Looking for two good games.

[victor]

I need a couple of PC games to entertain me over the summer. I've always liked strategy and tactic games, not only because they're entertaining but also because they make your mind work. First, I'm looking for something that resembles Medieval 2: Total war. I liked that game, but once you reached a certain level of power, even on very hard, the game became both too easy (as you had not military equal) and too frustrating (because everyone relentlessly attacked you). So is there a resembling strategy game that's more enjoyable? Or is there a mod to it, like Rome Total realism was to Rome total war.

Second, I'm looking for a game in the same genre as Icewind Dale or Fallout Tactics. That is, turnbased or semi-realtime squad-based warfare. I really enjoyed Fallout Tactics, and I would've liked Icewind Dale if it was more story-driven and had less repetitive combat. Dungeon siege was far too linear. I've been looking into Jagged alliance, but it feels a little too old.

 

[GreyViper]

I need a couple of PC games to entertain me over the summer. I've always liked strategy and tactic games, not only because they're entertaining but also because they make your mind work. First, I'm looking for something that resembles Medieval 2: Total war. I liked that game, but once you reached a certain level of power, even on very hard, the game became both too easy (as you had not military equal) and too frustrating (because everyone relentlessly attacked you). So is there a resembling strategy game that's more enjoyable? Or is there a mod to it, like Rome Total realism was to Rome total war.

Thats a tough one, maybe mods would lengthen the game a bit more? Another option is modded CIV4 with expansions. Or try Space Rangers that should occupy your time long enough.

Second, I'm looking for a game in the same genre as Icewind Dale or Fallout Tactics. That is, turnbased or semi-realtime squad-based warfare. I really enjoyed Fallout Tactics, and I would've liked Icewind Dale if it was more story-driven and had less repetitive combat. Dungeon siege was far too linear. I've been looking into Jagged alliance, but it feels a little too old.

Im more in favor to IWD2 myself, but honestly there are better BG2 TC mods that would take care that need. Or SpellForce 2 & Expansion, it can get very addicting. As for Jagged Alliance 2, its almost a new game after v1.13 so I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand.

 

[Thrawn]

There is no reason for JA 2 to feel too old.

For me, games feel too old when they lack the refinement of newer games. For example, Civ 1 feels too old because the icons are so damn hard to tell apart or there is no queue.

JA2 however, has every feature a good TB Tactical game should have. Cover, deformable terrian, day/night, skills, character development, ect. The only thing JA 2 lacks is good voice acting and graphics, both of which should be easily forgivable.

Some game systems are tedious and stupid like helicoptor movement and the like. Other than that, it is just a god damn good game.

As for a game like Medivel 2 TW... that is a tough one...

The best I could come up with is Master of Orion 3. Now before I get flamed over how much of a flaming heap of crap MOO3 was, let me just say, I played and loved MOO1 and 2. And MOO3 was definitly not a true master of orion. Infact, the first time I played it I uninstalled it after 10 minutes.

Anyways, MOO3 is great. You get to create massive vast empires and design huge fleets of ships. The trick to the game is to turn AI completely off and build everything you need to build on a planet as soon as you colinize it.

Plus, if you can find it, there is no way it is more than 10 bucks. Just do NOT buy the strat guide... god what a waste. I should have known better.

 

[Hoxie]

-Snip-

 

[Tandy]

Try Stainless steel for MTW.

JA2 is one of the best games ever made and i say give it a try.

 

[Tagaziel]

The only thing JA 2 lacks is good voice acting and graphics, both of which should be easily forgivable.

Oh no.

You didn't say that.

Those are fight words.

 

[UniversalWolf]

I've always liked strategy and tactic games, not only because they're entertaining but also because they make your mind work.

Are you familiar with Paradox Interactive's Europa Universalis games?

They would be Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Victoria, Crusader Kings, and the new EU: Rome.

I'd recommend them to anyone who likes strategy games. They cover a lot of historical territory, so you'll probably find at least one that interests you. They're definitely strategy though, and not tactics.

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/

If you want a sense of what gameplay is like, read some of the AARs on the forum.

 

[Stag]

ArmA, any GTA (aaaaaaannnnyyyy), Soul Calibur II, Ultimate Spider-Man (not on handheld, especially not on the ds unless you like wanting to kill yourself), Spider-Man 3 (haven't played it too much, but it seemed very fun on Wii, and basically like Ultimate Spider-Man with different controls (debatable as to whether or not they are better) and a graphical update. Those two Spider-Mans are really fun sandbox games. Sandboxes and fighting games, that's where it's at.

 

[SL¥DE]

Heroes Quest...quintrilogy(?). Or any of the Quest games.

Also you could look to the Nintendo DS for a good amount of tactics games.

 

[Stag]

But not for Ultimate Spider-Man, because for some reason you have to use the touch screen for every single action ever, and it really doesn't work at all and it makes you want to die.

 

[Flop]

I'd also like to recommend the paradox games. I guess HOI2 and Victoria are probably my favourites, but if you can get yourself to pay for Europa Universalis 3 + the Napoleons Ambitions expansion + the In Nomine expasion, you have a very good game there as well.

The paradox games are highly replayable, since you can play as pretty much any nation that existed historically at the time you start the game, so one or two of those games should keep you occupied for some time.

 

[SL¥DE]

But not for Ultimate Spider-Man, because for some reason you have to use the touch screen for every single action ever, and it really doesn't work at all and it makes you want to die.

Ultimate Spiderman on DS is a platformer, not a tactics game.

I'm talking about games like Drone Tactics, Advance Wars (includine DoR), Luminous Arc, Rondo of swords, Hoshigami, blah blah blah. Any manner of turn-based strategy RPG that has managed to flood the DS's library, which is understandable given the fact that touch screen makes these types of games much more natural to play.

Final Fantasy XII: Revanent Wings got good reviews, if you want to try a RTS on the DS, but steer clear of Heroes of Mana.

Myst was also ported to the handheld, as was the PC version of Theme Park. There's a Sim City DS, but I haven't given it too much time yet. Civilization: Revolution (or whatever it's called) should be being released soon too for most non-PC platforms too.

 

[Thrawn]

I'd also like to recommend the paradox games. I guess HOI2 and Victoria are probably my favourites, but if you can get yourself to pay for Europa Universalis 3 + the Napoleons Ambitions expansion + the In Nomine expasion, you have a very good game there as well.

I am BAFFELED as to how anyone could like the Europa Universalis games.

Not to hijack the topic or anything, but I played rome for about half an hour.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Seriously, NOTHING.

Not only that but there were some SERIOUS issues with the game.

When you order units from one provence to another they stand still and make the marching animation and then when the march is over, teleport to the other provence. You have to mouse over or click them to see where they are going.

Some times you will be presented with a delima like "This nobel's child is afarid to spar! Do you repremand him or comfort him?" And then you are given possible actions of each out come like if you repremand him there is a 10% chance that he because a total bad ass and if you comfort him there is a 10% chacne he becomes a total pussy. So you pick your option... wait with baited breath... and then it doesn' tell you what happens.

Also, on these same screens, it doesn't tell you who these people are beyond there names so unless you can rember Maximus Geruptoons is your science advisor, you can forget about tailoring these decisions to your people.

Finally, as I said before. NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS GAME. I played for 30 minutes and researched ZERO new technologies and built ZERO buildings. I just made decisions and had no idea how they impacted my civilization.

I will now return this topic to the originally scheduled programming with this statement.

I don't think anyone yet has mentioned Heroes of Might and Magic. Good turn based fantasy game. Much smaller battles than TW (you only get like 7 unit types) but tons of fun.

If you want a game where you can have totally bad ass over powered heroes go with 4, if you want Heroes to be the background of your army, go with 5.

Another option is Age of Wonders. That game is great!

I'll take back part of what I said about JA2's voice acting. Some of it is pretty good, but some of it is down right terrible. Ira is particularly bad. "She is evil, a driven bitch". Some times it is frustrating just because it is so common. Like when you kill off the huge nest of the tiger things and you here scope say "Got an emeny here!" 400 times. Rough.

 

[Stag]

But not for Ultimate Spider-Man, because for some reason you have to use the touch screen for every single action ever, and it really doesn't work at all and it makes you want to die.

Ultimate Spiderman on DS is a platformer, not a tactics game.

Heh, I know. I just hate that game. (on DS)

 

[SL¥DE]

Heh, I know. I just hate that game. (on DS)

Heh, yeah, I put in on my DS on my "Gift from Al Gore" cart as a lark, yes it was quite awful.

Oh by the by, Myst is almost totally pure port, though some of the little buttons and stuff of the various objects make for some difficulty on the touch screen. But you DO get a notepad .

 

[UniversalWolf]

I am BAFFELED as to how anyone could like the Europa Universalis games.

Not to hijack the topic or anything, but I played rome for about half an hour.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Seriously, NOTHING.

I wouldn't base an opinion of Europa Universalis games on EU:Rome alone. It might not be the best example. I haven't played it myself, but from reading the Paradox boards there are a lot of EU fans who feel the same way you do. I'm sure it will get better over time with patches and mods (because all Paradox games do).

Still, Rome is just one ship in the fleet. I've played Hearts of Iron, Hearts of Iron 2: Doomsday, and Victoria, and they were all excellent. They're definitely not boring.

If you play through the Spanish Civil War in HoI2 and still think it's boring, then you're welcome to your opinion.

 

[Phil the Nuka-Cola Dude]

Strategy : Age of Empires III

Other : Arcanum

 

[Flop]

I am BAFFELED as to how anyone could like the Europa Universalis games.

Maybe you didn't notice, but I didn't actually mention EU:Rome. I've played it and I kind of agree with you. The games I did mention are great though, so maybe you should have tried them instead of Rome.

 

[Wooz]

I am BAFFELED as to how anyone could like the Europa Universalis games.

Hmm?

Yes, not surprising from someone who likes HoMM.

Seriously, play EU3 if you're looking for a good strategy game.

 

[victor]

Too much strategy, EU 3. Are there any good and playable mods for Fallout Tactics or Silent storm? Is Mark of Chaos good? I liked Dawn of war soulstorm, but the battles got way too repetitive.

I played some Medieval 2, but the game is broken. AI is overly aggressive, and the devs fail miserably at mathematical statistics. Also, playing on Hard is ridiculously easy, but playing on Very Hard is ridiculously hard (mostly because of broken game rules). Finally, repetitiveness.

I think I want something more story-driven.