PC Game Recommendations

[AgustusM]

With the scarcity of Xbox 360 and the fact I was under whelmed playing Madden on my friends 360 anyway and the fact that Bowl Bound is still only in Demo, I find myself looking for a new game.

I was at the store Christmas shopping and browsing several of the games and saw a few that caught my eye, but nothing that I juts had to have.

Now I normally play 90% sports games and I already have The Movies, Civ 4, Sims 2.

I am primarily looking for two different types of games:

1. A strategic war game – back in the day I used to love playing Command HQ and I am looking for something similar but more up to date. In other words I am looking for a macro level game. One where troops, units, and battle groups need to be moved around strategically in a global setting. But not where my quickness on the trigger and exploding heads are the primed features

2. A D&D RPG Game – I admit, I was quite the geek in my youth rolling dice and playing D&D with my friends. I bought a few D&D games quite a long time ago but never felt the computer games had “captured” the game as I remembered. In other words there seemed like a lot of simple 1-3 choice problems, rather then the complex, open endedness of the old game. Now I know a PC game will never be able to complete capture that – but I guess what I am looking for is something that allows for some character development and story and not just a blood fest that carries from one battle to the next.

Most of all in both games I am looking for something that will challenge my mind and not my thumbs. I other words I am far more interested in strategy then in hitting the “X” button a hundred times as fast as possible.

Any suggestions, especially those with demos would be highly appreciated.

[Antmeister]

Now as far as the roleplaying game, do you have a preference for commercial or independent?

[Antmeister]

Same question for the strategy war game too.

[Tasan]

I feel an Antmeister71 freeware special coming ;- )

[Antmeister]

I feel an Antmeister71 freeware special coming ;- )
lol.....or shareware.

[Glengoyne]

I always recommend Planescape Torment as a Roleplaying game. It ain't new, but it has better game play than many of those that followed behind it.

Strategic Wargame...How about Korsun Pocket.

You might take a look at Matrix games, they have a number of offerings that might fit the bill.

[Grammaticus]

For a strategy war game, try "Rome Total War". It is very good and can be quite challenging in the higher difficulty settings. It has a fantastic real time battle engine, that requires smart use of tactics.

Outside of the individual battles, it is an empire building game which starts you out in control of a Roman house and a modest army. From there you play the game of political intrigue. Build cities and armies, negotiate with your neighbors for peace, a truce, tributes, alliances, etc.

Good stuff, with a high replay value. Here is a link that gives you more detailed info.

hxxp://www.totalwar.com/community/rome.htm

[Lonnie]

Speaking of Korsun Pocket, do you think Mountain Dew ripped them off on this ad?

http://www.mountaindew.com/md_prom/vga_swp/

It was one of the changing ads on top of the forum, and I knew that symbol looked familiar.

http://korsunpocket.wargamer.com/screens.html

[AgustusM]

Now as far as the roleplaying game, do you have a preference for commercial or independent?

no preference I play and enjoy both types such as Madden and OOTP, FOF so I am OK with either.

[AgustusM]

I always recommend Planescape Torment as a Roleplaying game. It ain't new, but it has better game play than many of those that followed behind it.

Strategic Wargame...How about Korsun Pocket.

You might take a look at Matrix games, they have a number of offerings that might fit the bill.

looks like a good suggestion - d/l some Matrix demos right now, of course Arlie really screwed this all up by releasing Bowl Bound!

Thanks guys for all for all of the suggestions

[Antmeister]

no preference I play and enjoy both types such as Madden and OOTP, FOF so I am OK with either.

Well in that case, here a number of shareware titles that cover strategy and/or roleplaying:
http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/
http://www.nielsbauergames.com/smugglers3.html
http://www.moonpod.com/
http://www.fatethegame.com/
http://www.aninoentertainment.com/products/anito/index.php

Here are a couple freeware titles:
http://www.wesnoth.org/home
http://c-evo.org/

And as far as commercial:
Neverwinter Nights (they have a lot of nice mods for this game)
Morrowind
Civilization IV

Just try out the demos of the shareware since I don't quite know what you like. And although I do like some commercial games, I usual stay in the roleplaying and adventure side of things. I also don't buy many during the year, compared to some shareware titles and text sims.

[Marc Vaughan]

http://www.wesnoth.org/home
Just to do my usual pimping of Wesnoth - its a great little game and one of the few PC titles which stays permanently installed on my laptop.

Reiner Krizia's Samurai is also a great strategy game if you like board games on PC's (play the demo and you'll know very quickly if its your bag). Its a very challenging game and works very well.

[Warhammer]

I always recommend Planescape Torment as a Roleplaying game. It ain't new, but it has better game play than many of those that followed behind it.

Strategic Wargame...How about Korsun Pocket.

You might take a look at Matrix games, they have a number of offerings that might fit the bill.

I am beta testing one of their highly awaited games and it will be excellent when it comes out.

Their games may not have the flashy graphics, but they are all great games.

[Warhammer]

Just to do my usual pimping of Wesnoth - its a great little game and one of the few PC titles which stays permanently installed on my laptop.

Reiner Krizia's Samurai is also a great strategy game if you like board games on PC's (play the demo and you'll know very quickly if its your bag). Its a very challenging game and works very well.

Why settle for the PC game of Samurai, get the board game!

But, if you want to play boardgames on the computer join brettspielwelt.com. You can play plenty of quality board games there for free.

On the subject of board games, one that might be right up the original poster's alley is Wizard Kings. Strategic level combat in a fantasy setting, looks like an ideal fit!