LibriumArcana.Games

Introduction: this is a thread where we can write reviews on the game we love. I hope this could give us more insight of what makes a game great, or the other way around. Well I've been tired often lately, but Ace has motivated me to keep up with our idea! :P

Alright, I'll start with my old-time favorite:

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F-19 Stealth Fighter
Microprose - 1989

It is a typical Microprose 'flight-sim' where we fly a hypothetical version of US Air Force's Stealth Fighter, which was designated F-19 at that time. Of course, the aircraft was still on drawing board so an accurate interpretation was impossible. But instead of giving us a 'real-world precision' like most flightsims today, Microprose decided to give the player an immersive, believable gaming experience of what it is like to fly a stealth aircraft.


Game Mechanics

As in most flight-sims on that period, the flight model doesn't even close to today's standard of realism. Moreoever, unlike the real-life F-117, we can bring a shitload of ammunition in the hypothetical F-19; including AA missiles and cannon!

The game features no campaign either; we can only fly in single mission. However, the game gives us a great feeling of involvement despite the lack of campaign. First, in order to play the game, we should enter a pilot's name -starts as 2nd Lieutentant- which would represent our 'game character'. Second, the single mission itself is not a scripted, pre-defined scenario like in most flightsims today. Instead, everytime we fly a mission, we are required to choose certain parameters like mission theatre (ranging from Libya to Iran), rules of engagement (from cold war to full-scale war), and the nature of the objective (either air target or ground target). And then, the game generates a random mission based on the parameters. Our pilot character will gain medals and promotion as we play through those randomly-generated single missions; provided they're successful, of course. If we're killed in a mission, then that's it; we cannot play using the character anymore and in order to continue playing the game, we must create a new pilot and start all over again as 2nd Lieutenant.


Gameplay & Fun Factor

Despite the unrealistic flight model common found in flightsims of that period, the gameplay is very immersive and give us the 'real' feeling of what flying a stealthy aircraft is supposed to be.

First, the heart of the game is in Cold War and Limited War setting; instead of destroying everything in our path, the success of a mission comes from achieving the mission objectives while being stealthy and undetected. So destroying 'extra' targets would actually reduces our score! The premise is that destroying too many extras would expose the 'stealthy' aspect of our misssion. In Cold War setting, even being detected by enemy radar would reduce our score. Actually, this is my first gaming experience where the game would penalize us for inflicting too much damage on the enemy; keeping it consistent with the premise of flying a stealthy aircraft! Of course, trigger-happy player can play the Full Scale War setting which has more 'traditional' approach.

Second, the mission objectives itself further enhance our believability in flying a stealth aircraft. While there are still 'traditional' objectives like destroying oil tanker or radar site, the most fun comes from flying 'stealthy' missions like taking photograph of an enemy installation or making a secret landing on an airstrip behind the enemy lines; those should be performed undetected, of course.

Third, and this is actually the trademark of almost every Microprose flightsims, is the combination of randomly-generated single missions and the 'pilot character' we use in playing the game. See, the pilot we play makes her/his career throughout the game by playing through one single mission to another. Successful missions reward promotions and medals, while fucking up too many mission would make our character end up as a bored administrative staff! So the career of our pilot is actually a campaign by itself, which is dynamically affected by our performance. For ambitious player, of course, the ultimate goal is getting the elusive Congressional Medal of Honor.

There are still minor complaints on this game, though. First, the lack of campaign mode means that the only thing dynamically affected by our performance is merely our career; not the course of the war itself (this is improved in later flightsims like Gunship 2000 which features randomly-generated campaigns). Second, the radar detection model is way too simplified. Third, if our pilot is getting KIA/MIA (or ends up as administrative staff), we have no choice but start it all over again as a lowly 2nd Lieutenant. Of course, this can be circumvented by keeping a backup copy of the pilot file (the file with .FIL extension).


Replayability

As common in most Microprose's flightsims, or even non-flight military sims (like M1 Tank Platoon), the replayability is great. First, the single missions are randomly generated. Second, our pilot character advances her/his career by playing those random missions. So we can play the game over and over again to continue getting medals and promotions; pretending we are actually a pilot with a career to think of. While it is unrealistic to fly a mission as a General, collecting medals is still fun after all. And of course, ambitious players would enjoy pursuing the Congressional Medal of Honor.

As a nice touch, Microprose actually offered rewards for players who manage to get five Congressional Medals of Honor; so very successful player can send their pilot file ( .FIL) to Microprose and getting a souvenir or memorabilia of some sort... Too bad I didn't managed to achieve five CMOHs while the offer still lasted. :(

Of course, starting the game all over again as a lowly Second Lieutenant is not a fun way of replaying the game, so always keep backups of your pilot file!


Graphic & Sound

Well, the graphic is primitive. It is only available in 320x200 resolution with several color choices from CGA to VGA/MCGA; depending to the capability of our monitor and graphic card. While the CGA color is pretty bearable, the VGA/MCGA color is basically the same with 16-color EGA. What to say? It is an 1989 game! The graphic is merely adequate for its era; certainly not as stunning as Ultima 6 or Their Finest Hour, but still adequate.

The sound effect is of course primitive compared to today's standard, but pretty convincing even for those with only PC speakers. Not bad, considering the period of the game.


Conclusion

Despite primitive graphics and simplified flight models, F-19 Stealth Fighter is a FUN game and succesfully convinces us that we are flying a stealthy aircraft. Not to mention the randomly-generated mission and the career mode gives us a significant feeling of involvement; way greater than predefined missions and campaigns in most flightsim today.

Modern-day flightsim developers should learn so much from the charming gameplay of F-19 Stealth Fighter. While hardcore armchair pilots would demand nothing less than meticulous physics model, developer take some lessons from the past that flight simulation, like any other genres, is a game and always a game. There are more than overly realistic flight model in giving the player an immersive, involving, and most importantly, FUN gameplay experience; and F-19 Stealth Fighter is quite successful in achieving the goal.



OOC: in case you guys didn't notice, I'm not a hardcore flightsimmer; I'm the kind of guy who choose easy landing all the way to Sunday.

Edit: Just added 'Replayability' section. Thanks, Ace!

Freespace 2(and SCP 3.6.5)

Genre: Sci-fi space sim
Notes: Joystick = essential unless your insane.
Source code was released and updated to modern graphics, during this review, I will refer to those.

Graphics: They Rock. Simple. While the game betrays its pre 2000 heritage in terms of stock textures, its one of the most beautiful games to watch in action. Beams move around the sky, flak bursts explode everywhere. When fighers duel theres a hail of bolts and missles. The game also has Nebula stages, where swirling 'dust clouds' and lightening make it moody. 9/10

Sound: Also, rocks. While some of the effects sound choppy, most of it is top notch, Beams sound like something you don't want to get near to, Flak bursts EXPLODE, missles screech, flying through a battle is great fun.
Music is great, switching from some light ambience to combat music, fits the mood perfectly. 10/10

Gameplay Mechanics: The game is a linear(allmost completly) sci-fi sim, missions take the form of briefings, where you can select your ship and weapons(more options as the game unfolds), then you launch.
Once in game, action is mostly standerd fare, escort, kill, with many twists, firing off missles long range, evading missles, closing to dogfight or bombing runs while dodging flak. Freespace 2 dosn't have any of this "Innovative gameplay", it does however take tried and true standerd fare to perfection. 8/10

Fun Factor: FUN! Unless you demand your games test your mind and intellect, you'll enjoy this game, dodging Shivans(the main enemy of the game), escorting bombers as the enemy tries to pick you off one by one, running away as a capital ship explodes sending out massive shockwaves.
10/10

Replayability: Standerd game? None, its linear, and aside from improving your preformance, you won't have any reason to return, no, the real deal is the mod community, which is big, and has many serious mods out there. Theres also a great Babylon 5 conversion.

Best deal: Its free, Yep, and legally too, thanks to the EULA saying that "you may freely give this game to friends and family", and the fact Interplay is mostly bust, the game is aviable to DL, with the dev's([V]) not complaining.

Its no a KAN review, but I'll hopefully flesh this out more.

Off topic: My appologies to Ace, I didn't even see this thread when I went to post this up yesterday. So here you go. I'll delete the other one later unless you get to it first.

On Topic:

Restricted Area


If any of you have perhaps seen this disgrace on the shelves at the store and thought about picking it up based on the back of the box or the fact it's a cyberpunk rpg, don't.

A quick summary of the game Restricted Area is to imagine that a German game company took a look at the American computer and pen and paper gaming industries, trolling for two of the most popular, came up with Diablo II for the computer RPG and Shadowrun for the PnP game, made a videogame that is an unholy union thereof, removed whatever goodness survived that unholy union, took a shit on it, and then injected an extra helping of suck while they were at it.

If you want a more in depth review of this crapfest we'll do it by the numbers so to speak.

Graphics:

This game toutes what it refers to as the propriatary IRIS graphics engine designed and developed exclusively for this game. It offers dynamic lighting, rain, dust, explosions, fire, smoke, fog, etc. The whole nine yards, enchilada and a bag of chips rolled into one. And I do admit that overall the graphics quality for the environment was indeed pretty good.

However, one you get past the basic environment, it goes all to hell on the express elevator ride to Purgatory. The game is suppose to be set in 2083. Yet for a game that has taken two years just for the graphics engine design and a game that's set so far into the future, every fucking weapon that is produced by these many and diverse companies of the far future look exactly like those of today. The pistols all look exactly like modern day berettas, colts and walthers, the submachine guns all look like H&K mp5s and m-16s. The rifles? Spas-12s and Remmingtons.

To press on from that, the game uses sprites. This is 2005, so correct me if I'm wrong but...sprites? This isn't classic doom here...

And speaking of doom, the monsters look right out of it. That or quake. No originallity. Zombies carrying knives, zombies carrying guns, fat men with knives trying to stab you, chicks with katanas...very repetative and unoriginal. And lacking in detail immensely.

Sound:

If you enjoy listening to your character walk around and fire his gun and go "oof" when he gets hit, then the sound of this game is off the charts. But if you're like me and actually enjoy listening to some for of environmental background music, well then this aint for you. The game states that it's suppose to have not one, but two entirely different musical scores, an orchestral and an alternative. I heard neither.

And the voice acting. Oh dear god. This is the worst voice acting I've heard outside of dubbed anime. And for those of you who happen to watch anime, you can probaby back me up on this that most dubs are horribly bad. This is worse.

Storyline:

Ummm...I'll have to get back to you on that one. I searched and I couldn't find one. I think it's a hidden item in the game somewhere but only if oyu beat the game in less then 30 minutes with the worst character on the hardest difficulty while holding the ring of ultimate crap or something...

Seriously, the box claims that the game is in the same vein as the matrix or bladerunnner. This is of course to pull attention away from its real source of plagurism. Shadowrun. But only the worst parts thereof.

Gameplay:
Dry, boring, repetative, crap.

Integrity of the game:
Even with the latest patch the game still glitches hard. Monsters will get trapped in solid walls, you'll get trapped in solid walls, you'll not be able to move, you'll move without clicking... ah yes, the joys of this game never cease.

Replayability:
None. I didn't want to beat it the first time except to see the ending. But considering within 20 minutes of playing the game I knew there wasn't a storyline I could have saved myself the headache and hassle of this and just done something else with those few hours I wasted. Like masturbated. It would have been more productive. And if not productive, far more enjoyable.

Overall Score: 2 out of 10

Unreal Tournament 2004
Epic -After re-reading this not only fits as the company name but also as the word to describe this game.

Anyone who dosn't know what this game is about should be taken out and shot with a redeemer.

Graphics: While other games can throw more shaders at once, or have better designs, UT goes in with sheer class and brute force. While this may sound contradictory it works, models are massively detailed and while texture use isn't that high, its all well spent. 8/10

Sound: See above, what it lacks in technical aspects(not alot) it makes up with...Whoom, a rocket just flew by your head by 5 meters, exploding. Feel the bass. 10/10

Gameplay: Flogging the dead horse here is DM,TDM,CTF, the new modes that newbies should look for is Bombing Run, a Soccer style game where the ball is in the center, you must put it in the other teams goal, quirks such as the standerd no translocating/shooting while having the ball are ofset by amazing teamwork. Assault, basic mission style gameplay, very fun. Onslaught is similer to Planetside if you have played it, quality base domination, each side starts with a master base and must control nodes, to create a link to the other base. Lots of vehicular fun.
Not the most original, nor does it seek to be, but it makes it up with fun, alot of it.
10/10

Fun Factor: I shall just say ULTIMATE FUN. This is one of the most fun games you can play, sheer reflex factor, while this may put off some people, it just does it for me. 100/10

Replayability: Again, 100/10 somehow :P There is basicly endless maps out there, create your own, nevermind the mega mod community. I can't elaborate, for its too big, but highlights include Deathball, soccer where you can kill. Red Orchastra, a WW2 simulation.

Overall, I can't stress how much this was the best 50$ I've ever spent, and with a editors edition out there with even more maps, community maps, a well supported community, you cannot beat this game. There is NO shooter on Earth with more replayability, more sheer fun as you twist across the flanks of 5 bots, throw in a flak round, switch to rockets as you target, run out of ammo, spray with the Minigun..... Redeemer spawns, RUN!, catch it and FLAME everyone.

Beat that.

Since this is a copy paste of my GS review, this is not in the LA format and while I appended some numbers it still lacks the LA idea

If you're looking for a WW2 game out of the norm and intrested in submarine warfare, this is for you.
Warning: Impatient people need not apply.

Before getting down into the nitty gritty of Silent Hunter 3, let me repeat: while this is another one of those games where you start off at 5PM and next thing you know it's 3AM, there are boring stretches; actully, lets lay it on the table:

If you're crazy enough to go for zero time compression(more on that later) or very low, you will go insane.

Now, what is Silent Hunter? It's a WW2 game, set in the German U-boat fleet, where you start off a lowly captain of a U-boat, ordered to go to a patrol grid (a pretty poster sized map included in box) and hunt down all enemy ships.

Sounds simple, yes? You have to set course, manage your crew, find the enemy (no easy task in a dynamically created ocean) and sink it, not to mention surviving the destroyers that will hunt for you.

Realism scales from the default 37% -- which does most of the math for you -- to hardcore, where you break out pen and paper and use the tools in-game, in order to set up every precious torpedo shot.

The game starts off simple: it's 1939, you're in a II-A U-boat fresh on the first days of the war (the game actully starts a few hours before the war), sent to patrol England. At that early stage, there aren't too many enemies, but as the war continues, destroyers start hunting for you, with more and more advanced tools, until by 1943 you're just happy to run away, rather then stay and fight a multi-hour survival epic.

That is not to say the gameplay is without flaws; even patched 4 times, it still has its share of small bugs, and a rather annoying crew fatigue problem (easily fixed by a mod).8/10

Graphically, this game is stunning. You spend your time between the navigation map, plotting your course, and the bridge/periscope, tracking your target; on to the combat plotter, where you can set up your attack, watch it happen, and then quickly switch (unless you're one of the hard core) to the external camera to watch that torpedo hit. Waves are stunning; so are explosions. However, models are rather simplistic, and while the interior of the boat is pretty, you'll rarely be actually looking around.8/10

Sound is where the game shines, with a solid soundtrack, good listening options of vintage german songs (all customizable), and magnificent combat. Listen to pings, depth charges exploding, propellors swirling; it all comes to life as you dodge destroyers thinking that spot of ocean you're trying to dive down in is their training zone.10/10

To be honest, you can nitpick the game, find endless faults or lack of realisim, but in the end, its a damn fun game to play with some solid co-op only multiplayer (sorry, no defending shipping here).

Overall score: 9/10.

In very few words: Worth the cash and the hassle of configuring it.

Anyway... I'll try to do a review here, as Ace requested.

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
2000

Overview

This is only the second RPG I've ever played (the first being Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, for SNES), and I found it very easy to get into and understand, despite the complex nature (or so I've seen) of DnD, and its manifold rules. Baldur's Gate II puts everything there in an easy to understand format, and doesn't overwhelm you. Even so, some of the more complex character interactions can be overwhelming at times, but that makes it even better; this game ain't easy, and I'm always begging for more.

Baldur's Gate II is set in the Forgotten Realms setting, so it draws from a very richly developed and detailed universe. The numerous characters one can ally with and fight alongside all have their own tales, histories, and distinct characterizations, as well as their own unique effect on the party as a whole. Characters such as the crazy but loyal Minsc, the cool-headed (at times) and wise Jaheira, the silly but helpful Aerie, and the loyal, hard-working asshole that is Viconia all add a richness and depth to the game's experience that I have yet to see surpassed.

Genre: Fantasy RPG

Graphics:

Beautiful graphics for the era. BG II also features a standard angled overhead view, so it isn't as complex as a full 3D interface. The game lacks a zoom feature, but is set far enough away to see things around you. While it lacks the truly 3D experience of more recent games, the graphics are well-done, realistic, and truly dazzling when it comes to magical battles.

Sound:

Splendid sounds, with excellent environmental sounds, combat sounds, background music, and great voice-acting and humor for the excellently done characters. The music often perfectly suits the mood, and isn't constantly playing (so it doesn't get on your nerves as fast ).

Plot:

An excellent and deep plot. Not only does BG II feature the epic plotline of you, as the child of Bhaal, the God of Murder, having to deal with your future and the constant mystery of the wizard Jon Irenicus, and why he's after you; it also has countless sidequests, both major and minor, that combined set you in the middle of an immersive, living world and society. The sheer amount of mysteries and problems to solve and explore are immense. Further plots even spawn from the problems of your companions, and their own dealings with the locals.

Gameplay:

The gameplay of Baldur's Gate II is quite easy for someone to get into, even if they haven't played many RPG's. The controls are mainly mouse-based, and much like those of an RTS game such as RA2, making it rather natural to get into for a big RTS player such as myself.

Also, each character can only carry so much, meaning that you can never horde up on things. Not only is there a limitation to the number of "slots" that allow the character to carry items, there is also weight. A character will be encumbered or rendered outright immoble if laiden with too many items. The same goes for weapons and armor. A character might benefit from Plate Mail armor, but if they lack the strength to carry it, they simply can't wear it. A character also cannot use a weapon if they lack the strength for it.

Fun:

One of the funnest games I've played in a very long time. In addition to excellent combat with cool medieval-style and magical weapons, this game has lots of mystery, discovery, wonder, and fun character interaction. This is the perfect game for someone looking for a truly epic plot and an immersive experience, rather than just more shooting and fighting.

The interaction between characters, again, is highly complex and interesting, and adds what I've found to be a plot element just as difficult as the fighting and diplomacy. One has to keep the party together, or one will find characters *this* close from fucking killing each other.

Replay Value:

Unknown at present, but as I restarted with a new character, it's not quite the same the second go-around, since you know all the answers and stuff. However, the ability to go on different quests by playing different classes of character (fighter, mage, cleric, etc.) adds numerous possibilities.

Overall Score:
9/10

I found this game, along with the expansion pack Throne of Bhaal, in the mall for only US $20. It's not easy to find, but if you don't have it, I do suggest you get it. So sayeth the wise Ra.

Note: I hope this covers everything, but I will expand upon it as time, and experience with the game, allows.

I've been recently fiddling about (again) with the Original KotOR... so I thought I'd write up a (spoiler free) short review:

Knights of the Old Republic

Overview
This game is set in the Star Wars universe, 4,000 years before the fall of the Galactic Republic, just a few decades after Exar Kun's 'death'. The game opens up with a bang, quite literally I might add, in a nod to A New Hope, as a Republic Vessel is under attack by the Sith Forces. And, like A New Hope, you're instantly thrust into the boarded vessel, to survive the Sith Soldiers and Escape the 'Endar Spire'. In short: Classic Star Wars at its finest.

Genre: Sci-Fi RPG

Graphics: 9/10
Decent, but aged a tidbit. But they do their job well, with character expressions, decent swordfighting animations... and the special effects/explosions work excellently (Lightsabres = For the Win!)

Fun: 9/10
Plays a lot like Star Wars should, really. The Star Wars feel was captured just so perfectly by this storyline, and the characters. Gameplay is decent, neither good nor bad really. A lot of the game is actually quite dialogue-driven, and you can have a surprising amount of fun with the 'Force Persuade' power (let's just say that convincing a Sith Student to jump off of a cliff is a moment that I shall never forget).

Replay Value: 10/10
To see everything, truly everything, you'd have to complete this game at least three times, possibly more. There's just so much to be done, even without mods. And the characters are possibly even more memorable than Baldur's Gate 2, and, to me, that is saying something.

Final Score: 9.5/10

This game is the most excellent game I've played in years. It still endures as being in my 'top ten', and I'd recommend it instantly to anyone who even looks at it.

Placeholder for Oblivion

Install:So far the install is silky smooth, one DVD, amazing map, very nice box(though bent thanks to shipping). The map is amazing because its rather large(A2?) and very old feeling.

And now for something completly differant:

Highway persuit, a completly addictive freeware game, based on an old game. KAN, this where you come in.

First off, the idea is simple, you are a James Bond type superhero, in an awesome shiny silver car with a pair of front facing machineguns.
Using your trusty keyboard, navigate this ultra high speed highway, dodging innocent civilian cars, taking down several types of enemy cars, dodging helicopters through several terrain types.

I'm not sure what makes this game addictive, maybe its the actully good gameplay mechanics(simple but complex at the same time), maybe its the AI that seems to work together even as they do amazingly weird things, maybe its just that I LOVE playing this game for distance.

The graphics are pretty good, some very good use of basic shaders, the car models are fine(except for one enemy car), dust pileups in the desert portion are fairly realistic and the sense of speed works.
Audio comes into play here aswell, the distortion as you pass another car, the whirr of a helicopter, all work together. The music is agreeably clichy but can easily be disabled and an audio app running in the background dosn't interfere.

In the end, you are faced with your score and distance traveled, a rather nice payoff. Its just fun competing with friends to longest distance or best kill/distance ratio.
At the end, its a simple game, completly 15-30 minutes of gaming garunteed unless you are addicted like me.

If I'm doing these anyway.

Plasma pong is a neat twist on the normal Pong game.

You still have two paddles and a ball, but now each paddle can can either spew gas/liquid(not sure which) which affects the ball in a realistic fashion(fluid dynamics). Secondary mode for the paddle is sucking in the nearby gas/liquid, with it the ball and then explosively releasing it.

Fun game, the AI is good, and the sandbox mode rocks.