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Warcraft
The humans against the Orcs...and you can be the Orcs
if you want to. Plays in real time (not turn-based). I never got around
to trying Warcraft II or beyond
Diablo
It's a pretty good game if you like the Dungeons & Dragon
genre of game, but I was disappointed when I finished the game because it
seemed "short"; I think I finished it in about two weeks, (whereas Jedi Knight
took much longer and had more playability). The multi-player game was where
all the action was. The single-player ending was definitely surprising. One
simple "cheat" is to start a new game with the same character; you keep building
up on the character. Hellfire just added more fun things to do.
Diablo II
If you have the 1.10 patch for Diablo II Expansion Pack, then you know that you can
combine your runes to get higher runes. However, Blizzard neglected to tell you
show much work that would be. Check my Zod conversion chart.
A much improved version of Diablo: more character classes,
more monsters, more powers, bigger environments, more storyline, more of everything.
Even better, the Lord of Destruction expansion pack. More of a good thing.
Did I mention Battle.Net and free
on-line Diablo II gaming? Recommended websites:
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Jedi Knight is the elaborate followup to Dark Forces and,
as in Dark Forces, there is an interesting plot for the game and now, you get
to use a light saber. For a player-run website of information, try
Trail's Guide to Jedi Knight.
The LucasArts sequel to this game is
Mysteries of the Sith.
At one point it was PC Gamer's all-time best game ever.
The fact that this game can be played multi-player (though not on-line) and
allows add-on modules makes it playable over and over again long after most
games lose their luster. (2002)
Jedi Outcast: Jedi Knight II
Great graphics. Great game. Good plot. Online-playing capability.
One suggested user-website is
JediKnightII.net. (2003)
Jedi Academy
The followup to Jedi Outcast, this game takes you through
the training of a Jedi through individual missions. It's worth buying but perhaps
it's too much of the same as Jedi Outcast. Also online gaming available.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Fly missions in your X-Wing, Y-Wing, A-Wing, Speeder, and V-Wing against the
Empire's minions. Do well and relive the missions on Hoth and the Death Star Trench
Run flight. I broke a joystick over this game. At some point, you can fly the
Millenium Falcon and a TIE Interceptor; there is an add-on that allows you to fly
the Naboo fighter. Unfortunately, it's only a single-player game.
Star Wars: Alliance
Fly missions in various craft for the Rebel Alliance. The storyline involves a
family that owns a transport service trying to stay neutral in the fight but really
has rebellion sympathies. Start Ace Azzamein on his first job and end up in the
Millenium Falcon's cockpit with Lando as he flys the Corellian YT-1300 down the bowels
of the second Death Star (to blow it up, of course!) This game beats X-Wing and Tie
Fighter because it allows multi-players squirmishes and has a better storyline and
graphics. Recommended website: XWingAlliance.net
X-Wing
This classic game lets you fly missions against the Empire
Try taking on a Star Destroyer by yourself! The graphics of the game are relatively
dated but the game play is still good.
TIE Fighter
Same is X-Wing, but now you play from the point of view of an Imperial pilot.
With ships like the Tie Defender, how did the Empire lose? It's more of the
same (as X-Wing), but still a quality game for the Star Wars fan.
X-Wing vs TIE Fighter
This is a multi-player game with allowing you to go up against a human or computer pilot.
No on-line capability and same level of graphics as X-Wing and TIE Fighter.
Recommendation: Don't bother getting this if you're not going to play this with
multiple (human) players; just get X-Wing or Tie-Fighter. For a *better* multi-player
experience, I would suggesting getting Star Wars: Alliance.
Star Wars: Force Commander
This is a Real-Time Strategy game (RTS) based on the Star Wars genre. If you
love Star Wars, this is a good buy, though I've seen less-than-favorable reviews
of the game. The game is similar to Warcraft or Star Craft in that you're managing
resources while directing military units on a battleground. It offers a campaign
(storyline) that follows the life an Imperial stormtrooper who moves up the ranks
and then defects as he gets disillusioned with the Empire.
Star Wars: Rebellion
I've had this game for a long time but still hadn't taken the time to figure
out how to play this resource management game.
Shadows of the Empire
This is a port of a game console game with a series of arcade-type missions.
When it came out, you needed special video cards to play it, but most computers
should support it now. Mediocre gameplay but decent graphics, but mediocre.
Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
I was very disappointed with its playability. It's also a port of a console game,
but harder to play than Shadows of the Empire. The viewing angle makes
playing difficult and it can't be changed; you can't look down the hallway to
shoot enemies that might be standing just beyond the monitor's edge. It's
also annoying to have to wait a long time to reload a saved game.
There's a "quick-save", but no "quick-load".
Star Wars: Episode I Racer
Relive Anakin Skywalker's race against treacherous opponents on the sands of Tatooine.
This is a good game.
Rebel Assault
This game was hard to play (controls didn't seem to respond well). My computer
may have been too slow. I heard that
Rebel Assault
II was much better.
Heretic
First-person shooter in a fantasy world. Dated graphics and simplified gameplay
but still a good game .
Heretic II (written by
Raven Software and published by Loki Software) is available on Linux as well as the PC and has much better
graphics but I haven't played it on a computer fast enough for the graphics.
Hexen
Almost the sequel to Heretic, but a different world. The add-on, Death Kings of
the Dark Citadel, extends the gameplay.
Hexen II
is based on the Quake engine and is multi-player.
Commander Keen
A great series suitable for kids with simple controls and graphics.
Final Doom (or just "Doom")
An old game but *the* classic game, the first first-person shooter with decent graphics.
I'm not sure if there was a storyline or not. This game had the extensions that allowed
game writers to create their own modules and add-ons. One of my favorite modifications
converted one of the monsters into Barney so I could
enjoy blowing Barney away with a shotgun.
Doom II is more of
the same but adds multi-player but not online games.
I guess Ultimate Doom
is the original game plus an extra episode; I never bought it.
Wolfenstein 3D
This classic game started the real interest into first-person shooters. Simplistic
in graphics and gameplay, but still entertaining. The add-on
Spear of Destiny
extends the gameplay.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
About time they came out with this game. This is a vast upgrade of the original game
with *great* graphics and a great storyline. Multi-player online capability.
This isn't your father's Wolfenstein 3D
Doom 3
Wow. Wait long enough and the price of the really good games will come down in price.
The only thing I can say so far about this game is that it should be played on a really large
screen with the room lights shut off and the speakers turned up. And make sure you have plenty
of clean underwear.
)The X-Com games have a nice mix of tactical and strategic action for managing your resources as you allocate supplies and make sure your X-COM forces have enough troups and weapons to defeat the alien invaders. This game reminds me of the 1970's English show, UFO.
X-COM: UFO Defense
Years after I bought it, this game is still exciting. It started
a whole new genre of computer games and should be listed in some Hall of Fame.
GameSpot review
X-COM: Terror From The Deep
More of the same, but in a water environment.
GameSpot review
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Space Quest
King's Quest
Lord of the Realms II
A fine strategy game. It requires some skill at managing
your resources to get you enough armies and weapons to defeat your neighboring counties.
Multi-player, though not on-line
Half-Life (1998)
This game set the standard for first-person shooters. It goes beyond most
first-person shooters in that pretty much everything in the game can be
manipulated and the game is total immersion. Even the opening sequence
allows you to move around and take a look at everything around in the
proper perspective. Body movements is important, even as the security
guard adjusts his pants while standing around.
This game is the Best Value in a computer game ever! Years
after it first came out, it's still selling at full price.
They keep adding sequels like Opposing Force and Blue Shift (2001).
Team Fortress is a great free on-line multiplayer environment.
There is an on-line deathmatch capability and there are many FREE add-on
maps and modules that extend the life of the game. I'm still playing
this game regularly *years* after I bought it.
Recommended website:
Planet Half-Life
Back in the earlier days of personal home computers and Microsoft DOS, Apogee came out with a great line of entertaining games. While outdated by today's standards, they set the standard for those days.
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold
And the sequel,
Planet Strike
Wacky Wheels,
Monster Bash,
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure
All games suitable for kids
Duke Nukem,
Duke Nukem II,
and Duke Nukem 3D
Yes, it's politically incorrect. You got a problem with that?
MotoRacer & MotoRacer 2
These are excellent motorcycle racing games that allow you
to also compete against another play.
No One Lives Forever
James Bond, but from a woman's point of view. This
is a take-off on Diana Rigg's Emma Peel role as the kick-ass secret agent.
It includes a campy 70's spy environment, including the colors.
This is a first person shooter with some tough puzzles to get around. You'll
also want to hear the conversations that take place when you're near the bad
guys. This game came with my NVidia GeForce4 440 video card, but it would have
been worth paying for this game. If you need a walk-thru for this game, try
Gamespot one.
(2002)