A review of your favourite game

[m_gobes]

Greatest game? How about Heroes of Might and Magic series

 

those were great strategy/rpg's

they boast decent graphics (the first one) to very good (the fourth one)

Turn based strategy so you can think about what you are going to do for your next move.(this is great for people who work in an office and are allowed to play games while they are not busy.)

Multiplayer up to 8 players Hot seat or network/internet.

updates often.

it's actually something that you can gain strategy skills from

 

That's about it.

[cmac]

I'll have to go with MB on this one- Unreal Tournament 2004 is truly a great game. I commend it for:

 

-Vehicles (especially the Raptor)

-Fairly decent graphics

-Some creative new weapons

-The "Assault" and "Onslaught" modes...doesn't get much better than that!

-Great new maps

-The bug for flying the Leviathan around (love that!) :D

 

I'd give it 7 out of 10.

 

I have played all the predecessors to the current UT, and I can say this was a definite leap for the better.

[wesaynothin]

Call me traditional, but Half-Life

 

Gameplay 10/10: I still remember the first time I saw one of the scientists with a latchling on his head, and slowly turning corners, hoping I didn't run ito anything. Running blindly with no ammo, no health, and a dead HEV suit. It created a different kind of fear than Silent Hill or Resident Evil, and the same amped-up fun as UT:GOTY

 

All that mixed in with random signs painted on walls telling you to surrender, or the walkie-talkie sounds from the military, made for one helluva game.

 

Graphics: 7/10: Well, they're pretty much the same as Morrowind

 

Audio 8/10: The lack of music is genious, mounting the tension with nothing to hear, staring at your screen making sure that you can see.And the sounds that do come are well prouced. And who doesn't love the sound of ten military dudes being blown up?

 

 

(Ah, be quiet Marxist. It's fun!)

 

EDIT: Also, once you buy this game, you get DoD, CS, and TFC. All great games.

[Shakkara]

Since I love so many different games, I will give a review of my personal favorite in each genre.

 

Albion: Journey of a Lifetime

 

Catagory: RPG/Adventure

Developer/Publisher: Blue Byte

Year of release: 1996

 

I first got a demo of this game included when I bought Settlers 2, and it instantly got me hooked. The game is a mix of RPG and adventure, you can control upto 6 characters, each with their own set of different skills and stats. During the game you get experience for solving quests and killing monsters, and of course you gain levels every once in a while, which give you stillpoints. These points can be spent at a trainer, who for some gold, will improve your fighting or other skills. Characters with magic get access to new spells from teachers at their school or from scrolls. Combat is turn based, and performed at a special screen, the participants decide their actions (fighting, shooting, moving or spellcasting) at the start of the round, and they are worked out in initiative order.

 

Perspective is dependant on the location you are in, most 'dungeons' and cities are 3D, while interiors, and world movement is in 2D. Combat is done in a mix between the two, showing the participants in 2D while planning actions, and 3D when the turn sequence is activated.

 

Of course the games has various quests and puzzles, and while some are the standard find-the-key-to-get-through-door ones, they have much variety and almost never frustrating. Most of the time the main quests will trigger various sub-quests which are completely unexpected.

 

The story and events in Albion is extremely well done, with unexpected plot twists the game is unpredictable and exciting. Certain major events can end in several ways (often giving you different rewards, or none at all). Even though the game is relatively linear, it never gets boring. The NPCs always have things to tell, and you can question them on their background or the society, the conversation system is pretty much like morrowind, but IMO in Albion they have much more interesting things to tell.

 

The storyline itself is one of the most interesting I've seen in a game. The game starts on the starship Toronto, a corporate mining ship in service of the Euro-Japanese company DDT. This ship will travel to it's predefined target, the desertplanet they named 'nugget', which has been classified as very rich in resources. Once there it will and on the planet and begin stripmining it, and use the resources to build more spaceships, and send the remaining materials back to earth for the company. The player assumes the roles of Tom Driscoll, a pilot, and Rainer, one of two government officials monitoring the process (well the second one died under mysterious circumstances en route to nugget). As the Toronto approaches the planet, both will carry out inspections in a shuttle. While they get closer, they get strange readings from the planet, which possibly indicate oxygen, which should not be there as the planet was classified as barren. Then suddenly there is an explosion and the shuttle crashlands on the surface. As Tom and Rainer get out, they find they are in a forested area, and the planet is actually full of life. They are found and helped by the catlike people of the Iskai, who want the shuttle remains for the precious metal, which is a surprise to Tom, since the planet was supposed to be rich in ores. They stuggle to find the Toronto's search parties, but it appears none are sent out. To their surprise, they find out there are also human Celts on the planet, who share the history of the people from earth, but were rescued from the Romans by a mysterious diety, Animebona. Apparantly the brother of this deity, Animenkna, is the deity that created the Roman civilization out of jealousy towards the Celts so they would be destroyed, and this deity has continued to influence the humans of earth, while Animebona fled to Albion, as the Celts call their world. Then they hear terrible news, the Toronto has landed in the desert, and is beginning to set up it's facilities to begin mining. Albion appears to be safe no longer from the destructive influence of Animenkna. They find out the crew of the Toronto is being deliberately decieved by the captain and ship AI, who are well aware of the life on the planet, but will exterminate it anyway, because DTT invested so much in the mission and failure is not acceptable. Tom and his companions desperately try to find a force strong enough to stop or, if necessairy, destroy the Toronto.

 

Here are some screenshots:

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/albion1.jpg

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/albion2.jpg

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/albion3.jpg

 

The game is available for free download here:

http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=35

 

Ratings:

 

Gameplay: 8

Story: 10

Sound(effects): 5

Sound(music): 9

Graphics(then): 8

Graphics(now): 4

 

Pros:

Absolutely great storyline

Environment has great atmosphere

Interesting spells and equipment

Always exciting

 

Cons:

Cannot create your own characters

Won't start without a good DOS configuration, and you're not likely to get sound at all unless you have old DOS drivers

240x360 resolution (screenshots are actual size)

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi-Octane

 

Catagory: Sci-Fi Racing/Action

Developer: Bullfrog

Publisher: EA

Year of release: 1995

 

I've never liked racing games. Until my eye caught this little gem. This game is said to be created by some bored programmers using the Magic Carpet engine, and it turned out to be good enough to be published.

 

The player can choose from 6 hovervehicles which can also be painted with various colorschemes. Of course each car has it's own stats. Not only speed and mass, but also more important things, such as firepower and armor! Yes, that's true, if you cannot win the race by speed, you can always blast your pesky opponents out of commision with your miniguns and missiles!

 

The game has a variety of different tracks, which are rendered very well. This game, despite what is nowadays a low resolution, still looks good. It has a good 'fog' effect, which obscures the view for things that are outside viewing distance, so the environment will not just suddenly pop up out of nowhere.

 

Screenshots:

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/hioctane1.gif

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/hioctane2.gif

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/hioctane3.gif

 

Ratings:

 

Gameplay: 8

Story: nonexistant

Sound(effects): 3

Sound(music): 3

Graphics(then): 10

Graphics(now): 6

 

Pros:

Good graphics

Original concept

Multiplayer!

 

Cons:

Sound=horrible

Needs DOS

Needs a slow computer, or programs to slow your PC down

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Metal Fatigue

 

Catagory: RTS

Developer: Zono

Publisher: TalonSoft

Year of release: 2000

 

Metal Fatigue is/was a really innovative yet unknown and underrated RTS game. There are three factions, or CorpoNations (RimTech, MilAgro, Neuropa) battling for dominance over a series of planets which hold mysterious alien artifacts of a disappeared race known as the Hedoths. In addition to a couple of basic tanks and airplanes, the player can build giant robots (ComBots) to fight with. The fun of these is, that they consist of 4 components that have to be produced seperately, a torso, two arms and a set of legs. These parts can be combined to build the ComBot, and all parts have different abilities and statistics. Each CorpoNation has a different set of parts, and when you manage to destroy an enemy ComBot, it will sometimes leave pieces which can be salvaged and used in your own Combots, or researched to make these parts available for production. Arms can be ejected and swapped in the field, or cut off opponents and confiscated.

 

But the fun has only begun. The battlefield actually consists of three levels, underground, surface and orbit. ComBots cannot travel underground (yet some of their abilities can affect underground activity), however, resources are more plentiful here. The surface offers much space for building structures. Orbit gives a lot of energy when you build solar panels on the asteroids. You can transfer units between the layers with elevators and teleporters, and planes and certain ComBots can fly between the surface and orbit.

 

Screenshots:

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/metalf1.jpg

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/metalf2.jpg

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/metalf3.jpg

 

Ratings:

 

Gameplay: 7

Story: 7

Sound(effects): 8

Sound(music): 7

Graphics: 8

 

Pros:

ComBots can be fully customized

Different layers on a map

Purchases of upgrades between missions possible

Fun in multiplayer

 

Cons:

Pathfinding and AI of YOUR units sucks

Cannot save in multiplayer and skirmish

[Shakkara]

Since I'm not allowed to post more images I've got a pretty good excuse to doublepost this time!

 

 

 

Crusader: No Remorse and Crusader: No Regret

 

Catagory: Action

Developer: Origin

Publisher: EA

Years of release: 1995 and 1997

 

Because these two games use the same engine (modified Ultima engine) and the sequel is actually very similar and could be considered a stand-alone expansion, I review these games as though they were the same thing.

 

The game is an isometric 2D shooter, and takes place in the 23rd century where the world is ruled by the corrupt and tyranical World Economic Consortium (WEC). This government maintains dominance by the indoctrination of its subjects and swift elimination of any rebellion in the society. However, a group of people who see through the WEC lies for a society where citizens are equal and free, had enough to support a regime where only a select few enjoy the privileges.

 

The player is a Silencer, a Rambo-like killing machine created by the WEC. However when this particular Silencer is backstabbed by the WEC and has his collegues eliminated he joins up with the Resistance. Of course the Resistance personnel do not trust him, and he gets all the dirty jobs. Missions vary between the usual sabotage, infiltration, assassination, escape, espionage and theft.

 

The storyline is very well done, there are many cutscenes played by real actors, a lot of background information is given in the manual, and the game used to ship with a sheet which had a WEC newspaper printed on it, giving even more insight in this disturbing world. Usually you can watch WEC news in between missions, full of propaganda of course. For instance, the Silencer is sabotaging a chemical planet producing toxic gas to use against the resistance, and will cause it to blow up. WEC cuts off power to the eara to disable all teleporters in the area, so no-one can get out, hoping to kill the Silencer (who of course escapes). All personnel get killed. On the news you hear terrorists destroyed a powerplant and disabled the teleporters to cause maximum casualties. The city will still suffer from powerloss for several days (the power the WEC cut off!!). These things happen all the time, and WEC does not care about human life at all, as is seen in No Regret (which takes place on the moon) as Lunar Director Leech coldly orders "Flood the mines with gas. Inform Earth we need a new detachment of labourers".

 

The music of this game is very good and helps you to get the action going. Sounds from weapons fire is realistic, guards taunt you and WEC civilians beg for their lives. Corpses can be looted for items. There are many pieces of equipment and even more weapons. Spider bombs can be remotecontrolled and walk to their target. DetPacks will allow you to blow up tough things like doors, floorplates and the like (who needs a key?). IR Imagers detect laser beams that trigger alarms and automated defenses. And there are many other useful goodies. The weapons are plentiful and versatile. And their effects horrible. Your enemies demise will be accompanied by graphic death-scenes and often lots of screaming, unparalleled by most of today's games.

 

Of course you can also use your weapons for other things then killing people. For vandalizing the environment that is. Almost everyting you see can be destroyed. Always wanted to trash your office? Now's the chance!

 

Graphics are amazing, and even today the game looks good. While certain animations are a bit flawed, particulary jumping and slow walking, the shooting and dodge animations look nice. The cutscenes aren't that good compared to what we have today, but at least real actors play in them. The intro movies are one of the first high-quality 3D rendered movies to appear in gaming.

 

Screenies:

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/crusader1.gif

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/crusader2.gif

 

http://80.60.190.55/files/crusader3.gif

 

 

Ratings:

 

Gameplay: 8

Story: 9

Sound(effects): 9

Sound(music): 9

Graphics(then): 9

Graphics(now): 7

 

Pros:

Dark and sinister storyline

Awesome graphics

Lots of gore

Good music

 

Cons:

Needs 100% pure DOS, emulation does not work

 

Games can be downloaded for free:

http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?gameid=1350

http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?gameid=1349

[Switch]

Hmm, with me it would definately have to be Chrono Trigger. A very nice RPG, it was one of the last ever released for the SNES. It has very well drawn 2D graphics and an excellent soundtrack.

 

Gameplay wise it can be very addictive, it uses a ATB turned based battle system (earliest game that uses this system that I know of, though it's become increasingly more popular as of late I've noticed). Each character also has his/her own special attacks according to the person's element, and characters can combine to use 2 way or 3 way techniques for devastating damage. Not to mention the special effects were very impressive for their time (some of them actually used 3D!!). You only fight what enemies are on screen (and you can avoid them), instead of having annoying random encounters every 10 seconds :D

 

The game also has a great storyline with very atmospheric areas, each area/time period (yes, you can time travel :P) having it's own unique feel. The story can also end in multiple ways, leading to about 10 different endings as you can fight the final boss pretty much any time you want and how the game ends depends on what you've done before you beat it (a very unique feature, at least for those days).

 

It is linear, but not completely. You are railroaded quite a bit, but inbetween storyline bits you can do what you want when you want, though there aren't really that many sidequests.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten a ton of info here, but anyway...

 

Ratings:

 

Gameplay: 8

Story: 10

Sound(effects): 7

Sound(music): 9

Graphics(then): 10

Graphics(now): 7

 

Pros:

Just about the best graphics you can get in 2D

Brilliant storyline and atmosphere

Addictive battle system

Quite a few unique features

 

Cons:

Not 100% non linear. Then again, that was a rarity back then.

Not too many side quests, it's mostly main storyline, I guess.

I can't think of any others... get this game!! :P

 

[/unbiast review?]

[Faust870]

Switch, you just became my best friend... Chrono Trigger is an excellent game, probably my favourite!... Thats why i bought Chrono Cross for PS :P...

 

A cool feature that Chrono Trigger had, was that once you beat the game... You could start a "New Game+" which would allow you to start the game over, but with the same characters from your last game... meaning you have all the same items, and stats... (also your level would remain the same)... So you could keep going until you reach level 99!

[gdude]

My favorite game? It has to be Mafia for the PC. Grand Theft Auto is nothing compared to it. Great storyline, awesome gang battles, great car chases, and of course, TOMMY GUNS!!! :)

 

for a full review and screenshots just go here:

ign's review - 9.2

[Darnoc]

My favourite game? There are several. One is the already mentioned Arcanum, so I don't repeat it here. The next would be the Gothic-Series. Really great games. The best Reviews I can give you here are German, sorry for that, but the English reviews either rated the games terribly bad or too good.

 

Gothic:

 

http://www.gamestar.de/magazin/tests/adventure/139/

 

 

Gothic II:

 

http://www.gamestar.de/magazin/tests/adventure/10795/

 

 

Gothic II - Night of the Raven:

 

http://www.gamestar.de/magazin/tests/adventure/13716/

 

 

And here some Screenshots:

 

http://www.worldofgothic.de/gothic/index.p...hots&dir=gothic

 

http://www.worldofgothic.de/gothic2/index....ens&dir=gothic2

 

 

 

 

OK, next game. That would probably be Thief and Thief II, really great games until today.

 

 

Thief:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/thiefthe...ect/review.html

 

 

Thief II:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/thief2th...age/review.html

 

 

Then there is Battlezone, truly a great and innovative game. Here the Review:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battle...one/review.html

 

 

Age of Empires II, one of the best strategy games ever:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/ageofe...aok/review.html

 

 

Baldur's Gate I and II should also be mentioned:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/baldursgate/review.html

 

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/baldursgate...amn/review.html

[Ember]

Ok, I'd like to talk about two games, diverse in gameplay but both equally close to my heart. One is notorious (FF7) and the other is still undefeated in my collection as the Daddy of All Racing Games (DARG) : the incredible Speed Freaks.

 

 

Oh my word, I know its already been mentioned but:

 

Final Fantasy VII

When this game came out, my Playstation was barely off during the two weeks I spent completing it. I bunked off school for a week and played it solidly 7 hours a day because I was so addicted. I think by far the superior game over any of its more modern cousins, primarily because it excels in a couple of key areas -

 

Storyline

FF7 is the only game that has had me in tears because of the emotional attachment I held to the characters within the game. The dialogue is lucid, not convoluted as it is in FF8, which for me created a barrier that was invisible in FF7. Due to my uniniatation to Manga at the time, the function and mode of the story appealed hugely, as it was something totally unexplored in western computer gaming. No one single character felt placed as a random plot device, and it inroduced themes more complex and interesting than the typical Christian inspired good/evil dichotomy. Obviously it was fairly unoriginal in the context of other Manga material, but the sheer love poured into the creation of character and plot was delightful.

 

Music

FF7 mastered the dangerous art of creating a consistent score of background music, that never become overly repetitive or intrusive. I think it is vital in an absorbing RPG that the background ambience/music feels natural enough that it creates a sense of continuity within the game, and the melodies therein are inoffensive enough to stand up to a few thousand repeats. FF7 achieved this and more - it was geniunely good musical score, that was perfectly listenable in itself and guided the emotional resonance of the game in almost any context. Beautiful stuff.

 

 

 

Speed Freaks (Playstation)

 

Speed Freaks is a fantastic game that seems to of floated by almost everybody I know who should of picked up on it, that is - Playstaion owners. Mario Kart lovers.

 

It [the incredible game in question] is simply the most joyfully playable racing game I've ever had the pleasure of using a PS controller with. At first the controls seem mucky and difficult to grip, the karts flying off the tracks into barriers, and the wily computer opponents taking you apart with bizarre swirly mega-bombs.

 

Persist for a few days. Everything klicks into place.

 

The sheer adrenaline generated by flying around Grand Rapids with chosen Freak is not an experience to be missed, particularly once you get your mates addicted and invest in a multitap. There is depth to the gameplay, fair more so than the limited cornering a weapon possibilities in Mario Kart, allowing for devious tricks that will have you smacking the floor in uncontrollable fits of laughter.

 

Another important jewel in Freaks crown as the Daddy of All Racing Games (DARG) is the personality injected into teh characters. I've often spun of a corner to catch the impossibly funny sight of Cosworth (A dog of indeterminable origin, presumably a mix of every dog in existance) zooming past, his magnificent ears flapping in the wind, and turning to acknowledge the unfortuante victim about to recieve a bomb in the face. Awesome.

 

Ok, despite the fact that I'd love to impart several pages of the great experiences I've been blessed with from the gaming industry, I'm procrastinating from my considerably more urgent dissertation. Such is life. :construction:

 

Ember.