Max is Paynefully short and BCM is still in crunch. What now?

[Game_Ender]

Please don't put down put down Emporer: Battle for Dune(E:BFD) for a low learning curve. It is a very good game with the best veriety of units i have seen in a RTS game. E:BFD has a low learning curve and simple interface, tech tree, and camera rotation. More than almost every other RTS can say. But it doesn't sacrifice the "Fun Factor" or replay value in oversimpification or the opposite.

Also it has the best campign design i have seen, completely non-linear with 3 different sides. As if that wasn't enough during campign, skirimish, or multiplayer you can ally with any 2 of the 5 unique sub-houses. Each subhoues comes with 2 units and a production building for them.

Each of the three sides have a different set units (A lot more different than Earth 2150 and Moon Project, uesing the same 3-5 weapons can only get you so far). The only thing which plays the same is building and gathering. That is something WW has to change (There Conyard + Refinery combo is old) but it might not happen with EA owning them.

I had to say that after you made E:BFD to be the stupids mans RTS and Moon Project to be the way better game (IMO E:BFD is better . E:BFD is one or the rare RTSs that make you build more than one unit to win the battle. I have not played Moon Project but in Earth 2150 you don't have nearly the same amount of tactics to use or defend against.

[ 08-04-2001: Message edited by: Game_Ender ]

[Soback]

I haven't played Emperor: Battle of Dune. What do you mean when you say that the game is non leniar?

[Real_Lucas]

I've been playing Emperor: Battle for Dune for the past several days and I really like it. I'm on the final mission playing Atreides. I wouldn't necessarily call it 'non-linear'. It's big, but the missions are scripted. The illusion of freedom is made through the fact that there are several aeras of the map that can be taken without affecting the story elements of the game...but merely establishing dominance over the world. One of the really cool things about E:BFD is that you can actually invade the enemies' homeworlds.

I think it's a worthwhile addition to any RTS fans library.

[Scrivener]

What I was saying is that E:BFD is the same game that Westwood has been putting out for years. Heck, it even has the same interface. I have nothing against the old "if it aint broke, dont fix it" mantra, but as far as I'm concerned, Emporer is a game that lost its fun factor about the same time I returned its last incarnation: Tiberian Sun. I played a good way through each of the houses and got even more dissapointed and depressed with each additional level or movie. Westwood made a feeble attempt to add some distinction between the houses by throwing in the sub-houses. But when all is said and done, the houses are really all the same.

The Moon Project's factions, on the other hand, are so completely different that you will have to relearn each faction as you get it. The controls are slightly different, the interfaces are different, the weapons and chassis and equipment are different (Since you design all your own units from scratch). For example, the UCS has a "shadowing" technology that renders their units almost invisible. This works best, however, during the nighttime, with all your shadowed units lights off. Having your lights off at night severly hampers your line of sight, and distance of sight, but allows you to remain completely undetectable... unless an enemy unit runs right into you, that is. Their super-weapon is a base-vaporizing energy beam.

The ED, on the other hand, dosnt have anything even remotely close to either of those weapons. They do, however, have a large arsenal of nuclear-based weaponry. From nuclear ballistic missiles (Feel free to build and launch as many as you can afford) to nuclear bombs dropped out of copters and other various bombers.

Next, LC dosnt have any real "weapons of mass destruction" per se. But they DO have a weather control facility. Rain can ruin movement rates, wind can ground air-based units, and lightning randomly zaps various units, buildings, trees, etc. The LC has an added advantage of being able to build anywhere on the map at any time. Provided there is a solar battery nearby to provide energy. They also have a huge assortment of energy weapons able to quickly lay waste to any non-shielded enemy units. Traditional ammo, rockets, and sonic weapons (Sonic weapons being available solely to LC... and which also fire 360 bursts) pass right through shields. I could go on forever. But if you havnt played the Moon Project, or played E2150 and felt it left much to desired, pick the game up from your local EB. So long as you buy EB, and find that The Moon Project isnt for you, you have 10 days from the date of purchase to bring it back. Don't count on the Moon Project demo, either. Its a very poor example of the full game.

[LordDavid]

Well, I just whipped out my copy of Civilazation 2... and it has me hooked all over again. I have a nice big Roman Empire and the Americans didn't seem to like me too much so they decided to start something with me..... Now they only have 3 cities left with my empire that much stronger. They were pratically begging me for peace after I assimilated over half their cities.

[demolition]

Have you guys heard of a game called StarKnights?

Its still in betta, but after playing it for several months now, i still think it rocks!

its a good game, though it takes a bit to get everything down so you can start kickeng other plaers as#%s in games

I think it will Definately hold anyone ever till BCM comes out, even if it doesn't come out this month

[The Mole]

quote:

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Any game recommendations guys (BTW, been playing Majestic and it ROCKS. Definately worth a look if you want something different)?[/QB]

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I know exactly how ya feel...I beat Max Payne in less than 24 hours and now all I have to do with it is use the dumb mouse pad that came with the game. I'm going ape-crap waiting for BCM, and this summer sure has been a major disappointment for games. There is absolutely nothing that sticks out and says "Buy me". There sure are plently of titles that say "**** me", though.

The Mole

[Scrivener]

Thats usually about the time I start researching older games that I may have missed. I just picked up a copy of Obsidian lying around at a Software Etc. So far, so good. It dosnt even come close to The Longest Journey, though, IMO. Anyhoo, if your game collection is less than complete, check out one of these Scrivener 5-star favorites.

The Elder Scrolls: ARENA

The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall

The Longest Journey

Fallout

Fallout 2

Baldurs Gate w/ Tales of the Sword Coast

Baldur's Gate 2 w/ Throne of Bhaal

Planescape Torment

Journeyman Project Turbo

Journeyman Project 2: Buried in Time

Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time

Blair Witch Project Volume 1

The Moon Project

Soldier of Fortune

Incubation: Time is Running Out w/ Wilderness Missions

Alpha Centauri w/ Alien Crossfire

Disciples: Sacred Lands Gold

Descent Freespace: The Great War

Freespace 2

Drakan

Independance War Deluxe (Includes DEFIANCE)

Thief: The Dark project

Thief 2: The Metal Age

Real MYST

Blade Runner (The PC game)

Sacrifice

[Menchise]

Here is the top ten list from my incomplete game review site (under construction for eight months and counting).

1. System Shock

2. Wing Commander

3. Descent

4. TIE Fighter - Collector's CD-ROM

5. Civilization II

6. Starcraft

7. Diablo

8. Quake

9. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers

10. Star Control II

[Epsilon 5]

I tried system shock... it's hard to play, cause of the low res and the way the controls work, but I played the ss2 demo... anyone has the full game?

[Guest Remo Williams]

I have System shock 2. Scared the **** out up me in the first level. So I deleted it, and shelved it sheeesh! Maybe I'll try it again sometime if I grow a backbone!

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: Remo Williams ]

[Eclipse]

I have the full game. It's quite fun, I still like System Shock 1's intro better though... Just something about hearing Shodan change.

[desolator]

"I tried system shock... it's hard to play, cause of the low res and the way the controls work, but I played the ss2 demo... anyone has the full game?"

Theunderdogs.org has the SVGA version for free downloading. (Abandonware.) It's much much much MUCH better (story and the like)than the sequel although I liked SS2 a lot too..

[R_wilco]

I liked both games alright, SS1 had a great story, SS2 had great graphics. Using ShockEd(SS editor), maybe someone could completely remake SS1 using the SS2 engine.

Or, better yet, someone could create a SS1 script for BCM

At least, once that internal level enhancement is released.

[Guest Macon De'Witt]

I know you guy's are talking mostly space games, but I have to put ina plug to 'Shogun Total War' If you like RTS this is THE game.

Not only is the game excelent but the fan base comes together to wage war on eachother giving the game even more life. Also for any of you who left DF2 because of the blatent cheating I viseted their servers a while back and it seems most the cheaters went to LW soits fun to play again

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

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Originally posted by desolator:

Theunderdogs.org has the SVGA version for free downloading. (Abandonware.) It's much much much MUCH better (story and the like)than the sequel although I liked SS2 a lot too..

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That's the version I have... I still say that I don't like the controls and that the 320x200 res. is yucky

[Menchise]

quote:

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That's the version I have... I still say that I don't like the controls and that the 320x200 res. is yucky

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Which set of controls are you using?

System Shock has two sets of movement controls: one of them is mouse controlled, the other is an extended "WASD" mapping. You can use a combination of mouse and keyboard movements as well (for example, running forward using the keyboard and jumping using the mouse) and because you don't have to configure the mapping, you can change your preference on the fly. The only thing that's "missing" from the game is mouselook, which didn't exist in First Person games at the time (I think).

The low resolution may have something to do with the fact that it was released in 1994. It's no more "yucky" than Doom.

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: Menchise ]

[Eclipse]

The SVGA version supports up to 640x480.

[Epsilon 5]

Well the version I have is 320x200... where can I get the 640x480 ver?

Anyway, yes no mouselook is bothering me alot, and I don't like doom either. I use the keyboard controls.

[Menchise]

The CD-ROM version supports 640 X 480. You can set it up in the configuration menu of the game or the setup program from DOS. I don't use it in-game though: the framerate is a bit slow in full screen mode and the graphics are only slightly better. I only use the high res setting for the cutscenes, which look even more outstanding.

Anyway, I highly recommend that you give it another try (surprise surprise ). RTM first.

[ 08-24-2001: Message edited by: Menchise ]

[IRSWalker]

If you are looking for a space-based game, and a bit of RTS, why not try Homeworld? It's available on Budget now, at least in the UK.

Very good game, although the single player campaign gets a bit dull (the last two missions depend on how you played the third last mission, and you generally have to go back and play it in an increbidbly tedious way).

The AI in the skirmish mode is not very imaginative (build as big a force as possible, attack en masse) but if you can find a friend and multiplayer, it is awesome.

Also, the graphics are super cool, and the scales are reasonably accurate (mothership is about 200 times size of fighter craft).

I think the sequel, Homeworld Cataclysm is also reduced in price, sort of semi-budget (about £18 in UK)

Regards,

Smiley

[Parias]

HOSTILE WATERS. Period.

[LordDavid]

Independence War 2 is good singleplayer fun.

[Scrivener]

Hostile Waters? Blech. I just put in my pre-order for Morrowind Collectors Edition (PC), X-Box Bravo Bundle (At ebgames.com), and Morrowind (X-Box). Think two Morrowinds is one too much? I bought Longest Journey again when they released it in the US... just for the nifty new box art (ie; I imported a UK version long before it was ever released here).

[Scrivener]

Shoot, I forgot. I also pre-ordered Empire Earth and Pool of Radiance 2. Both PC.