So recently I discovered there's other genres to gaming besides Adventure games (I'm just as shocked as you are!) And some of these games are old... like... really old!
So why don't we talk about all those old games we loved as kids or that we only played as adults and fell in love with them?
I'm going to start with one of my all time personal favorites: Dune
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Dune-PC-1992/15/!!e!Uci!!2M~$%28KGrHqIOKiQEz7ZC9ZTMBNP3S05ozQ~~_35.JPG)
I'm a big fan of the original book (the movie not so much) but I truly love just how original this game is, creating a mix of Adventure Gaming and Real Time Strategy and remember that Dune 2 is the game that is generally attributed for the creation/popularization of the RTS genre so basically Dune 1 was ahead of the curve (and in many ways still is)
Some screens:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MpbvytCaty4/TXo2N5QlfWI/AAAAAAAAACM/jDZx85pl8zg/s1600/Jessica-Atreides-Dune.jpg)
(http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/3989/20020260.jpg)
(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1086/38855181.jpg)
I played a little Dune 2 because, as you say, it's credited with being the forerunner of RTS games. But I was so used to modern RTS interfaces that I found it very hard to get into, which is ironic really. I should go back to it.
as a kid I loved Dune 2 as well, played it to bits, back then there was nothing like it, it seemed like the most sophisticated game I had ever played :P
What about QBasic games? Anybody remember the Gorilla game where you threw exploding bananas at each other to see which gorilla wins? ;) I had a lot of fun tweaking the parameters to make the explosions huge.
aaawww man I loved that game
(http://www.blog.imaginaryfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gorillas_screenshot1.png)
I loved playing around with the gravity settings!
Wow - it's been forever since I saw that game! :o
WAY back in the day, we had an Atari 400. The external storage device was an audio cassette recorder.
We had a game that came on a cassette tape:
(http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/boxes/hi_res/slinky_usgold_k7.jpg)
Basically, Q*bert, but you play as a spring. If you get wet, you go faster. If you get dusty, you go slower. If you get both wet and dusty, you rust (die), and it plays "Raindrops keep falling on my head." :P
When in Berlin, Deloria and I went to the computer game museum. They had lots of old stuff there, including original arcade cabinets for Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Gauntlet and Pacman. :D
They also had a giant pacman joystick. Like, half the height of a person and as difficult to move. It was fun :P
Quote from: snabbott on February 22, 2013, 07:45:41 AM
Wow - it's been forever since I saw that game! :o
WAY back in the day, we had an Atari 400. The external storage device was an audio cassette recorder.
We had a game that came on a cassette tape:
(http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/boxes/hi_res/slinky_usgold_k7.jpg)
Basically, Q*bert, but you play as a spring. If you get wet, you go faster. If you get dusty, you go slower. If you get both wet and dusty, you rust (die), and it plays "Raindrops keep falling on my head." :P
I like how the cover doesn't even try to hide the fact that it's a Q-bert clone :P
Yes. XD I suppose isometric graphics were a really big thing back then :D
Quote from: Oldbushie on February 21, 2013, 07:18:47 PM
What about QBasic games? Anybody remember the Gorilla game where you threw exploding bananas at each other to see which gorilla wins? ;) I had a lot of fun tweaking the parameters to make the explosions huge.
THAT WAS THE FIRST GAME I EVER PLAYED!!
Quote from: crayauchtin on February 24, 2013, 02:45:57 PM
Quote from: Oldbushie on February 21, 2013, 07:18:47 PM
What about QBasic games? Anybody remember the Gorilla game where you threw exploding bananas at each other to see which gorilla wins? ;) I had a lot of fun tweaking the parameters to make the explosions huge.
THAT WAS THE FIRST GAME I EVER PLAYED!!
Awesome! :D
A game I used to rent at a store near me was the NES' Captain America and The Avengers
(http://img-games.lisisoft.com/img/4/3/4351-3-captain-america-and-the-avengers-for-nes.jpg)
you could play as either Captain America or Hawkeye (sadly no ironman).
God I love this game and the two player option was sooooo unbalanced, basically Player 1 would play as one of the heroes while Player 2 would take control of one of the bosses (spoiler alert: Player 2 would always win).
the game also had this wonderful scene:
(http://0.tqn.com/d/classicgames/1/0/X/L/-/-/CapAmericaAvengers_NES01.png)
Who needs Presidents when you have comic book characters!
I love old games, many of them have a difficulty and complexity that even games now adays are trying to avoid like the plague (since you know... Videogames are now in the same market as Blockbuster movies).
I remember playing Lands of Lore and thinking I just found a big secret only to discover that it was actually part of the game. I just went "Wow, no game would do that now adays. That is genuinly tough gameplay that doesn't show you any mercy"
Heck many games that advertise themselves as tough now adays do it by making the character worse. I never could get into Demon Souls OR Dark Souls because I always felt like I was walking through water and the enemies were always completely unresponsive to my attacks. It wasn't a difficulty I could appreciate.
What actually unnerves me more is that I seem to be the only one (Which I know isn't true).
QuoteSo recently I discovered there's other genres to gaming besides Adventure games (I'm just as shocked as you are!) And some of these games are old... like... really old!
Ohh why yes there is!
For example there is a game where you perform open body and open brain surgery made in the DOS Era AND attempted to be somewhat realistic in that you had to keep track of your patient's vitals or else you could lose the patient.
I remember seeing a video about that game, Neonivek, maybe it was on Ancient dos games or Lazy game reviews :P
Quote from: stika on February 25, 2013, 04:58:32 PM
I remember seeing a video about that game, Neonivek, maybe it was on Ancient dos games or Lazy game reviews :P
The Brain Surgery one is almost a game I suggest people absolutely do not play.
Not because it is bad and not because it is hard (because it is a good game and it is EXTREMELY almost unfairly difficult)... but rather because if you have even a slight hypocondriactic response (made up term) you will become absolutely paranoid about your own body.
Old retro games? This could go a long way... Personally, I have always been a fan of willy beamish, always waited for the sequel but it was cancelled. As far as those cool titles that weren't that huge (in my memory) but still good? Rise of the triad, jazz jack rabbit, gertrude's secerets, Alley cat was awsome. I would say the best old game that comes to mind is prince of persia 2. Also, silpheed, tie fighter, karateka, ghostbusters c64, colonels bequest, haunted house and strawberry shortcake on atari, rampage and paperboy. There are so many cool retro games, I might have to come back to this thread later.
I like Willy Beamish and BOY was that a tough game. Sometimes I wonder if it was really meant to children.
Mind you Willy Beamish isn't entirely gone. There is a TVshow that features an oddly similar character with his pet frog. To the extent where I thought it was a Willy Beamish show (and wouldn't be surprised if it was). Mind you don't bother it is a young childrens show.
Quote from: Big C from Cauney island on February 25, 2013, 08:26:14 PM
Old retro games? This could go a long way... Personally, I have always been a fan of willy beamish, always waited for the sequel but it was cancelled. As far as those cool titles that weren't that huge (in my memory) but still good? Rise of the triad, jazz jack rabbit, gertrude's secerets, Alley cat was awsome. I would say the best old game that comes to mind is prince of persia 2. Also, silpheed, tie fighter, karateka, ghostbusters c64, colonels bequest, haunted house and strawberry shortcake on atari, rampage and paperboy. There are so many cool retro games, I might have to come back to this thread later.
nothing wrong with that, post as many games as you like, as many screens as you like, etc.
Also, I loved Alley cat as kid, so many great memories
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Alleycat.png)
Scorched Earth
(http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/images/shareware/scorch_title_1.png)
The Adventures of Captain Comic
(http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/857/Adventures%20of%20Captain%20Comic,%20The_4.png)
Pharoh's Tomb
(http://image.dosgamesarchive.com/screenshots/pharaohstomb2.gif)
Sopwith - BMB Compuscience
(http://gamebub.com/dos_games/screenshots/sopwith2-1.gif)
Sammy Lightfoot
(http://www.retrocpu.com/apple-ii/images/games/s/sammy_lightfoot.png)
Zany Golf
(http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za/files/ZanyGolf/ScreenGrab_1/zanyshot1.gif)
World Games
(http://www.arcade-history.com/images/game/49754_1.png)
Tass Times in Tone Town
(http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/screenshots/full/tass_times_in_tonetown_01.png)
Infiltrator
(http://www.abandonia.com/files/games/29714/Infiltrator%20II_6.png)
Just a few I used to play when I was a lad.
Bt
Two of my favorite game series as a kid:
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/Ceilick/keen9title.png)
Commander Keen (which got a universally acclaimed fanmade finale to the series, pictured above)
(http://media.moddb.com/images/downloads/1/16/15691/chex-quest3.jpg)
Chex Quest (which got a universally acclaimed official finale to the series 10 years after it first came out)
didn't chex Quest come free with some Cereal?
Also, I loved playing Captain Comic :P
Quote from: 929572 on February 26, 2013, 01:52:27 PM
Two of my favorite game series as a kid:
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/Ceilick/keen9title.png)
Commander Keen (which got a universally acclaimed fanmade finale to the series, pictured above)
(http://media.moddb.com/images/downloads/1/16/15691/chex-quest3.jpg)
Chex Quest (which got a universally acclaimed official finale to the series 10 years after it first came out)
I <3 COMMANDER KEEN! :D I tried to play the fanmade finale once... I think I got stuck or something. :-\
the only Keen I ever was Keen Must die (I think that's the third game in the series?)
I loved it, but by the time I played it the graphics were a bit outdated so that put me off the game :P
Chex Quest came free with, you guessed it, Chex cereal. Nothing says "dichotomy of good and evil" quite like giant sentient pieces of cereal battling snot monsters.
As for Commander Keen, games 1-3 are considered to be the inferior half of the series, mostly due to not-so-good controls and a reliance on the PC speaker for sound effects. The fanmade 7-9 games get better as they go along, but also exponentially harder, especially if you're one of those people who only like to save their game in between levels.
Alas, we don't have Chex in my country, but I have heard of the cereal :P
A shame id stopped caring about Commander Keen though
I'm gonna have to catch up on the fan sequels it looks like. O_O I think I played one of them? But that was it.
As stated above, the fanmade games get much better as they go along, but expect to ragequit more often as well. The final boss in Keen 9 is one brutal mofo...and I, personally, wouldn't have it any other way.
Quote from: Neonivek on February 25, 2013, 08:44:53 PM
I like Willy Beamish and BOY was that a tough game. Sometimes I wonder if it was really meant to children.
Mind you Willy Beamish isn't entirely gone. There is a TVshow that features an oddly similar character with his pet frog. To the extent where I thought it was a Willy Beamish show (and wouldn't be surprised if it was). Mind you don't bother it is a young childrens show.
Which TV show is this?
Quote from: Big C from Cauney island on February 27, 2013, 08:12:43 AM
Quote from: Neonivek on February 25, 2013, 08:44:53 PM
I like Willy Beamish and BOY was that a tough game. Sometimes I wonder if it was really meant to children.
Mind you Willy Beamish isn't entirely gone. There is a TVshow that features an oddly similar character with his pet frog. To the extent where I thought it was a Willy Beamish show (and wouldn't be surprised if it was). Mind you don't bother it is a young childrens show.
Which TV show is this?
yeah, now that you mention it I'm pretty curious myself
Speaking of Apogee games, anyone remember Hocus Pocus? :P
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/Rosella500/HocusPocus_zps368cfcdd.png)
I remember this game having some of the most pleasingly not-taking-itself-seriously backstory for a game. The platforming was fun too. :P
I still have the shareware version in my Rise of the Triad CD :P
Phantasy Star for the master system, Sega's answer to Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest for the master system and in my opinion one of, if not the best 8 bit JRPG ever made:
I absolutely loved the first person dungeons
(http://www.shinforce.com/mastersystem/reviews/Phantasy_Star/ss-Phantasy_Star-03-640.gif)
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
Quote from: snabbott on March 13, 2013, 05:57:21 AM
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
LOL! And here I was thinking lightsabers and the Force, not Sir Robin The-not-quite-so-brave-as-Sir-Lancelot.
Quote from: snabbott on March 13, 2013, 05:57:21 AM
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
'tis but a flesh wound
Quote from: stika on March 13, 2013, 06:54:48 AM
Quote from: snabbott on March 13, 2013, 05:57:21 AM
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
'tis but a flesh wound
No, it isn't! Your arm's off!
Quote from: snabbott on March 13, 2013, 05:57:21 AM
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
I was thinking: "What is your name? What is your quest? What... is your favourite colour?"
Quote from: darthkiwi on March 15, 2013, 04:46:13 AM
Quote from: snabbott on March 13, 2013, 05:57:21 AM
Do you cut off that guy's arms and legs? :
I'm invincible!
You're a loony!
I was thinking: "What is your name? What is your quest? What... is your favourite colour?"
Blue! No! Yel-Aaaaaaaaugh!
I loved the original Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II. Those games had great quirky graphics and humor, and addictive shooting/platforming. As awesome as Duke Nukem 3D was, the tone of the game changed completely from the first two.
Duke Nukem 3D was my first Duke game, so it's the one I have the most fond memories of
Quote from: stika on March 17, 2013, 11:18:11 AM
Duke Nukem 3D was my first Duke game, so it's the one I have the most fond memories of
Mine, too, actually. But if I recall correctly, Duke 1 and 2 came with Duke3D, as bonuses on the disc.
Baldur's Gate II is still one of the most amazing games ever created. I wish we were still in the Golden Age of Fantasy RPGs. I consider the modern day CRPG to be the spiritual "heir" to the Adventure Genre.
I love old CRPGs a shame they don't really make' em anymore, though I do have a LOT of old CRPs in my collection, so I'll be well stocked :P
Oh, you know what I also thought was fun? Realms of the Haunting. Did anyone else play that?
(http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2010/10/roth_office.jpg)
Kind of like System Shock, but Lovecraftian.
Always wanted to play that game, been on my wishlist for decades now
Do you like turn based strategy games like Europa Universalis?
(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/2401/gg1ug.jpg)
Do you like military tactical combat?
(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2193/gg2j.jpg)
Do you like CRPGs?
(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/7963/gg3pw.jpg)
How would you like all three mixed into one game? Then go play Birthright: Gorgon's Alliance, God, I love this game, the game was flawed, but I loved how it mixed three genres into one
QuoteDo you like turn based strategy games Europa Universalis?
Do you like military tactical combat?
Do you like CRPGs?
How would you like all three mixed into one game?
How did you get inside my head?! :o
seriously though, if you can, try playing D&D Birthright: Gorgon's Alliance, it's freakin' addicting :P
currently playing Ultima Underworld, thought it was the good time to post a screenie, because I love this game
(http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7320/bjtenfrcaaefmevpnglarge.png)
How do you damage a cudgel?
In Ultima Underworld, you're more likely to damage your weapons than you are to damage your enemy, lol
Quote from: stika on May 03, 2013, 02:43:42 PM
In Ultima Underworld, you're more likely to damage your weapons than you are to damage your enemy, lol
(http://www.memes.at/faces/are_you_fucking_kidding_me_clean.jpg)
yep, damage is based on your attack skills, your skill with said weapons and the enemy's defense.
I was level 2 or 3 in that screen. Seriously though the game is awesome and often seen as a PC RPG classic
Cleve Blakemore's Spider Sense is tingling.
Bt
not following :P
This (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grimoire-forever/), I'm guessing.
*droools* I want it!
It's supposedly releasing this month.
nice! Now if only I had money
That game's been supposedly releasing for almost two decades!
Bt
oh :\
Quote from: Blackthorne on May 06, 2013, 04:40:52 PM
That game's been supposedly releasing for almost two decades!
Bt
Yes, but this time it's
definitely releasing this month. :P ::)
LIES AND SLANDER! :P
here's my map of the first floor :P
(http://s18.postimg.org/vgdq9xkcp/Ultima_Underworld.png)
I have floor 2 mostly mapped too
Is that from the Grimoire demo or something else?
Edit: Oh. Ultima Underworld.
I started that game a few months ago, but I didn't get very far, and I haven't gone back to it since. :-\
Adding little notes on the map. *nods and grins* Clever.
You pretty much have to add notes or else you'll be walking around looking for food, weapons and armor
The only time I tolerate having to map a place is if I am actively robbing it. Otherwise what is my incentive to go back to a place marked 'leeches?'
they're useful as crafting ingredients and you have a very limited weight carrying capacity.
The map always fills itself, so the only thing the player has to do is to place pins within the map to remember important stuff
Some players always pick up everything and basically create one giant cache of supplies, but I'm not so fussy lol
Definitely a game from a bygone era, a game made with the assumption you don't have other games to play instead. :P
As a general rule I'd say the Ultima games have aged somewhat poorly, though the Underworld series are definitely the ones that aged better imo
more of my Ultima underworld exploits:
I find a beholder
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6714/32003838.png)
Attacking it only damages my weapons
(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4067/41041732.png)
One wasted wand and two mana potions later it is dead
(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3787/75454278.png)
and my map of level 2
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/885/level2m.png)
You need the shield of Balduran.
Is that a Baldur's Gate 2 reference I detect? ;D
I have to say, those maps and these screenshots are really making me want to hunt down a copy of this game and play it. I never really got into the dungeon crawler RPGs when I was a kid, but I nerd out about that sort of thing now. I love games that reward exploration and particularly games that have self-mapping features that tangibly show the percentage of the map you've uncovered so far. I tried the early Elder Scrolls games a while back (those are free now!) and wasn't impressed, but this looks like it might be more up my alley.
Ultima Underworld 1&2 are available for $5 on GOG.com
Personally the part I least liked about the first Elder Scrolls games was the outside exploration. The Dungeons were fun, the the actual towns, world and quests aged fairly poorly by today's standards imo
Currently on the third sub-floor
Remember when games required you to grab a Pen&Paper and write down little notes? That's what I'm doing with this conversation
(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2199/underworldf.png)
What's a paladin?
He shakes his head no, looking particularly pissed off as he does it.
He indicates for you to never say that again.
I still use pen and paper (or rather a little blue notebook and pen/pencil) for when I play Nancy Drew games.
when i next see the guy I'll ask him if he know what's a Paladin :P
The only "retro games" I've ever played are: Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda.
Mmm.. I think I might create a new thread with my Ultima exploits, otherwise I'm high-jacking this thread lol
(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3966/wizardry.png)
YES! YES! YES! YES! HELL YES! *censored* YES! FINALLY!
(http://i.imgur.com/kAvsZ.gif)
GET IT NOW! GET ALL OF THEM! GET THEM GET THEM GET THEM GET THEM! (http://www.gog.com/gamecard/wizardry_8)
(http://media.twirlit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/will-smith-celebration-gif.gif)
What's Wizardry?
Bt
Never heard of this game either. Then again, that's not saying much. ;D
Quote from: Blackthorne on May 23, 2013, 12:16:32 PM
What's Wizardry?
Bt
my favourite classic WRPG series ever, its influences can be felt on tons of RPGs today.
Heck, the combat and class systems we usually associate to JRPGs (Final Fantasy and Dragon quest) were actually directly lifted (and later upgraded) from the early wizardry games.
Later entries became more open world with tons of dialog, great story, choice and consequence, etc. etc.
Oh also, I moved my Ultima Underworld exploits to the creative corner (http://www.postudios.com/blog/forum/index.php?topic=13560.0), mostly because I was starting to highjack this thread
I have a 2-day train ride from Portland to Chicago this weekend. I just bought Baldur's Gate 1, 2, and the QFG Collection, for good measure. I should be pretty well set, I think. ;)
Nice! I'm currently playing Baldur's gate for the first time. It took some getting used to, but I'm enjoying it. :D I think I've bought all of the temples outside of Baldur's Gate out of healing potions, though, and I can't enter BG yet. :(
Baldur's Gate is definitely awesome, though I feel the first game has aged somewhat poorly. With that said, when you add the expansion pack you get one of the best dungeons ever made imo: Durlag's tower, whether you're trying to climb it or descend it, I freaking love durlag's tower
Want to do Durlag's tower in hard mode like I did? Get a party of 6 people, all of them level 2-3 and completely explore that thing, I guarantee you by the time you're done, you'll have a huge sense of accomplishment and the party should be near the max level
Hmmm... I tried going there and got my party killed by the first enemy I encountered. We've leveled up a bit since then, so maybe I'll check it out. Oh, and I have the combat set at novice. :P As far as the first game aging poorly goes, I'm playing it with the BG2 engine, so I don't know how much that applies.
ah th BG2 engine does fix some issues yeah.
But seriously try to complete it with a full party at level 2 or 3, it's frustrating.. but very fun because you have to VERY strategic
...except I suck at strategy. :-\
Still worth a shot though :P
I don't remember what enemies you findin Durlag's tower, but I will tell you that if you have a mage, the "Sleep" spell is your best friend :P
Good to know. It was a "Battle Horror" that killed my party. Also, on a semi-related note, I no longer have the ability to disarm traps because I dual-classed Imoen, not knowing that her thief abilities would be disabled until her new class (mage) reaches level 5 (her "thief" level). This makes the spider area of Cloakwood a huge pain, as there are lots of web traps. :(
Ooooh, should've told you, in early D&D rules, multiclassing is usually broken :\
This is apparently intentional. Also, I've installed a bunch of mods which change the rules somewhat.
HEATHEN! :o
for those of you wondering why I'm such a Wizardry fanboy, watch this (jump to 0:43):
Quote from: stika on February 22, 2013, 05:57:41 AM
aaawww man I loved that game
(http://www.blog.imaginaryfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gorillas_screenshot1.png)
I loved playing around with the gravity settings!
Oh geez my school days <3
BASIC - none of that "Visual" stuff!
10 Goto 10
:P
Started playing Zork Grand Inquisitor, never played any of the Zork games before
The game is absolutely hilarious!
I want to start the Zork Series, but I don't know where to really jump in.
I don't want to start at the absolute start because it was a text based game... But I don't even know what order to play them.
It is almost as confusing as the discworld novels, but in those there is already a chart that tells you the order of books to read.
I was actually in the exact same spot as you and a riend of mine got me the game I'm playing now, Zork Inquisitor.
It's the last game in the series and you don't have to play the previous games to know the story as this is a completely independent story
It's weird how I don't like racing games, yet old school Sega racing games always get me hooked.
Played Manx TT Superbike on the Saturn this morning, by the time I took a look at the clock 2 hours had passed, was almost late to work too which is quite a feat considering I work from home :P