New Old Games - Do I bother?

James J Skach · December 23, 2007, 10:56:48 PM

Greetings,

I'm not a huge computer games guy. I don't know why, but it's just never been my thing.

I week or so ago, a guy at work who used to be a gamer and has a huge stash of old TT gaming stuff leaves me a present. Knowing I'm a D&D player, he dropped off a couple few and said Merry Christmas:

Ultima VI - The False Prophet
Pagan - Ulitma VIII
Civilization II

So, my question is, do I bother? How good are these? Do I need to have played previous Ultima's? Is Civilization good? Do I put them on eBay?

Thanks,
Jim

KrakaJak · December 24, 2007, 01:06:59 AM

Every Ciilization games is super awesome...I think I spent most of a Summer in the 7th grade playing game after game of civilization II.

Just don't play CIV2 if you don't have a lot of time...as a sningle, randomly generated game takes at least 6 hours!

Melan · December 24, 2007, 02:30:18 AM

Ultima VI. is pretty good, although not as good as V. or VII. (but J. Arcane will soon be here to say otherwise). It is very long and expansive by current game standards. Ultima VIII., less good, with a number of very annoying jumping puzzles and a story straight out of the "dark and edgy" 90s.

Civ2 is a lot like all the other Civ games. I prefer Civ1, which is a bit less complex, but the fans love it.

newtmonkey · December 24, 2007, 06:57:23 AM

Ultima VI is really great, I have fond memories of that one. The concept/story isn't as good as in Ultima V, and the engine isn't as smooth as in Ultima VII but it's still one of the best RPGs ever.

It's a HUGE quest, NPCs all have their own personalities and jobs and schedules, and the interface is pretty good for a game from that time.

Pete · December 24, 2007, 07:03:02 AM

Quote from: Melane here to say otherwise). It is very long and expansive by current game standards. Ultima VIII., less goUltima VI. is pretty good, although not as good as V. or VII. (but J. Arcane will soon bod, with a number of very annoying jumping puzzles and a story straight out of the "dark and edgy" 90s.

Civ2 is a lot like all the other Civ games. I prefer Civ1, which is a bit less complex, but the fans love it.

I'm not an Ultima guy, but I seem to recall a patch for VIII that eliminated most, if not all the jumping puzzles. Civ2 tends to make those "50 Greatest Games of All Time" lists but I prefer Alpha Centauri (Civ2 in Spaaaace) for my turn based strategy games.

Melan · December 24, 2007, 08:53:45 AM

To me, SMAC was too complex, with too many variables. I suppose that appeals to someone who plays hardcore, but I preferred Civ1's relative simplicity... or the best of the C/C/C games, Master of Magic. Why that one never got sequels, I have no idea. Best strategy game ever!

WRT Ultima 8 - the patch simplified a lot of the jumping stuff, but the game was still not up to its ancestors, the story was lackluster, etc.

Werekoala · December 26, 2007, 04:07:05 PM

Civ 2 is the best PC game ever. I don't know about the others.

Rezendevous · December 26, 2007, 07:38:40 PM

Civ 2 is a great game. I've played Civs 1-4, and while I liked the addition of Culture and specific religions in 3 and a couple of the features in 4, 2 is still my favorite.

I agree with Melan on the Ultimas too.

Christmas Ape · December 31, 2007, 03:46:58 PM

Quote from: MelanTo me, SMAC was too complex, with too many variables. I suppose that appeals to someone who plays hardcore, but I preferred Civ1's relative simplicity... or the best of the C/C/C games, Master of Magic. Why that one never got sequels, I have no idea. Best strategy game ever!

WRT Ultima 8 - the patch simplified a lot of the jumping stuff, but the game was still not up to its ancestors, the story was lackluster, etc.

Master of Magic owned my summers and weekends for about 2 years. God that game was awesome.

Premier · January 01, 2008, 08:46:57 AM

Quote from: MelanTo me, SMAC was too complex, with too many variables. I suppose that appeals to someone who plays hardcore, but I preferred Civ1's relative simplicity... or the best of the C/C/C games, Master of Magic. Why that one never got sequels, I have no idea. Best strategy game ever!

It has some spiritual heirs in the Age of Wonders games. Perhaps they don't quite have the sheer amount of awesome MoM did, but they're nifty.

Melan · January 01, 2008, 12:15:09 PM

Yes; what Age of Wonders lacked, though, was the random terrain generation thing and magic item creation. Still, stylish graphics, great music and lots of strategic possibilities.

Premier · January 03, 2008, 05:34:23 AM

Age of Wonders 2 definitely has the latter, and IIRC the former as well... not quite positive about that, though.

Joey2k · January 04, 2008, 12:16:47 PM

Allow me to add my vote of approval for Civ 2. It is still my favorite game after 12 years.

The Good Assyrian · January 09, 2008, 07:32:27 PM

Another vote for Civ 2 here. I really love turn based strategic games, and this is one of my all time favorites. Civ 3 had some improvements like culture areas, but it also took away or diluted some of the cool tools that I routinely used in Civ 2 to conquer the world...spies, guerrillas, fanatics, and the Statue of Liberty!

TGA