Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Because Aftermath is missing the entire climb ladders/stairs and go inside buildings aspect that made the X-COM battles so interesting. Plus it lacks the economic side of the game. No base construction & layout. It's just research and 2D fighting. What it does, it does better. Problem is that it doesn't do as much as the orginal games did. So it leaves a lot of people unsatisified. You don't get enough of that "being in control" feeling.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

Oh, and perhaps I'm just being loony, but you might want to look at _Settlers of Catan_, which has board, 2-player card, and apparently, computer variants. Sometimes it's good to play in person so you can throttle the other fellow when he takes away your Bishop with a Spy, then immediately launches three Arsonists and toasts your expensive buildings.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Settlers of Catan is one of my wife's and my favorite board games. You people have great taste! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

Here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Uplink: http://www.introVersion.co.uk/uplink/

This is a nifty game where you are a hacker. Very interestingly done.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

I definitely agree with Kohan beeing a little gem. It is the only real time strategy game that "feels" like a turn by turn game. The "company" system and the clear choices to reward thinking vs. micromanagement and click fests was truely refreshing.

The best civ-like is IMHO SMAC. The game itself was a solid and classical (but well done, the whole social engineering system was nifty) civ-clone, but what I really liked in this game was the "storytelling", immersive elements. With all the voice acting and text blurbs for each technologies and buildings, and the text interludes following up the great game manual, there was a nice atmosphere of discovery, I truely felt I was unlocking the secrets of the planet.

Although the game is very, very basic (though strangely addictive) and has nowhere near the depth of even the AoW or HoMM series, I have a soft spot for the Disciples series. The graphics of disciples 2 are gorgeous, and the "dark fantasy" art is really brillant (though I dislike the main map, way too crowded, however the character portraits and combat models are awesome) : again, a very immersive experience, largely due to the art style this time.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">SMAC was second only to MoM for 4x games to me. For non 4x strategy, I liked Sacrifice a *lot*, though it had more of a chess like quality.

- Kel

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I couldn't agree more. It's fabulous for what it is. I always sort of likened it to a turn-based fighting game more than a strategy game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif And the artwork and models are, bar none, the slickest stuff I've seen in a strategy game to date.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">SMAC was second only to MoM for 4x games to me. For non 4x strategy, I liked Sacrifice a *lot*, though it had more of a chess like quality.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif Chess-like? Yes, I suppose...if you like playing chess at Ludicrous Speed (TM). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Sacrifice is a total gem. Fast paced and VERY fun.

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

Going the fantasy way of suggesting games:

A couple of years ago, I fell in love with the Exile-series from Spiderweb. Great immersive hack&slay-rpgs. Check out Avernum I - III, their spiritual children, but beware: They're huge. My third time playing through Avernum III, which I all but knew by heart then, took about 55 hours playing time approximately, and none of it boring.

King Of Dragonpass is *the* game for all Hero Wars and Glorantha fans, and everyone into interactive stories.

I'd suggest Planescape: Torment as probably the best computer-rpg available, but since everyone knows it (or should, at least...)... unbelievable that a company that proved that it could deliver tons of story, highly interesting characters and finally an interaction system that allows you more than the general "Yes, I would love to lick your boots"-, "Now you die scum!"- and "I'll do it, but pay me first"-answers then turned out some disappointing crap like Neverwinternights...

Those are my independent favourites. I am also an avid Morrowindplayer, but that's beside the point. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: OT: Recommendations?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">From arguably the best line in that movie ...