Caltrops - Gamerasutra - I also enjoyed Undying.

Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra

by curst 08/13/2003, 10:30pm PDT

It's not as disturbingly creepy as any of the Silent Hills (okay, so no games are, to be honest) but it's *decent* in that regard, certainly as much so as System Shock 2. And unlike SS2, it doesn't suck in any way. One guy on Qt3 was waxing bitter about all the doors that you'll find in the mansion that you can't use... yeah, there's a fair number of them, but I honestly didn't even notice. Maybe I'm becoming too forgiving of such things?

Aside from not being as creepy, I thought the same of Wheel Of Time. You can probably find it for $0.00 in stores now, and I say "why not" if you've got time to spare. Really, these two games are for after you've played all the best ones and want something that's a little bit different but not MEANINGFULLY so (in other words, not really strong enough to recommend wholeheartedly).

Back to creepy stuff, do not overlook Aliens Versus Predator. I thought the sequel was decent but nothing extraordinary, but the original game is oh so pulse pounding. Extremely tough, though, so...

My real vote is as follows: start with Deus Ex, then UT2003, the NOLFs, and then the Serious Sams (do not neglect SS1, it's just about as fun as the sequel), in that order. I can't imagine living without those titles. The other names listed here - for the most part, they're also good choices (I'm not a fan of RtCW or Soldier Of Fortune 2's singleplayer at all, but the MP for both are really great, although that apparently does you no good).

Max Payne isn't quite an FPS but it plays enough like one to be worthy of consideration. Speaking of MPayne, I also enjoyed Heavy Metal FAKK 2 despite the bad dialogue and killer mosquitos - the final half of the game is superb fun and it actually boasts a great final boss encounter, which up until that point was seemingly a lost art in video game design. Whatever jumping puzzles exist in it, they're not bad ones at all IMO - you should be able to navigate them just fine. But it's another title I have reservations about recommending since I can see why some people just couldn't struggle through the beginning part. Oh yeah, ANOTHER third-person game from a traditionally FPS company that is great - Heretic 2. That one should appeal to the elf-lover in you, and while it doesn't have the visceral thrill of MP or the truly bizarre design of FAKK 2, it's very solid from beginning to end. The last Raven Software game where the singleplayer level design didn't drive me UP THE FUCKING WALL.

If you want to really keep it crunk/old-school/gangsta, etc, GET BLOOD 1. It was the Serious Sam of its day, although it's humor is less WACKY!!!!! and more pop-culture-reference-centric, which may turn you off. Few things are equal to the sadistic thrill of firing a flare into a cultist and cranking up the volume as he screams "IT BURNS!" with absolutely perfect voice acting. I love that game to this day. (It really does make better use of sound than MANY of the games that were released after it - it's on a par with System Shock 2 in that regard.)