# Arrg stupid video games! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 14, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663 "2003-04-14T16:21:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/61 "2004-04-07T07:17:56Z")
> [@Mayflower](#): > > We’ve sure come a long way, baby! I can remember my BIL getting so angry and frustrated while playing **Metroid** on the _original NES_ …How easy those games were compared to the torture devices that they turn out now! Actually, I’m a big fan of vintage gaming but the games are a lot tougher than modern games. I’ve become accustomed to the level of difficulty of a modern game. In an older game, the games had much less in terms of length – to make them have hours of playtime, they had to up the difficulty. If you’ve never played either, try playing Super Mario Bros. on NES and Mario 64. There’s a lot less dying and a lot more exploring and accomplishing tasks in 64. Strategy games are the exception to that, as their complexity was never really captured on a vintage system (probably Sega Genesis just started to have the genre explored more). ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/62 "2004-04-07T08:13:53Z")
Betrayal at Krondor was a bear of an RPG to beat without a guide. Every spell bled the caster’s health, healing potions were difficult to find and ridiculously expensive to purchase, and an enemy standing next to your characters prevented casting or shooting (and vice versa). Throw in a horribly slow main fighter and intelligent AI, and you have a recipe for frustration. The story was worth it, of course. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/63 "2004-04-07T08:25:55Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > **Wabbit** : You know, in _Homeworld_, I’m usually carrying an inventory of about 10,000 extra RUs by the fourth mission. No specific advice on the game, just bragging. 😛 That’s nothing. I managed to capture all 112 enemy ion frigates guarding the hyperspace inhibitor near the end of the game. I split them into 4 strike groups in wall or sphere formation and used some multigun corvettes to protect them from fighters, and assigned some sort of capital ship as the centerpiece. Not much could withstand the barrage from all those ion frigates, although they were horribly slow to maneuver. The trick to capturing enemy ships is to draw one off by itself with something hard to hit, then send in your capture crew while the target is distracted. I even captured enemy heavy cruisers this way, which is quite satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/64 "2004-04-07T13:20:03Z")
> [@White Lightning](#): > > That other game you talked about sounds really, really cool though **CRorex**. Is it expensive, and is the learning curve very steep? Since sc went downhill I’ve been looking for another game to play online and it sounds like that might work. Haha. Apparently, I’m not the only one who looked at that post and thought, “Darkspace. That sounds pretty cool.” -Joe, immediately googled “Darkspace” ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/65 "2004-04-07T14:15:55Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > You guys think American McGee doing Alice is bad? Try this: American McGee’s “Oz”… > > [http://www.xboxmagonline.com/xbox/reviews/a/reviews-americanmcgeesoz.html](http://www.xboxmagonline.com/xbox/reviews/a/reviews-americanmcgeesoz.html) Admittedly I’m no gamer (after all, I bought the XBOX just to play the first Buffy game–and thought I had scored a bonus when they released a second one), but I _loved_ _Alice_. It was just so twisted. Plus there were smarmy allusions to the book, which just made me chuckle. It was the environment which did it for me, not the strategy (or the lack of one). So, yeah, I’m stoked about the upcoming _Oz_ game. It looks like he’s using some fun [source material](http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/news/11/22/oz_screen001.jpg). Go, Pumpkinhead, go! (It’d also be cool if he threw in a viscious Flying Gump.) [sub]Full Disclaimer: I didn’t own an Atari 2600 until I was in my teens, and I didn’t actually have the original NES until I was in my twenties. And even then I bought the NES just to play that Bionic claw-arm-guy game, and finally have enough time to finish _Super Mario Brothers_. (When I was at my friends’ houses, we never had enough time for me to do that. I was bitter. I wanted to break a few hanging blocks with my head again.) Also, I gave away my Nintendo 64 after a few months because I never played it.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/66 "2004-04-07T15:18:51Z")
Here I thought **CRorex** was back. I was looking forward to one of his rants. Although now that he’s left the Monkey Lab they may not be as entertaining. Zombie Threads raise false hopes. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/67 "2004-04-07T16:33:00Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > And I’m looking at Madden 2003. You know, my hand-created team, with all the best players from the draft, nearly lost depiste having a 75 POINT LEAD because of the “catch up” “FEATURE”. God, I hate that shit. The catch up feature in the Madden games is the only thing that made them worthwhile playing against the computer. I used to go over a friend’s house and we’d play seasons. It was great when we had 4 or 5 guys playing different teams, although we had to have a second playstation going to give the non-players something to do. We could get a season complete in two or three weeks. The only time any of us lost, normally, was to another human player. Anyone who got beat by the computer was razzed and picked on until the next guy lost to the comp. And yes, we played Madden Level. ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/68 "2004-04-07T23:59:49Z")
I am (well, was) playing Summoner. That game sucks. I spent hours leveling my characters, which only meant that I could safely take on two or three foes. The AI is surprisingly smart, except for the hitch that I can’t control everybody all at the same time. And that the summoned character is apparently permanently set on melee AI, which I can’t change. The summoned character keeps running away and getting itself and the rest of the party killed when I’m not directly controlling it. After this happens enough, the game officially becomes Not Fun. I don’t get why some people loved this game. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/69 "2004-04-08T00:18:33Z")
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorow. Turn head, “Someone there?”, F8, Move into shadow, “Who’s that!”, F8, “The enemy is here!”, F8, Move past guards, could it be? I am nearly in shadow!, one more footstep!!, “Who’s over there!”, DAMN!, F8, Crouch, “Someone there?”, Esc, ‘Exit to main menu’, ‘Exit game’. In other words. Pandora Tomorrow is hard work too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/70 "2004-04-08T00:21:50Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > (after all, I bought the XBOX just to play the first Buffy game) Hey! Me too! And the game you were talking about in teeny tiny type was the classic _Bionic Commando_. One of the greats. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/71 "2004-04-08T00:41:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Hey! Me too! > > And the game you were talking about in teeny tiny type was the classic _Bionic Commando_. One of the greats. I just found my old cartridge in the laundry room; apparently, I paid $4.99 for _Bionic Commando_ at Gameco. Heh. Makes me want to go out an buy another 8-bit NES to play it again. Hell, it even looks like I have _Ninja Gaiden_; now all I’m missing is _Castlevania_. Oh, and is it just me, or did you also have less fun playing the second Buffy game? (Other than being Faith and Sid, I mean. They were a pair of hoots.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/72 "2004-04-08T00:47:55Z")
Haven’t played the sequel yet. Kinda burnt out on the show in the last season, and since the first game wasn’t exactly sensational, I haven’t been too pumped about getting the sequel. Probably pick it up when it hits the bargain bins. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/73 "2004-04-08T01:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s nothing. I managed to capture all 112 enemy ion frigates guarding the hyperspace inhibitor near the end of the game. I split them into 4 strike groups in wall or sphere formation and used some multigun corvettes to protect them from fighters, and assigned some sort of capital ship as the centerpiece. Not much could withstand the barrage from all those ion frigates, although they were horribly slow to maneuver. It was a matter of pride to me that I never build a single ship other then collectors salvage crews and fighters. Every other ship had to be captured. That was the biggest letdown in the other Homeworld games. Caputuring in Cat was worthless and not really useful in Homeworld 2. I never found Wizardy 8 hard. I don’t remember my party though. Couple of fighters a thief type a priest and a fairy for a wizard. I haven’t played many ‘hard’ games lately. Europa Universalis II is the closest and I’m sure if I actually sat down and played it I’d learn. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/74 "2004-04-08T03:11:36Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorow. > Turn head, “Someone there?”, F8, Move into shadow, “Who’s that!”, F8, “The enemy is here!”, F8, Move past guards, could it be? I am nearly in shadow!, one more footstep!!, “Who’s over there!”, DAMN!, F8, Crouch, “Someone there?”, Esc, ‘Exit to main menu’, ‘Exit game’. > In other words. Pandora Tomorrow is hard work too. Shoot out all the lights, use your air foil and zapper wisely (they’re non-lethal – great for those levels where you’re forbidden to kill anyone), and you’ll be fine. Whistle to get the guards to come your way into the shadows and sneak up behind 'em to knock 'em out. Study their walking patterns, figure out where they pause, and if you’re completely in the dark, he could be standing right in front of you, staring into your eyes and not see you (surprising, considering your night and thermal vision goggles have three bright lights shining out of 'em.) Oh, you’re in for a treat when you get to that last level. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/75 "2004-04-08T05:26:31Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ve sure come a long way, baby! I can remember my BIL getting so angry and frustrated while playing Metroid on the original NES that he threw the controller (one of those great big babies with the turbo buttons) against the wall, putting a hole in the panelling. He decided that if it made him that upset it was time to give it a rest, so he loaned the damn thing to ME so that I could suffer just as much. My brother, while trying to defeat the final boss (The Mother Brain), finally, with clenched jaw, said, "Are you sure this thing is called a Mother BRAIN? I’ve always found Metroid games to be hard. Super Metroid would’ve taken me a hell of a lot longer than it did to beat, except I used an emulator and frequent save states (and when I resolved to play it without using save states, it did). Metroid Fusion is goddamn difficult, with enemy hits taking 20 or 50 points off your life meter. And that goddamn Nightmare… Right now I’m trying to beat Metroid:Zero Mission so I can unlock the origional Metroid. On easy mode, it’s suprisingly easy for a Metroid game, until you get to the mother brain. The goddamn guns keep shooting you into the lava, and you lose half an energy tank getting back onto the platform, only to be knocked off again! ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/76 "2004-04-08T08:06:44Z")
I dunno, I never thought Metroid was that hard. Final Fantasy II and 7th Saga both kicked my ass, but I overcame them in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/77 "2004-04-08T08:19:29Z")
Final Fantasy II utter cake. I could beat it in 12 hours. 7th Saga NOW you’re talking. Sheesh this game was a pain. I remember when my alien got his ass handed to him by that cleric. Nothing like getting a beat down with a guy that has nothing but a freakin’ staff. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/78 "2004-04-08T15:57:05Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > I haven’t played many ‘hard’ games lately. Europa Universalis II is the closest and I’m sure if I actually sat down and played it I’d learn. Europa Universalis is a great game, really different than anything else I’ve played. Yeah, it’s cool to play a major power like England or Austria, but the REAL fun is starting as a one-province minor and going on to conquer most of Europe. I’ve never conquered the entire world though, just all of Europe and the Americas. Chugging thorugh asia can be a pain. All those low-value provinces are worse than useless, since your technology cost is based on your province count. At least at first concentrate only on high-value provinces. Anyway, if you get into this game start a thread and you’ll find several people here come out of the woodwork. There’s also a huge message board over at the official EUII website that you can go to for information. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/79 "2004-04-08T21:08:25Z")
I have Civ 2 siiting on my desk unopened - It came free with Unreal 2 and I haven’t gotten around to looking at it yet. Perhaps I should crack it open one of these days… My current head-banger is Far Cry. The whole cycle of climbing up a hill, scouting out every enemy with the binocs and sneaking through, only to get killed either by the one guy I didn’t see before or a helicopter dropping off another three guys with rockets before going after me with a gatling gun - argh. And those damned mutants, though I think that’s just bad hit detection with regards to melee combat. If I can see you swing your arm, and it doesn’t touch me, then for Og’s sake _you didn’t hit me!_ Stop killing me in two hits! ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663/80 "2004-04-08T21:32:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway, if you get into this game start a thread and you’ll find several people here come out of the woodwork. There’s also a huge message board over at the official EUII website that you can go to for information. The reason I got it was because of a discussion on **Total War** and several of the posters were enthusastic about it. I thought about starting a thread but I’m too busy to play any games anyway and when I do start up again I have tons more to explore in my **X2:The Threat** before I go back to EUII. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrg-stupid-video-games/168663.md?page=3)