Recommend Good Old Games.
- Thread starter Fetus
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Braid isn't that old but it's an excellent PC game. So is Minecraft. Depends on the specifics of your PC, really. Get a copy of Bioshock as well, if you haven't played it already.
Oh goody list time.
I'll split it into categories
[HEADING=3]Strategy Games[/HEADING]
A very solid 4X by the same guys who made the Civilization series, a very addictive and well thought out game.
Pros
+Very in depth gameplay
+Addictive
+Interesting set up and story
+Very low price on GoG.com
+Probably best 4X game out there.
Cons
-Unless your an old hat with 4X games I can imagine some of it can get really complicated
-The game can be very unforgiving (fucking mind worms)
Where you can get it
www.gog.com: 2.99 american
THE defining game in the turn based strategy genre, fight aliens while attempting to run an entire organization, and lose bucket loads of soldiers doing it.
Pros
+Mix of grand strategy and turn based tactics
+The level of control over everything in the organization is astounding
+Can really get attached to the soldiers you WILL lose.
+Very low price on GoG.com
Cons
-Extremely hard and unforgiving (this is often considered a pro however)
-The amount of micromanaging can sometimes get annoying (Really? Soldiers can't figure out to bring their own damn ammo?)
Where you can get it
Steam: Currently on sale for 2.49 american. 5 Dollars if not on sale.
Tied for best 4X game with Civilization 4, Civilization 2 allows you to build an empire all the way from the stone ages to the common era. This 4X defined the genre for a long time.
Pros
+A lot of strategy involved, high level thinking.
+The control over your nation and your cities is very in depth
+The very definition of "one more turn"
+Multiple paths to victory means you can play it more or less your way.
+Stuff like This [http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/06/12/ten-year-game-of-civ-2-results-in-hellish-nightmare-planet-permanent-nuclear-war/] can happen.
Cons
-The computer LOVES to cheat (this was before advanced AI programming)
-Due to the RNG sometimes a spear armed barbarian can take out your group of tanks.
-Hard to find
-Not super compatible with new systems
Where you can get it
Hard question, its sort of hard to find.
The only digital place I found was Here [http://www.abandonia.com/games/99/Civilization2.htm] but I know nothing about these guys and if they are trustworthy
That said you can find it on ebay easily or possibly in older computer stores.
[HEADING=3]Action/Shooty[/HEADING]
An odd little action/strategy franchise that got progressively worse after the second game. That said the first two games were amazing; allowing you to take command of those little green army men you used to own as a kid.
Pros
+A very, shall we say, unique setting.
+Some pretty epic/funny missions
+Multiplayer options
+Skirmish options
+Surprisingly interesting (If really weird and sometimes cliche) plot.
Cons
-Problems with new systems
-Hard to find
-Game sometimes shoots up in difficulty randomly
Where to get it
Ebay or a computer store, I haven't found a digital way to get this game.
A surprisingly good tie in to the movie Return of the King is a third person hack'n'Slash game with a lot of fun to be had. That said I only played/play it on the PS2 so I'm not 100% sure how the windows edition is.
Pros
+Fun combat
+Play as your favorite characters
+Great set pieces
+Combat combos for the more action-oriented
+Unlockable characters
Cons
-Hard to find
-Sometimes to easy (especially the last boss fight)
-No information on the PC port.
Where to find
Good question, Ebay or Amazon seems your best bet. Sorry.
That's my main list, if you want more let me know and I'll see what I can dig up.
If you just want to browse old games go to this website, they sell DRM free games and normally at awesome prices.
http://www.gog.com/
Good luck
I'll split it into categories
[HEADING=3]Strategy Games[/HEADING]
A very solid 4X by the same guys who made the Civilization series, a very addictive and well thought out game.
Pros
+Very in depth gameplay
+Addictive
+Interesting set up and story
+Very low price on GoG.com
+Probably best 4X game out there.
Cons
-Unless your an old hat with 4X games I can imagine some of it can get really complicated
-The game can be very unforgiving (fucking mind worms)
Where you can get it
www.gog.com: 2.99 american
THE defining game in the turn based strategy genre, fight aliens while attempting to run an entire organization, and lose bucket loads of soldiers doing it.
Pros
+Mix of grand strategy and turn based tactics
+The level of control over everything in the organization is astounding
+Can really get attached to the soldiers you WILL lose.
+Very low price on GoG.com
Cons
-Extremely hard and unforgiving (this is often considered a pro however)
-The amount of micromanaging can sometimes get annoying (Really? Soldiers can't figure out to bring their own damn ammo?)
Where you can get it
Steam: Currently on sale for 2.49 american. 5 Dollars if not on sale.
Tied for best 4X game with Civilization 4, Civilization 2 allows you to build an empire all the way from the stone ages to the common era. This 4X defined the genre for a long time.
Pros
+A lot of strategy involved, high level thinking.
+The control over your nation and your cities is very in depth
+The very definition of "one more turn"
+Multiple paths to victory means you can play it more or less your way.
+Stuff like This [http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/06/12/ten-year-game-of-civ-2-results-in-hellish-nightmare-planet-permanent-nuclear-war/] can happen.
Cons
-The computer LOVES to cheat (this was before advanced AI programming)
-Due to the RNG sometimes a spear armed barbarian can take out your group of tanks.
-Hard to find
-Not super compatible with new systems
Where you can get it
Hard question, its sort of hard to find.
The only digital place I found was Here [http://www.abandonia.com/games/99/Civilization2.htm] but I know nothing about these guys and if they are trustworthy
That said you can find it on ebay easily or possibly in older computer stores.
[HEADING=3]Action/Shooty[/HEADING]
An odd little action/strategy franchise that got progressively worse after the second game. That said the first two games were amazing; allowing you to take command of those little green army men you used to own as a kid.
Pros
+A very, shall we say, unique setting.
+Some pretty epic/funny missions
+Multiplayer options
+Skirmish options
+Surprisingly interesting (If really weird and sometimes cliche) plot.
Cons
-Problems with new systems
-Hard to find
-Game sometimes shoots up in difficulty randomly
Where to get it
Ebay or a computer store, I haven't found a digital way to get this game.
A surprisingly good tie in to the movie Return of the King is a third person hack'n'Slash game with a lot of fun to be had. That said I only played/play it on the PS2 so I'm not 100% sure how the windows edition is.
Pros
+Fun combat
+Play as your favorite characters
+Great set pieces
+Combat combos for the more action-oriented
+Unlockable characters
Cons
-Hard to find
-Sometimes to easy (especially the last boss fight)
-No information on the PC port.
Where to find
Good question, Ebay or Amazon seems your best bet. Sorry.
That's my main list, if you want more let me know and I'll see what I can dig up.
If you just want to browse old games go to this website, they sell DRM free games and normally at awesome prices.
http://www.gog.com/
Good luck
If you're on Windows Vista/7/8 and buy Thief, get it on GOG. My retail copy of Thief 2 doesn't work on my newer PC but the GOG version runs great. I've not had great experiences running older games on Steam, either. Gothic wouldn't run whatsoever, but when I got it on GOG it was fine.
The original Far Cry is pretty great (and great looking for the time, too).
If you don't own them elsewhere, Psychonauts and Beyond Good and Evil are well worth your time, too.
Not sure how into text-heavy sim-type games you are but Uplink Hacker Elite is really intense fun.
The original Far Cry is pretty great (and great looking for the time, too).
If you don't own them elsewhere, Psychonauts and Beyond Good and Evil are well worth your time, too.
Not sure how into text-heavy sim-type games you are but Uplink Hacker Elite is really intense fun.
OK, you already know about GOG, I have a feeling the Bullfrong Bundle would come up there some time soon (it was there, along with others - the others bundles have been repeating, I haven't seen the Bullfrog one yet) - it was
Dungeon Keeper 1+2
Syndicate
Populus (3 games I think)
Theme Hospital,
Magic Carpet
For $12. Let me be absolutely clear here - THE TWO DUNGEON KEEPER GAMES ARE EASILY WORTH $12 BY THEMSELVES, IF YOU GET 4 TIMES AS MANY GAMES AND ALL OF THEM GOOD FOR THE SAME PRICE THAT IS A FUCKING BARGAIN! BILLY MACE HERE - SIGNING OFF.
But yes, it's an excellent bundle, I missed it and I really want to get it, as I want pretty much all of these games.
Other things on GOG;
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 - really good turn based strategy
HoMM 5 - See above. Newer and have better graphics. Still good. I like both.
Disciples 2 - another turn based strategy. Another good one.
Might and Magic - if you're into older RPGs, I really like those. I'd suggest 7 and 8, myself, although they look like an absolute ass (they use the same engine), the older ones look worse and are more...archaic in some ways.
Fallout 1 and 2 - you should know about these games. They are good games.
Arcanum Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura - similar in vein to Fallout - it's still an top down isometric RPG, but set in what can be described as steampunk D&D-like setting undergoing industrial revolution. Dwarves and humans working on steam engines, orcs being used as cheap labour in factories, mages doing their things, elves, too, etc. You can friggin' have a tesla gun, if you wish. Truly good RPG.
Arx Fatalis - I won't call it a good game but it certainly is interesting. Don't get me wrong - it's not bad either, I just dont like it as much as others. It's done by the guys behind Dishonored and in some respects it's similar - still first person.
Pretty much all the D&D games - in order of recommendation - Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Temple of Elemental Evil.
Deus Ex is also on there and is another excellent choice (it's also on Steam, though.)
Gothic 1-3 - moar RPGs.
Last but not least - the Legacy of Kain series.
Dungeon Keeper 1+2
Syndicate
Populus (3 games I think)
Theme Hospital,
Magic Carpet
For $12. Let me be absolutely clear here - THE TWO DUNGEON KEEPER GAMES ARE EASILY WORTH $12 BY THEMSELVES, IF YOU GET 4 TIMES AS MANY GAMES AND ALL OF THEM GOOD FOR THE SAME PRICE THAT IS A FUCKING BARGAIN! BILLY MACE HERE - SIGNING OFF.
But yes, it's an excellent bundle, I missed it and I really want to get it, as I want pretty much all of these games.
Other things on GOG;
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 - really good turn based strategy
HoMM 5 - See above. Newer and have better graphics. Still good. I like both.
Disciples 2 - another turn based strategy. Another good one.
Might and Magic - if you're into older RPGs, I really like those. I'd suggest 7 and 8, myself, although they look like an absolute ass (they use the same engine), the older ones look worse and are more...archaic in some ways.
Fallout 1 and 2 - you should know about these games. They are good games.
Arcanum Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura - similar in vein to Fallout - it's still an top down isometric RPG, but set in what can be described as steampunk D&D-like setting undergoing industrial revolution. Dwarves and humans working on steam engines, orcs being used as cheap labour in factories, mages doing their things, elves, too, etc. You can friggin' have a tesla gun, if you wish. Truly good RPG.
Arx Fatalis - I won't call it a good game but it certainly is interesting. Don't get me wrong - it's not bad either, I just dont like it as much as others. It's done by the guys behind Dishonored and in some respects it's similar - still first person.
Pretty much all the D&D games - in order of recommendation - Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Temple of Elemental Evil.
Deus Ex is also on there and is another excellent choice (it's also on Steam, though.)
Gothic 1-3 - moar RPGs.
Last but not least - the Legacy of Kain series.
Oni is a 3D beat'em up experiment from the 2000s.Its actually a non-finished stitched together game,but it works fine,just get the regen cheat code if checkpoints get too annoying.Hitman 2 and Contracts are down you alley too.The older Elder Scrolls games and if for some reason you haven't played Deus Ex,feel free to start at any time.
There's a whole bunch of WW2 games for sale on GOG. Silent storm 2 is supposed to be good. Bought it and am downloading as I type
Remember to download the Sith Lord Reconstruction Mod for KotoR2 before you play it. It completes an unfinished game
Also doubling the votes for Dungeon Keeper and Theme Hospital. Class games, easily playable now (although I was never a fan of the direct control option in Dungeon Keeper)
Planescape: Torment is one of the best RPGs of all time. It's on GoG and its so fantastically written. You start the game waking up dead in a morgue. You've got notes written over your own body and it appears that before your death (of which you have no memory, you were a powerful figure changing the world). The game is about deciding who you are as a person and blows almost all other fantasy stories out of the water.
Rome: Total War has some of the best real time strategy battles every created.
I tried playing Syndicate recently and I don't think its aged well at all. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, I could barely get started before giving up. And populus seems to get old really quick to me (just levelling land really quickly never really fails as a strategy) but Black and White (1 or 2) would be a good game to look out for as far as God sims go. The AI creature you have to create is such a cool concept.DoPo said:
Also doubling the votes for Dungeon Keeper and Theme Hospital. Class games, easily playable now (although I was never a fan of the direct control option in Dungeon Keeper)
Planescape: Torment is one of the best RPGs of all time. It's on GoG and its so fantastically written. You start the game waking up dead in a morgue. You've got notes written over your own body and it appears that before your death (of which you have no memory, you were a powerful figure changing the world). The game is about deciding who you are as a person and blows almost all other fantasy stories out of the water.
Rome: Total War has some of the best real time strategy battles every created.
In the strategy department of GOG, I'd recommend Sacrifice and Total Annihilation. Empire Earth is good fun too, just stay away from the sequels.
Well if you're into everything, guess I'll just recommend my personal favourites from the gog site.
First of all, I consider this series pretty much mandatory for any rpg fan: Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2. In my mind Biowares finest work to date and the pinaccle of what an rpg should strive to be. Solid narrative, great characters, surprisingly vibrant 2D artwork even today, entertaining tactical combat, absolutely massive open world... I seriously can't think of any real major flaws in the series. It's absolutely brilliant. And then when you consider there are mods out there which combine BG1 and 2 into one cohesive game as well as improve and tweak the experience towards perfection, then really you just can't get any better. Though other rpg try such as...
Planescape: Torment. You might've heard of this game. Bluntly put this game has by far the best fantasy story and one of the most unique styles and setting in any game, regardless of genre, ever. It's not disputable, it's fact. In terms of story, setting and character Planescape: Torment is one of the most in-depth and provocative games ever made. If only the combat and the basic gameplay mechanics were more solid it'd probably be my number 1 pick for rpg ever. But as it is it comes a close second, which considering how many rpg I've played, is still damned impressive methinks.
Stepping a bit away from pure rpg we've got the absolutely spectacular Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It's a hard game to describe to someone that might not be familiar with this sort of game, so I'll just say it's brilliant and that everything this game does, it does exceptionally well. This is another of those 'I can't think of any real flaws' sort of games, so much so that despite being well over ten years old, I've introduced this game to kids who hadn't even been born when it came out and seen them enjoy it! Now that's the sign of a solid, long lasting experience!
If you wanna give the old Point & Click classic PC adventure games a try, my personal favourite is The Longest Journey. Despite all the gushy mushy love I just gave to Planescape above, this is the game which in terms of story and character really stole my heart. Planescape is deeper, more in-depth and covers a number of more touchy subject but The Longest Journey... well, it's got soul. The main protagonist is my favourite of any game and her journey throughout the games length is enthralling. It's like a really, really nice book for me that I like to re-read every once and awhile for that fuzzy warm feeling of nostalgic happiness. Even nostalgia wont blind me to the shit puzzles and gameplay, but screw that, use a walkthrough if you have to. The story is worth it in my mind!
And as a final suggestion for something more actiony if that's you're thing: Freespace 2. The space sim that was so good it killed the genre... or at least I like to think so. Simply put the story is solid but the gameplay so awesomely intense that you'll be suffering from shellshock and probably need to have your fingers pried from the joystick (I bought a force-feedback joystick exclusively for this game. So worth it!) with a pair of pliers when it's done. Not only that, but of all the games I just listed, this is probably the easiest to get into since a couple of years ago the developers released the games source code online, and as a result the community has been improving the engine ever since to such an extent that it still looks fantastic today. This game is so good at what it does it's become an entire genre unto itself, with so many mods and even total conversion that buying this game is like buying the last ten years worth of amazing space sims all in one. I kid you not!
And there you go! Between those five games (Technically 6 since there's 2 BG games!) that's enough PC gaming goodness to keep a normal human occupied for... hell, well over a year especially if they take the time to play the games fully and explore the communities which have sprung up around each game.
First of all, I consider this series pretty much mandatory for any rpg fan: Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2. In my mind Biowares finest work to date and the pinaccle of what an rpg should strive to be. Solid narrative, great characters, surprisingly vibrant 2D artwork even today, entertaining tactical combat, absolutely massive open world... I seriously can't think of any real major flaws in the series. It's absolutely brilliant. And then when you consider there are mods out there which combine BG1 and 2 into one cohesive game as well as improve and tweak the experience towards perfection, then really you just can't get any better. Though other rpg try such as...
Planescape: Torment. You might've heard of this game. Bluntly put this game has by far the best fantasy story and one of the most unique styles and setting in any game, regardless of genre, ever. It's not disputable, it's fact. In terms of story, setting and character Planescape: Torment is one of the most in-depth and provocative games ever made. If only the combat and the basic gameplay mechanics were more solid it'd probably be my number 1 pick for rpg ever. But as it is it comes a close second, which considering how many rpg I've played, is still damned impressive methinks.
Stepping a bit away from pure rpg we've got the absolutely spectacular Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It's a hard game to describe to someone that might not be familiar with this sort of game, so I'll just say it's brilliant and that everything this game does, it does exceptionally well. This is another of those 'I can't think of any real flaws' sort of games, so much so that despite being well over ten years old, I've introduced this game to kids who hadn't even been born when it came out and seen them enjoy it! Now that's the sign of a solid, long lasting experience!
If you wanna give the old Point & Click classic PC adventure games a try, my personal favourite is The Longest Journey. Despite all the gushy mushy love I just gave to Planescape above, this is the game which in terms of story and character really stole my heart. Planescape is deeper, more in-depth and covers a number of more touchy subject but The Longest Journey... well, it's got soul. The main protagonist is my favourite of any game and her journey throughout the games length is enthralling. It's like a really, really nice book for me that I like to re-read every once and awhile for that fuzzy warm feeling of nostalgic happiness. Even nostalgia wont blind me to the shit puzzles and gameplay, but screw that, use a walkthrough if you have to. The story is worth it in my mind!
And as a final suggestion for something more actiony if that's you're thing: Freespace 2. The space sim that was so good it killed the genre... or at least I like to think so. Simply put the story is solid but the gameplay so awesomely intense that you'll be suffering from shellshock and probably need to have your fingers pried from the joystick (I bought a force-feedback joystick exclusively for this game. So worth it!) with a pair of pliers when it's done. Not only that, but of all the games I just listed, this is probably the easiest to get into since a couple of years ago the developers released the games source code online, and as a result the community has been improving the engine ever since to such an extent that it still looks fantastic today. This game is so good at what it does it's become an entire genre unto itself, with so many mods and even total conversion that buying this game is like buying the last ten years worth of amazing space sims all in one. I kid you not!
And there you go! Between those five games (Technically 6 since there's 2 BG games!) that's enough PC gaming goodness to keep a normal human occupied for... hell, well over a year especially if they take the time to play the games fully and explore the communities which have sprung up around each game.
Here are some
Hidden And Dangerous (free)
A squad based WWII shooter that may not have aged very well, but hey, it free so fuck that.
Ghost Recon (plus Heroes Unleashed mod for a shitload amount of content)
Modern squad based shooter with medium to large maps, great for coop.
Swat 3 (plus The Last Resort mod for better optimisation)
Its swat so basicly your goal is not to kill but to capture everyone alive (hostages and criminals), most of the times though shit hits the fan and some criminals resist the arrest.
MTA SA
Its a mod for GTA SA that enables multiplayer, its very functional and clean. Modes range from the typical Free-Roam to Race, Cops and Robbers, Deathmatch and even Roleplaying where you choose a job and live in San Andreas earning money to buy stuff.
GTA 2 (free)
Not exactly the game that made the game famous but its still very good and fun to play
Serious Sam: First and Second Encounter
If you like games like Duke Nukem 3D, Doom and Quake you cannot give this one a pass. It has a lot of focus on mob control though.
Counter Strike (Condition Zero if you want to play mostly with bots)
Its Counter Strike...
Hidden And Dangerous (free)
A squad based WWII shooter that may not have aged very well, but hey, it free so fuck that.
Ghost Recon (plus Heroes Unleashed mod for a shitload amount of content)
Modern squad based shooter with medium to large maps, great for coop.
Swat 3 (plus The Last Resort mod for better optimisation)
Its swat so basicly your goal is not to kill but to capture everyone alive (hostages and criminals), most of the times though shit hits the fan and some criminals resist the arrest.
MTA SA
Its a mod for GTA SA that enables multiplayer, its very functional and clean. Modes range from the typical Free-Roam to Race, Cops and Robbers, Deathmatch and even Roleplaying where you choose a job and live in San Andreas earning money to buy stuff.
GTA 2 (free)
Not exactly the game that made the game famous but its still very good and fun to play
Serious Sam: First and Second Encounter
If you like games like Duke Nukem 3D, Doom and Quake you cannot give this one a pass. It has a lot of focus on mob control though.
Counter Strike (Condition Zero if you want to play mostly with bots)
Its Counter Strike...