Melan on 22/11/2008 at 23:27
Diversity. Unreal was one of the last games influenced by the old way of making a game, with content (music, levels, etc.) created by individuals instead of groups of people. It shows - it is not as cohesive as HL, and it mostly collects a lot of slightly disjointed stuff team members thought was awesome (A waterfall! And now a crashed spaceship in a valley! An old mediaeval-looking fortress! And... a demon lord in a lava cavern!). It's still one of the best old school FPS games with the possible exception of Duke Nukem 3d. Some of the first levels are not so good (the mines and the first temple), but it really picks up afterwards.
polytourist97 on 23/11/2008 at 08:31
Quote Posted by swaaye
Nobody ever seems to sit around and fondly recall 1997's FPS of the year, DF2: Jedi Knight.
Oh I recall it. And very fondly. That's still one of my favorites ever. Pretty sure that was my first "great" FPS experience. I would rank it right there with Half-Life, probably even a little better in my personal opinion.
gunsmoke on 24/11/2008 at 15:55
Quote Posted by Gaph
In Half-Life 2, I never felt like I was in Gordon's shoes (or mind). What does Gordon do? Where is he going and why? These are things I can answer but they're so transparent throughout most of the game that all you're left with is the gameplay. Like you're moving forward without any real goals to reach or connection with what's going on in the world.
Gordon had a much more defined "role" in Half-Life 1. You're just a theoretical physicist trying to escape an underground research facility during an alien invasion/government cover-up. Like those characters in zombie movies who do better while civilization is crumbling than they ever did while it was thriving, Gordon discovers he makes a better ass-kicker than a scientist. It all plays out right infront of the players eyes. Everyone can relate to the simple goal of survival and it's enough to move the player forward through the entire game.
It's funny. Some of the most immersive games for me, (ones where I 'forgot' I was playing a game, and really felt like I was in the actual character's shoes) were 3rd person. Gothic 1-2, GTA:San Andreas, Hitman.
Renzatic on 24/11/2008 at 16:31
This is gonna sound corny, but for me, when I think back on a good 3rd person game, I always seem to remember it as being engrossed in a good book or movie. With a good first person game, I recall it much more personally.
I can't say I prefer one over the other. I guess it boils down to different kind of perspective, different kind of experience, different kind of immersion.
The_Raven on 24/11/2008 at 20:00
I think it comes more down to the psychological elements that go along with the different perspective. In my understanding, people who playing person games have a tendency to feel like they're controlling a previously established character; as opposed to simply being one in first-person. I also find when I'm playing third person shooters that the environment becomes less important due to the fact that you're simply "passing by it" instead of "passing through it." I think the chosen perspective for a game relies almost as much on narrative as it does with gameplay. I don't think Monkey Island or Grim Fandango could possibly work to the same extent if they were first-person instead of third. Plus, there are games that manage to strike a balance between the "being and controlling" mentality; Thief is a fairly notable example, I find.
ZylonBane on 24/11/2008 at 20:09
Blood never seems to get enough love. The game, not the fluid. Monks* with uzis and setting zombies on fire with a flare gun just never gets old.
"I live... again!"
* yes I know they're not actually monks. they do look like monks though.
The_Raven on 24/11/2008 at 20:11
Didn't play the original. My only experience with Blood was a brief time when I was trying out the demo for the second installment about a decade ago.
swaaye on 24/11/2008 at 23:25
Blood, Duke3D, and Shadow Warrior are all games that are in the "same vein" or "same vain" maybe heh. They are all goofy spoofs that succeed to varying degrees. Blood and Duke are the best of the three. Blood is definitely the darkest, most twisted of them and if that's your thing, it is definitely something to check out. I like Blood quite a bit myself. It's a horror fan's Duke3D.
Shadow Warrior reminds me of John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China. It's an odd game that rips on the goofy karate/ninja flicks really. Apparently it's very insulting to some people and shockingly politically incorrect. Heh heh. I found it to be mildly entertaining.
ZylonBane on 24/11/2008 at 23:39
Quote Posted by swaaye
Blood, Duke3D, and Shadow Warrior are all games that are in the "same vein" or "same vain" maybe heh.
What?
Angel Dust on 25/11/2008 at 00:00
I think he's referring to the egos of the player characters.
