08-11-2003 13:29									#1
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...so I assume I've come to the right place.

Here's the deal: the fact that I live abroad and that I've let my daughter's Sims Expansion Packs slowly colonize the family laptop means that I haven't played a new game in ages. I don't even know what's out there. But a return to the US is in my future, as is a new computer (or, at least, a reclamation of the laptop) AND a game console (haven't decided yet between PS2 and Xbox), so I can begin to dream again.

I'm not that big a gamer, but here are some games I like, and why I liked them. Based on these, tell me what other games you think I should try:

RPGs: Planescape: Torment; Fallout; Baldur's Gate
Those 3 are listed in the order I enjoyed playing them. I liked Planescape best because its hack-and-slash factor was so low, and it required so much thought to complete. While I liked Baldur's Gate, it did seem like every quest was of the "go-there/do-that/kill-anything-that-gets-in-your-way" variety. Fallout split the difference between these two approaches. BUT, I did like the greater variability in the characters you get to play in BG, as well as the greater choice of NPCs and resulting higher degree of replayability. Finally, I like the 3rd-person perspective in these; Deus Ex, with its 1st-person perspective, wasn't as interesting.

Strategy: Civ2, Civ3, SimCity2000
Those are in no particular order. The juxtaposition of Civs with SimCity might seem weird, but it makes sense if you consider that I liked the empire-building-and-management part of Civ more than the military conquest part. Replayability is a huge factor here; I gave up on Roller Coaster Tycoon very quickly because the replayability factor was, for me, very low.

So, what do you think? TIA.

	08-11-2003 14:02									#2
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RPGs:
Golden Sun 1&2 (Gameboy, but they are very good)
Morrowind (Probably not laptop material)
Baldur's Gate 2
Deus Ex is REALLY good. Just give it a chance. I hated it at first, but its REALLY good.
System Shock 2 (Scary game. REALLY scary game.)

Strategy:
SMACX (MUCH better than even Civ2)

	08-11-2003 16:53									#3
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RPG: Morrowind and BG2 if you liked the first one.

TBS: Try Galciv, or maybe branch out into the fantasy TBS genre, since many of those games have RPG elements. I haven't played it myself yet, but Warlords4 is a game I plan to play soon.

	08-11-2003 17:01									#4
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Only play BG2 if you want to say goodbye to your life. This is one of my "desert island games" along with SMAC.

-Jam

	08-11-2003 17:06									#5
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quote: Originally posted by Jamski Only play BG2 if you want to say goodbye to your life. This is one of my "desert island games" along with SMAC. -Jam

I liked BG, but it didn't make me say goodbye to my life. One reason was that, while you could vary your characters and party, that didn't change any other part of the game; playing as a good cleric, neutral bard, or evil fighter still meant playing the exact same game in pretty much the exact same way.

So what's so compelling about BG2?

	08-11-2003 17:10									#6
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quote: Originally posted by DrSpike TBS: Try Galciv, or maybe branch out into the fantasy TBS genre, since many of those games have RPG elements. I haven't played it myself yet, but Warlords4 is a game I plan to play soon.

Just looked at the official sites for each of these, and they look really interesting. Thanks!

	08-11-2003 17:12									#7
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No problem. The Civ3 Conquests x-pack looks worth a punt as well.

	08-11-2003 19:43									#8
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Just for fun, you might want to check out the XIII demo...

	08-11-2003 20:13									#9
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If you liked Baldur's Gate you might want to check out the latest game by the same developers. It's called Knights of the Old Republic (http://www.lucasarts.com/products/swkotor/) and is a Star Wars RPG.
Unlike most film licenses it is actually an excellent game and well worth checking out. It is available for both XBox and PC.

quote: One reason was that, while you could vary your characters and party, that didn't change any other part of the game; playing as a good cleric, neutral bard, or evil fighter still meant playing the exact same game in pretty much the exact same way.

In Knights of the Old Republic you can develop your character either on the Light Side or the Dark Side. While the absic storyline is still the same, there are apparently quite a few differences between the two paths, especially when it comes to side quests. Definitely a game worth playing through twice, which is always a bonus.

	08-11-2003 21:02									#10
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unless they've made huge changes to the PC version Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is VERY linear, and the only difference in the Light and Dark side is the bonus it gives to using certain Force Powers, and some equipment is alignment restricted. Also when you play the dark side you tend to wind up with a lot more money. It's a great game the first time through, if you love star wars, but if you aren't really into star wars then I'd suggest you get spend your money on something else.

	08-11-2003 21:03									#11
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Fair enough, I was just going on what I'd read about it. Perhaps the reviewers exaggerated (as they so often do).

	08-11-2003 21:05									#12
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as far as suggestions go:

RPG: Wizardry 8, it's different from most RPG's and Im sure you can find it for a low price by now, if you can find it.

Strategy: Civ2

	08-11-2003 21:11									#13
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quote: Fair enough, I was just going on what I'd read about it. Perhaps the reviewers exaggerated (as they so often do).

never trust a review done by someone you don't know.

	08-11-2003 22:08									#14
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Rufus: I can recommend both GalCiv and Warlords IV (and unlike Spikey, I have played both )

Another one you might want to consider is Europa Universalis II. Paradox make some awesome games, and they are in my mind only a hair behind GalCiv (which is my favourite game of all times).

Asmodean

	09-11-2003 08:22									#15
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Warlords IV or any of the other Warlords titles. I am not a big fan of the Warlords Battlecry series, though.

	09-11-2003 12:20									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Asmodean Rufus: I can recommend both GalCiv and Warlords IV (and unlike Spikey, I have played both ) Another one you might want to consider is Europa Universalis II. Paradox make some awesome games, and they are in my mind only a hair behind GalCiv (which is my favourite game of all times). Asmodean

I was hoping someone would mention EU2. I know a lot of people on Poly like it, but in their descriptions it always sounds primarily like a war game (unlike Civ, which balances war with other dimensions). Is that so, or just my mistaken impression?

	09-11-2003 12:58									#17
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I am enjoying Warlords IV, but it is not as deep as III.
You could look at Disciples II or Age Of Wonders.

	09-11-2003 15:56									#18
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But not Heroes4?

	09-11-2003 16:40									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly I was hoping someone would mention EU2. I know a lot of people on Poly like it, but in their descriptions it always sounds primarily like a war game (unlike Civ, which balances war with other dimensions). Is that so, or just my mistaken impression?

Its definately your mistaken impression. Hearts of Iron, another game made by Pardox is more war oriented, given that the game covers the years 1936-1946 this shouldn't be surprising, but EU2 is not excessively war oriented. Its possible to be an enourmously successful nation while just focusing on diplomacy, colonization, and developing your nation's economy, all areas that are quite sophisticated in the game, and never actually go to war. If anything, war is almost an afterthought with how you handled the other aspects of the game affecting your sucess when engaged in wars. If anything, the Civ games tend to give a stronger incentive to be a warmonger than the EU series. I'm a beta tester for the about to released in stores Victoria: Empire Under the Sun, another game made by Paradox where the focus is definately not excessively war oriented. (Its not that the two games don't potentially feature war and conquests, just that the focus is not such that you could really consider either a war game.)

	09-11-2003 22:29									#20
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Thanks for setting me straight, Mordoch.