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7 Best & 7 Worst PC Games

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7 Best & 7 Worst PC Games

from GalCiv2 Forums
As I win several games on the tough level (in this case GC2), I begin to get bored (no reflection on the excellent GC2). As with all fine games, Chess, Poker, Talonsoft series, after a while I look forward to the next generation of new PC Games.

While waiting, I like to discuss how we gamers like our PC games. Sometimes I learn of a game I have not heard about & will enjoy playing.

I wonder what our finest & worst game lists include.

I begin. I recognize that my choices will not necessarily be your choices.

The Best

1. Talonsoft military series (West Front Elite) etc. All turnbased. Verbs are not needed here. Needed more programming & army groupings were often too large & ai/programming was lacking. The artwork was brilliant.

2. Age of Empires 1 & 2. RTS that was balanced & worked. The later Age games were unbalanced & therefore unplayable by me. Additionally, RTS is not my faorite genre.

3. Chessmaster series.

4. Myst # 1 & Syberia 1 & 2. Too many puzzles had nothing to do with the plot. Artwork was brilliant.

5. The latest Hoyle Casino. Finaly got the rules in Texas Holdum right.

6. Hearts of Might & Magic 4. It worked

7. Tropico. Poor Fidel & Che. Nice artwork, music. After you developed 1 island, the game got repetitious.

The Worst

1. Paradox games. All. They have yet to produce a game. What they release is always bug ridden. Shortcuts, only hire one blind programmer at $1.50 an hour. Don't like the conquer the world stuff. Latest Europa 3 has no historical events;-Need I say more?

2. Totalwar. Shogun was decent; went downhill from there. Don't like the conquer the world stuff. I realize that others have higher opinion of Totalwar. The only opinion that counts on this planet - is yours.

3. Balders Gate. Beautiful artwork, but my heroes & heroines kept dying. Never made it to town of Balders Gate. It was the best of the hack & Slashes.

4. MOO3

5. Lords of the Realm 3. #2 had unbalanced economy that ruined a promising game. #3 had some brilliant concempt changes, but the $budget$ ran out & LOTR3 was released unfinished.

6. Civilwar Generals 1 & 2. They couldn't master the simple art of having units SHOOT. They only pushed, or charged. Had potential.

7. The whole genre of shooters.


These are only partial lists. The wife hates all my games. She thinks life is about hard work, responsibility, courage, & properly raising our kids. I love her, but she's not perfect. I'm interested in your favorites/worsts. Your choices will reveal much about your personality.

"A single dream is worth a thousand realities." Tolkien

"I'm going to the pub to talk a little treason." Barry Fitzgerald

        
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Reply #51 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Favourite games of mine in a relatively random order:

1) Medieval 2 Total War
2) Rome Total War
3) Command & Conquer Generals
4) Company of Heroes
5) Star Trek Armada I
6) Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots
7) Starcraft + expansion
8) Star Trek Birth of the Federation
9) Civilization 4 + expansion
10) Age of Empires II

Age of Empires II was the first game I played. In fact, it was my nephew who introduced me to it when I was visiting my brother's family, back in 2000. That game was what caused me to go out and actually buy (for the time period) a relatively decent computer so that I could actually play the dang thing!

Got hooked on RTS games right away, and my second purchase was Star Trek Armada I, which I still consider a great game. Starcraft came next, but Birth of the Federation was the first Turn-Based game that I ever played. Now that turned my crank! I now prefer TBS games, which allows me time to think out strategy and not get involved in a click fest! ( I'm an old man, can't do that stuff).

To that end, I now prefer to play M2TW most of the time. I own GalCiv 2, just haven't bought the expansion yet. I have heard and read that it is getting positive reviews, and may consider getting it in the near future. For the time being, however, I am patiently waiting for the 650 meg ( that's right, it's that big!) patch for M2TW, which is apparently due out sometime within the next week.

Good gaming, everyone!
Reply #52 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Favourites from the past....

Lords of Midnight (Zx Spectrum)

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -Infocom-(Commodore 64)

Elite (Spectrum/Commodore 64)

Ultima IV (Amiga)


Hmmmm....
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #53 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ultima IV (Amiga)


I used to have an Amiga computer.

Games on that system that i liked were - speedball 2, hybris, centurion and golf.
And i have never had any luck running those games on a windows system today - because the available Amiga-Windows emulators around are simply too difficult/complicated/confusing to install and opperate.
Reply #54 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought civilisation 2 and civilisation call to power are the same game?


They aren't. Civilization: CTP came out after Civ II, and it was made by Activision, not Microprose like the originals. I purchased it assuming that it was basically Civ III, but it was definitely not(especially since a REAL Civ III was released later.)

Actually, now that I dug out my discs, a nostalgic game may be in order.
Reply #55 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
They aren't. Civilization: CTP came out after Civ II, and it was made by Activision, not Microprose like the originals. I purchased it assuming that it was basically Civ III, but it was definitely not(especially since a REAL Civ III was released later.)

Actually, now that I dug out my discs, a nostalgic game may be in order.



I have the original civilisation game by microprose but it is not called civ2? it is just called 'civilisation multiplayer'. It is a brilliant game, but the disk got damaged so i cannot play it anymore.

"fire", smash, smash, smash, caboom!
Reply #56 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here are some of mine.....

The best

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 my all time favorite
Starcraft
Diablo (first one)
Age of Empires 2
Neverwinter Nights 1
World of Warcraft (for about a year till the XP only introduced more grinding and riding chickens)
GalCiv 1 and 2 both great games


Bad games.....There are so many unfortunately. Usually If I dont like it, I uninstall it and thats the end of it so I cant think of any in particular.

Reply #57 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have the original civilisation game by microprose but it is not called civ2? it is just called 'civilisation multiplayer'. It is a brilliant game, but the disk got damaged so i cannot play it anymore.

"fire", smash, smash, smash, caboom!


I believe the multiplayer was an expansion to Civ II, released as a gold edition, so it is basically the same game, very fun.

Broken disc? That really sucks. It's as bad as my lent-but-never-returned System Shock 2 disc. Thank you Stardock for not allowing that to happen with GCII!
Reply #58 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The Good

1. Master of Orion (original was groundbreaking in its excellence, 2nd was better but didnt have the same knock you over with originality as the 1st)
2. Homeworld (in a class of its own, why no one else uses their engine is beyond me)
3. Fallout 1&2 (hilarious and epic at the same time, never a dull moment and more world than you need to beat the game, which means plenty of variety)
4. Starcontrol 2 (all the original goodness plus a great rpg element)
5. Total War Series (never played Shogun but own all the rest, Med2 a little hackneyed but still a ton of fun and well executed)
6. Hearts of Iron 1&2 (For my money its the only WWII series worth buying)
7. Starcraft (Not an rst fan but so far they are the only ones to be able to really balance a game well enough to make multi-player fun)

The Ugly
1. Imperium Galactic 2 (pretty but no substance)
2. MOO 3 (just a tragedy, man that game sucked)
3. The Sims (come on a game where I have to tell people to take a piss, I understand a lot of poeple loved this game but to me it was just silly)
4. Axis & Allies RTS (the battle mechanics were too easy and the strategy aspect didnt make sense.)
5. MOO 3 (it sucked so bad that it gets double mention)
6. Nexus The Jupiter Incident (homeworld wannabe with no freedom)
7. Europa Universalis Crown of the North(the others were great why they dumbed down the game to grade school level I have no idea)
Reply #59 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I believe the multiplayer was an expansion to Civ II, released as a gold edition, so it is basically the same game, very fun.

ok

Broken disc? That really sucks. It's as bad as my lent-but-never-returned System Shock 2 disc. Thank you Stardock for not allowing that to happen with GCII!


Yea, disk dependand games a a real pain in the ass, even when the disk works! I mean who wan'ts to stuff around with disks to play games? I know i don't. Disk hasstle is also a big insentive to obtain pirated software too.

Yes thank you Stardock for breaking us all free from the ball and chain of the disk!

Reply #60 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My best but not in any order...

CIV4 (of course)
GalCiv2 (especially with DA expansion)
Rise of Nations
Empire Earth I & II
Battlefield 1942 (and its expansions)
Flight Simulator X (of course if you can call it a game)
Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006
The Sims 2 (and all its awesome expansions)
Hearts of Iron 2
Making History The Calm & The Storm (maybe better then Hearts of Iron series and just released but already makes this list)

These are all I can think of right now and its mainly a current best, not all time. Although if I had to pick a single best all time it will be the civilization series as far as games go.

I really don't have a worse games list. I like most of my games, just some more then others. I don't remember the bad games since they are forgotten anyway.
Reply #61 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't remember the bad games since they are forgotten anyway.


yea, and if a game seems bad at the begining then you won't keep playing it and descover if it is truely bad or not.

Some games which i bought and played for about half anower befor throwing them in the crap basket never to be played again include Startrek amada and Starcraft which i hear are good games, but i couldn't get into them.

The problem i had with stacraft was that i think there was some kind of bug with the levels - since the easiest level was stageringly difficuilt and i couldn't get into the game. Startrek amada pissed me off because i couldn't shoot anything so i threw that one in the crap basket as a result.

oh yea, i bought Perimeter late last year too, installed it, had a bit of a look but never really played it either, i forget what put me off?
Reply #62 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow, this sure brings back memories! I doubt most of you will understand this particular lunacy but I swore off video games for the month of March and reading this thread is like someone handing a junkie a crack pipe and a lifetime supply of great stuff. Anyway, here's my list and thanks for those of you who reminded of a few great ones! In no particular order except the first one!
1)Master of Orion 2
Civilization IV
Baldur's Gate 2 is the best RPG in my mind although I'd like to add Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, and maybe someday NWN2 (see below)
X-Com
Tie Fighter - noone seems to remember this game but it was so incredibly challenging and exciting it would leave you sweating, shaking and exhausted
The Wizardry series - if they'd ever had decent graphics they'd have been huge hits
Half Life

Worst games: I'm sure most of the worst games have vanished unknown and unloved into the abyss. What we're really talking about are most disappointing games. I think many of you are being premature adding Neverwinter Nights 2 to this list, it's getting better with every patch and I think in a few months there will be some amazing user content. Give it some time! Anyway, here goes...
1)Master of Orion 3 shall live in infamy!
Actually that's the only one I can think of that I waited for, craved with every fiber of my being, and then felt betrayed and full of despair when it failed so completely. Most games that I don't like I just forget about. And I have...
Reply #63 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Best and worst games, other than buggy, are from the likes and dislikes of the players.

I am an old time AD&D player and Dungeon Master, and really loved the SSI Gold Box Forgotten Realms games, since they were faithful to the Turn Based game. Dungeon Hack is the only FPS AD&D game that I like. So these go down as no. 1 and 2.

1: SSI Forgotten Realms Gold Box games
2: Dungeon Hack

I got Fallout 1 bundled with Baldur's Gate, and really got hooked on it, then got Fallout 2 and love that. So these are number 3.

3: Fallout 1 and 2

4: Alpha Centauri (refreshing change from Civ)
5: Calciv 1 and 2
6: Corridor 7 CDROM (little known msdos scifi fps game)
7: Doom series.

Don't really like Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale, since I feel that the game companies caved to the Joystick Jockies, and betrayed the turn based origin of AD&D.

Can't stand games like Wing Commander, cause my hand/eye coordination and dexterity ain't all that great.

I think Worst Games should be classified by the number of bugs never fixed, and how poor the support is from the companies that make them.
Reply #64 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The Sims (come on a game where I have to tell people to take a piss, I understand a lot of poeple loved this game but to me it was just silly)


LOL!!! My 13yr old daughter is a Sims junkie, but I play games to escape my life (ask my wife), not wallow in it. A game where I need a job and have to set an alarm clock? Not for me. That's like a Twilight Zone episode. How about a Sim mini-game, where your Sim can play a game with Sims, too....

Oooo, now my head hurts...
Reply #65 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Best:
Homeworld
Total Annihilation
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Keeper 2
Alice
Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain
Startopia
Warrior Kings
Dawn of War Series
Unreal Tournament Series
BloodRayne
Freelancer
Populous(The Original) and Populous: The Beginning

Honorable Mention:
Space Colony
Impossible Creatures
Prey (could've had more replayability)
Rise of Legends
Fallout 2 (good but I don't keep going back again and again)
Black & White (could've been in best but was too much like babysitting)
Creatures 2
Eve Online (wonderful detailed game universe and offline character advancement; but a little too much like real life)

Worst:
Etherlords
Etherlords (so bad I had to list it twice)
Warrior Kings (abandoned with too many bugs, fixed and resold as WK: Battles)
Too many more to name...

Overrated:
Blizzard
Reply #66 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am really missing the funniest games ever made:
Monkey Island
Day of the Tentacle
I have played those over and over again...
Reply #67 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Whats a good multiplayer game?

I'm looking for games i can play with my wife... we enjoyed playing lionheart and dungeonsiege2

Most other promising games i find have some catch that spoils it - mostly they won't have a multiplayer capable main mission. A good example of that problem is neverwinter nights. I wanted to play that but no, no multiplayer mission, useless. If i had to play a game by myself, i would prefer just to play Galciv, so why would i wan't neverwinter nights?? stupid.

Any suggestions most welcome?
Reply #68 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Favorites in no particular order:

GalCiv 2 & Dark Avatar
TES: Morrowind & Expansions (and mods, of course)
Europa Universalis 2
Crusader Kings
Baldur's Gate 1&2
Tropico & Expansion
Rise of Nations & Throne and Patriots

Honorable Mentions to:
Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
Fallout 1&2
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
Diablo 2
Rainbow 6 up through Raven Shield
Unreal Tournament 2004

That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure I'm forgetting some great titles.

There are a lot of totally unplayable PC games out there, and generally I've steered totally clear of them. Of the games I've played with high hopes, some rubbed me strongly the wrong way, so I guess I'll list those:

WoW (only played the free trial, thank god, never spent money on this turkey)
Europa Universalis 3(Paradox has, sadly, lost it)
Civilizations 3 (it's no SMAC, that's for sure)
Planescape: Torment (would make a lovely novel, but makes a terrible game)
Age of Mythology (like the other "Age of"'s it's badly balanced micromanagement hell)

That's about all that comes to mind. Those are by no means the "worst games of all time" since all of them are pretty well made, they're just not at all what I want in a game of their various genres.




Reply #69 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A good example of that problem is neverwinter nights. I wanted to play that but no, no multiplayer mission


Huh? The main campaign of the original game, as well as those of the various expansions, can all be played coop with others (and are frankly a lot more fun that way, NWN's kind of useless as a single player game since there's no real party dynamic). Then of course there are all the fan made modules...
Reply #70 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Huh? The main campaign of the original game, as well as those of the various expansions, can all be played coop with others (and are frankly a lot more fun that way, NWN's kind of useless as a single player game since there's no real party dynamic). Then of course there are all the fan made modules...


You must be mistaken.

I was in store just last week to buy that game after hearing it was good,, I stood there in store for 10 minutes carefully studying the advertising on the box... no, no multiplayer mentioned. I even asked the guy in the store and he also studied the box for a few minutes before informing me it does not have a multiplayer.

So it would be absurdly stupid for the producers of neverwinter nights to have a multiplayer and then not advertise it on the box!! I cannot believe anyone could be that totally stupid, so surly you must be wrong Vinraith??
Reply #71 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
WoW is definetly on the top of my list for worst games ever created.

Though I love Blizzard and worship at their feet for WC3, it is sad to see a company become so money obsessed.
Reply #72 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Though I love Blizzard and worship at their feet for WC3, it is sad to see a company become so money obsessed.


Did they open on the share market? That's a sure fire way to flush the priorities of any good company down the toilet.
Reply #73 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Huh? The main campaign of the original game, as well as those of the various expansions, can all be played coop with others (and are frankly a lot more fun that way, NWN's kind of useless as a single player game since there's no real party dynamic). Then of course there are all the fan made modules...


You must be mistaken.



NWN is primarily a multiplayer game, I know this because I've played through both the original and the Hordes of the Underdark campaigns with friends online. I tried playing them single player but was bored out of my mind, with friends however it's a fun game. I can't imagine how you could have gotten the impression it's single player only, and I can only guess that the store employee was a console game junkie because NWN was a huge PC gaming hit as an MP game. We are talking about the same game here, right? There's Neverwinter Nights (the original), then there are two retail expansions (Hordes of the Underdark and Shadows of Undrentide), then there were a number of additional expansions released online, and now there's NWN2. Every single one of these (except a couple of the online-only xpacks that are designed for people that wanted a good single player experience) is primarily multiplayer, as is the vast majority of the huge bulk of fan made modules for the game.

Read any review of the game ever published if you still think I'm mistaken.

Reply #74 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
it is sad to see a company become so money obsessed.


It really is, I've never seen a game so carefully designed to waste the maximum amount of your time possible. I suppose that's the nature of subscription games, but I'd thought better of Blizzard. I can see why the guys from Arenanet and Flagship left, frankly.
Reply #75 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
NWN is primarily a multiplayer game, I know this because I've played through both the original and the Hordes of the Underdark campaigns with friends online.


oh ok. i will have to look it up

But not all multiplayer games would be of any use to me and my wife at home. I am noticing more and more games with exclusive online servers which kills the at home LAN option. I nearly bought one the other day, i forget the name but i was sadly dissapointed - the store attendant said i would have to buy the game twice to play online with my wife 'bingo' there's my answer why LAN is out.