophisticated it puts Microsoft to shame.
If that's not news for nerds, I don't know what is. Non-closed-minded people should check out the story at the link above. The rest of you can carry on with the discussion about which amazing new game you can play while your fat ass is plastered to the couch.
Evil is the money of root.
For those of us who aren't into anime (FF 10) or first-person shooters... ;)
Kohan: Ahriman's Gift , the most original and entertaining RTS this year.
Wizardry 8 , if you like party-based, heavy-combat, first-person RPGs.
Stronghold , a terrific "castle simulator" built by some of the folks who created the Caesar/Pharoah series.
All about me
Xbox is pretty great. I picked one up a few days ago and have gotten four games. I did a lot of research before buying. Here's what I've found.
-Halo - Wow. This is seriously one of the best games I've ever played. For a FPS, the play and control is actually pretty good for a console. The graphics are good, and I find myself really getting into it. It's a great game, and anyone that enjoys immersive action games would appreciate it. You can check out an IGN review at http://xbox.ign.com/reviews/15922.html.
-Dead or Alive 3 - WOW! I find it exceptionally hard to stop playing this game. The graphics are *stunning* and the fighting is great. This is really a game you get to play with someone else. It's fun the first 20 or so times by yourself, but after that, there's not much to go for. It also did very well with an IGN review, which you can get at http://xbox.ign.com/reviews/16249.html.
-Project Gotham Racing - This is a very cool game indeed. Great for those that like racing and want something new. The tracks are pretty good and the cars are awesome. I personally don't have the racing wheel yet, but I find controls with the standard Xbox pad to be pretty good. Definitely enjoyable. IGN review at http://xbox.ign.com/reviews/16195.html.
-Amped - This is probably my favorite of the bunch. I cannot take this game out of the console. Besides looking absolutely stunning, it's really addictive to play. There are tons of ways to go down the mountains, and I find myself making 15 or 20 runs in a row just trying to get the trick off just right. Very satisfying game experience. Highly recommended. IGN review at http://xbox.ign.com/reviews/16174.html.
I'd strongly recommend buying a second controller. They're $40 each but you really wanna play this thing with someone else. Especially Dead or Alive 3 - it's great fun having the guys over and playing DOA3 for a few hours. If you're only going to be playing Halo or Amped and you'll be by yourself, don't bother with the extra controller. Also, if you're getting it for someone that's likely to just play games by themself. But personally, I need the second controller - I'm all about gaming with friends.
Anyway. That's what I'd want for Christmas if I didn't already have it. The games that I listed above are great and they'll undoubtedly be appreciated by any gamer.
Every once in a while I like to masturbate a new word into my vocabulary, even if I don't know what it means.
Um, while I know its been crucified since its release. Try Anarchy Online - either for the first time or again. I beleive FunCom is offering december free for those who canceled their accounts.
All I can say is - its getting better. No, its not 100% there, but it is getting better.
You say you want a revolution?
CmdrTaco already mentioned this game, but he didn't give enough detail on it to convince people why it is such a great game.
Unfortunately it is only out for the PS2, but for those of you with a PS2 should seriously think about getting this game. The complexity and depth of this game is pretty amazing. And the graphics are a huge improvement from GTA1 and 2. That silly low-detail overhead view made playing the game too cumbersome. GTA3 got the graphics/interface right.
I have been playing it every spare second I have for the last month, and I am still only 36% through it according to the stats. And I believe that only relates to the missions. If you are bored with the missions you can always:
1) Try to get "stunt" bonuses by stealing fast cars, boats, or airplanes and driving them off ramps, bridges, buildings, etc.
2) Steal a taxi cab and play a little Crazy Taxi-esque game to earn a little side money
3) Steal a fire engine and go around the citty putting out fires for $$. I hear if you put out 10 in a row you get the flame thrower. (How does that work?)
4) Steal an ambulance and drive people to the hospital.
5) Steal a police car and go on "Vigilante Missions" where you track down criminals around the city and get cash for killing them.
Oh did I mention that this game is very non-PC and not recommended for people under 17? But man is it a lot of fun for those of us who are over 17.
SPeaking of TI-994/A, I could spend hours playing Tunnels of Doom. They should port that to Palm.
The Dreamcast price has been dropped to $50, and most great games (Crazy Taxi, Soul Calibur, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, etc) can be found for $20 or less (I saw Crazy Taxi for $10 at Best Buy Saturday night). One must not overlook the Dreamcast - it's cheap, it's got great graphics, there are a lot of *really* great games for it - it's the perfect gift for anyone that's into console gaming. Cheap for you, fun for them. Nothing to lose buying it.
Every once in a while I like to masturbate a new word into my vocabulary, even if I don't know what it means.
While it may seem like a lame cop-out on the surface, I think that putting together a CD of old arcade games may make a great gift for some people. The target for such a gift would be someone who isn't likely to download and install it themselves, but would enjoy the games. So do the work for them (granted, it's not that much work) and get them a CD that they just pop in their system and play.
Think of it as the geek equivalent of hand-drawing your own greeting cards. Martha Stewart of Borg would be proud.
It is a wartime game, not like RS which was anti-terrorist. I kind of prefer that format, even though the massive outdoor scenarios in GR are awesome. I also miss the ability to have a wide variety of weapons to choose from. GR gives you classes, where you have 1 or two combinations. In RS, you could select from 10 assault rifles, 5 or 6 pistols, 6 or so sniper rifles, etc.
Ghost Recon is just a slightly different type of game, but you do have the ability to command the other squads during the game, instead of like in RS where you had to define it all before starting.
My personal preference would be to have more silenced weapons in GR, because I am more of a stealthy guy. But the gameplay and AI is pretty cool, the scenery is awesome, and the action is top notch.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
Personally, I'm a big fan of racing games, such as the Need For Speed series (I like the varied environment there, as opposed to a set track from, for instance, Formula 1 games). High Stakes was good, but that's a bit old now. And, Porsche Unleashed only has Porsches, of course.
;).
Are there any new racing games that I should check out? And, before you suggest it, I'm not particularly interested in Motor City Online, as I prefer non-Internet play
Alex Bischoff
HTML/CSS coder for hire
RPGs: Wizardry 8, this game is really really fun. The graphics are pretty good at times and pretty strange at times. (for instance, really really thick doors) Overall a vibrantly colored, fun game that will take a LONG time to beat. (This game almost plays like an FPS)
Strategy: Well, its hard to pick a favorite for this category, I like Civ3, but it can be pretty boring at times, so I also like Empire Earth (It's an AOE2 clone that's graphically pretty well done and from what I've seen so far, got a great amount of diverse gameply), and Star Wars Gallactic Battlegrounds, this game IS AOE2 with a Star Wars Theme, so if you like AOE2 and Star Wars, this is a must have. Heck, if you like Strategy and Star Wars, it's a must have. The campaigns take you through the ENTIRE Star Wars saga. On a side note, the graphics could be better, but the sound/voices are superb. Monopoly Tycoon is worth a look too, if you can get it cheap.
FPS: Return to Castlewolfenstein was a pretty lackluster single player title for me, so I don't recommend this game except maybe for the netplay. The netplay is very well done and seems to be the main reason why people are getting this game. But is it more popular/better than CS? I really doubt it. Aliens Vs Predator 2 is a really really polished title and expansion on the first, I recommend it just for the sheer size/diversity of the gameplay. Heck, it's fun too. Max Payne, I know it's not a Christmas/Holiday title, but if you haven't played it yet, well, bullet time is to die for. And, it has X-Box and PS2 versions of it coming out on Dec. 11th in the US. (I do know that Max Payne is a 3rd Person game, but it's an FPS, trust me.) The last title I would recommend for the FPS genre is one called Codename: Outbreak. It was made in Russia, but the gameplay is set in Montana, which is kind of funny because the members of your crew in the game are mostly Americans, but EVERYONE speaks Russian style english (grammar and accenting). But the FPS gameplay is pretty good most of the time, but can drag at others. Worth mentioning is the excellent sound/music, and really sweet weapons in the game. The Zoom on your gun also has an audio magnifier so you can listen to where you're looking. Sweet.
RTS: Well, I have to say, Battle Realms is an AWESOME game. Beautiful graphics, fluid gameplay, excellent voiced and diverse storyline, and hours and hours of gameplay. If all that wasn't enough, you can play with lots of people on the internet too. This game is a must, but it does have rather steep system reqs (req: P3 500, 128mb) But it's worth it.
Last, I can't WAIT for DNF to come out. I get a chubby just thinking about it.
-- Dan
Both of these games are amazing. My copy of Pikmin doesn't arrive until tomorrow, but the reviews look stellar.
As for Monkey Ball, if you have a GCN, you need this game. Hell, if you are an avid gamer at all, you need this. Mega fun with 4 people, and quite addictive and enjoyable just by yourself or with your spouse. My fiance and I wasted all of Thanksgiving weekend on this one, and she doesn't even like games much.
Gamecube is a lot of fun, but unfortunately, it hasn't gotten much attention from store employees and media with Xbox's release. But don't let the lack of enthusiasm from sales monkeys deter you; GCN is a boatload of fun (not to mention you can pick up the console AND these 2 games for the cost of one of the other consoles alone!) What a value!
Star Trek Armada II just came out, and theres another came called Bridge Commander thats coming out sometime soon. Cant go wrong with Trek!
These games deserve to be in a lot of X-mas stockings. Because the game allies you with a creature, you can get: (1) first person shooter (you shoot), (2) third person shooter (your creature shoots, largely based on how you train it), (3) roleplaying (be good, be evil, whatever), (4) real-time strategy (limited, game only lasts for 5 scenarios). Anyone who loves games for their variety has to try the interface these games have.
Oh wait, someone found an OS X speedup recommendation for BG II earlier today. Hrm. Well, maybe I'll give it another try in 16-bit color. Bah.
Tropico is fun enough; SimCityesque weighted toward economics -- as dictator you control wages and prices. I may give it to my early-teen nephew this year, it's pseudo-educational. Consider it for your sister.
The Return to Castle Wolfenstein demo kicks ass on OS X... very fast if you have enough RAM, though the interface still needs some work. I'm looking forward to the real release. And I'm thinking about getting Giants: Citizen Kabuto too just to see if it's any good; it sounds good.
Booting over into OS 9, Summoner got a fair bit of my time but I eventually got bored. Oni I liked but got progressively harder to where I just couldn't handle it; I ended up just using the cheat codes to finish. Majesty is a well-balanced "Yet Another Warcraft" game, single-player fairly easy, multi-player eh OK. Again that's a consideration for your sister (yes you kill stuff but it's all like dragons and floating eyeballs, not gory, just fantasy).
Oh, and Unreal Tournament I still break out when I feel the need to shoot stuff.
(I don't work at Inside Mac Games, I just appreciate one of the few decent remaining game sites that focuses on the Mac.)
The creator of Mario and Zelda created a real-time strategy game where you are a spaceman who crash landed on a planet, and with the help of hundreds of little native creatures (Pikmin) you have to gather your spacecraft parts. Preview
;)
Looks quite impressive. A creative approach to the RTS genre that I'm sure will attact a large range of players. Will be released tomorrow here in the US. I know it's on my Christmas list!
--- witty signature
Since us gamers just got the early Christmas of a lifetime with the release of the Xbox (hush your mouth) and Gamecube, not to mention the amazing games that are flooding the market for the PS2, it's going to be hard NOT to buy a good game/system for Christmas. Anywhoo... here are some suggestions on games to get (or avoid) for Christmas.
Playstation 2
-------------
Metal Gear Solid 2: Yes, it's as bad assed as it wants to be. The intro looks like something from Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer's wildest imaginations. The game itself is pretty dang fun even if I do keep getting confused on which button does what (play it, you'll see what I mean). I want to play this game some more, but there's so much more to see!
NFL 2K2: This game is hands down the best looking football game I've ever seen. If you can handle the slightly more arcade type feel to the game, it has it all over Madden 2002. It sure would be nice to have some equivalent of the Madden Cards but even without it - this is one helluva football game. You can't coach that.
Gran Turismo 3: Okay, yes this game has been out for six months now, but I had to put some more time into it after playing Metropolis Street Racer for the Xbox. This game is damn near flawless. Well, with the exception of a lack of skid marks (almost unforgivable), crash modeling, and complete lack of ability to turn up the volume on the background music (really). Outside of that, the cars handle just like you think they would - and this game is deep enough to keep you busy for months. Literally. If you're going to own one driving game, this is it.
Grand Theft Auto III: I don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but please, give me a friggin' break. The way people were talking about this game, you'd of thought that it'd be fun. Marketed as a 'mature' game, I guess a large part of the fun of this game is suppoed to come from all the bad things you can do. Hmm... maybe I haven't gotten far enough in this game (roughly 6-7 hours into it) but picking up a hooker (read: woman with fishnet stockings) to take her to a policeman's ball isn't criminal - it's a taxi service. I was thinking this would be a criminal Shenmue type game, but it's just not there. The palatte of colors used in the game is muted, the storyline isn't that engaging, in short - I don't get the appeal of this game. I'm sure some of you will LOVE it, but if I'm going to spend several hours driving around, I'd just as soon drive in a game with realistic handling. Skip it.
Xbox
-----
Halo: I'm not the biggest fan of first person shooters. Personally, the last time I spent a lot of time on one was when 007's Goldeneye came out for the N64. But Halo pretty much rocks. It's the best looking FPS I've seen, and it has a high nervous quotient to it in the beginning because you just get dropped into the action - so you have to learn everything on the fly. I've only spent an hour with this game, but it deserves some more time.
Oh, and Penny Arcade has a great comic about it.
NASCAR Thunder 2002: I know what you're thinking... it's NASCAR. And you're right. But it's also one fun racing game. They've crammed 43 cars onto one track, built in a nice drafting system and they put you on the NASCAR tracks and let you go to it. It's pretty fun to start a race in the middle of the pack and to be passing cars the entire race. If you like to race, this is a great game.
Project Gotham Racing: Do you remember Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast? No? Shame on you. Yes? Well, this is like MSR 2. It's really good. It looks good, the sound is awesome and there are enough tracks and cars to keep you busy for the next 3 months. It has a kudos system to reward good driving, and the game demands expertice to beat it. It's a really fun title.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2x: I'm a Tony Hawk freak. Ever since THPS1 on the Dreamcast, I've logged more hours on THPS games than any other game I can remember playing with the exception of some Final Fantasy games - or maybe some game for the NES back in the day when I didn't have anything better to do. I own a bunch of them, THPS 1 and 2 on the Dreamcast, THPS3 on the PS2, THPS2x on the Xbox and THPS3 on the Gamecube. So I feel TOTALLY qualified to say what's right and wrong with this game. And this game has an issue - it's the controller. The Xbox controller is about the size of New Hampshire. It's friggin' huge. I just haven't gotten used to the controls on this game yet. Otherwise, this is THPS 2 on the DC with marginally better graphics, a few new areas on existing levels to explore, a new menu system, supposedly THPS 1 is in the game somewhere - so you can now manual throughout that game (they added the manual after THPS 1) and there are six new levels. It's fun, but if you have THPS 1 and 2 for the Playstation or Dreamcast already... you can pretty much pass this title up.
Dead or Alive 3: This game is basically Dead or Alive 2 with better graphics. I've never been a huge fan of this series because I personally like to beat the crap outta people without having to be graceful about it. And best I can tell, DoA3 asks for grace. You have to know just when to block, just when to counter and just when to attack. There's no run-away command to back up quickly, so everything is pretty much hand to hand short distance combat all the time. It's fun for about 10 minutes, but then I just want to play Soul Calibur for the Dreamcast - if I'm going to play a fighter.
Gamecube
--------
Luigi's Mansion: Okay, I thought this was a dumb as hell idea for a game. Give Luigi a vacuum cleaner and a flashlight and let him run thru some mansion stunning ghosts so he can suck them up in his vacuum cleaner. But I have to admit, this game is fun. It brings back some of that original Mario feel to a 3D game. It's silly, and ultimately, pretty stupid, but give it up for the game and the system. I woke up this morning wanting to play it some more. And now that I've finished it - I have to admit - it's one of the best looking games I've ever seen. Seeing Bowser rendered in all his 3D splendor alone was worth the purchase.
Rogue Squadron II: This is supposed to be the game that got everybody's juices flowing when they saw it. And it comes pretty damn close to the hype that preceeded it. The original Rogue Squadron came out for the N64, and that game was bad ass. This game is just as cool. It looks at times just as good or better than the Star Wars movies. This isn't like Star Wars Starfighter on the PS2 where you can do barrel rolls while flying your craft. Starfighter feels a bit more like a sim game, where you really have to have skills to blow stuff up. This game is all about recreating the fun of the dogfights from the movies. The explosions are amazing. And when you fire a missle down a shaft, you see the light from the missle light up the shaft as it flys down it... majorly cool. This game is way fun. And the sound is amazing. Add to that, this is the first game I know of that has a making of documentary built in, and you've got a title that you pretty much need to own if you have a GameCube.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3: Like I said above, I rock these games. Off the bat, I like this game better than the PS2 version. Mostly because I could pick up the game without looking at the manual and I could trick all day long, so the controls are really good. There are a few issues with the game being too forgiving with landings or how you do tricks - but I almost prefer it to the PS2 version where everything has to be perfect. I guess maybe I'm just somewhat of a sloppy skater. But the game is super fun. If you're a THPS fan and have a Gamecube... consider this a must buy.
Wave Race: I wasn't so sure about this game. I've never really liked any other wave race type games (the one for the N64 comes to mind) bascially because I was bad at it. The waves frustrated me, and there was nothing compelling enough about the title to make me put serious time into it. But this game changes all of that. The water is hands down the best, most amazing beautiful water in any game you've ever seen period stop end of discussion. It's that good. It looks great in all conditions. But when it's raining outside, it especially looks cool. The water will splash up on the camera and leave water marks. The graphics are gorgeous. Once I got the hang of the controls (not hard to master), this game totally rocked. This was the big surprise game for me. With tons of tracks, and tons of characters to choose from - I can already tell that this game will get some good play for weeks to come.
Lastly, if you're on a budget, but you want to be happy-happy on Dec. 25th, go buy a Dreamcast and a bunch of used games. Systems run $80, and your typical used game goes for around $20. Try Soul Calibur, Crazy Taxi, NFL 2K2, Samba de Amigo, Shenmue, Sonic I & II, Virtua Tennis, Skies of Arcadia, THPS 1 & 2, Metropolis Street Racing, Ferrari 355 Challenge, and, Test Drive LeMans among the many other great games for this underappreciated system.
Well, that's the wrap-up. Happy gaming.
- Chu Chu Rocket (Dreamcast)
- Advance Wars (GBA)
- Paper Mario (N64)
Golden Sun for GBA looks really good. RTCW and Max Payne were pretty fun for the PC, but I think I am personally a sucker for bad single-player FPS games.
For you old-school adventurers out there. A great game that can be had pretty cheap, didn't sell too well due to poor marketing but got rave reviews from... pretty much everyone.
Nice graphics, great speech, and a female lead who's not all about tight-fitting clothes and guns.
More info here
I just got Spy Hunter and it's a blast.
20 years ago, Spy Hunter was a sprite-based top-down scrolling shooter. Your little car sprite would shoot the other little car sprites, or drop oil slicks in front of them. Sometimes you would drive a little boat sprite. You drove on an endless scrolling road (or sometimes river). (With Shockwave, you can play a version of the original Spy Hunter here.)
Now, on the PlayStation 2, Spy Hunter is a 3D game. The camera is just above and behind your car. There are 14 levels to play, with multiple objectives per level. It plays a lot like Hydro Thunder, but with weapons.
Drive into water, and the car morphs to a boat. Drive the boat up onto land it and morphs back to car. When the car takes too much damage, lots of parts explode off it and what's left morphs to an armored motorcycle! Even cooler, drive the motorcycle into the water and it morphs into an armored jet-ski! When you are driving the car/jetski, you don't have the full special abilities of the car, and you have reduced firepower, but you can play the level anyway; it's just tougher. Dock with the weapons van (or weapons boat) for a full repair of all damage and full ammo load.
If you like Hydro Thunder you should like this too. I haven't had it long, but I don't think I will get tired of it, just as I'm not tired of Hydro Thunder. The gameplay is somewhat repetitive: you drive around shooting bad guys, you try to find the ramps that let you make the jumps, etc. But the level design is fun, and I don't seem to get tired of locking guided missiles on enemies and blowing them away.
I have only two complaints about the game. 0) Most of the cinematic cutscenes are pretty boring (just a shot of your car making the getaway after finishing the level). 1) If you are a good player, it will probably take you 20 hours or less to finish all the levels. But as I said there is a lot of replay value even just playing the same levels over and over, plus it will take you many plays to find all the secrets and accomplish all the objectives. Once you have found all secrets and accomplished all objectives, that level unlocks for 2-player mode; in 2-player mode you both play, split-screen, at the same time. I haven't tried 2-player yet but it looks like a blast.
The music is great. The rocking "Spy Hunter" soundtrack the "Peter Gunn Theme" by Henry Mancini, but remixed and with variations. I like the soundtrack so much that if they sell a CD of just the music, I'll probably buy it.
GameSpot has a review. They like it but not quite as much as I like it.
Recommended.
steveha
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
CmdrTaco, could you please take yourown advice and list the system names with your games.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
how do you know that? have you played the final version? hows the plot? is hte game play intuitive?
there's nothing like stating you hate something, then raving about it.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Yeah, I got a CD with about 500 SNES/Genesis/Gameboy ROMS on it as well as a couple of good quality emulators from a friend to give to my girlfriends kids. They love it.
In Soviet Russia, hot grits put YOU down THEIR pants.
Playstation 2:
:)
You've already mentioned GTA 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2, which are absolute must-haves. Devil May Cry, Silent Hill 2, ICO, Tony Hawk 3, Spy Hunter, and Gran Turismo 3 are also worth picking up. As for party games, Frequency, WWF Smackdown: Know Your Role, and NBA Street are good candidates. Which reminds me, don't overlook the sports titles out there (I'm not a big sports nut but I do enjoy playing football games like Madden 2002 and NFL 2K2 as a change of pace every so often).
Gamecube:
Star Wars: Rogue Leader is a must-have. The second-to-last level, simply titled "Battle Above Endor," is breathtaking (my friends are always astonished at the sheer amount of chaos that occurs on that level). Wave Race: Blue Storm and Super Smash Brothers Melee are great party games. Luigi's Mansion is good, although people have complained that the completion time is rather short.
Xbox:
HALO and Dead or Alive 3 are must-haves and great party games. Oddworld: Abe's Odyssey is also worth picking up.
Dreamcast:
With the console's price slashed down to just $50.00, you can quickly stock up on a great collection of games. I was shocked that Space Channel 5 and Jet Grind Radio were less than $10.00 apiece at the local Best Buy last weekend.
PS One and Nintendo 64:
I've recently started picking up many games that I had previously overlooked which have now been heavily discounted (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for instance). It might be worth filling some holes in your collection.
I wish this list were more complete but all of my games are at home and I'm at work.
In my opinion the C&C series went downhill since "Red Alert", the problem being that the game complexity kept increasing, allowing people to develop pre-cooked strategies which could only be defeated with other pre-cooked strategies, reducing the opportunity for creativity in playing the game.
While I am still getting accustomed to it, I think Real War has the potential to get back to the simplicity that made the early C&C games so much fun. Combine that with impressive graphics, and the knowledge that the US military actually uses the software upon which this was based to train people, and I think we have the makings of the best RTS game yet.
Have to forgive the lameness penalty it gets for having "tycoon" in the title. This game just freekin rocks. Addictive, fun, intuitive interface, and very well packaged into a great game. And it's been out long enough that you can pick up a (legal) copy for less than $20.
Plus hey, i even got my wife to play it!
-r0
Yep. Got one last week, couldn't resist. Stop at blockbuster on the way home to rent a game and they say they've stopped renting them (bad). Then he says they are selling the used ones for ~5$ each on an endcap (sweet!). Cheap is cool!
Skies of Arcadia is indeed pretty col so far. Kind of ugly character designs, but that's life. Dead or alive has the best character designs -- my goodness, she really does kick high doesn't she?
garyr
-- your Web browser is Ronald Reagan
As someone who is ordinarily a Linux zealot and hater of all things Microsoft, I want to state for the record that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional fuckin' rocks! It is, without a doubt, the coolest game I have ever played. I actually went out and bought a new HD, a nice flight stick, and installed win2k exclusively for this game.
If it's not capable of at least 200 mph I'm not interested.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
The baldur's gate games have never missed their mark, and I'm eagerly awaiting this one. This one looks like it'll be diabloesque, but with actual role-playing involved, rather than just a click-fest(or in this case button-mash) arcade game.
Got Freedom?
Thinking?
I'm thinking of giving myself the gift of Harpoon 97 online for Xmas.
Harpoon is a series of naval-warfare simulation "games." I wasn't Navy, but ever since I read Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October, which the original Harpoon wargame was used to help develop, I've been fascinated at the idea of simulating a modern naval battle via software -- not just the surface-warfare element, but the air, submarine, and amphibious ones too.
My fondest dream is that either a bunch of people develop a GNU version, or that the code someday winds up placed in the public domain and naval-warfare-enthusiast geeks seize upon it, port it to the *x platforms, and extend it further. I fancy a small group naval-warfare geeks gaming over the 'net with this to win the Battle of Midway for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
"How many light bulbs does it take to change a person?" --BMcC-->
You probably didn't find that here because it won't be released in time for Christmas... unless you're talking about next Christmas.
stop.. come here .... pass please
If you mean Carma 2 for PC, wasn't it incredibly buggy for you? I bought it for about $30 a few years ago and it was terrible. You had to hack your own cd to get it to work in most cdroms, with a copy-protection disable crack that was put out by the original authors.
The copy protection really screwed up that game, it should teach them a lesson for being idiots, and believing the marketing hype from safedisk.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
I'd also consider some of the older games that have reached the "Classics" or bargian shelves:
Some that come to mind are:
Dark Forces II
Rogue Squadron
Doom (Final Doom Boxed set)
Sim City 3000
Flight Simulator Classic (or 2000 now that a new version is out)
For older retro gamers. besides a MAME complaition (already mentioned in another post), there are:
Atari Arcade Classics - Silver Aniv. Edition
MS Arcade, Return and Revenge of Arcade
There are a lot of great games that are a few years old - they may not have the mind blowing graphics of today's games, but what they lack in graphics they often make up for in game play. You can get quite a few presents without blowing a budget.
Finally, there's always setting up some emulators (NES/SNES/Sega Master System) and a few ROM sets - there were some great console games, such as Yoshi's Story, the original Zeldas, Sonic, as well as arcade hits such as Dig Dug for those machines - why not turn someone on to a whole new gaming experience? You can even pick up carts cheap at used game stores, to keep your ROM images "legal (sort-of)".
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
Looking for something on the cheap?
I was a kid who grew up on Nintendo-- unfortunately, like most 6-year-olds I knew, my meager allowance couldn't cover the fifty bucks or so to buy each of the cool games we played at friends' houses. And if you remember the huge library of NES games, you know there was plenty to want.
Anyways, a couple years ago I got my girlfriend at the time an NES console, as hers had broken some years earlier, and about five games from Funcoland. The whole package set me back about thirty-five dollars, and I even included another gift certificate to round it up to an even fifty so she could buy a few I didn't think of.
I spent a whole day devoted to playing Super Mario Bros. 3 straight through, no warping. It was as much fun as I remembered.
And how about the original hockey game, just called "Ice Hockey?" Where there were three different player models: the skinny fast guy, the medium guy, and the fat slow guy?
Excitebike-- Need I say more?
Of course, this is all only applicable if you've got a relative or significant other cool enough to appreciate something other than the shiny graphics of an Xbox or PS2.
But it's fun. Cheap. Never goes out of style. Gotta love it.
Dark Age of Camelot (PC)
This game is rather hefty in the system requirements department, but is a wonderful online RPG that just seems to have more character and enjoyability than Everquest.
Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2)
This is a fun, and potentially challenging game.
It is good, especially if you like complex story lines. Probably not quite as good as MGS1 because of the "Raiden" character, but still an awesome game.
SSX Tricky (PS2/GC/X-Box)
This is a nifty updated version of SSX, an excellent snowboarding game. Lots of fun, and
this version now has new features, tracks, and "ubertricks." I think most of the family can enjoy this game as well.
Luigi's Mansion (GC)
It may be rather kiddy, but this game is tons of fun for the whole family. It is also nice to see
Luigi get his own game for once.
Mario Kart Super Circut (GBA)
I think most people are familiar with Mario Kart.
This is a sweet handheld adaptation of the game, that has lots and lots of tracks (all the tracks from the original SNES game are there). Lots of multiplayer fun.
Dance Dance Revolution (PS)
It has been out for a while, but this game really
is totally addictive and fun. Those with mod chips can also import the superior Japanese versions of the game. There is also a "Disney Mix" available that is fun for kids to play.
This really is another game that a family can enjoy.
"You spoony bard!" -Tellah
Don't buy - just rent.
Check out www.redoctane.com - they have a rental program similar to NetFlix. For a monthly fee you get a certain number of games out at any one time, and when you return one they send you the next one on your list. They have a great selection (including some imports), but it's pretty common for games to be out of stock for a while. For example I put Sonic Adventure 2 in my queue when I joined in late September, and recieved it in early November. I still haven't gotten Parasite Eve though, which I also added when I joined and which it now finally says is in stock. I haven't gotten any GameCubes games yet, and don't really expect them for a while.
Still, it's been worth it. There are a lot of games that just don't take that long to finish. ICO, for example, was very fun first time through but I can't imagine wanting to play it again. It's also nice to not have to rely on reviews, but actually be able to easily check games out for yourself.
Not new, but still the very best of the best: Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate 2.
Belief is the currency of delusion.
Wizardry was the THE game back in the day. This was the first "real" computer game i ever saw being played and as i recall that was on the Apple II My UberGeek pal recieved a Diploma of sorts for finishing up or scroring high in one of the series. IIRC. I was never a huge geek myself, but 2 weeks ago i rushed right out to grab it at EB, only to find no one else i know is playing it ?? I guess FPS and such have realy over run a good ole RPG in terms of popularity. Or maybe everyone is all tuckerd out fm playing Baldurs Gate 2, perhaps a more intelectual RPG. ?
Now these games might have been ones you've missed, but in my opinion warrant a place in anyone's collections.
(Starting from oldest system first)
Sega Genesis:
Beyond Oasis (It's sequel is on the Sega Saturn in case anyone wants more Oasis action)
Snes:
Lufia Series
Breath of Fire Series
FF Series (Of course)
Secret of Mana
Secret of Evermore (not as good as mana but still fun)
Chrono Trigger (if you've been living in a cave and don't know this one)
Super Metroid (Amazing Game)
Playstation:
Resident Evil
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3 Nemesis
(stay away from the ResEvil shooter)
Vandal Hearts (Turn based strategy sleeper)
FinalFantasy Tactics (Rereleased as greatest hit $19.99)
FF Series
Parasite Eve (Skip PE 2 or at least watch the opening movie which pretty much tells the whole story.)
Chrono Cross
Xenogears
Vagrant Story
Metal Gear Solid
Nintendo 64:
Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Zelda: Legend of Majora's Mask
Goldeneye: 007
Perfect Dark
Tactics Ogre
Dreamcast:
Jet Grind Radio
Tony Hawk 1&2
Skies of Arcadia (Do NOT miss this one)
Resident Evil CODE: Veronica
Playstation 2:
Grand Theft Auto 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Metal Gear Solid 2
Final Fantasy X (December release)
Devil May Cry
Game Boy Advance:
Castlevania
Advance Wars (If you can get only one game, get this one)
Tony Hawk 2 (Almost Identical to the Console version)
XBox:
Halo
Gamecube:
Super Smash Bros.
Pikmin? (Maybe. Read reviews before buying)
PC:
(Doing some more recent games)
No One Lives Forever
Serious Sam
Max Payne
Half-life (Cstrike & DOD & TFC)
Quake 3 (TeamArena & Rocket Arena)
Starcraft (Still going strong...)
Tribes 2 (Online only pretty much single player offers very few challenges)
Clive Barker's Undying (GREAT sleeper hit.)
American McGee's Alice
Black & White (some people like it, not my thing though)
Fifa 2k1, 2k2
NHL 2k1, 2k2
*Note* this is just going off of my memory, all of these games are AT LEAST worth renting / ROM'ing and I believe many of these will open new doors of imagination in your minds and hearts.
Have a great Christmas everybody!
...plus Jet Grind Radio, Chu-Chu Rocket, and whatever other games you can snag for $10.
I've bought more games for my $50 DC in the last two weeks than I have for my $150 PSX in the last, what, 3 or 4 years?
There are some gameplay aspects that make for a less challenging game. Being able to stick up guards makes silent kills too easy. Amongst other things, a stuck up guard will stand with hands up indefinately, which makes choking them trivial. I've been running through grabbing dogtags hoping for something more than just new items.
Ideally, I'd hope for either a significant plot switch (being able to kill Olga as Snake would be one example, or rescuing Emma, or even getting a different ending at the last minute), or a large extra plot realm (even the redone Shadow Moses mission, or VR missions or something.)
It comes down to I just felt like it fell a bit flat, and it needed more. Unless I missed some huge cool thing along the way...
IP is just rude.
Is there any torture so subl
I can't believe no one has mention Jak and Daxter for the PS2. This is a pretty incredible looking platformer/action-adventure. You can read the previews, but it looks to have the following prominent features:
According the the IGN preview (as well as other articles and interviews), the authors are fans of games like Zelda which also feature large expansive worlds, so that vision combined with NDS talent might produce a top-10 title.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
This isn't my usual style of game, but man, is it addictive. A definite must-buy... especially if you have a GameCube.
Agreed. I was a huge fan of the orriginal, and just picked up Tricky a few days ago. Man, this game is awesome. Even though only two of the tracks are completely new, the old tracks are so drastically different, you'll barely recognize them. Snowdream in paticular doesn't look a thing like it did in the first game. The new characters rock, the soundtrack is better than ever, the graphics have been slicked up a notch, and the game is even more addictive than its predecessor. Another cool thing EA did was include a "DVD Extras" portion on the disc, which is basically a collection of making-of documentaries like you would expect to see on a movie DVD. Overall, the game is incredible. Go buy it, now.
I'm playing the PS2 version though, according to IGNCube's review the Cube version has some graphical and control issues. You might want to pick it up for the PS2 if you have the choice between platforms.
"The guide is definitive, reality is frequently inaccurate."
It still rocks! No need to spend big bucks for the latest games. You should be able to pick up a bargain-priced copy of HL - if you're lucky with Opposing Force and maybe even Blue Shift. HL is still (IMO) the best single-player experience that ever happened.
Download the latest patch and you become part of the biggest online gaming community. Team Fortress Classic and Counter Strike are included in the patch, and are the most well known, but there are others. See Planet Half-Life for more mods/skins/levels/cheese.
Another FPS which had a good immersive story line was Who Wants To Live Forever. More tongue-in-cheek than violent. Shouldn't be too expensive now either.
Other classics would be the original Command & Conquer and Red Alert. Tiberian Sun wasn't bad, but RA2 was pure cheese.
Also worth a mention: Total Annihilation (along with expansion packs Core Contingency and Battle Tactics), and Age of Empires II. I liked those.
The game I play the most: TFC (online of course). I'm looking forward to TFC2.
-- Steve
For less then the price of a GameCube you can get a DC with a tom of good games.
DC 50-60 bucks.
xtra controller - 15
memory card - 10
Soul Calibur - 25-35 ( a must have )
other games - 5 - 25 dollars
I got evolution for 5 bucks, ROLW for 10, Shenmue for 20, Chu Chu for 10, Jet Grind Radio for 10. The list goes on, but if you don't mind the fact that no more new games are coming out, then for like 150 dollars you can get hundreds of hours of entertainment.
Since I didn't see any posts for flight simulators, why not try X-Plane.
It uses OpenGL and runs on Windows, Mac, (OSX by Christmas) -- Linux port upcoming, and although I haven't tried, it supposedly can run with WINE.
There is also a great online community where one can get new planes, scenery, and utilities.
Oh and once you get it, feel free to land at my grandparent's airstrip - ID NA61. ;-)
help fill in hidden movie endings @ End of the Credits
I understand that it needs a fifty gig partition, but System Commander can start it, so I can keep my real operating system as well.
I mean, Microsoft has come a long way in increasing the bulk of the solitaire engine from the Windows 3.0 days. We are impressed.{/grin}
And besides, to one that plays with operating systems, new operating systems really are entertainment, and hence games. Now, I just have to figure out where Windows keeps its scores.
OS/2 - because choice is a terrible thing to waste.
Load up on the old games, and have a ball. Older games like Warcraft 2, Starcraft, Carmageddon, Civ2, DooM... you just can't beat them for playability.
I've been sorely disappointed with the latest games, things like Max Payne etc.
And it's not just because my computer is old (and it is)... I've played them on the latest Athlon XP1600 + GeForce 3.
Hell, I'd love nothing more than a portable MAME emulator with both TV & SVGA output, and USB + Atari joystick ports...
Yes, you are mistaken.
Can't blame you for being confused, there's no mention of the release date anywhere of blizz's war3 site.
Got Freedom?
Thinking?
Frequency is a great game. The objective is to move around inside a 8-sided tunnel. Each side is a track and in single-player mode, every two sets played (you tap the correct button on the controller when a note passes) it auto-plays the rest of the track for that section. Ultimatly the entire song gets played. It's much harder than it seems so don't think that this is easy. In multiplayer you battle eachother on hitting as many notes while getting as many points and trying to steal or disable your opponent. Don't even get me started on remixing the songs. This is a sure buy for PS2 owners who love music.
Ratings: GameSpot gives it a 8.7 and IGN gives it a 9.
The aforementioned Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Really shows how things have changed in the last ten years.
Hmmmmmm.... Leather-clad Dominatrix Nazi Babes.... Can I freeze frame that bit...
Ahem. For the flight sim fan, Microsoft Flight Sim 2002 is a major improvement over the 2000 model. Better and more importantly faster graphics, autogen scenery, other planes, and ATC.
Free-scrolling virtual cockpit with working dials means you can take a good lookout as you'd do in a real plane. The program that shows Microsoft can do some things right!
Also on a flight sim vein, IL2 Sturmovik is a delightfully different combat flight sim. Unlike most WWII combat flight sims, IL2 concentrates on the air war over Russia, and the Russian IL2 ground attack fighter. Looks pretty good so far..
"Information wants to be paid"
It's a very fun game, and I love the single player campaings too.
The Trade Federation is a very, cool civilization, and I just finished the "bonus" mission, sort of an alternate recreation of the Battle of Naboo.
Cool game, but yes, very similar to AOE2 (i've heard, haven't played AOE) since it's the same engine. However, it seems aircrafts and shielding make add a lot of different gameplay to the game. (specially the famba shields by the gungangs).
- sigs are for wimps.
OpenQuartz , needs GPL-compatible sounds!
forgot and played it and then went right to bed to surreal nightmares
I'll never forget the time I played Quake III so long I got up from the computer and nearly walked into a door because I just expected it to open automatically. Wierd!
I'm surprised not to see anyone touting this. I'm a short way in, and it's already scaring the bejesus out of me. It's a class act.
There is a very active community around the game, making "mods" for better looking terrain and armor, and putting out reams of scenarios, for free. You will never run out of new scenarios.
CM is available for purchase only on the web, at the battlefront website. It's not in stores. There is also a demo available there, with two playable scenarios. Try it out and see if you are not amazed and terrified the first time you get shelled. I certainly was.
This is the computer game that is the rightful heir to Squad Leader. Don't miss it. (Note I am not affiliated with BTS or battlefront in any way other than being a satisfied customer.)
actual I am not a gamereviewer, but I am a fist generation computer gamer. I Like a plot and story these days, but then again I'm old.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on