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They don't make 'em like they used to [Old Games Thread]
Wormey
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The debate part: I feel like i've really missed out on a golden age of games growing up. My firends are currently getting me into things like Fallout, Civilization 3 etc. There seems to be an immersion and level of choice not present in some of the more graphically focussed games of today. How far would you hold this to be true? Do you feel that games have progressed or regressed? Or has gameplay progressed in some areas whilst regressing in others. If so, do you feel that this new 'emphasis' (if one indeed exists) is a good thing or not?
The help/advice part: Recommend me some old PC games! (Planescape Torment? Civ 4? Alpha Centauri? I've heard good things about these... would anyone here agree? Basically anything that would run on an old computer, and something you feel has a 'spark' that makes them worthy of going back to after all this time [my priorities when gaming are good story/character development, and/or lots of choice in how I choose to play/develop my game] - So yeah, I feel the need to immerse myself in something and could do with some recommendations!
The help/advice part: Recommend me some old PC games! (Planescape Torment? Civ 4? Alpha Centauri? I've heard good things about these... would anyone here agree? Basically anything that would run on an old computer, and something you feel has a 'spark' that makes them worthy of going back to after all this time [my priorities when gaming are good story/character development, and/or lots of choice in how I choose to play/develop my game] - So yeah, I feel the need to immerse myself in something and could do with some recommendations!
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Fallout 3
Mass Effect 1 & 2
Crysis + Warhead
These are all outstanding modern games that definitely give you tons of immersion and level of choice as you put it.
Alpha Centaury
Chrono Trigger
the Zelda games
the Final Fantasy games
Beyond Good and Evil
Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2
Europa Universalis 3
Worms: Armageddon (don't play this singleplayer though)
Diablo 1 & 2 (and expansion for 2)
Starcraft
Warcraft 2 & 3
And games in general are light years beyond the crap we played on the NES, SNES, and PS1. Not merely in graphics and visual presentation, although to rule this out completely would be absurd, but in gameplay and controls as well.
Nostalgia has its place, but should always be recognized for what it is. Emotional attachment, not an objective evaluation of the merits of old games.
Years even, if you're anything like us.
You can get The Dig, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis and Loom from steam in a pack for all of about $10.
There's this Lucasarts game, sorta like SimCity only amusing and has character.
It's called Afterlife. I don't know if Lucasarts still sells it in collection packs or something but find it. Get it. You build heaven and hell for a planet.
You will see the Four Surfers of the Apocalypso eventually.
Hate you. It takes story elements and some general ideas, but then is practically a whole different subgenre.
Deus Ex. In the ten years since release no game has done the FPS/RPG hybrid as good as it has.
It's not perfect, there's a tons of problems with the engine and limitations in the programming and really, it's pretty ugly and not a very good shooter
But god damn the way that game tells it's story, the way it handles choice within the confines of it's narrative, and the way the levels are designed is all so incredible that it's still totally playable and enjoyable, even today!
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
(Turn based) Strategy:
Civ 2, Civ 4 (they're both better iterations on similar gameplay ideas, much more refined; 5 looks like it's another new thing entirely)
Master of Orion 1 and 2/Master of Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic 2 and 3
Age of Wonders
Alpha Centauri, duh
(Real Time) Strategy: Warcraft 2 and 3/Starcraft
Age of Empires 1/2
Dungeon Keeper (both of them)
Homeworld
Myth 1/2
Syndicate
Populous
Simulations:
Railroad Tycoon (but only the original or Deluxe, even though it came out in like '89)
SimWhatever that is not Copter: City, Ant, Farm, and Tower in particular
Afterlife is amusing and has a good amount of character to it
Tropico is a lot of fun (Tropico 3 is basically the same game with prettier graphics and a few upgrades)
Transport Tycoon (Deluxe, preferably). Also there's an open source version called open ttd that I think is legal if you want to find it.
General strategy awesomeness:
X-COM, X-COM, and X-COM. If you have never played the first in particular, you need to play it. Still the scariest game ever made, even though it has circa 1994 sprite based graphics. Also, coincidentally, the best game ever made. If you feel like getting raped add Terror From the Deep to your list. Apocalypse is fun, but different.
RPGs:
Ultima VI, without a doubt. Game that taught me to read at a high level before I started kindergarten. Also features a playable character that is a talking mouse that absolutely wrecks shit if you know what you're doing. I love it so. And just beat it again this last week.
While you're there, the other best game in the series is generally considered to be Ultima 7 (which has two parts, Serpent Isle wasn't quite finished upon realease (EA!!!), both are still worth it). Ultimas 4 and 5 are also excellent. 8 is fairly lame and 9 is the devil.
While you're at it, check out the two Ultima Underworlds. Fun games, part of the pioneering wave of first person games. Warren Spector led both of them, I believe.
Also Warren Spector games: the two worlds of Ultima games, Savage Empire and Martian Dreams. Martian Dreams in fact features Spector as a playable character.
Also a great RPG series: Might and Magic. I particularly enjoy the Xeen editions (4/5) and then the two set in the worlds of Heroes 2/3 which are VI and VII in the RPG series.
For more hacking and slashing, Diablo 2 is pretty obvious
Adventure games:
Loom is an old, somewhat unknown gem. You should play it. Made by the Lucasarts crew that was also behind...
Monkey Island 1-3 (and possibly Tales of? I'm sort of broke so only played the first chapter when it was free on Talk Like a Pirate Day). These are the games in the humorous adventure game genre. The first one is in particular brilliant, I think.
Can anyone tell that I really liked Microprose, Bullfrog, Blizzard, New World, and Origin? Speaking of Origin, Wing Commander was pretty awesome.
People like to look back fondly on games of the past, and there were a ton of games back in the day that were pretty darn good even by today's standards, but they overlook all the awful shit that came out then too. And really, game design has come a long, long way since the days of no minimaps and objective markers
Really, I think that if any time is a "golden age" of games, it's now. There's so many different genres and they've all had enough time to evolve to the point that they can all generally accomplish what they set out to do in a way that is fun and engaging, so there's something for everyone out there and it's easier than ever to get it with Steam and Gamefly and big game aisles in Best Buy and whatnot
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
That said, games totally peaked from 1989-1996. :P
But seriously, while games as a whole might not, genres certainly fade in and out, much less subgenres. I mean, does anyone seriously think that we'll ever see a game like P:ST again, with the demand for everything, even incidental NPCs, to be fully modeled, animated, and voiced? Much less games in the whole flight sim genre, much less a space combat game like Tie Fighter or Freespace
In once sense that's a bad thing, but the OP should definitely play them.
Other classic PC games include the two System Shocks, Sacrifice, Giants: Citizen Kabuto, MDK1 and 2, the Dungeon Keeper games, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic and Vampire: Bloodlines.
All of those do things you won't easily find in modern gaming, too.
The shittiest
That's one area where game design has certainly evolved: UI design
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
I cannot recommend Alpha Centauri enough
There is some work going in patching the .exe and I am still working on my update to the datalinks (see sig)
Cavewars can be pretty fun for the first few games
(Real Time) Strategy
Nobody has mentioned Total Annihilation yet? I loved the early briefings
Warzone 2100
Hybrid:
Missionforce Cyberstorm 2:
I always found one to be too difficult, but kitting out your mechs was pretty cool.
The same can be said for the classic Mechwarrior style games - Mechwarrior, Heavy gear etc..
If you like hotseat I always have a shortcut to Liero (or one of the MANY variants) on any computer I use
Try out my Comprehensive Datalinks Update. Now v1.3!
Also seconding Citizen Kabuto, MDK and Vampire: Bloodlines.
Just remember to get the GoG one, not steam. Supposedly it has problems
2D graphics hold up much better than 3D though. I find it physically painful to play PS1 games, even downscaled to the PSP's small screen, but I didn't have any problems when I replayed QfG when that VGA remake for 2 came out like a year and a half ago. And Lucasarts games hold up really well, especially CoMI
But I went back to it recently.
And.
Um.
Don't.... don't go back to Syphon Filter. Any of them.
Jesus.
The GoG version also allows you to apply fan patches, which can expand/improve the game significantly. Not that it needs expanding or improving, but why wouldn't you?
I know it's already been mentioned now, but when I read the OP, Jagged Alliance 2 seemed like the perfect recommendation. It's worth just browsing GoG and seeing if anything catches your eye. Then rush back here and ask what people think - I reckon you'll find someone who's played just about anything there.
Lots of classics to be found.
I play and enjoy as many games now as I did in the past, but there are certain older games that, for me, have never been bettered. They tend to be the long, involving, replayable type.
The aforementioned Jagged Alliance 2
Master of Magic
Master of Orion 2
UFO: Enemy Unknown
Ultima VII
I think you have it confused with Dwarf Fortress.
ETA: looks like they're still in business. http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/
There's only one worth playing.
TIE FIGHTER.
3DS Friend Code: 0404-6826-4588 PM if you add.
Willy Beamish
Commander Keen (any of them)
The Dig
Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Atlantis
Space Quest (any of them)
King's Quest (any of them)
Nintendo Network ID - Brainiac_8
PSN - Brainiac_8
Steam - http://steamcommunity.com/id/BRAINIAC8/
Add me!
Best Series :
Quest for Glory - Way ahead of its time and I've yet to find someone who doesn't play to at least 4 if they give it a shot now.
Best Flight Sim :
Tie Fighter, sorry privateer you just don't hold up...
Best Turn Based Fantasy Strategy :
Warlords 2 - so many hours wasted... so many...
Best 4X :
Master of Orion 2 - just... one... more.. turn... thats... all... I... need.. *Repeat for 29 straight hours until you win or pass out**
Best Fighter:
One Must Fall - Come on you could buy/upgrade your robot, mix/match pilots....
Honourable Mention :
Ultima VI, VII & VII part 2 - simply awesome
Lucas Adventure Series - Heh, DoT still makes me chuckle. Stupid clown... HAH HAH HAH
Kings Quest/Space Quest - classics
Fallout - It did what games only dreamt of and not only got away with it, but made a sequel
Age of Wonders - Took Warlords and made it better
Disciples - just plain fun, although Disciples II aged better.
Dungeon Keeper - slapping your peons to keep them moving faster taught me everything I need to know about upper management today!
Yup I could go on and on... but I'll leave it there
I'm hoping GoG picks it up at some point, seeing as they have Warlords Battlecry up.
Also worthy of mention, Heroes of Might and Magic 3.
oh man
As for the nostalgia tinted glasses thing, it can be true to an extent, but some games are just really freaking great no matter how old they are. I got into X-COM late last year, for instance. Had never played it before. The same kind of thing happened to me with Planescape and Deus Ex. I had no nostalgia to tell me they were amazing games, they just were.
Also every time someone mentions Dungeon Keeper I seriously consider reinstalling DK2.
Xbox | x Dredgen Yor x |
And never will.
Dark Seed? Seriously? Yikes.
When two enemy pieces occupy the same space, the game changes to a top-down action game, and every unit fights in a different way. Whoever wins the fight gets control of that space.
The objective is to kill the enemy Orb-holder, but the Orb is hidden from the opposing player. Part of the strategy is to decide whether you want to surround your Orb holder with traps and risk making your choice obvious, or to do something devious (like surround a random unit with traps to make your opponent think that unit holds the Orb, while a Shapeshifter moving with your army really holds it).
It was a shitload of fun back in the day, and it still is if you can get it to work. Might be difficult to find a boxed copy, though.
Deus Ex is still a completely amazing achievement.
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is the greatest turn based strategy game of all time. Ever. A complete masterpiece.
If you haven't played the original Half Life, you should do that.
I really love the first Fallout. It's one of my favorite RPGs ever, but I can really see how time may not have been too kind. The interface is a little bit clunky (but by no means horrible), and the graphics are basically lottabrown 2D isometric. The turn based combat was never terribly exciting either, but once again it has it's moments and isn't outright horrible. The Bloody Mess perk helps a lot with that one. Still, it's one of the best I've ever played. It's what I compare everything else to in the long run.