What game are you playing?

[Celtic_Emperor]

Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends

I've been hearing about this game and saw it at the store yesterday when I went grocery shopping.

It looks cool, but is it worth it? I have the original Rise of Nations game, and it was fun for a while, but the click and resource management gets pretty overwhelming and convoluted after a while.

The interface needed to be more simplified. Did anything like this happen?

 

[Canadian Ninja1]

Quite the opposite: PSX games look way better on ePSXe. 🙂
I just hope you made an iso out of it, so you can better preserve your disk.
I own legit games but I won't jeopardise the original cd/dvd, if I can avoid it. 🙂

Yes, but games get way too easy when you can abuse save states. Sure, you could always not do it, but hey, it's there.

Smart move. Only two I have on here are FFT and Xenogears. And if I ever find SotN, that's coming on here with the speed of... uh... something. Something really fast.

 

[Kalamos]

Yes, but games get way too easy when you can abuse save states. Sure, you could always not do it, but hey, it's there.

Yep. That's true. Didn't think of it, since most pc games allow you to same whenever you want...
But they really help with some games - or make them too easy, your call.

Smart move. Only two I have on here are FFT and Xenogears. And if I ever find SotN, that's coming on here with the speed of... uh... something. Something really fast.

I'm not game-savvy enough to see the smart-side of it, but... ok. 😀

 

[Canadian Ninja1]

I'm not game-savvy enough to see the smart-side of it, but... ok. 😀

I had to buy Final Fantasy Tactics again when the disc was scratched enough to make it unplayable. And at the time, it hadn't been rereleased, so I wasn't too keen on the idea of shelling out $100 for it.

 

[somebody231]

Diablo II : Lord of Destruction
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Starcraft: Brood War
Counter-Strike: Source

Blizzard games for the win! CSS is also kinda nice 😉

 

[Kalamos]

I had to buy Final Fantasy Tactics again when the disc was scratched enough to make it unplayable. And at the time, it hadn't been rereleased, so I wasn't too keen on the idea of shelling out $100 for it.

Nasty stuff; that's why I do ISOs of original stuff.
Sadly, you can't easily do that with consoles; that's also why I tend to prefer PCs over consoles.

 

[Dussicar]

I've been hearing about this game and saw it at the store yesterday when I went grocery shopping.

It looks cool, but is it worth it? I have the original Rise of Nations game, and it was fun for a while, but the click and resource management gets pretty overwhelming and convoluted after a while.

The interface needed to be more simplified. Did anything like this happen?

Actually, they did. There is only one primary resource to harvest. In the game, they call it Timonium. Each of the three factions you can play in the game also have a secondary resource but those are collected through standard upgrades that are mixed in with other faction bonuses so there are less headaches.

It's definately a different game. It has a lot more variety than R.O.N.

If you intend to pick it up(I recommend you do if you liked the original), be warned. The campaign missions are rather unimaginative and when going into the second segment, you'll see a lot of repetitive scenarios.

However, the skirmish missions, like the original, are really the bread and butter of the game.

One more thing. Should you decide to pick it up, remember to set the graphics slider up in the options menu. For some reason, when you first load and play it, the default settings are on medium. It makes the game look crappy. When set higher, it looks a lot more like the original.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Actually, they did. There is only one primary resource to harvest. In the game, they call it Timonium. Each of the three factions you can play in the game also have a secondary resource but those are collected through standard upgrades that are mixed in with other faction bonuses so there are less headaches.

It's definately a different game. It has a lot more variety than R.O.N.

If you intend to pick it up(I recommend you do if you liked the original), be warned. The campaign missions are rather unimaginative and when going into the second segment, you'll see a lot of repetitive scenarios.

However, the skirmish missions, like the original, are really the bread and butter of the game.

One more thing. Should you decide to pick it up, remember to set the graphics slider up in the options menu. For some reason, when you first load and play it, the default settings are on medium. It makes the game look crappy. When set higher, it looks a lot more like the original.

I recently had my new desktop upgraded with more memory, so increasing the detail if the graphics won't be a problem for the speed of the game.

I've been thinking of buying a new graphic's card, but the one that came default with the computer is pretty good already. Besides, the best ones on the market are about in the five hundred dollar price range. I don't have that kind of cash to be wasting on/for games.

I'm glad to hear about the resource management. As you know, in the original, theres ALOT (too many) things to be keeping track of consistantly that it distracts the actual tactics of the game. It was like 80% resource management and 20% actual battling. It should be 60/40 or better.

Are there any other flaws to the game I should know about? I heard the sound effects aren't all that good.

 

[Dussicar]

I recently had my new desktop upgraded with more memory, so increasing the detail if the graphics won't be a problem for the speed of the game.

I've been thinking of buying a new graphic's card, but the one that came default with the computer is pretty good already. Besides, the best ones on the market are about in the five hundred dollar price range. I don't have that kind of cash to be wasting on/for games.

I'm glad to hear about the resource management. As you know, in the original, theres ALOT (too many) things to be keeping track of consistantly that it distracts the actual tactics of the game. It was like 80% resource management and 20% actual battling. It should be 60/40 or better.

Are there any other flaws to the game I should know about? I heard the sound effects aren't all that good.

Well, there is one thing that bothers me about this game.

In the original Rise of nations, you produced different units for specific reasons. Soldiers to fight enemy infantry, seige weapons for cities and forts, and the like.

To this end, Rise of legends falls flat. It seems to me that some(if not all) factions don't really need to utilise other types of units as much as the first.

Like the first game, you have to upgrade to recieve bonuses to your population and commerce cap. In rise of legends, these bonuses are provided by building districts on to your city. The problem begins when you begin to build military districts. Each faction receives a boon of infantry being produced at the city where the district is built when this criteria is met. You have to continuously build military districts on to your cities so your population cap can be raised to support more units. By the time you have gotten a decent number of military districts, you realise that you also have a large army of infantry units waiting. Though this sounds nifty, I feel it severely detracts from the fun of building up your forces. On top of that, it seems that you don't even need air or seige units to assault enemy or neutral cities. All you really have to do is take your waves of soldiers and send them like a horde of locusts against your enemies.

This shortcoming seems to be most prevailent in the campaign missions, though. In skirmish mode, things get a little more creative.

Aside from that, the only other complaint I had was a distinct lack of options in the skirmish map section. But it's still a good game, nonetheless.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I've read a few bad reviews and now you're telling me this. The game looks good and creative, but if it falls short that badly its not worth the money. Empire at War is boring me already, so I need a good RTS to play for when I have free time to.

I was thinking about Battle For Middle Earth (or the sequel), but, like Star Wars, that follows a theme, and that theme gets old after a while.

I didn't get bored playing Yuri's Revenge. Only problem is I can't find my Red Alert 2 disc, and without that I can't reinstall this game. I can't find Red Alert 2 in stores anymore either. I know it was recently available as a bundle pack with Yuri's Revenge, but thats paying for two games when I only need one of them. It's available over the internet, but the price isn't what you'd be paying these days in a store.

I considered buying that new "Command & Conquer: The First Decade" game, which has all of the C&C games on it, but I heard that its incomplete and each game is missing maps and missions from it, and things are editted out.

 

[ran_602000]

I got a new Dell XPS 600 at the beginning of December so I've been picking some of the older games my ancient system couldn't touch. Doom 3, Dawn of War, Elder Scrolls III and now my current computer crack is Elder Scrolls IV. Man, that game is HUGE. I get so side-tracked with faction quests, side quest, and the other misc. quests, the main quest tends to get lost in the shuffle.

As far as RTS games some of the older ones are still great. I got Star War Galactic Battlegrounds Saga(which has the original game and the Clone Wars expansion at Wal-Mart for ten bucks. Warcraft III is fun to play. I've only played a little of Dawn of War yet, but I like what I've seen so far. I played the miniature version for quite a few years until our only game store closed. I have pretty good-sized Space Marine army built which is now gathering dust.

I may put Baldur's Gate II and Throne of Baal back in while I wait for Neverwinter Nights 2 to come out. I've played the original NWN and expansions until I'm sick of them.

 

[Kalamos]

I've played the original NWN and expansions until I'm sick of them.

Tried the CEP haks, by any chance?
CEP 2.0 should due out by mid summer.

 

[GEORGIATKLER]

"i'm A World Renowned Surgeon In Town For A Medical Conference, Maybe We Can Get Together Later For..........." Oh, Video Game. Pong, Monochromatic Pong.

 

[Dussicar]

I've read a few bad reviews and now you're telling me this. The game looks good and creative, but if it falls short that badly its not worth the money. Empire at War is boring me already, so I need a good RTS to play for when I have free time to.

I was thinking about Battle For Middle Earth (or the sequel), but, like Star Wars, that follows a theme, and that theme gets old after a while.

I didn't get bored playing Yuri's Revenge. Only problem is I can't find my Red Alert 2 disc, and without that I can't reinstall this game. I can't find Red Alert 2 in stores anymore either. I know it was recently available as a bundle pack with Yuri's Revenge, but thats paying for two games when I only need one of them. It's available over the internet, but the price isn't what you'd be paying these days in a store.

I considered buying that new "Command & Conquer: The First Decade" game, which has all of the C&C games on it, but I heard that its incomplete and each game is missing maps and missions from it, and things are editted out.

I have to agree with you on Empire at WAR. After two and a half gigs of memory and a whole lot of high-end graphics, the game leaves something to be desired. I still like playing the space skirmishes every now and then just to kill twenty minutes but aside from that there is no imagination to it.

This seems to be the newest trend amongst RTS developers these days. They spend most of their energy making the graphics "all purdy n' stuff" and leave out the crucial reason as to why people like these games to begin with. Plot, tactics, and interesting concepts need not apply in the new RTS generation.

If your looking for a GREAT realtime strategy game with the aforementioned qualities, then I might suggest you think about picking up Age of Mythology. In all brutal honesty, it has to be one of the best-if not THE best- RTS's of all time.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I have to agree with you on Empire at WAR. After two and a half gigs of memory and a whole lot of high-end graphics, the game leaves something to be desired. I still like playing the space skirmishes every now and then just to kill twenty minutes but aside from that there is no imagination to it.

This seems to be the newest trend amongst RTS developers these days. They spend most of their energy making the graphics "all purdy n' stuff" and leave out the crucial reason as to why people like these games to begin with. Plot, tactics, and interesting concepts need not apply in the new RTS generation.

If your looking for a GREAT realtime strategy game with the aforementioned qualities, then I might suggest you think about picking up Age of Mythology. In all brutal honesty, it has to be one of the best-if not THE best- RTS's of all time.

You took the words out of my mouth. I was going to say that myself. Yeah, these days it is all about making better looking games, but they fall short of being completely entertaining. They're good eye-candy, but sometimes not much more than that.

I still enjoy playing Total Annihilation: Kingdoms and that game is old and by a company thats out of business. But its a good, solid RTS in my opinion. The graphics are pretty decent, the music is good, and the main adventure scenario is pretty interesting.

Empire At War's space battles are really cool. I love warping in Home One and some Mon Cals for support at just the right moment, or just outside the range of the enemy space station. Its a proven tactic and it's never failed me.

Although, thats probably the problem. The computer AI is too predictable and even on the hardest settings, you can suffer little losses and also expect to win.

 

[TheChameleon]

I'm playing Age of Empires III, which was stolen from my mom's work... because her boss bought A video card for his PERSONAL computer... and he doesn't have kids... so, the game came to where it would be used... hehehe

(to be honest, haven't played it yet... but thinkin' about it.)

 

[FeatherHead]

Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (with a cool mod!), World League Basketball and lots of GBA and SNES roms.
Speaking of which, I'm trying to remember the name of an old SNES game that was similar to Bomberman, but instead of the Bombers the main characters were little cars which drop electric bombs instead of fire bombs. Does anyone ring any bells?

 

[asutickler1]

At the moment I'm playing through Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter for the XBox 360. With frequent bouts of DOA 4 and Oblivion, naturally. 😉

Its nice to see that there are a few other NWN fans on here, too...

 

[sgtfrantz]

hmmm i kinda liked empire at war, but it did get boring, i thought it was gonna be better, at the moment im playing the new hitman : blood money on the PC, which rocks, definately the best of the series

 

[a1532b]

I'm uhh....Playing....uno...on xbox live....

It's awesome, leave me alone!!! 🙁

Seriously though...it rocks 😀

 

[Excess]

I just started playing Fable:TLC today, and though I've heard some good and bad about it, I think it rox. I've got myself way too many games to play through right now, including, but not limited to, FFIX, Xenogears, and Oblivion, just to name a few. And after I'm done with all that (partially with Oblivion), I'm planning on running through Chrono Trigger, FFVI, FFVII, and FFVIII again, though that may change depending on what else I aquire.

 

[cyclypse]

WoW and RF Online. Mostly sticking to RF since all my WoW characters are lvl 60 and have their epic items. Only thing keeping me in WoW is the PVP and the promise of greater gameplay when the expansion comes out.

 

[asutickler1]

I'm uhh....Playing....uno...on xbox live....

It's awesome, leave me alone!!! 🙁

Seriously though...it rocks 😀

Have you tried Bankshot Billiards on Live? For some reason I can't stop playing that damn little thing...

 

[Federkitzler]

Hitman - Blood Money. Brilliant ending.

 

[Dussicar]

You took the words out of my mouth. I was going to say that myself. Yeah, these days it is all about making better looking games, but they fall short of being completely entertaining. They're good eye-candy, but sometimes not much more than that.

I still enjoy playing Total Annihilation: Kingdoms and that game is old and by a company thats out of business. But its a good, solid RTS in my opinion. The graphics are pretty decent, the music is good, and the main adventure scenario is pretty interesting.

Empire At War's space battles are really cool. I love warping in Home One and some Mon Cals for support at just the right moment, or just outside the range of the enemy space station. Its a proven tactic and it's never failed me.

Although, thats probably the problem. The computer AI is too predictable and even on the hardest settings, you can suffer little losses and also expect to win.

Total Anihilation: Kingdoms? I've never heard of that one. I only played the original and the Core contingency expansion. I really wish someone would pick up that licence again. As a matter of fact, it's funny you mentioned that game as I was raving about how much fun it was to play to a friend a few days ago. I should go and see if I can pick up an old copy from somebody. I really want to play that again.

As for Empire at war, I have to say that my favourite unit is the Slave 1. You are correct about the general tactics, though. It's pretty much defend, build up, send armada out to destroy, wash, rinse, repeat.

Meh. I'm more of a lightsaber man, myself. Nintendo hinted that their new Wii system might end up pumping out a Star Wars game. Which, with that new hand control, will allow a player to physically mimic sword movements. Just like a VR system.