OT: any other games?

[Saber Cherry]

Actually, I have Escape Velocity Nova as well! I like it. That's the only shareware product I've ever registered, which shows how much I liked it. I never registered Dom I because I always thought Dom II was just around the corner...

Xenogears. I bought a Playstation just so I could play that game. And I considered it a worthwhile transaction, even though the only other Playstation game I liked was Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. But, Xenogears is not "Playstation only", per se, as it runs on the PS2 as well...

Um, I'm lazy. But the reason I brought this up is because I was just writing a letter to a friend, convincing her to get Xenogears... I gave my copy away... so allow me to quote that letter (modified a bit):

I was sooo looking forward to Chrono Cross, and it disappointed the heck out of me after Chrono Trigger. Inferior music, gameplay, plot, dialogue… the way you can’t level up except at boss battles… lack of cool items to find and equip… but you know what? The reason that (for me…) Chrono Cross did not live up to Chrono Trigger is that the team that made Chrono Trigger, did not make Chrono Cross! Instead, they (the complete team, including the composer) left Square to for their own company, which produced one of your favorite games, Xenosaga! That team produced Chrono Trigger (SNES), Xenogears (Playstation), and then Xenosaga (PS2). And I’ve never played Xenosaga, but I’ve been dying to do so! Because, you see… The best game of all time is Xenogears!!! It has the best music ever (in a video game – close seconds are Final Fantasy III and Chrono Trigger), the most interesting and complete character development ever – I mean, it has better character development than any movie I’ve ever seen, and even any book I’ve read – and I’ve read a lot! It also has a better plot than most books I’ve read, and the depth of the storyline is phenomenal – you could write 5 complete novels and wouldn’t cover all of what Xenogears hints at! And not dumb books, either, like you’d get if you transcribed the backstory for most other games. The feeling of excitement and anticipation, and just overwhelming coolness as you advance is… well… overwhelming! I cannot heap enough praise on this game.

Xenogears is an RPG that has giant robots. But those aren't what make it good, they just make it cool. Everything about Xenogears is awesome, except the graphics, which are about average Playstation quality. But, it still has the coolest FMV and game-engine cutscenes ever, regardless of the fact that the platform is dated. The thing about it is... you start off kind of confused, not really knowing what's going on. It's not, "Here, Light Warrior, defeat the Dragon Lord with this sword" like most RPGs. It's more like there are real people, in realistic (though sci-fi) situations...

And as you go through the game, every time you think, "Wow, this game just transcended the limits of depth and coolness", some shocking new revelation will occur! As a result, it does not have very high replay value, but it's such a massive game that it took me 99 hours to the end. So, I forgive it that one vice.

By the way, I was not impressed with the first hour of Xenogears, I thought it was dumb. Only when my friend convinced me that, yes, it was BETTER than Chrono Trigger, and kept telling me that, did I cave and buy a PS just so I could play Xenogears... which, by the way, is vastly superior to Xenosaga (the prequel) from all reports I've seen. Anyway, Xenogears is more than a game, it's like the coolest sci-fi movie you've ever seen combined with an excellent book (if you skip dialogue, skip this game. But, most game dialogue is bad and boring, so...) combined with a great game.

Well, I gotta go eat, so bye-bye! But I hope I convinced someone=)

-Cherry

[ October 24, 2003, 00:47: Message edited by: Saber Cherry ]

[PvK]

Thanks Sabre Cherry. I don't think I'll by a Playstation console just to play Xenogears, but if/when the opportunity presents itself to find out more, I will. I did check out some equally-impressed reviews and saw some screenshots. Sounds like a classic.

PvK

[st.patrik]

Originally posted by PvK:
Oh, I should mention I also enjoyed playing Escape Velocity: Nova. It's an Asteroids-y space RPG, with a very complete demo. I don't know how many other Dominions players would enjoy that genre, though.

PvK

I enjoyed this game, but found it's replayability somewhat limited after you've played through each mission string. It's cool because you can do anything - be a trader, renegade, government agent, asteroid miner, etc., but only when you play for one of the major factions does it really get interesting. There's lots of equipping your ship and blowing things up though, and against very varied opponents - which is always nice.

[Vodalian]

Originally posted by PvK:
Oh, I should mention I also enjoyed playing Escape Velocity: Nova. It's an Asteroids-y space RPG, with a very complete demo. I don't know how many other Dominions players would enjoy that genre, though.

PvK

Wow, I never expected to find Escape Velocity gamers here. I'm a devout follower of the series, even though the third and latest installment Nova was a disappointment to me. I would seriously suggest you to get a mac emulator and try out the two previous games. There are several guides on the net how to do it.

[MythicalMino]

ok, i went on and bought the Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri and Alien Crossfire games (at Wal-Mart, i guess they are re-publishint Alien Crossfire again)....

Also, sent the order for Stars! serial number, but nothing back on that yet... :-(

I hope I didn't/don't get screwed and all my money in my bank account disappears...

[Psitticine]

Alpha Centauri/Alien Crossfire are among my all-time Favorites. I am so hoping they'll announce development plans for a sequel some day!

[st.patrik]

Originally posted by Vodalian:

quote:

---

Originally posted by PvK:
Oh, I should mention I also enjoyed playing Escape Velocity: Nova. It's an Asteroids-y space RPG, with a very complete demo. I don't know how many other Dominions players would enjoy that genre, though.

PvK

Wow, I never expected to find Escape Velocity gamers here. I'm a devout follower of the series, even though the third and latest installment Nova was a disappointment to me. I would seriously suggest you to get a mac emulator and try out the two previous games. There are several guides on the net how to do it.

---

actually there's no need to get a mac emulator for the previous 2 installments - they are now available as plug-ins for EV Nova. check out the add-ons page on Ambrosia's Nova site.

[MythicalMino]

Mortifer, how is Warlords 4? worthy?

[licker]

Heh, for some perverse reason I loaded up Might and Magic VI the other day. Now I'm hooked back into it, though in about a week I'll get sick of the repetative fights and other nigling annoyances.

Still the first time I played that game I was amazed at how well it kept me engrossed. Wizardy VII was better I guess, but I was still in college for Wiz VII. Wiz8 is great too, at least from the demo, but man, I got no time for that one

[Mortifer]

Well a little more about Warlords 4.

IMHO the game is ok, but nothing more. I really like as you can upgrade your warlord, units and heroes.
The new battle system is ok. The gfx is average.
The spells are ok as well.

However I dont have the old warlords feeling that I had, when I was playing with Darklords Rising for example. This game lacks of something. I cant tell you what is it, but if you gonna try it out you will feel the same propably... This is definitely not better than the old warlords games...
The AI on harder levels is really good. It is really thinking. It wont attack a city for example if his chances are a little worse than yours, also it is making nice strategic moves.

If I must rate this game on a 0-100 scale, than Warlords 4. will score 60/100...
As I said the worst part, that I dont have that good old 'warlords feeling' while I am playing with the game.

[ October 24, 2003, 21:33: Message edited by: Mortifer ]