Well, I've made this post because I have bought a NEW computer after, let's see... one, two, three... NINE years and I want to enjoy it while I still can. In March I start college and I doubt I'll be able to play much.
What I want is you to recommend me GREAT games of different genres for me to try because I've been out of the modern game world for too long. I've been living pretty much on abandonware and low req freeware.
I will point you some of the games I've played and enjoyed so you can have some kind of guideline but feel free to suggest whatever you like. I'm open to everything. ;) Don’t suggest LCS or Dwarf Fortress though, I will surely play them.
If you add links with info on the game and/or personal experiences I would greatly appreciate it.
Mind you, I don’t have Internet connection at home right now so it’s all mainly for single play.
Next are the genres with some games I enjoyed and below, between brackets, a list of the games to play.
TBS (Turn Based Strategy): Civilization, Heroes, Worms, KOEI games.
(Civ IV)
I love TBS games because they actually give me time to think what the best possible solution is. Addicted to CIV.
Europa Universalis is another of my favorites (although it is really RTS you can adjust the speeds in such ways that feels like a TBS)
RTS (Real Time Strategy): Age Of Empires, Command & Conquer, Warcraft, Total War.
(Starcraft, Empire Earth, Homeworld, Black & White 2)
I suck at these but want to give them a second chance. I loved Warcraft 2, liked AOE 2 but spent most of my time toying with the editor, won C & C Red Alert 2 and really liked it.
I also played a demo of Shogun Total War and loved the difference of the battle system. Tactics here actually mean something. Plus there's no endless resource gathering but smart fighting.
FPS (First Person Shooter): Counter Strike & Mods, Quake 3.
(Halo)
I'm a CS former addict. ;) I've wasted so many hours playing it on LAN or on the NET... I'm a crackshot really :)
Apart from that, I don't really enjoy much FPS’s where all you do is shoot shoot shoot frantically. I prefer games that reward good aim (Like playing Day of Defeat being a Scharschuzer, or something like that). I liked Quake 3 arena too but disliked Red Faction's Single player. I don't like having to save bullets like in Half-Life!
Action / Adventure: GTA, Metal Gear, Hitman, Max Payne.
(The Path of Neo, Simpsons Hit & Run)
I’m not fond of games that just mean pressing buttons at the right moment. I want fun, content, possibilities and a good story. I loved GTA (I played very few of the newer versions though). Hitman was awesome but hard. Max Payne was great even though I played so little. Metal Gear: Now that’s what I call a game! I won the first one and can’t wait to play the sequels.
Sports: NBA, NFL, NHL, PES, Championship manager,
(2k9)
Sport games are great. I like them to be challenging but fair… NO RUBBERBANDING! I love NBA games. I spent sooo many years playing NBA Jam Extreme ;), I love Pro Evolution/Winning Eleven Series, had fun with Fifa in multiplayer and also enjoy tennis, NFL, NHL, all of them really. Even Olympic games once in a while. Related to sports, I became seriously addicted to Championship Manager until the save game message told me that I couldn’t afford to stop breathing ;) It’s been a long time since I last played a racing game but all NFS are great.
RPG (Role Playing Game): Fallout 1, 2, Arcanum
(Fallout 3, Planescape Torment)
Haven’t played very much of this but absolutely loved Fallout 1 and 2, I enjoyed Arcanum too. I just don’t like games where you spend far more time click-slaying monsters to get xp than making decisions. I prefer turn based combat.
Graphic Adventure: Monkey Island, Indy Jones Atlantis, Day of the Tentacle, Sam & Max.
(Grim Fandango, The Longest Journey, GK 3, Larry 7)
Ahhh! My area of expertise. I have played (and beaten) so many GA games… The old ones from Sierra and Lucasarts and so many indie ones made with AGS (Adventure Game Studio). My favorites are MI and Indy Jones but I could also mention DOT, S&M, Full Throttle, Larry, Police Quest, Gabriel Knight, etc.
I haven’t tried new ones (well, after 2000 ones, hehe) like GK3, The Longest Journey, Larry 7. What can you tell me? Any good GA released this last years?
Sim / Management: Aerobiz, Gamebiz, Roller Coaster, Pizza Tycoon, Mad Tv, Sim City, Sims.
(Sims 2, Spore, Tropico 2, Roller Coaster 3)
I believe this is my favourite genre. Sim City is to me the GOD OF ALL GAMES, balance and perfection. I always loved good tycoons like Roller Coaster, Theme Hospital, Transport Tycoon, Pizza Tycoon… Mad Tv was another hard but great game. Tropico must be one of my favorites for all its possibilties and the way you can examine every little detail (look at the people’s stats!) and it actually means something.
I also claim to have discovered The Sims earlier than anyone buying when nobody knew about it (in Argentina) and become addicted for a long time. I just love strategy combined with a live and developing world / simulator.
Other Genres:
Feel free to add any game you feel like it doesn’t belong to one of the mentioned genres. Simulators maybe? I loved Combat Flight Sim 2 but I don’t have a joystick right now. Fighting games? I suck at these, can’t make a three button combination right but enjoyed Virtua Fighter, MK, Killer Instinct and Tekken (for Hwa-Rang). Survival / Horror? I prefer watching others play Slent Hll, Rsident Evil or Alone in the Dark. The tension kills me and the puzzle’s usually annoy me. Give me an easy one. Puzzle ? The Incredible Machine Rules! Give me something like it. Not too abstract, progressively hard and I’ll love it.
Oh, and add the game with the best graphics you can think of that can work properly in the following computer so I can dazzle my dad and convince him to forget the money he paid (about 40 %) to buy my computer.
Processor: Q6600
Mother: P5Q-E
Ram: OCZ Platinum 4 Gb
VGA: HD Saphire 4870
Hard Disk: 1 Tb (Yes!)
Remember I live in Argentina and we are a thirld world country. I paid it more than you: 3,5 x us$ + shipment + inflation so this was the best I could get right now. Remember I came from a 9 years old PC!