Civilization 4! I -just- started playing last Saturday and I'm absolutely addicted. I can't believe I missed this one. 10 stars out of five.
Give DMC3 a try. It's the consensus best game of the series. Wha... but... but... no! Unacceptable! SOTC and Okami absolutely top the list for must-plays. I... pity you, sir. What'd ya think?
Psychonauts- I played the demo and it was okay Advent Rising- looked like a promising franchise but I never got around to it Rock Band- Expensive for a video game but it looks tight, I might purchase it later Zelda: Ocarina of Time - never played it although all my friends have
I absolutely will when I've gotten to a point where I feel dominant in the game. As it is, I'm still learning the nuances of the different controls, settling, which units are better vs whom, etc etc. Civ4 is soooo deep it's sick. It's a masterpiece. Speaking of masterpieces, I'll take this opportunity to pimp Heroes of Might and Magic 3 again. Probably the best turn-based strategy game ever. Also, if you've never played it, City of Heroes/Villains is fantastic. I've been playing it since it launched, on and off. I'll cancel it, get an idea for a hero or villain, and re-subscribe and go in and create it. The player base is completely different from the WOW crowd- 98% nice, mature people just having fun. Awesome game.
RC you haven't played RE4?!?! Blasphemy! You need to go and play that game first and foremost over anything else that you listed. Well I can't really make fun of you too much, as the game I regret never playing is the Metal Gear Solid series... MGS4 is on the horizon and I have not beaten any of the first 3 games (I beat the Snake part on MGS2, and that's it)... I would try to play all 3 before MGS4 came out, but being addicted to Smash Bros, and then having Mario Kart and freakin GTAIV coming out this month, I don't think I'll have time to play any other game... Like ever... GTAIV is like
I'll put it on the list, but I'm not sure if DMC is really something I'd like. It doesn't really have anything to do with whether the games are any good, but whether I think I can personally enjoy them (or at least really enjoy them). As you may have noticed, I've had a habit of checking out some games via Youtube. I've done it for a few games I was feeling mixed about. I nearly bought Indigo Prophecy (AKA Fahrenheit), which was a game I regretted not playing. I had heard mixed things about the gameplay and certain parts of the story, but it seems like it generally got some positive reactions. Youtube helped me to decide whether to get it or not (I didn't). Maybe the videos didn't represent the game well, but I was getting tired of the gameplay just from watching it. The story wasn't quite as good as I expected either, although I did have incredibly high expectations (the story is probably way better than most other stories in games for example). Probably still a solid game, but I think I might have been somewhat disappointed. I might check out a few DMC videos at Youtube. Yeah, yeah...I know. Probably one of the better RPGs/games I've played (maybe top 10?). Probably would have liked it better than CT if a few things were done differently (probably fairly minor stuff, but they really bugged me for some reason). This one has been near the top of the list of games I was looking into getting in the near future. But as I said earlier, I'm starting to have doubts. I wanted to check out the storyline to get a feel for the game, and I just came away incredibly disappointed (felt more entertained by the RE movies...and I think they're horrible). Obviously, I imagine the gameplay is awesome, but I'm not sure I can really get into it regardless of how the game plays. I'd rather just replay through Silent Hill 2 or something. Remember, I'm the guy who thought COD4 and Super Mario Galaxy weren't all that special. If you can still strongly recommend that I play RE4 after reading that (especially in place of some of the other games I listed), then I guess I'll look into playing it at some point...actually, I'll probably do that anyway. Actually, that reminds me...has anyone played Siren (PS2)? Checked out some videos of that online, and it seemed pretty interesting. Maybe a bit too Japanese for my tastes, but the visual style is pretty crazy and I'm guessing the gameplay can get pretty unnerving at times. Might be regretting that one, especially since I'm guessing poor sales of the 1st one lead to the sequel not coming to the US.
I've played Civilization since the original version, and I don't regret a thing. I'll pick that game up again every few months and play a couple of rounds. There's always something new. As far as things I regret not playing, probably the Zelda's. I still haven't played any of them after the first one on the Super Nintendo, but by all accounts they're all great.
I see some hate for the story in RE4, and I don't get it. It's just fine imo. Personally, I feel most of the stuff on your "to do" list (excluding PC, I'm a console guy) is pretty much skippable w/o regrets. RE4 is a lot of fun though. Had a blast beating that not too long ago and plan to go back through it soon. Of course I did play all the way through BGandE recently and I really don't get all the praise it garners. I thought it was fairly mediocre.
RE4 and Zolda OoT are the 2 best console games of all time that I've played. Everyone should play them. Which reminds me: I have to finish/beat the following games. KOTOR 2 Jade Empire Metroid Prime Zelda TP C&C Generals StarCraft Brood Wars Reddick Escape From Bucher Bay Sid Miers Pirates (kind of hard to beat all the way) Splinter Cell 2 (I got bored of it)
Part 1? If so, that game even edges out RE4 in my favorite games ever list. Espically if you've played the 2d games from the NES/SNES. The transition into 3d is flawless and very much comparable to Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time.
I don't know. It seems like you think RE4 is similar to the other Resident Evil games (I got that from your comparison with Silent Hill 2). RE4 is really nothing like the older games. It's an action game first, and survival horror second. In older RE games, ammo was a sought after commodity. In RE4, ammo is a plenty. It's just the way the action is portrayed in the game that makes it stand above other games. The game is just extremely cinematic and it gets you really immersed into the plot. The story is not the greatest, but the gameplay more than makes up for it. All the guns really have a distinct feel to them. Even two different shotguns will have a unique feel to them. Each weapon is also upgradable. The puzzles are well done this time as well (unlike some illogical puzzles from previous RE games). But most of all, what makes this game, are the boss fights. They are downright FANTASTIC. Only 2nd to the bosses from Metroid Prime IMO. They really take the game to another level and puts it into a lot of people's favorites list. I say play the game at least until you have to pass the lake area. It's fairly early in the game and you'll know what I'm talking about once you get to that point. If that doesn't make you want to keep playing, then I guess it's just not your cup of tea.
Haha... yeah, guess you do. Seriously though, it's not just that those games are good... it's that they're so unique. There's nothing like them. Pigeonholing them into one genre can't be done because, well... they're both genres unto themselves, practically. And it doesn't hurt that they're ridiculously pretty, too. Just out of sheer curiosity... what bugged you? I don't feel safe guaranteeing that you'd like it like I do guaranteeing you that you'd like Okami and SOTC... but it's a good one. The story has nothing at all to do with the appeal of RE4. Seriously. It's like not buying Street Fighter 2 because you thought the story was weak. If that's what's bothering you, don't let it. It's really not like any previous RE game, or any classic horror game. Much greater emphasis on action... and honestly, just done really, really well. The gameplay and the atmosphere is where it's at; every moment you're wondering how much longer you'll be alive. It just has that x-factor that keeps you in your seat. Can't tell you exactly what that is... but it's there. Just don't expect it to be like any of the previous RE games, or like Silent Hill... or anything, really. Didn't see this before my own post... quoted for truth.
Oh man, there's a bunch: Any Zelda after Zelda 2: A Link to the Past. I haven't owned a Nintendo since SNES. I had a PS1 but didn't really get back into gaming until I got a PS2, and that's what I've stuck with. Same goes for any Metroid after the original. There's another whole branch of games I regret not playing earlier for different reasons, though: Grand Theft Auto 3 comes to mind. I had the first two GTA's on PS1, and then immediately jumped into GTA: Vice City when I got my PS2. VC expanded so much of what was GTA3 that going back to play GTA3 was a major let down. I completely missed everything that was so revolutionary about GTA3. I appreciate it in retrospect, but the 'wow' factor was just not there. Same thing with Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 and any Final Fantasy prior to FFXII. I REALLY hate being out of the loop when it comes to gaming. I have a decent PC, but its not a gaming PC. I can't afford a PS3 (or any of the other consoles). My friend just bought a 56" 1080p HDTV that his PS3 is hooked up to. COD4, Oblivion, and Heavenly Sword are just sick. Sick, sick, sick. I'm jealous. By the time I get around to getting a PS3 and the TV to match, I'll be playing catch up for a good long while. As for Ico, man....I wish I had known about that game sooner. I loved SOTC, did some research, and found out about Ico. Both are brilliant, brilliant games and are easily amongst my favorites. I'm also kind of bummed because unless they somehow get to PS, I'll never really play: Ninja Gaiden, Halo, Zelda, Metroid, etc. I'm not going to buy a Nintendo just for a few games and I'm not going to buy an XBox. Ever. Because I refuse to feed the Microsoft monster any more than I already have. Good thread.
Out of curiosity, which ones? I'm sure some of them are, although I'm hoping it isn't the case. Most of those games are there simply due to the praise I've seen them get from critics and/or fellow gamers. Having not played them (or even looked into what the games are really like), I don't really have any idea whether they are any good. Still, I regret having not played them in order to find out whether they're any good. I played it w/o really knowing about all the praise. I think someone on this BBS suggested it as a great game to play since it could be found for cheap (one of my cheap games threads I think?), and I gave it a shot. I came away pretty impressed, mostly since I wasn't expecting much given the price ($10 or something like that). To be honest, while I would say it was much better than mediocre, I wouldn't really say it was amazing either. That was a poor choice of games on my part. I could tell from the cutscenes that RE4 was definitely more action oriented, maybe more like the RE movies than previous RE games (or SH games). Maybe I thought of SH2 first because SH and RE are often linked together (some sort of subconscious link?), but I was referring more to what I got out of the story in SH2 than the way the game plays. If it helps, replace it with MGS2, another cinematic action game (although still not a perfect match of course). You guys seem to be reinforcing what I thought about RE4. I'll certainly try to play it at some point in the future, but I won't really regret missing out on it until I at least start finishing up some of the other games that offer a good story and good gameplay (and might possibly end up in my top 10 or 15 or whatever). No point in including the majority of the 40 or so playable characters. A lot of them really had no purpose whatsoever. At least most of the 108 characters in the Suikoden games were somewhat useful...even if it meant just gaining the ability to change the window colors. Think I mentioned this before, but I don't really like the level up system. It is better for gamers that don't like to grind, and the game is easy enough that there is probably no point in doing so. But still, I occasionally like to spend 30-60 minutes just leveling up my characters, getting new spells/abilities, etc. Can't really do that in CC...unless you just want more gold/items. Not sure why, but I couldn't really get into the music. I know you and plenty of others really enjoyed it, but it didn't seem all that special to me. I did enjoy the song that played during the credits though (Without Taking the Jewel IIRC). Story spoilers Spoiler I didn't really like Kid. She was OK I guess, and would have made a fine female party member. But I totally didn't see her as the romantic love interest for Serge. Seemed too forced to me. Didn't help that the game introduces you to Serge when he already has a girlfriend. Granted, I guess Leena wasn't the best girlfriend, but I kind of accepted that she was who Serge had feelings for. Then w/o much development, I end the game finding out that he marries Kid. OK... I would have been completely OK had they just left it all alone (Serge and Kid are just good friends linked by fate or whatever), but it just seems like they just wanted to add some romance to the game w/o really putting in the effort to develop it. I guess this is an additional spoiler for another game (sorry if this ruins it), but something similar happens in Indigo Prophecy. Might have been some other fairly minor stuff that bugged me, but those were the major ones. But as I said, I really enjoyed the game, so this might be more like nitpicking than actual valid complaints. There was also the horrible bug that seems to occur when playing CC on the PS3, but I'm obviously not taking off points for that (if anything, I should give it credit for keeping me interested enough to play it despite the bugs). Although...had my earlier complaints about the level up system been addressed, this wouldn't have been as much of a problem as it was.
FYI RC... I'm not b****ing at you here. I'll just take any excuse I can to gush over my favorite game of all-time. Yeah, see, to me the throwaway characters were no bother... they were just novelties to collect for my amusement. There were still a larger number of worthwhile characters total in the game than I've found in most RPGs, so I never really understood why so many people harp on the 44 characters as a negative. Even if three-quarters of them suck... that means 11 of them are good, or at least decent. And 11 is a lot of characters. I know what you mean, I kinda have this incessant urge to grind out levels even when it's completely unnecessary... but I found the fact that I COULDN'T very... freeing? Like, finally I can just enjoy the game, instead of feeling compelled to do what is essentially repetitive WORK? Eh. nice change of pace, I thought. But I get where you're coming from. Wow... err... yeah... wow. To each his own, I guess. Chrono Cross is the only game in existence whose music is REGULARLY in my rotation to this day... just different tastes, I suppose. (FYI, the end-credits song is called "Radical Dreamers ~Unstolen Jewel~") Only games I can think of where I loved the music even half as much are probably the Guilty Gear Series, Streets of Rage 2, Chrono Trigger, and Xenogears. Spoiler Again, I do see what you mean. However, as a bit of a fatalist myself, I saw it as an (almost absurdly) positive/romantic take on the idea of fate... the repeated phrase "I will find you" indicating a certainty that if they were meant to be together, no distance or circumstances could possibly keep them apart. Not at all grounded in reality, of course... but honestly, the ending was probably my favorite part of what was an utterly stellar game overall. I don't think Kid was meant to be a strong character unto herself... much like Serge was a nondescript character that the player was supposed to envision himself as, I think of Kid as more of a placeholder character than a real character, exactly like Serge (maybe a little more personality, but same idea). It was the IDEA of Kid that was touching, not the character herself. I think the game was trying to speak to the player himself/herself, rather than telling a story of two invented people, as most modern RPGs do. Ahhh... really? I haven't played it on my PS3 yet. What're the bugs? You have the 60GB model I'm guessing?
