Help! Are there ANY more games for me?

[liveinabin]

This is a plea for advice and guidance. Apologies in advance for being a whining old git

 

I've not found a game that I've enjoyed playing for SUCH a long time and, as I'm knocking on, I'm starting to think there are no new games left for the likes of me. I'm posting here to ask your good selves for any games you might recommend to keep me going in this hobby.

 

I'll try and distill what I like in a game. Here follows a very short list of the games I've actually liked:-

 

• Robotron 2084 - because it's 5 minutes of high speed abstract excitement.
  

• Frogger - 20 minutes of low speed abstract excitement.
  

• Zak McKracken and all the Sam & Max games - because they were funny clever and you didn't die (a game mechanic that I'm sick of, apart from in Robotron where it's pretty much all you do, though with such style)
  

• Ridge Racer 4, Ridge Racers 2 PSP, Outrun 2/2006 - because they're high speed escapism, not particularly challenging but such a great feeling of speed and freedom.
  

• Burnout 2 - The only Burnout game for me. Just got rid of Burnout Paradise as it was just soulless.
  

• Everybody's Golf World Tour - Fun, accesible gameplay.
  

• Endless Ocean - which is closest to my ideal - not a game as such, impossible to 'lose', it's just another little world to play in. I love it.
  

• Panzer Dragoon Saga - almost not worth mentioning as there will probably never be another game like it.
  

• Katamari Damacy - as Panzer Dragoon Saga. Although I guess LocoRoco has similar charms but I've got both of those.
  

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - admittedly easy but involving RPG without grinding or heavy menu fiddling.
  

Really, what I'd love is something that I can just play in. I no longer have the patience/time or, really, skill to take on most titles if I'm honest. I always preferred the game worlds to the actual game per se. So, I don't really care how easy a game is, or childish for that matter. I'm not at all tempted by first person shooters or wargames in general.

I can take a bit of competition in arcade racers as I suppose I'm at least competent at those.

Crap at platform games though, bad like you wouldn't believe. Mario Galaxy made me angrier that I think I've ever been.

Ironically though, I'm loving the Bullet Hell shooters - surely the most difficult of games, so difficult that they're quite calming in a totally focussed, zen way.

Um, what else?... oh yeah, I've resigned from Japanese RPGs. I've spent my last hour of pointless grinding in Star Ocean: First Departure and I'm through. That's kinda what prompted this plea.

 

Please, is there anything left for me to play? I can't keep playing Ridge Racer for ever.

 

Thanks!

[DaytonaUSA]

I totally agree Paradise was souless. Very well put. It's fun, but it's not "Burnout". It's Need for Speed Carbon with sunlight.

 

Anywho, you like a large variety of games. Maybe Katamari on the 360.. that was good. But i'd try games that are outside your comfort zone too. Warhawk totally surprised me. I wasn't expecting much at all from that game... I only got it because of the flying (which ironically enough, I never do when playing) and it's seriously the most addicting game I've ever played since Battlefront on the XBOX/PS2. I'd give it a go, you won't be dissapointed.

 

If you like quirkiness, Little Big Planet has that in spades. I love that game. There's always something to play in it. Also, there's FF13 and a new Star Ocean coming out. Maybe that would be for you as well? If you like racers, Gran Trouismo, Wipeout HD, GRiD and Motorstorm 2 are great fun. If you like arcady, fast play, motorstorm, GRiD, and wipeout for sure...

Edited February 2, 2009 by DaytonaUSA

[liveinabin]

I've thought about Little Big Planet. Given that I am the worst platform game player on this green Earth, is there anything in it for me?

My (probably innacurate) first impression of it was that it was the unholy child of Mario and Facebook. But I haven't actually played it yet.

 

Warhawk sounds interesting. I love flying games, particularly F-18 on the Amiga. Games never seem to have a free flight mode anymore, I miss that. Ace Combat would benefit greatly from it.

[DaytonaUSA]

I've thought about Little Big Planet. Given that I am the worst platform game player on this green Earth, is there anything in it for me?

My (probably innacurate) first impression of it was that it was the unholy child of Mario and Facebook. But I haven't actually played it yet.

 

Warhawk sounds interesting. I love flying games, particularly F-18 on the Amiga. Games never seem to have a free flight mode anymore, I miss that. Ace Combat would benefit greatly from it.

 

To put Warhawk in perspective of fun, I sold a 360 with Ace Combat for a PS3 with Warhawk and haven't looked back. It's really freakin fun. Also, considering how old the game is (relatively) and yet it still runs smooth and it's servers are stil slammed with people, that says a lot about it's fun factor.

 

I liked Little Big Planet because it encourages taking chances and exploring the environment more...you can't really die per say, you just go back a few yards to where the last checkpoint was. Also, the "facebook" part about it.. the community play, I haven't really gotten into. I use Online to play by myself but to explore other people's levels. So far, using online for that at least, is a heck of a lot of fun. Makes me regret waiting so long to pick up the game, I really missed out. When it came out, it was one of those games I knew would be special for me, but i pushed it aside because I wasn't sure on the "mario twice as slow" game play. Trust me, all those fears of the game being not for you will be put to rest within the first 30 min of play

[liveinabin]

LBP does sound good.....You know what? I'm going to go and buy it right now.

 

As for warhawk, my only concern, as with all online games, is that I'll go online, where nearly everyone else plays it all the time, and just get massacred.

 

 

Anyway, thanks for your continued help, DaytonaUSA. Seems we like similar games. You're alright

[Reaperman]

I've also had that problem, having liked most of the games you listed.

 

I haven't found a great arcade racer yet. GTI Club Plus is too short. Burnout Paradise does feel like a need for speed game--all the fun is removed. Sega Rally Revo is *awful*. Dirt is unplayable and Grid is a bit too 'simmy'. Motorstorm seems to come the closest--I don't have the new one, but the old one is more about trying to keep the track from killing you than it is about racing.

 

Fallout 3 is a very good RPG worth checking out. It does tend to fall apart since it's joy comes from exploration--but there is a good amount of exploration to be had. It puts you in a 'role' *very* successfully, but fails to put you in a 'story'. The main character is free to say "**** that" every two seconds, but then is asked to care about the main story for some reason.

 

I miss space combat games. It's always more interesting than standard flight games, but both have disappeared.

 

If you're into fighting games, SF4 is comming this month. No idea how that plays. Avoid the hell out of SSF2THDR.

Edited February 2, 2009 by Reaperman

[DaytonaUSA]

LBP does sound good.....You know what? I'm going to go and buy it right now.

 

As for warhawk, my only concern, as with all online games, is that I'll go online, where nearly everyone else plays it all the time, and just get massacred.

 

 

Anyway, thanks for your continued help, DaytonaUSA. Seems we like similar games. You're alright

 

 

Thanks bud. I'm just not into the big spralling adventures so much as the arcady type play... yet at the same time I want something that will keep my attention, ya know? Regarding your fear of Warhawk, in the planes..yes.. even I don't even really bother with them. Unless I want to take out a tank in exchange for knowing that I'll be shot down as soon as I kill it (or before) I don't bother. But seriously, on the ground and tanks are FUN. If you have ever played Battlefront, you're gravy. Do the tutorial. It's there for a good reason, so that you don't try to play online first and suck and lose hope. I'm a good gamer, but not anything like some guys out there who are all ranked and what not, yet I often am in the top 1-5 peopel in the game rankings (not world rankings.. the individual game ranks at the end of a session). It's because 1. it's really balanced. You can suck and still kill people and have fun. Even the game dev video alludes to that being a goal by the devs. 2. if you've played anything like Battlefront it's the same deal on a much larger scale.. it's just fun. 3. No frustrations. What I mean by that is that, again.. no one but plane vs plane is really over powering. I suck plane vs plane.. it's hard, i wont lie. However, any other combo.. tank vs plane, hell even man vs tank or man vs plane, it's incredibly easy for ANYone to kill each other. I still remember the first time I killed a plane with my tank and the plane was moving and was about a quarter mile away. I about wanted to do a dance haha. Or my very first session when a plane was hovering right in front of me shooint at me... i remembered my tutorial, whipped out my flame thrower and killed it! haha it was great. Heck, I've even killed planes by haphazardly throwing a grenade in the air.. lands on his wing.. BOOM! Also, sniping is HARD. So you won't be sniped like in Halo. If you ever get sniped at, it's once in a blue moon and they try to hit your tank (can't hurt you.. but they're just having fun), or they'll shoot around you if you're walking. The only time I ever got hit was once, and i was in the same spot for like 5 min straight because i was usuing a missle launcher to kill planes (fun!). Funny thing is, after i respawed, he was sitll there (you can see a long streak, leading you to his location when he shoots) and I blew up his water tower thing he was hiding in.

 

So yea, it's not frustrating at all. I got the hang of online play in the first coupld matches, and even when I sucked I was literally laughing out loud iwth how much fun it all was. Also, no one really uses headsets on that game for some reason, so you wont have the typical 14 year old talkin crud at you. It's just a bunch of good old fashioned fun. I coudlnt be happier with that game. btw, going in jeeps is fun too. If you hear someone honking the horn over and over as they park next to you, it means they need a gunner. get in and have fun!

 

Btw, if you want to exhange psn IDs, lemme know.

Edited February 2, 2009 by DaytonaUSA

[DaytonaUSA]

I've also had that problem, having liked most of the games you listed.

 

I haven't found a great arcade racer yet. GTI Club Plus is too short. Burnout Paradise does feel like a need for speed game--all the fun is removed. Sega Rally Revo is *awful*. Dirt is unplayable and Grid is a bit too 'simmy'. Motorstorm seems to come the closest--I don't have the new one, but the old one is more about trying to keep the track from killing you than it is about racing.

 

Fallout 3 is a very good RPG worth checking out. It does tend to fall apart since it's joy comes from exploration--but there is a good amount of exploration to be had. It puts you in a 'role' *very* successfully, but fails to put you in a 'story'. The main character is free to say "**** that" every two seconds, but then is asked to care about the main story for some reason.

 

I miss space combat games. It's always more interesting than standard flight games, but both have disappeared.

 

If you're into fighting games, SF4 is comming this month. No idea how that plays. Avoid the hell out of SSF2THDR.

 

Yep, SF4 is preordered. That's one beautiful game that I know I can't pass up on. Fallout3...eh, it might be good.. seriously, it might. But the whole Gears of War, Left for Dead, Bioshock, Resistance, Fallout type of look/game play... it isnt for me. I'm an old Nintendo/Sega fan, so I guess I'm just not into the horror movie/1st person shooter craze that everyone seems to be eating up. I guess I'm one of the few that likes games to be happy in a way. Or at least, like in Battlefront or Warhawk, comical and funny as heck with ragdoll physics. And, for me at least, games like Warhawk are still bright despite their theme of war. I don't need to see someone's arm blown off in a realistic fashion in slow mo to have fun.. in fact, I'd just rather have an explosion and watch my ragdoll comical body fly 50 feet up in the air .

 

I know I'm one of very few now a days.. I guess that's why I totally understood liveinabin's cry for help. I remember making a post very similar to that on pennyarcade's forums, only to be told "if you don't like those games you mentioned ((the ones i just told you about.. bioshock etc)), and only like arcady games like Daytona USA you're out of luck, and should just give up with new systems. You're really not welcome in this generation".

 

Oh yea.. that's a great response. I had also mentioned I get bored of Zelda games because I love them to explore around in, suck in the world, but then get bored with the tedious repetitive missions later in the game. I think they about chewed my head off.. and I was just being honest. I'll always buy every Zelda, but I know I'll never finish one. I just love the idea of walking around in a huge, colorful, imaginitive world like that.

[liveinabin]

Amen to that. Zelda pissed me off for exactly the same reason.

 

Warhawk does look fun. Might pick a copy of that up. My PSN name is also Liveinabin.

On the subject of arcade racers, might I suggest Ridge Racer 7? It's cheap now and very slick. Not as good as Ridge Racer 4, but then what is?

 

As for Fallout3, haven't played it, but I'm quite enjoying (on occasion) Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, also by Bethseda, which is, I'd guess, the D+D equivalent of Fallout3.

Nice world to explore, truly huge. Getting a little tired of nearly everything you meet 'on the road' being hostile. Can't we do communication in games? Captain Blood managed it back in '88.

 

Oh, and I'll pass on SF4. I didn't grow up with SF type fighters, therefore I suck. They seem to require the kind of dexterity that can only have been learned in ones early years. Maybe it's that or maybe I never cared enough who fell over first.

 

Still, Blanka's back in it. Yay.

[liveinabin]

Got Little Big Planet. It's installing it's updates now. Damn, Sony's servers are slow. I could load 67Mb quicker from tape!

[Reaperman]

I know I'm one of very few now a days.. I guess that's why I totally understood liveinabin's cry for help. I remember making a post very similar to that on pennyarcade's forums, only to be told "if you don't like those games you mentioned ((the ones i just told you about.. bioshock etc)), and only like arcady games like Daytona USA you're out of luck, and should just give up with new systems. You're really not welcome in this generation".

Yeah, but as I've come to see it, it's kind of true. There are a few sidescrollers and twin stick shooters on the download end (they're getting a little resurge), but really a lot of the older styles are just dead and gone. It's a really a shame, since last gen gave us some of the prettiest 2d games ever--mixed in with the 3d. Maybe they're comming, it's still kind of early to say.

 

as far as fighters go, King of Fighters XII is also planned for this year (ps3/360). I haven't played any of the post-neo-geo titles, but now might be a good time to see how they're keeping up with the streetfighters. It's always fun to see, but it was more fun when it was their same old neo-geo going up against new capcom hardware. Times have changed.

 

I liked how fallout handled combat (because I don't generally like FPS games). It kind of handled it like KOTOR, allowing the action to be paused while moves are selected that are then executed in real time when the game unpauses. That's kind of why I mentioned it. A lot of people I know have actually played it like an FPS--and I just don't see how they keep from running out of bullets.

 

I think I'm about to let arcade racers go. San Francisco Rush 2049 on the DC was about the height of arcade racing. I'm starting to turn into more of a sim gamer thanks to the added power of the last two generations of consoles. I'm hoping for GT5 this year. And if it comes out, I'll probably break down and buy myself an expensive g25 wheel setup. maybe just buy myself a tweed jacket and a pipe to complete the illusion.

Edited February 2, 2009 by Reaperman

[BSA Starfire]

Well if you liked KOTOR how about Jade empire & mass Effect? I find for a really happy relaxing game the best two are Reel Fishing 2 & harvest moon on PS1 also Pokemon Crystal on the GBC, by far the best pokemon game and very mellow in my opinion.

Chris

[DaytonaUSA]

Got Little Big Planet. It's installing it's updates now. Damn, Sony's servers are slow. I could load 67Mb quicker from tape!

 

Welcome to Sony. My moto is, for wireless play... Sony installs slower but you can actually play it when it's done, MS installs quicker but if you only have wifi.. tough luck getting any ping that doesn't kick you out of a game.

 

It's worth the wait I promise.

 

And yea, definitely pick up Warhawk. I can't imagine the old school gamer that wouldn't like this game . It's just basically what you love about gaming as you've grown through the years. Basic fun time that's repetitive, but somehow different every time you play it. Kinda like having a sleepover playing nothing but Bomberman on the SNES with a multitap. Sigh...

[DaytonaUSA]

I know I'm one of very few now a days.. I guess that's why I totally understood liveinabin's cry for help. I remember making a post very similar to that on pennyarcade's forums, only to be told "if you don't like those games you mentioned ((the ones i just told you about.. bioshock etc)), and only like arcady games like Daytona USA you're out of luck, and should just give up with new systems. You're really not welcome in this generation".

Yeah, but as I've come to see it, it's kind of true. There are a few sidescrollers and twin stick shooters on the download end (they're getting a little resurge), but really a lot of the older styles are just dead and gone. It's a really a shame, since last gen gave us some of the prettiest 2d games ever--mixed in with the 3d. Maybe they're comming, it's still kind of early to say.

 

as far as fighters go, King of Fighters XII is also planned for this year (ps3/360). I haven't played any of the post-neo-geo titles, but now might be a good time to see how they're keeping up with the streetfighters. It's always fun to see, but it was more fun when it was their same old neo-geo going up against new capcom hardware. Times have changed.

 

I liked how fallout handled combat (because I don't generally like FPS games). It kind of handled it like KOTOR, allowing the action to be paused while moves are selected that are then executed in real time when the game unpauses. That's kind of why I mentioned it. A lot of people I know have actually played it like an FPS--and I just don't see how they keep from running out of bullets.

 

I think I'm about to let arcade racers go. San Francisco Rush 2049 on the DC was about the height of arcade racing. I'm starting to turn into more of a sim gamer thanks to the added power of the last two generations of consoles. I'm hoping for GT5 this year. And if it comes out, I'll probably break down and buy myself an expensive g25 wheel setup. maybe just buy myself a tweed jacket and a pipe to complete the illusion.

 

 

I guess I should change how I'm coming across maybe.. It's not that I hate 3d.. I love it. It's just, I really think games were better on the Saturn, PS and N64 in a way. it was the best mix of 3d with arcade play you'll ever find really. Of course, games like Star Fox and Mario 64 ect helped make games a little less one dimensional... which kinda killed it for me for many games. Again, games like Bioshock bore me to tears. I can appreciate the amazing sound, graphics, and story.. but I can't even make myself go through the "game" of it to get through it. I guess it's why I like watching someone play through games like that instead of actually playing.

 

Lastly, to alude to your first point.. I think I'm very welcome in this generation. People are so brainwashed to play stuff like Gears, or GTA, or ::insert gruesome "cool" game here::, but there are plenty of games out there for people like me. Again, little big planet, warhawk.. games like that represent the type of gamer I am. Games like GT5 Prologue are fun on a stick, and games like Heavenly Sword have the perfect combination of story (short but sweet) and arcady beat em up game play. Ratchet and Clank, I just started playing, and I have to say it's a ton of fun as well. I love Pixar, and I love hack n slashes.. and it seems to be a nice mixture of the two .

 

I own over 35 games for my wii, and 18 games for my ps3.. not counting all the hundreds of games I own for my other systems. So I think gamers like me will always be welcome in this generation or any future generation .. I just think we have to look for it. It rarely will be the shiney game that every hardcore gamer toutes as the best of the best, and it will rarely be one of the thousands of casual games made for mentally retarded 2 year old walrus mutants (.. I swear, that's the challenge level...).

[liveinabin]

Played a few hours of Little Big Planet. Superb! The main game seems to be simply a demo of what you can build yourself, so I'm only playing it to pick up bits. I'm LOVING playing everyone elses creations, played a brilliant Ghostbusters level last night.

 

Thanks Daytona, I'm really going to get lost in this.

 

Also, I'd forgotten that Stephen Fry does the tutorials. Greatest living Englishman and he's on my game! Sweet.

 

Anyway, I'm going to get planning on my BigTrak level. Still need a few more bits. The mission (if I can manage it) is going to be to get BigTrak to take an apple to your dad (just like the old advert)

[DaytonaUSA]

Played a few hours of Little Big Planet. Superb! The main game seems to be simply a demo of what you can build yourself, so I'm only playing it to pick up bits. I'm LOVING playing everyone elses creations, played a brilliant Ghostbusters level last night.

 

Thanks Daytona, I'm really going to get lost in this.

 

Also, I'd forgotten that Stephen Fry does the tutorials. Greatest living Englishman and he's on my game! Sweet.

 

Anyway, I'm going to get planning on my BigTrak level. Still need a few more bits. The mission (if I can manage it) is going to be to get BigTrak to take an apple to your dad (just like the old advert)

 

 

Awesome, I'm glad you enjoy it! See, there are games out there to play, you just gatta look hard sometimes.

 

Btw, I sent you an invite on the PSN. Can't wait to see what levels you create. Btw, you can create levels with other people I believe. I saw a video of it once. I'd imagine with bluetooth headsets, that would be really fun to do.

[liveinabin]

Btw, I sent you an invite on the PSN. Can't wait to see what levels you create. Btw, you can create levels with other people I believe. I saw a video of it once. I'd imagine with bluetooth headsets, that would be really fun to do.

 

I'll have a look now. As for collaborative level creating... I know I'd get REALLY possessive When I'm painting, I just vanish from view and don't show anyone until it's finished. Having someone else working on the same thing fills me with dread.

[FastRobPlus]

I would nominate Fable II, since the world is pretty well fleshed out and lives with or without you. Mass Effect was immersive like KOTOR, but you really have to do stuff to move forward.

[+Cafeman]

Recommending: Wii Excite Truck, the most fun racer I've played in a long time, and I also loved Burnout 2 more than the newer Burnouts.

[DaytonaUSA]

I would nominate Fable II, since the world is pretty well fleshed out and lives with or without you. Mass Effect was immersive like KOTOR, but you really have to do stuff to move forward.

 

I wouldn't recommend fable 2 for him at all. If he's like me (and he said he felt the same way...) games like Zelda, where you have fleshed out worlds... are entertaining for the first few hours/days, but they we don't get into it. Concidering how I played, and concequently gave up on, Fable 1 for the same feeling I get with Zelda games (really fun at first with a great world to explore, then repetitive and annoying after a while), I wouldn't say it's a game for him.

 

Again, not saying it's a bad game. But for what his needs are, I wouldn't recommend this.

[DaytonaUSA]

Recommending: Wii Excite Truck, the most fun racer I've played in a long time, and I also loved Burnout 2 more than the newer Burnouts.

 

 

Excite Truck is my favorite racer by far on the Wii. I wish Nintendo would listen to us already and give us a sequel. It can't be *that* hard .

[Cybergoth]

Robotron 2084 - because it's 5 minutes of high speed abstract excitement.

 

Geometry Wars Galaxies on the Wii delivers just that

[kisrael]

Do you like the kind of world an Animal Crossing game provides?

[moycon]

If you haven't tried it yet you might give FLOW a try. Like Endless Ocean not so much a game as just a relaxing way to kill time.

[liveinabin]

Flow is nice. I've got that. There are some quality things on PSN store, Everyday Shooter being another.

 

@kisrael - I loved Animal Crossing. Had it on GC and DS. Nintendo are taking the p**s with the Wii version though. I'm not buying the same game again.

 

 

 

As for Excite Truck, brilliant game and, apart from Endless Ocean, is still the only reason I've still got the Wii. It's odd, arcade racers usually work best on the fastest, flashest gear. Yet here we have an offroad racer that totally eclipses both Motorstorms and Pure.

 

And I've got the original Fable on Xbox. Being English, and a midlander, I just got sick of the yokel villagers all sporting stereotype 'brummie' accents. Fable was made in very southern Guildford and I guess that's what they think thick people sound like.