[Katran]

I'm curious to know what games everyone would recommend. My funds are limited and I've bought too many games recently that I didn't end up liking, so I'd like to limit myself to how many I purchase in a given timeframe, which means of course that I want to make sure that what I purchase will be something I like!

Here are some games I've really enjoyed in the past. Based on this list, does anyone have any recommendations?


The entire Myst series
The Journeyman Project series
Games like The Sims and The Sims2
City-building games like Caesar, Zeus, and Pharoah: Cleopatra (though I didn't like Sid Meier's Civilization)
Hack n' Slash games like Diablo and Diablo II, and Dungeons and Dragons Pool of Radiance
I'm currently playing and enjoying Syberia and Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind


If anyone can make any recommendations based on my interests, I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks!!


Edit: I should add that I don't tend to like first-person shooter games like Halo, though I really, REALLY enjoyed Clive Barker's Undying (mostly because of the setting and storyline).

I also love games that are set in the distant past.

[smashing]

You didn't like Civilisation? Hmm...

Anyway, if you're not willing to spend too much money, try not to get into the latest games published. Titles released are often hit-and-misses. While some games are in for the quick bucks while hosting tonnes of bugs in them; some just repeat the age-old formulae, in hope of getting the loyalty of genre-specific fans. And too often, we find that we don't have enough time, or we don't give enough time to a game to fully appreciate it. For instance, if you were barely playing a RPG for 1 hour or so, could you even tell whether you would enjoy it?

Try to look at titles people rave about, and titles that have a long shelf-life i.e. to put it bluntly, forget about any title with a year in it (e.g. Madden '0X, NBA 2KX).

Anyway, I remember that the game people around here raved about last year was psychonaut. I think there should still be copies available. Another one would be Fahrenheit (or Indigo Prophecy).

[Katran]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I should mention that it was Civilization III that I tried, so maybe it's just that particular one in the series that I don't like. I haven't tried any of the others. I loved Heroes of Might & Magic III, but I didn't really like the way IV was set up, so I know sometimes it's just a particular issue out of a series.

I noticed that Elder Scrolls IV is out. Since I loved Morrowind, would anyone recommend I pick up IV? I've never played I or II either. Can I even get those anymore, and is it worth it? I know sometimes when you play a newer version in a game series it makes the older versions seem antiquated and disappointing.

[kuze]

You can download Elder Scrolls I: Arena for free. No, its not worth it. But you can.

[Katran]

Thanks. Since it's free I'll give it a whirl.

I just finished Syberia and enjoyed that. Is Syberia II worthwhile?

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by Katran

I should add that I don't tend to like first-person shooter games like Halo, though I really, REALLY enjoyed Clive Barker's Undying (mostly because of the setting and storyline).

Nosferatu, Aliens vs Predator 2.

It's definitely worth getting Aliens vs Predator 2, then. It's full of startling 'Boo!' moments and suspense, though it's not a historical setting. You can choose to play as The Marine, the Alien, or the Predator, so the game has replay value. Try the demo first before deciding.

And then there's Nosferatu: The Wrath Of Malachi, a vampire themed horror FPS released over 2 years ago; it's set in the past (Victorian period?) and is quite atmospheric. I've only played the demo but got a good impression of how good it is, though it received mediocre to good scores. Try the demo!

[Ninth]

Originally Posted by Katran

Thanks. Since it's free I'll give it a whirl.

I just finished Syberia and enjoyed that. Is Syberia II worthwhile?

Yes. Not as good, but still good.

In the same vein, you could try Paradise, or, if you like darker games, Still Life.

[Katran]

Thanks guys! I remember now someone mentioning Nosferatu awhile back. And I've always been curious about Alien vs Predator. If you can play as different characters, then that is way cool. Thanks for the demo links!

I got an email advert for Paradise, and that is actually what made me decide to finally pick up Syberia, because of the comparison they made. I figured I'd play Syberia (I didn't even know there was a II) first, then move on to Paradise if I liked that.

[RLacey]

Man... Alien vs Predator has to be the hardest FPS I've ever played .

If you like Undying I'd actually recommend you try out Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. It does degenerate into a shooter, apparently, but there's quite a lot of adventure-like goodness in there. And the setting is great .

[kuze]

If you are into atmospheric FPS games with horror and adventure elements - Vampire: Bloodlines might be just the right game for you. It is buggy, and it is slow on nearly any setup, but it still awesome. You'll certainly enjoy being a vampire in modern Las Vegas.

[smashing]

Originally Posted by Katran

Thanks guys! I remember now someone mentioning Nosferatu awhile back. And I've always been curious about Alien vs Predator. If you can play as different characters, then that is way cool. Thanks for the demo links!

I got an email advert for Paradise, and that is actually what made me decide to finally pick up Syberia, because of the comparison they made. I figured I'd play Syberia (I didn't even know there was a II) first, then move on to Paradise if I liked that.

Frankly, it feel so incomplete to finish Syberia I to find out that the story is incomplete. Nothing gets me more irritated than an unfinished story. Since adventure games are so grounded to the story-telling roots, playing Syberia I without getting onto Syberia II is just uber-irritating. So, for the sake of finishing the story, do continue onto Syberia II. As a game however, do expect to feel disappointed in some aspects...

[Katran]

Originally Posted by RLacey

If you like Undying I'd actually recommend you try out Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.

I belong to an Undying fan community and several members have recommended the same game, so I'll definitely be checking into that one.

Originally Posted by kuze

If you are into atmospheric FPS games with horror and adventure elements - Vampire: Bloodlines might be just the right game for you.

Finished it and loved it. And you're right, buggy big time! I had a lot of issues with the cinematics freezing and skipping, not to mention the game would crash if I played too long at a time. I learned to save VERY frequently!!

[Katran]

Originally Posted by smashing

Frankly, it feel so incomplete to finish Syberia I to find out that the story is incomplete. Nothing gets me more irritated than an unfinished story. Since adventure games are so grounded to the story-telling roots, playing Syberia I without getting onto Syberia II is just uber-irritating. So, for the sake of finishing the story, do continue onto Syberia II. As a game however, do expect to feel disappointed in some aspects...

Thanks. I agree, I hate to be left hanging on a storyline like that. I'll probably pick up Syberia II. Thanks for the warning about disappointment. I'll go into it with cautious optimism.

[Ninth]

You mentioned playing Morrowind. Well, there's always Oblivion. It's arguably a tad below Morrowind in terms of overall enjoyment, but it's still great, and extremely beautiful.

[stuboy]

Low budget, you say? In Memoriam / Missing is a very interesting internet research / mini-game adventure that I picked up for the princely sum of £2. I would also recommend getting your RPG on with something from bioware; if you have an xbox, gamestation in the UK are currently selling Jade Empire for a fiver. There's also an old game based on the Dune books which combines strategy with adventure in a way you might like. I hear it's so cheap you can purchase it with gay ABANDON if you know what I mean...

[Katran]

Thanks guys. I'm glad to hear Oblivian is a good choice. I'll also have to look for that Dune game (you don't know what the title was by any chance, do you?). I am a pretty big Dune fan (I've read all the books so far, seen the theatrical and Sci-Fi Channel films, and am eagerly awaiting future books that Brian Herbert is working on), so I'd love to check out any game based on Dune.

[smashing]

Originally Posted by stuboy

Low budget, you say? In Memoriam / Missing is a very interesting internet research / mini-game adventure that I picked up for the princely sum of £2.

You're not kidding are you? Do they do shipping overseas? Last I check, In Memoriam is still selling at S$39.90 (= £13.36) here in Singapore...

Originally Posted by stuboy

I would also recommend getting your RPG on with something from bioware; if you have an xbox, gamestation in the UK are currently selling Jade Empire for a fiver.

Fable was released on PC sometime ago. It was a true porting over from XBOX to PC, and the enjoyment level should be the same.

Originally Posted by stuboy

There's also an old game based on the Dune books which combines strategy with adventure in a way you might like. I hear it's so cheap you can purchase it with gay ABANDON if you know what I mean...

You meant this?

[AFGNCAAP]

Originally Posted by smashing

You meant this?

No, this.

[smashing]

Originally Posted by AFGNCAAP

No, this.

Hmm... I think it's definitely not this...

Man! There's so many Dune games...

[Katran]

I may just have to check into all of them.