Things a Game Did Right - Page 3

CrimsonFox · 12-29-2011, 06:31 PM

why hasn't HeavyReign mentioned Heavy Rain yet?

Vince, Pt. II · 12-29-2011, 06:55 PM

The original Max Payne game's version of Bullet Time was pretty phenomenal. Click a button and you're suddenly a gunslinger out of legend shooting in real time while everything around you moves in slow motion. It was pretty awesome.

Barkeep49 · 12-29-2011, 06:57 PM

Bastion to me did an absolutely brilliant job of getting me to care about its story. The narrator was just a fantastic game mechanism.

corbes · 12-29-2011, 07:29 PM

On some level all I've ever wanted out of a baseball game was Earl Weaver Baseball with a solid career sim tacked onto it, and the same for NFL Challenge. I played those games ENDLESSLY as a kid. With that said those games don't quite hold up the way they do in my memory, but, still . . .

. . . On another level, I don't know that any computer game will ever be as immersive as the imaginary sports leagues I created in my head, played endlessly in the living room and yard and driveway, and managed on paper. It's probably fools gold to chase childhood like that.

Buccaneer · 12-29-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbes

On some level all I've ever wanted out of a baseball game was Earl Weaver Baseball with a solid career sim tacked onto it, and the same for NFL Challenge. I played those games ENDLESSLY as a kid. With that said those games don't quite hold up the way they do in my memory, but, still . . .

. . . On another level, I don't know that any computer game will ever be as immersive as the imaginary sports leagues I created in my head, played endlessly in the living room and yard and driveway, and managed on paper. It's probably fools gold to chase childhood like that.

Yeah, me too. Especially back in the day of pre-PC, pre-internet, pre-cable and 4 TV stations.

Abe Sargent · 12-30-2011, 01:43 AM

Since we necro'd the hell out of this how about:

Guild Wars Not only for getting the economic model right for an MMORPG but also for having classes in a traditional fantasy setting that feel very different than normal fighters, rangers, clerics and wizards (although they have those too). Mesmer, Dervish, Paragon and especially freakin' Ritualists are just so different than most other classes. I mean come on, holding the ashes of dead heroes? What other class has that as an ability?

Roller Coaster Tycoon - For understanding how massively fun the basic idea of building a theme park was, and not making it nearly as complex as some other Chris Sawyer games and thus becoming the game that perfects the Tycoon genre.

Ultima Online - For not only having different mechanics than normal (no XP? No Levels?), but also embracing different skills that are just for fun, and not for crafting weapons and armor (carpentry? cooking? fishing? tailoring? cartography? mining? lumberjacking?) I wish other earlier MMORPGs tried to differentiate themselves from the traditional RPG genres as much as UO had.

SportsDino · 12-30-2011, 04:48 PM

I'd have to second Roller Coaster Tycoon, overall simple game mechanics, but probably the most fun I've had with a sim (and I normally push for detailed simulations). A couple things I remember about it:

1. The ant farm effect... individual simlings were not particularly interesting, but I could spend half a minute just watching crowd migration within my park. Seeing all the people scurrying in as I open a new ride of 'land' was half the fun.

2. Creativity and design were encouraged by players, it wasn't a sim about stuffing as many units in an area as possible... it was more about building the best theme park in appearance to yourself (unless you actually cared about the missions, I honestly play sandbox mode with a huge park exclusively in RC2).

MJ4H · 12-30-2011, 05:10 PM

Frozen Synapse - Pretty much everything. Single player campaign is great, multiplayer is handled pretty much perfectly. Interface is very well done, graphics are stylish but pragmatic. Engrossing strategically/tactically. Tense, dramatic, and FUN.

Portal - Innovation and humor. Also streamlined (nothing is extra or feels out of place--very tight package).

Portal 2 - Co-operative play. Never experienced anything in gaming as fun as Portal 2's co-op. And maybe even funnier than the original.

Super Meat Boy/VVVVVV - Frustration/reward-style difficult gameplay. I love that when you die, you are playing again almost instantly. It streamlines the "I've got to practice and learn the intricate details of everything on this level to get it right" part and makes it not tedious but enjoyable. Both of these games are the same in that regard. They both do other things well, too, but the heart of these two games is this element that I enjoy a lot.

Julio Riddols · 12-30-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

Bastion to me did an absolutely brilliant job of getting me to care about its story. The narrator was just a fantastic game mechanism.

I agree fully on this. One of the most enjoyable to play games that might otherwise be pretty damn mundane. I laughed hard when he said "The kid just decided to rage for a while" when I went on a breaking things spree.

CrimsonFox · 12-30-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsDino

1. The ant farm effect... individual simlings were not particularly interesting, but I could spend half a minute just watching crowd migration within my park. Seeing all the people scurrying in as I open a new ride of 'land' was half the fun.
.

Not to mention making a ride as DANGEROUS as possible so that it would fly off the pole and crash and explode, killing everybody. Then watching with amazement as people trampled each other to ride it again!

cougarfreak · 12-30-2011, 05:14 PM

For some reason, I love the ball flight animations in Puresim. I've played OOTP more, but I turn the animation off with it.

lighthousekeeper · 12-31-2011, 08:20 AM

Dragon Age Origins: bang a hot witch storyline

MizzouRah · 12-31-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

For some reason, I love the ball flight animations in Puresim. I've played OOTP more, but I turn the animation off with it.

I think BM has the best ball flight animations, but Puresim's is 2nd for sure.

Passacaglia · 12-31-2011, 10:52 AM

No BM animations please

sterlingice · 12-31-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Ultima Online - For not only having different mechanics than normal (no XP? No Levels?), but also embracing different skills that are just for fun, and not for crafting weapons and armor (carpentry? cooking? fishing? tailoring? cartography? mining? lumberjacking?) I wish other earlier MMORPGs tried to differentiate themselves from the traditional RPG genres as much as UO had.

Wasn't UO pretty much the first major MMORPG? I played on a friend's account and I basically played a traveler. I mined and refined ore and sold it. And then I used those proceeds to make and buy runes. And then I basically sold runes to pretty much anywhere anyone wanted to go, all while exploring the world. I'm trying to think of another game where you could pretty much avoid combat (well, you couldn't because of the ahole nerfers and a lack of a pvp switch) and still "level" skills in the game and have fun.

SI

cody8200 · 01-02-2012, 09:08 AM

Chronotrigger - A fantastic story that really got me interested in RPG's for the first time.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Just finished playing this one again and the story is fantastic. Deus Ex - Did absolutely everything right. The first game gave you the stealth ability of Thief and the killing ability of Half Life and a story straight out of X Files. Wow that game was good.
Grand Theft Auto 3/VC/SA/4 - This series really established the open world 3D movement that many games try to emulate. Very few do it as well though.
Skyrim - I love using stealth and bow and arrow. I don't think I have ever had a memorable bow and arrow experience before Skyrim.
Heavy Rain - The story had a meh ending but the setup was phenomenal.
Fallout 3 and Las Vegas - Fallout 3 is absolutely epic in size. That was exciting but along with the futuristic setting and legacy of the Fallout series, this was my looked forward to game in a decade when it arrived. It met my expectations.
Half Life 2 - The timing of the battles/peaceful setting was down masterfully. Everytime you thought, this is getting a bit tiring, the next segment of the game would come along.
Portal 1 and 2 - Wow, Valve does make a damn fine game. From the voice acting to the innovative gameplay, these games were fantastic and memorable.
Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy - Another david cage game -same guy who created heavy rain. This guy knows good stories (at least until the endings) and this game is no exception. Fantastic premise with an interesting control scheme.
The Longest Journey - You want to talk story, this game had it in spades! An amazing game that once was named PC Gamer's game of the year despite its poor graphics. This is an absolute must play - even now. It's followup, Dreamfall was equally fun but not quite as impressive story-wise.

TroyF · 01-02-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PineTar

No One Lives Forever - absolutely nailed the tongue in cheek 60's spy vibe

Good stuff from NOLF...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4BDoUx33SU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2PxxbJydBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eNfuKSZNIk

I loved this series so freakin much. I wish it would come back.

I think everyone really nailed most of mine, with Bioshock nailing just about everything.

I'll add one:

System Shock 2: You felt like what you were supposed to be, the only living human on a ship where really bad things happened. I'll never forget some of the ghost cut scenes. Truly frightening.

hawk4669 · 01-02-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyF

I'll add one:

System Shock 2: You felt like what you were supposed to be, the only living human on a ship where really bad things happened. I'll never forget some of the ghost cut scenes. Truly frightening.

This.

12-30-2011, 01:43 AM	#106
Abe Sargent Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Catonsville, MD	Since we necro'd the hell out of this how about: Guild Wars Not only for getting the economic model right for an MMORPG but also for having classes in a traditional fantasy setting that feel very different than normal fighters, rangers, clerics and wizards (although they have those too). Mesmer, Dervish, Paragon and especially freakin' Ritualists are just so different than most other classes. I mean come on, holding the ashes of dead heroes? What other class has that as an ability? Roller Coaster Tycoon - For understanding how massively fun the basic idea of building a theme park was, and not making it nearly as complex as some other Chris Sawyer games and thus becoming the game that perfects the Tycoon genre. Ultima Online - For not only having different mechanics than normal (no XP? No Levels?), but also embracing different skills that are just for fun, and not for crafting weapons and armor (carpentry? cooking? fishing? tailoring? cartography? mining? lumberjacking?) I wish other earlier MMORPGs tried to differentiate themselves from the traditional RPG genres as much as UO had. __________________ Check out my two current weekly Magic columns! https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?action=search&page=1&author[]=Abe%20Sargent Last edited by Abe Sargent : 12-30-2011 at 01:45 AM.

12-30-2011, 05:10 PM	#108
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Frozen Synapse - Pretty much everything. Single player campaign is great, multiplayer is handled pretty much perfectly. Interface is very well done, graphics are stylish but pragmatic. Engrossing strategically/tactically. Tense, dramatic, and FUN. Portal - Innovation and humor. Also streamlined (nothing is extra or feels out of place--very tight package). Portal 2 - Co-operative play. Never experienced anything in gaming as fun as Portal 2's co-op. And maybe even funnier than the original. Super Meat Boy/VVVVVV - Frustration/reward-style difficult gameplay. I love that when you die, you are playing again almost instantly. It streamlines the "I've got to practice and learn the intricate details of everything on this level to get it right" part and makes it not tedious but enjoyable. Both of these games are the same in that regard. They both do other things well, too, but the heart of these two games is this element that I enjoy a lot. Last edited by MJ4H : 12-30-2011 at 05:10 PM.

12-30-2011, 05:14 PM	#111
cougarfreak College Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Out of Grad School Hell :)	For some reason, I love the ball flight animations in Puresim. I've played OOTP more, but I turn the animation off with it. __________________ “I don’t like the Cubs,” Joey Votto said. “And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back."

12-31-2011, 08:20 AM	#112
lighthousekeeper College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	Dragon Age Origins: bang a hot witch storyline __________________ ...

12-29-2011, 06:31 PM	#101
CrimsonFox Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2009	why hasn't HeavyReign mentioned Heavy Rain yet?

12-29-2011, 06:55 PM	#102
Vince, Pt. II Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somewhere More Familiar	The original Max Payne game's version of Bullet Time was pretty phenomenal. Click a button and you're suddenly a gunslinger out of legend shooting in real time while everything around you moves in slow motion. It was pretty awesome.

12-29-2011, 06:57 PM	#103
Barkeep49 Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Not too far away	Bastion to me did an absolutely brilliant job of getting me to care about its story. The narrator was just a fantastic game mechanism.

12-29-2011, 07:29 PM	#104
corbes College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2003	On some level all I've ever wanted out of a baseball game was Earl Weaver Baseball with a solid career sim tacked onto it, and the same for NFL Challenge. I played those games ENDLESSLY as a kid. With that said those games don't quite hold up the way they do in my memory, but, still . . . . . . On another level, I don't know that any computer game will ever be as immersive as the imaginary sports leagues I created in my head, played endlessly in the living room and yard and driveway, and managed on paper. It's probably fools gold to chase childhood like that.

12-30-2011, 04:48 PM	#107
SportsDino College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2001	I'd have to second Roller Coaster Tycoon, overall simple game mechanics, but probably the most fun I've had with a sim (and I normally push for detailed simulations). A couple things I remember about it: 1. The ant farm effect... individual simlings were not particularly interesting, but I could spend half a minute just watching crowd migration within my park. Seeing all the people scurrying in as I open a new ride of 'land' was half the fun. 2. Creativity and design were encouraged by players, it wasn't a sim about stuffing as many units in an area as possible... it was more about building the best theme park in appearance to yourself (unless you actually cared about the missions, I honestly play sandbox mode with a huge park exclusively in RC2).

12-31-2011, 10:52 AM	#114
Passacaglia Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Big Ten Country	No BM animations please

01-02-2012, 09:08 AM	#116
cody8200 High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2000	Chronotrigger - A fantastic story that really got me interested in RPG's for the first time. Vampire: The Masquerade - Just finished playing this one again and the story is fantastic. Deus Ex - Did absolutely everything right. The first game gave you the stealth ability of Thief and the killing ability of Half Life and a story straight out of X Files. Wow that game was good. Grand Theft Auto 3/VC/SA/4 - This series really established the open world 3D movement that many games try to emulate. Very few do it as well though. Skyrim - I love using stealth and bow and arrow. I don't think I have ever had a memorable bow and arrow experience before Skyrim. Heavy Rain - The story had a meh ending but the setup was phenomenal. Fallout 3 and Las Vegas - Fallout 3 is absolutely epic in size. That was exciting but along with the futuristic setting and legacy of the Fallout series, this was my looked forward to game in a decade when it arrived. It met my expectations. Half Life 2 - The timing of the battles/peaceful setting was down masterfully. Everytime you thought, this is getting a bit tiring, the next segment of the game would come along. Portal 1 and 2 - Wow, Valve does make a damn fine game. From the voice acting to the innovative gameplay, these games were fantastic and memorable. Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy - Another david cage game -same guy who created heavy rain. This guy knows good stories (at least until the endings) and this game is no exception. Fantastic premise with an interesting control scheme. The Longest Journey - You want to talk story, this game had it in spades! An amazing game that once was named PC Gamer's game of the year despite its poor graphics. This is an absolute must play - even now. It's followup, Dreamfall was equally fun but not quite as impressive story-wise.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)