Classic computer games

[I, Zathras]

Evening one and all, hope the new year is treating you all well.

I was reading a thread by a new poster and someone mentioned rediscovering classic computer games which led them back to rediscovering B5.

I've just done the same recently having picked up a NES, SNES and Megadrive, and I'm loving some of the old games I've dusted off (or dismantled and cleaned up in some cases!) I still can't believe that it's so long ago that I sat in my bedroom playing these old games, but I wanted to see if there were other people out there who loved the games of yesteryear as much as I do.

So, I've just found:
R-Type - can't believe how simple this was, but how flaming difficult it was too. Still never clocked this game.
Street Fighter 2 - Love this game, and still shout out the moves as I pull them off: Hodouken!!
Sensible Soccer - Still the most playable football game ever.
Outrun - A bit dated now, but great.
Micro Machines - I loved the toys and I love the game.
Ghouls N Ghosts - Just wicked.
Probotector - I think this was called something else in America but I'm not sure what. It was two robots (or men in robo suits) fighting off aliens in a pretty cool platform game.
Monkey Island 2 and Beneath a Steel Sky - Just immense games with so much character and humour. Loved playing these two.
Another World and Flashback - Again, both great games which were revolutionary at the time.

So please let me know what your games of choice were and if it persuades you to check out ebay like I did!

[David Panzer]

I have been fortunate to check off 6 games off my list of must have PC games: Anachronox, Deus Ex, Fallout, Fallout 2, Thief: The Dark Project, and Thief II: The Metal Age. Now I just have to get a copy of Planescape: Torment.

Console-wise, my NES bit the dust a few years back and I never had a SNES since my NES wasn't even a year old when the SNES came out. My parents weren't too keen on buying another game system so I made do with catching up on the NES games and going to my friend's house to play his SNES. Thanks to a buddy in college, I discovered a dream come true called emulators and I have been using those nonstop for the past 11 years in filling my retro fix.

Older but somewhat newer than those, I have my PS2 and Xbox, with plenty of games for the latter. And my reliable 360, which hasn't RROD'd yet -knock on wood-

I do have to complement the people running Live Arcade since they have put up some awesome old games (and some of these are also on the PS3's download service as well): Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, Perfect Dark, Monkey Island 1 and 2, Duke Nukem 3D, Earthworm Jim, the X-Men arcade game, the Turtles arcade game, Bionic Commando, and one of the best gifts to gamers Beyond Good and Evil. If you have a PS3 or 360, download that game. It's one of the best games that hardly anyone bought when it came out, like Psychonauts.

forgot to add: this is the trailer for Beyond Good and Evil, and the intro for Psychonauts so you get a feel for the game.

[I, Zathras]

A PC is one of the few games systems which hasn't gone through my house so whilst I know a couple of those games I've never actually played any of em (the shame!) Must admit I'm more a console guy, but the emulators are legendary.

I had my PS2 which I was loathe to part with, but I needed the money to get an Xbox 360 (purely because everyone I know had made the transition) so I had to trade it in. Worst thing about it was I still hadn't finished Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. I got halfway through to where the castle turns upside down then my memory card broke. It took me a good year to get over the anger and play it again!

I'll check out that website and those links thanks, and Earthworm Jim brings back some 'Groovy' memories. I loved that cartoon too, it was hilarious.

Ahhh, happy memories

[Jonas]

An excellent place to get cheap, DRM-less versions of old PC games is Good Old Games. I got a lot of great games from there, like my beloved Master of Magic.

[David Panzer]

A PC is one of the few games systems which hasn't gone through my house so whilst I know a couple of those games I've never actually played any of em (the shame!) Must admit I'm more a console guy, but the emulators are legendary.

I had my PS2 which I was loathe to part with, but I needed the money to get an Xbox 360 (purely because everyone I know had made the transition) so I had to trade it in. Worst thing about it was I still hadn't finished Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. I got halfway through to where the castle turns upside down then my memory card broke. It took me a good year to get over the anger and play it again!

I'll check out that website and those links thanks, and Earthworm Jim brings back some 'Groovy' memories. I loved that cartoon too, it was hilarious.

Ahhh, happy memories

I was debating with myself about whether to include links to youtube vids for every game, but I won out with limiting it to a few. Just to make it pleasing on the eyes. But if you get a PC, definitely pick up Anachronox and Deus Ex. The former, as you saw in the vid, is hilarious and one of the best RPGs, and the latter is one of the best games I've ever played. I always play through it once a year and I never get tired of experiencing the story.

And probably old news for you, but you can get Symphony of the Night on Live Arcade.

[Quarxius]

Master of Magic is one of the greatest, relatively unknown PC games of all time. While a clone of better known games like Master of Orion and Civilization, it approaches the genre in a unique way that's 'Magic' has yet to be replecated let alone surpassed. Despite fan modding to upgrade the graphics and add multiplayer features, this game has yet to see a professional, modern day overhaul that is far overdue (upgrade the graphics and the code to make it run smooth please but don't touch the gameplay mechanics for that would be blasphemy). I love this game more than I can express... and I'm playing it right now.

[Jonas]

Master of Magic is one of the greatest, relatively unknown PC games of all time.

Yes!

While a clone of better known games like Master of Orion and Civilization, it approaches the genre in a unique way that's 'Magic' has yet to be replecated let alone surpassed.

Hey, don't call it a clone! It was actually developed by the same people as Master of Orion I & II, so it's more of a "spiritual sidequel" .

And yeah, no-one has gotten even close to making that perfect a strategy game since.

[Looney]

Love M-O-O ! ! !

I loved Masters of Orion and I think Thief: The Dark Project is one of the best games of all time.... but I love stealth games.

XBOX Game that is one of the best of all time, Crimson Skies. I can't believe that didn't become more of a franchise.

[David Panzer]

I may revisit Crimson Skies again. The planes were awesome, but I sucked at the flying.

[I, Zathras]

I haven't played half of these games, I think I'm going too far back. You lot are making me feel old

Just remembered Team 17 and the games they used to turn out. Sure they did Alien Breed, and that series was just phenomenal. Please say someone remembers this!!