Recommend A Game (Pre-FarCry)

[49erinnc]

I went through a short gaming phase with Soldier of Fortune II when it was released but wasn't into gaming prior to that and I pretty much didn't game anymore until UT4. I played that, PainKiller, Far Cry and Doom3 so I've just recently really become addicted to gaming and finally have system worthy of playing these games on.

However, I'm bored with nothing to play while waiting on HL2. So, my question is: Is there a game I've missed somewhere along the way that's worth playing and can probably be found for a cheap price? I like FSP's and don't care for RPG's, unless they're more military than fantasy based. And my related question, which may be my own answer to my first question is, what about the orginal Half Life? Do you think that I would enjoy HL2 more if have played the orginal? And after playing games like Far Cry and D3, will I be able to actually enjoy an older game like HL, both graphically and game enjoyment-wise? I just don't want to take a major step back in graphics after playing FC and D3. Kind of got spoiled with those two I guess.

Any recommendations including HL or others to get me through the next month? (or whenever HL2 comes out)?? Thanks!

 

[Modeps]

If you havent played the original Half Life, I suggest you play it.

I really loved Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, that should be in the bargain bin by now.

 

[bacon333]

call of duty, though short, was pretty fun. The original half-life definitely (it was my favorite single player game for 5 years). quake 3.

 

[43st]

These should be fun for you. I marked the ones that might be of questionable visual quality. I'm more of an immersion player than an arcade type player. If the story sucks me in then I love the game, if the story doesn't much exist or becomes repetitive then I usually don't finish the game.

- Hidden & Dangerous 2
- Call of Duty
- Tron
- No One Lives Forever 2
- Alien v. Predator 2 (dated engine)
- Ghost Recon (dated engine)
- Rainbow Six 3
- Jedi Knight 2
- Vietcong

 

[apoppin]

I'm playing Max Payne II - almost finished - and am VERY impressed with the ideas and gameplay (as well as th gfx which runs GREAT on a 9800xt) . . . although the story is kinda stupid even for a kung-fu detective film noir love story and does detract - unlike the original Max Payne . . . it is still a very good game and - best of all - it is ~$20 in the bargain bin.

Thief - Deadly Shadows, is a GREAT game and worthy of the Thief series. It is a FPS - SNEAKER! - with great gfx, awesome story, gameplay and ATMOSPHERE (everything Doom III lacks) . . . however, if you do not like a "Sneaker" style game, forget it (i think it's BRILLIANT).

Honorable mentions for recent games include: Star Trek: Elite Forces; DeuSex: Invisible War (with the patch!); and the older but very good NOLF: II (No One Lives Forever II; lots of humour and a fun story); and RtCW (return to Castle Wolfenstein).

TRY the original HL - the gameplay until you get to Xen is great - however, even with the hi-definition pack, the gfx is definitely SUBpar today's game . . .

edited.

 

[elkinm]

Unreal, The one and only original and expansion pack. Right along with Half Life as a superb game.

Maybe Return To Castle Wolfenstein and possibly Unreal II but it is not quite as good.

I suggest you start with Half Life, then Unreal and so on in order of release date.

Good luck you have a whole lot of deadly gaming ahead of you.

 

[Confused]

Half Life
Unreal
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Medal Of Honour: Allied Assault
Call Of Duty
Max Payne
Max Payne 2
Thief 3 - Deadly Shadows
No One Lives Forever 2

Those are all FPS. Also, Mafia is a truely excellent game, and even though it's 2 years old, it's still got awesome graphics


Confused

 

[DaveSimmons]

Star Trek Elite Force 1 was fun, and I'm not much of a Voyager fan.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Confused
Half Life
Unreal
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Medal Of Honour: Allied Assault
Call Of Duty
Max Payne
Max Payne 2
Thief 3 - Deadly Shadows
No One Lives Forever 2

Those are all FPS. Also, Mafia is a truely excellent game, and even though it's 2 years old, it's still got awesome graphics


Confused

Max Payne 1 & 2 are not FPSs... and I think they suck! but plenty of people like them so I'm not gonna say not to try

 

[49erinnc]

Some good recommendations...thanks. Despite the (slightly) aged graphics, I feel like I should probably play Half Life to help me enjoy HL2 more (just to be familiar with the storylines if nothing else). Call of Duty, RTCW and Unreal seem to be consenus picks as well. I think I would probably like CoD more than RTCW, just based on what I like to play but I'm a little intrigued with Ureal. So, is the FIRST Unreal actually more recommended than the 2nd release? I hate Star Trek but the thumbs look pretty cool for that too. I actually bought Mafia awhile back for $9.99 but wound up bundling it with a 9600Pro I sold and never really played it beyond the opening car driving part. Are the graphics in HL really all that bad compared to current releases??

Might go hit Sam's Club, BB or Walmart and see what I can find laying around in the $20 below family.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I'll add System Shock 2 to the list.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I'll add System Shock 2 to the list.

That and the original Dues Ex (the above poster has a typo and misspelled it) are IMHO the best ever pc games.

System Shock 2 has mods to improve the graphics (higher resolutions and more detailed monster thingies).

These are both so good, if you get "hooked", you won't even notice the graphics. SS2 is too intense, and Deus Ex has a great story line.

I liked Star Wars Kights of the Old Republic too.

 

[OMG1Penguin]

Originally posted by: apoppin
I'm playing Max Payne II - almost finished - and am VERY impressed with the ideas and gameplay (as well as th gfx which runs GREAT on a 9800xt) . . . although the story is kinda stupid even for a kung-fu detective film noir love story and does detract - unlike the original Max Payne . . . it is still a very good game and - best of all - it is ~$20 in the bargain bin.

Doesn't have to be a sneaker

 

[Childs]

If you like Multiplayer, give Battlefield 1942 with the Desert Combat mod a shot. Its common to pick it up for $20 with one of the expansions. I almost hate playing it because once I start I dont stop till my neck aches, and my hands cramp up! Enemy Territory is also a good multiplayer game, and its FREE.

Call Of Duty
Return to Castle Wolfensetin
No One Lives Forever
Voyager: Elite Force

 

[ssanches]

This thread has mentioned various good games (having played most of them personally). Thought I'd recommend another one to this list...Mafia

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
....but I'm a little intrigued with Unreal. So, is the FIRST Unreal actually more recommended than the 2nd release?....

Yes, Unreal is one of my favorite games of all time. Graphics are still pretty decent, was one of the first games (to my knowledge) to have 3D sound, and probably more importantly, the atmosphere/environment was very immersing. So much fun to play, and just explore, look at the logs/messages left by people, etc.

Now, I enjoyed Unreal II a lot as well (although I'm probably in the minority here), and it easily (IMO) had the best graphics of its time (i.e., a year and a half ago), but it didn't have nearly the same openness that Unreal did. It's still a fun game, but it didn't even really feel like a sequel to Unreal.

 

[marmasatt]

YGPM 49er.......

 

[SonicIce]

Wait, you played Doom 1 and 2 already, right?