After getting back into the PC gaming world I thought I’d write a little post on the truly great games that I have encountered over my gaming life, so here goes in no particular order: -
DOOM
Almost everyone’s introduction into the virtual reality FPS gaming world. Yes there was Wolfenstein before Doom – but this was the game that entered popular culture. and certainly it was the game that blew me away for the freedom it had to allow you to roam into any available room and pick up weapons and shoots monsters that were waiting for you. To be honest this format hasn’t changed too much over the years and Doom is still a landmark game that introduced me to first person gaming.
SIMCITY 2000
Addictive as hell and with no real ending it can go on and on – this was both a bad thing and good thing. I always felt that the transport system in this game could of been so much better – however this game introduced me to the God management gaming world and with its isometric 3D like graphics it was mind blogging in those days. In fact the first PC game that I paid full price for.
TRANSPORT TYCOON
This game took the responsibility of building a city away from the player and concentrated on transporting goods and people accross the map. The vast number of transport methods and the ability to easily build tracks accross the terrain got me addictved. Filled with bugs like trains and planes crashing all the time this was not enough to take away from the joys of this wonderful concept.
CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER
Looing more like a spreadsheet than an actual game – CM took management simulation to another level. The key was depth and tha player database the game possesssed. Yes there were games like this before CM – but others included trivial things like setting price for hot dogs on match day etc. – CM purely concentrated on managing players and this was the beauty of the game. Lost many a day playing this.
SUPER MARIO KART
Never for one to play too much on consoles – this was certainly one game that got me addictive racing other human players – fun fun fun. Not everything has to be about amazing graphics.
GOD OF WAR
The game on the Playstation – this game stretched the console to its limits with its amazing graphics and great gameplay. Puzzles are easy and end of level bosses aren’t frustratingly hard. Great game.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
The ‘God of War’ for the PC – kinda forces you to learn the moves to get through the levels. Got me coming back for more and then more and then more.
UNREAL TOURNAMENT
This game is here for many reasons – techincally the engine has continued to be adopted by other games – and two the game has revolutionary in the way it took away a real stoyline and threw you in a map where the point is to kill more than your opponents whether they are human or AI. This is the forerunner to games like Battlefield and the likes.
DUNE II
The forerunner to the Command and Conquer series, but this was the first RTS game I ever played and boy was this game addictive. For the first time I could control whole armies send them accross the map and destroy my opponents base – EXCELLENT!
GRAND PRIX 4
Its a real shame that this series no longer exists – other developers have got into the GP racing and really pushed this game to one side. Theres’ no mistaking this series brought GP simulation to the masses – the racing was fun too!
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER
Orignally ISS, but this was back in the day when I was playing EA’s Fifa Soccer (I know shoot me) – until Konami made the wise decision to bring PC owners the amazing Pro Evoultion Soccer series to the PC – and what a revelation. Still has its faults and still a long way off from emulating the game, but this continues to be the best on the market.
TETRIS
So many incarnations of this game now – but the gameboy version was the version that introduced me to this amazingly addictive game. Simple yet hugly addictive fun.
BATTLEFIELD 1942
Take Unreal Tournament and put it in a World War Two scenario and you have Battlefield 1942 – not quite that simple but that was what the basic premise was and boy was this a great game.
TOTAL ANNIHILATION
The game that brought massive amounts of units to the RTS genre- build and destroy, simple concept but again highly addictive.
JEDI ACADEMY
Multiplayer lightsabering at its best – with a decent single player and tons of mods online.
ROGUE SPEAR
In the midst of break neck FPS – Rogue Spear was the thinking man’s FPS – not a true FPS in the sense you had the option to switch to 3rd person view – the tangos were renowned to be not to be very bright and your AI team mates weren’t much better either – but the game still gave huge enjoyment and the maps were great.
SHOGUN TOTAL WAR
True 3D comes to RTS gaming – the whole imerssive world of warfare was superbly recreated in what was an amazing game that evolved into a superb series.
SPORTS CAR GT
This game had its faults – it was far from perfect. However, it had a good blend of arcade and simulation, add to that the superb graphics and damage engine made it a great racing game.
RAINBOW SIX VEGAS
The newest game in the list – this is truly the return of Rogue Spear. I’m sure this game will be joined or replaced by Vegas 2 when it comes out on the PC in a few weeks.
Filed under: computer gaming
Man…you’re my hero for this post…I loved all of these games — good taste…now add Counter-Strike and Command and Conquer and we’ll be ALL SET!
hey dude – thanks for your comment! – unfortunately CS and C&C would be on my list, but sadly I never played them as much as the games I listed….I’m sure they make many other people’s list.
What is the name of the Arm (blue) giant tank in Total Annihilation?
…and other great game is Metal Slug:Super Vehicle 001…¿or STAR WARS? o.O
OH!…A good game is Supreme Commander!