OT: Recommendations?

Endoperez · #1 March 13th, 2004, 08:23 PM

As opposed to Nethack, ADOM! It's a hard game, though, and not an easy one to get hold of. But believe me, once you learn the ASCII you can read through the game! For some reason I can't stand the graphics of older Ultimas but I have no problems playing ADOM. BTW, in ADOM you can't choose to play Ironman. It is the norm, and the only possibility programmed in the game...

Wonderful game, anyway. BTW, Illwinter links to ADOM, Dungeon Crawl AND Slash'em. I have thought I should try Crawl too. Has anyone here tried it? How it compares to ADOM?

E. Albright · #2 March 13th, 2004, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fahdiz:
I guess what I'm looking for (and I suppose I should have been clearer, since I've gotten a lot of these types of responses) is not so much old classics (as I've been a computer/board/pen-and-paper gamer for a long time) but more the "relatively recently-released, unknown/unsung, unjustly ignored" types of games.

H'm. What do you mean by recent? I feel compelled to put in a good word for Emperor of the Fading Suns, but it's about eight (?) years old now. This seems recent to me, but my standards may be warped. Anyway, it's a lovely little Machevellian sci-fi TBS. The AI leaves a great deal to be desired (it's probably best for PBEM), and the game feels slightly unfinished (some of the intended functionality looks so wonderful that I want to cry), but what it does deliver is very, very solid. I've never found another game (well, except Merchant Prince) that allows for as much conniving political interaction. Which of course only makes me all the more mournful that it wasn't adequetely supported and/or finished. Oh, and the combat model is almost perfect. Routed units aren't quite handled right (IMO), but combined arms are done nicely.

Anyway, shortcomings aside, I'll finish my (qualified) gushing endorsement by pointing out that, despite all of its shortcomings, it's been continuously installed since I bought it...

[ March 13, 2004, 21:33: Message edited by: E. Albright ]

fahdiz · #3 March 14th, 2004, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Endoperez:
As opposed to Nethack, ADOM! It's a hard game, though, and not an easy one to get hold of.

Bah, if not for Nethack there'd have been no ADOM.

Quote:

BTW, in ADOM you can't choose to play Ironman. It is the norm, and the only possibility programmed in the game...

Same with Nethack. You die, game over.

Quote:

Wonderful game, anyway. BTW, Illwinter links to ADOM, Dungeon Crawl AND Slash'em. I have thought I should try Crawl too. Has anyone here tried it? How it compares to ADOM?

I've played Dungeon Crawl, and think it stacks up quite favorably to ADOM. The way it handles line-of-sight is quite brilliant, actually.

moodgiesanta · #4 March 14th, 2004, 07:51 PM

I missed the Black Isle/Interplay bashing.

Anyhow, Geneforge 1 and 2 are very good, from the dude who made Exile. Also see Avernum 3, a nice game much in the same vein of Exile.

Arcanum is very hit-or-miss. Not really an indy game, though. Arcana, on the other hand, which is as indy of a game as you can get for a console, is one of the underrated gems of the Super Nintendo.

3D dungeon romp with neat graphics and a fairly good soundtrack, for a 16-bit game. And lots of nostalgia from long ago . . .

[ June 06, 2004, 18:52: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Truper · #5 March 14th, 2004, 08:27 PM

Hit the ol' edit post button too soon...

[ March 14, 2004, 18:31: Message edited by: Truper ]

Truper · #6 March 14th, 2004, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by E. Albright:

quote:
Originally posted by fahdiz:
I guess what I'm looking for (and I suppose I should have been clearer, since I've gotten a lot of these types of responses) is not so much old classics (as I've been a computer/board/pen-and-paper gamer for a long time) but more the "relatively recently-released, unknown/unsung, unjustly ignored" types of games.

H'm. What do you mean by recent? I feel compelled to put in a good word for Emperor of the Fading Suns, but it's about eight (?) years old now. This seems recent to me, but my standards may be warped. Anyway, it's a lovely little Machevellian sci-fi TBS. The AI leaves a great deal to be desired (it's probably best for PBEM), and the game feels slightly unfinished (some of the intended functionality looks so wonderful that I want to cry), but what it does deliver is very, very solid. I've never found another game (well, except Merchant Prince) that allows for as much conniving political interaction. Which of course only makes me all the more mournful that it wasn't adequetely supported and/or finished. Oh, and the combat model is almost perfect. Routed units aren't quite handled right (IMO), but combined arms are done nicely.

Anyway, shortcomings aside, I'll finish my (qualified) gushing endorsement by pointing out that, despite all of its shortcomings, it's been continuously installed since I bought it...

Are you aware of the fan-made mods? They went a long way toward fixing some of the problems in the original EFS. If you're interested, I can probably locate the site again - it been quite a few years since I was invilved with EFS - but it sure was a great game...

fahdiz · #7 March 15th, 2004, 04:48 PM

Well, this weekend I broke down and ordered EU2 (found it for $11 Online, couldn't find it in the bargain bins of the usual game stores I frequent)...so that'll be arriving soon. One quick question about EU2 - is it possible to mold the state religion of your nation of choice, or do you pretty much have to tow the line of recorded history?

For example: if I wanted a Catholic China or a Buddhist British Empire, could I do so in EU2?