Okay, so, Commander Keen day 1:
I haven’t beaten it yet, my main gripe so far is that some of the traps seem a little cheap “lolfakeblocks” and then you fall into a monster before you can do anything about it. Otherwise it’s a pretty good game once you get used to the controls.
I beat them, all of them. I can’t say they were my favorite series, though the second set (starting at 4) were better executed. I don’t think this is a case of bashing an old game for being old, I can see why it’s a classic, but I personally don’t think it lives up to its contemporaries, even in the same genre (and since I think it would be unfair to compare it to console games of the day since they had platformers kinda cornered, I would say the original DOS Duke Nukem was better).
Now onto Half-life/2 I guess (and I am not, under any circumstances, playing the original on Hard this time, that was just ludicrous on my first playthrough).
IIRC, the series ended at three. I’m not aware of a 4th game ever being made.
Just as well. Taking a good trilogy and added a mediocre 4th entry would just be stupid.
If they did it to Monkey Island, they might do it to Indiana Jones.
I liked it okay when I played it, but I didn’t have any urge to ever go back to it, and frankly, it had a lot of wasted potential.
Why haven’t you played Metal Gear Solid yet?
Just curious - from the titles you’ve listed it seems like something you’d really enjoy.
Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2
I never had a PS2, I have a PS3 but as a collection hasn’t been released for it I’m stuck (and I’m sort of anal about playing games in order).
I liked Escape from Monkey Island. What didn’t you like about it…aside from the poor control scheme?
So I finished All thee original Half-Lifes (Decay doesn’t count), Portal (yes, Portal I decided to count it) and I just stepped into Ravenholme.
Half-life 1 is good, but it’s really, really freaking annoying. I still hate the train part, and as far as I’m concerned the Surface Tension chapter doesn’t exist. Nihilanth is a failboss (that teleport ball is so needlessly annoying, it doesn’t even get me closer to defeat, just mildly inconveniences me for 16 seconds). I still really like the atmosphere and enjoy the claw puzzle-boss.
Opposing Force was a really solid expansion in my opinion, Gearbox did a solid job. Again though, the last boss was really annoying (especially since it’s hard to hit his purple-globe weak spot with that turret).
I liked Blue Shift personally, not sure why it has such a low score, the “evacuation” thing at the end was really cool (though after 3 unstable teleports in the series you think they’d get tired of showing off random locations when something inevitably malfunctions).
Aaaaand HL2. Sigh I hatehatehatehate Manhacks. You could replace each manhack with a Nihilanth boss fight and I’d like it more. Don’t get me wrong, I legitimately think HL2 is one of, if not the, best games of all time, but everything between when they release the manhacks to when you get the boat is a giant scrappy level (yes, including the field that gets shelled with headcrabs), the only other thing that comes close is the Antlion desert of doom. Even Ravenholm is more fun because you finally have the ahem Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator. That said, I’ll have fun seeing how well I can do Ravenholm this time, last time was really nice at the end, I think I eventually made it to Gregori with like 5 health and no ammo from that giant battle, to the point where I used some of the most insane ninja-tactics of all time to take down a poison headcrab thrower and about 5 zombies (remember, I always play it on hard so everything has like, bullet-proof skin making me run out of ammo pretty easily). Ahh adrenaline.
Did I ever mention how much I love manhacks? My little whirling friends of cutting combine in half. (<— This is what the Gravity Gun does to gameplay)
Why does everyone say HL2 has terrible pacing? I think they did quite well (Route Kanal and the second turret defense mission of Nova Prospekt aside) pacing between puzzles and action. What’s the deal with this notion?
I also notice the series is a lot easier this time around (and yes, I’m sure I’m still on hard), I still ran out of ammo in that Ravenholme arena (the one where afterwords Gregori says you went to the wrong side of town), but almost everything was dead by that point anyway. I’m guessing it’s partially because I’m not panicking so I get a lot of headshots a lot more easily. Also, I’ve reached the height of using poor Alyx as a meatshield, why stay at 15 health until the next cache when Miss-Mad-Health-Regen is there?
I’m giving up for today (or a few hours at least) just because of my sheer disdain for 98% of the Antlion cave.
Monkey Kombat was a big minus to the game. Insult Sword Fighting…fun and amusing. Insult Sword Fighting on the High seas…even more so(particulary with he PIRATES! ship combat). Monkey Combat…figure out randomized combinations of monkey jabber.
THe whole “Commericalizing the Carribean” was rather lame as a plot.
I was rather annoyed at some of the backstory(told by herman toothrooth) that contradicted the backstory already established in the last three games.
Mostly the Monkey Kombat. And the general feeling that Lucasarts was already in the “Crap on our Adventure game fans” phase.
I think at least the first two games have been ported to PC. I played MGS for the first time a year ago.
Granted, from what I’ve heard about MGS 2, I don’t really feel an urge to continue, considering the plot was starting to get kinda wonky and I know it gets even wonkier as the series goes on.
Xen and the last boss is understandable. In fact, most people feel the game takes a major nosedive when it reaches Xen. On my last playthrough, I pretty much stopped once I got there, because I didn’t feel like going any further(I’ve beaten it and know the best parts are on earth).
However, I’m curious why you don’t like Surface Tension? It’s generally well regarded. I mean, sure,some of the later bits can get annoying, like when you’re being chased by the giant behemoth guy and have to kill him with bombs. And then there’s the missile storage facility. But it was pretty fun.
I hate to bump the thread, but right now I’m working through the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Trilogy and for the most part will recommend it(Warrior Within being a bit meh).
If you do decide to play through the Metroid Prime series, you might want to wait for the trilogy disc they’re releasing in a few months. All three games, with the first two updated with Wii contols and presentation.
I will do that, I have found I’m a Ninja with Wii remote aiming on my replay of TP.
I’m not sure why I hate it to be honest, I just do. I feel like the game takes a bad turn for trial and error around there, it was a lot better this time around, but I remember the first time half of the level was memorizing where things popped up.
And yeah, Xen is pretty much universally hated.
Any more suggestions?
Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn.
(I’ve done the second combination a number of times, due to the bennies you get from transferring an endgame save file to the sequel game.)
How’s about the X-Wing and TIE fighter series for the PC? Mechanics and controls are quite similar, but the environments for fighting in differ quite a lot, there should be plenty of variety to keep you going.
I haven’t read the whole thread, but if no one mentioned it I believe there is a Fallout series game pack now available with all three of the games (and I think Tactics too, though I probably wouldn’t play that one). In addition, if you go the Fallout route, they announced 2 new DLC expansions for Fallout 3…which is a total of 5 (so far). Not counting the user mods. Worth checking out IMHO and the first two games were a lot of fun, if you don’t mind the dated graphics.
-XT
I also found this bundle for the X-Com games. Heck…I’m going to get this myself!
-XT