joasoze joasoze

Little PC game gems

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Little PC game gems

from Elemental Forums

Hi

I am at a constant lookout for good strategy games for PC. They are few and far between and my favorites are these:

CIV IV, Master of Orion II, MOM, Heroes of Might and Magic, Kings Bounty and such. Since I find so few games I like/want I have started looking a little among more indie games /small developers/older games for some respite while waiting for Elemental or other good games (Kings Bounty Armored Princess).

My findings so far:

Armageddon Empires. Bought this a year ago and played a few times. Its plays excactly like a boardgame. The game is ok, but the AI doesnt really challenge a lot. My rating 6/10

Bellatorus: A game where you play cards to produce resources and ultimately destroy the enemy tower. Played the demo a few times, but the game was reminding me to buy constantly while I tried the demo. On startup, on closing the game, on trynig to change a setting in the skirmish++ I had almost decieded to buy when the game told me I could not play the demo anymore and that I should buy the game. There must be a hidden counter on number of plays (I had only had the demo installed for two days). I uninstalled and will not buy. Treat me with a little more respect next time, and I will buy. My rating (of the game, not the annoyance of the demo) 7/10

Majesty Gold: Bought while waiting for Majesty II. Got crashes quite often and therefore didnt play it a lot. No rating

Majesty II: NO SKIRIMISH? No buy, No rating

Etherlords II: Just bought and have played only a little whild. Promising game.

Lux Delux: A risk simulator (with lots of other maps and stuff as well). Great little filler that I play if I have 10 free minutes with the computer. AI not half bad. My rating: 8/10

Hollywood Mogul 3: Tried demo. Very difficult interface and hard to get into. Could be a little gem here, but I eventually gave up.

Nils Bauers Empires & Dungeons: Tried the demo. Seems to me like most games will be the same. I coult be missing something here, but the demo bored me fast. My rating: 4/10

Gal CIV II: Bought and played, but didnt get hooked. My rating 6/10. Dont know why I didnt hook me. Will try again some time.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Bought and played, but didnt get hooked. No rating yet. Will try again.

Elemental Beta: Still testing :)

Battle for Wesnoth: FREE game. This one is quite challenging and good. I play it now and again. My rating 8/10

 

Anyone got any more suggestions for me to try?

 

308,801 views 90 replies
Reply #76 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

New game in November 2009:

Armada 2526

"Armada 2526 continues the great tradition of space opera games. You guide your race from its first interstellar journeys. until it becomes a mighty galactic empire. Along the way, you'll explore the galaxy, conduct research, diplomacy and trade, found new colonies, maneuver mighty star fleets, and fight epic battles."

Company: http://www.ntronium.com/Armada2526%20Home.html

Publisher: http://www.matrixgames.com/products/376/details/Armada.2526

Publisher Forum(most active): http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=758

Company Forum(activity is growing): http://ntronium.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php

About The Founder

R.T.Smith (aka Bob) has been creating strategy and war games for more than 20 years. Most recently he was the project director and lead designer for Medieval 2 Total War, having previously served as designer and programmer on the previous Total War Games.

He also created a number of acclaimed strategy and wargames for publishers such as Lothlorien, CCS, Linel and Interstel.

Main Titles

  • Medieval 2: Total War
  • Rome: Total War
  • Medieval: Total War
  • Shogun: Total War
  • Armada 2525
  • Encyclopedia of War:Ancient Battles
  • Vulcan
  • Desert Rats
  • Arnhem
  • Confrontation

He has also worked on the development of console games, and been involved with the design of a 3D graphics chip

Reply #77 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Crassmaster, reply 75

Quoting joasoze, reply 70Well, I am downloading Kings Bounty Armoured Princess as we speak, so I am booked for a while

Blood Bowl has gotten me interested though. Does anyone have a pdf manual that I could have a look at or is it available online somewhere. Still a bit wary about me not knowing American Football

 

Found it on the site of the game, actually.

http://www.bloodbowl-game.com/index.php?rub=medias-rulebook
End of Crassmaster's quote

Thanks!

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #78 from Elemental Forums Top

I am watching Armada 2526. As and old MOO and MOO II player I wouldnt mind a new fix of space opera :)

Reply #79 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting joasoze, reply 70
Blood Bowl has gotten me interested though. Does anyone have a pdf manual that I could have a look at or is it available online somewhere. Still a bit wary about me not knowing American Football
End of joasoze's quote

 

Not sure if this will work but here is the tabletop rules:

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1310002_BB_Complete_Blood_Bowl_Rulebook.pdf

Alternatively try this:

http://www.specialist-games.com/bloodbowl/rulebook.asp

 

For me I just get redirected to the main Games Workshop page, from there you need to select Specialist Games -> Blood Bowl -> Blood Bowl Resources.

 

This is the tabletop rules and I would recommend a read and then you are set to play, the interface can be learned in 1 or 2 AI games with a few intricaces picked up as you play.  To master this game it requires investment in time of playing and reading strategies, it's mega addictive though esspecially as they have just introduced ranked matchmaking which is working out awesome.  I think I payed £5-10 more than I have for any other PC game when this first came out and yet it's one of the best value I've got out of a game so far the amount I've played it.

 

Other recommended reads when learning the game are:

Blood Bowl The Art of Blocking (google is your friend)

http://bbtactics.com/

 

I know next to nothing about American Football.

Reply #80 from Elemental Forums Top

I had Blood Bowl in my hands two days ago. Its actually lying at the bottom of a shelf in my local Gamestop shop. Yes they are even here in Norway. Didnt buy it as it was full price and the system requirements seemed a bit tough for my laptop (I am buying a desktop in the spring). It cost 399 NOK which is 70 USD (I am NOT kidding here).

Reply #81 from Demigod Forums Top

Didn't read through the whole thread, but here are some ideas:

 

ADOM: It is a game made entirely with ASCII art, a turnbased, amazing game, I have played it on and off for 5 years now, too good.~~~~FREE~~~~

League of Legends: I am sure this one has probably been posted here, and if not, i am not sure why, everyone knows this game, and honestly, it has kept me from playing DG for the past month, alot of fun...~~~~FREE~~~~

Doukutsu (Cave story): Amazing platformer, tons of fun, and it has great replayability, many different endings, and it is a game that you can beat in an hour, or do everything and take a day...~~~~FREE~~~~

Can't think of anymore off the top of my head, but there are a few...Will edit if i think of anymore...

DaBRUM

Reply #82 from Sins Forums Top

Conquest Frontier Wars is quite a good RTS and slightly like Sins in the multiple systems on each map.

Reply #83 from Demigod Forums Top

An old game that fell through the cracks that I LOVE is Nox. Check it out if ya get a chance :)

Reply #84 from Demigod Forums Top

Lot are mentioned already but here goes (from someone who literally played moo2, homm and civ2/4 to death:

 

- Braid: Falls into the time filler category, dont let the genre (puzzle-platform) scare you. The games atmosphere, music and creativity makes this something everyone should play.

 

Star Control 2 (Or in your case go for the fan made remake "The Ur Quan Masters". Imo totally wins the "one of the best games no one ever played" category. Its one of those games hard to describe because it laughs at our traditional conventions of genres. I would maybe classify it as a spacesim-rts-adventure, but again its the brilliant atmosphere, music, plot and humour that makes the game what it is. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Control_II

Reply #85 from Demigod Forums Top

I have a few suggestions, although I'm sure they've already been posted I'll just say them anyway.

Stronghold-I loved this game back in the day, and if you have a thing for castles and medieval stuff, you'll probably like it. It's fun, it's got a nice art style, and it's pretty easy to pick up. Avoid Stronghold 2 by all means.

Supreme Commander-This is essentially the ultimate strategical game, at least that I have seen (and I pay a lot of attention to strategy games). Despite not being a 4X game, it's pretty darn amazing and requires a lot of thinking and a huge amount of devotion to get into. Pretty amazing looking and great if you are into complicated strategy; the best players in the world know how to use wind speed and other little physics-based stuff to help secure victories. The battles are massive and awesome looking; probably wouldn't be everyone's catch though, as it is difficult to pcik up the basics and start winning.

Reply #86 from Elemental Forums Top

I made a post like this a while ago when I was Jonesing for a strategy fix. The game I ended up with was "Knights of honor" a great blend of rts and turn based strategy. Graphics are definately dated, but I ended up putting a ton of play time into the game. Problem in the end is that the AI is too weak once you get good at the game.

Reply #87 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting shayde0007, reply 86
I made a post like this a while ago when I was Jonesing for a strategy fix. The game I ended up with was "Knights of honor" a great blend of rts and turn based strategy. Graphics are definately dated, but I ended up putting a ton of play time into the game. Problem in the end is that the AI is too weak once you get good at the game.
End of shayde0007's quote

I have Knights of Honor and played it for a while. I loved it for a week or two, but stopped playing. I dont remember fully, but I believe weak AI was the main thing.

 

Reply #88 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting aNaRcHiSt44, reply 85
I have a few suggestions, although I'm sure they've already been posted I'll just say them anyway.

Stronghold-I loved this game back in the day, and if you have a thing for castles and medieval stuff, you'll probably like it. It's fun, it's got a nice art style, and it's pretty easy to pick up. Avoid Stronghold 2 by all means.

Supreme Commander-This is essentially the ultimate strategical game, at least that I have seen (and I pay a lot of attention to strategy games). Despite not being a 4X game, it's pretty darn amazing and requires a lot of thinking and a huge amount of devotion to get into. Pretty amazing looking and great if you are into complicated strategy; the best players in the world know how to use wind speed and other little physics-based stuff to help secure victories. The battles are massive and awesome looking; probably wouldn't be everyone's catch though, as it is difficult to pcik up the basics and start winning.
End of aNaRcHiSt44's quote

I have played Supreme Commander and I like it a LOT. Have tried Stronghold waay back.

Reply #89 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wrathmont, reply 84
Lot are mentioned already but here goes (from someone who literally played moo2, homm and civ2/4 to death:

 

- Braid: Falls into the time filler category, dont let the genre (puzzle-platform) scare you. The games atmosphere, music and creativity makes this something everyone should play.

 

Star Control 2 (Or in your case go for the fan made remake "The Ur Quan Masters". Imo totally wins the "one of the best games no one ever played" category. Its one of those games hard to describe because it laughs at our traditional conventions of genres. I would maybe classify it as a spacesim-rts-adventure, but again its the brilliant atmosphere, music, plot and humour that makes the game what it is. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Control_II
End of Wrathmont's quote

 

I have the same background as you (moo2, homm and civ). I think that Star Control 2 is a bit on the old side, but I might give Braid a try some time.

Reply #90 from Elemental Forums Top

Anyone remember Legend of Faergheil (or something like that). Ancient roleplaying game on my Amiga. If you walked too fast outside and hit a tree, then you got injured :)