For reasons too long, complicated, and weird to get into here, I have created a list of games that I want to beat, one which is supposed to be spread out across all major genres, and which has a few odd requirements of the plot of each. This list was subject to occasional edits as time went on, and looking back, I have realized that I have edited out the only RTS and FPS on the list. This won't do, but I can't think of any games/series I could use to patch it up. This, I have decided to ask The Internet.
So, I'm looking for two games or series' (or one series, if it has both FPS and RTS installments) that meet all of the following requirements:
1) Most importantly, it has to be fun. Regardless of how many weird requirements and personal narratives I add into things, the time I spent playing games should be time spent entertained.
2) It has to have a single main villain, preferably of demonic or dark magical nature (Lovecraftian monstrosities, mysteriously evil precursor races, and unknowable alien horrors all fit the bill, so, for example, Kerrigan from StarCraft would fit this requirement). This main villain doesn't necessarily have to be THE main villain if each installment in a series has unrelated baddies, but it should not answer to anyone, nor by thoroughly overshadowed by another villain. Gods and demons are good in this respect.
3) This main villain must be dead by the end of the series in which it appears, so, the series cannot be currently hanging off a cliff (Ansem/Xemnas/Xehanort's Heartless from the Kingdom Hearts series fits this, because in spite of the cliffhanger at the end of Kingdom Hearts II, the villain himself is definitely dead). This requirement is why I'm not eager to use StarCraft. The information we have so far suggests that Sarah Kerrigan is still going to be leading the Zerg when the Zerg campaign is released, and unless she ends up dead (or deinfested) by the end of StarCraft II, it's no good.
4) The series must have at least one game which will fill the genre holes for Real Time Strategy and/or Third or (preferably) First Person Shooters. It doesn't need to be an undiluted example of the genre, though. Vampire: the Masquerade: Bloodlines would work as the shooter if its villains weren't thoroughly overshadowed by other lurking evils in the same setting.
EDIT: Also, thinking on it, a solid Turn-Based Strategy would probably fill the strategy niche just as well as an RTS, but I can't think of any TBS' with the right kind of villain except Lords of Magic, which isn't nearly as much fun now that I'm no longer eight years old.
So, I'm looking for two games or series' (or one series, if it has both FPS and RTS installments) that meet all of the following requirements:
1) Most importantly, it has to be fun. Regardless of how many weird requirements and personal narratives I add into things, the time I spent playing games should be time spent entertained.
2) It has to have a single main villain, preferably of demonic or dark magical nature (Lovecraftian monstrosities, mysteriously evil precursor races, and unknowable alien horrors all fit the bill, so, for example, Kerrigan from StarCraft would fit this requirement). This main villain doesn't necessarily have to be THE main villain if each installment in a series has unrelated baddies, but it should not answer to anyone, nor by thoroughly overshadowed by another villain. Gods and demons are good in this respect.
3) This main villain must be dead by the end of the series in which it appears, so, the series cannot be currently hanging off a cliff (Ansem/Xemnas/Xehanort's Heartless from the Kingdom Hearts series fits this, because in spite of the cliffhanger at the end of Kingdom Hearts II, the villain himself is definitely dead). This requirement is why I'm not eager to use StarCraft. The information we have so far suggests that Sarah Kerrigan is still going to be leading the Zerg when the Zerg campaign is released, and unless she ends up dead (or deinfested) by the end of StarCraft II, it's no good.
4) The series must have at least one game which will fill the genre holes for Real Time Strategy and/or Third or (preferably) First Person Shooters. It doesn't need to be an undiluted example of the genre, though. Vampire: the Masquerade: Bloodlines would work as the shooter if its villains weren't thoroughly overshadowed by other lurking evils in the same setting.
EDIT: Also, thinking on it, a solid Turn-Based Strategy would probably fill the strategy niche just as well as an RTS, but I can't think of any TBS' with the right kind of villain except Lords of Magic, which isn't nearly as much fun now that I'm no longer eight years old.
