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Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

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Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#21

Post by solardev »

jjice wrote: post #18
solardev wrote: post #10

After the movies, I wanted to experience Dune 2 again (the pirate sites have it, along with patches to make it playable on modern OSes or Crossover). It was arguably the first mass-market real-time strategy game. There's also OpenRA for C&C, Red Alert, and Dune 2K: https://www.openra.net/ I understand Square is re-making FF7 in a multi-part release over several years (not sure why it takes so long)? https://ffvii-rem…

> not sure why it takes so long They're making the original 30-40 hour game into three 40-60 hour action RPGs. I don't know enough about game development timelines, but I'm assuming that it's just large to juggle, especially since it has crossed console generations. I've only played part one, but they did a great job with it! A warning though: they add a good bit of "filler" compared to the original to turn the 5ish…

Oh, I didn't realize that! I thought they were just updating the graphics. Thanks for the clarification.

I might just go back and play the original, then.

Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#22

Post by agent008t »

muzani wrote: post #19
pyb wrote: post #12

> they cannot rely on the graphics to sell themselves Game reviewers have always been saying that games rely too much on graphics, at the expense of game design. It was already a trope in the early 1990s. From that era I recommend Ultima 7 Serpent Isle

I think games that do this simply don't survive the test of nostalgia. As a child I remember the 90s being full of bad games and bad music topping the charts, but these days, people would praise 90s music and gaming.

I do not think it is a test of nostalgia, rather a test of time - I have been playing many of these games (and new games, too) for the first time recently.

It is amazing what some games managed to do with the limited graphics capabilities of the time. Metal Gear Solid 1 used a colour palette so well to hide the graphics limitations. Many games shined with clever use of pre-rendered backgrounds (FF7 is one of them, but also the Resident Evil series come to mind).

Even from an earlier time, Monkey Island is all the funnier for the pixelatedness. System Shock 1 is still amazingly immersive and atmospheric (and was way ahead of its time!).

I think part of what makes games from late 90s so special is that the tech was good enough to allow plenty of creative freedom, but still simple enough to allow for relatively small teams with relatively small budgets to make the games and add their personal touch to them. That is why Deus Ex 1 is much more personal than the later more polished installations etc.

Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#23

Post by agent008t »

solardev wrote: post #21
jjice wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> not sure why it takes so long They're making the original 30-40 hour game into three 40-60 hour action RPGs. I don't know enough about game development timelines, but I'm assuming that it's just large to juggle, especially since it has crossed console generations. I've only played part one, but they did a great job with it! A warning though: they add a good bit of "filler" compared to the original to turn the 5ish…

Oh, I didn't realize that! I thought they were just updating the graphics. Thanks for the clarification. I might just go back and play the original, then.

The original does play very well. The PS3 version allows to speed up time 3x, which is very useful to make some grindy battles less grindy.

Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#25

Post by cpach »

solardev wrote: post #9
cpach wrote: post #3

I feel I need to get some x86 machine up and running so I can play Portal I and II again. Easily in my top 10 of best games ever.

You can easily play them on GeForce Now, for what it's worth. It just streams to a browser window (or an app if you prefer). There's a free plan, or the higher-quality monthly plans are under $20. https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/ You might also the enjoy the Talos Principle games, which are also on GFN. And the first Dungeon Defenders game has a Portal Gun tie-in (it's tower defense, not a puzzle game, but y…

Oh, the thought didn’t even occur. Pretty wild that these days one can stream 3D games. Gotta try it some day!

Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#29

Post by leobg »

galfarragem wrote: post #7

Colonization[0] from 1994. Nowadays I play only the open source[1] remake: Freecol[2][3]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Meier%27s_Colonization [1] https://github.com/FreeCol/freecol [2] https://www.freecol.org/about.html [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeCol

This looks great. I wish there was an iPad version. Not for me (I prefer desktop), but for my kid.

Re: Ask HN: What older games are you playing through?

#30

Post by vunderba »

dyingkneepad wrote: post #13

Just beat Doom last week and I'm now playing through Doom 2. It's still amazing. It brought me back some memories I had completely forgotten about me playing with my cousins. Also, remembering some old map layouts gave me a very weird feeling like I've been visiting a real place I've been when I was a child. 10/10 would recommend.

If you want to try a scatalogically over the top fun remix of the originals, install the project brutality mod. Romero gave it his seal of approval as well.
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