(OT) Games That Have Dissapointed You

Baron Munchausen · #1 February 28th, 2003, 07:18 PM

Hmm, I am so conservative in acquiring games that I am rarely 'disappointed'. I usually wait years after they are released and then survey the opinion field. And even then I often get ... 'evaluation copies' ... before actually buying. My involvement with SE IV before it was even released is highly unusual. Well, completely unique, actually.

Still, I have to agree that nearly anything 'Real Time' is a pain in the arse. I recently tried to play Starfleet Command II, partly out of curiousity at how RT games are developing (what with the RT component added to MOO 3) and partly out of attraction to getting to control a Trek-type starship. The graphics are beautiful. It's a very attractive looking game. But it's about speed and timing, and the computer will always win a contest of speed and timing. I managed to win a few of the early scenarios by retrying several times, but they get more and more difficult. And the game has bugs. SERIOUS bugs. Like solid lockup bugs. Managing to get within seconds of winning some difficult scenario and having the game lock solid has got to be the definition of frustration. I uninstalled SFB2 and carefully searched my registry for any remaining trace of it. End of story.

The original MOO and MOO II are very good games, though they have their flaws. Master of Magic is awesome. Why haven't they updated it for Windows? The Civ series is good, though it seems Civ II is actually better than Civ III.

All of the SimCity games have been great. I hope SC 4 gets patched/fixed so it can carry on the tradition.

[ February 28, 2003, 18:07: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

sachmo · #2 February 28th, 2003, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:

Still, I have to agree that nearly anything 'Real Time' is a pain in the arse.

I agree with this statement, for the most part. Europa Universalis II on Hearts of Iron are my only exceptions to this rule. I have now seen that RTS can be done well.

Mephisto · #3 February 28th, 2003, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sachmo:
Europa Universalis II on Hearts of Iron are my only exceptions to this rule.

EU are quite nice. Anyone ever played Close Combat 2? I loved this game and I think it is a fine example how you can do RTT (Last T for Tactics

). I never felt overrun by time (you could pause) and it did get rid of those IGYG problems of so many games. I played it hours and hours in single player (very good AI most of the time) and days with friends over LAN.

gregebowman · #4 February 28th, 2003, 08:25 PM

I think the most unsatisfactory time I had with a game was Starfleet Battles. I just don't the patience for a large learning curve. I'm sure if I look at my stack of computer games at home I'll see other games that didn't cut it. But whoever said that Civ 3 sucked I would have to argue strongly with. Now, I haven't tried the add-on, and I heard people had issues with that program, but since I couldn't run it I can't say anything about that. But Civ 3 IMO is the best of the series so far. I did like the feature in Call to Power that let you built a space station, but Civ 3 is definitely one of my favorite programs. Along with Sim City 3000 Unlimited. Hopefully my next computer will let me play some of these new games, because I still want to check out Sim City 4, Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 (the original still kicks ***), Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights and Icewind Dale 2. I'm not really into RTS, or any of those Tom Clancy Rainbow Six clones, so I can't say anything about those either.

henk brouwer · #5 February 28th, 2003, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by raynor:
M.A.X.1 was a an awesome game for the first 100 turns or so. After that it, it was worse than MAX2 because it would frequently crash. MAX2 was released unfinished. IMHO, that is the same story with MOO3. I think they made some design decisions that resulted in a game that was even more unplayable than the current game. But they knew that if they released at least something that they could make some money off the name.

Even with the mid-to-late-game bugs and crashes in MAX1, I still load it up at least once a year and play around with it. There is and probably never will be a game that compares to it in terms of building a base with radar, anti-air defense, turrets, etc.

MAX 1 crashed? I never had that problem, and I remember playing games of up to 500 turns, multiplayer was very unstable though.. did you use the patch? I also really liked the system used in the game to improve/upgrade your units, very simple in design, but choosing the right tech upgrades could be crucial.

As for Max2: It crashed so often that I never completed a single game or reached the hundreth turn. They gave up patching it after 1 or 2 patches that didn't solve the problem.

I'm still hoping for a MAX3.. it will never happen though.

* starts searching for his MAX1 CD to reinstall it*

[ February 28, 2003, 18:44: Message edited by: henk brouwer ]

Chronon · #6 February 28th, 2003, 10:08 PM

I don't buy too many games, but there have been some disappointments:

1. Civ III (My expectations were too high. I wanted SMAC on Earth)
2. Seven Kingdoms (RTS just isn't exciting to me)
3. Europa Universalis II (Locks up on my computer even though I meet the minimum requirements)
4. Black and White (Same problem as EU II)
5. Spaces Empires IV (AI and graphics) (Please don't go ballistic, read on...)

Best games:

1. SMAC (Depth of play is immense - did need some serious patching, though)
2. Space Empires IV Gold (PBW and modability make AI and graphics deficiencies irrelevant - or even an asset in the case of graphics, because an artistically challenged person like me can make a shipset)(Oh, and I shouldn't forget, the best community of gamers anywhere)
3. Combat Mission (revolutionary gameplay - this is how to combine turn-based and real-time action!)
4. Civ II
5. Strategic Command (Third Reich on the computer!)

I'll reserve judgment on MoO3 until I actually play it.

Aloofi · #7 February 28th, 2003, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mephisto:
. Anyone ever played Close Combat 2? I loved this game and I think it is a fine example how you can do RTT (Last T for Tactics ). I never felt overrun by time (you could pause) and it did get rid of those IGYG problems of so many games. I played it hours and hours in single player (very good AI most of the time) and days with friends over LAN.

I've played Close Combat 5, and its probably the most realistic WW2 tactical game ever. If you forget that in reality most battles in the Western front were decided by the allied air supremacy, that is.
But it is a great game. Definitively a top ten ever in my book.