POST STUFF
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 by Helion, Level 25
Last updated at February 13, 2009, 6:31 pm
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Deus Ex
It should not be even in the questioning that this is not just a game, it's one of the greatest ever made. Now, if you can look past Unreal Engine 1, the embarassing textures and the rather aged weapons design, you will find a game so immersive you will come out of it thinking there's 15 entities in the world vying for power through conspiracies. This is the kind of game which, shown to the average under 18 will cause a "zomg game sux bad grahpix" reaction. And that is an indicator of greatness.
It's not just that though.
Bioshock has been hailed with great respect because of the richness of its fiction and the detail placed in its levels, but you know what? Where Bioshock had a few recordings in each level, Deus Ex had so many as 20 little details, wether they be datacubes, emails, and rooms, all of which contained backstory for the game or the people inhabiting it.
There were so many important NPCs, and you got to know what happened to so many of them, it felt real. There were so many ways to get to the solution of puzzles, so many nooks and crannies to explore, so many secondary entrances, the world felt credible. Also, it would kick your ass if you tried to go in guns blazing like a tank. And that makes it only even better, making you act like a proper covert operative. Also, when you think about it all, you can't help but laugh. I mean, seriously, there's so much conspiring in the world that at any given moment at least 5 organizations are influencing the whole picture and we get to know nothing about it? Â
Let's not forget another thing, it was an RPG too. You developed your character the way you wanted it to be, be it augmentations or skills or a combination of both.
But even all of this would not have made it the game it is if it were not a work of love. The creators loved this game and profitability didn't influence the design at all.
You may say Crysis has better graphics, Bioshock had better gameplay, and (insert RPG title here) had more depth. But while those might be the BMWs of gaming, Deus Ex is the Ferrari.
It's not just that though.
Bioshock has been hailed with great respect because of the richness of its fiction and the detail placed in its levels, but you know what? Where Bioshock had a few recordings in each level, Deus Ex had so many as 20 little details, wether they be datacubes, emails, and rooms, all of which contained backstory for the game or the people inhabiting it.
There were so many important NPCs, and you got to know what happened to so many of them, it felt real. There were so many ways to get to the solution of puzzles, so many nooks and crannies to explore, so many secondary entrances, the world felt credible. Also, it would kick your ass if you tried to go in guns blazing like a tank. And that makes it only even better, making you act like a proper covert operative. Also, when you think about it all, you can't help but laugh. I mean, seriously, there's so much conspiring in the world that at any given moment at least 5 organizations are influencing the whole picture and we get to know nothing about it? Â
 |  Behold Greatness |
Let's not forget another thing, it was an RPG too. You developed your character the way you wanted it to be, be it augmentations or skills or a combination of both.
But even all of this would not have made it the game it is if it were not a work of love. The creators loved this game and profitability didn't influence the design at all.
You may say Crysis has better graphics, Bioshock had better gameplay, and (insert RPG title here) had more depth. But while those might be the BMWs of gaming, Deus Ex is the Ferrari.
Sacrifice
I'm sure quite few of you remember this classic from the golden days of Interplay.
It's a strategy game. With spellcasting. And a third-person perspective.
Your resources here are souls and mana. You fight for control of mana fountains and your objective is to desecrate the enemy altar. Cue lots of battles.
You need souls to convert from dead enemies in order to make more creatures and being assaulted by superior forces 2 minutes into the game may not sound great. Forget that, it's absolute genius, you have to defend before rushing straight in and you really learn how to make the best of everything you got. You need to be pressured to give your best and this game gives you plenty of that.
Also, the story is great fun. You have five gods to serve, each with their own personality (or rather form of insanity) and their realm, and as the story proceeds and you start allying seriously with one particular side, others will stop accepting your services. Should I also mention that one of them is voiced by Tim Curry, which makes him all the more funny? As if that weren't enough, the graphics are still quite good today. If you don't have this game, then I suggest you go and get a copy! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
  Â
Shogun: Total War
It's a strategy game. With spellcasting. And a third-person perspective.
Your resources here are souls and mana. You fight for control of mana fountains and your objective is to desecrate the enemy altar. Cue lots of battles.
You need souls to convert from dead enemies in order to make more creatures and being assaulted by superior forces 2 minutes into the game may not sound great. Forget that, it's absolute genius, you have to defend before rushing straight in and you really learn how to make the best of everything you got. You need to be pressured to give your best and this game gives you plenty of that.
Also, the story is great fun. You have five gods to serve, each with their own personality (or rather form of insanity) and their realm, and as the story proceeds and you start allying seriously with one particular side, others will stop accepting your services. Should I also mention that one of them is voiced by Tim Curry, which makes him all the more funny? As if that weren't enough, the graphics are still quite good today. If you don't have this game, then I suggest you go and get a copy! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
|  Your basic interface. A mana fountain in front |
|  Stratos, god of air                      |
Shogun: Total War
I thought this should be mentioned everywhere in the halls of fame of strategy. Not only because it is by far the best game in the Total War series, many miles ahead of its time (remember the dominance of C&C clones?) and still many miles ahead of all the newer total war games, which have become worse release after release. This game is straightforward.
You have a campaign map divided in provinces (much like in Risk) and you have armies you move around like pawns in the map. When you invade, you can command the troops personally or let the computer do the maths. Meanwhile, you develop your regions in order to be able to generate more income/train more troops. All of this (in expert mode) while you fend off the AI, which defining as "aggressive" is an euphemism.
Everyone has the same units and buildings and different factions get discounts on particular ones, because of a historic specialization, so the game is really all about how you command, since everything they can train, you can too. None of that faction/religion/culture exclusive units BS the newer games deliver to us. This game is a timeless classic and while the graphics are aged it's still much deeper than its successors and much better than many strategy games out there.
A word to the wise, though: don't go rushing off to buy this one or dig up your CD if you have an Nvidia 8000+ graphics card, for the battles won't work and you'll really only enjoy half of the game (the computer will have to calculate the battles).
 Thank you Nvidia!
You have a campaign map divided in provinces (much like in Risk) and you have armies you move around like pawns in the map. When you invade, you can command the troops personally or let the computer do the maths. Meanwhile, you develop your regions in order to be able to generate more income/train more troops. All of this (in expert mode) while you fend off the AI, which defining as "aggressive" is an euphemism.
Everyone has the same units and buildings and different factions get discounts on particular ones, because of a historic specialization, so the game is really all about how you command, since everything they can train, you can too. None of that faction/religion/culture exclusive units BS the newer games deliver to us. This game is a timeless classic and while the graphics are aged it's still much deeper than its successors and much better than many strategy games out there.
A word to the wise, though: don't go rushing off to buy this one or dig up your CD if you have an Nvidia 8000+ graphics card, for the battles won't work and you'll really only enjoy half of the game (the computer will have to calculate the battles).
|  And the battle map |
|  The Campaign map |
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2 comments
Idoliside Feb 13, 2009 at 6:34 pm
+1 votes
I've played the absolute heck out of Deus Ex. Retrying from all different angles and is def one my top games. Shogun is one of those games i've played, but failed at. Im just not an RTS kind of guy. I get along fine with the CnC games but that's my level of complexibility. Never played Sacrifice
I wonder how Deus Ex 3 is going to turn out...
I wonder how Deus Ex 3 is going to turn out...
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