| 1 DEC 2007 at 10:27am |
AyaGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7277
Joined: 16 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | now there may still be a month left but i don't think there will be any more non-adv game playing this year, so i guess i can compile this list (if i can)
[size=20]Parasite Eve
first and foremost! i finally replayed it and remembered why this is the best survival horror game of all time!
Resident Evil 2 & Zero
gamecube replays... as good as i remembered them... wanted to replay re3 too, but don't have a gc version of it yet
Siren
kinda mixed emotions here... could have been one of the greatest survival horror games but the unforgiving gameplay that has you repeat the same screens over and over and over till you foam out the mouth completely ruins it... add to that the "mission 2 objects" that if missed levels have to be revisited and replayed and you got a game that is only playable with a walkthrough... and even with a step-by-step walkthrough, it still gets ridiculous at times... can't imagine anyone having the patience to play (and finish) this game on their own
Fatal Frame 1
FINALLY! i finally got around to playing this... turned out to be a slight disappointment though... not that the game is bad, it's pretty good, but after having played the absolutely brilliant ff2 and 3 this one just didn't match up... if i had played it first my sentiments would probably have been different
Penumbra: Overture
one of those games that some ppl insist on calling "adventure" for some reason : (probably because that's how they are promoted)... good job in the claustrophobic atmosphere department and the whole physics thing but in general nothing to write home about
Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green
a little mindless zombi blasting every now and then is good for any gamer's health!
i think there's a couple more but i can't remember now... if i do i'll update the post
oh, and, of course, Kick Off 2 (always! 8-))
You have gotten the attention of the mysterious lady. She turns to face you. Her face is devoid of any flesh. You are frozen with horror as she begins ripping your body into a bloody mess.
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| 1 DEC 2007 at 8:57pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Other than a few recent adventure games, I haven't played any new PC titles in the past year. Although I do have a pretty big stack of them sitting here still unopened. There are a couple RPGs, several action games and two strategy titles.
Otherwise, I have done quite a bit of Vista compatibility testing in 2007 with a variety of older games that have been hit or miss. Hopefully, I'll have a little more time next year for new ones.
Cheers, Terry
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| 1 DEC 2007 at 9:22pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Originally Posted By Andromus (1 DEC 2007 3:10am)
Baldur’s Gate 2
I could play any number of RPG's in this style, even if it is seven years old. A great game all around in challenge, characters, dialogue and areas to explore. A shame there's nothing else quite like it out there.
does improve somewhat with the expansions, but still a far cry from Bioware's older RPG's.
Heya Andromus -
I assume you've played BG1 with the TOTSC EP and have the final EP, BG2: Throne of Bhaal. But have you ever played them all back-to-back? I replayed them again straight through from beginning to end this past year on Windows XP and had a great time. Also recently replayed the Icewind Dale series and Planescape: Torment, as well as Fallout 1 & 2 for the umpteenth time.
But there is still one other very good third-person, isometric, SP-only CRPG that remains a sentimental favorite for me. That is Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura from the now defunct Troika (headed by Tim Cain, Leonard Boyarsky and Jason Anderson formerly of the original Black Isle Studios team).
It may not be quite in the same elite league with BG2 but Arcanum is extremely good. It has a more flexible character-building system similar to Fallout as well as full party play, a deep, epic story and a very large, diverse game world with tons of optional side quests, loads of NPCs, robust combat and numerous little secrets to discover along the way.
The game also has a unique set of abilities that generally fall into either the magic or tech schools, which do not mix well. So you need to choose a main style of gameplay fairly early on and commit to it. But there are also thieving and other general skills that can be developed for any type of character any way you want, giving you a huge assortment of choices.
All in all, Arcanum probably provides at least 150 hours of solid gameplay plus much better than average replay value and best of all, I've thoroughly tested it on Win 98, XP and Vista with few if any problems.
If you missed this unusual classic-style CRPG like many people did, I highly recommend it.
Cheers, Terry
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| 1 DEC 2007 at 11:10pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5540
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (1 DEC 2007 9:22pm)
.
I assume you've played BG1 with the TOTSC EP and have the final EP, BG2: Throne of Bhaal. But have you ever played them all back-to-back? I replayed them again straight through from beginning to end this past year on Windows XP and had a great time. Also recently replayed the Icewind Dale series and Planescape: Torment, as well as Fallout 1 & 2 for the umpteenth time.
I'd like to replay the BG series all at once sometime. I'm looking forward to trying it with a certain fan made program that lets you incorporate BG 2 material (new races and classes, better resolution, etc.) into BG 1. That would make a replay even more interesting. But I'm planning to finish up the rest of the Bioware classics first.
But there is still one other very good third-person, isometric, SP-only CRPG that remains a sentimental favorite for me. That is Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura from the now defunct Troika (headed by Tim Cain, Leonard Boyarsky and Jason Anderson formerly of the original Black Isle Studios team).
I passed up on this one initially in part because of the number of mixed reviews it got. But I have to admit the science/magic dichotomy sounded interesting. Playing as a tech wielding character in a fantasy world appeals to me, and would be a neat change from the usual character types one gets. I'll make a note to check it out again.
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| 2 DEC 2007 at 12:35am |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Two quick notes Andromus -
If you play the whole BG series consecutively, be sure to save those gold pantaloons in your inventory for your final save in BG 1 so you have them near the end of BG2: ToB. They are actually one of three items you need to create a very cool (and huge) Fallout-style suit of metal armor and some space-age weapons that are a real hoot.
Also, just so you know in advance, taking the tech route in Arcanum is harder than the path of magick. That's because most of the traditional weapons just aren't as powerful as they should be and they weigh a lot while take up more space in your inventory. But you can still rely on scrolls, potions, etc. Plus you can steal a ton of magical armors, items and weapons from merchants. Just be sure to get some lockpicks then invest some points in sneaking and lockpicking abilities. There are also trainers around the game world who can teach you a complete range of skills from novice to master.
NOTE: Tech-type characters can still use the best magical armor, shields, amulets, rings, swords, axes, blunt weapons and bows. But they can also handle guns and learn a bunch of cool skills for making and repairing stuff. You also get a companion from the get go who is a magical healer no matter what path you follow. Lastly, if you get deep into the game and discover you really hate your party, there is a working character editor I can send you that allows for a full range of stat changes.
Cheers, Terry
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| 2 DEC 2007 at 2:17am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5540
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Good to know, thanks for the info!
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| 2 DEC 2007 at 4:34pm |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Holy moly, the list of games I've played this year is insanely high, I haven't spent so much time playing games, and so little time doing anything else, in a long time. In my opinion, the best year for video games for quite some time. Some highlights:
World In Conflict: Amazing RTS, and like Company of Heroes last year, a trend for these games that has it moving away from micro-management and dirt farming and focusing on making tactical decisions on a constant basis.
The Witcher: I expected a decent experience. What I didn't expect was an amazing RPG experience, and for a brand new small Eastern European developer published by "rush it out the door Atari", I was shocked as to how polished and bug-free it is. Plus, I've never played a game where the world feels so alive and where the decisions you make seems to have an immediate and long-lasting impact on the gameworld. I would say it's the best RPG of the year, but I haven't started Mask of the Betrayer or Mass Effect yet.
Crysis: A game so beautiful, and combine it with the tactical open-ended emergent gameplay, the fully immersive and destructible environment, and it's the first FPS where I enjoy replaying the single-player campaign levels since Deus Ex. Plus with the easiest-to-use map editor I've ever seen, I expect an awesome mod community.
Super Mario Galaxy: Platforming refined to a spit shine, and the fact that they made a game where laws of gravity don't properly apply, and yet you never feel confused by the controls, is an amazing feat. eserves all the hype it's getting.
Fantasy Wars: Turn-based strategy at it's finest. TBS fans have slim pickings these days, but having what is essentially Fantasy General in a gorgeous 3d environment is a sweet, sweet gift.
Orange Box: What can be said, Portal was a brilliant first-person-puzzler, my game of the year probably, Episode 2 didn't disappoint, Team Fortress 2, not a big multiplayer fan in general but I still spent hours playing it because of how well-designed it is. Worth twice the box price.
Honorable mentions to S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Picross DS, Europa Universalis III, Overlord, and all the other games I forgot to mention and the huge stack I haven't gotten to yet.
And with next year potentially bringing Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, Starcraft 2, Dragon Age, etc. I have a feeling I won't feel underwhelmed for a long time coming.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
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| 2 DEC 2007 at 8:48pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Wow Kuddles, that's a very impressive list of new PC games (in addition to any adventures you played this year). I haven't been able to devote that much time to the hobby since late the 1990's when I took a sabbatical from work and bought dozens of games in each of a full range of genres and played them all back-to-back.
Just out of curiosity, what is the longest continuous game session you've had? I think I went over 24 straight hours once in Baldur's Gate 2 and nearly as long another time in Fallout 2.
Also, have you played BioShock? I still haven't gotten to it but the game is supposed to be insanely good.
Cheers, Terry
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| 3 DEC 2007 at 2:07am |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (2 DEC 2007 8:48pm)
.
Wow Kuddles, that's a very impressive list of new PC games (in addition to any adventures you played this year). I haven't been able to devote that much time to the hobby since late the 1990's when I took a sabbatical from work and bought dozens of games in each of a full range of genres and played them all back-to-back.
Yeah, and keep in mind that list also doesn't include the games that I didn't really get into as well. Basically I've been slowly getting back into gaming after being out of it all through school until 2005, and it's just started taking up more of my time since. Ironically, I'm busier than I've ever been, with a new job (finally) in my field at the beginning of this year, and several of my other hobbies fell apart, and I also have less interest in other media like movies and television at the moment, so I've been spending more and more time gaming, which peaked this year. Also came out of a long relationship at the end of last year and wasn't overly interested in jumping right back into the dating scene so that also gave me much more free time than I've had in a while.
Honestly, though, while I usually end up putting in at least twenty hours a week, I still never end up getting into a marathon. Too old nowadays to really get into it, although I did manage to get a couple huge multiplayer games of Civ IV with some other people at another forum a few times, and those lasted about eight hours, and so did the session another group of us had the first weekend Team Fortress 2 came out.
Also, have you played BioShock? I still haven't gotten to it but the game is supposed to be insanely good.
To be honest, that was one of my dissapointments, and I was really looking forward to it. I thought the first hour and a half were brilliant, and there were a couple neat parts of levels throughout, but too many things didn't click with me. Kind of an atmosphere was wonderful but the gameplay was tedious kind of thing. But, I wouldn't let that discourage you because I'm clearly in the minority on this and maybe I'll give it another try in a year or so when I'm in a different mindset than expecting the "masterpiece" people were telling me it was at the time. I will say artistically, it has the best visuals and atmosphere of any game ever. My roommate is interested in games too (she plays on the Wii and DS I bought way more than I do!) but not as much into the RPGs and FPS titles I usually played, but whenever I played more of BioShock, she would always come into my room and watch me play.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
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| 3 DEC 2007 at 6:32pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Thanks for the honest feedback on BioShock Kuddles. You're not the only person who felt it got repetitive after the opening scenes.
If you want a good laugh, here's a link to the world's funniest bad review of BioShock:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1394-Zero-Punctuation-BioShock
Cheers, Terry
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| 5 JAN 2008 at 2:17am |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy XII (started)
The Sims 2 (always acquiring new expansions!)
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 23 JAN 2008 at 1:54am |
RaySorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 362
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Location: US, CA
Status : Offline | Not including games I reviewed . . . .
Jeanne D'Arc (PSP)
SUPER tactical RPG
Final Fantasy Tactics PSP
What can I say? Genius.
Bioshock XBox 360
Great, but really just a remake of the also-great System Shock 2.
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade PC
I'm still playing . . .
God of War 2 PS2
Kicked mythological butt!!
Now I need to get back to the second half of Final Fantasy XII!
Remember, procrastinate now. Don't put it off!!
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| 30 JAN 2008 at 2:38pm |
PlushyIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 3
Joined: 29 JAN 2008
Status : Online | - Forbidden Siren/Siren - Beautiful, terrifying. Been too scared to play it for a while, think I'm about 1/3 of the way through it so far.
- Project Zero - Also scary. Only had a quick play with this. Will hopefully get to play it more soon when I have more time on my hands. Think I'll invite a few people over to decrease the fear.
I feel that I'm successfully giving off that 'wimp' vibe!
- Silent Hill - Replayed all of them, my favouritest series of games ever. Even though, predictibly, they scare the hell out of me so much that I have to take regular breaks to let my heart rate get back to normal, I will force myself to play on for the brilliant, touching stories. This is especially true for the second game, which I've probably played the most.
- Crazy Taxi - Picked this up at a Cash Recycle, I used to play it in the local arcade. Not really as much fun playing with just a normal controller. Kills some time though.
- Final Fantasy (?) - I can't remember which one it was. I have been trying to get into FF for a while, but I've not cracked it yet. I will keep trying.
- Diablo II - Used to play this loads years ago, installed it again to get a decent sorc going, but stopped playing - just don't have the time anymore!
- Dungeon Keeper - This is the game that I have probably played the most of in my life. I played it almost every night for nearly 2 years when i was a hermit. Still not completed it though, can't bring myself to slap my creatures. Decided to play it through when I had some time off work before xmas, still didn't complete it! Gah!
There was a sig here...&&It's gone now
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