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Post by DieuxDesCimetieres on Apr 21, 2022 1:17:02 GMT -5
I don't know about Oblivion, but at least in Morrowind both vampirism and lycantrophy were pretty broken. Lots of mods fix both to be somewhat better, but they're still quite broken. Skyrim's lycantrophy, on the other hand, was a pretty lame mechanism you could (AFAIK) switch on and off at will, and there was very little point in keeping it on.
I never liked Oblivion, but Morrowind is still one of my favourite games. Skyrim was fun, but ultimately kind of boring (Pine forests? Gee, never seen 'em up here in the nordic countries) and repetitive. I should really revisit Oblivion, maybe souped up with some choice mods.
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Post by mahrgdidj on Apr 21, 2022 5:01:54 GMT -5
I don't know about Oblivion, but at least in Morrowind both vampirism and lycantrophy were pretty broken. Lots of mods fix both to be somewhat better, but they're still quite broken. Skyrim's lycantrophy, on the other hand, was a pretty lame mechanism you could (AFAIK) switch on and off at will, and there was very little point in keeping it on. I never liked Oblivion, but Morrowind is still one of my favourite games. Skyrim was fun, but ultimately kind of boring (Pine forests? Gee, never seen 'em up here in the nordic countries) and repetitive. I should really revisit Oblivion, maybe souped up with some choice mods. Definitely recommend giving Oblivion another try. The quest writing is just so good, and you can jump so high! If you have access to mods though, definitely employ a few |
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Post by crystallogic13 on Apr 21, 2022 11:18:36 GMT -5
I find it very interesting that as you discuss even modern, mainstream games can be unforgiving like the good old days.. Not that I'm fond of high difficulty, quite the contrary but being a fan of adventures and rpgs since my first PC back in the 90s, I was actually kind of used to it-and still hating it  : - from *trying* to map games that made it deliberately difficult (Bard's Tale first comes to mind as well as Eye of the Beholder series and endless text adventures with exits entering you in different direction ruining your handmade maps) - to adventures that forgetting to pick up a random item early on or picking something you shouldn't and later on becoming a "dead man" (=you can't proceed in the game) - too many adventures make that list and a lot of my otherwise beloved Sierra - to RPGs with level drains, the one that hit me ever the most was at VERY late game of Might and Magic III (great game but due to this never finished it) where some crystals didn't have an "obvious effect" until you realised that they were aging your characters (!!).. With only one save available and that overwritten already it was too much too restart.. Anyway, I was carried on, some people like punishing games, others (like me) who are very strict on time just prefer especially nowadays to have all qualities of life available at my disposal and just choose what to use.. And since I was at it anyway, and I don't think I'll ever restart ever Might and Magic 3 in this lifetime, but hoping someday to find some quality time and sink myself into World of Xeen (M&M4-5) with some appropriate Dungeon Synth to listen and remember those good old magic days.. |
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Post by heroeskingsquest on Nov 20, 2022 7:08:41 GMT -5
Fallout 2
For me it doesn't get any better than that.
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Post by crystallogic13 on Dec 12, 2022 10:34:46 GMT -5
Fallout 2 For me it doesn't get any better than that. Damn, for how many years I've been waiting (since FO1..) to play the whole series at least up to modern New Vegas.. And especially the first two which are more than cult.. I know though that at least the first one punishes the player for taking too long (which is good and realistic, fitting the gritty game) which is the only thing that keeps me from firing it up until I have "more time" .. Excellent choice.. I reinstalled Morrowind AGAIN. As well as Dear Esther. I though we had already had some mentions of Dear Esther and walking simulators, but alas, other than this post bellow I continued playing No Man's Sky after a year and a couple of "big" updates. The game hasn't changed, it's still basically a walking simulator in largely static worlds. Overhyped for sure, but the fantasy sci-fi worlds are perfectly suited to lazy exploration whilst listening to music in the background. A pretty perfect way of emptying my saved albums in Spotify, hah. I don't mind walking simulators at all, I enjoy them very much actually, but from what I've read and seen about NM'S, it's largely boring for at least half of the game. It seemed that you were pretty much getting the hang of things and fiddling around for a good portion of it until you're able to do more story-related things. The generation of lifeforms seemed a bit limited as well (I think I remember it cycling through a library of anatomy components, where you'd start to see similar things), but they may have fixed things. There was an annoyance with the inventory as well, unrealistically small. Seemed like a big budget game that fell short. I guess for a walking simulator though, it's more robust than many since most can be completed in upwards of 6 hours. Unfinished Swan was good, but it's more focused than like Gone Home or Dear Esther. I strongly recommend Everybody's Gone to the Rapture if you like that style, but you'll want to listen in to the game. Not sure if you're on PC or PS4. no other discussion on the genre which I'm certainly very interested.. I went through one playthrough of Dear Esther some years ago (after you finish you can play again as different character which will give more clues on the story, I stopped on the first one) and I gladly enjoyed it.. The whole atmosphere, the dark beach, the cave exploration and the more quality of life / easiness walking simulators give made it a very enjoyable experience... I've played some more of the genre and enjoyed but currently not coming to mind, except Abzu which is more of a diving simulator (still exploration only no constant fear of death) and I'm very much enjoying going slowly through it and admiring the world.. As for Elder Scroll series, another one I've got most originals since way back and besides some Morrowing and Skyrim I've never got again time to play "proper" and enjoy as much as I expect.. At least tiny bits of time give me some emulation time of older systems, I've even bitten and got late into ordering some years late a mini C64 (at 55 euros so it's a good price I think and feel totally worth it) to dive into some 8-bit good old days.. |
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Post by talvisynth on Dec 12, 2022 11:12:47 GMT -5
I tend to make intense nostalgy trips every now and then to games I played in my childhood and teenage years. Just recently started playing through the Space Quest series again after a long time since my latest sessions. 1 and 2 done, and just got started with 3. And when I'm done with these, I've already planned for something completely different from slower paced adventures and blast away with Jazz Jackrabbit. Earlier during the summer I played through the good ol' Hexen* (using GZDoom), during the spring time had some nice moments with Eye of the Beholder 2 (IMO the best of the series) and just before that my all-time favorite System Shock** (although the Enhanced Edition from Steam). *) The 3rd song on Talvi - Kuurankajo EP '22 was actually inspired from the atmosphere/general vibe & ambience in Hexen. \o/ **) Also waiting for the System Shock Remake that according to the latest info on the release date, should finally be coming during the Q1 next year. EDIT: I'm also a veteran WoW player; started back in summer '05 and still enjoying the ride in my own way. I used to be a dedicated raider from late TBC to late MoP, but then ended up with a burn-out in personal life and, amidst deliberate down-shifting that followed, I also stepped down from scheduled guild activities. Also switched main from resto shaman to ret paladin which was my most active alt at the time, and been rocking that ever since. Going casual also resulted in not-too-moderate "altoholism", so been rotating several alts over the recent expansions depending on which class/spec seems or feels fun to play in each their latest iteration. Now in Dragonflight, just leveled my paladin up, and probably I'll go with surv hunter next. Shadow priest felt a bit awkward and clunky in Shadowlands and doesn't seem much better now, so perhaps I'll wait with that one for a while. There's plenty to do with 1-2 chars anyway for some time now anyway. PS. As I tend to think too much ahead of things, just in case: I've had my share of vanilla, TBC and WotLK back when they were current content. Those were the greatest of times, but I'll let good old memories remain as good old memories, skip this new Classic and keep going forward with the retail. |
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Post by crystallogic13 on Dec 12, 2022 14:09:50 GMT -5
Aahh excellent stuff you mention talvisynth bringing me great fond memories of the best of times ...  I went through all to finish Space Quest 1-4 , classic Sierra stuff, the one I loved the most was definitely Space Quest 3 that had still the parser but the newer engine and especially the game of course was great in travelling to different places n stuff.. I still have fond memories of SQ1-2.. As for the 4th everyone was BLOWN away by its graphics at the time, they are so beautiful they haven't aged at all.. But gameplay wise SQ4 had some big problems, I'll never forget the chase you had to getaway in (bad) action sequence at the mall.. But for the graphics alone it's worth it if you can push through  And while I own SQ5 and 6 I always as you can guess leave em for a "better time to fully enjoy them".. ! But I'll get to play them as well as the very good from what I read fan SQ releases and remakes.. Jazz Jackrabbit was like the closest to Sonic or better, a quality , one of the few, platformer in the DOS era.. Great game and I played mostly the holiday levels which were given in a magazine disk back in the day!! Excellent taste! Hexen is always on my to play list, while on the Eye of the Beholder front, I played both 1 and 2 only a little back in the day since I didn't have a cracked version and we needed the damn manual.. Later when I purchased them and in recent years I always try to start with EOTB 1 and go to three with indeed 2 being the highlight, but last playthrough got me stuck early in level 5 or 6 I think with some damn spiders poisoning my chars and no cure potion or spell available .. I eventually used UGE (Universal Game Editor, yeah still handy for hex editing after all these years ) but I was very spoiled and put the play aside.. But the install is there to continue and hopefully someday reach number 2!! System Shock is another golden I wanna play for a lifetime, I think the remake-if it is the same one- got some troubled times but happy to see it is still being worked on.. At least I loved and finished one of the considered "childs" of System Shock, Deus Ex, a game more than a game, prophetic, words cannot even describe how much ahead of its time Deus Ex was and still is... Gaming at its FINEST, pure storytelling, atmosphere, gameplay, ART p.s. From online games besides MtG Arena at periods, only damn Diablo 3 has made me make a huge time sink, seeing D4 is released on 6/6/2023 I again dived yesterday and enjoyed the hackfest action game that is D3 a successor of pure hack n slash games like golden Golden Axe.. Since I love also and even more D1 and D2, I'm glad I think D4 might go more D2 way, hope Blizzard doesn't screw it up! |
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Post by talvisynth on Dec 12, 2022 14:41:39 GMT -5
p.s. From online games besides MtG Arena at periods, only damn Diablo 3 has made me make a huge time sink, seeing D4 is released on 6/6/2023 I again dived yesterday and enjoyed the hackfest action game that is D3 a successor of pure hack n slash games like golden Golden Axe.. Since I love also and even more D1 and D2, I'm glad I think D4 might go more D2 way, hope Blizzard doesn't screw it up! Ah yes, almost forgot to mention, D2+LoD was a huge thing for me back in the day! And although D3 did receive some criticism here and there, it was a serious time sink for me as well, especially when the Reaper of Souls expansion was released, I became hooked for a long time. I've now played D2 Resurrected a great deal too; my necromancer is level 85 at the moment and paladin stands at 80, and as there's the option to toggle the old graphics, ofc I'm playing with the old looks, I simply can't stand the newly designed visuals; for me it's the old way or nothing! Also really hoping Blizz would do a great job with D4! At least the cinematics so far have looked awesome. |
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Post by cryptzzz on Dec 16, 2022 16:00:46 GMT -5
Trying out Blood II for the first time. The game is dripping atmosphere. The music is so amazing at times! Very unpolished game,but it doesn't take much from the experience.
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Post by Daytol on Dec 17, 2022 16:48:10 GMT -5
Playing Shining in the Darkness, a Sega Genesis (/possibly Megadrive) game on my iPhone. It's from the Shining Force Classics app. Controls are crap, which is ridiculous for a turn-based game, plus I think they changed around the Cave of Strength too but I could be wrong. It also has Shining Force and Shining Force II on there but it'll be a while before I check those out (Shining/Darkness takes a few weeks on and off to beat). I'd need the instructions too since you need them for Shining/Darkenss, along with any maps you made (both of which I have).
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Post by crystallogic13 on Dec 20, 2022 7:26:30 GMT -5
talvisynth Indeed Diablo 1,2,3 were all huge time sinks for me too at of course very different era and periods of my life I had enough time to enjoy them to the fullest.. I'll never forger the "darkness" coming out of Tristram in D1 and its very evil atmosphere, also can't forget the summer of 2001 and 2002 I think I I played all day long Diablo 2, REALLY addicted, and just stop for the night, get out have fun and return and even play early AM hours Diablo 3 was later in different era, a different game too but eventually I've sinked more hours in D3 than D1 and 2 combined, although I never really feel it like a game in the vein of D1 and D2 but more an (even more) hack n slash title, THE BEST in its genre imho Seeing the cinematics as discussed above of D4 I hope we get a new D2... As for the remake, when it was announced I was so into getting into it, but the price tag first and foremost, combined that I've already played it a lot made me skip it, seeing also predatory tactics Blizzard utilizing later in that damn Diablo ressurection or what it's called.. Corporate greedy suitcase fucks... cryptzzz Blood 2 is such a GEM, I played and finished it in early 90s, GREAT atmosphere, one of the best if not the best "horror" shooter, I loved it for aesthetics as well the environments and urban settings if memory serves me well.. I liked it so much that I went after finishing Blood 2 to play through the first one of the series but it was a little more dated at the time and especially the controls felt clunky compared to 2.. And I really wanted to get into it since the small part I played was full of atmosphere like the second one.. A pity I never got through it.. Another game in the FPS horror genre I loved and got around midway of the game where a bug/whatever made me drop it, was Clive Barker's Undying, REALLY GREAT GREAT and atmospheric game... @daytol Sega Mega Drive (as we indeed were introduced to it in Europe back in the day) along with its rival SNES have many endless gems in many different genres, as usual the upcoming holiday Christmas days are some of the best for some retro action Haven't played any of the very well known games you're currently going through, hope you get them under your belt finishing them !!
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Post by cryptzzz on Dec 20, 2022 9:55:51 GMT -5
crystallogic13 Man I love Undying. As you say, another atmospheric masterpiece. I did not finish it as well, same case, dropped out about half the game. I liked the locations a lot, running about on some Irish fields. Still, one of the more memorable games for me, the menu song is killer, isn't it? 
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Post by Daytol on Dec 20, 2022 10:07:44 GMT -5
@daytol Sega Mega Drive (as we indeed were introduced to it in Europe back in the day) along with its rival SNES have many endless gems in many different genres, Not as far as RPGs went for the Genesis though. For some reason it didn't really have that many. Not sure if there were some additional ones on the Megadrive in non-U. S. countries though that we didn't get. Haven't played any of the very well known games you're currently going through, There's more from Sega Forever as well! To boot, just right off the bat when you get to the title screen on Shining in the Darkness, you can also download: *Sonic Dash *Sonic CD *Sonic Forces Plus, all the other Genesis/Megadrive stuff I can find in the App Store include: *Phantasy Star Classics *Sonic the Hedgehog Classics (possibly the same as the first list?) *Gunstar Heroes Classic *Vectorman Classic *Beyond Oasis Classic *Street of Rage 2 Classic *Kid Chameleon Classic *Comix Zone Classic *Ristar Classic *Sonic the Hedgehog 4? Not sure which platform that was released on, I'm sure it wasn't the Genesis (so this is a bonus, along with Crazy Taxi) Every single one of these are free. Don't know how the controls are though. Even though I played/rented several dozen games for the Genesis back in the day I hadn't played any of the above either except for the first Vectorman. Have to go through several of them eventually! hope you get them under your belt finishing them !! I've currently completed one additional Trial on Shining in the Darkness and am working on the one after that since I posted. So, yeah, getting there Shining/Darkness takes on and off a few weeks if you're not going through it hardcore. Then I'll have to see about instructions for the other two games and if I can and then replay them after all these years! |
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engraven
Squire
No heroes / No lords
Posts: 96
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Post by engraven on Dec 20, 2022 13:51:22 GMT -5
talvisynth Indeed Diablo 1,2,3 were all huge time sinks for me too at of course very different era and periods of my life I had enough time to enjoy them to the fullest.. I'll never forger the "darkness" coming out of Tristram in D1 and its very evil atmosphere, also can't forget the summer of 2001 and 2002 I think I I played all day long Diablo 2, REALLY addicted, and just stop for the night, get out have fun and return and even play early AM hours Diablo 3 was later in different era, a different game too but eventually I've sinked more hours in D3 than D1 and 2 combined, although I never really feel it like a game in the vein of D1 and D2 but more an (even more) hack n slash title, THE BEST in its genre imho Seeing the cinematics as discussed above of D4 I hope we get a new D2... As for the remake, when it was announced I was so into getting into it, but the price tag first and foremost, combined that I've already played it a lot made me skip it, seeing also predatory tactics Blizzard utilizing later in that damn Diablo ressurection or what it's called.. Corporate greedy suitcase fucks... cryptzzz Blood 2 is such a GEM, I played and finished it in early 90s, GREAT atmosphere, one of the best if not the best "horror" shooter, I loved it for aesthetics as well the environments and urban settings if memory serves me well.. I liked it so much that I went after finishing Blood 2 to play through the first one of the series but it was a little more dated at the time and especially the controls felt clunky compared to 2.. And I really wanted to get into it since the small part I played was full of atmosphere like the second one.. A pity I never got through it.. Another game in the FPS horror genre I loved and got around midway of the game where a bug/whatever made me drop it, was Clive Barker's Undying, REALLY GREAT GREAT and atmospheric game... @daytol Sega Mega Drive (as we indeed were introduced to it in Europe back in the day) along with its rival SNES have many endless gems in many different genres, as usual the upcoming holiday Christmas days are some of the best for some retro action Haven't played any of the very well known games you're currently going through, hope you get them under your belt finishing them !! Have you ever played the old PC game Last Rites? Another old horror shooter, your description of Blood reminded me a lot of it. Great atmosphere, and a heavy-hitting techno soundtrack |
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Post by crystallogic13 on Dec 21, 2022 1:40:41 GMT -5
cryptzzz man I *still* remember that big "fields" level , I think it maybe was near wear I drop it, I was stuck not knowing how to proceed or maybe a bug didn't let a game trigger happen, who knows.. But I was really sorry for dropping it, I so loved its atmosphere.. My memory also is stuck I think before the fields in some dark underground tunnels or what being fighting or chased by a skeleton... Excellent stuff, classy atmosphere.. Happy to see that it's still loved by many other people who played it!! I don't remember the soundtrack but as per your suggestion I'll check it out on youtube and let probably more memories roll!! Speaking of atmospheric games/horror games, the games I got to finish in horror genre were mostly adventures if memory serves me well but I loved each and every one of them and atmospheres were huge in the following more oldies : - Darkseed (with H.R.Giger's cult alien horror supreme art, "small game" but SICK in a great way atmosphere, but hard gameplay with many deaths if you don't know what to do but it's finishable really even without hints with just some trial error, definitely deserves to get a chance) - Alone in the Dark 1 : Now this is another CULT classic but its revolutionary graphics look very dated today, still a pioneer in multiple genres (3d action adventure, survival horror) but an ADVENTURE at heart (unlike its descendants like Resident Evil etc which took their own path)... A cult game I recommend everyone to enjoy if you can get used/tolerate the graphics, it has GREAT soundtrack also!! And has many many classic moments in it, like a library where you could find legendary (nonexistent) books of horror literature, like De Vermiis Mysteries , Necronomicon (if you read it you get an instadeath!! )!! A beloved game I think for many people and totally cult!! - Gabriel Knight 1 : Another cult cult golden Sierra game, huge hit back then and huge following, it was pure adventure and had such a THICK and DENSE New Orleans voodoo atmosphere like anything you could have imagined!! Great game and only minor point it had in the endgame a mazelike sequence that could get VERY frustating but still one of the best of the best !! @daytol Indeed snes definitely had more JRPGs but I thouht Mega Drive/Genesis got its share too, I surely miscounted as I'm not an expert on the 16-bits as I didn;t have one back in the day BUT slowly working on it (for years  ) through emulation and a nice mini Snes I got few years back.. GREAT GREAT era for both computers and consoles, I think my preferred era in general (1989-95/6).. Console wars among Nintendo vs Sega while and computer wars (Amiga Vs Atari St vs PC - I was on the PC side since my first 286 ) Golden era.. As for the app store, my half-working ipad2 maybe could be supported but still the controls of the otherwise great thing that any table is aren't very meant for my hands.. I can't play on a tablet at all 2D action games barring some shoot em ups like Gradius or completely other genres that shine with touch controls (puzzles etc etc..).. But no harm done as I emulate and play through good old Xbox and its Duke controllers so I'll check the recommendations engraven no mate, first time I learn of it, very many many thanx for the recommendation, I'll definitely look around for it and enjoy either the game if it's playable on modern systems or emulated or a youtube video at worst case nice!!
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And while I own SQ5 and 6 I always as you can guess leave em for a "better time to fully enjoy them".. ! But I'll get to play them as well as the very good from what I read fan SQ releases and remakes..
) through emulation and a nice mini Snes I got few years back.. GREAT GREAT era for both computers and consoles, I think my preferred era in general (1989-95/6).. Console wars among Nintendo vs Sega while and computer wars (Amiga Vs Atari St vs PC - I was on the PC side since my first 286