As far as RPGs go, I was always a big fan of the first Neverwinter Nights and its expansions. Also, Morrowind has some fond memories. When it comes to newer RPGs, I really enjoyed Fallout 3 and, though I wouldn't necessarily call it an RPG, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is pretty great so far as well. Although perhaps not a 'classic' RPG, but with many RPG elements, System Shock, System Shock 2, Bioshock, and Bioshock 2 are great as well. Took me 5 or 6 tries, but I beat that High Dragon when I first encountered it. Sadly, it didn't drop anything too great, but I got the satisfaction of losing only one party member.
I remember one of these games during the early/mid 90's, but i did not realise they had made two. Darn, i wish i knew which one, so i could play they other. My favourite RPGS by far were Baldur`s Gate 1 and 2 and all the additionals. Icewind Dale (though no story really) and Planescape Torment, oh and Fallout 1 and 2 God darn the 90's had some cool RPG's that are still so fun today (The infinity engine should still be around, but placed on handheld devices so they can bring them all back Loved Morrowind as well, still do thanks to a great modding community.
Planescape Torment is great, as is Mask of the Betrayer which probably has the best writing and plot I've encountered in a game (NWN2 main campaign sucks though). Fallout 3 was fun. I couldn't get into Dragon Age though, the combat didn't interest me, and I didn't find anything special in the plot.
Agreed. I refuse to play a vanilla installation of it now. Same goes for Oblivion. I gotta have all the improved textures, additional sound tracks (there are some GREAT ones out there), better environments, more AI, etc. I think 'Morrowind comes alive' is still my favorite add on. Also, if you were a PC gamer in the late 90's, did you ever happen to give Thief: The Dark Project a try? It's still my favorite game of all time.
Theif (the original one) was one of those games that kept giving in my opinion (well and truely before its time, and even today holds up). Pfft to Splinter cell games. I also agree with not playing vanilla games. Considering games like Morrowind are no longer SPEC hungry, there is no excuse in not having it on PC and playing a game that never grwos old with new mods. Would be nice to see where Consoles goes in the future with modding (Now that online gaming is picking up on Live esp. Though causual gamers will never bring it up to oldschool standard's).
Agreed. When it comes to stealth and replayability, they are vastly inferior to the Thief series. The story of Thief 1 is my favorite, but Thief 2 is better for modding due to less bugs, better textures and colored lighting. (Making thief levels is a hobby of mine, btw. I've made several and have a campaign that is still in the works)
Well it the SC series had a peek, that would have been it. never played it, but remember a lot of talk on that aspect. Lav - After doing a wiki search i notice Edios is doing the 4th installment. Any thoughts, excitment? They're doing Deux Ex (which will probably bomb like the second one did) But i can be excited i suppise. Apart from Morrowind, Oblivion, been out of PC gaming for far too long. Maybe when i get on Xbox live one day (oh the pain) and listen to the punks scream at each other, i'll have reason to build another PC rig.
Woot! I killed the High Dragon in Dragon Age on my first try with no party deaths! Granted it took me 30 mins, but who cares! LOL
Evening all. This may not be 100% the right place for this, but I feel that this will garner a more interested group than if I posted it generally. I work for a gaming blog called 'Nonsense Gamer', we're a relatively young site (October/November '09) working towards getting a more regular output and that is where, perhaps, some of you could come in. We're looking for dedicated writers with a passion for games who will be able to write, at the very least, one article a week on the subject of their choice. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to work with a really great group of like-minded people and for anyone who wants to actively influence the direction of a Blog with their ideas. And, if nothing else, it's a great little thing for the CV. (That's why I started!) I have to admit, I came here to scout for people. But almost all of you seem to have valid opinions that you're ready to back up if need be, so I'll leave it open to the floor. Applying couldn't be easier. Send a little information about yourself, why you think you'd be a suitable member of our team and a relevant piece of work for us to get a feel of your style to joe(at)nonsensegamer.com To check out the site, follow this link. From there, you can see our - vastly outdated - jobs page and get a little more information on what we're wanting. Thanks again, and sorry to the mods if this is stepping on anybodies toes.
I am hopeful that the 4th installation will go back to its roots. The 3rd is pretty much seen universally as a failure to the Thief community. Don't get me wrong, Thief: Deadly Shadows was a good game, but Thief 1 and 2 were GREAT games. I've been hanging out on the eidos forums recently. Apparently the devs of Eidos Montreal are listening to the community this time. All of us loyal taffers from ttlg (through the looking glass) are having quite the time beating back all of the flailingly retarded ideas for Thief 4 that are coming like vomit out of the newbies. (making thief 4 third person, encouraging killing over stealth, etc)
Had, geez. Bring in semi automatics while your at it and a ride that i can pimp alone in. I'd love to sign up and tell them that Thief 4 should be old school. A text based adventure i say.
Just been reading about Australian attorney-general Michael Atkinson's refusal to allow an 18 rating for video games. What a twat.
Ah, video game censorship: "But it's for the children!" Hey, I thought parenting was for the children too, but my fellow man continues to prove me wrong. In other news, Medieval Total War II: Kingdoms had lured me away from its older brother; Rome: Total War. Playing the Britannia campaign as who else but THE IRISH! Killing them rotten Anglo-Normans and sacking their settlements does my heart good Unfortunately, Irish infantry at this point in my game is restricted basically to light, axe-and-buckler-armed Ceitherne (Kerns in English, so I'm told) and the few units of Gallowglass that I can hire. Thankfully, Irish skirmishers and light-medium cavalry are superb, so I can wear them damned English down with lots of javelins before charging home with my nobles' cavalry and my few units of infantry. I'm still learning though; just recently an English army composed, ironically enough, of mainly Irish mercenaries, trounced my own army because I was foolish enough to make some rudimentary tactical "faux pas's."
The Biggest @#!& In Australia. Most Aussies are casual gamers which means not getting affected. Other games, have brains and we smuggle them in. Having a NTSC (always spell that wrong) system means cheaper games anyway Oh and sadly we have has this issue with him for some time now. His old, so you know..... he'll be replaced. One of the funniest Aussies, until you meet him.
Slightly different - kerns were mercenaries who served with the gallowglass, ceitherne were just local warbands. But they're pretty much the same thing, strategically. The historical content in this game is generally pretty good Have you tried the crescent? I recommend it
I remember reading about how the devs for Left4Dead 2 had to change a bunch of stuff to get it released in Australia. No limb-severing in that version, apparently.
In my academic research (read: acquiring lots of Hayes-McCoy and Katherine Simms' excellent research on the topic) I was often confused by the fact that the Gallowglass were accompanied by "kerns" (often termed as "boys", similar to the horseboys who accompanied the Gaelic chieftain's lucht tighe I assumed) who seemed more like "trainee-soldiers" and skirmishers armed with javelins. However, the general term for native Irish professional soldiers, lightly armed with axes, javelins and bucklers as they were, seemed to be kern as well. I originally chalked it up to us English-speakin' fellas mispronouncing and therefore mistaking similar Gaelic words. I guess I was kinda right. Only it was just me mistaking them, rather than people in general It can be. In the Britannia campaign for the Kingdoms expansion, the level of historical accuracy is generally higher than in the main campaign. At least from what I know. However, they do erroneously portray the models of just about every faction besides the English. Surprised? Me neither. Irish Ridire (kind of historically suspect anyways) and the Bodyguards of their generals are portrayed as typical, western european knights in mail and partial plate, wielding lances. Irish Cavalry was far more akin to medium cavalry, dressed in a coat of mail with no plate-armor (or saddle or shoes for that matter) and wielding a long spear overhand in the manner of the Norman knights at Hastings rather than the lance of their contemporaries. And of course, the Gaelic Highlanders from Scotland are all painted blue and wearing tartans. As I understand it, tartans were not "codified" until the lat 16th century at the earliest. I am not sure about that one, so don't quote me on it. They most assuredly were not painted blue though. I would if I knew what it was. I assume it is like a "kill-pocket" where you lure your enemy into a position where you surround them on three sides; usually achieved via feigned retreat and after the enemy chases you, your forces turn about and rout them. If that is it, I will try it. Probably won't pull it off though. As do I!
